Wagon Tracks Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 2020)
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Wagon Tracks Volume 34 Issue 3 Article 1 2020 Wagon Tracks Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 2020) Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation . "Wagon Tracks Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 2020)." Wagon Tracks 34, 3 (2020). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol34/iss3/1 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Wagon Tracks by an authorized editor of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. et al.: Wagon Tracks Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 2020) Quarterly Publication of the Santa Fe Trail Association volume 34 ♦ number 3 May 2020 Nestor Armijo: The Capitalist from Las Cruces ♦ page 10 Voices from a Disease Frontier: Kansans and Cholera 1867 ♦ page 18 Hell on Wheels: Railhead Towns on the Santa Fe Trail ♦ page 28 Published by UNM Digital Repository, 2020 1 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 34 [2020], Iss. 3, Art. 1 On the Cover: All Trails Lead to Santa Fe by Ron Kil I was commissioned by the Santa Fe Trail Association to pro- vide a painting to promote the Three Trails Conference in Santa Fe in 2015. I chose a Spanish hacendado, a wealthy rancher and landowner, because he best represented the type that would have furnished the trade on all the trails leading from Santa Fe, as well as providing for a thriving market for the Three Trails leading into Santa Fe. The view is that of old Santa Fe, backed by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with an atajo from the Old Spanish Trail, carretas from the Camino Real, and conestogas from Missouri, all bound for the trade capital of the Spanish Southwest. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” This open- ing sentence in the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens has been never more prophetic than it is in today’s world and the trials we are facing from the coronavirus COVID-19. The mem- bers of the Santa Fe Trail Association understand the historic significance of the trials and tribulations faced by our forefathers as they journeyed west to trade or settle in a new land. Today’s citizens struggle with all that is going on in our economy, our public interaction, and just surviving in the environment that we currently face. We need to remember that generations before us faced many sig- nificant crises from cholera, typhoid, chicken pox, and scurvy. We need to remember that each generation has its own dilemmas to overcome, just as the travelers on the trail, the American Indians, and the local merchants and residents on our great Santa Fe Na- tional Historic Trail had to overcome. In time, all will pass and we will be able to once again hold our group meetings. In the meantime, we can utilize modern tech- nology such as the internet and email to continue our goal of protecting, promoting, and preserving our Santa Fe National Historic Trail. SFTA President Larry Short About the Santa Fe Trail Association The mission of the Santa Fe Trail Association is to protect and preserve the Santa Fe Trail and to promote awareness of the historical legacy associated with it. Follow us online at www.santafetrail.org, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube Wagon Tracks, the official publication of the Santa Fe Trail Association (SFTA), publishes well-researched and documented peer-reviewed articles relating to the Santa Fe Trail. Wagon Tracks is published in February, May, August, and November. Deadlines are the 10th of the month prior to publication. Queries are welcome. Complete submission guidelines are posted at www.santafetrail.org. Although the entire issue of Wagon Tracks is copyrighted in the name of the Santa Fe Trail Association, copyright to each article remains in the author’s name. Articles may be edited or abridged at the editor’s discretion. https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol34/iss3/12 Wagon Tracks May 2020 2 et al.: Wagon Tracks Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 2020) Quarterly of the Santa Fe Trail Association volume 34 ♦ number 3 May 2020 Contents 2 On the Cover: All Trails Lead to Santa Fe by Ron Kil, Larry Short 4 Insights from your President 5 Joanne’s Jottings 6-7 Rendezvous 2020 and 2021 Symposium 7-9, 16, 32 Trail News 8 In Memoriam: Mary Jean Straw Cook, Willard "Dub" Couch, Louann Jordan, Alma Gregory 17 Lee Kroh Leaves Legacy: USGS Quad Maps 33 Membership Form 33-35 Chapter Reports 36 Recipes from the Trail The cholera epidemic of 1867 spawned many "remedies." Read more in Dr. Leiker's article. 10-16 18-27 28-32 Nestor Armijo: The Capitalist Voices from a Disease Hell on Wheels: Rail- from Las Cruces Frontier: Kansans and head Towns on the Cholera 1867 Santa Fe Trail by Dr. Susan Calafate Boyle by Dr. James N. Leiker by Dr. Michael L. Olsen PublishedMay 2020 by UNM Digital Repository, 2020 Wagon Tracks 3 3 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 34 [2020], Iss. 3, Art. 1 Insights from your President by Larry D. Short, President of SFTA Plans for our 200th Commemora- will be ordered and shipped. Our tion are well underway, led by Deb next major goal will be to complete Goodrich and her team. Many of the the signs located on Kansas Depart- chapters have started plans for com- ment of Transportation rights-of- memoration activities in their local way. We hope that these signs will areas. The key to success for 2021 be installed by the end of 2020. We will be continued support from each are also currently working with the of our 12 chapters along the length National Park Service to complete of our Santa Fe National Historic the sign program in Missouri with Trail. Remember that the 200th is a the directional signs along the Mis- commemoration of the opening of souri Department of Transportation the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. right-of-way. A highlight of the past Please do not use the word “celebra- couple of months has been secur- tion” in any press releases, posters, ing the signed agreement with the flyers, or other modes of advertising New Mexico Highway Department upcoming events. to replace the directional signs on Highway 56 for the Faye Gaines I have created a new DAR Task Point of Rocks historic site in Colfax It has been an exciting and produc- Force led by Pat Traffas, which in- County, New Mexico. Signs have tive time since I assumed the office cludes DAR representatives from been shipped to NMDOT and will of President at our St. Louis Sympo- each of the five states which the Trail be installed this spring. sium. Working together, Association crosses. They will work closely with Manager Joanne VanCoevern, Vice- the National DAR 200th Represen- One critical issue is the preserva- President Chris Day, and I have as- tative, Dee Sadler, to organize events tion and protection of our Santa Fe sembled a group of co-chairs for our across the length of the Trail and on National Historic Trail. Great leader- various committees to help lead us a national level. ship has been provided by our co- as we commemorate our 200th An- chairs of the preservation committee, niversary in 2021. We continue to add new Trail cross- Faye Gaines and Steve Schmidt, but ing and segment signs to our sign we need to provide them with much Thank you to the new board mem- plan. Recently completed are the more support and “eyes and ears on bers and returning board members Barton County, Kansas, plan for the ground” in each of the five states. for stepping forward to provide the the Great Bend area, plans for the I have therefore added new represen- leadership and direction for commit- Larned/Pawnee County sites, and tatives from each of the five states to tees which are the backbone of the the Union County, New Mexico, provide local on-the-ground support. Santa Fe Trail Association. Several crossing plan. The jurisdiction forms A few volunteers have offered to fill chair positions which had been va- have been signed by the City of these positions, and I'd like more cant for some time are now filled Larned and the Pawnee County members to volunteer in this capac- with qualified leaders. Public Works officials, and the signs ity. Please contact me directly if you https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol34/iss3/14 Wagon Tracks May 2020 4 et al.: Wagon Tracks Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 2020) have any questions about the position. The protection of our Trail is essential Joanne’s Jottings by Joanne VanCoevern, Association Manager for its future. contact and proceed with work on The months and years ahead will be projects through phone calls, e-mails, both challenging and exciting. We will and teleconferencing. I’m sure that continue to work as a team with the those early Trail travelers could never National Park Service. Their leader- even imagine the speed at which we ship has been, and will continue to are able to communicate along the be, exceptional and a critical part of Santa Fe Trail. our success together. The decisions we make today will most likely have And, what about our SFTA head- a long impact on the preservation, quarters? As you know, the SFTA protection, and promotion of our As- headquarters is located at the Santa sociation and the Santa Fe National Fe Trail Center near Larned, Kansas.