Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

Wagon Tracks

Volume 35 Issue 2 Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 Article 1 (February 2021)

2021

Santa Fe Trail Association

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Recommended Citation Santa Fe Trail Association. "Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)." Wagon Tracks 35, 2 (2021). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/1

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]. : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

Quarterly Publication of the Santa Fe Trail Association volume 35 ♦ number 2 February 2021

Cross-Cultural Marriages: Six Jaramillo Women ♦ page 13

Freighting for Uncle Sam ♦ page 20

Hell on Wheels: Hays City and Sheridan ♦ page 27

Published by UNM Digital Repository, 2021 1 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1 On the Cover: Epifanio Aguirre by Ron Kil

Epifanio Aguirre was a Mexican-born merchant and trader on the Camino Real and the Santa Fe Trail in the 1850s and 1860s. Operating from his hacienda in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Epi- fanio was a highly respected trader who kept his merchandise- loaded caravans moving from Westport, Missouri, to Chihuahua, Mexico. He also freighted government supplies from Fort Union to resupply other posts in New Mexico.

Aguirre was a frontiersman as well as a trader, and a man of great ability and courage, which was frequently tested in encounters with the Comanche and Apache along the trail. He was killed while driving one of his own stagecoaches in Arizona, just north of the Mexican line, in an Apache ambush in 1870.

I was commissioned to paint the portrait of the bold Southwest- erner by Roy Medina, whose wife Rowene is Epifanio's great- granddaughter.

Read more about freighting for the government on page 20 of this issue and the Aguirres on page 23. 

In Search of Articles

For this bicentennial year, Wagon Tracks is looking for articles that explore

• the full spectrum of people traveling the trail,

• how the Santa Fe Trail fit into the big picture of westward expansion and Manifest Destiny,

• how travelers and the trail intermingled/used other trails which have since been designated national historic trails or may be in the future,

• and the global aspect of trade along the SFT.

If you have an idea for an article, contact Ruth Friesen at [email protected].

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.

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/vol35/iss2/12 Wagon Tracks February 2021 2 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021) Quarterly of the Santa Fe Trail Association volume 35 ♦ number 2 February 2021

Contents

2 On the Cover: Epifanio Aguirre by Ron Kil 4 Insights from your President

5 Joanne’s Jottings

6-12 Trail News

8-9 2021 Symposium

12 SFTA Websites Listing

32 Chapter Reports

33 Membership Form

36 Calendar

Bullwhacker: Harpers, 1867. Stage Ride to Colorado

13-19 20-27 27-32

Cross Cultural Marriages: Freighting for Uncle Sam Hell on Wheels: Hays City Six Jaramillo Women and Sheridan

by Doyle Daves by Darlis A. Miller by Dr. Michael Olsen

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 3 3 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1

Insights from your President by Larry D. Short, President of SFTA

While there are still unknowns as to months to ensure that all Santa Fe how these events will be held, we are Trail Association projects, events, committed to holding each and ev- and commitments are completed in a ery one of them in some form. Most timely manner. Most of our chapters events are being held at outdoor have moved forward with the devel- venues with adequate space for social opment of great events and programs distancing. Please check our websites for the commemoration. at www.santafetrail.org and www. santafetrail200.org, Wagon Tracks, Symposium 2021 is going to be our Constant Contact email News one of the best ever. My hats off to from the Santa Fe Trail Association, the Bent’s Fort Chapter and their and your local chapters’ s newslet- leadership for assembling a compre- ters for continued updates and new hensive Symposium. I encourage all events for 2021. members to attend and invite their friends. For more information about With all of the things going on in the Symposium visit the web site at 2020, the Santa Fe Trail Association www.2021sfts.com leadership team, board, and com- What a year we have come through! mittees have continued in their My hope is that we can put all of The year 2020 is now behind us and commitment to ensure the vitality the miserable events of 2020 behind we must reinvigorate ourselves to and prominence of your organiza- us and look forward to an exciting move forward to commemorate the tion in moving forward. Our task and eventful 2021. We owe it to our- 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe agreements with the National Park selves, the nation, and our Santa Fe Trail in 2021. Service have remained in effect and Trail Association to make this one our requested funding for 2022 has of the best years of commemoration Our 200th anniversary team, our been submitted. Projects such as the ever. twelve chapters, and many communi- Survey 123, High Potential Sites & ties along the 1207 miles of the trail Segments, Mapping and Marking, Stay safe, healthy, and think optimis- tically! I will see you on the Trail in have worked hard to develop great Interpretation, and Education proj-  events to commemorate the open- ects have continued. 2021. ing of America’s first international highway of commerce by William The committee leadership has held Becknell in 1821. numerous Zoom meetings these past

Symphony in the Flint Hills Salutes Santa Fe Trail

“We’re excited to join in the This marks the 16th year for the 200th anniversary commemo- Flint Hills celebration, which rotates ration of the Santa Fe Trail,” to a different remote pasture the sec- Symphony in the Flint Hills announces plans says Julie Hower, Symphony ond Saturday of June. Weather and to salute the Santa Fe Trail in 2021 with in the Flint Hills Board of COVID-19 cancelled the 2019 and world-class music and nature at its annual Directors chair. “Our location 2020 events, making 2021 a much- prairie gathering near the historic trail town in June lies just a few miles anticipated return. of Council Grove, Kansas. Scheduled for from where the trail rolled Saturday, June 12, the acclaimed Symphony through Council Grove. Visi- Tickets go on sale March 6. in the Flint Hills Signature Event will feature tors can tour the area’s historic For more information: https:// a sunset concert by the 80-piece Kansas City sites, then rendezvous on the symphonyintheflinthills.org or 620- Symphony at North Lakeview Pasture, along prairie for our roundup of 273-8955. with activities highlighting the Santa Fe Trail tallgrass heritage, beauty and bicentennial. music.” https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/14 Wagon Tracks February 2021 4 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

Joanne’s Jottings by Joanne VanCoevern, Association Manager

fice partners, conducted various focus community website can be found at groups in primary areas of the SFTA www.santafetrail200.com/ and the organization. These 2021 Task Force Quivira Chapter and Regional Plan- groups meetings, held between 2009 ning Group website can be found at – 2016, included participants from www.2021santafetrailkansas.com/. committees, chapters, and various ex- Additional information and updates perts in specific areas which included: will be shared through our Santa Fe Education, Website, Social Media, Trail Association Facebook pages. We Mapping, Marking, Marketing, Out- will continue to share information reach, Publications, Publicity, Budget, about events as we receive it. In addi- Research, Signage, and Preservation. tion, our National Trails 200th Intern Ashley Wheeler will be creating a In 2016, SFTA held the first of many StoryMap featuring various events meetings to develop a plan for how along the Santa Fe National Historic best to acknowledge the 200th anni- Trail (see story on page 7). versary of the opening of the Santa Fe Trail. And, here we are! 2021 and the The Symphony in the Flint Hills 2021 Welcome to 2021 and the 200th anni- 200th anniversary of the opening of Signature Event will take place on versary of the Santa Fe Trail! Recent- the Santa Fe Trail to successful trade. North Lakeview Pasture near Council ly, while going through and managing Grove in Morris County, Kansas, on e-mails, I ran across some of the earli- With the additional obstacles thrown June 12. The theme centers around est correspondence related to plan- our way since March 2020, I have to the Santa Fe Trail (see previous page). ning for the 200th anniversary of the admit, many times in the past few Tickets go on sale March 6. If you Santa Fe Trail. The correspondence months I’ve had the thoughts of “why are considering attending the Sym- was between me (at the time, serving are we doing this” or “will these events phony in the Flint Hills and will need as President of SFTA); the manager at even happen” or “will anyone even care overnight lodging, be sure to get your that time, Harry Myers; and the vice- about a 200-year commemoration?” reservations made soon. There are sev- president of the SFTA at that time, But then, I tell myself to “pull myself eral options right in Council Grove, as John Atkinson. We were making plans up by the bootstraps and push ahead!” well as additional options within 30- to meet in Salina, Kansas, at our local Your SFTA leaders remain extremely 45 minutes from the Symphony site, IHOP restaurant to discuss various busy handling correspondence and re- including the Historic Elgin Hotel in bits of SFTA business, including 2021 quests for information, attending vir- Marion, and Clover Cliff Ranch Bed and how to make sure that SFTA tual meetings and online conferences, and Breakfast, Elmdale, Kansas. Her- would be a viable organization in the and continuing to partner and prepare ington, Junction City, Manhattan, and year 2021 to even participate in the for upcoming events in 2021. Emporia all have lodging available anniversary. as well – just do a Google search for Information and updates on the “lodging near Council Grove, Kansas.” The year of that initial meeting was 2021 events are available through the If you need assistance, reach out to 2007! At that time, the year of 2021 SFTA website Calendar of Events me. seemed like a very distant future year, at www.santafetrail.org or you can and it was very hard to imagine plan- visit our special 200th website at The Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimar- ning for events that far in the future. www.santafetrail200.org. The SFTA ron Chapter will be publishing in- However, Harry Myers, who had led Symposium 2021 is being hosted formation and a photo of the 60-plus the efforts of the 175th anniversary by the Bent’s Fort Chapter, and the Santa Fe Trail-related sites/markers planning which had been just a mere website for that event can be found in their chapter area of Ford and Gray 10 years prior (in 1997), reminded us at www.2021sfts.com. Registration Counties, Kansas. Each week these that 2021 would be here before we is open, and planning continues for will be published in the Dodge City knew it. a very memorable event. Two SFTA Daily Globe, and then SFTA will post chapters are involved with their com- on our Facebook page. Chapter Presi- So, we began our discussions focusing munity planners for events during dent Bill Bunyan will also post them on ensuring that the SFTA organiza- 2021, and those communities have on his personal Facebook page. You tion would be here in 2021. During also created websites with informa- can view these by searching for our the next several years, SFTA, with tion. The Heart of the Flint Hills the help of our National Trails Of- Chapter and the Council Grove Continued next page

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 5 5 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1

Joanne, continued from page 5 could result in the Zebulon Pike Trail Nominations Sought for also becoming a National Historic SFTA Board Positions Facebook page by entering @santaf- Trail. The National Trails Office, Santa etrail1821 in any search engine (such Fe, states: “The Pike National Historic Nominations are being accepted as Google). Be sure you “like” our page Trail Feasibility Study has officially through April 1 for election to the so you will see these in your Facebook begun. The National Park Service Na- Santa Fe Trail Association’s Board of News Feed. tional Trails office in Santa Fe, New Directors. Mexico, is responsible for completing On November 18, 2020, Kansas Sen. the study, and has formed a planning Four members of the Board are Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Rep. Ron team to be led by lead planner, Dr. completing their second consecutive Estes (KS-04) introduced legislation Lillis Urban. Other members of the four-year term and have created va- to designate the Chisholm Trail and team include historian Dr. Guy Mc- cancies. This provides an opportunity the Western Trail as National Historic Clellan, responsible for route verifica- for SFTA members of good standing Trails, a process that began with a tion and trail significance; and a data with various backgrounds and experi- feasibility study. In June 2010 the Na- management and GIS specialist Mr. ences to serve the Association as we tional Park Service conducted 12 pub- Brian Deaton, who will be responsible enter this historic year in the history lic scoping meetings in the affected for trail mapping. Public outreach and of the Santa Fe Trail. states to solicit information, answer engagement meetings are scheduled questions, and hear concerns about of the spring of 2021. To encourage According to the bylaws of the As- potential trail designation. the maximum level of participation, sociation, the Nominating Committee while also following CDC guiding “shall select the nominees” and present The Chisholm Trail crosses the Santa principles to assure the lowest risk to the candidates to the membership for Fe National Historic Trail east of participants, the public meetings are election. McPherson, Kansas, and the Western planned for a virtual setting. Please Interested members or members who Trail crosses it at Dodge City, Kansas. visit the study’s planning page to track wish to nominate another mem- Both trails were used primarily from project updates and to learn about the ber should send a short bio of the 1867 to 1885 to move more than 10 study process: parkplanning.nps.gov/ candidate’s background and related million cattle across the country, con- projectHome.cfm?projectID=95651 tributing to the economic growth of experience to: Mike Rogers, Chair, Nominating Committee and Board the towns and cities the trails passed Criteria for designation of the trail Member, [email protected]. through. Designating these trails as include: Pinpointing the historical a National Historic Trail will permit route and whether the physical trail Other members of the Nominating the National Park Services (NPS) to or portions can be accessed and inter- Committee are Pat Traffas, Board partner voluntarily with landowners, preted for the public; Establishing the Member, [email protected], and communities, and state and local gov- national historical significance of the Linda Colle, Board Member & Chap- ernments to maintain, conserve and route; and Determining strong public ter President, [email protected]. promote the trails. These trails could interest in the historical, educational, Additional information may be found join the 19 other designated historic and recreational opportunities associ- at www.santafetrail.org. trails across the nation, including the ated with the trail. A portion of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. This Pike route to be studied is located April Board Meeting legislation includes protections for within the Santa Fe National Historic private property rights along the trails, Trail corridor (basically from east of The SFTA Spring Workshop and and cooperation by landowners or Great Bend, Kansas, to west of La Board of Directors Meeting will be communities is strictly on a voluntary Junta, Colorado.) held on Friday, April 23, and Sat- basis. urday, April 24, beginning at 9:00 SFTA focused on the 200th anniver- The Pike a.m. both days. In-person meetings sary of the Zebulon Pike Expedition National will take place at the Haas Build- in 2006, and our Rendezvous theme Historic Trail ing, 400 E 18th St, Larned, Kansas. that year was about Pike. A website Association Due to COVID-19 recommenda- created by SFTA was later transferred announces that tions, masks/social distancing will to the newly formed Pike National the National be required at the Haas Building. Historic Trail Association, and that Park Service - You may also attend via Zoom. group has recently made updates to National Trails Request an invitation to join via the site. It can be found at www.zebu- Office in Santa Zoom by contacting lonpike.org.  Fe is doing a feasibility study that President Larry Short, at [email protected] https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/16 Wagon Tracks February 2021 6 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

Partnership for the National Trails System

Virtual Hike the Hill® 2021: March 8-26, 2021

Share Your Plans with the In October 2020, the Partnership for the American Hiking Society and National Park Service the National Trails System (PNTS) the Partnership for the National conference was held for the first time Trails System to bring together the The National Park Service (NPS) Na- in a virtual format. Originally sched- trails community to advance shared tional Trails office invites you to share uled to be held in Spartanburg, South trail priorities with congressional and your bicentennial plans for inclusion Carolina, the format was changed to federal agency leaders including: trails on an events StoryMap and calendar. the online format due to COVID-19 funding, public lands management, Adding events to the map and calen- restrictions. Joanne VanCoevern at- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclu- dar is a great way to spread the word tended the online sessions, with the sion ( JEDI), and other top priority about the Santa Fe Trail bicentennial sessions focusing on the three themes issues that sustain trails and improve and is another venue for reaching new of 1.) Advancing justice, equity, di- access to public lands. In 2021, due to audiences. The calendar and Story- versity, inclusion; 2.) Expanding the ongoing impact of COVID-19, Map will be available on the NPS partnerships within and beyond trail trail partners from across the nation Bicentennial webpage soon at corridors, and 3.) Increasing capacity will come together virtually to advo- nps.gov/safe/planyourvisit/santa-fe- through organizational development. cate for legislation, learn about new trail-bicentennial.htm. Although the sessions lacked field policies, and meet with federal part- trips, the online format was judged ners, elected officials and their staff, Submit your request for inclusion on to be successful, and allowed for over and fellow trail organizations. the NPS website and find out what 200 participants to come together on information is needed from you at issues of common interest. For the If any SFTA member would like more go.nps.gov/SantaFeTrail200EventInfo. first time in 24 years, the annual event, information about Hike the Hill, Hike the Hill 2021® will be virtual. please contact Joanne VanCoevern at If you have questions or want more [email protected].  information, contact Ashley Wheeler A tentative schedule is available at at [email protected] or http://pnts.org/new/our-work/hike- call 505-470-0015. the-hill/. Now in its 24th year, Hike the Hill® is a joint effort between

Draft of the Santa Fe Trail Bicentennial Events StoryMap which will allow the public to quickly find events occurring near them.

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 7 7 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1 The Santa Fe Trail Lives On 200 Years of Commerce and Cultural Connections September 22-26, 2021 Santa Fe Trail Bicentennial Symposium at Bent's Fort, La Junta, Colorado

Tours Emphasize Changing Dynamics Special Lodging Rates

Come, step back in time at the 2021 early trail days and well-known stop- Bent's Fort Chapter has secured the Symposium and commemorate 200 ping points, not only for wagons, but "government rate" at the Hampton years since William Becknell first later for the stagecoach and then the Inn La Junta, Colorado. This $89.00 traveled from Missouri to Santa Fe, railroad. In the early 1920s there was rate will be good for the two room New Mexico. Beginning initially as even a helium mine located in the types they offer, 1 king bed or 2 a trail of commerce, the Santa Fe small town of Thatcher. queen beds. In order to receive the Trail also served as a way west for special Symposium rate you will California Gold Seekers, a trail of On Friday the emphasis of the east- need to call the Hampton Inn's front settlements and forts, and today even bound tour will be on the 1800s, desk in La Junta. Be sure to mention a part of a major highway that goes with stops at early military fort sites, "Santa Fe Trail Symposium" when from coast to coast. Bent’s New and Old Forts, and the you call. (Do not use their general earliest settlement in the area, Boggs- 800 number or make your reserva- Presentations and tours will em- ville. At Bent’s New Fort, looking tions over the internet.) phasize the changing dynamics down from the overlook, one can see of the Trail over the two hundred the first Fort Wise, renamed Fort To reach the Hampton Inn and years of its existence, from the early Lyon, which was initially established the other motel options in La days of the Trail to some of the key on the banks of the Arkansas until Junta, go to the Symposium web site personages to a look at its future. it was moved after a flood. At the "2021SFTS.com". Find the heading Tours along the Trail will emphasize stop in Boggsville, the location of Kit "Hosted By," click on "City of La the use of the trail by the Indians, Carson’s last home, there will be time Junta" and that will take you to the Mexicans, early travelers and settlers, to enjoy walking through the homes city’s web page. Then click on "Places along with the coming of the railroad of the first settlers, Tom Boggs and to stay." This will bring up all of the to today’s modern vehicles. John Prowers. Here, the story will be motel options in La Junta along with told of Amache, wife of John Prow- the La Junta KOA. On this page The tours will be led by Rebecca ers, whose father Ochinee (One-Eye) you will find the link to the La Junta Goodwin, Kevin Lindahl, Larry was killed at the Sand Creek Mas- Hampton Inn and the local phone Bourne, Pat Palmer, and Alexa Rob- sacre. number to use to make your reserva- erts. Rebecca is a sixth-generation tions. Camping is available at John resident of the area and has served as The Saturday afternoon tour led by Martin Reservoir "Hasty Camp- president of the Colorado Preserva- Alexa will cap off the Symposium ground" about 32 minutes from tion Society. For several years Kevin, with a chance to view Iron Springs, Bent's Old Fort. The next closest Bent’s Fort Chapter president, has a favored stopping point on the motel and camping options are either been helping identify local historic Mountain Branch as a resting place in Lamar or Pueblo, Colorado, each sites. Larry, the unofficial Mayor of for lunch or the night. There are lots about an hour's drive away. Boggsville, currently serves as presi- of ruts to walk on as well a chance to dent of the Bent County Historical view the site after a brief walk up a Society, and Pat Palmer, long-time nearby hill. resident, is the “go-to” person for local history. Alexa is the former super- La Junta, Colorado, and the sur- intendent of Bent’s Old Fort. rounding area will come alive with events related to the beginning days Thursday’s tour to be led by Rebecca of the Santa Fe Trail and the people and Kevin will closely follow the who traveled the Trail and lived in Santa Fe Trail as the tour travels the region along its route. To learn down Highway 350. The history of more about the Symposium and to the Trail along this route will include register, go to www.2021sfts.com/. https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/18 Wagon Tracks February 2021 8 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021) 2021 Bicentennial Speakers Announced

1800s travelers on the Santa Fé Trail had to persevere “Business, Politics, and Power on the Santa Fe Trail: The through the effects of cholera, dysentery, smallpox, whoop- Transcontinental World of Bent, St. Vrain and Company, ing cough, raids, hunger, lack of water, too much water, and 1829–1849.” many other travails on the Trail. Just as those trail men and women survived, so we too will live to tell the tale of the On Saturday, September 25, local researcher Rebecca At- bicentennial of this key trace in American history. kinson will take the audience on an “unvarnished’ trip to Bent’s New Fort through the eyes of the contemporary Keeping with the latest Symposium practices of the Santa accounts of James F. Milligan and Julia S. Lambert in her Fe Trail Association, seven scholars have been invited to program “He Said, She Said: Two Views of Life at Bent’s share their research during the 2021 Bicentennial Sympo- New Fort.” sium during the formal sessions at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado. With but one exception, these seven Mr. Matthew Saionz will trace the evolution of contraband will represent a new perspective on the Trail history not and seizures in New Mexico beginning with the François seen at previous proceedings of the Association. Robidoux case in 1825 in his paper “There Is Very Little System or Consistency: Making Sense of Contraband On Thursday, 23 September, Mr. William Gwaltney, retired Cases in the late 1820s and Their Subsequent Disappear- National Park Service administrator and the architect of the ance.” Park Service’s living history program at, among other sites, Bent’s Old Fort, will examine the relationship between To wrap up the formal presentations, Ms. Ashley Wheeler mostly Anglo men and Hispanic and Native women in his and the staff of the NPS National Trails Office will take us program “Mixed Blood: Life, Love and Lineage among into the future possibilities of the Santa Fe Trail in the cul- the First Families of the Santa Fe Trail.” minating program “The Santa Fe National Historic Trail: Visions from Today and the Future along the Trail.” Dr. Susan Calafate Boyle, Ph.D., former NPS historian, Fulbright scholar, and author will return to the Association’s Additionally, the planning committee is now in the process event to examine the effect of the Santa Fe trade and the of vetting up to fifty Living Historians who will travel back impact of the Mexican government on the merchants and to 1843 to illustrate what life was like on the Santa Fè Trail. the types of merchandise involved in the exchange of goods Using Bent’s Old Fort NHS as a backdrop, these men, in Mexico prior to the War with Mexico in her account women, and youngsters will give you an idea of the experi- “The Santa Fe Merchants and their Merchandise: Going ences they would have incurred during one of the more Down to Mexico, 1825–1846.” active years of trade on the Mountain Branch of the Trail. Also in the planning stages are several less formal presenta- Wrapping up the formal presentations on Thursday, we tions at the fort which will add to your understanding of would be remiss to ignore current concerns. Mr. John the lifestyles, daily duties, and experiences of trail travelers F. Steinle will note that the Santa Fe Trail was a “fertile in 1843. breeding ground for disease,” and people of all races suf- fered greatly from the 1800 pandemics. His talk “Most The 2021 Symposium planning committee has over the last All Proves Fatal: Pandemics and the Santa Fe Trail, four+ years, and with the guidance of the Otero County 1821–1870” will also address how these outbreaks had an Health Public Health Department, worked to meet the enormous impact on travel, commerce, and human relation- challenges of the last few years head on and will continue to ships along the Trail. put in the effort to make the 2021 Santa Fe Trail Sympo- sium a unique experience. We look forward to you joining Dr. David C. Beyreis, Ph.D., the author of the latest tome us this September in La Junta for this one opportunity to on the Bent, St. Vrain & Company’s life and legacy, will look back at 200 years of Santa Fe Trail history and to see consider that company’s trade opportunities–and pitfalls–in what the future holds for the Trail and your Santa Fe Trail the international scope of the Santa Fe Trail in his program Association. 

Registration is Open Don’t miss out on the only chance to commemorate the Registration for the 2021 Bicentennial Symposium of the 200th birthday of the Santa Fé Trail at Bent's Fort and at Santa Fé Trail is open through the Last Chance Store at the multitude of events planned up and down the Trail. A www.lastchancestore.org/santa-fe-trail-symposium-regis- calendar of other events can be found on the Symposium tration/. website at www.2021sfts.com and at the 200 anniversary website https://santafetrail200.org.

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 9 9 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1 SFTA Research Grants: Two Researching Cathay Williams Do You Have an Ancestor Connected with The 2021 recipient of the SFTA research is to search as many relevant the Santa Fe Trail? Scholarly Research Grant is Pamm archives as possible, including the Reynolds of New Mexico. Reynolds Missouri Historical Society archives As most of us have been more or less has been researching Cathay Wil- in St. Louis. confined to our homes this past year liams, an African-American woman because of the growing spread of the who served disguised as a man in Atkinson has been researching Colo- COVID-19 virus throughout the the U.S. Army after the Civil War, rado archives, since she is a Colorado world, perhaps you have spent much and who traveled the Santa Fe Trail resident, and has searched available of that time researching your ances- as her unit moved from post to post. resources on the internet. Atkinson tral history. You may have discovered Reynolds wants to travel to all places thinks the wrong man always is cited ancestors who settled in Jamestown associated with the military service of as Cathay’s father. This researcher is or arrived on the Mayflower 400 Williams. convinced that historians have ig- years ago. But have you discovered nored many of the facts in a Decem- family members who were connected Reynolds already has visited all of ber 1875 interview of Cathay, which either directly or indirectly with the the New Mexico locations where Atkinson thinks can be substantiated. Santa Fe Trail? Williams was stationed or at least This Colorado researcher further stopped. Reynolds also has been to thinks most writers place Cathay’s For instance, I have an ancestor, Trinidad, Colorado, another loca- death too early, which has resulted Daniel Richardson, who was an as- tion associated with Williams. Now in many lost years. With even more sociate of Daniel Boone and moved Reynolds wants to travel from Jef- research, Atkinson aims to compile to Missouri in 1799, settling near the ferson Barracks in Missouri, where an accurate timeline of the life of Ca- Boone family. This was before the Williams enlisted, to Trinidad. This thay Williams. Santa Fe Trail began in 1821, but his would involve stopping at Fort Riley life has ties to the early Missouri and and Fort Harker before traveling the Before applying for SFTA research the Trail days. Daniel was important entire Mountain Route of the Santa grants, Reynolds and Atkinson in the territorial government of Mis- Fe Trail. Before Reynolds follows the had not heard of each other. When souri. Two of his sons worked in the known path of the travels of Wil- Reynolds applied, Mary Conrad salt business with Boone’s sons at liams, she continues to search for of the research committee asked if Booneslick, one of his brothers was articles about Williams and her army Reynolds knew Atkinson. Now the a fur trapper, and several of his chil- unit to determine any more stops two have been in touch. Both of dren traveled the Oregon Trail and that Williams may have experienced. these researchers are in agreement, settled in Oregon. I haven’t found Reynolds aims to compile a complete that is, they think a lot of the known any mention of a Richardson with itinerary of the Army travels of Wil- biographical information is in error. direct ties to the Santa Fe Trail, but liams. Due to the serendipitous timing of the Richardson family would certain- these two SFTA applications, Santa ly have been aware of the Trail. One 2020 recipient of the Scholarly Fe Trail researchers and others likely Research grant was Rebecca Atkin- will learn new facts about the life of My challenge to all 565 members son who was unable to travel to Mis- Cathay Williams, who already is in of the Santa Fe Trail Association is souri archives in Independence, Jef- the Santa Fe Trail Association Hall to become aware of your ancestors ferson City, and St. Louis because of of Fame. After Atkinson and Reyn- and look for possible connections COVID. Due to many 2020 closures olds complete further research, the to the Trail or early Missouri and of archives, Atkinson’s deadline was SFTA Hall of Fame biography likely New Mexico history. So, if you are  extended to be the same as the 2021 will need to be revised. “hooked on genealogy,” see what you grant. Atkinson also is a researcher of can find in your family history that Cathay Williams. Atkinson’s tactic of –Mary Conrad, Committee Chair makes your personal tie to the Santa Fe Trail even more important. Please send me your connections (fox- [email protected]) and I will get Socially isolated this spring? an article in a future Wagon Tracks Read about the Santa Fe Trail. showing how the Santa Fe Trail lives  Find recommended readings at on! www.2021sfts.com/readings.html -Marcia Fox, Membership Chair

https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/110 Wagon Tracks February 2021 10 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021) Ostfeld Works with American Solar Challenge Jr. Wagon Master Report

Along the way, the cars Winter is the slow season in a good will be stopping at sites year. In a Covid year, things are even along the Trail, where you slower. Eight patches and five booklets will have the opportunity have been distributed in the last two to cheer on the teams, see months, and we added Alaska to our solar-powered cars, and list of states. learn about the history of innovation on the Santa Scout booklets have been printed Fe Trail and its lasting - 1,000 of them. This is thanks to impacts. several very kind “trail folks'' who donated to the cause. My thanks also

photo credit: NPS credit: photo Though originally from to Brett and Linda Colle, who picked Bothell, Washington, I the booklets up from the Hutchinson By Jessica Ostfeld graduated from Prison Facility, saving us $300. The Wellesley College Colles took them as far as VanCo- I recently joined the NPS National in May 2020 with everns. Thanks to Greg VanCoevern Trails office in Santa Fe as a Student degrees in Bio- for bringing them to Wamego. Cavvy Conservation Association Intern. In logical Sciences booklets will be printed early this year. this role, I am working on the lo- and Environ- We will then have plenty of booklets gistics and communications for an mental Studies. for our commemmoration and beyond. exciting event along the Santa Fe At Wellesley, my The next step is to see about ordering Trail – the American Solar Challenge studies, peers, more patches. (ASC). University student teams will and mentors be bringing solar-powered cars they helped me develop an interest in the designed and built themselves to the preservation of natural and cultural Santa Fe National Historic Trail for resources, like the Santa Fe Trail. I this multi-day endurance rally. am grateful that this role gives me the opportunity to follow that interest For the 2021 event, the Innovators and learn from so many talented and Educational Foundation has partnered knowledgeable people like you. with the National Park Service to bring the race to the Santa Fe Trail If you have any questions about the for the Trail’s 200th Anniversary. ASC or just want to chat, feel free to The event will start in Independence, reach out to me at jessica_ostfeld@ Missouri, on August 3rd and end in partner.nps.gov or (505) 819-9021. Santa Fe, New Mexico, on August 7th.

Youth Trip Postponed until 2022

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Fe on the Cimarron Route, and the youth biennial Santa Fe Trail educa- return trip to Kansas will be through tional camping trip which would have Colorado on the Mountain Route. been in May 2021 has been post- Some highlights may include present- poned until the end of May in 2022. day Trail ruts, swales and traces, The Proctor girls from Springfield, In 2022, eligibility for the trip will ancient kivas, an extinct volcano, dino- Missouri, completed all sections of be students completing either their saur tracks, and climbing ladders into their Jr. Wagon Master booklets and fifth, sixth or seventh-grade level. ancestral Puebloans dwellings, plus received their patches. They also col- Ongoing since 1985, the trip is open much, much more. lected their NPS badges as they trav- to students who live in north-central eled the trail. These girls are super fu- Kansas. More information will be The trip directors are award-winning ture rangers. Their mother said about available in August. retired music teachers Janet Armstead, our programs, “We are so grateful for [email protected] and Chris- the organization and the commitment This education trip follows the Santa tine Day, [email protected]. of those, like yourself, willing to pre- Fe Trail from Council Grove to Santa serve our history! Thank you!”

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 11 11 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1 Vice President Charles Curtis on the Santa Fe Trail

By Deb Goodrich

The first vice president of color was 31st vice president Charles Curtis, serving with Herbert Hoover. Born Partners On The Santa Fe Trail in North Topeka, Kansas Territory, in 1860, Curtis spent part of his childhood on the Kaw Reservation at Although 2020 threw a lot of burrs Council Grove. under our saddles, we still can celebrate 42 new “Partners” of the Santa Curtis’s mother was French, Kaw, and Fe Trail Association! Osage, and his father was descended from the Europeans who settled New

Our 2x2x2 fundraiser seeks 200 new England. When he was three years Kansas courtesy Society Historical Photo “Partners” before our 200th Com- old, his mother died, leaving Curtis memoration begins and thus far we and a baby sister effectively orphaned. tis recalled that he was “adrift.” He count 42 and adding. That’s about The Civil War raged on the Missouri/ was 13 and his paternal grandfather 20 percent of the goal. With your Kansas border and Curtis’s father had passed away. He longed to join help we can still make this happen. joined the Union forces. I challenge each SFTA chapter to his mother’s people and move with encourage each of their members to The children were raised by their them but his maternal grandmother help us meet our goal by becoming a grandparents, and when he was five convinced him otherwise. She urged “Partner.” Curtis joined his maternal grand- him to remain in Topeka and get an parents on the Kaw Reservation. He education. He would later say that We intended to distribute the la- would recall the time through rose- everything he had accomplished he pel pins to members at various trail colored glasses. For a boy, it was ideal- owed to her. events, but COVID-19 became too -fishing, horseback riding, becoming The Kaw Mission State Historic Site much of a challenge, and at this time proficient with bows and arrows. In in Council Grove tells the story of we are mailing pins via USPS. Most fact, the Kaws were starving, and the Kaw Nation, the Santa Fe Trail, new “Partners” should now have re- white settlers were eager to take their and pieces of Curtis’s story. There is a ceived their colorful new pins. lands and push them off into the In- renewed interest in the story of this dian Territory. remarkable man. For further read- With your partnership, you can help ing: Wild West Magazine at www. make these 200th Commemoration When the Cheyenne attacked the historynet.com/charley-curtis-tepee- events a success and keep our Santa Fe Kaw in 1868, Curtis’s grandparents capitol-dome.htm and Ron Parks The Trail history alive. decided it was time for him to return to Topeka. The other school boys Darkest Period: The Kanza Indians and their Last Homeland 1846-1873. The Send your $200 check made to Santa teased him because he spoke French CBS "Sunday Morning" show on Jan- Fe Trail Association, 1349 K-156 Hi- and Kaw, and he made every effort uary 17 had a segment about Curtis way, Larned, KS. 67550 Attn: Linda to forget those languages and fit in. that included SFTA member Pauline Revello However, in 1873, the Kaw were  preparing to leave Kansas and Cur- Sharp.

Websites to Bookmark for Event Information

• SFTA website and calendar of events: • Heart of the Flint Hills Chapter and the Council www.santafetrail.org Grove community: www.santafetrail200.com/ • 200th anniversary website: www.santafetrail200.org • Quivira Chapter and Regional Planning Group: • SFTA Facebook page: enter @santafetrail1821 in any www.2021santafetrailkansas.com/ search engine (such as Google) to see Dodge City weekly • NPS Bicentennial calendar/StoryMap: nps.gov/safe/ posts of sites planyourvisit/santa-fe-trail-bicentennial.htm • Register and info for Symposium: www.2021sfts.com/ • Submit your request for inclusion on the NPS web To pay online go to the Last Chance Store at site: go.nps.gov/SantaFeTrail200EventInfo www.lastchancestore.org/santa-fe-trail-symposium- registration/ https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/112 Wagon Tracks February 2021 12 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021) Cross-Cultural Marriages in New Mexico: Six Jaramillo Women of Taos and the Husbands Who Came to Them across the Santa Fe Trail

By Doyle Daves Cañada along the Rio Grande some number of potential newcomer mar- 20 miles north of Santa Fe. Both Ig- riage partners, only three percent of Beginning in the early 1800s when nacia (1815) and Josefa (1828) were married Hispanic women were in men from the east began to arrive in born in the nearby village of Potrero.2 cross-cultural relationships. It seems New Mexico as fur trappers and trad- Shortly after Josefa was born, the fam- clear that most Hispanic New Mexi- ers, a small minority of Spanish speak- ily relocated to Taos which remained can women avoided these unions; the ing, Catholic women chose to enter the seat of the family thereafter. fact that six Jaramillo women of one into cross-cultural marriages with family did marry newcomer men is these newcomers. Especially notewor- The community standing of the sisters unusual and perhaps unique. thy were six Jaramillo women of Taos: derived primarily from their mother’s sisters Maria Ignacia and Maria Josefa Vigil family. While the Jaramillos For both women and men, physical Jaramillo and Maria Ignacia’s four were well-respected, they were of attraction and the desire for compan- daughters, Maria Rumalda Luna, Ma- modest means; whereas, the Vigils ionship and intimacy surely played a ria Estefana Bent, Maria Teresa Bent, had “extensive tracts of land and mer- role in establishing cross-cultural mar- and Maria Rumalda Jaramillo. cantile interests…” and also had “a riage relationships. Most newcomer distinguished record of military and men who chose to settle in frontier The women were members of an political service… Cornelio Vigil Hispanic communities like Taos or established, well-respected but not held several civic posts in Taos and… Las Vegas likely also had more practi- wealthy New Mexico family. The men partnered with Ceran St. Vrain in a cal motives. They saw opportunities they married, Charles Bent, Christo- massive [land] grant…Donaciano to conduct business and acquire land pher “Kit” Carson, and Thomas Oliver Vigil was territorial secretary to two and realized that marriage with a local Boggs, were the first to marry into the governors…and a good soldier. Juan woman of a well-established, respect- Jaramillo family. These men, through Bautista Vigil y Alarid was lieutenant ed family would facilitate these goals. a combination of family, political, and governor of New Mexico when war Indeed, David C. Beyreis, author of business connections, hard work and broke out with the United States…”3 Blood in the Borderlands, 1821-1920, enterprise, and fate, gained historical These family connections were impor- asserts that it was essential: “No one prominence. They achieved success tant to the Jaramillo women through- truly had a meaningful identity if they and relative prosperity in the rapidly out their lives. remained unconnected to a large fam- changing social flux that ended the ily network.”6 historic cultural separation of His- Cross-Cultural Marriages panic New Mexicans and eastern US in New Mexico For the few New Mexican women European-American anglos. Almost who chose to enter cross-cultural mar- all women of 19th century New Cross-cultural marriages between riages, the motives appear to be more Mexico have been lost to history; that Hispanic New Mexican women and subtle and harder to define. One factor we know about these Jaramillo fam- newcomer men were relatively rare. In was that newcomer men often seemed ily women is owning to the historian impressive study, Amanda Taylor- to be prosperous as they used good 4 cal prominence of their husbands, a Montoya analyzed five United States wagons with iron-clad wheels and had 5 historical prominence in which these census records, 1850-1900 for Las tools and implements rare and expen- women and the Jaramillo family Vegas, selected as a representative sive in New Mexico. They displayed a played a significant role.” Hispanic community, to determine the confident, can-do attitude that seemed prevalence of cross-cultural marriages. to promise success. The Family Background The results are surprising; before the railroad arrived in 1879 bringing mar- For those who saw all around them Sisters Ignacia and Josefa were daugh- ried couples and families to settle in married women who were “tied to ters of Francisco Esteban Jaramillo New Mexico, almost 80 percent of house and children, with endless un- and Maria Apolonia Vigil. Both the married newcomer men had Hispanic acknowledged work, little opportunity Jaramillo and Vigil families settled wives, although, throughout this pe- for outside contact or variety of expe- in New Mexico as part of DeVargas’ riod, most such men remained unmar- riences, and little relief from everyday 1 1692-94 reconquest following the ried. triviality,”7 marriage to a newcomer, Pueblo Revolt of 1680 that expelled though surely risky, had its attrac- the Hispanics from New Mexico. What is most striking is that through- tions. In pioneering studies, Craver, Francisco and Apolonia grew up in out the last half of the 19th century, Lecompte, and Miller,8 have docu- the community of Santa Cruz de la despite the presence of a significant mented cross-cultural marriages of

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 13 13 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1

New Mexican women and touched on her life; the younger women and their rush to Boggsville15 in southeastern such issues. Deena J. Gonzalez, author families moved onto the Las Animas Colorado to look after the Carson of Refusing the Favor: The Spanish- grant to occupy portions of Ignacia’s children, including a newborn. In Mexican Women of Santa Fe, 1820- land claims. Unfortunately, only two contrast, Ignacia’s daughter, Rum- 1880 found these explanations to im- of the couples, Rumalda and Tom alda Luna Boggs, was well-traveled; ply “upward mobility” and “American- Boggs and Teresina and Aloys Scheu- after marriage she and husband Tom ization” for the Hispanic women and rich lived long, financially comfortable Boggs lived in Taos, Rayado, Springer, notes correctly that, in most cases, the lives. Ignacia, Estefana, and Rumalda- and Clayton in New Mexico, spent newcomer husband became Hispani- cita were widowed relatively early in five years in northern California, and cized.9 This was certainly true for the life, and both Josefa and Kit Carson founded the community of Boggsville families of the three older Jaramillo died leaving a large, young family for in Colorado.16 Kit Carson never took women. Spanish was the language of others to raise. Josefa with him on his many trips the households of Ignacia, Josefa, and east. However, during the Civil War, Rumalda. The Lives They Led Josefa and the children did follow Kit to several military posts where he was The Jaramillo Women, In the 19th century, women’s lives stationed, and Josefa participated in Their Marriages were tightly constrained; most were 11 the social whirl made possible by her almost invisible to history. Women husband’s high status.17 Of the six Jaramillo women, only “exerted their influence through the Ignacia married a wealthy, well-estab- home, a Utopian space that nurtured Language Ignacia and Josefa re- 10 12 lished man and inherited claims to children and sheltered husbands.” mained monolingual Spanish speakers immense lands. Ignacia’s land holdings In writing about the sisters, Ignacia although they likely came to under- 13 did not affect the marriage choices of and Josefa Jaramillo, Marc Simmons stand English to some extent. Even her sister Josefa, or daughter Rumalda noted that without the association Rumalda Boggs, despite her five years Luna, who both married relatively with a famous husband “they would in California among English speak- 14 poor but esteemed mountain men. The now be completely forgotten.” Luck- ers, maintained a Spanish language husbands of the three younger women, ily, the oldest three of the six Jaramillo household after returning to the Estefana and Teresina Bent and Rum- women did have a “famous husband” Southwest.18 The sisters Estefana and alda Jaramillo, were surely aware of the and thus we are able to describe their Teresina Bent attended school in San- potential to gain land through Igna- lives in some detail. ta Fe19 and learned English, and likely cia’s largess, and this may have affected their homes were at least bilingual. their marital decisions. Travel As noted, only Ignacia lived Probably this was true of the home of her entire life in Taos as part of the Rumaldacita Ritz as well. The Jaramillo women and their new- extended Jaramillo and Vigil families. comer husbands prospered both eco- There is no record of her traveling Entertaining Few facilities were nomically and socially following mar- even to Santa Fe; after sister Josefa’s available on the western frontier for riage and the births of children. Only death in 1868, Ignacia (with her overnight accommodations or meals Ignacia remained in Taos throughout daughter, Teresina Scheurich) did

Ignacia Jaramillo Bent Rumalda Luna Boggs Josefa Jaramillo Carson https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/114 Wagon Tracks February 2021 14 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

for travelers; most depended on local After Fremont was rescued, he spent Even as young women, Ignacia and citizens for such amenities. All the Ja- three weeks in the Carson home in Josefa Jaramillo owned parcels of land. ramillo women were gracious hostesses Taos where Josefa cared for him as The Taos home of Josefa and Kit Car- renowned for their readiness to accept he regained his health. Fremont went son was likely a gift to Josefa by her visitors of all sorts. The prominence on to become the first Republican parents.27 Ignacia likely owned parcels of their husbands in military, politi- candidate for President of the United of land in Taos provided by her parents cal, and business circles brought many States in 1856. On another occasion, and as a result of her marriages with visitors to their homes, where great the Carsons had as overnight guests Rafael Luna and Charles Bent. There quantities of food, including much members of the Doolittle Congressio- are records of several real estate trans- wild game, was prepared and served by nal Committee, including Senator La- actions by Ignacia.28 family members and abundant servant fayette Foster, who, as senate president help. pro tem following President Lincoln’s Later actions concerning Mexican land death, was essentially Vice President.23 grants were important for the Jaramillo Teresina Scheurich had a large impres- women and their husbands. In the sive home with a patio resplendent Landholding. The newcomer husbands 1860s, a law suit was filed on behalf with colorful blossoms; she and her of the Jaramillo women, like many of the Bent descendants (Ignacia and husband, Aloys, provided guests with another Santa Fe Trail travelers, “en- her children) to recover the one-sixth musical entertainment, she on the countered women [in New Mexico] interest in the Beaubien-Miranda piano and he on the violin.20 Josefa who were far more empowered than (Maxwell) grant that was awarded to Carson also liked to entertain guests by those at the eastern end of the trail.”24 Charles Bent in 1843.29 Ignacia also playing her guitar and singing Spanish Women in the United States had al- conveyed parcels of the Las Animas tunes.21 Estefana was also undoubtedly most no legal rights; upon marriage Grant to her daughters and to sister a welcoming hostess as it’s reported any assets or property they may have Josefa. In 1867, Ignacia filed a deed in that her husband Zan Hicklin “was a inherited or been given, belonged to Bent County, Colorado conveying “to good host and an avid joker.”22 their husbands.25 In contrast, women Rumalda Ritc, wife of Charles L. Ritc under Spanish and then Mexican law of the Ritc Ranch and Las Animas Most impressive was the Carson could own, sell, and bequeath property. City…[t]he undivided half of the grant household where Josefa catered to The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidal- of the Government of New Mexico to visitors; Indian, Spanish, and Anglo go26 that ended the Mexican-American Cornelio Vigil and Ceran St. Vrain by including Bishop Lamy and other War ensured that New Mexican wom- deed of grant 1-2-1844…,”30 that is, Catholic clergy, and many army of- en retained these rights, not available the Las Animas Grant. ficers. On occasion, the Carsons hosted to any other American women. The distinguished political figures. In 1849, rights to the extensive landholdings Trials of Maturity The fates of the on his fourth expedition to California, inherited by Ignacia were a dominant Jaramillo women in maturity differed John C. Fremont’s party was trapped factor of the lives led by the families of greatly. For four of the women, hard- in heavy snow in the Rockies; some the Jaramillo women. ship, trauma, and death intervened. men died of exposure, others starved. Josefa Carson died at 40 following

Rumalda Jaramillo Ritz Teresina Bent Scheurich

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 15 15 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1

childbirth and her husband Kit died another daughter, Maria Rumalda Ja- Despite Carson’s frequent absences, soon after, leaving their large young ramillo, whose paternity is unclear and many caused by his involvement with family to be raised by others. Three of to this day remains controversial35 (see American military and government the women, Ignacia Jaramillo Bent, discussion below). Ignacia died in the activities, the couple remained devoted Estefana Hicklin, and Rumaldacita Bent home in Taos in 1883 at age 68 to each other. Together they had a Ritz were widowed unexpectedly at after 36 years as a widow. large family before, tragically, in April young ages, each parenting dependent 1868 at age 40, Josefa died two weeks young children. Ignacia, who remained Charles Bent was a wealthy man; after giving birth to her eighth child. in Taos living among her extended among his assets were great Mexican Compounding the tragedy, especially family and with substantial assets in- land grant holdings. Most important for the Carson children, one month herited from her husbands and family, for the Jaramillo women was Bent’s later Kit also died.39 lived comfortably. Estefana and Rum- share of the Las Animas Land Grant. aldacita experienced years of hard- The grant was awarded in 1843 to Maria Rumalda Luna ship and poverty. “[W]omen without Ceran St. Vrain and Cornelio Vigil husbands remained at the bottom … by New Mexico Governor Manuel Rumalda, born in 1831, grew up in 36 in income and jobs.”31 The other two Armijo, and the two grantees im- Taos with her three younger siblings women, Rumalda Boggs and Teresina mediately deeded a 1/6 interest to in the home of her mother Ignacia Scheurich, had husbands who ensured Charles Bent. The grant was located and stepfather Charles Bent amid the a comfortable life and lived along with in extreme northeastern New Mexico large Jaramillo/Vigil/Luna extended them to see children and grandchil- south of the Arkansas River, which family. In May 1846, Rumalda mar- dren grow up. was the border of New Mexico with ried Thomas Oliver Boggs, a son of the United States established by the Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs, a Maria Ignacia Jaramillo Adams-Onis treaty of 1819.37 In 1861 descendant of Daniel Boone and a 40 when Colorado Territory was estab- step-nephew of Charles Bent. The Ignacia was born in 1815, and in lished, New Mexico’s northeastern couple lived in Taos, although Tom 1829, at age 14, she married Jose Ra- border was moved south about a hun- was away frequently, often serving as fael Luna; two years later, the couple dred miles and set at the 37th paral- a guide or courier for the U. S. Army. had a daughter, Maria Rumalda. Jose lel,38 thus the Las Animas Land Grant When his father, Lilburn Boggs, and Rafael died not long thereafter, leav- was now in Colorado. other family members left Missouri ing teenage Ignacia as a widow with a and relocated to northern California, small daughter. In about 1835, Ignacia When Charles Bent died, Ignacia Tom, Rumalda, and little Charles entered into a common-law marriage inherited his share and, for reasons (Carlos) followed. with Charles Bent, a successful fur not now known, she also inherited the trader, merchant, and Santa Fe Trail much larger share owned by her uncle They stayed in California for five years freighter, who, in partnership with his Cornelio Vigil who also perished in before returning to New Mexico. brother William and Ceran St. Vrain, the Taos uprising. Beginning in the After living in Taos, Santa Fe, and was in the process of constructing a late 1850s, the five younger Jaramillo Rayado, they moved again to found major trading post on the Arkansas women and their husbands established a settlement (Boggsville) along the River (now Bent’s Old Fort).32 Over farms and ranches within the Las Arkansas River in what is now south- the next dozen years, Ignacia gave Animas Land Grant. eastern Colorado. It was here in 1868 birth to at least five children, though that Rumalda gave birth to a second only three, Alfredo (Elfego), Maria Maria Josefa Jaramillo child, Minnie Boone Boggs, when her Estefana, and Maria Teresa (Teresina) son Charles was already a grown man. lived past early childhood.33 Josefa, Ignacia’s younger sister, born in That same year the Boggs assumed 1828, was only three years older than responsibility for the orphaned Carson When the American army annexed her niece, Rumalda Luna, with whom children. About 1877, they returned to New Mexico (and the entire south- she grew up, spending much time in New Mexico, moving first to Springer west) in August of 1846, General Ste- the Bent home with her nephew and and later to Clayton where they both phen W. Kearny named Charles Bent nieces. It was there that she met Kit died, Tom in 1894 and Rumalda in as New Mexico’s governor. The role Carson, who was periodically em- 1906. was short-lived as Bent and several ployed by Bent, St. Vrain and Com- other leading men, including Ignacia’s pany and often visited Taos. Josefa and The Bent Sisters, Maria Estefana uncle Cornelio Vigil and her brother Carson, who had become Catholic, and Maria Teresa (Teresina) Pablo Jaramillo were killed in the Taos were married in the Taos church revolt in January 1847.34 Thus, Ignacia, February 6, 1843, by Padre Antonio Estefana and Teresina Bent were at age 32, was again a widow, this time Jose Martinez. At their marriage, Jo- eight and five years old, respectively, in with four small children. Ignacia had sefa was not quite 15 and Kit was 33. 1847 when their father was killed in https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/116 Wagon Tracks February 2021 16 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

the Taos revolt. When the Sisters of married German immigrant, Charles 1850.50 Her cemetery headstone lists Loretto Academy was established in Aloys Scheurich, who arrived in the her birth date as October 25, 1852, Santa Fe in 1852, Estefana and Tere- United States at age 16, joined the and her death certificate lists October sina were enrolled.41 Thus, the sisters army and was sent to New Mexico 7, 1852. The question of Rumalda- were the first women of the Jaramillo where he participated in the Ute cita’s paternity has been contentious family to become literate and to learn and Apache War.45 He mustered out for more than a century;51 it seems English. in 1858 and located at Taos where doubtful that it will ever be resolved. he joined in business with another Maria Estefana. Estefana was born young German immigrant, Charles On November 3, 1865 at Taos, Rum- in 1839 and, like the other Jaramillo Ritz. aldacita married Charles Aloysius women, grew up and married at Taos. Lewis Ritz. Ritz was born in Darm- She married Alexander (Zan) Hick- In 1865, Ritz married Maria Rum- stadt, Germany in about 1835, came lin in 1856. Hicklin, a native of La- alda Jaramillo and thus became to America in 1852 and was in Taos fayette County, Missouri, arrived in Scheurich’s brother-in-law as well as the next year when he joined the U. New Mexico as part of the merchant partner. In the firm, Scheurich and S. Army for a five-year stint. Upon train that trailed General Kearny and Ritz, Charles Ritz maintained a mer- discharge, he formed a partner- the Army of the West from Bent’s cantile store in Taos, while Scheu- ship with his brother-in-law, Aloys Fort in 1846. rich freighted on the Santa Fe Trail Scheurich (see above). and transported military supplies In 1859, shortly after the birth of Al- to various army forts.46 This activ- A decade later, like the families of exander, Jr., the Hicklins became the ity continued until 1858 when both the other Jaramillo women, Rum- first of the Jaramillo families to move families left Taos to farm and ranch aldacita and Charles left Taos and onto the Las Animas Land Grant. on Jaramillo family land claims near settled near the Boggs and Scheu- There they established a farm and the Arkansas River. richs on the Las Animas Land Grant ranch on the Greenhorn River some and helped build the new commu- 30 miles south of present-day Pueblo. It appears that the Scheurichs re- nity of Boggsville. The Ritz family Two more sons were born there, mained in Colorado only a short prospered; the 1870 census for Bent Thomas in 1862 and Alfred in 1871. time, as they were back living in their County reports that they had land The family prospered until Zan died Taos home by 1871. The Taos home valued at $10,000 and personal assets in 1874 at age 55. Estefana remained grew to contain 29 rooms, includ- of $1,500, impressive for the time. By on the ranch, but she and the boys ing a special music room for the 1873, there were four daughters and were unable to manage the ranch or rosewood grand piano that Aloys a son when, in October, Charles un- to deal with squatters who began to brought from St. Louis by wagon. expectedly died. Rumaldacita, now in settle on the property. Alexander, Jr. Teresina often played it and sang for her mid-20s, was a pregnant widow, was killed in a dispute with a squat- guests, sometimes accompanied by with four children under six years of ter in 1878.42 To manage financially, her husband on the Stradivarius vio- age. Estefana began to sell parcels of the lin he brought from Germany.47 The land. By 1896 there was nothing left. Scheurichs had a large family and Rumaldacita lived another 52 years, She died in 1927 at Walsenburg hav- lived out their lives in comfort and although little is known of her life ing “lived the last 27 years of her life prosperity; Aloys died in 1908 at age after the death of Charles. Fam- at the mercy of friends.”43 72; Teresina lived until 1920. ily records indicate that she had a second husband, Manuel Gonzales, Maria Teresa (Teresina). Teresina, Maria Rumalda who was the father of her last three born in October 1841, was just five (Rumaldacita) Jaramillo children. The 1885 Colorado census years old when her father was killed; lists her in Las Animas County with nonetheless, she retained vivid mem- When Rumaldacita was born, her her children, all listed as “Rite or ories of the event throughout her life. older sister, Rumalda Luna, was very Ritz.” She has not been located in She relished her time at the Loretta ill and expected to die; the newborn 1900, 1910, or 1920 census records. Academy and particularly enjoyed was named for her. When Rumalda At the time of her death on March music and learned to play the piano, recovered, the baby was dubbed 27, 1935,52 Rumaldacita was living 48 a skill she enjoyed as an adult. Rumaldacita to distinguish the two. with her daughter and son-in-law Was Rumaldacita Charles Bent’s Margarita and Benito Long at Coke- Teresina married twice; first, “… daughter? Some descendants contend dale, a mining camp some eight miles in her latter teens [she] married the that she was, although this seems from Trinidad. schoolmaster John T. Lux. However, unlikely,49 as Charles Bent was killed in 1860, he deserted her and disap- in the Taos revolt in January 1847, Jaramillo Women, an Assessment peared from Taos.”44 In 1865, she and she was baptized on October 9,

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After 200 years as a remote outpost ment. All benefited from the status New Mexico, 1821-1846,” Western of the Spanish empire, the 1800s of the Jaramillo family. Of particular Historical Quarterly, 12 (1981), 17-35; Janet brought great political and social importance was the acquisition and/ Lecompte, “The Independent Women of Hispanic New Mexico” in Joan M. change to New Mexico. The oldest or utilization of land inherited by their Jensen and Darlis A. Miller, Eds., New of the Jaramillo women, Ignacia, was New Mexican wives owing to their Mexico Women, Intercultural Perspectives born a Spanish citizen, as a young girl legal rights under Spanish and Mexi- (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico she became a citizen of newly inde- can law. Press, 1986); Darlis A. Miller, “Cross- pendent Mexico, and she lived the Cultural Marriages in the Southwest: The latter half of her life as a citizen of the The beginning of legal equality of New Mexico Experience 1846-1900” in Joan United States. women with men in the United States M. Jensen and Darlis A. Miller, Eds., New came much later with the passage of Mexico Women, Intercultural Perspectives (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico The social upheaval of New Mexican the 19th Amendment in 1920, which Press, 1986). society--probably as profound as the guaranteed women the right to vote. political--began with the appearance Indeed the long, not yet complete pro- 9. Deena J. Gonzalez, Refusing the Favor: The Spanish-Mexican Women of Santa Fe, 1820- of newcomers from the east in the cess, of “redefinition of the socioeco- 1880 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, first decades of the 1800s. First there nomic roles of women, their transition 1999), 39-40, 72, 113. was a trickle of fur trappers, a mix of from being the property of men to 10. Charles Bent did not join the Catholic French-Canadians and Americans. being equal partners with men, is the church and never formally married With Mexican independence and the most profound social development in Ignacia: See David C. Beyreis, Blood in the 54 opening of the Santa Fe Trail, both in the history of the world.” Borderlands, 50-52. 1821, the stream of newcomers grew 11. Dorothy Hartman, “Lives of Women,” rapidly and became a flood follow- NOTES www.connerprairie.org/educate/indiana- ing the U. S. takeover in 1846 and the history/lives-of-women, accessed July 2020. 1. Fray Angelico Chavez, Origins of New coming of the railroad to New Mexico Mexico Families, Revised Edition (Santa Fe: 12. See Elizabeth Cunningham, Josefa in 1879. Museum of New Mexico Press, 1992), 198- Jaramillo Carson (1828-1868), and Ignacia 199, 363. Jaramillo Bent (ca.1814-1883), in Elizabeth The Jaramillo women were part of a Cunningham, Ed., Remarkable Women of 2. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Three transition generation; their lives were Taos (Taos: Nighthawk Press, 2013), 19-22. Wives (Albuquerque: University of New The Jaramillo sisters are the earliest women shaped by this great social flux with Mexico Press, 2003), 52-55. Interestingly, challenges and opportunities utterly honored in this impressive work; almost all Maria Viviana Martin, who made three of the information presented is about their unlike those faced by earlier genera- cross-cultural marriages, was also born in husbands. tions of New Mexicans. Each of the Potrero (1821): Doyle Daves, “Maria Viviana 13. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Three six Jaramillo women embraced the Martin,” Wagon Tracks, 23 (No. 4, August Wives, 145. change by choosing to enter a cross- 2009), 13-17. cultural marriage, something few New 3. David C. Beyreis, Blood in the Borderlands: 14. Elizabeth Cunningham, Ed., Remarkable Women of Taos, 22. Mexican women did. The combina- Conflict, Kinship and the Bent Family, 1821- tion of the established standing of 1920 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 15. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Three 2020), 52. Wives, 115-120. the Jaramillo-Vigil family and the vast land grant claims of the Jaramillo 4. Amanda Taylor-Montoya, “There is No 16. Priscilla Shannon Gutierrez, “Out From There There: Women and Intermarriage in women along with the community the Shadow of Giants: Life of Thomas the Southwestern Borderlands,” Common Oliver Boggs,” Wagon Tracks, 23 (No.3, May visibility and financial success of the Place, The Journal of Early American Life, 13 2009), 7-14. newcomer husbands initially provided (No. 3, Spring, 2013), commonplace.online/ 17. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Three each of the families security and sta- article/there-is-no-there-there/, accessed Wives, 115-120. tus. Anne Fairbrother, author of Mexi- July 2020. 18. Rumalda Luna Boggs spoke only cans in New Mexico: Deconstructing the 5. The 1890 census was destroyed by fire. 53 broken English, see: Boggs, Bushnell, Birch, Tri-Cultural Trope has suggested 6. David C. Beyreis, Blood in the Borderlands, unpublished papers (d), obtained at the that cross-cultural families, like those 1821-1920, 49. Herzstein Museum, Clayton, New Mexico of the Jaramillo women “created the 7. Graham Warder, “Women in Nineteenth in 2002. middle class of that [New Mexican] Century America,” https://socialwelfare. 19. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His feudal society” that traditionally had library-vcu.edu/women-suffrage/women-in- Three Wives, 105; Schultz suggests that Josefa consisted of a very few rich and many nineteenth-century-america, accessed July Jaramillo (and perhaps others of the family) poor. 2020. attended Padre Martinez’s school in Taos; 8. Rebecca McDowell Craver, The Impact see: Barbara Schulz, Josefa, The Lifetime of The husbands of the Jaramillo women, of Intimacy: Mexican-Anglo Intermarriage Maria Josefa Jaramillo Carson, 1828-1868 four Anglo-Americans and two Ger- in New Mexico, 1821-1846 (El Paso: Texas (Taos: Kit Carson Home and Museum, man immigrants, prospered in the Western Press, 1982); Janet Lecompte, 2017), 15; the 1860 US census for Taos indicates that Josefa could not read. rapidly changing frontier environ- “The Independent Women of Hispanic https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/118 Wagon Tracks February 2021 18 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

20. Nancy Christofferson, “Estefana’s History, Establishing Borders,” Studies, 7 (2000), 112. Sisters,” krtnradio.com/2015/10/08/ online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/ 54. Ralph Peters, Beyond Baghdad, Estefanas-sisters/, accessed June 2020. people-places-and-politics/statehood/ Postmodern War and Peace (Mechanicsburg, 21. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His history-statehood.html, accessed May 2020. PA: Stackpole Books, 2003), 6. Three Wives, 105, 39. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Three Wives, Josefa, Chapter I, 55-75. 22. “Greenhorn Valley History, Photo credits: Greenhorn Chronology 1859-1874,” www. 40. Priscilla Shannon Gutierrez, Out From pueblolibrary.org/Wall, accessed June 2020. the Shadow of Giants: Life of Thomas Oliver • Maria Ignacia Jaramillo Bent; 23. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Boggs, 7-14. findagrave.com/memorial/14951426/ Three Wives, 80, 81, 103, 104. 41. Nancy Christofferson, Estefana’s Sisters. maria-ignacia-bent. 24. Frances Levine, “Desperately Seeking 42. D. W. Working, The Hicklins on the • Maria Josefa Jaramillo Carson; Carmel,” El Palacio, 124 (Issue 2, Summer Greenhorn, Colorado Magazine, 4 (No. 5, search.yahoo/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=crmas- 2019), 52-59. December 1927), 183-188. &p=josefa+jaramillo+carson+photo. In Kit Carson and his Three Wives, opposite p 66, 25. Janet Lecompte, The Independent 43. Cheryl Johnson Huban, “The Hicklins Marc Simmons says "Believed to be an Women of Hispanic New Mexico, 73. Arrive in the Greenhorn Valley,” image of Maria Josefa Carson in her early www.greenhornvalleyview.com/index. 26. “Articles VIII and IX, Treaty of to middle years. (Rio Grande Historical asp?linkID=63&itemID=6602, accessed Guadalupe Hidalgo,”avalon.law.yale. Collection, Las Cruces)” I [Doyle Daves] May 2020. edu/19th_century/guadhida.asp, accessed have seen a publication that says Josefa is November 2020. 44. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His 18 in the photo. She was born in 1828 so 27. Marc Simmons, Kit Carson and His Three Wives, 106. this would date from 1846 which is almost Three Wives, 61. 45. Aloys Scheurich, Obituary, Los certainly not possible as photography was rare then. I am inclined to agree that this 28. David C. Beyreis, Blood in the Angeles Herald, June 28, 1908, accessed on photo is highly questionable. Borderlands, 52. Newspapers.com. • Maria Rumalda Luna Boggs; 29. Ronald K. Wetherington, Ceran St. 46. George Anderson, History of New Wagon Tracks, 23 (No. 3, May 2009), p 8. Vrain, American Frontier Entrepreneur Mexico, Its Resources and People (Los (Santa Fe: Sunstone Press, 2012), 30. Angeles: Pacific States Publishing • Maria Estefana Bent Hicklin; Company, 1907), 101-102; William J. robertstoy.family.search.org/database-Phil- 30. Quantrille D. McClung, Carson- Parish, The Charles Ilfeld Company, A Study Bent-Boggs Genealogy Supplement (Denver: ipStoy/StoyFamily-o/exhibits/Estefana- of the Rise and Fall of Mercantile Capitalism bent-hicklin-1924.jpg. Denver Public Library, 1973), 220, 221. in New Mexico (Cambridge: Harvard 31. Deena J. Gonzalez, “The Widowed University Press, 1961), 30. • Maria Teresina Bent Scheurich; econtent.unm.edu/digital/collection/acpa/ Women of Santa Fe: Assessments of the 47. Ruth Fish, “The Life of Teresina Bent id/2194 or ancestry.com/family-tree/per- Lives of an Unmarried Population, 1850- Scheurich, Daughter of Governor Charles son/tree/159908583/person/31209003817/ 80,” in Arlene Scadron, Ed., On Their Own: Bent,” Ayer Y Hoy en Taos, Yesterday and facts. Widows and Widowhood in the American Today in Taos County and Northern New Southwest, 1849-1939 (Urbana: University Mexico, Issue 24, Winter 1997, 6-7, 14, 16. • Maria Rumalda Jaramillo of Illinois Press, 1988), 72. Ritz; ancestry.com/family-tree/person/ 48. Boggs, Bushnell, Birch, unpublished tree/78633380/person/260079572592/facts. 32. Ronald K. Wetherington, Ceran St. papers. Vrain, 25. 49. For a cogent discussion of the issue 33. Quantrille D. McClung, Carson-Bent- of Rumaldacita’s paternity see: Priscilla Doyle Daves received the Jack D. Boggs Genealogy (Denver: Denver Public Shannon Gutierrez, “Shining a Light on Library, 1962), 177. Rittenhouse Memorial Stagecoach Award Maria Ygnacia Jaramillo Bent.” from the Santa Fe Trail Association in 34. James A. Crutchfield, Revolt at Taos, 50. “New Mexico Births and Christenings, 2019 for his extensive writing about the The New Mexican and Indian Insurrection of 1726-1918”, familysearch.org/ Santa Fe Trail travelers. His articles have 1847 (Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishing, ark/61903/1:1:HWD5-T73Z. appeared in previous Wagon Tracks and LLC, 2015).  51. Quantrille D. McClung, Carson- can be found at www.santafetrail.org. 35. Priscilla Shannon Gutierrez, “Shining Bent-Boggs Genealogy, 91; Quantrille D. a Light on Maria Ygnacia Jaramillo Bent,” McClung, Carson-Bent-Boggs Genealogy SFTA End of Trail Chapter Newsletter, Supplement, 219.51. Simmons (ref.2) and September 2020. Beyreis (ref. 3), who both include extensive 36. Ronald K. Wetherington, Ceran St. information about the Jaramillo-Bent Vrain, 30. family, fail to mention Rumaldacita; presumably because of the uncertainty of 37. “Designing America, The Louisiana her paternity (she certainly was a Jaramillo). Purchase and the Adams-Onis Treaty,” designing-americas.com/continido/the- 52. Quantrille D. McClung, Carson-Bent- louisiana-purchase-and-the-adams-onis- Boggs Genealogy Supplement, 221-222. treaty/, accessed May 2020. 53. Anne Fairbrother, “Mexicans in New 38. “New Mexico Art Tells New Mexico Mexico: Deconstructing the Tri-Cultural Trope,” Perspectives in Mexican American

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Editor's note: To mark the 200th an- more than 700 miles between Fort niversary of William Becknell’s historic Leavenworth and New Mexico. In journey to Santa Fe, Wagon Tracks May 1848 the first contract was giv- will reprint several articles from past en to James Brown of Independence, issues and related publications. We’ve Missouri, to transport an unspeci- selected articles which are important to a fied amount of supplies from Fort broad knowledge of the Trail, but which Leavenworth to Santa Fe, although may be buried too deeply in the annals government wagons continued to of the past to be known by readers new- haul some freight as well. But since er to the history of the Santa Fe Trail. economy was the watchword of the army, additional contracts were soon signed with civilian freighters. Walk- transportation. On one occasion a six by Darlis A. Miller er estimates that in the early 1850s, month’s supply of many articles of sub- private contractors hauled goods This paper was presented at Fort Union sistence stores arrived at Fort Bayard, over the plains for about two-thirds National Monument in June 1990. New Mexico 136 days behind time; on the price that it would have cost had Published in Wagon Tracks, another occasion bacon arrived at Fort government trains been utilized. November 1990, Vol. 5, No. 1 Bliss, Texas, 87 days overdue.” By the fall of 1850, the army had Freighting for Uncle Sam shows the Some officers wanted the army to established eleven military posts in interaction between the frontier army operate its own transportation. None the military department of New and civilians in the Southwest and spoke more compellingly than Colo- Mexico; nine were located in towns. along the Santa Fe Trail. This topic nel Joseph A. Porter, quartermaster The policy of garrisoning towns was shows how crucial civilians were to at Fort Leavenworth, who in 1865 meant to preserve lives and property the success of the frontier army. My wrote to Quartermaster General and to stimulate the economy. The research has concentrated on the pe- Montgomery C. Meigs that “the sys- government soon decided, however, riod of the Civil War to the coming tem of contracting freight is errone- that garrisoning towns was not only of the railroads, and my presentation ous. The delays, damages, etc. arising expensive but it did not provide the pertains to those years. from the careless mode of shipment desired protection. and want of proper care, will be in a Freighting for Uncle Sam was al- great measure avoided by using noth- The army’s economy years were initi- ready big business by the time of the ing but government trains.” Civil War. The army simply could not ated in 1851 when Colonel Edwin V. Sumner arrived in New Mexico function without the many civilian But of course the army already had to assume command. He had orders firms that hauled military supplies tried running its own wagon trains to reduce cost for maintaining the across the plains. Contractors would and found this system too costly and military establishment. Sumner and continue to reap profits freighting for nearly unmanageable. During the his superiors believed posts ought the army even as railroads built west War with Mexico, General Stephen to be removed from villages and and entered New Mexico in the late Watts Kearny’s Army of the West established closer to Indian country. 1870s. During all these years, how- had been supplied by army-operated On the very day he arrived in Santa ever, supply officers voiced complaints wagon trains. Historian Pick Walker Fe, he issued orders transferring about the contract trains. has stated in his fine book,The Wag- his headquarters and general sup- onmasters, that inexperience marked ply depot to a site near the junction Captain Frederick F. Whitehead, the whole operation. Teamsters of the Mountain and Cimarron chief commissary of subsistence for were disorderly, insubordinate, and branches of the Santa: Fe Trail. He the District of New Mexico, wrote in inexperienced. No escorts had been later explained (in a much quoted July 1879: “as in years past the con- provided, so Indians drove off oxen, passage): “My first step was to break tract transportation in this District, robbed trains, destroyed wagons, and up the post of Santa Fe, that sink of during the fiscal year ending June 30, killed men. 1879, has uniformly failed to come up vice and extravagance.” Soon enlisted to the requirements of the contracts. After the war, reflecting on this men were hard at work constructing During the past year several posts in “unfortunate wartime experience,” Fort Union. this District ran short in subsistence the army decided to experiment with Sumner’s successor, General John supplies owing to unusual delays in contract freighting to move supplies Garland, complained that several https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/120 Wagon Tracks February 2021 20 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

forts established by Sumner had been to-coast republic, meant to take New quartermaster reported that clothing improperly located. Consequently in Mexico by force. had been stolen from packages piled 1853 Garland transferred commissary in the new fieldwork. and quartermaster stores from Fort New Mexicans were unprepared for Union to Albuquerque, saying that the disruption caused by the out- Conditions in New Mexico became Fort Union was entirely out of posi- break of the Civil War, but in the critical when General Henry Hop- tion for a depot. Still, Garland found months that followed they contrib- kins Sibley arrived in mid-December Albuquerque intolerable as head- uted both manpower and supplies to 1861 at the head of three regiments quarters. He called Albuquerque “the the Union war effort. While govern- of Texas-Confederate soldiers. Their dirtiest hole in New Mexico,” and ment agents scoured the countryside advance up the Rio Grande rekindled had stockpiled supplies there strictly for food items, Union officials in efforts by Union officials to recruit out of military necessity. So Garland Santa Fe coordinated plans to move volunteers, organize the militia, and returned Army headquarters to Santa the department’s major supply depot collect supplies from the surrounding Fe. from Albuquerque to Fort Union. countryside. During the summer of 1861, New Even after Garland reduced the Mexico’s quartermaster was hard- With Sibley moving north, Chief military role of Fort Union, most of pressed to find wagons and work Quartermaster John C. McFerran’s the stores freighted from the States animals to transport supplies from major concern was to concentrate continued to be transshipped at Fort Albuquerque to Fort Union and other supplies at Albuquerque and Fort Union, requiring the maintenance posts. Eventually he was forced to Craig for use of Union troops. But of government trains at both Fort hire mule trains from private citizens, McFerran lacked transportation, and Union and Albuquerque. Until the but even these were unavailable until shipments for Albuquerque were left 1860s, the movement of goods from the merchant caravans arrived from standing in Fort Union storehouses the general depot and between posts the states. for lack of wagons and draft animals. was usually handled by government On February 10, 1862, McFerran wagon trains. During the summer and fall, the complained that “not a mule wagon freighting firm of Irwin, Jackman and or team can be purchased or hired The most famous of the firms hauling Company, headquartered at Leaven- within 100 miles” of Fort Union. freight for the army over the Santa worth City, transported government Fe Trail prior to the Civil War was stores from Fort Leavenworth to the Despite these obstacles, McFerran that of Russell, Majors and Waddell, new depot at Fort Union. The firm’s continued purchasing and forward- who in 1855 obtained a monopoly of first train of 25 ox-drawn wagons left ing supplies. He was still ordering army freighting west of the Mis- Fort Leavenworth on May 24, 1861, grain south to Albuquerque as late as souri River. Monopoly in govern- and arrived at Fort Union about two February 26, five days after Confed- ment contracting was the exception months later. In following weeks the erate forces defeated Union troops at rather than the rule, however, and firm sent 14 trains to Fort Union Valverde Ford, six miles above Fort in later years numerous freighting over the Santa Fe Trail, most av- Craig. firms would share the government’s eraging 25 wagons and each train patronage. carrying more than 140,000 pounds On February 28, after receiving news of government stores. The government of the battle, McFerran began recall- Both before and after the Civil War, paid the firm between $1.30 and ing supply trains sent to Albuquer- the army tried to purchase forage and $1.50 per 100 pounds per 100 miles, que. He said there was no cause for food items in New Mexico to save depending on the season of the year. alarm; with energy and promptness the cost of transporting these goods all public property could be saved. across the plains. Still, the military Meanwhile, an awesome confusion But he was mistaken. The Texas department of New Mexico contin- prevailed at Fort Union. Packages advance up the Rio Grande was too ued to rely heavily upon Fort Leav- from Fort Leavenworth had been rapid and Union mule trains too few enworth for a large portion of the mixed with those sent from Albu- to remove all government supplies to soldier’s rations and other supplies. querque, making it impossible to safety. What remained at places like In 1861, however, civil war disrupted know what supplies were on hand. Polvadera, Belen, Albuquerque, and military operations throughout the Government packages were stacked Santa Fe was destroyed. West. Even though most of the in the depot storehouse, some in fighting and carnage took place east piles adjoining the storehouse, others The Texans continued their advance of the Mississippi, western states and were piled in different rooms at the up the Rio Grande and on March 28 territories also were sucked into the corrals. It was to be only a matter of met defeat on the Santa Fe Trail at maelstrom. The Southern Confed- time before thieves took advantage of Glorieta Pass. But even after Sibley eracy, in its drive to establish a coast- this confusion. By late December, the decided to evacuate New Mexico,

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the Union army faced grave problems for transporting army supplies to Fort settlements].” Meigs reported that for of supply. McFerran informed Quar- Union. But Indian warfare that year the fiscal year ending June 30, 1865, termaster General Meigs in April disrupted travel. Colonel McFerran, contractors carrying supplies to Fort that the department was in deplor- who crossed the plains in midsum- Union and the interior posts of New able condition: “Most of our supplies mer, reported that wagon trains were Mexico had received about one and a have been consumed, captured, or camped all along the route unable half million dollars—this was a third destroyed.” Grain was exhausted in to proceed because of lack of pro- of the total cost of maintaining troops the area of troop movements, and little tection or loss of stock to Indians in the territory. Meigs confidently forage could be obtained for animals. raiders. “Every tribe that frequents predicted that military expenses would Since most military transportation the plains is engaged in daily dep- decline with the westward extension was broken down and unfit for service, redations,” he reported, and warned of railroads. the army seized private trains to rees- that unless prompt action were taken tablish posts and depots. military supplies would be cut off. Supply officers frequently pointed to The increased danger may account for another means for reducing expenses: Within three months of McFerran’s the higher rates paid the following better packaging of commissary sup- report, however, New Mexico would summer to freighter William S. Shews- plies to reduce losses incurred in ship- have an abundance of military stores. bury of Council Grove, Kansas, who ping. Chief Quartermaster Herbert M. Three government ox trains and one received $2.05 per 100 pounds per 100 Enos testified in 1865 that during the belonging to Irwin, Jackman and miles for transporting supplies to Fort previous eight years 75 percent of hams Company arrived from Fort Leaven- Union between May and September sent to New Mexico in gunny sacks had worth in mid-June, each containing 1865. been condemned. He claimed that the 25 wagons. The four trains together only good hams received had been carried more than 500,000 pounds of Shewsbury also benefited from sent in boxes. Two years later Chief subsistence, clothing, and camp equip- military measures instituted to protect Commissary Charles McClure recom- ment. In following months, Irwin, overland travel. In March 1865 Gen- mended packing bread in boxes rather Jackman and Company dispatched 18 eral James H. Carleton, commander than in barrels to avoid losses. additional wagon trains to Fort Union, of the Department of New Mexico, and the government sent two. For the initiated a system for escorting wagon Other losses occurred through theft. remainder of the war years, Union of- trains, offering military escorts on the On the long march from Kansas, ficials in New Mexico relied heavily on first and fifteenth of each month for teamsters pilfered almost everything, local contractors to provide subsistence merchant trains traveling between for their own use and to sell later and forage; and for three of these Fort Union and Fort Larned, Kansas. at a profit. Army Inspector Andrew years, the Irwin Company dominated The army also increased the number of W. Evans claimed that canned fruits army freighting. troops stationed on the Santa Fe Trail. invariably were opened on the road The following year the cost of freight- because freighters found this a cheap Reducing transportation costs was ing government stores fell dramati- means of feeding their hired help. the goal of every supply officer, for the cally; partly because the Kansas Pacific “Nothing will stop this practice of expense of transporting supplies to Railway was advancing west, reducing breaking bulk,” Evans suggested, “but western garrisons often increased the both time and expense of overland making it too expensive for them.” original purchase price five-or six freighting. Between May 1 and Sep- General Carleton had recommended fold. General William T. Sherman in in 1865 that freighters be charged tember 30, 1866, George W. Howe, of 1869 emphasized the high cost of Atchison, Kansas, transported sup- three times the cost of the missing maintaining troops in New Mexico, plies to Fort Union for $1.38 per 100 article. In later years contractors would stating it was two or three times as pounds per 100 miles (down from pay three times the original cost of the great as on the Kansas and Nebraska $2.05). stolen item plus three times the cost of frontier. Cheap transportation would transporting it to New Mexico. Even so, have to await the coming of railroads, In his 1865 report to Secretary of War stealing could not be eliminated. but some reductions were possible Edwin M. Stanton, Quartermaster by encouraging competition among General Meigs gave some indication Freighting rates continued to fall as contractors and by changing routes of the magnitude of overland freight- railroads advanced west. On April 4, and modes of supply. ing. He reported that in July travel- 1867, John E. Reeside of Montgomery ers on the stage from Denver to Fort County, Maryland, received a contract Still, transportation costs remained Leavenworth, a distance of 683 miles, to haul freight from Fort Riley, Kansas, high in the final days of the Civil War. had never been out of sight of wagon or another designated post on the rail- During the summer of 1864 freighter trains, “belonging either to emigrants road to Fort Union, New Mexico, for Andrew Steward of Ohio was paid or merchants who transport supplies $1.28 per 100 pounds per 100 miles $1.97 per 100 pounds per 100 miles for the [government and interior between April and September, when https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/122 Wagon Tracks February 2021 22 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

most of the freighting would occur, in favor of one submitted by William supplies to Fort Craig. According and $2.34 during the other months. H. Moore, sutler at Fort Union, who to the contract, time of delivery by Rates varied only slightly the following agreed to transport stores from Fort ox teams was not to exceed fourteen year. Union to Forts Sumner and Bascom days per 100 miles, and a penalty was at $2 per 100 pounds per 100 miles stipulated of $5 per day for each team From the mid- l 860s to the end of the and from Fort Union to the other exceeding this limit. Three of Berg’s decade, the army awarded most con- posts at $2.50. In later years the Agu- teams arrived at Craig 46 days late tracts for transporting supplies from irre brothers transferred their busi- and six had been 51 days late. This was Fort Union to the interior posts to local ness interest to Arizona and Sonora, only one of several delays that had oc- residents. The contract awarded Epi- Mexico. curred while Berg was contractor. fania Aguirre on June 1, 1864, called for him to freight 5,000,000 pounds Vicente Romero of La Cueva, New The army usually did not assess penal- within the department at $2 per 100 Mexico, was another Hispanic ties for delays caused by acts of nature. pounds per 100 miles during peak resident who freighted for the army. Consequently contractors gathered as freighting months and $2.25 the other During the spring of 1866 the much evidence as possible to justify months. The Santa Fe New Mexican quartermaster’s department hired six their tardiness. The testimony that called Aguirre “the first large Mexican of Romero’s teams and wagons to Alexander Grzelachowski submitted contractor” in the territory. He is a transport enlisted men and baggage in 1869 reveals some of the arrange- good example of the Hispanic capital- to Fort Leavenworth. Romero was ments contractors made in completing ists who tapped into the military’s asking $8 a day for each wagon. Two their contracts. Polish-born Grzela- reservoir of federal dollars. years later Romero served as surety chowski had arrived in New Mexico on the bid George Berg submitted for as a young priest with Bishop Lamy Epifanio’s father, Pedro Aguirre, had transporting army supplies between in 1851. He later relinquished his freighted in Chihuahua before moving April 1868 and March 1869. Berg, priestly duties and entered the busi- his family to Las Cruces, New Mexico, who farmed near Fort Union, was not ness world. Toward the end of 1868, in 1852. Eventually Epifania and his an experienced freighter, and his low while operating a mercantile store in three brothers became partners in bid of $1.03 per 100 pounds per 100 Las Vegas, Grzelachowski submitted their father’s business, freighting on miles raised doubts about his ability to the lowest bid ($1.23) for transporting the Santa Fe Trail and in Chihuahua. do the work. Because his two bonds- supplies from Fort Union to the inte- Epifania completed his contract by men were known as reliable men with rior posts for the year ending March the end of January 1865, and in later combined assets of $100,000, Berg 31, 1870. months he carried additional freight was awarded the contract. Together for the army. For his services he was the three men owned at least one Once the transportation contract was paid a total of $138,177. There is no hundred teams. his, Grzelachowski subcontracted way of knowing how much Aguirre most of the work. He arranged with cleared on his contracts. The local By the time the contract expired, Juan A. Sarracino of Valencia County press reported a sizable loss in Decem- Berg’s inadequacy as a businessman to haul supplies from Fort Union to ber when Navajos stole eighteen of his was apparent to military officers. In Fort Wingate, a distance of 270 miles, mules valued at $3,500. Epifanio’s bid April 1869 a board of officers rec- for $1 per 100 pounds per 100 miles. for freighting army supplies between ommended that Berg forfeit $2,220 He subcontracted with C. Ramirez June and November 1865 was rejected for unexplained delays in delivering y Chavez to transport supplies 345

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miles to Fort Selden. When Ramirez awarded in the spring reflected this the New Mexico posts were held by y Chaves was thirteen days late in change. Contractor Eugene B. Al- Kansas freighters—Eugene B. Allen, delivering his cargo, Grzelachowski len of Leavenworth City agreed to Henry C. Lovell, and Edward Fenlon. had to submit affidavits to avoid pay- transport government supplies from F.F. Struby, who held contracts in ing a penalty. Testimony showed that points of the Kansas Pacific Railway 1878, listed his residence as Garland, after the subcontractor left Fort Union to posts in New Mexico, as well as Colorado. Contractors usually em- with three loaded wagons, he ran into carry supplies from Fort Union to any ployed forwarding and commission a snowstorm that halted travel for two other post in the interior. By 1876 houses to oversee their business at the days. Rains and additional snowstorms an official in the Department of the new railroad shipping points. The two caused further delays. When the Missouri would observe: “Fort Union largest firms handling freight for New wagons reached the Rio Grande, high is now nearly valueless as a depot of Mexico were Otero, Sellar and Com- water prevented them from crossing. supply for the District of New Mexico, pany and Chick, Browne and Com- The owner of a boat refused to carry almost all the stores for the District pany. The rival companies moved from them across because of strong winds, being shipped hence direct to the New place to place as railroads extended so they remained on the bank four or Mexican posts.” their tracks. Miguel A. Otero, former five days. At Lemitar the oxen gave New Mexico territorial delegate to out, and Ramirez y Chavez turned over The military installation at Fort Union Congress, and John P. Sellar began the freight to another Hispano, who slowly deteriorated as both its military business in 1867 at Fort Harker, delivered it to Fort Selden. Accord- and supply functions declined. Major Kansas, then terminus of the Kan- ing to Grzelachowski’s contract ox James G. C. Lee reported in 1881 that sas Pacific. The firm moved in rapid teams were required to make the trip only one company of infantry gar- succession to Ellsworth, Hays City, to Selden in forty-nine days; his teams risoned the post, hardly sufficient to and Sheridan in Kansas, and finally to had been sixty-two days on the road. care for buildings and property. The Kit Carson, Colorado. These end-of- Because the delays had been unavoid- unoccupied rear two sets of barracks tracks railroad towns were filled with able, Grzelachowski probably was not with cavalry stables and sheds were gambling houses, dance halls, saloons, assessed a penalty. fast going to ruin. Two of the depot’s and bordellos, catering to a large unat- mammoth storehouses, he observed, tached male work force. In Kit Carson Supply routes and policies changed could be taken down, and there would the Otero and Chick companies rapidly with extension of the railroad. still remain room for “more property employed about one hundred young By the end of October 1870 when than is likely to be ever stored there male clerks. General John Pope, commanding the again.” Department of the Missouri, penned In 1871 Eugene B. Allen employed his annual report, the Kansas Pacific Between 1871 and 1879, the year Otero, Sellar and Company to as- Railroad was completed to Den- the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe semble and distribute freight from ver. Kit Carson, on its main line in steamed into Las Vegas, the major- Kit Carson; the following year Allen eastern Colorado, was only 280 miles ity of contracts for freighting stores to hired Chick, Browne and Company. from Fort Union and would serve as the primary transshipment point for New Mexico posts until 1873. Pope envisioned great savings for the government, and among his many recommendations was one to break up the depot at Fort Union. It would be cheaper and easier to haul supplies from Kit Carson direct to each post than to have supplies delivered at Union Depot and reshipped from there.

In line with Pope’s thinking, Lieuten- ant Colonel Langdon C. Easton, chief quartermaster for the Department of the Missouri, had issued instruc- tions early in October to supply posts in New Mexico directly from the railroad and not from Union Depot. The wagon transportation contract Men with wagon at Otero, Sellers and Company store. Photo courtesy NPS https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/124 Wagon Tracks February 2021 24 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

Both commission houses moved to fact that transportation contractors there. Gross received the contract Granada, Colorado, in the fall of repeatedly failed to move supplies that year in his own name to haul 1873, about the time the Atchison, on time. The Romero train, however, government supplies from El Moro Topeka and Santa Fe reached that “rendered faithful service,” according to Fort Union, a distance of about point in the Arkansas Valley. These to one officer who was present. 100 miles, for $1 per 100 pounds for commission houses usually main- the entire distance. Two years later, tained their own agents at interior During the fiscal year ending June 1878, Gross held the contract to haul posts like Forts Union and Craig to 30, 1877, the quartermaster depart- government supplies 328 miles to take care of daily problems in moving ment reverted to its former practice Fort Stanton from El Moro for $2.85 government freight-including hir- of transporting all supplies for New the entire distance. ing local freighters to haul supplies Mexico to Fort Union and from between military posts. there reshipping them to the interior Provisions of this contract illustrate posts. Trinidad Romero was awarded conditions under which contrac- A handful of Las Vegas merchants the contracts for freighting between tors carried out their obligations in later years managed much of the Union and the other posts. Though during the 1870s. Gross not only army’s freighting. Marcus Bruns- Romero had satisfactorily completed was required to transport govern- wick, long-time Las Vegas resident, his earlier contracts, the army found ment supplies from El Moro to Fort served as· agent for freight contractor the old system objectionable and Stanton but also to carry goods to Edward Fenlon for a two-year period resumed direct shipments at the end any place located not more than 250 ending June 30, 1882. The following of the contract. With an eye to the miles from the line of the route. He year, 1882-83, Brunswick himself future the Romero family soon gave was required to have an agent at El held the contract for supplying Fort up government freighting to con- Moro, Fort Union, and Fort Stanton, Stanton from Las Vegas. His rates centrate on merchandising. In 1878 or at any other place on the route were $2.50 per 100 pounds for the Miguel Romero and sons founded designated by the army. He would entire distance of 182 miles. At the Romero Mercantile Company, receive from five to 25 days notice of this time Brunswick was one of the opening a large two-story store on the quantity and kind of stores to be largest military contractors in New the plaza in Las Vegas. transported at any one time. Mexico, holding contracts in 1882 to furnish grain to at least seven differ- The Romeros had anticipated the Gross agreed to provide mule or ent posts. commercial boom that the Atchi- horse trains (rather than ox trains) son, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad whenever the department or district Brunswick’s sureties on the Fort triggered in Las Vegas in 1879. The quartermaster judged it necessary Stanton freight contract were Trini- railroad and its attendant businesses for shipping subsistence stores or in dad and Eugenio Romero, mem- would pour nearly a million dollars other emergencies. For this special bers of one of the most prominent annually into the Las Vegas region. transportation Gross would receive Las Vegas pioneer families. Both New business houses opened in both 25 percent above the regular contract Romeros became heavily involved in the old town and in the new East rate. Delivery time was not to exceed New Mexico politics. Trinidad, for Las Vegas that sprang up along the eight days per 100 miles for horses example, was elected New Mexico’s railroad tracks. Otero, Sellar and and mules or twelve days per 100 delegate to Congress in 1876. The Company relocated near the railroad miles for ox trains. For delays charge- brothers learned the freighting busi- depot in East Las Vegas soon after able to the contractor, Gross would ness from their father Miguel, who the tracks were laid. In 1881 the firm pay $1 per day for every thousand in 1851 started freighting between was taken over by Jacob Gross and pounds of stores. When trains were St. Louis and Las Vegas. In 1874 the associates under the name of Gross, detained more than two days by or- Romero brothers, then partners in Blackwell and Company. der of an officer, Gross would receive the mercantile firm of T. Romero and a similar amount. Upon the arrival of Brother, served as agents for freight Jacob Gross had started as bookkeep- the contractor’s train at its destina- contractor Eugene B. Allen. er with Otero, Sellar and Company tion, a board of officers would con- in 1867 and had followed the firm vene to investigate any deficiencies or The Romero brothers also furnished on its successive moves. Government damages in the stores transported. a train of 24 six-mule teams in 1874 freighting had continued to be a to accompany the command of Ma- large part of the company’s business. During the 1870s ox trains prob- jor William R. Price, 8th Cavalry, on In 1876 the Denver and Rio Grande, ably transported more government the Red River Campaign of 1874-75. building south from Pueblo, reached freight than either mule or horse This was the campaign that ended El Moro, Colorado, five miles north trains. Oxen were cheaper than mules Indian warfare on the southern of Trinidad, and the firm relocated or horses, pulled better in mud and plains. And success came despite the sand, and did not require grain. The

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district’s chief commissary officer clothing--boots, trousers, and shirts-- wagon hauls. By 1885 nearly all posts in 1875 estimated that ox teams and consumed a fair amount of flour, within the District of New Mexico brought 90 percent of subsistence bacon, ham, and prunes. The train were located within twelve miles of stores to New Mexico. was en route 83 days. A board of of- a railroad station. The longest wagon ficers accepted Chaves’s testimony but haul was 118 miles to Fort Stanton, Even though extension of railroads recommended that Allen be charged which received freight from Lava, shortened wagon hauls, delays in for 23 days delay. The fee for delays, New Mexico, on the Atchison, To- receiving supplies at interior posts added to triple the cost of the miss- peka, and Santa Fe. seemingly were as frequent in the ing stores, amounted a hefty $1,665. late 1870s as they had been a decade Even with railroad transportation, earlier. Bad roads and weather caused Soon steel rails would crisscross New however, washouts, snow blockades, most of the trouble, especially for Mexico, shortening the wagon haul and mechanical mishaps sometimes wagons traversing Raton Pass on to even isolated posts like Fort Stan- delayed supplies in reaching their the New Mexico-Colorado border. ton. Military officers were among the destination. The flood of 1884, the During the early years of freight- nation’s most enthusiastic promoters worst in anybody’s memory, seriously ing to Santa Fe, the route through of railroads. Commanding General disrupted railroad travel between the Raton Mountains was so steep William T. Sherman in his 1880 Albuquerque and Las Cruces. The and rough in places that wagons had annual report attributed the progress spring thaw following unprecedented to be lowered down by rope. Uncle of settlement west of the Mississippi winter snows in southern Colorado Dick Wootton made improvements to the soldier, the pioneer and “to caused the Rio Grande to rampage and opened a toll road through the that new and greatest of civilizers, the down the valley, destroying hundreds pass in 1866. Although less perilous railroad.” of homes, injuring crops, and tearing than before, the pass still remained out bridges and railroad tracks. At an obstacle to wagons. In 1878 the Atchison, Topeka, and one point the commanding officer at Santa Fe began construction across Fort Craig reported that San Mar- Military correspondence barely Raton Pass. It surmounted the sum- cial, the railroad station five miles suggests the human suffering that mit in December and reached Las from the post, was almost completely occurred when wagons were de- Vegas in July 1879. The entire town under water. layed in the mountains. In notify- turned out on the 4th of July, along ing headquarters of probable delays with a brass band and reception com- With the coming of the railroads, because of storms and bad roads in mittee, to greet the arrival of the first the army began importing cheaper 1877, Captain Frederick Whitehead regular passenger train. forage and subsistence stores from reported simply: “I am advised that the East. An era was passing. By the train which left El Moro on April For the army, the arrival of the 1885 the commissary department 18 had not passed the Raton Moun- railroad in New Mexico heralded was importing almost all subsistence tains on May 3rd.” important changes in the system of stores, purchasing in New Mexico supply: transportation costs de- only beef and small amounts of There is more information about clined, wagon hauls grew shorter, and salt and potatoes. The same trend the ox train that Otero, Sellar and cheaper Kansas grain supplanted the was evident in the quartermaster’s Company dispatched from El Moro local product. An immediate concern department. On September 2 of that in February 1878. The train was car- of the district quartermaster, however, year the commanding officer of New rying subsistence and quartermaster was keeping pace with construction Mexico received this message from stores for Fort Stanton, and it was crews as they extended rails down the department headquarters: “Contracts required to make the trip in 27 days. Rio Grande Valley. Supplies shipped for hay and grain for posts generally Silvester Chaves and another man from the East were invoiced to the in New Mexico have been awarded with the train later testified that end of the railroad tracks. Since that to non-residents of that territory for snowstorms had delayed them 22 point constantly shifted during the the reason that the bids were lower.” days in Raton Pass and 8 days at An- two years of construction, the quar- ton Chico, about 25 miles south of termaster’s department employed In summary, before the arrival of Las Vegas. They were detained three civilian agents to receive and forward railroads, overland freighting was more days near Patos Springs in supplies at key points on the line. a major industry, and the federal Lincoln County when they lost their government was one of its biggest oxen. Snowbound, the freighters had Railroad transportation also allowed customers. Indeed, freighting became broken into government cargo. From faster and more frequent shipment a mixed enterprise, one in which the deficiencies later charged to contrac- of army subsistence stores, reduc- government combined with private tor Eugene B. Allen, it appears that ing much of the spoilage, loss, and investors to advance settlement and the men helped themselves to warm deterioration associated with long https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/126 Wagon Tracks February 2021 26 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

economic development. But the build- Hell on Wheels, Continued: Hays City and Sheridan ing of steel rails across the continent caused the demise of large freight- By Dr. Michael Olsen thousands, and the heyday of the cattle ing firms and radically changed the industry waned, Hays—as it came to be method of supplying the Southwest Hays City (Hays), Kansas called—evolved into an important re- garrisons. Railroads allowed the im- gional trade center for settlers and farm- There was enough desperate history in that portation of less expensive forage ers and today boasts one of the Kansas little town in one summer to make a whole and subsistence stores. Supplies were state universities. shipped more frequently and arrived library of dime novels. in better condition than before. Ex- Elizabeth Custer, The Railroad pensive freighting hauls were all but Following the Guidon, Summer 1868 eliminated. Unchanged, however, was The Union Pacific Eastern Division the entrepreneur’s desire to profit from Location: Ellis County, northwest Kan- railway (UPED) reached Junction City, the army’s presence. Even though local sas, 260 miles west of Kansas City, 440 Kansas, approximately 150 miles east of suppliers found less opportunity to sell miles east of Denver, Colorado Hays City, in the fall of 1866. It then to the army with the coming of rail- built west to Fort Harker and Ellsworth, roads, government contracting would Approximate distance remaining on arriving early in the summer of 1867. remain a cornerstone of the region's the Old Santa Fe Trail, via Dodge City, Railroad crews quickly completed the economy in the twentieth century. Kansas, and the Mountain Route—560 next 65 miles of track, to Hays City, by miles October of 1867. Within another nine Original bio: months, Hays City itself was “history” as Hays City, in the 1860s and 1870s, was Darlis A. Miller is professor of history the rails deadended at Sheridan, a hun- the quintessential “Wild West” town. at New Mexico State University, Las dred miles farther west. A brief news Elizabeth Custer, visiting her “General” Cruces, and the author of the highly ac- item in a Missouri newspaper of the day, at nearby Fort Hays during the sum- claimed Soldiers and Settlers: Military the Daily Caucasian (February 2, 1868) mer of 1868, commented, “The carous- Supply in the Southwest, 1861-1885 provides a rare description of a con- ing and lawlessness of Hays City were (1989). struction crew camp just west of Hays incessant. Pistol-shots were heard so City, noting that it “consists of a train of often it seemed a perpetual Fourth of 2021 bio: cars on a side track, used for boarding July, only without the harmlessness of Darlis Ann Miller, of Las Cruces, New and sleeping purposes. One car is tied that pyrotechnic holiday.” The Deputy Mexico, passed away Sunday, Febru- up as a telegraph office. Two men and a U. S. Marshall in town at this point was ary 4, 2018. She began a twenty-four woman have set up a shop in a tent with none other than “Wild Bill” Hickok, year career in the History Department of a ten-gallon keg of whiskey.” New Mexico State University in 1975, who added to his enduring reputation retiring at the rank of Professor in July enforcing law and order there. Miguel As the UPED moved mile by mile out 1999. She served as head of the History Otero, Jr., who knew him then, admir- onto the central and western plains of Department from 1994 to 1997. She ingly wrote, “Beyond a shadow of a Kansas, confrontations between rail- continued to research historical topics doubt he was the most fearless, and per- road crews and various regional Indian following retirement from the classroom. haps the most dangerous, man in an en- peoples escalated. Darlis was the author of several articles counter on the frontier, but never in any and books dealing with the American instance is it recorded that he started a Some of the most intense and deadly West and Southwest, including Captain quarrel. There was only one Wild Bill.” conflict developed from Hays City west Jack Crawford (1993), Mary Hal- Other contemporaries of “Wild Bill” to Sheridan and then beyond to Kit lock Foote: Author-Illustrator of the had less sanguine opinions of him. Carson, Colorado. Subscribers to the American West (2002), Matilda Coxe venerable New York Herald could even Stevenson: Pioneering Anthropolo- The population of Hays was a heady follow events as they unfolded out on gist (2007), and Open Range, The Life mix of nearly all the explosive elements the plains of Kansas, as for instance in of Agnes Morley Cleaveland (2010). of “end-of-the track” towns—railroad the September 18, 1867, issue:“A West- She was active in the Western History crews, buffalo hunters, troops from Fort ern dispatch says that five stage stations Association, receiving its Award of Merit Hays, saloon keepers, dance hall deni- between Hays City, Kansas, and Fort in 2011.  zens, “fancy” women, gamblers, and as Wallace were attacked by Indians on mentioned over and over in contempo- Friday and forty mules and one man rary accounts, just plain “desperadoes.” killed.” On August 1, 1867, again as But Hays City was no “flash in the the Herald reported, troops from Fort pan” railhead. By the 1880s, after the Hays dashed to the sight of a construc- railroad had moved on, the buffalo had tion camp ten miles east of the fort and been slaughtered in their hundreds of found six men dead and one wounded,

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who subsequently died. These crewmen worth in rented quarters and then in Jr., described the chaos when a newly hailed from Iowa, Wisconsin, Canada, Hays City, where the firm incorporated arrived freight-wagon train from New Kansas City, Denver, and Illinois. Later as Otero, Sellar & Co, and built its first Mexico set up camp and, within the reports mentioned that the construction warehouse, this according to Marie Sel- sight of the townspeople, was immedi- crew was well-armed, but had left their lar Bullard, John Sellar’s daughter, in her ately attacked by Indians who murdered rifles in camp when they went out to published memoirs. the train’s herders as they led their mules work nearby. One of the chief reasons to the river and drove off “800-odd for establishing Fort Harker, Fort Hays, Elizabeth Custer provides a rare glimpse frightened animals.” Otero, Sellar & and Fort Wallace, further west in Kan- of “downtown” Hays City in its early Company, which had contracted for the sas, was to protect the UPED crews. heyday—rare not only in the annals delivery of the mules, “had to telegraph of Hays City itself, but for any of the for several cars of Missouri mules to re- The Town “end-of-track” towns on down the line place those the Indians had stolen.” of the UPED (after 1869 incorporated Established: June 1867. Incorporated as the Kansas Pacific Railway), or the Hell on Wheels as Hays, Kansas: 1885. A group of en- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. trepreneurs surveyed and platted the Many of these towns were so ephemeral Numerous contemporary sources high- town site in June of 1867. It was named that no one, during their six month or light the “wicked and depraved” deni- by them as Hays City, reflecting nearby year-long existence, bothered to describe zens of early Hays City, offering exam- Fort Hays, which—having been located them. Mrs. Custer observed: ple after example. For instance Miguel at several regional sites beginning in the Otero, Jr., asserts, “No account of Hays spring of 1865—built permanent quar- “The town of Hays City, near us, was a City would be complete without some ters in convenient reach of the UPED typical Western place. The railroad hav- mention of ‘Calamity Jane,’ one of the tracks in 1867. The fort was named in ing but just reached there, the “roughs,” frontier’s most notorious characters. . . . honor of Brigadier General Alexander who fly before civilization, had not yet She could drink whiskey, smoke, chew Hays, who had been killed in the Battle taken their departure. There was hardly tobacco and swear better than the pro- of the Wilderness during the recent a building worthy of the name, except verbial drunken sailor.” Civil War. the station-house. A considerable part of the place was built of rude frames There is one episode, however, that Post Office: October 28, 1867 - present covered with canvas; the shanties were stands out from the “ordinary.” It com- made up of slabs, bits of drift-wood, and bines the more violent and dismaying Population: Hays City is initially listed logs, and sometimes the roofs were cov- elements of frontier military life and in the U.S. Census of 1880 with a popu- ered with tin that had once been fruit murder with a racial element and lynch- lation of 830. The 1890 census counted or vegetable cans, now flattened out. A ing. Occurring in 1869, it was reviewed 1,242 residents. William G. Cutler, in smoke rising from the surface of the in depth by the early Kansas historian his History of the State of Kansas, pub- street might arrest your attention, but it William Cutler in his History of the State lished in 1883 noted, “The town was not indicated only an underground addition of Kansas, published in 1883, just 14 a year old when it contained over 1,000 to some small 'shack,' built on the sur- years after the event. In brief, one eve- population.” This would have been in face of the earth.” ning three intoxicated “colored” soldiers the summer of 1868, as the UPED was from Fort Hays (using Cutler’s lan- pushing further westward. In his 1883 History of Kansas, William guage), having been turned away from Cutler also noted that, “At the first a “bagnio,” went on a spree, vandalizing Commercial Activity meeting of the Board of County Com- the shop of a “colored “ barber, who “se- Two of the great mercantile and con- missioners [Ellis County, est. 1867] no creted himself for safety.” They then re- signment firms that dominated trade less than thirty-seven licenses to sell solved to kill the first man they saw. An- along the railroads of the southwest liquor were granted in two days.” other soldier named John Hays was the —Chick, Browne & Company, and unfortunate target. Having murdered Hays City, despite its proximity to Fort Otero, Sellar & Co.—briefly had stores Hays, they made their way back to their Hays, for a time feared being overrun by and warehouses in Hays City. Chick, quarters at the fort. The barber the next bands of Indians. Commercial activity Browne, originating in Kansas City in morning went to the sheriff and the two could suffer. Marie Sellar recalled, “On 1858, had already done business along of them proceeded to the fort; there was my first trip to Hays, when of course the UPED in Junction City and Ells- a “line up,” and the barber identified the there were no Pullmans, I remember worth. Miguel Antonio Otero, Sr., and three culprits, who were arrested and lying at night on the seat and seeing by John Sellar, who had worked for the locked up in a cellar in town. the dim oil lamps the men in the car sit- merchandising firm of C. R. Morehead ting rifle in hand, watching the windows The legal system should have taken its and Company at Leavenworth, Kansas, lest the Indians tear up the track and course from there, but this was the “wild struck out on their own at first in Ells- attack the derailed train.” Miguel Otero, west,” the scene of many a vigilante https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/128 Wagon Tracks February 2021 28 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

posse and these were “colored” soldiers. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1890). son, Topeka & Santa Fe (AT&SF), or As Cutler reported it, “That same night Custer, Elizabeth. Tenting on the Plains, or the Denver & Rio Grande Railway they were taken from the cellar by a General Custer in Kansas and Texas (New (D&RG). On the one hand there are party of men who took them to the York: Charles L. Webster & Company, ample contemporary eye-witness ac- trestle-work that crosses a ravine about 1887), 116-128. counts of life in Sheridan during its four hundred yards west of the depot, Cutler, William G. History of the State of short heyday, particularly those of Ma- where ropes were adjusted to their Kansas (Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1883) Full rie Bullard and Miguel Antonio Otero, necks, the other end being fastened to text at www.kancoll.org/books/cutler Jr., each of which will be considered the sleepers, after which they were lift- Hults, Jan, and Sondra McCoy. 1001 Kan- below. Marie was the daughter of John ed up and dropped down between the sas Place Names (Lawrence: University Press Perry Sellar, partner in the Otero & ties where they hung until morning.” of Kansas, 1989). Sellar mercantile company, and Miguel Eventually cut down by some railroad Oliva, Leo E. Fort Hays - Keeping Peace on Antonio was the son of Miguel Otero, men, “their lifeless bodies were allowed the Plains (Topeka: Kansas State Historical Sr., of the same firm. Both lived for a to drop to the bottom of the ravine, Society, 1980). time in Sheridan. from which they were taken to the fort Otero, Miguel Antonio. My Life on the by a party of soldiers, where they were Frontier, 1864-1882 (Albuquerque: Univer- On the other hand, there is little basic, buried.” sity of New Mexico Press, 1987). factual information on Sheridan as a Raynesford, Howard C., and Wayne C. municipal entity. Nothing remains of It can be added here that whatever her Lee. Trails of the Smoky Hill (Caldwell, the town today. It disappeared from antics and adventures, Calamity Jane Idaho: Caxton Press, 1980). official Kansas State maps by 1900. The became a star attraction in Buffalo Snell, Joseph W., and Robert W. Rich- website “Find a Grave” lists eight cem- Bill’s Wild West Show, travelled with mond, “When the Union and Kansas Pa- eteries in Logan County, none of them it in the United States and Europe, and cific Built Through Kansas,” Kansas Histori- specific to Sheridan, though contem- died in bed in 1903, of “inflammation cal Quarterly 36:2 (Autumn 1966), 334-337. porary accounts mention many burials of the bowels and pneumonia.” And Newspapers there in the late 1860s. The famous whiskey. New York Herald photographs of Alexander Gardner, of- Weekly Caucasian (Lafayette County, Mis- ficial photographer for the Union Pa- On To Sheridan souri) cific Eastern Division as it built across Kansas, stop west of Hays City (Fort The next railhead for the UPED was      Hays). Various compilations of “ghost Sheridan, which sprang up out of the towns of Kansas” mention Sheridan, bare Kansas prairie in the summer of Sheridan, Kansas but the information provided is scant, 1868, burned perhaps even brighter as dubious or erroneous. All of these a “hell on wheels” town than had Hays Sheridan seemed to have been founded for “negatives” testify to the ephemeral and City, and then sputtered and died. No the evident purpose of outdoing Hays City short life of Sheridan. trace of it remains. Hays (Hays City) in every rough-and-ready game known on the other hand today is home to on the frontier, and although not as fa- The Railroad 20,500 citizens and is the economic, mous as the earlier town, its sins were far cultural, medical, and educational cen- blacker. The Union Pacific Eastern Division, ter of northwestern Kansas. Fort Hays, building west from Hays City, reached which was abandoned in 1889, today is Miguel Otero, My Life on the Frontier Sheridan in late spring or summer maintained as a Kansas Historical Site. Location: Logan County, northwestern 1868. Depending on the source, dates Kansas, 365 miles west of Kansas City, vary from May to August. Because of Hays City Specific Bibliography 240 miles east of Denver, Colorado financial difficulties, the rails did not Bullard, Marie Sellar, “Marie Sellar Bullard move west again until 1869, when the - Memoirs,” New Mexico Historical Review Approximate distance remaining on railroad company itself was refinanced 30:4 (October 1955), 296-312. the Old Santa Fe Trail—via vari- and renamed the Kansas Pacific. The Clapsaddle, David K. “The Fort Wallace/ ous routes headed southwest toward link between the railhead at Sheridan Kit Carson - Fort Lyon Roads,” Wagon the Arkansas River and then on the and the Santa Fe Trail thus was fluid Tracks 8:2 (February 1994), 11-14. Mountain Route—530 miles. for 18 to 24 months. Freighting and Charlton, John. “’Westward the Course of stagecoach service extended southwest Empire Takes Its Way’: Alexander Gard- The history of Sheridan, Kansas, as a from Sheridan or from Pond Creek ner’s 1867 Across the Continent on the Union railhead town presents something of a Station, a stop lying just a few miles Pacific Railway, Eastern Division Photo- paradox, especially when compared to west on the Butterfield Overland Des- graphic Series,” Kansas History 20:2 (Sum- other such towns on the Union Pacific, patch stage route established in 1865, mer 1997), Eastern Division (UPED, renamed then moving on to Fort Lyon, on the Custer, Elizabeth. Following the Guidon the Kansas Pacific in 1869), the Atchi- Bent’s Fort Road (Mountain Route,

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Santa Fe Trail). When Kit Carson, of Sheridan was 2,000 and of wagons shipment, the hunters would contract Colorado, became the Kansas Pacific encamped around 1,000.” One mod- with some freighting teams to haul terminus in 1870, stage and freight- ern author estimates that “it harbored them to the railroad, where they found ing routes shifted from there to Fort a couple of thousand people.” The a quick cash sale at the commission Lyon. manuscript U.S. Census for 1870 iden- houses. . . . I remember distinctly that tifies a population of only 40, of whom at one time we had more than thirty Interestingly, few reports mention eight were from the same family. Such thousand hides and five thousand grey- anything about the actual construction a dramatic decline seems implausible wolf skins, besides thousands of coyote, of the railroad or incidents in the con- but is in line with accounts from 1869- badger, skunk and antelope skins piled struction crew camp. W. E. Webb, in 1870 stating that virtually the entire up in our warehouses.” The numbers his Buffalo Land: An Authentic Account town and its buildings moved on to seem staggering, but it is necessary to of the Discoveries, Adventure, and Mis- Kit Carson by late 1869. The census recall that during this era buffalo were haps of a Scientific and Sporting Party in count was taken in June 1870. The nearly driven into extinction. the Wild West says that General Sheri- major occupations of the few remain- dan, on an excursion from Fort Hays, ing residents included laborer, teamster, The commission merchants provided recalled that “the yelling and firing of and carpenter. It is necessary to consult relatively comfortable homes for their our Irish mob on pay-day reminded the manuscript 1870 census since nei- families and employees, but travel- him of Stonewall Jackson’s battalions.” ther “Sheridan” nor “Phil Sheridan” is ers took their chances at the so-called He also provides a picture of the locale listed as a “civil division” in the printed “hotels.” Marie Bullard: “I think the of the camp and town, “Sheridan was census report, issued in 1872. Sheridan Hays venture (for Otero & Sellar) was situated on the side of a desolate ra- is not mentioned in published census greatly tentative and being successful vine. The ever-lasting plain embraced records for 1880 or after, either. the Sheridan warehouses were much it. Two solitary buttes, named “Hurl- longer, and my father built a cottage burt” and “Lawrence,” had been placed Commercial Activity nearby where we lived and which was on guard over the region by nature, moved to Kit Carson when the ware- and looked as wretched and dismal as Besides serving as the supply depot for houses went.” The Otero family would sentinels in a penal settlement.” Ad- building the Kansas Pacific westward, have had a similar home, given that ditionally, as was the case in the laying and housing workers, Sheridan was the the family always moved west with the of track particularly from Ellsworth temporary location of the major com- mercantile buildings. west, conflict between Native peoples mission houses engaged in the Santa and the construction crews occurred Fe trade. Marie Bullard recalled:“Not Hell on Wheels frequently. only did the Mexican ranchers have their own trains of wagons but many Sheridan boasts an abundance of con- The Town large firms were employed freighting temporary, first-hand accounts of its supplies to the scattered western and “wild and wooly days,” short as its life Established: May 1868. Officially southwestern settlements and to the was. Several present a woman’s point of known as “Phil Sheridan” and named forts maintained by the Government to view, such as that of Jenny Culver, trav- for the famed Civil War Union Gen- control the Indians.” Nathan Meeker, elling with her husband Enos enroute eral, Philip Henry Sheridan. In 1867, a correspondent for the New York to Santa Fe, stopping in Sheridan in Sheridan was appointed commander Tribune visiting in July 1869, noted: 1869. of the Military Department of Mis- “Some of the stores are as much as 150 Miguel Otero, Jr., provides a number souri, which included western Kansas. feet long, and wide in proportion, and of interesting anecdotes from a child’s During the “Winter Campaign,” of I saw one where tons of Mexican wool perspective. Other observations come 1868-1869 his troops attacked regional were stored waiting shipment." And from W. E. Webb, referenced above Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Comanche in Marie Bullard, again, recalled, “The as an author of western travel narra- their winter quarters, hence his popu- plant consisted of long low warehouses tives, who visited in 1869 and Nathan larity for the settlers of “Phil Sheridan.” at the side of the track where high Meeker (later of Meeker Massacre in- No major traces of Sheridan remain platforms permitted loading on one famy), also mentioned above as a cor- today. Its site lies on private property. side into freight cars, on the other into respondent for the New York Tribune. freight wagons.” Miguel Otero, Jr., who Post Office: No post office during its Perhaps the most generally informative was permitted to range far and wide heyday. is that of Marie Sellar Bullard, who, even at ten years old, often went buffa- 18-years-old at the time, lived in Sher- lo hunting around Sheridan with pro- Population: Only Marie Sellar Bul- idan with her genteel Scottish mother fessional sharpshooters. Commenting lard, among contemporary accounts, and her father, John Sellar, partner in on the trade in buffalo hides, he recol- mentions population totals, remarking, Otero, Sellar & Co. “At one time the estimated population lected: “When a great number of hides were thoroughly dried and ready for https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/130 Wagon Tracks February 2021 30 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

For Jenny Culver, her first night in and a few homes, “the rest [of the build- California Joe, swinging back and forth Sheridan in what passed for a hotel was ings in town] are saloons and gambling like a pendulum before the prairie gale.” most unpleasant. She and her husband establishments. . . . In almost every one From his childhood perspective, Miguel Enos “put up” at the leading establish- are women. Fiddles and accordions are Otero, Jr., had a somewhat different take ment, the “Perry House,” but she wrote playing, glasses jingling, and there are on the scene. Any given morning he and in her diary, “Well last night we were billiard and roulette tables and other his playmates would check out the tres- frightened almost out of our wits. We gambling devices.” tle and “Gruesome as the sight was, the did not get any sleep at all on account boys of the town would dress quickly of the noise in the bar room, drinking In her memoirs, Marie Bullard echoed and run to the bridge and look up to see & gambling. . . . I lay awake and shook this journalist’s narrative. She can be if they knew any of the unlucky victims.” like a leaf all night with fear.” Enos quoted at length: provides more telling details, “Our room On To Kit Carson “I think that the reckless spirit and proves to be directly over the saloon lawlessness of the frontier town reached Once the Kansas Pacific built on to Kit where a large crowd of noisy Americans its acme in Sheridan. There was a large Carson, Colorado, Sheridan literally and Mexicans were drinking, gambling, floating population of absolute repro- moved on with it. The old saying “lock, and quarreling. . . . The bullets flew bates, gamblers, horse thieves, murderers stock and barrel” in this case says it all. thick and fast and would now and then and disreputable women and compara- Marie Bullard and Nathan Meeker pro- sliver the floor of our room. . . . I placed tively few respectable citizens to keep vide fit epitaphs, one descriptive and the the bed clothing and pillows around my them in check. There was no religion of other very much in the frontier spirit of wife and boy as well as I could to ward any kind. I remember once attending a nineteenth century America. off the bullets which the thin siding service held by an itinerant preacher in did not stop. . . . In the morning it was a saloon. There was no law nor officers As noted, John Sellar built a house found that two men were killed and sev- of the law. Finally the better element for his family in Sheridan which, as eral wounded and the house looked like formed a Vigilance Committee and his daughter Marie experienced, “was a dirty butcher shop.” served notice on the principal despera- moved to Kit Carson when the warehouse went.” She adds: As might be expected from Jenny Cul- does to leave town in 48 hours.” Also, referring to the “soiled doves,” she add- ver’s experience, law and order had a “That moving left a lasting impres- ed, “There were few respectable women dubious reputation in Sheridan. Miguel sion. The office safes and furniture were as not many men brought their families, Otero, Jr.’s, summation sets the scene: moved into a freight car, and all the but the dance halls had plenty of ‘fan- “Sheridan seemed unable to command stock loaded in cars. Then one morn- cies’ as they were then called, fluttering the services of a town marshal who ing a swarm of men climbed the roof of about in ‘Mother Hubbard’s,’ a kind of could [as in Hays City] compete with the warehouse and sawed it into strips calico wrapper of the period.” Wild Bill Hickok in slamming down the size of a flat car, and also the side the lid on the lawless. In consequence, Contemporary estimates of the popula- of the building, and they loaded [them] any attempt at law and order was made tion of the make-shift and now unre- in piles like a pack of cards. In a short through the activities of the Vigilance corded cemetery range as high as 100 time Sheridan, a busy bustling frontier Committee. . . .” —in just 18 months. Most were the town, had little left but piles of empty cans and excavated cellars and all the Newspaper and magazine readers in the victims of gun battles or knifings. It is inhabitants were denizens of Kit Carson East got first-hand accounts of what, informative that even at that time W. E. in their rehabilitated houses.” for them, could only be described as the Webb could record that “as the phrase has it in that country,” they went “’with “lurid” events in Sheridan. While ac- And even on his arrival, Nathan Meeker their boots on.” curately reported, the authors of these foretold the end:“Sheridan is at present accounts consciously fed their reader’s Men hung by the vigilance committee the most remarkable place in America, expectations of the “wild west.” W. for one offence or the other made up the or in the world . . . where legitimate E. Webb, reporting in Harper’s New rest of the graveyard occupants. Webb, business centers, and where the most Monthly Magazine, featured a threat again, wrote, “Judge Lynch was Justice’s reckless of men and women gather, in current in the saloons: “I’ll give you a favorite official and the railroad trestle order that in the absence of law and in high lot,” meaning a burial plot six feet [near the freight depot] was the gallows the unprotected state in which property under in the impromptu cemetery on a tree, which bore monthly and sometimes necessarily is placed, they may reap a hill overlooking town. Nathan Meeker, daily fruit.” Trains would often slow harvest of plunder. It will remain to a in the New York Tribune painted a down at the trestle so that passengers great extent unchanged until the road picture—and a stereotype—that later might draw “back in affright as they advances, when they will move on. . . .” would be replicated in hundreds of cin- beheld gazing up at them the distorted, ematic westerns and television series. No doubt present-day aerial photogra- grinning face of some Texas Jack or He says that besides business houses

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phy and Lidar technology could “resur- McKay, R. H. Little Pills - an Army Story Mishaps of a Scientific and Sporting Party in rect” Sheridan and again place it on a by R. H. McKay (Pittsburg, Kansas: Pitts- the Wild West (Cincinnati: E. Hannaford & map. But for now, the eternal Kansas burg Headlight, 1918). Company, 1872) Reprint, University Li- brary, University of Michigan. winds blow over it and it lives on as Meeker, Nathan. “Through the West,” New York Tribune, 29 July 1869, 11. another example of the romantic, and Read previous segments (Intro, Junc- romanticized, West. Otero, Miguel Antonio. My Life on the tion City, and Ellsworth) in May and Frontier, 1864-1882 (Albuquerque: Univer- August 2020 issue of Wagon Tracks. Sheridan Specific Bibliography sity of New Mexico Press, 1987).

Bell, William A. New Tracks in North Poole, Joy, and Mike Olsen, “Enos and Jennie Culver Memoir, Travel Diary and America (New York: Scribner, Welford & April 10 is the Co., 1870). Correspondence while Traveling the Santa Fe Trail and El Camino Real 1869-1871.” submission deadline for the Bullard, Marie Sellar, “Marie Sellar Bullard Available full text from the National Park May issue of - Memoirs,” New Mexico Historical Review Service, at www.nps.gov/safe/learn/historyc- Wagon Tracks. 30:4 (October 1955), 296-312. ulture/upload/Culver-Memoir-508.pdf. Compendium of the Ninth Census (June 1, Snell, Joseph W., and Robert W. Rich- 1870) (Washington, D.C.: Government mond, “When the Union and Kansas Pa- Printing Office, 1872). Access for popula- cific Built Through Kansas,” Kansas Histori- tion of civil divisions (towns). Available at cal Quarterly 36:2 (Autumn 1966), 334-337. Correction: In the November issue of www.census.gov/library/publications/1872/ Wagon Tracks, Vernon Hiebert's name dec/1870e.html Webb, W. E. “Air Towns and Their Inhab- was misspelled on the photo credit on itants,” Harper’s New Monthly Magazine Crossen, Forest. Western Yesterdays: Thomas LI:CCCVL (November 1875), 828-835. page 29. I know better, as my name is Fitzpatrick, Railroadman (Boulder: Boulder prone to the same error. My apologies! Publishing, 1968). Webb, W. E. Buffalo Land: An Authentic Ruth Friesen Account of the Discoveries, Adventure, and

Chapter Reports

Chapters are listed in order from the beginning of pate that we will finally have our fall meeting on Saturday, Sep- the Trail in Missouri westward. tember 18 at the Baldwin City Golf Course Club House.The program will be by Baker University Archivist Sara DeCaro. TO CONTACT CHAPTER PRESIDENTS, Her topic will be "History of the Baldwin City, Kansas, area." PLEASE EMAIL THEM AT [email protected]. This past year, 2020, was the 150th anniversary for Baldwin Missouri River Outfitters City but the celebration will carry on through 2021.

Independence, MO We are working with Carol Clark of the National Park Service President Anne Mallinson staff in designing three interpretive panels to be placed on the new access foot trail to the Black Jack Ruts trail. They will be The Missouri River Outfitters met via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on completed this spring, and a dedication ceremony will be held December 16. Nine members attended. In addition to the June 5 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Ivan Boyd Memorial Prai- standard business of the day, VP Sarah Tucker-Poff asked for rie Preserve located 3 miles east of Baldwin City on US 56. volunteers to help with the virtual wagon train along the Santa Fe Trail next summer. SFTA President Larry Short reported In conjunction with the city, we are developing a day of cel- that several site interpretation projects are in planning stages, ebration in Baldwin entitled “Trails and Trailblazers” that will with the Arrow Rock Ferry Landing Site as first in the queue. celebrate the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail and the founding Plans continue for the September 1 event at Arrow Rock and of Baldwin. We anticipate a re-enactment at the Black Jack the September 4-5 event at Fort Osage. Members of the Arrow Battlefield Saturday morning. Due to limited parking at both Rock Stock and Trading Company will portray the Becknell sites, we are planning shuttle buses from Baldwin to the sites. trading expedition. Secretary Conrad reported that Grinter More information will be available at the SFTA board meeting Place will be open mid-March to mid-October. The Shawnee in April. We look forward to many visitors to this highly visible Indian Mission site will be open year-round. Contact informa- trail either that weekend or other times throughout the year. tion has been provided to Deborah Marshall, who represents a Come join us for the excitement! grassroots group called the Boonslick Area Tourism Council. They are sponsoring a quilt contest and wish to highlight the Heart of the Flint Hills Santa Fe Trail this year. Council Grove, KS Douglas County President Sharon Haun Baldwin City, KS Cottonwood Crossing President Roger Boyd Hillsboro, KS President Doug Sharp Our annual winter meeting has been cancelled but we antici- https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/132 Wagon Tracks February 2021 32 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021) SFTA Annual Membership January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021

Name(s) ______□ Life $1000, payable over 4 years

Address ______□ Patron $100/year

City ______State ______Zip ______□ Family $65/year

Phone ______Email ______□ Individual $50/year □ New member □ Renewing member □ Youth (18 and under) $5/year I am a member of the following chapter (s) ______□ Non-profit Institution $65/year ______□ Business $65/year I’d like to make a donation to assist the SFTA with programs and events. □ $50 □ $100 Other $______I’d like to donate to the Junior Wagon Master Fund. □ $50 □ $100 Other $______I’d like to donate to the Marker Fund. □ $50 □ $100 Other $______To pay by credit card, go to www.santafetrail.org, and click on “Join the Organization.”

The Santa Fe Trail Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, and all donations TOTAL ENCLOSED ______beyond membership dues are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Make checks payable to Santa Fe Trail Association Mail to Ruth Olson Peters, Treasurer, Santa Fe Trail Center, 1349 K-156 Hwy, Larned, KS 67550 Renew by mailing using the above form or renew online at www.santafetrail.org If you have renewed your membership, pass the form along to a friend or colleague.

Chapter Reports

Quivira McPherson, KS In February, Pauline Sharp will tell the story of the Kanza President Linda Colle (Kaw) people through the character of her grandmother, Lucy Tayiah Eads, the first woman chief of the Kanza. Sharp will We are off and running in 2021. Lots of things are going on in present a first-person performance as her own grandmother the Quivira Chapter in Central Kansas. To avoid confusion, the to share stories of her grandmother's life. The program will website has been updated to www.2021SantaFeTrailKansas. be on Tuesday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m. The program also com. The previous name will still get you to the site but going will be a Zoom Program due to COVID, and is free and forward we will be using this domain. We are on Facebook at open to the public. Information for Zoom will be posted 200thSantaFeTrailKansas. three days prior to the program on our Quivira 200th website at www.2021SantaFeTrailKansas.com or on Facebook The Quivira Chapter has received several grants for the SFT @200thSantaFeTrailKansas. 200th commemoration. The grants were received from the McPherson County Community Foundation, the Kansas As part of the commemoration activities for the 200th anni- Creative Arts Industries Commission, and Ride into History versary, the Quivira Chapter encourages you to participate in Cultural and Educational Project, Inc. The grants totaled over Read Across America, March 1- 5, as “Read Across the Santa $30,000. Fe Trail.” As part of the Santa Fe Trail 200th anniversary, the Quivira Chapter, funded in part by the McPherson County The Quivira Chapter photography contest is now open for en- Community Foundation, Rice County Tourism, and Great tries. The contest runs from January 1-March 31. You can sub- Bend CVB, has donated books on the Santa Fe Trail to public mit up to two photos in electronic format. The contest is open to libraries in our three-county area to encourage people to read anyone. All photos must be taken at Santa Fe Trail sites within about the Santa Fe Trail. The books were delivered to libraries McPherson, Rice, or Barton counties in Kansas. Entry informa- in January. Thanks to Leo Oliva and The Last Chance Store for tion can be found at www.2021SantaFeTrailKansas.com. coordinating our book order.

By the time you read this, the Quivira Chapter will have kicked The Quivira Chapter Passport Book project will debut in Febru- off our portion of the Santa Fe Trail 200th Anniversary with the ary. The Passport Book contains the Quivira Chapter Santa Fe program by Dave Kendall, “The Making of the Santa Fe Trail Trail sites and requires participants to go to each site to col- Documentary,” on January 30. Because of COVID, the program lect the stamps associated with each site. We hope this will get was a Zoom event, modified from the film festival that was people out to see some of the great Santa Fe Trail sites in the originally planned. We hope to show the films planned for the Quivira Chapter area. The passport books will be delivered to festival in the summer as an outdoor event. libraries and museums in the Chapter area (McPherson, Rice, and Barton counties in Kansas), and all the stamps should be

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available at the various sites starting in February. We also plan to put the book on our website in case you want to print it Wet/Dry Routes yourself. Make it your priority to visit all the Quivira Chapter Great Bend, KS sites in 2021 and collect all the stamps. President George Elmore

On April 17, at 2:00 p.m., Buffalo Soldier Jay Clark will Now that 2020 has come to a close, looking back, it was a very present “Buffalo Soldiers: Guarding the Santa Fe Trail.” The difficult year, especially for those who lost family and friends program will be presented at the Barton County Histori- because of Covid-19. Hopefully over the holiday season you cal Society, 85 U.S. Highway 281, Great Bend, Kansas. The were able to spend some time with family and loved ones. program is free and open to the public. We will be monitoring Since we were not able to do much in 2020, chapter members the COVID situation, and this program may be converted to a do not have to pay any Wet/Dry Chapter dues. Zoom program if needed. So check the Quivira 200th website or our Facebook page prior to the program to see any updates. If you have not purchased your Santa Fe Trail socks, which are a project of our chapter, they are available for purchase from The Inman Museum annual meeting will feature Deb the SFTA Last Chance Store, the Santa Fe Trail Center, and Goodrich speaking about the Santa Fe Trail. The program is at Fort Larned. We now have a choice of the original blue or open to the public and will be held on April 27 at 7:00 p.m. the new tan color. at Inman Community Center, 406 E. Center Street, Inman, Kansas. Any updates to this meeting will be posted on the As I am writing this, the rioting in our nation’s capital has just Quivira 200th website or on Facebook. taken place a few days ago. I hope and pray that our country will never experience anything like that again. It does make If you ever wanted to be a historical performer, watch for me think of who is responsible for our nation’s history, both information on the Quivira 200th website and Facebook page. preservation and telling the story. As Santa Fe Trail people, it Joyce Thierer and Ann Birney of Ride into History and their is up to us to not only tell the history of the trail, but also to assistants will provide their expertise on becoming a historical protect the remaining trail ruts, and in telling the trail’s history performer during a camp in each of our three counties. Create to always do it correctly and with dignity to all the people and a historic persona of someone from the period of the Santa Fe perspectives of the story. Trail and “become” that person. Ride into History will provide the tools you need in this week-long camp. At the end of the One of my favorite orders of the Post Orders was from January camp on Friday evening you will show your friends and fam- 1869 by the Post Commanding Officer to Post Surgeon Major ily the historic Trail person you have become. Registration is W.H. Forwood: required and opens April 1. Camps will be held in Great Bend “Major: The Commanding Officer directs me to call your June 7-11, Lyons June 14-18, and McPherson June 21-25. attention to the manner in which the stonework to the The camps are made possible through a grant from the Kansas entrance to the cellar of your quarters has been worn by the Creative Arts Industries Commission and Ride into History chain with which your wolf is fastened. Complaints have Cultural and Educational Project, Inc. also been made by the howling of the wolf at night. It is there for directed that you have the animal removed to a In other activities, Britt and Linda Colle are conducting an place where it will not be an annoyance to the garrison.” inventory of the auto tour signs to determine which signs need to be repaired or replaced. Britt is also recording the GPS I can picture in my mind a cold winter night with the Kansas coordinates for each sign so that we will have that information winds blowing and the wolf howling. That is the human side of available to use for mapping purposes. We plan to install signs life we do not often get to see in the army records. to identify Gunsight Notch and the Plum Buttes, as these sites are currently not identified. A new sign will also be installed The post surgeons were also the post scientists and had to near the actual site of the Kaw Treaty in McPherson County. record daily weather and wind speeds. One of these, Sur- This sign will replace the small gray marker that previously geon Forwood, interestingly, kept a buffalo calf in his officer’s identified the Kaw site. stable. If we had a time machine and I could go back in time to interview only one Fort Larned person, it most likely would Work continues on the Sharpe Ruts site to make it accessible be Major Forwood. He was not at Fort Larned the longest; to the public. George Elmore, Leo Oliva, and Britt Colle met however, he was one of the most interesting officers. at the site on January 3 to access the area. They cleared some brush but culverts need to be installed by the township and a I miss seeing everyone and hope the Wet/Dry Chapter can road and parking area built for the site. George and Leo have start our educational and awe-inspiring programs experiences the site signs ready to install once the site work is complete. again by summer. The site was donated to the Fort Larned Historical Society. The Sharpe Ruts are right on the Quivira Chapter Auto Tour Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimarron route so we are looking forward to the completion of this site. Dodge City, KS President Bill Bunyan We are sad to report that Quivira Chapter board member Robert “Bob” Button from Great Bend, Kansas, passed away What a year! We have not been able to have a chapter meeting on October 20, 2020. Bob was always a great friend of the since last February. I hope later this winter or in the spring we Santa Fe Trail and so knowledgeable of the history, especially can resume our meetings. We will just play it by ear and hope around the Great Bend, Kansas, area. We will miss him. for the best. It is election time and the current officers are willing to serve again. We will have the formal election whenever https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/134 Wagon Tracks February 2021 34 : Wagon Tracks Volume 35, Issue 2 (February 2021)

we have our next meeting. The DAR is planning to rededicate their marker east of Fort Lots of great chapter events are planned for 2021. Note, Dodge on May 22. The marker commemorates the convergence however, at this time, they are all tentative depending on CO- of the Wet/Dry routes at that point. It was also the southern VID-19 and confirming arrangements at the various locales. terminus of the Fort Hays - Fort Dodge Road. While no annual meeting is planned for January, plans soon will be underway to hold the "Love to Read Along the Santa We have begun our 200th Anniversary project by highlighting Fe Trail" program in February as a Zoom meeting. Note: If you our markers, monuments, and storyboards in our chapter area have a book that you'd like to share, please email Kathy Woot- of Ford and Gray counties. President Bunyan, Susan Bunyan, ten or Dotti Russell and let them know. and Vice President Deb Calhoun took pictures of the sites and a caption was written for each one. We will highlight one each March will find us at John Martin Reservoir to check out the week in the Dodge City newspaper, the Santa Fe Trail weekly Santa Fe Trail that passes through the park and perhaps do updates put out by Mark Brooks, and my Facebook page. Our some clearing of the Trail ruts. It will be time to get out those first item is a picture of the Robert Wright storyboard and rags, cleaning supplies, and lawn implements to help clean monument in Dodge City's Wright Park. Robert Wright is in up Boggsville in April. May as of now is open, as some of the the Santa Fe Trail Hall of Fame. prior-mentioned activity dates need to be firmed up. In June plans are to tour Higbee Canyon, which had been planned for Wagon Bed Spring 2020. Lakin, KS President Linda Peters We hope to gather again in July at the Grand Theatre for a Cimarron Cutoff speaker, followed in August by a pre-Symposium workday to go over last-minute details and stuff totes. The big event of the Elkhart, KS year will be the Santa Fe Trail Association Symposium to be President Jay Williams held September 22-26 in La Junta, Colorado. It is time now to plan on attending this milestone event commemorating 200 The Morton County Historical Society Museum has received years of the Santa Fe Trail. For information on how you can the Santa Fe Trail interpretive signs. The signs will be placed help with the event, please email LaDonna Hutton at ladonna- on the museum grounds. Hopefully the tour planned in June in [email protected]. Many BFC members have been involved in Boise City will take place. this five-year planning process to bring you a unique Bicenten- Bent’s Fort nial commemoration of the Santa Fe Trail. Lamar, CO We will be ready for a break in October. However, in November President Kevin Lindahl the chapter will participate with the Corazon de Los Caminos Chapter-SFTA and the Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Good riddance, 2020! Members of the Bent’s Fort Chapter are Historic Preservation, along with the End of the Trail Chapter- definitely excited to look forward to a better 2021. Our Board SFTA, to present programs to commemorate the meeting of of Directors met in December to plan activities for 2021. You Becknell and Gallegos near Las Vegas, New Mexico. Events will see on our list of upcoming activities that we are think- will also be held in Santa Fe at "the end of the trail." Please ing positive, that this COVID “crud” will wane in the coming plan to join us in commemorating the Santa Fe Trail bicenten- months with the availability of the vaccine. Please get your nial events. shots! We encourage you to check out our Facebook page and Bent’s Fort Chapter videos on YouTube.

Corazon de los Caminos Cimarron, NM President Doyle Daves End of the Trail Santa Fe, NM President Joy Poole

One of the many sites near Dodge City that the chapter will feature in their media coverage in The Dodge City Daily Globe and SFTA outlets this year. Look for them on Facebook at santafetrail1821.

PublishedFebruary by UNM2021 Digital Repository, 2021 Wagon Tracks 35 35 Wagon Tracks, Vol. 35 [2021], Iss. 2, Art. 1 Santa Fe Trail Association 1046 Red Oaks NE Albuquerque, NM 87122 www.santafetrail.org

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Calendar of Events

February 9: McPherson, KS. Zoom Pro- May 1: Sterling, KS. Linda Colle, September 6: Flint Hills, KS. Madonna gram: Pauline Sharp as "Chief Lucy." "Pots 'N Petals." Run. March 6. Symphony in the Flint Hills May 14-15: Council Grove, KS. September 8: Prairie Village, MO. MRO tickets go on sale. Santa Fe Trail Bluegrass Festival. chapter 200th activity. March 8-23: PNTS Hike the Hill. Vir- May 22: Fort Dodge, KS. DAR September 17-19: Council Grove, KS. tual. marker dedication. Rendezvous, Voices of the Wind People March 13: Wallace, KS. "Taking the June 5: Baldwin City, KS. NPS sign September 22-26: Bent’s Old Fort, CO. Smoky Hill Trail to Santa Fe," Fort Wal- dedication. SFTA Symposium. lace Museum. June 12: near Council Grove, KS. April 1: Nominations due for SFTA Board Symphony in the Flint Hills on the positions. Santa Fe Trail. Due to the impact of COVID-19, please check locally for any delays or cancella- April 10: Wagon Tracks deadline for May June 30: Lindsborg, KS. Mountain issue. Men on the Santa Fe Trail. tions. Check www.santafetrail.org/trail- events.html and www.santafetrail200.org April 14: Garden City, KS. Wagonbed July 10: McPherson, KS. Quivira Springs Chapter. Presentation by Linda Chapter bus tour for additional dates and activities. Also check the Forts's websites, listed at www. Peters. July 16-18: Council Grove, KS. santafetrail.org/trail-events.html before April 17: Great Bend, KS. Jay Clark, Gunfight on the Santa Fe Trail. planning an excursion. "Buffalo Soldiers: Protecting the Santa Fe July 23-24: McPherson, KS. East- Trail." ern McPherson County and Marion April 20: Garden City, KS. Dr. Leo Oliva, County Santa Fe Trail Days. "The Santa Fe Trail: An Overview." August 22: Galva, KS. Empire Days. April 23-24: Larned, KS. SFTA /NPS September 1: Arrow Rock, MO. Workshop and SFTA board meeting. MRO chapter 200th activity. April 27: Inman, KS. Deb Goodrich, September 4-5: Fort Osage, MO. presentation MRO chapter 200th activity. https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wagon_tracks/vol35/iss2/136 Wagon Tracks February 2021 36