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Show a ae ee Be, es foe A bPer s PAOLA --——& oe ee eee oe | a) * * a 4 A Po i ee ee LJ e~# ie en ate tte ae-- pad aleea er ee el ar, ” dae ee aaa | At Py te ed Se Ct ee ee ee et Pet ee ees ee ee 106 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY OLD SANTA FE TRAIL set out the caravans, pack animals down to 1823, and from that time on wagons, drawn at first by horses and mules, but later by mules or oxen, four pairs usually to each wagon, but sometimes five or six pairs, with a load of five thousand pounds. In 1824, a company of traders, about eighty-one in number, made the trip across the plains to Santa Fé. A portion of the company used pack-mules. About the Ist of April, in a tavern in the town of Franklin, Missouri, this expedition was organized. It was prodestined for Santa Fé were landed at Wayne City. From Blue Mills landing the trains passed through Independence, thence southwesterly by the Barnes and Rice farms, crossing the Blue at Red bridge, south of Leeds, following the divide between the Blue and Indian creek, and crossing the state line at the town on the of Little Santa Fé, and headwaters of Cedar continuing creek, a Council Grove and the Arkansas. ‘‘I do not think,’’ says Mr. Chick, the location of the trail. There were on the divide to the Lone Elm tributary of ‘‘there can several the crossings trains taking the Cimarron route, others the Aubrey up the Arkansas to Bent’s Fort and thence south Kaw be any of river, thence to controversy as to the Arkansas, some crossing, others following over the Raton mountains, all uniting not far east of Las Vegas, New Mexico. The earliest trail went by way of Taos. It is not my recollection that any trains leaving Independence crossed the Blue river on the old Westport and Independence road and passed through Westport.’’ ETP Aauren 4345() The spot which was known to all travelers upon the plains as the Lone Elm was a very noted point. In the very early days, long before the settlements had come further west than along the lower Missouri, this tree was a great or rallying point for the Indian tribes. Solitary and alone it the prairies and its top could be seen for many miles around. , It landmark for those seeking the frontiers, and the traders used the camping ground. Travelers came to look upon it as an old friend and nothing could have induced them to cut it down. Some vandal felled the tree in the early days of the Mexican war and in 1853 it was all gone but a part of the stump. rendezvous stood upon served as a place a8 a —o — oe ts oe about Hence oe up road Ing, the at from the the Missouri east end where river Cleveland to Independence the east avenue river of side about to Chouteau’s avenue, in Westport island, Kansas of Lydia City, avenue, started since east from called intercepts Chou- Mensing the river; of Ransom’s pond, Highland, thence southwesterly, crossing _ Charlotte, and thence southwesterly of Mai : ; 8 teenth street. The road from Kansas toCitytheto crossing Westport started Third net : ov street, thence along the levee to Grand avenue, thence to eat a street at eigen alta Dalaw Pi 9g southwesterly through the city hall » thence southwesterly to Missouri avenuesquare, and to the Junetion. At that time Main crossing Delaware Main and street was not graded a ou. “oi to the Junction. Main street south of Missouri avenue was eae —_ for horseback travel. Before there was much fencing, eatd ‘ace See the most practicable and direct route, regardless of Main street a. rom the Junction the road followed the present line of to the west. cron ~ighteenth street; at Eighteenth street it bore @ little practicable route ve O. K. creek near Main street, thence following the most little to the ~ sant to about where the Egelhoff residence is located, thence 4 Cast, intersecting Main street at about the southwest corner ° 107 posed to make it the largest yet undertaken. Here all the details were arranged and a rendezvous appointed at Mount Vernon, Missouri, on May 5th, each man to be equipped with a rifle, one pistol, four pounds of powder, eight pounds of lead and provisions sufficient for twenty days. On May 15, 1824, the party started, crossed the Missouri six miles above Franklin, and on May 23d arrived at the place of organization, three miles from the settlements of the Missouri frontier. A. Le Grand, well known in the history of the frontier, was chosen captain. In this expedition were Mr. Augustus Storrs, who next year was named United States consul at Santa Fé, and Mr. Marmaduke. The expedition arrived in Santa Fé on July 28th and after a most successful trade most of the party returned to Missouri. Marmaduke remained in Santa Fé during the winter, kept a diary of his experiences and returned to Missouri May 31, 1825. It was in the following year that traders with abundant capital began to embark in the trade. The earlier traders were not often molested by the Indians, but later on, owing to the conduct of the traders themselves, the Indians became very hostile. “Many seemed to forget the wholesome precept,’’ says Gregg, “that they should not be savage themselves because they dealt with Instead of cultivating friendly feelings with those few Savages. peaceful remained who honest, and there occasional an was one always disposed to kill, even in cold blood, every Indian that fell into his power, merely because some of the tribe had committed some outrage either against themselves or their friends.’’ Union Street cemetery, thence crossing Mt. Auburn hill, it bore a little east to avoid a ravine running west from Hunter’s spring, again Main street at Hunter avenue, as now located, Toadway, and on Broadway to Westport. Leaving Independence, bore distinctly to the Missouri, southwest and on Hunter of Main crossing avenue to 1 as now shown upon maps, the old trai and crossed the state boundary just east of the village of Glenn, Kansas; thence to the southwest, passing a little north of the towns of Olathe and Gardner, in Johnson county. Thence it followed the divide between the waters of the Kansas and Osage rivers and near Baldwin, Worden, and Baden in Douglas county; Overbrook, Scranton, and Burlingame in Osage county; Wilmington in Wabaunsee; Waushara and Agnes in yon, and thence to Council Grove, in Morris county. | ae he commencement of the Santa Fé trade began in Kansas City in 1849 and 1850, but of warehouse owing to facilities the cholera this trade prevailing was largely at that time, the lost to Kansas insufficiency City for the Next year or two, but wien it came back it was retained until driven away in 1863 by the disturbance prevailing at that time, and went to Leavenworth for & year or two. As the railroads were extended west the trade followed them. |