History of Atchison County, Kansas. Sheffield Ingalls
South Platte
TABLE OF DISTANCES
—From—
ATCHISON TO THE GOLD MINES,
via the
First Standard Parallel Route to the Republican Fork of the Kansas River, thence following the Trail of Colonel Fremont on his Explorations in 1843, to Cherry Creek and the Mines.
Compiled from Colonel Fremont’s Surveys, and the most reliable information derived from the traders across the Great Plains.
| From Atchison to | Miles | Total | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | 9 | Settlement, provisions and grass. | |
| Muscotah, on Grasshopper | 11 | 20 | Settlement, provisions and grass. |
| Eureka | 11 | 31 | Settlement, provisions and grass. |
| Ontario, on Elk Creek | 10 | 41 | Settlement, provisions and grass. |
| America, on Soldiers Creek | 9 | 50 | Settlement, provisions and grass. |
| Vermillion City | 25 | 75 | Settlement, entertainment and provisions. |
| Crossing of Big Blue | 3 | 78 | |
| Little Blue creek | 17 | 95 | Heavy timber and grass. |
| Head of Blue creek | 23 | 118 | Timber and grass. |
| Republican Fork | 12 | 130 | Wood, water and grass. |
| Republican Fork crossing | 2 | 132 | Colonel Fremont describes this section as “affording an excellent road, it being generally over high and level prairies, with numerous streams which are well timbered with ash, elm, and very heavy oak, and abounding in herds of buffalo, elk and antelope.” |
| Branch of Solomon’s Fork | 38 | 170 | |
| Leaves Solomon’s Fork | 75 | 245 | |
| Branch of Republican Fork | 15 | 260 | |
| Following up Rep. to its head | 190 | 450 | Heavy timber and grass on course. |
| Beaver Creek | 23 | 473 | Wood, grass and buffalo. |
| Bijou Creek | 22 | 495 | Wood, grass and buffalo. |
| Kioway Creek | 15 | 510 | The route from this point to the mines runs thro’ a country well timbered and watered, with luxuriant grass and plenty of wild game. |
| Cherry Creek and Mines | 25 | 535 | |
| From Freedom’s Champion, February 12, 1859. | |||
Main Entrance to Jackson Park, Atchison, Kansas
Freedom’s Champion: October 30, 1858.
A TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TRAINS
Which have left Atchison this season, for Salt Lake City and other Points on the Plains, Together with the Number of Men, Cattle, Mules, Horses and wagons engaged in transporting, and the Amount of the Freight Shipped:
| Owners. | Residence. | Freighters. | Residence. | Destination. | Wagons. | Men. | Oxen. | Horses. | Mules. | Lbs. Mdse. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford, Cabot & Co. | St. Louis | P. M. Chateau & Co. | Kansas City | Salt Lake City | 32 | 40 | 480 | 8 | 12 | 181,587 |
| John M. Hockady & Co. | Mail Contractors | First Supply Train | Independence | S. L. M. Stations | 10 | 20 | 80 | 23,000 | ||
| Dyer, Mason & Co. | Independence | W. H. Dyer & Co. | Independence | Salt Lake City | 60 | 70 | 720 | 5 | 21 | 315,000 |
| S. G. Mason & Co. | Independence | E. C. Chiles | Independence | Salt Lake City | 27 | 35 | 350 | 3 | 6 | 149,000 |
| Radford, Cabot & Co. | St. Louis | J. B. Doyle | New Mexico | Salt Lake City | 38 | 43 | 460 | 13 | 198,500 | |
| John M. Hockady & Co. | Mail Contractors | Second Supply Train | Independence | S. L. M. Stations | 10 | 18 | 85 | 21,000 | ||
| C. C. Branham | Weston | C. C. Branham | Weston | Salt Lake City | 28 | 36 | 380 | 12 | 6 | 145,500 |
| C. A. Perry & Co. | Weston | C. A. Perry & Co. | Weston | Salt Lake City | 91 | 123 | 1,080 | 7 | 18 | 500,501 |
| R. H. Dyer & Co. | Fort Kearney | R. H. Dyer & Co. | Fort Kearney | Fort Kearney | 38 | 70 | 456 | 4 | 7 | 212,800 |