The purpose of this page is to provide a forum to list other riders and other routes and to provide a means of recognizing those gallant riders who provided the communication links that helped to bind our country together.
- Pony Express of 1939
- The Pony Express of 1862-65, The "Virginia City Pony"
- St. Joseph, Missouri - Denver, Colorado
- A fast mail service up the Platte River during the Mormon War of 1857
- Merced - Mariposa, California
- Silvercliff to Alamosa, Colorado
- Ouray to Silverton, Colorado
- Douglas and Bisbee, Arizona
- Stockton to the "mines," California
- Fort Yuma, Arizona, and San Diego, California
- Yankton - Pierre, Dakota Territory
- Irving to Atchison, Kansas
- Crystal Springs to Jamestown, North Dakota
- Fredrickstown, Maryland - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Durant, Oklahoma, and Denison, Texas
- Pleasanton - San Antonio, Texas
- Guadalupe County, Texas
- "Pony Express, Southern Route" out of Wichita Falls Texas
- El Paso, Texas - La Mesa, Mexico
- Greenville - Louisville, Kentucky
- Fort Hays to Fort Dodge
- Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri
- Fort Bridger - Bannack City, Montana
- Fort Abercrombie - Helena, Montana
- Walla Walla, Washington - Missoula, Montana
- When The Pony Express Came To Petaluma
Others Who Rode
Died: Crossroads, Arkansas 1932
My father who is 75 years and my grand mother deceased say that her father Thomas Anderson rode for the pony express in Denver, Colorado.
William was in Denver because of a gold rush in the area. He couldn't get on as a regular rider but was a substitute rider . Grandmother remembered him saying that it was very tough. He was very small and wiry but said it made him very sore. He told of one story of when he was riding at night and the trail went under a tree. As he went under the tree he realized that there were five to six Indians under tree mounted. He said he was so scared that he didn't know what to do so he just pretended not to see them, and they pretended not to see him. To say the least he did not like the job but needed the money badly.
In later life, Anderson was a farmer in Arkansas near Fayetteville
Died: May 21, 1956
Juan Santos Avila was born near Malacite also known as Redwing, Colorado on March 15, 1869. His father was Lorenzo Avila who died when Juan Santos was very young. Subsequently, was raised (not adopted) by a Captain Charles Deus. Deus served in the U.S. Calvary and rode with the renowned Kit Carson.
He was a member of the Famed Pony Express in the county of Huerfano, where he was a life long resident. As a member of the Pony Express, he carried the mail on horseback over the Mosco Pass region from Badito on through the Great Sand Dunes, then on through to Fort Garland where he delivered mail to anxious army soldiers who were stationed there (click here for map). He then proceeded and ended his route in Alamosa. Juan Santos rode the express from 1886 to 1889. He began riding when he was only seventeen years of age.
In his adulthood he (Juan Santos) married twice. His first bride was Maria Antonia Sanchez. They married on January 16th, 1890 and engaged in homesteading, farming, and raising livestock. Their children were Tomas, Lugardo, Porfiro, Eufemia, Rafelita and Carmelita. His wife Antonia passed away in May of 1907, just after the birth of their daughter Rafilita in 1904. A widower, he married De La Cruz Rodriquez on January 9th, 1908. This union produced three sons, Eloy, Jake, and George.
Juan Santos was widely known and favorably respected by all that knew him. He farmed and raised livestock. He received a Land Patent in 1910, signed by then President William Howard Taft. He served at different times as both Secretary and President on the Board of School Directors in District #5. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic Party where he frequently performed public speeches supporting his party and their rallies. He and his family were members of the Catholic Church. Juan Santos was never sick, and he worked everyday until the time of his death. He died on May 21, 1956 of natural causes at the ripe old age of 87 years.
Information provided by great grand son, Benjamin Avila, December 2001.
Died: Madisonville area, Hopkins County,
Kentucky
Family folk history says that James rode as an out rider between Greenville and Louisville, Kentucky
In later years he was a farmer.
Died: February 14, 1866
Tyson Henry writes: "My great-grandfather (Lester Clarence Bell) told me of his grandfather
(Stacy Bell) who rode for the Pony Express and gave me a newspaper
clipping with no names, but just a story of the pony express riders. My
great-grandfather died in 1985 and my grandfather died in 1975 (when I
was just a boy).
Died: 1935 (Age 104), Bristow, Oklahoma
My Grandmother, Frankie (Bruce) Blackford told me
and my father that her father was a Pony Express Rider. This was confirmed
verbally by a Mr. Chickering of Drumright Oklahoma, who told me (1987) that
he knew William Bruce and that he rode out of.
St. Joseph Missouri.
William went to the Oklahoma Territory prior to the land run of
1889. He was one of the true Sooners. He worked the Oil Patch when it was
first developed just after the turn of the century in and around
Drumright-Bristow-Stroud, Oklahoma.
Born: Granby, Massachusetts, June 17, 1845
Died: Westfield, Massachusetts, February 6, 1923
Family records show that his marriage to my grandfather's mother in 1881 was his second marriage. His first child with my great grandmother was born in 1883, and my grandfather was born in 1885. Those marriage records show that at the time of his second marriage, his residence was Las Vegas, New Mexico. I have read that that area is known for the recruiting of TR's Rough Riders, whether that is of any significance.
Maybe, my grandfather was just telling stories, and the family name of Butterfield being the same as the founders of the Overland Mail Express may have provoked it. But, one story I heard was that my great grandfather, George Henry Butterfield, while a Pony Express rider and at the age of 21, was captured by the indians and staked out in the desert. Supposedly, he escaped after 3 days.
Died: January 15, 1940, Little Valley, Cattaraugus County, New York
Andrew Jaxson Case rode for a pony express probably in 1878.
Born: March 9,1856, Lee Co., Iowa
Died: 1920, Watertown, Codington, South Dakota
Died: Cottonwood, Shasta Co., California
William J. Davis was one of the few Pony Express Riders of the 50's and 60's. It was his proud boast that he was never behind schedule, and also that he helped to bring President Lincoln's second inaugural address from St. Louis to Sacramento at the rate of twenty miles an hour, his run having been from Fort Kearney, Nebraska, westward 100 miles and return.
Later Davis returned to his childhood home in Illinois, but in 1884 came with wife to California. He resided in Sacramento, Santa Clara and in Shasta County. Having no children of his own. Davis adopted two Daughters, Mrs. Jessie Havener of Hillsboro, Illinois (now Deceased) and Mrs. J. B. McNamar of Cottonwood, California.
Born: 1873 in Ossawatamie, Kansas
Died: 1935 in Hoisington, Kansas
According to the family history book "The House of Fairbairn" compiled by Weldon Thomas Armstrong, Jr. the grandson (mother's side) of C.W. Debitt, Carl Debitt rode the route between Douglas and Bisbee, Arizona for a short time up until the demise of the Pony Express in the
early 1890's. He was very young and a bit of a nomad which is why he traveled to Arizona to ride the Pony Express.
Later he moved to Spokane, Washington, and joined the United States Forest Service as a Forest Ranger. After a devastating fire in 1909, he moved to Missouri and joined the Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. and worked his way up to conductor on passenger trains. He was one of the few 33rd degree Masons in the country at the time and eventually became the Grand Master of the Masonic Temple in Salina, Kansas.
His nickname was "Ree" Debitt.
Information provided by Kathryn Armstrong, March 2001.
Died: Died in Pana, Illinois, March 12, 1878
Beverly R. Dennis rode for the Pony Express out of St. Joseph, Missouri, when he was in his late 20's.
Dennis later returned to Illinois and was a farmer (1870 census information) until his death in Pana, Christian County, Illinois. He is buried in Linwood Cemetery, Pana, Illinois. He was married to Lydia Johnson, who was born in Ohio.
Information provided by Carl N. Dennis in April 1997. Carl states that "My father, Howard E. Dennis, deceased, told me that his grandfather rode for the Pony Express,
Died: December 28, 1942, Ypsilanti, Michigan
My mother and her older sister both say that their grandfather was associated with the Pony Express. An article was supposedly printed in the Ypsilanti Press about his exploits. I have been unable to find the article however. The exact date of the articles printing is not known for certain.
John Dietz worked in the Blacksmith-Carriage business here in Ypsilanti. He married Mary Ann Steiner on November 28, 1879 and they had three children.
Bea McCallum, from Fife, Scotland, provides the following information in October 2004:
Died: February 19, 1910
Salt Lake City, Utah
Family history says that Edward rode April 1860 to October 1861 between Laramie, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah.
He married Mary Ann Taylor on May, 1864 in Salt Lake City. He was a bookkeeper for Watson Cabinet Company until his health gave out. He was also in the bishopric of the 19th Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years. He was called by Brigham Young to go to the Bear Lake country in Northern Utah to settle it. He and Mary had one baby there which died at birth in 1869. Their next baby was born upon their return to Salt Lake City in 1872. They had eleven children, four of whom died in infancy.
On May 6, 1880, Alexander married his second wife, Rebekah Smith whose parents were from England. He built a home for her in the 28th Ward area. They had nine children, but two of them died, one in infancy and the other at the age of seven. This left seven, one boy, Joseph, and six girls, the youngest of which is my mother, Della Marion Edward Gibson, making Alexander Frazier Edward my maternal grandfather.
The practice of plural marriage was legal when Alexander married Rebekah Smith, but when a law was later passed against it, many polygamists like my grandfather were imprisoned because they would not give up their wives and families. Alexander spent six months in the penitentiary in Sugarhouse (a suburb of Salt Lake City) during which time he served as a teacher to some of the other prisoners. His bail bond was $1,500.00 - a great deal of money at that time!
Later, about 1894, a splinter of wood pierced his face when he was chopping wood, and the resulting sore gradually developed into cancer which finally resulted in his death. He suffered horribly, and at one point asked, "I hope I will learn the lesson God intends for me to learn from this misfortune."
Died: July 14, 1896, Challis, Idaho
Charles Perkins Frost rode with the Pony Express at one time probably out of Austin, Nevada.
Charles came to Austin with his parents. His father Ephriam S. Frost was a miner or came during the gold rush. Charles was married to Ellen Whiting Frost from Piscall, Iowa. They had 6 children: John, Mary, Lafayette who died as a young child, Adelaide, Charles, and Edward. They later divorced while there were still young children at home. It is told that he had a bad temper and became violent at times. There is also some question as to the death of the child Lafayette and possibly another of the children died young (probably in Austin, Nevada).
Charles was in the Army (Nevada 1st Cavalry, Company B) and fought in the Indian Wars. (This information is on a military headstone.) He also ran a stage stop near Challis, Idaho.
Died: 1910? Jerseyville IL
Fulkerson was quite a legendary
character. He supposedly rode the Kansas - Nebraska leg of the route. He left the Express to return to Tennessee and join the 63rd Tenn Inf where he was
LTC commanding at end of war. He was uncle to Western artist Charles Russell
-- his son/Charlie's cousin died in Montana while accompanying Charlie. Fulkerson was a successful farmer/stockman, instrumental in the Chicago Columbian
Exposition of 1892-93. Sons of Confederate Veterans post for southern Illinois is named
after him.
For additional information check out the Fulkerson Family Web Site.
Rode: San Antonio Area
Stories of his days as a Pony Rider: He was Comanche Indian child captured by a Soldier in San Antonio, Texas. The soldier taught him english. He was used as a liason between his tribe and the soldiers. Later we were told he was used in the Pony Express to help the riders cross through Indian Territory. The story goes that he was killed and his house set on fire. My great grandfather remembers the incident as a small child himself. The soldiers named him Antonio Gonzales. The only record I have of him so far is a Baptismal Record of his son stating is father was a mail carrier.
Information provided by Rebecca Bussieres, Grand Daughter, 4th generation. The only evidence so far is hear-say. My great Uncle Fredricks accounting of His Fathers story about His Grand father.
Died: 1952
My
husband's Great uncle, Benjamin Gonzales, on his death bed in 1996 shared the following information:
Pedro Panteleon Gonzales was born at Creston, CO (now called Red Wing, CO)
Date is still unknown, but he lived to be 92 years old. He was married to
Beatrice Lucero from Culebra, N.M. They had eight children.
He was a pony
express rider at a young age. He carried the mail in
1881 from Silvercliff to Alamosa, Colorado, over Mosco pass (click here for map). Once he was
caught in a blizzard and his horse ran off causing him to walk and his toes
got frost bitten.
Another story was that along the pony express trail he
saw an Indian and stopped to talk. He heard a grunt from behind a rock and
the old Indian said not to worry, but his wife was having a baby. She came
out with child in arms and hopped on the horse and rode off.
Later he
helped the government move the Ute Indians and there was an epidemic of
small pox. He helped burn the tents and bury the dead. He heard a moaning
coming from a tent and saw an Indian woman give birth to a baby boy and die
immediately after. He took the child and rode as fast as he could to Red
Wing and bought a can of evaporated milk and a bottle and feed the
child..straight evaporated milk without diluting. The child died. The
family said that it was because he was a young bachelor and didn't know any
better.
He also acquired small pox and was told to put a grain of cayenne
pepper in his eye. It made him blind and he wore a glass eye for years.
He liked to read and would buy papers before he would buy food. He wore a
full jet black beard.
Later he was a Territorial Judge, farmer, rancher and blacksmith. He also worked at displacing Indians for the Federal government that had small pox.
He fathered 24 children (two sets of twins), but only 8 survived to adulthood. Three (one set of twins) children died from scarlet fever.
Died: Los Angeles, around early 1920's
After riding for the "pony express" William served as a Deputy Sheriff in Los Angeles.
Died: November 11, 1910, Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan
Richard Goward probably rode the "Pony Express, Southern Route" out of Wichita Falls Texas. He had at least three scars on his body from wounds from Indian arrows. He also had a companion named Bob Olinger when he rode pony express. (No further information is known about Bob Olinder at this time.)
After his pony express service, Richard was a Civil War Soldier, farmer and pioneer. He resided on his homestead, located near Kirby Corners in Caledonia Township, Michigan, until 1894. From there he moved with his wife Mary Louise (Hickmott) Goward to their home in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan, where they lived the rest of their lives. In January 1906, Richard was appointed an agent for the Lafayette Township, in accordance with a statue of 1905, for the burial of indigent soldiers and sailors.
An obituary from the Daughter of Utah Pioneers book states in part that P. N. Guymon
the son of James and Rhoda Neice
Guymon. When a child, the family moved to Fountain Green, where he grew
to manhood. As a young man, he was a pony express rider in the Black
Hawk Indian war in Sanpete county.Later he was a farmer and blacksmith.
Information provided by Elayne Trulove, March 1999.
Source: Platte County Heritage Book
The post office in Cottage Hill was later closed and moved to St. Hedwig, Bexar County. The St. Hedwig post office was opened on July 15, 1860.
The exact location of Cottage Hill (which no longer exists) is unknown. A rail line that went through the area is no longer there nor in use.
No further information is known of John Humphreys, at this time.
Died: New Market, AL, late 1800s or early 1900s
Will (called Bill) moved from the hills of North Carolina to Alabama, then to Texas and California before returning to North East Alabama. We knew him as Will, but then his family called him
Bill.
Bobbie Johnson Jordan writes:
"I have no proof other than my grandfather saying his
father Will rode with the Pony Express. He farmed in New Market, AL.
No further information is available, at this time.
LeGarde carried the mail from northern Montana, through Dakota to Fort Snelling. This was in 1865. He was then drafted into the Army at Fort Snelling, but the Civil War ended before he could serve at the front. He was discharged.
It is believed he spent the rest of his life in Minnesota. Working the mines.
Died: On or about June 1914, Collin County, Texas
Oral family history relates that Andrew fought in the civil war and
was suppose to have been friends with the Younger Brothers. The story was they all rode for awhile for the pony express, then fought in the war. When the Younger's went to robbing trains, Andrew told them "No, he was going home to his family and start over again." He had a large family and was a farmer in Collin County, Texas.
Died: Mar 28 1928, Battle Creek, Michigan
"My grandfather still has the pistol that David was supposed to have used when a pony express rider. David had quite a colorful life. It is said that he was one of the riders of the Pony Express in Wyoming. He also traveled to California to the Gold fields. On the trip back through the Panama Canal, a monkey threw a stick and blinded David in one eye. He later became a farmer in Michigan."
Died: Unknown. Sometime after 1956. San Antonio, Texas
Family stories about my grandfather told to me by a couple of long lost cousin's of mine tell that before going to work for the pony express he supposedly work on the King Ranch. There he branded and herded cattle and fought off Indians. Family stories and pictures tell of native American heritage, as to what tribe is not clear, possibly Cherokee, Choctaw or Apache.
Supposedly our grandfather delivered mail from Pleasanton to San Antonio.
After the pony express, grandfather worked in the sandpits and farmed.
Grandpa and Grandma met when grandpa was working for the pony express. Grandma would go to San Antonio in the wagon with her parents. They and other people would stop at a windmill to take a break along the way. One day they both had stop there at the same time and that's where they met for the first time. They settled in the Blackjacks of San Antonio and had 11 children.
Died: August 28, 1941 in Montgomery County, Ohio
Robin Oliver write: "My grandmother and her sisters always told me that my great great grandfather rode with Buffalo Bill, and that he also fought in the Indian wars with him. I believe he might have been a doctor. I was told that originally a shotgun of his was on display in the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, in Cody Wyoming. I was also told that he talked all the time about riding with buffalo bill and that he also knew Chief Crazy Horse.
Died: (Date Unknown)
Joe Nappier rode out of the St. Louis area and died in action, killed by Indians.
No further information is know at this time.
Died: August 9, 1860, in California, killed by natives
Father: Barnhardt NELLIS (1790-1847)
Mother: Catherine KELLER (1792-1881)
Marriage: Lydia Ann BEEBE, 8 Mar 1842 at First Presbyterian, Whitestown,
Oneida Co., NY
Solomon Nellis was a carriage maker, associated with Mr. Butterfield who
established the Butterfield Express. It is not clear whether he was an
agent, a rider, a repair person, or a passenger when was killed by natives while on the Butterfield Express, during
the period of time that the pony express was in service. He
was probably too old to assume that he was a pony express rider.
John J. Nellis, Esq., received a letter from Fort Smith addressed to him
at Whitestown, Oneida Co., New York, the brother of Solomon, received a
letter with the letterhead, Office of the Overhead Mail Co., dated Fort
Smith, Dec 23, 1860. The letter stated:
Born: Oklahoma, Indian Territory
Died: In the 1870s
By family word of mouth, Posey delivered the mail between Durant, Oklahoma, and Denison, Texas. He was murdered on the route, leaving a wife and four small children, one of whom was my grandmother, Laura Elizabeth Posey.
His wagon was found in the Red River. I only recently heard that someone was suspected in Bryan County, OK of having killed him, since he was discovered wearing my great-grandfather's Masonic ring. But nothing ever came of it.
Information provided by Nancy Barginear, March 2001.
Born: Edgerton, Ohio, October 11, 1861
Died: Tulsa, Oklahoma, September 30, 1940
Queen was known as "Red the Kid" during his time riding for the Pony Express. This was in regards to his red hair.
After reaching adulthood he became the most prominent auctioneer in the northern Oklahoma (Perry, Noble Co.) area and was instrumental in the development of the Cherokee Strip. Numerous newspaper articles from Perry & Tulsa, Oklahoma had printed his accomplishments and colorful western heritage. He was the horse auctioneer for the U.S. Cavalry, several railroads, & the Ringling Bros. Circus. He also auctioned off the entire sight of what is now Anadarko, Oklahoma. According to Perry, Oklahoma newspapers he was known as "the youngest old timer living". He was noted as having the largest privately owned Indian relics collection in the west. Chief Bull Thunder gave him the ceremonial headdress made from Pat Hennessey's hat, who was killed in the Hennessey Massacre, one of the last Indian uprisings in Oklahoma Territory. He was personal friends with Buffalo Bill and all the members of his Wild West Show.
Died: 1897, Washington St.
Evidence: Family History says that Reinert Reime carried mail by pony express. His horse came back with the mail sack
but Reinert was lost, killed while delivering the mail.
Died: May 3, 1923 (Veteran's Home, Yountville, California)
"Family" history and word of mouth from the Great Granddaughter of T.W. Richardson records that Richardson drove a stagecoach out of St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1860. He described himself as a "Mail Carrier" at one point in his life, date unclear.
He was a teamster as well as a farmer in Santa Rosa, California, and Oregon.
The story is told that T.W. came upon his friend, George Hill, who had been scalped by Indians. He took the man's personal effects back to (Nebraska) where he met the man's wife, Adeline Thorne Hill. T. W. fell in love with her, and they married.
Died: Mount Union, Iowa 1919
James Robertson rode the far western end of the Pony Express route from Sacramento 60 miles to the east. Based on family stories handed down over generations, James once carried a note for President Lincoln in his mouth with orders to
swallow it if captured.
His horse was shot out from underneath him on at least one occasion.
In later years is was a farmer in Iowa.
Died: 1918.
Married to Emma Alvira Dack (1841 - 1912).
"I was told by my older brothers and one younger brother also
remembered that Grandfather Issac had been a pony express rider and that
at one time his horse was struck by an Indian arrow. He saved his
saddle with mail. He was supposed to have ridden west out of St. Joseph,
Missouri. Later, he was a farmer living on a farm south of Pittsburg, Kansas.
"I also have letters from a cousin who lived all her life on this
'old Ross farm' and still does. She stated in two of her letters that
Grandfather Issac rode for the pony express."
Died: October 29, 1936 in Rushville, Nebraska
Family History and Russell's obituary recorder that sometime after 1847 "he carried mail on horseback from Yankton, South Dakota east over a route of 120 miles in length. To accomplish this, he would ride one horse to the Missouri River, cross on a skiff and proceed on another horse stationed there for that purpose." After that he served four years as a courier in the Sioux Indian War under Captain Wells.
Died: January 3, 1964
Hilario Saenz rode, in the early 1900s, for an unknown period of time, from El Paso, Texas, to La Mesa, New Mexico.
Hilario followed in his great grandfather's footsteps (Querino
Saenz), ferrying the mail across the Rio Grande and then riding to La Mesa. Other members of the family also carried mail, before Hilario. He was a landowner and farmer, whose daughter Maria ALaniz, still lives on the ranch.
Information provided by Harold L. Ogden, March 1999.
Family history as told by Norman Scott, Joel's great-great grandson is that Joel rode out of St. Joseph when he was 17 years old. It is said that a cougar attacked his horse once and he had to jump off. He married Sarah. Joel died in Ohio in 1899 of the fever(?).
No further information available, at this time.
Family history records that he rode for the pony express and later became a veterinarian.
No additional information is know at this time.
Died: 11 Mar 1932 Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto Co., TX
Family history states that Southern rode for the Pony Express and supposedly knew Buffalo Bill.
His parents were Preston
Ford Southern and Martha Ann Bullard. Levi was married three times. His wives
were Hazeltine (Tiney) McMean, Emily _______, and Mattie O. Campbell. His
children with Hazeltine (Tiney) were James Monroe, John R., Cora, Mattie,
Mary Ora, and Lillie. His child with Mattie O. Campbell was Chloe.
Died: December 25, 1935, Santa Rosa, California
Great Uncle George told stories of being a pony express rider. He served in the Civil War with the Seventh Regiment Kansas Volunteers - Cavalry. He enlisted in August 1861 and place of residence was Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas.
His son was born in Kansas in 1872.
Died: October 7, 1918, in Blue Rapids, Kansas
An Obituary in "The Blue Rapids Times" dated 10/19/1918, p. 4, states: "In an eary day Mr. Strange was the Pony Express rider from Irving to Atchison..."
Later "...he also freighted from Marysville, Kansas, to Fort Kearney, Nebraska. While performing his duties as freighter he was present during the Indian raid at Kearney and was invited by Wild Bill to come in and have breakfast with him the morning following the raid. Mr. Strange hauled the first and last stone on the dam." He ended his days as a farmer in Blue Rapids township.
NOTE: From Atchison the Pony Express route went to
Kennekuk and then on the regular route not to the south through Irving. The trail would have swung down from
the northeast into Marysville and the on northwest. Also looking at the date of birth would have made him 13 years of age in 1861.
I found out from my mother that my grandmother
often said that her father, Joseph R. Tagert, was a Pony Express rider. So
I have no reason to doubt such a close source to him, and his age is just
right for it.
Tagert worked as a watchman for the SP railroad and was
at the original Golden Spike event in Utah.
Family history told by great grandmother Cecilia Amelia Wentz, and a fiddle donated by his son William John Tylee to a museum in Denver area often tell about Tylee being a pony express rider. He was supposed to have ridden in the area of Caulker, Kansas, around Beloit.
One story has been repeated through family stories of a ride George Tylee had, in which his horse was shot. He had just bought a new pair of boots. and when the horse he rode was shot he put the money and mail in his boot and ran. Finding a hiding spot in a pile of wood he was able to escape. The walk back to the closest town caused severe blisters on his feet.
George Richardson Tylee married Elizebeth Jane Dixson, November 24, 1876. They raised 10 children. Her death on June 17, 1891, was one month after their last girl was born. The older girls in the family kept the children together in Caulker, Kansas.
No further information available, at this time.
Died: 1896
In 1957 my late grandmother wrote:
NOTE: There may be several reasons for the inconsistencies noted above. Many times "historical facts" and the sequence of events get
scrambled over time. While there were a number of early enterprises that
carried the first mails in California, Wells Fargo and Co was not
established in California until 1852. At the time of the Overland Pony Express (1860-61) there were a
number of times that the mail was routed overland between Sacramento and San
Francisco (but always west-bound, never east-bound).
Died: Unknown. Perhaps around Pueblo, CO or Dawson, NM
Supposedly William West was my father's grandfather (or great grandfather) on his mother's side. Her mother's name was Stella West and she lived in Pueblo, Colorado, in late 1890-1910 period. My father, named William, was supposed to be a namesake of William West. William West supposedly rode with Buffalo Bill Cody when both were pony express riders. I have inherited his Colt revolver, which has notches on it, supposedly while on pony express duties.
Died: August 19, 1937, in Morgan Park, Chicago, Illinois
Samuel Westberg (or the old country name of Samual Oscarsson) was an immigrant from Northern Sweden who rode in the Kansas Territory in the 1870's.
The following story has been passed down from earlier generations:
Sam rode along for a ways, checking out the territory for the enemy Indians. Then he noticed one redskin riding behind him waiving his arms wildly and yelling. Sam urged his "mool" to speed up, but the Indian prevailed and an encounter was inevitable.
Sam faced the redskin and pulled out his weapon and pulled the trigger. The ball fell out the end of the barrel while the two men watched it fall to the ground. In understandable English, the Indian said, "Here is your mail pouch. You dropped it back there!"
Samuel met his wife Marie Johansson (from southern Sweden) at a Swedish community in Kansas. He outlived Marie who died July 16, 1930, while visiting her sister in Portland, Oregon.
Died: October 15, 1883, Salt Lake City, UT
Family letters, history, bible, pictures, and
memories tell the story of Dominique Winther riding for Pony Express, but not sure where.
Dominique became a blacksmith and married Jon Johnson and had three kids: Linzy,
Annalee, and Lorraine.
Donna Lauten writes
"The name has two different spellings - my
mother-in-law's family spelled it Yokley. She said other members of the
family became "uppity" and added an extra e! She doesn't have any other
information about Austin except for hear-say.
"Supposedly he was killed in a wheat field in Missouri by Jesse James.
Someone sent his clothes home to one of his brothers. His hat had a bullet
hole in it and his underwear (long johns) were covered in blood.
Everything has been lost since then. Most of the family has died. "
Several months later Russell, Majors & Waddell bought out the semi-monthly line of Hockaday & Ligett, that was running between St. Joseph and Salt Lake City. This line continued to operate from the summer of 1859 until March, 1862, when it was taken over by Ben Holliday. Although this was primarily a stage line, some mail may have been carried between St. Joseph and Denver after the Pony Express was established in April, 1860. Alexander Majors, in his biography Seventy Years on the Frontier, makes mention of the fact that the news of Abraham Lincoln's election was carried from St. Joseph to Denver, 665 miles, in two days and twenty-one hours, the last ten miles having been covered in thirty-one minutes.
Harry L. Hale wrote in The Western
Star, located in Lebanon, Ohio an article dated August 11, 1949, on early
transportation and the roads:
"It took the pony express 44 1/2 hours from Baltimore to Columbus and 15
hours from Columbus to Cincinnati through Lebanon and Mason. The service
continued several years and in 1845 the pony express carried the inaugural
address of James K. Polk from Columbus to Cincinnati in 9 1/2 hours - still
the all time high record for horseback travel between the two points. It
was an average of 11 1/2 miles an hour."
*Footnote to History:
Information provided by Michael Riley, March 2002
Between 1880 and 1890, Hilario would ferry people and mail between El Paso, Texas
and Juarez, Mexico. At that time the river had to be crossed by boat. The Rio
Grande was known as El Rio Grande, or El Rio Bravo. The short way to cross the
river was at Mesquite. The Safe way was at Vado. From the post office at
Mesquite, they carried the mail on horseback to Vado. From there they crossed
the river and rode on to La Mesa.
It is interesting to note that Col. A.J. Fountain, shot Hilario's father,
Doroteo "El Tigre" Saenz, in the back. Somewhere near Canutillo, Texas. in
1882.
Born: About 1853 in West Fork Arkansas
Information provided by Richard Cooksey, August 1998.
Juan Santos Avila
Born: March 15, 1869, Redwing, Colorado
Born: Kentucky?
Information provided by Rebecca Swain, November 1998.
Born: Scotland February 13, 1827
Information provided by Tyson Henry, May 1997.
Born: 1830
Information submitted by Terry Blackford, February 1997.I often have been told by older family members that my great granfather rode for the Pony Express in Missouri. My grandfather had what I was told was a Pony Express saddle and Colt 45 that his father had from riding with the Pony Express. Unfortunately, someone, knowing that my grandfather was
not of sound mind, offered him a ridiculous price and he sold them.
Information provided by Rodger Smith, June 2001.
Born: March 4, 1862, Napoli, Cattaraugus County, New York
Information submitted by Karyl Hahn January 1998
Evidence: "Historic Annals of SW NY; pub 1940; Vol 3, pp 180-181.
"A.J.Case, who during his young manhood had a romantic career as one of the pony express riders over the prairies in the days before the Union Pacific RR was built."
He lived in Furnas County, Nebraska, and Norton, Kansas, 1880-1883. He was married in Norton Kansas His first child was born in Norton in 1883. He was a salesman for Case Brothers Cutlery of New York and was a stock breeder, both in 1890's.Luther Conner ( 1856 - 1920) came to Iowa as a baby. When he grew up he came to Dakota Territory and settled in Yankton. He became a rider for the Pony Express and rode from Yankton to Pierre. Later he became a friend of the Indians and they taught him veterinary medicine which he used all of his life , helping farmers with their animals.
Information provided by Lorraine Betts Gilmer (Luther Conner was her grt grt grt Uncle), February 2002.
Born: Macoupin Co., Illinois
Information submitted by Tina Casperson, January 1997.
Born: Born in Tennessee 1831
Born: January 29,1851, Shortsville, New York
Information provided by William R. Orr, August 1998.William Dixon supposedly rode in Wyoming.
Information submitted by Denize Richards in October 1996.William Dixon was my great great grandfather. He was a friend of Bill Cody who traveled to Scotland to visit him.
Born: June 4, 1841
Aberdeen, Scotland
Information provided by James A. Gibson (maternal grandson of Alexander F. Edward), September 1998.
"I have been told that my Great Grandfather Abram
Fredendall owned a store (probably in Kansas, he lived in Haddam, Washington
County) that acted as a relay station for the Pony Express. I would like to find
out if this is true or just a family rumor."
Information submitted by Wendy Lawrence, October 10, 1996.
Born: October 2, 1838, Springfield, Massachusetts
This information provided by Gwen G. Brown, February 1997. She writes, "Charles P. was my great-great grandfather. My father James D. Frost is in the process of writing information he can remember from stories his father had told him. It has been told that Charles P. knew Buffalo Bill."
Born: 9 Sept 1834 Tazewell TN
Information provided by John Andrews June 1998.Born: Bexar County, Texas
Died: Bexar County, Texas
Born: around 1859 to 1860 in Taos County, New Mexico
Information provided by Pam Valdez, November 1998.
Born: Detroit, Michigan (date unknown)
Information was submitted by Karen, March 1997. She writes, "He was the brother to my 89 year old friend's
grandmother. Unfortunately, although she has a photo somewhere, it would
be hard to find since she is nearly blind and would not be able to point
him out; and additional information is lost to failing memory.
Born: January 6, 1837, Rutland, England
Information submitted by Keitha Goward LaChance, November 1996. She writes, "I have a family letter that tells of Richard Francis Goward's birth, marriage and death. The names of his children (all 22 of them!) are listed. The letter mentions his being a pony express rider. I've been told that C.Townsend Brady wrote a book about Richard Francis Goward's life but to this date I have not found the book. It was supposed to be in a library in Detroit, Michigan. The library was also built by a man named GOWARD."
Born: April 3, 1855 in Parowan, Utah
Information provided by his Great Great Grand Niece, Deborah Patterson, April 1999.
Died: October 26, 1936 in Provo, UtahAccording to family history (in letters written to my grandmother, Myrtle Avis Nieman Lindsay, from my great aunt, Bernice Viola Nieman Vandiver) William Hazelwood was one of the last pony express riders. He was killed by Indians riding for the pony express near Silver City, New Mexico.
Mr. Hood homesteaded southwest of Dwyer, WY. He was a familiar
sight with his dog in the area hunting rabbits. He carried a clothe sack
that he would carry his groceries in from the Dwyer Mercentile Store. Mr.
Hood was a Civil War Veteran and always put a flag on the grave of Mr.
Gordon another Civil War veteran buried in the Dwyer Cemetery on Memorial
Day. He was part Indian and a former Pony Express rider that people from
the area called Uncle Jimmy Hood. Rachelle Bosworth family would see Mr.
Hood walking along and offer him a ride in their buggy. He would never
ride in the buggy seat but would ride in the back. His stories of the
early west were greatly enjoyed by his neighbors according to Rachelle
Bosworth. Another neighbor remembers that Mr. Hood had been bitten by rattlesnakes so
many times that he was immune to the venom.
Information provided by Karen M. Bennett, June 1998.
John Humphreys supposedly owned a post office in the small community of Cottage Hill (or possibly Couter Hill), Guadalupe County, Texas, in the 1860's. A "pony" type mail
delivery was a popular and effective way to get the mail off the rail lines in Guadalupe County, Texas, as well as, many other places throughout the west.
As the mail arrived at the train depot, the pony riders would deliver it to
the local post offices.
Information submitted by Suzanne Baker on September 10, 1996.
Born: ?
Information provided October 1998.
The name of Charles Burton Lambert was submitted by Willard Robison, October 5, 1996
Born: France
Information submitted by Cathi OConnell, a descendent of Michael Legarde, January 1999.
Died: Not Available
"It was on several of these trips with the mail, while he crossed Sioux country, that he was attacked by Sioux war parties. His pup-tent, on one occasion, was surrounded and ripped to ribbons. On another, he was in the tent and was partly scalped. He managed to escape, however, with his life, crawling from under the tend and joining in with the circling dancing warriors! He had hidden his horse away from the scene of action. He got to his saddle where he had an army first-aid kit and managed to patch the scalp wound. Then, catching up with his hobbled horse, he continued on to Snelling. There he rested some and again went back to his starting post."
Source: "Quest for the Pipe of the Sioux" by Wilbur A. Riegert. Printed by Printing, Inc., Rapid City, South Dakota.
Born: March 29, 1833, in Missouri
Information provided by Janet Ford, July 1997. Born: Jan 1 1843, Battle Creek, Michigan
Information provided by Mike Fields, August 1998.Born: 1886,1887 or 1888 according to 1920's census. Kingsville, Texas
Information provided by David McGraw May 2001.Marion Augusta Martin (Gus) (YellowJacket)
Born: March 5, 1847, possibly in Ohio or maybe Pennsylvania
Information provided by Robin Oliver, May 1997.
Born: probably someplace in Texas
Information submitted by Darlene Hykes, November 1996.
Born: New York, ca 1814
Information submitted by Kathleen McLaughlin, July 1997
Mr. Nellis, Dear Sir, I
received your letter a few days ago. I forward the trunk as you directed
to Barney B. Nellis Chi (?). & paid the charges to St. Louis. I shipped
the trunk on the 21st. I also sent a small book which you will find
with his letters with all the bills that was paid Receipted & a statement
of his affairs
Inclosed I send the key of trunk, Yours Respectfully, Geo. Ruddy
John Bruff Queen's family came to Lincoln Township, Washington Co., Kansas in 1865/66 as referenced from 1860 & 1870 Census reports. Newspapers say that he was "one of only three living Pony Express riders living today and he carried the first mail sacks from Hays to Dodge back when they were known as forts. He made the 116 mile trip many times in one day".
Information provided by Skip Warren, August 1998. Skip is John Queen's great, great grandson from his mother's side. Skip provides the following information:
I found it interesting to note that while watching Clint Eastwood's movie "The Unforgiven" that the hero of the story William Munny lived in Hodgeman County Kansas during the time John Queen carried the mail sacks from Hays to Dodge. This would be in a direct line. I wonder if John knew such a notoriously famous character?
Born: Dec 24, 1876
Information provided by John Nelson January 1998.
Born: October 7, 1841
Information provided by Linda Meade Clayton, July 1997.
Born: Perth, Scotland 1839
Information provided by Teresa Kaiser, September 1997.
Born: 1838.
Information from C. Ross and Deborah J. Dellinger, October 1996.
Born: November 16, 1836, Lodi, New York
Information provided by Deborah Ostrander, January 1999.
Died: March 16, 1861, Levenworth City, Kansas
Born: February 2,1829 in Cascade, Iowa
Information provided by Kathie Mattoon, September 1997. Born: December 25, 1877, La Mesa, New Mexico
Information provided by Micaela Saenz Lee, November 2000.My
ancestor, Frederick Sander, came to the U.S. from Prussia in the mid-1850's
and soon after went to California because of the gold rush. He became a pony
express rider. He either died or was killed and some of his personal effects
were sent back to his brother in Missouri.
Born: 1844
Information submitted by Scott Williams, January 1999.
Died: 1899 Ohio
"Family lore has a 2g great uncle of mine
as a rider. However, I have his birth date as 1855. I know they
were young but this would be realllllly young. His name was Martin
Shull."
Information submitted by Bob Hamilton, July 1996.
Souter lived in Muscotah, Kansas, and was married to Sarah Cole.
Information provided by Bonnie Dick, September 1997.
Born: 10 Feb 1848, Warren Co., TN
Information provided by Natalie Southern Huntley June 1997.
Born: December 5, 1841 in Vermont
Information provide by Sharon Nolen, July 2001. She states further:"My father in law was about 10 years old when he was told by his Great Uncle
George that he had rode for the Pony Express. Most of the stores were told to
his grandmother who was George's niece. They are all gone now. I do know he left
Kansas around 1875 for Ohio then came to Downey, California.
Born: February 28, 1849, in Ray Coounty, Missouri
Information provided by his Great Great Grandniece Sharon Strange Capezza June 2002.
Born: 25 June 25,1842, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Information provided by Anne Kirby, January 2000. No further information is available at this time.
Died: 7 December 7, 1913, San Francisco, California
Born: November 5, 1842, Beloit, Kansas, area
Information provided by Larry J. Heim, May 1999.
Died: March 10, 1911, buried in Downs, Kansas
A granddaughter of Walter Waugh states that Walter was a rider for the Pony Express. He was living in southwestern Iowa, south of Omaha in the 1860 census.
Information submitted by Elgin Waugh, September 1996.
Born: 1826
Information submitted by Alison Z. Phillips, February 1997."... another toy I loved was my grandfather Wirt's
money belt with a big gold nugget in it from his
Pony Express Wells Fargo experience
when he rode San Francisco to Sacramento run during the
Gold Rush of '49. He too was just a kid but saved and brought back
enough gold to buy his land. He defended it and himself and his
mailbags on his job, with a gun on each hip. He went and returned via
Nicaragua - no easy Panama Canal then - bandit infested isthmus
to cross, mostly jungle."
Born: Unknown
Information provided by Karen Van Scyoc, December 1998.
Born: October 29, 1857, in Northern Sweden
Information from Ron Westberg (grandson of Samuel Westberg) December 1996.
When Samuel began his Pony Express career, he was a rather recent immigrant from Sweden. Naturally he was nervous and anxious to do his job well. "Dey gave me a mool to ride," Sam said. "Here's your pouch of mail. Watch out for Indians," they said.
More most of his career, Sam worked at the Pullman Car Company in Chicago. At one time while at the Pullman Company some molten metal fell on his leg which had to be amputated.
Born: March 12, 1837, Lantosque, France
Information provided by Dominique Winther Jr. November 1997."My husband's
great-great-great uncle Austin Yokeley rode for the Pony Express and was
killed by Jesse James.
Information submitted by Donna Lauten, February 1997.
Family history says that Arby Diverd Youngker was
born in a sod hut during a snow storm near North Platte, Nebraska, and that
Buffalo Bill Cody went to get the doctor. Arby's father was a Pony Express
Rider and was granted land in either North Alabama, North Georgia, or
Southeast Tennessee by the government. It was later sold to a lumber
company.
Information provided by Arby Dickert, July 1997.
Other "pony express" Routes
St. Joseph, Missouri - Denver, Colorado
A "pony express" route between St. Joseph, Missouri and Denver, Colorado, is not well documented. On May 17, 1859, a stage line between Leavenworth (later changed to Atchinson), Kansas, and Denver commenced operations. The firm had been established by W. H. Russell and John S. Jones. After being in operation for only ninety days the assets and obligations of the firm of Russell & Jones had to be assumed by Russell, Majors & Waddell. The institution then having become the property of Russell, Majors & Waddell, continued to run daily.
Fredrickstown, Maryland - Cincinnati, Ohio
"Beginning July 1, 1837, a pony express line operated between
Fredrickstown, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio, passing through Lebanon and
Franklin [Ohio]. The horses were ridden by boys, who carried mail, small
packages, letters, packets and light express.
Information provided by Dallas Bogen, September 1998.Fort Bridger - Bannack City, Montana
In July 1863 a weekly pony express was established between Fort Bridger and Bannack City* in Montana. There is no record of how long it operated.
Source: Beck, Warren A. and Ynez D. Haase, Historical Atlas of the American West. University of Oklahoma Press.The correct
spelling is "BannAck" not "BannOck". Bannack was Montana's first territorial capital and is now the Bannack State
Park. The change of spelling has been explained in this way: when the
application for a postoffice was sent the clerk's handwriting was sloppy
and the application came back approved as Bannack. It has been spelled
that way since 1862 as far as I know. Bannock is the name of the group
of Indians who once traversed this area and lived around Salmon, Idaho.
They are now headquartered at Fort Hall, Idaho.
El Paso, Texas - La Mesa, Mexico
Before the railroad was built in the Mesilla
Valley. The mail was delivered by pony express. The main routes were: The
Santa Fe Trail, Kancos Trail and the San Antonio Trail. The Santa Fe Railroad
was built about 1880-1881. Pony express riders of the Mesilla Valley were :
Information provided by Micaela Lee, September 1998.
1. Querino Saenz about 1770 to 1790, from Juarez Mexico, to the Mesilla
Valley.
2. Juan De Dios Saenz, about 1790-1800 from Mesilla to La Mesa.
3. Anastasio Villescas, about 1869 to 1882, from Vado to La Mesa.
4. Hilario Saenz, about 1860 to 1882, took over the Vado to La Mesa route.