Perhaps this was the trading license identified by George Root. There was no ferry at this location until 1859 when Ben Holladay established the Oketo Cutoff for his Overland Stage Company. There is doubt that the Independence Crossing ferry was ever in operation. 1849-51 were heavy travel years, and it seems certain that some of the emigrant journals of the period would have mentioned a ferry at this location. The author has searched published diaries available to him, and no such reference has been found.
Correspondence is invited with anyone who can supply additional information.
Bernard Reid, Niles Searls and Samuel Dundass, all of whom crossed in 1849, say that the river was forded. Return to the Pioneer Trails Home Page or return to the Kansas Historic Trails or return to the Kansas Heritage Server .