The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-01-21


hardly ever, it might be said never, missing
trip.
In the beginning the coaches ran daily
each way between St. Paul and Georgetown,
and this was kept up for some time, but
later it was changed to tri-weekly from
St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie and daily
from St. Paal to St. Cloud this was kept
up until the summer Of 1865, when daily
was put on to Sank Centre, and in 1867
the daily was extended to Alexandria; tri-
weekly being always kept up to Fort
Abercrombie. In 1870 the company e.
tablished a line of stages running from
Sank Centre to Fort Wadsworth twice =
week, and also one from Brandon to Otter
Tail City three times q week, but these
were withdrawn in the spring of 1874, the
mail contract having been let to other par
ties.
After the arrival of the cars 1t Breckin-
ridge the stages were withdrawn from Pom
me de Terre to Fort Abercrombie and were
run for short time from Pomme de Terre
to Campbell station, and afterwards to Her
mann, but were finally withdrawn Alto
gether from above Pomme do Terre in the
fall of 1873. In April, 1874, the stages
withdrew entirely from the Sank Valley
and this section on the first day of January,
1875, the mail contracts having already on
the first of July, 1874, been awarded to
other parties:.
In this connection it may not be out of
place to recall the names of some of the
employees who have at different times been
identified with this company.
Henry eager was the first route agent up
here, and many of the old settlers will, in
connection with him, remember the famous
chestnut horse "Bob," which he used to
drive in those days and which was IN
doubtedly the best piece of horse flesh that
ever set foot in this country.
John Bingham succeeded H. eager as
route agent, and remained until the fall Of
1864, when H. H. Herbert (now a livery
stable keeper in St. CLOUDY became agent
and he was succeeded in the spring of 1865
by the genial R. A. Wait, whom everybody
knows, and who remained agent until the
last, being assisted for short time in this
upper section by Cal. Proctor.
The messengers which the writer remem-
bers as running on this route, were Henry
Baldwin, now living at Morris, Seth W.
Turner, now Of Minneapolis, Math schaef:
fer Of Sank Centre, N. @, Punches, now
keeping store At Pomme de Terre, Shep-
ard, now living near Clearwater, Albert
Carpenter, Dan Carpenter, Ezra Andsrson,
Henry Garfield, Lake and Others:
1t would be next to impossible to give
the names Of all the drivers who we're al
different times connected with this route
but tho following are remembered more
particularly from the fact that they were
more OF less noted characters and remained
long in the employ of tho company D.vid
Barkover, who il still among Us, 'life OF
the frontier" Andrew Simmons; Frank
Darling, noted for having made the quick
est time ever made between Pomme de Ter
re and Alexandria; Ransom E. Darling
Banty--frst class fiddler, now living a
Evansville; Dan St, John, who died in tn,
summer of 1867; A, R. Plymot,c noted TO
making extr. good time; Cole Sen, "ge
up Pomp," You could have regulated
your watch by his arrivals. Ed. Buckmas
ter, John Halter, champion reinsman, Oh
Herman who can't laugh any; Georg
shaly, better known as "Rent." McMuller
capital story-teller but awful slow driver
Harvey McGregor, fine singer Ben. Lord
lately stage agent at Sank Centre, Scot
Wickert, VIM. Franklin, Matt Wink, Mix,
Dunfort, Ed. Patnod, Johnny MoNellis
Jesse Waddles, Charles Spel1, drowned il
Pomme de Terre river in 1867; Ed. In
gals, noted for his big hands and feet
Lame Jake, "although," Doc. Kelly, Chas
Tingwall, John Duncan, John Collins
Chas. Thompson, Reuben Althouse, a per
feot gentleman. Col. Livingston, Jo
Vaughn Freeman and James Caswell
Ezra Anderson, always on time; Bill
Gardner, Frank WENDELL the last two vii
be remembered in connection with the fou
roans which were undoubtedly the pretties
stage team that ever came into Alexandra
and many others whose names do not re
cur just now.
|, tits on the whole rather sad common
tary upon the progress Of this country t
find that the lack Of a good paying business
10 driving this company out of the country
When the writer hereof first struck thi
country in fall of 1863, big four hors.
coaches were running on the main roat
(either up or DOWN loaded down with pas
sengers and express matter, and remember
to have often seen two coaches on the sam,
day going ives: filed inside to overaowin,
and as many hanging on outside as coult
find room. Finally within the last thre
years the thing dvindled down to two hor
ses and at last no business even for them
and that is what the Railroads to tn,
north and west have done for ",
The propriietqrs Of the Minnesota Stag
Company and Northwestern Express Com
]