Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-09-28
abilene trail.
J. G. Mccoy SETS SOME EARLY
HISTORY RIGHT.
Proposed Motor Road to Lead from
Oklahoma to Abilene, Follow
ing the Old Cattle Trail.

by building an automobile road over
its length through Oklahoma and
Kansas. Pray tell me which CHS
holm and which Chisholm Trail 1t
is proposed to honor.
There was one John Chisholm OF
Texas who transferred his cattle
from Texas to the Pecos River, New
Mexico, crossing Red river Just above
Sherman, Texas, he drove north to
the South Canadian river, up that
river to Fort Bascom, New Mexico,
thence south over the northwest spur
Of the Staked Plains, thence down
below Fort Sumner, on the Pecos
river, near the present town of Ros-
well, where he established a magni-
ficent live stock and fruit ranch.
In the fall season of 1865 one
Jesse Chisholm, a half breed Chero-
kee bought two pony wagon loads
OF goods suitable for Indian trade
OF merchants at Leavenworth and
brought his outfit, via Emporia and
Towanda, Kansas, to the present site
Of the city of Wichita.
A large pow-wow with the south
ern and southwestern Indians had
Just been held between the Big and
the Little Arkansas Rivers and CHS
holm drifted south bearing west
with returning Indians from the
pow-wow, past what we now call
southern Kansas into the present
state of Oklahoma, crossing Salt Fork
of the Arkansas river near the pres
emit town of Pond Creek, thence more
southwesterly to the head of Skele-
ton creek, across the valley thereof
to a point south Of Hennessey, thence
more directly south to the Cimar-
ron River, crossing a few miles east
and below, the present town OF Do
YER, thence Chrisholm and his COM
panions bore off southeast to Council
Grove just west Of Oklahoma City,
where he put up cabin and traded
for a year with the neighboring In
dams. Finally he moved up the
North Canadian river to the camp |
of a band of the Comanche Indians |
who claimed to own the Hill country
of western Oklahoma, as well as the
Staked Plains and the Panhandle OF
Texas. A camp of that tribe was
located west of Fort Reno. To this
camp Jesse Chisholm removed with
his stock of goods. Some of his
Indian friends killed bear and sent
him a hunk of the meat and he
over-filled his stomach with bear
meat and sickened and died about
the year 1858.
Now is submitted the question:
Is there anything in the career OF
Jesse Chisholm that his name should
be attached to any trail much less
the great Abilene Cattle Trail.
In 1867 the writer selected Abb
Iene as the point at which to build
i strong set of shipping yards that
would hold 5000 head of the big
wild cattle that would be driven
rom Texas to that point. These
yards meant a railroad tie, each six
eet, braced with another tie, both
costing seventy-five cents each. A
lis, 900 three story hotel was erect
ID, a barn that would hold one hun
lred and twenty ponies was provided
BESIDES an office and large scales
we're put In. In July civil engineer
With aids, armed with spades and
novels and picks, with a full camp
quipment Of supplies for man and
east, started from the south bank
( the Smoky Hill river at Abilene,
he engineer outfit marked the pro- :
osed trail south through Dickinson,
darion, Sedgwiclk and Sumner to
he Indian Territory. The marking
onsisted of throwing up small
hounds of turf and dirt, varyisg the
rail to the right or left hand so as
, secure good watering and camp
lg places sufficient to accommodate =
large herd or herds Of cattle and I
lie necessary men attending them.
his trail crossed the state line near "
,e present site of Caldwell, Kansas, :,
hich was built for the primary pur-
ose Of selling supplies to the north .
ound drovers and also suitable out
Is to returning Texans home ward
,und, among which supplies were .
ten included an ample supply Of :
Bust Head" xiii at 40 Rod" more =
equently called "oh be Joyful" '.
nd II It was branded from "ol
entuck" It was a sure seller. But !.
ere was really some good excuse y
ide from possible snake bites, often
Iese men were compelled to drink .
ipure water and a counter irritant q
as felt to be needed. o.
Frrm Caldwell this cnttle trail u