73-573: Heavener Runestone Park ( pronounced / ˈ h iː v n ər / ) is a 55-acre (220,000 m) park located in Le Flore County , Oklahoma near the city of Heavener, Oklahoma . Formerly a state park of Oklahoma, it was transferred to the City of Heavener in 2011, and is now operated by the Friends of Heavener Runestone, a non-profit organization. The Festival held at the park on two weekends
146-461: A Butterfield stage and wrote the following: "After leaving this station [Arizona's San Pedro River Stage Station], the conductor asked 'how many of us were armed', and requested that those who had arms should have them ready for use, as we now were in the Apache country. Guns and pistols were produced, and we rode all night with them in our hands." This draft animal-drawn passenger and mail stage had
219-413: A favorite with some, for, though only opened one month before I passed over it, it was already pretty well marked with wagon tracks . …It must of course improve with every day of its use." Another Texas section: "The new road from Grape Creek to the head of Concho River, Texas, on Mr. Glover's division, is also in good order for travel and saves another thirty miles [the total length for this new section
292-687: A land route to deliver mail from the East to the West coast, but to aid emigrant travel to settle the West. Butterfield accomplished this purpose by providing an improved trail and water sources at regularly spaced stage stations. When researchers hike the Southern Overland Corridor, the most visible ruts are those of the route that the Overland Mail Company established, which others followed. Even though its services ceased on
365-530: A large increase in the number of emigrants on the trail. The San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line was operating on 900 miles of the improved trail and benefited by the regularly spaced water holes at Butterfield's stations. In October 1859, Superintendent Isaiah C. Woods complimented Butterfield for these improvements and the benefit to the San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line: "The San Diego Overland Route – Interesting News – From I.C. Woods, who has just crossed
438-580: A manner which would be a model in any country. The immigrants are coming slowly along, feeling in no hurry to enter California much before the rains have brought on the new grass. The stations of the Overland Mail companies and the wells dug by these enterprising men, are proving of incalculable benefit to those crossing with their own teams. The immigration on the Southern route, this year, will figure up from ten thousand to fifteen thousand souls, with
511-503: A sharp rebuttal from a Washington, D.C., newspaper. Mail Contract No. 12,578 for $ 600,000 per annum for a semi-weekly service was assigned to John Butterfield of Utica, New York , who was president for the contract that was named the Overland Mail Company. This was the longest mail contract awarded in the United States . It was a stockholding company and the main stockholders, besides John Butterfield, were also fellow directors of
584-481: A stagecoach and a mail stagecoach is that a large compartment was provided below the driver's seat to carry mail and the rear boot for mail was larger. Butterfield's stagecoaches were used on 30% of the Southern Overland Trail at the eastern and western ends. Celerity means 'swiftness of speed'. The term "celerity wagon" is sometimes used instead of "stage wagon." It was about 60% of the weight of
657-450: A stagecoach and was designed for the rough frontier conditions where the trail was not as well developed, in sand, and for traversing steep inclines. They were open on the sides with no doors or windows. Often a canvas top was supported by light uprights. They had canvas or leather curtains fastened to the top that could be rolled down as a barrier to the dust. The stage wagon was used by Butterfield's Overland Mail Company exclusively on 70% of
730-432: A strong sub-frame covered by decorated wooden paneling with ornate doors and comfortably padded seats. They often had window openings, but the western models designed for the rougher conditions had no glass panels. The roof was strong enough to support a metal railing where luggage could be carried. Seats were often provided on the roof. A canvas-covered boot at the back was used for luggage and mailbags. The difference between
803-499: A very large amount of cattle and sheep. The old complaints of the immigrants are at present unheard of, owing to the better knowledge of the country now so readily obtained .” As noted above, the route from San Francisco to Fort Smith was the same for both routes. Travel time from Fort Smith to Memphis was about the same as to St. Louis. Management of the route from Fort Smith to Memphis was included in Division 8 . However, because of
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#1732772391226876-561: A year serves as a fundraiser for operating and maintaining the park. Opened in 1970, the park has been erected around the Heavener Runestone , a rock found in 1923. The stone is located on Poteau Mountain just outside the town's limits in the scrub-forest foothills of the Ouachita Mountains . Media state that the inscription was probably a claim marker meaning "valley belonging to Glome," or "Glome's Valley." There
949-453: Is 122 miles]. The New Pass between Los Angeles, and Fort Tejon, California, has been much improved under the superintendence of M.L. Kinyon [Kenyon], as have also been other portions of the route. The route of the company will, of course, be a favorite emigrant route, and will, therefore, be in better order than before, in fact, each month will add new facilities to the overland mail." Goddard Bailey's report shows that there were 139 stations at
1022-437: Is located in the county. It is one of two National Recreation Areas located in the state of Oklahoma, the other being Chickasaw . At the census of 2000, there were 48,109 people, 17,861 households, and 13,199 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 inhabitants per square mile (12/km ). There were 20,142 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km ). The racial makeup of
1095-590: Is no evidence of Norse presence and nothing similar has been found anywhere near Heavener or even in the Midwestern United States . Two additional sandstone slabs, each with short runic markings, were each found a mile north and south of the stone. Scandinavian presence in the nearby town of Heavener is early and the likeliest source of the carving of the stone. The park became the site for the annual Heavener Runestone Festival Fundraiser in 2011. It actually occurs on two weekends each year. Features of
1168-499: Is now managed by a group of volunteers that make a 501c3 non profit organization. Le Flore County, Oklahoma LeFlore County is a county along the eastern border of the U.S state of Oklahoma . As of the 2020 census , the population was 48,129. Its county seat is Poteau . The county is part of the Fort Smith metropolitan area and the name honors a Choctaw family named LeFlore. The United States District Court for
1241-733: The Choctaw Nation . Robert S. Kerr , former Governor of Oklahoma and U.S. Senator, established a ranch outside Poteau in the 1950s. In 1978 the family donated this residence to the state. It was adapted and opened for use as the Kerr Conference Center and Museum. The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm are also in the county. According to the United States Census Bureau ,
1314-624: The Daily Alta California the following: "Between Vallecito and Algodones there are eight of these stations, varying from nine to sixteen miles apart. Wells have been sunk at each station, and abundance of good water is obtained, except at the Monument and Garden stations. These waters are brackish and bitter—a flavor not delicate to the taste. Drinking-water is carried from the other stations. These stations are of incalculable worth to emigrants, who are no longer forced to depend upon
1387-883: The St. Francis River . From there the route headed overland by stagecoach. When the Arkansas River was high enough, the mail could instead travel from Memphis by steamboat down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Arkansas River, navigate up that river to Little Rock, and on from there by stagecoach. When the Arkansas was too low for steamboat traffic, the Butterfield could take the White River to Clarendon, Arkansas , or Des Arc, Arkansas , before switching to
1460-560: The U.S. postmaster general , at that time Aaron V. Brown , to contract for delivery of the U.S. mail from St. Louis to San Francisco. Prior to this, U.S. Mail bound for the Far West had been delivered by the San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line since June 1857. The route was designated a national historic trail in 2023. John Butterfield was a descendant of Benjamin Butterfield, who brought his family from England to
1533-468: The Butterfield Trail. In 1858, with expedition leader Marquis L. Kenyon, John Butterfield Jr. helped to select the route and sites for the stage stations. Kenyon was also a stockholder/director of the Overland Mail Company and the only stockholder, other than John Butterfield, to have significant staging experience. Marquis moved from Mannsville, Jefferson County, to Rome, New York, in 1838. Rome
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#17327723912261606-653: The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad built tracks from Wister west to McAlester. In 1898, the company extended the line east from Wister to Howe, continuing the line to Arkansas in 1899. (This line was leased to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway in 1904). In 1896 the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad (acquired by the Kansas City Southern Railway in 1900) built tracks through
1679-709: The Eastern District of Oklahoma is the federal district court with jurisdiction in LeFlore County. The Choctaw Nation signed the Treaty of Doak's Stand in 1820, ceding part of their ancestral home in the Southeastern U. S. and receiving a large tract in Indian Territory . They signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830, which ceded the remainder of their original homeland. Most of
1752-871: The Fort Coffee Academy for Boys, a missionary school. That church also established the New Hope Seminary for Girls in 1845, just east of town. In 1847, the Choctaw Agency burned and its functions were transferred to Fort Washita . During the Civil War, the Choctaw allied with the Confederacy and many of their men served in its army. The Battle of Devil's Backbone was fought near the present town of Pocola on September 1, 1863. Union Major General James G. Blunt defeated Confederate Brigadier General William Cabell . Union troops burned
1825-575: The Fort Coffee Academy in 1863, because it was being used to house Confederate troops. In 1866, the Choctaw government reopened New Hope Seminary, but never rebuilt a boys academy. New Hope Seminary operated until it burned in 1896. The first school for Choctaw freedmen opened at Boggy Depot. In 1892, the Tushkalusa (black warriors) Freedmen Boarding school opened three miles southeast of Talihina. From 1886, development of coal mining and timber production attracted considerable railroad construction:
1898-600: The Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. His father, Daniel Butterfield, lived at Berne , in the Helderberg , near Albany, N.Y., where John was born. He attended schools near his boyhood home, but his education was meager. John's early involvement with stage lines started about 1820. "John Butterfield was borne at Berne, in the Helderberg, near Albany, November 18, 1801. In early life we find him in
1971-935: The Midland Valley Railroad laid tracks from Arkansas west through Bokoshe to Muskogee. The Oklahoma and Rich Mountain Railroad, owned by the Dierks Lumber and Coal Company, constructed the county's last railroad, from Page to the lumber town of Pine Valley in 1925–26. Prior to statehood, the area that became LeFlore County was part of Moshulatubbee and the Apukshunnubbee districts. Its present-day territory fell primarily within Nashoba , Skullyville , Sugar Loaf , and Wade counties, with small portions falling within Cedar and San Bois counties, in
2044-483: The Mississippi River westward. Nine bids were made by some of the most experienced stage men. None of the express companies, such as American Express , Adams Express , or Wells Fargo & Co. Express , bid on the contract because, as of yet, they had no experience running stage lines. A suggestion by The New York Times that the express companies could do a better job than the Overland Mail Company drew
2117-518: The North, and South to the Pennsylvania line, and through Chemung and Susquehanna valleys." By 1857, when John was awarded the Overland Mail Company contract, he had had 37 years of experience working for and running stage lines. This was one of the reasons that Postmaster General A.V. Brown awarded him the contract. Through the 1840s and 1850s there was a desire for better communication between
2190-556: The Pacific coast, which left this city on the 3rd of January last, reached Fort Smith, Arkansas, on their return home, on the 17th inst., accompanied by four of the party which left San Francisco on the 16th of January, on purpose to examine that portion of the route from the Pacific to the Rio Grande. They left El Paso on the 22d of March, thus accomplishing the distance from the Rio Grande to Fort Smith—nine hundred and thirty miles—in
2263-623: The Runestone. The park also offers the top portion for private use for special events such as weddings, reunions birthdays etc for a fee. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department announced in March 2011 that it would close the Heavener Runestone State Park on August 15, 2011, due to budget cuts. However, the City of Heavener agreed to assume ownership and operation of the 55-acre park beginning July 1, 2011. The park
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2336-419: The Southern Overland Corridor in March 1861 because of the impending Civil War, it was so efficient that it remained little changed until its demise with the completion of the railroad in 1880. For this reason, to this day, the Southern Overland Trail is most commonly called "The Butterfield Trail." The building of the trail was in two sections: the 462-mile (744 km) San Francisco to Los Angeles section and
2409-516: The U.S. Post Office, which went into effect on September 16, 1858, identified the route and divided it into eastern and western divisions. Franklin, Texas , later to be named El Paso , was the dividing point and these two were subdivided into minor divisions, five in the East and four in the West. These minor divisions were numbered west to east from San Francisco, each under the direction of a superintendent. John Butterfield Sr. turned to two of his most trusted and experienced employees to put in place
2482-427: The age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under
2555-480: The age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males. As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $ 27,278, and the median income for a family was $ 32,603. Males had a median income of $ 26,214 versus $ 19,792 for females. The per capita income for
2628-456: The arrival of the two parties at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and tells us that the choice for the trail did not satisfy Kenyon and his party and they returned from El Paso, Texas, by a different route, which became the trail. "A portion of the exploring party sent out by the Overland Mail Company, for the purpose of examining the routes for the carriage of the mails from the Valley of the Mississippi to
2701-402: The beginning of Butterfield's service, but by the time the line ceased operations the line had been improved by the addition of thirty-six more for a total of 175. The new stations were assigned 320 acres each and many took advantage by growing crops which aided the line. Although there were springs and rain-fed waterholes along the trail, many did not have a sufficient water capacity to supply
2774-611: The company: William B. Dinsmore of New York City ; William G. Fargo of Buffalo, New York ; James V.P. Gardner of Utica, New York; Marquis L. Kenyon of Rome, New York; Alexander Holland of New York City; and Hamilton Spencer of Bloomington, Illinois. There were four others known as sureties (security against loss). Almost all of the stockholders were connected to other businesses in Upstate New York and most lived near Butterfield's home in Utica, New York. Alexander Holland
2847-814: The continent on the San Diego and San Antonio Line, says the San Diego Herald , we gather some items which may be of interest: Woods pays a high compliment to the staging of the Butterfield Overland Company, along the Gila and over the Desert, particularly to Superintendent Buckley and Warren Hall, the Road Agent of this division [for Butterfield's Overland Mail Company. They have, he says, really worked wonders in organizing their road in
2920-513: The county has a total area of 1,609 square miles (4,170 km ), of which 1,589 square miles (4,120 km ) is land and 19 square miles (49 km ) (1.2%) is water. The Arkansas River forms the northern boundary of the county, while its tributaries, the Poteau and James Fork rivers drain much of the county into the Arkansas. The Kiamichi , Little and Mountain Fork rivers drain the rest of
2993-879: The county into the Red River of the South . The Ouachita Mountains extend into the southern part of the county, along with associated ranges: the Winding Stair Mountains and the Kiamichi Mountains . Cavanal Hill is partly in the northern part of the county. Lake Wister , a flood control reservoir, is in the central part of the county, formed behind. The Ouachita National Forest, in the county's southern half, and Heavener Runestone State Park are tourist attractions. Additionally, Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area
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3066-571: The county was $ 13,737. About 15.40% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over. According to 2021 census estimates, its median household income was $ 43,049 and the county had a poverty rate of 23.5%. The following sites in LeFlore County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places : Butterfield Overland Mail Butterfield Overland Mail (officially Overland Mail Company )
3139-475: The county was 80.35% White , 2.21% Black or African American , 10.72% Native American , 0.21% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 1.44% from other races , and 5.03% from two or more races. 3.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.7 were of American , 10.1% Irish , 9.6% German and 7.7% English ancestry. By the 2020 census , its population was 48,129. As of 2000, there were 17,861 households, out of which 33.40% had children under
3212-592: The east and west coasts of the United States. There were several proposals for railroads connecting the two coasts. A more immediate realization was an overland mail route across the west. Congress authorized the Postmaster General to contract for mail service from Missouri to California to facilitate settlement in the west. The Post Office Department advertised for bids for an overland mail service on April 20, 1857. Bidders were to propose routes from
3285-408: The employment of Thorpe & Sprague, of that city, as a driver, and through the solicitation of Mr. Theodore S. Faxton came to Utica [NY], where he for a time was employed in picking up passengers from the taverns and boats for Parker's stages. After a time he started a livery [1827] with but small accommodations… His connection to Parker & Co. continued so long as they were still in business, and
3358-502: The event include Celtic and folk music, swordplay, displays of variety of merchant booths, games, a hike to view the runestone, and overnight camping. Cast and Volunteers are all dressed in costume and many attendees dress up as well. The purpose of the festival, besides pure enjoyment, is fundraising to support the park. Heavener Park offers , picnic tables, outdoor grills, primitive campsites with showers available, amphitheater, playground, hiking, exploring, and educational programs about
3431-465: The idea of a "shotgun" rider next to the driver was not employed by Butterfield. When correspondent Ormsby asked one of the stage drivers, "Have you any arms?", the stage driver answered, "No, I don't have any; there's no danger." However, most people on the Butterfield stages were armed, especially in Comanche and Apache territory. In October 1859 correspondent Farwell was a passenger heading east on
3504-473: The introduction of railroads, he continued to carry on the business of mail contractor and stage proprietor on the small lateral lines; but his business energies were too expansive to be thus curtailed, and he soon found ampler vent for them than the _______ of his former vast carrying business afforded. Hence, when the overland mail route to California was projected, Mr. Kinyon [Kenyon] found a field of business enterprise more commensurate with his capacities. He it
3577-511: The line and emigrants. These were dug out to hold a larger capacity. Cisterns were constructed at some of the stations and water wagons were used to transport water from distant sources to fill the cisterns. At the Hueco Tanks in Texas, correspondent Ormsby tells of the tanks being enlarged by Butterfield to hold a year's supply of water. In June 1860 Butterfield passenger Wallace reported to
3650-589: The many improvements on the Texas side of the Red River starting about eight miles below Preston. A lengthy new section of road in Texas is described: "Another disadvantage under which we labored, this trip, was that our road, for the most of the way, was nearly new, though Mr. Bates claims that from Sherman to [Fort] Belknap at least forty miles are saved by it. It leads through the counties of Grayson, Cooke, Jacks [Jack], Montague, Wise, and Young, all of which contribute towards its expenses, and certainly it must be
3723-558: The most famous is Vallecito , which is preserved as a historic site. Kenyon's hardest task building the trail was east of Los Angeles, where his trail was mostly in the open desert. Waterman L. Ormsby, the correspondent for the New York Herald , a passenger on the first stagecoach going west in September 1858, wrote in his reports of Marquis L. Kenyon's part in building the trail and the advantage for emigrants. He writes about
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#17327723912263796-591: The opinion of Brown, greater ability, qualification and experience than anybody else to carry out a mail service, John Butterfield & Co. was selected and preferred. The route, known as the Oxbow Route because of its long curving route through the Southwest , was 600 miles (970 km) longer than the Central Overland Trail, but had the advantage of being snow free. The contract with
3869-407: The party proceeding East. The route traveled on the return trip was different from the one passed over in going out, ... " John Jr.'s obituary summarized his accomplishment: "John Butterfield [Jr.], the man who helped link the East to the West in establishing his famous Overland Mail Route more than half a century ago, died recently at his house in Utica, aged 82 years. His father, John Butterfield,
3942-464: The precious supply of water which the wells, afforded, and which were liable to be covered up by the sand-waves that move over the desert." Other improvements to the trail by Butterfield were the building of bridges: "Fourteen miles from Boggy Depot [Indian Territory now Oklahoma] we came to Blue River station, where a heavy bridge is building for the company." There were two bridges in Arizona. One
4015-783: The region from north to south, exiting into Arkansas near the Page community in southern LeFlore County. In 1900-01 the Poteau Valley Railroad built a line from Shady Point to Sutter (later known as Calhoun , which they abandoned in 1926. Also in 1900-01 the Arkansas Western Railroad constructed tracks from Heavener east to Arkansas. In 1901 the Fort Smith and Western Railroad connected Coal Creek west to McCurtain in Haskell County. In 1903-04
4088-450: The remainder of the Choctaw were removed to Indian Territory, escorted by federal military troops, in several waves. In 1832, the Federal Government constructed the Choctaw Agency in Indian Territory about 15 miles (24 km) west of Fort Smith, Arkansas . The town of Skullyville developed around the agency. It was designated as county seat of Skullyville County , the capital of the Moshulatubbee District of which Skullyville County
4161-422: The rest of the 2,238-mile (3,602 km) distance to Tipton, Missouri. The San Francisco to Los Angeles section was previously one of the most developed. Some changes were made from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Settlements and wagon roads used by local stage lines were strung out between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some existing structures, such as ranch houses and hotels were contracted as stage stations. One of
4234-472: The result. It is a glorious triumph for civilization and the Union. Settlements will soon follow the course of the road, and the East and West will be bound together by a chain of living Americans, which can never be broken." As stated by President Buchanan in the congratulation telegram to John Butterfield, increased emigration would be a result of the improved trail. Just after Butterfield's service started in September 1858, there were many newspaper accounts of
4307-445: The sense of recovering] a few days, the above gentlemen left for this city—making the trip to this place in twenty-two days from El Paso, and thirty-one days from San Francisco to El Paso, or fifty-six days, through with wagons. …The party from California, in crossing Arizona, took a middle route between Beale's and the Southern route – (but little traveled heretofore,) pronounced by them, as an excellent road." Another report describes
4380-438: The short space of twenty-five days, which we believe is the quickest time on record in crossing the Plains. The party was composed of only eight men, as follows: Major George W. Wood, Jesse Tolcott, Charles P. Cole and J.A. Lilly, of the St. Louis party, and Lieut. Frank de Ryther, James Swartz and John Butterfield Jr. of the San Francisco party. They brought with them one wagon and thirteen animals, which they left at Fort Smith for
4453-423: The stage-coach line of which he was an employee; and once having placed his foot on the first steps of the ladder, he soon rose, by his business tact and assiduity, to be the principal proprietor of the stage-coach lines converging to this point. At the time that railroads supplanted stages on the leading routes, Mr. Kinyon [Kenyon] was one of the most extensive owners of stage-coach property in Central New York. After
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#17327723912264526-503: The stagecoaches. Sometimes the entire route across eastern Arkansas would be by stage. No one on a Butterfield stage was ever killed by outlaws, but some died in accidents caused by the mostly unbroken mules or mustangs running wild. Butterfield's stages were not allowed to carry shipments of valuables. In Butterfield's instructions to his employees was "No money, jewelry, bank notes, or valuables of any nature, will be allowed to be carried under any circumstances whatever." For this reason,
4599-455: The trail and immediately sent his hand-picked team, headed by Marquis L. Kenyon, to San Francisco to begin the task. The steamer Star of New York left New York on November 20, 1857, with passengers "M.L. Kinyon [Kenyon], J. Butterfield [Jr.], F. De Ruyter and S.K. Nellis, who go out to open the Pacific Mail Route across the plains and arrange the western terminus of said route." The party left San Francisco on January 16, 1858, to begin laying out
4672-418: The trail and selecting the sites for stage stations. They traveled by mule covering about 40 miles (64 km) per day. Another party left St. Louis about the same time. Both were to meet at El Paso, Texas, and then return to St. Louis. The party from St. Louis was G.W. Wood, Jesse Talcott, and Charles P. Cole. A Fort Smith, Arkansas, newspaper reported: "The parties met at El Paso and after recruiting [used in
4745-406: The untamed nature of the Mississippi River and its Arkansas tributaries in those years, the southern route necessarily utilized various alternative routes and methods of travel. At that time, there was no Mississippi River bridge at Memphis, and the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad ran from Hopefield near present-day West Memphis, Arkansas , only to a point 12 miles east of Madison, Arkansas , on
4818-430: Was Butterfield's son-in-law and treasurer of the Overland Mail Company. Dinsmore was vice-president of the company. The office for the company was in New York City. Why John Butterfield was chosen was stated by Postmaster General Aaron Brown: ... a route which no contractor had bid for, but one which in the judgement of A.V. Brown, of Memphis, had more advantages than any other, and, as John Butterfield & Co. had, in
4891-475: Was a stagecoach service in the United States operating from 1858 to 1861. It carried passengers and U.S. Mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee , and St. Louis, Missouri , to San Francisco, California . The routes from each eastern terminus met at Fort Smith, Arkansas , and then continued through Indian Territory ( Oklahoma ), Texas , New Mexico , Arizona , Mexico , and California ending in San Francisco. On March 3, 1857, Congress authorized
4964-416: Was a part, and the national capital of the Choctaw Nation . The US Indian agents lived in the town. In the late 1850s, it was designated as a stage stop ( Walker's Station ) for the Butterfield Overland Mail route. In 1834, the U. S. Army built Fort Coffee a few miles north of Skullyville, but reassigned the garrison after four years. The Methodist Church took over the facility, converting it for use as
5037-460: Was a superintendent of the Overland Mail Route from San Francisco to St. Louis and thence to eastern cities. The younger Butterfield first traversed the famous route, marked the stations, superintended the work of organization and drove the first stage over the route. The history of the Butterfield Trail and the Emigrant Trail are intertwined. It was the purpose of awarding the contract to the Overland Mail Company, on September 16, 1857, not only for
5110-618: Was across the San Simon River near San Simon Stage Station, and the other across the San Pedro River just north of the San Pedro River Stage Station. The trail that John Butterfield had established was so efficient that it was little changed until its demise in 1880 with the completion of the railroad, and the impact the Butterfield Trail had for settling the West cannot be understated, as written by President James Buchanan congratulating John Butterfield for his achievement: "Washington, Oct. 9, 1858 John Butterfield, Esq .: Sir – Your dispatch has been received. I cordially congratulate you upon
5183-466: Was succeeded by lines of his own, wherein he was a leading manager in the State until staging was superseded by railroads." After his employment with other stage lines, John decided to use this experience for running his own stage lines in Upstate New York. "Mr. Butterfield devoted his attention largely to lines running North and South. At the height of stage coaching he had forty lines running from Utica as headquarters to Ogdensburg and Sacketts Harbor on
5256-590: Was twelve miles from John Butterfield's home in Utica. He immediately became involved with staging. His obituary gives a good summation of his staging activities in Upstate New York and what led him to be involved with the Overland Mail Company: "His prior occupation was a humble one—that of driver of a stage-coach between Utica and Oswego. It was but two or three years before he had saved enough money from his wages to purchase an interest in
5329-484: Was who went over the whole route originally, and surveyed it from the eastern terminus to its western in California." Returning, he procured the necessary equipment for the route, and went over it again, organizing the route as he proceeded, and remained for nearly a year in California, in charge of the western terminus of the road." After winning the contract on September 16, 1857, Butterfield had one year to organize
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