Hall County NEGenWeb
Reminiscences & Narratives of Pioneers
STAGE ROUTES

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Transcribed from
the ©1920 "History of Hall County," by Buechler, Barr, and Stough

We were located on the great western stage route, which ran from Omaha to Old Fort Kearny. It followed the old Oregon and Mormon and California Trail. The stage line running from Plattsmouth to Fort Kearny was called the Overland Trail at Sober Swiskey (Doby Town) and Gamblers Roost twelve miles east of Old Fort Kearny, now known as Prosser. That was called the Snaky Hill Stage Line.

The stage line running from Kansas City, called the Santa Fe Stage Line, intercepted the Overland west of old Phalon's Bluffs. From Fort Kearny on west to the Pacific coast this was called the Overland Stage and Pony Express route. These stage lines west, northwest and southwest, were controlled and operated by Ben Holladay.

The stages were arranged for the comfort of the traveler, with cushion backs and seats, and could carry eight passengers very comfortably. A ninth would have to sit in front with the driver in his booth. The driver occupies the largest part of that seat accompanied by mail sacks under the seat, his tool sack, water pail, buffalo robe and whip. There was also a rear booth on the stage for a trunk with a heavy leather curtain to buckle down, protecting them from storm. These stage coaches were built not on steel springs, but heavy leather springs, so in going over an obstruction the coach would not jolt, but simply rock back and forth.