| Below is is a 1900 plat
map of Richmond township with the early trails added. These
trails were the highways to the west and used between
1848 and 1870. This traffic started when gold was discovered in
California in 1848. Trail traffic lasted till the
railroad came 1870. The railroads replaced the trails
Those who lived next to the trail could traded with the wagon
trains with necessities and services for the travelers. Many
would come by Steam Boat up the Missouri River to Kansas City,
Leavenworth, Atchison or St. Joseph and from there take one of the
trails to the west. This brought many through Nemaha
county who's destination was California, Utah or Oregon through
Nemaha County. They either made their crossing at
Richmond or at Baker's Ford on the Nemaha south of Turkey
creek and after 1859 crossing at Seneca over John E. Smith's
bridge. Click on map below to
see Marion Township or click here
The Richmond
crossing was about two and a quarter miles north of Seneca and
Baler's Ford was seven miles north of Seneca. This trail
traffic was switched to Seneca by a Capt. John E. Smith in 1857 by placing a
signs direction traffic to his bridge. He also seeded oats or millet on
the trail to Richmond to make it looked unused. That is another story
on another page. Many of our first
ancestors that came to Nemaha county arrived over one of these trails.
The trails followed the high ground where there were there were
few streams to cross. Richmond and Marian Townships have a shortcut the
was used in dry weather
I have two map of the the
trails, one of Richmond one
of Marion Township. dated 1900. I do not remember from where they came
as I received them and I would like to have a full set of them for
Nemaha County if they exist.
The county townships were layer
out in several different arrangements and I have one of the of 1857.
To see the map 1857 of the 1857 Township--
Click Here
See Marion Township Click Here
1857 Map of Nemaha County Trails
Capt. John E
Smith and the switching the Trail
from Richmond to Seneca in
1857 or 58
Story from Courier Tribune by
Matt
Home page
|
