Please Help looking for old stage coach routes in Southern Az

Tank69

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May 5, 2009
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I've been all over the net an cant really find anything ,what I'm looking for are stage routes ,attack sites,an places `that the stage would stop or just change out horse teams in Southern Arizona ,I've been all over the net an not sure if I'm just not lookin up the right stuff or not but either way I'm just not findin the info .

thanks for anyone that can help

Tank :thumbsup:
 

Mackaydon

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Tank:
In the 1850s, the southern Postmaster General mandated that a new stage line (versus John Butterfield's northern route) be required to go through Ft. Smith, Arkansas then proceed south to El Paso, Texas, onward to Ft. Yuma, California and then north to San Francisco. It was to be called the "Ox Bow Route". I believe if you find the Ox Bow Route (and each stage locations) you will have your answer.

Another source: (The chart is sketchy but you should be able to establish the route through Arizona.)

Townley, John, map, Overland Mail Routes, The Overland Stage; A History and Guidebook, p27

http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/americanhistory/elementary/si_07_jpegs/thrower_stage_routes.jpg

Don.......
 

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Tank69

Tank69

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thanks Don I'll give it a try. :icon_thumright:
 

Mackaydon

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Some additional suggestions:

Contact either the Sponsor or the Co-Sponsors of House Bill (H.R.1373); a bill that is intended to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource study along the "Ox-Bow Route" of the Butterfield Overland Trail in Arizona and other states. Source: http://www.statesurge.com/bills/513742-hr1373-federal

Another source:
Butterfield Overland Stage route in Arizona
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/arizona_butterfield_stage.htm

And this souce may (eventually) be the best:

The Heritage Trail Partners are proud to announce the release of the first in a three volume series tracing the route of the Butterfield Overland Mail Ox Bow Route 1858 - 1861.
Volume One follows the route from Tipton, Missouri, to the Oklahoma / Texas border. Every confirmed stage stop along the line has been located and pinpointed to specific latitude and longitude. Point-to-point maps, specific driving directions and historical information are included for every station. Most include historical or current photographs of the site.

Volume Two (Texas and New Mexico) is scheduled for release during the Last Quarter of 2008. Volume Three (Arizona and California) is due for release in the First Quarter, 2009. To arrange for book signings or for additional information, contact Marilyn Heifner at (479) 587-9944.

Source: http://www.heritagetrailpartners.com/driving_guide.html
Don.......
 

auferret

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There are thousands of old maps at http://www.davidrumsey.com/ . What I really like is that you can zoom in on the maps without losing resolution.
 

Gork

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Dec 13, 2004
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Mackaydon said:
Tank:
In the 1850s, the southern Postmaster General mandated that a new stage line (versus John Butterfield's northern route) be required to go through Ft. Smith, Arkansas then proceed south to El Paso, Texas, onward to Ft. Yuma, California and then north to San Francisco. It was to be called the "Ox Bow Route". I believe if you find the Ox Bow Route (and each stage locations) you will have your answer.

Another source: (The chart is sketchy but you should be able to establish the route through Arizona.)

Townley, John, map, Overland Mail Routes, The Overland Stage; A History and Guidebook, p27

http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/americanhistory/elementary/si_07_jpegs/thrower_stage_routes.jpg

Don.......

During Butterfield's time of service in Arizona, September 1858 to March 1861, no Butterfield stagecoach was ever held up. John Butterfield did not have a northern route, but Dan Butterfield (Butterfield Overland Dispatch) did after John Butterfield's Overland Mail Company closed in March 1861. The coincidence of the names has often caused confusion.
 

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