Russell’s Smoky Hill Route
The route began at Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, followed the Republican and Solomon Rivers staying between the Platte Route and the Smoky Hill Route then converged with the Smoky Hill Route…
Russell’s Stagecoach to Denver
The rumored and realized riches from the Rocky Mountains not only piqued the interests of gold seekers, but it captivated entrepreneurs foreseeing goods and services necessary for the emigrants' livelihood.…
Bond Scandal Fallout
"There is little doubt that this affair, aggravated by the financial difficulties of the time and the accumulated irregularities of the past, virtually destroyed the credit of Russell, Majors & Waddell and made…
Old Isis Bargee
"At Saint Joseph (Mo.), better known by the somewhat irreverent abbreviation of St. Jo, I was introduced to Mr. Alexander Majors, formerly one of the contractors for supplying the army in Utah a…
Alexander Majors’ Oath
"This oath was the creation of Majors, who was a very pious and rigid disciplinarian; he tried hard to enforce it, but how great was his failure it is needless…
Majors’ Rules
"The rules of Alexander Majors, one of the government contractors, were found to be of valuable service with every train that went out on the plains. No swearing or profane language was allowed,…
Majors’ Vow
"I was a 'captain,' even if it was over a scurvy crew of four. It did to accompany the other fiction that our employers would hire no one who swore or drank. To…
Alexander Majors’s Bibles
"Speaking of this thorough plainsman [Alexander Majors] reminds me of the lack of religion among some of the boys. Mr. Major[s] was always interested in the moral elevation of the…
Winter Range for Oxen
"About the mid-century . . . it was found that [oxen[ could be wintered on the free grass of the western ranges and would fatten in the process. . .…
The Chicago Wagon
"In the early days of freighting to Salt Lake Valley, it was thought that a round trip could not be made in one season. There was in addition a great…
Bullwhackers
"Many young men were seeking a means to earn their their way to the western gold camps, and freighters took advantage of this situation by paying a bonus of ten…
Bible-Backs
"[Alexander] Majors issued to each man a Bible or Testament, which led to their being nicknamed 'Bible-backs.'"
Resupplying the Utah Expedition
"In January 1858 the Government to arrange with Russell, Majors & Waddell to transport approximately sixteen million pounds of freight, most of it destined for Utah. To fulfill this assignment…
Winter Quarters
"With Fort Bridger as the northeastern anchor, the various units of the [Utah expedition] stretched up Black's Fork for a number of miles, the entire settlement assuming the name of…
Mormon Defensive Maneuvers
"On October 3 [1857], Wells and his advisors reached a number of important decisions under the threat of Alexander's rapid advance. First they resolved to destroy Fort Bridger and Fort…