Bradford & Company, Denver
By midsummer 1859, Majors and Waddell were convinced that there was something substantial about the Pike's Peak business after all. Together with Russell they formed a partnership with Robert B. Bradford, a relative…
Move to Nebraska City
Since the volume of goods to be delivered in Utah in 1858 was too great for Leavenworth facilities, Nebraska City was chosen as another loading and starting point. Alexander Majors moved his family…
Amount of Losses for the Mormon Conflict
With heavy forebodings he made out a bill against the United States for losses which was later presented to Congress. Summarized, it read $493,553.61. . . . Worst of all, when the…
Simpson’s Hollow
At this time a party of General Well's militia under Major Lot Smith was scouting the trail in the neighborhood of Green River. On the night of October 4 they swooped down…
Wagon Numbers for Mormon Conflicy
Meanwhile Majors & Russell put forty-one trains on the road, some in advance of the soldiers, others mixed in with the Army, and still others to the rear. It made an amazing…
Cost of Wagons for the Mormon Conflict
Wagons, oxen, and equipment were bought wherever they could be found, but prices were hiked 25% or more. When the job was done they had about 1,100 wagons, 15,000 oxen, and some 1,400…
Army Assurance for Pay
Russell had had experience trying to collect losses from the government and was not optimistic. He finally agreed, with the understanding that in the event of loss Captain Brent would assist him in…
First Army Contract
Russell got his monoply on military freighting under a two year contract for 1855 and 1856. An office was opened in Leavenworth, at that time a mere squatter village on the Delaware…
Russell, Majors & Waddell Partnership
They signed a co-partnership contract, dated December 28, 1854, and effective January 1, 1885. It provided that they should engage in the buying and selling of merchandise, trade in wagons, stock, and equipment for…
Sabbath Day
Another thing he insisted upon was resting on the Sabbath day, not only because to do so was Divinely commanded, but because his trains made better time in the long run than…
Majors’ Pledge
In 1848 he made the break, bought six wagons, eighty or so oxen, hired six bullwhackers, and wrote out a pledge for them to sign. It read: "While I am in the…
Army Turns to Private Freighters
During the War with Mexico it was demonstrated beyond a doubt that the War Department and Army were unable to successfully operate trains upon the plains, mainly because bullwhackers were a rugged, independent…
Agreement Between Russell and Dinsmore
The Overland Mail Company had the main contract for transporting mail to California, but no line over which to travel. The Russell, Majors & Waddell Company had two minor contracts and the only…
COC&PPE Services
This letter, mailed in Denver on June 19, 1960, was canceled at St. Joseph, Missouri, seven days and approximately seven hundred miles later. At the time it was carried, the Central Overland…
Inspiration for the Pony Express
Historians of the Pony Express usually invoke ancient Roman and Greek mail couriers or the mounted messengers of Genghis Khan in China in establishing the tradition and pedigree of the…