A Pony Express Rider Writes from Raytown, Missouri:
To the Star:
A dispatch in the Star April 28 stated that Henry Avis was the last living pony express rider. In 1859 I worked for the Wells-Fargo Express Company as a rider from St. Joseph, Mo., to Denver, carrying letters and valuable packages. I was paid $40 a month and my expenses, very good wages at that time. My first relief after leaving St. Joseph was thirty miles west of old Fort Kearney, Neb., which I made in twelve hours, if all went well. By doing a lot of riding at night the trip from St. Joseph to Denver usually was made in three days. Relays were from ten to twenty miles apart. The horses were always ready and often the change from one horse to another was made in less than one minute. At some places I was given a canvas bag of food which I ate as I rode. There were no marked out roads and much of my way lay along the Missouri, Big Platte and Big Blue rivers, which I had to ford, as there were no bridges. If the water was deep I carried the express bags on my shoulders to keep them dry. Each rider was equipped with two old-fashioned muzzle loading Colt revolvers and a muzzle loading rifle. Horsethieves and Indians were numerous and kept the days from being dull. When the Civil War broke out I left the express company and joined the 12th Indiana cavalry. I was with Sherman on his march to the sea. I am now past 81 years old. If there are other old riders left I should like to hear from them.
Frank H. Gould
To the Star:
A dispatch in the Star April 28 stated that Henry Avis was the last living pony express rider. In 1859 I worked for the Wells-Fargo Express Company as a rider from St. Joseph, Mo., to Denver, carrying letters and valuable packages. I was paid $40 a month and my expenses, very good wages at that time. My first relief after leaving St. Joseph was thirty miles west of old Fort Kearney, Neb., which I made in twelve hours, if all went well. By doing a lot of riding at night the trip from St. Joseph to Denver usually was made in three days. Relays were from ten to twenty miles apart. The horses were always ready and often the change from one horse to another was made in less than one minute. At some places I was given a canvas bag of food which I ate as I rode. There were no marked out roads and much of my way lay along the Missouri, Big Platte and Big Blue rivers, which I had to ford, as there were no bridges. If the water was deep I carried the express bags on my shoulders to keep them dry. Each rider was equipped with two old-fashioned muzzle loading Colt revolvers and a muzzle loading rifle. Horsethieves and Indians were numerous and kept the days from being dull. When the Civil War broke out I left the express company and joined the 12th Indiana cavalry. I was with Sherman on his march to the sea. I am now past 81 years old. If there are other old riders left I should like to hear from them.
Frank H. Gould
A Pony Express Rider Writes from Raytown, Missouri:
To the Star:
A dispatch in the Star April 28 stated that Henry Avis was the last living pony express rider. In 1859 I worked for the Wells-Fargo Express Company as a rider from St. Joseph, Mo., to Denver, carrying letters and valuable packages. I was paid $40 a month and my expenses, very good wages at that time. My first relief after leaving St. Joseph was thirty miles west of old Fort Kearney, Neb., which I made in twelve hours, if all went well. By doing a lot of riding at night the trip from St. Joseph to Denver usually was made in three days. Relays were from ten to twenty miles apart. The horses were always ready and often the change from one horse to another was made in less than one minute. At some places I was given a canvas bag of food which I ate as I rode. There were no marked out roads and much of my way lay along the Missouri, Big Platte and Big Blue rivers, which I had to ford, as there were no bridges. If the water was deep I carried the express bags on my shoulders to keep them dry. Each rider was equipped with two old-fashioned muzzle loading Colt revolvers and a muzzle loading rifle. Horsethieves and Indians were numerous and kept the days from being dull. When the Civil War broke out I left the express company and joined the 12th Indiana cavalry. I was with Sherman on his march to the sea. I am now past 81 years old. If there are other old riders left I should like to hear from them.
Frank H. Gould
To the Star:
A dispatch in the Star April 28 stated that Henry Avis was the last living pony express rider. In 1859 I worked for the Wells-Fargo Express Company as a rider from St. Joseph, Mo., to Denver, carrying letters and valuable packages. I was paid $40 a month and my expenses, very good wages at that time. My first relief after leaving St. Joseph was thirty miles west of old Fort Kearney, Neb., which I made in twelve hours, if all went well. By doing a lot of riding at night the trip from St. Joseph to Denver usually was made in three days. Relays were from ten to twenty miles apart. The horses were always ready and often the change from one horse to another was made in less than one minute. At some places I was given a canvas bag of food which I ate as I rode. There were no marked out roads and much of my way lay along the Missouri, Big Platte and Big Blue rivers, which I had to ford, as there were no bridges. If the water was deep I carried the express bags on my shoulders to keep them dry. Each rider was equipped with two old-fashioned muzzle loading Colt revolvers and a muzzle loading rifle. Horsethieves and Indians were numerous and kept the days from being dull. When the Civil War broke out I left the express company and joined the 12th Indiana cavalry. I was with Sherman on his march to the sea. I am now past 81 years old. If there are other old riders left I should like to hear from them.
Frank H. Gould
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
