Pony Express Division One – St. Joseph to Fort Kearny

The Pony Express Division One, stretching from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Fort Kearny, Nebraska, encompassed a vital section of the legendary mail delivery route. This division, comprising over 25 stations at various times, weaved through the states of Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, marking a crucial link in connecting the East and West Coasts in the pre-telegraph era. Six of the stations within this Pony Express Division One are recognized today for their historical significance and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Missouri: The Eastern Starting Point

St. Joseph, Missouri, served as the eastern terminus for the Pony Express Division One, a bustling frontier town poised on the edge of westward expansion. The city was the headquarters of William H. Russell, William Bradford Waddell, and Alexander Majors, already prominent figures in the freighting business. These men, with their vast operation of 4,000 employees, 3,500 wagons, and 40,000 oxen, held government contracts for delivering army supplies throughout the West. Russell, in particular, envisioned a similar lucrative contract for the swift delivery of mail, laying the groundwork for the daring venture that would become the Pony Express.

St. Joseph Station Area: A Hub of Activity

The St. Joseph station area comprises several significant sites, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the Pony Express story:

• Pony Express Stables: Located at 914 Penn Street, facing Patee Park, these stables stand as a tangible reminder of the Pony Express’s operational center. Originally constructed in 1858 by Ben Holladay as the Pike’s Peak Stable, it was a pine-clad building measuring 60 x 120 feet and capable of housing approximately 200 horses. Holladay used it for his transportation business to Colorado. Thirty years later, after sustaining fire damage, the stables were remodeled by the St. Joseph Transfer Company. The roof retained its original configuration and shingles, while the walls were rebuilt with brick. In 1950, the Goetz Foundation undertook a restoration project, utilizing original roof timbers and bricks to revive the building. Today, it operates as the Pony Express Museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the daily operations of the historic mail service. The stables’ enduring importance has earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Pony Express Monument: Situated in Patee Park, across from the Pony Express Museum, this monument commemorates the birth of the Pony Express. Dedicated on April 3, 1913, the dedication ceremony was attended by legendary Pony Express riders, including William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, "Cyclone" Thompson, and Charlie Cliff. The inscription on the monument proudly proclaims: "This monument erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the city of St. Joseph marks where the first Pony Express Started on April 3, 1860."

• Patee House: This four-story brick hotel, constructed between 1856 and 1858 by John Patee, served as the general office for the Pony Express in 1860. The Patee House provided lodging for Pony Express riders and the company’s founders, including William H. Russell and Alexander Majors. An impressive example of Italianate commercial architecture, the building features ornate brackets, quoins, pilasters, and decorative window hoods. Located at the corner of Twelfth and Penn Streets, just a few blocks from the Pony Express stables, the Patee House stands as a testament to the era and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Pony Express Statue: Located in a park at the corner of Frederick Avenue and Ninth Street, the Pony Express Memorial Statue depicts a Pony Express rider atop his steed. Designed by Herman A. MacNeil, the life-size bronze statue weighs 7,200 pounds and has stood near City Hall and the Saint Joseph Civic Center since its dedication on April 20, 1940.

• St. Joseph Ferry Site: Two steam ferries, the Bellemont Ferry and the Ellwood Ferry, facilitated the Missouri River crossing for travelers, including Pony Express riders, from Missouri to Kansas. The ferries reportedly docked at either Jules or Francis Streets in St. Joseph. A monument along the shoreline of the Missouri River in Hustan Wyeth Park marks the original ferry crossing site. The inscription reads: "On this site, April 3, 1860, a ferry carrying a horse and rider crossed the Missouri River to start a 10-day journey of 1,966 miles to deliver mail to Sacramento, California. The race against time, elements, and a hostile land captured the spirit of Americans, helped hold California for the Union, and proved a central overland route was possible. Operators William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell went broke without a government mail contract, and the telegraph replaced the daring Pony Express riders after 19 months of operation."

• Pony Express Saddle and Mochila Monument: This monument marks the location where the first rider purportedly departed from St. Joseph. Dedicated on April 3, 1990, by the Western Trails Museum and Pony Express Trail Association during the 130th Pony Express Awareness Anniversary, the monument provides a detailed account of the first westbound journey. The inscription states: "On April 3, 1860, the eastern Pony Express mail arrived by train. The mail was brought here, which was the site of the United States Express Company… The mail was first put into the four cantinas (pockets) of the ‘mochila’ (mo-che-la)… The first Pony Express left here on April 3 at 7:15 p.m. and… arrived in San Francisco at 1:00 a.m. on April 14. That westbound trip took ten days, seven hours, and 45 minutes."

Kansas: Across the Sunflower State

After departing from St. Joseph, the Pony Express Division One route crossed the Missouri River into Kansas, traversing diverse landscapes and connecting a series of relay and home stations.

• Elwood: Situated directly across the Missouri River from St. Joseph, Elwood, Kansas, served as the first station on the Pony Express route in Kansas. The Elwood Free Press noted this fact on April 21, 1860. The town, originally known as Roseport, was established in 1856 and thrived as a transportation hub, with river steamboats unloading passengers and freight and ferries crossing to St. Joseph.

• Troy Station: Located within the town of Troy, this station was initially thought to be at the northwest corner of the courthouse lawn. However, later research suggests it was at the Smith Hotel. Leonard Smith, who arrived in Troy in 1858, purchased the Troy Hotel. Two years later, he constructed a barn large enough for five horses at the request of the Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express. The renamed Smith Hotel served as a relay station and was located at the present-day northeast corner of East Main and Myrtle Streets.

• Cold Springs: Situated about 24 miles from St. Joseph, the Cold Springs station was located on the Cold Spring Branch of the Wolf River. This station also served the Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express.

• Syracuse: The location of the Syracuse station is debated, with some sources identifying it as the same as Cold Spring, while others list them as separate locations. One source places it at the head of the North Branch of Independence Creek.

• Lewis Station: Also spelled "Louis," this station was named and mapped by L.C. Bishop and Paul Henderson. It was located on the Spring branch of the South Fork of Wolf River, approximately 10 miles west of Cold Springs.

• Kennekuk Station: Designated as the first home station west of St. Joseph, Kennekuk was located approximately 39 to 44 miles along the trail. The settlement saw increased traffic due to the convergence of the stage route from Atchison and the Fort Leavenworth-Fort Kearny Military Road.

• Kickapoo/Goteschall Station: This relay station stood on Delaware Creek (also called Big Grasshopper or Plum Creek), about 12 miles west of Horton, Kansas.

• Log Chain Station: This location served as both a Pony Express relay station and a stop on the Overland Stage route.

• Seneca Station: Seneca Station, also known as the Smith Hotel, served as an early Pony Express home station. John E. Smith and his wife Agnes managed the station operations at the hotel, located on the corner of present-day Fourth and Main Streets.

• Ash Point/Laramie Creek Station: Located on the banks of Vermillion Creek, this station was also referred to as Frogtown and Hickory Point.

• Guittard Station: Owned by the George Guittard family, this station served as both a Pony Express station and a stage stop. George’s son, Xavier Guittard, managed the station.

• Marysville Station: Also known as Palmetto City, Marysville served as a stage station for the Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express.

• Cottonwood/Hollenberg Station: Located on Cottonwood Creek, this station served as a Pony Express stop, stage station, and store for emigrant travelers. It is the only remaining Pony Express stop still standing in its original location.

• Atchison Station: Some historical sources suggest that Atchison, Kansas, served as the eastern terminus of the Pony Express during its final months of operation.

• Lancaster Station: If Atchison was used as the eastern terminus, Lancaster served as the first station east of Atchison.

Nebraska: Heading Towards Fort Kearny

The Pony Express Division One continued into Nebraska, following the Blue River towards its final destination: Fort Kearny.

• Rock House Station: Located in Jefferson County, this station served as a stop for stagecoaches, Pony Express riders, and weary travelers.

• Rock/Turkey Creek Station: Situated near Fairbury, Nebraska, Rock Creek Station was an important road ranch on the Oregon Trail.

• Virginia City: Located four miles north of Fairbury, in Jefferson County, Nebraska, this station was also known as Grayson’s and Whiskey Run.

• Big Sandy Station: Located approximately three miles east of Alexandria in Jefferson County, this site served as a Pony Express station and stagecoach stop.

• Millersville/Thompson’s Station: Situated about two miles north of Hebron in Thayer County, this station was named after station keeper George B. Thompson.

• Kiowa Station: Located about seven miles northwest of Deshler, this site served as a stop for both the Pony Express and the Leavenworth & Pike’s Peak Express Company.

• Little Blue/Oak Grove Station: Located 1.5 miles southeast of Oak, Nebraska, the Oak Grove Station was also known as the Little Blue Station and the Comstock Ranch.

• Liberty Farm Station: This site was located on the north bank of the Little Blue River, about half a mile northeast of Deweese, in Clay County.

• Spring Ranch/Lone Tree Station: Located 4.2 miles west and 3 miles north of Deweese, this station’s identification as a Pony Express station is controversial.

• Thirty-Two Mile Creek Station: Located about six miles southeast of Hastings in Adams County, this site was a Pony Express relay station and a stage station.

• Sand Hill/Summit Station: This site is thought to have been located about 1.5 miles south of Kenesaw near Summit Springs.

• Hook’s/Kearney/Valley Station: Located 1.5 miles northeast of Lowell in Kearney County, this site served as a relay station for the Pony Express for a time.

• Fort Kearny: It is likely that Russell, Majors, and Waddell used Fort Kearny as a Pony Express station, as it was a stage stop on the Leavenworth & Pike’s Peak Express Company and Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express lines.

• Kearney City (Dobytown): Located two miles west of Fort Kearny, Kearney City served as a commercial center and a Pony Express station.

The Pony Express Division One represents a critical segment of a daring and ambitious endeavor that left an indelible mark on the American West. Its stations, scattered across Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, served as vital links in a chain that connected the nation and helped shape its destiny.