Western Poetry: Deadwoods Breeze By G.C. Stevens

 

Mount Moriah, the final resting place of Wild Bill Hickook & Calamity Jane

RPPC from the authors collection from Centennial Distributors

Whispers of gold in the rugged hills, Rumors of riches in Deadwood's Breeze, Avarice called through the Black Hills trees. Wild Bill's gun slinging legend, Calamity's frontier myth , Where fortunes were sought and spirits unleashed.

Creeks once running through a glittering gleam, A prospector's hopeful pan and a desperate dream. The old Saloons roared loud with whiskey, cards and with cheer, A lawless frontier, a steam train whistle in the distance.

From a dusty street to painted ladies' grace, A boomtown's fever, etching its name in this place. Gunfights and drama, under endless skies, Reflected still in the modern-day eyes.

Now history breathes its name in the dust, in bricks and in stone, The echoes of heroes, forever known. Deadwood, dear Deadwood, a tale to behold, Where the Wild West stories will never grow old and Mount Moriah broods overhead.

By G.C. Stevens

RPPC from the authors collection Curteich - Chicago post card

Crossing the Frontier 1839 a Letter Home: By G.C. Stevens

 

Photo courtesy of the library of congress

Crossing the open frontier was a taunting task fraught with danger. But the hope of a better life drew settlers further west. Letters written home to relatives told the tales of the hardships and triumphs of spirit of the early settlers. One such letter was written by pioneer John Morgan. They original letter (copied below) was difficult to read due to the fading and cursive style used. The author of this article highlights what could be deciphered. Question marks (?) appear where words could nor be read.

CROSSING FROM TENNESEE TO MISSOURI

Dear Mother, I have taken my pen in hand to write you a few lines hoping these lines may find you in the same state of health, we landed on tolerable well. We came to the Ohio bank it was a very good river, very sandy, and we had to wade the water. I walked on with the children & Jonathan. John is a little restless. The 1st day Mr. Morgan was very sick. A week after we got home 3 days we crossed a stream but we rolled through it and came on travelling hard things and worst coming. We landed at the Mississippi River and crossed next morning at Greens Ferry. Mr. Morgan Reuben Simpson went a cross & I staid 3 days & pole William Morgan. They are all well at this time. One of the children died in the travel. We want you to send for mother Morgan. I hear the land and the richest land we ever saw is the Mississippi bottoms. 

                

                       Jackson Morgan and Susan Turner Morgan approx. 1839               

We would a settled here but the water was very bad it was very sickly. The 2d Sunday in travelling the wagon turned us side down a bank. Every thing is in good order in it notwithstanding the Reuven family is hearty. Adams is as far as far as one they are beware well all aged I will tell you in the next letter while whether I am please or not. We are on rented land at this time. There is 15 acres of cleared land. Give the (?) as naught it best for a snow. Our [?] makes this his home & is trading & [?] bought charge with 50 [?]. The place we expect to settle is 2 miles below Mr. [Cumings?] on Beaver Creek a branch bottom 175 acres a first rate spring.

Mr. Morgan is again to help Reuben Clear and wants to clear  as much as we can find and Clear. There is a good , 300 acres spring & a plenty of timber. The beloved place is from 50 to 375 . It is said to be better than to settle there. Really for there is not much land that can be settled only one there every  of  on the  I . I never saw [?] I make choice [?] or on the account of larger bodies of land and it can be there [?]. I have not looked [?] much [faded] going over on white river. The great bodies of land it is said that there can be 1000 acres in it. 7 hundred acres of corn it is supposed to be. it is 2 or 30 miles [?]. In last year there can be a good. made in this settlement if any minister should happen in. There was preaching  here the 7th of this month. The people [?] and an [?]. By [?] I am in [?]. [faded] horse I always [?] 20 head of hogs we bought corn [?] [?] he has sold 200 [?] worth [?]. I have cut and made 1 coat it is first [?] [?] another in the house to make. The drought was great the crops was short but on the [?] and very [?] [faded] year there is a long [?]. They [?] [faded] I have a [?] [faded] [?] I [?] [faded] [?] [faded]. [more about expenses, horses, etc.]

They sell from 12 to 15 [?]. They are doing well [faded]. [mentions working, family members like Jerry, etc.]

Closing section:

... The post office is kept at the mouth of [?] [faded]

[Signed] John Morgan

                                                        Letter courtesy Patrick Meguair

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Hunting For Jesse James, With a Metal Detector By G.C. Stevens

 

On May 09th, 2026, a group of metal detector enthusiasts converged on the site of the Jesse James 1873 train robbery in Adair Iowa. The train robbery site which is located along the famed "white Pole Road" is a very significant historic location because it marks the spot of the first train robbery in the American west, an event that would send shockwaves across the nation. This robbery also solidified the reputation of Jesse James as a controversial post-civil war figure, and feared outlaw whose escapades would lead to many large scale man-hunts to try to arrest the outlaw and his gang. The location is also important to railroad history because the Rock Island and Pacific railroad line that ran through here would pave the way west and the rails would contribute to the growth of small towns along the tracks leading to Omaha Nebraska. 

 The event was coordinated by historian, author and blogger Gene Stevens. The objective was to locate and recover any possible artifacts at the site to be given to local museums. Approximately thirty people from the Iowa Metal Detecting Group attended the event and assisted with the expedition. Many items were recovered that revealed the rich railroading history of Iowa in this region. Of particular interest was the presence of narrow gage railroad track and smaller railroad spikes which indicated the presence of a possible connected narrow gauge rail operation or spur in this location. 

Many thanks to all the great people who came out to help! Photo courtesy of Sandy Riley, Adair News.

NEWS ARTICLES,

CRESTON IOWA NEWS ARTICLE ARTIFACTS FOUND

Narrow Gauge Rail Service in Iowa

The Rock Island logo was in the shape of a beaver pelt!

Photo courtesy of wikimedia

                             Frank James and Jesse James photos from the authors collection

                                      Flyer courtesy of the Adair County Conversation Board

 Flyer courtesy of the Adair County Conservation Board

Part of the initial of items included the expected roadway and construction debris, but in the debris was found many significant railroad related items.

An American Style engine of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad

Photo courtesy of Black Hawk Railway Historic Society

Railroad items recovered, railroad spikes, track bolts, track plates and one track rail anchor

Historian Gene Stevens showing a railroad track bolt that was recovered from the site.

Of particular interest was the large pin at the top of this photo. The pin is part of a "link and pin coupler" which dates between 1873 and 1900. The link and pin was the coupler of the day. Photo by the author

A close up of the pin, photo by the author

                                                       Photo from Voices of Harvey County 

"Historically, the Brakeman held the most dangerous job on the train. They had to walk atop moving cars and manually apply the brakes.  The brakeman was also in charge of coupling the cars.  He stood between the cars while holding the link in position to slide into the receiver of the car being coupled as it was pushed by an engine. The brakeman held the link in one hand an a second pin in the other while the next car is pushed into position. At exactly the right moment, he must let go of the link and insert the second pin into the pocket of the oncoming car. Early cars had no means of cushioning the impact so if the brakeman's timing was off, he could lose fingers, a hand, or even be crushed completely between the two cars. Links were kept short to reduce slack."

ref Tools from Our Collection: The Link and Pin Coupler

By Kristine Schmucker, Curator

                 READ OTHER ARTICLES ON JESSE JAMES

Members of the group spread out across the area in search of artifacts. Photo by the author

Photo by the author

                                 Another large iron casting now believed to be 

                                a part from a Caterpillar D8 tractor photo by the author

                                                             

                                           WILD WEST MERCHANDISE

                                          

           DUSTY TRAILS OF THE OLD WEST ANTHOLOGY

                         DUSTY TRAILS OF THE OLD WEST BOOKS

                                                   250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY
  

 

Trains, Trails and Railfans: The Lincoln Highway Near Grand Junction Iowa By G.C. Stevens

 Today was the perfect day for a short road trip down the Lincoln Highway. This stretch of road does exactly what it was intended to do as part of its original design, it created as means of travel when automobiles first took the roads. The original intent of the designers was to create a road that crossed the country from Philadelphia PA to San Francisco while coming close to major cities but avoiding the congestion of those cities. Highway 30 also follows the path of the Union Pacific Railroad and has many great train-spotting opportunities for rail enthusiasts According to The Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Corridor Management Plan, which was published in 2016, identified 319 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966.  

ALSO SEE

Sixteen Stops Along The Lincoln Hwy

All the video and photos were taken bu the author

The Display also had information on the

white Pole Road

 

                                                250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY