Transcript
Transcript for "Northern Road," Frontier Guardian, 16 December 1852, 2
NORTHERN ROAD,
FROM BUBUQUE TO FORT DES MOINES, KANESVILLE AND COUNCIL BLUFFS.
To Alexander's, 7 miles; Funson's, 3; Garner's, 10; Rockville, 8; good flouring mill, stores and hotel; Plumb creek, (Ashburn's,) 5; Delhi, county seat of Delaware county, Holms hotelk, big spring, 6; stores and mechanics; Hartwich, 2 1/2; store, flouring mills, saw mill, &c.; Erin, (good crossing,) 12; Quasqueton, on Wabsepenieon river, 9; stores, flouring mills, &c,; Bear creek, 10; good crossing; Brisson's, 5; Witon, county seat of Benton county, 9; stores, &c.; Holms Grove, 3; Mitchell's, 2; Banks (formerly "Little Yankee,") 3; Orsborne (Wolf creek mills,) 12; Marietta, county seat of Marshall county, 20; Lacy's Grove, 4; Stephens' Grove, on Minerva creek, 8; Hiram Mitchell's, 12; Forks of Indian Creek (Wood's,) 12; this portion of the country is newly and thinly settled, but emigrants can obtain supplies at most of the places named; Mount Fairview, 4; South Skunk river bridge, 3; Walker Cory's, 2 a good stopping place; Daniel Justice, 6; Fort Des Moines, 4; here the Des Moines Valley and the Iowa City roads intersect the Northern road; supplies of all kinds are plenty at Fort Des Moines.
To Jordan's, 6 miles; Boon's Ferry, 8; corn, hay and bacon for sale here; Clark's Ferry, 3; Pilot Grove, 12; Summit Grove, 10; here the road forks, the left hand leads to Wah-ta-wah (4m.;) the right to Hamlin's Grove; Sargent's Grove, 15; Campbell's do (Wood's,) 12; Chapman's (Wheeling's ford,) 10; the road here intersects the old Mormon trail' Campbell's, on Walnut creek; Mount Scott (Wheeler's.) 8; good station for camping; Anderson's, 1; there will be a new road laid out early in the spring, starting from this point, crossing west Nishnabotony at Richards' place, thence by Cutler's Camp, Glenwood (formerly Coonville,) Council Bluffs and Kanesville, Myer's mill, 5; Silver creek, 7; Keg creek, 3; Highland Grove, 25 right kand [hand] road leads via Forbes, on Pony creek, to Carterville and Kanesville, 6; thence to Council Bluffs 7; the left via Mount Briggs and Martin's Hollow to Council Bluffs, 6; and thence to Kanesville, 7, where emigrants can be supplies with everything necessary for the trip across the Plains, or to make farms in the most salubrious and fertile portion of the great West.
To Savannah, 14 miles; twelve stores and three hotels; Newark, 11; two stores and one hotel; Hollister's mills, 2; Jackson's Point, 12; one store and one hotel; Sharps Grove, 10; English Grove, 9; Lindon, 10; three stores and three hotels; Austin, 12; one store and one hotel; Sidney, 7; five stores and one hotel; Gaylord's, 6; one hotel; Gaston's 5; one hotel; Glenwood (formerly Coonville.) 10; two stores and two hotels; Horefords', 11; Council Bluffs, 2; two stores and two hotels; Kanesville, 7; twelve stores and six hotels.
Emigrants by taking this route, and crossing the Missouri river on the North side of Platte river, will not only save several miles travel, but they will avoid the brackish streams and stagnant pools on the South side of the Platter river-the cause of so much fatal sickness heretofore among the trains.
Flour, bacon, corn, oats, hay, and all other articles needed by emigrants, for sale at Rockville, Delaware county, Iowa.
Holms Hotel, at the Big Spring, Delhi, Delaware county, Iowa, is just the place for emigrants to stop and rest. Good landlord, a well regulated kitchen and a full barn.
J. W. Clark, at Hartwick, two miles west of Delhi, has on hand a large assortment of dry goods, groceries, hardware, boots and shoes, rubber goods, flour, corn, hay, oats and bacon, which he will sell at fair prices.
Corn, hay, bacon and oats, for sale at Erin, twelve miles west of Hartwick.
Davis, at Quasqueton, nine miles west of Erin, has on hand a general assortment of goods, suitable to the country and emigrant trade. Also, corn, oats, flour and bacon.
Lacy's Grove, four miles west of Marietta-a good camping place-corn and hay in the vicinity.
Stephens' Grove, eight miles from Lacy's, on the head waters of Manerva creek-a good camp ground-corn and hay within three miles.
At Hi Mitchell's, twelve miles west of Stephens' Grove, will be found supplies, the best a new country affords, and a right smart of sociability and accommodation in the landlord.
Woods', at Indian creek forks, twelve miles south-west of Hi Mitchell's-a good stopping place.
Walker Cary's Grove, seven miles from Woods', a grand camping place-plenty of corn, hay, oats and bacon, and a fat, clever landlord.
Daniel Justice, on four mile creek, has corn, hay, bacon and oats.
At the Brisson Settlement, fifteen miles south-west of Quasqueton, corn and hay can be had of farmers.
Rnssel Jones, at Witon, county seat at Benton county, is prepared to satisfy emigrants and settlers with whatever they need. Cedar River Ferry, at Witon, will be kept in good order for the accommodation of the traveling public. Jones & Co., Proprietors.
Mitchell's Grove, five west of Witon-a good camping place.
Banks' Grove, three miles west of Mitchell's-a good stopping place.
Osborne, near Wolf creek mills, keeps a log-house Tavern, where all who call on him will find plenty for man, served up in a cheerful and pleasant manner, at reasonable prices.
DeShong & Clark's Ferry, across Iowa River, will be kept in good oreer.
At Marietta, county seat of Marshall county, emigrants and settlers can find everything needed. Marshall is a fine county, but thinly settled-fast filling up with entertaining people.
The following description of roads are copied from "Horn's Overland Guide to California," a work that has met the entire approval of the emigrating public:
To Litton's, 12 miles; Hitchen, 6; Price's, 5; Cascade, 1; S[illegible]-Bridge, 10; Spencer's, 7; Anamosa, county seat of Jones county, 5; Fairview, 4; Col. [illegible]tler's, 6; Marion, 6; Cedar Rapids, 5; Scott's Grove, 13; Henches, 15; Tabbot's (or Talbot's,) nearly 20; Lattimer's Grove, 18; Hamner's mill, 12; Newton, county seat of Jasper county, 5; Parker's Ferry, 7; Tom Mitchell's, 12; Fort Des Moine, 13; to Camp Luce, 12; Brown's ford, 6; Sherman's, 3; Happy Grove, 3; Claim Juniper's Grove, 6; Wah-ta-wah, 15; Marion (Sargent's Grove,) 13; Campbell's Grove (Wood's,) 14; Indian Town (Bradshaw's,) 12; Mount Scott (Wheeler's,) 15; Myer's mill, 5; Silver creek, 7; Keg creek, 4; Bullocks Farm (Highland Grove,) 2; here the road forks, the left hand leads via Mount Briggs, 2; Martin's Hollow, 1; Council Bluffs, 6, to Kanesville, 7; the right hand via Forbe's, 2; Carterville, 2; Kanesville, 2, to Council Bluffs,7.
This will be found very correct as to distance, and feed for man and teams can be had at nearly all the places mentioned. The same remark is applicable to all routes which we publish, unless otherwise stated.
To Kiester's, 6; Andrew, 6; Bridgeport, 5; Maquoketa, 2; Bloomfield, 4; Jenk's Ferry, 12; Tipton, county seat of Cedar county, 18; Gower's Ferry, 10; Morse's. 7; Iowa City, 8.
To Brophy's. 8; Dewit, county seat of Clinton county, 9; Denizon's Half-way House, 8; Tipton, 8; here the road intersects the Bellevue and Iowa City road.
To Poston's Grove, 15; Tipton, 16; Gower's Ferry, 10; Iowa City, 15.
To Overman's Ferry, 10; West Liberty, 14; Iowa City, 11.
To Hartford, 18; Mt. Pleasant, 9; Rome, 8; Fairfield, 16; Ottumwa, 25; Eddyville, 15; Oskaloosa, 13; Pella, 18; Tool's Point, 13; Tom Mitchell's, (junction Iowa City and Des Moines valley road,) 12; Fort Des Moine, 13.
The road from Keokuk intersects this road on the divide between Skunk and Des Moine rivers.
The various roads above Muscatine unite at Iowa City, thence
To Douglass', 12; Bob Hutchenson's Trading House, 13; Chase's old Store, 10; Snooks Grove, 16, Talbot's, 4; here the road intersects the Dubuque road.
To Tally's Ford, 12; Knoxville, county seat of Marion county, 16, Indianola, county seat of Warren county, 32; thinly settled; Winterset, county seat of Madison county, 25; thinly settled; Junction of Clark's road, 10; Alcom's, 15; Sargent's Grove, 16; Campbell's Grove (Wood's,) 15; Indian Town, 12; Junction of Clark's road and Mormon Trail.
(Loomis & McLennan's Steam Ferry.)
To Montrose, 2; New Boston, 5; Charleston, 3; Farmington, 12; Bonapart, 6; good rope Ferry across Des Moine river; String Town (thick settled.) 30; Drakesville. do do, 20; Soap creek, do do, 15; Dodge's Point, do do, 20; Wilson's, 6; Chariton, 8; Garden Grove, 20; Lost Camp (to the right of road.) 15; Pisgah, on Grand river, 25; Twelve mile creek, 12; Evan's Camp, 15; West Fork Nodaway, 8; Indian Town (Wheeling's ford,) 7; Junction of Clarke's road from Fort Des Moine; Walnut Creek (Campbell's,) 7; Mount Scott (Wheeler's,) 8; Myers' mill, 5; Silver creek (Taylor's,) 7; Keg creek, 4; Highland Grove, 2; Forbes', on Little Pony creek, 2; Carterville, 2; Kanesville, 2.
(A good Steam Ferry across Mississippi river.)
To the Wakedaws river, 12; good bridges; Philadelphia, 12; Berwick, nearly 40; Gallitan, 35; Marysville, 45; Lindon, 35; Sidney, 20; Glenwood (formerly Coonville,) 22; Council Bluffs, 11; Kanesville, 7.
All the streams on this route are well bridged, or have good ferries across them and good taverns or stopping places at convenient distances, not over ten or twelve miles apart on any portions of the road, Anu [Any] emigrants, by coming to these places, can save the trouble and expense of hauling their outfits thus far, as by reference to the cards of the Merchants and business men of Kanesville, it will be seen they are prepared to furnish everything necessary for the trip across the Plains, at as low rates as any other place on the Missouri river.
When the fact is considered that Kanesville has furnished more general outfits than any other village on the Missouri above Independence, their capability to do ample justice to all who consult their true interest, by coming to these places, cannot be doubted.
Notwithstanding other villages on the Missouri river, unfortunately situated off of the great natural route to the Pacific-the channel for the commerce of the world-may endeavor to turn the heavy current of emigration from the route selected by nature's civil engineers-the Buffalo and Elk-for their Western travel, but the intelligent portion of the emigrants will select the best route, which is now universally known to be the North side of Platte river.
Let all who wish correct information consult the latest and best maps, and also read the certificates of those who have crossed the Plains several times on both the South and North side of Platte river, which will be published in this "Directory and Guide."