Summary 2002
THE PAST ROLLS INTO THE FUTURE ON THE
CHEROKEE TRAIL WAGON TRAIN;
JUNE 17-21 2002
FORT BRIDGER, WYOMING TO BENTS OLD FORT, COLORADO
On
Sunday evening, June 17, Pat & I presented a slide and lecture program
at Fort Bridger to the members of the wagon train and horseback riders,
and to the Fort Bridger Historical Society. Monday morning we observed
the variety of teams & wagons in final preparation, and the wagons and
horseback riders rolling out of Fort Bridger.
On Wednesday evening Pat, in costume as newlywed Ella Holmes from Collin
County, Texas, accompanying her husband on a cattle drive from Arkansas
to Knight's Valley in California, gave a talk taken in part from the
Holmes' diary. The Holmes brothers traveled four times over the Cherokee
Trail to California.
Our winter was spent in Texas doing research on the trail and the Lewis
Evans family. Highlights were: -The original (1849) Kellum diary was
reread, as we had a weak photocopy of a transcript.
-A new diary was found on a 1857 cattle drive from Arkansas to California
over the 1850 Cherokee Trail.
-History of Lewis Evans' boys and their venture into the cattle business.
Especially interesting is A.G. Evans, the oldest, whowas joined by R. D.
Hunter to form the cattle commission firm of Hunter & Evans. Their firm
became the largest livestock commission firm in America and their brand
was registered in nine states and territories.
April 20, 2002 found us at the Talbot Museum in Colcord, Oklahoma for a
book dedication and meeting of the Goingsnake Genealogical Society, then
on to Grove to an Ancestor Fair and book sale. August 13-15 is the
Oregon California Trails Assoc. (OCTA) meeting in Reno where we will be
at the book table.
Good news. The US Senate has agreed to the passage of the bill to fund a
feasibility study that includes the Cherokee Trail along with others
when they return to Washington. The bill will then return to the US
House for consideration and a vote.
