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| Buckskin Tracy's tombstone in Evergreen Cemetery (Find a Grave photo by janicet) |
I started to tell this tale of the Western Stage Co. route through southwest Iowa earlier in the week. It revolves around two of the men instrumental in establishing it --- Perry B. "Buckskin" Tracy and Stephen Clark. "Stagecoach Days 1: Buckskin Tracy & Stephen Clark" is here; "Stagecoach Days 2: Commodore Perry's Namesake," here; "Stagecoach Days 3: The Rise and Fall of Lagrange," here; and "Stagecoach Days 4: Tallahoma." here.
When Clark and Tracy were last heard from --- during 1860 --- Stephen was Western Stage Co. station agent in Chariton and Buck was company line agent for south central and southwest Iowa.
Two years earlier, during the spring of 1858, Buck had set out from Osceola to blaze the company's route connecting south central Iowa to the Missouri River. According to his obituary, he did this while driving a buckboard.
The end of the line was Trader's Point, along the Missouri River northwest of Glenwood and across the river from Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The usual date for commencement of stage service between Chariton and the point is July 1, 1858.
Trader's Point was the creation of legendary French-American trader Peter A. Sarpy and home to Sarpy and his wife, Ni-co-mi, of the Ioway tribe. Buck reportedly counted Sarpy among his friends and at least some of his trademark buckskin outfits were said to have been purchased from Sarpy at Trader's Point.
Trader's Point was the creation of legendary French-American trader Peter A. Sarpy and home to Sarpy and his wife, Ni-co-mi, of the Ioway tribe. Buck reportedly counted Sarpy among his friends and at least some of his trademark buckskin outfits were said to have been purchased from Sarpy at Trader's Point.
Back in Montgomery County, what now is Red Oak was just emerging. The principal stage stop in the county was Sciola, near the county's eastern edge, but at some point during 1858 a ferry across the Nishnabotna River began operations at Red Oak and a town began to develop. During 1862, Buck established a major Western Stage Co. stop here --- at a hotel operated by Lazarus N. Harding and his wife, Mary.
The Hardings remained lifelong friends. Buck reportedly began boarding with the Hardings as soon as the stage stop was established and lived with them off and on for the remainder of his life. The Hardings cared for him during his final illness in 1886 and he died in their home and was buried from it.
Also during 1862, Stephen Clark moved west from Chariton to become station agent in Red Oak and held that post until it was discontinued not long after the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad passed through.
The two men also formed enduring friendships with Hilman W. Otis, a Red Oak land agent. Buck and Otis shared office space in a building Buck owned after stagecoach days had passed and he was dabbling in real estate, too. It was to Otis that both Buck and Stephen turned as their ends were approaching to handle their estates.
Another mutual friend was John Chaney, one of Osceola's best-known attorneys, who grew up in Lucas County and probably got to know Buck and Stephen when they were living here, too. Chaney went on to study law with Chariton's Warren S. Dungan, then opened his practice in Osceola. He was serving as judge in Iowa's Third Judicial District, which included Red Oak, at the time of Buck's passing.
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It is possible to find buried in southwest Iowa newspapers a few memories of Buck in his heyday as Western Stage Co. agent.
Elizabeth Gans Harding (1849-1939), of Red Oak, writing in a story published on July 1, 1929, in The Red Oak Express, remembered Buck as line agent for the Western Stange Co. during December of 1868, at a time when Afton was the end of the line for the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. Elizabeth had married William A. Harding on Dec. 1, 1868, at her parents' home in Springfield, Illinois, and they set out for Red Oak soon thereafter.
After arrival in Afton by train, they boarded a Western Stage Co. coach --- described by Elizabeth as an open vehicle resembling a buckboard --- for the balance of the journey during a very cold and snowy period. When they reached Queen City in Adams County (just east of Corning, the current Adams County seat), they bought a blanket to put over their heads to protect them from the snow.
"We spent the night in Queen City," Elizabeth wrote, "and started the next morning for Sciola, arriving there late in the afternoon. The writer was carried into the stage station, with feet nearly frozen, and we remained there snowed in for two days and nights. By that time, Buckskin Tracy, the stage coach manager, arrived on the scene, as he had heard that neither passengers nor mail had been able to get out from there. So the stage coach was shoveled out of the snow and the journey was resumed, no men being allowed to ride, but the driver. The snow had to be scooped out many times, and many were the arguments, profane and otherwise, between French Tom, the driver, and Buckskin, himself, the stage manager, as to why neither one of them could "keep up on the divide."
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J. D. Davis, by 1919 a resident of Watonga, Oklahoma, was visiting in Corning during that year and during an interview with the local editor recalled Buckskin as a highly accomplished master of profanity. The interview was published in the Adams County Union-Republican of June 4.
"Mr. Davis drove a stage coach from Afton to Sciola in the early days of this county (Adams), 1859. In fact, it was so early that there was no city of Corning in those days. Queen City, just east of Corning about two miles, and Brookville, now known as Brooks, were the principal cities of this vicinity in those days," the Union-Republican reported.
" 'Yes, I drove a stage for Buckskin Tracy, the stage agent of those days,' said Mr. Davis to us. 'He was the most picturesque adept at swearing that I ever heard. Say, when Buckskin got really down to business at cursing, it was the very last word in that accomplishment. Well, Buckskin got peeved at something the Queen City authorities had done, and so he wouldn't allow us to stop at that point. I remember that I stopped (after that) at the home of John Antill, somewhere around there.' "
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It's generally agreed that the last Western Stage Co. coach left Red Oak during December of 1869. Coach traffic increased as rails advanced and the end was nearing; four-horse Concords were in common use at the time.
Both Stephen and Buck had invested in farms near Red Oak. Once stagecoach days had passed, Stephen settled on his and little more was heard from him. Buck continued a very active life, however, dabbled in real estate and lived for varying lengths of time on his farm too. He also collected some of the coaches left behind in Red Oak and built a barn to protect them. One of these was added in 1900 to the State Historical Society of Iowa collection.
When the 1870 census of Red Oak Junction was taken, Buck's occupation still was listed as stage agent and he was living independently in the city with his sister-in-law, Martha (Peacock) Tracy, as housekeeper. Martha had been a widow since the 1850 death in Chautauqua County, New York, of Buck's brother, Jedediah Royce Tracy, and Buck reportedly had helped support her and her family of six children. Nephew Perry T. Tracy joined his uncle at Chariton in 1860, drove four years for Western Stage, then settled on a farm near Red Oak, too. And at some point in the late 1860s, Martha Tracy moved west to join them. This housekeeping arrangement was not permanent, however, and Martha eventually moved to Nebraska to live with children who settled there.
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During 1877, Buck was offered the opportunity to take over operation of a stage line from Kearney Junction, Nebraska, to Deadwood, Dakota Territory --- and seems to have jumped at the chance although by this time he was well into his 60s. The plan didn't quite work out, but Buck seems to have enjoyed himself anyway, if this report from The Red Oak Express of Dec. 27, 1877, is to be believed:
"Mr. P. B. Tracy was warmly greeted by his many friends on his return home to Red Oak a few days ago from the west. It will be remembered he went out to Kearney last spring to superintend a stage line from that place to Deadwood. After making one trip, he became convinced that the line could not be made profitable, and contrary to the urgent solicitation of the proprietors, he abandoned the enterprise. Subsequent events proved the correctness of his judgment in reference to the matter. He then went to Cheyenne, Custer City and Deadwood; looked over the Black Hills country; and decided to invest in the town of Spearfish. Built one or two houses and returned to Cheyenne.
"Then concluded on a pleasure excursion with a company of ladies to Laramie Plains. This necessitated his sending home for his buckskin suit; it was forwarded to him by Mr. Otis, and received in due time. This excursion over, he again returned to Cheyenne, and from there went to Denver. After a short stay at the latter place, he came back to the capital of Wyoming, where he remained during the session of the Legislature, of which body his brother, Judge D.C. Tracy, is an influential member. He is now with his friends in Red Oak, and will remain here during the winter, when he will again return to the west.
"Mr. Tracy is one of the pioneers of this part of Iowa. He was the first mail contractor and ran the first line of stages in this part of the state. He is now past his three score years but is hale, hardy and as active as one of half his years. He is a man of extraordinary endurance. With the old settlers he is held in high esteem."
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Buck's health began to fail during 1886, when he was 72. He suffered a stroke during July of that year and died on Aug. 8, 1886, in the care of his friends, the Hardings, one day short of his 73rd birthday.
His obituary, obviously written by those who knew him well, was published in The Red Oak Express of Aug. 13 and contains this description of his character:
"Mr. Tracy was a man of marked traits of character. He was greatly attached to his friends and never forgot nor failed to appreciate a kindness. His acquaintance with H.W. Otis was formed in 1869 and ripened into a close and intimate friendship. The same was true of his associations with L.N. Harding, Stephen Clark and others. His convictions of honesty were of that sturdy kind which never wavered a hair's breadth. As expressed by Mr. Harding, he was so upright in his dealings and in his desire to do justice that he leaned backward. Mr. Otis informs us that on the day he was taken sick he owned no man a dollar. He was scrupulously careful to render justice to his fellow men and held to the belief that there was no necessity for differences in dealings where both parties wanted to be honest. His acts of benevolence were many, but were quietly done. One of the last was to deed to the poor boy Carlson the little home in the south part of town. Mr. Otis says in deeds of charity no man in Red Oak has done more. He was very fixed in his notions of dress and up to his death had never forsaken the buckskin clothes. He had in his possession a suit which he had kept for thirty-four years and he said a few weeks before his sickness that the coat and vest were yet very good, but the pants a little soiled. He was never married, owing much no doubt to the use of his means during the many years of his early life in befriending his widowed sister-in-law and her six children. Perry B. Tracy has passed over to the great beyond, but his sturdy will, unflinching purposes of right and warm heart will live in the memories of all who knew him as tender recollections."
The "Carlson boy" was the 9-year-old son of P. O. and Mary Carlson, tenants on Buck's rural Red Oak farm. Mary, while intoxicated, shot herself to death on Aug. 3, 1886.
Buck was buried, following services at the Harding home, in Red Oak's Evergreen Cemetery and a year later, during December of 1887, The Red Oak Express reported that, "H. W. Otis, administrator, has just erected a fine monument to the memory of P.B. Tracy. It is the largest in the Red Oak cemetery and Mr. Otis has exhibited good taste in design."
According to his obituary, Buck had prepared a will --- and then destroyed it not long before his death, leaving a substantial estate to be distributed among his heirs according to the rules of intestacy. His old friend, Hilman Otis, may not have had quite so grand a tombstone in mind --- but another old friend, Judge John Chaney, stepped in.
The Red Oak Express of Dec. 24, 1886, reported that "Before adjourning court last week Judge Chaney ordered Mr. Otis, the administrator of the estate of the late Perry Tracy, to erect a monument over his grave costing not less than $1,000 nor more than $1,500. Judge Chaney has been a firm friend of the deceased for twenty-five years."
Buck's old friend, Stephen Clark, died four years later, on Oct. 3, 1890, after an illness of about two years. In failing health, he had moved from his farm to the Central House hotel, where he was cared for during his final illness.
Although Stephen selected Hilman Otis, too, to administer his substantial estate, Mr. Otis seems not to have known as much about Mr. Clark as he did about Buckskin Tracy. The obituary, published in The Express of Oct. 10, is brief and somewhat enigmatic:
His obituary, obviously written by those who knew him well, was published in The Red Oak Express of Aug. 13 and contains this description of his character:
"Mr. Tracy was a man of marked traits of character. He was greatly attached to his friends and never forgot nor failed to appreciate a kindness. His acquaintance with H.W. Otis was formed in 1869 and ripened into a close and intimate friendship. The same was true of his associations with L.N. Harding, Stephen Clark and others. His convictions of honesty were of that sturdy kind which never wavered a hair's breadth. As expressed by Mr. Harding, he was so upright in his dealings and in his desire to do justice that he leaned backward. Mr. Otis informs us that on the day he was taken sick he owned no man a dollar. He was scrupulously careful to render justice to his fellow men and held to the belief that there was no necessity for differences in dealings where both parties wanted to be honest. His acts of benevolence were many, but were quietly done. One of the last was to deed to the poor boy Carlson the little home in the south part of town. Mr. Otis says in deeds of charity no man in Red Oak has done more. He was very fixed in his notions of dress and up to his death had never forsaken the buckskin clothes. He had in his possession a suit which he had kept for thirty-four years and he said a few weeks before his sickness that the coat and vest were yet very good, but the pants a little soiled. He was never married, owing much no doubt to the use of his means during the many years of his early life in befriending his widowed sister-in-law and her six children. Perry B. Tracy has passed over to the great beyond, but his sturdy will, unflinching purposes of right and warm heart will live in the memories of all who knew him as tender recollections."
The "Carlson boy" was the 9-year-old son of P. O. and Mary Carlson, tenants on Buck's rural Red Oak farm. Mary, while intoxicated, shot herself to death on Aug. 3, 1886.
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Buck was buried, following services at the Harding home, in Red Oak's Evergreen Cemetery and a year later, during December of 1887, The Red Oak Express reported that, "H. W. Otis, administrator, has just erected a fine monument to the memory of P.B. Tracy. It is the largest in the Red Oak cemetery and Mr. Otis has exhibited good taste in design."
According to his obituary, Buck had prepared a will --- and then destroyed it not long before his death, leaving a substantial estate to be distributed among his heirs according to the rules of intestacy. His old friend, Hilman Otis, may not have had quite so grand a tombstone in mind --- but another old friend, Judge John Chaney, stepped in.
The Red Oak Express of Dec. 24, 1886, reported that "Before adjourning court last week Judge Chaney ordered Mr. Otis, the administrator of the estate of the late Perry Tracy, to erect a monument over his grave costing not less than $1,000 nor more than $1,500. Judge Chaney has been a firm friend of the deceased for twenty-five years."
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Buck's old friend, Stephen Clark, died four years later, on Oct. 3, 1890, after an illness of about two years. In failing health, he had moved from his farm to the Central House hotel, where he was cared for during his final illness.
Although Stephen selected Hilman Otis, too, to administer his substantial estate, Mr. Otis seems not to have known as much about Mr. Clark as he did about Buckskin Tracy. The obituary, published in The Express of Oct. 10, is brief and somewhat enigmatic:
"Stephen Clark, long a noted figure in the history of Red Oak, died Friday afternoon last at the Central House of consumption of the bowels. He had been ailing for over two years past, and was expecting the final summons. the funeral was held Sunday afternoon, conducted by W.W. Merritt. Mr. Clark was a peculiar man, and while he had been a resident of our city for over thirty years, took little part or interest in its affairs. In the early 1860s he was connected with the stage line running through this section, and after the railroad was well under way, bought some land southwest of the city on which he spent many years. He was never married, and at his death was in his 76th year. Very little is known of his early history, as he lived a very retired life, making few acquaintances or friends. His relations consist of a brother and two sisters in New York, to whom his estate, amounting to over $30,000 will go."
Stephen does not seem to have left a will either, so Otis was left with the task of tracking down his surviving heirs. But he did ensure --- apparently without judicial prodding --- that Clark had tombstone in Evergreen Cemetery that came close to matching Buck's in size and grandeur.
And so that's how these two old friends came to rest in comparative splendor within sight of each other in an older section of Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Otis survived until Feb. 11, 1908, when he died at his Red Oak home, age 81, and his wife, Eliza, some years later. They had no children. And although buried, too, in Evergreen Cemetery, their graves are unmarked.
Stephen does not seem to have left a will either, so Otis was left with the task of tracking down his surviving heirs. But he did ensure --- apparently without judicial prodding --- that Clark had tombstone in Evergreen Cemetery that came close to matching Buck's in size and grandeur.
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| Stephen Clark's tombstone in Evergreen Cemetery (Find a Grave photo by dolph72). |
Mr. Otis survived until Feb. 11, 1908, when he died at his Red Oak home, age 81, and his wife, Eliza, some years later. They had no children. And although buried, too, in Evergreen Cemetery, their graves are unmarked.
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