Day 11

Monday, October 7^th

Rock Creek Station is a state historical park southeast of Fairbury, Nebraska.  Deep ruts carved by wagons on the Oregon Trail are visible here.  This was a stop where everything was open for us to look at. 

Rock Creek was a popular camping spot for trappers, traders and emigrants even before the station was established.  It had good spring water, grazing, and fuel.  The creek crossing was difficult as the banks are very steep and deep. 

  John Fremont and Kit Carson camped in the area in 1842.  In front of the visitor’s center is a rock Fremont and Carson supposedly carved their names on.  The actual inscriptions aren't visible but a recreation is nearby.

 

The first settlers built Rock Creek Station in 1856.  David McCanles bought the station in 1859 and  built a toll bridge. He charged 10 to 50 cents to cross.

 

 McCanles is one of the central figures in the incident that made Rock Creek Station famous.  James Butler, later known as “Wild Bill Hickock”, worked at Rock Creek Station as a hand.  McCanles nicknamed him “Duckbill” because of his prominent nose and upper lip.  McCanles  sold the eastern station to the Pony Express and moved across the creek.  On July 12, 1861 he attempted to collect a long overdue payment from Horace Wellman, manager of the Pony Express Station.   McCanles threatened to drag Wellman from his cabin when he refused to come out to speak with him.  After some heated discussion with Hickock who was also in the cabin, Hickock  shot McCanles through the heart.  This altercation launched the gunfighting career of “Wild Bill Hickock”.

Wild Bill Hickock

There are deep swales here.  The prairie grass has recovered in most making them less visible but through the Rock Creek Station site the ruts are clearly seen.    

In 1866 Rock Creek Station became a station on the Wells Fargo Stage Line.  By 1867 traffic tapered off as the railroad pushed west.