Stagecoach Routes

[Jazdo]

Stagecoaches

Stagecoaches were used in Iowa to meet the need for mail delivery to western settlements. Equipped with seats for passengers, stagecoaches became a popular means of passenger travel. The first regular stagecoach line in Iowa began operating in 1838 and ran twice weekly from Burlington through Fort Madison and Montrose to St. Francesville, Missouri—an 18 hour trip of 45 miles. The standard fare was "ten cents, per mile and a fence rail.” The male passengers used the fence rails for removing “sloughed-down” coaches. Prior to the postal laws of 1845, the mail rate on the stage for a folded single sheet delivered more than 400 miles was 25 cents. The first stages were described as “wagons without springs and with white muslin tops, drawn by two horses.”
Towns near stagecoach stops benefited financially due to increased demand for lodging, meals and livery stable and blacksmith services. Despite its popularity, many problems plagued travel by stage. Mud and plank roads, winter blizzards, prairie fires and robberies added up to discomfort and long delays. Stages gave way to the railroad or the “Iron Horse” when smaller communities obtained rail connections. The last coach of the Western Stage Company left Des Moines on July 1, 1870

Bottom line is they were everywhere.I found a book on them tonight at a Library. You can find some near you. If not then find the places they stayed at because many passed through and some were taverns also. Some undoubtably were robbed at some point. The possibilities for lost coins are great.

[liquid1]

Good info..My dad seems to think theres some old routes on his property..We will be hunting them hard as time permits..good idea..

[prizm-pal]

Thanks for the info Jazdo...and welcome to tq first time I met you happy hunting and good luck on the old stage routes! Chick!

[Joker]

Great info and welcome to TQ Jazdo!

[Tn Dirt Digger]

I have'nt done any research on this particular subject, but I was told last week that the road in front of my house was a stagecoach route....I say it's worth an investigation.

You have a good day Jazbo....

[schoser]

back home in Galena, Illinois ,we have a road thats called Stagecoach Trail and it's a busy route, still. cool post!

[Buster]

Good story and good info...Buster...

[gordiesgirl]

Great info, I hope you can find the spots and find great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[Jazdo]

Looks like I have found two so far in Iowa. I just got off the phone with my Mom and her brother knows of a stagecoach stop just a couple miles from her house. Another is 6 miles east of Iowa City.

Now to use the plat book and find out who owns the property!

[rm6885]

Funny you posted this... I have been researching an old tavern not far from me, and the history notes it was a stage stop. I used Google earth to look down on the area, and I believe I see several signs that the building were there (it is a wooded area now). There were five pre-1860's homes in a row on the site, next to the tavern.

When things warm up a bit, I am going to try to speak with the people living not far from the property to see if they own that section, and if they will let me in the woods to poke around.

Robert