The larger outfits, the Creightons, the Coads, and a few others, established "ranches" or a headquarters for a few caretakers, who were to look after the "bull herds," during the winter months.

Bull canyon, in western Banner county, is

one of these wintering places. Another point was on Cedar creek and Smith's lurk, near Mud Springs. In Carter canyon is the ruins of another of the old camps, and there were many others. The hazards were considerable, but if they escaped the Indian raids, they came through the winter in fine shape.

R. Proust, Sr.

As much of the work at that time was government freighting, the government eventually made good the losses occasioned by the Indians.

Old Bordeaux, who in 1847, looked after the business of the American Fur Company at Fort Laramie, had accumulated a few old cows, maybe a dozen or so, by 1866, and they were kept about eight miles down the river at Bordeaux place. Nick Genice had a similar bunch on Deer creek about four miles south of the fort.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

STAGE STATION RANCHES -- NAMING FORT MITCHELL ON THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER

FIRST RANCHES

Jules Beni, of early fame, once had a "ranch," on the south side of the South Platte about a mile from the mouth of the Lodgepole creek, and as early as sixty-four this ranch, which was nothing but a trading post, where occasionally a lame ox was left to recuperate, had (like other similar places) been abandoned.