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.

Jock Morrow had such a place near North Platte, and there were a number of trader stations called ranches, where the foot worn oxen were left, and those that had rested were taken by travellers at a good increase of price over the amounts paid for them.

Ben Holliday, the big man of the Overland Stage, appropriated the site of "Jules Ranch," and had built extensive barns. He called it "Julesburg Station." It was several miles up the river and on the other side, from the present town of Julesburg. As was common, he had the place fortified. He, Holliday, obtained his wood supply from Jack Morrow's canyon.

Ware tells us that there were two crossings of the Platte at Old Julesburg, one almost opposite the station and curving up the stream to a point about a half mile above the entrance, and the other several miles farther west. After crossing the Platte, these two routes continued up the Lodgepole on opposite sides for a number of miles. The lower was called the "California crossing," and the upper the "Mormon crossing."