Butterfield Overland Mail Company

THE BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND MAIL COMPANY

BY PAT SEPULVEDA-MYERS

Early 1900s view of 4th Street between Gila & San Pedro St. (L to R) Cosby Cash Store & General Merchandise, Etz/Treu Meat Market, J. Lopnow Store, Maier Brothers General Mercantile.

1848 was a tumultuous and exciting time in the history of the United States. The Mexican-American War was over, resulting in the acquisition of most of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California. And the concept of Manifest Destiny supported American exploration and expansion. The words that became that generation’s motto, “Go west, young man, go west,” resounded through the nation.

All this migration created a need for roads, military protection and, most importantly, mail service. Congress had earlier approved mail service by ship, but that could take months. The transplanted people in California demanded a direct route overland.

In 1857 the government finally put out a request for bids to carry U.S. mail and passengers from St. Louis MO to San Francisco CA. It specified that the service be performed using 4-horse coaches or spring wagons capable of carrying 6 passengers, 3 sacks of letters, and one of newspapers.

It was entrepreneur John Butterfield who won the contract of $600,000 per annum, using a Southern route. Starting in St. Louis MO and going through Springfield, the route veered off to Ft. Smith AR; went south to Sherman TX; turned west through New Mexico and Arizona; between La Mesilla and Tucson, it crossed the San Pedro River 1 mile north of present-day Benson and went on to Ft. Yuma CA; drove across the Imperial Valley; and finally turned northbound to San Francisco. Politically, this was advantageous as an instrument of settlement and it gained the support of the southern (Confederate) sympathizers.

Butterfield had only one year to establish this route, grade the roads, build and stock 200 stations an average of 15-20 miles apart, hire men to drive the coaches and to man the stations, plus develop water stations. And that’s what he did! Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company inaugurated its first runs in mid-September 1858. Totaling 2,795 miles, the transport took 23 days and 23 hours. Here was the longest stage line in the world and the first truly transcontinental road stitching the United States together. In the Spring of 1861, the North/South conflict caught up with Butterfield. Texas seceded from the Union and blocked 900 miles of the Butterfield Trail. Shortly afterwards, Congress passed a law requiring the Butterfield Overland Mail line be moved to the Central route used by the Pony Express. Congress added the caveat that, once the transcontinental telegraph line was completed, their services would be terminated. This was realized in October 1861.

Early 1900s view of 4th St. looking west from Huachuca St. (L to R) C. F. Moss Drug Store, new L. Redfield Post Office, Gerwien's Bank of Benson, old post office, Gerwien's lumberyard.

Would you like to learn more about the history of Benson? May we suggest you pack up the family and head to Butterfield Stagecoach Days, "A Living History" Where days gone by come to life!

Visitors will be amazed as they walk through Benson's historical timeline. Watch the Mormon Battalion and Buffalo Soldiers as they re-enact history. See artifacts from Railroad, Apache Powder, the Benson Museum, Old Farm Equipment, Outdoor Art Gallery of times gone by. Join the The Cameo Ladies of Tombstone on Saturday for Tea and Fashion Show or Enjoy Mariachi, Folkloric Dancers, and miniature train operation for children of all ages including Kids Kove, face painting, kiddie tattoos and Geology digs. Come early and stay late to enjoy live Music, Vendors and Food.

This Event takes place on: Saturday, October 12 th 9am-4pm Sunday, October 13 th 9am-4pm Apache Park is located at: 150 W. 6th St, Benson AZ 85602

For more information or vending opportunity contact: The Benson San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce at (520) 265-8031 or email: info@bensonchamberaz.com

Article Sources: Pony Express: The Great Gamble – Roy Bloss (Howell-North Press, Berkeley CA, 1959) Butterfield’s Byway – Melody Graves (History Press, Charleston SC, 2014)

Photos: Early 1900s view of 4th St. between San Pedro & Huachuca St (L to R) C. Hoy Mansion Cafe, Fairlee & Jensen Mansion Hotel, Bank of Benson & Post Office, F. Clark Turf Saloon. Early 1900s view of 4th St. looking west from Huachuca St. (L to R) C. F. Moss Drug Store, new L. Redfield Post Office, Gerwien's Bank of Benson, old post office, Gerwien's lumberyard. Early 1900s view of 4th Street between Gila & San Pedro St. (L to R) Cosby Cash Store & General Merchandise, Etz/Treu Meat Market, J. Lopnow Store, Maier Brothers General Mercantile. Early 1900s view of the Territorial Industrial School near Patagonia & 6th St. It became the Benson HIgh School after the Industrial School moved to Camp Grant in 1913.

Early 1900s view of the Territorial Industrial School near Patagonia & 6th St. It became the Benson HIgh School after the Industrial School moved to Camp Grant in 1913.