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CHAPTER IX.RAILROADS, HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION. (CONT'D)From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
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HACK LINES, STAGES AND MAIL LINES.In October, 1865, the writer was a passenger in the Western Stage Company's coaches from Kellogg to Hamlin's Grove. The route then ran from Des Moines, by way of Adel, Panora, Guthrie Center. Bear Grove, to Hamlin's Grove; thence to Grove City, etc. Those coaches were the old-fashioned Concord, closed stages, with leather thorough braces (for springs), and were drawn by four powerful horses. The drivers were veterans in their business and expert whips. With their long, graceful lashes, they could fleck a fly from the ears of their lead horses without touching the horse, and could perform all other expert stunts peculiar to their calling. The coaches went out of use when the railroad reached Atlantic in 1868-9. While the stages went by way of Morrison's, mail was carried from that point to Hamlin's on horseback. Before the town of Exira was founded, and as early as 1856, a man named Adams carried the mail, some times horseback and at other times with a buckboard, from Adel, by way of Exira, to Magnolia, giving service once a week each way. About 1860, E. B. Newton, of Guthrie Center, carried the mail by hackline, from Adel to Magnolia; but he changed the route by going from Bear Grove to Bradley Beers' (Old Hamlin); thence to Bowman's Grove, leaving Exira six miles to the south, and the mail was supplied to Exira from Beers.' In 1864, Newton was succeeded by John Crane, who carried the mail from Bear Grove, by way of Exira, to Magnolia, twice a week. This line was discontinued when the railroad reached Atlantic in 1868-9. In 186S a hackline was established by David L. Anderson from Exira to Atlantic, with service twice a week. In 1875, he was succeeded by William P. Hamlin, who conducted a hack line over the same route until the railroad reached Exira in 1878. About 1868 another mail line was established by William Thompson from Anita, by way of Hamlin's, to Exira, which was discontinued in 1878. A line was established in 1871, by John McFadden from Exira, by way of Leroyville, Irwin, Thompson and Elba, to Carroll. He was succeeded by William Thompson, he by John Robinson, and he by Sylvester K. Landis. This line was discontinued about 1880-2. Another line was established by William Gransberry, from Exira, by way of Leroyville, Irwin and Viola Center, to Coon Rapids, during the period last above named. |
