Geyser Bob's Yellowstone Park History Service
Serving the Greater Yellowstone & Surrounding Gateway & Historic Communities
Yellowstone's Early Stagecoach Companies
Bassett Bros Stage Line
YPTCo and Monida-Yellowstone Stages
White Buses in YNP
White Bus Specs
White Bus Personalities
Early Boating on Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone's Early Stagecoach Companies

Copyright 2018 Robert V. Goss

The Abbot-Downing Co.

J.S. Abbott and Lewis Downing started this stagecoach company in 1826 and built the first Concord Stage in 1827.  The company was known by several variations of the name over the years and produced over 3700 Concord Stages between 1827-1899.  The coaches typically held 6, 9, or 12 passengers on bench seats. A Tally-Ho coach, with seats atop, could carry up to 20 or more persons. The Wells Fargo Company was among the company’s larger accounts, while the various Yellowstone companies purchased several hundred coaches from 1883-1916. The basic model weighed over 1-ton and the coach rode on twin through-braces made out of rawhide that formed 3-inch thick leather springs and gave a smooth, swinging motion.  The coaches were used extensively throughout the west and are considered the finest stagecoaches ever built. One person could sit next to the driver (riding shotgun) and at least one model had bench seats on top. The underbody was painted yellow, while the coach body could be red (Monida & Yellowstone), yellow (Yellowstone Park Transportation Co), green, or other colors at the buyers request. When Yellowstone abandoned its coach fleet in 1917 for White Motor Co. buses, the company turned to making motor trucks for other industries.

Typical Wells Fargo Stage, Abbot Downing Yellowstone 12-passenger coach, Abbot Downing Yellowstone Tally-Ho, Abbot Downing
 Photos courtesy Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop, near Mitchell SD



The Bassett Brothers

There were six Bassett brothers who provided outfitting services in the park that included furnishing tents, tools, food, supplies, horses, and guides. It is said that by the late 1870’s they dominated the outfitting business in Yellowstone. They began running stagecoaches into the park from the Utah & Northern rail line at Beaver, Idaho, near the current town of Spencer, in 1881. It was about 110 miles from Beaver to the Lower Geyser Basin, requiring three nights camping to get there. The company advertised the route as being 150 miles shorter than the Virginia City route. The business became known as the Yellowstone National Park Stage Line in 1888, and operated out of Lago, Idaho. Sometime after 1897 their operation moved north to Monida when the Beaver rail facilities were closed. During the mid-1890’s the concern was called the Union Pacific Stage Lines, with C.J. Bassett as proprietor. An 1881 newspaper ad proclaimed "The Eden of America!" "Light Spring Wagons, Good Teams, Experienced Drivers and Good Hunting and Fishing anywhere along the road."  The cost was $25 to Marshall's Hotel on the Firehole and the return trip. 

Left: Basset Bros. coach crossing the Snake River    
from, "Wonderland, or Twelve Weeks
In and Out of the United States"
by Edward S. Parkinson, 1894


For additional  information, visit my Bassett Bros web page

 

Gilmer & Salibury

John T. “Jack” Gilmer, with brothers Orange J. and Monroe Salisbury formed this stagecoach line in 1868 with the purchase of the assets of the Utah, Idaho, and Montana branches of Wells, Fargo Co.  In 1873 this transportation firm was running stages from Fort Benton, Montana to Helena. They bought out the Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage, Mail and Express Line in 1876, operating the Deadwood line between Cheyenne and the Black Hills. However, when they took over other stage lines, the kept the original names for the sake of customer familiarity, as thus, the Gilmer & Salisbury name itself was not always well-known to the public. The company later began providing access to Yellowstone Park by running stagecoaches to Virginia City and Bozeman, where other stage lines carried passengers into the park. The company became one of the most powerful corporations in the Northwest in the late 1800’s and amassed a sizable fortune. In their final days lines ran from the Canadian border to southern Utah and from the Great Plains to California and Washington. Gilmer passed away in May 1892 of Bright’s Disease. Monroe Salisbury died of cancer in May of 1907 while his brother O.J succumbed to heart disease a month later in June of 1907.

New North West, 8Oct1869

 
Gilmer & Salisbury Envelope ca1877
courtesy www.rfrajola.com
   
   Gilmer & Salisbury Photographs, undated

Gilmer & Salisbury Receipt 1869
courtesy www.rfrajola.com

 

Marshall & Goff

George W. Marshall received the mail carrier contract for one year from Mammoth to Virginia City in 1879.  He built a house at the Firehole River near Nez Perce Creek.  The following year he erected a mail station at Norris, possibly in the meadow near the soldier station. Marshall started a stagecoach service with John Goff in 1880, with the first stagecoach leaving October 1 from Virginia City to the Lower Basin.  George Marshall drove the first two passengers, one of which was Carrie Strahorn, who claimed to be the first woman to tour the entire Park. They traveled up the Madison River to the Lower Geyser Basin to Marshall’s Hotel located at the confluence of Nez Perce Creek and the Firehole River.  Marshall began giving tours of the park that same year and his tours were the first known to originate from 'within` the park.  Marshall and Goff also built a hotel along the Firehole River in 1880, becoming the 2nd hotel in the park.

"Mr. G. W. Marshall of the National Park stage line, left for Omaha on (May) 27th (1881) to make arrangements for the transportation of several large parties of tourists to the National Park, who will start from points East this month. It is said that one of these excursion parties will number nearly three hundred persons. Mr. Marshall informs us that another party of about one hundred are also coming this way to explore the marvelous region of Wonderland."
[Helena Weekly Herald, Thursday June 9, 1881, p.2]

    Right: "The National Park," article about Marshall & Goff operation, Butte Weekly Miner, 26Aug1880]  


EXPENSES IN THE PARK.

"Mr. G. W. Marshall, at the National Park House in Lower Geyser Basin, will transport parties to various points or outfit them at following rates; Three-seated carriage and driver, $8 per day; single-seated rig and driver, $6 per day; saddle  horses, $2.50 per day for 3 days or more, or $3 for single day . . . Bedding, tents and board will be furnished to parties on Park tours at very reasonable rates; board at hotel, $3 per day. Parties who desire to outfit and board themselves while making excursions in the Park, can buy all necessary provisions, ammunition, fishing tackle and bedding of Mr. G. W. Marshall at a reasonable advance (for freightage) over prices at Virginia City, or cooking utensils, bedding, tents, etc., will be leased on  favorable terms to proper parties . . . Our estimate of the entire expense of the trip for one person from Omaha to the Park and return, including horse hire, board or provisions, etc., for 10 days in the Park is from $225 to $250."
[“Montana and Yellowstone National Park,” by Robert E. Strahorn, 1881]

    Left: Butte Weekly Miner, 26Jun1880

 

The Wakefield Stage Companies

George W. Wakefield was born in Bangor Maine in 1833 ventured west in 1859, where he prospected for gold in Colorado, California, Mexico, Nevada, British Columbia, Oregon and Idaho. In 1872 he settled in Bozeman, operated a livery barn and took a lease to manage the Northern Pacific Hotel, which he purchased in 1879. Wakefield had been operating stage lines in Montanan Territory and between Bozeman and Virginia City before he teamed up with Charles W. Hoffman of Bozeman to establish the Wakefield & Hoffman stage line in 1883. Hoffman, a Montana pioneer, had become Post Sutler at Ft. Ellis in 1868, later Quartermaster, and Post Trader in 1878.

George Wakefield in front of one of his camping coaches, ca1890s.  
Courtesy Univerity of Montana, Missoula
 

The new company provided stage service from Cinnabar to Mammoth and into the park under an exclusive agreement with Yellowstone Park Association (YPA), effective July 15, 1883.  They operated from Livingston to the track's end until NPRR’s line was open to Cinnabar.  They began business with four Concord coaches, drawn by four horses. The coaches were named the Mayflower, the Bighorn, the Huntley, and the Queen. The company also received the mail contract for the Livingston to Cooke City route (tri-weekly) and provided daily mail service (during the summer season) to Mammoth beginning in July 1883. They utilized a cabin at Soda Butte for a mail station and overnight stop, as the trip from Cinnabar to Cooke City took more than one day. 

"The stage service by Messrs. Wakefield & Hoffman will be complete and ample for any emergency daring the season. They will have from 80 to 100 horses distributed through the park at various stations. From the terminus of the Park Branch road to the Mammoth Hot Springs, they place Concord coaches, and from the hotel through the park, new two and three-seated spring Concord wagons of Racine manufacture. They will be equipped and prepared with transportation for any number traveling in large excursion parties on short previous notice. Their whole outfit will be in the park in a few days."
[Saint Paul Globe, July 18, 1883]

Top Right: Wakefield & Hoffman ad from the Livingston Enterprise, 24Jan1884
 Bottom Right: Wakefield Stage Lines letterhead, Dec. 1883, YNP Archives 

 

Wakefield bought out Charles Hoffman in Dec. of 1885 and teamed up with park photographer Frank J. Haynes to form Wakefield & Haynes.  The company was short-lived and Haynes sold out in July of 1886 for $2400.  The concern then became known as Wakefield Stage Lines.  In 1887 they began tri-weekly stage service from Livingston to the mining city of Castle. Wakefield bought James Clark’s hotel operation at Mammoth in 1888 and in 1889 the business incorporated as the National Park Transportation Co. with members Charles Gibson, E.C. Waters, Wakefield, and Thomas Oakes.  George Wakefield lost the YPA contract in late 1891, and the operation was purchased by the YNPTC in 1892. 

Wakefield Stagecoach at National Hotel, Mammoth Hot Springs, ca1887  



"Notice of dissolution of partnership.—Notice is hereby given that the co partnership heretofore existing between Geo W. Wakefield of Bozeman, Gallatin county, Mont., and F. Jay Haynes of Fargo, Cass county, Dak., under the firm name and style of the Wakefield & Haynes Stage Co., has by mutual consent been dissolved, and all persons indebted to said firm, or having claims against the same, are hereby notified that all the debts of said firm have been assumed by the said Geo. W. Wakefield, who will pay the same as they become due, and that all credits in favor of said firm have been purchased by said Geo. W. Wakefield, who is hereby authorized and empowered to collect the same. Hereafter the business of said firm will be continued by Geo. W. Wakefield Stage Co. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 23rd day of July,
A. D. 1886, at Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming.
GEO. W. WAKEFIELD.
F. JAY HAYNES
Witness: W. W. Livingston.   

[The Livingston Enterprise, 07 Aug 1886, Sat  • Page 1]


Brass Luggage Tag from the Yellowstone National Park Transportation Co., ca1890s

That Park Episode.

A Gardiner special to the Helena Independent details the hold-up of one of Wakefield's stages as follows: On the evening of July 4th, as the last coach of the Wakefield transportation company was wending its way up the Gardiner river to Mammoth Hot Springs, it was held up by two highwayman at a point in the road known as the Eagle's Nest. Here the coach was stopped and the passengers—two gentlemen and three lady tourists—made to get out and hold up their hands. They were searched by the highwaymen and relieved of a check for a considerable sum and about $16 in money. A purse containing $800 in the inside vest pocket of one of the gentlemen was overlooked. After the search was concluded one of the desperadoes held his pistol between the heads of the two gentlemen passengers and fired it in the air. The powder burned their faces and the shot greatly frightened the ladies. All this occurred about 11 o'clock and should be a warning to the railway company that it is extremely dangerous to run their trains so that tourists must travel this piece of mountain road in the night time by stage. The highwaymen effected their escape, and it is not known who they are.
[Livingston Enterprise, 9July1887]

Note: Charles Hickenbottom, a miner at Horr and Willian James were later convicted of highway robbery and larceny.


By 1894 the firm of Wakefield & Ennis was delivering mail by stage from Livingston to Cinnabar. Ennis may have been John A. Ennis of Cinnabar, who had also applied for a Yellowstone  camping permit and operated a livery in Livingston.   D.I. Donovan took over the route in 1895. Wakefield received a permit in to operate a camping operation in Yellowstone, originating from Cinnabar, Montana. Using 10-passenger Concord coaches, 10-day camping tours visited the various locations in the Park. The service cost $40 and all the visitors camping needs were provided for. Wakefield continued with this concession through at least 1901.

Billings Gazette,11Aug 1896
  

 

Yellowstone Transportation Co. (YTC)

This firm was organized by Charles Gibson, who also co-founded Yellowstone Park Association (YPA), and Thomas F. Oakes in 1886. However, they were unable to acquire a lease from the Army authorities, so they subcontracted with Wakefield & Hoffman to provide stagecoach service for YPA.  That year Gibson issued a notice that "the drivers of the stage should act as guides in showing guests all the curiosities of the park."  YPA`s transportation privileges were revoked November 1, 1891 and were taken over by the Yellowstone National Park Transportation Co.

Right: "Stage Coach Foring Willow Creek," ca1880s,
located near today's Indian Creek Campground
  



James A. Clark

James Clark constructed a small tent hotel at the base of Capitol Hill in 1885 and was granted a 4-acre lease for 10 years that permitted him to build a hotel and necessary outbuildings. He also established a transportation and guide service that year for his guests. It was a partnership with E.O. Clark and was known as the “National Park Hack & Express”. They advertised renting carriages, hacks, and saddle horses, with or without drivers. The Livingston Enterprise noted in 1885 that “Clark’s Town" is located at the foot of Capitol Hill and contains five houses and a number of tents.” By 1886 Clark was operating the ‘Cooke Stage & Express Line’, and received the Mammoth-Cooke City mail and stage contract in 1887. Two years later he was making tri-weekly trips to Cooke, with an overnight stop at the Soda Butte Stage Station. James sold his transportation business in 1889 to A.T. French, who received the Mammoth-Cooke City mail route franchise. Clark was never able to build the hotel as promised in his lease and sold out his hotel interests in 1888 to George Wakefield and the firm of White, Friant & Letellier. Early in 1889 Clark applied for a lease to erect a hotel at Soda Butte, but was turned down by Interior due to his past record. Clark was also involved in several mining ventures at Cooke City.

Livingston Enterprise, 13Jun1885  
 


Jas. A. Clark Advertising Card, ca1885

Livingston Enterprise ad, 10Jul1886

Livingston Enterprise ad, 30Nov1889
A.T French, Proprietor


Other Stage Companies

Cinnabar & Cooke Transportation Co.:
Hugo and W.M. Hoppe by 1886 to haul freight from Cinnabar to the Cooke City Mines.

Livingston Enterprise, 4Dec1886
Zack Root's Express: This firm hauled freight and passengers from Bozeman to Mammoth on a weekly basis beginning in July of 1874. Zack Root's stage
connected with George Huston and Frank Grounds,
who had operating a pack train operation
into Yellowtone since at least 1873.

                                                                                                      Bozeman Times, 8Aug1875    





Copyright 2018 by Robert V. Goss. All rights reserved. 
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