Pioneer Trails and Roads
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 38° 10.056 W 097° 20.589
14S E 645140 N 4225707
A marker located north of Newton made from stonework of the old Harvey County Courthouse.
Waymark Code: WMKMQ1
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 05/03/2014
Views: 9
Side 1
Chisholm Trail
Beaten hard by the hoofs of millions of Longhorns coming from as far as southern Texas between the years of 1867 to 1871 this trail wound northward approximately one-half mile east of here. In one year alone over 600,000 cattle were herded north over this trail to the railhead at Abilene for Eastern markets. The Santa Fe coming to Newton in 1871 made Newton the Cow Capital of the Midwest.
Side 2
Approximately two miles east of here was the Fort Smith, Ark. to California Road, sometimes called the Cherokee Trail. About six miles east was an earlier branch. This was an old Indian trail. It was heavily used by emigrants traveling to Oregon and California beginning in early 1849 and was abandoned during the Civil War.
Side 3
An early road from the valley of the Cottonwood to Pikes Peak crossed the Cherokee Trail about seven miles east and two miles south of here. It passed this point crossing this section in a northwesterly direction.
The Meridian Road 1½ miles west was used by settlers of Oklahoma and Texas.
Side 4
Black Beaver Trail-Also called Colonel Emery Trail passed 2 miles S. to N. east of here.
The Harvey County Historical Society