James Mason Diary ASH HOLLOW NEBRASKA JUNE 5, 1850

1. James Mason Diary ASH HOLLOW NEBRASKA JUNE 5, 1850

2. Ash Hollow is a picturesque wooded canyon in Garden County, Nebraska, three miles southeast of Lewellen. A branch of the Overland Trail ran northwest from the Lower California Crossing of the South Platte River a few miles west of Brule, and descended at Ash Hollow into the North Platte Valley. The hollow, named for a growth of ash trees, was centered by Windlass Hill to the south. Wagons had to be eased down its steep slope by ropes. Deep, trough-like remains of the trail are found approaching the crest of Windlass Hill and down its face.

3. From Brule NE June 5 – traveled 25 m & E.N. left South fork & traveled over high Prairie to we come to ash hollow were the Bluffs put in very Steep we let our waggons down with ropes came down the hollow 3 miles the Bottom Sandy & the rocks towering on each side to a great highet [sic] with small Seeders Standing there rugged Sides like many Sentries here we came to the north fork of Platt this evening very tired & _____ out the evening fire 2 Sues (Sioux) Indians came to our camp A Chief & Squaw Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE The decent into Ash Hollow across the river to Lewellen, NE

4. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Traveled over high Prairie to the decent into Ash Hollow across the river to Lewellen, NE Lewellen NE Dairy says 25 miles That is right on High Prairie Brule NE

5. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Traveled over high prairie High prairie

6. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE More high prairie High prairie

7. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Even more high prairie High prairie

8. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Start the decent down Ash Hollow Ash Hollow

9. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Rough decent down Ash Hollow Ash Hollow

10. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Rocks towering on both sides with small Seeders Ash Hollow

11. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Old Adobe house Ash Hollow The decent down Ash Hollow never ends

12. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Finally we reach the North Fork of the Platt River with the Trading Post in site Platt River

13. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE North Fork of the Platt River

14. Diary of James Mason From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Ash Hollow- across the river from Lewellen, NE the descent into Ash Hollow

15. Placerville Independence Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow – June 5 California Oregon Trail from Independence, MO - to Hangtown (Placerville, CA)

16. Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow- across the river from Lewellen, NE the descent into Ash Hollow

17. Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

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26. END James Mason Diary ASH HOLLOW NEBRASKA JUNE 5, 1850