This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Billy Hodges and the Long Trail Mail Coach Legend
The story recalls Billy Hodges the last of a hundred men who opened the Fort Smith to El Paso route and later drove the Mount Hamilton and Placerville stages. He faced Apache passes and bandit ambushes, notably aiding Mary Andrews on a Tucson dash, and later hauled priceless observatory glass to Mount Hamilton. Hodges survived numerous holdups and recalled Horace Greeley, President Grant, and twin drivers Curly Dan and Curly Jerry in a life on the western stage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Akland
Cal
Billy" Hodges
Fort Smith
R. Ellis Wales
New York World
el Paso
Arkansas River
Billy Hodges
Tucson
Pima Village
Ker
Aarother Driver
Fort Yura
Les Ancedes
Vinacovilla
Recemini
Puesoan
Tully
Pima
Jone
Apache Pass
Hodges
Gid
Mary
Billy
Mary Andrews
Los Angeles
California
Placerville
Sahcramento
Virginia City
Nev
Isterno
Pacific Coast
Rebbers
Hodie Road
Nevada
Adie
Carson
Gould
Curry
Observatory
James Lick
San Francisco
Mount Hamilton
Monk
Horace Greeley
Moenk
Mgr
Greeley
Ile
Curly Dan
Curly Jerry
Dan
Jerry
Grant
West
Placervile
Sixhorse
Skrginig City
Wellis-Fargo