James Mason DiaryASH HOLLOW

NEBRASKAJUNE 5, 1850

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.

Diary of James Mason

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

From Brule NE

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

The decent into Ash Hollow across the river to Lewellen,

NE

Brule NE

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

High

Prairie

Lewellen NE

Dairy says 25 miles That is

right on

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

Traveled over high prairie

High prairie

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

More high prairie

High prairie

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

Even more high prairie

High prairie

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

Start the decent down Ash Hollow

Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

Rough decent down Ash Hollow

Ash

Hollow

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

Rocks towering on both sides with small

Seeders

Ash

Hollow

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

The decent down Ash Hollow never ends

Ash

Hollow

Old Adobe house

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

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

North Fork of the Platt River

Diary of James Mason

From Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE

Ash Hollow- across the river from

Lewellen, NE the descent into Ash

Hollow

Diary of James Mason

California Oregon Trail from Independence, MO - to Hangtown (Placerville, CA)

Independence

Placerville

Ash Hollow – June 5

Diary of James Mason

Ash Hollow- across the river from Lewellen, NE

the descent into Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

Diary of James Mason Ash Hollow

ENDJames Mason Diary

ASH HOLLOW NEBRASKA

JUNE 5, 1850