38 EARLY DAY STORIES. 



easily be obtained. It was from this guide book that we 

 ascertained that it was 2800 miles from the crossing of the 

 Missouri river to Oregon City, Oregon. This guide book 

 mentioned among other noted objects along the route Lone 

 Tree. This tree was a single large cottonwood very near 

 Central City, Merrick county. It was a prominent land 

 mark, standing alone, between the trail and the river Platte, 

 and was the only tree in sight for many miles. At that time 

 it was apparently partly decayed, although I did not leave 

 the trail to examine it. Central City was at first called Lone 

 Tree, and it seems to me a mistake that the name was 

 changed. Lone Tree has a definite meaning, and a history, 

 and the name should have been perpetuated. The tree has 

 lived its day, done its allotted task and gone to decay. Where 

 it stood a monument has recently been erected to commem- 

 orate the fact that for many years it was a beacon marking 

 the way westward, to the pioneers who were making the 

 toilsome journey overland to people the countries of the 

 Pacific coast. 



Soon after passing the place where Grand Island now 

 is, we began to see the caravans of white topped wagons 

 that were following the trail on the south side of the river, 

 but could hold no communication with them, for the wide 

 stream always flowed between us and them and generally 

 there was a mile or so of intervening land, for the road 

 very seldom followed along the immediate bank of the 

 river. We also met from time to time people returning from 

 California, Oregon or Utah, to the states, and once or twice 

 we met companies of returning trappers. All these people 

 were traveling on horseback, carrying their effects on pack 

 horses. I do not think we met a wagon at all. These all 

 told us that we would probably see no more Indians until 

 we neared Ft. Laramie where there would be plenty of 

 Sioux — that we need have no fears of the Indians attack- 

 ing us, or doing us any harm whatever unless to steal our 



