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Hart’s Stage Station
GPS: 34.3613, -118.5074 (Approximate)

I taped together the original 1870s General Land Office maps showing the surveyed
route of the trail through the canyon. The scale is 1½” to the mile and is about 3’ between
Widow Smith’s and Hart’s. I have found that this method is quite accurate when cross-
referenced to the distances given in primary sources.
In a study of Bailey’s distances, I have found his are the most erroneous. Also, often
the names he gives the stations are never mentioned again. He was very random in those
observations. His initial report was not meant to be accurate both in distances and names
but was merely a report to the Postmaster General to state whether the line would be suc-
cessful. Indeed, in his report, he states on page 739: “This was compiled with great care,
chiefly from data obtained on the road, and, although it doubtless contains some errors,
may be regarded as approximately correct.”
Using the 1870s General Land Office maps, and measuring the surveyed trail, the
total between Hart’s and Widow Smith’s is 22.8 miles. This is one time Bailey’s estimates
are close, as he gives King’s as 10 miles from Widow Smith’s and 12 miles from Hart’s.
Josiah Hart was the reason, in September 1858, postal inspector Bailey named the
station “Hart’s.” This was a large complex of buildings that served many purposes. Ac-
cording to the 1860 census, Thomas F. Williams was the station keeper there for the Over-
land Mail Company. Williams is listed as “Overseer O.M.,” O.M. being Overland Mail.

Figure 11. The 1860 Federal Census listing Josiah Hart
and Thomas E. Williams as the station keeper.

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