Historical Marker
Historic Trails
Historical marker location:
US 60, Canadian, Texas
( from Canadian, drive about 6.5 miles south on US 60/83, marker is on west side of divided highway)
Marker installed: 1969
During the mass slaughter of buffaloes in the Panhandle, two trails arose to meet the needs of the hunters and their ever-hungry markets. Started about 1876, both moved vast convoys of wagons across the plains.
Charles Rath-- transporting gun powder, lead, tobacco, whiskey, and food staples-- blazed a road from Dodge City to the Double Mountains. In two years, however, the best hunting was over and the route fell into disuse. Ed Jones and Joe Plummer forged a trail from Kansas to Fort Elliott. Their route became a freight road and finally a cattle road. (1969).