James Mason Diary ASH HOLLOW NEBRASKA JUNE 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 MasonFrom 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 MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Traveled over high prairie High prairie

Diary of James MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE More high prairie High prairie

Diary of James MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Even more high prairie High prairie

Diary of James MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Start the decent down Ash Hollow Ash Hollow

Diary of James MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Rough decent down Ash Hollow Ash Hollow

Diary of James MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE Rocks towering on both sides with small Seeders Ash Hollow

Diary of James MasonFrom Brule, NE to Lewellen, NE The decent down Ash Hollow never ends Ash Hollow Old Adobe house

Diary of James MasonFrom 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 MasonFrom 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 MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

Diary of James MasonAsh Hollow

END James Mason Diary ASH HOLLOW NEBRASKA JUNE 5, 1850