When I’m preparing the background for a new story, I dig into possible geographic locations. I’m always looking for something different—a place that I don’t know much about and want to share with readers. My mini-version of a history lesson.
For my work-in-progress, a wagon train story titled JANA, I looked at the well-known places where pioneers gathered before setting out for their destinations in the far west. I’d already written about St. Joseph and Independence, Missouri, so this time I settled on Council Bluffs, Iowa. The first named Council Bluff (on the west bank of the Missouri River in what would become Nebraska) was the site of a meeting between Lewis and Clark and Otoe tribe in August 1804. This location was known for years by many tribes of the plains Indians and became a reservation in the 1830s. A mission was established to minister to the tribes.
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| 1868 bird's eye view of part of Council Bluffs |
In 1844, the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party (ten families) crossed the Missouri at the location on their way to California. They were the first white party to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In 1846, a large group of Mormons traveled to the site that briefly was known as Miller’s Hollow, named for Henry Miller who was the construction foreman for the Kanesville Tabernacle. By 1848, the settlement was named Kanesville and became the primary place to gather before the Mormon exodus to Utah. By 1852, the name finalized on Council Bluffs and the town was an official spot on the Emigrant Trail, as well as outfitting travelers for the Pikes Peak Gold Rush.
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| Model built by Bill Whittaker on Wikipedia-Bertrand sank in 1864 |
The key to my choice as a starting location was the existence of a steamboat trade. In the years before the establishment of the Transcontinental Railroad (complete 1869), steamboats were essential for ferrying people, animals, goods, and railroad cars (until Council Bluffs was connected to T.R. in 1872 with the completion of a river-spanning bridge) across the Missouri River to Omaha in the land known first as the Missouri Territory and then as Nebraska when it gained statehood in 1867. President Lincoln proclaimed Council Bluffs the east terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, and a gold spike marking Mile 0 is located at the corner of 21st Street and 9th Avenue. The home of Grenville Dodge, the renowned surveyor for the railroad, is a historic site.
This city was a true crossroads for people of various ethic and religious groups. Reading about its development gives the city an appearance of transition and short-term visits. Council Bluffs was referred to as 'the end of the east" because for a long time, people couldn't go farther west. I absorbed that sense of a town on the edge of civilization for my setting and had great fun naming some of the businesses.
Blurb:
Jana Lukyan
is intent on traveling with Marco, her 16-year-old brother, to her aunt and
uncle’s CA ranch. But her brother’s reckless behavior adds two saloon robbers
to her party, with the pair threatening to expose Marco’s involvement. bounty
hunter Rik Sanderson turns in the robbers at the nearest fort and is forced
into pledging to oversee Jana and Marco’s safe delivery. Will the journey’s
challenges pull them apart or force the makeshift family to cleave to one
another for survival?
Preorder for a April 26 release on Amazon
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