The first mail route through Gage County was established in 1860 from Nebraska City via Beatrice to Marysville, Kansas, and Joseph Saunders was the first mail carrier.

It was a semi-weekly mail and was carried on horse back. The streams were not bridged and in high water Mr. Saunders was obliged to swim them.  His manner of doing this was to tie the mail sack on the back of the horse and then take the animal by the tail and be drawn across by him.

He brought the first United States mail into Beatrice on the 3d day of October, 1860, and it was one of the most important events in its history.  There was great political excitement through the United States at this time, and Mr. Saunders says that as he rode up to the office with the mail, he met an eager expectant crowd waiting for the news.

There were at that time but four offices between Nebraska City and Beatrice, and he was frequently compelled to act as Postmaster in opening and closing the mails at intermediate points along the route.  

He relates that he experienced much danger in crossing the Otoe Reservation.  At one time he was surrounded by eighteen redskins, all drunk, and was obliged to take a drink of whisky with them before he could get away.   The only objection he had to the treatment was that the flask contained a huge dead fly that sickened him.  At another time, he laid down to take a nap on the prairie to rest himself and his horse, and while sleeping an Indian crept stealthily up to him, and, stooping down close to his ear, gave an unearthly war whoop, which caused him to make the biggest jump of his life.  As soon as he realized his situation, he discovered the rascal leaning back and laughing at his fright and consternation.

Mr. Saunders is the oldest Nebraskan within the limits of Gage County, having landed in the State twenty-seven years ago.

The first regular stage route for carrying the mails was established by the Kansas and Nebraska Stage Company in 1868.  This route was from Brownville and Nebraska City via Tecumseh and Beatrice, and James Berry, P. C. Rice and Mrs. N. Bush were the passengers on the first stage.

Before the Government mail route was established, the settlers would take turns of going to Nebraska City for their mail.

One pioneer relates that in November, 1858, he started for that place, a distance of sixty miles, and reached Tecumseh at noon.

 The next usual stopping place was at Widow Price's, on Spring Creek, but, reaching that place early in the afternoon, he concluded to go on.  The roads in those days in many places were hard to discover without good daylight.  Shortly after leaving the widow's, a drizzling rain commenced, and night came on more suddenly than he had calculated upon.  He lost the road, and, coming upon two haystacks, he concluded to remain there, as very likely it would be the most comfortable place he could find.  

Making a hole in one of the stacks opposite the storm beaten side, he wrung his blanket and socks, turned his boots upside down to drain, and, wrapping himself up in his blanker, covered with dry hay, he settled down for a good night’s rest.

We will let him state the rest:

“I did not want any supper.  I had lain there about an hour and was getting warm and drowsy, when I was startled by the barking of a dog, and though perhaps there was a house near that I had overlooked, but before I concluded to look for the hours, the little dog was joined by a thousand more. 

They seemed to be in front, behind, and, in fact, all around me.  By That time I concluded they were wolves and were going to make a meal of me.  I commenced to shake, I was awful cold, it came all at once, my hair felt like pins; I could not get into a position to feel easy, comfortable and warm; I

wasn’t scared; oh, no; I was only cold and hungry and the wolves acted as if they were hungry, with a good deal better prospect of a meal than I had.  I wasn’t scared; oh, no; I didn’t even feel like trying to make an effort to escape.  But I now feel inadequate to the task of expressing clearly how I did feel.

Now and then the wolves would stop, and I would think they had concluded to let me alone and hunt up some other fellow, when they would start up their subduing, soothing howls again. 

I did not want to sleep; I appreciated too well their energetic music, and then it would have been ill mannerly to go to sleep on such unusual serenaders, and such a free concert is afforded but to few and generally only one in a lifetime. 

They were industrious and stayed till break of day.  As I was not to be scared with wolves, I got up shortly after the sun did, to drive them away and look for the house I supposed near by, but neither were to be seen.

The wolves were doubtless insulted by my reserved manner, but I am sure I appreciated their effort, at least their farewell and departure.

I found I was near the road, so I proceeded on my journey, and took a late breakfast at Kearney City.

After breakfast, I went on to the post office, and, after a day’s rest, returned, taking two days for the trip back, as my ambition was somewhat subdued.

The mail for all of Gage County I carried on that one horse, in my coat pocket.  As I look back to those days, it seems like a dream.”

”Pap’s Cabin”, Was a favorite resort in those early days.  Everybody seemed at home there.  A good story is told of David Butler, who afterward became Governor.

It was during the war, and he was a recruiting officer.  He came to the Beatrice settlement and was in the cabin. 

In the evening, as he was talking with Mr. Towle, the young men commenced to come in, and each one saluted him  as “Pap”.

About ten had gathered, when Mr. Butler asked Mr. Towle to take a walk.  They went some distance and sat down, when Mr. Butler commenced talking about the war and explaining how badly the Government was in need of troops, and hinted about the size and ability of the “boys” of his family.

Mr. Towle listened attentively and showed great interest in the matter. 

When Mr. thought he had sufficiently discussed the question, he asked him if he would not spare some of his boys, and Mr. Towle said he would spare all his boys.

“How many have you, Mr. Towle”, he asked.

“Why, bless you, man, mine are all daughters and I have not a boy to may name,” was Mr. Towle’s reply.

History of Nebraska 1882