George Chorpenning facts for kids

George W. Chorpenning Jr. (born June 1, 1820 – died April 3, 1894) was a very important person in the 1800s. He helped move mail, goods, and people across the wild western parts of the United States. His hard work in the 1850s was key to connecting the new state of California with the rest of the country, especially the government and businesses east of the Mississippi River.

Early Life and the Gold Rush

George Chorpenning was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His father was a judge in the county. George grew up in Somerset and later started his own business in a nearby town called Stoystown, Pennsylvania. In 1850, he traveled to California. He was hoping to find gold like many others.

Even though he didn't get rich from mining, he quickly saw something very important. There was a huge need for fast and reliable mail service. People in California needed to send and receive letters from the eastern states. At that time, most mail traveled a very long way by sea, all the way around South America.

First Mail Routes

In April 1851, George Chorpenning teamed up with another businessman from Pennsylvania, Absolam Woodward. They got a contract from the U.S. Post Office. Their job was to carry mail once a month between Sacramento, California and Salt Lake City. This was the hardest part of the first overland mail service.

The journey was very tough, especially over the Sierra Nevada mountains. It took about 16 days to complete the trip, which was considered very fast back then.

Challenges and New Paths

Captain Woodward made his first trip from California to Salt Lake City in the winter of 1851-1852. Sadly, he and four other men were killed during an attack at Stone House, Nevada. After this, Chorpenning was left with the mail contract all by himself. At first, he even rode the trips himself to make sure the mail got through.

He realized that the schedule was very hard to keep. Also, the route they were using, along the California Trail, was difficult to follow, especially in winter.

In 1854, Chorpenning renewed his mail contract. He decided to change the route to one that could be used all year round. This new path went from Salt Lake City southwest to San Diego, California. From San Diego, the mail would then travel by ship to San Francisco, California.

Expanding Service with Stagecoaches

By 1858, Chorpenning received a third government contract. This time, he had to provide mail service twice a month. He also added stagecoach service, which meant people could travel as passengers.

Chorpenning learned about a better, more direct route from Howard Egan. This new route went from Salt Lake City, around the south end of the Great Salt Lake Desert, and through the mountains of central Nevada. It led to new towns like Carson City, Nevada and Genoa, Nevada.

In 1859, Chorpenning started using the eastern part of this new route. By 1860, the full Central Nevada Route had been mapped out by James H. Simpson and improved by the U.S. Army. Chorpenning built many "way stations" along the route. These were places where fresh mule teams could be exchanged quickly, making the journey faster. They also had supplies for travelers.

The End of an Era

Unfortunately, Chorpenning's mail contract was canceled in 1860, mostly due to political reasons. Other companies, led by William Hepburn Russell, took over his route. They used Chorpenning's way stations to start the famous, but short-lived, Pony Express mail service.

The Pony Express became old news in late 1861. This happened when the First transcontinental telegraph started working. The telegraph also used Chorpenning's route and way stations. Transportation along Chorpenning's central route continued until the First transcontinental railroad was finished in 1869.

Later Life

After his mail contracts ended, George Chorpenning returned to the eastern states. He helped organize army units for the state of Maryland during the American Civil War. He later tried to get the U.S. Government to pay him for the money they owed him from his mail transport service. This process showed how unfairly the government sometimes handled contracts.

George Chorpenning passed away in New York City in 1894. His hometown newspaper, the Somerset Herald, printed an obituary about him on April 11, 1894. It mentioned that he was the first person to carry the United States mails across the continent. It also noted that he had built post stations every twenty miles for fresh horses and that he had organized military units during the Civil War.