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Abbot Downing Company (1827-1847, 1865-1919) - Lewis Downing, a wheelwright, had been in the wagon building business in Concord, New Hampshire since 1813, but in 1826, he saw the need for a new type of road coach. Requiring the skills of an expert coach body builder, Downing soon partnered with a man named J. Stephens Abbot, forming a  new company called Abbott and Downing in 1827. Though the organization actually manufactured over 40 different types of  carriages and wagons, they became world renowned for their Concord Stagecoach. Their stagecoaches were built solid, quickly gained a reputation for not breaking down, and rode more smoothly due to a design feature called the thoroughbrace.

Abbot Downing Company in Concord, New Hampshire.

Nate Champion (1857-1892) - Born on September 29, 1857 near Round Rock, Texas, Nate grew up to be a top cowboy. Somewhere along the line he moved to Wyoming where he ran a small ranch in Johnson County. Though known for his honesty and forthrightness, Nate made the "list" of those whom the cattle barons wanted to get rid of, most likely because of his support of a rival stock association called the Northern Wyoming Farmers and Stock Growers Association. The cattle barons, on the other hand, ran the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, which was implementing a number of rules to make it difficult for the small rancher in Wyoming. 

From left to right, Nate Champion, unknown,

Dudley Champion, 1880's.

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The wealthy ranchers soon labeled him a cattle rustler and when they brought in 50 henchmen and gunfighters, Nate's KC Ranch was the first to be targeted in what became known as the Johnson County War.

The men arrived on April 9, 1892 when there were four men at the ranch cabin, including Champion. Two of the men, trappers who had just been passing by, were captured by the cattle baron group and a cowboy named Rueben "Nick" Ray was shot and killed. Nate was besieged in his cabin as a hail of bullets came his direction. He was able to hold out for several hours, killing at least four of the gunmen and wounding several others. However, when they set his cabin o fire, he was forced to emerge and was shot down. One of the men who participated in the siege was famous gunman Frank M. Canton, who reportedly regretted the incident so much so, that he left the cattlemens' association shortly thereafter and moved to Oklahoma where he became a U.S. Deputy Marshal.

Clark “Old Chieftain” Foss, aka: Old Foss (1819-1885) - A boisterous and colorful stage driver, Foss original hailed from Maine, borne about 1819. In 1844, he moved to Troy, New York and several years later, moved his family again, to California. By 1859, they were living in Healdsburg where Foss tried his hand at raising hogs before establishing a livery business. In about 1863, Foss began to run a stage from his livery stable through the Napa Valley to the geysers in the Calistoga and the Geyserville area. The large, cheerful Foss, wearing a large gray Stetson, superbly handled the horses around some 35 turns, some with drop offs of nearly 2,000 feet. He soon gained a reputation for being the “King of Drivers,” as he carried numerous people along the Geysers Stage Route, including a number of writers who were quick to tell of his skills.  As his reputation spread, he picked up two nicknames, “Old Chieftain” and “Old Foss.” 

Clark Foss

Fossville, California, 1877, Thomas H. Thompson

In about 1865, Foss developed his own stage station and rest stop, which consisted of a post office, a large barn, and a hotel, where a number of notable guests stayed, including Ulysses S. Grant and William Randolph Hearst.. He called his little domain “Fossville.”

Though many were impressed by Foss’ ability to travel the route quickly, give his passengers  the thrill of their lives on the steep and narrow roads, and his sterling record of no accidents, there were others that were not so impressed, calling him an extremely  reckless driver.  Unfortunately, Foss’ critics would end up being correct. In the late 1870s as Foss was once again whipping through the road at a fast pace, the stage tumbled off the road into a ravine between Pine Flat and Fossville.  Seven passengers, including Foss, were badly injured, one of whom was maimed for life.  Yet, another young woman was killed.

Though Foss healed and went back to work, his demeanor as a stage driver was never the same. In 1881, he quit altogether. He died in August, 1885. In the meantime, his son Charlie had taken over his business, which continued until 1906.

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