The widow denison, first women to come to illinoistown by stage, she later  became the wife of Sheriff Jake Keck

A Brief Chronology of

THE IOWA HILL & COLFAX STAGE

1896 - Hederson & Son of Stockton build a heavy "overland mail wagon" for Mr John Papa of Iowa Hill for use as mail stage, passenger coach, and light freight wagon.

1897 - John Papa sells a half interest in the stage and the mail contract to Mr F. E. Armstrong of Iowa Hill. Wells, Fargo & Co. contracts with Armstrong for express service to the mines.

1898 - Remaining half interest sold to W. H. Russell. The two men merge to become the Armstrong & Russell, Colfax & Iowa Hill Stage Line, carrying mail and passengers to remote Placer County mining camps.

1906 - Contract to carry US mail expires, gold mining declines. Armstrong & Russell move company headquarters to Colfax. They begin a daily mail and passenger run to Nevada City in cooperation with the Sierra Stage Lines.

1911 - Armstrong and Russell gets a new US mail contract and begins service to Foresthill.

1915 - Company sold to R. D. Brown of Foresthill.

1916 - Brown begins service to Foresthill by motor coach. Stage retired to Russell's livery stable in Cofax.

1917 - R. Repply of Foresthill  acquires stage and begins mail delivery form Auburn to Foresthill.

1918 - Repply sells stage and mail contracts to Matt Langstaff of Foresthill. Stage is retired from service, placed in storage until donated to Wendell Robie of  Native Sons of the Golden West.

1936 - Roy Bloxham drives the coach from Auburn to Oakland for the opening of the Bay Bridge festivities. It is the only historical vehicle to make the trip with horses and it leads the parade accross the Bridge.

1980 - Coach removed from storage and used in parades and as a historical display around Auburn.

1994 - Native Sons of the Golden West completely restore the Colfax & Iow Hill Stage. Wins 1st place in the Nevada County Draft Classic Americana Class.

The Colfax & Iowa Hill Stage was restored by the Native Sons of the Golden West and is stored at the Bernard Museum in Auburn.