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McLean

Stage passenger at the Packsaddle Station,[1] Nebraska in 1875. (April 2, 1830 – July 28, 1875)[2]

Restaurateur in Dodge City in the cattle town's early days.[1]

Angus[2] McLean was born in Scotland, and emigrated to America[1] in 1868. He operated a small restaurant in New York City until 1871, when he felt a desire to move west and embrace a new life on the frontier.[2]

By October of 1872,[2] McLean had settled in the new frontier town of Dodge City. He opened one of the first restaurants in town,[1] which served the choicest beef and buffalo from the incoming herds. Though his restaurant was very profitable, the lawlessness of Dodge City began to make life difficult. Seeking yet another new beginning, McLean sold his restaurant in July of 1875 to move to another fledgling cattle town, Twin Bluffs, Nebraska. Situated near the Great Sioux Reservation, McLean believed the local forts, Indian agencies and forthcoming cattlemen would all be hungry for a quality restaurant, just as happened in Dodge City.[2]

On July 28, 1875,[2] McLean traveled westbound along the Tomah Stage route[1] with fellow Dodge City residents[2] Dave and Ella Taylor and Linda Harris of Boston. The stagecoach stopped at the Packsaddle Station[1] in northern Nebraska[2] to refresh horses. The Packsaddle agent, Simmons, proudly provided lunch for the passengers consisting of rattlesnake meat. When Ella Taylor learned what she had eaten, she felt suddenly ill, to the amusement of both Simmons and McLean.[1]

McLean believed he recognized a man seated at a table in the station who appeared to be sleeping. He thought the man had been Matson, one of his regular customers in Dodge City. When he tried to speak with the man, Mart Fallon intervened and chased McLean away.[1]

A few minutes after their meal, the westbound stage was ready to roll onward. Mrs. Harris stayed on at Packsaddle, but McLean and the Taylors moved on. Two hours out of Packsaddle, the stagecoach was attacked by a band of Sioux that had tracked Bret Maverick taking gold out of the Black Hills. Believing Bret to be on board, they killed the driver and all the passengers and burned the coach.[1]

McLean's body was recovered by a posse from Twin Bluffs and buried in the town cemetery.[2]

See: Stage West