Benjamin Franklin Ficklin Author of the idea of the Pony Express. Country: USA

1. Biography of Benjamin Franklin Ficklin
2. Transition to the West
3. An Explosive Encounter
4. The Pony Express
5. War and Post-War

Biography of Benjamin Franklin Ficklin

Benjamin Franklin Ficklin, the author of the Pony Express idea, was born in 1827 in Albemarle County, Virginia. He initially pursued a military career and enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute at the age of 16. However, he was expelled for firing a cannon at the cadet barracks as a prank. In 1846, Ficklin joined the war with Mexico and returned as a celebrated hero. He was reinstated at the Virginia Military Institute and graduated in 1849. However, he decided not to pursue a military career any further.

Transition to the West

After moving to Missouri, Ficklin joined the "Russell, Majors & Waddell" company, where he became the manager of their routes. In 1854, he accompanied Senator William Gwin of California to Washington, D.C. During the trip, Ficklin shared his idea of establishing a fast mail service between the East and West coasts with Senator Gwin, who was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. While the plan intrigued the senator, it took him more than five years to convince his colleagues to approve it. Meanwhile, Ficklin continued to work successfully for "Russell, Majors & Waddell," overseeing road conditions, exploring new paths, and managing the company's stagecoach stations.

An Explosive Encounter

One interesting story involving Ficklin's explosive temper occurred at one of the stations inherited by "Russell, Majors & Waddell." The station, named Julisberg after its longtime caretaker, French immigrant Jules Reni, had been engaging in fraudulent accounting practices to hide the true income from the owners. When Ficklin visited the station for an inspection, he discovered Reni's deceit. Upon returning home, Ficklin sent a replacement for Reni. However, Reni resisted and greeted the guests with gunfire from his shotgun. Ficklin, upon hearing about the incident, flew into a rage. He raced to Julisberg, swiftly hanged Reni from the nearest tree without a word, and left. Reni's friends managed to save him by cutting him down just in time. A few months later, Reni met his end when he and his accomplices attacked his former station and were killed in a shootout.

The Pony Express

In 1860, Ficklin's idea for an express mail service became a reality. He became its superintendent, and the uninterrupted success of the Pony Express brought him immense fame, much to the annoyance of his ambitious managing partner, William Russell. In late June 1860, Russell initiated an investigation into Ficklin's activities. When Ficklin learned about it, he immediately submitted his resignation. The other two partners tried to convince Russell not to let go of such a valuable employee, but he remained unwavering. In July, Ficklin left the company.

War and Post-War

Ficklin joined a more promising enterprise that was laying telegraph lines to Salt Lake City from both the east and the west. The lines were ceremonially connected on October 24, 1861, but Ficklin, a loyal citizen of Virginia, severed ties with the Union after its secession and joined the Confederate Army. He was appointed to the Quartermaster Department of the Virginia Volunteers but soon found himself on the front lines. However, due to his asthma worsening from the gun smoke, he had to be discharged after participating in the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1. Following his discharge, Ficklin became an agent for blockade runners, traveling to England and the North multiple times to procure goods for the Confederacy.

After the war, Ficklin spent several months in federal prison on suspicion of involvement in Lincoln's assassination. In 1867, he returned to his beloved transportation business in the West and founded a mail line between San Antonio and El Paso. In March 1871, Ficklin traveled to Washington, D.C., on business. However, during a lunch meeting with his business partner, he unexpectedly choked on a fishbone. Attempts to remove it with improvised means failed, and the doctor called to help inadvertently punctured an artery with the bone. Benjamin Franklin Ficklin drowned in his own blood.