i seen the writing of scott house-the road from jackson through mable hill witch he said mostly followed hwy 34 crossed the southwest trail witch is also called the military rd and went into patterson mo at fort benton-and another road went north to pilot knob--from fort benton going southwest over military ridge this road joined the southwest trail or the military rd east of williamsville-this road did not have to cross the st francis river after the rds joined the m ilitary rd went south to the military crossing at keener springs and on to stringtown on to fairdealing ect.john benje came through charleston mo up to benton mo going north on the benton-jackson rd[only a small pc. of that road is still there -it crossed the cape-bloomfield rd-thats where benje turned west-can not say but we think a small party went to bollinger mill for supplies-mr king spoke at the trail of tears state park-he said that benje used the most traveled roads in the area-historical papers QUOTE the benje party did come down the cape road in the winter of 1838 --the cape-bloomfield road was built in 1830--HOUCK WROTE -thence moved in to the st francois river crossing at indian ford at wappapello then onto keener springs at black river at the military crossing on to cane creek crossed ten mile creek at that point turned south through stringtown ect.