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Oregon-California Trails Association

20 hours ago

Today in history, August 14, 1848, Congress created the Oregon Territory. The Oregon Territory was established after Congress passed and President James K. Polk signed the Act to Establish the Territorial Government of Oregon, encompassing all of the present-day states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington, as well as those parts of present-day Montana and Wyoming west of the Continental Divide.
Its southern border was the 42nd parallel north (the boundary of the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819), and it extended north to the 49th parallel.

The signing of the act by President Polk came two years after Great Britain and the U.S. agreed upon international boundaries for the area. That boundary treaty, signed in June of 1846, expanded the U.S. by 288,541 square miles, and also established the border between what would become Canada and America in the West.

In 1853, the Washington Territory was created; then in 1859, Oregon achieved statehood. Washington became a state in 1889.

If you're enjoying our "This Day in History" posts and want to help preserve the historic sites we showcase here, please consider becoming a member of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA). There are numerous benefits to membership, including our quarterly scholarly journal, "The Overland Journal," access to all back issues from 1983 to the present, access to our genealogy research index at www.paper-trail.org, hundreds of downloadable PDF original trail diaries at www.octa-journals.org, invites to special events, and the knowledge that your membership dollars keep OCTA at the forefront at National Historic Trail preservation.

Please join at https://octa-trails.org/why-join-octa/ or call us at 816-252-2276. We'll be open at 8 AM today! Thank you for following and interacting with our page. We truly appreciate your interest in this amazing story. ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon-California Trails Association

2 days ago

Update on the couple traveling the Oregon Trail by horseback . . .
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2020/08/couple-retracing-the-oregon-trail-on-horseback/ ... See MoreSee Less

Couple retracing the Oregon Trail on horseback | East Idaho News

www.eastidahonews.com

SCOTTSBLUFF, Nebraska (Star-Herald) — With only two riding horses along for company, two modern-day adventurers are on their way west from Independence, Missouri, along the original Oregon Trail to ...

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Oregon-California Trails Association

2 days ago

Today in history, August 13, 1852, Edward Jay Allen recorded in his diary about floating down the Snake River:

"Started out this morning expecting to have a clear river, but after running a few miles and passing an Indian encampment we heard a large falls. Went to look at it and found it a scaly looking place. One Indian under fountain fishing. One boat ran to the other side and dropped down. Our three boats lashed together ran over. Fall about 6 feet. Very foamy but made it safely. Only three in boats. Rapids below. Ran these rapids again. Took Wild Goose channel. Woman and boys got in. Floated along fairly swift water. Came to road. Suppose 50 miles from starting point. Ran a few miles below and camped. Ate supper. Glorious sleep. Two of boys to join "Walkers Company" in the morning. Packing tonight."

On September 12, Allen would write a very detailed letter several pages long to his family that filled in all the exciting details. You can read his full diary and accompanying letters in "Our Faces Are Westward: The 1852 Oregon Trail Journey of Edward Jay Allen" by Dennis M. Larsen and Karen Leslie Johnson, found at https://octa-trails.org/product/our-faces-westward-the-1852-ot-journey-of-edward-jay-allen/

Allen was unusual among the emigrants heading to Oregon. Born in 1830, he was college-educated, knew nothing about farming, and traveled without a family. He hoped, in addition to securing property under the Donation Land Claim Act, that the trip west would improve his health.

Leaving Pittsburgh in the spring of 1852, Allen began his six-month journey, joining a wagon train consisting primarily of farmers from Wapello County, Iowa. Allen kept a diary and composed fourteen letters sent to his family from various locations along his route. These letters were published in the "Pittsburg Dispatch" newspaper and saved in a scrapbook by his sister Rebecca. This scrapbook became the basis of the book featured here detailing Allen's adventures.

Allen's western journey officially began May 11, 1852 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He experienced a typical Oregon Trail crossing until reaching the Snake River Valley in Idaho. Limping along on a badly sprained ankle, Allen concluded that he could walk no further. He decided to turn his wagon bed into a boat and float down the Snake River, soon learning why so few emigrants chose this method of travel. After days of running rapids and portaging around waterfalls, Allen and his waterborne companions arrived at Fort Boise, knowing they were lucky to be alive. Here everyone agreed to give up water travel.

Allen remained at Fort Boise for four weeks, temporarily setting himself up in business. "Diary August 19: We found there was but one flat here to ferry the emigration over, and that discovery was the origin of the 'Pennsylvania Ferry Company." He left behind accounts of the ferry business and of the comings and goings at Fort Boise of Native Americans, Hudson's Bay Company employees, fur traders, and other trail travelers.

After his sojourn at the ferry, Allen continued west on horseback. He was soon back on foot, however, and still lame, forced to walk through the desert country of eastern Oregon after losing his horse in the Blue Mountains. In October 1852, Allen reached Portland and paused for a short time before heading north over the Cowlitz Trail to the small village of Olympia at the south end of Puget Sound. Allen was diverted on his journey north to serve as a delegate to the Monticello Convention where he participated in the beginnings of the political process that separated Washington Territory from Oregon. In December 1852, finally reaching his destination, Allen built a cabin on his Donation Land Claim three miles up Budd Inlet from Olympia. His decision to negotiate with local Indians to pay them for the land before he took up residence on it was remarkable for this time.

From late 1852 until January 1855, Allen remained in Washington Territory. In June 1853 he surveyed the Indian trail over Naches Pass in the Cascade Mountains as a potential route for a wagon road to divert incoming emigrants from the Willamette Valley to Puget Sound. From July through October, he led a construction crew that began building the wagon road.

That winter he explored Puget Sound to its northern reaches by whaleboat, ran for a position in the territorial senate (he lost), and shared his cabin with Captain George B. McClellan and George Gibbs (geologist), both on assignment to conduct various surveys of the newly created Washington Territory. Allen wrote up their reports and also created a dictionary of the Chinook Jargon. (This unpublished dictionary may be found in "Hervey Allen Papers," Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh.) In 1854, Allen and his crew returned to the mountains to improve the wagon road. He took time out from his road building to make the first ascent of Mount Adams.

Allen returned to Pittsburgh in 1855 after three years out west. In July 1857, he married Elizabeth Robinson and together they raised five children. The outbreak of the Civil War found Allen constructing a railroad in today's West Virginia. He and his family were seized by Confederate forces and held captive until repatriated at Washington, D.C.

He immediately offered his services to his friend, General McClellan, now commander of the Army of the Potomac. Circumstances instead took Allen to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley where he fought in the battles of Lewisburgh and Cross Keys. Allen later became a colonel in the 155th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment and fought at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. He was medically discharged after Gettysburg but continued in a civilian role to provision the Union army in the Shenandoah Valley. (Allen's military history may be found in "Under the Maltese Cross.")

In the post-Civil War years, Allen made his fortune serving as secretary/treasurer of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company. He was also a member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, the club that owned Lake Conemaugh. The dam that created the lake broke on May 31, 1889 causing the deaths of 2,209 people and the destruction of the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He made two trips to Washington in 1889 and 1891 and later died on December 26, 1915 at the age of 85. He is buried in Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon-California Trails Association

3 days ago

Today in history, August 12, 1846, Colonel Philip St. George Cooke was sent by Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny with twelve men under a flag of truce into Santa Fe. Cooke wrote in his log about entering Santa Fe:

"Fording the bright and rocky little river, I rode through a long crooked street, passing crowds of people who generally returned by salutation of Buenas dias, 'good morning to you.' I lost sight of the cattetillas, and going rather at random, suddenly found myself in front of the quarter of a large guard, who at view of my horsemen, howled out their 'alarm' with so hideous intonation that I mistook it for a menace. For the first time I thought it would not be amiss to to air my flag of truce; so I placed a white handkerchief on the point of my sabre, and the officer of the guard advancing to meet me, I announced my mission in a sentence of very formal book-spanish; he gave me a direction, to the right I thought, and looking up a narrow street, I saw a friendly signal, pushed on, and emerging, found myself and party on the plaza, crowded by some thousands of soldiers and country men, called out en masse, to meet our army. We made our way with some difficulty toward the 'palace' and coming to a halt, my trumpeter sounded a parley. It was some time before I was attended to; and it was a feeling between awkwardness and irritation that was at least relieved by the approach of an officer, the "Mayor de Plaza'; and he again went into the palace and returned, before he was ready to conduct me thither.

"I entered from the hall, a large and lofty apartment, with a carpeted earth floor, and discovered the governor seated at a table, with six or eight military and civil officials standing. There was no mistaking the governor, a large, fine looking man, although his complexion was a shade darker than the dubious and varying Spanish; he wore a blue frock coat, with a rolling collar and a General's shoulder straps, blue striped trousers with gold lace, and a red sash. He rose when I was presented to him; I said I was sent to him by the general commanding the American army, and that I had a letter, which I would present at his convenience. He said he had ordered quarters for me, and that my horses should be grazed near the town, by his soldiers, there being no corn; he hoped I would remain as long as it pleased me. I then took my leave. I was conducted by Captain Ortiz, Mayor de Plaza, to his quarters and shown into a large, long room, looking upon the court, and told 'it was mine'; which truly Spanish politeness was belied soon after by the presence of Señor Gonzales. The room was carpeted, had one rude window, but a dozen, at least, of mirrors - a prevailing New Mexican taste and besides the divan, an American bedstead and bed. My men were rather crowded in a small room, on the opposite side of a narrow street, and to show my confidence, the horses were delivered to the Mexican soldier, to be grazed. Immediately a number of American merchants called on me; chocolate and cake, and some whiskey was handed round by the captain's wife. Soon after, I went to an interpreter, for my official visit to the Governor, and delivered my credentials. He seemed to think that the approach of the army was rather sudden and rapid, and inquired very particularly if its commander, Kearny, was a General or a Colonel (he had received his promotion on the march). This was evidently to assist his judgement as to the strength of his force; and to follow the Napolean maxim, to exaggerate the numbers of an army for its moral influence upon the enemy, our government would do well to take the hint; it being somewhat chary of that rank."

That evening General Armijo and Don Santiago met with Cooke. It was decided that a "commissioner" should return with Cooke and they were to leave at sunrise the next morning. Armijo warned that he would march the next day, with 6,000 troops, against the Americans.

Cooke was allowed to walk around the town and he observed particularly the amount and condition of the Mexican military. On his way out of town Cooke, rising in his stirrups, said with defiant gesture "I'll call again in a week."

To read more, see "A Historical Guide to the Mormon Battalion and Butterfield Trail" by Dan Talbot at https://octa-trails.org/product/historical-guide-to-the-mormon-battalion-butterfield-trail/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon-California Trails Association

4 days ago

On Saturday, August 22, our OCTA Utah Crossroads Chapter will sponsor a tour of the pioneer trails from the Weber River Crossing near Henefer, Utah, to the First Encampment site in the Salt Lake Valley. This trail will highlight the 1846 Donner Party, the early Utah Pioneers, and the three Pony Express stations along the way. This last 50 miles of the pioneer trail into the Salt Lake Valley covers some of the roughest terrain of the entire westward trek to Salt Lake. Our tour guide will be Connie Bauer. There will be other historians who will give reports along the way too. Please bring your camera, lunch, and plenty of water. (We will eat lunch at about noon.) Please carpool if you can.

Where to meet: Weber River Crossing Campground (see attached map)

When to meet: 9 am

Cost: Free

Approximate tour running time: 4 hours

Please RSVP to Steve Allison

sallison9999@gmail.com ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon-California Trails Association

4 days ago

From the office of Senator John Boozman from Arkansas:

"Yesterday I announced I've filed legislation to designate the Butterfield Overland Trail as a National Historic Trail. This trail – about 337 miles of which was in Arkansas – played an important role in our nation’s westward expansion.

"Designation as a National Historic Trail could bring more economic opportunities to the state, and especially communities along the "Ox-Bow Route," as well as honor the pioneers who traveled it and preserve structures important to our regional and national heritage.

"I've been working on this effort for some time and we've made much progress. The introduction of this bill puts us one step closer, and we can be very proud that we're moving in the right direction.

"Learn more about the Butterfield Overland Trail and the announcement of my legislation to make it a National Historic Trail via the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette." ... See MoreSee Less

Butterfield Overland Trail heads toward historic status

www.nwaonline.com

SPRINGDALE -- U.S. Sen. John Boozman has filed a bill to make the 3,000-mile Butterfield Overland Trail a national historic trail.

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Oregon-California Trails Association

4 days ago

Today in history, August 11, 1841, the Bidwell-Bartleson Party traveled six miles to the Bear River just west of Soda Springs, Idaho and halted there. Father DeSmet, his missionaries, and their guide Tom Fitzpatrick, were heading to Fort Hall. Half of Bidwell’s group decided to go with DeSmet and head to Oregon as it was deemed the safer route. Bidwell wrote that “the California company now consisted of only 32 men and one woman and child, there being but one family.” Ben and Nancy Kelsey and their daughter were that family.

The previous day Bidwell recorded in his diary: "The day was fine and pleasant; a soft and cheerful breeze, and the sky bedimmed by smoke, brought to mind the tranquil season of autumn. A distance of ten miles took us to the Soda Fountain, where we stopped the remainder of the day. This is a noted place in the mountains, and is considered a great curiosity; within the circumference of three or four miles there are included no less than 100 springs, some bursting out on top of the ground, others along the banks of the river, which are very low at this place, and some even in the bottom of the river. The water is strongly impregnated with soda, and wherever it gushes out of the ground a sediment is deposited, of a reddish color, which petrifies and forms around the springs large mounds of porous rock, some of which are no less than fifty feet high. Some of these fountains have become entirely dry, in consequence of the column of water which they contained becoming so high as to create sufficient power by its pressure to force the water to the surface in another place. In several of the springs the water was lukewarm, but none were very cold. The ground was very dry at this time, and made a noise as we passed over it with horses as though it was hollow underneath. Cedar grows here in abundance, and the scenery of the country is romantic. Father De Smet, with two or three flathead Indians, started about dark this evening to go to Fort Hall, which was about fifty miles distant."

Four of the remaining Bidwell-Bartleson Party heading to California also went to Fort Hall with DeSmet to buy provisions and hopefully find a new guide. The rest traveled a few miles down the Bear River and camped while they waited for the four men to return from Fort Hall. Bidwell then went fishing. As he recorded in his diary:

"I, in company with another man (Jimmy John), went some distance below the camp to fish in the river; fished sometime without success, concluded we could spend the afternoon more agreeably. The day was uncomfortably warm, could find no place to shelter us from the burning sun, except the thick copses of willows–these we did not like to enter on account of the danger of falling in with bears."

Bidwell noticed a snow-covered mountain in the distance and continued in his diary:

"Supposed the snow not more than 4 miles distant; set out without our guns knowing they would be a hindrance in ascending the mountain."

The walk was taking longer than suspected so Bidwell decided to turn back. He continued:

"I called to him (Jimmy John) to stop, but he would not even look back. A firm resolve seized me to overtake him, but not again to ask him to return. The rocks were sharp, and soon cut through our moccasins and made our feet bleed. But up and up we went until long after midnight, and until a cloud covered the mountain."

They hadn't brought coats or blankets so they crawled underneath a tree and waited out the night. Bidwell recorded his thoughts on the night:

"Day soon dawned, but we were almost frozen. Our fir-tree nest had been the lair of grizzly bears that had wallowed there and shed quantities of shaggy hair. The snow was still beyond, and we had lost both sight and direction. But in an hour or two we reached it. It was nearly as hard as ice."

Bidwell cut a large piece of ice and wrapped it in his handkerchief to take back to camp. The pair decided to descend along a steeper but more direct route:

"At first the way was smooth and easy but soon we were sliding down in the snow and mud with our buckskin suits wet and bedraggled. This way soon led into a most rugged canyon and thickets so dense that it became impossible to pass through them except in the trails of the grizzly bears....We carried our sheath knives in our hands at every step, for we knew not at what instant we would meet a bear face-to-face."

They finally returned to camp about noon.

"They supposed without a doubt, that the Blackfeet had got us, had been up all night in guard, every fire had been put out, they had been out twice in search of us and were about to start again when we arrived. We were received with a mixture of joy and reprehension....Their first questions were “Where have you been?” “Where have you been?” I was able to answer triumphantly, “We have been up to the snow!” and to demonstrate the fact by showing all the snow I had left, which was now reduced to a ball about the size of my fist."

For more on Bidwell, read "John Bidwell and California: The Life and Writings of a Pioneer 1841-1900" by Michael J. Gillis and Michael F. Magliari, found at https://octa-trails.org/product/john-bidwell-and-california/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon-California Trails Association

5 days ago

Today in history, August 10, 1836, George Jacob Donner, Jr. was born in Sangamon County, Illinois. He would die on February 16, 1874 at age 37 in Sonoma County, California and is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose.

Ten years after his birth, he was in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah.

James Reed recorded in his diary on August 10, 1846: "Still in Campe James F. Reed this evening returned he and two others having been Sent by the Caravan to examine the Canon and proceed after Mr Hastings, who left a Note on the road that if we Came after him he would return and Pilot us though his new and direct Rout to the South end of the Salt Lake Reed having examined the new rout entirely and reported in favour, which induced the Company to proceed."

In 1871, Reed wrote an article for the "Pacific Rural Press" that included this excerpt:

"Next morning ascending to the summit of the mountain where we could overlook a portion of the country that lay between us and the head of the cañon, where the Donner party were camped. After he gave me the direction, Mr. Hastings and I separated. He returning to the companies he had left the morning previous, I proceeding on eastward. After descending to what may be called the table land, I took an Indian trail and blazed the route where it was necessary that the road should be made, if the company so directed when they heard the report. When McCutchen, Stanton and myself got through Webber cañon on our way to overtake Mr. Hastings, our conclusions were that many of the wagons would be destroyed in attempting to get through the canon. Mr. Stanton and McCutchen were to return to our company as fast as their horses would stand it, they having nearly given out. I reached the company in the evening and reported to them the conclusions in regard to Weber canon, at the same time stating that the route that I had blazed that day was fair, but would take considerable labor in clearing and digging. They agreed with unanimous voice to take that route if I would direct them in the road making, they working faithfully until it was completed."

Heinrich Lienhard also recorded about the 10th of August, 1846:

"On the morning of the tenth of August ... Hastings had ridden back to show the way, if necessary, to the parties that had stayed behind...."

According to the Graves family, they joined the Donner Party just as Reed had returned and recommended the new road. William Graves wrote in his 1877 article "Crossing the Plains in ’46":

"He [Hastings] showed him [Reed] the way through then he went on and overtook his party, and Reed returned to his. Just then we overtook and joined the Donner Party. Here is what caused our suffering, for Reed told us if we went the Canon road we would be apt to break our wagons and kill our oxen, but if we went the new way, we could get to Salt Lake in a week or ten days."

Lovina Graves, who was 12 in 1846, told her grandaughter Enda Maybelle Sherwood about this experience. Sherwood would publish the story in the "San Francisco Chronicle" in 1900.

"Grandma’s people came on toward California and overtook the Donner Party about four days travel with heavy wagons from Fort Bridger. The captain of the Donner Party was then seeking the new road or shortcut to California, when they overtook heavy wagons from his company. It was not exactly a short-cut they were seeking, but an easier and more pleasant road. Their plan was to avoid the steep and disagreeable Weaver canyon. Grandpa Cyrus came to California just a few days ahead of the Donner Party, but through the Weaver canyon. He said that they had to lift their wagons over boulders and even over fallen trees in coming through the canyon, this road was so rough."

Lovina married in John Cyrus in 1855. Cyrus also came across the trail in 1846 with the Pyle family of the Harlan-Young Party.

One of many books about the Donner Party sold by OCTA includes "Ordeal by Hunger: Story of the Donner Party" by George R. Stewart. You can order it at https://octa-trails.org/product/ordeal-by-hunger-story-of-the-donner-party/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon-California Trails Association

6 days ago

Today in history, August 9, 1849, Major Osborne Cross commented on the prospect of traveling across the Snake River Plain:

"The picture, on the whole, was anything but a pleasing one. When we reflected that we were to travel several hundred miles through a country presenting nothing more pleasing than barren hills and sterile plains, having artemisia (sagebrush) to burn, as well as food probably for the animals, it was certainly discouraging."

This quote is used at the Snake River Rest Area Stop near American Falls in Power County, Idaho. To read all five of the exhibits at this rest stop, visit the Historic Marker Database website. ... See MoreSee Less

Snake River Rest Area Oregon Trail Kiosk Historical Marker

www.hmdb.org

(There are five historical panels in this kiosk:) Idaho's Emigrant Trails Westward-bound emigrants entered Idaho after crossing Thomas Fork Valley. (A historical marker located near American Falls in ...

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Oregon-California Trails Association

6 days ago

How Kansas City began, explained in just a few minutes. ... See MoreSee Less

Westport & New Santa Fe

player.vimeo.com

Historian Bill Worley tells how Kansas City grew from a steamboat stop on the Missouri River called Westport Landing, where goods were off-loaded and transported...

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Featured Products

Bruff's Wake: J. Goldsborough Bruff & the California Gold Rush, by H. L James $24.95
The Oregon Trail Revisited, by Gregory M. Franzwa $24.95
In Pursuit of a Dream (DVD) $20.00
Reading, Writing and Riding Along the Oregon-California Trails (An Educational Activity Book), by William E. Hill $8.95

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