1862 KENNEDY COMPANY
1862 KENNEDY COMPANY
PARTIALLY RECONSTRUCTED KENNEDY COMPANY
Several parties united, at least some by prearrangement, to make up Kennedy Company.
Wapello Co, IA Party
Bovee Family (HScott journal)
Bovee, George
From Jefferson Co, no state given (McClung 1977:D-6).
From Batavia, Wapello Co, IA (RScott journal ).
Died on Oregon Trail, 1862 July 4 just east of Independence Rock
when his gun accidentally discharged (HScott journal).
Bovee, Mrs (HScott journal)
Bovee children:
son 5-6 years
child
Glenn Family
Headed for Salmon River mines but went to The Dalles; 1864 Dry Creek, Ada County, ID.
Glenn, John M.
Died 1877; buried Dry Creek Cemetery Ada Co, ID (Hawley :483).
Glenn, Elizabeth Thompson
Died 1893; buried Dry Creek Cemetery Ada Co, ID (Hawley :483).
Glenn, children of John M. Glenn and Elizabeth Thompson:
John T., age 14
Born 1848 Dec 25, Wapello Co, lA (Hawley
Married Nancy Keeney
Member of the advance guard (Hawley :483).
McClung, John Scott
From Dahlonega, Wapello Co, IA, leaving there 1862 April 24 (McClung 1977:xiii,1). Met at The Dalles by Uncle John Scott, suggesting the possibility of a relationship to Scott brothers
Unmarried.
Died, age 48, mining accident, Butte MT (Ed.McClung
Journal 1977:np).
Henry M. Judson speaks od this as the Newbern Colony.
Newman Family
From Wapaloo, IA (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber 1987:36).
May be members of Newman train, with Kennedy train the day they came to the aid of Adams and Smart parties or may have traveled with Kennedy Company as a separate Party. Possibly captain of Newman train.
Newman, Tom (Hattie Barns in in HScott journal).
Died 1862 Aug 10 near Massacre Rocks, Power Co.ID, in battle
with Indians for recovery of stock taken day before (HScott
journal).
Newman, Tom Mrs.
Newman, children of Tom Newman and wife:
5 children (Margaret Stoot reminiscences).
Paul Party - Fremont, Mohaska Co, IA
Joseph Paul, captain. Left Fremont, Mahaska Co. IA April 24 (HScott journal). Camped and waited for Kennedy Party by prearrangement. Problem with date.
Beck, Lewis
Left with Fremont IA Party (RScott journal).
Cummins Family
From Mahaska Co. IA leaving home 1862 April 19 (Irwin nd:1).
Not known to be members of this party and left home on a different date but placed here because of relationships and mentioned several times by Scott brothers. Joined Culberson Train July 31 (McClung 1977:G-6).
Cummins, Robert (Hattie Barns in HScott journal;
McClung 1977:G-6)
Nephew of Mary Cummins Paul (Irwin nd:1).
Judge of wagon train (Irwin nd:2).
Born 1830 April 27 Monroe Co, WV, son of Woodson Cummins
(Irwin nd:1).
Married Lucretia Meyers 1851 May 12 (Irwin nd:1).
Died 1915 May 8 Toucheet, Walla Walla Co,WA (Irwin nd:1).
Cummins, Lucretia Meyers
Cummins, children of Robert Cummins and Lucretia Meyers:
oldest child (Irwin nd:1).
Woodson (Irwin nd:1).
3 younger children (Irwin nd:1).
Jones, Lem
With Fremont IA Party (RCScott journal typescript:1).
Miller Family (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
From Fremont, Mohaska Co, IA. Drove wagon with ox team in beginning, a horse and a cow in end. Settled in Umatilla Co. OR (Oregon Pioneers 1937; 17,188-9; HScott journal).
Not known to be members of this party but placed here because from Fremont.
Miller, Abram/Augustus - Abe
Born 1836 April 30 Cambridge, Henry Co. IN (Oregon Pioneers
1937:188-9; Roll Call 1970:274.
Married Nancy Moore 1859, Libertyville IA (Oregon Pioneers
1937:188-9)/1860 Jan 1 (Roll Call 1970:274).
Died 1913 (Oregon Pioneers 1937:17,188-9).
Died 1912 May 31; buried Pilot Rock Cemetery, Umatilla Co. OR
(Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:274).
Miller, Nancy Moore
Born 1840 May 11 (Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:214).
Married Abram Miller 1859, Libertyville IA (Oregon
Pioneers 1937:188-9)/1860 Jan 1 (Yesterday’s Roll
Call 1970:274).
Died 1890 Jan 17/1891 Feb 17. Buried Pilot Rock
Cemetery, Umatilla Co. OR (Yesterday’s Roll Call
1970:214).
Miller, children of Abram Miller and Nancy Moore:
Austa / Austie A.
Married John Arrasmith (Oregon Pioneers 1937: 17,188-9).
Charles E.
Died 1884 March 9, age 21 years, 1 month, 12 days; buried Pilot
Rock Cemetery, Umatilla Co, OR (Yesterday’s Roll Call
1970:274).
W.A.
Born 1868 (Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:274).
Died 1897.Buried Pilot Rock Cemetery, Umatilla Co. OR
(Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:274).
PAUL OUTFIT
From Fremont, Mahaska Co, IA, leaving there May 1. Went to Walla Walla, WA area and settled on Dry Creek (HScott journal).
Paul, Joseph, Captain Paul Party at beginning of trip (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Born about 1806, WV (Hines 1894).
Married Mary Cummings 1824 Aug 25 (Hines 1894).
Died spring of 1885, age 79 (Hines 1894).
Paul, Mary Cummins - Polly
Born 1805 Dec 7, Monroe Co, VA, daughter of Robert Cummins
and Delphia Ballard (Hines 1894; Marjorie Miles).
Married Joseph Paul 1824 Aug 25 (Marjorie Miles).
Died 1887 Feb 13, Walla Walla, WA (Hines 1897; Marjorie Miles).
Paul, children of Joseph Paul and Mary Cummings:
Mercy - seen Mrs. Paul Zaring below
Thomas - see below
John Paul, deceased. Wife, Ellen, married John G. McGuire. See
that family for children.
Paul, Thomas, Rev. (HScott journal)
3rd Lt. of Kennedy Company (McClung 1977:B-1).
Pastor of Kennedy Train.
Born 1828 Dec 19, Monroe Co, ?, son of Joseph Paul and Mary
Cummings (Hines 1894).
Married 1. Elizabeth Mortimore 1849 (Hines 1894).
Married 2. Susan Ellis Zaring 1863 (Hines 1894).
Died 1904 Sept 29, age 75 (ts; Marjorie Miles).
Erroneously reported killed 1852 Oct 28, see Weber in Gould 1987:34.
Paul, Elizabeth Mortimore
Born c1830 IN (Hines 1894).
Married Thomas Paul 1849 (Hines 1894)
Died in childbirth, 1862 July 27 on Oregon Trail near Wagner Pass.
Buried there (HScott journal; Merrill1988:76,182)
Paul, children of Thomas Paul and Elizabeth Mortimore:
Louisa Jane, age 12
Born 1849, IA (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co;
Marjorie Miles).
Mary Melvina
Born 1851 (Marjorie Miles)
Married Reason W. Doke (Hines 1894; Marjorie Miles).
Isaac Edwin, age 7
Born c1853 IA (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co;
Marjorie Miles).
Married 1. Amanda Cope (Marjorie Miles).
Married 2. Elisheba Wood (Marjorie Miles).
Harriet Eleanor
Born c1854 IA (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co;
Marjorie Miles).
Married J. Leanard Reed (Hines 1894; Marjorie Miles).
Martha Alice - Patsy
Born 1856 (Marjorie Miles)
Married George W. Stowell (Hines 1894).
Lucinda Arletta, age 2
Born 1860 IA (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co;
Marjorie Miles).
Married James K/H Storey (Hines 1894).
Elizabeth
Born on Oregon Trail 1862 July 25 (HScott Journal)
Died on Oregon Trail 1862 Aug 3, Lane’s Grove near Gray’s
Lake, ID (Merrill 1988:76,1820.
Rayburn, Mary
Traveling with Paul family to join brother in OR.
Scott - possibly brothers or cousins, or possibly father and sons) (HScott journal)
From Fremont, Mahaska Co., IA. Began journey April 24, headed for Eastern Oregon mines (HScott journal; RCScott Journal).
Scott, Hamilton
May have driven a horse team, see July 31.
Scott, Wilson (HScott journal)
Scott, Robert C. (RCScott journal:1).
According to the title of his journal he traveled by ox team.
Zaring Family (Hattie Barns in Scott journal)
From Fremont, Mahaska Co. IA. Settled near Walla Walla, Washington on Dry Creek (HScott Journal).
Zaring, Alvin
Married Mercy Paul shortly before crossing plains (Louisa J. Paul
reminiscences).
Zaring, Mercy Paul
Youngest daughter of Joseph Paul and Mary Cummings (Louisa J.
Paul reminiscences).
Married Alvin Zeroing shortly before crossing plains (Louisa J.
Paul reminiscences).
Zaring, Susan Ellis
Born c1831, VA (Hines 1894).
Married 1. Eli Zaring 1851, died c1860 (Hines 1894; Sarah Zaring
Reminiscences).
Married 2. Thomas Paul 1863 (Hines 1894).
Died 1916 May 7, age 85 (ts)
Zaring, children of Eli Zaring and Susan Ellis:
Nancy
Almost certainly on trip but no mention found yet (Marjorie Miles).
Sarah Alice
Born c1856, IA (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co).
Married Joshua A Howard (Hines 1894).
August Alverna - Vernie
Died at age 5 (Louisa J. Paul reminiscences).
Ellis Family (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Ellis, Ellis Ebenezer (HScott journal)
Born 1836 June 13, Hampshire Co. VA, son of David Ellis and
Sarah Jane Farmer (IGS #430).
Married Eliza Jane Zaring 1859 Oct 13, Mahaska Co.IA (IGS
#430).
Died 1920 Dec 4, Spokane, Spokane Co. WA; buried Pleasant
Prairie (IGS #430).
Ellis, Eliza Jane Zaring
Sister of Alvin Zaring (Marjorie Miles).
Born 1832 Oct 21, IN (IGS #430).
Married Ellis E. Ellis 1859 Oct 13, Mahaska Co, IA (IGS #430).
Died 1909 May 10, Pleasant Prairie, Spokane Co, WA (IGS #430).
Ellis, children of Ellis E. Ellis and Eliza Jane Zaring:
Charles Francis (Marjorie Miles)
Born on Oregon Trail, 1862 July 13 on Lander’s Cutoff,
Sweetwater River (IGS #430; HScott journal). “- a big baby
boy- (RCScott journal:8).
Married Margaret Lee Culbertson 1887 Dec 4, Dayton, Columbia
Co. WA (IGS #430).
Died 1911 Nov 3, Walla Walla, Walla Walla Co, WA (IGS #430).
Ellis, Sarah Jane Farmer
Mother of Ellis E. Ellis. Died in Walla Walla so possibly
accompanied her son (Marjory Miles).
Kennedy Party
No information on make up of this party but probably captained by Kennedy . Names placed here are those from Mahaska Co. IA of unknown party affiliation.
Kennedy left May 5, 5 days later than Fremont Party.
Arthing (Hattie Barns in HScott journal).
From Fremont, Mahaska County, IA ( HScott journal).
Samuel George Ellis Family
May have traveled with Ellis family above but placed here because never mentioned by Scott brothers so probably not traveling near them.
Ellis, Samuel George
Born 1832 Sept 21, Hancock Co., IN (McCarley notes).
Married Rhoda Ann Kennedy 1856 May 8, Oskaloosa, Mahaska
Co. IA (McCarley notes).
Died 1904 Feb 8 (McCarley notes).
Ellis, Rhoda Ann Kennedy
Born 1836 April 15, IN (McCarley notes).
Married Samuel George Ellis 1856 May 8, Oskaloosa, Mahaska
Co. IA (McCarley notes).
Died 1904 Feb 6, Walla Walla WA (McCarley notes).
Ellis, children of Samuel George Ellis and Rhoda Ann Kennedy:
Sarah Francis
Born 1857 Aug 31 (McCarley notes).
Died 1858 Sept 12, IA (McCarley notes).
John Morris
Born 1859 June 23 (McCarley notes).
Died 1924 March 13 (McCarley notes).
Mary Rosetta
Born 1861 Dec 24 (McCarley notes).
Died 1918 April 27 (McCarley notes).
Estella Olive
Born 1865 Feb 21 (McCarley notes).
Died 1892 Nov 19 (McCarley notes).
Clara Jane
Born 1867 April 1 (McCarley notes).
Died 1932 Jan 18 (McCarley notes).
Robert William
Born 1869 Sept 4 (McCarley notes).
Died 1920 Jan 13, Seattle, King Co. WA (McCarley notes).
Lucia Elva
Born 1874 May 8 (McCarley notes).
Died 1874 Oct 21, Dayton, Walla Walla Co. WA (McCarley
notes).
George
Born 1875 Oct 26, Dayton, Columbia Co., WA (McCarley
notes).
Died 1878 March 22, Dayton, Columbia Co. WA (McCarley
notes).
Grace Estine
Born 1879 Aug 25 (McCarley notes).
KENNEDY OUTFIT
Destination La Grande OR. Settled Baker OR, home burned 1864; moved to Walla Walla WA (McCarley notes).
His family had one or more wagons, at least one drawn by mules. At beginning of trip, his daughters had saddle horses.
Kennedy, John Knox, Captain
Captain of Kennedy Company. Crossed plains three times before; served in Mexican War in 1847; 1849 CA gold rush; 1857 / 1859 visited son Robert who went west in 1857 (McCarley notes).
Born 1811 May 29, Greene Co, TN, son of Samuel Kennedy and
Frankey (McCarley notes).
Married 1. Sarah Steele - Sally, daughter of James E. Steele and
Sarah Reeves, 1830 Oct 7. She died 1845 Aug in Morgan IL
(McCarley notes).
Married 2. Sarah McGuire Stoot 1849 April 19, Wappela IA (Marjory
Miles notes).
Died 1889 June 26, Walla Walla WA. Buried Veterans Cemetery,
Waitsburg WA (McCarley notes).
Sarah McGuire Stoot Kennedy
Sister of John G. McGuire (Ellen Paul reminiscences).
Midwife for company (MAStoot & Martha McGuire reminiscences).
Born KY (McCarley notes).
Married 1. John Stoot
Married 2. John K. Kennedy 1849 April 19, Wapala Co.,IA
(McCarley notes).
Buried Veterans Cemetery, Waitsburg WA (McCarley notes).
Kennedy, children of John K. Kennedy and Sarah Steele:
James S.
Born 1831 July 22, Greene Co.TN (McCarley notes).
Died 1846 Oct 13, Near Pony Creek, Santa Fe Trail, killed by
Indians (McCarley notes).
Frankey Jane
Born 1833 Nov 12, Hancock Co.IN (McCarley notes).
Died Morgan Co. IL, unmarried (McCarley notes).
Rhoda Ann - see Ellis above
Robert Eakin
Went west in 1850s.
Born 1838 Dec 7 (McCarley notes).
Never married (McCarley notes).
Died 1878 June 11, Walla Walla WN (McCarley notes).
Mary Elizabeth
Born 1842 May 25, Morgan Co. IL (McCarley notes).
Married Alfred Lansom Allison 1862 Dec 25, son of William
Allison and Rebecka Elya in Grande Ronde, Baker Co OR
(McCarley notes).
Died 1895 June 5 (McCarley notes).
Stoot daughters of John Stoot and Sarah McGuire:
A son of this marriage not mentioned as being on this trip.
Susanna / Susan Jane
Married Tim Neeley in Washington, a double wedding with sister
Mary above (MAStoot reminiscences).
Cassie Elizabeth
Married John Caviness 1863 (MAStoot reminiscences).
Margaret A.
Born 1846 March IA (MAStoot reminiscences).
Married 1. Wash Ewing, 1864 June 9, La Grande, OR.
Married 2. F.W. Thiel (MAStoot reminiscences).
Kennedy, children of John Knox Kennedy and Sarah McGuire:
Twins
Stillborn in IA (McCarley notes).
John Henry Cornelius
Born 1850 April 1, Wapple IA (McCarley notes).
McGuire Family
From Fremont, Mohaska Co. IA. Drove 2 wagons with ox teams & 1 wagon with mule team, with cows for change off. Settled near Walla Walla, WA on Russell Creek (Louisa J. Paul reminiscences).
McGuire, John Garrett (HScott journal).
Brother of Sarah McGuire Kennedy. Mentioned as organizer of Kennedy Company and its 2nd Lt.(McClung 1977:B-1).
Born KY (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co).
Married: 1. Martha Kirkpatrick, died 1856 May 8 (Marjorie Miles).
Married 2. Mary Jane Fitzsimmins (1870 Federal Census, WA,
Walla Walla Co; Marjorie Miles notes).
McGuire, Mary Jane Fitzsimmons
Aunt of Martha Jane McGuire’s future husband (Marjorie Miles).
Married: 1. John Paul, who died about 1850
2. John Garrett McGuire about 1853 (Ellen Paul
reminiscences).
McGuire, children of John G. McGuire and Martha Kirkpatrick (Marjorie Miles):
William Harvey
Born 1843 April 14 (Marjorie Miles)
19 years old and probably on trip but no mention of him found
yet.
Saloman Anderson
Born 1846 Oct 8 (Marjorie Miles)
16 years old and probably on trip but no mention found of him
yet.
Mary Elizabeth/Lizzie
Born 1849 March 9 (Marjorie Miles)
Martha Jane, age 10.
Born 1852 Nov 14, Ottumwa, Wapello Co,IA,
(Marjorie Miles)
Married Charles Wesley Fitzsimmons, 1875 Nov 7, Walla Walla,
WA (Martha McGuire reminiscences; Marjorie Miles).
Paul children, daughters of John Paul and Mary Jane Kirkpatrick (Marjorie Miles):
Mary Elizabeth/Lizzie
Born 1849/1850 Oct 4 Mahaska Co, IA (clipping - no citation),
Married Samuel R. Maxson, 1864 July 18 (clipping - no citation).
Died 1946 April 12, age 94, Walla Walla, WA (clipping - no
citation).
Luellen-Ellen, age 10.
Born 1852 Nov 24, Dahlonga, IA (Ellen Paul Remaniscences).
Married John J. Garlington (Ellen Paul Reminiscences).
Eveline-Eva
Born about 1854, IA (1870 Federal Census WA, Walla Walla Co).
Married A.B. Robley (Ellen Paul Reminiscences; Marjorie Miles).
McGuire, son of John Garrett McGuire and Mary Jane Fitzsimmons (Marjorie Miles):
John Wesley, age 2.
Born 1859 Oct 17, IA (Martha McGuire Reminiscences; 1870
Federal Census, WA, Walla Walla Co; Marjorie Miles).
Taylor Family
From Mahaska Co, IA. 2 covered wagons with ox teams and 2 hired hands, not identified (Hattie Barns in HScott journal); HScott journal; Olsen nd).
Taylor, Ephram
Married Nancy (Olsen nd).
Taylor, Nancy
Married Ephram Taylor
Taylor, children of Ephram and Nancy:
son, age 9
Christena - Teen, age 5
Born about 1857 (Olsen nd)
Married J.M. Chambers in 1873 (Olsen nd).
6 more children
Jasper County Party
Joined Paul Party April 27 in Monroe, Jasper Co, IA (RCScott journal:3). More people in this group but not identified yet.
DeLong, William (Hattie Barns in HScott journal; HScott journal)
Tool, John (RCScott journal:3).
Townsend Family (Hattie Barns in Scott journal)
From Monroe, Jasper Co, IA. Drove wagon with ox team, had a hired man with them (Hattie Barns in HScott journal); HScott journal).
Townsend, Mr
Townsend, Nancy (McClung 1977:G-6).
Died on Oregon Trail 1862 Aug 3, run over by family wagon during
stampede (HScott journal).
Townsend children:
boy, age 18 months (Margaret A. Stoot reminiscenc.).
3 years old (McClung 1977:G-7).
2 year old girl (Gould).
Recorded as traveling with Kennedy Company at one time or another.
Algoods (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
The s on the end of the name may indicate this was a family.
Bailey Family
May belong with Raley Outfit (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness). “-who had crossed the plains with us in 1862” (Raley in Oregon Pioneers 1937:17).
Settled in Milton; Umatilla County, OR (Raley in Oregon Pioneers 1937:17).
Bailey, George W. (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Probably:
Judge
Born 1819 Nov 1 (Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:227).
Died 1886 Feb 19; buried Olney (Pendelton City)
Cemetery, Umatilla Co, OR (Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:227).
Bailey, Elizabeth (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Died 1893 Oct 10. Buried Olney (Pendelton City)
Cemetery, Umatilla Co, OR (Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:227).
Bailey, children of George W. Bailey and Elizabeth:
3 children (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness). 2 sons, 2 daughters (Oregon Pioneers 1937:3).
Helen
Eldest daughter (Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:227).
Died 1869 Feb 3, age 16 years, 3 months, 16 days; buried
Pioneer Cemetery, Pendelton, Umatilla Co. OR. Thought to be
1st burial there (Oregon Pioneers 1937:3; DeSpain in
Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:227).
daughter
Married William Jones (Oregon Pioneers 1937:3).
Douglass (Oregon Pioneers 1937:3).
Bailey, Tim (HScott journal)
Bailey, Mrs. Tim (HScott journal)
Bailey children:
Infant
Born 1862 June 17 a days travel west of Chimney Rock, on
Oregon Trail (HScott journal).
Bowell Family
Bowell, Tim (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Bowell, Mrs
infant
Bowman (Hattie Barns in HScott Journal)
Clark, Fred (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Clark, Fred Mrs. (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Clark, infant (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Collins, Dr. D.Y. (McClung 1977:C-4)
Physician for wagon train.
Had a driver but his name not known.
No family. Wagon with fine team (McGuire reminiscences).
Cassaday/Sassaday, AJ
May be of Bristol Company, statement ambiguous (McComas journal).
Coons, W.H. (McClung 1977:B-4).
Creamer, J.W.
Orderly Sergent of Kennedy Company (McClung 1977:B-1).
Culberson/Cubberson, Ed, Rev.
Lt. Orderly of Kennedy Company (McClung 1977:F-2). Captain of splitter company after Green River, July 20.
Cummire, Jornduff R.
Justice of the Peace of Kennedy Company (McClung 1977:B-1).
Cunningham (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Deitrich (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Dole (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Dunn, James
An Irish Canadian (Adkinson in Nelson 1990:187).
Party not known.
Espsy (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Files (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Farbush/Forebush, George (Hattie Barns in HScott journal) (RCScott journal:15).
Gholson (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Unusual name. An Isabell Gholson, born 1847 Feb, died 1873 July 13, buried in Valley / Ford / Balleu Cemetery 3 miles north of Milton Freewater OR (Roll Call 1970:289)
Gift, Rev.
Methodist minister (McClung 1977:G-5).
Goyer (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Hale (Hattie Barns in HScott journal; HScott journal)
Hall, Buckskin
Captain after Kennedy resigned (HScott journal; McClung 1977:I-4)
Hathaway (Hattie Barns in Scott Journal)
Hill, Stephen (HScott journal; McClung 1977:E-1)
Hoover, Mr. (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Hoover, Mrs. (HScott journal)
Hunter, A.
HScott speaks of him only as A. Hunter. He may be Andrew J. Hunter from Iowa City, Iowa, formerly captain of Jack Company (McComas journal), who died on the Oregon Trail near Massacre Rocks, Idaho, 1862 Aug 10 during the attempt to retrieve stock from Indians. He was buried there (HScott journal). Neither McClung nor Hilman mention his death, possibly indicating he did not belong to this company and the A. Hunter was a different man than Andrew J. Hunter.
James (HScott journal)
Joseph, W.
A youth (McClung 1977:I-1).
Little (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Luper/Leeper/Leeker/Seaper, George &/or Thomas
From Marion Co, IA (McClung 1977:H-3-4).
May have belonged to Adams instead of Kennedy Company.
Died 1862 Aug 10 near Massacre Rocks, ID, while retrieving
livestock taken by Indians. Buried there (Franzwa 1990:186).
Scalped (Swasley in Webber 1987:36
Adkinson (Nelson 1990:188) says George had a twin brother but gives no indication of whether or not the twins were together on the Oregon Trail. Margaret Stoot remembered two brothers who were killed and scalped that had two sisters on the trip (MStoot remaniscences).
Macky/Mackay, Thomas (Hattie Barns in HScott journal; HScott journal).
Mard (Hattie Barns in HScott journal).
Mateker (McClung 1977:H-8).
McCormick Family (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
McCormic, Mrs. (RCScott journal:8).
small boy (McClung 1977:B-1).
Neely (Hattie Barns in HScott journal).
Nealy, Tim Mrs.
Nealy, child of Tim Nealy and wife:
Born June 17 just west of Chimney Rock (RCScott journal:5).
Neeley, Jane
Margaret McGuire speaks of her as cousin (reminiscences).
Ocherman (Hattie Barns in Scott Journal)
Orndorf (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Piper (HScott journal)
RALEY OUTFIT
Raley Family (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Left their Nebraska City home March 1862 with horse and mule drawn wagon. Joined Kennedy Company somewhere along route.1862 Portland OR; 1864 settled in Umatilla Co, OR (HScott journal; Oregon Pioneers 1937:10; Roll Call 1970:194; Goldie Mae Raley Caviness). An older son of the family, Henry, crossed plains 1853 (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Raley, Johnathan age 33 (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10; Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Son of Rebecca Raley (Goldie Mae Caviness).
Married Rachel (Roll Call 1970:194).
Died, age 48, 1877 April 25;
buried Foster Cemetery, Umatilla Co. OR (Roll Call 1970:194).
buried 1877, Waitsburg, WA (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Raley, Rachel age 29 (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10; Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Married Jonathan Raley (Roll Call 1970:194).
Raley, children of Jonathan Raley and Rachel:
Benjamin Franklin - Ben age 10 (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10).
James H. - Jim age 7
Born 1855 Jan 20, NB (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10,174;
Yesterday’s Roll Call 1970:194).
Married Minnie A. Purett (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10,174).
Alice
infant (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Raley, Rebecca (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10; Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Died about 1863, Portland, OR (Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Raley, Andrew
Son of Rebecca Raley; Johnathan’s younger brother (Oregon
Pioneers 1937:10; Goldie Mae Raley Caviness).
Moore, Mary Jane
Johnathan’s orphaned niece (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10).
Raybrun - see Thomas Paul
Redhener, William
Redheffer (HScott journal)
Mentioned in Oliver Slater journal as member of Goodale Company. Possibly exchange of personnel between trains. Part of journal published Washington Statesman, Walla Walla WA 1862 Oct 4, possibly also subsequent or previous issues. See Slater below.
Rounceville, Nathan (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Married Nancy Cummings (Zola Irwin note on back of HScott
journal).
Rounceville, Nancy Cummings
Married 1. _ Harvey
Married 2. Nathan Rounceville
Sister of Polly Cummings Paul (Zola Irwin note on back of HScott journal).
Russell (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Slater (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Scott mentions a Slater as being with Kennedy Train. James Slater family was with Goodale Company not far behind Kennedy Company (Nellie and Oliver Slater journals). Possibly one of the boys decided to travel with Kennedy boys for a while. See William Redhener above.
Smales (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Smalley (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
Possibly same as above
Stanfield, Ardly (McClung 1977: ).
Stanfield, James (Hattie Barns in Scott journal)
2nd Sergent (McClung 1977:B-1). Corporal and Constable (Irwin nd:2).
Stoot - see John K. Kennedy family.
Vernon/Vennerns, Thomas
Married but wife not with him). Died before Sept 6 (McClung
1977:J-2).
Young (Hattie Barns in HScott journal)
TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS
April 19 - Robert Cummins and family left Mahaska County IA (Cummins in Irwin nd:1) to meet his relatives at some point.
April 24 - Hamilton, Robert and Wilson Scott, Lewis Beck, Lem Jones, Thomas Paul, Rev. Joseph Paul, Alvin Zaring and families from near Fremont, IA, loaded their wagons, hitched up their ox teams and started for Walla Walla, WT. Joseph Paul captained this party. Traveled 8 miles and camped 3 miles east of Oakaloosa (H & R Scott journals).
John McClung left Dahlonega, Wapello County, IA, the same day
(McClung Journal).
April 25 - Paul Party passed through Oskaloosa. Easy going except for a few mud holes. Plenty of grass but corn and hay were scarce. Traveled about 14 miles. (H & R Scott journals).
April 26 - Good roads all day. Traveled 15 miles. Camped at Monroe, Jasper Co., IA. Train had been a little unruly the first two days but was settling down (H & R Scott journals).
April 27 - Sunday they remained in camp and went to church. Townsend family from Monroe, John Tool, William DeLong and others joined them here (H & R Scott journals).
April 28 - Laid over in camp. Men practiced shooting “and getting things regulated to travel” (H & R Scott journals).
April 29 - Passed Prairie City, Monroe Co., IA. Traveled 18 miles (H & R Scott journals).
April 30 - Crossed Des Moines River at Des Moines City (a very small town) on a bridge, then pulled around and crossed Coon River on a ferry boat. Traveled about 13 /16 miles (H & R Scott journals).
May 1 - Crossed North River and camped in Warren Co., IA. Traveled 17 / 18 or 20 miles (H&RScott journals). When they passed a house along the way there was sure to be an “Eggs for Sale” sign on the gate. Usually eggs were 3 or 4 cents a dozen but when they reached 5 cents, they thought they couldn’t afford them (EPaul reminiscences).
May 2 - Passed through Winterset, IA. Traveled about 18 miles (H & RScott journals).
May 3 - Saturday they stopped at noon expecting to lay over Sunday, but there was no feed for their cattle and corn was scarce along the trail. Camped on Middle River. Drove 12 / 12-15 miles (H&RScott journals). [It appears they were giving grain to horses and mules but since they were passing through settled country, they couldn’t graze their cattle - cattle do well on only hay or grass but horses require supplemental grain or they give out]
May 4 - Want of feed obliged them to travel on Sunday. Passed through Greenfield, Adair Co., IA. Stopped at noon and camped on Nodaway River. Traveled 16 miles (H & R Scott journals).
May 5 - Camped at Marysville, Cass Co., IA. Drove 19 / 18-20 miles (H&RScott journals).
May 6 - Camped on the open prairie and staked their “cattle out on grass for the first time to see how they would act”. Drove about 15 miles (HScott journal).
May 7 - Drove about 4 miles and stayed at Louis on Nishuabotna River. Hamilton Scott went fishing but had no luck, Robert says the fish were small (H & R Scott journals).
May 8 - Laid over in camp to rest their cattle and practice shooting. Their guns, even the revolvers, were all muzzle loaders; no cartridges in use then. Ammunition was caps, powder and balls. Shooting practice was held every few days until all were very good shots with either rifle or six-shooter (H & R Scott journals).
May 9 - Drove about 20 miles. Camped on the River Jordan, “a small stream just a good leap for a bull frog”. Robert calls it the Tona-wada. For the first time since they started, they could graze their cattle that evening and wood was plentiful (H & R Scott journals).
May 10 - Drove about 15 miles. Best grass so far; stopped to graze the cattle a while and grazed them again in the evening. Pasture good in places (H & R Scott journals).
May 11 - 10 miles brought them to Mt. Olive, Mills Co., IA, 12 miles from the Missouri River, where they were to wait for the rest of their company, somewhere on the road behind them. Here they would lay in flour and other provisions (H & R Scott journals).
May 12-18 no journals kept.
May 19 - Their company [Kennedy Party] had arrived and had a weeks rest.
They resumed their journey, stopping at Glenwood where Susan Zaring took her little girls to a “picture gallery” to have photographs made to leave with their grandparents. The pictures didn’t suit her so she didn’t leave them. Drove 15 miles and camped (H & R Scott journals; SZaring Howard reminiscences).
May 20 - 9 miles travel brought them to Council Bluffs and 4 miles more to the Missouri River. Crossed over to Omaha, passengers crossing in a small ferry boat. Sarah Zaring remembered going with her aunt into the little cabin where she could look out over the water (SZaring reminiscences). In Omaha they completed laying in an outfit that should last them through to Oregon. Shopping finished, they drove 3 miles out from town and made their first camp in Nebraska Territory (H & RScott journal). They are now on the Oregon Trail.
When they camped, tents were set up in a circle inside the surrounding wagons (LJPaul reminiscences).
May 21 - They followed the original Oregon Trail in use during the 1830s, now known as the Council Bluff Road, Chiles’s Branch or The Mormon Trail. It avoided several crossings of the North Platte River, at least one on the South Platte, the Laramie River and Kansas River, probably a wise decision in a high water year (Franzwa 1972:62), and it had better grass than the newer branch of the Oregon Trail on the south side of the river (Paden 1943:98).
Roads were mostly deep ruts at that time of year and very dusty. Riding in heavy wagons on rough trail was not pleasant. Mornings the children walked ahead of the train, sometimes for hours, until completely tired out. After that, riding wasn’t so bad (EPaul reminiscences).
Had some wagon troubles and stopped for repairs. Drove 12 miles (H & R Scott journals).
May 22 - Drove 20 miles according to Ham Scott but his more optimistic brother Robert thought it 22 miles. Crossed the Elk Horn River and camped on Rawhide Creek. Good grass, water and wood. After supper an organizational meeting was held. The constitution and bylaws were read and adopted. John K. Kennedy (called JK) had made three round trips across the plains and was elected captain on the basis of his experience. He was also 1st Lt. [If I have followed this punctuation] John McGuire was 2nd Lt., Thomas Paul 3rd Lt., J.W.Creamer Orderly Sergent, James Standfield 2nd Sergent, Jornduff R. Cummire Justice of the Peace (HScott journal; McClung 1977: B-1; MStoot & EPaul reminiscences). Robert Cummins was Judge and James Stansfield was elected corporal and constable (Cummins in Irwin nd:2)
JK Kennedy drove a mule team that could travel ahead to locate camping places with water and grass [mules travel faster than oxen]. Before leaving Iowa he bought riding horses and side-saddles for his daughters and step-daughters. They rode with him ahead of the train, to select camping places, gathering wood or buffalo chips, and by the time the wagon train came up, they had camp fires going (MStott & EPaul reminiscences).
May 23 - Wagons had been numbered so they drove out accordingly, no one taking the lead. Passed through Fremont, Dodge Co., NB, and had their first glimpse of the “great and muddy Platte River”. Just as they began to roll after dinner [the noon meal], the little McCormick boy fell out of a wagon and broke his leg when the wheel passed over it (H & RCScott journals), McClung says some bones were broken when the wheel passed over his foot (1977:B-1). Dr. Collins, the capable MD of the company, took care of the sick and injured. He had no family but had a driver and a fine team for his wagon (MMcGuire & EPaul reminiscences). This trip probably kept him fairly well occupied.
Camped on the banks of the Platte that evening for the first time. Traveled 20 miles (H & R Scott journals; Cummins in Irwin nd:2).
May 24 - Drove about 11 miles, struck the Platte River and camped at noon. Layed over to allow the women to do washing and the ‘boys’, including Hamilton Scott, went swimming. This was their first camp on the real plains and here they saw their first Indians, Pawnees, dressed in native garb and armed with bows and arrows. They were friendly to whites and out for a hunt. Some men set their whip stocks in the ground and placed pennies on them to see the Indians shoot them off. Robert thought the Indians were Sioux (H & R Scott journals; McClung1977:B-2).
May 25 - Hooked up at noon, drove 11 miles and camped on the prairie near a pond. Several Indians visited camp, Captain gave each a small piece of tobacco and told them to “pucachee” which they reluctantly did (H & R Scott journals; McClung1977:B-2).
May 26 - Drove 17 miles up the Platte Valley and through the town of Columbus. Camped by a spring where the Loup River joins the Platte. Plenty of water for cooking. Good grass and wood. A severe wind and rain storm came up in the night and the cattle broke away from the guards. (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-3).
Boys considered old enough to stand guard with the men were very proud. One man scoffed at them but went to sleep on his own watch; the youngsters dragged him into the creek and laughed all the way to Oregon (Taylor reminiscences).
May 27 - They found the cattle this morning, not far away - Robert Scott says 10 miles away [when pulling a loaded wagon, oxen make about 2 mph - I trust the boys punched them along back to camp at a slightly higher mph if Robert’s estimate was accurate]. A train of about 60 teams was ahead of them at the small Loup Ferry [McClung says 150 teams but he did have a tendency to exagerate], so the Kennedy Train didn’t cross until “against sundown”. Crossing was slow and dangerous with quick sand but all went well. They swam the cattle over and guarded them on the river bank during the night (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-3).
May 28 - Some cattle and a few horses swam back across the river during the night; Robert Scott thought they wanted to go home. They had “quite a hunt for them” and made a late start. The road took them back to the Platte River. They crossed Prairie Creek, a “splendid” creek for fish. Made 18-20 miles that day. About midnight it began to rain and continued until morning (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-3).
May 29 - Drove 21-23 miles through muddy river bottoms. They were approaching the edge of civilization but there were still a few settlers here, some in sod houses, some in sod-roof, log houses. Camped beside the river (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-3).
May 30 - Cold and cloudy, rained half the day. Passed the grave of Daniel Collard, died 1861, age 26. Killed 7 jack rabbits and 11 prairie chickens. Drove 20-23 miles. Camped near the river (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-4).).
May 31 - Pleasant day. Passed fields of corn and wheat that looked good. Some fields fenced with sod. W.H.Coones and John McClung took their guns and went hunting. Saw antelope and a jackrabbit. Crossed Wood River on a bridge near timber and a small sawmill. Camped on Wood River. Drove 20-24 miles (HScott journal; McClung 1977:B-4).
June 1 - Sunday - Pleasant day. Started at noon and drove 11-14 miles (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-5).
June 2 - Cloudy, a shower of rain. Left Wood River about noon and struck the Platte again. Saw several antelope. Passed Fort Kearney on opposite side of the river about 11:30. Alkali like snow on the ground. Drove 20-21 miles (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-5).
June 3 -Pleasant day. Prairie dog towns frequent. Robert Scott saw his first antelope. Drove 20 miles, camped on Platte Valley (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-5).
On the Platte River they met a large party of Indians assumed to be Pawnees. The river was low enough to ford so loose stock was driven over first, then ten or a dozen horse drawn wagons and finally the ox teams with about 100 wagons (MStoot & LPaul reminiscences). The Raley family of Nebraska joined the train, probably in Nebraska (Raley in Oregon Pioneers 1937:10), possibly other wagons have joined up. This figure of about 110 wagons may be an exaggeration or a temporary recruitment of wagons.
While the train was crossing the river, the younger people decided to explore the timber. They found an Indian tent and could hear Indians singing their “Ki yi ki yi ki yi”. Alvin Zehring said to a huge young Indian who had a dog with him, “You savvy swap?”. The young Indian nodded. Alvin pointed to 16 year old Margaret Stoot and said, “I’ll swap you this girl for your dog.” The Indian picked up his dog, thrust it into Alvin’s arms, grabbed Margaret and started off. Alvin hollered, “I was just joking.” but the Indian paid no attention, and kept on going: the children skedaddled back to the wagons. The frightened girl scratched the Indian’s face, he grabbed her arms and held them to her sides but she reached around and caught his hair, jerking his head back. Although helpless, she continued to kick and struggle. Meanwhile, her stepfather, J.K.Kennedy, called to the Indian, “Drop her, drop her” but the Indian swapped in good faith and refused to go back on the deal. By this time a dozen men with guns were coming. Kennedy called ‘Don’t shoot; don’t shoot the Indian; you’ll kill my girl. Shoot over them” and a volley of bullets whistled over their heads. The Indian dropped the girl and stalked away. For some time at night Margaret woke up screaming, thinking the Indian had her (MStoot & LPaul reminiscences).
June 4 - Road and weather good. No grass, wood or water for stock at noon but they stopped and ate a bite themselves. Traveled on until close to sundown and camped near the grave of some poor fellow, buried in earlier days of the Oregon Trail. Drove about 22-25 miles today. Had to leave the road 3 miles to get stock water (HScott journal; McClung 1977:B-6). They are about Dawson Co., NB. Robert Scott recorded that they drove until midnight to find water and grass for the cattle and camped in a good grove (RScott journal - date may be off).
June 5 - Fair. One man shot a jackrabbit. Other men came in with more jack rabbits, prairie chickens and an antelope. Grass generally good on the north side of the Platte. They could see traffic on the Oregon Trail south of the Platte. Drove 18 miles today (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-6). Probably Dawson or possibly Lincoln Co., NB.
June 6 - Fair. Passed two graves. Hamilton says a large flag waived over Jacob Gramberling’s / Robert says the two graves had small flags on them. According to the headboard, he was shot accidentally May 26 by his own gun swinging from the wagon bows and lived 7 hours. About night they passed the grave of Steven Fable, age 22, died 1860 Nov 6. Drove 18 miles today (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-6). About Lincoln Co. NB.
June 7 - Rained in the morning. Passed a spring with very cold water. Drove 18 miles and camped on Platte River at noon. Women had a wash day. Some young men swam to an island to get dead willows for fire wood. They were told there would be no more wood on the north side of the river for 200 miles so loaded all the wood they could take; when it was gone they would have to burn buffalo chips (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-6-7).
June 8 - Sunday - Wagons were over their axles in mud holes today, had to double team through some muddy sloughs. Wagons pushed mud ahead of them and cattle sank to their sides. Then they had sand hills. Drove 11-18 miles and camped on the North Platte where there was good grass. No wood of any kind so burned buffalo chips. Had a prayer meeting, the first since leaving Fremont (HScott journal; McClung 1977:B-7-8).
Census of train:
88 men 52 wagons
46 women 315 cattle
86 children 36 horses & mules (HScott journal)
220 total persons
[McClung records this for June 10: Census of the company was taken this evening: 98 men, 46 women, 52 wagons, 313 head of cattle ( McClung 1977:B-8). McClung and Hamilton Scott differ by 2 days at this point. Robert Scott is dated the same as his brother. The difference in the number of men may stem from difficulties in reading hand writing]
This averages out to only about 6 draft animals (3 yolk) per wagon. At the beginning of the trip, Paul Party worked 3 yoke of oxen and a yoke of cows to a team, because oxen were not plentiful in 1862 (HScott journal). Since some were using a total of 8 animals to haul one wagon, much of the train had to be made up of light wagons with fewer draft animals and they all had little spare stock to rest the working animals. Lack of forethought was not characteristic of these people, so the dangerously low number of relief animals may have been a result of the oxen shortage at the beginning of the Civil War.
June 9 - Started at 6 o’clock. Pleasant day and good grass. Road passed over sandy bluffs and descended to muddy bottoms. Passed the grave of Sir. J. Moe age 58, died 1861 July 25. Traveled 12-16 miles and camped near a good spring 3 / 4 mile from the river. Weeds for fuel (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-7).
June 10 - Fair. About 5 miles of very heavy sandy roads during the morning. Plenty of dust. Drove 18 miles today. Found plenty of good water (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-8).
In a stampede on the prairie, Tene Taylor’s 9 year old brother was running, trying to catch up with their wagon. The team and wagon behind would have run over him had not a man yanked him out of the way (CTaylor reminiscences).
At some point, Mrs. Nancy Taylor was barefoot and became marooned in a cactus bed. Another woman carried her out (CTaylor reminiscences).
June 11 - Fair. Started at 7 o’clock. “ Roads leaked through the bottom which was some what sandy”. Crossed a number of small creeks today. Passed a trading post where some of the company exchanged lame cattle for fresh ones. McClung bought a yoke of cattle for $80 because his team was getting weak. Both Scotts say they drove 20 miles and camped on a nice creek, but no wood. McClung says they camped on the banks of the Platte (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-8). Possibly camped where a nice creek ran into the Platte - or someone had their dates wrong again.
June 12 - They are still on the north side of the river. Passed Ash Hollow on opposite side of the river. Road rocky, nearly upsetting wagons at times. John McClung was sick and confined to his bed most of the day: it was his birthday. Although in bed, he got his exercise in the bucking wagon. Drove 20 miles and camped on the Platte River (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-8). {Franzwa 93}
June 13 - Fair. Mr. Delong had to shoot one of his cows this morning. She acted as if she were mad or had “inflammation of the brain” and was dangerous. Road level but sandy, one bad slough. Grazed cattle at noon as usual. Passed grave of A. Wilson age 32, died 1862 June 1. Drove 20 miles and camped on Platte River. Weeds made poor fuel, grass not very good. Still in NB (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:C-1).
June 14 - Started at 6 o’clock. Pleasant weather. Roads good; made good time. Some men went hunting at noon and killed a jackrabbit and an antelope (Robert Scott records this in the plural). Considerable alkali so grazed cattle only an hour at noon. In sight of Chimney Rock. Drove 20 miles. Camped on the bank of the Platte. Got the cattle unyoked and one of the “awfulest” wind storms McClung had ever seen came from the northwest, blowing over tents and whirling water from the river to the height of 15 feet. They staked down the wagons and women and children took shelter in them; men sheltered behind the wagons. The storm was short and they had a beautiful night. Grass not very good (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:B-C2-3).
June 15 - Sunday - At nine o’clock they “had an exhortation” from Father Joseph Paul. After an early diner, they headed them out at half past eleven and “moved along very nicely”, passing Court and Jail House Rocks on the opposite side of the river. About 4 o’clock two boys who had been hunting laid down in a road side ditch to rest, then raised up suddenly as five yoke of cattle were passing. The team took fright, ran off to one side and turned the wagon over in the ditch breaking the neck of an ox and hurting one child but not dangerously. The chain broke letting 4 yoke loose from the wagon. They unhitched and let the cattle graze while “they got things fixed up”, then camped about a mile down the trail making only about an 8 / 10 mile drive for the day. After they settled in camp, Hamilton Scott’s mess decided to have beef steak for supper so went back and skinned the freshly killed ox and brought the hind quarters back to camp. “We sure had beef steak for supper and breakfast” (H & R Scott journals).
June 16 - Pulled out at 7 o’clock. Left the river and traveled 13 miles without water. Passed Chimney Rock which had been in sight for 3 days, on the south bank. About 4 miles below they struck the river again and grazed and watered stock for 2 hours while they took dinner (noon meal). Saw the first Indians in about 300 miles. Roads in the afternoon were not so good and there were several bad alkali sloughs. Drove 20-24 miles today. Camped at 6 o’clock on the river near an Indian trading post. Grass pretty good (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-4).
June 17 - “Tim Bailey’s wife brought a new comer into camp last night which caused us to lay by today” (HScott journal). Robert says this was Mrs. Tim Nealy (RScott journal). Mrs. Kennedy was midwife for the train and when the occasion demanded, she attended her duties while the wagons went rumbling along (MMcGuire reminiscences - I have found no records of this happening but since all journal keepers were young males, it wouldn’t have been mentioned).
The women cooked and washed, some of the men went hunting. Saw a “vast” amount of antelope but killed nothing. John McClung returned to camp very sick and Dr. D.Y.Collins was called. Upwards of 100 wagons passed during the day (McClung 1977: C-4).
June 18 - Started at 6 o’clock. Passed Scott’s Bluff. About noon they saw willows on an island, the first wood in 150 miles. In the afternoon, they passed the grave of Mrs. B. Winters age 50, died 1851. Drove 22-25 miles today and camped on Drink Waters Creek. “Elegant” grass (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-5). {Franzwa 101}. Robert Scott skips June 18 and dates this June 19.
June 19 - Pleasant today. John McClung and some young ladies visited two Indian villages. An old chief was attracted to Miss Kennedy and determined to have her but she claimed to belong to McClung who turned down all offerers of ponies and property. Had a 13 mile drive without water. Passed 2 graves side by side; W.B.Hamilton age 31, died 1861 July 8, a free mason from Bremer County IA and D.S.Foster, age 47, from Decater County IN, died 1861 June 20 (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-5).
30-40 buffalo were spotted about 4 miles away. 6-8 men mounted their horses and galloped over to the shelter of a close by hill on the windy side and crawled to within 200 yards of the animals without being detected. Each “picked out his buffalo, then one man was to whistle and count three and then fire”. Two buffalo were killed so a man rode back for a wagon to haul them in (RScott journal).
Drove 23-25 miles crossing into Wyoming some time during the day [but then it was still Nebraska Territory]. Camped on the river near timber, the first for about 200 miles. They had been using “weeds” and buffalo chips for fuel; Hamilton Scott thought that answered very well (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-5). Women cooking for a family or outfit may have considered it adequate but no more than that. Robert Scott dates this June 20.
Chester Snider and E. Fickard from another train came in about 9 o’clock and had Rev. Joseph Paul “tie the knot” in the presence of a large and appreciative audience. They had been acquainted for 2 weeks (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-5).
About 11 o’clock they had an alarm in camp. Guards called three times, “Who comes there?” (which was the rule), followed by silence and then by about 20 shots in quick succession, and “Indians! Indians! Indians! Get your guns! Help! Help! Help!”. The camp was in great confusion and the corral was filled with women and children, some crying, some praying and some too scared to speak. Men were yelling “Where ‘s my gun - Where’s my ammunition - a massacre - everybody out and help!” (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-6).
One old fellow jumped out of his wagon and getting on his knees called upon the Lord for protection at the very top of his voice. Hamilton Scott, judging from the old fellow’s daily life, thought it probably the first time he had ever prayed (HScott journal).
During the confusion, an emigrant woman, unaware of what was happening and unfortunately wrapped in an Indian blanket, walked into the midst of it and, just as a guard was about to shoot her, called out asking if that was McGuire’s wagon, and so saved a tragedy (LPaul reminiscences).
No Indians were found and the story went around camp that a white man had been trying to steal a horse (H & R Scott journals). Later it developed that Captain Kennedy thought that as they were entering Indian country, the men should be tested. He had guards raise an alarm that Indians were attacking the horse guards, causing quite an excitement. According to Louisa J. Paul, Kennedy was bringing 5 or 6 families out, furnishing them with wagons, teams and supplies, so they felt they had to do whatever he asked of them. When the Captain wanted to know how the men would react in case of Indian attack, he had his men slip out and pretend to attack the horse guards (HScott journal; LPaul reminiscences). Robert Scott says “this was our first and a good lesson of experience, after which everything will be kept in place (RCScott journal). Of course, he thinks this happened June 20.
Louise Paul, in later years, was under the impression her father, Thomas Paul, being on guard at this time had worried her mother and the excitement caused premature confinement, resulting in her mother’s death (LPaul reminiscences). Hamilton Scott recorded the death of Elizabeth Paul on July 27, more than a month after this incident. It would seem that these two events were not directly cause and effect.
June 20 - Rose early. Passed over some sandy bluffs, Indian villages visible in every direction. Crossed a creek and camped. About 4 o’clock a heavy storm passed. Drove 18 miles today (McClung 1977: C-6-7).
June 21 - Weather good. Passed high bluffs with an Indian graveyard on top.10 miles brought them opposite Fort Laramie in the forks of the river where they ate dinner and watered cattle. There had been no grass for cattle all day so they drove three miles up the north fork and struck camp about 3 o’clock where wood, water and grass were plentiful. The women did some washing. 15 miles today on tolerable roads. Their first sight of the mountains (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-7). {Franzwa 107}
June 22 - Sunday. Captain Kennedy took a list of the company names and crossed the Platte River to the Fort Larramie post office. Most emigrants remained in camp for the day writing letters. Afternoon cold and drizzly. At 3 o’clock Kennedy returned with the mail and the company was all on hand awaiting it. Kennedy had picked up a great many letters but none for Ham Scott, disappointing him very much. John McClung had a letter from his mother, but memories of home gave him a dreary and lonesome feeling, so they both sat around feeling bad. Many were homesick and scared of Indians but it was too late to turn back (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-8). Robert Scott is back on the same date as Hamilton.
The captain had pictured to prospective emigrants a carefree trip with camping, fishing, hunting and traveling at leisure. But some of his party didn’t have realistic expectations and each day brought new trials, at least in their own estimation. They seemed to themselves “like the children of Israel when they were wandering in the desert”. Some “felt like faltering by the way” (S Zaring & EPaul reminiscences). They griped some in their remanensences but they may not have griped at the time. Their only safety lay in the Kennedy Company; personal feelings were put aside and not allowed to threaten the integrity of the company. Not even in the privacy of their journals could they admit their true feelings.
June 23 - Broke camp about 7 o’clock and in half a mile were in the Black Hills with scrubby pines scattered over the slopes. Ham Scott characteristically saw the road, “About as strange and stony road as I ever traveled”, his brother Robert thought the road “very rough and stoney and very steep” but John McClung, as usual, saw the scenery instead of the road and found it beautiful. 14 miles without water, then they passed a spring with only enough water for drinking. On a nearby bluff was the grave of Elvan Ingram age 4 years 6 months, died 1852 June 23, from Salem Iowa. They traveled 15 miles and McClung says they camped on Black Water, a dirty, muddy stream, but there was a spring with water for cooking. Both Scotts says they camped on the river (so possibly they camped where the Black Water ran into the river). Ham says grass was poor but Robert thought they had “plenty of everything” (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-8, C-9).
June 24 - Started out in front of another train. Good roads but hilly. A sprinkle of rain during the night “was gratefully received both by man and beast”. Passed the grave of John Walker, died 1852 June 15 and Josiah Walker age 32 died 1852 June 2. Crossed Alkali Creek and struck the bluff. Water scarce for 14 miles until they came to a nice spring and small stream where they camped. Drove 16 miles. Ham thought grass not very good, Robert thought there to be plenty of grass, wood and water, McClung thought the grass was good (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: C-8, D-1).
June 25 - Good roads today. Occasional sand ridges to pass over. Two graves, Mathew Hollend, died 1862 June 12, the other not marked.15 miles without water. Drove 18 miles. Camped on Cottonwood Creek. Grass not very good (HScott journal; McClung 1977: D-1).
June 26 - Pleasant weather. Struck river bottom again soon after they started. Came to the river again about 10 o’clock so watered stock and grazed until noon, took dinner and moved on. Road left the river and went over the bluffs opposite snow covered Laramie Peak that had been in sight for a week. Drove 20 / 24 miles. Camped on the river near some large cottonwood trees where they got bark for cooking. Grass no good (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-1-2).
June 27 - Bad road over the bluffs in forenoon. About noon the road descended to the river again and they could graze their cattle. Good road along the bottom in the afternoon. Cattle getting sore feet. Drove 17 / 18 miles. Camped on the river handy to water and grass. A heavy rain about dark scattered the stock (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-2).
June 28 - Laid in camp. Set wagon tires and shod cattle today. Oxen all very tired and foot sore. Women cooked and washed (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-2).
June 29 - Sunday - Forenoon roads level and sandy according to McClung, Ham Scott considered them rough. Saw 75-100 buffalo. Traveled until mid afternoon without water, except what they carried with them. Just as they reached the river a storm came out of the west, batting rain and hail in their faces. Drivers attempted to turn around, upsetting some wagons but doing no particular damage. Many were “pretty tolerable wet” and the afternoon was cool but there was no suitable place to camp. They had to drive on until late and then wade to an island in the dark for wet weeds and green willow to make a fire to warm and dry themselves. Drove 18 / 20 miles. Camped on the river. Grass very poor (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-3).
June 30 - Clear and cold. Roads either sandy or muddy. River bottom was getting narrower and grass not so plentiful. Drove 18 / 19 / 20 miles. Camped on river, plenty of water. No Indians today (H & R Scott journals:6; McClung 1977: D-3).
July 1 - 7 miles brought them to lower Platte River Bridge where there was a stage station and post office. To avoid bad sand bluffs on their side of the river, they crossed the bridge and drove 7 miles on the south side, crossing back on the upper Platte River Bridge where they hit a good road. Took dinner and grazed stock when they got to the bottom. Met a train of Mormons returning to the States who warned them of Indian problems. They didn’t take take it seriously - until later. 200 buffalo today Camped 6 miles above bridge, making 18 / 20 miles (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-5).
July 2 - Windy and cold. Passed Poison Spring and in 2 miles left Platte River after following it for 548 miles. Drove 15 miles more and camped at stage station on Mud Creek where they had spring water for cooking and sagebrush fuel (Asteracese: Artemisia tridentata Nutt.). McClung’s wagon seems to have stayed put but Ham Scott’s outfit found no grass and the spring not adequate for watering stock so hitched up again and drove on 7 miles to camp at 9 o’clock with good grass and water (HScott journal; McClung 1977: D-5). Robert Scott seems to have camped with McClung but considered the grass as poor (RScott journal).
July 3 - McClung’s party “raised early”, drove 7 miles arriving by 9 o’clock to where they found grass and then got breakfast at the foundations of an old stage station destroyed by Indians. Ham Scott stayed in camp until one o’clock to take advantage of good grass and water, then all hitched up and drove 9 miles. Camped on a small creek (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-5).
The Kennedy daughter’s horses died on the plains, but since cattle were getting gaunt and weak, Kennedy wouldn’t let them put the side-saddles in the wagon. 16 year old Margaret Stoot carried her’s for two days before abandoning it by the side of the road (MStoot reminiscences). [A full two days would be about 34 miles, a long way to carry a saddle. I presume that, unless she was exceedingly stubborn, she carried it for a ways one afternoon and for a spell the next morning]. This is the only record of belongings being abandoned by the side of the trail found so far.]
July 4 - George Bovee and Thomas Mackay (Robert Scott says there was another man with them) were hunting wolves in the bluffs 2 / 4 miles from the train. Bovee shot one but it fell into a crevice between rocks. When he stooped to cut off the ears, his revolver fell from the holster swung from his neck, hit a rock and shot him through the heart. He died instantly / lived long enough to say only “Take care of my family”. Mackay ran to camp to report the accident. Bovee’s little boy, only 5 or 6 years old and not comprehending the tragedy, on hearing his father was dead, clapped his hands and said, “Oh, good! I’ll have father’s knife” (SZaring reminiscences). Captain Kennedy sent one of his horse teams with a spring wagon to bring him in. Bovee left a wife and two / three children (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-6).
The train moved on a couple of miles to Independence Rock on the Sweetwater and struck camp at noon. Bovee was buried at the prominent landmark. Captain Kennedy found a man to drive the Bovee ox team (H & R Scott journals). {Franzwa 135}
Drove 12 miles. Camped on the Sweetwater not far from Independence Rock. 200 wagons came up and camped. 4 soldiers were stationed about half a mile from there (HScott journal; McClung 1977: D-7).
July 5 - Mrs. Thomas Paul was sick so they laid in camp until 1 o’clock. They had heard enough of Indian deprivations that they formed themselves into a military company called the Independent Braves. Mrs. Paul was better at noon so they hitched up. There were now about 80 wagons in the train, roughly 28 wagons joining them since Council Bluffs, 334 people and 532 head of cattle. About 5 / 8 miles up river they crossed, swimming stock and pulling wagons by hand over a shaky old bridge of rotten poles: for this they paid 20 cents per wagon. Drove 3 miles up river and camped near the Devil’s Gate in the Rattlesnake Mts. near a stage station and a beautiful spring. Grass not very good Traveled 8 / 9 miles today (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977). {Franzwa 135}
July 6 - Sunday - No grass at noon. Road sandy; wind blowing it in their faces. They pass snow banks. At 4 PM they passed a camp of two trains, who informed them of a murder that day in a party of about 3 wagons from Pikes Peak mines going to Powder River mines in Oregon. Two men, R. Young and George Scott, were traveling together and quarreled over their team. George Scott took the team and his belongings and went ahead with Reed Leeving. Young was encouraged by a 4th man to follow Scott and kill him. Young overtook Scott and shot and killed him with a double barreled shot gun from the back of the wagon in which he was riding. He buried Scott in a three foot hole in the dust without a box and took his team and money (AZaring note; McClung 1977:D-9; H & R Scott journals).
Apparently kennedy went to the grave site to check this out. As the Kennedy advance guard, apparently Kennedy with his fast traveling mule team and several teen age boys who had replaced the Kennedy daughters, came up, the Pitman train had just opened Scott’s grave. They reburied him in a respectful manner (McClung 1977: D-9). Glenn (:483) remembers that Kennedy arrested Young at once but this is contradicted by several journals that were kept at the time.
They traveled late, found no grass; cattle suffering for feed: they had had only water today. Drove about 20 / 25 miles (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-9).
July 7 - They started at sun rise and traveled 4 or 5 miles and found “tolerable” grass on river bottom. Several trains were there so they drove in and camped to graze and get breakfast. They were informed that Young, the murderer, was there / was not far ahead. Men from another train requested Captain Kennedy to take charge as they were not strong enough (McClung doesn’t mention this, in his account it appears that Capt. Kennedy did it on his own initiative - which is apparently not accurate). Captain Kennedy ordered out twenty well armed Independent Braves to surround Young and take him, which they did. A court was organized and a jury of twelve men selected, Young was given what was described by several as a fair trial, Glenn said “there was no dearth of legal talent on either side” (:483). A twelve to one verdict guilty of willful murder [12 to 1 makes a jury of 13] was given. With the prisoner under guard, they hitched up at 2 PM and drove 8 miles to where the Ohio 6th Calvary was camped. Captain Greg and several others (officers?) from Laramie were present. Captain Kennedy called their company together and laid the case before them. They decided the prisoner should be executed the next morning (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: D-10; Cummins in Irwin nd:4)
McClung differs on the last part. He says the military officers decided they were not present at the trial so had no right to punish Young: it was Kennedy’s place to carry that out. Kennedy put it to a vote and a large majority favored his death. He was given until morning to dispose of his property and prepare for the “Other World”. Young cried. Stephen Hill was appointed to do his writing and prayed and talked with him until morning (McClung 1977: E-1). He “willed everything he possessed to Mrs. Scott, the widow of the man whom he had shot” (Glenn :483).
[A jury of 13 men assembled in a rough enclosure of logs. A fire was kept going, and the accused man was there under guard. Children clambered on the logs and others drew near and listened. The sentence was death by shooting. The man had little to say for himself except that he didn’t know there was any harm in killing a man on the plains. He had a family back east and spent the night writing letters (CTaylor reminiscences)].
Grass and water good (HScott journal).
July 8 - A calm, still morning. The execution was to be at 8 o’clock. The prisoner was given his choice of being shot or hanged. He preferred to be shot and chose the place for his grave. Captain Kennedy called out the Independent Braves and Captain Greg took command of the twenty five armed men and marched the prisoner half a mile to where his grave had been dug, out of sight of the wagon trains. McClung estimates a 1000 emigrants followed. Holding a watch, Kennedy gave Young 15 minutes to talk. He cried again and said a few words privately. After 10 minutes, he knelt in silent prayer. At the end, he was raised to his feet and marched to the grave where he stood half bent, handkerchief in hand, weeping like a child. Fourteen guns were loaded with bullets and the rest were blanks. Kennedy gave the signal and they all fired, the prisoner falling backwards and dying within a minute. No one moved or breathed. He was immediately laid in his grave without even a rough box. No word was spoken. The wagon trains moved on. Drove 12 miles and camped on the river (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: E-2).
Seven year old Woodson Cummins remembered in later years that Young was made to dig his own grave. He wasn’t allowed to see the execution but peeked from under the wagon cover at a distance (Cummins in Irwin nd:4). That Young dug his own grave was not mentioneed in journals kept at the time.
Not all emigrants attended the execution. The Taylor oxen were yoked and ready to move. Ephram Taylor, face white, held his oxen by their horns to keep them from stampeding. Christene heard the shots from the trail (CTaylor reminiscences).
5 days later on July 13, Louisa Cook passed the two graves with Hiram Smith Company. A board at the head of the Scott grave gave the story of how he had been killed by Young and how Young had been overtaken by emigrants, tried and shot (Cook letters in Haines 1989 VIII:49). If this is accurate, it indicates some one returned to Scott’s grave from the execution site and inscribed a headboard with the story.
Cook said Young’s grave was only 2 miles from George Scott’s. Hamilton Scott’s notes are not clear but it appears there is more than 13 miles between them, see July 6 & 7.
The Kennedy train traveled 12 miles and camped on the Sweetwater. Stock was swum across the river where there was pretty good grass. Weather was good (McClung 1977: E-3).
July 9 - The road left the river this morning, going through large alkali soughs, scattered with remains of animals killed by alkali. McClung felt that he was “plumb out of Sivilation”. Mid afternoon they passed what he thought was one of the prettiest springs he had ever seen, but when he went to take a cool drink he was “scared surprised and much disappointed” by the boiling hot water, but then, McClung had never seen a hot spring before. Robert Scott thought them too hot to hold your hand in. The ever practical Ham Scott thought them only warm springs with water about blood heat. Some very sandy bluffs after this. Drove 20 / 22 miles and camped on a Sage Creek. Cattle had to be driven 3 / 4 miles for grass (H & R Scott journals: McClung 1977:E-4). [no hot spring such as this in Franzwa]
July 10 - Pleasant day. Guards brought up the cattle and they made a 10 o’clock start. Passed a grave inscribed “two persons named Megraw who was Brothernlaws was killed by the indians on the 28th of June, 1862”. Their dog lay at the head of the grave and could not be coaxed away. It was starving and kindhearted McClung left it food for several days. About 2 o’clock they camped near Antelope Springs by South Park? post office, their last post office. Grasshoppers and emigrants had used up all the grass so they took their stock out to graze. Traveled 7 miles and camped at a spring. About 200 wagons and 150 soldiers of the Ohio 9th Cavalry to protect emigrants, camped here (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: E-5). One journal is confused on dates here but I can’t guess which - possibly Ham Scott..
July 11 - Fair. Started about 8 o’clock ahead of one or two other companies. Dust 4” deep making it uncomfortable for women and children who now walk as teams are growing thin. After 6 miles cross Strawberry Creek where there is a nice spring and good camp ground. Traveled several miles more without seeing grass until Willow Creek. A good camp there but it was occupied by other trains so drove a mile further and camped on the Sweetwater by a 11 foot snowbank on a north facing slope. The younger generation, including Robert Scott, had a snowball “spree” and washed each others face in the snow. Grass poor. 20 / 25 miles today (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: E-6).
Just before they went into the Rockies, their oxen and horses stampeded. 7 year old Isaac Paul was on a horse and rode up to a tree, jumped off his horse, climbed the tree and stayed there until the danger was over (L JPaul reminiscences).
July 12 - They laid over in camp to set wagon tires and shoe cattle etc. Woman cook and wash. McClung observes that at rest stops, women always had to prepare for the travel ahead and got little rest; then McClung himself went hunting, not the most restful activity known to mankind (HScott journal; McClung 1977: E-6).
July 13 - Sunday - Started at 8 o’clock. 6 miles brought them to Landers Cutoff Road and they turned off the main Oregon Trail, leaving stage and telegraph lines and the safety of soldiers stationed 14 miles apart. Stopped at a slough where there was good grass and grazed 2 hours while they took dinner. Left the river for 12 miles on a rolling, sandy road. Drove 20 miles and camped on the Sweetwater with good grass and water. Crossed from Nebraska Territory into Utah Territory (HScott journal; McClung 1977: E-6-7). {Franzwa 143}
July 14 - Laid in camp because Mrs. Eliza Jane Ellis, wife of Ellis E. Ellis “ brought a new comer into camp last night”. They named their first child Charles Francis Ellis. Nearly 50 teams passed that day (HScott journal; McClung 1977: E-7; Marjorie Miles).
July 15 - Pleasant day. Drove 8 miles and camped at 11 o’clock on account of sickness in the train. Hunters took advantage of the stop and shot 3 antelope which seemed to Ham Scott the best meat he had ever eaten [on the Oregon Trail, emigrants became very weary of a steady diet or ham and bacon]. Saw elk and possibly a small buffalo herd in the distance. In climbing a timbered mountain, McClung saw fresh grizzly tracks followed by fresh Indian tracks. He headed right for camp but managed to find the Indian camp instead. Cocking both gun and revolver, he slipped around the wigwams, reaching the wagons about dark, somewhat hungry and tired having traveled about 15 miles (HScott journal ; McClung 1977: E-7-8). They are now about 5 miles from the continental divide. Robert Scott thinks this is July 14; (RScott journal).
July 16 - The Mrs. Ellis was able to travel so they moved on across the summit of the Rocky Mts. during the morning, and entered Oregon Territory. Traveled 9 miles over high rocky peaks; hard on stock and trying on women and children They crossed Little Sandy Creek; 5 miles brought them to Big Sandy, cool enough to freeze a man to death and very swift. They camped there. Good grass a mile from camp. Drove 15 / 18 miles today (HScott journal; McClung 1977: E-8-9,F-4). {Franzwa 145,147}
July 17 - Cold, drizzly and very disagreeable. 9 miles brought them to a spring and large slough with tolerable grass where they took dinner. In 16 miles they reached Green River and camped in the dark at 9 o’clock along with hundreds of other emigrants, all waiting to cross the river the next day. Country covered with sagebrush, which made excellent fires, but near the road no grass except occasionally on creeks. Made 25 miles today. McClung stood guard half the night (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: E-9). {Franzwa 149}
July 18 - Pleasant day. Some went to hunt grass and others made arrangements for crossing. The Green River was high and rapid and instead of fording, wagons would have to be ferried over. They spent the day unloading and corking 5 wagons, making two boats of them (HScott diary). Then everything had to be unloaded from the wagons, wagons taken to pieces and all loaded into the wagon box boats. Long ropes were fastened to them so they could be pulled ashore (SZaring reminiscences). Men trying to paddle these queer looking crafts were a comical sight to youngsters tired silly after strenuous days of travel (Ellen Paul reminiscences). By evening,12 wagons had been ferried over the Green River (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: F-1).
July 19 - They swam stock over in the morning and had considerable trouble. Hardest was to get cattle started, they were driven to the bank and every man, woman and child waved branches, pushed and shouted till finally the foremost critters went into the water, and others followed. Then it was a beautiful sight to see them swimming the wide river (EPaul reminiscences). The horses were put in three times and would go about half way across then turn down stream and drift back to the same side they had been put in on. They finally had to lead a horse beside a “boat” and the rest followed (H & R Scott journals).
Mrs. McCormick was very sick so her wagon could not be taken apart. It was loaded on top of a “boat” making a very top heavy load. The wind was blowing and the boat dipped water all the way across. There were anxious moments but it made it safely across (RCScott journal).
Ferrying wagons was highly dangerous and emigrants were uneasy until all were across the river without mishap by dark. Several other trains drowned teams that day and a few days before 2 men drowned in swimming a horse across (HScott journal; McClung 1977: F-1; SZaring reminiscences).
July 20 -Sunday - Pleasant. An ox was missing this morning so Thomas Paul and (Andrew?) Hunter went after him (HScott journal; McClung 1977: F-2). Robert Scott says 8 men went out after cattle (RScott journal).
15 wagons, including the Cummins family and five other families, separated from Kennedy Company on the Green River because they were discontented with the many delays (Cummins in Irwin nd:5). McClung says they had differences with Captain Kennedy because he was never satisfied and always finding fault in the company (McClung 1977: F-2). [this sounds like a typical case of camp fever] They pulled out in the morning. The remaining teams were hitched up at noon and drove 6 miles, camping on the West Fork of the Green River, which would have to be ferried the same as the main Green River. A number of trains were here, among them the splitter group from the Kennedy Train, who had elected Rev. Mr. Ed. Culberson as Captain. The river bank was lined with tents and there was little grass for stock so Kennedy Company moved up river 2 miles and found good camping and splendid grass. The wagon train ahead was crossing with a boat that could be bought for $5 (McClung and Robert Scott say someone found an old ferry boat that was sunk). The men who went out after the missing ox/cattle were still gone (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: F-2).
July 21 - They got possession of the boat at 3 o’clock “this evening” [Southern usage of ‘evening’?]. The cattle hunters had not yet returned (HScott Journal). McClung says they managed to raise the old ferry boat without much difficulty and it was large enough to take one wagon safely (McClung 1977: F-2), this means wagons would not have to be dismantled and put back together again.
July 22 - All were ferried over by 10 / 11 o’clock and Paul and Hunter came in with the lost ox about that time. Leaving the river, they had to double team across alkali sloughs. Later in the day, a band of Mormon guerrillas rode up and surrounded the train (Mormons may not have claimed them at all - they well could have been excommunicated). The Independent Braves got their guns and fell into line and guerrillas scattered in every direction. The emigrants drove about 10 miles this evening [afternoon] and camped on a creek with good grass and water handy. Saw Indians at a distance. McClung went to the creek for water and found a paper saying: “July 18th, Captain Kennedy Sir, if you should camp here be on your guard for last night we camped here and our stock was stampeded and early this morning we went in pursuit of our stock and saw Indians driving them off. We had a fight with them. One of our men was killed and 2 wounded. However we got the stock.” The grave of the man killed was close to camp. Kennedy put out picket guards (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: F-3-4).
July 23 - Early start. Passed grave of Matan Moarn of Missouri, killed by Indians 1862 July 18, bound for Salmon River mines [apparently the man above]. 10 miles brought them to a creek where they ate dinner [Robert Scott said they traveled only 2 miles before dinner - he may not have camped in same place as Ham] Several trains who’s stock had been stampeded by Indians were camped here. One had their cattle corralled inside of the circled wagons and they ran over three wagons, breaking them down slightly and “wounding” two men badly. The stock were about gathered up now. McClung suspected Mormon guerrillas stampeded the stock. Some of Kennedy Company got their provisions wet by not raising their wagon beds when they crossed Bear River. Streams were changing in character, becoming deep and very swift. Kennedy Train drove 3 miles farther and camped in a protected site on a creek at the mouth of a canyon in the Bear River Mountains (Robert Scott calls it the Bare River). Drove 13 miles today. Put out strong picket guards tonight (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: F-4-5).
[This may belong here or a day earlier - Cummins splitter group traveled down the Green River alone for only a day or two. As evening came, signal fires appeared on bluffs across the river and Indians appeared. The little group knew they were in danger so circled their few wagons, got out their guns and ammunition and prepared for an attack. Just at dusk, Kennedy train came into view, slowly circled the little corral and there was no attack that night (Cummins in Irwin nd:6)]
July 24 - Stayed in camp on account of sickness in the company (HScott Journal) - probably Mrs. Elizabeth Paul but rules of conduct at the time decreed that the unborn were not to be mentioned, especially by the unmarried. Several other trains camped with them. It was a pleasant day but the week before, a train of 105 wagons had been attacked here for 3 nights in succession so they were nervous. At night, cattle were guarded as usual on the outside of the corral and horses, more vulnerable to Indian raids, staked on the inside. About 11 o’clock the cattle stampeded and “all of the fus I ever heard in my life before nothing to compare with this. The cattle snorted and run in every direction made the mountains fairly quiver. Every man was up in half than no time.” No Indians were to be seen. At 2 o’clock cattle stampeded again, this time the guards spotted two Indians (McClung 1977: F-6).
July 25 - Pleasant. Two parties were sent out to hunt cattle, McClung’s party went down the creek through waist deep sloughs and on the next creek in a large willow covered slough, came upon a number of corralled wagons in good shape. Trunks had been broken open and harness cut to pieces. There was no doubt the train had been captured by Indians but McClung would rather think it was those Mormons. This appears to have been a recent, possibly 1862 wagon train, that had been destroyed. The other party found the cattle, being driven off by two Indians and a recently deserted Indian camp with clothing and harness scattered among the wigwams. All cattle were found by 10 o’clock in the morning (HScott journal; McClung 1977: F-6).
When they were just ready to start, the cattle stampeded again, no one knew why but some supposed it was dogs. The company held a meeting and decided every dog in the train was to be killed within 30 minutes. Apparently this was carried out and they all went, from Maguires fine brindle bulldog that had watched their tent so faithfully every night (EPaul Reminiscences) to the promising pup Captain Kennedy bought on the road and had taken such pains with. Especially children mourned losing their pets, and it seemed worse out in such a lonesome country. This caused a good deal of hard feelings towards Captain Kennedy who was blamed although it was described as a company decision. Several left the train on this account (McClung 1977: F-7).
As they were pulling out, Creamer upset a wagon in the middle of a freezing cold, waist deep creek. Not much damage was done and they “came out all right without lameing the lead much” (McClung 1977:F-8).
Drove 8 miles up the canyon through mud and water knee deep. Had several breakdowns with wagons. Camped in the Bear River Mts about a mile before the road left the canyon. Traveled 10 miles today (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977: F-6-8).
July 26 - Drove 14 miles through what to their eyes was very tall pine timber, snow 2 feet deep but going off fast and keeping rivers high. Camped at foot of Bear River Mts on a fork of the Bear River. Grass poor. Cattle stampeded about 11 o’clock PM, causing great excitement. Women and children were “squabbling worse than 10 thousand Indians” and the cattle made the trees fairly crack (HScott journal; McClung 1977:F-8).
Creamer, an elderly spiritualist, got out of bed and climbed upon something where all could hear and shouted that the spirits had told him that all people in the train were to be murdered before morning. There was little sleep for anyone that night (SZaring reminiscences). McClung remarks “It was a nuff to excite anyone let alone the Creamer” (McClung 1977:F-8).
150 cattle got away. All but 15 were found near by (HScott journal).
July 27 - Sunday - Rose at daylight and inventoried cattle, 75 were missing [McClung’s estimates always exceed those of Scott but 75 vs. 15 is a little beyond reason]. McClung was among the men guarding camp and the remaining stock. Another group went out to round up strays (McClung 1977:F-8).
RScott says cattle were taken away from Indians after a fight (RScott journal). HScott and McClung do not mention this.
Mrs. Thomas Paul died in childbirth about 9 o’clock that morning. She had been poorly for some time. The infant, Elizabeth, was to live for a week. They remained in camp all day and Elizabeth Mortimer Paul, age 32 years, 7 months, 27 days, was buried that evening on Bear Mountain under a large pine tree. A post and paling fence was built around her grave. The ladies wrote some verses and put them on a board at the head of the grave:
Friends nor Physicians could not Save
this mortal body from the grave
nor can the grave confine it here
when God demands it to appear.
for tho it was her lot to die
here among the Mountains high
yet when Gabriels trumpet Shall Sound
among the blest She will be found
and while She rests beneath this tree
may holy angels watch and See
that naught disturbs her peaceful day
until the dawning of that day.
(McClung 1977:G-1)
When her brother crossed the plains two years later, her grave was just as they left it (HScott journal; LJPaul reminiscences).
Merrill (1988:182) says the grave was 5 miles east of Wagner Pass.
Mary Rayburn, traveling with the Thomas Paul family to join her brother in Oregon, took charge of the Paul children until they arrived in Walla Walla (LPaul reminiscences).
July 28 - McClung’s group guarded camp again. 10 men, including Alvin Zaring, not realizing Indians were exceedingly hostile in this part of the country, started out in the morning to hunt the 15 cattle not yet recovered from the stampede. About a mile north of camp a grizzly bear had taken after the cattle, chasing them about 15 miles over rough mountainous country (H & R Scott journals; AZaring note).
The remainder of the wagon train hitched up at noon, 7 miles from camp they passed a grave by the side of the road. A bloody shirt with 2 bullet holes lay near it . A note on the headboard read: “Opened by Cavineous train on the 19th of this month. The body was two much decayed for to remove. He was Shot with one ball through the temple & anrrow was found by the grave bloody. The deceast was Suposed to be 50 years Old.” The body was not more than 6 inches under ground. He was said to have been killed by Indians. McClung later talked with a man who knew the circumstances. the victims name was Camel [probably John Campbell], from Pike’s Peak. He was with 4-5 wagons that lagged 3 miles behind their train. About 40 very friendly acting Indians came up offering to trade horses and when Campbell was off guard, shot him and wounded 7 others. The wounded men got away, leaving everything behind. The “Indians” took $9000 from Campbell, carried off all possessions and burned the wagons (McClung 1977:G-3). See William Smedley 1994:40-3. He passed here July 20 and has a little information on this happening. Again, white involvement in this is suspected.
Something is out of order here. Walker train passed this grave on July 29, the day after they passed the Kennedy train. Gould (1987:53) says it was the Maple train that opened the grave [both trains may have checked]. McClung kept a very detailed journal, but I suspect he kept it sometimes well after the fact.
They drove 8 / 10 miles that day, crossing 15 creeks from 1-2 feet deep, and camped in timber, still in the mountains, but no grass for the stock. The searchers arrived back in camp about 10 / 11 PM (they are probably using sun time - McClung is consistently an hour ahead of Scott - running on daylight saving sun time?] with only 4 head of cattle, found some 10 miles from camp. Cattle had nothing to eat that day and were frightened making them harder to manage. They took no chances on another stampede, keeping cattle yoked and chained to trees. The cattle kept snorting and trying to get away all night. They knew Indians were sneaking around but they couldn’t see them. Pickets were hidden out in the timber watching camp. It was a wild night (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-3,4, AZaring note).
The loss of 11 head (HScott says 8 head but 11 fits other data better) must have caused difficulties for the wagon train as they seemed to be short of draft animals at the start of the trip.
The missing cattle were later picked up by Jack Company and 10 head were returned to Kennedy Company when Jack Company caught up with them Sept 1 at Catherine Creek, now the Bruneau River in Owyhee County Idaho.
The Walker train passed. Jane Gould counted 36 wagons in the Kennedy camp. Kennedy Company started with 52 wagons and had some additions that stayed with them, e.g. the Raley family. So until the Culberson Party split off, losses and gains were about equal. Walker Train apparently stopped to pass the time of day for a while because Jane Gould knew all the Kennedy camp news (Gould 1987:53).
July 29 - Pleasant. In crossing a small river, wagons had to make a turn on the opposite side. McClung’s wagon fell some 20 feet, uncoupling as it fell and landing upside down in the river. The hind wheels and bed went to the bottom, leaving 4 wheels with the oxen. The bows were mashed and a chair was broken, nothing else was hurt (McClung 1977).
Roads bad. Drove 10 / 18 miles and found fair pasture, the first since yesterday morning. That night they felt safe (H & R Scott journals).
July 30 - Remained in camp until 10 o’clock. The company had another falling out with Kennedy. 6-8 wagons, including the Cummins family, stayed behind when the company drove off. Drove 10 / 12 miles and camped on a nice stream of clear, cold, mountain water in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. Good grass. The wagons that had split off came in before long and camped near them. Killed a badger. It was a fine camp, out in the open and the moon was shining, but they had their pickets on watch for Indians (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-4).
July 31 - Cold and windy; little creeks frozen over. “Drove through mountains, over rocky, bad roads, through timber. had to cut a road through pine trees and move rock to get through, and make pole bridges over creeks”. Crossed Spring Creek two miles from camp. Tolerable grass. At Salt Creek they could have gathered bushels of pure white salt. Drove 12 / 15 miles for the day and camped on a creek. Presently the wagons that had lagged behind came up and corralled with them, except Robert Cummins, who passed by and went on to catch up with Ed Culberson/Cubberson’s train. [Cummins reached Walla Walla at the same time as his relatives so this separation wasn’t permanent.] Caught a lot of nice mountain trout, shot 3 buck deer and one bear. Mr. Scott’s horse died [At least I think that is what McClung means - “Here Mr. Scott lost the first ose, he had had to dye”]. Had 4 sick oxen by evening. Mr. Gift, a Methodist minister, delivered a discourse (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-5).
Aug 1 - Left 3 or 4 dead cattle this morning. Drove 15 miles and got through rough mountains to find grass. McClung was enthralled by the scenery, but as usual, Ham Scott could take it or leave it. Lots of game. Camped on a beautiful mountain creek (HScott journal; McClung 1977:G-6).
Lizzie McGuire was one of the most mischievous of the children. One evening the wagon train was camped on a small creek over which former campers had laid a huge log. Lizzie slipped back to camp and returned with a bar of soap and “soaped the log good”. The children hid to watch the fun when grownups tried to cross (EPaul reminiscences).
Aug 2 - Early in the morning passed the grave of Captain Q.W.Geane age 50, died 1859 July 18, at the foot of the Bear River Mts.
Between 11 and 12 o’clock their cattle scared when loose horses belonging to another train came running up behind them. Robert Scott said “the cattle have had the jitters more than a wee. Scare at anything. We think they small the Indians” [smell?]. This started off the hind teams in their own train and about 25 teams gave a big snort and away they went, tails up, upsetting and breaking several wagons, running over men, women and children, jumping over each other and scattering everything over the rocky roads and over high banks. Mrs. Nancy Townsend was dangerously “wounded”, Wilson Scott had a broken leg and Mrs. Hoover’s head was “bruised”, Mr. Hoover had body injuries and 32 others bruised, sprained and scratched (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-6).
Mrs. Townsend had been standing on the wagon tongue when the oxen began to run; her hired man was walking beside the team. She called to him, “What shall I do? Shall I jump or shall I climb back into the wagon?” He bawled out “Jump”. She jumped but, being in late pregnancy, didn’t fall clear of the wagon. The heavy wheels passed over her, and when they picked her up she was badly crushed (MStoot reminiscences).
One of the Paul wagons came uncoupled, the cattle running with the front wheels, leaving hind wheels and box by the roadside with Sarah Zaring’s aunt and children inside, but unhurt (SZaring reminiscences).
They struck camp when they got straingtened up, and traveled “a while with only two oxen on a wagon to be able to handle them, they are so badly scared. The cattle we loosened from the wagons were still in the yokes and chained together. They would hist their tails and snort every 20 or 30 minutes and try to get away. We had to keep them away from those hitched to the wagons to keep them from running away again. We only traveled 8 miles after the runaway, and camped the first place we found where we could stop and let the cattle get quiet down over night”. They had to dig wells for cooking water (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-7).
Aug 3 - Elizabeth Paul, Thomas Paul’s infant died during the night (HScott journal).
That morning children saw Mrs. Townsend lying under a wagon and were told she was sick but they saw a woman holding a new baby and knew it was dead without being told. Mrs. Townsend died about 12 o’clock. The Walker train passed that afternoon just after infant Elizabeth Paul was buried and as the grave for Mrs. Townsend and her infant was being dug. They were buried at 3 o’clock (HScott journal; CTaylor reminiscences; McClung 1977:G-7; Gould 1987:55). Merrill (1988:182) says this was in the vicinity of Lane’s Grove, southeast of Gray’s Lake.
Mrs. Townsend left a child to be cared for by other families. It was a:
18 month old son (MMcGuire reminiscences)
3 years old (McClung 1977:G-7)
2 year old girl
and a husband nearly crazy with sorrow (Gould 1987:55).
Mrs. Hoover and Wilson Scott were getting better (HScott Journal). The day was spent repairing wagons and “fixing to travel” (McClung 1977:G-7).
Some in the Walker train believed the excessive problems of the Kennedy train was a judgment upon them for meddling with and depriving a man of his life without the aid of the law (Gould 1987:55), refering to the arrest and execution of R. Young for the murder of George Scott.
Aug 4 - Pleasant day. John McClung was the lead wagon that day. Cattle were still upset and nervous, stampedes were so frequent it was unsafe for the entire wagon train to travel together so the company was divided into four parts, a quarter mile apart but camping together at night.1-2 miles from camp they passed a lake of several hundred acres (Gray’s Lake that Merrill mentions?). They passed the grave of Alvin Gerrington. Drove 20 / 25 miles, got along very well with the cattle. No trouble. Camped on a branch of the Snake River (H & R Scott journals:10; McClung 1977:G7-8).
Aug 5 - Pleasant. Cattle worked better and more quiet. In the afternoon, Landers Cutoff returned to the Old Oregon Trail, where several trains were camped. Kennedy Train drove 3 miles farther and camped on a small creek with poor grass (HScott says they camped on the Snake River). Drove 20 / 25 miles although roads had been bad. “Cattle had a hard workout and are tired tonight and may quiet down now” (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-8).
Aug 6 - Fair day but roads so dusty they “could hardly” see their teams. They were in sight of timber but traveled through a dry valley. “Cattle working more quiet”. McClung says about 10 o’clock they passed Ft. Hall, about 6 miles from the road. It had been abandoned in 1855 but 63 soldiers were stationed there. Drove 16 miles and camped at 5 o’clock on a small stream with poor grass. Several Frenchmen with Indian wives had a traveling post, selling flour at $12 per hundred weight (RScott journal; McClung 1977:G-9). [HScott doesn’t reach Ft Hall until the next day in his journal - only off by one day here]. Frequent discrepancies between journals could easily have occurred when neglected journals were caught up a few days after the fact. Hamilton Scott’s journal more often gives the impression of immediacy so in the absence of additional information, his dates are used.
By this time, after several brushes with Indians, several companies had joined with Kennedy Company for protection. Two small horse and mule trains, Adams and Smart, traveled ahead because horses are faster than oxen. Kennedy and Newman traveled behind the horse trains apparently with 111 wagons. They all camped together at night (Atkinson in Nelson 1990:187).
Aug 7 - 11 miles brought them to the Portneuf River, a branch of the Snake River, which they were told they had to ferry for $1.50 per wagon (HScott Journal). The ferrymen had removed the government built bridge and dammed the river about 75 yards below the ferry / 50 yards above the ferry. Several hundred wagons were ahead of them, so it took a long time to cross. They found later there was a good ford about a mile and a half below the ferry (HScott journal; MAStoot reminiscences; McClung 1977:G-11).
Among those waiting was a horse train known to the children as the ‘Honeymoon Special’ (possibly Adams Party), most were young folks - newlyweds. They had the finest outfits on the plains, and apparently unlimited money. The young man in the tale seems to be Bullwinkle, visiting Adams Train from the Walker Train. Mormons at the ferry had provisions for sale, among them large cheeses. A young man of the ‘Honeymoon Special” party asked the price of a big cheese. His companions urged him not to buy it, as the price was so high, but he said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m the fellow that has the money. I can buy the cheese, all right” and took out a long buckskin purse, untied the string and poured a handful of gold pieces on the board serving as a counter. He pocketed his change and bore the cheese triumphantly away. A number of Mormons and a larger number of Indian were standing around when he displayed his money (MAStoot reminiscences). This ostentacious display of money may have been a precipitating factor in the events to follow.
Kennedy Company drove a mile past the ferry, making 12 miles for the day, and camped “opposite Fort Hall, 8 miles distance”. In the evening, Ham Scott gathered some nice currents with current pies in mind (HScott journal). {Franzwa 185}
Aug 8 - Roads dusty. 7 miles from Portneuff River they struck a large bottom and stopped for a couple of hours to take dinner and graze stock near a small lake where rushes were 15 feet high ( probably Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.). Two miles later they crossed a clear creek, about 2 feet deep. Came to a trail broken by another wagon train ahead of them. Country is more open and saw a big bunch of buffalo today. Drove about 18 / 19 miles (H & RC Scott journals; McClung 1977:G-11).
Aug 9 - Traveled 6 miles to the Snake River. In another mile they passed American Falls on Snake River where water falls forty or fifty feet over rocks, making a great roaring noise. This so impressed Ham Scott that he recorded it right along with details of the Indian attack that followed (HScott journal). {Franzwa 187}
The Kennedy and Newman companies were stopped two miles past American Falls for dinner (or at the falls according to RScott). The two small horse trains were about 3-4 miles ahead. Two men, one possibly John Meller of Omaha, came riding back and told them a large number of Indians were the robbing the Adams train and assistance was needed. 145 men grabbed their guns, mounted horses and started immediately (probably didn’t have 145 horses). The rest hitched up without finishing dinner and drove on as fast as they could punch their teams [normally ox teams travel at about 2 miles/hour] (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:H-1; Franzwa 1990:186; Adkinson in Nelson 1990:187).
Adams train, a small train of 11 mule teams, with 25 men and a few women and children (or 18 wagons and 25 men; Adkinson says some 40 persons), had been attacked while at their noon meal by not less than 200 Indians (this is HScott’s estimate, he is usually conservative, his brother gives the same estimate). They were in a narrow canyon and the Indians had attacked from behind black basalt boulders the size of a house. Charles Bullwinkle was killed, 5 men seriously wounded, one in the arm, and Elizabeth Adams was shot in the neck/breast. Several were missing (H & R Scott journals; Adkinson in Nelson 1990:1870.
The mounted rescue troop met Adam’s Company on the road - “big strong men and women, stood there crying like children. They had to run for their lives, were bareheaded, barefooted, with nothing left but what was on their backs (H & R Scott journals). Adkinson says the people were on the bluff and among the rocks (in Nelson 1990:187).
The men rode on but Indians had already taken everything but the wagons, yokes and chains and gone into the timber (small pinyon and junipers) in the foothills and out of sight. They followed until about 4 o’clock but the Indians knew they were being followed and scattered in the hills. Only 14 oxen were recovered. By the time they returned with the animals, their train had come up and was waiting for them (RScott journal).
Charles Bullwinkle had been shot eight times. His dog continued to defend his wagon and was shot four times [no mention of arrows]. His six trunks had been broken into and emptied except for books and papers. Six thousand dollars and the oil cloth wagon cover had been taken as well (Ham Scott agrees that Charles Bullwinkle had $6000 removed from him, McClung says 6-7 thousand, his numbers usually tend to be a little enhanced). His four fine horses broke away when Bullwinkle was shot, the silver mounted harness was found on the trail where it had been cut from the horses (Gould 1987:58).
Elizabeth Adams had been almost out of reach of the Indians during the attack when she looked back and saw her mother following her. She ran back to help her and was shot, Louisa Paul called this an arrow wound (E Paul & LPaul reminiscences).
Margaret Stoot tells a different tale but may be describing the same incident [or has a creative memory]. “One young women climbed out of the wagon holding a heavy bread-board in front of her, but an Indian shot through the bread-board, the bullet penetrating her jugular vein. She fell and bled to death within a few minutes.” HScott journal says she was shot in the neck, another journal says breast. These are near the jugular vein but that can’t be accurate because she lived for two days. Had she been shot in the juglar vein, she would have probably bled to death on the spot.
Kennedy train arrived to find Indians had taken all stock, provisions, clothing, bedding, even wagon covers “leaving only empty and naked wagons” (HScott journal). Trunks had been broken into and dumped. What they couldn’t take they heap up and mixed so food couldn’t be used. Flour sacks were opened and dumped, feather beds ripped open and feathers scattered for miles over the prairie. Bed ticks and flour sacks had been taken, Indians considering cloth a great prize. However, they did not follow their usual practice of burning the wagons, possibly because of the arrival of the rescue party. Kennedy train gathered up what they could of provisions and a few clothes the Indians dropped in their hurry. They even scooped up up flour and feathers. Food was survival and they were over a month to the end of the trip (HScott journal; SZaring, CTaylor, MMcguire reminiscences; Franzwa 1990:186).
In gathering up feathers, they found a purse of over $800 hidden in a feather bed (MStoot reminiscences).
Kennedy Train tied the survivor’s wagons behind their own wagons to be hauled to a suitable camping place about 4 miles below Massacre Rocks (HScott journal; SZaring, CTaylor, MMcGuire, MStoot reminiscences). Adams Train’s 65 head of cattle had been run off but only 14 recovered and of their 12 head of horses, only one was saved (Alvin Zaring note; Hilman letter), so Adams train was almost destitute of draft animals. This would have to be made up by the other trains, although the Kennedy train was already desperately short of stock.
Shortly after starting out, they found Smart Party, a horse train of about 12 wagons (Adkinson says 14), attacked at about the same time as Adams train. They had made a running fight to a good defensive position at what is now called Massacre Rocks. Two wagons were upset and partly robbed. A dead man lay nearby. Kennedy Company took that body with them. There was one more dead, three wounded and they lost eight horses. The four trains drove the last half mile to the camp site (HScott journal; McClung 1977:H-2; Adkinson in Nelson 1990:187).
Reported dead in the Aug 9th attack:
Adams Party:
Charles Bulwinkle (Hilman letter, Gould 1987:59)
Smart Party:
A.J. Winter of Iowa City (Hilman letter).
Adkinson says it was the captain of the train who was killed ( in
Nelson 1990:187). Webber (1987:9)There is some confusion between Andrew J.
Hunter, formerly captain of the Jack Train, and A.J.Winter. This
seems to be A.J.Winter, A.J.Hunter was killed the next day.
Italian, name unknown (Hilman letter). Adkinson says it was a
Frenchman from Ontario Canada (in Nelson 1990:187).
Merrill says Thomas Paul was killed on this date citing a 1986 Dec 16 letter from Larry Jones, Idaho State Historical Society in Merrill 1988:182. The descendants of Thomas Paul disagree with this, especially descendent of his children born after this date. So far I find no mention of Kennedy Train involved in a fight until the next day, Aug 10. Thomas Paul was not killed then either.
200 wagons camped together that night (McClung 1977:H-2-3). Gould, who appears to have come in the next night, says there were 150 wagons when they came in with the 34 wagon Walker train (1987:59). Either a 50 wagon wagon train has pulled out or McClung is exaggerating again. I can account for up to 133 wagons. A Newman is killed the next day, so Newman Company is probably still on the spot.
Word of the attack reached Rev. Bristol’s Company below American Falls just after 4 / 5 o’clock. They hurried to the aid of Adams Party and arrived at the site of the attack after Kennedy and his train of 4 combined companies and parties pulled out to go to the evening camp. They tried to push on and overtake the Kennedy train but darkness forced them to camp on the scene of the massacre. The ground was covered with feathers, flour and corn. They put out a strong picket guard on the surrounding hills, made a hasty supper in the dark, staked the mules out in the sagebrush and hoped the night would be short. Nothing happened and they pushed on at 4 AM in the morning (Hilman letter; H.M.Judson journal).
[In his autobiography, Rev. Sherlock Bristol has a totally fictitious account of the Indian attack on the two trains and events that followed (Bristol 1887:251-254). Bristol had an advanced case of Munchausen syndrome: it was thought unwise to use any of his “reminiscence”]
Robert Scott recorded in his journal “Will divide up so they [Smart and Adams Parties] can get along and take them on through, give women and men clothing and food and put oxen on their wagons to get along. We could do nothing else and be human, and they were very thankful for help. All people in the west will help each other when in trouble. This was a bad spot for people to be in, robbed of everything, nothing to eat or wear or way to travel and out in this wild Indian west with nothing at all, and no way to get anything. It was a miracle we came along” (RScott journal).
Aug 10 - A couple from Kennedy Company was to have been married this sabbath but this was postponed indefinitely (Judson journal Aug 11). Sunday morning Captain Kennedy sold belongings of the dead at auction for the relief of the destitute from the plundered Adams Party. A fine Unabridged Webster’s Dictionary brought $3 (Judson journal).
35 armed men started out to recover the stolen property, especially the stock. About 7 / 9 miles from camp on Cold Creek, they met several hundred mounted Indians [this figure is from McClung who has a tendency to exaggerate numbers], the chief wearing Bullwinkles suit (Gould 1987:59). They found the stock in a canyon, guarded by mounted Indians (Gould 1987:58; RScott journal).
The Indians raised a white flag, but one of the recovery party shot at them [35 vs. estimates of 75 to several hundred Indians and some fool shot at the Indians?]. The Indians let out a war whoop and began circling, hanging on the opposite side of their horses and shooting arrows under their horses necks. At the first fire, the recovery party retreated , keeping up a running fight for 3 miles to a low ridge, Indians in pursuit (HScott journal). Adkinson says James Dunn rallied the men to cover the retreat (in Nelson 1990:187). (Franzwa; McClung 1977:H-3). [Or else - “We stood our ground and after we had dropped about 20 Indians they became scattered and in 20 minutes more they were aout in every direction and gone” (RScott journal). This sounds like pure fabrication]
No one mentions recovery of any stock except Robert Scott - “We surrounded the horses and brought them into camp.” (RScott journal). After his last statement, I disregard this.
Kennedy was caught in the cross fire and severely wounded. He stayed on his horse and continued to fight and give orders (Hilman letter; McClung 1977:H-3). The Indians ceased their pursuit and rode off, possibly because 30-35 men of Bristol party were coming (LReminiscences; Judson journal Aug 10) along with L. Billman and possibly his 3 companions, returning east from Salmon River and Powder River mines with a pack outfit. They were camped with Bristol Company that day (Judson journal Aug 10).
Kennedy was tied on his horse and some of the men rode hell bent for leather back to the wagon train to protect their own families (MStoot remanisceces). / “We had to carry Captain Kennedy and Taylor on stretchers, because they could not stand the jolt of wagons. Men took turns carrying” (RScott journal).
Recovery party dead, killed on Aug 10:
Body recovered:
Andrew J. Hunter (Gould 1987:59) On Aug 16 Evans S. McComas,
friend of Andrew Hunter, with the William Jack train, stopped at
Hunter’s grave. Hunter had formerly been captain of that train
(McComas journal).
One of these bodies was recovered but identity was not recorded:
George W. Adams Jr. (McClung 1977:H-4; Hilman
letter; Gould 1987:59; Swasley in Webber 1987:36).
Masemo Lepi (Hilman letter).
George Seaper / Sheperi / Shepard (McClung 1977:H-3; Hilman
letter).
This last name may be George Teaser who is identified as the one who was scalped (Swasley in Webber 1987:36. Apparently he is also identical with Adkinson’s William Leeper (in Nelson 1990:188).
Bodies not found:
Tom Newman/Noonan (HScott journal; Hilman letter; Swasley in
Webber 1987:36).
William Motes/Moess (McClung 1977:H-4; Hilman letter; Swasley
in Webber 1987:36).
Tom Newman was seen to fall in battle (HScott journal).
Moess was wounded in the left breast and lost his horse during the retreat. He could have been saved if he had a horse but became weak and faint from lack of blood. When the Indians were within a few rods of him, one of the boys looked back and Motes said “Take came of yourselves, for I am a dead man” (McClung 1977:H-4).
Several recovery party men were wounded, 5 seriously:
Captain Kennedy, shot through the side just above the hip bone (H &
R Scott journals; Hilman letter; Franzwa 1990:186; McClung 1977:H-4). Margaret McGuire believed Captain Kennedy had been shot with a poisoned arrow (reminiscences). Poisoned arrows are mentioned a number of times but only by those who were small children at the time. They may have been a horror tale circulating among the younger members of the company.
Ephrain Taylor, of Kennedy Company, had been shot through the side and back. The wound was cleansed by drawing a silk handkerchief through it. He recovered (CTaylor reminiscences). Scott and McClung journals and Hilman letter do not mention Taylor being shot. Wound sounds much like Kennedy’s but Taylor’s daughter would probably not make such a mistake, even though she was only 5 at the time. Mentioned in Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber 1987:36, so probably OK.
Both of these wounds were apparently gun shot wounds.
Other wounded, either in battle of recovery party with Indians or attack on Smart and Adams Parties the day previous:
Adams Company
Elizabeth Adams, died later
Thomas J/I. Adams (Judson journal Aug 11). Unidentified, may be
confused with George W. Adams who was killed.
Smart Company
Benvenuti, Giovanni of St. Paul MN (Judson journal Aug 11;
Swasley in Webber 1987:36).
Walker Company
Thomas Bradford (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber
1987:36).
John Walker (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber 1987:36).
James Crawford (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber
1987:36).
John Miller (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber 1987:36).
John Patterson (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber
1987:36).
Sullivan, E./P A./O (Judson journal Aug 11; Swasley in Webber
1987:36).
Cassidy, A.J. (Swasley in Webber 1987:36). Shot in hip “with a
boll”(McComas journal).
Missing:
The field was searched repeatedly for the missing, but nothing was left except 4 dead ponies and pools of blood (McClung 1977:H-4). / “We think it not safe to go back and hunt the other two men for fear we loose more” (HScott journal). The “other two men” were apparently Tom Newman/Noonan and William Motes/Moess.
Abe Miller was separated from the recovery party and given up for lost. By creeping through brush and hiding in daytime, he made it back to the wagon train several days later (Anon. in Oregon Pioneers 1937:188-9). If true, it is odd that no one recorded this in a journal.
The Walker train arrived possibly at this time [they also could have come in Saturday night, but I don’t think so]. They heard about the attack about 4 or 5 o’clock, but whether on Saturday the 9th or Sunday the 10th is not certain, Gould says both (1987:58-9). From the back of the train the Gould family had observed men ahead getting out their guns and shortly the word of an attack was passed back to them. Two men carrying the word requested the Walker train go a short distance from the road and bring up two dead men to the camp 5 miles ahead. Albert Gould unloaded his smaller wagon and his hand, Gus, went with it accompanied by about forty armed men from both trains. The dead were apparently Andrew J. Hunter and one man not identified.
On the drive to camp, the Gould wagon was guarded by 10 year old George Gould walking beside it carrying his ancient, loaded, muzzle-loading pistol (Gould 1987:59).
There were now 5 or more trains camped together (HScott journal), Kennedy Company, probably Newman Party, the remainders of Adams and Smart parties and Bristol Company who arrived after the recovery party had left to do battle with the Indians and now Walker company who arrived at the end of the battle (Gould 1987:).
Christene Taylor refers to the Missouri train, that came in the next day about sundown (reminiscences). Unidentified, but possibly Walker Train.
Aug 11 - Nine men are recorded to have have died in the two engagements with Indians. Early that morning, the two men whose bodies had been recovered and brought in by the Gould wagon of Walker train were buried side by side with the three from Adams and Smart companies killed the day before. The graves were about 50 feet south of Massacre Rocks (HScott journal; Franzwa 1990:186).
Later that day, Yount Company found 2 more bodies 12 miles west of American Falls and buried them (Davis in Hug 1961:39). No nasmes given. Editors of the McClung journal say that on Aug 16 the Randall H. Hewitt’s train found a man in this area who had been shot and scalped but somehow managed to crawl behind some rocks and bushes and must have been alive at the time he was found, as he was able to tell what had happened. I haven’t seen this journal yet. Leeper was said to have been scalped.
This accounts for the burial of 7 men, 8 if the last man died and was buried by Hewitt’s group. Of the nine killed, the burial of one can not be accounted for. This may be the second Adams suspected of being a confusion in names or Abe Miller who later made it back.
Margaret Stoot mentions two brothers from the ‘Honeymoon Special’ who were killed and scalped. They had two sisters on the train who were taken into the Kennedy wagon and traveled with them as far as Ft. Boise. This should be factual since this was her family wagon and Margaret was 16, old enough to be accurate, but Ft. Boise was abandoned and the Kennedy Company took the Dry Route and probably didn’t pass the site. The new Ft. Boise at the Boise City location was not in existence until the next year and they were not on this road. Nothing about the Honeymoon Special fits in with other data, giving the impression it was, at least in part, an invention of board teen age girls. However Adkinson says that William Leeper, who was scalped, had a twin brother (in Nelson 1990:188). Possibly there were two Leeper sisters (or Teaser / Seaper / Sheperi / Shepard).
With Kennedy seriously wounded, the confusion of the attack and battle and the numerous wagon trains involved, apparently no one took responsibility for determining just what and how much had happened. After all, it wouldn’t change what had already happened. Survival was the overwhelming concern of the moment.
It was believed Mormons from the ferry were helping the Indians. During the attack emigrant men were sure they heard voices of whites giving orders to the Indians, and were convinced they were voices of Mormons [and how do Mormon voices sound?]. Margaret Stoot mentions white men dressed up to look like Indians (reminiscences). Hamilton Scott and John McClung who kept journals on the spot make no mention of white involvement which would put this very much in doubt except for the observations on the same subject by Nancy C. Glenn, who passed the massacre site the following Tuesday and the same suspicion in various incidents in this same area for a span of several years.
A further suggestion of possible white involvement is the number of bullet wounds. Christene Taylor says, few Indians had guns; sale of ammunition to Indian was banned by law. However Gould (1987:59) reported the Indians had the best kind of rifles, some of them Minnie rifles. There is something curious about the number of bullet wounds in this affair and it’s beginning to look as if it wasn’t Indians with those “Minnie rifles”. Minnie rifles suggest Civil War deserters, not Mormons.
Loss of property and money was estimated at $15,000.00 (H & R Scott journals).
The combined wagon train, 3 miles long and consisting of some 200 wagons, 400 men and 300 women and children, made a late start with Kennedy train in the lead. Kennedy was captain of combined train [based on when Kennedy resigned Sept 13, McComas of Bristol Company said “our Captain resigned and we are now going it every fellow for himself” (McComas journal Sept 14). In 2 miles they came to Fall Creek with three little falls, one above the other, and went up canyon nearly a half mile to strike high rolling ground. Roads dusty. Made 12/13 miles for the day without stopping at noon and camped on Raft River with good grass. Captain Kennedy very poorly (H & R Scott journals; Judson Journal; Gould Journal). {Franzwa 189}
Aug 12 - Elizabeth Adams, age 26, daughter of Captain and Mrs. Adams, died of her injuries at midnight and was buried this morning in a wagon box on Raft River beside the graves of G.W.Sanders age 33, of Roebuck Iowa, died 1862 July 27 and a Miss Ways who died in 1852 (RScott journal; McClung 1977:H_5-6; Gould 1987:59). She was the 10th known to die.
The Adams lost a son and daughter, their outfit and all their teams, clothing and $4000 and were left dependent on strangers (Gould 1987:59).
The Walker and 2 or 3 small parties took the California road. The Smart and/or Adams parties apparently were bound for California as Mrs. Ellen Jones from a plundered train was assigned that evening to Gould wagon in the Walker train and her husband to the wagon ahead. They had been married the morning they started for California and Jane Gould remarks “Not a very pleasant wedding trip” (Gould 1987:59).
Kennedy and Bristol’s Iowa City trains kept to Old Oregon Road. Drove 18/20 miles without grass or water and camped on a creek, probably Marsh Creek, where grass was tolerable (see Franzwa 1990:189) (H & R Scott journals:11;McClung 1977:H-5-6; Franzwa 1990:186).
Aug 13 - Warm. Captain Kennedy not able to travel, so they laid in camp repairing equipment (H & R Scott journals).
Some of the boys went hunting and found the remains of another recently massacred train. No persons were found but wagons were scattered in every direction and trunks cut open with clothing scattered. They brought home one big deer and two antelope (RScott journal; McClung 1977:H-6).
Their cattle have become peaceful and healthy (HScott journal), meaning they had lost their tendency to stampede. [Why?] Robert Scott omits Aug 13 so calls this Aug 14.
Aug 14 - Hitched up and headed out at 6 o’clock, Bristol’s horse train in the lead. Passed two graves, one was J.M.Oley, one year 7 months, died 1861 July 31. Drove 17 / 20 miles, roads good, camped on a small creek where grass, wood and water were good (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:H-7).
Aug 15 - Rained during the morning, improving the 4 inches of dust in the road. Crossed Goose Creek where a notice informed them a train had been attacked by Indians during the night and lost considerable stock. One man had been injured and one Indian killed. At noon Bristol train dropped out because of a sick woman. Passed 4 graves, one F. Warvard age 49, of Pike County, IL, died 1855, no names on the others Made 20 miles and camped on a small creek. Poor grass (HScott journal; McClung 1977:H-8).
Aug 16 -Weather tolerable, cool. Roads pretty good. Drove 7/10 miles and camped at noon to wait for Bristol’s horse train. Tolerable grass but no water. At this point, it became apparent that a man named Mateker was missing; unknown to them, he had gone back that morning to see what had become of the horse train. A party went back in pursuit, supposing Indians had him. The rest of the company traveled 3 miles farther and camped at 2 o’clock with poor grass. Search party came in about dark, having found neither Mateker or horse train (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:H-8). This is probably on Rock Creek {Franzwa 195}, McClung mentions Antelope Creek. Robert Scott has caught up with his dates.
Aug 17 - Sunday - “All pretty uneasy”, search party was sent back again while remainder of company laid in camp and had preaching at 11 o’clock by Father Joseph Paul with 6th chapter, 22 verse of Romans as his text, their second discourse since leaving Fremont, IA. Indians could be seen riding over hills about two miles away and they knew in their hearts their men had been captured. Late in evening all came in safe (H & R Scott journals; McClung 1977:H-9).
About 11 o’clock at night picket thought he saw something raise up 10 feet in front of him in the dark, and, assuming it was an Indian, he fired. It fell but he neither saw or heard it again. This raised considerable excitement in camp. Company was ready for battle in 2 minutes, but no enemy materialized (McClung 1977:H-9).
Aug 18 - “Fine little shower this morning”. Still laying in camp. Several men went hunting and came back about 3 o’clock with a lot of nice game. Bristol’s horse train rolled into camp in the evening (4 o’clock) and was pleased they waited for them. Their sick lady was a little better (H & R Scott journals).
McClung had the horse train come in evening before and says this was a pretty day. Left Antelope Creek and traveled 12 miles of rough road to water and grass and then 7 miles to Canyon Creek where there was tolerable grass and plenty of water but unhandy to get at. 19 miles for the day (McClung 1977:H-90). Someone's dates may be scrambled again.
Aug 19 - The sick and wounded were slowly improving and they moved on today. Camped on the same creek near a deep canyon on a branch of the creek with high rocky bluffs on each side and thick with willows on the bottom. They herded their stock there. The moon was very bright now and they separated horses and cattle and placed a heavy guard with all of them (H & R Scott journals:12; McClung 1977:H-9).
Aug 20 - As the morning star rose, an Indian hidden in the willows shot John Henley, a guard from Bristol train, in the right arm with an arrow, very nearly killing him [possibly they did use poisoned arrows, although I had the impression this was uncommon, although not unknown here] and causing another great excitement. Pickets were strung out in a circle a half mile from camp. At daylight, the circle closed, surrounded the Indian and routed him. He made good use of his legs while bullets whizzed after him and ran nearly two miles before being shot down. Ham Scott, shorter of breath than the others, fell about a half a mile behind and didn’t see him, but one of the boys gave Ham a piece of scalp [nice to have friends]. Biggest Indian McClung had ever seen. He was left lying there and they hadn’t gone more than 2 miles when they saw Indians hunting for him and then finding his body (HScott journal; McClung 1977:H-10).
The sun was nearly an hour high when the emigrants were on their way back to camp and saw what they took to be a heavy dust rising to the east. They concluded Indians were coming to revenge their comrade and returned to camp in less time than they went out. As they neared camp, they got brave and slowed down to a brisk walk but later discovered what they saw was only mist rising from Shoshone Falls on Snake River (HScott journal).
Hitched up and drove along Snake River with Indians following. North of river there were smokes in every direction, which they took to be signals [or possibly just Idaho’s ever present fall range fires]. At noon emigrants camped on river bank to water stock and take dinner while on opposite bank warriors built a large fire in sagebrush and started off full speed. Emigrants calculated Indians intended to cross river and attack where road turned several miles away from river, so they filled every bucket and moved on (McClung 1977:H-11).
Traveled 18/21 miles and camped about dark without grass on Snake River where Indians were fishing on opposite bank. W. Joseph went to the river for a bucket of water and about time he got there, one of the boys in camp fired off a gun, the echo coming to Joseph from rimrock on other side of river. He dropped the bucket and legged it back to camp with the tale that 200 Indians had shot at him and struck the bank close by, which raised considerable excitement and upset the women. Some cried, others went to bed and wouldn’t get supper for their hands. When guards were called out, most were sick and others had to be appointed in their places (McClung 1977:I-1; HScott journal). [Someone besides the women were upset]
Aug 21 - Pleasant. Friendly Indians came to camp this morning to trade salmon. They told emigrants they were now out of Snake tribe territory. Kennedy Company pulled out leaving Bristol Company in camp to catch up at noon. No grass until noon. At noon more Indians came to trade salmon. Here Captain Kennedy noticed his fine bull was missing and sent two men back to look for him while train moved on. His hands left a fine Durham cow, valued at $75, intending to pick her up when they returned [dumb idea!]. Rest of the train drove 5 miles and camped on river near Salmon Falls. 15 miles for the day. Ham Scott says grass not very good, McClung says no grass. Sometime after dark, two shaken Kennedy hands returned having not found the bull and Indians had gotten $75 cow, leaving only hundreds of fresh Indian tracks (HScott journal). {Franzwa 201}
Aug 22 - Pleasant. Indians here seemed friendly but got a man from a train ahead who was sitting on the river bank fishing after dark. The next morning only his hat and boots were found. Started at 11 o’clock and drove 18 miles before finding water at 9 PM, and then found no grass. McClung says they camped sometime after 10 at night on high bluff three quarters mile from river. Cattle very tired and several teams gave out before reaching camp (HScott journal; McClung 1977:I-3).
Aug 23 - Found grass this morning and planned to stay until Monday morning. Packed water three quarters mile from river for cooking and washing. Took stock to some very poor grass 4 miles from camp. Good fishing here (HScott journal; McClung 1977:I-3).
Aug 24 - Sunday - Had preaching at 3 o’clock by Captain Bristol (HScott Journal; McClung 1977:I-3).
Aug 25 - Pleasant. Started at 7 o’clock, teams were weak and roads 4 inches in dust. Moved tolerable slow. Traveled 7 miles, took dinner and grazed stock on soft rocks and dry sagebrush. No water. Passed where a wagon train had been captured by Indians 3 years ago. Iron from burned wagons and sheet iron stoves were scattered in all directions and there were several skulls. Drove 16 miles, passing Three Island Crossing and taking Dry Route {Franzwa 203}. ?
Aug 26 - Left camp at sunrise and followed a canyon three quarters mile to high rolling ground. Traveled 10 miles and camped. Bristol train had several teams give out 2 miles back and camped there. Kennedy Company got contrary and some refused to stand guard. All officers resigned. Buckskin Hall called company together and they elected the same officers. A law was passed that the first man refusing to stand guard, unless sick, was to have his hands tied behind his back and be staked down 200 yards from camp over night, or be expelled from the company (McClung 1977:I-3). Ham Scott does not keep a journal for a week and the verbose McClung is very brief. They seem to be having their troubles.
Aug 27 - Started about sunrise and traveled 5 miles along river on a rocky road. Dr. D.Y.Collins was sick and remained in camp. Bristol Train came in sight as they started. Company stopped about 10 o’clock to wait for Collins and to graze their cattle but about then he came up with Bristol Train. Several Indians sulking about. Traveled 7 miles and camped on river, poor camp ground. Greasewood for fuel (Chenopodiaceae; Sarcobatus vermiculatus ). Traveled 12 miles for the day, several teams gave out before they camped. Poor grass (McClung 1977:I-4).
Aug 28 - Pleasant. Dr. Collins not able to travel so they lay by. McClung found an Indian canoe made of what he called green willow, hidden among willows along river bank. It was the “compleatest thing” he ever saw. McClung’s turn to stand guard from midnight on (McClung 1977:I-5).
Aug 29 - Several of company were low on provisions and had been living on one biscuit a meal, others were eating bacon rinds, etc. saved earlier for soap. Not all wagons were out of food, McClung, for one, was able to share provisions with others (McClung letter to parents, 1862 Oct 24, Lane Co. OR in McClung 1977:L-4-11 - this was not mentioned in his journal). After their ration for the meal was eaten they moved on but hadn’t gone far when Ardly Stanfield’s ox became sick. Stanfield and McClung stayed to “doctor” it but about the time the train was two miles ahead an “awful dust” raised in road half a mile behind. Mounted Indians appeared, and “of all the hollowing I ever hurd, they dun it”. The two men thought it “best to be geting our Skelps Safe, So we done Some right nice runing & they after us” [when he reached Oregon, John McClung taught school for a few years (editors of his journal)]. The Indians, with only bows and arrows, were afraid to come in reach of their guns so McClung and Stanfield caught up with train and never admitted how badly scared they were. Traveled 7 miles to Catherine Creek [Bruneau River, not the present Catherine Creek. Scott calls it Burnt River and McClung calls it Kyser Creek - must all be using different guide books]. Camped on Bruneau River where they met 300 soldiers from Ft. Walla Walla coming out to assist emigrants as was customary each season. Great rejoicing and emigrants fairly worshiped soldiers who furnished them with provisions to last out the trip. Many would have perished if it weren’t for government help (HScott journal; McClung 1977:I-6; AZaring note) {Franzwa 277}.
Children, walking ahead, had just gone down a hill out of sight of train, when they saw dust approaching. They concluded it was Indians and there was nothing larger than sagebrush to hide in, so they stood still until the approaching party came in sight. One of the girls began to cry. They were greatly relieved to see soldiers. One, seeing the children were frightened, laughed and said. “Are you going to school?” (LJPaul reminiscences).
Aug 31 - Sunday - Captain Bristol delivered a discourse for benefit of soldiers (McClung 1977:I-6).
Sept 1 - At 4 o’clock in the morning, half of the 200 the soldiers camped at Catherine Creek (Bruneau River) left for Salmon Falls. About 10 o’clock, Jack Company arrived and camped at Catherine Creek with Kennedy and Bristol’s Iowa City companies (This occurs Sept 2 in McComas journal). They had known some of the people back in Iowa and were glad to see familiar faces. Jack Company brought 10 head of cattle lost by Kennedy Company 300 miles back in the stampede of July 26th (McComas 1975:2).
Sept 2 - Jack and Kennedy companies laid by (McComas 1975:2-3). In the forenoon Alvin Zaring and another man took cattle out to graze. While guarding cattle his gun accidentally discharged and nine buck shot passed so near his head that he fell to ground. That afternoon while dragging Snake River for fish he was helping hold the drag down but found water getting too deep and he couldn’t swim. Turned to go back but an undercurrents took him into deep water. Sank and rose four times before being taken out. It just wasn’t his day. But they caught enough salmon in two or three drags to supply entire train. Alvin Zaring had never seen finer fish, some possibly 40 pounds and up to three feet long (AZaring note; McClung 1977:I-6).
McComas “loafered in camp all day”- “Looking up this creek from where I sit the three trains with the soldiers’ encampment looks like a town. Tents are spread, women washing & cooking, children playing, men busy at all different occupations, horses picketed, droves of cattle laying around &c&c.” (McComas journal).
Sept 3 - They asked for an escort of 50 soldiers from Colonel Maury but he felt he couldn’t divide his forces in such hostile territory, as Indian could raise 5000 warriors in two hours [Col. Maury may have a tendency to exaggerate too. No way could the ecology of southern Idaho in its natural state support, even temporarily, enough Indians to produce a fighting force of 5000 men, even though this was salmon season]. The combined Kennedy train moved on, faster horse train in front. Roads were 4-5 inches deep in dust and at times they could scarcely see teams. Passed over sandy ridges and at noon camped on Snake River. Grass not very good, plenty of sagebrush. 10 miles took them to Castle Creek where McComas thought the burned rock [basalt] looked like old ruined castles (McComas journal) Drove 15 miles and camped on Snake River where they found a skeleton. Grass in hills 2 miles from road. About dark they drove cattle to river for water and almost all of the perverse critters swam to an island where they remained until morning (HScott Journal; McComas Journal in Owyhee Outpost 1975:2; McClung 1977:I-7). The skeleton may have been a member of the 1860 Utter Party, destroyed by Indians near Castle Creek.
Jack train came in during evening (HScott journal).
Sept 4 - The boys swam over to island and drove cattle back. Fair grass. Young people went fishing, probably at noon. Girls were having a fine time sitting on river bank, pulling out fish, when two Indians came riding along. They threw down their fish poles and ran, leaving their fish. Indians had a good laugh. Drove 12 / 14 / 18 miles [3 journals, 3 estimates]. Kennedy Company camped on Castle Creek (McClung says Rock Creek), Jack Company camped with them again. Bristol Company was there when they came but pulled out soon after. Grass, willows and green weeds for fuel (HScott journal; Judson Journal in BLM CRI series #265; McClung 1977:I-7). {Franzwa 226}
Sept 5 - The three trains started at 7 o’clock, traveled some 8 miles, watered stock and took dinner at Sinker Creek. Some of company prospected for gold and found 3 cents to the pan, McComas described it as 5-15 grains of colors in each pan. Had to double team on Sinker Creek hill and it was 4 o’clock when last wagon came up. McComas claimed it was worst hill of the trip. 16 miles for the day. Camped about 9 o’clock after dark. Grass short, McComas said no grass at all. Took stock 2 miles to water and packed cooking water from there. Ate supper about midnight (HScott journal; McComas Journal in BLM CRI series #265:63; McClung 1977:J-1-2).
Sept 6 - The three trains “raised early” (3 o’clock, sun time), drove 6 miles to river for water and took breakfast but no grass for stock. 7 miles more to a creek where they camped with good grass. 13 miles today (HScott journal). If I can untangle what McComas says, they camped on Currant Creek [now Reynolds Creek]. Had a dance and Negro performance that evening (McComas journal)..
Sept 7 - Sunday - Jack and Bristol trains laid by but Kennedy train traveled on at 8 o’clock. Passed Givens Hot Springs, so hot Hamilton Scott could hardly hold his hand in the water. Scott reported grass fairly good, so must have been more rain than trail journals record. Drove 12 / 14 miles and camped on Snake River. Willows for fuel (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-2). {}
Back on Reynolds Creek that afternoon Reverend Sherlock Bristol gave a sermon from the 8 Chapter, 28 verse of Romans. McComas thought it was “a curious group for to be at church, the men with Bowie knives and revolvers to their belts, in their shirt sleeves & buckskin pants, with one exception. One old fellow sit up as stiff as a churn dash with a starched shirt and a linen coat on. It did not look much like a basket meeting in the States where roast turkey & roast chicken, pies, cakes, and everything good such as we dream of seeing are on the table”.
Sept 8 - Captain Kennedy had a public sale of Thomas Vennerns [Vernon?] clothing, bringing in $8.98 to be sent back to his widow. Must have died recently, but his death not recorded. Rolled on over barren sand ridges, leaving dust cloud behind. Fairly good grass, roads very sandy and heavy pulling”. Drove 12 miles. Camped on river at mouth of a creek (HScott journal; McClung 1977:K2-3).
Sept 9 - Very sandy roads. At 11 o’clock came to flood plane of Snake River with green grass 6 inches high, to McClung “the prettyest grass I ever seen”. They unyoked and turned cattle out but in a couple of hours cattle began to sicken so emigrants hitched up and rolled on, everyone with at least half their teams unable to work (McClung 1977:J-3). [There is Arrow-grass Triglochin., in the area which produces fast-acting, toxic, hydrocyanic acid.]
As they left river, other trains came in sight. Drove 16 miles. Camped after dark on Owyhee River where there was good grass (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-3). {Franzwa 233}
Sept 10 - 15 miles without grass or water to drive weakened stock; best not done in heat of day. Lay by and hitched up at 5 PM, drove until 12 o’clock by moonlight, but couldn’t see where they were going for dust. Made dry camp, without feed or water (HScott Journal).
Water was carried in cans for dry camps but was always warm and insipid (MMcguire reminiscences), [and tasted of container - my reminiscences].
Sept 11 - Cold and windy. Started at sunrise, after traveling some distance a fine roan cow belonging to John McClung took sick and died within 15 minutes. Watered stock at Soda Springs and rain began as they left. The rain continued, roads were awful, night came on and there was no place to camp. So dark they couldn’t tell if they were going right or wrong. 9 o’clock finally stopped at Bush Creek and tied up stock with nothing to eat. No wood for cooking or drying out so went to bed wet and hungry. Mileage for the day 22 miles, 23 feet and 2 inches (McClung 1977:J-4).
Ham Scott was with a different party that reached Malheur River at 10 o’clock AM and laid over for remainder of day (HScott Journal). {Franzwa 235} Or they are off on their dates again.
Sept 12 - Cold, windy and spitting snow (McClung 1977). “- afternoon it clouded up, and the wind commenced blowing, and turned cold. It looks slightly like freezing to death, now slightly like starving to death, very much like being blowed away in a hurricane, and a good prospect of being killed by Indians, to say nothing of dieing for want of tobacco” (McComas journal Sept 12).
Ham Scott’s group drove 20 miles and camped after dark on Birch Creek: overcoats did not come amiss (HScott journal). {Franzwa 237}
McComas and the Catamounts crossed Malheur River, passed through ‘Carrion Valley’, littered with dead cattle (McComas journal Sept 12).
McClung’s party raised early and turned the stock out to graze while cooks made breakfast. Little for cattle to pick on so they scattered over barren sand ridges. Emigrants gathered stock, drove until noon and camped on Malheur River, “a small mountain stream”. [Well, not exactly]. Grass tolerable there (McClung 1977).
Sept 13 - Still cold and windy; high mountains snow covered. Captain Kennedy had falling out with company and resigned this morning and “the company is well pleased because he did”. Company drove off, leaving Kennedy and his men behind. Cattle were watered in Snake River for the last time and they turned off on Burnt River. Drove 8 miles for the day and camped on Burnt River at noon. Kennedy and the men he furnished with teams camped with Bristol Company within 300 yards of the camp of his former company (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-5-6). McComas records Kennedy’s resignation and camp on Burnt River for Sept 14; someone's dates are off at this point.
The problem may have been nothing more than strain of long travel, high activity, poor food and broken sleep. Many or most wagon trains had similar experiences. McClung was to later say Kennedy proved to be “one of the meanest men unhung. He was drunk the whole time, could out swear any man and told more lies than any lier ever did. Further more he turned several families out on the plains without arms” or provisions (McClung letter to parents, 1862 Oct 24, Lane Co. OR in McClung 1977:L-4-11), but on the trail, where survival depends on trust, loyalty and community effort, such sentiments were not expressed even in the privacy of a journal.
Sept 14 - Sunday - The company separated this morning. Kennedy’s party drove on. McComas 10-wagon party from the former Jack Company, the former Kennedy Company and the Iowa City Boys in rear, pulled out about 9 o’clock and soon sighted the corralled Kennedy party. Apparently Kennedy expected his former friends to lay by in camp that Sunday and thought it wise to not venture too far. When Kennedy saw the wagons coming, his party rolled on (McClung 1977:J-6; McComas journal Sept 15).
After 3 hours of travel, the former Kennedy Company, now a consisting of 21 wagons entered a canyon with barely room for a wagon to pass and dense thickets on either side. The possibilities of ambush were all too great. The Independent Braves took their positions and they continued on for 10 miles that day. Both Scott and McClung were so pleased to see the first wood except willows since leaving the Bear River Mountains, and to have something to burn besides sagebrush and willows that both record cottonwood, birch, sumac, hawthorn, hazel and willows in their journals. Hazel was wishful thinking, it grows only west of the Cascades. McClung was delighted to note a Mountain goat [more probably a Mt. Sheep], the first seen on the trip. There was barely enough room to corral that evening (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-6). McComas party also camped in canyon (McComas journal Sept 15).
Sept 15 - McComas noted they all got up with their hair on (McComas journal Sept 16). Passed Kennedy party at breakfast, left Burnt River and followed another canyon 4 miles before road returned to meandering Burnt River. Traveled 11 / 15 miles and camped on Burnt River with good grass and high mountains on both sides. Buckskin Hall had been elected Captain of the former Kennedy Company (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-6-7).
Combined train broke into small parties of 5-6 wagons each calling themselves such names as Wildcats, Pole Cats and Tom Cats [probably parties of unmarried men]. Group that included McComas was the Catamounts, traveling between Kennedy and Bristol parties. Resignation of captain of combined train and breakup of companies coincided with changing ecology, sagebrush was running out, greasewood was scarce and wide stands of wild rye were taking their place (McComas journal Sept 16). [Where ecology changed, Indians changed. Area they were entering was characterized by Indians who exploited emigrants by setting up strip malls along Oregon Trail to mutual benefit of emigrants and Indians [usually].]
Sept 16 - After traveling some distance, they left Burnt River, climbing a “powerful” hill and crossed a ridge into another canyon. Instead of the expected swift, clear mountain streams, water was swift and muddy. Passed miners at work and understood the muddy water. Traveled 19 miles that day, up and down ridges and in and out of canyons. Camped on Burnt River with Ed Culberson and some of his company that had separated from them at Green River. Culberson Party arrived in Oregon a month earlier, having had very good luck, and some had returned to go prospecting (McClung 1977:J-7).
George Walker left McComas group to go ahead to get their saddle and didn’t return (McComas journal Sept 17).
Sept 17 - 7 miles to Burteh Spring, took dinner and grazed stock. Powder River now only 18 miles away, but bad road and no water except small Lost Spring about 50 yards to left of road. Most emigrants missed it but Culberson had given them directions and they found spring about dusk. No water for stock Traveled 14 miles that day (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-7-8).
Sept 18 -Pleasant morning. Started by sunrise. 3 / 5 miles brought them to where the roads parted, one to Fort Walla Walla and the other to Powder River gold mines at Auburn Oregon. Paused with Bristol Company for several hours at parting, feeling “lonesome and bad” as they said their goodbyes to friends with whom for 5 months they had crossed the plains and stood by each other in dangerous hours. “Many a tear was shed” (HScott journal; McClung 1977:J-8).
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Destination Powder River
Sept 18 - Hamilton Scott’s and McComas parties and Iowa City Boys took the Auburn road. Camped on Powder River 10 miles from Auburn (HScott Journal; McComas journal Sept 18).
1863 July 7 20 men finished surveying the townsite of Boise City and formed the Boise City Townsite Company. Each member was allowed to draw 6 lots. S. Bristol and R. McComb of Bristol Company were among the 20 members (Hartman 1989:1,3).
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Destination Grande Ronde
The Maguires planned to settle in the Grand Ronde Valley but the wind blew so hard that wagons had to be staked down (EPaul reminiscences). They went on to Walla Walla with the Paul family.
The Kennedy family, as did most emigrants, camped on the edge of the Grand Ronde Valley and decided to settle there. They had only 4 yoke of oxen left (being among the lucky) and were out of provisions so Captain Kennedy went to Walla Walla for supplies. A few days after he left, a horse-drawn outfit, either miners or freighters, camped with his family for 2-3 days. They said their mules needed a rest, so they would stay over a few days, but Margaret thought it was her mother’s cooking or for the sake of visiting the girls that they really stayed over. They had all sorts of provisions and insisted on sharing with the emigrants. Sarah McGuire Kennedy went through their wagons and got their dirty clothes for her daughters to wash. It was 3 weeks before Captain Kennedy returned from Walla Walla with provisions (MStoot reminiscences). { Franzwa 245}
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Destination Walla Walla, Willamette Valley, etc
Sept 18 - After their separation, McClung’s party traveled 14 miles on good, level road to the Powder River where they camped and turned stock out to graze without guards (McClung 1977:J-8).
Sept 19 - They rose early and found the stock, traveled a mile down river and crossed over, tolerable nice valley covered with good grass, timber not very handy. On an emigrant claim there was a house, the first house seen for some months. Freight and pack trains were frequent. Traveled 13 miles today (McClung 1977:J:8-9). From here on they look at the country with the eyes of prospective settlers.
Sept 20 - Rainy and cold, very disagreeable. Rolled on 5 miles to an overlook into the Grande Ronde Valley, the “most beautiful valley in the known world, surrounded by mountains”. They descended gradually, passing the grave of Henry Glylary age 22, died 1852 Aug 12. Traveled 15 miles for the day and camped early enough to look around the valley, finding a company of soldiers stationed there and a good many emigrants taking up claims. They bought beef and mutton and McClung, after living on tough, stringy, under watered, overworked, underfed trail beef, and not much of that, was most enthusiastic about its quality (McClung 1977:K-1-2).
Sept 21 missing, they may have laid over.
Sept 22 - Three miles brought them to LaGrande; 5 houses, 1 store and 1 blacksmith shop. Most people were living in tents or wagon beds until they could build. 10 year old Margaret McGuire noted a woman at one house. Flour at $20/hundred wt. and everything else in proportion. Alvin Zaring paid 10 cents a pound for potatoes. At the edge of town they struck the foot of the Blue Mts. and crossed over on 11 miles of “powerful rough roads”. They camped on the far side of the Grand Ronde River, turning stock out on tolerable grass and good water (McClung 1977:K-2-30; AZaring notes).
Sept 23 - Nice morning. Left the river and climbed a “mountain” through timber up to 300 feet high (It may not be that McClung overestimated everything, possibly everyone else on the Oregon Trail underestimated). They took dinner on the mountain until 1 o’clock. Shortly after resuming travel they passed a trappers cabin [all houses are recorded in the journal] and traveled on to Lee’s encampment [Meacham] where there was plenty of water, but several pack trains were in possession of the grazing ground. 4 miles farther on they camped on a small spring. Made 13 miles today. Good grass (McClung 1977:K-4).
Sept 24 is missing, or more probable, McClung has his dates mixed up again [or more probable - still] Abe Miller indicates they camped at Emigrant Springs somewhere along in here (Abe Miller reminiscences in Oregon Pioneers 1937:188). {Franzwa 248-9}
Sept 25 - They left the spring and climbed one mountain after another for 10 miles without water. When they broke out of the Blue Mountains, they had a long look out over the rolling country. They made the 3 mile descent of the mountain and drove to Umatilla Spring and took dinner together and the Willamette Valley people said good bye to those going to Walla Walla, 40 miles distance (McClung 1977:K-4).
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Destination Walla Walla
Sept 27 - Zaring struck his last camp 6 miles southeast of Walla Walla on Cottonwood Creek (AZaring note).
Sept 28 - Robert Cummins and family reached Walla Walla. They located a claim 7 miles south of town (Cummins in Irwin nd:9-10).
At Walla Walla, John McGuire bought his children what they had longed for across the plains and desert, a big green cabbage (Reminiscences). The Paul and McGuire families camped on the Walla Walla river for a few weeks, then moved to Russell Creek east of Walla Walla City (LPaul reminiscences).
The next year he married widow Susan Zaring, also a member of Paul Party at the beginning of the trip (Hines 1894).
The Taylors and the two men traveling with them reached Walla Walla with one wagon dragged by one horse and one cow (CTaylor reminiscences).
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Destination points west and Willamette Valley:
Sept 25 - Only a few families left. Continued on through Indian Reservation, past shocked corn, Indian Agency, a considerable little town and a company of soldiers stationed there. 18 miles for the day, camped on Umatilla river about dark and had a cold, rainy and disagreeable night (McClung 1977:K-5-6).
Camped for a day or two where the State Hospital now stands on the future site of Pendelton (Raley in Oregon Pioneers 1937:10). {Franzwa 251}
Sept 26 - Lay by until noon and then drove 8 miles, passing 2 stores and made a dry camp about dark (McClung 1977:K-6).
Sept 27 - Rose at 3 o’clock to make an early start but the cattle were no where to be seen. Found them 3 miles from camp and brought them back. Traveled on over barren, broken sandy country until they came to the Umatilla river again. Passed the grave of David Coonty from Dahlonega, Wapella Co., IA. They camped at the river crossing, having made 13 miles that day (McClung 1977:K-60.
The wagon train camped at Old Fort Henrietta in Umatilla (Echo) Meadows for a week to rest the stock (Raley in Oregon Pioneers 1937:10). The Miller family decided to settle there and left the wagon train. They too had arrived in their new home “in great style driving a cow and a horse” (Anon. in Oregon Pioneers 1937:188). {Franzwa 255}. McClung, who kept a trail journal, records no long lay over here. This apparently leaves them with 3 wagons, McClung, the Raley family and one other.
Sept 28 - Sunday - Frosty, cold and windy, a miserable cold country. Camped at noon on Butter Creek near a small settlement. Traveled 10 miles and no timber. Weeds for fuel (McClung 1977:K-7).
Sept 29 - Still cold. Started early. Roads sandy and rough. Traveled 9 miles and took dinner, grazed for a while and traveled on, found sagebrush in a hollow, the only wood of any kind. Teamsters told them it would be this way for the next 100 miles so they tied about half a cord to their three wagons and moved on to Well Springs and camped, having traveled 18 miles (McClung 1977:K-8).
Sept 30 - Raining, thunder and “cold as Gee whiz”. They rolled on, meeting pack trains headed for the Powder River mines or freight trains of 75-100 wagons with 8-10 yoke of cattle which figured they had the right of way [Nothing has changed]. They camped about midafternoon on Willow Creek, having traveled 14 miles. A trading post nearby was selling flour at 20 cents/pound and beef 12 cents/pound. Cold and still raining so they tried to buy wood and were offered a green cottonwood stick for $1. Told the seller they would starve and freeze before paying that price. That night they burned bacon rinds saved for soap making (McClung 1977:K-8).
McClung’s journal ends at this point, but he covers the remainder of the trip in a letter (McClung letter to parents, 1862 Oct 24, Lane Co. OR in McClung 1977:L-4-11).
They lay over at The Dalles for 3 days where McClung met his Uncle John Scott. The Raley family went on to Portland, possibly on the same boat as Uncle John Scott (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10; McClung letter to parents, 1862 Oct 24, Lane Co. OR in McClung 1977:L-4-11).
From The Dalles, John McClung and Henry and Marvel Lunvard put a pack saddle on an ox with provisions and bedding, intending to travel nearly 200 miles [Haven’t checked this, he may be exaggerating] overland with the cattle (McClung letter to parents, 1862 Oct 24, Lane Co. OR in McClung 1977:L-4-11).
The first day they went some 12 miles through steep country on a dim and frequently lost trail through heavy brush. At sunset they made camp on a small stream, building a big fire to keep off the bears and get supper. The rain began soon after they went to bed and continued to the point they rolled up their beds and built up the fire. The remainder of the night around the fire seemed like a month.
They had an early breakfast and started off through the rain. By that time it was plain the trip would take twice as long as figured and bacon and flour would soon give out. Unexpectedly, they had a chance to sell the stock for $75/yoke so they took it and struck for the river. After some wandering they got there, but the boat had already passed and they had to wait until the next day. By this point they were getting anxious and time passed too slowly. Of course the next morning the boat arrived in the middle of breakfast. They had to throw out their good coffee, roll up their things, call the boat to shore and took off for Portland, arriving there about 11 o’clock at night. They got supper and camped out. Next morning they found their wagons fairly early and they [The Raley family, who else?] were pleased with the sale of cattle they had made.
Oct 24 - McClung wrote his parents from Lane County Oregon
The next year the Raley family returned to Umatilla County (Oregon Pioneers 1937:10).
LITERATURE CITED
Bristol, Sherlock 1887. The Pioneer Preacher. Privatly printed.
Caviness, Goldie Mae Raley letter.
Franzwa, Gregory M. 1990. Maps of the Oregon Trail. The Patrice
Press, St, Louis, MO.
Gould
Holmes, Kenneth L. 1983-9. Covered wagon women: Diaries &
letters from the western trails 1840-1890. The Arthur H. Clark
Company Glendale CA. ISBN 0-87062-145-9.
Hawley
Hilman, John C. Letter dated Snake River, 1862 Aug 11 and sent to
Mrs. Bronson. Origin unknown yet.
Hines, H.K. 1893. An illustrated history of the State of Oregon.
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.
Hug, B.D. nd. History of Union County, Oregon.Incomplete
reference.
Judson, Henry M., Diary of, 1862. Omaha to Oregon.
Original manuscript: #358, MS 953.
Nebraska State Historical Society
1500 “R” Street
Lincoln Nebraska 68501
POB 82554
(402) 471-3270 Not seen yet.
McCarley, Ella Jane Allison research notes; 2501 SW 11th Circle,
Battle Ground WA 98604.
McClung, John S. 1977. The diary of J.S. McClung: Oregon Trail,
1862. Transcribed by students at Lewis and Clark College.
McComas, E.S. 1954. Journal of Travel, 1862. Champoeg Press,
Portland, Oregon. [The publisher granted permission to use a
condensed version of this in: Dye, Bernal D., ed. and compiler
1961. History of Union County, Oregon. Eastern Oregon Review,
La Grande, Oregon. This book apparently was the product of the
Historical Sociert of Union County, Oregon.] Not seen yet.
McComas Journal in Owyhee Outpost 1975:2
McGuire, Martha reminiscences
Merrill, Julius Ceaser 1988. Bound for Idaho: The 1864 Trail Journal
of Julius Merrill. Irving R. Merrill ed. University of Idaho Press.
Nelson 1990
Olsen nd
Oregon Pioneers = Anon. 1937. Reminiscences of Oregon Pioneers.
East Oregonian Publishing Company, Pendleton, Oregon.
Paden, Irene D. 1943. The Wake of the Prairie Schooner.
Macmillian.
Paul, Ellen 1976. Recollectins of a six-months trek across the plains
and mountains from Iowa to Oregon. Boulder (Colorado)
Genealogical Society 8(2):23-27.
Paul, Louisa J. reminiscences
Roll Call 1970
Scott, Hamilton 1862. Wagon Train West in 1862; Diary of Hamilton
Scott, with additional notes by Alvin Zaring, one of the party which
travelled from Fremont, Iowa, to Walla Walla, Washington
Territory. Origin unknown yet. May have originated with a
newspaper account early in the 20th century in an eastern Idaho
newspaper. Account was copied on an ancient typewriter and the
typescript has been through multiple generations of photocoping.
A list of names oc those associated with the company was
attached to a copy of the Hamilton Scott journal, apparently
compiled by Hattie Barnes. So far she is unidentified. Barns may
be her married name; first name may be Harriet but only Harriet
Paul who married a Reed is known to have been associated with
the Kennedy Train.
Scott, Robert C. Robert C. Scott’s trip to Washington with oxen in
1862. Typescript. Archives, IHS.
Smedley 1994
Stott, Margaret A. reminisences.16 at the time she crossed the
plains, about 81 when she recorded her reminiscences. Origin
unknown yet.
Taylor, Christena . Newspaper interview when she was 92 about her
experiences when she crossed the plains at age 5. Origin
unknown yet.
Webber , Bert1987. Oregon Trail: emigrant Massacre of 1862 and
Port-neuf Muzzle-Loaders Rendexous Massacre Rocks, Idaho.
Webb Research Group. ISBN 0-936738-23-5.
Zaring, Alvin note, see Hamilton Scott.
Zaring, Sarah about 1932. Typescript of talk given to Garfield
Woman’s Club. Origin unknown yet.
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