In Their Own Words

Jumping Off Spots

Compiled by Prof. Jim Tompkins

Disclaimer:  Prof. Jim Tompkins has compiled the following information for classes he has taught.  He has kindly contributed them for general use.  This information has been gathered from a variety of sources and, while it is free to use, copyright infringements may make it unsuitable for commercial purposes.

1842 Lansford Hastings age 23 May 1842, arrived in Independence, MO, a common jumping off point for the Santa Fe Trail. On May 15th he joined 160 emigrants, including 80 armed men. On May 16th they leave for Oregon.

1843 Peter Hardeman Burnett age 35 Monday May 22nd the Oregon Emigration Company formed thirty-five miles out of Independence at Elm grove.

1843 Nineveh Ford age 27 “We rendezvoused at West Port west of Independence Jackson County Missouri. We Started from there in April.”

1843 Rev. David Thomas Lenox age 40 Departed from Westport (Kansas City).

1843 James Willis Nesmith age 22 The Oregon Emigrating Company began rolling Sunday May 21st towards the agreed-upon departure point beyond the Missouri state line.

1843 William Hatchette “Uncle Billy”Vaughan age 21 He left his family and headed for the “Spanish Encampment” near Independence, MO, as soon as he heard of the Great Migration to Oregon.

1844 Catherine Sager age 10 “In the month of April, 1844, we set out on our long and perilous journey across the plains.... One by one the wagons left St Jo village and struggled up to Capler’s Landing, six miles north, the true point of departure. We waited several days at the Missouri River.

1844 Moses Shallenberger age 17 They departed from Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa, in a party of 46 people in about 40 wagons. Several of their cattle drowned crossing the Missouri at the start of the trip. “The wagons crossed in a rude flat-boat, and it was intended to swim the cattle ... but some were stuck in the sand, which had been tramped by then until it was as tenacious as quicksand. When the water receded, a few of the mired cattle were dug out with pick and spade, but others were fastened so securely and deep, they were abandoned.”

1845 Joel Palmer age 35 In 1845 Independence, MO, was the primary outfitting town. He arrived at Independence, MO, May 6th. Since he arrived there after the main body of emigrants had left, rather than stay several days to outfit and train his team, he hurriedly laid in supplies and left immediately. Palmer chose a wagon and team of horses. Late, he left with four other wagons attempting to catch up with the main body [which took four days].

1846 Tamsen Eustis (Mrs. George) Donner The Donner-Reed Party departed from Independence, MO, May 12, 1846, headed for California.

1846 Benjamin Munkers From nearby Liberty, Missouri, in early April 1846, about fifty families prepared to make the journey to the far away Oregon Territory.

1847 William Allphin William Allphin and William McClain met purely by chance as their families were preparing to jump off from St. Joseph, Missouri, in April, 1847. By the time they rolled out of St. Joe on April 25, the two men were fast friends. Together, their families traveled the length of the Oregon Trail.

1847 Jon and Nancy (Haley) Baker The Bakers and their three children jumped off for Oregon from Independence, Missouri, in the spring of 1847.

1847 James Madison and Nancy Iness (Miller) Coon age 33 Wed May 5th - Crossed through Plattsburg. - Pleasant. Thirteen miles. Thu May 6th - Crossed the Little Platte River. - Rain. Sixteen miles. Fri May 7th - At Saint Jo. - Pleasant. Twelve miles. Sat May 8th - Lost one of our Oxen. Pleasant. Sun May 9th - Sunday. Pleasant. Mon May 10th - Found our Ox. Rain. Tue May 11th -

Crossed the Missouri River. - Rain. Two miles.

1847 James Monroe and Mary Ramsey (Miller) Fulkerson age 43 With his wife and six of seven children, he decided to join a group from the Old Florence Baptist Church (near Jefferson City, Missouri) and make the journey to the new "promised land" in Oregon. There were 300 members in this congregation, who vowed to stay together and help one other in crossing the prairies, mountains and deserts that lie before them. They gathered in late April, 1847 at St. Joseph, Missouri to begin the westward trek.

1847 James and Mary (Stephens) Jory age 59 James, Jr., and his wife were to meet the rest of the family at Independence, Missouri, but with so many emigrants getting ready to jump off from Independence that year, James couldn't find his father or brothers. He set out anyway, with his wife, his wagon, and a small herd of cattle that included a few head of stock that belonged to his father.

1847 Elizabeth Dixon (Mrs. Cornelius) Smith (later Geer) age 38 “June 3 passed through St Joseph on the bank of the Missouri ... we travled 4 miles the river and encamped here we found nine waggons bound for oregon. June 4 crossed the Missouri doubled teems with difficulty ascended a hill or mountain travled 3 miles & encamped we are now in Indian territories.”

1847 Phoebe Fail (Mrs. Alfred) Stanton age 32 “May the 9th 1847 ... we are now one hundred and ten miles from St. Joseph it will be 4 weeks to morrow since we left home....” They are between home (LaPorte, Indiana) and St. Joseph - their jumping off spot.

1847 Elam and Irene (Eaton) Young age 58 He set out with his wife and three youngest children, sons Daniel, James, and John, on 7 May 1847. They found no train at Independence, all for the year having already started off on the trail. Disappointed, they had reconciled themselves to waiting until the next spring when two men rode up to see if there were any more immigrants who would care to join their train, about 40 miles ahead. One of the men was Capt. John Bewley, and the Youngs and two other families

took him up on his offer. Elam’s son Daniel, who was then nearly 21, took over driving the Bewley family’s commissary wagon. The train was one of the last of the season.

1848 William Porter 23rd. Arrived at St. Joseph early in the morning. 27th. Moved our cattle five miles from our camp. Tucker crossed the Missouri on the 20th of April, Holmes and Blackerby crossed on the 1st of May. Stephen and myself crossed on the 2nd of May and Hooker and Parvenu crossed the 3rd and 4th of May. We all went out to Peters' Creek six miles from St. Joseph.

1851 Amelia Hammond Hadley age 25 “Monday May 5 ... brought us to Kanesville, or Council Bluffs. ... crossed the Missouri which is a wide mudy looking river ferried over in a small flat boat, which they rowed....”

1852 Polly Lavina Crandell Coon age 26 “18th [April] Arrived at Kanesville procured our fitout & after being detained about 3 days came down to the Missouri & lay one night on its banks The next morning took the Steamboat ferry & crossed....”

1852 Harriet Louise “Hattie or Duck or Etty” Scott age 11 “The first of April came --1852. The long line of covered wagons, so clean and white, but oh so battered, torn and dirty afterward: The loud callings and hilarity: many came to see us off. We took a last look at our dear homestead as it faded from our view. We crossed the Illinois River on a ferry. We looked back and saw our old watch dog (his name was Watch) howling on the distant shore. Father had driven him back, saying, "Go back to

Grandfather, Watch!" But he never ate afterwards, and soon died. We stopped at St, Joseph, Missouri, to get more provisions. We had never before seen Negroes, and all along this state we saw many negro huts, and went into one to see some little

negro babies.”

My name is Stephenie Flora. Thanks for stopping by. Return to [ Home Page ] All [ Comments and Inquiries ] are welcome.