In Their Own Words

Organizing Wagon Trains

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.

“Our Captain was Peter H. Burnett. He was chosen Captain at West Port. We had as additional officers Nesmith for orderly sergeant, he kept the roll of the emigrants, list of wagons and so forth. Our Pilot was John Gannt. He was a Mountaineer and had been as far as Fort Hall.” - Nineveh Ford, 1843

“Gentlemen, you ill do well to pay attention to Captain Lenox, and take his word. Otherwise, you may lose your scalps, and those of your families.” - Marcus Whitman, 1843

“In March, 1845, I went to New Orleans and then up the river to St. Louis, where I got letters of recommendation from Fitzpatrick, Wm. Sublette and Rob. Campbell, which secured me the position as guide to the immense emigrant train of 480 wagons then preparing to go to Oregon.... We started on the 11th of May, 1845, on which day I first saw Elizabeth Schoonover, whom I married a week later.” - Stephen Hall Meek, 1845

“The train was divided into companies, and we were in that commanded by William Shaw. 1 minister. 1 lawyer, 1 millwright, 3 millers, 1 tailor, 2 cabinet makers, 5 carpenters, 1 shipcarpenter, 3 blacksmiths, 1 cooper, 1 tailoress, 1 wheelwright, 2 shoemakers, 1 weaver, 1 gunsmith, 1 wagonmaker, 1 merchant, and the rest farmers.” - Catherine Sager, 1844

“We are commanded by Capt. Russel - an amiable man. George Donner is himself yet. He crows in the morning, and shouts out, ‘Chain up, boys! - chain up!’ with as much authority as though he was ‘something in particular.’”

- Tamsen Eustis (Mrs. George) Donner, 1846

T”he wagon train then moved into a general encampment for the purpose of organizing. Rily Gragg of Platte County, Missouri, was elected Captain. Father was elected First Lieutenant, or second in command. Father was also elected to the legislature which passed laws and rules to govern the party as long as they stayed together.” - A. Henry Garrison, 1846

“When they left Missouri, there was a train of about one hundred wagons but that was found to be too large a party to travel together as the teams must be kept up by grazing by the way. So they scattered out under leaders or train captains, as they called them. When they started, a man by the name of Martin was their Captain. Later when the train was much smaller, Ben Simpson,

father of Sam L. Simpson, was head man.” - Benjamin Munkers, 1846

Jon and Nancy (Haley) Baker, 1847 - The Bakers and their three children jumped off for Oregon from Independence, Missouri, in the spring of 1847. Jon was elected captain of the wagon train, and as a result he was known as Captain Baker for the rest of his life.

“Sat May 15th Elected Whitcomb for our Captain. Sun May 16th Sunday. Fifty four wagons in company. Wed May 19th Ninty eight wagons in company on the Nemahau. Thu May 20th One hundred four wagons in camp on the Nimahau. Fri May 21st One hundred fourteen wagons traveling together. Lost our Captain and are in camp on a branch of the Nimahau in four

different places. Sat May 22nd Forty five wagons in this company. One company behind and one before, in camp on the Nimahau. Sun May 23rd Sunday. Fifty wagons in camp on a branch of the Nimahau. Tue May 25th Eighty nine wagons camped on Big Blue River. Wed May 26th Still in camp on Big Blue River with fifty wagons. Fri May 28th Met with an Independence Company of thirty seven wagons in camp....” - Nancy Coon, 1847

David D. and Hannah Davis, 1847 - David was leading a forty seven wagon train. Some companies joined them along the way until they grew in numbers to about eighty-one wagons. They soon found that it took too much time for all of those wagons to get in camp at night and out in the morning, and too long to corral the wagons if Indians attacked. The Oskaloosa

Company camped in two camp grounds some seventy miles west of St. Joseph. They picked up the pilot, Lester Hulin, the evening of May 31, 1847. About forty-one wagons formed a separate Company, with Mr. McKee captain. He was with Davis in the Oskaloosa Company. Those leaving the Oskaloosa Company included Cooper, Fullison, Read, Cline, McKee, and the Abe

Peak families. Later seven wagons of the McKee Company returned to the Oskaloosa Company on June 17, 1847.

“We organized and elected James Curl Captain or General Superintendent with powers and prerogatives subject to the direction of a Board of trustees, or committee of 3, each division appointed a Commissioner. Council met and after taking the strength of the company and finding it to be 48 men capable of bearing arms, divided them off in companies of six with a sergeant at

the head of each. Divided the night into 4 watches of 2-1/2 hours each. There being some 4 old men and 12 or 15 boys in camp the former unoccupied and the latter in mischief and indolence. The council met and appointed the old men captains over the Boys to guard the stock of evenings. The old men to manage the boys alternately.”- James Fulkerson, 1847

James and Mary (Stephens) Jory, 1847 - They had the good fortune of joining the group of pioneers who elected Joseph Magone to captain them to Oregon. Magone, a New Yorker, [son-in-law of Daniel Tompkins] was an adventurous man who was also an intelligent, conscientious leader who guided his wagon train to the Oregon Country in safety. They were one of the first

groups on the Oregon Trail that year.

William McClain, 1847 - Not long into the journey, the wagon train split into three smaller trains, as it was difficult to maintain good order with so many wagons and head of livestock traveling in a single group. William McClain was elected captain of the smallest train. They were the middle train, and in McClain's account of the trip, he said that as the emigrants crossed the

prairie, they could always see and taste the dust thrown up by the lead train.

“Now we roll out. Father B. is on lead on old Nelly; Bart is driving the team; Cory is on our old Lige driving the loose stock. Our wagon is No. 2. F.W. Bethers No. 3, J.W. Starr 4. Uncle Prather two wagons, Chatman Hawley two wagons and I think they all had one horse but Uncle John Starr. He had two yoke of oxen to each wagon; one wagon was a very shaky old thing.” -

Keturah Penton (Mrs. George) Belknap, 1848

“... each company was wholly independent of the others, and our wagons became separated from the other trains. ... for greater safety it would be well if we could fall in with some strong company and unite with them for mutual protection.... to our great delight, a company of five fine-looking men from Michigan drove up and asked the privilege of camping with us that night.

... When we drove out ... and reached the main traveled road again, we met a large train of wagons from Ohio and Michigan. We kept in company with them during the day and encamped with them at night. Our party was now increased to fifty or more. We all traveled together for the next week.” - Margaret Ann (Alsip) Frink, 1850

“June 13. Last evening Mr Hyde from Kanesville came down & organized us in a company of 50 wagons under the command of Captain Foote.... They go in companies of 100 & are divided into companies of 50 & 10 & have captains with each division. ... We are in 2 companies of 50 waggons. Our chief captains name is Wall, & the captain of our 10 is named Maughn. Very fine

men.” - Lucena (Pfuffer) Parsons, 1850

“The company organized, chose a camp and guard master, and numbered the wagons to take turns driving ahead.” - Susan Amelia Cranston, 1851

“After crossing the mountains our company was so large we separated, making two, one bound for Oregon and the other via Salt Lake. In one company were 14 wagons and 2 carriages. ... They elected Mr. Williams captain in which honorable office he served until we crossed the Blue Mountains and were out of danger from Indians.” - Lucia Loraine (Bigelow) Williams, 1851

“May 31st. Myself, & Two partners, (Viz) Norman, and Kistner, staid in camp, having decided it best to travel alone. Our Friends the Youngs' very reluctently left us, but cast no blame on us for our prefference. ... June 1st 1853. We left our lonely camp, & made half a days drive, & on account of a very heavy rain, had to strike camp for the rest of the day & night. We camped near

another small train (Namely) Mr. Coleman, Wife Daughter Son, & little Niece, Mr. Goldthait, & wife, Robt Hardin, John Gillette, and John Hart, - an Irishman. June 2nd. We left our wet camp with aforesaid names as our future traveling companions, most of them, proved to be very pleasant, & agreeable.” - Benjamin Franklin Owen, 1853

“Howard Parrish was chosen captain of the train because of his previous experience in crossing the plains. One of Captain Parrish's rules was that some one of the men should stand guard until midnight when he was to be relieved by another man. At midnight Billy went to take his place guarding the cattle and found Parrish fast asleep. When any of the guards slept at his post he was severely reprimanded and punished by Parrish, so Billy thought he had a great joke on his Captain. Stepping close to Parrish he cried, “hands up.” Parrish was very greatly surprised and begged Billy not to tell the rest of the party. Billy's promise was given and well kept. The story of how he caught the Captain napping was not told until the end of the journey was reached.” -

William McCormick, 1859

“We had a captain and other officers, all ex-soldiers. In fact, we had a regular military organization, guards at night and scouts by day.” - Charles Oliver, 1864

“Father seemed much pleased. ‘It is all settled,’ he said. ‘We have joined this train. Mr. Daily, the captain, said they are glad to have us. They want all the men they can get. The mule train will travel with us, too, so we are with a very big train now and the big trains are the safe ones.’... While we were eating we heard a disturbance in the direction of the road and saw another group

of wagons arriving. I heard some men talking of the new party. ‘They are a mighty fine crowd to have with us,’ a man was saying. ‘Twenty extra men, if the Indians are troublesome, will be good to have around.’” - Philura Vanderburgh, 1864

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