In Their Own Words

Preparations

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.

“... now for the quadrapeds - 14 horses and six mules and fifteen head of Cattle. we milk four cows we started with seventeen but we have killed one calf and the Fur Company being out of provision have taken one of our cows for beaf ... we have had a plenty because we made ample provision - at Liberty we purchased a barrell of flour and baked enough to last us with killing a calf

or two untill we reach the buffalo. ... when we left Liberty we expected to take bread to last us part of the way but could not get enough to carry us any distance....”

“... we are really a moving village, nearly four hundred animals with ours mostly mules, and seventy men the fur Com have seven wagons and one cart, drawn by six mules each, heavily loaded, the cart drawn by two mules carries a lame man one of the proprietors of the com. we have two waggons in our com. Mr & Mrs S and Husband and myself ride on one Mr Gray and the baggage in the other our Indian boys drive the cows and Dulin the horses.”
1836 Narcissa (Prentiss) Whitman age 28

Oxen are much preferred over horses or mules. One writer suggests early on more than half the wagons were pulled by oxen. In later years this would swell to about three-fourths. Oxen, sold in a pair called a yoke, sold for as little as $25 to as high as $65.

In his guidebook Hastings recommended that a wagon carry from 1600, but not more than 2500 pounds each. He suggested that for each emigrant they should be supplied with 200 lbs flour, 150 lbs bacon, 10 lbs coffee, 20 lbs sugar, 10 lbs salt. Basic kitchenware includes a cooking kettle, fry pan, coffee pot, tin plates, cups, knives, and forks. Some people brought citric acid, vinegar, pickles, dried fruit/veggies as antiscorbutics (antiscurvy). May 1842, hastings 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.
1842 Lansford Hastings age 23

“Yesterday 3 mules ran away. ... A hailstorm drove our mules away. ... After trying for one week in vain to catch my mule, we drove him into a pen here and caught him with a rope. ... Mules ran off with packs; too dark to find them. ... Made a good day’s travel. A run after mules.”

1843 John Boardman

“Beware of heavy wagons, as they break down your teams for no purpose, and you will not need them.” Wagon box should bevel out to avoid the possibility of water running down the canvas top and entering the wagon. He warned against painting the top’s fabric as it would cause it to crack.

“We fully tested the ox and mule teams, and we found the ox teams greatly superior. One ox will pull as much as two mules, and, in mud, as much as four. They are more easily managed, are not so subject to be lost or broken down on the way, cost less at the start, and are worth four times as much [in Oregon]. The ox is a most noble animal, patient, thrifty, durable, gentle, and easily

driven, and does not run off. Those who come ... will be in love with their oxen by the time they reach [Oregon].”

“The loading should consist of mostly provisions. All heavy articles should be left, except a few cooking vessels, one shovel, and a pair of pot hooks. Clothes enough to last a year, and several pair of strong heavy shoes to each person, it will be well to bring. If you are heavily loaded let the quantity of sugar and coffee be small, as milk is preferable and does not have to be hauled. You

should take a water keg, and a few tin cups, tin plates, tin saucers, and butcher knives; and there should be a small grindstone in company as tools become dull on the way.”

1843 Burnett Peter Hardeman age 35

“Your wagons should be light, yet substantial and strong, and a plenty of good oxen. ... Have your wagon beds made in such a manner that they can be used for boats; you will find them of great service in crossing streams. ...have your wagons well covered, so that they will not leak, or your provisions and clothes will spoil.”

“Though I wrote ... that mule teams were preferable ... after seeing them thoroughly tried I have become convinced that oxen are more preferable - they are the least trouble and stand traveling much the best - are worth a great deal more when [in Oregon].”

“You should bring about 200 pounds of flour, 100 pounds of bacon, for every member of the family that can eat, besides other provisions. ... You will find some beans, rice and dried fruit of great use on the road. ... You will find some ship biscuit to be of great use at times when you can not find fuel sufficient to cook with.”

1843 S.M. Gilmore  

Mary Hewitt had the foresight to bring many different kinds of seeds to try in Oregon’s soil and climate. Among the seeds she chose to bring were seeds of the flax plant. Linen fabric, a staple of the 19th century, is made from flax. The Hewitts and Matheys would take advantage of Oregon’s water power for textile mills and become Oregon’s first flax growers.
1843 Henry Hewitt age 21

“The farm was soon sold [and] about the most important thing that father did was buy a yoke of leader oxen that were celebrated leaders in crossing water.”

1843 Edward (son of Rev. David Thomas) Lenox age 16

“You cannot be too particular in choice of a wagon. It should be strong in every part and yet it should not be very heavy, Put in as much loading as one yoke of cattle can draw handily, and then put on three good yoke of cattle and take an extra yoke for change in case of failure frome lameness or sore necks.”

1843 Jesse Looney

Bush purchased six wagons and loaned four of them to other families.

1844 George Washington Bush age 52

Late in 1843 her father sold his property and in March of 1844 they moved to St Jo to prepare. Fires of blacksmiths shops glowed all days making ox and horse shoes, wheel rims and other iron products. Clothes were as important to girls then, as now. 13 year old friend Martha Ann Morrison was embarrassed about her ragged dress. There was weeping by women when it was discovered an old bureau or bed could not fit in wagon. Husbands and wives argued openly.

1844 Catherine Sager age 10

Travelling with his older sister and brother-in-law, a physician and merchant, they loaded their wagon with silks, other material, and books. 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.

1844 Moses Shallenberger age 17

In 1845 Independence, MO, was the primary outfitting town. 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.

1845 Joel Palmer age 35

“...now in the midst of preparation for starting across the mountains I am seated on the grass in the midst of the temt .... My three daughters are round me one at my side trying to sew Georgeanna [named for Mr. Donner] fixing herself up in old indiarubber cap & Eliza Poor [named after Tamsen’s sister] knocking on my paper & asking me ever so many questions. I can give you

no idea of the hurry of the place at this time. It is supposed there will be 7000 waggons start from this place this season We have three waggons furnished with food & clothing &c. drawn by three yoke of oxen each. We take cows along & milk them & have some butter though not as much as we would like.”

1846 Tamsen Eustis (Mrs. George)Donner

“During that this fall father, began to make his arrangements to start the next spring for Oregon, but he had to find a buyer for his farm before he could leave, he asked fifteen hundred dollars for all his land, by Christmas he offered it for twelve hundred and about the middle of March he sold it to a Mr Pemberton for eight hundred dollars, he said, he could not think of staying

in that sickly country another summer.”

1846 A. Henry Garrison age 14

The Munkers family started out with five wagons drawn by oxen; three yoke to each wagon, thirty head of oxen, fifty head of roan Durham cows and five saddle horses. These made up our herd. Most all the company drove through some stock but I think no other family had so many as we.

1846 Benjamin Munkers

Nancy packed her most treasured family possessions in three large oak casks, cushioning the heirlooms with straw. In one of the barrels was the Haley family china, which Nancy's great great grandmother had brought west when she emigrated from England. While crossing a waterless stretch in the eastern Oregon Country, the emigrants in the wagon train began throwing away

everything they could to spare their weary oxen. Jon rolled Nancy's three oak barrels off the wagon, but she drew the line at losing the family china. Proclaiming that, "if this barrel is to remain here in this godforsaken plot of wasteland, then I remain as well," she sat down on the cask containing the china and refused to be moved. Jon pleaded with her to move and begged her to come to her senses, but in the end Nancy won out. Jon loaded the last barrel back on the wagon, and the china coffee service and meat platter which Nancy's ancestor brought across the Atlantic Ocean are family heirlooms to the present day.
1847 Jon and Nancy (Haley)Baker

DD Davis started west...with seven wagons loaded with supplies for the trip and goods to start a business in the new country. [Seven wagons, Six full time drivers in addition to David, seven sixox teams, men to drive the loose stock. 42+ oxen, 30-0 milk cows and calves, a band of sheep, saddle horses. There were twenty or more people in the Davis entourage during the journey

westward...12 in their own family] David was leading a forty seven wagon train.

1847 David D. and Hannah Davis age 40

Bought a ruined wagon built of green wood. The wood had shrunk so much that the wagon was unusable. Maker was selling it for $50, the price of the running gear. Since the wood had shrunk but not warped, he planed everything down to even up the joints and retighten the hardware. The wagon would hold up to the dry air of the plains and deserts. Knowing that he would be living in

the wagon, he customized it to make it as comfortable as possible. In put new, thicker bows under the bonnet, he replaced the bonnet itself with a double layer of canvas, which offered the best possible protection from rain, dust, and wind. He also drilled holes all the way around the top of the wagon box to allow him to weave a mesh of sturdy cord -- an old-fashioned method of supporting a mattress that provided a proper bed for his wife to rest in. Since no wood was needed, it added little weight to the wagon and left enough room underneath to store the supplies needed for the journey.
1847 James and Mary (Stephens)Jory age 59

“June 3 laid in our flour cheese and crackers and medicine for no one should travle this road without medicine for they are al most sure to have the summer complaint each family should have a box of phisic pills and a quart of caster oil a quart of the best rum and a large vial of peppermint essence.”

1847 Elizabeth Dixon (Mrs. Cornelius) Smith (later Geer) age 38

“There was nothing done or talked of but what had Oregon in it and the loom was banging and the wheel buzzing and trades being made from daylight till bed time.... [her 1 year old daughter Martha dies] So now I will spend what little strength I have left getting ready to cross the Rockies. Will cut out some sewing to have to pick up at all the odd moments for I will try to have clothes

enough to last a year. ... The neighbors are all very kind ... and they don’t bring any work, but just pick up my sewing. ... the first thing is to make apiece of linen for a wagon cover and some sacks. ... The men are busy making ox yokes and bows for the wagon covers and trading for oxen. Will make a muslin cover so we can keep warm and dry; put the muslin on first and then the heavy linen one for strength. ... make a new feather tick for my bed. ... dip candle ... enough to last all winter after we get to Oregon.

“Monday, April 9th, 1848 I am the first one up; breakfast is over; our wagon is backed up to the steps; we will load at the hind end and shove the things in front. The first thing is a big box that will just fit in the wagon bed. That will have the bacon, salt and various other things; then it will be covered with a cover made of light boards nailed on two pieces of inch plank about 3 inches wide. This will serve us for a table, there is a hole in each corner and we have sticks sharpened at one end so they will stick in the ground; then we put the box cover on, slip the legs in the holes and we have a nice table, then when it is on the box George will sit on it and let his feet hang over and drive the team. It is just as high as the wagon bed. Now we will put in the old chest that is packed with our clothes....

The till is the medicine chest.... Now there is a vacant place clear across that will be large enough to set a chair ... there I will ride. On the other side will be a vacancy where little Jesse can play. He has a few toys and some marbles and some sticks for whip stocks, some blocks for oxen and I tie a string on the stick and he uses my work basket for a covered wagon and plays going to

Oregon.”

1848 Keturah Penton (Mrs. George) Belknap age 28

“The first thing on Mr. Frink’s part was to have a suitable wagon made for the trip while I hired a seamstress to make up a full supply of clothing. In addition to our finished articles of dress, I packed a trunk full of dress goods not yet made up. We proceeded in the spring to get our outfit completed.”

“The wagon was packed and we were all ready to start on the twenty-seventh day of March. The wagon was designed expressly for the trip, it being built light, with everything planned for convenience. It was so arranged that when closed up, it could be used as our bedroom. The bottom was divided off into little compartments or cupboards. After putting in our provisions, and other

baggage, a floor was constructed over all, on which our mattress was laid. We had an India-rubber mattress that could be filled with either air or water, making a very comfortable bed. During the day we could empty the air out, so that it took up but little room.”

“The wagon was lined with green cloth, to make it pleasant and soft for the eye, with three or four large pockets on each side, to hold many little conveniences, - looking-glasses, combs, brushes, and so on. Mr. Frink bought, in Cincinnati, a small sheet-iron cooking-stove, which was lashed on behind the wagon. To prepare for crossing the deserts, we also had two India-rubber bottles holding five gallons each, for carrying water. Our outfit for provisions was plenty of hams and bacon, covered with care from the dust, apples, peaches, and preserved fruits of different kinds, rice, coffee, tea, beans, flour, corn-meal, crackers, sea-biscuit, butter, and lard.”

“Learning by letters published in the newspapers, that lumber was worth $400.00 per thousand in California, while it was worth only $3.00 in Indiana, Mr. Frink concluded to send the material for a small cottage by the way of Cape Horn.”
1850 Margaret Ann Alsip Frink age 32

Monday May 5 ... brought us to Kanesville, or Council Bluffs. ... Here we lay in our provisions to cross the plains, flour 2 1/2 hundred which is reasonable for this place, here you can get everything you want.”

1851 Amelia Hammond Hadley age 25

“April 27, 1851. ... We were obliged to leave our cooking stove behind at Burlington it being a perfect humbug, and buy cooking utensils for a camping fire.” 1851 Eugenia Zieber age 18 “Wednesday, April 7th, 1852. ... We have a plentiful supply of provisions, including dried fruits and vegetables, also a quantity of light bread cut in slices and dried for use when it is not convenient to bake. Our stove is furnished with a reflector oven which bakes very nicely. Our clothing is light and durable. My sister and I wear short dresses and bloomers and our foot gear includes a pair of light calf-skin topboots for wading through mud and sand.”
1852 Eliza Ann McAuley age 17

“... all are busy cooking and packing provisions, which reached us safely at St. Joe. having been sent that far by water.;.”
1852 Abigail Jane “Jenny” Scott age 17

Tucker Scott had in his possession numerous works including, Platts Guide (1852), Pratt’s Guide (1848), Palmer’s Journal (1847), Hasting’s Emigrants’ Guide (1845), Colton’s maps, Charles Preuss’ maps, and the Report of Fremont (1843).

“Through all the winter preceding the April morning when the final start was made, the fingers of the women and girls were busy providing additional stores of bedding and blankets, of stockings and sunbonnets, of hickory shirts and gingham aprons. Ah! the tears that fell upon these garments, fashioned with trembling fingers by the flaring light of tallow candles; the heartaches that were

stitched and knitted and woven into them, through the brief winter afternoons, as relatives that were to be left behind and friends of a lifetime dropped in to lend a hand in the awesome undertaking of getting ready for a journey that promised no return.”
1852 Catherine “Kit” Scott age 13

“The spring of 1852 ushered in so many preparations, great work of all kinds. I remember relations coming to help sew, of tearful partings, little gifts of remembrances exchanged, the sale of the farm, the buying and breaking in of unruly oxen, the loud voices of the men, and the general confusion.”

“The first of April came -- 1852. The long line of covered wagons, so clean and white, but oh so battered, torn and dirty afterward. We stopped at St, Joseph, Missouri, to get more provisions.”
1852 Harriet Louise “Hattie or Duck or Etty” Scott age 11

“All winter was spent getting ready for the trip. Father sold his woolen factory and grist mill. He and Mother shipped some of our bedding and clothing around the Horn and loaded the rest of what we were to take with us in the wagons. One of the three large wagons was made like an omnibus, with a door and steps at the back and seats along the side. This was where we were to sit

by day. At night extra boards could make it into a bed for Mother and Father and the younger children. ... When we arrived at St. Joe, Missouri ... we remained six weeks until we were equipped with everything we would need, including horses, cows, and oxen. Our wagons, made in Ohio, had been shipped to St. Joe, and we filled them with bedding, tents, and groceries. There were barrels of sugar, molasses, vinegar, flour, and meats. Mother slipped in a little jam to use if we were sick, or to give to sick people we should meet on the way. Sometime in May our preparations were completed.”

1852 Sarah Bird Sprenger age 10

“Apr 6th 1853. [Pecatonica, Illinois] After weeks of preparation we are at last ready to take our departure for the Pacific Coast, to find a new home far away, to form new ties and other acquaintances amid far different scenes. We know not the dangers we may meet, the difficulties that will have to be overcome on this long and perilous journey. We could not start early in the day, on account of a multitude of things to be done, but about three o clock in the afternoon, the last articles was packed, and stowed away in the covered wagons, the last ‘Good byes’ spoken, and we started on our way.”

1853 Rachel Merriman Taylor age 15

“Preparations for the long journey were begun immediately. Great stacks of bacon, sacks of flour and sugar were gathered together and supplies to last through the entire journey, about six months were provided for each family. One wagon was provided for the food and one wagon for the family to ride in.”

1859 William McCormick age 19

“We stopped at Omaha several days for outfitting and the gathering of more emigrants as the Sioux Indians were on the warpath that summer and it was not safe for a few people to venture alone on the trip. Many emigrants arrived daily and when we were ready to start there were more than 100 wagons in our train and twice that many men, all armed, mostly with single shot, muzzle

loading rifles. Some, however, had Henry rifles and Colt revolvers.”

1864 Charles Oliver age 8

“All our pets were to stay, all. ‘Even Major?’ I asked, aghast. Father thought a moment. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I think we had better take Major. He is such a good watchdog that we will need him.’ I was glad to hear that. Father went on: ‘I bought three fine teams today, one a four-horse team, and three wagons, and canvas to make wagon covers and a tent. We are especially fortunate to get one of those teams,’ he said; ‘big dappled grays that have been trained for hunting and do not frighten at anything.’ A wise purchase those english hunters proved, too - steady, faithful beasts which nothing excited. On one occasion months later, far out in the Sioux country, they saved our whole train. ‘We can take very little but food and clothing,’ Father said. ‘We will get new things in Oregon.’ That became a frequent saying with us when, as we were packing, treasure after treasure was cast aside. ‘No room in the wagons; we'll get new ones in Oregon.'

“One day as I was trying to help Mother fit together the seams of the big unwieldy tent, Carried called, "Philura, come here, quick!" I ran to the window. The passing of emigrant wagons was a daily occurrence, as it had been every spring since I could remember, but here was one with a big sign painted on the cover, "Pike's Peak or Bust!" We laughed and wondered what fate would meet the outfit, little thinking we would ever see the wagon again. When we reached Oregon we would find that all the people who had gone before us had followed the same plan. As there were no factories in that new country, many a day was to pass before we could again have the few simple toys and luxuries we were leaving behind. Those few hurried weeks, our last in Iowa, passed very quickly. We were so busy. Clothing, tent and wagon covers had to be made, all by hand, of course,

for that was before the day of the sewing machine. Food for a four-month journey was to be planned, bought and packed into the big wagons. Father and mother planned the food very carefully. There must be no sickness caused by wrong food in our family. Too many tales had reached us of suffering among the earlier emigrants. We profited by their sad experience. Dried

fruit and citric acid a-plenty we took with us, and vegetables to last as long as possible.”

1864 Philura Vanderburgh age 12?

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