# Route across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California (1982)/Appendix

APPENDIX.
INSTRUCTIONS TO EMIGRANTS–SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT—MANNER OF TRAVELING, &c.,—BILL OF THE ROUTE.
The distance from the Western Settlements of the United States to the Settlements in Oregon or California, is variously estimated from twenty-two to twenty-five hundred miles; and the kind of country through which emigrants have to pass, will be seen from the foregoing description; it will also be perceived, that there is but a small portion of this country in which they can supply themselves with provisions. Nothing can be obtained at the trading establishments, excepting at an enormous price; and the Buffalo are not to be depended on. Under these circumstances, it is of the first importance, that emigrants furnish themselves amply with provisions, before they leave the United States. It requires about five months to make the journey, under ordinary circumstances, but difficulties and detentions may, in some instances, increase the time to six months; it will therefore be the safest and most prudent, for emigrants to lay in provisions for six months. In respect to the quantity, every one should make a calculation, it is important to take into consideration, the fact, that the appetite is almost universally increased by traveling. It is peculiarly so on the way across the Rocky Mountains. The rough manner of living, which it is necessary for the traveler to adopt, together with the purity of the atmosphere, the constant and wholesome exercise, and the various scenes and incidents dully presented, which tend to divert the mind, all have a great tendency to promote uncommon good health, and consequently, uncommon good appetites. For this reason, it will be found easy to dispenbse with most of the luxuries common to civilized life. With but few exceptions it is only those things which are the most substantial and nutritious that should be taken; such as flour, middlings of bacon, because they are free from bones, rice, sugar, coffee, salt, pepper, &c. The qualtity of flour for each individual, should not be less than two hundred pounds, unless the ​company be entirely made of of pack-men, who intend to make the journey in as short a time as practicable. Where a company carries their provisions, packed on mules, they can generally make the trip about a month sooner, than those who go with wagons can, and therefore the quantity of provisions should be proportionately reduced; one hundred and fifty pounds of flour will be an abundant supply for a packman. Other articles of provision should be taken in the same proportion with the flour, excepting meat, which should be something less. The quantity of meat should be such, that it could be made to last conveniently, five months. There is scarcely ever a year, in which emigrants will not be able to kill some game between the point where they first come to the Platte River and the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and by taking sufficient meat with them from the States to do, by stinting themselves a little, they may expect to obtain enough from the Buffalo to complete an abundant supply, but beyond this they should not trust to the fortune of the hunter.
From the moment in which the emigrants leave the Western settlements, they should be exceedingly careful of every morsel that may be used with propriety for the support of life. Persons who have been always accustomed to the overflowing abundance of food so bountifully bestowed by Providence upon our country, are very apt to be a little careless in this particular. They are almost sure to acquire habits of wastefulness, which, though they be of little consequence in a land of plenty, if they be not laid aside on the prairie, may cause the traveler to look back repentingly, upon the numerous littles which have been daily thrown away, and which, had they been saved, would have prevented the want consequent upon such neglect. Atoms make Mountains; and a little daily waste, in the course of five or six months, will amount to something very considerable in the eyes of a hungry man, when he is surrounded by a desert country where no food can be obtained.
It will be necessary, of course, for families to have wagons, and little companies of three or four young men, will generally find it more comfortable and convenient to travel in that manner. Every thing can be carried with far more ease and less exposure, than on the backs of mules; neither are the things carried so liable to accident. After the provisions, the means of conveyance, wagons, teams, &c., are of the next importance. Wagons should be selected with the greatest care; those should be taken which are made out of the best material, well put together, and properly ​proportioned. The irons on the wheels should be as tight as possible, without breaking or straining the wood; and the whole wagon should be heavy enough to bare the required load. It is necessary to have the tires tight on the wheels, on account of the hot dust and sand through which they have to go, and which is very liable to loosen them from the wood.
It will also be well for those who wish to be provided against every circumstance that is liable to come in the way, to construct the beds of their wagons in such a manner than they can be corked and converted into boats. It matters not about the shape; and as they will be used every day as wagon beds, and perhaps never as boats, they had better retain the shape of the former. The covering of the wagon should be of strong and very close material, or painted so as to render it impervious to the heavy rains, which are likely to be encountered on the waters of the Kanzas, and on the Platte.
The kind of teams taken upon this road, is also a matter to which the emigrant should pay very great attention. In an outfit, it is one of the things second in importance: after the provisions, probably the first: for if a team fails, it will be very difficult to replace it. The emigrant is entirely dependant on his team; because if it be not sound, healthy and strong, it will not be able to keep pace with those that are, and he will, in consequence, be forced to some disadvantageous extremity, to avoid falling behind. It will be wise to provide against such accidental circumstances by taking along extra animals.
Taking every thing into consideration, oxen are preferable to any other animals, for teams. It is true they cannot endure the heat, the want of sufficient food, and other hardships incident to the journey, quite so well as mules; neither can they travel with the same speed: but with moderate traveling, and proper care, they will make the trip, and may be kept in good traveling condition. They are the kind of teams generally used, and are not likely to be stolen by the Indians; and, in addition, they are more serviceable to a farmer improving in a new country, and, in Oregon, they are more valuable, in proportion to the cost in the States, than either mules or horses. All animals that are expected to do service on the road, should be of mature age. A mule should not be less than five years old, and a horse not less than seven. Oxen should also be rather light, and not very large; because this kind are found to travel better than others that are different. If horses are taken with the expectation of having them ​to do constant service, the Indian horses had better be obtained, if possible; for there are but very few horses that have been raised in the United States, that will not fail to reach the settlements in Oregon or California, if constant service is required of them.
The greatest attention should be paid to all animals that are taken on this journey: they should never be made to perform any work that is not absolutely necessary, and they should always have water and grass when they require it, if it can possibly be obtained. It will be well to stop once in every few weeks, where a good pasture is found, in order to rest the teams. Neither wagons nor teams should be overloaded, for it is bad for either to fail, on the prairie. And there is another thing in connection with this, that ought to be avoided. Many persons preparing to emigrate, who have been unable to sell their little property, have crowded all sorts of trumpery into their wagons, to be hauled to Oregon. This is generally thrown away when it has been hauled six or seven hundred miles, and after it has broken down either the wagon or the team. Persons should remember, that the distance from their starting point to that of their destination, is from twenty-five hundred to three thousand miles; which is rather a long land carriage, especially where the articles taken are of little value. Almost every article which is indispensable to persons wishing to engage in any ordinary occupation, may be had in Oregon, at a very reasonable rate; and in California, for far less that what it will be worth to haul it three thousand miles, across the Rocky Mountains.
Every family should be provided with a commodious tent, made of some kind of strong, close, cotton cloth. It will be found to add much to the comfort of traveling, both as a protection against the sun and rain. A tent also affords a convenient sleeping place, and one in which families may enjoy the privilege of being somewhat to themselves.
Cooking utensils should be such as are in character with a camp; light, simple, and not liable to be broken.
Emigrants should be provided with a good supply of strong, and durable clothing; enough to last seven or eight months, or until they can arrive at their destination, and have convenient time to procure others. But this is sufficient; more is worse than superfluous, especially for those who intend going to Oregon. In Oregon, articles of clothing may be obtained at about as reasonable rates as they generally are in new countries, and very much cheaper than they can be carried in wagons, over ​land, from the United States. It will be proper to take a few articles suitable for Indian trade; such as colored shirts and blankets, butcher-knives, awls, tobacco, beads, vermillion, &c.; for the Indians often have things, which the emigrant would be glad to obtain. A very small supply of such things will, however, be sufficient.
If a number of persons would join, or if a single individual wished to be furnished with goods, tools, implements of husbandry, or any thing else, in Oregon, to a considerable amount, they might be had there more certainly, and for a much less price, by purchasing them, or having them purchased, in some of the Eastern Cities, and having them shipped around the Horn.
Every male person who is of sufficient age to bear arms, should be provided with a gun, and a good supply of ammunition. The kind of guns which are preferable for such a trip, are large and strong rifles: their balls should not be less than one fiftieth of a pound, and they would be better if they were larger. The stock, which is very liable to be broken, should be made uncommonly strong at the breech, and all parts of the piece which are liable to wear or break, should be effectually tried before leaving the settlements. This is also a matter which should not be disregarded. It is necessary to be properly armed, to insure safety; those who are not, have no business in an Indian country. Five pounds of powder will be an abundant supply for those who intend to hunt a great deal; for those who do not intend to hunt much, half that quantity will probably be sufficient. The amount of lead, it will be remembered, should be four times that of the powder. Emigrants generally supply themselves over-abundantly with these articles.
It will be impossible for great numbers to travel together in the same company. It is necessary that the companies should be as small as will be consistant with their safety, in order that they may not be so much delayed in traveling, and that the animals of the several companies may be supplied with grass. It will not be difficult for any one to imagine how delays will occur, where a great number of wagons are traveling together. And grass is found in many places, in quantities sufficient for small companies, but not for large ones.
One hundred men well armed, may travel in safety, by conducting themselves properly, through the most dangerous part of the country, that is, the country laying between Big Blue River, one of the main branches of the Kanzas River, and Green River, of the Gulf of California, which is to ​be crossed, a few day's travel beyond the summit of the Rocky Mountains. From Green River to the settlements in Oregon, fifty men will make a company sufficiently strong, to avoid or repel all danger.
BILL OF THE ROUTE.
FROM INDEPENDENCE Crossing to the Kanzas, Muddy Creek, Honey Creek, A small creek, Another, Another, Canon-Ball Creek, A branch, Another, Another, Vermillion, A Small Creek Another, Big Blue, Battle Creek, 90 17 20 : 1 : 12 : 11 107 127 136 139 143 145 156 161 164 166 178 183 186 197 BILL OF THE ROUTE. This is the general estimate of the distance, to the point where emigrants usually cross this river. At the season in which companies for Oregon or California generally leave the States, there is, in this distance, every where, an abundance of wood, water, and grass. The Kanzas River, is generally full in the Spring, but emigrants will probably hereafter be accommodated, by a Frenchman who resides at the crossing place, with a ferry-boat. Owing to the time required in crossing, and the consequent accumulation of great numbers of animals, the grass in this vicinity, will likely become, in a few days, insufficient. From the crossing, the road leaves the river gradually to the left. Here there is an abundance of wood and grass. The creek is small but deep, and the crossing has formerly been difficult. In the intermediate distance, the road, which still continues to leave the Kanzas River more and more to the left, crosses, every few miles, small creeks upon which there are good camps. At Honey Creek, there is the greatest abundance of wood and grass. Upon this, there is much grass—some wood. do do do do Upon Cannon-Ball Creek, there is an abundance of grass and wood. But little wood–grass abundant. do do do do This is a large creek, and near it there is wood and grass in the greatest abundance. Grass and wood are abundant. do do This is a river of considerable size, and at this season of the year it is frequently high and difficult to cross; but its bottom lands are covered with timber, which serves to make rafts, or canoes, and in the vicinity there is a great deal of grass. At Battle Creek, the grass is abundant, and the quantity of wood is sufficient for camps. ​
A small Creek, Another, Another, Another, Another, Another, Little Blue, To the point where the road leaves Little Blue, The Great Platte, The Forks, Crossing of South Fork, To the North Fork, 9 15 8 14 10 7 5 51 25 99 71 15 206 221 229 243 253 260 265 316 341 440 511 526 Grass abundant. Wood. do do do do do do do do do do The small streams intermediate between Battle Creek and the Little Blue River, in the Autumn, frequently cease to flow; but in the Spring they generally afford a sufficient quantity of water, wood, and grass, for camps. Where the trail follows Little Blue River, there is found, all along, an abundance of wood and grass. Thus far the road passes through a country, much the largest portion of which is fertile; affording every where, grass sufficient to supply the animals of the largest Emigration; neither—as will be seen by the foregoing notes—will water or wood be wanting. Thus far, there will be no difficulty on account of the uneveness of the surface of the country, but the rains which are here frequent, during that portion of the year in which emigrants will be passing through it, will generally occasion delay; will sometimes render the streams impassable for several days, and where large companies are traveling together, or several smaller ones near each other, the road, in such instances, will of course, become muddy. Water is not found in this distance, and the trail, after leaving Little Blue, bears very much to the North until it strikes the Platte—sometimes called the Nebraska. From the point where the road strikes the river to the union of the North and South branches, there is, in most places a sufficiency of grass on the bottom land, through which the trail passes, seldom leaving the stream more than two or three miles. Wood is seldom found here, though in its absence, a substitute can be obtained which the emigrant will soon become acquainted with. There is wood on some of the islands in the river. At the Forks there is a very large timbered island, and a few trees along on the main shore. The trail, in this distance, follows near the South bank of the South Fork. On this branch there is not so much grass as there is on the main river, but what there is, is rich, and animals need not suffer. Very little wood. The manner of crossing, in case the stream is high, has been described. From the South Fork, the trail bears again very much to the North and crosses the high dividing land between the ​
A rich bottom, A small creek, Another, A large Creek, The Chimney, Scott's Bluffs. Horse Creek, North Fork, Fort Laramie, 30 10 20 20 12 20 Warm Springs, 11 533 563 565 575 595 615 627 642 662 673 two branches, and descends into Ash Hollow, on the opposite side. There is no wood in this distance, and no water, except some standing in pools, which is very bad. In Ash Hollow there is excellent wood, grass, and water. The mouth of Ash Hollow is within a few hundred yards of the North Fork, and the trail, from this point, with one exception, follows the streams to Fort Laramie. The grass is not so abundant on this, as on the South Fork, but it will be found sufficient, generally, for the accommodation of companies. A few small cedar trees will be found on the bluffs, for some miles above the mouth of Ash Hollow, but with this exception, there is no wood to be found, worthy of notice, between this point and Scott's Bluffs. As the trail never leaves the river far, water may be always had by going off from it a short distance. This spot will afford grass sufficient for several large companies. The trail leaves the river, a few miles beyond the Chimney. On the East side of Scott's Bluffs, where the trail passes over them, there is a large spring of excellent water, an abundance of wood, and grass enough for two or three large companies. In the intermediate distance, there is neither water nor grass. At Horse Creek there is an abundance of grass and rushes, but scarcely any wood. An abudance of grass and wood. The trail, in this distance, follows the river; along which the bottoms are wooded; affording always plenty of fuel, and generally ample pasturage. At Fort Laramie, the trail crosses Laramie Fork, a small river which is sometimes too deep to ford; but if it should be, means can probably be obtained at the Fort to ferry it. There is generally but little grass here, and it will be prudent for companies to delay no longer than necessity absolutely requires. Wood, in this vicinity, is almost entirely wanting. Between Fort Laramie and this point, there is no ​
A small Creek, 8 A large 20 creek, North 5 Fork, The North 55 Fork, The 30 Crossing, Water, 16 Salt Sink, 10 681 701 706 761 791 807 817 water, without descending to the North Fork, which will be very difficult. At the Warm Springs, there is an abundance of wood, and there will be no difficulty in using the water; but the grass is sufficient only for a few small companies. They are a few hundred yards to the right of trail. These springs are at the entrance of the Black Hills, and the road beyond them, is, in many places, steep and rocky; but from the last waters of the Kanzas, thus far, it is certainly an excellent one. Wood. Grass abundant, on the hills. In the intermediate distance, there are several small streams which are dry in the latter part of Summer, but in the season in which emigrants pass, water will be found every few miles; an abundance of wood, and grass sufficient for camps. On the river at this place, there is plenty of wood and grass. Here there are two roads, one following the river, and the other leaving it to the right. That will be preferrable which has been least traveled, on account of grass. This is by the road which leaves the river. Through the Black Hills, there are, in the Spring season, numerous small streams which afford water, a great deal of wood, and grass sufficient for several companies. In this distance, the streams are never more than six miles apart. From the point where the two roads again unite, the trail follows the North Fork to the crossing, never leaving it far. In the bottoms of the stream, there is grass sufficient for camps, and an inexhaustable quantity of wood. The River here, at this season, can generally be forded. If it be high, recourse must be had to rafting, unless emigrants are otherwise provided. Timber is not wanting. Immediately after crossing the Platte, the trail leaves the river entirely, and bears to the right, over a high and uneven country, which affords very little of either wood, water, or grass; and until it reaches Sweet Water, a small river tributary to the North Fork, the most of the water is impregnated with some kind of salts, which render it worse than disagreeable. At this place, there is a spring, and a channel, in which the water sometimes flows. Water salt. Grass scarce. No wood. Here, immediately on the trail, the water is salt, and there is scarcely any grass; but green spots may be seen to the right among the hills, where there is excellent grass, and ​
Willow 7 Springs, Large 2 marsh, Crooked Creek, 11 Independence 8 Rock, Grand Pass, 97 Water, 10 Little Sandy, 9 Big Sandy, 12 Big Sandy 18 Green River, 6 Green River 12 Ham's Fork, 18 Black's Fork, l A trading 28 house, Bear River, 70 Soda Springs, 80 824 826 837 845 942 952 961 973 991 997 1009 1027 1028 1056 1126 1206 springs of good water. They are five or six hundred yards from the road. Great caution must be observed, to keep out of the sinks, which are numerous, dangerous, and deceptive. No wood. Excellent water, some willow brush, and good grass, for a few companies. Water and grass for a few companies. No wood. A small branch flows from this marsh, along which there is some grass. The trail follows it a few miles. But little grass, and no wood. This is on the bank of Sweet Water, along which there is good grass, but not much wood. This is to some large and excellent springs, a few miles beyond the head of Sweet Water, and near the summit of the Pass through the Rocky Mountains, (South Pass.) From the Independence Rock, the trail follows Sweet Water, never leaving it far, to its source. In most places, the bottoms along the stream are covered with an abundance of excellent grass. There is very little wood. At the springs in the Pass, grass is abundant, but wood is entirely wanting. Water salt. Little grass. No wood. A creek—very good grass, and some wood–trail crosses the stream, and follows down six miles. Grass, and some wood—trail crosses—trail follows the course of the stream, but leaves it some distance to the left. The same stream. Grass and wood. A large stream which is often too deep to ford, but there is plenty of timber on its banks, out of which to construct rafts, if it should be necessary. Grass is abundant. After crossing the river, the trail follows it down 12 miles. Wood plenty. Grass scarce. Trail crosses. Good grass. Wood plenty. Establishment of Bridgers and Vasques, situated on Black's Fork. In the intermediate distance, the trail follows the stream, along which there are good places for encampments. Near the Trading House, both grass and wood are very abundant. From the trading post, the trail follows a branch of Black's Fork to its source, passes over a short dividing ridge, to the head of a small branch, which it follows down to Bear river. Grass and wood are scarce. These springs are on Bear river. In the intermediate ​
Fort Hall, 75 American 18 Falls, Raft creek, 23 Big Spring, 16 Snake River, 10 Goos Creek, 4 Snake River, 23 Dry Fork, 7 Cut Rock Creek, 12 Cut Rock Creek, 10 Cut Rock Creek, 12 Snake River, 15 Snake River, 8 Salmon Creek, 5 Salmon Falls, 5 Crossing, 27 Boise River, 80 Ft. Boise 50 1281 1229 1322 1338 1348 1352 1375 1382 1394 1404 1416 1431 1439 1444 1449 1476 1556 distance, the trail runs down the valley of the stream, which is mostly covered with excellent grass. Wood is scarce. At the Soda Springs, wood and grass are abundant. The wagon way is very circuitous, but it crosses many creeks and branches, on all of which is an abundance of grass, and on some of them wood. Fort Hall is situated on the bank of Snake river, and in its vicinity, the valley is covered with grass, and the banks of the little streams with trees. In this distance there are many good places for encampments. In this distance there are places suitable for camps, every 4 or 5 miles. Where the trail crosses Raft creek, there is good grass, and plenty of willow brush. This is a large marsh, affording very good grass. On the neighboring hills there are cedar trees. A great abundance of excellent grass, and of willow wood. In this distance the road runs near the river. The water is generally accessable, and in the narrow bottoms there is much good grass. Good grass for a few companies, and willow brush. A large scope of fine grass, and plenty of willow wood. Here the trail crosses the stream, where there is wood and grass sufficient for several large companies. In the last distance, it runs down on the east side of the creek. Here the trail leaves the creek, -some grass and wood. Impossible to get near it with wagons. In the intermediate distance it is inaccessible. Good encampment – wood and grass. Neither wood nor grass. Here the trail crosses Snake river, which, if it should happen not to be low, will be very difficult to pass. There is not a stick of wood any where near, -good grass. In the last distance, there is grass, but no water, without going to the river, which is three or four miles from the trail. In this distance the country is rough, and there is a scarcity of water and grass. Fine camps on the Boise. In the intermediate distance, the trail follows down the Boise river, along which grass and wood are found, in inexhaustible abundance. Near the fort, grass is scarce. Here the trail recrosses the Snake river. ​
Malheur River, 12 Sulphur Spring, 11 A small branch, 5 Snake River, 5 Brule River, 3 Branch of 40 the Brule, Fallen Pine, 24 Powder River, 10 Grand 15 Round, Grand Round 16 River, A small Creek, 18 Utilla 17 River, Mouth of 60 Utilla, Columbia, 14 A creek, 22 Columbia, 12 John Day's 20 River, De Chutes 14 River, A small creek, 10 Wascopin 5 Mission, 1618 1629 1634 1639 1642 1682 1706 1716 1731 1747 1765 1782 1842 1856 1878 1890 1910 1924 1934 1939 Good grass, and a little willow brush. Some grass, but no wood. Some grass, and a little willow brush. do do do.. Good grass and some wood. In this distance the road which is perhaps the worst on the whole route, follows up the Brule and its branches. There is good grass all along in the narrow bottoms, and there is an abundance of wood. Water, grass, and some willow brush. Excellent grass in the greatest abundance, — willow brush. The Round is covered with superior grass, the streams are fringed with balm and willow trees, and the mountains around are clothed with pines. From this point the trail ascends the main range of the Blue Mountains. Good grass, and forests of pine. But little grass, forests of pine. This is a small river at the western base of the Blue Mountains. The bottoms and hills are covered with a most superior kind of grass, and the banks of the stream, where the trail crosses it, are fringed with various kinds of trees. Here there are two roads, one going by the way of Dr. Whitman's and Fort Walawala, and the other following down the Utilla. The latter is considered to be much the nearest and best. In this distance the trail follows the narrow valley of the river which affords generally an abundance of excellent grass. In some places wood is scarce. —Trail leaves it a few miles from the mouth. Not much grass, and no wood. Good grass, and some wood. At several places in the last distance, the trail comes near the Columbia. Some grass, but no wood. In this distance the trail runs near the Columbia. At John Days river there is good grass and a little wood. Some grass—no wood. Along the Columbia, wood may frequently be purchased from the Indians. Good grass, and plenty of brush. The Mission is situated near the Columbia, and in its vicinity, there is an abundance of grass and wood. It is situated at the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains, and here the wagon road terminates. Animals may be driven ​Cascade Falls, Vancouver, Mouth of Willa- mmette, Astoria, Mouth of Columbia, 50 40 84 12 1989 2029 2035 21 19 21.31 over the mountains, but wagons and their contents must be taken down the Columbia in boats. This is the distance by water. The river is smoooth and the navigation uninterrupted. At the Falls it is necessary to make a portage of three miles—portage on the North side. —Tide water. River smooth unless agitated by wind.
NOTE–Most of the above distances, are according to the daily decisions of our company, returning from Oregon. We believe the proportion to be good, but the sum is too small.
Here follows a roster of the men who made up the Great Immigration of 1843, which list includes the names of Overton Johnson and William Winter.
Applegate, Jesse Applegate, Lindsey Arthur, David Arthur, Robert Arthur, Wm. Athey, James Athey, William Atkinson, John Baker, Andrew Baker, John G. Baker, William Baldridge, Wm. Bane, Layton Beale, George Beadle, George Beagle, William Biddle, Nicholas Bird, David Black, J.P. Blevins, Alexander Boardman, – Boyd, Levi Braidy, James Brooke, George Brooks, John P. Brown, Martin Brown, Oris Brown, Thomas A. Burnett, Peter H. Butler, Amon Campbell, John G. Carey, Miles Cason, F.C. Cason, James Caton, J.H. Champ, Jacobs Chapman, - Chapman, Wm. Chappel. Alfred Chase, James Childers, Moses Childs, Joseph Clark, Ransom Clymour, L. Cochran, Thomas Cone, James Cooper, L.C. Copenhaver, John Costable, Benedict Cox, John Cozine, Samuel Cronin, Daniel Dailey, George Davis, Burrell Davis, J.H. Davis, Thomas Dawson, -- Day, William Delany, Daniel Delany, Daniel Jr. Delany, William Dement, Wm. C. Dodd, Solomon Doherty, John Doke, William Dorin, Jacob Dougherty, W.P. Duncan, James Eaker, John W. East, John W. Eaton, Charles Eaton, Nathan Edson, E.G. Emerick, Solomon Etchell, James Everman, Niniwon Eyers, Miles Fairly, Stephen Fendall, Charles Ford, Ephram Ford, John Ford, Nimrod Ford, Ninevah ​Fowler, Henry Holmes, Wm. Fowler, Wm. Fowler, Wm. Jr. Francis, Alexander Frazier, Abner Frazier, Wm. Gantt, John Gardner, Samuel Gardner, Wm. Garrison, Enoch Garrison, J. W. Garrison, W. J. Gilmore, Mat. Gilpin, Major Goodman, Richard Gray, - Gray, Chiley B. Haggard, B. Hall, Samuel B. Hargrove, Wm. Harrigas, B. Haun, Jacob Hays, James Hembre, A. J. Hembre, Andrew Hembre, James Hembre, J. J. Hendrick, Abijah Hensley, Thomas J. Hess, Joseph Hewett, Henry Hide, H. H. Hill, Almoran Hill, Henry Hill, William Hobson, John Hobson, Wm. Holderness, S. M. Holly, B. Holman, Daniel Holman, John Holmes, Riley A. Houk, James Howell, G. W. Howell, John Howell, Thomas E. Howell, Wesley Howell, Wm. Hoyt, A. Hughes, Wm. Hunt, Henry Husted, A. Hutchins, Isaac Jackson, John B. James, Calvin Johnson, Overton Jones, John Kelley, —
Kelsey, - Keyser, J. B. Keyser, Pleasant Laswell, Isaac Lauderdale, John Layson, Aaron Lee, H. A. G. Lenox, E. Lenox, Edward Little, Milton Linebarger, John Linebarger, Lew Long, John Looney, Jesse Loughborough, J. Lovejoy, A.L. Luger, F. Luther, —
Malone, Madison Manning, James Manning, John Martin, James Martin, Julius Martin, Wm. J.
Matheny, Adam Matheny, Daniel Matheny, Henry Matheny, J.N. Matney, W.J. Mauzee, William Mays, William McCarver, M.M. McClane, John B. McClelland, F. McCorcle, George McDaniel, William McGarey, G.W. McGee, – McHaley, John McIntire, John McKissic, D. Millican, Elijah Mills, Isaac Mills, John B. Mills, Owen Mills, Wm. A. Mondon, Gilbert Moore, Jackson Myers, Jacob Naylor, Thomas Nesmith, J.W. Newly, W.T. Newman, Noah O'Brien, Hugh D. O'Brien, Neil Olinger, A. O'Neil, E.W. Osborn, Neil Otie, E.W. Otie, M.B. Owen, Thomas Owen, Thomas A. Paine, Clayborn Parker, Jesse Parker, William Patterson, J.R. Paynter, Samuel Pennington, J.B. Pickett, Charles E. Poe, R.H. Reading, P.B. Reid, Jacob Ricer, G.W. Richardson, Daniel Richardson, John Ricord, John Rives, Thomas Roberts, Emseley Roberts, James Roberts, Solomon Rodgets, G.W. Rodgers, S.P. Roe, John Rossin, Joseph Ruby, Philip Russell, William Sewell, Henry Sharp, C. Sheldon, William Shirley, Samuel Shively, John M. Smith, Anderson Smith, Ahi Smith, Eli Smith, Isaac W. Smith, Robert Smith, Thomas Smith, Thomas H. Spencer, Chancey Sterling, George Stevenson, — Stewart, P.G. Stimmerman, C. Story, James Stoughton, Alexander Stout, — Stout, Henry Strait, Hiram
Stringer, Cornelius Stringer, C.W. Summers, George Summers, W.C. Sulton, Dr. Nathaniel Swift, — Tarbox, Stephen Teller, Jeremiah Tharp, Lindsey Thompson, John Trainor, D. Umnicker, John Vance, Samuel Vaughn, William Vernon, George Wagoner, John Wair, J.W. Waldo, Daniel
Waldo, David
Waldo, William Ward, T.B. Waters, James Watson, John (Betty) Wheeler, H. White, James Williams, Benjamin Williams, David Williams, Edward Williams, Isaac Williams, James Williams, John Williams, Squire Wilmont, James Wilson, Wm. Wilson, Wm. H. Winkle, Archibald Winter, Wm. Zachary, Alexander Zachary, John
The following named persons died at different points on the Oregon Trail: Stevenson died on the Sandy; Clayborn Paine died on the Sweetwater, Daniel Richardson died at Fort Hall; McClelland, Miles Eyers and C.M. Stringer were drowned in the Columbia; William Day arrived sick and died at Fort Vancouver.
At Fort Hall the following named persons turned off and went to California: J. Atkinson, —Boardman, Joseph Childs, —Dawson, John Gantt, Milton Little, Capt. Wm. J. Martin, Julius Martin, F. McClelland, –McGee, John McIntire, John Williams, James Williams, Squire Williams, Isaac Williams, P. B. Reading, and Thomas J. Hensley.
​Of the party, the following named persons turned back on the Platte: Nicholas Biddle, Alexander Francis, F. Lugur, John Loughborough and Jackson Moore.
Rather unfortunately the names of the women and children in the Great Immigration of 1843 were not recorded, a form of literary discrimination rather prevalent in the nineteenth century and in a lesser degree still with us 139 years later. The actual number of men in this very considerable wagon train who made it on to the Willamette Valley was 268, a bit short of the 1000 figure so often quoted in general histories of the Pacific Northwest.
It was estimated by James Willis Nesmith, one of the more prominent members of the Great Immigration of 1843, that there were about 50 French Canadians and retired Hudson's Bay Company employees in Oregon in 1843, a group basically Catholic in religous preference. There was also a small group made up of U.S. citizens, a few rough and ready trappers who were choosing to settle down as the beaver population became pretty well trapped out. This U.S. group included a goodly number of Protestant missionaries. The total of these U.S. settlers or persons with U.S. sympathies was estimated by Nesmith at 157 persons, which total would include some women and children. Nesmith added up these various groups and came up with a total of 424 males aged 16 or above, which total included the 268 men in the Great Immigration of 1843. Nesmith states further that in 1843 there were no settlers between the Missouri border and the Cascade Mountains. There were a number of British and U.S. trappers intent on decimating the beaver population. They were very successful in this endeavor but it was rather hard on the industrious dam building beavers.
Although Johnson and Winter started from Missouri with the main wagon train such a large train proved to be unwieldly and some men in the train broke off from the main body and traveled by themselves, including our authors, Overton Johnson and William H. Winter.