The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-04-06
STORY OF THE FAMOUS
OLD OREGON TRAIL
Narrative of the Wilson Price Hunt Expedition
in 1811-12 and the "Great Migration" Into
Oregon Country, in 1923
BY Walter Meachen, Pres of Old Oregon Trail Assoc

We DeneNe, De interested In tne
history of the Old Oregon
Trail, one of the famous roads
of history which is preserved
In history by the name given
Oregon's great trans-state high
way which starts here at on
tario. The history which will
be presented in a serial in the
Argus, was written by Walter
Il. Meachem, president of the
Old Oregon Trail association
In an early issue we will pre-
sent, too, sections of the dairy
of James B. Southworth, one Of
the emigrants in the great mi
grafton in 1853. This dairy
shows that the party crossed
the Malheur near ontario on
their way to Burnt river.-Edl-
tor.
The history of the Old oregon
Trail is one full OF mystery, ro.
nance. hardship, faith and endur.
ance.
Why 80 many people left comfort
able homes to plunge into the will
dorness known as the Great Amer
lean Desert" full OF hardships and
perils, no one can tell.
Tho history OF the world does not
record a parallel case OF 80 many
people travelling so great distance
as did the pioneers OF 1888 over
the Old Oregon Trail.
A part OF the trail was traversed
by Lewis and Clark In 1905. Then
came the Hunt expedition in 1S11-i2
Ten years later a party Of trappers
found and crossed the South Pass.
Thon In 1888 Nathaniel J. Wyeth
built Fort Hall near the present
site OF Poeatello, Ida, near tho
junction OF the Port Neuff and
Snake rivers. For ten years Fort
Hall was the extreme outpost and
no wagon had ever ventured beyond
that point. Finally In 1s43 thous-
and men, women and children
blazed tho trail clear through TO the
Valley and demonstrat-
cd that wagons could make the Jour
ney.
In 1851, the Mormons made
their celebrated pilgrimage to the
Great Salt Lake. In iS49 came the
great gold Push 10 California. But
the greatest OF all, the migration
that has gone down In history an
the greatest movement OF people to
! common destination, came In 1852
when three hundred thousand men,
women and children trayersed the
ength OF the Trail from Council
3luffs. Iowa. through TO the VILLA
nette Valley. Oregon.
The pathway OF this great army
II homeseekers is marked with the
raves OF those who fell on the way, |
Yiotims OF cholera and fatigue. II Ia
estimated that 5000
II them perished in one year. The
wagons stretched for miles, making
trail one hundred feet wide In
places and ten feet deep. the soil
,round out by the iron tires OF the
wagons and the myriad feet OF the
attic and blown away by the winds
Il the desert.
The dust was deep and stifling,
he hardships were almost unendur-
bile but patience, faith and prese-
erance won and the great North
yest was populated II is well that
ge pause moment and mediate
lpon the results OF this pilgrimage
nd do honor to those who suffered
nd made history for our United
Itates. A nation which does noti
reserve its history and honor the
memory OF those who did great
leeds and helped to preserve the
ife OF that nation, soon perishes
rom the earth.
II is well for us as Americans
nd a thinking people, TO preserve
he history OF this great migration
nd settlement OF a wilderness, by
marking and permanently
the name of the Old
)regon Trail which has attached to
/ the greatest history and senti-
nent of any road in history.
The fur industry OF the North
vas one OF the chief commercial
pursuits Of the United States and
'anada in the early history Of this
ountry. The Hudson Bay Company
vas one OF the largest and richest
ur trading companies on the con-
inent.
In 1887 the Northwest Company |
vas formed and grew very rich and
,owerful. Later on came the Mack
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