History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record", Part 96

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.)
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co.
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record" > Part 96

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and city council acted as pall bearers at his funeral.

GAMES F., Fun., born March 26, IS41, at Springfield, Ill., accompanied his parents to California, and has been engag- ed in mining in Idaho, Nevada and Cali- fornia, until the last two years. He lives now-1876-in San Jose, California.

THOMAS K., born April 2, IS43, in Springfield, Illinois, accompanied his pa- rents to California, has been engaged in mining, is unmarried, and lives in San Jose, California.

CHARLES C., born Feb. 6, 1848, under the Mexican flag, in San Jose, Cali- fornia, was married there, Aug. 12, 1872, to Imogene Bergler. They have two children, CHARLES C., Jun., and WIL- LIE F. Charles C. Reid is a farmer and stock raiser, and resides in San Jose, Cali- fornia.

WILLIANOSKI YOUNT, born Dec. 12, 1850, in San Jose, Cal., died June 12, IS60.

Mrs. Margaret W. Reed died Nov. 25, IS61, and James F. Reed died July 24, IS74, both in San Jose, Cal. He was a man of great energy, warm and genial in his friendships, social and entertaining in his family. He made money fast, and used it liberally. He was one of the most active men in trying to make San Jose the capital of theState, circulating documents and try- ing to impress the members elect to the State Convention, of the importance and value of that place as a seat of government, and spent not less than twenty thousand dollars in behalf of that place. Mr. Reed left his family in good circumstances, with a possibility of immense wealth for them in the future, as he owned mines in Idaho, on Reese river, and at White Pine. For a more full account of his sufferings and almost superhuman efforts to relieve others, see the following sketch of the Reed and Donner emigrant party.

REED AND DONNER. A party was organized in the vicinity of Springfield, Sangamon county, Ill., and started from that city, April 14, 1846, for California and the Pacific coast. It has always been spoken of by the people of Sangamon county as the "Reed and Donner emigrant party." They were not lured there on account of gold, for it had not then been discovered. When they left Springfield the company numbered

thirty-four persons. Of the two news- papers published in Springfield at the time-the Fournal and Register-each have the identical number missing that should have contained information about them. The following are the names as near as I have been able to determine, of the persons composing the company :-

James F. Reed and Mrs. Margaret W. Reed, his wife, with their four children, Virginia E. B., Martha J., James F., Jun., and Thomas K .; also Mrs. Sarah Keyes, the mother of Mrs. Reed.

George Donner and Mrs. Tamsen Donner, his wife, with their five children, Elitha C., Leanna C., Francis E., Georgi- ana and Eliza P.

Jacob Donner and Mrs. Elizabeth Don- ner, his wife, with their five children, Isaac, Lewis, Samuel, George and Mary; also William and Solomon Hook, children of Mrs. Donner by a former marriage.

There were also Milford Elliott-often mentioned as Milton Elliott -James Smith, John Denton, Eliza and Bayless Williams, Walter Herron and Hiram O. Miller. There were some others, but I have been unable to learn their names.

Leaving Springfield, their first point of destination was Independence, Missouri, where they were to make the final pre- paration for crossing the Plains. They were joined at various points by parties from other places, as follows :--

From Lacon, Illinois: Jay Fausdick and Mrs. Sarah Fausdick, his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Graves, with their eight child- ren, Frank, Mary, William, Ellen, Lavi- na, Nancy, Jonathan and Elizabeth. Mrs. Fausdick was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Graves.

From Iowa: Patrick Brien-spelled, in some places, Brein and Breen-Marga- ret Brien, Margaret J., John, Edward, Patrick, Jun., Simon, James and Peter Brien, and Patrick Dolen.

From Belleville, Illinois: J. P. Eddy, Mrs. Eddy and W. H. Eddy.

From St. Louis, Missouri: William Foster, Mrs. Foster and George Foster; and from Ray county, Missouri: William McCutchen, Mrs. McCutchen and Har- riet Mccutchen.

From Tennessee: Lemuel Murphy, Mrs. Murphy, Lander, Mary, William

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and Samuel Murphy; William Pike, Cynthia Pike and N. Pike.

From Germany: Mr. and Mrs. Kies- berger, or Keysburg, B. and L. S. Keys- burg. Mrs. Wolfinger, Mr. Rinehart, Mr. Spitzger and Carl Berger.

From Springfield, Ohio: Samuel Shoemaker, and-

From Chicago, Illinois: C. T. Stanton.

Others are mentioned on the road, in- cidentally, but this sketch is only intended for those who left Sangamon county. At Independence, Mr. Reed loaded eight wagons with provisions and supplies of various kinds. The Donners made simi- lar preparations, as also the other mem- bers of the party. They, of course, had a sufficient number of oxen to haul all their wagons. It was absolutely neces- sary that emigrants, at that time, should travel in large bodies as a safeguard against the Indians on the Plains. It was never safe to start until the grass had made sufficient growth to afford susten- ance for the cattle. This company of eighty-one persons, thirty-four of whom were from Sangamon county, left Inde- pendence early in May, for their long, tedious and perilous journey across the Western Plains. All went well until they approached the Big Blue river, four miles above its mouth, where Manhattan, Kan., now stands. They found the stream quite full, and the whole party camped and commenced building boats and rafts for crossing. Just before reaching there, Mrs. Keyes, the mother of Mrs. Reed, showed signs of failing health under the fatigue and discomfort of travel in un- pleasant weather. While in camp she grew worse, and on the morning of May 29, 1846, breathed her last. Work was suspended, and each vied with every other in rendering the last tribute of respect to her remains. A neat coffin was made of timber, split, hewn and planed, from a cottonwood tree near by. The remains were placed in it and buried on a beanti- ful elevation, near an upland burr oak. Religions services were conducted by a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. The grave was sodded, and the tree made to serve the purposes of a head board. On it was cut the following inscription :

"SARAH KEYES, AGED 70 YEARS. DIED

29th MAY, 1846. FROM SPRING- FIELD, ILLINOIS."

At the foot a coarse white stone, re sembling marble, was placed, containing the words:

MRS. S. KEYES, AGED 70 YEARS.

Flowers and young Cedars were plant- ed at the head and foot.

Between Independence and Blue river the Reed and Donner party fell in with Col. W. H. Russell and company, who had left Independence a few days before them. Passing Blue river, they all trav- eled together until they reached Little Sandy river, where a separation took place, the majority of them going to Oregon, Col. Russell heading the latter. The day after the separation the Reed and Donner party elected George Don- ner Captain, and from that time it was known as the "Donner Company." They continued their journey up the valley of the Platte river, passing Fort Laramie and crossing the Rocky Mountains to Fort Bridger without any serious mishap. This had occupied the entire summer. They tarried at the Fort four days. Parties who had gone before, learned the dangers, and knowing the Donner party were com :- ing, left letters, directed to Mr. Reed, with Mr. Vasques, the partner of Bridger, for whom the fort was named, advising him by no means to take what was known as the Hastings cut off, but to go by the Fort Hall route. The latter was an established route, and well known, but it required a detour to the northwest, whereas the Has- tings cut off, passing through Webber canyon to the south end of the great Salt Lake, about where Salt Lake City now stands, made the route more direct, and doubtless was three hundred miles shorter, which was the inducement to take that route. Vasques being interested in having all travelers go that way, with- held the letters from Mr. Reed, and he never knew, until his arrival in California, that any such letters had been left for him, and they unfortunately took what they supposed would be the more direct road.

Approaching the mouth of the Web- ber canyon, they found a letter sticking in the top of a sage bush. It was from Hastings, the discoverer of the new route. He was then piloting a company through, and proposed to the Donner Company that, it they would send mes-

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sengers for him, he would return and pilot them through a better way than the one given them. Messrs. Reed, Stanton and Mccutchen, of the Donner Company, went to Mr. Hastings, and, after going back part of the way with Mr. Reed-he having procured a fresh horse-Mr. Hastings gave him directions, and leaving him about where Salt Lake city now stands, returned to the first party he was piloting. Mr. Reed return- ed east to the Donner Company, all hands went to work, and by digging and cutting timber, made a road passing to the south end of Salt Lake, crossing the outlet to the lake-now called the river Jordan. Passing to the northwest, around the lake, they were detained a few days by the death, from consumption, of one of the company, a Mr. Halloran. A few more days' travel brought them to the Springs where they were to provide water and grass for crossing what was called Hastings' desert, an alkaline region destitute of water or vegetation. They were led to believe that it was less than fifty miles across, but it proved to be nearer eighty. It was understood they must travel day and night, stopping only to feed and water the cattle. When abont two-thirds of the way across, the stock manifested signs of being exhausted, and the company requested Mr. Reed to go forward until he found water and report. He did so, reaching it in about twenty miles, and returning, met his teamsters about 11 o'clock at night driving the cattle, having left their wagons. After directing them how to procced, he went on to meet his family and the re- mainder of the company. Soon after leaving his teamsters, one & of their horses sunk down in the road, and while they were endeavoring to raise it, the cattle scented the water, scat- tered, and nine yoke were never found, leaving one ox and a cow only; his wagons and family, with all their sup- plies, out on a desert, hundreds of miles from any human habitation, and winter close upon them. The mistake of his teamsters-and one he would not have permitted had he been present -- was in leaving the wagons so soon.

The Donners and other members of the company drove their teams much further before leaving their wagons, and

some few succeeded in taking them the entire distance.

We will return to Mr. Reed, who was seeking his family twenty miles in the desert. He reached them about daylight the next morning. Not knowing that his cattle were lost, he waited with his family all day, expecting some of his men to return and haul them to water. Not receiving any information, and their sup- ply of water being nearly gone, he start- ed with his family on foot, carrying the youngest child in his arms, and in the course of the night the children became exhaust- ed. They spread a blanket on the ground; all lay down on it, and covered themselves with shawls; but a cold hurri- cane commenced blowing soon after, and he could only keep the children warm by having their four dogs lie down against them, outside the shawls. About day- light they moved on, and soon came to a wagon, which belonged to Jacob Donner, and contained his family. Mr. Reed left his family with Mrs. Donner. Mr. Don- ner returned from the water with his cattle, and took his own and Mr. Reed's families to the water, where they remained in camp about a week, hunting for their cattle. Mr. Reed never found any of his; the Indians had made sure work, and secured all except the two previously mentioned. He then divided his provis- ions, except what he could haul in one wagon, borrrowed another yoke of oxen, and, leaving his seven wagons in the desert, moved on with the company,-all the others having found a sufficient num- ber of their oxen to haul their wagons. After a few days' travel, the party who had loaned him the yoke of oxen needed them, when another neighbor loaned him a yoke.

Some days further on it was found that provisions were running short. An estimate was made of the quantity it would take for each family. Mr. Reed then proposed that if two men would go forward to Captain Sutter's in California, he, Reed, would write him a letter, ask- ing for the whole amount, and would become personally responsible for the pay. Mr. William McCutchen, of Mis- souri, and Mr. Stanton, of Chicago, volunteered to go. The progress was slow, and weeks passed without any tidings from Mccutchen and Stanton.

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It was suggested that Mr. Reed go in advance to see what had become of them, and hurry up supplies. In all cases of that kind those remaining were to take care of the families of those detach- ed for the good of all. The two Donner families were in advance of the main body. Walter Herron was with George Donner, and when Mr. Reed overtook them, Herron volunteered to go with him. Having but one horse, they rode by turns. Their provisions gave out, and they traveled for days without food, ex- cept wild geese and other game which they occasionally killed on Truckee river. When they reached the Sierra Nevada mountains, Herron wanted to kill the horse, and Mr. Reed persuaded him from it by agreeing to kill him rather than perish with hunger. That afternoon Herron became delirious for want of food. They found five beans. Herron ate three of them, and Reed the other two. The next morning they came upon some abandoned wagons, which they ransacked, but failed to find any food. Taking the tar-bucket from one of the wagons, and scraping the tar from the bottom, Mr. Reed discovered a streak of rancid tallow in the bottom, which he made known to Herron, who swallowed a piece about the size of a walnut without giving it a smell. He swallowed a second piece, and wanted more, which Mr. Reed refused to give him, having himself eaten some which made him deathly sick. They soon after descended into Bear river valley, where they found some emigrants in wagons, who gave them food and re- lieved their sufferings. They there met Mr. Stanton, and two Indians sent by Captain Sutter to aid in carrying provis- jons. Mr. Reed was so emaciated that Mr. Stanton did not recognize him until they had conversed with each other sever- al minutes. The next morning, Oct. 23, 1846, each party continued their journey. Mr. Reed went on to Captain Sutter's, where he secured thirty horses, one mule and two Indians to aid him in bringing out the sufferers. He was joined by Mr. Mccutchen, who had been separated from Mr. Stanton by sickness. With some flour and beef they started to meet the suffering emigrants in the mountains. After weeks spent in unavailing efforts, they had to return, as men and horses

sank out of sight in the snow. It was evident that nothing could be done until spring, the mountaineers all being absent fighting Mexicans, the war with Mexico having commenced the year hefore, ;and the natives of Spanish and Indian blood, having expressed a determination to exter- minate the Americans.

. Snow commenced falling the latter part of October, and caught the whole party, not in a body, but scattered along some distance, the extremes being probably a day's journey apart. The following jour- nal kept by one of the sufferers, includes the time from Oct. 31, 1846, to Mar. 1, 1847. This is taken from a copy of the Illinois State Journal of Sept. 16, 1847, and is dated :

TRUCKEY'S LAKE, Nov. 20, 1846.

Came to this place on the 31st of last month; went into the Pass, the snow so deep we were unable to find the road, and when within three miles from the summit, turned back to this shanty, on Truckey's Lake. Stanton came up one day after we arrived here; we again took our teams and wagons and made another unsuccess- ful attempt to cross the mountains, as it continued to snow all the time. We now have killed most part of our cattle, having to remain bere until next spring, and live on lean meat, without bread or salt. It snowed during the space of eight days, with little intermission, after our ar- rival, though now clear and pleasant, freezing at night; the snow nearly gone from the valleys.

Nov. 21-Fine morning, wind north- west; twenty-two of our company about starting to cross the mountains this day, including Stanton and his Indians.

Nov. 22-Froze hard last night; fine and clear to-day; no account from those on the mountains.

Nov. 23-Same weather, wind west; the expedition across the mountains re- turned after an unsuccessful attempt.

Nov. 25-Cloudy; looks like the eve of a snow storm; our mountaineers are to make another trial to-morrow, if fair; froze hard last night.

Nov. 26-Began to snow last evening; now rains or sleets; the party do not start to-day.

Nov. 29-Still snowing; now about three feet deep; wind west; killed my

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last oxen to-day; gave another yoke to Foster; wood hard to be got.

Nov. 30-Snowing fast; looks as likely to continue as when it commenced; no living thing without wings can get ,about.

Dec. I-Still snowing; wind west; snow about six or six and one-half feet deep; very difficult to get wood, and we are completely housed up; our cattle all killed but two or three, and these, with the horses and Stanton's mules, all sup- posed to be lost in the snow; no hopes of finding them alive.

Dec. 3-Ceases snowing; cloudy all day; warm enough to thaw.

Dec. 4-Beautiful sunshine, thawing a little; looks delightful after the long storm; snow seven or eight feet deep.

Dec. 5-The morning fine and clear; Stanton and Graves. manufacturing snow shoes for another mountain scrabble; no account of mules.

Dec. &-Fine weather; froze hard last night; wind southwest; hard work to find wood sufficient to keep us warm, or cook our beef.

Dec. 9-Commenced snowing about eleven o'clock; wind northwest; took in Spitzer yesterday, so weak that he cannot rise without help, caused by starvation. Some have a scant supply of beef; Stan- ton trying to get some for himself and Indians; not likely to get much.

Dec. 10-Snowed fast all night, with heavy squalls of wind; continues to snow ; now about seven feet in depth.

Dec. 14-Snows faster than any previ- ous day; Stanton and Graves, with sev- eral others, making preparations to cross the mountains on snow shocs; snow eight feet on a level.

Dec. 16-Fair and pleasant; froze hard last night; the company started on snow shoes to cross the mountains; wind south- east.

Dec. 17-Pleasant; Wm. Murphy re- turned from the mountain party last even- ing: Bayless Williams died night before last; Milton and Noah started for Don- ner's eight days ago, not returned yet; think they are lost in the snow.

Dec. 19-Snowed last night, thawing to-day; wind northwest, a little singular for a thaw.

Dec. 20-Clear and pleasant; Mrs. Reed here; no account from Milton yet;

Charles Berger set out for Donner's; turned back unable to procced; tough times, but not discouraged; our hopes are in God; Amen.

Dec. 21-Milton got back last night from Donner's camp; sad news; Jacob Donner, Samuel Shoemaker, Rhinchart and Smith are dead; the rest of them in a low situation; snowed all night, with a strong southwest wind.

Dec. 23-Clear to-day; Milton took some of his meat away; all well at their camp. Began this day to read the "Thirty days' Prayers;" Almighty God grant the requests of unworthy sinners!

Dec. 24-Rained all night and still continues; poor prospect for any kind of comfort, spiritual or temporal.

Dec. 25-Began to snow yesterday, snowed all night and snows yet, rapidly ; extremely difficult to find wood, offered our prayers to God this, Christmas, morn- ing; the prospect is appalling, but we trust in Him.

Dec. 27-Cleared off yesterday; con- tinues clear; snow nine fect deep; wood growing scarcer; a tree, when felled, sinks into the snow, and is hard to be got at.

Dec. 30-Fine, clear morning; froze hard last night; Charles Berger died last evening about ten o'clock.

Dec. 31-Last of the year; may we, with the help of God, spend' the coming year better than we have the past, which we propose to do if it be the will of the Almighty to deliver us from our present dreadful situation; Amen. Morning fair, but cloudy ; wind cast-by-south; looks like another snow storm; snow storms are dreadful to us; the snow at present is very deep.

Fan. I, 1847-We pray the God of mercy to deliver us from our present calamity, if it be His holy will. Com- menced snowing last night, and snows a little yet; provisions getting scant; dug up a hide from under the snow yesterday; have not commenced on it yet.

Fan. 3-Fair during the day; freezing at night; Mrs. Reed talks of crossing the mountains with her children.

Fan. 4-Fine morning, looks like spring; Mrs. Reed and Virginia, Milton Elliot and Eliza Williams started a short time ago, with the hope of crossing the mountain; left the children here; it was

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difficult for Mrs. Reed to part with them.

Fan 6 .- Eliza came back from the mountains yesterday evening, not able to procced; the others kept ahead.

Fan. 8-Very cold this morning ; Mrs. Reed and others came back, could not find their way, on the other side of the mountains; they have nothing but hides to live on.

Fan. 10-Began to snow last night; still continues; wind west-north-west.

Fan. 13-Snowing fast; snow higher than the shanty; it must be thirteen feet deep; cannot get wood this morning; it is a dreadful sight for us to look upon.

Fan. 14-Cleared off yesterday; the sun shining brilliantly renovates our spirits; praise be to the God of Heaven.

Fan. 15-Clear day again; wind north- west; Mrs. Murphy blind; Lanthron not able to get wood; has but one axe be- tween him and Kiesburg; it looks like another storm; expecting some account from Sutter's soon.

fan. 17-Lanthron became crazy last night; provisions searee; hides our main subsistence; may the Almighty send us help.

Fan. 21-Fine morning; John Battise and Mr. Denton came this morning with Eliza. She will not eat hides; Mrs. sent her back to live or die on them.

Fan. 22-Began to snow after sunrise; likely to continue; wind north.

Fan. 23-Blew hard and snowed all night; the most severe storm we have ex- perieneed this winter; wind west.

Fan. 26-Cleared up yesterday; to-day fine and pleasant, wind south; in hopes we are done with snow storms; those who went to Sutter's not yet returned ; provisions getting seant; people growing weak ; living on small allowance of hides.

Fan. 28-Commenced snowing yester- day-still continues to-day. Lewis (Sut- ter's Indian,) died three day's ago; food growing seareer; don't have fire enough to cook our hides.

Fan. 30-Fair and pleasant; wind west; thawing in the sun; John and Ed- ward Breen went to Graves' this morn- ing; the . seized on Mrs. goods until they would be paid; they also took the hides which herself and family

subsisted upon; she regained two pieces only, the balance they have taken. You may judge from this what our fare is in eamp; there is nothing to be had by hunt- ing yet, perhaps there soon will be.

Fan. 31-The sun does not shine out brilliant this morning; froze hard last night; wind northwest. Lanthron Mur- phy died last night about one o'clock; Mrs. Reed went to Graves' this morning to look after goods.

Feb. 5-Snowed hard until 12 o'clock last night; many uneasy for fear we shall all perish with hunger; we have but little meat left, and only three hides; Mrs. Reed has nothing but one hide, and that is on Graves' house; Milton lives there, and likely will keep that; Eddy's child died last night.

Feb. 6 -- It snowed faster last night and to-day than it has done this winter before; still continues without intermission; wind southwest; Murphy's folks and Kiesburg say they cannot eat hides; I wish we had enough of them; Mrs. Eddy is very weak.

Heb. 7-Ceased to snow at last; to-day it is quite pleasant; MeCuteheon's child died on the second of this month.

Feb. 8-Fine, clear morning ; Spitzer died last night; we will bury him in the snow. Mrs. Eddy died on the night of the seventh.

Feb. 9-Mr. Pike's child all but dead; Milton is at Murphy's, not able to get out of bed: Kiesburg gets up; he says he is not able; Mrs. Eddy and child were buried to-day; wind southeast.

Feb. 10-Beautiful morning; thawing in the sun; Milton Elliot died last night at Murphy's shanty; Mrs. Reed went there this morning to see after his effects; J. Denton trying to borrow meat for Graves; had none to give; they had noth- ing but hides; all are entirely out of meat ; but a little we have; our hides are nearly all eat up; with God's help spring will soon smile upon us.

Feb. 12-Warm, thawy morning.

Feb. 14-Fine morning, but cold; bur- ied Milton in the snow. John Denton not well.

Feb. 15-Morning cloudy until nine o'clock, then cleared off warm. Mrs. refused to give Mrs. - any hides. Put Sutter's pack hides on her

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History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record", Part 96

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.) Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co. Number of Pages: 824

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.)
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co.
Number of Pages: 824