Sheer Human Will

Six of the Donner who survived were James Frazier Reed, his semi-invalid wife Margaret, and their four children.  Their very survival may have not happened except for a tragedy that occurred in the Nevada Desert.  While struggling up a brutal grade, Reed quarreled with the ox driver of another family in the wagon train when the two wagons got tangled up together.  The man attacked Reed with his whip and Reed drew a knife and killed him in self defense.

The Reed family was then banished from the wagon train.  It was behind schedule and low on supplies even then.  Reed rode ahead to California to bring help.  He was stripped of his horse, his gun and food but friends secretly supplied him with food, a horse and a rifle. 

Reed arrived in California half starved himself at just the time that the Mexican War was going on in California.  It took him three months to organize a relief expedition.  Meanwhile Margaret, trapped in the snow, was somehow able to keep her children alive and their spirits up as well.

When Reed finally returned leading the men who were burdened with heavy feed sacks up the mountain, he met his wife and two of his children coming down the mountain in search of him!
Reed went looking for his remaining two children and found them alive two days later.

Quite a story of mishap, providence and courage...sheer human will to survive!

Next time...Manifest Destiny
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On March 9, 1959, Barbie makes her debut!  Made by Mattel she become the best selling toy of all time..."  (Slow day for pioneers!)