California Here We Come!

In the winter of 1840-41 the state of Missouri was experiencing hard times.  Farm prices had fallen, putting farmers deep in debt, and cholera was running rampart.  In the midst of the dark days, hope came from the West, in the promise of a place called California. 

In May of 1841,  a young school teacher and farmer by the name of John Bidwell, arrived at Sapling Grove to meet up with a wagon train going west to California.  Only 69 men, women and children made up the final train, which became the Bidwell-Bartleson party (Bartleson was the captain).

The party by all rights should never have made it to California as both men knew next to nothing about the wilderness and even less than that about guiding a wagon train through unknown country.  (this was prior to any Oregon Trail being blazed)  Luck was with them at first - shortly out of Sapling Grove they met up with a group of Jesuits with Father De Smet.  Wilderness savvy Tom Fitzpatrick lead the group.  As far as Soda Springs on the Bear River (Idaho) they relied on his expertise.  There they decided to part with the Jesuit half heading for Oregon, and the Bidwell-Bartleson half heading to California.

The California bound pioneer headed for Great Salt Lake in August with dwindling supplies.  Two riders were dispatched to Fort Hall on the Oregon Trail for a guide since they were uncertain of a route to take.  The two men came back empty-handed and no wiser.  "Generally just veer westward, neither too far north where you'd be lost in the maze of canyons, or too far south here you'd be lost in the desert."

So the party abandoned their wagons one by one as the 34 pioneer traveled through the Great Salt Lake Desert to the Humboldt River (Nevada) and followed that until it sank underground.  Game was scarce so they slaughtered their oxen to keep from starving.

By mid-October they reached the foothills of the Sierras.  Trudging over the mountains by sheer determination, they entered California's Joaquin Valley on October 29.  Their journey across land which no wagon had traveled became the California Trail and was a true miracle of luck and fortitude.  Their success gave hope to thousands to come.

Next time...The infamous Donner Party
------------------------------------------------
On This Day in Pioneer History: "On March 2, 1807, Congress abolishes the African slave trade, "to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within jurisdiction of the United States from any foreign kingdom, place or country."