The Great Migration

From 1810-1820 one million Americans took part in "Great Migration" out of the Appalachian Mountains toward the western Mississippi  Valley.

Peaking in 1812 with over 100 wagons a day crossing the Mississippi, 12,000 wealthy, respectable settlers came from the East to St. Louis.  They came for economic reasons, political and social reasons, and personal ones as well - but mostly they came for the pure sense of adventure.

"If Hell lay in the West, and American would cross Heaven to get to it" was a popular saying of the times.

Next time...the Walker move further west.