Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 2, Number 43, DeMotte, Jasper County, 9 March 1933 — ERA THAT MARKED “WINNING OF WEST” [ARTICLE]

ERA THAT MARKED “WINNING OF WEST”

One of Most Glorious Pages of American History. When we think of the great western trails and the march of the covered wagon our minds naturally turn to the feats of the heroic Whitman, the tragedy of the Donners and other occasions which called for the acme of human bravery and sacrifice. And yet, Franklin F. Korell, writing in the New Republic, reminds us, we ought not to forget that the real achievement of the trail and the settling of the great western empire were the result not of a few heroic deeds, but of the steady advance of a great body of earnest and determined men and women who were anxious to find a new home in the wilderness, for it was of such as these that the great western empire was built. The sweep of emigration to the western country came in successive waves. At the beginning of 1841 the Oregon country had a white population of perhaps 100 men, women and children, nearly half of whom were attached to the missions. It was in the same year that the tide of immigration really set in and the man to organize the first real emigrant party, known as the Western Emigration society, was John Bidwell, an adventurous New Yorker, whose name is not unknown in the building of his adopted state of California. Early in the year the Bidwell party, consisting of 69 men, women and children, organized by electing John Bartelson captain. The majority of the party were determined to go to California, although it finally divided and went in three different directions. Later accessions raised the number of the party to 81. After a long journey the party reached Soda Springs where a band of Catholic missionaries who had joined the emigrants set out for the Flathead country in Montana. The original Bidwell party, now 64 in number, divided, half setting out for Oregon, the other half being determined to go to California. The year 1842 brought a real wave of emigration to the Oregon country. The prime mover was Dr. Elijah White, a former missionary to the regions who early in 1842 was appointed an Indian agent for the Oregon territory by President Tyler. Like most emigrant movements of the day the assembly point was near Independence, Mo., where the party organized on May 14, electing White captain, and James Coats pilot. One of the leaders was Amos Lovejoy, who, a few years later, was to accompany Marcus Whitman on his historic winter ride across the Rockies in a successful effort to save the Oregon country for the Stars and Stripes. The party consisted of several covered wagons and 107 persons. The first large emigration came in 1843 and for this reason the period is called the year of the great migration. It was inspired by Whit-

man’s efforts in the East. There were over 200 families, 120 wagons and a big supply of live stock. Efforts of the Hudson’s bay officers at Fort Hall to turn back the emigrants proved unavailing, because of Whitman's encouragement, and they finally arrived in Oregon. In the succeeding five years, train after train of emigrants set out for the western country, some to California, but most during this period to Oregon. Four trains, one including 800 persons, went in 1844. And in 1845, the number increased, more than 3,000 persons covering the Oregon trail, while a much smaller number went to California. Emigration to the following territory picked up somewhat, however, in 1846. Then came 1847, with an even greater boom, nearly 5,000 going to Oregon, and the Mormons covering much of the same route on their way to Utah. The Mormon movement continued in 1848, but with this year, the first phase of emigration closed. The new Pacific era was commencing.