First Emigrants of the West

By Randall Parrish in 1907

The westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century is a story etched in courage, hardship, and the relentless pursuit of a better life. This narrative is incomplete without understanding the motivations, experiences, and sheer audacity of the first individuals and families who dared to cross the vast expanse of the Great Plains. This article delves into the lives of those First Emigrants of the West, exploring their journeys and the world they were about to transform.

The Plains in 1840: A Land of Promise and Peril

Imagine the Great Plains as they appeared around 1840. For most Americans dwelling in the established Eastern states, this immense territory represented an inhospitable wasteland, a desert seemingly unfit for human habitation. Only a select few – the adventurous fur trappers, the traders navigating to Santa Fe and New Mexico, and the pioneering army officers who had ventured into the prairie’s depths – glimpsed the region’s hidden potential.

The landscape was largely unknown, except to the nomadic hunters who roamed its vastness. The Missouri River had been charted, and mountain men had forged a rudimentary trail along the Platte River Valley. Trader caravans had etched a path to Santa Fe across the prairie and desert. Sparse settlements of log shanties and stockaded forts, primarily for trade with Native American tribes, dotted the larger streams between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains, appearing as mere specks against the sprawling backdrop.

In eastern Kansas and Nebraska, hardy settlers were beginning to establish homesteads, yet they cautiously clung to the vicinity of the Missouri River. In Texas, settlements were made possible by a militant advance against Mexico; yet these exercised little if any direct influence over the destinies of the more northern Plains. To protect the Santa Fe trade route, the government established Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Beyond these few outposts and rudimentary pathways, the Great Plains remained a realm of untamed wilderness, awaiting conquest and reclamation. The men and women who would undertake this monumental task cast their adventurous gazes westward, becoming the First Emigrants of the West.

Northwest and Southwest: The Allure of New Horizons

The push westward gained momentum with the initial wave of emigration toward the Pacific coast, further spurred by the outcomes of the conflict with Mexico. The former inspired thoughts of permanent settlement in the Northwest, while the latter broadened the understanding of the Southwest’s possibilities.

The curtain began to rise, transitioning from exploration to a struggle for possession, paving the way for permanent habitation. While the beginnings of this movement were slow and hesitant, it rapidly gained momentum. The trapper, the trader, the soldier, and the emigrant each journeyed along the faint wilderness trails, leaving behind the remnants of campfires, deep wheel ruts, and the somber relics of battles. Yet, they paved the way for the settlers who followed, expanding the horizon and revealing the truth of the land. This era of Indian Wars and pioneer emigration marked the next chapter in the history of the Great Plains, shaped by the First Emigrants of the West.

Missionaries: Spiritual Pioneers of the West

Before the major influx of settlers, a different kind of traveler traversed the barely discernible trails leading to Oregon as early as 1834. These were missionaries, the spiritual vanguard of westward expansion, traveling in small, separate parties. Jason and Daniel Lee were among the first to pass through. The following year, Samuel Parker and Marcus Whitman followed suit. In 1836, Whitman returned, accompanied by his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Spalding, and W. G. Gray. At the trappers’ rendezvous on the Sweetwater River, these first white women were reportedly greeted with enthusiasm by the assembled mountain men, who escorted them part of the way on their journey. The American Fur Company provided armed protection for the remainder of their journey.

The 1838 party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Eells, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. In 1839, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, along with Mr. and Mrs. Munger, made the journey. These dedicated missionaries toiled tirelessly in the Oregon country, with some even sacrificing their lives for their faith. Years later, Dr. Whitman undertook a perilous ride across the mountains and plains in the dead of winter, enduring immense hardships to deliver to Washington the news of British encroachment on American settlements along the Columbia River. His self-sacrifice and patriotism were instrumental to the development of the Northwest. Soon after, P. J. de Smet, a Jesuit priest, arrived in the upper Missouri in 1840 to minister to the Native American tribes, dedicating his life to their service.

The early history of Catholic missions in the northern Rockies is largely the story of this one devoted missionary. Father de Smet traveled extensively across the plains and mountains, documenting his experiences in great detail. He was beloved by the Native Americans and never harmed, and the visits of the "Black Robe" were always welcomed in the wigwams. His primary work was among the Salish tribe. These missionaries, though not settlers in the traditional sense, were undeniably First Emigrants of the West, paving the way for those who would follow.

The First Wave of Settlers: A New Era Begins

The year 1841 marked a pivotal moment: the arrival of the first true settlers crossing the plains and mountains toward Oregon and California. Those who had come before were wanderers, without a clear intention to populate this new land. But these were settlers, men, women, and children, and their slow passage westward signaled the start of a new era. They trudged laboriously up the Platte River Valley, finding their sole respite along the thousands of miles at the crude fur trader’s fort on the Laramie River. These were true pioneers, their numbers small – just fifteen individuals: Joel P. Walker, his wife, sister, three sons, and two daughters; Mr. Burrows, his wife and child; Mr. Warfield, his wife and child; and a man named Nichols. The isolation, the terrors, and the wonders of that journey are hard to imagine, especially for the women and children peering out from under the wagon covers as they traveled for months.

Close behind them came Bidwell’s company, headed for California. However, at Fort Bridger, this party veered more directly west, following the route that would later become famous during the gold rush. Mrs. Kelsey was the sole woman in the Bidwell company. Thus, in that same year, the First Emigrants of the West traversed the long trails to Oregon and California.

Increasing Numbers: The Tide Turns Westward

From this point forward, the flow of emigrants steadily increased. In 1842, a company of 112 men, women, and children, led by Elijah White, journeyed to the Columbia River. They had a train of 18 large Pennsylvania wagons pulled by cattle, pack mules, and horses. The following year, a veritable army of a thousand men, women, and children followed, bringing draft cattle, herds of cows and horses, farming implements, and household goods. This marked the beginning of the end of the old order. The period of permanent occupancy had begun, transforming the plains and mountains forever.

The Mormon Migration: A Quest for Religious Freedom

Close on the heels of these early emigrants came the massive Mormon migration of 1847. It is difficult to describe this movement of thousands of people from all walks of life – men, women, and children – carrying all their earthly possessions across the vast plains in search of a home, which they ultimately found in the deserts of Utah. Driven from Illinois by hostile citizens and leaving behind a deserted city, this group of religious zealots, under the leadership of Brigham Young, struggled through Iowa, enduring bitter cold and spring floods, until they established their winter camp on the banks of the Elkhorn River in Nebraska.

This halt was only temporary. On April 9, 1847, the advance guard departed westward, with the rest expected to follow as soon as possible. Each wagon was supplied with 1,000 pounds of flour, 50 pounds of rice, sugar, and bacon, 30 pounds of beans, 20 pounds of dried apples or peaches, 25 pounds of salt, five pounds of tea, a gallon of vinegar, and ten bars of soap. Every able-bodied man was required to carry a firearm and share in guard duty. The wagons served as beds, kitchens, and sometimes even boats. The average day’s journey was thirteen miles. It took this advance company three months to reach the valley of the Great Salt Lake, which their leader chose as the site for their new home.

Behind them, long trains of the prophet’s followers stretched almost continuously from the banks of the Missouri River. This journey of the Latter-Day Saints across the wilderness was one of the most remarkable sights ever witnessed on the Great Plains, rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, in sheer numbers by the gold-seekers who later flocked to California. However, considering the difference in organization and purpose, this vast exodus remains unparalleled in history. This migration did not end with these pioneers.

Dedicated missionaries continued their work in the Eastern States and Europe, their numerous converts, often poor but filled with religious fervor, pressing westward across the prairies until the coming of the railroads.

There was no complete cessation of the tide. Thousands crossed the Great Plains pulling handcarts containing their baggage, though the Church authorities provided wagons for the women, children, and sick. These handcarts were simple but sturdy, with five-foot-long shafts made of hickory or oak and cross pieces. The cart’s bed sat atop a wooden axle tree, and the wheels were also made of wood with a light iron band. The entire cart weighed about sixty pounds.

For every 100 people, the church provided 20 handcarts, five tents, three or four milk cows, and a wagon to be drawn by three yokes of oxen. The amount of clothing and bedding was limited to 17 pounds per person, and each handcart was expected to carry about one hundred pounds. These Mormon pioneers, driven by faith and determination, were a unique group of First Emigrants of the West.

The Mormon Trail: A Path Forged in Faith and Sacrifice

The majority of this Church army traveled westward from Council Bluffs, Iowa, up the valley of the Platte River, following a trail deeply etched into the prairie soil. However, there were also side streams from points farther south, with the most common route leading from Independence, Missouri, northwest across the Plains, eventually joining the main trail at Grand Island, Nebraska. This route later became an important path for emigrant trains heading to California and Oregon, and still later, it was used by overland coaches and the Pony Express. Other Mormon groups, though usually smaller, traveled up the Arkansas River valley and skirted the eastern base of the Rockies on their long journey to the "Promised Land." One such company brought the first American families into what is now Colorado, residing on the site of Pueblo throughout the winter of 1846-47.

They built houses, several children were born, numerous deaths occurred, and one wedding was recorded. Although much suffering and hardship occurred during this passage across the wilderness, there are no records of Native American attacks. Exposure and death claimed many lives along the trails. One large company, still a thousand miles from their destination, decided to press on as late as the end of November, braving winter on the Plains and in the mountains. Initially, they traveled 15 miles a day, but broken axles and other accidents soon slowed them down. At Wood River, their cattle stampeded, and 30 head were lost. The beef cattle, milk cows, and heifers were yoked up but provided little help, and food rations were reduced to one meal a day.

Upon reaching Laramie, Wyoming, they found no provisions, dashing their hopes. The ration was reduced again, with men able to work receiving 12 ounces of flour daily, women and old men nine ounces, and children four to eight ounces. The weather worsened, and they suffered greatly from the cold. The looming mountains ahead were already white with snow. The old and infirm began to die, and each camp became a burying ground. Then the able-bodied began to succumb, some dying in the shafts of their carts. Sixteen miles from the nearest possible camp on the Sweetwater River, it began to snow, and their last ration of flour was distributed. At this moment of despair, messengers arrived with the news that a train of supplies was only two or three days ahead. Encouraged, the survivors managed to press forward, but five died of cold and exhaustion during the night.

The next morning, the snow was a foot deep, and they had only two barrels of biscuits, a few pounds of sugar and dried apples, and a quarter of a sack of rice left. They decided to remain in camp, sending the captain and one of the elders ahead to find the supply train. During those three days of waiting, the party suffered intensely. Many became sick and died. One writer described the scene:

"Some expired in the arms of those who were themselves almost at the point of death. Mothers wrapped with their dying hands the remnant of their tattered clothing around the wan forms of their perishing infants. The most pitiful sight of all was to see strong men begging for the morsel of food that had been set aside for the sick and helpless."

Late on the third day, the long-awaited help arrived, but it was almost too late to save them. In Inman’s words:

"Some were already beyond all human aid, some had lost their reason, and around others, the blackness of despair had settled, all efforts to arouse them from their stupor being unavailing. Each day the weather grew colder, and many were frost-bitten, losing fingers, toes, or ears, one sick man, who held on to the wagon bars to avoid jolting, having all his fingers frozen. At a camping ground at Willow Creek, fifteen people were buried, thirteen of them frozen to death."

Beyond this point, the weather improved, and when the struggling survivors arrived at Salt Lake, they had suffered sixty-seven deaths out of four hundred and twenty. Martin’s party, six hundred strong, traveling a few miles behind, also suffered severely on the North Platte River but managed to get through with less loss of life.

The number of people who passed westward in this Mormon movement has never been precisely calculated, but the figures available indicate its significance. The first scouting party, led by Brigham Young, numbered 143 men and 73 wagons. Next came 1,200 men, women, and children with 397 wagons, followed by the Kimball company of 662 people and 226 wagons, and then those under the charge of Richards, 526 people with 169 wagons. The harrowing journey of these First Emigrants of the West demonstrated the strength of their faith and their unwavering commitment to their new home.

Increased Migration to Oregon: Diversions and Disappearances

At the same time, migration to Oregon was steadily increasing. In 1849, 1,400 Mormons passed Fort Bridger. A curious aspect of these early migrations is that few, if any, paused along the way. Not even rumors of gold deposits in the Black Hills or the Big Horn Range diverted the flow toward Salt Lake and the Pacific. Occasionally, a few adventurers were tempted, but their discoveries, if any, left no visible trace in history. The story of thirty men deserting Captain Douglas’s party in 1852 is a case in point. They set out to prospect in the Black Hills but were never heard from again. Bancroft reports that evidence of their work, including fragments of skeletons and mining tools, was discovered on Battle Creek in 1876, suggesting they were likely killed by Native Americans. The First Emigrants of the West faced many dangers, and their stories serve as a reminder of the hardships they endured.

Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander, updated November 2022.

About the Author: Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail was written by Randall Parrish as a chapter of his book, The Great Plains: The Romance of Western American Exploration, Warfare, and Settlement, 1527-1870; published by A.C. McClurg & Co. in Chicago, 1907. Parrish also wrote several other books, including When Wilderness Was King, My Lady of the North, Historic Illinois, and others.

Also See:

Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny

More tales by Randall Parrish:

Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail

Beginning of Settlement in the American West

Mushroom Towns of the American West

The Reign Of The Prairie Schooner