Hard Luck on the Oregon Trail- Pioneer Homemaker Sarah Jane Williams
Walla Walla native Teri Sannar tells the story of Sarah Jane Williams’ journey to Walla Walla in the days of the Oregon Trail. Sarah Jane was 18 when she made the overland journey, leaving Iowa April 18, 1864 and arrived in Walla Walla on Monday, October 10. The family’s plans to go to California changed when they reached Salt Lake City. From there they headed to Walla Walla originally with horse teams, but changed to oxen in Boise. The Willilams’ story appeared in the Walla Walla Statesman, October 14, 1864:
A Sad Picture on Main St.
The philanthropist would have shed tears, had he been a witness to a scene which we saw on Main Street on Monday, on returning to our office from dinner: Two wagons, piloted each, by three yoke of faithful oxen, the “worse for wear,” halted before the Washington Restaurant. In one of them lay a veteran grandfather, Mr. George Calvert, aged 64 years, in a comatose and prostrated condition, unable to speak. On Inquiry, we were told that for a long time the old gentleman had been afflicted with general dropsy, but was still able to help himself upon the trip across the Plains until the past two months; the fatigue and anxiety incident to an overland journey proved to be more than his advanced age and battered frame could indure [sic]. On the left of his father, lay George Calvert, Jr., aged 10, sick two weeks with “Mountain Fever;” Mrs. Calvert, aged 62, was leaning over the helpless husband and son like a guardian-angel quenching their parching thirst. Belonging to the other team were the old man’s son-in-law and family, Mr. John Williams, having 8 children; a young lady aged 18, four small girls of ages respectively: 4, 6, 8 and infant 23 months, and two boys one 13 and the other 15 years All of the children were more or less indisposed. Mr. Joseph, the proprietor of the restaurant, responding to the calls of humanity kindly directed his servants to give them a good dinner from the table; and Mr. Samuel Caldwell lost no time circulating among the crowd a paper to raise money for their relief. A handsome amount was soon collected and these destitute immigrants were comfortably placed in a house north of the bridge, where they have been since being visited by Dr. Gibson. In the train to which these teams belonged were two others, which remained on a creek some two miles south of the city, where they expect to locate. We visited them and found two families; Mr. Thos. Calvert [also a son of the sire above mentioned], his wife and 4 children—two boys and two girls; Mr. Davis Burriker, wife and 6 children—three boys and three girls—making in all a ‘grand army’ of 26 persons. From them we learned that they had all left Darkesville, Davis County, Iowa, on the 18th of April last; that the troubles of the war at home had induced them to leave abodes where full and plenty reigned. Mr. Williams said to us, “We were bound for California, but when we got to Salt Lake, they told us that California was all “dried up;” we had some “greenbacks,’ but traveling on, we found they were worthy only fifty cents on the dollar.”
Performances begin at 2:00 p.m. in the pioneer settlement at Fort Walla Walla Museum. Visitors are encouraged to question the Living History re-enactors about their lives and times. The Museum is open daily, 10 am - 5 pm, April through October; 10 am - 4 pm, November1 through December 23; and weekdays, 10 am - 4 pm, January through March.
Admission is free to Fort Walla Walla Museum members,
eligible service personnel & their familes through
the Blue Star Museums program, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute's
Inwai Circle cardholders,
enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and all children under 6;
$3/children
6-12; $6/seniors (62+) and students; $7/adults.
Your admission fee today may be applied to a membership,
priced beginning at $27. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703, or email: info@fortwallawallamuseum.org. |
