History Pages: 8 - The Wagon Trains - Revision history

Carey at 20:02, 19 November 2024

2024-11-19T20:02:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:02, 19 November 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''For a table of contents, see''' [[History pages]].		'''For a table of contents, see''' [[History pages]].

			[[File:Sutter's Fort from Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion.jpg\|right\|600px]]
	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.

	Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first group of families to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes, although most - like Bartleson-Bidwell - were forced to abandon their wagons. The four [[Williams brothers]] came to Sutter's Fort (today's Sacramento) in 1843, in a party guided by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Walker Joseph Walker]. Mary Patterson, who married James Williams, arrived a year later, and probably met her husband there.		Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first group of families to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes, although most - like Bartleson-Bidwell - were forced to abandon their wagons. The four [[Williams brothers]] came to Sutter's Fort (today's Sacramento, shown at right in an 1840s drawing - credit: Wikimedia Commons) in 1843, in a party guided by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Walker Joseph Walker]. Mary Patterson, who married James Williams, arrived a year later, and probably met her husband there.

	The most famous of the wagon trains was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).		The most famous of the wagon trains was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).

Carey at 19:45, 19 November 2024

2024-11-19T19:45:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:45, 19 November 2024
Line 3:		Line 3:
	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.

	Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first ~~wagon train~~ to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The four [[Williams brothers]] came to Sutter's Fort (Sacramento) in 1843, in a party guided by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Walker Joseph Walker]. Mary Patterson, who married James Williams, arrived a year later.		Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first group of families to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes, although most - like Bartleson-Bidwell - were forced to abandon their wagons. The four [[Williams brothers]] came to Sutter's Fort (today's Sacramento) in 1843, in a party guided by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Walker Joseph Walker]. Mary Patterson, who married James Williams, arrived a year later, and probably met her husband there.

	The most famous of the wagon trains was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).		The most famous of the wagon trains was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).

Carey at 19:51, 25 October 2024

2024-10-25T19:51:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:51, 25 October 2024
Line 3:		Line 3:
	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.

	Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of ~~these~~ was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).		Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The four [[Williams brothers]] came to Sutter's Fort (Sacramento) in 1843, in a party guided by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Walker Joseph Walker]. Mary Patterson, who married James Williams, arrived a year later.

			The most famous of the wagon trains was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).

	Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].		Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].

Carey at 23:14, 20 October 2023

2023-10-20T23:14:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 20 October 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''For a table of contents, see''' [[History pages]].		'''For a table of contents, see''' [[History pages]].

	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.

	Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party]] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the ill-fated Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha Reed ~~Lewis~~]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident.		Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).

	Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].		Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].

Carey at 22:55, 20 October 2023

2023-10-20T22:55:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:55, 20 October 2023
Line 3:		Line 3:
	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County.

	Others sought shorter routes and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party]] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the ill-fated Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha Reed Lewis]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident.		Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party]] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the ill-fated Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha Reed Lewis]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident.

	Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].		Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].

			Immigration to California peaked during the 1848-50 Gold Rush, but many gold seekers decided that overland travel was too slow, and came instead to San Francisco by sea.
			*[[History Pages: 11 - The Gold Rush]]

	Next: [[History Pages: 9 - Bear Flag Revolt]]		Next: [[History Pages: 9 - Bear Flag Revolt]]

Carey at 22:50, 20 October 2023

2023-10-20T22:50:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:50, 20 October 2023
Line 3:		Line 3:
	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County.

	Others sought shorter routes and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party]] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the		Others sought shorter routes and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party]] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the ill-fated Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha Reed Lewis]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident.

			Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].



	Next: [[History Pages: 9 - Bear Flag Revolt]]		Next: [[History Pages: 9 - Bear Flag Revolt]]

Carey: Created page with "'''For a table of contents, see''' History pages. The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others..."

2023-10-20T19:21:20Z

Created page with "'''For a table of contents, see''' History pages. The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others..."

New page

'''For a table of contents, see''' [[History pages]].

The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County.

Others sought shorter routes and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party]] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of these was the

Next: [[History Pages: 9 - Bear Flag Revolt]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:51, 25 October 2024
Line 3:		Line 3:
	The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.		The frontiersmen came to California on foot and/or on horseback. Many of the earliest were hunters/trappers, but others were explorers like Lewis & Clark, Jedediah Smith, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville Benjamin Bonneville], who mapped their routes so that others could follow. By 1840, wagon trains began to follow those routes all the way to the West Coast - to the north of California, so the main route became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail Oregon Trail]. Some, after reaching the western Columbia River settlements, turned south to California. The [[Bennett, Vardamon\|Vardamon Bennett]] family came by that route in 1843, and some family members ended up in what is now Santa Cruz County. The future wife of [[Hames, John\|John Hames]] was in that party, and may have met John on that journey.

	Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The most famous of ~~these~~ was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).		Others sought shorter routes to California and, in 1841, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartleson%E2%80%93Bidwell_Party Bartleson-Bidwell party] became the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada into California's Central Valley. Dozens of other wagon trains followed over the next ten years or so, over a number of different routes. The four [[Williams brothers]] came to Sutter's Fort (Sacramento) in 1843, in a party guided by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Walker Joseph Walker]. Mary Patterson, who married James Williams, arrived a year later.

			The most famous of the wagon trains was the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, which didn't make it over the pass before an early winter set in. [[Lewis, Martha J.\|Martha "Patty" Reed]], nine-years old at the time, survived to become a Santa Cruz and Capitola resident. Local writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Houston James D. Houston] told the Donner Party story in his novel ''Snow Mountain Passage'' (2001).

	Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].		Other routes were found to be equally dangerous, but for different reasons. The [[Arcan, John B.\|John Arcan]] family narrowly survived a trip through the heat of Death Valley. They may have been part of a party whose survivors' descendants now call themselves the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_%2749ers "Death Valley '49ers"].