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California Trail: Difference between revisions
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== Background History == | == Background History == | ||
=== Footpaths, wagons, and stagecoaches === | |||
The overland route over [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pass South Pass] was discovered by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_men fur trappers] in 1811. By the 1830s that pass was used as part of the [[Oregon Trail]]. Between 1829 and 1840 other mountain men explored possible additional routes extending through northern [[Utah, United States Genealogy|Utah]] and [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] toward [[California, United States Genealogy|California]]. At first these were footpaths or pack train trails. The earliest wagon road was pioneered through South Pass to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_Rendezvous mountain man rendezvous] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_%28Utah%29 Green River] in [[Wyoming, United States Genealogy|Wyoming]] in 1830. By 1836 a wagon road reached as far as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hall Fort Hall], Idaho.<ref name="OrTr" /> In 1841 and 1843 wagon trains started for [[California Genealogy|California]] but abandoned their wagons in [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] and went on by foot. The first overland wagon train to reach [[California, United States Genealogy|California]] arrived in 1844 by leaving the [[Oregon Trail|Oregon Trail]] after crossing the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raft_River Raft River] in [[Idaho, United States Genealogy|Idaho]]. From there they followed Nevada's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_River Humboldt River] west to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29 Sierra Nevada] mountains, up the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truckee_River Truckee River] and over [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Pass Donner Pass] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento, California]. This became the most popular route, but other pioneers also came via [[Salt Lake City, Utah|Salt Lake City, Utah]] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Rocks_National_Reserve City of Rocks]. From 1857 to 1861 the [[Butterfield Overland Mail|Butterfield Overland Mail]] stagecoach route near the Mexican border opened to Calfornia. That mail route was closed in favor of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Express Pony Express] (Central Overland) route through central Nevada farther south than the Humboldt River. In time these various paths to California were followed by wagon roads, railroads, and modern highways.<ref name="CaTr" /> | |||
=== Reasons for migrating === | |||
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_men Mountain men fur trappers] were the earliest to use the California Trail. Larger groups of American settlers began arriving in 1846. The outbreak of the [[Mexican War, 1846 to 1848|Mexican-American War 1846-1848]] resulted in American soldiers invading California to help secure it for the United States. Once California was officially United States territory it immediately began to attract more immigrants. Several western gold and silver strikes, productive farm land, lumber, and ranching all increased traffic on the California Trail.<ref name="OrTr" /> The '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush California gold rush]''' attracted adventurers and gold seekers from around the world after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill. An estimated 90,000 arrived in 1849, about half of them Americans. Americans usually took the California Trail to reach the gold fields. Some came by ship. Others used the [[Oregon Trail|Oregon Trail]] and then came south to California on the [[Siskiyou Trail|Siskiyou Trail]], or [[Applegate Trail]]-Lassen Cutoff.<ref name="CaGoRu">Wikipedia contributors, "California Gold Rush" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush (accessed 24 July 2011).</ref> | |||
=== Preparations === | |||
Many emigrants were farmers who already had their own wagons and most of their own supplies. Other travelers usually purchased supplies at "jumping off points" in [[Missouri, United States Genealogy|Missouri]], [[Iowa, United States Genealogy|Iowa]], or [[Kansas, United States Genealogy|Kansas]]. Supplies cost as much as $200 per person including a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covered_wagon covered wagon], teams of oxen, 150 pounds of food per person, tobacco, cooking gear, extra shoes, two sets of clothes, 25 pounds of soap, washboard and wash tub, tent, a canvas or rubber groundcloth with blankets for sleeping, tools, guns and ammunition. Some also bought a trail guide book.<ref name="OrTr" /> | |||
=== Trail life === | |||
Non-essentials were often abandoned on the trail to lighten the load. Forts and trading posts ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Kearny Ft. Kearny], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Laramie_National_Historic_Site Ft. Laramie], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Fetterman Ft. Fetterman], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bridger Ft. Bridger], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hall Ft. Hall], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter%27s_Fort Sutter's Fort] along the way usually provided supplies, fresh animal teams, repairs, spare parts, and news of trail conditions. Hunting (including bison), fishing, and trading were also common along the route. Emigrants usually formed into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagon_train wagon trains] for security. Almost everyone preferred to walk rather than ride in dusty, bumpy wagons. They had to average 11 miles (18 km) to 17 miles (27 km) per day to reach California in four to six months. To leave too early risked muddy trails and too little grass for livestock. To arrive late risked traveling in winter weather. Thunderstorms and fierce winds were common. In good weather they often slept under the stars. On the prairie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_dung buffalo chips] were gathered for use as cooking fuel. Wash day was about every two weeks. Many travelers enjoyed side trips climbing over trail landmarks like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_Rock_National_Historic_Site Chimney Rock], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Bluff_National_Monument Scott's Bluff], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Rock_%28Wyoming%29 Independence Rock]. Some entrepreneurs drove herds of cattle over the trail to sell and help pay for the trip.<ref name="OrTr" /> | |||
=== Deaths === | |||
About five percent of pioneers died on the Oregon-California-Mormon trails. The most common killer was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholera cholera] along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platte_River Platte River] in [[Nebraska Genealogy|Nebraska]]. This disease killed as much as three percent between 1849 and 1855 (6,000 to 12,500 individuals). About 3,000 to 4,500 deaths happened because of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Wars#Pacific_Northwest Indian attacks] especially in [[Idaho, United States Genealogy|Idaho]] and [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] after U.S. Army troops were withdrawn in 1860 in the run up to the Civil War. Other causes of death included freezing, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy scurvy], being run over, drownings (especially in the 1850s before many ferries), and accidental shootings.<ref name="OrTr" /> <div style="width: 15%; padding-left: 25px; float: right;"> | |||
{| width="126" align="right" style="text-align: right;" class="wikitable FCK__ShowTableBorders" | {| width="126" align="right" style="text-align: right;" class="wikitable FCK__ShowTableBorders" | ||
|+ '''California Trail Immigrants'''<ref>John D. Unruh, ''The Plains Across: the Overland Immigrants and Trans-Mississippi West 1840–1860'' (University of Illinois Press, 1979), 119–20.</ref> | |+ '''California Trail Immigrants'''<ref>John D. Unruh, ''The Plains Across: the Overland Immigrants and Trans-Mississippi West 1840–1860'' (University of Illinois Press, 1979), 119–20.</ref> | ||
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</div><br><br> | </div><br><br> | ||
=== Decline of trail use === | |||
In 1855 the California Trail (and Oregon Trail) traffic declined dramatically. First, the bloom was off the California gold rush. Second, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Railroad Panama Railroad] was completed with steamship links that made transportation from the east coast to the west coast of America more practical than using an overland wagon trail.<ref name="OrTr" /> From 1857 to 1861 the [[Butterfield Overland Mail]] stagecoach route took some traffic from the California Trail. In 1869 the [[First Transcontinental Railroad|transcontinental]] [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] and [[Central Pacific Railroad|Central Pacific]] railroads completed to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento, California] made that route faster, safer, and less expensive than traveling the California Trail.<ref name="CaTr" /> | |||
== Main Route == | == Main Route == | ||
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Livestock needed watering so the California Trail followed rivers across the dry [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plains prairies]. The California Trail usually followed the south side of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Platte_River North Platte River] west through [[Nebraska, United States Genealogy|Nebraska]] into [[Wyoming, United States Genealogy|Wyoming]]. Near Casper, Wyoming California Trail emigrants followed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetwater_River_%28Wyoming%29 Sweetwater River] farther west. An important goal was to reach [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Rock_%28Wyoming%29 Independence Rock] on the Sweetwater River by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29 Independence Day]. The trail went over [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pass South Pass] then worked its way through the mountains. One [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublette_Cutoff#Sublette-Greenwood_Cutoff shortcut] went from South Pass due west toward [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hall Fort Hall]. The main trail from South Pass headed southwest to cross the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_%28Utah%29 Green River] at [http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/lombard_ferry.htm Lombard Ferry], headed for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bridger Fort Bridger]. At Fort Bridger the [[Mormon Trail]] branched southwest toward [[Salt Lake City, Utah|Salt Lake City]].<ref name="MorTr">Wikipedia contributors, "Mormon Trail" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Trail (accessed 15 July 2012).</ref> The main California Trail went northwest from Bridger to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hall Fort Hall, Idaho]. From the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raft_River Raft River] southwest of Fort Hall most '''''California Trail emigrants''''' forked southwest past the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Rocks_National_Reserve City of Rocks, Idaho] toward [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]],<ref name="CaTr" /> while '''''Oregon Trail followers''''' continued along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_River Snake River] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Boise Fort Boise] and the [[Oregon, United States Genealogy|Oregon]] border. The California Trail followers who opted to go through Salt Lake City often rejoined the main trail at the City of Rocks. In [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] the trail followed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_River Humboldt River] westward to its end. The next stage of the journey was usually considered the worst--southwest across the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Mile_Desert#Forty_Mile_Desert Forty Mile Desert] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truckee_River Truckee River] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_River Carson River] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29 Sierra Nevada].<ref name="CaTr" /> | Livestock needed watering so the California Trail followed rivers across the dry [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plains prairies]. The California Trail usually followed the south side of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Platte_River North Platte River] west through [[Nebraska, United States Genealogy|Nebraska]] into [[Wyoming, United States Genealogy|Wyoming]]. Near Casper, Wyoming California Trail emigrants followed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetwater_River_%28Wyoming%29 Sweetwater River] farther west. An important goal was to reach [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Rock_%28Wyoming%29 Independence Rock] on the Sweetwater River by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29 Independence Day]. The trail went over [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pass South Pass] then worked its way through the mountains. One [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublette_Cutoff#Sublette-Greenwood_Cutoff shortcut] went from South Pass due west toward [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hall Fort Hall]. The main trail from South Pass headed southwest to cross the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_%28Utah%29 Green River] at [http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/lombard_ferry.htm Lombard Ferry], headed for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bridger Fort Bridger]. At Fort Bridger the [[Mormon Trail]] branched southwest toward [[Salt Lake City, Utah|Salt Lake City]].<ref name="MorTr">Wikipedia contributors, "Mormon Trail" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Trail (accessed 15 July 2012).</ref> The main California Trail went northwest from Bridger to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hall Fort Hall, Idaho]. From the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raft_River Raft River] southwest of Fort Hall most '''''California Trail emigrants''''' forked southwest past the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Rocks_National_Reserve City of Rocks, Idaho] toward [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]],<ref name="CaTr" /> while '''''Oregon Trail followers''''' continued along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_River Snake River] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Boise Fort Boise] and the [[Oregon, United States Genealogy|Oregon]] border. The California Trail followers who opted to go through Salt Lake City often rejoined the main trail at the City of Rocks. In [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] the trail followed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_River Humboldt River] westward to its end. The next stage of the journey was usually considered the worst--southwest across the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Mile_Desert#Forty_Mile_Desert Forty Mile Desert] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truckee_River Truckee River] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_River Carson River] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29 Sierra Nevada].<ref name="CaTr" /> | ||
== Trails over the mountains to the gold fields <ref name="CaTr" /> == | |||
=== Truckee (River) Trail 1844 === | |||
Crossed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Mile_Desert#Forty_Mile_Desert Forty Mile Desert] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truckee_River Truckee River] to follow it west past [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno,_Nevada Reno, Nevada] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Pass Donner Pass] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emigrant_Gap Emigrant Gap] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter%27s_Fort Sutter's Fort] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento, California]). The exact route varied over the years, the most used being the Nevada City Road and Auburn Emigrant Road combination. | |||
=== Roller Pass 1846 === | |||
Alternate to the Truckee Trail two miles south of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Pass Donner Pass] through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emigrant_Gap Emigrant Gap] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placerville,_California Placerville, California] | |||
=== Nevada City Road 1850 === | |||
Branched off the Truckee Trail through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emigrant_Gap Emigrant Gap] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_City,_California Nevada City, California] the most important mining area 1850-1851 | |||
=== [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn-Emigrant_Gap_State_Highway Auburn Emigrant Road] 1850 === | |||
Believed to be from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_City,_California Nevada City] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn,_California Auburn] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento, California] | |||
=== Henness Pass Road 1850 === | |||
Branched off the Truckee Trail at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdi,_Nevada Verdi, Nevada] headed for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camptonville,_California Camptonville] and steamboat service at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marysville,_California Marysville, California]. In 1860 it became a major route to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comstock_Lode Comstock Lode silver mines] in [[Nevada Genealogy|Nevada]]. | |||
=== Beckwourth Trail 1850 === | |||
Left the Truckee Trail near present-day [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks,_Nevada Sparks, Nevada] going to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marysville,_California Marysville, California] | |||
=== [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applegate_Trail Applegate Trail] 1846 === | |||
Avoided the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Mile_Desert#Forty_Mile_Desert Forty Mile Desert]) by leaving the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_River Humboldt River] in [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] early at present-day [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye_Patch_State_Recreation_Area Rye Reservoir], Nevada and passing through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Rock_Desert Black Rock Desert] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fandango_Pass Fandango Pass] past [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_Lake_%28Oregon-California%29 Goose Lake] on to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_River_%28California%29 Lost River] and eventually the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willamette_Valley Willamette Valley] in [[Oregon, United States Genealogy|Oregon]]. | |||
=== The Lassen Cutoff 1848 === | |||
Was established by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush gold rushers] from [[Oregon, United States Genealogy|Oregon]] going to [[California, United States Genealogy|California]]. It branched off the [[Applegate Trail]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Creek,_California Davis Creek], went through [http://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands/ecology/wildhorseburro/territories/DevilsGardenPlateau.shtml Devil's Garden] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_River Pit River] passing east of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Lassen Mt. Lassen], and turning west to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Bosquejo Lassen Rancho, California], and from there to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento]. In some years as much as 1/3 of emigrants mistakenly took the Applegate Trail-Lassen Cutoff, a much longer and more difficult trail than the Truckee or Carson routes. | |||
=== Yreka Trail 1851 === | |||
From the [[Applegate Trail]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yreka,_California Yreka, California] | |||
=== Nobles Road 1851 === | |||
From the [[Applegate Trail]] at Rabbithole Springs in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Shasta,_California Shasta City, California] | |||
=== Carson (River) Trail 1848 === | |||
aka '''''Mormon Emigrant Trail''''' crossed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Mile_Desert#Forty_Mile_Desert Forty Mile Desert] past the west side of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_Sink Carson Sink] to pick up the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_River Carson River] near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallon,_Nevada Fallon, Nevada] up to Hope Valley and Red Lake. The Devil's Ladder then climbed 700 feet (210 m) in half a mile so ropes, chains, and pulleys were required to lift the wagons. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_Pass Carson Pass] was followed by the relatively easy West Pass ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkwood,_California Kirkwood, California]) and then on to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollock_Pines,_California Pollock Pines], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placerville,_California Placerville], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter%27s_Fort Sutter's Fort, California] | |||
=== Johnson's Cutoff 1850-1851 === | |||
aka '''''Placerville Route''''', '''''Lake Tahoe Route''''' and '''''Day's Route''''' from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks,_Nevada Carson City, Nevada] past the south end of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoe Lake Tahoe] going south and then west to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placerville,_California Placerville, California] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento] | |||
=== Daggett Pass 1850 === | |||
aka '''''Georgetown Pack Trail''''', Carson Valley, Nevada to Johnson's Cutoff near South [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoe Lake Tahoe], California | |||
=== Big Tree Road (Ebbetts Pass) 1851 === | |||
From western [[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markleeville,_California Markleeville], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphys,_California Murphys], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora,_California Sonora], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton,_California Stockton], California | |||
=== Grizzly Flat Road 1852 === | |||
An extension of Carson Trail down the middle fork of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosumnes_River Consumnes River] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_Flat Grizzly Flat] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placerville,_California Placerville, California] | |||
=== Volcano Road 1852 === | |||
From Coral Flat ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer,_California Pioneer]) on the Carson Trail to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano,_California Volcano, California] | |||
=== Sonora Road 1852-1854 === | |||
From the Carson Trail south to the Walker River along the base of the Sierra Nevada until it ascends to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora_Pass Sonora Pass] and then down to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry,_Tuolumne_County,_California Strawberry] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora,_California Sonora, California] | |||
=== Luther Pass Trail 1854 === | |||
Connected the Carson Trail and Johnson's Cutoff and allowed travelers to avoid [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoe Lake Tahoe]. It became one of the routes to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comstock_Lode Comstock Lode] in [[Nevada Genealogy|Nevada]] | |||
[[Image:California Trail Map3.png|thumb|right|500px|California Trail Map3.png]] | [[Image:California Trail Map3.png|thumb|right|500px|California Trail Map3.png]] | ||
The exact route of the '''California Trail''' varied from group to group over the years. Most often it passed through:<ref name="OrTr" /> | '''The exact route of the '''''California Trail''''' varied from group to group over the years. Most often it passed through:<ref name="OrTr" /> | ||
:*sometimes [[Missouri, United States Genealogy|Missouri]] | :*sometimes [[Missouri, United States Genealogy|Missouri]] | ||
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The Oregon-California Trails Association provides a [http://octatrails.micromaps.com/ Virtual Trail] map with images, and brief histories of points along the trail. | The Oregon-California Trails Association provides a [http://octatrails.micromaps.com/ Virtual Trail] map with images, and brief histories of points along the trail. | ||
=== Connecting migration routes === | |||
The California Trail linked to other migration routes at each end, and at junctions in the middle. The migration pathways connected near the '''''east end''''' included: | |||
:*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River Mississippi River] | :*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River Mississippi River] | ||
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:*[[Bozeman Trail]] 1863 branched from the California Trail at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Fetterman Ft. Fetterman], near Douglas, Wyoming heading to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozeman,_Montana Bozeman, Montana]<ref name="BozTr">Wikipedia contributors, "Bozeman Trail" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozeman_Trail (accessed 15 July 2012).</ref> | :*[[Bozeman Trail]] 1863 branched from the California Trail at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Fetterman Ft. Fetterman], near Douglas, Wyoming heading to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozeman,_Montana Bozeman, Montana]<ref name="BozTr">Wikipedia contributors, "Bozeman Trail" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozeman_Trail (accessed 15 July 2012).</ref> | ||
=== Modern parallels === | |||
The modern roads that roughly match the California Trail from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence,_Missouri Independence, Missouri] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento] among other places in northern [[California, United States Genealogy|California]] are listed in an online edition of a National Park Service publication about the California Trail: | |||
:*[http://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/auto_mo.htm Auto Tour Route - '''Missouri'''] | :*[http://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/auto_mo.htm Auto Tour Route - '''Missouri'''] | ||
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No complete list of pioneer settlers who traveled the California Trail is known to exist. However, a variety of sources exist which can be used to identify most of them. Some of these sources may reveal their place of origin. | No complete list of pioneer settlers who traveled the California Trail is known to exist. However, a variety of sources exist which can be used to identify most of them. Some of these sources may reveal their place of origin. | ||
=== Pioneer lists === | |||
Two partial lists of pre-1870 pioneers include: | |||
*Native Daughters of the Golden West, ''[http://www.ndgw.org/PRosterIndex/rostermain.html Roster of California Pioneers (Internet site)]''. So far 35,000 pioneers (14 percent) who lived in California before 1870 have been submitted by descendants. The index shows each pioneer's name, volume and page number. Original entries in San Francisco may contain the full name of pioneer, place and date of birth, marriage and death, date of arrival in California, method of travel, name of rail or vessel; states lived in prior to California, place and year of California residence; where educated, profession or occupation, public offices held; names of children; parents' names; name, address, relationship of informant (if any); date of registration and other comments. For a small fee NDGW will copy original biographies. | *Native Daughters of the Golden West, ''[http://www.ndgw.org/PRosterIndex/rostermain.html Roster of California Pioneers (Internet site)]''. So far 35,000 pioneers (14 percent) who lived in California before 1870 have been submitted by descendants. The index shows each pioneer's name, volume and page number. Original entries in San Francisco may contain the full name of pioneer, place and date of birth, marriage and death, date of arrival in California, method of travel, name of rail or vessel; states lived in prior to California, place and year of California residence; where educated, profession or occupation, public offices held; names of children; parents' names; name, address, relationship of informant (if any); date of registration and other comments. For a small fee NDGW will copy original biographies. | ||
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::For an index see Libera Martina Spinazze,''Index to the Argonauts of California'' (New Orleans, La.: Polyanthus, 1975) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38651122 WorldCat entry]. Includes the pioneer's name, page in Haskins, and a note listing the pioneer's mining company (or other group); if by ship, its port of departure, and either the date of sailing or arrival.<br><br> | ::For an index see Libera Martina Spinazze,''Index to the Argonauts of California'' (New Orleans, La.: Polyanthus, 1975) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38651122 WorldCat entry]. Includes the pioneer's name, page in Haskins, and a note listing the pioneer's mining company (or other group); if by ship, its port of departure, and either the date of sailing or arrival.<br><br> | ||
=== California Land Records === | |||
Deeds, mining claims, and other land records from '''''any ''''' time period are clues to when a pioneer arrived. See [[California Land and Property]]. After 1862 some California land was eligible for [[Homestead Records|homesteading]]. | |||
=== Censuses === | |||
These can be used to identify pioneers who traveled the California Trail: | |||
:*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1438024 1870 federal census of California] | :*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1438024 1870 federal census of California] | ||
| Line 229: | Line 271: | ||
:*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1767 California State Census, 1852 Ancestry.com] ($) Index and images. | :*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1767 California State Census, 1852 Ancestry.com] ($) Index and images. | ||
=== Great Registers (voter lists) === | |||
Began in some California counties as early as 1866. The [[California Voting Registers|Great Registers]] prior to 1870 showed males over age 21 who arrived before the transcontinental railroad. Great Registers often showed places of origin. Counties with early Great Registers on microfilm included: | |||
:{{FHL|206978|item|disp=Alameda 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|663187|item|disp=Alpine 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|207200|item|disp=Amador 1867, 1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|207301|item|disp=Butte 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|207211|item|disp=Calaveras 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|571690|item|disp=Colusa 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|207312|item|disp=Contra Costa 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|207324|item|disp=El Dorado 1867, 1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|207042|item|disp=Fresno 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|827235|item|disp=Humboldt 1866-1875}}{{·}} {{FHL|207005|item|disp=Kern 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|206697|item|disp=Klamath (Del Norte and Siskiyou) 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|493007|item|disp=Lake 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|628981|item|disp=Lassen 1866, 1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|207944|item|disp=Marin 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|523306|item|disp=Mendocino 1866-1873}}{{·}} {{FHL|207936|item|disp=Merced 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|207637|item|disp=Monterey 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|207611|item|disp=Napa 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|207571|item|disp=Nevada 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208067|item|disp=Placer 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208086|item|disp=Plumas 1857-1898}}{{·}} Sacramento {{FHL|210199|item|disp=1866}}, {{FHL|486373|item|disp=1867}}, {{FHL|208109|item|disp=1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208148|item|disp=San Diego 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|313680|item|disp=San Francisco 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|208177|item|disp=San Joaquin 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208204|item|disp=San Luis Obispo 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208196|item|disp=San Mateo 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|609766|item|disp=Santa Barbara 1866-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208253|item|disp=Santa Clara 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|210163|item|disp=Santa Cruz}}{{·}} {{FHL|210151|item|disp=Shasta 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|210065|item|disp=Siskiyou 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|210056|item|disp=Solano 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|209628|item|disp=Sonoma 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|209621|item|disp=Stanislaus 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|209619|item|disp=Sutter 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208482|item|disp=Trinity 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208459|item|disp=Tulare 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208347|item|disp=Tuolumne 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|208287|item|disp=Yolo 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|208261|item|disp=Yuba 1867-1869}}<br><br> | :{{FHL|206978|item|disp=Alameda 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|663187|item|disp=Alpine 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|207200|item|disp=Amador 1867, 1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|207301|item|disp=Butte 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|207211|item|disp=Calaveras 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|571690|item|disp=Colusa 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|207312|item|disp=Contra Costa 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|207324|item|disp=El Dorado 1867, 1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|207042|item|disp=Fresno 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|827235|item|disp=Humboldt 1866-1875}}{{·}} {{FHL|207005|item|disp=Kern 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|206697|item|disp=Klamath (Del Norte and Siskiyou) 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|493007|item|disp=Lake 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|628981|item|disp=Lassen 1866, 1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|207944|item|disp=Marin 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|523306|item|disp=Mendocino 1866-1873}}{{·}} {{FHL|207936|item|disp=Merced 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|207637|item|disp=Monterey 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|207611|item|disp=Napa 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|207571|item|disp=Nevada 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208067|item|disp=Placer 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208086|item|disp=Plumas 1857-1898}}{{·}} Sacramento {{FHL|210199|item|disp=1866}}, {{FHL|486373|item|disp=1867}}, {{FHL|208109|item|disp=1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208148|item|disp=San Diego 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|313680|item|disp=San Francisco 1866}}{{·}} {{FHL|208177|item|disp=San Joaquin 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208204|item|disp=San Luis Obispo 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208196|item|disp=San Mateo 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|609766|item|disp=Santa Barbara 1866-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208253|item|disp=Santa Clara 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|210163|item|disp=Santa Cruz}}{{·}} {{FHL|210151|item|disp=Shasta 1867-1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|210065|item|disp=Siskiyou 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|210056|item|disp=Solano 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|209628|item|disp=Sonoma 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|209621|item|disp=Stanislaus 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|209619|item|disp=Sutter 1867, 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208482|item|disp=Trinity 1867-1868}}{{·}} {{FHL|208459|item|disp=Tulare 1869}}{{·}} {{FHL|208347|item|disp=Tuolumne 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|208287|item|disp=Yolo 1867}}{{·}} {{FHL|208261|item|disp=Yuba 1867-1869}}<br><br> | ||
=== Local and county histories and biographies === | |||
These may help identify additional pioneers. For example: | |||
*W. B. Lardner, and M. J. Brock, ''History of Placer and Nevada counties, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present'' (1991 Reprint; Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1924). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11510628 WorldCat entry]. {{FHL|572031|item|disp=FHL Book 979.43 H2L}}. | *W. B. Lardner, and M. J. Brock, ''History of Placer and Nevada counties, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present'' (1991 Reprint; Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1924). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11510628 WorldCat entry]. {{FHL|572031|item|disp=FHL Book 979.43 H2L}}. | ||