August 15, 2013

By Chuck Haviland

Article 2: Preparing for the move westward

Every day life for a farmer, (most people were farmers in the mid-1800’s) led a certain routine, get up at daybreak, feed the animals, milk the cows, then eat breakfast. After  breakfast, depending on the season chores would need to be done.  This would rotate throughout the year based on what kind of crops were being raised. Harvest season became a tradition to celebrate the years hard work. Most small farmers would pool their resources for the best utilization of equipment. These small farmers would meet at a neighbors homestead and harvest their crops, then move on to the next farm.  At each harvest there would be a big banquet as the woman folk spent the days making food, while the men harvested the crops. There is no barbecue that can beat a harvest bonfire. With the steaks and the chicken hot off the fire to the smell of roasting corn from the fire pit, it was always a gala event to participate in.  Activities abounded galore. From horseshoe throwing to quilt making, everyone had a place.

If anyone was talented or could play an instrument they became the celebrity for the night. Everyone had a large garden.  At that time in history few people paid money for what they could raise themselves. This did not mean that they starved themselves, but being a farmer, ducks, geese, chickens, pigs, cows (both for milk and food) were all at hand waiting for their turn at the dinner table. An uncommon treat might have included venison or fish.  After dinner more chores would have to be done.  Things like milking the cows, feeding the animals and in some places herding the animals to a safe barn or corral for the night.  Then soon after sunset it was time for bed.  Without lights (just kerosene lanterns) there was little reason to stay up.

Most weeks would go by only to see your neighbor at church on Sunday.  In rural America Sunday was always a day of rest.  For most people that was the only time allotted for visiting with each other.  People did travel but this was by horse or horse-drawn buggy and it took time. If a neighbor did stop by, all work would cease to hear what was so important to interrupt their daily life. Sometimes it would be just to chat while on another errand or on occasion something important was happening.   It had to be important to take time away from the daily work loads. This was time that was best spent doing chores, never-ending chores.  Still all in all life was a pretty isolated one for most people.  Occasionally a trip to town for additional supplies or to sell produce or meat would break up the weeks.

Today George lost a few good clients to whom he had always sold produce or meat to.  It was the whole discrimination thing, that was sweeping the nation.  Name calling, isolation from the rest of the people, even his good friends did not stand up in his defense. Today,  it was just one white man that had called him a N… His clients took him aside and had asked that he not come in for a while. You know, let the white vs black thing die down.  ‘They said that there was little reason for him to trouble other white people with his presence”.  Yes, he had always been a good neighbor, but his appearance in  town was no longer wanted. To make matters worse his darn horse would not come when called this morning.  He had to go and chase it down.  For some reason it seemed that the whole world was turning away from him.  He remembered some of his earlier years traveling throughout Puget Sound and other parts of the west. How he longed to be free again and equal to others.

Out west was a brand new country. It was ready for someone to take charge and live in peace with nature.  Even the Indians were hospitable to him.  His skin color made no difference to them. Out west he was just another person.  One of his friends Michael Simmons had just yesterday requested that he join their families in moving to the new frontiers.  As Michael said it was where a man could still be free. To George Bush even tho he was a successful farmer in Missouri, the increasing discrimination made him decide to move west.  Today he decided to  move his family to the new frontiers. George had had enough of trying to placate his neighbors, it was time to leave.  Unknown to him his wife, felt the same way.  She too had felt the increasing discrimination for living with a black man.

George hated to think of starting over again, but felt that he had no choice.  It was just not right, that his son could not attend school with the others. His friends should have stood up and defended him.  Instead they let bigotry get the best of the situation. Just looking the other way, like it was his fault for not being white.  His skin color should not matter, he should be judged by his actions. When he got back home he discussed his thoughts with his wife.  He was surprised that she too had reached the same decisions. So it was time to go. George sold everything, and contacted Michael, telling him that he was ready.

That was all that Michael needed. Michael got a hold of his friends and told them that he was leaving now, urging them to join him in the new land.

Their choices were to travel by boat, which took most of a year or by wagon. Most people think that the pioneers used large Conestoga wagons. but in fact small farm wagons were almost exclusively used. This was because all farmers had them, and their maneuverability and ease of repair (unless a main axle was broken).  Preparing for the trip took much thought and preparation. Planning a cross country move, even today is no minor feat.  The stresses 100 years ago must have seemed to be on the verge of insurmountable.  They would have to transport all of their belongings that they wished to keep.  Many times this  resulted in over-packing.   The roads were rough or even non-existent. They had to prepare supplies that would last them for the entire trip and enough to last thru the first season in the new land.  Unfortunately, the hardest part was to say goodbye to all of their friends.  Knowing, most likely, that they would never cross paths again. The first decision was made early on, that is the mode of transportation.  They had two choices by foot or by boat.  For most the boat ride was beyond their means.  Even travelling by foot would require a strong body to face the many months ahead.  To travel by foot alongside of the wagon, for four months or so would take a lot of supplies. This list could be broken down into the following categories: Food, Cooking utensils, clothing, tools, bedding, weapons handy articles and luxuries.   A common food list for each person would be: 200 pounds of flour,150 pounds of bacon, 10 pounds of coffee, 20 pounds of sugar,10 pounds of salt, 200  pounds of lard and on and on. Other food supplies often included dries peaches, plums, apples, rice and beans . Just think these supplies would have to sustain them for four months of travel and then the upcoming winter and spring. In the coming spring they would need seeds, farm implements such as a rake, hoe, shovel, and other tools..

Most pioneer families had two or three wagons to haul all of the things that they wanted and needed to start life anew in the west.  Even with this much storage, many items were left alongside the trail as the group marched in their westward  journey.

Most people overloaded their wagons with many items that were pure luxury. It was a common sight to see a trail of goods almost from the starting point. People quickly learned that they had only enough energy and power to  carry the most basic of supplies,  This too was kept at a minimum. The  typical farm wagon box was only 4 feet by 10 feet. Most wagons were equipped with a water barrel, some farm implements, basic tools and a spare axle.  If they broke their spare axle the wagon would have to be abandoned. There were few resupply points along the way.

The weather took its toll.  Many people died as a result of being in the open, subjected to all forms of weather conditions and its complications. Some were killed outright by lightning strikes.  Others fell off the wagon only to be killed by the wagon wheel. Perhaps the biggest and most deadly disease encountered was cholera. At that time there was no cure for this devastating disease.  Occasionally a proper burial was made, but most often the dead were buried in shallow graves alongside the trail. Often animal following the wagon train would dig up the  dead ones remains.