Synopses & Reviews
Many of the events along the Oregon Trail are well known—the perils of the Applegate family as they rafted down the raging Columbia River, the plight of the Donner Party as they found themselves snowbound and starving at Truckee Lake. But do you know the whole story?
It Happened on the Oregon Trail includes these events as well as many lesser-known happenings, providing insight about the adventurous emigrants who, beginning in the 1840s, headed west in covered wagons in search of a better life. These stories reveal the hardships and the joys of the 2,000-mile journey as the travelers left from the “jumping-off” cities along the Missouri River to cross the plains, mountains, deserts, and rivers to reach their final destinations in Oregon and California.
Youll read about Lafayette Tate, who experienced “trail justice” for committing murder; about Catherine Hickman and David Parks, who met on the Trail and were married in a trailside wedding; and about Solomon Butcher, a frontier photographer, who captured life on the Great Plains.
In an easy-to-read style thats entertaining as well as informative, Tricia Martineau Wagner recounts some of the most captivating moments from our nations great westward migration.
Synopsis
It Happened on the Oregon Trail includes twenty-nine unusual, remarkable, and little-known events that happened along the trail from Independence, Missouri to Oregon's Willamette Valley. Read about Rufus K. Porter, who developed a plan to fly people to Oregon in hot air balloons; Emily Fisher, a former slave, who ran a hotel that catered to westward travelers; about Lafayette Tate, who experieneced "trail justice" for committing murder; about Catherine Hickman and David Parks, who met on the trail and were married in a trailside wedding; and Solomon Butcher, a frontier photographer, who captured life on the Great Plains. This book reveals the hidden stories that few people know, and that are not covered in general interest books about the trail.
Synopsis
It Happened on the Oregon Trail includes twenty-nine unusual remarkable and little-known events that happened along the trail from Independence Missouri to Oregons Willamette Valley Read about Rufus K Porter who developed a plan to fly people to Or
About the Author
Tricia Martineau Wagner is an experienced elementary school teacher and a reading specialist. She became intrigued with the westward migration of the pioneers when she flew over the Oregon Trail. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Table of Contents
(1) Introduction (2) Map of the Oregon Trail (3) Almost within Reach--Early 1800s (4) A Man All Alone--1828 (5) Over the River or Through the Woods--1843 (6) For Better or For Worse--1845 (7) The Way Home--1845 (8) Just One More Day--1846 (9) He Who Laughs First--1847 (10) Turnarounds--1847 (11) Patience of a Saint--1847 (12) Up, Up, and Away--1849 (13) Unexpected Luxury--1849 (14) Against All Odds--1850 (15) The Marriage Bed--1850 (16) Etched in Stone--1852 (17) You Can Run, But You Cannot Hide--1852 (18) A Kindness Returned--1852 (19) Bubble Up--1852 (20) Just Around the River's Bend--1853 (21) Then and Now--1853 (22) The High Price of Steaks--1854 (23) A Trail Delicacy--1854 (24) Push Me, Pull Me--1856 (25) Girl Overboard--1859 (26) Wish Upon a Falling Star--1860 (27) A Trip to the Moon, Anyone?--1864 (28) Clouded Vision--1865 (29) Capturing History in the Making--1886 (30) Stuck in a Rut--1906 (31) Right of Way--1996 (32) A Potpourri of Oregon Trail Facts (33) Where to Visit the Oregon Trail (34) Bibliography (35) Index