Palace Wagon Family: A True Story of the Donner Party

By Margaret Sutton

The Donner party is the name given to a group of emigrants, including the families of George Donner and his brother Jacob, who became trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter of 1846-1847. Nearly half of the party died, and some resorted to eating their dead in an effort to survive. The experience has become legendary as the most spectacular episode in the record of Western migration.

This is a story about the ordeal that the Donner Party faced on their trek to California. This story is told from Virginia Reed’s (Patty’s older sister) point of view, and is a tale of indomitable courage on the American frontier. The book portrays the theme of how families had to work together to overcome the many struggles of day to day life on the wagon trail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Papamoa Press
• Release date: Jul 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781787207424

Margaret Sutton

Margaret Sutton (January 22, 1903 - June 21, 2001) was the pen name of Rachel Beebe, an American author and teacher who is famous as being the author of the Judy Bolton Series of mystery books, 38 volumes published between 1932 and 1967. In addition to this series, she also wrote the Gail Gardner series, The Magic Maker series, Palace Wagon Family, Jemima, Daughter of Daniel Boone, as well as several other books. (Wikipedia)

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Text originally published in 1957 under the same title.

© Papamoa Press 2017, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

PALACE WAGON FAMILY:

A TRUE STORY OF THE DONNER PARTY

BY

MARGARET SUTTON

ILLUSTRATED BY MARY STEVENS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

DEDICATION 6

THE FAMILIES OF THE DONNER PARTY 7

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS 8

ACROSS THE HIVERS 17

GROWING UP WITH AMERICA 25

THE NEW ROUTE 35

THE HEW FAMILY 45

ACROSS THE DESERT 51

A CRUEL SENTENCE 61

THE DREADED SNOW 71

A FORLORN HOPE 82

THE HARDEST THING YET 91

FROM WINTER INTO SPRING 100

THE ADVENTURE ENDS 110

BOUNDLESS TREASURE 120

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SOURCES CONSULTED 125

A NOTE ON THE AUTHOR 127

A NOTE ON THE ILLUSTRATOR 127

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 128

DEDICATION

TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER

Susie Wolfe

who requested this story for her classmates in

Mount George Union School, Napa, California

THE FAMILIES OF THE DONNER PARTY

THE PALACE WAGON FAMILY: James F. Reed; his wife, Margaret; his children, Virginia (Puss), Martha (Patty), James and Thomas; Mrs. Reed’s mother, Sarah Keyes; the maid, Eliza Williams and her brother, Baylis; teamsters, Milt Elliott, Walter Herron, James Smith and Hiram Miller; two Indians, Luis and Salvador.

THE DONNERS: Jacob Donner; his wife, Elizabeth (Aunt Betsy); his stepsons, William and Solomon Hook; his children, George Donner (named for his uncle), Mary Donner and three little boys.

George Donner; his daughters by a previous marriage, Elitha and Leanna; his wife, Tamsen; their little girls, Frances, Georgia and Eliza; a number of young men, among them John Denton, Charles Stanton, Noah James, Luke Halloran and two Mexican boys.

THE BREENS: Patrick; his wife, Peggy; their children, John, Edward, James, Simon, Patrick, Peter and Isabella; also, a young bachelor, Patrick Dolan.

THE MURPHYS: Widow Murphy; her children, Landrum, Lemuel, Mary, William and Simon; her two married daughters and their husbands, William Pike and William Foster; her three grandchildren.

THE EDDYS: William; his wife, Eleanor; two small children.

THE McCUTCHEONS: William (Big Mac); his wife and baby.

THE KESEBERGS: Lewis; his wife; two children, Lewis and Ada; a teamster, Dutch Charley Burger; a Belgian, Mr. Hardcoop.

THE WOLFINGERS: a German couple with no children.

THE GRAVES FAMILY: Franklin (Uncle Billy Graves); his wife, Elizabeth; their children, Mary, William, Lovina, Eleanor, Nancy, Jonathan, Franklin and baby Elizabeth; a married daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Jay Fosdick; a teamster, John Snyder.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

VIRGINIA REED galloped home as fast as Billy’s short legs would take her. Illinois winters were cold and the wind was sharp. The old Keyes home where the Reed family lived was three miles out of Springfield. Behind it was the stable where she left her beautiful cream-colored pony and went directly into the big country kitchen.

Ma! Eliza! Where is everybody? she called.

Eliza, the heavy-set maid of all work, emerged from the pantry where she had been packing the good china into a flour barrel. She motioned with a cup in her hand.

Your ma, she’s upstairs with one of her headaches. But you’ll find Patty and the little boys in Grandma’s room, scared silly with their backs up close to the wall so none of the wild Indians in the stories she’s telling can sneak up behind them with a tomahawk.

Thanks, Eliza, I think I’ll join them.

Quietly Virginia tiptoed through the elegant living quarters of the house into the parlor bedroom. Nobody seemed to notice as she seated herself beside her younger sister Martha. Puss and Patty, they were to each other. Jim and Tommy, their little brothers, moved closer to their dog, Cash, for protection.

It’s only Puss, Patty told them. And then to Virginia, I guess they thought you were one of Grandma’s Indians coming to scalp us. She’s been telling us how it was in Kentucky and Virginia when she was a girl and now I’m scared to go through Indian country. Do we have to?

I think it’s going to be exciting, declared Virginia. We’ll have Indian stories of our own to tell before this trip is over. Eliza’s beginning to pack, and I heard Mama talking about it, too. She and Papa were making a list of the things we’d need to take to California and, would you believe it? They spoke of taking all Ma’s jewelry for trading with the Indians—her coral necklace and everything!

In my time, Grandma Keyes remarked grimly from her mahogany four-poster, a string of scalps was all the ornament any Indian wanted. Of course, if a girl was pretty—

The old lady paused to look directly at Virginia. She was fairer than her younger brothers and sister as she had been the child of Margaret Reed’s first marriage, but now the distinguished James F. Reed seemed as much her father as theirs. Certainly no one could love him more than she did.

Papa wouldn’t take us into any real danger, she declared loyally. What I’m looking forward to most is riding the pony he gave me over the prairie every day. He may even let me go hunting with him. Mr. Hastings says in his book that emigrants can count on getting a few buffalo.

The book, Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California, had been highly recommended by the Springfield reading circle. But now Grandma sounded a warning. Rapping sharply with the cane she always kept beside her bed.

Mark my words, there’ll be plenty of danger, in spite of what your fine Mr. Hastings has to say. Once we’ve passed Independence, Missouri, we leave civilization behind and go through Indian country all the way to the California mountains. If we can’t get over them before the snow flies there may be worse things than Indians to fear.

I declare, Grandma, Mr. Reed spoke from the doorway, you talk as if you were going with us.

I am, she announced. You don’t think I’d allow my dear daughter to travel to a strange Mexican settlement without me to look after her, do you? I thought you had more sense, James.

Mr. Reed’s eyes twinkled as they met Virginia’s. Although Mrs. Reed was considered delicate, both of them knew very that it was Grandma who would need to be looked after. She was seventy-five years of age and had grown so feeble that she had to be carried from her bet to the rocking chair beside it. But still she was the dominant spirit of the household and usually had her way.

Very well, Grandma, Mr. Reed agreed. I think we can make you comfortable. We’ll build you a palace wagon—the finest thing that ever crossed the plains. By the way, the Donners have agreed to go with us. You children won’t lack for company on the journey.

Virginia was delighted to hear this. George and Tamsen Donner had five girls, the two oldest near her own age. Elitha was fourteen and Leanna almost twelve. Jacob Donner’s family consisted of seven children—all boys except Mary, a serious-eyed little girl about Patty’s age. These two quiet children often played dolls together.

May I take my dolls and all the silks and laces Grandma gave me to make their dresses? Patty now questioned.

We’ve got to take Cash, declared Jimmy hugging the dog. We won’t go if we have to leave little Cash behind, will we, Tommy?

The children were assured that all the dogs were going—Barney, Tyler, Trailer, Tracker and Cash, the household pet. Virginia was to take Billy, her cream-colored pony, and Patty might bring along every doll she possessed. The palace wagon would be big enough to hold all the children’s treasures.

It took the rest of the winter to build the palace wagon and prepare for the journey. Finally, in the spring of 1846, three wagons were drawn up in front of the house ready to be loaded with the Reed family’s possessions. Milt Elliott, a real knight of the whip in Virginia’s eyes, was driving the palace wagon.

Hastings’ book has given me the fever, too, he admitted. Well, Princess Puss, what do you think of your new home?

At first she didn’t know what to think and blurted out, not at all like a princess, Oxen instead of horses! How will they know where to go without any bridles?

They’ll know where to go all right, replied Milt, when I crack the bullwhack over their heads. Lightly, of course. That’s all it takes. You girls aren’t scared, are you?

Patty and Virginia were keeping well out of the way of the oxen.

Of course not, Virginia answered quickly. Why should we be scared? We’re not the first family to cross the plains.

You’re the first family to cross the plains in any such luxurious wagon as this, Milt informed her. Your pa and I built it to order. The entrance is at the side and there are high-backed spring seats front and rear, just like a modern stagecoach. Come on in and look around.

He lifted the canvas flap that served as a door and the two girls entered what looked like a room in a snug little house. It was already furnished with a brand new cook stove and Patty soon discovered a hiding-place under the spring seats where she could keep her precious dolls and sewing things. Shelves for the beds overhead made a cozy second story, and there was still more space for storing things underneath the shelves.

There’ll be room for Mama’s workbasket and my books and ever so much more, Virginia began happily when a voice interrupted to ask, May we inspect, too?

The girls turned to see their mother, lovely in her best silk gown. She and several ladies from her reading circle had gathered just outside the wagon. The ladies had brought a large mirror as a going-away present for Mrs. Reed.

Hang it right opposite the doorway, they suggested when they had exclaimed over the many comforts of the wagon. You mustn’t forget to keep your good looks, Margaret.

I won’t, she promised, adjusting the mirror so that her reflection could be seen from the wagon step. Milt was watching her with affection in his eyes. This tall, ungainly young man was a real family friend.

By April fifteenth everything was ready. Milt chained the two strongest oxen, Bully and George, to the palace wagon. Behind them were three other yoke.

I’ll have to drive carefully with so much stuff inside, he remarked to the watching girls. I’ve heard tell it’s bad luck to break a mirror.

For a moment fear seized Virginia, but in the excitement of getting started she soon forgot her premonition of disaster. The Donner wagons had driven in the night before. Mary Donner and her cousins Elitha, Leanna, Frances, Georgia and Eliza were there as well as a number of friends and relatives who had come to see them off.

You’re luckier than we are, Virginia’s own cousins assured her, leaving school to ride across the plains in a palace car. Even the Donners say it will be little more than a pleasure trip.

No more school, no more books— some of her schoolmates began to tease, but Virginia laughingly interrupted to tell them there were several boxes of books inside the wagon.

And in our wagons there are even more, Elitha Donner added impressively. Mother is talking of establishing a young ladies’ seminary in California. She even threatens to give us botany lessons on the way.

The less studious members of the group groaned. Girls of Virginia’s age were more interested in beaux than botany. One after another, they kissed each other goodbye.

There was a strange tightness in Virginia’s throat when she realized that the moment of parting had really come.

Oh, Mary! she cried, embracing her favorite cousin. We won’t be having anymore good times together, will we? Maybe we’ll never see each other again.

You can write me a letter when you get to California, Mary reminded her.

I will, Virginia promised. I’ll write you the longest letter there ever was and tell you everything that happens on the way.

Mrs. Reed was crying as she helped the younger children into the wagon. Mr. Reed gripped hand after hand in farewell. I’m honored that so many prominent citizens have come to see us off, he said to his brother-in-law as they went back into the big, square white house that had been Virginia’s home ever since she could remember.

A cheer went up and tears were forgotten as both men returned carrying Grandma Keyes between them. Her old eyes were alight with the spirit of adventure as she waved her thin hand in response to their cheers.

Your grandmother’s pretty old to be taking a trip like this, isn’t she? one of Virginia’s schoolmates asked when the cheers had subsided and Grandma had been comfortably placed on a feather bed inside the palace wagon.

She wants to take care of Mama, laughed