Martin Luper - to OREGON

 

Martin said the trip was hard and showed what a man was made of.

Martin settled six miles south of Albany, One mile north of Tangent Ore. Bought a large tract of wheat land. He was a natural mechanic. Built 3 large barns, house similar to Smith farm house. Had buggy, wagons, reapers. Sold many Reapers in Oregon similar to a header, known as the Luper Reaper. When the three boys were near 21, Mart went next county, Lane Co. 7 miles north of Eugene, Oregon, bought four 160 acres farms, put the boys (Lewis, James and George) on them with Headers, horses and a complete outfit for farming, deeds to same. Gave Jennie and Hattie land joining home place.

 

The diary of the Oregon Trail by John Luper

 

April 5, 1853 Virgil, near Avon and Bushnell, Fulton Co, Illinois.

Martin Luper, wife Frances Dunbar, children, Sarah Jane 12 years, (daughter by former marriage), Lewis, 5 years, James 3 years, George 1 year—Martin's two brothers John and Jasper.

Left Illinois.

 

Had three big covered wagons and a spring wagon for mother and children—two horses spring wagon, drove two horses, 4 mules and oxen on wagons, drove through 50 head cattle mostly cows—300 Ibs provisions to the person—1200 pounds to a wagon—Asa Munn, the cook. Arrived in Oregon in Sept 1853—took nothing but best of stock—4 yoke to wagon, good lock chains—warm clothing and bedding—most troublesome Indians in Omaha (Pawnee???) after crossing Mo. River, they were a thieving lying set. Poorest feed and worst roads on last part of trip where teams were most exhausted.

 

Sent via Cape Horn to Portland $2000 in 50 dollar gold slugs.

 

There were nearly 100 wagons on the train. There were poor outfits so lost many outfits. Indians really no problem. Wagon trains before and after were wiped out.

 

April 5

Camp 15 miles West at Butlers, West Greenbush

6

2 miles W. of Burlington[1]

7

Mt Pleasant

8

Camped 15 miles west of Mt Pleasant

9

4 mi W. of Fairfield

10

15 mi W of Fairfield

11

At Fremont

12

4 mi W of Fremont, weather bad

13

Laid by for snow and wet weather

14

Camped 7 mi W Oakaloos

15

To Des Moines river

16

At Knoxville[2]

17

Laid by high water

18

Camped at Pleasantville

19

Camped 10 miles west

20

1 mi N.W. Indian

21

29 mi N.W. Indian

22

At Winterset

23

Drove 4 mi N.W. of Winterset, 5 days in rain and mud

28

Camp at Winterset on Prarie

29

Camp 36 Mi W of Winterset

30

Camp 4 mi W. Gampgov

May 1

Nacitenoc, Indian town at Ferry

2

Camp 13 mi west

3

At National Jolay R—-11 o’clock on bridge

4

2 mi W. of sliver creek

5

Cross Mo. R., Cainsville [3]

6

Stops 1 mi W. Mo river

7

12 mi W of Mo river

8

At Elk Horn, Tributary of Platte River

9

Forded Elk Horn, to wagon box

10

Stopped 16 mi B.H. Elk horn

11

Frost 1 inch thick

12

On Loop fork River

13

At First bend on River

14

10 mi W. Sandy bluff

15

20 mi W. Sandy bluff

16

High wind one half day

17

Prairie Creek

18

Wood River noon Camp at Beaver Creek

19

Camp at Slough on Platt R. Elen [Elm?] Creek

20

At Platt R, Bend

21

Again at Platt

22

Camp on Platt R-on sand-laid by h[alf] day to wash-Lewis (Bud) 5 yrs, fell in creek [4]

23

3 mi W. of Platt R.

24

On River again

25

On River again

26

On Slough near Platt River

27

12 Mi W. of Ancient Bluff, at a distance these Bluffs resemble ancient castles fortifications

28

Camp at Chimney Rock, So side of Platt

29

Resemble high chimneys 400 ft high. Camp hill by Scott fluff. These at a distance look tike a City fortification at distance of 36 mi. look very near

30

Camp near Glene Rock from here get first view of Laramie Peak and Mts Black hill of 100 miles, 6,500 ft. above sea level covered with snow[5]

31

6 mi west of Rawhide

June 1

Pass Fort Laramie, Camp 18 mi W

2

Camp near Devil Creek

3

On Platt River

4

On River again

5

River again… 

6

Laid over to wash

7,8

On River near the old ford, no more water for 26 miles

9

Near Pine Bluff—hot

10

At Sage Spring creek

11

Camp at Sweetwater, independence Rock, this grand rock is 125 ft. long, on it carved names of -thousands of travelers.

12

Camp at Devil Gate—greatest curiosity on route—great canyon in Mts. Which river flows with greatest velocity, perpendicular walls 100 ft apart and 400 ft high

13,14

Camp on Sage Creek 4 mi W 2nd ford, Sweet Water River

15

No water or grass for awhile

16

3 mi. w. on Pacific Spring—fist water of Pacific Ocean—to Junction of Hall and Salt Lake River camp, 2 mile W. -little sandy. [6]

17

1/2 day stop to wash on Big Sandy River

18

Cross desert, big sand to river distance 50 miles no grass or vegetation, only sage

19

Camp near Sulpher Spring on Green R.

20

Pay $8.00 per wagon for ferry over Green River[7]

21

This is most dangerous stream on Route either to ford or ferry, much property and many lives lost

22

Camp on branch of green River, ice 1/2 inch in a.m.

23,24

Laid by on branch creek, 8 mi to Mts.

25

0n Ham, fork of Green River

26

2 mi W Balsam for day

27

Camp on Bear Valley

28

Camp Talles Creek, snow 6 in deep

29

Camp on Willow Spring

30

To Soda Springs, 6 mi Junction to Subletts Hall road, 5 mi. from here find true guide to Oregon

July 1

Cross Naut Pert R  [Nez Pierce?]

2

Seven miles W. Pert River

3

Aspen Hollow to Snake, met a load of Whisky going east-boys got drunk

9-14

Road passes between rock and creeks

15

Leaving snake river

16

No more water for 18 miles

17

10 mi to W. Raft R.

18

Camped

19

Marsh

20

Creek of Marsh

21

Creek

22

River

23

Goose creek

24

Goose creek, camped, washed

28

Camped by creek

29

No more grass for 25 mi.

30

Creek water, no grass

August 10

To Salmon Creek, cross Snake River, plenty of grass and water, no road on south side

11

Camp at Salmon falls

12

Shoot Creek, ferried the wagon box, streams rapid and difficult to cross, swam stock across

13

A vine here killed some of our stock, pass several creeks

14

Camp on dry creek-ascent hill to summit

15

Descent to Horse Creek, no more water for 12 miles

16

Creek

17

Hot Springs boiling[8]

18

Pass Creek and springs 12 mi to W. Raft River

19

To Boise R, 36 mi on Boise R., laid over

21

Fort Boise

22

Laid over

23

here we are again across Snake R, swam stock across

24

From Ft. Boise to Malhern R.

26

Camp Malhern R, laid over[9]

28

Camp on Birch Creek, last of Snake River

29

At 2 p.m. ford Birch River

30

Roads lead up hill, steep and bad

31

Camp on Burnt-Creek

 Sept 1

To Grand Round Valley, Oregon, very beautiful, Oregon covered with Red Clover at foot of blue mountains. Grand Round River, then dry creek

6

Camped Muscay R. one half day

7

Camp at foot of Blue Mts, Oregon

8

Camped on Umatilla River

9

Camped 2 mi below falls

10

On Umatilla again

11

Camped on Butter Creek

12

Stayed over

13

Camped on Willow Creek

14

Laid by Willow creek, got Rock creek at night but no grass

15

To John Day River crossing.

16

Laid over, to Columbia River high

17

Laid over

18

To Deschutes river and ferry, “Onleys

19

Camped on creek

20

Leaving creek – Oak hollow, first since leaving states.[10]

21

Camp in Injun town[11]

22

To bachelor creek

23

Gat of Cascade Mt. Stayed over

24

Camp Deschutes, Little no grass

25

Cut and carry grass for stock in Mts.[12]

26

Yigzog [Zigzag or Sandy] river

27

Devils backbone

27

Camp at Fosters. First farm at foot of mts. In valley. Here immigrants can get what they want for themselves and stock which is needed after awful hills to Oregon City. “Dear traveler, I bid you adieu, hopping you have had a good journey across the plains.”

 

 

Mules, horses stand journey with care – many kill their teams by hard driving and running buffalos. Oxen stood journey even better, but slower than horses.

 

Portland had a few mdse. Shakes. Oregon City was a good start for a town on account of their water power. Some stores and Woolen Mills where people purchase blankets and supplies.

 

Martin settled six miles south of Albany. Bought a claim with cabin, 320 acres of wheat land. Grass high as a horses back. Got 320 acres for 10 years for fencing with rail fence. In a few years bought 160 acres more land. He was prosperous wheat grower.

(In 1947, Hattie wrote: “He lived in a cabin a few years. Moved into new house in 1857 (picture). 5 acres orchard & berries.)

Another letter, 1948 Hattie wrote: Not much of Portland then (1853). Two small stores. Gold dust was taken over the counter from miners traveling from So. Oregon to mine in John Day river. It was a real forest, as my family said.

 

 

Martin was manager of the wagon train

 

Hattie was born Dec. 16, 1853.

 

On the high grass: One morning, father did not see the cattle. He got on a horse to look for cattle. Came home, found them lying down in tall grass. He bought out a bachelor claim, near 400 acres. Lived there three years, then had fences and big house. Later three big barns, orchards. John had barn.

Jasper was the only one not prosperous.


From http://iagenweb.org/pottawattamie/hist-pottawattamie.htm   

Early inhabitants were Mound Builders who dwelt on Iowa's fertile plains.  Later, Woodland Tribes including the Iowa and Yankton Sioux lived in the area.  The first European, Marquette and Joliet, gave France its claim to the area, 1673.  In 1762, France ceded the region to Spain, but Napoleon took it back, 1800.   It became part of the U.S. through the Louisiana Purchase, 1803.  Native American Sauk and Fox Tribes moved into the area from states further east but relinquished their land in defeat, after the 1832 uprising led by the Sauk chieftain, Black Hawk. By mid-19th century they were forced to move to KansasIowa became a territory in 1838, and entered as a free state, 1846, strongly supporting the Union.
     Council Bluffs was first called Kanesville.  Lewis and Clark made their journey up the Missouri River in 1804.  Later they held a council with the Missouri, Pottawattamie, and Otoe Tribes on the bluffs above the river.  It was then suggested that Kanesville be called "Council Bluffs".
     In the 1840's several thousand Mormons arrived in the area from Nauvoo, Illinois.  It was here that Brigham Young was elected President of the Mormon Church and it is here were Brigham Young had his followers stay until he called for them.   He found the valley of Salt Lake City, Utah and the trail thru Council Bluffs was called the Mormon Trail until gold was discovered in California and then the trail was called the Oregon Trail.
     Council Bluffs was the hub for the building of the transcontinental railroad and thus became a major rail center.  Many immigrants from Europe helped build and worked for the railroad.



[1] Crossed Mississippi river at Burlington IA

[2] SE of Des Moines, IA

[3] Now Council Bluffs NB

[4] Probably near North Platte

[5] First view of the Rocky Mountains. To this point, all their travel has been on the plains, or rolling prairie. Leaving what is now NB and into Wyo.

[6] Crossed “South Pass” elev. 7750 ft. Big Pacific Sandy Creek.

[7] Equiv. to $200 in 2004

[8] Bruneau Hot Springs?

[9] Cross into Oregon

[10] Think this is reference to not having seen oak trees since they entered the Rocky Mts. “Leaving creek” (Columbia R.!) is probably reference to the trail veering south from “The Dales” to skirt the south side of Mt. Hood. This is the start of the crossing of the Cascade Range.

[11] Took “Barlow Road” to avoid treacherous ferry/raft trip down the Columbia RiverRiver Route

[12] Crossed Cascade Range, nr. Barlow Pass. About 4100 ft. Elev.