Donner Party timeline

Last updated

The following timeline provides an almost day-to-day basic description of events directly associated with the 1846 Donner Party pioneers, covering the journey from Illinois to California—2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers), over the Great Plains, two mountain ranges, and the deserts of the Great Basin.

Contents

Following the timeline is a chronological list of deaths.

Timeline

Plaque commemorating Donner Party in Springfield, Illinois. Placed by the Children of the American Revolution. Springfield IL Donner Party.JPG
Plaque commemorating Donner Party in Springfield, Illinois. Placed by the Children of the American Revolution.

May 1846

location of Independence Missouri, where the Donners and Reeds arrived on May 10, 1846 MOMap-doton-Independence.png
location of Independence Missouri, where the Donners and Reeds arrived on May 10, 1846

June 1846

July 1846

August 1846

Emigration Canyon cuts through the Wasatch Mountains Emigration Canyon, Utah - 17 May 2020.jpg
Emigration Canyon cuts through the Wasatch Mountains

September 1846

October 1846

November 1846

December 1846

January 1847

February 1847

March 1847

April 1847

June 1847

Mortality summary

There were 87 emigrants in the Donner Party, plus Luis and Salvador, two California Indians who joined them in Nevada, for a total of 89 people. Of the 89, a net of 81 people were trapped in the mountains, due to additions and departures from the group during the journey.

Of the total 89 people, 41 died and 48 survived; of the original 87 emigrants, 39 died and 48 survived; of the 81 people trapped in the mountains, 36 died and 45 survived.

About two-thirds of the women and children survived, while about two-thirds of the men died. All four Donner adults (the couples George & Tamsen Donner and Jacob & Elizabeth Donner) died; most of the Reeds and all the Breens survived.

Deaths

NameFamily/GroupSexAgeDate of deathLocation of deathCause of deathDisposal of remains
1Sarah KeyesReed familyF70May 29, 1846KansasOld age and illnessBuried
2Luke HalloranTaken in by Donner family at Little SandyM25August 25, 1846Nr Grantsville, UT Tuberculosis Buried
3John SnyderGraves teamsterM25October 5, 1846Iron Point, NVStabbed by James ReedBuried
4Mr. HardkoopTaken in by KesebergM60abt October 10, 1846Along trailUnknownLeft behind
5Mr. WolfingerGerman immigrantM26abt October 25, 1846Humboldt SinkKilled by Reinhardt & Spitzer [3] Unknown
6William PikeMurphyM32October 30, 1846Truckee CanyonAccidentally shotBuried
7Baylis WilliamsReed employeeM25December 14, 1846Reed cabinFeverBuried
8Jacob DonnerBrother of GeorgeM56Bef December 20, 1846Alder CreekStarvationCannibalized later
9Samuel ShoemakerWith Jacob DonnerM25Bef December 20, 1846Alder CreekExposureCannibalized later
10Joseph ReinhardtWith WolfingerM30Bef December 20, 1846Alder CreekFeverProb. cannibalized later
11James SmithReed teamsterM25Bef December 20, 1846Alder CreekExposureProb. cannibalized later
12Charles T. StantonWith DonnersM35Abt December 21, 1846Summit ValleyStarvation, exhaustion, exposureLeft behind
13AntonioWith DonnersM23December 24 or 25, 1846Camp of DeathHypothermiaCannibalized
14Franklin W. GravesGravesM57December 25, 1846Camp of DeathHypothermiaCannibalized
15Patrick DolanM35December 25, 1846Camp of DeathHypothermiaCannibalized
16Lemuel MurphyMurphyM12December 26, 1846Camp of DeathStarvation, exhaustionCannibalized
17Charles BurgerDonner teamsterM30December 29, 1846Keseberg lean-toStarvationBuried
18Jay FosdickGravesM23abt January 6, 1847Sierra foothillsStarvation, exhaustionCannibalized
*LuisIndian guideM19abt January 8, 1847Sierra foothillsShot by William Foster [4] Cannibalized
*SalvadorIndian guideM28abt January 8, 1847Sierra foothillsShot by William Foster [4] Cannibalized
19Louis Keseberg Jr.KesebergM1January 24, 1847Murphy cabinStarvationUnknown
20Landrum MurphyMurphyM16January 31, 1847Murphy cabinStarvationCannibalized later
21Harriet McCutchenMcCutcheonF1February 2, 1847Graves cabinStarvationBuried
22Margaret EddyEddyF1February 4, 1847Murphy cabinStarvationBuried
23Eleanor EddyEddyF25February 7, 1847Murphy cabinStarvationBuried
24Augustus SpitzerDonner teamsterM30February 8, 1847Breen cabinStarvationBuried
25Milt ElliotReed teamsterM28February 9, 1847Murphy cabinStarvationCannibalized later
26Catherine PikeMurphyF1February 20, 1847Murphy cabinStarvationBuried in snow
27Ada KesebergKesebergF3abt February 24, 1847 Donner Pass Starvation, exhaustionBuried in snow
28John DentonWith DonnersM30abt February 25, 1847Summit ValleyStarvation, exhaustionBuried in snow
29William HookJacob DonnerM12abt February 27, 1847Foothill campRefeeding after starvationBuried
30George FosterMurphyM4March 1847Breen cabinStarvationCannibalized
31James P. EddyEddyM3March 1847Breen cabinStarvationCannibalized
32Isaac DonnerJacob DonnerM5abt March 6, 1847Starved CampStarvation, exhaustionCannibalized
33Franklin Graves, Jr.GravesM5abt March 8, 1847Starved CampStarvation, exhaustionCannibalized
34Elizabeth GravesGravesF45abt March 8, 1847Starved CampStarvation, exhaustionCannibalized
35Lewis DonnerJacob DonnerM3March 7, 1847Alder CreekStarvationBuried in snow
36Elizabeth DonnerJacob DonnerF40March 1847Alder CreekStarvationUnknown
37Samuel DonnerJacob DonnerM4March 1847Alder CreekStarvationUnknown
38Levinah MurphyMurphyF36March 1847Breen cabinStarvationCannibalized
39George DonnerCaptain of Donner PartyM60/62March 1847Alder CreekStarvation, infectionCannibalized
40Tamsen DonnerGeorge DonnerF44March or April 1847Breen cabinEither murder or freezingCannibalized

* Luis and Salvador were not among the original 87 emigrants; their deaths bring the total number up to 42. However, as Sarah Keyes died early in the journey, she is not always included in the death toll, bringing the number of deaths to 41.

See also

References

  1. "The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate" by Eliza P. Donner Houghton pg 24, University of Nebraska Press Lincoln and London 1997 ed
  2. History of the Donner Party - Chapter 22
  3. "The Expedition of The Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate" by Eliza P. Donner Houghton p55 & 56 University of Nebraska Press Lincoln and London 1997 ed
  4. 1 2 Stewart, George. Ordeal by Hunger: The Story of the Donner Party. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1960, 115, 116.

The timeline is based on: