Donner PartyDonner Party

The Long Journey was too MuchThe Long Journey was too Much

By: Jerry CervantesBy: Jerry Cervantes

The RouteThe Route

• The route they took was from Independence, Missouri and trying to make their way to Sacramento, California to Sutter’s Fort. But something terrible happened on their way to California.

Reed FamilyReed Family

• The Reed family were very wealthy. Mostly all of the Reed family survived. James Reed got kicked out of the Donner Party because of the killing of John Snyder.

Donner FamilyDonner Family

• This is a picture of the Donner’s surrounding a camp fire, in the snowy night. They are in a thin tent which looks like a cover over them. It don’t look that thick.

•

Donner MonumentDonner Monument

• This monument is a man looking for land with his 2 daughters by his side. One of his daughters is cuddled up with his leg and the other standing tall right next to him.

Breen Family

• These pictures are of the Breen’s. Patrick Breen was 51 years of age and Margaret Breen was 40 years old. Their goal was to go to California and obtain new land.

Graves FamilyGraves Family

• The Graves family is form Illinois and they joined the party in Utah. They had a big family. Their goal was to obtain more land. Franklin W. Graves was a farmer in Illinois and his wife Elizabeth sold soap.

Lewis KeyesburgLewis Keyesburg

• Lewis Keyesburg was married to Phillipine Keyesburg and had two children. They were from Germany. They were very wealthy and Lewis owned a Restaurant in Sacramento.

If I were in the Donner PartyIf I were in the Donner Party

• If I were in the Donner party I would have probably been smart and packed a lot of food, wood, and clothes. If it was a life or death situation on eating human flesh, I probably would of said “yes”.

• I would have been scared of all the snowy nights and horrified to eat human beings. I feel sorry for all the members of the Donner Party. I wish nobody goes through as much trouble as they went through.

CannibalismCannibalism

• They faced a lot of tough decisions but there hardest one was to go through Cannibalism. It was either eat human flesh or Die by the end of the night.

• Some people decided not to eat humans and some ended up dieing for that choice.

• They chose eating human beings so that they do not die.

Patty Reed’s DollPatty Reed’s Doll

• Patty Reed’s doll is very special. It is now in the Sutter’s Fort as a model. I do not know why it is so special but I think it has to do with the big heart of Patty Reed.

TransportationTransportation

• They use to ride on the wagons and horses but they could have rode a boat to California. The advantage would have been the time because I think they would of made it quicker. But the disadvantage would have been cost and hazards.

Murphy CabinMurphy Cabin

• The Murphy cabin is to the left of this. The rock is the North end of the Fire place of the cabin. They used the rock for the wall. The cabin is covered with hides.

When things went When things went WrongWrong

• I think things went wrong when Hasting’s told the Donner Party that the other way was easier. I think they made a mistake on listening to him and that is one of the reasons why they were in trouble. The Hasting’s cutoff was the biggest miscalculation.

Donner CabinDonner Cabin

• This is the Donner cabin that is at Alder Creek. They lined up the wood sticks against the tree and probably put hides over them. They had a big family and maybe didn’t fit the whole family in the cabin.

James Meeting with Margaret

• This picture to the right is James Reed meeting Margaret Reed. The last time they seen each other was when James Killed Snyder. He was punished and forced to leave the Donner Party.

Donner FamilyDonner Family

E liz a D on n er G eorg ia D on n er

G eorg e D on n er

F ran c es D on n er L ean n a D on n er

M ary D on n er Isaac D on n er G eaog e J r. D on n er S am u e l D on n er L ew is D on n er

Jacob D on n erE liz ab e th D on n er

E lith a D on n er

Tam sen D on n er

D on n er F am ily

Reed FamilyReed Family

Jam es J r. R eed Th om as R eed

Jam es R eed

V irg in ia R eed M arth a R eed

M arg are t R eed

R eed F am ily

Breen FamilyBreen Family

Joh n B reen P atric k J r. B reen Jam es B reen E d w ard B reen

P atric k B reen

P ete r B reen S im on B reen Isab e lla B reen

M arg are t B reen

B reen F am ily

Virginia Reed’s DiaryVirginia Reed’s Diary

• As we went up higher in the snow it got deeper and harder to walk. All the mama’s are carrying their babies on their shoulders. I cannot last another day. Virginia Reed

• I think it got harder when they were trying to climb in the snow because they would sink in as it got deeper.

James Reed’s DiaryJames Reed’s Diary

• JAMES REED: ''July 31st, 1846. Hastings's cutoff is said to be a saving of 350 or 400 miles and a better route. The rest of the Californians went the long route, feeling afraid of Hastings's cutoff. But Mr. Bridger informs me that it is a fine, level road with plenty of water and grass. It is estimated that 700 miles will take us to Captain Sutter's fort, which we hope to make in seven weeks from this day.'‘

• Another mistake that they made was when they took the Hasting’s cutoff. That is the reason it became a tragedy.

Information on Patrick Information on Patrick BreenBreen

• Born in Ireland, Patrick Breen emigrated to Canada in 1828. There he married Margaret Bulger, whom he had almost certainly known in Ireland. The Breen's had two sons in Canada, then moved to Springfield, Illinois, about 1834, where they resided briefly before moving on Keokuk, Iowa. In 1835 they had a son, James, who died the next year. Six more children were born in Iowa. Patrick worked for a time on a riverboat, but was essentially a farmer and acquired a half-section of land about three miles northwest of Keokuk.

Information on George Information on George DonnerDonner

• George Donner, the captain of the wagon train, is still somewhat of an enigma. He seems to have been genial man with an adventurous streak, but the five daughters who survived the journey apparently had few memories of him; it is his third wife, Tamson, who has captured the public fancy. Nevertheless, his name identifies the party. Donner Hill, Donner-Reed Pass, Donner Spring in Utah, Donner Springs in Nevada, Donner Lake, Donner Pass, Donner Peak in California, as well as other places, bear his name.

Information on James Information on James ReedReed

• James F. Reed dominates the story of the Donner Party. He was a man of strong personality, described as intelligent and energetic but also as aristocratic and overbearing.

• Reed was born in Northern Ireland. His father was reportedly of noble Polish extraction; the name was originally "Reednoski." After his father’s death, Reed’s mother emigrated to Virginia, where Reed grew up. He went to the lead district of Illinois about 1820 and engaged in mining. During the Black Hawk War (1831) he served in the same company as Abraham Lincoln and James Clyman. Reed had moved on to Springfield about 1830, where over the years he engaged in several businesses: a general store, a starch factory, a sawmill, and a furniture factory. He also speculated in railroad contracts and real estate, and served as the U. S. pension agent for Springfield.

The End

Created By: Jerry Created By: Jerry CervantesCervantes

Class of 2003Class of 2003