Donner Party timeline explained

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—2500abbr=offNaNabbr=off, over the Great Plains, two mountain ranges, and the deserts of the Great Basin.

Following the timeline is a chronological list of deaths.

Timeline

May 1846

June 1846

July 1846

August 1846

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

Name Family/GroupSex Age Date of death Location of death Cause of death Disposal of remains
1Sarah Keyes Reed familyF 70 May 29, 1846 Kansas Old age and illness Buried
2 Luke Halloran Taken in by Donner family at Little SandyM 25 August 25, 1846 Nr Grantsville, UT Buried
3John Snyder Graves teamsterM 25 October 5, 1846 Iron Point, NV Stabbed by James Reed Buried
4Mr. Hardkoop Taken in by KesebergM 60 abt October 10, 1846 Along trail Unknown Left behind
5Mr. Wolfinger German immigrantM 26 abt October 25, 1846 Humboldt Sink Killed by Reinhardt & Spitzer[3] Unknown
6William Pike MurphyM 32 October 30, 1846 Truckee Canyon Accidentally shot Buried
7Baylis Williams Reed employeeM 25 December 14, 1846 Reed cabin Fever Buried
8Jacob Donner Brother of GeorgeM 56 Bef December 20, 1846 Alder Creek Starvation Cannibalized later
9Samuel Shoemaker With Jacob DonnerM 25 Bef December 20, 1846 Alder Creek Exposure Cannibalized later
10Joseph Reinhardt With WolfingerM 30 Bef December 20, 1846 Alder Creek Fever Prob. cannibalized later
11James Smith Reed teamsterM 25 Bef December 20, 1846 Alder Creek Exposure Prob. cannibalized later
12Charles T. Stanton With DonnersM 35 Abt December 21, 1846 Summit Valley Starvation, exhaustion, exposure Left behind
13Antonio With Donners M 23 December 24 or 25, 1846 Camp of Death Hypothermia Cannibalized
14Franklin W. Graves GravesM 57 December 25, 1846 Camp of Death Hypothermia Cannibalized
15Patrick Dolan M 35 December 25, 1846 Camp of Death Hypothermia Cannibalized
16Lemuel Murphy MurphyM 12 December 26, 1846 Camp of Death Starvation, exhaustion Cannibalized
17Charles Burger Donner teamsterM 30 December 29, 1846 Keseberg lean-to Starvation Buried
18Jay Fosdick GravesM 23 abt January 6, 1847 Sierra foothills Starvation, exhaustion Cannibalized
Luis Indian guideM 19 abt January 8, 1847 Sierra foothills Shot by William Foster[4] Cannibalized
Salvador Indian guideM 28 abt January 8, 1847 Sierra foothills Shot by William Foster Cannibalized
19Louis Keseberg Jr. KesebergM 1 January 24, 1847 Murphy cabin Starvation Unknown
20Landrum Murphy MurphyM 16 January 31, 1847 Murphy cabin Starvation Cannibalized later
21Harriet McCutchen McCutcheonF 1 February 2, 1847 Graves cabin Starvation Buried
22Margaret Eddy EddyF 1 February 4, 1847 Murphy cabin Starvation Buried
23Eleanor Eddy EddyF 25 February 7, 1847 Murphy cabin Starvation Buried
24Augustus Spitzer Donner teamsterM 30 February 8, 1847 Breen cabin Starvation Buried
25Milt Elliot Reed teamsterM 28 February 9, 1847 Murphy cabin Starvation Cannibalized later
26Catherine Pike MurphyF 1 February 20, 1847 Murphy cabin Starvation Buried in snow
27Ada Keseberg KesebergF 3 abt February 24, 1847 Starvation, exhaustion Buried in snow
28John Denton With DonnersM 30 abt February 25, 1847 Summit Valley Starvation, exhaustion Buried in snow
29William Hook Jacob DonnerM 12 abt February 27, 1847 Foothill camp Refeeding after starvation Buried
30George Foster MurphyM 4 March 1847 Breen cabin Starvation Cannibalized
31James P. Eddy EddyM 3 March 1847 Breen cabin Starvation Cannibalized
32Isaac Donner Jacob DonnerM 5 abt March 6, 1847 Starved Camp Starvation, exhaustion Cannibalized
33Franklin Graves, Jr. GravesM 5 abt March 8, 1847 Starved Camp Starvation, exhaustion Cannibalized
34Elizabeth Graves GravesF 45 abt March 8, 1847 Starved Camp Starvation, exhaustion Cannibalized
35Lewis Donner Jacob DonnerM 3 March 7, 1847 Alder Creek Starvation Buried in snow
36Elizabeth Donner Jacob DonnerF 40 March 1847 Alder Creek Starvation Unknown
37Samuel Donner Jacob DonnerM 4 March 1847 Alder Creek Starvation Unknown
38Levinah Murphy MurphyF 36 March 1847 Breen cabin Starvation Cannibalized
39George Donner Captain of Donner PartyM 60/62 March 1847 Alder Creek Starvation, infection Cannibalized
40Tamsen Donner George DonnerF 44 March or April 1847 Breen cabin Either murder or freezing Cannibalized

* 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

External links

The timeline is based on:

Notes and 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. http://www.books-about-california.com/Pages/History_of_Donner_Party/Donner_Party_chapter_22.html 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. Stewart, George. Ordeal by Hunger: The Story of the Donner Party. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1960, 115, 116.