December 8, 2005: Sorry for the inconvenience, but I've decided to close the New Light on the Donner Party Guest Book to new entries temporarily because of junk postings. Vast numbers of spamsters post hyperlinks to their own websites in guestbooks and blogs because the more links point to their sites, the higher they'll rank in search engines like Google; I had to spend inordinate amounts of time clearing out the garbage. I hope to find a new guestbook bot which will defeat the spamming software. Until then, feel free to read the previous posts below or e-mail me (link below) if you'd like
Hi Kristin:I recently read "The Ungodly" by Richard Rhodes.The Better part of the book seemed to be factual except for the part near the end about the encounter between Keseberg and Tamsen Donner.Your site clears up the untruths and stretched entries in the Rhodes book.While I was readind about the Donner Party I stopped many times to think.......What if I had been on that trip with my wife and 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren and had to make some of the UNGODLY decisions they had to make when they had to divide up the food the did have before there supplies ran out and after they had already eaten the oxen,horses and family dogs and they tired of eating leather.Then try to put yourself in their place as to how you would have behaved when they had to resort to cannibalism?People nowdays complain when they have to walk a mile or eat some leftovers that they had from 2 or 3 days ago.Those people in 1846/1847 were put through an ordeal that I hope and pray that I nor anyone else has to experience firsthand.This may sound funny to some,but after reading about the Donner party's experience I truly felt guilty about eating for several days. Bill in Gladstone,Michigan
Hi my name is maria and i am 16 years old. I have this history project and well I was searching for things about the Donner Party and came upon this. It is very interesting. I still can't over the fact that they actually ate one another after they had died. that's gross eWwWwW!!! ~maria
As a "Murphy" from Illinois, I have always been interested in trying to find any connection to the Murphy party. If I never do, it has been worth it just reading the websites I have been able to view. Rosemary (Murphy) Skaggs Fairfield, Il 62837 wacocop@midwest.net
I just looked through your website for the first time and I am impressed. What a valuable tool for researching geneology. Thank you for all your hard work. God bless you. Cherie (Graves).
I started researching about the Donner Party in 4th grade, and at 8th grade doing another project on it has been fun. This website is the best I've seen- the oe thing I noticed missing was information on Patty Reed's Doll! Thanks, and keep up the good work Kristen. - Tay
I have visited the Donner Museum and was very impressed; I am surprised that mediums like the History Channel have not profiled this historical event more.
thankyou Kristin! Your a life saver!
i love this website
hola amigos, como estas? this site really helped me a lot
I just visited this website to find out more about cannibalism (which proves to be both fascinating and disgusting) but I realized that the Donner party should have more to be known for than eating others for the cause of survival. You changed my view of the Donner party, and I thank you for that. Great job!
Thank you for all this information i wish more sites were as usful as yours
wow GREAT website! there is one comment though, in some other sources i read that the indians the snowshoe party where with said that they ran away another said they found them dead and eat them then another said they where attacked and eatin by the snowshoe party? I was just wondering. GREAT SITE! Sally W.
Response: Glad you like the website. The standard version of the story is this: William Foster talked about killing Luis and Salvador for food but William Eddy warned them that their lives were in danger and they fled. Days later the Forlorn Hope found them lying exhausted and helpless, near death. Foster shot them, and the snowshoers ate them. We may never know if this is exactly what happened, but it's is probably as close to the truth as we'll get.
This website is cool -Terra Bauman
THIS WEBSITE ROX! ME N LEX LOOKED AT IT IN HALSTEADS!! HOLLA BACK
this website is ok but i dont like all of the kids writing stupid things
Response: Neither do I, so I removed the obscenities.
Hey yall! Just wanted to say, I had to do a project for History Day at my school, and this site was VERY informative and helpful! I promise I didnt plagerize! Just wanted to say thanx so much! *~!~*TiFfAnY*~!~*
very interesting. do you know how many people actually committed canibalism? thanks so much. -karabear75@aol.com
Your website was very informative and the history of my family, the Murphys and the Foster Helen Pomerleau pomerleau@webenet.net
Very interesting site, useful info. The fascination and horror of this story is how quickly people can degenerate to a moral state lower than animals.
Very interesting site with good information. I've long been fascinated and horrified by this story which shows how quickly people can degenerate to a moral state lower than animals, who don't usually eat their own kind.
Very interesting site with good information. I've long been fascinated and horrified by this story which shows how quickly people can degenerate to a moral state lower than animals, who don't usually eat their own kind.
Very interesting site with good information. I've long been fascinated and horrified by this story which shows how quickly people can degenerate to a moral state lower than animals, who don't usually eat their own kind.
After watching the PBS Ric Burns video about the Donner Party, no one in this household has been able to forget about the trajedy they endured! We named our new kitten Tamsen.
this is a good research page
you are such a loser
This is an amazing story and yet so scary.
Thank GOD i found this sight I am doing a project for national history day and this is exactly what i needed.!!!!!!!
cool stuff
This is one of the best websites on the internet. I appreciate your attention to differentiating between fact and rumor. Like many men I find it almost unbelievable that they couldn't find a fix for their problem before it overcame them. it's hard to believe you can starve to death with all those oxen and fish in the stream. These guys needed a little military duty before they started out. Just a couple of months in the marine corps or army could have saved the whole party. I would like to see more information on the descendants. R. Whiston, Carson City
Hello, Kristen! My 4th grade class has just started researching the Reed family because our town is named after a Thomas Law Reed; we're wondering how or if he might be a descendent of the Reed family. Your site is very interesting, and they can hardly wait to get into it tomorrow! As an afterthought to those who suggest that the Donner Paty might have been better prepared-I just recently (Feb.2004, to be exact ) struggled through a horrendous blizzard over Carson Pass in my truck-the blizzard came on without much warning from anywhere-not even Caltrans was ready for the ferocity of the gales and white-out conditions! After losing my brakes on the down side-the snowchains broke off the bolt regulating the brake fluid in the master cylinder area-I reflected on the Donner Party predicament and thought I was in not much better a situation! No one stopped(very few drivers at all), no place to take cover, was prepared with food and water for several days, had warm blankets and clothing, cell phone with no signal, and avalanche control to take place during mid-day right where I was sranded! Thank heavens for a rookie officer who just happened to spot us! I think the Donner Party did the best they could with such limited resources and knowledge! What a legacy to pioneers! Thank you for your comprehensive site. Penni in Reedley, California
HI MY NAME IS JESSICA OLIVER AND THE INFO ON THIS SITE HELPED ME A LOT.
you are such an insperation to me............not!
hey i love your web site,not
this website didnt help me all that i have looked at have said the same thing
My name is James C. Fosdyck. I am a distant relative of Jay Fosdick, the husband of Sarah Graves Fosdick. Sarah was one of those who survived, Jay wasn't. I provide the following limited information on the family of Jay Fosdick as your record does not address it: The Jay Fosdick ancestral link to Samuel Fosdick II Samuel FOSDICK II b. 18 Sep 1684 m. Susannah TURNER James FOSDICK b. 20 Nov 1716 m. Elizabeth DARLING 06 Dec 1735 Boston, MA William FOSDICK I m. Dorothy COLT 1761 William FOSDICK II b. 27 Apr 1762 m. Reva CARRINGTON 1 Jan 1784 Levi FOSDICK m. Roxcena WEBSTER Jay FOSDICK, 1824-1847 m. Sarah GRAVES, 1824-1871 Data gleaned from: The Ancestral File of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This site has helped me so much with my school project, I just wanted to say thank you, and Im so grateful you were kind enough to put this together, thank you! The Donner Party is such an interesting time in history, even as gruesome as it was, Im very interested in what had happened to them out there on the Lake. I think this project will be a hit with my teacher, and I will owe it all to you, thanks again!
hi my name is heather graves my family come from the donner party.
Kajol Patel I love the story and its at True story i want to noe more about it
I was recently told about The Donner Story by a patron at the library where I work. We had only one book on the subject. I duly borrowed it and read it in one day. Thank you for providing so much more material of interest on this website. Regards, Joyce, North Shields, England.
Hi, Please Welcome a Scotswoman to your fold. I feel like an emigrant having spent countless hours on your site since gaining a computer at Christmas. I find your site interesting and very informative I have recently purchased "the World Rushed In" "Unfortunate Emigrants" and"Rush for Riches" a brand new interest in my retirement. Keep the Wagons Rolling Perthshire Pensioner.
I have been intrested in the donner party since i first found out when i was 4. my dad brought home books and movies and that sparked my intrest to! your website helped me learn more to so thank you! From montana miller Age 10. CA . fourth grade. By
My daughter is learning about the Donner party in school. We talked about it to the extent of my knowledge, then I told her I'd do a search for more info. YOUR SITE IS GREAT!! I'll be passing it on to her teacher, if that's okay. She'll be thrilled with the amount of info your site holds. It'll keep her busy for days, just reading all of it! Thank you. Susi P.
these people are the real heroes and most civilized. i believe they have given up their precious life just to let the women and children live.
I have just found your page, and I am so glad that I did , I have some books on the DONNER PARTY that you might find interesting GEORGE R STEWART " Ordeal By Hunger" Richard Rhodes " The Ungodly" Ordeal By Hunger , is by far the best, i have had it for about 35 years now , and I have read it a few times. I have just finished " Snow Mountain Passage " also. At the moment I am having problems with my E.MAIL I can recieve but not send any . I am at cloggs@iprimus.com.au If you would like to answer my message. Terence J Clarke
Bon appetit!
The donner party is a very good topic to research
My children have asked many questions over the years on a variety of topics ... today was the Donner Party ... and my ability to "accurately" provide them with information to their questions is mostly due in recent years to people like yourself that maintain websites on the internet. (In the early years a set of encyclopedias was my main resource.) Thank you very much for your time and effort in creating and maintaining this site ... sites like this give truth to the name "information highway".
Just read The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party by Marian Calabro and Across The Plains in the Donner Party by Virginia Reed Murphy. My father lives in Independence, Mo and sparked my interest in the rough life of the pioneer. This web site rocks. Christopher Koehler Lörrach, Germany
I want to see the DonnerParty picture
Are there any recipies intact on how they prepared the people that they ate? Did they cook them, eat them raw, use ketchup, etc? Might make a good special on the Food Network on cable. Regards, George W. Bush
I have found the stories about the Donner Party to be quite interesting, but I would like to get more facts than fiction. Is there anyway that you could send me more accurate information through the mail? My name and address are as follows: Donna Andrews 17 Hendry Street #2 Dorchester, MA 02122 Thank you very much.
Kritin, I just visited the site of the Donner Party disater. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to be stuck up there without and food in the middle of winter. ---Raymond W
Very interesting The Donnor party came up on my research. You have a very good site Thanks Charlotte
I drove to Tahoe this weekend from San Francisco, I've made the trip dozens of times and always get the chill when going over the summit and seeing the lake. That being said, I knew little of the events until I found this site. Thanks for all the hard work. I can't imagine this WON'T be a hollywood movie some day filled with wild inaccuracies and (undoubtedly) a love story. Thanks again for you dedication, ChrisM.
Kristen, Thanks to you for the work and research on the tragic events of the winter of '46-'47. As a native Californian (family moved there in 1840's), the public really needs to be aware of the hardships and sacrifices made by those who blazed a trail to the Pacific coast in the 19th century. Keep up the good work! As a descendant of someone involved in the rescue effort of '47, you have my thanks for a job well done. Jim, Jacksonville FL. 07/18/2004
wow
Hi Ms. Johnson, I met you at the 1996 150th anniversary in passing, ( I'm an acquaintance of Jaunita Larimore) and purchased and have read your book, which I enjoyed very much. I remember being at the Alder Creek sites at that time with Don Hardesty, and there was much speculation as to whether or not the Donner family camps were closer or actually in Prosser reservoir. I guess that it seems that was somewhat the case. I teach high school in Atascadero Ca, but would love to be involved w/ this in the future. The Donner story has always fascinated me ever since I heard about it from my parents in the 1950's, and after seeing a special segment on TV on "Wide-Wide World" or some Sunday afternoon show like that. Thanks for your website. Michael P. Burrell San Luis Obispo Ca.
Thanks for your web summary. I have a copy of your book and am including some of the material in an article I am writing for a symposium paper. I'll send you a copy if you are interested when it is published or a preliminary copy if it takes too long. John M. McCullough Anthropology/Univ of Utah SLC, UT 84112/jm3068@anthro.utah.edu
Have not visited this site for several years. I am impressed with the amount of new information. Great job as usual, Kristin! Bill McDonnell Phila., PA wpmcd@yahoo.com
Hello there, my brother and I have just been browsing your site and find it very interesting. As our names are Patrick and Tommy Breen, with another brother called John and we are from county Wexford, Ireland where there are a lot of Breens we wonder if the Donner party Breens originated in this area and could they be related to us.
i have been researching early CA history, as i am a history major at Modesto Junior College. Its my hobbie to learn about CA especilly the cities near my own. a few weeks ago i became engulfed with learning all i could about the donner party, and your site was so very helpful, and actually cleared up alot of myths i grabbed from other sites. thanks for all your hard work and dedication for this site.
The Donner Party is so interesting. I am really into it. I went to Donner Lake and around Truckee checking it out. Thanks. Is the wagon at the Ponderosa Ranch really from The Donner Party?
I had never learned about the donner party in school and only recently became interested after hearing about a new "find" at the site. It is very interesting and sad at the same time. Thank you to the creator of this website for all the information!
It's an amazing story, very interesting to read. You have done a good job at trying to give an accurate account of facts as well as trying to disprove that which is not. Thanks for your work.
wonderful site ! found it from Archeologica.com I will come back often..Lisa.quagliariello@verizon.net
What a fascinating site. I am an Australian and until I stumbled onto this page, had never heard of the Donner party and their amazing story. Now I feel like I know them. Excellent and exhaustive work!
Hey Tommy and Patrick from Co. Wexford with the brother John, I think this is your sister Bernie who was also browsing this site to try and find out were our ancestors part of the Donner Party. Think its a really good site and would love to discover any relatives we may have out there
I like what u have done with all the information. It been helpful to me for my report. thanks. Jane
Nice site. I am George Donner and Susannah Holloway's GGGG Grandson. This is a real big help in learning more about my ancestors. Bob Smith Lewisville, TX
Research The Murphy Family Tree and found this site by mistake. It gives alot of info On the Family. My Husband is Lavina Jackson Murphy's 4th gradnephew.
I am doing an informative speech on the Donner Party for my Public Speaking class, and this website has been very helpful! Thanks so much! ~Katherine
Thank you for all of your reasearch and hord work with this site. It wasmore helpful than the other 50 sites I jsut looked at. Lisa Bolen
I have a mid-term on the donner party in like three hours and you have NO IDEA what a GREAT RESOURCE this website is. Thank you so so much! I found more info here then in my required reading! Look out trick questions! Thanks again. Nicole
nice site
thank god for this site love ben jill heather and amanda
Hi.. I just wanted to thank you for saving me on my highschool report that I had to do on the Donner Party. All of the infomation in my school library was repetitive and wasnt getting me any information. You're website was a huge help! Thanks so much -A once desperate student
We are studying the donner party right now and it's interesting. I think it was cool how they ate each other.
why do you have so many people
I never fail to think of the Donner-Reed party as I travel from my home near SLC to Northern California. I am always retelling the stories to my family as we are traveling, and they never tire of hearing them, your site will help me to add new dimensions to these stories. Camping at Donner Memorial State Park at Donner Lake is a humbling experience. It is a site that deserves reverance while you are there. It will always be a spot that we take the time to visit no matter how many times we travel that route. I would very much like to receive your newsletter through email. tooeleomni@hotmail.com
good job on your site
THE DONNERS ARE DOWNERS!!
Very informative!
Ms. Johnson, I am a college student in Indiana and have found your compilation, "Unfortunate Emigrants" to be of great help in my historiography and research project on the Donner Party. Thank you, Kate
hi
Thank you so much for creating this website!
I just visited this website to find out more about cannibalism (which proves to be both fascinating and disgusting) but I realized that the Donner party should have more to be known for than eating others for the cause of survival. You changed my view of the Donner party, and I thank you for that. Great job! MGBADA419@IMO.COM
I did a review on the Donner Party and I think this is a great book. However, i would like to know more information about the author.
Great website. I loved all the new, fascinating info I learned. Keep up the great work!
hi im todd
My teacher metioned the donnor party today and i wanted to know about it I really have always wondered the story. I really want to know the information. Cece
There was a TV show about the Donner Party on New York channel 13 (PBS) a few weeks ago. I had never heard of this story before, and I then did a search online and found this site. Having now looked at the site, it is apparent that the TV show didn't go into great detail. It is a fascinating story. Great job on the site. I would like to buy a book on Amazon about this. By the way, I am not a teacher or student, just a guy who likes to find out about things.
I just dropped in because I am a Breen living in the UK. My family originate from Southern Ireland and I have a brother Michael and a son Patrick. My grandmother's name was Murphy. There are just so many "hooks" for me on this web site! Fascinating!! An excellent job - Well Done :-)
Today, Jan 10, in 2005, the Lake Tahoe area is getting more snow that it has recorded since 1916...Motorists are stranded, trapped in their heated cars on I-80, on top of Donner Summit..Rumor has it that if they aren't "rescued" within the next few hours, they will resort to eating the leather seat-covers of their SUV's... Jim Nichols, Billings, MT
This is an excellent website. I love to study pioneer history and diaries of the early pioneers as they migrated westward on the trails. They were very strong-willed & brave people to venture out into the unknown territories, not knowing what might befall them, such as sickness, starvation & even death. Those who did make it to their final destinations, were real troopers, to say the least. I admire and respect their determination. If not for them (and I hesitate to say "their simple way of life," because it was a very hard way of life, but free of technical & complicated machines & gadgets like we know of)...if not for them and their inventions and early vision, what would life be like today? It's their knowledge of trial and error and "simple" inventions that was a precurser of our more technical machines & equipment today, even transportation. We owe them a lot! They were the early stepping stones or building blocks for our future. Thanks for this website! Sandi
This is an excellent website. I love to study pioneer history and diaries of the early pioneers as they migrated westward on the trails. They were very strong-willed & brave people to venture out into the unknown territories, not knowing what might befall them, such as sickness, starvation & even death. Those who did make it to their final destinations, were real troopers, to say the least. I admire and respect their determination. If not for them (and I hesitate to say "their simple way of life," because it was a very hard way of life, but free of technical & complicated machines & gadgets like we know of)...if not for them and their inventions and early vision, what would life be like today? It's their knowledge of trial and error and "simple" inventions that was a precurser of our more technical machines & equipment today, even transportation. We owe them a lot! They were the early stepping stones or building blocks for our future. Thanks for this website! Sandi
Thank you for the info kristin, now i have enough information for my paper ben p
This website was not very helpful:(
Your website is wonderful. I read Patty Reed's Doll when I was in the 4th grade, and that sparked my interest in the Emigrant Trial, and California History in general. Living in downtown San Jose, CA, I smile to myself every time I walk down Reed, Virginia, Keyes St, etc. Twelve years after I read Patty Reed's Doll, I finally made the pilgrimage to Alder Creek. What a moving experience. I look forward to expolring your website, thank you for taking the time and effort to put this all together. What a labor! Thank you for it :) Nicole Crabbe San Jose, CA
i am doing a reasearch paper and i thought this website helped a lot thanks! jaime
This was a great website for info on the Donner Party. Thanks for creating it! Sheila
Thank you for the incredible research and well put together Website. I just read the book, 'From the desk of C. Mcglashan' that I recieved as a Christmas present. McGlashan was an ancestor of mine. This reading has stimualted an interest in the Donner Story. I also would like to know more about the Mountain Meadow Massacre.
This is an amazing story. I enjoyed reading the diaries. It takes me to the present of their struggle by seeing the words 'last night', 'yesterday', 'today' and so forth. Living in Southern Illinois I have never seen eight to twenty five feet of snow (at 58) but I can imagine the cold. Some day I and my family will have to travel down hway 80 and relive the history. Thanks for making these sites about the Donners and others' experiences on the internet. Mickey Smith - Royalton, Illinois
This is a great site! Tons of information. I am doing a research paper on the Donner Party myself. I have always been interested in the Donner Party and have visited Donner Pass before. I am a direct decendant of George Donner Jr. who was only a child on the journey. My name is Cassandra Dohner. I find it kind of funny that we changed our last name from Donner to Dohner even though people still pronounce it the same way. hehe. Anyways, great site, very helpful. Cassandra Dohner
this website is very helpful.i asm looking up research for a history project and so far it has been to great use
sad and tragic but the newspapers that those damn canadians wrote was bullshit seanzi
What Canadians?
Nicely done site! Thank you for putting this all together. The only thing I felt was missing was a brief overview of the story, say a couple pages long. Steven-History Teacher
Response: Perhaps, but that's what the Chronology is intended for, an overview of the story.
Kristin, I was a little confused by your paragraph: Three weeks later, on September 10, Augustus Ripley Burbank described seeing the remains of a burnt cabin a quarter of a mile away from a still standing cabin built against the east side of a large rock. This is obviously the Murphy cabin, even though the distance given is about twice the usual figure. Was the "still standing" cabin against the rock or the burnt cabin against the rock? When I was there, I too, wondered about the orientation being correct. Bill McDonnell
Response: You're right, it wasn't very clear, but it's fixed now-- thanks for the heads-up.
Kristin, Why don't you blow out the negative comments from the anonymous nit-wits? This is a terrific site if they would take the time to read it. Bill McDonnell, Phila, Pa
Response: It's tempting, but I generally leave the stupid-but-relatively-inoffensive ones in -- you should see the garbage I do delete!
I'm a direct descendant of Patrick Breen & have an interest in learning more about my family & it's role in this tragedy. I've yet to read his diary & am looking forward to investigating this further. Brenda K. Roth
I was reading some of your pages and was glad to find someone who distrusts many supposed facts such as Mrs Murphy age 50 vrs 37, George and Jacobs ages etc. I remember when I was apx. 7 years old I was with my parents and grandparents at the Donner Lake. I remember a iron bar I was holding on and listening to the old folks talking about our relatives that were wintered there and how they lived and died. Being just a child I was more interested in what they were saying rather than who they were speaking of. This stuck with me for over 50 years and doing our family geneology I never came up with anything only the fact that I had relatives there. Just the other day as I made a phone call I typed in the george donner and james walters and bingo the Donner Brothers had a sister named Lydia who married a James Walters who I was told I was named after. Then I remember my Great Grandma Easter Catherine Walters born 1863 and she lived with us and died apx 1955 in Lakewood, Ca. Although I knew of Lydia and James Walters ( I did not know Lydias maiden name ) and then to confirm that I remember the pictures of Matilda Walters being blind and James Walter son of marrying a Nancy Baldwin. I beleive William Walters married a Donner sister as I have newspapers from Virden, Ill. (1850). James Walters came to Calif. during the gold rush and I have yet to read his 3 diaries made on his journey plus other documents and letters. I would appreciate any info on the James and Lydia Walters.
you have lots of rather horrifying, yet informational facts...good for you!
I found this site very intruiging. I didn't know ANYTHING abou the Donner Party before coming across this. Actually I would never have come to this site if it weren't for my social studies teacher, and this interesting report my best friend and I are doing. Therefor I thank not only you for this extraordinary site, but my wonderful social studies teacher. I enjoyed learning some of the fascinating tales of the Donner Party. They were quiet a remarkable and BRAVE group of people. Once again I appreciate your asistance in helping write my report! Your greatest fan, Alex *Smooches* ps. The BRIEF summary timeline thing ain't so bief. It was actually rather long.
I am descended from Edward G. Pyle, Sr. THANKS so much for the information on your website. It makes our family history so much more interesting to know these stories. If there are any relatives out there, I would love to correspond. I have a bit of information & some documents on the family & some of their descendants. Thanks, Sandra sandyscouter (at) hotmail.com [I wrote it this way to try to deflect the spam mail)
i think that all high school students should learn about the Donner Party
good site, thank you!
anyone want to explore the 3 versions of Wolfinger's demise (Limburg,McGlashan, King)and exchange ideas? gesso821@hotmail.com
I enjoy your website very much and have always been interested in the early pioneers and the wagon trains. I lived for many years in Independence, MO the starting point for the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails. I have just one comment to the people that write in judging and condeming and stating "how gross". As a mother and grandmother, if I saw my children starving, I would do anything within my power to save them and so would anyone else.
After having read a book a few years ago about the Donner Party and finally receiving a copy of the PBs viedo special, I have to say that this website is nothing less than spectacular. As an amateur genealogist and a resident of Santa Clara County, I particularly enjoyed the biographies of the Graves and the Breens. I still shake my head and wonder how these people managed to survive. Thanks!!!
HI there! Nice site
Very excellent work all round...
Mary Murphy Covillaud and I have a common relative. Mary's Maternal Grandparents are Frederick and Charolotte (Vinson) Jackson. These are my 4th Great Grandpatents. For those doing the math, Mary Murphy Covillaud is my 1st cousin, 4 times removed. .....John F. LV,KS
hello, my name is michelle merriott. i am a direct decsendant of the donner family, my mother was a donner. i do not have any other family that i know of. i have been searching for answers about how direct or indirect my link to the donner party is. i think it is a wonderful thing that people do to research and preserve what was truly a human tragedy.
bla bla bla
Very informative. Agrees with the diary entries from the book I am reading, "Words West - Voices of Young Pioneers" by Ginger Wadsworth. She follows the diaries of the children & teenagers. The stories in her book & on these sites have endeared these people to me. I feel as if I know them. What strength, what devotion, what faith.
What a wonderful place ! I will be back often. Rod Willaman .
My name is Melissa, I am related to Jacob and Emma Donner. That means I am related to the Donner Party! Dont worry I am not a canable. lol. I think it is great to be able to find out what happened to them and what they went through. And I am not making this up. It is in my family records. This is a great web site. I hope to find as much as I can about the history of my family. Thanx
this is melissa again. i misspelled my great aunts name, it is Elizabeth Donnor not emma
Your geneology website is well thought and informative. Thank you for providing a great service. Al Loy
Dear Ms. Johnson: Reading your compilation of Donner Party material in "Unfortunate Immigrants" and it is fascinating and riveting for an old American history buff such as me. Your website is a virtual bonanza for American history buffs and Donner Party aficionados, alike. Your approach is on of pure scholarship and eliminates many of the biases and prejudice seen in most of the preceding attempts at presenting the Donner Party history. Thank you so much for your forthrightness and your keen application of scholarship. Most Sincerely, Gary M. Olympia, Wash.
I am a native Californian, born and raised in Sacramento; I visited Sutter's Fort as a child; visited Donner Lake in my teens; passed over Donner Summit literally countless times in my 42 years while visiting my grandparents in Nevada. I now live in Nevada, again just about 90 minutes from Donner Lake. It is quite embarassing on just how little I knew of the Donner Party, having always lived in it's back yard. In April of this year, my son had a project in his history class about the Donner Party. They each were given a part, he was Jay Fosdick/Fosdyck who parished, his wife having survived. Shortly thereafter, we watched a special on PBS, "American Experience: The Donner Party". We watched it again this afternoon and I began surfing. I found your wonderful site and have literally been on it for hours. I have read every one of your bulletins, and as a lover of geneology and spending countless hours on the computer, I wholly appreciated the work that was done in that area. I just found your book on Amazon and intend to purchase it, and others. Thank you for your wonderful work on this site and I can't wait to look again soon to find another bulletin waiting. Mommyistired@yahoo.com
Very informative and nicely done website. Randi ( a Backenstoe descendent)
We just got back from visiting Donner Lake and the Donner Monument near Truckee, California. Thanks so much for all the information on your website. My heart breaks every time i think of all those poor souls suffering for so long. What I haven't seen much of on your page is mention of the jerk who was supposed to rescue them but never quite made it. I forget his name and I don't have any real details but I have read about him. He was a useless leader who did everything in his power NOT to have to help the Donner party members. Instead of focusing so much on Keseberg and the others who had to resort to cannibalism, I think more should be focused on this selfish guy who refused to help them, even though he was being paid to do so.
You have very good site!
Thank you for the information and time you've put into this site. As a decendent of Mary (Murphy) Covillaud, I've just recently begun to go over my mom's research and geneology, It's fun when you run into Famous relatives Robert King Utah
hey kristen a little known fact i thought you should, when the second relief party arrived they found j.donner's remaining children eating his half raosted heart and his liver.
Response: The fact can hardly be described as "little known," seeing that it's been in print since 1849; also, that I choose not to publish something about the Donner Party doesn't mean I don't know it.
Very interesting and detailed site. I am a Donner descendent on my father's side and have heard the story of their journey across the pass since I was a kid. The cannibalism stuff always irritated my grandmother. Anyhow...nice site. Carrie Lyall
I love history. I have been reading about the Donner party for at least 20 years and the information on your site is by far the best I have seen. I so appreciate that you have placed all this valuable historical information where it is available to many. Thank you so much for sharing your efforts and spending so much time on a project of this side just so others can enjoy.
hi
eden , this is cool
Wonderful page! I've been back many times. Thomas Rhoads, father of Daniel and John Pierce, was my g-g-grandfather's brother. Am delighted to find so much on the Rhoads family. Have been to Slough House and LeMoore but am enjoying learning more from your page. Thanks!
This is a great site for school projects!!!!!!!!!!!! Brittany
Hi, I'm Aaricka, and my great, great, great, great grandmother was apart of the Donner party. Mary Graves was her. She was one of the few survivors of the Party. I have heard and told many stories about the incident and i believe that this topic is absolutley amazing!
I have been reading "The Work and the Glory" series, and just finsihed #9, which goes over a partial but good history of the Donner-Reed party. I learned quite a bit in school, (a long time ago), but wanted to know more after reading this last novel. Your site is wonderful!!! Bless you for all of the noble service you are giving to so many others who are seeking for ACCURATE and DETAILED information. This site is incredible! Thank you!!! -Mindy Pitcher, A fellow Utahn
You need pictures!
Thank you for the excellent website. The journey west and final ordeal in the Sierras is fascinating, tragic and yet uplifting. How many of us today could have done half as well? Janice
AWESOME!!
i read 'the donner party' a couple of years ago and it truly stayed with me, particularly when, whilst reading 'the shining' i started a chapter by reading 'wendy sat in bed reading the donner party....'. this really stunned me as my name is wendy. the donner party was a tale of trial and tribulation, and an example of how the aspirations of man are so often destroyed by nature. makes one respect even more the indigenous peoples and their abilities.
yum.....human meat just kidding! I really enjoyed your site; it helped me on my history project!
Great website! Very informative!
My son came home from Myrtle Beach, Christmas of 1988, we always put on the feedbag when he was in. We bought the Movie of the donner Party and ate and watched the movie. There we were, stuffed and the people on the screen were starving. Strange.
I enjoyed reading. Thank You. -
Thank's for useful information and nice design.
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