At least two parties left the Des Moines County-Henry County area of Iowa in the spring of 1849, bound for the gold fields of California. One group, who called themselves "the Mt. Pleasant Mining Company", is described in two Trail documents:
-D. B. Nunis, Jr. (1964), The Letters of a Young Gold Miner, Covering the Adventures of Jasper S. Hill during the California Gold Rush, 1849-1852 (San Francisco, CA).
-P. C. Tiffany (1849-1851), Journal of P. C. Tiffany Detailing His Trip Across the Plains from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to the Gold Diggings of California. (Manuscript at Beinecke Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT).
I haven't found a journal or diary of the second trip, yet, but I have found a number of references to it. Usually called "the Ikenberry party," it was actually captained by Samuel EIKENBARY (apparently a preferred spelling of this particular family line, although several variations are regularly seen), a farmer from near Danville, Des Moines County, Iowa. As I find out more about this trip, I will add to the record below. For now, I have short bios of those I know were on this trip; the beginnings of a trip itinerary; a list of possible party members; and some abstracts of published accounts of the party. If you can add anything to the account, please contact me.
Determining the "beginning"
and the "ending" of Overland Trail trips is sometimes
difficult, because of travelers joining and leaving the wagon
train at different times, and because some writers have an "official"
beginning date [i.e., when the train was really all together,
and ready to move West] that may be quite different from when
they actually left their home. It appears that most of the people
on the "Ikenberry Train" were from Des Moines and Henry
counties in Iowa, and that the train was pretty much completed
when they left Henry County in the latter part of March 1849.
We have no specific record of what route this party took to St.
Joseph, Missouri, but they likely followed closely that route
taken by the McCully wagon train in 1852 [the leaders of which
had "learned" the route as members of the "Ikenberry
Train"]: across southern Iowa past present-day Lowell, Hillsboro,
Keosaqua, and Seymour; south to Unionville, Missouri; then diagonally
southwest across Missouri via present-day Princeton, New Hampton,
Gentry, Union Star, Rochester, and Savannah; and into St. Joseph.
They may have reached St. Joseph about 13 April [the "beginning"
of the trip, according to a John M. Waters account, below]. According
to David McCully, they crossed the Missouri River 20 April 1849,
then proceeded on the traditional Blue River route across Kansas
to the Platte River near "New" Fort Kearny, then on
up the Platte River. They were at Fort Laramie 26 May [David McCully].
From Fort Laramie, they proceeded over South Pass; may have taken
the Sublette Cut-off; passed Fort Hall; probably went via Raft
River to the Humboldt River, and down the Humboldt to the Sink;
on to the Carson River; and over the Sierra Nevada to Hangtown/Placerville
and Coloma, California.
We don't yet have a time table beyond Fort Laramie, until 17 July
when Joseph W. Berrien reports joining "the company under
Captain Eikenbury" just east of the Humboldt Sink [Berrien's
journal in Indiana Magazine of History (1960) 56:273-352]. The
date of 7 Aug 1849 is used for both "arriving" [presumably
at Placerville: John M. Waters], and for actually finding gold
[David McCully]. We know that the "Ikenberry Train"
split partway across the plains, and so one group reached the
goldfields before the other, but the Charles Washburne record
of reaching Coloma in October seems impossibly late.
Of the 65-70 people on the "Ikenberry Train," we've only positively identified the following:
DEARDORFF, William H. B. - Born 28 Mar 1828 Union Co., IN, the son of John DEARDORFF and Catherine HARSHBARGER. He returned to Iowa after the 1849 overland trip, and married Georgia A. HARL/HARTY 20 March 1853 Des Moines Co., IA. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853 with a number of William's brothers and sisters, and settled in Douglas Co., OR. He died there 1901.
EIKENBARY, Samuel - Born 1803 Little Creek, VA, the son of
Peter EIKENBERRY Jr. and Elizabeth LANDIS. He moved with his family
to Preble Co., OH ca 1806, and married there 8 Dec 1825, Martha
CRAWFORD. They moved to Des Moines Co., IA about 1837. Samuel
and his cousin Samuel MILLER [see below] drove a herd of cattle
to Oregon about 1845, and this knowledge of the overland trail
helped get Eikenbary selected as Captain of the 1849 wagon train.
Samuel stayed in California until about 1851, then returned to
Iowa via Panama. About 1857, the Eikenbary family moved to Plattsmouth,
Cass Co., NE, where Samuel died in 1867.
FORD, Edward - Born ca 1814 in Scotland, Married Catherine COX in Henry Co., IA, 8 Dec 1842. He stayed in California at least until May 1850. He may have returned to Iowa briefly, then come west again with his family and some of Catherine's siblings in 1851 or 1852. The latest record we have for him is in 1854, when he was in El Dorado Co., CA, estranged from his family.
KELLEY, J. - The only information we have on him is from the two accounts of David McCully. He says that Kelley got tired of mining, and went to Sacramento to work as a blacksmith.
KESLER, Peter - Born in Pennsylvania ca 1815, he came to Iowa about 1838. He married Barbara ____ . Peter Kessler did not reach California; he and his partners John L. STARKEY and William PATTON had an altercation at Fort Laramie that ended with Kesler being shot. He survived, but returned to Iowa. He was living in Des Moines Co., IA, in 1856.
McCULLY, Asa Alfred - Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, 31
Jan 1818, the son of John McCULLY and Mary COPP. The family moved
to eastern Ohio in 1822, and to Henry Co., IA in 1844. He was
married three times, the first two wives [Delilah JONES and Eliza
BARNETT] dying soon after their marriages. He married third Hannah
Keziah WATERS 5 Sept 1848 Henry Co., IA. She was the daughter
of William WATERS and Hannah COX, and the sister of "Ikenberry
Party" members John Morrison WATERS and William WATERS Jr.
The 1849 trip was the first overland experience for Asa and his
brother David. They both returned to Iowa from California in 1850,
then in 1852 moved their families overland to Oregon. Asa returned
once again to Iowa in 1853, and brought a second wagon train west
to Oregon. He died in Yamhill Co., OR, 12 Aug 1886.
McCULLY, David - Asa McCully's older brother, born Sussexvale, New Brunswick, 15 Sep 1814. He married Mary Ann SCOTT 7 May 1840 at Hendrysburg, Belmont Co., OH. They moved with Asa and others of their family to Henry Co., IA in 1844. David McCully lived in Oregon from August 1852 until his death 6 Dec 1906 Salem, Marion Co., OR.
MILLER, Samuel - He was a cousin of Samuel EIKENBARY, and had gone with him to Oregon in 1845. In California, he and his brother William MILLER quickly tired of mining, and opened a butcher shop in Sacramento. They remained permanently in California, and Samuel later owned a large ranch near Stockton.
MILLER, William - In addition to being in the meat market business in Sacramento, William MILLER was a member of the newly-formed California State Senate.
MORROW - We know only that he was Charles WASHBURNE's mining partner in California.
PATTON, William - We know only that he was a partner of Peter KESLER, and was involved in the gun-play at Fort Laramie that left Kesler wounded. It is doubtful that he was ejected from the wagon train, as reported in the newspaper [below]. At least, the other partner John STARKEY continued on to California in company with the McCully brothers, and returned with them to Iowa in 1850.
SCOTT, William - Born in Jefferson Co., OH 13 Nov 1825, he was a brother-in-law of David McCULLY. Family tradition is that he was murdered either in California, or during the return trip to Iowa.
STARKEY, Amos - Born 5 Jan 1828 OH, son of Benjamin STARKEY and Sarah MILHOAN. He was the brother of John L. STARKEY [below]. He apparently did not return to Iowa after the "Ikenberry Train" reached California, but instead made his way to Oregon. He married in Oregon 3 July 1856 Mary Jane DURBIN. He died in Salem, Marion Co., OR 19 Jan 1870.
STARKEY, John Lewis - A brother of Amos STARKEY, born in OH about 1819. About 1842, he married Jane Elizabeth SCOTT, the sister of David McCULLY's wife, and they moved to Henry Co., IA in the mid-1840s. He may have been overland to Oregon prior to the 1849 trip, but we haven't been able to confirm that. At Fort Laramie in 1849, he was involved in the shooting injury to Peter KESLER and was allegedly wounded, also. He returned from California with the McCULLY brothers in early 1850, then in 1851 went overland once again to Oregon. His wife and family followed in 1852 on "The McCully Train." John Starkey died in Salem, Marion Co., OR 3 March 1872.
STARKEY, Samuel - David McCully reported that a Samuel Starkey was on the 1849 trip with them, but we haven't been able to identify him in either Iowa or California. He is not named in the will of Benjamin Starkey, the father of Amos and John. Perhaps he was a cousin.
WASHBURNE, Charles Wesley - Born 13 Sept 1824 Gallia Co., OH, son of Robert WASHBURNE and Eva ROY. Charles moved with his family to Illinois and then to Iowa. He returned from California to Iowa in the winter of 1850-51, and married Catherine STANSBURY 23 Nov 1851. In 1853 they went overland to Oregon, settling near Junction City, Lane Co., OR. He died after 1903.
WATERS, John Morrison - Born 21 Jan 1833 Geneva, Ashtabula Co., OH, son of William WATERS and Rachel COX, and a brother-in-law of Asa McCULLY. He moved with his family to Warrick Co., IN, about 1838, and then to Henry Co., IA about 1847. He did not return to Iowa from California, but spent several years mining and driving a wagon in the Sacramento Valley. In 1853 he went to Oregon, where he married Nancy Ellen MOORE 19 Jan 1854 Linn Co., OR. He died 24 Dec 1903 in Brownsville, Linn Co., OR.
WATERS, William - Older brother of John WATERS, born 22 May 1826 in Geneva, Ashtabula Co., OH. He died 5 Dec 1849 at Mud Springs, El Dorado Co., CA, where he was mining with his brother. We haven't been able to determine the cause of death.
Following are names of people thought to have gone to California from the Des Moines-Henry counties area about the time of the "Ikenberry Train." We don't know for sure that any of them were part of this particular wagon train. If you know anything about any of them, please let us know.
Robert ANDERSON, Thomas ANGELL, Jacob ARRICK, L B. AUSTIN, Lucius AUSTIN, F. O. BECKET, Harvey BLAIR, Milton BLAIR, __ BOND, J. C. BRANT, James BUTTLES, James CAUDEL, William CHICHESTER, James COCHRAN, Oliver COTTLE, F. DANIELS, J. S. DAVID, C. DENMARK, Jonathan DONALD, Presley DUNLAP, SAMUEL EIKENBURY, Jacob ELLIOTT, ___ FAIR, Hiram FAIRBANKS, John FARMER, A. W. GORDON, William HENDRIN, Joshua HOLLAND, Charleston HUGHES, William HUSTED, Thomas HUTCHINSON, N. M. IVES, Peter JACKSON, Charles H. JORDAN, Moses JORDAN, D. M. KELSEY, Z. KINSELL, Shannon KNOX, Jacob LEFFLER, John D. LOVE, C. F. MATTHEWS, M. McCASLIN, Luther MEAD, George MICKELWAIT, James MICKELWAIT, John MICKELWAIT, Richard MICKELWAIT, Willoughby MICKELWAIT, Charles MILLER, J. MINER, Joseph MOFFETT, Levi MOFFETT, Ephraim MOORE, Jos. MYRES/MYERS, George PEARSON, D. PURCELL, ___ RANKIN, D. REDDING, L. P. REED, William RITCHEY, David RUSSELL, Alonzo SARGENT, Nahum SARGENT, Thomas SATER, S. F. SEGVENS/SGEVENS [STEVENS?], ___ SIDELL and wife, Andrew STURGIS, Arthur SULLIVAN, Campbell SUTTLE, Josiah SUTTLE, James TAYLOR, William VALENTINE, Albert G. WALONG, David WHEATLEY, H. WILE Jr., N. W. WILE, George WORRELL, and Reuben WORRELL.
FROM:
J. Gaston (1912), The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912
(Chicago, IL: J. S. Clarke, Publisher). Vol. 2, pp.400-405 Charles
Wesley WASHBURNE
"...in 1849 when twenty-five years of age, [Charles Wesley
WASHBURNE] joined a large company en route for the gold fields
of California. They selected for captain one Ikenberry, who had
crossed the plains to Oregon in 1847. They passed over the Missouri
river at St. Joseph and on reaching Blue river thought they saw
buffaloes, but on nearer approach these proved to be Indians who
ambushed the company. The white men scattered, agreeing to protect
themselves as best as they could and capture as many Indians as
possible. As the red men approached they talked to them and told
them they were a large company. The Indians seemed peaceful yet
camped that night a short distance away with the intention of
killing the party, but fearing that there was too big a company
they did not risk an attack. While hunting near Chimney Rock Mr.
Washburne killed an antelope and, cutting out the hams, threw
them over his shoulder and started back to camp. The morning being
warm he left behind his coat but ere he reached camp a terrific
hailstorm came on, pelting him unmercifully. At length he laid
aside his gun and meat and started on a run for camp. Arriving
there he found that the storm had caused the teams to stampede
and that the axle of Captain Ikenberry's wagon had been broken,
which caused the party to lay by until a man passed carrying an
extra axle which was purchased. The oxen were recovered two or
three miles away and some of the party also went back for the
antelope meat on which they all feasted.
"On one occasion the Ikenberry party was passed by a company
with horses and fine equipments and big wagon beds, being supplied
with stoves. Their supplies had been shipped thus far by boat.
The company called 'good-by' and laughed as they passed the Ikenberry
party who, however, said that they would see them again. In a
couple of weeks they overtook the company who had cut their wagon
beds down and lightened their loads. It was now the turn of the
Ikenberry party to call out 'good-by' and ride on. For the second
time they were passed by the other company and then once more
it was their turn to ride on in advance of them. By that time
they had abandoned their wagons, previously cut down to two wheels,
and packed their horses. On this occasion some of the company
joined the Ikenberry party, who found them whole-souled, honorable
men and to one of them Mr. Washburne sold a horse on time, receiving
the pay after they arrived in California. The party proceeded
over the trail of the Mormons and on reaching the Sierra Nevada
mountains a number of the young fellows thought they would climb
to the highest peak and look over into the Sacramento valley,
but when they had scaled the heights they saw mountain stretching
on mountain as far as the eye could reach. After building a fire
they made tea, ate their luncheon and ran all the way down hill
to camp. They then proceeded over the long mountain range, the
way being at once so difficult and steep that they had to lighten
their loads. At length they reached Hangtown and afterwards Sutter's
mill, whence Mr. Washburne and his partner, Mr. Morrow proceeded
to Sacramento where they sold their oxen and wagons. From Coloma
they proceeded to the middle fork of the American river and in
the middle of the stream began digging until their heads were
almost under water and they had to give up.
"Mr. Washburne next joined some old acquaintances and began
mining in Humboldt canyon in the north fork of the American river
where they found a pot hole, but after spending thousands of dollars
did not meet with success. The Indians killed their pack horses
while wintering on Canyon creek and prices were so high that sugar,
flour, coffee and hay were sold for one dollar per pound. They
next went to Grizzly canyon and in the fall of 1850 took a steamer
from Sacramento to San Francisco from which point they proceeded
by a sailing vessel toward Panama. One of the interesting incidents
on that trip was that a whale followed them staying close to the
vessel. Their progress was so slow that they changed their plans,
continuing by the Nicaraguan route making the overland trip in
a stage, which was a two-wheeled affair the wheels being cut from
logs with holes bored in the axles...Washburne became ill with
a fever...the sea voyage, however, restoring his health."
They started by steamboat up the Mississippi, but the ice jams
were too bad, so they bought a team and wagon, and went overland
back to Mount Pleasant, IA.
FROM:
H. K. Hines (1893), Illustrated History of the State of Oregon
(Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company). Pp.535-536, Charles W.
WASHBURNE
Charles W. WASHBURNE went to CA 1849 with a party of 70 people,
arriving in Coloma, CA, in Oct 1849; stayed in CA about 15 months
(around Coloma and Georgetown), they sailed out of San Francisco,
crossed Panama, and returned home to IA.
FROM:
W. H. Byars (1906), Reminiscences of a pioneer: early incidents
in life of David McCully in the old Iowa home recalled (a letter
to the editor in a so-far undetermined Oregon newspaper, 7 Dec
1906, occasioned by the death of David McCully).
"In early days, Mr. [David] McCully and his brother lived
at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, some fifteen miles west of Burlington,
near where I was born.
"The McCullys crossed the plains to California in '49 in
Capt. Ikenberry's company. I had an uncle, William Deardorff,
who was also of the party and I know that he always held the McCully
boys, as he called them, in the highest respect. I only know of
one other of that pioneer company yet alive - or was a short time
ago - I refer to Mr. Washburn, the original proprietor of Junction
City, Oregon."
FROM:
Anonymous (1903), Portrait and Biographical Record of Willamette
Valley, Oregon. (Chicago, IL: Chapman Publishing Company). P.
1232, biographical sketch of John M. WATERS
In 1849 John WATERS, William Waters, and Edward Ford joined a
22-wagon party to CA. They had a wagon and ox-team. John broke
his leg early in the trip. They were in on the discovery of "the
big bar on the Consmers [Cosumnes] River". He drove a team
between Sacramento and Hangtown for two months while his leg was
healing; built the first cabin at Mud Springs in the fall of 1849.
His brother William died at Mud Springs. John bought a team of
horses, and made a living hauling in the Redding mining area.
He went to San Francisco, then made his way to Portland by steamer
in the winter of 1853.
FROM:
N. L. Williamson, compiler (1981), E. E. Stanard scrap books (Albany,
OR: State Savings and Loan Association).Volume 1, p. 18 - John
M. WATERS
In 1849, John WATERS went with Mr. IKENBERRY's company to CA,
leaving 13 Apr 1849. Their route took them up the Platte, past
Forts Laramie and Hall, then via Humboldt Sink and the Carson
River to "Hangtown" [Placerville,CA], arriving 7 Aug
1849. He went from there to Mud Springs [El Dorado], built the
first house/cabin in that vicinity, and lived there through the
winter of 1849-50.
While at Mud Springs, Indians ran off about 35 head of horses
belonging to the miners, including those of John Waters and his
partners. About 20 miners went after the horses, traded gunfire
with them killing at least 3 Indians, and burning their village.
They got all the horses back.
After he had built his cabin at Mud Springs in 1849, he took a
wagon into Sacramento and purchased a load of flour, pickled pork,
beans, dried fruit, etc. "One day two men came into his cabin
to buy some flour offering him a dollar a pound for same. He did
not wish to sell at any price fearing he might run out himself.
As the mud was simply awful and the roads impassable for teams
between there and Sacramento. These men said he had more supplies
than any one man should have, so they just took possession of
one bbl of flour, paying him 200 dollars, and he got along all
right without the flour. He says he handled many a thousand bbls
of flour since then and made less money on them."
In the spring of 1850, he took two horses and went to the Carson
River to meet his brother Captain A. W. Waters, who was coming
from IA. They returned safely to Mud Springs. In the fall of 1850,
he went to the site of present-day Colusa, CA, and built one of
the first houses in the vicinity (maybe the first). In 1852 he
took the steamer OREGON north, arriving in Portland, OR, 1 Jan
1853. He went up the Willamette Valley on foot to Harrisburg,
where his brother-in-law A.A.McCully was living. It was a major
flood period, and theWillamette River above and below the falls
at Oregon City was almost level. He saw a hotel floating down
the river.
FROM:
Anonymous (1906?), Some reminiscences of David McCully. (From
a so-far unidentified Oregon newspaper, some time after David
McCully's death 6 December 1906). Details of 1849 California trip
-Left from New London, IA, with about 65 men and 23 ox teams.
-Crossed the Missouri River at St. Joseph 20 Apr 1849.
-At Fort Laramie, a man lost all his money ($800), and was so
frustrated that he tried to take his wagon to return home. The
ensuing fracas with his two partners left him with a bullet in
his chest. He recovered.
-The party split about two-thirds of the way across the plains,
the New London group wanting to move faster. They reached San
Francisco with no problems except loss of one head of cattle to
Indians. Those that came later lost a lot of stock to Indians
and had other troubles.
-A man called "Stump" wouldn't stand watch, so they
wouldn't let him camp with the main train. He had all but two
of his oxen stolen by Indians, but he converted his wagon to a
cart and got to CA just fine with the 2 oxen.
-They discovered a rich gold strike on the Cosumnes River 7 Aug
1849. David and Asa also tried Fremont's old diggings at Mariposa,
but Cosumnes was much richer.
-David and Asa had come well prepared from Iowa, and had surpluses
to sell to the miners. When they ran out, they went to Sacramento
and bought two wagonloads of flour at $8/100 lbs, sold it at $10/50
lbs; went back and bought two more loads at $20/100 lbs, sold
it at $25/50 lb. Socks bought in IA for 25 cents sold for $2 pair,
and a used cookstove bought in IA for $20 brought $50 in CA. They
sold their oxen for $150/pr and their wagons for $150 each.
-Their partner [J.?] Kelley got tired of the mines, went to Sacramento
to pursue blacksmithing.
-First Cosumnes claim each person made $8/day for the first three
days, then $16/day for the next week.
-Two people who had been mining with David and Asa [John and William
Waters?] for half-interests made another strike that turned out
to be very rich [Big Bar?] - invited the McCullys to come in with
them. They made $1 out of the very first pan of dirt, 10 1/2 oz.
in 3 hrs work - later sold in New Orleans for $17.25/oz., or $180
for 3 hrs work. They averaged about $50/day while they were there.
The original two parties sold out to them and moved on, but the
really rich strike had played out.
-In 3 months, David and Asa each made $5000.
-About 1 Nov 1849, 7 people started back for New London via Panama
- 51 days from San Francisco to Panama on a sailing ship (cost
$125), then steamer to New Orleans; sold their gold dust; up the
Mississippi to St. Louis, then by stage to Burlington, IA arriving
Feb 1850; took 3 1/2 months to get home, cost $220.
-People mentioned as being on the trip: David McCully, Asa McCully,
J. L. Starkey, Amos Starkey, William Deardorff (living in Umpqua
Valley in 1906), Mr. Kelley, "Stump", and Mr. Ikenberg
(captain of the train).
FROM: D. McCully (1895), Biographical Sketch of the Lives
of David and Mary Ann McCully (Salem, OR: manuscript). Details
of 1849 trip to California
-Left New London, IA, in March
-Arrived CA 7 Aug 1849
-Mined mainly on the Cosumnes River; they were the first party
to mine Big Bar on the San Andreas River.
-"each person" (not clear who was included in this statement)
made $5000 in gold.
-remained in CA until 20 Nov 1849
-took sailing ship EDWARD EVERETT to Panama, arriving in January
1850 at Chagres; took steamer ALABAMA to New Orleans, arriving
Feb 1850.
-reached New London, IA, late Feb 1850 (David McCully, Asa McCully,
and J. L. Starkey)
People noted as being on the trip were David McCully, Asa McCully,
John Starkey, William Waters, J. Kelly, Amos Starkey, and Sam
Starkey.
FROM: L. J. Rasmussen (1994), California Wagon Train Lists, April 5, 1849 to October 20, 1852. Volume 1 (Colma, CA: San Francisco Historic Records). Includes the following two citations related to this party.
--New York Daily Tribune, 1 May 1849, a list of people recently departed from Burlington, IA, for California includes D. REDDING, WILLIAM W. SCOTT, and SAMUEL EIKENBURY.
--New York Daily Tribune, 30 Jul 1849: "Peter Kessler returns from a projected trip to California. Kessler had been shot through the lungs by a John Starkey who with a William Patton tried to deprive him of his property. Kessler succeeded in wounding Starkey and the two culprits were expelled from the overland company. Kessler returned to civilization in a Mormon wagon. He was going to California as member of Eickenberry's Company which left Fort Laramie on May 26, 1849."