Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/378

 gon before

1859, ninety-five per cent of whom came before 185-4, fifty-six i^er cent were born in tlie northern states, thirty-three per cent in the southern states, and eleven per cent in twenty-one foreign countries. It is my belief that the above ratio will hold good, substantially, in respect to the population of 52,465 which Oregon is credited with by the U. S. census of 1860. It is true that more persons came from Missouri to Oregon than .from any other one state, but a large proportion of them were born in other states, and began moving west- ward by easy stages, until at length Missouri was reached, and then final prepara- tions were made to cover the last stretch of territory that must be crossed before reaching the Pacific ocean.

The emigrants were nearly all from pioneer farms ; they knew how to ' ' rough it," knew how to make the best and the most of what little of this world's goods they possessed. And they were not miserable and unhappy because they were not rich. They were hopeful, cheerful, and happy in the prospect of better things, and full of courage to make the herculean effort to get to Oregon. They were also a hardy, vigorous lot of men and women, with children that could ride horses, run races, and take a part in the strenuous life of a pioneer settlement. The great labor, trial and long continued exertion for a two thousand mile trip which must face exhausting toil day after day for six months, that must submit to thirst, heat, dust, sleep in the open and push ahead every day and all day rain or shine, naturally and efl:ectually debarred the weak, infirm or diseased from attempt- ing the trip. They all had more or less of the three R's of a log school house edu- cation — "Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic."

What they lacked in book learning was made up in strong common sense and practical experience in life. The first big train of emigrants contained one lawyer, one surveyor, and one doctor, and half a dozen country exhorterS and preachers. The schoolmaster was conspicuous by his absence. It was now force, power, push, courage, endurance to the last — or wretched failure. The pioneers on the Oregon trail risked everything — and won. One of them, only a boy that witnessed the motley throng, later in life sketched those heroic figures in forceful lines :

"What strong, uncommon men were these —

These settlers hewing to the seas !

Great hornj'-handed men, and tan —

Their wretchedness held in the van.

Yet every man among them stood

Alone, along that sounding wood.

And every man — somehow a Man,

They pushed the matted wood aside,

They tossed the forest like a toy ;

That grand, forgotten race of men —

The boldest band that yet has been

Together, since the siege of Troy !

WHAT WAS THE OUTFIT?

The following were the requirements of emigrants who came to Oregon in 1843, driving ox teams, as specified by Peter H. Burnett, one of the men who made the trip, writing back to a friend, says :