Susan Page Davis here. History is all about people—individuals. I’ve encountered some intriguing people in my research and the Oregon pioneers are a good example.
Thousands of people went to Oregon in the 1850s, and those pioneers have always fascinated me. When I got married and moved to Oregon with my husband, who grew up there, I was very conscious of retracing the steps of those who blazed the western trails. When it came time to write my Prairie Dreams series, I needed to present Oregon’s history accurately, and I found I had a lot to learn!
In these books, starting with The Lady’s Maid, I sent two English ladies over the Oregon Trail on a wagon train. They don’t actually reach the territory until the end of the first book. In writing the section where the wagon train winds along the Snake River for a ways, I began my Oregon research in earnest.
For that first book in the series, I mainly studied the trail itself, and places along the way. It was in very rough shape when my ladies arrived in 1855. I’ve been to the End of the Trail Museum in Oregon City, and to the Oregon Trail Museum near Baker City, on the Idaho side of the state—both wonderful resources with very different collections. I’ve seen the ruts on the prairie and peered into Conestoga wagons. All of that was percolating in the back of my mind, and I was able to find the additional information I needed.
Copyright Historic Oregon City http://www.historicoregoncity.org[/caption%5D
Fort Dalles was one place I used in my books. My brother-in-law lives in The Dalles, and on one visit, he took us to see what is left of the fort. It isn’t much. The surgeon’s house is wonderful, but there is precious little left of the actual military installation. I had to rely on books and Internet sites to bring the fort to life for me. Oregon City was easier, because it’s still there, and many sources exist to tell me about what it was like in “the day.”
In the second book of my series, Lady Anne’s Quest, real historical figures began to show up. Some of them screamed to be included in my story. My two fictional ladies had separated. Elise had married a scout turned rancher, and Lady Anne went on to find her missing uncle. His last known address was near Eugene.
I had a lot of fun researching the Eugene area. It’s where my husband was born. He grew up in Junction City, just a few 
miles outside Eugene, and we lived within the city limits after we got married. But Junction City wasn’t there in 1855.
What I did find in my time travel was fascinating people. One was Eugene Skinner, larger than life. He was the founder of the city, and it is named after him. I was also familiar with Skinner’s Butte, which towers over the city and where Eugene Skinner lived for a while. In his active life, he was not only a founder, a farmer, and a ferry operator, but he helped lay out the town and served as a lawyer, postmaster, and county clerk.
One of the first settlers in Lane County, Skinner arrived in 1846. He built the first cabin in what is now the city of Eugene, on the side of the
hill at Skinner’s Butte. He used it as a trading post, and later as a post office. I put the post office and both Mr. and Mrs. Skinner in my story.
I also learned about Joseph Lafayette Meek, or “Joe Meek,” the famous mountain man. He lived his later years in Oregon and was appointed the first U.S. Marshal for the Oregon Territory.
I needed a marshal in my story, but by the time of the tale, Joe had given up the office. He served as Territorial Marshal from 1848 to 1853, and was succeeded by James Nesmith, so Marshal Nesmith is the one who made it into my book. Even so, I enjoyed a rabbit trail of reading about Joe Meek and his family. Maybe he will show up in another book someday. 
I am making a list of Oregon places I’d like to visit the next time we go there to see family. It’s amazing how many historical sites I managed NOT to visit during the time I lived in the beautiful state of Oregon! Usually those places are associated with people. While I do delve into the plants, animals, and terrain of the regions I write about, most of my research is still about people.
Today I’m giving away a copy of A Lady in the Making from the Prairie Dreams series.
A Lady in the Making: Millie Evans boards a stagecoach and finds that one of the passengers is David Stone—a man she and her brother once tried to swindle. As she tries to convince David she’s different now, her brother’s gang holds up the stagecoach. Millie must trust God to show David the truth that she has changed, but will he see before it’s too late?
Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 60 novels, including the Ladies’ Shooting Club series, Texas Trails series, and Frasier Island Series. Her newest books include the historical romances River Rest, Mountain Christmas Brides, The 12 Brides of Summer, and Heart of a Cowboy. She now lives in western Kentucky. Visit her website at: http://www.susanpagedavis.com
Thank you, Susan, for such a wonderful post. I can’t begin to tell you how many bells you rang for me. I’ve always been a history buff so for one summer vacation we traveled west from home in the Northeast following the Lewis and Clark Trail. Then, on the way home we came back on the Oregon Trail. We saw those mind bogging wagon ruts, Independence Rock and so many amazing sites. It was a trip of a lifetime. So I think I really do appreciate your enthusiasm and I’m sure I’d love your books.
I checked your website and discovered we also have genealogy in common. My earliest ancestors came with Wm Penn and the Quakers in the 1600s, but they migrated south through Virginia, NC and Ga then west through to Texas and Okla. Where do we live now? Penna. where it all started! Eight generations to cross the country and just one to take us back to the beginning!
Also, it’s not the same, but just FYI, one of our family lines is MEEKS–with an S.
Thank you again for sharing a favorite subject! 🙂
P.S. My son and I would love to live in Maine. Another coincidence.
Eliza, it sounds like we do have a lot in common! I love researching, and the travel kind is so much fun! I love seeing what the pioneers saw (well, sort of what they saw). I try to imagine what a scene was like the first time a pioneer saw it. And how they survived without air conditioning, ha ha! My own ancestors mostly were in New England, but my husband’s family trekked all over.
I was born and raised an Oregonian—-still live here.
Love stories about “my” state.
I love your state, Estella! My husband took a trip “home” in August, but it’s been a while since I was in Oregon. We climbed Astoria Column on the last family trip. Yup, it’s been a while.
I would like to say, in the photos above, Eugene Skinner and Joe Meek were apparently switched in the loading. So sorry! The very small photo is Meek, and the last man is Skinner.
What I enjoy about your location books is how well you research the area….from terrain to roads to weather. It makes the place come alive. I grew up in California but we never spent a lot of time in many of those western states, so your books open up a picture of what is often a new area for me. Most enjoyable!
Thank you so much, Nancy! That’s one of the most enjoyable parts of the writing process for me.
I’m a Mainer. I really appreciate the research you put into your writing. I have always enjoyed history,especially when I have the chance to teach it my way. I’ve really enjoyed your books. I had been looking for some light historical reading but wanted something with depth rather than just flufff. Keep up the good work. I’m working on a little book about Maine life in the late 1800s ,probably just foe my grandkids but I’m enjoying the research plus remembering my grandmother’s( both live into late 90’s ,early100) stories and tales of life on the farm .
Good for you, Irene! I hope it’s a wonderful experience for you. I did something like that with my book River Rest. It was inspired by my great-aunt’s diary. So many fascinating details about rural life in there!
Historical fiction is my favorite although I like a variety of genres. I like Susan’s books!
I like to read a lot of genres, too, Joan. Right now I’m reading a science fiction book because I read this author’s historicals and loved them. We’ll see if I like her as well in “the future.”
Love historical fiction. But I do enjoy reading about the hardships of being on the oregon trail some of which goes through northern tip of nebraska.
I love reading journals of pioneers on the trials west, Kim!
Nice post with some very interesting facts. Thanks for sharing with us and Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book it looks really good.
You’re welcome, Linda! Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for sharing your most interesting post, Susan. I always enjoy what you bring to P&P. Have a great weekend!
You’re welcome, Melanie! Glad you stopped in.
Retracing the routes settlers took and visiting the places they built is such an enjoyable past time. Some very good museums have been built and I am always impressed with the restoration projects people have done. Visiting such places is one of the best ways to learn about the history. seeing a real conestoga wagon, soddie, or stage coach is much more effective than reading about them. Telling the stories of the people who lived during the time period brings it to life like no history text ever could.
Thank you for an interesting post.
I agree, Patricia! Even seeing pictures is not the same as seeing the real thing.
Enjoyed reading your post. We have always wanted to visit Oregon. Maybe we can visit the places mentioned and others. Thank you for post and chance to win.
I hope you can, Mary! There are lots of other interesting places besides those mentioned.
I love historical fiction and appreciate all the research that goes into it. Thank you for sharing some of that research.
Thanks, Susan!
Hi Susan, I’m sorry I didn’t make it over here yesterday. Welcome to P&P. I have such a fascination for people who traveled the Oregon Trail and the others. They had to be very tough and very determined. I can’t imagine what they endured. Lots of trials for sure.
Congratulations on your series! It looks wonderful. Lady in the Making has a beautiful cover.
Linda, thanks for the welcome. I think we have it pretty soft nowadays, and I have great respect for the pioneers.
I love hearing about the actual research that goes into your stories, for us!
I’ve read all 3 in the series and loved every one of them! Loved the characters. I hated to the series end. I’m looking to more stories.
Should read: “see” the series end. And “forward”
Thanks, Lori! Glad you enjoyed it.