Packing for Four Months on the Oregon Trail
I have to admit, packing for any type of trip is one of my least favorite past times. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel. I just dislike the packing process, and don’t even get me started on unpacking. I’ve been known to go for weeks with a half-unpacked suitcase sitting on my bedroom floor.
While researching my newest release, Emily, part of the Prairie Roses Collection V for 2023, I took a look at what the typical family of six (3 adults, 3 children), would need to make the three-to-four-month journey. Here are some of the more interesting things I found:
The number and size of the wagons took was dependent on the number of travelers, but the average family traveled with two large, Conestoga-type wagons, with the canvas covers, and most often pulled by a team of oxen, rather than horses. They would also have two-three supply wagons, depending on whether or not they were taking inventory for an intended business in the west. The supply wagons would be pulled by either oxen, or horses, depending on the weight of the load. And, because there was rarely room to sleep in the wagons, the travelers also need bedrolls, blankets, and—if you were lucky—a few feather pillows.
Food stores took up the largest portion of their allotted supply wagon. While items could be replaced along the way at various settlement or forts, the time to get to those locations varied due to traveling conditions, so you never wanted to run out of a necessity. The basic food stores included:
- 120 lbs of premade biscuits
- 60 pounds coffee beans, ground when needed.
- 4 lbs of tea
- 100 pounds sugar
- 200 lbs lard
- Large barrels of corn meal in which eggs were stored to prevent cracking. Corn meal was also used so they could make cornbread and johnny cakes.
- 3 sacks of rice
- 3 sacks of dried beans
- Dried fruits, mostly peaches and apples. Plums were a rarity, but a treat.
- 75 lb salt stored in a small wooden barrel
- 300 lbs of bacon. This was stored in large barrels of bran to prevent melting in the heat.
Tools/weapons were a necessity on the trail, and included:
- Each man or teenage boy brought with him either a hunting rifle or a shotgun. Sometimes pistols were brought, but usually by wealthier travelers.
- Every adult family member had a hunting knife.
- They bought tools to use once they set up a homestead.
- Shovels to dig the wagon out of ditches.
- Axes and mallets for repairs if the wagon broke. Lumber was collected from trees. Axes were also used to split firewood.
Clothes were minimal. In the hot summer months, the lighter weight the better since propriety still required being covered. Plus, lighter-weight clothing was easier to clean. A typical list of clothing items, included:
- Coats
- Rubber boots, work boots
- Cotton dresses
- Wool pants, Buckskin pants, Duck trousers
- Cotton shirts, Flannel shirts
- Cotton socks, wide-brim hats, sun bonnets
Animals/and supplies were based on the number of wagons. As well, so was number of hired hands necessary to help cross the country. At least one man was needed per wagon, but preferable two. Plus:
- Oxen: Minimum of 4-6, but it would be wise to have more
- Milk cows (at least 2)
- Cattle for both food and to start up ranching
- Mules and pack horses to carry supplies
- Riding horse (2 per wagon)
- Bridle & blinders, tack & harness, mule collar, horse blankets, whips, pack saddle, saddle and saddle bags.
As much as I like to read about the old west, I’m positive I wouldn’t have survived the trip. I probably wouldn’t have survived the packing. However, I still love reading about it.
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Emily (Prairie Roses Collection – Book 26):
Newly graduated teacher Emily Prentiss has been granted an interview for a position in the small town of Barkerville, Oregon. In order to reach her destination, she takes on the job of governess for a wealthy family’s four children and agrees to travel with them by wagon train to Oregon City.
Miles Grainger owns the largest apple orchard on the west coast. He’s spent the past month in St. Louis attending to the estate of his late brother and sister-in-law. While he’s anxious to return to Oregon, he’s also overwhelmed by the added responsibility as guardian of his niece and nephew. While he knows everything about trees and fruit, he’s totally clueless about being a parent.
Despite her duties as nanny to her employer’s children, Emily offers to help Miles weather the problems he faces on the trail with two small children. Will their friendship develop into more during their time on the trail? And, once they reach their destination, will she be willing to give up her dream of teaching to become a wife and ready-make mother?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXPML2PV?tag=pettpist-20
One of My Favorite Scenes:
While he waited, Miles changed Peregrine’s nappy, disposing of the stinky part in the nearby pile of horse dung. Bottom wiped, he fashioned the weird shaped flannel cloth around the baby’s rump, and folded in the edges, just as Mable Parker had taught him during his first week in Saint Louis. Drawing a breath, he thumbed open this new-fangled contraption Mable had called a ‘safety pin’ and proceeded to anchor the edges.
“Ouch!”
From her seat on the driver’s bench, Periwinkle giggled.
He drew the pin back, ready to try again, when a soft voice at his side asked, “Do you need some help with that?”
Miles looked up into the huge brown eyes, and timid smile belonging to the famous storyteller, Miss Emily. “Yes, please. I think I have the folding part right, but these pins should be outlawed.”
“They are a wonderful, and time-saving, invention. However, they do take a bit of practice to master. Here,” she said, stepping forward. “Allow me.”
He stepped back, and handed her the tiny weapon, grateful the baby was in a docile mood, rather than his usual flailing arms and legs.
“You’re very adept at that,” he said. “You’ve obviously had your share of practice.”
She gave a small shrug of her narrow shoulders, and admitted, “Not really. This trip is my first as a governess. I do a lot of sewing. Pins are not that different from needles.” After tightening the wrap of the cloth, she slid the pin effortlessly through and locked it in place. “Do you have some soaker pants to go over his nappy?”
“Probably somewhere back in the wagon. We’ve been going pretty much bare legs because of the heat.”
“As long as you’re keeping him out of direct sunlight, I’d say he probably enjoys the light weight.” Once she’d laid the baby back in his basket, she stuck out her hand, and said, “My name is Emily Prentiss.”
“I’m Miles Grainger,” he said. “Thank you for your help.”
“Miles,” she said softly. “It’s nice to finally put a name to a face, rather than just think of you as Periwinkle’s father.”
“Oh, he’s not my father,” Periwinkle said from her perch on the bench. “My papa went to live with the angels. My mama, too.”
Miles waited for the tears to come, and was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Periwinkle… Mister Grainger.”
“It was unexpected,” he explained. “Especially the part where my brother chose me to be their guardian.”
******
A Puzzle: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=10ccff43b421
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Question for your readers: Do you think you’d have survived a trip along the Oregon Trail? And, if so, what would have been the one item you would refuse to leave behind?
I’ll award an autographed copy of my Prairie Roses book from last year, ELLA, to two winners from among those who comment.
NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Nancy was named Canadian writer of the year for 2021 by N.N. Lights’ Book Heaven, and her western historical romance, An Honorable Man for Katarina, won the National
Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) award for sweet romance. She was also named a “bright new voice in sweet/inspirational romance” by Independently Reviewed.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
Website: https://tinyurl.com/3acnynze
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B09FTH655Z?tag=pettpist-20
Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/profile/nancy-fraser
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RomWriterNancy
The one item I would be sure to take would probably be a hunting rifle. That could be used to obtain food & protect from danger along the trail. Extra game could be traded for other needed things, & pelts could be sold or traded. Hopefully hinting would be good along the way & wouldn’t be too scarce!
Ami, I rifle ane maybe even a handgun would have definitely been on my list.
Not sure I would have gone, but I would have needed a book or two.
Rather than read, I think I would have kept a journal.
Since I hate packing I would not of survive the oregon trail. Just the amount of food taken by a family is mind blowing. Thankful for those that were able to make the journey.
I’m not crazy about packing either. And, I’d never be able to get that much in one wagon.
Thank you for this mind blowing information! I think we tend to forget we live in an easier world which makes us think we wouldn’t have survived. But, even with all that there was to pack, facing the elements would have been probably the worse. All I can think of is rattlesnakes, sickness, bad weather, broken wheels, rough rivers to cross, etc. I wouldn’t have forgotten tools to survive, but my main item I would not have forgotten, would have been the family Bible.
Your book sounds wonderful!
Thank you Tracy. Yes, my Bible would have been the one book to make the trip.
UGH since helping both of my daughters move to new houses since last August (oldest just last weekend!) packing is at the bottom of my list – I still need to go help unpack her kitchen things this weekend!!
I would have survived, but wouldn’t have wanted to go. I would have taken my Bible and favorite books.
not sure, book
Not sure I would have survived but if I did the one thing I would leave behind is all the bickering and the one thing I would refuse to leave behind is my Bible.
I believe it would have been difficult if not impossible to survive the problems encountered. Weather, mishaps, health concerns and more. I would have brought sturdy shoes, and a heavy duty hat but mostly a book.
I would have loved to travel the West to see what was out there.
The one item I would take would be paper and a pencil so I could write down my experiences.
I think I would have missed a daily bath in a tub.
I am not adventurous. My trips would have to been by train, although there seemed to be lots of robberies on trains. At least it would have been a sight better than by stagecoach.
The 200 pounds of lard on the list jumped out at me. Because I render our lard when we cut up our pork to freeze, I can’t help visualizing how much work it would take just to get that much lard. Then there would be all that other stuff to prepare and pack. If I survived the packing maybe I could survive the trip. Having the family Bible with me would be a piece of home plus reading material.
I hope I’d survive! I love my creature comforts, so I don’t know if I would have started out to begin with. But if I did, I’d have done my best.
I wouldn’t leave behind my jewelry–or the cat!
I would have been a complaining traveler..not sure others would have liked me along on this trip. I do love a nice bed and bath…I like to travel in luxury. I probably would have insisted taking my sewing box with some needle and thread, I can think of lots of uses for these items.
I would have made the trip only if completely necessary. I would have done my best to get through it. One item I wouldn’t have left behind would have been a medical kit for any accidents and sickness.
Not sure I would have survived. But I would have not left behind my Bible and my journal Have a Blessed Weekend!
welcome. wow looking at the list it is no wonder they took more than one wagon for a family. My Bible is the one thing I could not leave without. Other things can be gotten again or not at all. But staying in my faith is too important for me to leave that behind. Yes I would have loved to be one of those people on the wagon train. I love adventure and I dont mind hard work. thanks for sharing your book with us quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
I don’t know if I would have survived it, but I would like to have tried. Besides all the items you listed, I would have to have a sewing kit (which could also be used for medical purposes).
I would have needed a musical instrument, I guess a small guitar at that time.
I definitely would not have survived. I don’t even like to go camping anymore since being diagnosed with arthritis throughout my spine. I definitely would need my Bible to keep me going.
I do not think I would have made it. I would not wanted to leave behind my Bible and some books. Thank you so much for being here and sharing. God bless you.
I might survive it if I was well prepared. The one item I would not leave behind is something to read. The Bible would be a great choice since you can find new things every time you read it. Thanks for the chance to win a book.
I don’t think I would have made it.
I think I would have done OK. Looking at the packing list above, I think my husband would agree it is pretty close to what I pack for a 2 week vacation. I tend to take anything I might possibly need. In my youth, I think I could have made it. At my age now, I am not so sure I would be able to make the trip.
Thank you so much for giving this list. I was familiar with the supplies they brought and the amount of food staples they packed. What I didn’t realize was the number of wagons a family might take. Wagon trains are usually depicted as one family one wagon units, and there is always room in the wagon for little ones to ride and sleep. You would certainly need a wagon for those supplies and family goods and anything else they might want to bring along.
I would have to find some way to include some books in the wagon. They don’t take up much room, but do add weight. I would also have pencils and enough paper/blank books to keep a journal of the trip. I journal now when we travel and really wish I had started keeping a journal everyday many, many years ago.
We have enjoyed what we have seen of Atlantic Canada. we have seen some of New Brunswick, the Cape Breton section of Nova Scotia (we were up there on 9/11 so much of the lower island was full because of diverted flights), and Prince Edward Island. PEI was our favorite. It was like turning the clock back 20 years or so to a slower, quieter time. Of course it helped going off season. We are still trying to make it to Newfoundland and Labrador as well as the “main island” of Nova Scotia. You live in a beautiful part of your country.
I don’t think that I would have survived. Aside from food and clothes, I’m not sure what I absolutely needed to take.
Wow! What a list. Yes, I would give it a go. I would take several pairs of comfortable shoes, hat, books, writing materials, a small gun & lots of patience…
A great list and I can think of a wife saying, “Honey, could you go to the grocery store? We need a few things. 🙂
I know this would have been a hard journey but if it’s what my husband wanted, I would have tried to be supportive. I would want to take my Bible as you would need it for support and guidance.