James F. Reed
Encyclopedia
James Frazier Reed was a businessman, soldier and, most notably, an organizing member of the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party
emigration to California
.
in Ireland
of noble Polish stock. After the death of his father Reed emigrated with his mother to the United States. Once there his mother sent him to live with a family member in Virginia
where he worked as a clerk in the family store. In about 1825 Reed moved to Illinois where he took an interest in mining. While living in Illinois Reed ran several businesses and took part in the Black Hawk War
of 1832, serving with Abraham Lincoln
. He married Margret Keyes Backenstoe, a widow with a baby daughter, in 1835. The couple had four more children in Springfield: Martha Jane (called Patty), James F. Reed, Jr., Thomas Keyes, and Gershom Francis, who died as an infant. Reed never formally adopted Margret Reed's eldest daughter, Virginia Elizabeth Backenstoe, but she went by the name Virginia Reed.
and organized a small group which left the Springfield area in the spring of 1846. The other members were George Donner
and his brother Jacob, along with their families and hired hands. Each head of household had three wagons. In addition to two supply wagons, Reed had a particularly comfortable one made for his family to ride in, which has since become legendary. The Reeds and Donners left Springfield on April 14, 1846, and on May 19 joined a large wagon train led by William H. Russell.
While camped in Wyoming
the Reeds, Donners, and several other families decided to take a new route, Hastings Cutoff
, and elected George Donner captain, creating the Donner Party
. They separated from the other emigrants on July 20. While crossing the desert west of the Great Salt Lake
Reed was forced to abandon two of his wagons after losing nearly all his oxen. The Donner Party re-joined the California Trail
near Elko, Nevada
, on September 26, having taken three weeks longer than the traditional route.
On October 6, while traveling along the Humboldt River
, Reed became embroiled in a quarrel between two teamsters and in the ensuing fight stabbed John Snyder to death. The other emigrants decided to banish Reed; initially he refused to accept their decision, but finally agreed to go ahead to Sutter's Fort
in the Sacramento Valley
for supplies. After a difficult journey, during which he nearly starved, Reed reached the fort on October 28. After two days' rest, he attempted to take provisions back to the wagon train, but deep snow blocked the way. The early onset of winter had trapped the Donner Party in the Sierra Nevada. They contrived shelter, hoping to resume their journey, but were forced to spend the winter in the mountains. They were already low on supplies and had to slaughter their oxen for food. As the winter wore on, many of the emigrants starved to death; some resorted to cannibalism.
In the meanwhile, Reed, now stuck in California, tried to organize another relief expedition but turmoil from the Mexican-American War not only disrupted his efforts but forced him to take up arms. On January 2, 1847, Reed participated in the Battle of Santa Clara
. While in the area, Reed took steps to secure land for himself in Santa Clara
, where he would eventually bring his family.
In early February 1847 the citizens and naval officers of San Francisco funded a rescue party. Its leader was Selim E. Woodworth
, a naval officer, with Reed as his second-in-command. Reed rounded up men and supplies in the Sonoma
and Napa valleys north of San Francisco Bay
, then headed up into the mountains. Reed met his wife Margret, his stepdaughter Virginia, and son James Jr. coming out of the mountains. After an emotional reunion Reed and his men continued on to the camp where his remaining children, Patty and Thomas, were still stranded. Reed brought a party of emigrants from the camps, but a severe blizzard trapped them at the top of Donner Pass
for two days, during which the party ran out of food. When the storm ceased, most of the refugees were too weak to continue. Reed departed with his children, but was forced to leave the others behind; a few days later, however, another rescue party arrived and brought them out.
where he began an active community life. He was a real estate developer and also speculated in various mining enterprises. During the Gold Rush
, Reed headed to Placerville where he earned wealth mining for gold. Reed was a leading proponent of a plan to make San Jose the capital of California, going so far as to donate four city blocks to the cause. Reed died in San Jose on July 24, 1874, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. Several streets in modern downtown San Jose still bear the names of his family members, including Reed, Margaret, Virginia, Keyes, and Patterson streets.
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
emigration to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Early life
Reed was born in County ArmaghCounty Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
of noble Polish stock. After the death of his father Reed emigrated with his mother to the United States. Once there his mother sent him to live with a family member in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
where he worked as a clerk in the family store. In about 1825 Reed moved to Illinois where he took an interest in mining. While living in Illinois Reed ran several businesses and took part in the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
of 1832, serving with Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. He married Margret Keyes Backenstoe, a widow with a baby daughter, in 1835. The couple had four more children in Springfield: Martha Jane (called Patty), James F. Reed, Jr., Thomas Keyes, and Gershom Francis, who died as an infant. Reed never formally adopted Margret Reed's eldest daughter, Virginia Elizabeth Backenstoe, but she went by the name Virginia Reed.
The Donner Party
In 1845 Reed decided to head west to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and organized a small group which left the Springfield area in the spring of 1846. The other members were George Donner
George Donner
George Donner was the leader of the Donner Party, a group of California-bound American settlers who became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846–1847. Nearly half of the party starved to death, and some of the emigrants resorted to cannibalism.-Biography:He was born around 1784 near...
and his brother Jacob, along with their families and hired hands. Each head of household had three wagons. In addition to two supply wagons, Reed had a particularly comfortable one made for his family to ride in, which has since become legendary. The Reeds and Donners left Springfield on April 14, 1846, and on May 19 joined a large wagon train led by William H. Russell.
While camped in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
the Reeds, Donners, and several other families decided to take a new route, Hastings Cutoff
Hastings Cutoff
The Hastings Cutoff was an alternate route for emigrants to travel to California, as proposed by Lansford Hastings.In 1845, Hastings published a guide entitled The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California...
, and elected George Donner captain, creating the Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
. They separated from the other emigrants on July 20. While crossing the desert west of the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
Reed was forced to abandon two of his wagons after losing nearly all his oxen. The Donner Party re-joined the California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
near Elko, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, on September 26, having taken three weeks longer than the traditional route.
On October 6, while traveling along the Humboldt River
Humboldt River
The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...
, Reed became embroiled in a quarrel between two teamsters and in the ensuing fight stabbed John Snyder to death. The other emigrants decided to banish Reed; initially he refused to accept their decision, but finally agreed to go ahead to Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
in the Sacramento Valley
Sacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
for supplies. After a difficult journey, during which he nearly starved, Reed reached the fort on October 28. After two days' rest, he attempted to take provisions back to the wagon train, but deep snow blocked the way. The early onset of winter had trapped the Donner Party in the Sierra Nevada. They contrived shelter, hoping to resume their journey, but were forced to spend the winter in the mountains. They were already low on supplies and had to slaughter their oxen for food. As the winter wore on, many of the emigrants starved to death; some resorted to cannibalism.
In the meanwhile, Reed, now stuck in California, tried to organize another relief expedition but turmoil from the Mexican-American War not only disrupted his efforts but forced him to take up arms. On January 2, 1847, Reed participated in the Battle of Santa Clara
Battle of Santa Clara (Mexican–American War)
The Battle of Santa Clara, nicknamed the "Battle of the Mustard Stalks", was a skirmish during the Mexican–American War, fought on January 2, 1847, 2½ miles west of Mission Santa Clara de Asís in California. It was the only engagement of its type in Northern California during the...
. While in the area, Reed took steps to secure land for himself in Santa Clara
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
, where he would eventually bring his family.
In early February 1847 the citizens and naval officers of San Francisco funded a rescue party. Its leader was Selim E. Woodworth
Selim E. Woodworth
Selim E. Woodworth was a commander in the United States Navy, prominent San Francisco businessman, and member of the Woodworth political family.-Early years:...
, a naval officer, with Reed as his second-in-command. Reed rounded up men and supplies in the Sonoma
Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of the California wine industry and often called The Valley of the Moon. Sonoma Valley is home to some of the earliest vineyards and wineries in the state, some of which survived the phylloxera epidemic of the 1870s and the impact of Prohibition...
and Napa valleys north of San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
, then headed up into the mountains. Reed met his wife Margret, his stepdaughter Virginia, and son James Jr. coming out of the mountains. After an emotional reunion Reed and his men continued on to the camp where his remaining children, Patty and Thomas, were still stranded. Reed brought a party of emigrants from the camps, but a severe blizzard trapped them at the top of Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
for two days, during which the party ran out of food. When the storm ceased, most of the refugees were too weak to continue. Reed departed with his children, but was forced to leave the others behind; a few days later, however, another rescue party arrived and brought them out.
Post Donner Party Life
Reunited, the Reed family recuperated in the Napa valley for many weeks. In the summer of 1847 Reed took his family to San JoseSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
where he began an active community life. He was a real estate developer and also speculated in various mining enterprises. During the Gold Rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
, Reed headed to Placerville where he earned wealth mining for gold. Reed was a leading proponent of a plan to make San Jose the capital of California, going so far as to donate four city blocks to the cause. Reed died in San Jose on July 24, 1874, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. Several streets in modern downtown San Jose still bear the names of his family members, including Reed, Margaret, Virginia, Keyes, and Patterson streets.
External links
- http://www.xmission.com/~octa/DonnerParty/Reed.htm
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWreed.htm