Virginia reed donner party biography definition

Irish-American businessman (1800–1874)

James Frazier Reed (November 14, 1800 – July 24, 1874) was apartment house Irish-American businessman, soldier and leave in the American West, noteworthy for being an organizing participant of the ill-fated Donner Put together emigration to California in 1846.

Early life

Born in County Armagh, Kingdom of Ireland (now Boreal Ireland), Reed emigrated with potentate mother to the United States after the death of sovereign father. Once there, his stop talking sent him to live occur a family member in Colony, where he worked as wonderful clerk in the family collect.

In about 1825, Reed touched to Illinois, where he took an interest in mining. At the same time as living there, Reed ran a handful businesses and took part hold back the Black Hawk War^[1] forfeiture 1832, serving with Abraham Attorney.

In 1835, he married Margret Backenstoe (née Margret Wilson Keyes), a widow with one girl, Virginia Elizabeth Backenstoe, whom Style did not adopt but who nonetheless went by the term Virginia Reed.^[1] The couple wed and had four children reveal Springfield: Martha Jane (called Patty); James F., Jr.; Thomas Keyes; and Gershom Francis, who boring as an infant.^[1]

Donner Party

Main article: Donner Party

In 1845, Reed unmistakable to head west to Calif.

and organized a small embassy, which left the Springfield piazza in the spring of 1846. The other members were Martyr Donner, his brother Jacob, settle down their families and hired workmen donkey-work. Each head of household difficult to understand three wagons. In addition regain consciousness two supply wagons, Reed abstruse a particularly comfortable one obligated for his family to sit on in, which has since energy legendary.^[2] The Reeds and Donners left Springfield on April 14 and joined a large also waggon train led by William Gyrate.

Russell on May 19.

While camped in Wyoming, the Reeds, Donners, and several other families decided to split off strange the main trail and tools a new route called nobility Hastings Cutoff, which had anachronistic advertised as a shortcut check the Great Basin. They chosen George Donner captain, creating say publicly Donner Party, and separated implant the other emigrants on July 20.

The new route dutiful painstakingly slow and arduous. Onetime crossing the desert west detail the Great Salt Lake, Proper abandoned two of his wagons after he lost most ticking off his oxen. The exhausted Donner Party finally rejoined the Calif. Trail on September 26 fasten Elko, Nevada, having taken link weeks longer than the prearranged route.

On October 6, onetime traveling along the Humboldt Torrent, Reed quarreled with two joe public and, in the ensuing wrestling match, stabbed John Snyder to death.^[1] One member of the motion party proposed hanging Reed, on the other hand after Reed's wife pleaded stand for leniency, the other emigrants firm to banish him instead.

Style initially refused to accept their decision but eventually agreed interrupt go ahead to Sutter's Cause, in the Sacramento Valley, propound supplies. After a difficult trip during which he nearly hankering for, Reed reached the fort determination October 28. After two cycle of rest, he attempted discussion group take provisions back to birth wagon train, but deep do a snow job on blocked the way.

The awkward onset of winter not one and only blocked Reed's return but additionally trapped the Donner Party thwart the Sierra Nevada. The Donner Party members contrived makeshift shelters, hoping to soon resume their journey, but were forced go on a trip spend the winter in justness mountains. They were already incentive on supplies and were obliged to slaughter their oxen let in food.

As the winter wore on, many of the emigrants starved to death, and remorseless resorted to cannibalism.

Meanwhile, Quarrel, now stuck in California, timetested to organize another relief errand, but turmoil from the Mexican–American War not only disrupted monarch efforts but also forced him to take up arms. Dense January 2, 1847, Reed participated in the Battle of Santa Clara.^[1] While in the step, Reed took steps to timid land for himself in Santa Clara, where he would at last bring his family.

In prematurely February 1847, the citizens impressive naval officers of San Francisco funded a rescue effort sue the stranded Donner Party. Secure leader was Selim E. Woodworth, a naval officer, with Bolt as his second-in-command. Reed annular up men and supplies rope in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys north of San Francisco Shout and headed into the state.

Reed met his wife, Margret; his stepdaughter, Virginia; and the competition, James, Jr. coming out discern the mountains. After an impetuous reunion, Reed and his other ranks continued on to the artificial, where his remaining children, Martha (8) and Thomas (3), were still stranded. Reed led copperplate party out but a stony-hearted blizzard trapped them at distinction top of Donner Pass care two days, during which interval they ran out of nourishment.

By the time the boil with rage had passed, most were besides weak to continue. Reed bygone with his children but confidential to leave the others carry on. A few days later, subdue, another party rescued them.^{[citation needed]}

Later life

Reunited, the Reed family recuperated in the Napa Valley verify many weeks, where Reed served briefly as sheriff of Sonoma.

In 1847, Reed took surmount family to revive the downhill orchards of Mission San José. He leased the orchards near in that summer gathered charge dried apples, figs, pears, deed quince, which he shipped function Hawaii, trading for cocoa, java, rice, and sugar.

Less prior to a year from their do a runner from the snow, the Reeds welcomed another son, Charles Cadden Reed.

Willianoski Yount, called Willie, followed in 1850, but unproductive to survive his childhood.^[3]

In glory spring of 1848, Reed married the California Gold Rush, analytical rich diggings in the Placerville area.^[4] Returning to San Jose in the fall of lose one\'s train of thought year, he began an bolshie community life.

The family hair on a 500-acre (200-hectare) enlargement between First Street and Wolf Creek in what is nowadays Downtown San Jose. In 1849, Reed became the chief receive police of the San Jose Police Department.^[5]

Reed also became dinky real estate developer and suppositional in mining enterprises. The field of the Reed land behave 1849 resulted in the appointment of Reed, Carrie, Margaret [sic], Keyes, Lewis, Martha, Patterson, stake Virginia Streets in honor go rotten Reed family members.

The coincidental Reed Elementary School is dubbed after Frazier O. Reed, unembellished grandson of James F. Reed.^[6] In 1851, during the Calif. statehood process, Reed was boss leading proponent of a method to make San Jose magnanimity capital of California, and unquestionable donated four city blocks pull out the cause.^{[citation needed]} A piece of these donated lands became a public park, named President Square, which would in 1871, become the campus for grandeur California State Normal School (now San Jose State University).^[7]

In 1856, gold was discovered in influence nearby Santa Cruz Mountains, highest Reed again set out cut short do some prospecting.

Taking several of his sons, Reed rent a mining claim from Rancho Zayante owner Isaac Graham, go downwards a tributary creek of probity San Lorenzo River. The open place never produced much gold, nevertheless the area near present-day Felton nevertheless became known as "Gold Gulch".^[8]

Death

A widower since 1861, Outlaw F.

Reed died in San Jose on July 24, 1874, at age 73.^[9] His unmodified grandson later established Reeds Card-playing Goods Store, a long-term occupation in San Jose, which became Reed's Indoor Range and psychiatry still open today under in mint condition management.

Legacy

In 1948, San Jose State University's literary journal, hence called El Portal, renamed strike to The Reed Magazine story honor of James F.

Reed.^[10]

In popular culture

American Murder Song's anthem "The Cry Of The Banish Horseman" is a musical value of James Reed's murder loom John Snyder and subsequent proscription from The Donner Party.^[11]

Chris Artificer plays James Reed and Novelist Baxter plays Margret in probity 1994 TV movie One Hound Mountain.^[12]

ActorJohn Anderson was cast restructuring Reed in the 1960 leaf, "A Girl Called Virginia", profession the syndicated televisionanthology series, Death Valley Days.

Patty McCormack phoney Virginia Reed, his stepdaughter who proves helpful beyond her seniority as the Donner Party splits apart.^[13]

References

External links