The Oregon Trail-
Where did their journey start?

This picture shows emigrants leaving from Independence, Missouri.
Photo courtesy of Oregon Historical Society, OrHi5220

Although there were several starting points along the Missouri River, such as Independence and St. Joseph, Missouri, as well as Kanesville [Council Bluffs], Iowa, the Simmons-Bush party chose St. Joseph, Missouri.  Here they met other families who wanted to try their luck out west.  St. Joseph was a popular “jumping-off place” for settlers to start on the Oregon Trail. 

Before leaving, wagon trains usually elected leaders, who were sometimes given the title “General” or “Captain”.  The leader of the Independent Oregon Colony was “General” Cornelius Gilliam.  Michael T. Simmons was one of several men who were elected second-in-command.  Wagon trains also decided on rules for their group, such as when to get going in the morning, when to stop for the night, how to behave, and how to settle arguments.  The “Captain” of the wagon train could act as a judge; hearing disputes and setting punishments for those who broke the rules.

The Simmons-Bush party had a rough start on their journey.  The spring of 1844 was stormy and wet.  Mud and sudden rains delayed them.  In early June, a little later than anticipated, and very irritable, the party reached the Big Blue River in Nebraska.  Again, they had to cross a river with all their belongings.  The Big Blue was flooding from all the rain, and it took them sixteen days to get everything across.

No wonder everyone was in a terrible mood!  The group began to grumble amongst themselves.  Some people, including Michael T. Simmons, were unhappy with the way General Gilliam was leading the train.  Finally, on July 12, the arguments came to a head and the train split in two.  The Simmons group, however, stayed with Gilliam’s group, although Michael resigned his post as second-in-command.

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