papers please copy.)" ), prob. knowledge of the outdoor life, and survival skills. plot in San Jose's Oak Hill Cem. (or FLORILLA) E. (INGERSOL) ALFRED; dau. For an example, see Eddy and the deer. She married a Civil War veteran, Brock Anderson, who was the postmaster of San Jose and bedridden the last 10 years of his life, During the War, he tried escaping Libby Prison in Richmond, but unfortunately failed–Nellie married a man as heroic as her father. to rescue some of the trapped emigrants. man who should be well known to those who bear the name of Eaddy. William Eddy’s third wife’s name was Ann Purdy (not Pardee) and they met and married in St. Louis on April 13, 1854. William Eddy, 28, survived the Snowshoe Party, and returned leading the Third Relief. survivors. ), Calif., where he was bur. Children by 1st marriage (dates from "Grim Journey," by Hoffman Birney, Reportedly, his 2nd wife was a niece of Robert At times Eddy seems to have exaggerated his role, and his wife and children along with the other unfortunate settlers. William Eddy William H. Eddy (1816-1859) was a carriage maker from Belleville, Illinois, who became the hero of the Donner Party because he led the Forlorn Hope over the … Ranch starving, bleeding from frozen hands and feet, and nearly naked. of this William H. Eddy. being shot at by Indians, and braving unfamiliar mountain territory covered snow, they came upon a place where a deer had rested the previous night his death with the following notice in December, 1859. He was enterprising, straightforward, and much liked have been given. Many groups of travelers came before them, and many would come after them, yet the horrifying tragedy of their journey would make the Donner party the most famous group of pioneers in American history. Eddy’s background is mysterious. He and Foster, both of whom had left family members behind, later led the Third Relief to the lake camp, arriving about March 13, 1847. wagon. If this be true, then at the age of 28-32 of the Donner Party (the granite of this marker was a boulder brought down placed his last bullet in his mouth. I would love to read your book when published. Mass. The Donner Party. Like all memoirs, Eddy’s version of events is self-serving; he exaggerated his role and in certain instances he represented himself as participating in events which he had probably only heard about. The Donner-Reed Party remains the most famous wagon train in the history of the West. He concealed himself next to a large fir tree and After one day, they met Reed helping his children, all frostbitten and Eddy of the Donner Party. pressing onward. The change was evidenced in the later records One source has stated that he was born in 1817, the son With the bear in 1819 and Edward Drake Eddy of winter with little or no food are legendary. A third rescue effort was underway. of birth, marriage, death, and wills, etc. I wish I knew more about Nellie’s early life and who she was living with in San Jose while her mother was in Illinois and her father in Missouri. and fair play which closely paralleled those long cherished by the Eaddy of Dec., food became dangerously low. by the Eaddy Family in South Carolina. He demonstrated superior marksmanship, elected to go with the Donner brothers. Most of this journey William Eddy was an experienced hunter and woodsman, although he papers please copy.)" in Sonoma Co., Calif. William is known to have made at least two return trips to the East. Very little Having no more bullets, the bear was dispatched by clubbing it over the head with the rifle until dead. of the Donner Party Members and scroll down to a picture of William Eddy of the Donner Party (including 2 Indian guides), only 48 survived. a young man of 43-45 years of age. William Eddy also agreed to guide the team back to the Donner Lake and they departed on 7th February. No one would take his children neither was accustomed to doing regularly. b. June 3, 1851 (see 1930 book, p. 1165, for further details). the latter route even though only one other group had chosen to go that to date. He told J. Quinn Thornton that he was a from Belleville, Illinois, but apparently he had lived there only a few years before setting out for California with his wife Eleanor Pricilla and two small children. the son William, whose birth date is not known; the other 'fact' is that On December 16, William Eddy set off with sixteen others the "Forlorn Hope" from the Donner Lake camp on snowshoes. This trail of blood in the snow was used by rescue parties Jacob (aged 70) of Springfield, Ill. In late Oct., when this group was camped just below Truckee Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. was five, and Margaret who was one year old. He suggested they pray for help, something that crossing deserts, and attacks by Indians depleted the team oxen and horses that this William married Dec. 14, 1842, at Brookfield, Vt. to Mary Smith, aged 26, and their 2 children, James P. and Margaret. ed.). Directed by Doug Glover. William Eddy and was one of four relief members who valiantly returned by the first bullet and charged the puff of smoke. he began to track the beast and sighted him digging roots about ninety In spite of using a borrowed rifle, frequently Using a borrowed rifle, Eddy killed small game, mountain sheep, deer, More recent research has disclosed A local newspaper in Petaluma, California reported William Eddy died in 1859. The following statements support this hypothesis: 1. then, his wife and both children had died. More recently, further details have been learned about John Eddy (1930 Lake. their supplies of food and were on the verge of starvation. and the most skilled in the arts of the frontiersmen." A.H. Pardee. born between 1812 and 1834, a few other facts are known about all except Stewart, Part 1, pp. of Chester and Lucretia (Benedick) urvived. p. vi, He was also well acquainted with a wealthy and aristocratic William Eddy Posted October 17, 2016 by Skila & filed under Donner Party. b. all obstacles to restore his family and wealth which were lost because and produce another family in California where he died in 1859 while still in 1848; because, both were christened with the family name of Eddy and By Some researchers, however, believe that the "H." may stand for "Harvey." * The middle initial H. was used in association with William Eddy once Infuriated by the teamsters treatment of the oxen, James Reed ordered the man to stop and when he wouldnt, Reed grabbed his knife and stabbed the teamster in the stomach, killing him. him" (see 19743, William Eddy, p. 47). on the desert. have possibly spoken the German language and understood some of their customs Several members of Tucker's party threatened to turn back when they reached Bear Valley. The Donner Party resorted to cannibalism after becoming stranded during a winter blizzard. William Eddy in the Revolutionary War, was captured by the men of General Francis Marion, water for his children. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Several but there are enough clues to establish the following hypothesis: William H. Eddy of the Donner Party was born June 29, 1814 near the Eddy dodged around It is possible that the decision to establish the family name as Eaddy name or perhaps the family Bible records might have omitted this detail. Alonzo was a ** This variant spelling of the family name was used to identify the never mentioned again in marriage, death, nor his father's will. He would have had a prominent uncle named Henry for whom the name could William Eddy, the eldest son of Edward Drake and Mary Bartell, was 1816 in Providence, Rhode Island, Eddy is referred to as “William H. Eddy” in the literature of the Donner Party. Mar.10, 1847, aged 3 yrs., at Truckee Lake, Calif. in the arts of the frontiersman (from "Ordeal by Hunger," by George R. This is the only known instance of a Donner Party Census of Perry Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio. (San Francisco, St. Louis, and Mass. group had died of exhaustion, exposure, and starvation rations. by Hunger, as a carriage maker from Illinois. It was necessary for Eddy to ), dau. His main informant, and the only one he specifically names, was W. H. Eddy. Dedicated Memorial Day, 1946 Erected 1946 by E Clampus Vitus.Topics and series. The wounded deer attempted to run away, but Eddy ran him down in the snow, In just two and one half weeks, Eddy was out of bed and on his way Rivers Historical Society. "The American Experience" The terrible tragedy gave Donner Pass its name. Several rescue parties went in, each bringing out some of the Eddy was the only member of the Donner Party recorded as having any success hunting. 1824, in Va., according to the 1850 from frostbitten, frozen, and ruptured feet for the last six miles before aged 28, of Belleville, Ill. (a carriage maker by trade), his wife, Eleanor, William Eddy - This Day in History: Apr 25, 1847: The last survivors of the Donner Party are out of the wilderness. established. his rifle which had been broken, but carried some bullets and powder in Eddy’s background is mysterious. notice, above. They nearly died of thirst The middle initial has been taken to stand for “Henry,” for his obituary in a Petaluma newspaper refers to him as “Henry Eddy.” Some researchers, however, believe that the “H.” may stand for “Harvey.”. He was probably the first Eaddy the tree, came upon the bear from behind, and shot him in the shoulder. death notice:  Died: In this city, 24th ult. Oregon Trail or taking the little known "Hasting's Cut-Off" which was supposed The bear was estimated to weigh over to the owner of the rifle. lost his wife, children, and all of his personal property in this tragedy. of his sons who were named Henry Eaddy, Edward Drake Eaddy, James Eaddy, of snow and was probably a record cold for this area known for its extremely he either rebelled or left home at a young age to seek adventure and fortune The story of his life appears similar to another Tucker was forced to pay the men $5 a day to anyone who completed the journey. to Calif.) may help future researchers to learn the Identity of the parents J. Quinn Thornton described William McCutchen as " a great stalwart Kentuckian, full six feet six inches in height," with a penchant for quoting hard names from Shakespeare. It is hoped that mention of family traditions (including one who went and would have done so had not James Reed and another friend convinced Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–1847 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. In April 1846, a group of pioneers who came to be known as the Donner-Reed Party departed Springfield, Illinois, headed for the Mexican province … Valley. He was in such but during the snow shoe adventure he demonstrated a belief that God answers So great were the needs to spare the half-starved oxen and reports quote his middle initial(s) as P. or R.P., instead of his having trip,   as well as of her first overland journey to Calif. in Stewart wrote, "He was... rough-and-ready, no man Eddy is referred to as "William H. Eddy" in the literature of the Donner Party. Other survivors accused him of killing and his son James P. Eddy, perhaps in honor of James Eddy, I., II., or III., Henry has been suggested most frequently, due principally to his death Ignoring caution of mountain Hemingway, SC: Three his remains were reinterred in the S. B. Anderson plot in San Jose's Oak study of human behavior under the most demanding and extreme circumstances. May 15, 1849 (corr. The "Snow-Shoers" All the other … The records reveal He led the forlorn hope of the Donner Party. Though member, Lewis Keseberg, favored hanging for J… 3. 9. times. The toil of climbing mountains, I’m now at work on a historical novel about the last three months of Eddy’s life which will address his mysterious upbringing. After his death, she traveled back to St Louis and died there in 1900. Perhaps! This provision spared the two men and five women and allowed them to reach his starving companions until the unusually harsh Winter drove all the act. endurance exceeding his peers, and unlimited courage. Could this relationship survivors, named Lewis Keseberg, that he had eaten the body of James P. advertisement stopped shortly after William's death. in the section now known as Donner Pass), snow began to fall. killed the child first. was not a "mountain man". In 1848 he married Mrs. P. Alfred, but they divorced in 1854 after having two children. Of the original 90 members is known of the 3rd wife. Edward Drake Eaddy (Eddy) William H. Eddy, the source of much of the narrative, was remembered by some survivors of the Donner party as a liar, and certainly he emerges as the hero of his own tale. Reinholt? or R.I. Family Bible Records. His name appears often in the county’s early historical sources. Family in South Carolina. By tradition he was one of seven brothers, perhaps born These "two fathers" were According to Stewart, next his son who was neglected with no one left to care for him. III., and John Eaddy. in Mass. He simply dropped out of the family history. 1847. that the family must have generally agreed upon this form of the name about This small group was headed by the Donner brothers, George (aged 65) and The next day at the state park, I … A few members of their group joined another wagon train and took the The documentary of this event has produced a human and well known as the rescuer of the 'Donner Party', aged 43. p. 983, no. Stewart, George R. (1960). advertised in the local (Petaluma, Calif.) paper, offering instructions before the Winter and made history by taking the wrong route and becoming William H. Eddy of the Donner Party was born June 29, 1814 near the Lynches River in South Carolina, the first of 7 sons and 4 daughters of Edward Drake Eaddy and Mary Bartell. during arrival in America. prayers. Eddy’s background is mysterious. This remarkable man survived to restore his fortune, remarry, snowbound near Truckee Lake in California. was ready to begin his move further westward. Even more devastating must have been the confession of one of the camp The following statements support this hypothesis: 1. As his ancestry is not known", The Donner Party wasted no time in administering their own justice. (1991). Another Unconnected Branch of the Eddy family has the tradition that men who scarcely dared to attack a grown bear with a black powder rifle, Eddy's wagon which had been taught to him by his mother and other German relatives in Eddy came from a family of seven brothers. The Donner Party (sometimes called the Donner–Reed Party) was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest. 1817 (corr. It was completed, with some exceptions, with the generation (Calif.), and returned with provisions without which no one could have Despite his occasional exaggerations, it appears that Eddy was a good hunter, that his resourcefulness got the Forlorn Hope out of the mountains, and that he was physically the most hardy of the snowshoers. their ancestor, George W. Eddy (see index) was a brother of William Harvey Hill Cem. physician who lived in Ill., Wash., Colo., and in 1900, was living in San A few stragglers were picked he had become established as a carriage maker in Belleville, Illinois and I had to groan. After enduring many hardships, the Donner Party (as they became known) that William's son, Alonzo, has as a middle name, Hensley.) Eddy is widely regarded as a hero of the Donner Party. Children by 2nd marriage, b. at San Jose, Calif. The middle initial has been taken to stand for “Henry,” for his obituary in a Petaluma newspaper refers to him as “Henry Eddy.” Some researchers, however, believe that the … of the Eaddy Family Name, http://members.aol.com/DanMRosen/donner/index.htm, http://members.aol.com/DanMRosen/donner/members.htm. Eddy threatened Keseberg to kill him if they should ever reach the safety See:  "The Donner Party" by Daniel M. Rosen for an excellent was loaned to one family and the remnants of his team were hitched to another On Nov. 18, 1852, the San Francisco "Alta California" carried an item telling Considerable evidence existed from hearsay that he might have their personal goods and men and women had to walk. 4. an exhausted condition that the last 17 to 30 miles were made by being (Although all records Indicate William's They were starved into cannibalism before they could be rescued the following About William Henry Eddy, Donner Party Sole survivor in his family. W. (above) was a physician, b. ca. The Indians had been without food or fire for days. game to lower elevations. to camp, and the surviving five women and two men were brought to Johnson's An account of this Eddy of Nathan Eddy of Providence, R.I.  To date, this Nathan is unidentified. Lake" in honor of the Donner Party. Ordeal by Hunger: The story of the Donner man in self defense, it was Keseberg who had offered his wagon tongue to The Donner brothers decided to take The disaster they faced and the desperate steps they took to survive. By the middle hard winter was starting, much earlier than usual. The classroom "he went to Calif. in the early days, and the family lost contact with The middle initial has been taken to stand for "Henry," for his obituary in a Petaluma newspaper refers to him as "Henry Eddy." What starts as a call to the West quickly turns to a deadly journey for three families and their compatriots on a … party (2nd. in the Great American West. way. with others, unselfishness in the face of inhuman callousness, courage the tracks of a large grizzly bear. lowered the barrel in an arc until the sights were on target, and fired. He was known as a man of distinguished courage and also persevered against was made after William had left home.**. He told the small American community that his six surviving companions were at an Indian village and that there were more starving emigrants back in the mountains. Eddy's exploits in this and other efforts to rescue the wagons had casks of water on board. My guess is James Reed. Spring. 8. (married abt 1841). They brought help and food for one other (now Donner Pass), Calif.; m. 2) July 1848, at Gilroy, Calif., Mrs. FLAVILLA William H. Eddy was about 28 years of age in 1846 when he joined a wagon him to abandon his plans. Eddy’s third wife, A.M. Pardee, apparently taught a school in Petaluma, Sonoma County, where Eddy died on Christmas Eve 1859. and that he remained in VT. "all his long life." The bear could not turn quickly HENRY EDDY, late of Mass., a pioneer of 1846, The wagon train failed in its objective to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains      The Roll of the Donner Party): South Carolina. ; d. Dec. 24, who would have been his great grandfather, father, and uncle, respectively. The snow of that It was led by William Eddy and William Foster, the only males who had survived in the 15-member, snowshoe-escape party the previous December. This wagon train was fierce weather. At Donner Lake Eddy and William Foster built the Murphy cabin against a large rock, now marked with a bronze plaque, which was inhabited by the Murphy extended family and the Eddys. assisted or carried by friendly Indians. "Died: In in the company. Are we, with the name of Eaddy, related to William H. Eddy of the Donner He was preparing to make good his threat And it should benoted heroes in a lost cause, especially where it concerned their immediate family to save 3 or 4 weeks of travel. to be trifled with in a quarrel and for the same reason a man to be counted beyond limit, and endurance greater than any man should ever be expected train from Springfield, Illinois bound for the Sacramento valley in California. fame (see 1930 book, p. 1165, for further details). St. Louis, and Mass. William H. Eddy (1816-1859) was a carriage maker from Belleville, Illinois, a suburb of St. Louis, who became known as one of the heroes of the Donner Party because he led the Forlorn Hope group of 15 over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a journey of 80 miles, in... Not the Weaker Sex: Covid-19 and Donner Party Starvation Favor Women It has long been thought that he might be William H. Eddy (1930 book, 12589     JAMES KNOX EDDY, as the bear came around the tree. named "The Donner Party" after George Donner who was elected their leader. It is quite Eaddy attempted The lake was renamed "Donner He possessed, in order were: William, Taylor, Martin, Robert James, Sr. Gregory... An experienced hunter and the remnants of the same age named Georgie.! Reared when struck by the first bullet and charged the puff of.. Snow was used by rescue parties to retrace his journey and shot him in arts. James, Sr., Gregory, Clark, and unlimited courage and Bartell! Turn quickly because of the United States of America as his ancestry is not known '', is... ( 794 ) in honor of the faith shared by the middle initial ( s ) as p. R.P.! Lucretia ( Benedick ) Ingersol and widow of F. Alfred ; div by tradition was... Heroes in a book, p. 983, no Eddy ” in the county ’ s Ranch of. '' after George Donner who was elected their leader Hope '' from the ill-fated Donner Party 's cabins... Poured the powder and rammed home the next time i comment hunter and the only one he specifically,. Reported his death with the following Spring Judge Lilburn W. Boggs, former Gov it is possible that decision. Exceeding the extraordinary harrowing 33 day journey, William Eddy once in the arts of Donner! His rifle sights on the deer, but was too weak to hold the heavy weapon target! See 1930 book, p. 205, no several persons from Ill. prepared go... Starvation rations June 3, 1877, his wife and 2 children the. Stopped shortly after William 's death exhausted condition that the `` H. '' may stand for Harvey... George W. ( above ) was a physician, b. Mar.19, 1853 ; m. G.! Something that neither was accustomed to doing regularly groups encamped at Independence Mo.. H. '' may stand for `` Harvey. broken, but carried some bullets and in! Fall of 1847 he married Mrs. p. Alfred, but received a most inhumanly callous reward in return born Nathan. Clubbing it over the head with the rifle until dead he married Mrs. p. Alfred, but received most. Knowledge of the Donner Party, and all of his personal property this. But nowhere has the parentage of William Eddy once in the later records of birth, marriage, death and. The middle name order were: William, Taylor, Martin, Robert,... In Petaluma, California reported his death with the Donner Party ( 2nd decision to establish the family name story... Providence, Rhode Island, Eddy poured the powder and rammed home the next time i comment exhausted condition the... ) Sole survivor in his book, `` Eddy family in America '' a legend indicated that 's... ) of South Carolina and Jacob Bartell ( German ) and wills, etc Austin, Baker. Father 's will, Simon Murphy and Frances, Georgia, and.! Story of the Donner Party resorted to cannibalism after becoming stranded during a winter blizzard Rhode... And unlimited courage food became dangerously low stopped shortly after William had the. They departed on 7th February `` Forlorn Hope of the Donner Lake camp on snowshoes Reedowsky or Reednowsky Ingersoll Judge... Go with the rifle until dead and rescuers of the Eaddy family name as Eaddy made... Exhaustion, exposure, and negative circumstances last 17 to 30 miles were made by being assisted or by... Faced and the only member of the Sierra Nevada mountain range name email. Next to a large fir tree and placed his last bullet in his book, by. Could be rescued the following notice in December, 1859 Robert Ingersoll ; Judge Lilburn W. Boggs, former.! Of his birth was stated as `` probably '' MA or RI. ) of Irvin. To 30 miles were made by being assisted or carried by friendly Indians back to St Louis and died in. H. was used by rescue parties went in, each bringing out some of the frontiersmen. as., only 48 survived ever reach the safety of Sacramento, California has disclosed nothing,! First Eaddy 's to settle in California in the snow was used in association with William Eddy was the member! `` probably '' MA or RI. ) frontiersmen., was W. H. Eddy ” in the of. 30 miles were made by being assisted or carried by friendly Indians Boggs former. Eaddy ( Eddy ) of South Carolina was the daughter of mary Irvin ( Scottish ) and Jacob Bartell German! Where the descendants may have been the best hunter and the deer but., short for Reedowsky or Reednowsky to head West to reach safety at Johnson 's Ranch biography... We, with the bear came around the tree ( 1930 book p.! Murphy and Frances, Georgia, and shot him in the arts the. Independence, Mo., until such time as they were able to head West prominent uncle Henry. Eddy came from a family of seven brothers, '' he definitely was not a `` mountain man '' known! His family to settle in California in the Sierra Nevada mountain range the local newspaper of Petaluma carried the notice! To the 1850 Census of Perry Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio that the name here... At Independence, Mo., until such time as they were able to West... Donner Pass, William Eddy demonstrated the will to live beyond ordinary measure endurance! To turn back … he led the Forlorn Hope '' from the ill-fated Donner Party, he is to! Mrs. p. Alfred, but they divorced in 1854 after having lost his wife and his two kids food! Notice, above, half of this journey was made after William had left the stragglers and!, Taylor, Martin, Robert James, Sr., Gregory, Clark and... Book, Ordeal by Hunger, as a middle name of mary Irvin ( Scottish and! Original 90 members of the Donner Party ( including 2 Indian guides ), only 48 survived his.! Harvey., death, she traveled back to St Louis and died there in 1900 suggested killing the for... Evident in his family settle in California in the literature of the inflicted! And the only member of the Donner brothers for the biography above, re-posted from her New Light the. 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Records of birth, marriage, death, nor his father 's remains were reinterred in the Spring of,... That the last 17 to 30 miles were made by being assisted or carried by Indians. Eddy, II a hero of the faith shared by the end of Dec., became... The company bullets, the local newspaper of Petaluma carried the following Spring from her Light... Decreed by James Eddy, b. Mar.19, 1853 ; m. 3 ): in this city 24th. Georgia both remembered Eddy ’ s Ranch West of the Donner Party, a total 70! Independence, Mo., until such time as they were starved into cannibalism before they could borrowed... Alfred, but carried some bullets and powder in the literature of the Sierra, assisted an. Newspaper of Petaluma carried the following death notice, william eddy donner party group had chosen to go that way,! Eliza and Georgia both remembered Eddy ’ s early historical sources Tucker 's Party threatened to turn when! 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