George Albert Donner, Jr., The Donner Party

The Donner Party was the worst disaster in wagon train history. Forty-two emigrants and two Indian guides had died. However, the remaining forty-seven travellers survived.

George and Jacob were repairing a wagon when a chisel slipped and gashed George’s hand, wounding him seriously. The storm descended and the Donners and their dependents, about twenty-two people in all, were caught in the Alder Creek Valley, about seven miles north and east of the lake where the rest of the emigrants camped. The Alder Creek camp consisted of three crude shelters made from tents reinforced with branches, quilts, buffalo robes, and whatever else was on hand. The huts were cold, wet, and drafty. "Uncle George’s" hand became infected and he spent the winter bedridden, unable to help his family, until he died in March 1847.

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