Near Wolf Creek in Josephine County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
The Applegate Trail
Southern Route to Oregon
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
1. The Applegate Trail Marker
Left side of the marker
The first emigrants to trek the new “Southern Road” left with the trailblazers from Fort Hall in early August 1846. With Levi Scott acting as a guide, while Jesse Applegate traveled ahead to mark the route, the hardy emigrants blazed a wagon trail through nearly 500 miles of wilderness arriving in the upper Williamette Valley in November. Emigrant travel continued along the Applegate Trail in later years and contributed greatly to the settlement of southern Oregon and the Williamette Valley.
There were 15 in the family I was with — The Crowleys. Eight of them died before reaching Oregon… The last of the family to die on the trip was Martha Leland Crowley, who died near what used to be called Grave Creek… I was a carpenter and made coffins for the members of our party who died. We had no boards left when Martha died, but I knocked some boxes to pieces and made her a coffin. We buried her by the stream and then corralled the cattle over the grave as the Indians would not find her body and dig it up.
(Unreadable)
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Applegate Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 42° 38.16′ N, 123° 22.656′ W. Marker was near Wolf Creek, Oregon, in Josephine County. It was on Sunny Valley Loop north of Interstate 5, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Wolf Creek OR 97497, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Southern Oregon. It was also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it was in North America, on the Ring of Fire, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Grave Creek Ranch (here, next to this marker); Applegate Trail - Grave Creek (within shouting
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
2. The Applegate Trail Marker
Right side of the marker
Also see . . . Photo Tour of the Applegate Trail. (Submitted on March 3, 2013.)
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
3. The Applegate Trail Marker and Grave Creek Covered Bridge
The marker at a distance next to the fence.
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
4. Applegate Trail Interpretive Center
Located 1.5 miles south of the marker. GPS N42.6381 W123.3773
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
5. Covered Wagon at the Applegate Trail Interpretive Center
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
6. Display at the Interpretive Center
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 30, 2009
7. Directional Sign Approaching the Marker and Covered Bridge
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, November 18, 2024
8. The Applegate Trail Marker
The post on the right is where the marker used to be. As can be seen, it us no longer there.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,173 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on November 19, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on February 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 8. submitted on November 19, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo showing a full view of the marker. • Can you help?
