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
Inscription.
The Applegate Trail. Southern Route to Oregon. In 1846, Jesse Applegate and fourteen others from near Dallas, Oregon, established a trail south from the Williamette Valley and east to Fort Hall. This route offered emigrants an alternative to the perilous “last leg” of the Oregon Trail down the treacherous Columbia River., 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. ,
No Time to Mourn. Hardship was common fare for the Applegate Trail emigrants , privation, illness and death were constant companions. Travelers eager to reach the settlements before winter had little time to mourn - funerals were short with graves often shallow and unmarked. Martha Leland Crowley’s grave near the north bank of this creek is no exception., 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) - 1846
In 1846, Jesse Applegate and fourteen others from near Dallas, Oregon, established a trail south from the Williamette Valley and east to Fort Hall. This route offered emigrants an alternative to the perilous “last leg” of the Oregon Trail down the treacherous Columbia River.
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.
No Time to Mourn
Hardship was common fare for the Applegate Trail emigrants — privation, illness and death were constant companions. Travelers eager to reach the settlements before winter had little time to mourn - funerals were short with graves often shallow and unmarked. Martha Leland Crowley’s grave near the north bank of this creek is no exception.
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
Click or scan to see this page online
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) - 1846
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. 42° 38.16′ N, 123° 22.656′ W. Marker is near Wolf Creek, Oregon, in Josephine County. Marker is on Sunny Valley Loop north of Interstate 5, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wolf Creek OR 97497, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Grave Creek Ranch (here, next to this marker); Applegate Trail - Grave Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Applegate Trail (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Grave Creek" (about 800 feet away); Golden (approx. 3.9 miles away); GOLD! (approx. 4 miles away);
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
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 825 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on February 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Syd Whittle 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?