April 14, 1846 On this day in 1846, the Donner and Reed families loaded their belongings in their wagons and left their homes in Springfield, Illinois. Their first destination was Independence, Missouri, the beginning of the California-Oregon Overland Trail. While in Independence, they purchased any last supplies needed for their expected 6 month journey to California. According to a departure notice published on April 23rd in the Sangamo Journal, the local Springfield newspaper, the group consisted of 15 men, 8 women, and 16 children. They had 9 wagons, far more wagons than other families heading overland. The article also mentions, “They were in good spirits, and we trust they will safely reach their anticipated home.” When the group left Independence on May 12th, two thousand miles were ahead until their expected destination of Sutter’s Fort. They joined a large wagon train captained by Col. William H. Russell consisting of dozens of wagons and families as part of a large migrat...