Sutter, Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, Mrs. Jessie
Benton Fremont, Honorable Allen Francis, and C.F. McGlashan, author of
the "History of the Donner Party."
My fondest affection must ever cling to the dear, quaint old pioneer
men and women, whose hand-clasps were warmth and cheer, and whose
givings were like milk and honey to my desolate childhood. For each and
all of them I have full measure of gratitude, often pressed down, and
now overflowing to their sons and daughters, for, with keenest
appreciation I learned that, on June 10, 1910, the order of Native Sons
of the Golden West laid the corner stone of "Donner Monument," on the
old emigrant trail near the beautiful lake which bears the party's
name. There the Native Sons of the Golden West, aided by the Native
Daughters of the Golden West, propose to erect a memorial to all
overland California pioneers.
In a letter to me from Dr. C.W. Chapman, chairman of that monument
committee, is the following forceful paragraph:
"The Donner Party has been selected by us as the most typical and as
the most varied and comprehensive in its experiences of all the
trains that made these wonderful journeys of thousands of miles, so
unique in their daring, so brave, so worthy of the admiration of
man."
ELIZA P. DONNER HOUGHTON.
Los Angeles, California,
_September, 1911_.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THE PACIFIC COAST IN 1845--SPEECHES OF SENATOR BENTON AND REPORT OF
CAPT.
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