The La Grange Wagon Train to the California Gold Rush in 1849

California was not the first gold rush in American history. North Carolina’s 17-pound gold nugget find proceeded the California Sutter’s Mill find by fifty years. However, the massive migration of settlers during the California gold rush increased the non-native American population of California from 800 to 100,000 between mid-1848 and 1850. These settlers were from all over the world and were mainly men. La Grange residents were not immune to these get-rich-quick gold stories. Various newspapers printed exciting stories of discoveries of gold treasures which had young and old alike infatuated with gold fever. John Murchison’s teen age son, Duncan Alexander Murchison, pleaded with his father to allow him to join one of the parties bound for the gold fields of California. Unwilling to let his young son, Duncan, head to California alone, John made the decision to form a wagon train with military organization and rules. This group would leave from La Grange for the California gold area on May 1st of 1849.

The proposed items needed to join the wagon train were published in The Texas Democrat on March 31, 1849 (published notice below):

ANOTHER CALIFORNIA COMPANY

Another company is in process of organization at La Grange for California. They will take the overland route through Texas. The company will consist of about hundred persons, and will positively leave La Grange on the first day of May. They will have military organization. Each squad of five men will be required to have a good two-horse wagon drawn by four mules or horses, with at least two extra mules, with the following outfit: two sheets of sheet iron, 30 inches wide and 6 feet long if practicable; half dozen long-handled shovels; half dozen spades; two spike mattocks; one weeding hoe; one chopping axe; one hatchet; one hands craw; one drawing-knife; augers; one frow; one iron wedge; extra horse shoes and nails; shoeing tools; 500 lbs. rice; the means of carrying at least 10 gallons water; medicine; clothing, in all making about 1,600 pounds. Each man must also be provided with a good gun, and at least one pistol and bowie or butcher knife. Every five persons must likewise have 10 lbs. powder and 40 lbs. lead. One hundred is the number to which the company is limited. Companies of five persons may report to Captain John Murchison at La Grange, where they will be registered for the expedition.

Approximately 50 men are documented with the wagon train that left La Grange on May 1st of 1849 for the California Gold Rush. A journal of this expedition was kept by the three leaders. Captain John Murchison documented this wagon train from May 1 to the day of his death at the end of July. There seems to be two versions of Captain John Murchison’s death. The Democratic Telegraph & Texas Register reported the death caused by an accidental discharge of John’s own gun as he traversed under a swinging limb. The other version is found in the family story of August Naumann written by H. Jack Naumann in early 1980s. The Naumann version writes of foul play by someone who does not agree with Murchison’s leadership of the wagon train and contends this person leads to or causes Murchison’s death. A trial was held by the group and found this person guilty and left behind as the wagon train proceeded. No details were found in this document of who the proposed killer was nor the eventual fate of this person left behind. Either of these versions of Murchison’s death meant someone else would need to take the lead of this wagon train to California. It should be noted that the first 28 days of Murchison’s journal (May 1-28) as well as July 5th to the 31st. are missing.

The second leader of the La Grange Wagon train was Samuel Pierce Birt and his command of the La Grange Wagon Train and journal started two months into the journey on the first of August of 1849. He was well educated and documents this journey with interesting details. Only four or so weeks into his command, Birt and five other men (Boone, Grover, Schmidt, Schulmeyer and Vogst/Vogt) decide to leave the wagon train. On the 3rd of September 1849, Birt and his group struck out on their own. Their belief was that they could make better time getting to California as a small group. Ironically, this group arrived a full ten days after the La Grange Wagon Train group.

The third and final leader, John B. Cameron, took command on September 4, 1849, and led the group to California, arriving on November 1 of 1849. He was a fair and competent leader but was not as well educated in writing skills. Cameron went on to stay in California and thrived as a merchant for the gold seekers.

Of the 64 names listed on the original documents only ten men completed the trip as part of the original La Grange wagon train. Others from this wagon train may have made it to California but I could not verify this. Of the 64 names – Five men were discharged for disorderly conduct, two died on the trip, twenty-five left the group, and twelve had no additional information of their fate.

Here are the nine men who complete the journey under Cameron’s command.

F. Ablin – only evidence found was Fayette County Texas Tax Rolls in 1848

Joseph Brendle (1910-1890) – Brendle was from of the Biegel settlement. Brendel & Helble returned together to Biegel. He is my great grand-uncle.

C. Frederick – No details found

John Chistodemus Helble (1820-1900) – Immigrated to Texas in 1844. As noted above Helble and Brendle returned to Biegel together. He is my 2nd great grandfather.

P. Johnson – Found a P. Johnson with John Cameron in California. No further details found.

Jacob Laferre Sr (1823-1901) – Completed trip and also returned to La Grange. Additional information can be found in article written Footprints of Fayette County article by Carolyn Heinsohn and his obituary found at http://www.fayettecountyhistory.org/obituaries_l. htm

J. Lawhon – Found a Lawhon shown in muster roll of 1861 in Early History of Fayette County book by Weyand & Wade

Duncan Murchison (1832-1883) Son of John Murchison, completed journey

August Naumann (1821-1889) – Refer to article written by H. Jack Naumann

Each of these men who completed this journey were brave, team spirited, and able to overcome unexpected obstacles. Family stories tell us August Naumann thought ahead and left money with a honest shop keeper for a nest egg at his return. Brendle and Helble are my ancestors and did well enough on this California trip to return to the Biegel Settlement, start families and prosper. Laferre was reported to have been more successful in his gold rush endeavor. He was cautious and did not boast of his success. Instead, records show Laferre was a money lender for those needing help. It seems he was good at living within his means but keeping the amount of his means a secret. The Gold Rush taught many lessons to those who participated. I believe my ancestors, Laferre and many others who found success in the gold fields of California, passed on their lessons learned as well as their good fortunes and generosity.

Bibliography

“The Journal of the LaGrange Company Journey from Texas to California in 1849”, The Quarterly of the Tuolumne County Historical Society. Inc., [Oct 1966 to Mar 1968] Naumann, H. Jack. August

Naumann, H. Jack. August Naumann Family History, 1980. [FAM NAUMANN 1985.34.1 in the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives]

The Letters of Robert Hunter 1849-1851, Barnum and White, Inc.

The Texas Democrat, March 31, 1849, p.2,c. 3.