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Early emigrants

On May 1, 1839, a group of eighteen men from Peoria, Illinois, set out with
the intention of colonizing the Oregon country on behalf of the United
States of America and drive out the HBC operating there. The men of the
Peoria Party were among the first pioneers to traverse most of the Oregon
Trail. They were initially led by Thomas J. Farnham and called themselves
the Oregon Dragoons. They carried a large flag emblazoned with their motto
"Oregon Or The Grave". Although the group split up near Bent's Fort on
the South Platte and Farnham was deposed as leader, nine of their members
eventually did reach Oregon.[18]

In September 1840, Robert Newell, Joseph L. Meek, and their families
reached Fort Walla Walla with three wagons that they had driven from Fort
Hall. Their wagons were the first to reach the Columbia River over land,
and they opened the final leg of Oregon Trail to wagon traffic.[19]

In 1841, the Bartleson-Bidwell Party was the first emigrant group
credited with using the Oregon Trail to emigrate west. The group set out
for California, but about half the party left the original group at Soda
Springs, Idaho, and proceeded to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, leaving
their wagons at Fort Hall.

On May 16, 1842, the second organized wagon train set out from Elm Grove,
Missouri, with more than 100 pioneers.[20] The party was led by Elijah
White. The group broke up after passing Fort Hall with most of the single
men hurrying ahead and the families following later.

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