S. B. L. Penrose

“ If these counsels had prevailed, the future of Oregon might have been different, for, although the arrival of so many Americans in the Willamette Valley without wagons would have given a preponderance of Americans, emigration thenceforth would in all probability have practically ceased. The people east of the Rocky Mountains wanted to know whether it was possible to take wagons across the continent to Oregon and few would have ventured on the long and perilous journey if the emigrants of 1843 had followed the advice of Captain Grant. ”

“ The wagon train of 1843 not only insured the establishment of that provisional government which was the dream of the men of Champoeg but it also inspired the subsequent stream of emigration which brought 1500 settlers in 1844, 3000 in 1845, 2500 in 1846, and nearly 5000 in 1847, and which brought about the organization of Oregon Territory. ”

“ Whatever unity the wagon train of 1843 may have preserved as far as The Dalles was lost thenceforward. The people of the Willamette Valley never saw this wagon train.
The relation of Dr. Whitman to the wagon train of 1843 has been much discussed, especially his reasons for going east in the winter before. Naive historians have assumed that a man can have only one objective in making a journey, whereas common experience knows that one may have several objects in view. As I go down the street, I tell a friend whom I meet that I am going to my bank to cash a check ”