Moving to Oregon in 1850

I spent the last month in a very informative online class about Pioneer Women, which was given by our own Anna Kathryn Lanier. One of the subjects pertained to wagon train travel, so when I saw this information I thought it would be fun to share. Anna Kathryn asked everyone what were the important things they would have to pack as momentoes. The answers were varied and maybe not all of them realistic.

What you need and how much it costs:
Remember, your wagon is all you have to carry your equipment and food for 2,000 miles. You have to walk because there is no room in the wagon!
So what do I need to make the trip west?

Must Haves
A strong wagon, fit for the journey - A Wagon can carry 2,000 lbs.
Oxen (4 head, but 6 is better)
Tack and Harness - To attach the oxen to the wagon
Food - See list below for amount and type of food
Clothing (2 sets per person - a set includes 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants and 1 pair of boots)
Tent - a tent will hold 4 people
Pots
Pans
Cups, Plates and Utensils
Matches

Optional Items
Milk Cow
Mule or Riding Horses - If you do not want to walk
Please include Saddle and Saddle Bags, Bridles and Blinders for the horse
Mule or Pack Horse Please include a Pack Saddle
Tools - See below for examples
Nails
Candles
Tubs
Buckets
Rope
Axe
Whetstone
Hand Tools
Shotgun or Rifle with Gunpowder and Shot

DRAFT ANIMALS
ox $35.00 At least 4-6 for each wagon
milk cow $75.00
cattle $20.00 For meat
mule $15.00 Can be ridden or to carry stuff
mule collar $1.25 To attach to the mule
pack horse $25.00
pack saddle $2.50 Needed for Pack Horse
riding horse $75.00
bridle & blinders $3.00 Needed for Riding Horse
saddle & saddle bags $5.00 Needed for Riding Horse
tack & harness $5.00 1 per 6 oxen
horse blanket $2.00
whip $1.00

WAGONS
covered wagon $70.00
There's no evidence that wagons made for the emigrant trade held up any
better than ordinary farm wagons
wagon bows $3.00/set To repair your wagon - 1 set per wagon
cloth cover $1.00/yard 10 Yards per Wagon

CAMP EQUIPMENT
woolen blanket $2.50
tent $15.00 1 Tent will hold 4 people
nails $0.07 per pound
soap $0.15 per pound
sheet iron stove $20.00
coffee mill $1.00 For grinding coffee beans
coffee pot $0.75 For brewing ground coffee
frying pan $1.50
stew kettle $0.50
bread pan $0.25
butcher knife $0.50
tin table settings $5.00 Includes plates, cups, knives, spoons and forks for a family of eight
candles $0.15 per pound
10-gallon wash tub $1.25
whetstone $0.10 for sharpening knives and axes
bucket $0.25
tar bucket $1.00
"tar buckets" for storing axle grease had tight-fitting tops to keep flies out and cost $1.00
axe/shovel/hoe $1.25 These are sold separately
hand tools $2.50 Augurs, Planes, and Saws
$2.50 for one tool
1 set of handkerchiefs $1.08
1 tea set $24.00 Tea Kettle, Cups, Saucers, Creamer and Sugar Bowl
1 flannel shirt $8.00
1 pair of pants $18.00
1 pair of boots $24.00
1 gross matches $1.00 1 Gross = 144 matches
rope $2.50 75' coil of 3/4" hemp rope

WEAPONS
rifle - For hunting or protection $15.00 - Double barreled rifles were sometimes seen on the frontier. Repeating rifles were not widely available until after the Civil War (1865)
shotgun - For hunting or protection $10.00
There were also double barreled shotguns, as well as hybrids fitted with
one rifled barrel and one smooth-bored shotgun barrel powder & shot $5.00 Powder and Shot were sold by the pound
hunting knife $1.00

FOOD
flour $0.02 per pound
corn meal $0.05 per pound
bacon $0.05 per pound
sugar $0.04 per pound
coffee $0.10 per pound
dried fruit $0.06 per pound
salt $0.06 per pound
pepper $0.08 per pound
lard $0.05 per pound
vinegar $0.25 per gallon
baking soda $0.12 per pound
tea $0.60 per pound
rice $0.05 per pound
beans $0.06 per pound

Recommended for each person:
150 lbs. of flour
20 lbs. of corn meal
50 lbs. of bacon
40 lbs. of sugar
10 lbs. of coffee
15 lbs. of dried fruit
5 lbs. of salt
1/2 a pound of baking soda
2 lbs. of tea
5 lbs. of rice
15 lbs. of beans
1 pound box chocolate $40.00
1 pound tin of crackers $8.50