User:Trentonelk

The Wilkes Family came from Independence Missouri the same time as the Cornelius Family. They were known to be on seperate wagon trains,but the two trains traveled together for some time. When the Family arrived at The Dalles they found it would be impossible to stay there for the winter as they were too low on food. They had no raft and didnt think they should risk it in winter. Ill advised... they chose to cross the cascades to reach the Willamette Valley. At the summit of the south flank of Mt Hood,they very near ended up another "Donner Lake Tragedy". They ran into a blizzard and could make no more headway with their wagons and became stranded. They had been there for three days when Dr McLaughlin heard of the party who had started across. The good Dr. sent "Noble Ellis", a sub chief of the Klickitat tribe and two braves to their rescue. Ellis and his men rode ahead to "break the road" and made two or three trips in the worst areas to get the travelers through. They had to leave most of their belongings and lost all their packs and cattle over cliffs on the way over in the snow. They wound their way down the Zig Zag and Sandy rivers having to ford the Sandy up to 17 times up to their armpits. They had one quilt that they all shared around small campfires at night. The Barlows followed that trail and both met up in the settlement of Sandy. The two families arrived in Oregon city about the same time.Christmas day 1845. The next season Samuel K. Barlow cut and made passable "The Barlow Road."

Their first winter was spend about where the city of Milwaukie is now, working for Dr McGloughlin to repay him for saving the family. Payton Wilkes shaved shingles at the shaving horse all day and at night he would keep a fire going untill overcome with want of sleep and lie back on the shavings for a few moments till the chill night air would awake him. He continued this untill the coat moulded off his back.

It is needless to say, around the Wilkes fireside.... criticism of Dr McLoughlin did not prosper.

The Wilkes were given a donation land claim where the town of Banks in Washington County now stands. The area was rich with oak and the Wilkes were tanners.

For a detailed account please read By an Oregon Pioneer Fireside by L.E.Wilkes.