The Migration, Dawson Springs, Kentucky to Bryant, Colorado

Wilson B. Coats, wife Matilda, and seven children; Absolem Phelps, wife (Mary) Jane, and six children; Whit Etheridge, wife Rebecca, and one child; Eli Coats, wife Laura, and one child. Mr. Davis for some reason decided at the last moment to make trip by immigrant car instead of covered wagon. So 23 was the number of souls that composed the caravan. How many head of livestock or the number of vehicles that composed the caravan I an not positive, but I think there were four covered wagons and a light spring wagon which might have been covered to provide more sleeping quarters.

It was late in the summer of the year, (according to William Phelps, son of Absolem, the starting date was July 4, 1887), that this small group of kinfolks bid a tearful good-by to their sorrowing friends and relatives and departed from their old homeland in the rolling hill country in Hopkins County, Kentucky, and headed for that wondrous land of the far west, soon to become rich farmers. But sadly enough, they soon learned the truth of that old proverb: "all that glitters is not gold".

On their 1,000 mile long trip trip they suffered many hardships, getting stuck in muddy trails, bouts of disease (typhoid fever), poor food availability. Not only was the trip hard, but after arrival in Colorado they had to prepare shelter for the winter. That first winter was a hard one for the new settlers, with its blinding blizzards and intense cold, scanty fuel supplies and inadequate housing. Real tragedy visited them only once, that of the death of Uncle Tap (Absolem Phelps). It was a terrible shock to Aunt Jane and she was ill prepared for such a loss. (From Wilson B. Phelps Story.)

Jane P. Freytag prepared this estimate of the essential items to be included for the journey from Dawson Springs, Kentucky to Bryant, Colorado.

After several years working on our genealogy I became intrigued with the trip in the covered wagon. Having been a camper for long time and knowing something about the country they traveled I thought about what one would want to take on a journey such as this. I started doing research on the Internet and found some books I could order about such a journey and decided to make a list of the things they could or would like to include while trying to remember about what was available and realizing that there wasn't much cargo space. The floor was limited to the size of the wagon usually about 10ft or 12ft by 6ft or rarely, up to 8ft. The side board was about 2 1/2 ft. tall. They alloted about 50 lbs of “stuff” per person and there were usually 5 or more people per wagon. Many times they would take 2 wagons. We are going to assume that our family only took one wagon.

The storage was under the benches along the side and pockets were put in the canvas covering for handy storage etc., kitchen tools, towels and wash cloths, handkerchiefs, etc.

I started with the household items foods, linens and clothes.

Flour 200 lbs. Taking only this amount, maybe it can be used before weevils get in it and it is possible to buy some more.
Lard, sugar, corn meal, dried fruit, 50 lbs each
Molasses 1 barrel – approximately 30 gal.
Bacon or salt pork 1 barrel, approximately 30 gal.
Dry beans 25 lbs.
Salt 20 lbs.
Sour dough starter - at least a 1 gal. crock
Baking soda, baking powder, 2lbs. each
Home canned fruits and vegetables. The amount will depend how good the harvest has been. Usually stored in about 1 qt. glass jars.
Potatoes 200 lbs
Onions 100 lbs
Vinegar 1 gallon
Tea and/or coffee beans, 5 - 10 lbs. each
Rice 10 lbs.
The following kitchen items would be put in the grub box, so that they would be handy for every day use:

Dutch oven or spider, cast iron
Cast iron skillet
Coffee pot, 2 water pails
Butcher knife, small sharp knife
Rolling pin
Matches in waterproof container
Coffee grinder
8 metal cups, 8 metal plates, 8 sets of knives forks and spoons
Clothing items for each adult male:

2 ea of heavy duty overalls or pants
Underwear
Long sleeved flannel shirts, long sleeved cotton shirts
6 pairs of socks, 12 handkerchiefs, rubber boots
1 pair each high top work shoes and low top shoes
Clothing items for each adult female:

3 dresses, 6 pantaloons, 3 chemises
12 handkerchiefs, 2 sunbonnets, 6 pair stockings
1 pair sturdy shoes, 1 pair light shoes
Clothing items for each boy:

4 overalls, 6 long sleeved shirts
6 pr. socks, 6 underwear
1 pr. sturdy high top shoes
Clothing items for each girl:

3 dresses with long sleeves
6 bloomers
6 pr. socks, 1 pr. sturdy shoes.
Other:

One tent, stakes, poles, rope and ground cover
3 feather ticks, 6 pillows, 6 sheets
12 pillow cases, three blankets
Items essential to survival:

Rifle, hatchet, axe, timber saw.
Gunpowder (black-powder) which must be packed and kept dry, bullet mold, powder horn, etc., unless they had one of those new fangled guns that used ready made ammunition. In any event about enough for 100 rounds of ammunition.
Flint and steel for starting fires in case of matches getting wet or lost, or used up.
Wash bowl, 3 kerosene lanterns plus at least a gal. of kerosene
Pins, buttons, needles, thread and scissors
Clean cloth to be used for making bandages or patches for the black powder rifle.
Seeds - corn, bean, peas. They did not eat tomatoes or peppers as they were considered poisonous. Tomatoes were called “love apples”.
Plants - rhubarb, horseradish, rose bushes (very essential??)
1 pail axle grease
1 plow
1 very clean keg for water storage, this will fastened to the out side of the wagon
Hoe, shovel, spade, auger, hammer, whetstone
Heavy Chain and rope
Crate of laying hens and 100 pound of chicken feed
Milk cow newly freshened
If I have forgotten anything they will just have to do without it.

 

These families that left Hopkins Co., KY in 1887 and homesteaded in what is now Phillips Co. Colorado at a site called (Old) Bryant. Wilson B. Coats was my great grandfather, his brother-in-laws were Absalom Phelps and John R. Davis, Whitson Etheridge, son-in-law of Phelps, and Eli Coats, married and the oldest son of Wilson Coats all traveled to eastern Colorado in the late summer of 1887. Both Wilson B Coats and Absalom Phelps fought in the Civil War for the North.

Absalom and Mary Jane never made it to Wyoming. Absalom died in Bryant, Co. Henry and Louella came on to Wyoming with George and Rebecca. George and Rebecca settled in Guernsey,Wy and Henry and Louella settled in Wheatland, WY about 30 miles southwest of Guernsey."

Mary Jane with her two surviving daughters, at that time, Sarah Nora Phelps-West and Rebecca Jan Phelps-Etheridge.  These sisters were on the original wagon train from Dawson Springs to Colorado.  Becky Jane would have already been married to George Whitson Etheridge when they made the trip and my gr-grandmother Nora would have been only 10.  She was the last survivor from that trip and passed in 1962.
 

Mary Jane has a stone in Wheatland, Wyoming - 1844-1981.

---------------------------------------------------------------

1902 "Wilson Davis returned from Dawson Springs, Ky., last week.

May 1902 "C.B. Wilson of Rising, Neb., is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Bryant."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Ivan Etheridge wrote "