Ox-Team Days on the Oregon Trail

In this lively memoir, a seasoned frontiersman recounts his first daring trek across the Oregon Trail in the early 1850s, when he and his young family set out from the Midwest with a team of oxen and a modest covered wagon. He describes the rolling plains, towering mountains, and sudden storms that tested their resolve, while also noting the encounters with wildlife and the native peoples who shared the road. The narrative captures the optimism and grit that defined the pioneer spirit, bringing listeners into the day‑to‑day chores of wagon‑making, river crossings, and campfires under endless skies.

Years later, now an elderly man, he rebuilds his prairie schooner and gathers a fresh ox‑team to retrace the nearly forgotten route from Washington back to the capital. His goal is to spark public interest and place monuments along the trail, preserving its story for future generations. Sketches and period photos accompany his vivid recollections, offering listeners a rare, personal glimpse of pioneer life.