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From the diary of Lester Hulins. Details day by day events on the Wagon Train to Oregon.
They left Iowa for St. Louis on April 1847, Hulin as pilot for a company traveling west through Fort Hall, Fort Laramie first, then Ft. Hall. There they chose to take the newly located Scott-Applegate Trail to Oregon. They endured many hardships and attacks by Indians. In his diary on Sept. 29, 1847, he tells of a young woman on the train that was shot by three arrows, while she was cooking by camp fire after dark, two arrows passing through the calf of her leg and one through her arm and wounding her in the side. On Oct. 2nd he mentions that Miss Davis could not ride, she had to be carried on a stretcher. This wagon train arrived in Williamette Valley, Oregon in Nov. 1847, at Corvallis. This was Hannah Ann Davis. At the time she was shot by the arrows, she fell into the camp fire and burned her face.
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Andrea Healey AhealyDS9@aol.com
2. Hannah Ann4 Davis (David Daniel3, Edward2, Unknown1) was born January 12, 1832 in Sweet Home, Oregon, and died September 02, 1904 in Hendrick's Ferry. She married Caswell Hendricks August 04, 1851 in Lane Co., Or, son of Abraham Hendricks and Jane Davis. He was born 1819 in Wayne Co., Indiana, and died July 18, 1893 in Thurston, Lane County,Oregon.
Notes for Hannah Ann DAVIS:
Typed from an old letter from Hanna Ann [Davis] Hendricks to her brother Tom, no date or letter heading but it must hve been written before 1890, the letter following - [FEI]
"Tom, I am agoing to give the names in rotation, Fathers father Edward Davis [on top of name says our grandfather - FEI] Grandfathers brother was name Zecol Davis, grandfathers sister name Hannah Davis, they lived in Wales the last they heard from them, grandmother name Ann Rece married Edward Davis in Wales, our grandfather Davis is all of this. Grandfather Donehoe or Donehue came from Ireland and married Elizabeth Morgan and John Gold was his or hers connection I have forgotten which and J. Gold lived in Indianna in an early day and moved back to some of the older countrys, I supose this John Gold would be something near seventy years old now and I dont know what their childrens names was and dont know that they had any children. They lived in a good house and when I was about five or six years old we sent - [on back of paper - FEI] to a visit to grandmother Donehoes. We all took a walk on the hill where they did live and they lived almost insite of the place half mile I expect, in the timber and I ask Mother if they were rich or what they called their name Goold for, and she lafed at me and said they she did not know if they were rich and said thare name did not make them rich, there might be that thar was an heirs to some fortion, the name is very uncommon is what makes me think that they might be some akind to the railrode king. I will give you a list of the cousins sometime when I get so I can write better, you will have to be patient with this or you will not understand it. Write soon if you please, [signed as what may be] - H.A. Hendricks"
[Also written around edge of this note - FEI] "Excuse this paper fore had no other better and I did not want to put it of any longer, I will write this again sometime if I can, I cant see much. [At top of page - FEI] "You can learn frome thoes scraps if you try hard."
Typed from another old scrap of paper which looks like a part of a page from the old Davis family record book, only about 1/2 page -
FAMILY RECORD
Births Births
Ann Davis was born the year 1833 Ann Davis Januory the 12th day-
Jane Davis 1834. 1832 1833/2 [says 1832 - FEI]
Rebecca Davis 1835
Jane Davis 1832 on July 17th
Martha A. Finn was born April
Rececka Davis 1834, 1st day, Dec. 18- 1885
Messeck Davis 1839 or 37, Feb. 28
Eugene C. Finn was born February 12, [looks like 1844 - FEI]
[These notes copied from old papers that Uncle William D. Davis turned over to his grand niece before his death in 1925 at Beagle, Oregon, her name Pearl (Bass) Martin, graddaughter of Messech Davis. She is in custody of many of these old notes of the Davis family - FEI.
Note the discrepancy in birth dates of Ann and Jane in old family record book. Some of this hand writing written many years ago seem filled in by different hand scribe many years ago, very hard to read. I have considerable data on all of these families. FEI.]
ANOTHER PIONEER PASSED AWAY --- MRS ANN HENDRICKS OF HENDRICKS' FERRY DIED FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND
Mrs. Ann Hendricks, of Hendricks' Ferry, died at her home on September 2, 1904, aged 71 years. The Hendricks' were pioneers and conducted the ferry on the McKenzie River for many years. She crossed the plains in the early forties with her father's family, and was among the pioneers who came to Oregon in the first wagon train by way of the Southern route. They were attacked by the Indians on Pitt River and Mrs. Hendricks was shot with an arrow through her arm in such a way as to pass through both the lower and upper arm pinning it together.
Reaching the Willamette Valley [....ttered] and worn out, they cut a tree just this side of the railroad crossing at McVey Point, dug out a conoe and left their cattle and effects and finished their journey by water to Salem. The tree cut by them was a large fir tree and is said to have been the first tree cut by a white man in Lane County.
Her father's family moved into Benton County and located on a [donation] claim, where she lived up to the time of her marriage. Her maiden name was Davis. She was married to Caswell Hendricks, a pioneer of 1848 [and] resided near Cloverdale for [many] years, afterwards moving to where she lived at the time of her death. She raised a large family of sons and daughters, who survive her.
And thus, another pioneer history-maker has gone to her reward. May she rest in peace.
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The Story of Hannah Ann Davis Hendricks by Edward Erwin Davis
Resource information: "Our Davis Pioneer Ancestors"
Can you listen to one more pioneer story before this Sesquicentennial year of 1993 fades into history? I hope so, because I want to relate the experience of my great grandmother on my father's side.
Hannah Ann Davis, born January 12, 1833, was the second child of David D. and Hannah Donahoe Davis, who had moved from Indiana to Iowa. By the time the family
included eight children, the decision was made to strike out with an emigrant train moving west. The Davis Train (Oskaloosa Company) branched off the Oregon Trail in Idaho and continued the trek on the California Trail through upper Nevada until it turned South. At that juncture the train followed the Applegate Trail into Oregon and the Willamette Valley, where they settled in Benton Countyin the Soap Creek area.
One night on the trail near the end of September of the year 1847 a terrifying event occurred. I'll quote from the publication "Our Davis Pioneer Ancestors" by Edward Erwin Davis and David Ronald Davis.
"Not all were celebrating in camp that night for some were busy with necessary chores and providing for the needs of life. One busy young woman was Hannah Ann Davis who was doing some baking over the campfire. There was darkness all about, but the campfire clearly illuminated her body outline. At some distance, but probably near the wooded edge of the valley, Indians were lurking in the darkness. These savages were not in good spirits that evening, but were out to vent some pent-up emotions. They may have approached, expecting to get some of the emigrants' cattle but couldn't, or maybe they were feeling revenge for the death of one of their brothers killed a week earlier by another party of emigrants.
"The peace and quiet of the night was broken by three arrows shot in the direction of Hannah Ann Davis. One arrow went through the calf of her leg while another went through her arm and into her side. She fell over into the fire and although she was quickly rescued, the fire burned her hair and her clothing and did severe damage to the right side of her face. It was thought at first that she was mortally wounded and would never survive her arrow wounds and burns.
"Several of the men set to the task of first aid and, along the emigrant trail with a victim of both Indian arrows and burns from the fire, that was a formidable challenge. It was imperative that the arrows be removed and, at that place and time, there was nothing to ease the pain. It took the strength of several men to hold Hannah Ann down while another cut the arrow out of her flesh with a knife. One of the men that assisted with this operation told a younger relative some years later the full details and then concluded by saying: "As long as I live, her screams will ring in my ears."
"The following day 5 men laid in the bushes watching for Indians, but to no avail. The company broke camp and moved on to Goose Lake. On October 1st, they traveled about 10 miles around this lake and made a camp near a small cool stream.
"On the 2nd of October, the party moved into some very rocky country which seemed to last for about 24 or 25 miles. The travel was so rough that a stretcher had to be provided for Hannah Ann since she could not stand to ride in the wagon. One of the wagons broke down also and that caused more delay. The travelers continued on for about 4 days more and averaged about 12 miles a day. This area was called "The Devil's Garden." It was the rockiest place many of these folks had ever seen. Finally they got out of it and on October 6th, they camped at Clear Lake. A week had passed since Hannah Ann Davis had her encounter with Indians and she survived and was mending.
"On October 7th, the wagon train moved out early in the morning and traveled northward to the Tule Lake Basin where they crossed over and came to the Sacramento River. The party then followed the river for several miles until they reached a ford at Stone Bridge where they made camp. Then, the following day, they crossed at the ford and made their way over a divide to a large swamp which was part of Lower Klamath Lake and here they camped at Sardine Flat. They continued traveling around Lower Klamath Lake on October 9th and went through a small pass near Laird's Landing, across Willow Creek and on across Cottonwood Creek making their way northward. On October 10th, they continued northward to Indian Tom Lake which was close to the California-Oregon Boundary and then continued into Oregon and made camp at Bear Valley, southwest of Keno.
"Our travelers began the ascent of the Cascade Mountains on October 11th, making their way into the timber. This was not an easy part of the journey, but very slow for about 4 days which they averaged only 10 miles a day. They traveled over hill and dale, following or crossing streams and made their way generally in a westward direction until they came to the present location of Ashland. It was about October 15th when they got there.
"The journey continued in distance and time - from Ashland to Medford to Grants
Pass and on to Roseburg. Probably some of the travelers left the wagon train at any of these points. We know that some made their stop at Eugene which was an attractive settlement. The Davises kept to the trail and went northward until the Town of Marysville (now Corvallis) had been passed, and they reached a settlement a few miles beyond in the northeastern portion of Benton County. There, in the middle of some beautiful farm land, they found their end of the trail.
"Hannah Ann Davis, who had been badly injured by Indian arrows and burns from the fire, survived and made it to this settlement with our family. She lived on for another 58 years of a good life - was married and had 10 children. Our knowledge of Hannah Ann is somewhat limited, but we did pick up some scattered tidbits of information along the way - enough to learn that she was a good woman, and more than that, she was often found helping others in their moments of need. Whenever I think of her the words Helpful Hannah come to my mind."
The arrival of the Davis wagon train was given recognition by the newspaper in
Oregon City, the Territorial Capital of that time. From the Oregon Spectator of November 25, 1847 -
"More immigrants - By the subjoined letter it will be seen that another company of immigrants have arrived in the valley by the southern route - making a surprisingly short trip - having left the states the 22nd of last June. 'The almost impassible Kanyon' is certainly being redeemed."
The subjoined letter is headed, Polk County, Oregon, Nov. 16, 1847, and continues, "Dear Sir: I have the pleasure to announce to you the safe arrival by the southern route of a fourth company of immigrants of 20 or more wagons. This party left St. Joseph on the 22nd June and being in the rearward of so large an immigration fared but badly until they took the S. route. Finding on it an abundance of feed, their teams rapidly recuperated and upon arrival here were in fine condition. From the best information I can get they have made the most saving trip that has ever yet been made from Fort Hall, having lost but four animals on the road (which were stolen by Indians).
More About Hannah Ann Davis:
Burial: Mt. Vernon Cemetery
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• Married: 04 AUG 1851 in Lane Co., OR

1. Filena HENDRICKS b: 19 MAY 1863 in Walterville, Lane Co., OR