George Donner

…pioneers—named for the expedition’s captain, George Donner—who became stranded en route to California in late 1846. The party was trapped by exceptionally heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada, and, when food ran out, some members of the group reportedly resorted to cannibalism of those already dead. It was the worst…

…group included the families of George and Jacob Donner, brothers from Springfield, Illinois, and of businessman James Reed—at its peak, about 87 pioneers. They began their journey west in April 1846 but were soon caught in the most unforgiving of circumstances.