James Reed

…Jacob Donner and local businessman James Reed left Springfield on April 14, 1846. With the addition of roughly a dozen teamsters and employees, this initial party numbered some 31 people, and within a month the Donners and Reeds had reached Independence, Missouri. There, on May 12, they became a part…

…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.