ArizonaRealCountry.com 19 July 2019 FIVE YEAR ORDEAL OF THE OATMAN GIRLS Feeling the need to separate from the Mormon church, Royse and Mary Ann Oatman, along with several other families, decided to follow a new religious leader. James C. Brewster and his group of about 50 left Independence, Missouri, in August of 1850 in search of a new place to settle and practice their religion. After many weeks of travel west, dissension in the group became unbearable. A few families, including the Oatmans, decided to break off and follow a southern route west. They were unsure of where they were headed. Their goal was to search until they found a place that felt like it could be their home. At 41, Oatman was a well-traveled man. Raised in New York, he had traveled to Illinois where he met and married Mary Ann. The Oatman’s operated a mercantile in Illinois. It lasted only a few years, partly because of Oatman’s generous nature. He often allowed customers to take his goods, regardless of their ability to pay. The Oatman’s then moved to Pennsylvania, then to Chicago and finally located just outside Fulton, Illinois. They remained there until 1850. Oatman had sustained an injury the previous year and it was giving him trouble. He believed he would do better in a more temperate climate. He gathered his now large family and headed for Independence. Joining the Western Migration Independence was far from the paradise reported. The Oatman’s decided to join the migration west of thousands like them where land and opportunities were available. After breaking off from Brewster and his larger group, the Oatman's found their smaller band getting smaller as it traveled west, with families deciding to settle at villages along the way. Oatman had decided to settle his family along the Colorado River. He had to find an opportunity for his six children and one expected any day. When the Oatman wagon reached Maricopa Wells near present-day Phoenix, the Oatmans were alone. Alone On a Lonely Trail They were alone as they followed the Gila through Apache country. They were alone when they set up camp 80 miles from Fort Yuma and settled in for the night. They were alone when Mrs. Oatman gave birth to their seventh child on the trail. Soon they were joined by welcome visitors, a Dr. Lecount and his Mexican guide Manuel. The Oatmans told Lecount of their desperate situation, virtually nothing left to eat and only a few animals left to take them the 80 miles to the fort for help. Lecount and Manuel left immediately. At dusk the following day, the two men camped 50 miles from the fort. They had ridden 30 miles through the desert heat in one day. When they awoke at daybreak, they discovered they were surrounded by a small band of Indians. Some of the Indians kept their attention while others untied their horses and mules, slipping off with them. When the Indians finally left, the animals had disappeared. Messengers Afoot Dr. Lecount and Manuel were afoot, with 50 miles of the desert yet to cross. Lecount left excess baggage and supplies hidden about camp and a note warning the Oatmans of Apaches in the area. He knew the Oatmans would be arriving at his campsite in a day or two. The Oatmans arrived at Lecount’s abandoned camp the next night. By horrible chance, the note Lecount had left was not noticed by the weary, desperate family. Nor did the Oatmans discover the supplies Lecount had hidden in the area for their benefit. Lorenzo, the oldest Oatman child, later said, “What might have been could our eyes have fallen upon that small piece of paper, though it is now useless to conjecture, cannot but recur to the mind. It might have preserved fond parents, endeared brothers and sisters, to gladden and cheer a now embittered and bereft existence.” Weary and Desperate, They Rest The weary Oatman family stayed at the campfire several days for much-needed rest for themselves and their team. Mary Ann gave birth during this rest. A few nights after arriving, the children lay about the campfire talking about what each would do if they were attacked by Indians. Ironically, as it turned out, 13-year- old Olive said, “Well, there is one thing. I shall not be taken by these miserable brutes. I will fight as long as I can, and if I see that I am about to be taken, I will kill myself. I do not care to die, but it would be worse than death to be taken captive among them.” Oatman had hoped that help from the fort would arrive in the few days they were laying over at Lecount’s last camp. He was unaware that Lecount and Manuel were at the time still afoot in the desert heading for the fort. Oatman knew that if help did not arrive soon, his family would begin to starve. A Fatal Delay The morning of February 18th, 1851, Oatman decided to load the wagon and make another days trek toward the fort. It was the morning that propelled the Oatman family into history. As the family loaded the wagon, a band of Indians, reportedly Yavapai and Tonto Apaches, approached. In 1851, Arizona Territory had a dozen years to wait before it would be established. A trail along the Gila River from the Old Pueblo of Tucson was the route to California and Fort Yuma from Santa Fe. It was a sparse land traveled little, ruled by Mexico from Sante Fe and dominated by various Apache tribes controlled by Mangas Coloradas who in effect controlled the area when and if he desired. It was through this desert region that Royse and Mary Ann Oatman, with seven children ranging in age from infant Royse Jr. to 14-year-old Lorenzo, plodded their wagon through Maricopa Wells and down the trail toward Yuma and disaster early in 1851. The Oatman’s decided to join the migration west of thousands like them where land and opportunities were available. By Jennifer Morrow — Reprinted from The Traveler continued on page 20