Several years ago, actually saw the start of the Oregon Trail in Nebraska. One could faintly see the wagon ruts. Here is a list of some people who died on the trail in 1852. This must have been a very difficult way to travel west. http://www.sfgenealogy.com/californiabound/cb007.htm This information is listed as copy write, but it should be okay to go through the names as it was offered on a free site. Lauraine