Hello- I am new to the list and am researching my ancestors, James R. Coleman and his wife, Frances Murray Coleman, their young daughter Ann and Frances's father, Bernard (Barney) Murray who crossed the Oregon Trail, from their farm in Louisa county, Iowa to the Willamette Valley. The wagon train came by way of Fort Hall on the Snake River. The Colemans outfitted themselves with one wagon and 4 yoke of oxen, necessary supplies and some stock to start their farm in the Willamette Valley. Some of the cattle were appropriated by Indians along the way. They arrived in Oregon in about September 1847 and applied for land claims. James Coleman worked at a mission sawmill in St. Paul the first winter. His donation land claim near Little Muddy Creek, 7 miles north of McMinnville, was adjacent to the land claim of his friend Miles McDonald. He built a log house and it was the family home for 12 years. In 1860, they sold that land claim and bought 320 acres in St. Paul. The Coleman's had 11 children . All of the girls went to St,. Marys Academy in Portland and all the boys went to Willamette University except one son, Frank, who went to Mt. Angel College. The Colemans lived to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 1895. James died in 1911 while chopping wood and Frances died in 1896. Is anyone researching this family? Would love to make contact and share information. Helen in Seattle