In May of 1852, after gathering up the requisite supplies together, James Marshall and his wife Ruth Morgan loaded up the prairie schooners and hitched up the oxen. Then they began the journey of their life. Heading west with them was Ruth Morgans' brother's Rawley and his family, Peter and James and their uncle Jonathan Morgan. Rawley's wife died just before leaving for Oregon Along the Platte River in Nebraska, tragedy Struck the family. Rawley and one of his sons with wife and child died of cholera. When the train reached Round Valley on the Umatilla River, James was splitting wood and cut his hand. James past away October 4, 1852, from blood poisoning. Ruth wrapped him up in their feather bed and buried him somewhere near Pendelton Oregon.