first things prepared for the journey was a reading lamp, now in the Oregon Historical Society Museum in Portland. It is a neatly made iron receptacle about five inches long and two high. It has a grooved tongue leading from lard fuel. Its handle has a hole in it so it could be hung on a nail anywhere.
On March 30,1845, the start was made for the Oregon country. The family had seven wagons with thirteen cows and oxen, besides several draft and saddle horses. They were well equipped with provisions, camp comforts and a liberal allowance of money. People came from far and near to bid them farewell. Independence, Missouri, was the general rendezvous for all western immigrants. Here, Barlow bought more cows at five dollars a head and several horses at ten dollars each; one of them sold for $300.00 cash when they reached Oregon, and another was exchanged for a half section of land.
The entire company, recruited from all sections, which left Independence, Missouri, in 1845, was 5,000 strong. A head captain, Presley Welch, and several assistant captains took command of different divisions. Samuel K. Barlow was entrusted with one division which he guided all the way to The Dalles. He was unusually successful in dealing with Indians; his trust in them was fully reciprocated, largely secured by conferences with the head chiefs and by generous gifts of tobacco to each one of the tribe. Thus, his company was not molested in the least.
Incidents along the Great American Desert were of no unusual interest, as weather conditions, ample supplies, friendly Indians, good health of the party, and the great expectations that the Oregon country would bring to all, made the trip, according to William Barlow, S. K. Barlow's eldest son, "one of the most pleasant, cheerful and happy summers in my whole life." Our captain remonstrated with the young men hunters against killing
