Klaus and Olga were raised in Germany. They got married there. Then they decided to come to the new world that they had heard so much about. Life in Germany was not very good and they thought they would have a better life in America So in 1844 they got on a ship and headed for America. A couple of months later they were in New York.

They had decided to go to Chicago because they had some friends there. So they headed west and a few months later arrived in their home in Chicago.

Klaus was a teacher and he was hoping to teach in the new world. One day he went to the Chicago school board

and asked for a job teaching. The School board said they don’t hire foreigners to teach their children. Klaus was very sad. As he was leaving the office one of the men came up to him and said he was very sorry about the way the school board treated Klaus. He said his name was Jim. Jim told him the best thing to do is to go to one of the new

territories out west or maybe Texas. There are new towns starting up all over and there is a real shortage of

teachers. Jim said If I were you I would head for the Oregon territory. I have been told it is very beautiful and the

climate is mild and they can grow almost anything. Klaus thanked him for the advice and went home to talk to Olga. They decided they would take Jim’s advice and head for Oregon. Klaus went around the next couple of days asking for and receiving all kinds of advice. He was able to buy a wagon and 2 work horses and 2 riding horses.

As soon as the snows melted in March they loaded their wagon and headed for Independence to join up with a

wagon train going west. It is about 300 miles from Chicago to Independence and they knew there were several

small rivers to cross as well as crossing the Mississippi. They had great faith in God and they figured if all went well they would make Independence in about a month

They had loaded up there wagon with supplies and they knew they could buy food from the farmers on their

way to Independence so they were not worried. Klaus did not like guns but he was very good with knives and he