Editing Oregon Trail (section)

===Early emigrants===
On May 1, 1839, a group of eighteen men from [[Peoria, Illinois]], set out with the intention of colonizing the Oregon country on behalf of the United States of America and driving out the HBC operating there. The men of the [[Peoria Party]] were among the first pioneers to traverse most of the Oregon Trail. They were initially led by [[Thomas J. Farnham]] and called themselves the [[Oregon Dragoons]]. They carried a large flag emblazoned with their motto "''Oregon Or The Grave''". Although the group split up near [[Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site|Bent's Fort]] on the [[South Platte]] and Farnham was deposed as leader, nine of their members eventually did reach Oregon.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.oregonpioneers.com/1839.htm |title = Oregon Emigrants 1839 |publisher = Oregonpioneers.com |access-date = May 20, 2012 }}</ref>

In September 1840, [[Robert Newell (politician)|Robert Newell]], [[Joseph L. Meek]], and their families reached Fort Walla Walla with three wagons that they had driven from Fort Hall. Their wagons were the first to reach the Columbia River over land, and they opened the final leg of the Oregon Trail to wagon traffic.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.historylink.org/File/5235 |title = Robert Newell and Joseph Meek reach Fort Walla Walla |last = Oldham |first = Kit |date = 2003 |website = www.historylink.org |access-date = October 12, 2017 }}</ref>

In 1841, the [[Bartleson-Bidwell Party]] was the first emigrant group credited with using the Oregon Trail to emigrate west. The group set out for California, but about half the party left the original group at [[Soda Springs, Idaho|Soda Springs]], Idaho, and proceeded to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, leaving their wagons at Fort Hall.

On May 16, 1842, the second organized wagon train set out from Elm Grove, Missouri, with more than 100 pioneers.<ref>Members of the party later disagreed over the size of the party, one stating 160 adults and children were in the party, while another counted 105.</ref> The party was led by [[Elijah White]]. The group broke up after passing Fort Hall with most of the single men hurrying ahead and the families following later.