Tag: Summit Meadow

Baby Morgan’s Grave: A Tragic Pioneer Story at Summit Meadow

Baby Morgan’s grave – A Lost Child on the Oregon Trail

Tucked in the peaceful meadow near Government Camp, Oregon, lies a quiet grave that tells a heartbreaking story. Baby Morgan’s grave is marked by a small bronze plaque mounted on a random boulder named Chimney Rock by immigrants on the Barlow Trail in Summit Meadow. It honors the memory of an infant girl who died during her family’s perilous journey on the Oregon Trail in 1847.

The Morgan Family’s Journey West

Daniel Morgan and Rachel Woodside were among the brave pioneers who crossed the plains in search of a new life in Oregon. Married in 1841 in Cuba, Illinois, the couple traveled west in 1847 with their children: Seth, Thomas, and Anne. They joined what became known as the “Woodsides Train,” a caravan of families heading for the Oregon Territory.

By June, the party reached Independence Rock in Wyoming. There, tragedy struck. Several members fell ill after eating food contaminated by brass cooking vessels. Rachel, just 25 years old and pregnant, died shortly after giving birth to a baby girl.

The Road to Oregon—and More Loss

Relatives stepped in to care for the motherless children, including the newborn. The wagon train pushed on, crossing Idaho and eventually descending into Oregon along the Barlow Trail.

As they neared Mt. Hood in late October, the baby grew weak. According to family history, the infant was injured during a wagon jolt. Jacob Caplinger, a family member, carried her on horseback, hoping to ease her pain. Sadly, she died not long after, on October 24, 1847.

A Burial Beside Chimney Rock

The family buried the baby at Summit Meadow, near a rock described as looking like a “house and chimney.” That landmark later helped descendants locate the gravesite a century later.

In 1957, family members from the Morgan, Caplinger, and Woodside lines placed a plaque on the rock to honor her memory. Since then, they’ve gathered annually at Summit Meadow to remember her and the sacrifices of all Oregon Trail pioneers.

More Stories from Summit Meadow

The Baby Morgan grave isn’t the only historic site at Summit Meadow. The meadow also served as a key rest stop for emigrants crossing the final, treacherous stretch of the Oregon Trail. It offered fresh grass, water, and views of Mt. Hood before travelers descended into the Willamette Valley.

Nearby, the Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery holds other historic markers. One marks the grave of the murdered Perry Vickers, Mt. Hood’s first climbing guide and the builder of the Summit House, the first roadhouse on Mount Hood that offered assistance to the immigrants who were passing through. One belongs to Baby Barclay, while a third, unmarked gravestone stands next to them.

Legacy of a Littlest Pioneer

Today, Baby Morgan’s grave is a quiet but powerful reminder of the hardships faced by early pioneers. It sits just off the historic Barlow Road, drawing visitors who stop to reflect on the fragility of life during westward expansion.

If you’re traveling near Government Camp, take a moment to visit Summit Meadow. It’s a beautiful spot with a deep history—one that speaks softly through the stones and stories left behind.

Sources & Further Reading:

Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery

The Historic Gravesites at Summit Meadow

A Legacy of the Oregon Trail

Near Government Camp, Oregon, within view of Mount Hood, at the Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery, a small white picket fence encloses three pioneer graves. These simple markers remind visitors of the dangers faced by emigrants traveling the Barlow Road, the final and most treacherous stretch of the Oregon Trail. Though many call it a cemetery, it is not an official burial ground. Instead, it holds historic gravesites, marking the final resting places of some of Mount Hood’s earliest travelers.

A Resting Place Along the Barlow Road

In 1846, Samuel Kimbrough Barlow carved out an overland route around the Columbia River Gorge. This trail became known as the Barlow Road, an alternative to the dangerous river route. However, the journey remained treacherous.

As they crossed over the south shoulder of Mount Hood, pioneers used Summit Meadow as a final place to rest and recover while crossing before the final stretch to the Willamette Valley. Unfortunately, some never left. As a result, families buried those who perished in the meadow’s soft ground.

Marked Graves at Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery

Inside the white picket fence, are three stones marking three graves. One belongs to Baby Barclay, while the other marks the grave of Perry Vickers. A third, unmarked gravestone stands next to them. According to local stories, Perry Vickers helped bury the Barclay child, even building a small wooden box for the burial.

Baby Morgan Memorial

Just outside the fenced area, another stone plaque honors Baby Morgan. In October of 1847, an infant known only as Baby Morgan died while traveling the Oregon Trail with her family near Mount Hood. The daughter of Daniel and Rachel Morgan, she was born shortly after her mother died from illness on the trail in Wyoming. As the wagon train neared Oregon, the baby was injured during travel and passed away near what is now Summit Meadow. She was buried beside a distinctive rock said to resemble a house with a chimney, a landmark later used by descendants to locate her grave.

Today, a bronze plaque marks the site, honoring her as one of the Oregon Trail’s youngest pioneers. This grave is significant due to its connection with the early Barlow Trail established just a year before.

Although these are the only visible graves, they represent countless unnamed pioneers who never reached Oregon’s fertile valleys who lie in unmarked graves along the way.

Perry Vickers: A Mount Hood Legend

Among the graves rests Perry A. Vickers (1845–1883), an early settler, mountaineer, and innkeeper. He arrived in Oregon in 1865 and built Summit House, a way station for weary travelers along the Barlow Road. His lodge offered food, supplies, and shelter to those crossing the mountains.

In addition to running the lodge, Vickers became Mount Hood’s first known climbing guide. In 1870, he lit bonfires near Illumination Rock, hoping people in Portland could see them. Because of this, he helped promote Mount Hood as a climbing destination.

Tragically, his life ended in 1883. While serving on a posse, he was shot and killed. To honor his legacy, his final resting place became his beloved home at Summit Meadow, where he had spent much of his life helping others.

Perry Vickers buried in the Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery.

No Entry, No Official Cemetery

Though the white picket fence surrounds these graves, there is no entrance. The lack of a gate or walkway reinforces that this was never a formal cemetery. Instead, it serves as a memorial, preserving the history of a few Barlow Road pioneers.

A Reminder of Oregon’s Pioneer Past

The gravesites at Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery offer a glimpse into Oregon’s pioneer era. More importantly, they remind visitors of the sacrifices, struggles, and stories of those who made the journey west.

Even though the markers are few, their significance remains powerful. Ultimately, they tell the story of hope, hardship, and survival in Oregon’s early days

Summit Meadow Pioneer Cemetery