St. Louis County Library Clark Family Branch, Author Event and Book Signing

On July 4th, 1846 Susan Shelby Magoffin penned an entry while her Santa Fe Trail wagon train was camped at Pawnee Fork. She carved her name in the rock face, while her husband stood watch armed in case of Indian attack. Her enslaved maid Jane was by her side. Susan admitted to trembling all over for fear that they might be attacked.

That was not her only worry that day. The wagon still had to descend a steep slope to cross Ash Creek. Her carriage was smashed to pieces when it flipped over. She was unhurt, but her ever vigilant husband Samuel carried her to rest under a shady tree, and brought her "back to herself," with a whiskey rub to her hands and feet.

See more about the relationship between Jane and Susan in my new book: Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail. (2025, University Press of Kansas)

From: Down the Old Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico.
Photo: Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, Library and Research Center, St. Louis.

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