Ranch News

By David Sakrison

(This article was published in the Ripon Commonwealth Press newspaper, on 14 August 2002.)

Ripon/Green Lake, Wisconsin—A local family took a step back in history recently when they joined an 1840’s-style emigrant wagon train bound from Janesville to Galena, Illinois. Tom and Mary Avery and their sons Dylan, 17, and Ryan, 15, took part in the annual "History on the Move Wagon Train." For seven days in June, they traveled the back roads of Southwestern Wisconsin, on foot, on horseback, and by horse-drawn covered wagon.

"It gave us some small appreciation of what families went through on the wagon trails to Oregon and California," said Mary Avery. Between 1840 and 1870, she explained, nearly a quarter of a million people crossed the American continent to reach the Oregon and California Territories. It was one of the largest and most important human migrations in modern history. The 2,400-mile trip from Missouri to the Far West took eight to ten months of travel at 12 to 18 miles per day.

In preparing for their modern-day wagon journey, the Averys bought a 100-year-old farm wagon and fitted it with a canvas top like the ones used on the Oregon Trail. Billy and Dick, the Averys’ Belgian draft horses, pulled the wagon, while family members took turns driving the wagon and riding two saddle horses. The wagon train included 4 covered wagons, 3 lighter carriages, and about 15 riders on horseback.

"We had a lot more creature-comforts than the original emigrants," said Dylan Avery. "We had ice water and port-a-potties at each rest stop; campers, camping trailers, tents, and fresh running water at our campsites; and meals prepared in a motor home or from stores along the way. And, of course, we had good roads." During the 100-mile trip from Janesville to Galena, the group averaged about 15 miles a day.

The first History on the Move Wagon Train (HOMWT) was held in 1996 as part of Wisconsin’s sesquicentennial celebration. That wagon train spent two weeks traveling from Prairie du Chien to Green Bay, following the route of the Old Military Road. Organized by members of the De Pere Historical Society, the HOMWT has become an annual event, one of several wagon trains that ply the back roads of Wisconsin and Iowa each summer.

"We don’t recreate a strictly historical wagon train," said Tom Avery, though period-style clothing is strongly encouraged and all participating wagons must have wooden wheels. "Our main goal is to get together to enjoy driving the wagons, riding the horses, and learning from each other. This is a vacation for us—a special kind of camping trip." Mary and the boys heartily agree.

Nevertheless, they say the sense of recreating history is unavoidable. "Even with the modern conveniences we take along, it’s a lot of work," says Ryan. "Just taking care of the horses takes a lot of effort. There weren’t any lazy people going west in the 1840s."

The Averys have participated every year, and hosted the wagon train two years ago, at Cedar Ridge Ranch, their horse farm on Dartford Road, between Ripon and Green Lake. This is the first time they have brought a wagon and team. "We bought the team of Belgians in May," says Tom Avery. "We’re using them for hayrides and wagon rides at the ranch." And, if you’re wondering what it’s like to drive a pair of 2,000-pound draft horses, Tom says he will give you lessons.

The Averys want to host the wagon train again in 2004 as part of Ripon’s Republican Party Sesquicentennial celebration. They’ll be seeking local sponsorship in Ripon and surrounding communities to help defray the costs of bringing the wagon train to the Ripon area. "The costs are low," said Mary, "and it’s a unique piece of living history.

"The great western migration and the tensions over slavery in the new states led directly to the birth of the Republican Party," she added. "The wagon trains are an important symbol of that political movement."

The Averys own ten horses and board another two dozen at Cedar Ridge Ranch. With several miles of wooded riding trails, the Ranch offers riding lessons, riding summer camps, horse training, haryrides, carriage rides (for weddings and other occasions), trail rides, cookouts, and corporate retreats.

If you’d like to see the Belgian Draft Horses in action, or to learn about other opportunities for "horsing around," you can call Cedar Ridge Ranch at (920) 748-8405, or visit them on the Web at www.cedarridgeranch.net.