The Williams Brothers: Missouri to California by Horseback in 1843: A Great-Great Grandson’s Perspective

By: Timothy Lemucchi

In May of 1843, James Williams, John Williams, Isaac Williams, and Squire Williams decided to leave their vast 640-acre home in Cape Girardeu, Missouri, and ride their horses all the way to Captain John Sutter’s Fort on the Sacramento River in California. With excerpts from personal journals of the Williams brothers, we get a personal and first-hand look at the hardships and hazards that the Williams brother endured on this lengthy trip.