Many were with the train during a portion of the journey, but from some cause or other became parted from the Donner company before reaching Donner Lake.

Soon after the train left Independence it contained between two and three hundred wagons, and when in motion was two miles in length.

The members of the party proper numbered ninety." This caravan, like many others of the great assemblage westbound at that time, had great extremes in personnel.

Some were out for mere adventure; some were single men looking for a location.

Most of them were fathers of families, among them several persons of considerable means and of good standing in the community which they were leaving.