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Lewis Keseberg is born
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Keseberg Marries
Lewis Keseberg and his wife Philipine wed in Germany. The reception happened near Westphalia. Lewis ended up having children with Philipine, 2 of which died along the journey west. -
The Keseberg's Leave Germany
Looking for a better life, Lewis emigrates from Germany to America. Lewis, as well as many other German immigrants, beleived that America would provide a better life for himself. Lewis emigrates with his wife and 2 children, Ada and her twin, who sadly died aling the way to America. The Kesebergs are beleived to have left around May 21 from Westphalia, Germany. -
One of Keseberg's Children dies
The winter was extremely harsh and food was running very low. Because there was little food left, Lewis' son, ironically also named Lewis, dies along the trail. The 4th of January is when Lewis died and it made Keseberg extremely sad as all of his children at the time had died due to hardship. (Pictured is a memorial made to commemorate the deaths along the trail). -
Lewis Joins the Donner Party
Lewis was devoted towards bettering his and his families lives. When Keseberg heard about the opportunity to move west and possibly get rich, he thought it would be the best way to better his family. In Missouri, Keseberg met up with the Donner Party Wagon trains and decided to join them. Lewis thought heading west would provide him a better life but it really just lead to desperation. -
The Donner Party Leaves Fort Bridger
The Donner party wagon was dangerously behind, if they did not speed up soon then it is possible they would not be able to get to the West Coast that year. When the train arrived at Fort Bridger, they met Langford Hastings. Hastings told the train about a shortcut that would take off up to 300 miles off the Donners trip. The route seemed like a resolution to the Donner party's problem. In the end the route cause the party to add hundreds of miles onto their journey and many days. -
The Party gets Trapped
The Donners we dangerously behind schedule when they finally arrived at the Sierra Nevada Mountians. The mountians were one of the last obsticles the Donners would face before getting to the West Coast if the journey went to plan. When the train went up the pass instead of being able to continue, the Donners were blocked by a wall of snow. The wagon trains had to go back to the base of the mountians in order to set up camp. -
The Donner Party begins cooking human meat.
On December 25, 2 members of the Donner party died, driven by starvation. On the 26th, the members discovered the bodies. By this time the Donners had exhaused all their food and they were faced with the decision of either eating the dead or dieing of starvation. Because they did not want to die, the Donners began eating flesh. -
Keseberg's other Child dies
Around the time others were being rescued by releif parties, Ada Keseberg dies. Keseberg's daughter was only around 4 years old at the time. Philipine reportedly offered a golden watch and money to anyone that would carry her but many refused. Along the trail it became clear that the infant could no longer stand the harsh conditions and died on the trail. (Pictured is the area where Ada was left) -
Keseberg is Rescued
Keseberg was one of the last to be rescued. The 4th relief party found Keseberg and were shocked by the appaling conditions he was in and his ragged apperance. Keseberg was found with jugs of human meat and blood ad well as cooked meat that he would have consumed. The party was shocked and when they had returned, rumors spread about Keseberg, some true and some false. -
Keseberg sues
After being rescued, Lewis discovered that lots of false information about him had spread. Because of this, Keseberg sued the remaining members of the Donner Party for slander. Keseberg won the case and received 1 dollar as his reward. The dollar given to Keseberg was not enough to pay for his court expenses so he ended up losing money by the case. -
Lewis Keseberg dies
