Even if you haven’t heard of Olive Oatman, you might recognize her famous photo. She’s the young woman with a serious look and a unique tattoo on her chin, symbolizing the tough times faced by pioneers during America’s Westward Expansion in the mid-1800s. While many settlers traveled the Oregon Trail or headed to Salt Lake City, others, like the Oatman family, ventured into the southwestern deserts. Their journey ended tragically at a place now known as the Oatman Massacre.
People left the East Coast for the West for many reasons: new opportunities, adventure, or to escape their pasts. For the Oatman family, their journey was inspired by religious beliefs. Roys and Mary Ann Oatman, who had seven children between 1834 and 1849, converted to Mormonism after being inspired by Joseph Smith’s teachings. Smith claimed to have translated golden plates with an angel’s help and urged followers to find the City of Zion, despite facing persecution.
After Smith’s death in 1844, a young boy named James Colin Brewster led a rival group, claiming to have visions of a promised land called Cedonia. The Oatmans joined Brewster’s followers, and on August 5, 1850, they left Missouri with a group of 90 people in 27 wagons.
Traveling across the country in the 19th century was dangerous. One in ten people on the Oregon Trail didn’t survive, and the trail became known as America’s longest graveyard with about 65,000 graves. Disease, accidents, and harsh conditions claimed many lives.
As the Brewsterites traveled through New Mexico, they faced extreme heat and dryness. They passed ominous signs like human remains and abandoned supplies. Despite warnings, Brewster believed their faith would protect them. Eventually, the Oatman family split from the group in Las Vegas and continued alone toward Fort Yuma.
On February 18, 1851, the Oatmans encountered Native Americans, leading to a tragic attack that killed most of the family. Olive and her younger sister, Mary Ann, were taken captive.
Olive and Mary Ann were forced to walk to their captors’ village, where they were made to work hard. Olive later described the harsh conditions and their grief. Their brother, Lorenzo, survived the attack and began searching for his sisters.
Mary Ann’s health worsened, and she died from malnutrition. Olive, however, was treated kindly by the Mohave tribe after being sold to them. She found a sense of belonging and was given land to farm.
Lorenzo never stopped searching for his sisters, and in 1856, he discovered Olive’s location. After a challenging return to her old life, Olive honored the Mohave by sharing stories of their kindness.
In 1865, Olive married John Fairchild and later adopted a daughter. She passed away in 1903, but she never forgot the Mohave, keeping memories of her time with them alive.
Research the reasons behind America’s Westward Expansion in the 1800s. Create a presentation that highlights the motivations, challenges, and impacts of this movement. Include a section on the Oatman family’s journey and how it reflects broader trends of the time. Present your findings to the class, using visuals and storytelling to engage your audience.
Imagine you are Olive Oatman during her time with the Mohave tribe. Write a diary entry that describes a typical day, focusing on your feelings, activities, and interactions with the tribe. Use historical details from the article to make your entry authentic and vivid. Share your diary entry with a partner and discuss the challenges and adaptations Olive might have faced.
Participate in a class debate about the role of religious beliefs in the decisions made by pioneers like the Oatman family. Prepare arguments for and against the influence of religion on their journey and its outcomes. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your points. Engage with your classmates in a respectful and thoughtful discussion.
Create a detailed map tracing the Oatman family’s journey from Missouri to the site of the Oatman Massacre. Include key locations, such as Las Vegas and Fort Yuma, and annotate the map with significant events and challenges they faced. Use historical maps as references to ensure accuracy. Present your map to the class, explaining the significance of each location.
In small groups, role-play a scene depicting Olive Oatman’s return to society after living with the Mohave tribe. Assign roles such as Olive, her brother Lorenzo, and members of the community. Focus on the challenges Olive might have faced in reconciling her past experiences with her new life. After the role-play, discuss as a class how Olive’s story reflects broader themes of identity and belonging.
**Olive Oatman: Life Among the Mohave**
Even those who aren’t familiar with the name “Olive Oatman” are likely familiar with her photo. The young girl with the solemn expression and distinctive chin tattoo has become synonymous with the hardships faced by pioneers during America’s Westward Expansion, a mass migration that helped shape the mid-19th century. While thousands of settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, groups of Mormon pilgrims headed to Salt Lake City, and others ventured into the southwestern deserts for various reasons. This is where the Oatman family was headed when they were waylaid at a site now memorialized as the Oatman Massacre.
Teenage Olive survived the attack that killed most of her family and experienced a life few lived to tell about. She is most famous for her time spent among Native American tribes in the American Southwest, but her story begins much earlier, rooted in visions, prophecy, and religious fervor.
**The Road to the West**
Emigrants who left the relative comfort of the East Coast for the wild landscapes of the West did so for various reasons. Some sought new opportunities, others were in search of adventure, and some wanted to leave behind their pasts. For the Oatman family, their journey into the Western frontier began with the revelations of a prophet. Roys Oatman and his wife, Mary Ann, had seven children between 1834 and 1849. During these years, the Methodist family converted to Mormonism, inspired by the prophecies and texts revealed by Joseph Smith.
Smith claimed to have found golden plates that he translated with the help of an angel. He preached that it was their duty to seek out the City of Zion, facing significant resistance along the way. Believers, including the Oatman family, were often persecuted for their faith. In 1844, Smith announced his intention to run for president, but not all Mormons agreed with him, particularly regarding the controversial practice of polygamy, which led to divisions among his followers.
After Smith’s death in 1844, a rival faction led by a young boy named James Colin Brewster emerged. Brewster, who had gained a following, claimed to have revelations about a promised land called Cedonia. The Oatman family became followers of Brewster, who was only 17 at the time of Smith’s death. On August 5, 1850, the Oatman family left Missouri with a group of about 90 people, consisting of 17 families in 27 wagons.
**The Journey West**
Traveling across the country in the 19th century was fraught with peril. One in ten people who set out on the Oregon Trail did not survive. The trail, active for only 25 years, has the grim distinction of being America’s longest graveyard, with around 65,000 graves along the route. Disease, accidents, and harsh conditions claimed many lives.
As the Brewsterites traveled into the mountains of New Mexico, they faced one of the hottest and driest years on record. The caravan passed ominous landmarks, including human remains and abandoned supplies. Despite warnings from others about the dangers ahead, Brewster insisted their faith would protect them. The Oatman family eventually split from the Brewsterites in Las Vegas, deciding to continue their journey alone toward Fort Yuma.
On February 18, 1851, the Oatman family encountered a group of Native Americans, leading to a tragic confrontation that resulted in the deaths of most family members. Olive and her younger sister, Mary Ann, were taken captive.
**Captivity and Survival**
Olive and Mary Ann were marched to their captors’ village, where they were stripped of their shoes and forced into servitude. Olive later described the harsh conditions and the grief they endured. Lorenzo, their brother, survived the massacre and managed to return to safety, embarking on a quest to find his sisters.
Mary Ann’s health deteriorated during their captivity, and she eventually died from malnutrition. Olive, despite her suffering, was treated with kindness by the Mohave tribe after being sold to them. She found a sense of belonging and was given a plot of land to cultivate.
**Reunion and Legacy**
Years passed, and Lorenzo never gave up searching for his sisters. His determination kept their story alive, and in 1856, he learned of Olive’s whereabouts. After a difficult transition back to her previous life, Olive kept her promise to the Mohave, sharing stories of their kindness.
In 1865, she married John Fairchild and later adopted a daughter. Olive passed away in 1903, but she never entirely turned her back on the Mohave way of life, keeping memories of her time with them alive.
Olive – A small fruit that is commonly associated with peace and has historical significance in ancient cultures. – In ancient Greece, the olive branch was a symbol of peace and victory.
Oatman – Referring to Olive Oatman, a historical figure known for her captivity and survival story in the 1850s. – Olive Oatman’s story of survival and eventual rescue from captivity among the Mohave tribe is a significant part of American frontier history.
Mohave – A Native American tribe historically located in the area now known as the Mojave Desert. – The Mohave tribe played a crucial role in the history of the American Southwest, particularly during the period of westward expansion.
Captivity – The condition of being imprisoned or confined, often used in historical contexts to describe the experiences of individuals taken by opposing groups. – The captivity narratives of early settlers provide insight into the complex relationships between Native Americans and European colonists.
Survival – The act of continuing to live or exist, especially in difficult conditions, often highlighted in historical accounts of exploration and conflict. – The survival of early pioneers during harsh winters was a testament to their resilience and resourcefulness.
Journey – A long and often difficult process of personal or collective travel, frequently used to describe historical migrations and explorations. – The journey of Lewis and Clark across the American continent was a pivotal moment in the exploration of the West.
Westward – Moving toward the west, often used to describe the expansion and settlement of territories in American history. – The westward movement of settlers in the 19th century was driven by the promise of land and opportunity.
Expansion – The process of increasing in size, scope, or influence, commonly used in historical contexts to describe the growth of empires or nations. – The expansion of the Roman Empire brought about significant cultural and political changes across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Pioneer – An individual who is among the first to explore or settle a new area, often celebrated in history for their role in opening new frontiers. – The pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail faced numerous hardships but were instrumental in the westward expansion of the United States.
Religion – A system of beliefs, practices, and values often centered around the worship of a higher power, playing a significant role in shaping societies and cultures throughout history. – The influence of religion during the Middle Ages was evident in the construction of grand cathedrals and the power of the Church.
