ALVAH H. UNTHANK

Description

NINETEEN YEAR OLD ALVAH H. UNTHANK WAS ONE OF A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN WHO LEFT NEWPORT,WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA FOR THE GOLDFIELDS OF CALIFORNIA IN 1850. ON JUNE 23 THE WAGON TRAIN PASSED REGISTER CLIFF SOUTH OF GUERNSEY. THERE, ALVAH INSCRIBED HIS NAME: A. H. UNTHANK. IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JUNE 28 THE PARTY MADE CAMP HERE BY THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER ON ACCOUNT OF THE SUDDEN SICKNESS OF ALVAH. ON JUNE 29 A FAMILY FRIEND, (?) GRAVES, WROTE "LAY BY TODAY TO DOCTOR AND NURSE ALVAH. JUNE 30 ALVAH GETTING WORSE. IT'S QUITE HOPELESS COMPLAINING NONE. JULY 1 ALVAH IS RAPIDLY SINKING. JULY 2 IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ALVAH DIED." CHOLERA HAD TAKEN ITS TOLL. GRAVES WROTE "ALVAH LAY CLAIM BORE HIS SUFFERING PATIENTLY AND UTTERED NOT A MURMER OR GROAN. BID HIS FATHER TO BE OF GOOD CHEER. HIS CHILD HAS PAID THE GREAT DEBT OF NATURE. PROCURED A LARGE NEAT HEADSTONE. SOLOMON WOODY CARVED THE INSCRIPTION." AT NOON TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1850 THE SOLEMN TASK OF BURIAL TOOK PLACE.

RESEARCH, SIGNING AND FUNDING BY THE: OREGON-CALIFORNIA TRAILS ASSOCIATION