Michael and Ruth Plaster, in 1857, made the 2,000 mile journey over the plains of the Oregon Trail to Brownsville, Linn County, Oregon. They had seven children at the time. Traveling on the Oregon Trail was difficult, and women planning to leave would gather for important social events with friends in the months before to sew quilts together. An article on the Oregon Trail says that "When it came time for a family or a group of families to leave, the farewells were often grandiose and sad...During the journey, women did most of the things they did back home; cooking every meal, taking care of the children, gathering food and fuel for the fire. Women had to do these things in dust, rain, hail, in tents or in the open air." Ruth's parents are listed as William Burress and Eleanor Frakes in the Oregon Biographical Index.
1819
Mar 30
1819 • Spain cedes Florida to the United States by the Adams–Onís Treaty in exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas that it might have from the Louisiana Purchase and $5 million. |
1820
Aug 7
Age: 1y
residenceLittle York, Hardin, Kentucky, USA ⇓ Also living in Little York is a Job Burris. On the same page, a Charles and David Dougherty are also living. 1 Source ⇓ |
1820 • Alexander Ypsilantis is declared leader of Filiki Eteria, a secret organization to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece. |
1836
Jun 23
Age: 17y
marriageMichael Plaster Schuyler County, Illinois, USA ⇓ "Schuyler County Illinois I Do hereby Certify that I Did Join to gether in Marriage Michel Plaster & Ruth Burrass on the 23 day of June 1836". Signature of the justice of the peace is difficult to make out. 4 Sources ⇓ |
1836 • Sam Houston is elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas. |
1838
Mar 22
Age: 18y
birth of childAnn Marie Plaster Lee County, Iowa, USA ⇓ |
1838 • The Boers win a decisive victory over the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River. |
1840
Age: 20y
residenceTownship 66, Lee, Iowa Territory, USA ⇓ Michael and Ruth (Burress) Plaster are living with their oldest daughter Ann Marie Plaster, who is about one or two years old. On the next page is a 20-30 year old Joseph Burris. 1 Source ⇓ |
1840 • The Treaty of Waitangi, granting British sovereignty in New Zealand, is signed. |
1843
Jan 10
Age: 23y
birth of childMargaret J Plaster Gentry County, Missouri, USA ⇓ 1 Source ⇓ |
1843 • The Friend, a Quaker weekly, is first published in London. |
1846
May 16
Age: 27y
birth of childThomas Jefferson Plaster Gentry County, Missouri, USA ⇓ 1 Source ⇓ |
1846 • The Liberty Bell is cracked while being rung for George Washington's birthday. |
1849
Oct 1
Age: 30y
birth of childElizabeth Ellen Plaster Athens, Gentry, Missouri, USA ⇓ 1 Source ⇓ |
1849 • The United States Department of the Interior is established, incorporating the Census Office, General Land Office, Office of Indian Affairs and Patent and Trademark Office. |
1850
Sep 24
Age: 31y
1850 • Bingley Hall, the world's first purpose-built exhibition hall, opens in Birmingham, England. |
1850
Sep 24
Age: 31y
1850 • Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress. |
1852
Sep 10
Age: 33y
birth of childEmily L Plaster Gentry County, Missouri, USA ⇓ 1 Source ⇓ |
1852 • Battle of Caseros or Battle of Monte Caseros, Argentina: The Argentine provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes allied with Brazil and members of Colorado Party of Uruguay, defeated Buenos Aires troops under Juan Manuel de Rosas. |
1856
Feb 28
Age: 36y
birth of childLaura Hanna Plaster Gentry County, Missouri, USA ⇓ 1 Source ⇓ |
1856 • The Theta Chi Fraternity is founded at Norwich University in Vermont. |
1857
Age: 37y
movedOregon ⇓ The Plasters were pioneers on the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Oregon, a journey of 2,000 miles. In the "Oregon Biographical Index", it mentions that Ruth Burress and her husband Michael Plaster traveled to Oregon in 1857 from Gentry, Missouri over the plains. This photo is not of them, but of some travelers from that time period. See gallery for more info on the Oregon Trail: https://johnsonfamily.talldude.net/ruth-burress-124/gallery/oregon-trail/all 2 Sources ⇓ |
1857 • Mountain Meadows massacre in Utah. |
1860
Age: 40y
1860 • The first Japanese embassy to the United States arrive in San Francisco. |
1860
Mar 22
Age: 40y
birth of childGeorge Washington Plaster Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, USA ⇓ 5 Sources ⇓ |
1860 • Christians and Druzes clash in Damascus, Syria. |
1870
Age: 50y
1870 • Anaheim, California is incorporated. |
1878
Apr 3
Age: 59y
deathBrownsville, Linn, Oregon, USA ⇓ A newspaper article published in the Oregon State Journal says that she died "Near Brownsville Apr. 3, 1878, Butter Plaster, wife of Michael Plaster, aged 59 years and 3 days." 2 Sources ⇓ |
1878 • Bulgaria regains its independence from the Ottoman Empire. |