The soil was fertile, the climate mild and pleasant, but unfortunately the malarial fevers common to the Mississippi and its tributaries prevailed, and the colonists suffered much from sickness. Mrs. Murphy succumbed to the dread disease, and on June 9, 1841, yielded her pure soul to the hands of her Creator. A model wife, a loving mother, a devoted friend, an ideal Christian woman, pious and charitable in word and deed, of her it may be truly said: None knew her but to love her, None named her but to praise. A Catholic missionary who visited the colony told Mr. Murphy of California, a land of health, where almost endless summer reigned, under whose cloudless skies fertile valleys smiled unfurrowed by the plow, and thither he resolved to direct his course. Disposing of his lands, he procured the outfit required for such a long and dangerous journey, and bearing with him a passport from Governor Reynolds of Missouri, assuring him and his the protection due American citizens, he once more turned his face toward the setting sun. The party of devoted pilgrims started on their westward course May 6, 1844, reaching California in November of the same year. The names of the members of the company are given as follows: Martin Murphy, Sr. Miss Helen Murphy. Bernard Murphy. John Marion Murphy. Daniel Murphy. Martin Murphy, Jr., wife and four children. James Murphy, wife and one child. James Miller, wife and four children. John Sullivan. Miss Mary Sullivan. Michael Sullivan. Robert Sullivan. Dr. Townsend and wife. Moses Shallenberger. Allen N. Montgomery and wife. Joseph Batton. John Luffumbo. Vincent Calvin. John R. Jackson. J. E. Foster. Edward Bray. David Strickien. William Bragg. Vincent Snelling. Daniel Snelling. John Thorp. Fielden M. Thorp. Elvan A. Thorp. David Johnson. William Case. Daniel R. Kinsey. Joshua Shaw. A. C. R. Shaw. Thomas M. Vance. Jacob Hammer. William Clemmons. John Eldridge. Ben. Q. Tucker. John Owen. Harmon Higgins. William Higgins. William Prattier. Theodore Prattier. Britain Greenwood. Caleb Greenwood. John Greenwood. William Martin. Patrick Martin. Dennis Martin. Matthias Harbin. Daniel Durbin. Mr. Hitchcock and family. Mrs. Patterson and family. Oliver Magnent. Francis Magnent, and Captain Stephens, who had command of the expedition. “Captain Stephens was a native of North Carolina, reared in Georgia, a trapper for 28 years, and was accustomed to frontier life. He had no trail to guide him across the plains and started without even a pocket compass, but no train that traversed the continent to the Pacific was more blessed, freer from disaster, or so safe from savage attacks.”