CaravanSpring

CARAVAN SPRING

Erected in 1936, the sign reflects the mistaken belief at that time that all of the Arkansas Emigrants who died in the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre departed from Caravan Spring. Only "The Baker Train", under the leadership of Captain John Twitty Baker, departed for California from this location.

The group gathered, and made their preparations, in the open area of the late William C. Beller's homestead at Milum Spring (also called Caravan Spring) near Beller's store called "Beller's Stand". In 1857, the name of the spring near the Beller homestead, if it had one, remains unknown. Sometime after the Mountain Meadows Massacre, it became known as "Caravan Spring", to honor the wagons that had gathered there. The modern name of the spring is "Milum Spring", and is located in present day Boone County, Arkansas, on Hwy 7 South, south of the town of Harrison. At the time "The Baker Train" gathered there in 1857, the area was located in Crooked Creek Township, in Carroll County, Arkansas.

THE BAKER TRAIN - 3 (known) ox wagons, and more than 260 head of cattle

John Twitty Baker
George Washington Baker
Minerva Ann (Beller) Baker
Mary Lovina Baker
Martha Elizabeth Baker (Survivor)
Sarah Frances Baker (Survivor)
William Twitty Baker (Survivor)
Abel Baker
Allen P. Deshazo
Robert Fancher
Silas Edwards
Milum Lafayette Rush
Allen P. Deshazo
*Wesley Middleton, a hired hand with the Baker Train, he died en route of Mountain Fever. He was not a victim of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
Possibly 2 other unknown drovers or hired-hands (John Twitty Baker had 5 hired hands, and George Washington Baker had 2 hired hands, according to depositions. The size of the herd would normally require 4 to 5 drovers.)

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