I think Fielding was the first Oregon Trail Pioneer I found in my tree and he has an interesting story as well as a unique name.
Here’s how Fielding ties into the family – he is my 4X Great Grandfather and the line to him is through my Great Grandmother Gladys Hagerdon Anderson. Gladys’ mother Lena Livermore Hagerdon was a daughter of Joseph Livermore and Sylvia Hazelrigg. Sylvia is the only child of Fielding Hazelrigg and Lydia Harvey.
We know that Fielding was born in Clark County, KY and that his family moved to Linn County, Iowa and he married Sylvia in Jones County, Iowa. For reference, Cedar Rapids, IA is in Linn County. Jones County is just east of Linn County.
The Anamosa Eureka Newspaper from April 11, 1918 recounts the following as part of an article on another of Sylvia’s children Minnie Graham Ritts:
“In the spring of 1848 Lydia Harvey was married to Fielding Hazelrigg, one daughter, Sylvia, above referenced to, being the only child. Some time after this event he joined what was really the ‘innumerable caravan’ of California gold seekers of ’49-50-51, and it is supposed that he died on the journey, or not long after reaching his destination, as he was never heard from.”
Other researchers have found reference to two of Fielding’s brothers as Charles and Joseph were with William Manly who kept a journal and it is published as “Death Valley in ’49” Book has been reprinted by Heyday Books and 2001 but was originally published in 1894. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/12236/12236-h/12236-h.htm The Hazelrigg brothers Charles and Joseph are listed at the beginning of Chapter 8.
Surprisingly, we then find Fielding Hazelrigg in the 1870 and 1880 Federal Census in Elko County, NV. In 1880 he lists himself as a widower. I have yet to find any information on his death, any other marriages if there were any, or any details other than his listed occupation of Carpenter in 1870 and farmer in 1880. It makes a person wonder if he married again, or if things didn’t go well in CA, so he didn’t write home, or if the trip to CA was a way to escape something in IA, was there an injury or amnesia of some sort? Maybe someday documentation will surface with details.
Cory and Nicole Family History 