WI: Abraham Lincoln Joined the Donner Party

On March 26, 1846, George Donner and James Reed, residents of Illinois near the state capital of Springfield, posted an add in a local newspaper The Sangamo Journal. The ad called for a group of people to set off on an expedition to California. Eventually, on April 14, the two men had a group and set out to California. Unfortunately, this trek was the fateful Donner Party, where both men eventually perished in winter 1846-47.

At the time, Abraham Lincoln, a friend of Reed's from the Blackhawk War, considered taking his family out West with Reed and Donner, but his young son, his wife's pregnancy, and the Congressional race ultimately led to him deciding not to go. What if, somehow, Lincoln decided to join the Donner Party, and survived, possibly losing his kid and his wife. How would that effect the life of Abe Lincoln and the nation as a whole? Would Lincoln eventually run for office, or merely be a footnote in Illinois history as one of the people who helped move the capital to Springfield? If Lincoln went into politics, would he be nominated for President in 1860? Could he have won?
 
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Tell me, how is this other than "WI Abe Lincoln Dies"? Having him go to the party and live means that the trip was important. If he dies... well from the historian in TTL timeline, who cares how he died? I'm a bit confused that you put a detail in the title that doesn't seem to be relevant to what you want, unless you're looking for something specific from the Donner Party. If your title was "WI Abe Lincoln Dies" and then you suggested this as a possible POD for death, I could understand. Do you want him just to die for our analysis or is there something here you want?
 
Tell me, how is this other than "WI Abe Lincoln Dies"? Having him go to the party and live means that the trip was important. If he dies... well from the historian in TTL timeline, who cares how he died? I'm a bit confused that you put a detail in the title that doesn't seem to be relevant to what you want, unless you're looking for something specific from the Donner Party. If your title was "WI Abe Lincoln Dies" and then you suggested this as a possible POD for death, I could understand. Do you want him just to die for our analysis or is there something here you want?
Him living is a much better idea. Changed the scenario to that.
 

Japhy

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Tell me, how is this other than "WI Abe Lincoln Dies"? Having him go to the party and live means that the trip was important. If he dies... well from the historian in TTL timeline, who cares how he died? I'm a bit confused that you put a detail in the title that doesn't seem to be relevant to what you want, unless you're looking for something specific from the Donner Party. If your title was "WI Abe Lincoln Dies" and then you suggested this as a possible POD for death, I could understand. Do you want him just to die for our analysis or is there something here you want?
Because this is how AH discussion works.

OP: Lincoln of course could theoretically live people did, at which point I think it's a viable thing to consider what happens with him having a career in California or Oregon. Hell even Politics can be an option at this point. Though not on a level where he has a great chance of being viable in 1860. The loss of Mary Todd of course having drastic impacts on his personal life. The door incidentally then being open for him becoming one of those men of talent that Jesse Fremont surrounded herself with. On one hand that handicaps his political rise until after her Husbands time had passed but it also means that he could be an interesting Senator or some such.
 
Him living is a much better idea. Changed the scenario to that.

Ok, so that's what you want. Cool.

I personally think at this point in life, setting out he would probably consider grabbing a nice plot of land and offering his services as a lawyer. If his family survives, I can see no reason for him to change the reason he set out for. Perhaps he could have 3 or so hired farmhands and he might have joined them now and then, just like how some of the modern white collar workers go hit the gym and lift weights. He might meet people of interesting character like the aftermentioned Fremont, but he won't stake his career on them, but they might use his professional services now and then.

Now if his family is lost, this will then be a huge impact on his personal life as previously mentioned. We have an interested bifurcation here. He might be very well be one of the men of talent Jessie Fremont surrounded herself with. As previously mentioned, this will block any formal rise in political power until her husband passes, but he will get a lot of "soft" influence just by being a talented man working for a Senator. When John dies, there is the possibility of his widow and right hand man taking tandem senate seats on an antislavery position.

On the other hand if his family is lost and he misses Jessie Fremont, I don't see the grief-stricken Lincoln looking for politics. I imagine he would join the ranks of the many men of fortune who tried to find their niche in the growing state. I wouldn't be surprised if he hit it big in whatever he tried to do, but this would be of little consolation to him.
 
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