In the 1840s, the Sager family decides to brave the journey to Oregon in hopes of a better life. While traveling along the trail, their wagon train is attacked by natives, which results in the father's death. Shortly after, the family experiences another tragedy when the mother dies of pneumonia. When the wagon train leaders dismiss the seven orphans from the group, the oldest child, John (Stewart Petersen), decides to lead his brothers and sisters to the new life his parents wanted.