MORE GUILL DOCUMENTS
MARY JANE BRYAN GUILL'S DIARY-1860 Part 1 Part 2
Mary Jane Bryan was married to John Huston Guill on 18 March 1860. John was the son of Elijah Nimrod Guill who was the son of Reuben Guill. That same year they removed to California and the following is a transcription of her diary of the trip west across the plains. NelJean provided the transcription but any errors are mine(my scanner is not always accurate).



May the 5, 1860
We left home and traveled 16 miles. Camped oft Honey Creek four miles this
side of Callatin. Sunday the fourth we traveled seven miles and lay up for
the day. Nothing very interesting ha transpired yet. May 7
Traveled about 15 miles. Camped on Grind Stone in De Kalb Co. on rainy
evening.
T1Guess there will be some cookin done by thd Cents.1 We had quite a storm cm he night of the seventh. May 8
Very pleasant morning rather cool. Pies for sale on the road. Passed through
the city of Maysville. Very windy through the day. Traveled' about 16 miles.
May 9
The same distance as heretofore. Camped in Buchanan Co. Very blustery cold
day. Passed Rochester and dossed the Platte River May 10
Pleasant day. Lost a yoke of oxen. Crossed the Hundred and two Creek on a
bridge. Stop for dInner and camped for the night. 17 miles. Pound the lest
oxen.
May 11
Very dry and warm. Passed through Savannah about eleven oclock. Very pretty
town. Camped nine miles north of town. May 12
Warm and dry. Traveled 12 miles and stopped for the night. Sunday cloudy
and some cooler. Traveled 5 miles May 13
Afternoon pleasant and warm. Wrote a letter home. May 14
Very pleasant day. Pass drough Maryville, Nodaway Co. Polding Circuit
Court. Made me think of Uncle Fred. Traveled 20 miles and camped near the
camped near the
Nodaway river. Soon after we stopped we had a stampede of horses run about
ten miles and was taken up.


May 15
Very pleasant day. Crossed the river Nodaway and several other creeks of
considerable note. There we took the plains. No settlers for miles. Camped
in Atchison Co. had a very hard rain about dark. May 16
Very pleasant. Lost two cows. Traveled 7 miles and stopped for the day on
the open prairie.
May 17
Started half after six in the morning. Passed through Linden. Passed through Elpiro and Humboldt.
Here we struck the Council Bluff road. Found the lost cows. Traveled 22
miles and camped in the Mo. bottom. Here we saw some very interesting
things. The bluffs in particular. We descended them in the evening where we
could see as far as eye could reach Very pleasant. May 18
Very pleasant. Still in the bottom. The bluffs roll up before us like
mountains. We traveled about 20 miles here. I met with Rothena Worcester
she lived 1/2 mile off the road.
May 19
Leave camp half past 6 a.m. Big gray lame today, some of the effects of the
stampede. Travel up the Mo. bottom yet. County pretty well settled so far.
Passed some good improvements. Travel six miles and stopped for dinner.
Move at half past one oclock. Passed Pacific city and passed through St.
Mary1s on the river. Four wind mills, two of them for to make shingles.
Others supposed to be grist mills. Traveled 10 miles stopped for the night.
Pretty camping place. I am under a large elm tree which reminds me of home

and of elms there.
May 20
Hard rain this morning moven about 8 oclock. Traveled 3 miles and lay by for
the day. We are now in sight of Council Bluffs. See the steamboats passing
by us now and then. Wrote a letter home. May 21
Leave camp half after six Traveled about 8 miles. We passed through
Council Bluff city, a very pretty town. It is three miles from the river.
There we meet with emigrants. 19 camped in the bottom this side of the
ferry. We next came to the mudy murky Missouri, the boat waiting for us.
There was 7 wagons on the boat at once, one sulky home 5 or 6 draft horses, all of our cattle. Two of the wagons had four horses in them. The old
Nebraska was well loaded, all Californians. Passed through the city of Omaha
about as large as the bluff city. The State house was a nice building. Here
we see Induans all around us. I have been tormented all day by one beggin
me for something to eat, even for my comb



May 22
Lay by, buy our outfits for the plains at Omaha. Can see emigrants on every
side. Troubled by beggin Indians. Country settled very well from Omaha on
the military road out to the fort.
May 23
Platte in view. Leave camp half after six and take to the plains. Pass
wagons and wagons pass us. Traveled ten miles and stopt for dinner on very
nice but miry creek. One o'clock move again. Elkhorn city, a small town.
Cross the Elkhorn river on a very nice bridge. Traveled 23 miles and camped
on the Elkhorn. No Indians about us tonight. May 24
A pleasant morning rather warm, beautiful grass. We are in Douglass
Co.,Nebraska. Leave camp half after six. Twenty one wagons in sight. Drove
ten miles and stopt to dine. Move again. Pass through Fremont city, a name
without a town. Drove ten miles and camped on the Platte river, wide but
shallow. Appearance of a thunder storm, raining very hard now. Some fish
for supper but the rain has spoilt it May 25
Move at 7. Mr. Guill sick this morning. Drive 10 miles and stop in north
bend and take dinner. Fear we shall pass through town and not know it. Move
at two oclock, very pleasant day. Stock travels well. Bought some corn and
butter on the road not far from town. Traveled 8 miles and camped on the
Platte River. I have seen twenty Indians this evening. They are at our camp
now part of them Pay .50 for corn and .25 for butter. May 26

May 26
Leave camp at 7 oclock. Travel 10 miles. Stop for dinner.
Have
seen 40
Indians this morning. Move at five oclock. Travel 5 miles and camp in the
Platte Vlley off from the river some distance. Very good settlements yet.



May 27
Wrote a letter home
Sunday move at half past 7. Pleasant day rather dry. Meet 13 Indians this
morning, part of them squaws. Traveled 8 miles and stopt on the bank of the
South fork for our dinner. Crossed over in the evening. Had to ferry part
of the way over. Judge the stream was half a mile wide and forded our
cattle. Move about a mile and campt May 28
Left at 7. Traveled 10 rniles and stopt for dinner. Windy day, beautiful
grass, swampy country sandy, very sandy. Move again half past one, beautiful
country, fine grass. Cross prairie creek. The best water for several days.
A good spring and fine grass. A good place to cam but not in the right for
us. Travel eleven miles and stopped for the night near stage station. Fine
grass. Had a wind storm during the night almost blowed us off. The Boys have
to wade on an island to get wood.
May 29
Drizzley, blustery morning. The boys had the work all to do this time. 22
wagons campt around this stage station this morning. All sharing our fate.
Travel 13 miles and stop for dinner. Still blustery and stormy. Good grass.
Getting out of the settlements almost except the stage stations. Traveled
23 miles and campt near the stage station. May 30
Travel 10 miles and lay by for the rest of the day to sun our flour. One
lame cow. Beautiful grass and plenty of water. May 31
Left camp half after six and travel 10 miles. Stop for dinner
close to Grand
Island city, a small town on the Platte. Houses covered with hay. Saw the
remains of some which had been burnt down. Plenty of cotton wood timber.
Some elm, willow and cedar. Moved at one oclock. Traveled 10 miles and
stopt for the night on Mud Creek about 3 miles from Crockers. Grass not so
good here as it has been.
June 1
Leave camp half after six. Very blustery day. Get some buffalo meet. Pass
Wood river and saw a one story hut. Three rooms in front about a half dozen
sod houses around. Buy some papers from the office here which is something
new to us. There is a paper printed here called the Huntsman's Echo. Very
nice little paper for the plains. Saw three buffalo this evening. Great
curiosity to me for they are the first I have seen this trip. Travel 21
miles and camp on a plain.
June 2
Leave camp at 6 oclock. Buffalo meat for breakfast. Very good. Plenty of
grass and water Travel 10 miles and lay by for the day. Nineteen wagons
behind us and 7 before all in sight. Boys going buffalo hunting this
evening. Did not kill any. Come home tired almost starved for water.
June 3
Sunday morning start to look for a better camp-ground, but alas we never
found it. Grass all burnt up with the drouth except in slough where the
grass is very good. Travel about 20 miles. Victor and I have to turn, have
to travel back, hate to turn back being it is the first time on this route
that I have to retrace my steps. We camped on a slough some distance from
the river.
June 4
Leave camp at 7 oclock. travel several miles and meet some buffalo coming
along in the road. Mr. Guill give chase after them on Abba. Run upon them
and fired several times with the revolver and in revolving the pistol he
caught the ball of his thumb and lacerated his thumb very bad. Did not get a
buffalo at last. Travel 15 miles and camp. Had to dig for water.
June 5
Moved at 7 oclock. Strike the bluffs on the foothills. Travel 16 miles.
Can see any amount of wagons on the other side of the Platte. Campers around
us tonight near the Platte.
June 6
Move at half past 7. Pleasant day. Had quite a turnup this morning. The

horses was hitched to the wagon and they got frightened at something around.
Upset Charles Williams wagon but no person hurt. The wagon that Barney
Cooper was riding in come very near upsetting but was hitched to
it. Rather
flustrated our company for awhile. The wagon was soon lifted up and repaired
for starting. Not much injury done. Travel 12 miles and stop for the day on
the Platte. three of the cattle leave. Mr. Guill's hand on the mend some
though it is a very bad wound. Dig our well and fix for cooking.

Finish my letter home.
June 7
Pleasant day. Moved at 7 oclock. Killed a jack rabbit when the train
started. Our travel today is through sand hills. Hard pullingfor the
freight wagon. Travel 14 miles and camp. The boys go hunting. See several
antelopes. Killed two rabbits. Had a storm at night which made things howl.
Things get wet some in the wagon. Storm subsided in about an hour. It
hailed with the wind but did not rain much. June 8
Very cold morning. Traveled 8 miles and lay up for the day. Had two calves
in the evening. Two of the boys out late hunting. Rain and hail.
June 9
Raining this morning. Move at 8 oclock. travel 9 miles and stop for our
dinner. Clino campt close to us. leave camp at 2 oclock pm. Some sand
and more mud. Travel 9 miles and camp in sight of Sioux village. No wood.
Cold and disagreeable.
June 10
Sunday. Very disagreeable day. Showers all day. First day we have been
bothered with rain since we left. Some mud holes today. Wood scarce.
Travel seven miles and camp on good grass in sight of two Indian towns
(Sioux)
June 11
Leave camp half after six, pass over the muddiest road we have had yet. A
great many sloughs very miry. Good grass and water. About ten miles, boggy
country here. Mire down two or three times. Leave the river for some four
miles. Strike it again and camp on the river and good grass.

June 12
Traveled 20 miles. Very good day. Scarce of wood. Nothing but willow brush
to cook with. Travel 20 miles. Sandy country. Plenty of water. 33 Mormon
wagons passed us this evening.
June 13
Thunder storm last night. Our wagon did not leak much. Started at 7. Waded
a creek. Travel 20 miles Plenty of water and grass. Camp close to a
spring. Swapped Buck for a grey Billy June 14
Moved half past 5. Travel several miles and strike the sand hills. Very
hard pulling. About 1 mile across. As we left the hills we met a company of
Sioux Indians moving. Several dogs pulling carts of poles with their blankets
on them, and one load of pups. Got some mountain currants, to make some
pies. Willow brush to wash with this evening. Travel 13 miles and camp for
the day, to do up our washing. clothes dry very quick. Good grass and
water. A clear stream of water.
June 15
Leave camp at half past six. Travel over a very good road. Good grass
scarce. Pass another Sioux village of some dozen wigwams. One white trader
with the Indians. Clinos behind. Old man Monroe half day ahead. Travel 23
miles and camp on a slough near the river. Good grass, nothing but weeds for
fuel.
June 16
Leave camp half after six. Pass over some very nice road. Three droves of
cattle before us and three behind-all in sight. Travel 10 miles and stop for
dinner. Move at half past one. Cross some sand hills, very hard

dinner. Move at half past one. Cross some sand hills, very hard pulling.
The hills look grand. Some of all shapes, resembling houses, sugar loaves, and rimmed cities. Camped near the Bluffs. Get the first wood here, that we have had for a long time.


June 17 Sunday-move at half past six. Travel ten miles and lay by for the
day. Grass not very good.Use the Platte River water. Wrote letter home.
June 18
Leave at half after six. Mosquitoes very bad. Dined on the Platte River.
Travel 24 miles and camped opposite the Chimney Rock. Get grass -for the stock
on an island. Sold a cow June 19
Leave camp half after six. Very nice road to travel. Use the Platte River
water. Travel 18 miles today. Camp on the Platte. June 20
Move at half after six. Travel 18 miles today. Camp on the Platte. Very
pretty weather. Need rain here. Nothing interesting transpired today. Good
grass and water.
June 21
Move at half past six. Beautiful road today-except dust. 5 droves of cattle
together. Grass not very good. Travel 20 miles today. In sight of Laramie
Peak. We are no in town. Hear the fiddle below us at one of our neighbors. We
have camped in a very beautiful place close to the river. One preacher in our
crowd
June 22
Very pleasant day. Cool this morning. Travel 13 miles today. Grass not good
here. Close to an Indian village. Some lame stock. Brindle has got a calf.
She had it about twelve. Moved this evening 3 miles and camp 2 and a half
miles from Laramie in a very pretty place, and as good grass as could be
expected.


Wrote to Isobel June 23
Cool this morning. We went over to Laramie this morning, MR. Guill and I. The
town is in a low valley on the bank of the Laramie river. Some very nice
houses for the plains. One store, several blacksmith shops. Had some shoes
made for the oxen. Swapped off Hugh's lame ox for another in his place, gave
some boot. Crossed the Platte in a canoe, a swift stream. Some Indian wigwams
along the bank. The town of Laramie is full of Indians. Their wigwams all
thru town except on Main Street. The soldiers were some curiosity to me. We
visited the post office. Put some letters in the office. One to George
Williams, one home. Not letters here from home. Move this evening. Travel 7
miles. Camp. Still on the Platte. Very good grass and water here. June 24
Sunday. Lay up for the morning. Very pleasant. Move at one oclock. Had a very
nice rain on us this evening. Pass over seven miles of the black hills, quite
a curiosity. We went up on one of the hills. Wrote letter home.
June 25
Had a rain last night. Move at half past six. Very rough road. Steep hills
and rocks. Walked several miles this morning. Climbed one hill to gain on the
-~ wagons. Broke Charlie's wagon. Travel eight miles and dine close to the
Platte. Move at one oclock. Still rough in places. Hail storm, have to stop
now. A'hail storm in the Black Hills is enough to scare me badly. I think
the rain is about over now. Not of duration. Well they are not, because every
thing would get wet. It blows right through our wagon. Camp again in the
Black Hills, in a little narrow valley Gum coats of good service out
here-especially in a storm. Tonight we camped in a dry place. No water around
us but as he who ruleth all seeing our need caused the clouds to pass over
and the rain poured in torrents on us. The creek below us dry, was in a few
moments a booming stream-thus supplying all our wants Moved at 7 A.M. Travel ten miles. Very good road for the hills. Passed by a
trader with some Indians, several wigwams. Crossed a small creek and camped
for the day.Have no wood close to us, except sage brush. Plenty of cedar and
pine off at some distance.
June 27
Leave camp at half past six. Very nice road today. Twelve miles to water this
morning. Dine on the Platte river in nice shady grove of large cotton wood
trees. Plenty of roses here. The air is rendered fragrant with

their perfume.
Grass very short. Move at three. Again travel over good roads with the
exception of washes. Camp at some distance from the river. Have to carry our
water from it and our wood too. Drive our stock to the river to water. The
boys have come with a fine load of wood. Travel 21 1/2 miles today. Storm
coming up. How black the clouds look. Prepare our wagon for it. June 2S
Move at half past 6. Rain this morning. Still drizzling. No grass, or not
much. Grasshopper bad. Travel 7 miles this morning. Dine on the hills here.
Pa structs out for himself and left us and ours alone. Our road this evening
was over very rough ground, over washes and hard banks. Travel 9 miles and
camp in a very nice green on the Platte. Grass not very good. Mr. Guill
brought me in a horned frog.

June 29
Camp alone tonight. It is very cold this morning. A shawl hardly feels
comfortable. We have a big log heap fire on mud. Rained a little last night.
Travel over rugged road this morning. Over one cliff and up another. Travel 3
miles and stopped to graze on very good bunch grass. Moved again at half past
seven. Stopped to dine on the Platte. No grass here to do any good. Travel 13
miles this morning. Move at 7 oclock again. Had some sand this evening.
Passed through prickley pears in abundance all bloomed out. Looked very
pretty. Pale yellow flower resembling the double yellow hollyhock. Travel six
miles and camped on tolerable good bunch grass. The preacher is camped below
us. Child's above us.
June 30
Move at half past six. Very pleasant day. More sand hills. Hard pulling.
Passed the rest of our company this morning. Travel 13 miles. Stop for dinner
in a grove on the river. A very nice place, and tolerable grass. Move again
at half after one. Very rough road this evening. Deep sand. No good grass
yet. Travel 9 miles and camp on the bluff. Some bunch grass. Enough to stay
the hungry stocks stomach's. Probably fill them up some. The horses have had--
July 1
Wrote home today. Sunday. Moved at half past six. Travel 4 miles and stopped
to graze. Stopped in one of the most beautiful of places. Drove under a very
large balm of Gilead tree. So nice that I hate to leave it. Lay up all day.
Preaching in the valley tonight. Not going this time.

July 2
Very pretty day rather cool. A shawl hardly warm enough. Pass the bridge on
the Platte. Travel 9 miles and Mr. Guill bought me a pair of moccasins. Move
a 1 again. More sand. Hills very steep. Travel 9 miles. Camp on the hills above the Platte. Can look down on it below us. July 3
Cool this morning. Shawl comfortable. Move at half after six. Travel west
about 7 miles and bid farewell to the Platte and strike across to Sweet
Water. Here we have a stretch of 18 miles. Not entirely destitute of water
either, because there is plenty of alkali here, too much for the good of
stock. We see every now and then a cow brute that has been alkalied. Traveled
25 miles today to get to water. Very nice gravely road today, but it is hard
on the cattle's feet. Tonight we have camped at the Willow Springs. A very
nice place and tolerable good grass, considering that it has been camped on
so much. Still it affords some yet. There are several nice springs here. Good
cold water.
July 4
Moved at half after3 A.M. Traveled 7 miles and stopped to graze on a small
creek. Beautiful clear water. Cook our 4th of July dinner. What an excellent
dinner we have. Got some fresh peaches today, a Jack rabbit and some apples.
What eaters we are. At eleven we struck out again. The little creek we dined
on was called fish creek. Traveled 6 miles over gravely road, and come to
Horse Creek the size of a large Spring branch. Nice water and grass.


Traveled 8 miles further over gravel and heavy sand. Find some saleratus
lakes. Tonight we have camped on Sweet Water four miles below Independence
Rock.
July 5
Move at half past eight oclock this morning. Travel about 4 miles. Pass
trading station near Independence Rock. Mr. Guill got a pair of hobbles made
for Cone. Paid $3.00 for them. Quite an excitement raised by a company of
emigrants before us. They had all passed on and got as far as the rock, when
five of the boys went on top and cut up a good many extras then came down and
went back to the store, and went into the blacksmith shop and two of the
rogues.-one stole a pair of ox shoes, the other a butcher knife. The
Frenchman followed and overtook the, shot at them three or four time. The
first shot took effect in the foot of the one who stole the shoes. The
company was all from Wisconsin, a very rough set too, and don't know yet how
it will terminate. We arrived at Independence Rock today, a beautiful place
here. Mr. Quill and I went on top to take a look at the country, could see
the Saleratus Lake very plain, close to us. There are names written all over
the rock, but coming down rather got me. My moccasins kept slipping and I
thought I would roll down, but by the help of Mr. Guill I got down at last.
Traveled 12 miles today and camped above the Mouth of Devils Gate, . The Gate
is a great curiosity to see a river winding its way through a solid mountain
of rock, save one space through which the river wound its way. The rocks were
perpendicular on either side. Some of the boys went through it twice. The
water is very low now in the river. jack rabbits for dinner tonight.
July 6
Move at 7 oclock. We are now in the rocky Mountains though we have not had to
climb any of them yet. We are traveling up Sweetwater yet. Plenty of alkali
along here. Not so much I guess as there is of a wet season. Travel 18 miles
today and camp on very nice grass and plenty of water. July 7
Leave at half after six. Very good road for the mountains. Dined in the same
bottom with Child's. They was some distance below us. Ma came up to see us
today. Twenty seven wagons moved in the same bottom. Seven miles to grass and
water, and now we are at it, it is not very good grass. Traveled 15 miles
today.
July 8

Sunday. Very pleasant day. Move at half after six oclock. Travel nine miles
and lay up the rest of the day. We lay up in a very nice place today on
~ Sweet-Water, close to the mountains. Very sublime. Several campers besides us
in the valley tonight. Good grass. Wrote a letter home. July 9
Leave camp half after five. Cross the river this morning. Travel 17 miles
without water (except alkali) til 2 oclock. Cross the river twice this
evening. Travel 4 miles this evening and camp on Sweet Water. The valley is
full tonight. 50 or 60 wagons in the bottom tonight. Don't guess the Indians
will pester us tonight.
July 10
Leave camp at half past. Travel 2 miles and leave the river. Take the much
talked of Rocky Ridge-not so bad as we had excpected. Travel 7 miles farther
and come to good water and grass. Pass several spring branches this evening.
Pa camped in fifty yards of us tonight. All well. Travel 20 miles and camped
on a mountain spring branch.
July 11
Move half past six. Very nice road. Passed over the summit of the mountain.
Travel 22 miles and camp on Pacific Creek, 1 mile below the celebrated
Pacific Spring. Tolerable good grass only poor camping place generally, but
the only chance. Had some snow today. Had a nice rain today, something that I
did not expect on the Rocky Mountains. July 12
Lay up this morning on account of sick ox. He is on the mend now. Leave camp
at one p.m. Traveled 17 miles this evening, and camp on a desert-no water
here. Some grass. Dark when we got into camp. We are now on the State line
road.



July 13
Leave our dry camping place half past three and drove 6 miles and stop to get
our breakfast on the Sandy. Plenty of water but no grass here. Eat our
breakfast and drive on down the river 2 and a half miles. Stopped to graze on
some better grass. Move again at 1 oclock. Strike across to Big Sandy, a
distance of 5 miles, nice road with a gentle slope to Sandy. Camped on Sandy
2 and a half miles above the ford. Cross the river to get to grass. River
very low and easy to cross. We had two sick cows tonight. gave them a drench
of turpentine and grease.
July 14
Moved at 7 oclock this morning. Had some frost last night. Very cold. Travel
10 miles on the much talked of desert and struck in for the river some
distance off the road. Travel 20 miles and camp on Big Sandy again. We have
traveled 5 miles out of our way today to get grass and water. Good grass
tonight. Our sick cattle are all well now. July 15
Sunday morning. Leave camp half after 7 oclock. Travel 12 miles and reach
the famous Green River. Cross in a ferry boat two waggons at a time. cross
our horses over in them too. Swam our cattle over above the ferry. Lay up for
the day on Green River just below the ferry in a very pretty place. Good
grass considering it is so close to the road. Ferry at the mouth of Big
Sandy. did not write home today.
July 16
Move 5 miles up the river to camp on Green Grass. Wait for Handy and Co. and



others to travel the old route with us. Most of the (others) have gone other
route. Great many are going the Simpson cut off, and some through Salt Lake
City. We have a considerable company made up this evening. July 17
Leave camp at 7 oclock. I saw 45 waggons all moving along together this
morning, almost in one train. 7 or 8 hundred head of stock. We have traveled
20 miles today. To find grass and water. Camped on a small creek that empties
into Green River. Plenty of alkali both on the ground and in the water.
Childs and Woodmans camp below us. The rest of the train camped back about 5
miles. Have our supper on before the rest pass us. July 18
Leave camp half after six this morning. Have a very nice spring, cold and
clear. Ate our dinner and Mr. Guill and I took a ride; went up to the other
camp to see them all. About 2 miles from our camp. Al well I believe;
children all fat and hearty. Our wagons soon came up and we start on our
journey. Very rough road this afternoon; steep hills and very rocky road, not
been traveled much this spring. The road is almost grown up now. The forward
train has the road to break every day. Traveled 19 miles today. Camp in a
most beautiful place tonight. Mountains high all around us. Some snow above
us on the mountains. Last night we had some intruders on us from Wisconsin.
Some eight or nine wagons of them perfect sect of imposers. After we had our
ground staked off just as we wanted it. Would not have thought so hard of it
if grass had been scarce, but it was plentiful. Guess they will have to break
the road this morning as we are going to lay up a part of the day.


July 19
Raining this morning. Cold and disagreeable, seems like winter this morning.
Last night we had a serenade between the hours of ten and eleven. Music
sounded delightful; the instruments consisted f one fiddle and banjo. It
enlivened me up very much-out her away from home enjoying the wilds of a
western life with all its scenery and enchantment. Then it is that music is
so sweet and delightful the ear, especially after we have reclined ourselves
in the mild arms of somnus and are awakened with its beautiful voice.
Leave camp at half past twelve o1clock p.m. Travel ten miles over a good but
rather hilly road and camp on Haws Park of Green River; good grass, strawberries, plenty but small. Indians dangerous or said to be, but none to be seen. July 20 Left camp half after six a.m. I think that we have to climb the highest point on the Bear River mountains. Very had going up it. Have to scratch some. Travel 11 miles and lay up for the day, between two mountains on a little creek. Sun our things this evening, good grass and snow water. Twenty five wagons camped in the same valley. July 21 Leave camp at seven o'clock. Last night we have a sermon preached to us by MR. Polahide, from the 6th chapter of Genesis and a part of the third
verse:"And the Lord said My spirit shall not always strive with man." A very
appropriate sermon for the occasion and a very good one too, considering


things out here. So much to draw off one's mind from preaching and everything
else. All set on ox yokes on the ground. Some took the ground in preference
to the yokes. We looked like the Indians in the early day, all squatted
around looking up at the preacher with our mouths open to catch everything, for it had been a long time since we had heard a sermon. Had some very bad
road this morning; steep hills and rocky. Traveled 10 miles and dined on Bear
River. Horse flies very bad,-worse than they have been on the road before, since we left home. Traveled 5 miles this evening and camped near Mr. Wadman.
The preacher just below us, and then Childs. Twenty five wagons of us tonight
on the little spring branch. Cross Smith's fork of Bear River. 		July 22
Sunday morning. Left camp at 7 o'clock this morning. Traveled nine miles and
stopped to dine at the Cold Springs. Good water and grass. Crossed a bad
slough this morning. It was very miry too. dined in a most beautiful place, indeed it is the most beautiful I have seen since we have been traveling on
the plains. A nice fertile valley; could be cultivated with ease. High
mountains towering up on either side of us.
The valley is about 6 miles wide. Nice springs along the foot of the
mountains. Travel 5 miles and camp on Thomas Creek-a nice little stream, -not
so little either. It is about two feet deep and clear as crystal.




July 23
Moved camp at 7 o'clock this morning. had some of the highest mountains yet
that we have crossed. Up hill and down long and steep ones too, at that.
Very hard pulling, but going down hill is the worst some places almost
straight down. Very hard for the horses to hold back. Travel 20 miles today.
Good road this evening. Worked Cone mare this evening for the first time.
she worked nice, pulled well. Worked her by old Gray. Fine grass and cold
water. Camp in Bear river Valley tonight. Mountains on either side of us, some snow on them yet. Mr. Woodman camped close to us. Mr. Quill sick this
morning, some better this evening.
July 24
Leave camp half past 7. Cross 5 or 6 nice spring branches. Fine grass and
water. stock doing well. We dined today in the White Sand Hills. Sand is as
white as snow. Saw or met two Snake Indians this evening. Travel 15 miles and
camp on a Spring Branch. Fine grass, cold water, good but hilly road.
July 25
Move at 7 o'clock this morning. Indians at one camp. They could talk very
plain. Travel about 7 miles and come to noted Soda Springs, a great curiosity
to me to see the water in perpetual motion. The water tasted very well, but I
believe it made me sick, or some currants that I ate. The Steamboat Spring
has gone dry and vanished away. There is plenty of nice currants here of the
largest kind. We traveled 12 miles today. Camped on Bear River for the last
time.


July 26
Had a hard rain last night. Rained most all night. Left camp at half past
seven and traveled 17 miles today over the mountain from Bear River. Very
rough road. Sidling. We passed over some marble. Camped tonight on a hill or
bench of a mountain. Had the appearance of rain tonight. Move down in the
bottom. Raining some.
July 27
Leave camp 15 minutes past 7. Very good road considering that it is in the
mountains. Some steep hills, beautiful grass. wild wheat in abundance, higher
than my head. It seems that the land here ought to produce splendid tame
wheat when wild grows so well. The land is more productive from Bear river
than it has been heretofore, producing all kinds of flowers and wild flax.
Crossed Shoshone Creek this morning. Nice stream. Traveled 13 miles and on a
small river. Not good water, but plenty of grass. Traveled 9 miles this
evening. Crossed over a range of mountains, not very -no rocks. camped
tonight on a Spring Branch a nice little valley, plenty of grass and water.
Sixteen wagons in the valley tonight. The rest of the train are ten miles
back on the river. 22 miles July 28
Moved this morning at seven o'clock. Passed over a mountain this morning.
Very good road over. Travel eight miles and stopped for dinner on a little
creek. Move again at two o'clock. Very nice road this evening. Travel six
miles and camp on Spring Run. A nice little branch. Done some washing. 14
miles.
July 29
Sunday morning. Move at seven o'clock. Twenty five miles without water. Come
over one of the roughest hills yet, rocky and steep. Here we had rough and
lock the wheels. I suppose it is the worst hill on the road. We are now
dining on a beautiful wheat valley., Looks like a field of wheat ready to
cut. Travel twenty-five miles and come to some springs, and a creek-off the
road some. One Sunday that we traveled all day.



July 30
Left camp at seven o'clock. Passed thru another range of mountains. Not very
steep. Dined today at a weak spring. Not enough for stock.I am sitting a
writing under some large fir trees, and around here are some of the prettiest
flowers I ever saw. We have had a canon most all day but it is a very nice
road. Travel twenty miles and camp in the canon on a small creek. Good water
and plenty of grass.
July 31
Leave camp at seven. A nice road. Good grass. Travel fifteen miles. Moved on
Raft River, ought to be called Raft Branch. Traveled four miles this evening
and camped on a nice stream. Coming down from the mountains fine grass and
wild wheat in abundance. sixteen wagons of us close together. August 1
Last night a soldier visited our camp. They were camped a short distance
above us. Had been escorting a train a far as the Citty Rocks and they were
n their way back to their home, twenty six men of. them. Traveled eight miles
this morning and dined on the same creek that we camped on last night. Grass
not so good as it has been heretofore. some snow on the mountains today, where
we nooned. The Indians are said to be very dangerous along here. Traveled
seven miles this evening a camped on a Spring Branch. Grass not very good, though good to some that we have had. Bunch grass and wild wheat. August 2
Moved at seven o'clock. Traveled six miles this morning and lay up till
evening. I washed all my dirty clothes up and prepared for traveling. The

rest of the train all caught up with us this evening. Traveled 3 miles this
evening to the Citty Rocks. Camped on a Spring Branch. Plenty of feed.
Reports of Indians ahead. Have not seen any yet. One team in the pasture
besides Mr. Woodmans and one train which is only two wagons. Very pretty
place here. Looks like an old ruined town. It is composed of scattering rocks
at an unequal distance from each other, all over the valley. 9 miles.
August 3
Left camp at seven. Passed up thru the City of Rock, more of a curiosity than
they were in the valley. A great deal larger than the others, and look more
like ruins of houses. some look like modest retired little cottage with its
shrubbery of cedar in the front of the yard. Names of the first that crossed
the Plains as plain as those put on recently. I saw no names that I was
acquainted with. We have not written our names n any of the rocks. Came into
the Salt Lake Road today. Travel 20 miles and camped on Goose Creek. Water
not good. Alkaheish. Some supposed to be injurious to stock. Grass not so
good either but plenty of it.
20 miles August 4
Moved 20 minutes past 8. Traveling up Goose Creek. Have to cross some ridges.
Fine grass, some alkali, also in the water. Reputed an unhealthy stream for
cattle. Travel four miles and camp on the same creek-one mile below the
canon. Good grass, buffalo chips for fuel. 14 miles
August 5
Move at seven a.m. Send an advance guard thru the canon. (Here we had
anticipated trouble with the Indians.) No Indians to be seen. Pass thru all
safe and strike for water. Said to be some twelve miles off. rather a rough
road for 10 miles. Stop and noon without water. Very little grass sage
brush in abundance. Travel about six miles further to water and cam for the
night on a spring Branch. No grass scarcely at all except some dry bunch
grass and that scarce.
16 miles

August 6
Leave camp half past seven this morning. Travel most all day without grass or
water. some alkali water. We are now in Thousand Spring Valley. Some very
large Springs around. Pure good water and an abundance of grass but not the
best quality. Bad water thru here and generally reputed to be the most
unhealthy part of the trip for stock of all kinds. So far we have come
without the total loss of a single animal and by good management hope to have
the sam~ luck thru the balance of our trip. Travel 18 miles and camp at what
is called the Wells. The best water in the valley(Thousand Springs.) The
wells consist of numerous round holes in the valley of all sizes, some of
which are perhaps as much as twenty or 50 feet deep. At any rate not knowing
the depth I should judge it to be enormous. 0 I forgot the wood. We have only
cow or ox chips for fuel and they are rather moist. 18 miles
August 7
Move at 7 a.m. this morning. We left The Wells and pursued our journey on up
the valley. A large good for nothing valley without it is to produce
sagebrush, greasewood and alkali. All three are in abundance and are of no
use to man, except the sage brush which answers for fuel when we can get no
wood. The mountains border the valley on all sides. We traveled up the valley
six miles and came to the much talked of Hot Springs on the Left hand side of
the road. There was something interesting about them, something to call forth
the powers of an intellectual mind, to solve the mystery of why


this water is
hot and where it comes from. The water is clear and nice but not good for
health either of person or stock. I put my hand into several of the springs.
It wasn't so hot but what I could hold my hand in it. Most all of the water
was covered with a very unpleasant looking foam of a reddish and yellow
color. The smell from off the water was also unpleasant, and I should think
unhealthy too, to be about it long. The ground all around is covered with
alas white as it could be. The earth has the appearance of an ash bank. On
the whole it is a place that I would not like to live if there were any other
place to be found. We left the Springs and continued our course up the valley
for several miles, crossed the little Branch and passed the wagons that were
ahead of us. We then struck for the mountains, a distance of six miles over
nice level road. The valley here is covered with sage brush. Before we
arrived at the foot of the mountain we came to a small spring Branch. Water
scarce. The stock all got water. Watered our horses at the spring-nice cold
water from under the mountain but most too close to the road to keep clear
and nice
So close that the wagons roll dirt in and keep it stirred up. We drove about
a half mile above and camped for the night in a canon in the hills, a very
nice place. Grass not extra plenty but the stock will have time to fill
themselves up. We stopped early. Did not eat our dinner till we stopped to
camp. Traveled fifteen miles a short distance but we could go no further
without traveling after night as it is 14 miles to the next water. It seems
that thins are so arranged that we cannot hurt our stock easily or has been
so for the last several days, and perhaps for our good, that we may not weary
or fatigue our stock, and they will be stronger on the latter part of the
road. Two other trains in the little valley besides our company and perhaps
more will be in by night.
15 miles

Move this morning halt past 7 o'clock. Put Betsey in the wagon to work this
morning for the first time on the road. she travels very well. Don't pull as
much as she might. corsen throwed Vic this morning and broke Mr. Guill ' S
saddle all to pieces so that it could not be mended, caused by carelessness
by stopping behind the rest of the horses. Pass over a range of hills this
morning, not very steep. Travel 10 miles and dine on,-I suppose-the head
waters of the Humboldt river. Five digger Indians came to our waggon today.
They appeared friendly. Mr. Guill bought a buckskin from one of them for one
dollar. A good skin. Move again at three o'clock on down the branch over
tolerable good road for this country. Travel 8 miles this evening and stop
for the night in a small bottom where there is plenty of alkali and plenty of
grass but not good.
August 9
A pleasant morning. Stock all well I believe. We had some music last night by
Mr. Wilkeson on the fiddle. Sounded well. Move at 7 o'clock this morning.
Have a very good road today. Traveling down the Humbloldt. Travel ten miles
and stop for the day. Good grass and water. August 10
A pleasant day, rather warm. Move at 7. Still traveling down Humboldt. Nice
road. Little rough in the bottoms, cut up by sloughs. Fine road ox and cattle
feed along here. Ben sick this morning. Indians plenty along here. They have
not pestered us any yet. Traveled 16 miles today. August 11
Leave camp 15 minutes past 7 o'clock this morning and pursue our journey n

down the creek. Very good road with the exception of sloughs. considerable
alkali in places. Drove 11 miles and stopt and nooned on the creek. Good
grass and plenty of Indians around us. Saw 19 at noon. Mr. Guill brought two
skins from them. Move at two o'clock, pass over some alkali. Ground as white
as snow. The river run through three canyons this eve. We had to take to the
hills. They were rather sandy but as it happened the most of the sand was
going down hill. We had a stampede in a train ahead of usr that is traveling
as neighbors. Young Wilkison from Mo. his loose cattle got scared at his dog
ran past the teams and started them off. Only two wagons-one only ran about
200 yards. The oxen took a turn for the old road. Turned the wagon over and
broke one of the axle trees off. The other I suppose run near a half mile
before it was stopt none of them hurt.
August 12 Sunday
Travel 9 miles this evening. Leave camp at 7. Cool and pleasant for
traveling. Now Mr. Wilkeson had not got through mending his waggon when we
started. Mr. Guill hired his guard through. Traveled 9 miles on down Humboldt
and stopt to noon. Fine grass and plenty of it. Stock doing well so far. Just
stopt and here comes sneaking Indians around already. The brush is full of
them. They are filthy and dirty set of Indians. Move again at three. Travel 9
miles and camp in a nice place plenty of grass. August 13
Leave camp half past six. Travel through a canon. One road went over the
hills. The road we are now traveling hasn't been traveled before this spring.
(This morning we had a scene. On Tuesday (next lines have been erased) ease
and gracefulness. Traveled 19 miles today. Crossed Humboldt 5 times.
Crossings most of them good, low banks gravelly bottom. Some nice places in
the canon. Signs where Indians have been and probably some scattering ones
now and then yet Drove across the river to camp. The river is a considerable
sized stream. Go to washing as it is sooner than we generally stop, and
washing is a thing dread and the sooner it is done the better. Indians come
to camp to pay us a visit. Always stay till after supper. I suppose it is
fashionable for them to stay. August 14
Pleasant morning. Move half past 7 this morning. Cross back over the
Humboldt. Have a mountain of 18 miles to cross. About half mile to the post.


Tolerable steep in places, -up one hill and down another. Very rocky in
places. Travel 9 miles and stop for dinner on the mountain at some springs.
The black crickets thick in places along here. A great curiosity to me. They
are so large. They live I suppose on the wild wheat from its looks, and
grass. Move at two passing down through a canon. The roughest we have come
over yet I believe. Off one on to another. Some times almost throw me out of
the waggon. Liza tore off one of her shoes coming over the rocks. Travel 9
miles more and descend off the mountain. Glad am I that we are over this one.
Grass eat up clean in the first bottom on this side of the river. Cross
Humboldt and go down on the south side. Nice crossing here. It is called the
Gravelly Ford. One hundred miles down the river from the head. Grass scarce
about the ford so we have to go down some distance to find good grass and
plenty of it. No Indians visited us yet. August 15
Leave camp half past seven. The road is nothing but dust along here. Can
hardy see the teams sometimes. Hot. Wind enough stirring to blow it off.
Travel 11 miles down this side of the river and stopt to noon. Good grass.
Willows full of natives. Not more than unhitched till they began to come out
to see us. About one dozen of them to trade. Bought some fish from them for
crackers. Never see any squaws among them. Move at three. Again cross the
river to the north side to keep from climbing over some hills. The river is
low and can be crossed very easy where the banks are not steep. Gravelly
bottom. In most places an abundance of fish. Travel 5 miles more and camp in
good grass, a little off from the river on account of the natives. More
Indians here again, some of them the same that was at our wagons today at
noon. Mosquitoes very bad. Quite a complaint among the boys about them. Smoke
wont send them away.
Part 3
August 16
Leave camp at half past 7 this morning and our Indian visitors and went on
our journey down Humboldt across sloughs and through dust too bad to endure, but then we have to do and with patience too. Mosquitoes bad besides. Travel 8 miles and stop to give refreshment to our stock and to ourselves on nice grass. Stock all well so far. Half past two we move again. Leave 8 or 9
Indians peeping around the willows a fishing. Travel 18 miles and camp late.
Grass not as good as it has been heretofore. Had some fish for supper, small
but good and sweet.
August 17

19 miles
Move at half past 7 otclock and pursue our journey onward toward California
our destined home. Traveled some distance and stopped for to take our dinner.
Had good food for the stock. I tried to catch some fish but I had no luck.
Too poor a fisher to catch them. Mr. Guill and Ben caught several small ones.
There is some very nice fish in the river. The water is getting worse every
day. It was a nice clear stream at first and very good it tasted But now it
is muddy and bad tasted. Moved at half past two. Had some dust this evening.
Travel 18 miles and stopt for the night in a bottom of nice grass but
considerable alkali which renders it rather a bad camping place with stock.
When we stopt I thought I would try and catch some fish. Sat n the bank of
the river a few minutes and I was glad to get away with myself from the
mosquitoes, for I really thought they would carry me away without any
ceremony at all. I believe there is more and they bite worse than all I ever
saw before in my life. The stock can hardly feed for them. I suppose the
cause of so many are the sloughs of stagnant water. Supper almost ready. Some
fish. I wish I could get rid of the mosquitoes. Smoke won't drive them away.
August 18
Leave camp at half past seven a.m. and leave this mosquito place. Not much
hope of a better one on the river. Travel over alkali ground this morning.
The earth is white with and perfectly barren except sage brush. Some ponds of
alkali water in places along the road early in the spring. There is plenty of
it. The first train has a great deal more of it than we have. The most of the
ground we have traveled over this morning is overflowed land although it is
baked hard now, only the road and that is dust. Traveled 18 miles and watered
the stock. Mosquitoes too bad to stop near the river. Drove to the out edge
of the bottom and stopt for dinner. Toady we have been married 5 months. Had
some pies and the rest of our peaches for dinner. 0 bust they tasted well. It
has been so long since we have had anything new to eat. The mosquitoes are
flocking around us as is usual when we stop.
Move at two o'clock again n our march down the river. Travel till late these
evenings on account of it being too warm in the middle of the day. We leave
both of the roads and go down in a canon and camp. Expect to cross below
somewhere to the other side of the river. Mosquitoes still getting worse the
farther down we do. The wind is blowing very hard. It drives them away some, but whenever it ceases to blow they come in swarms. Have to put
on gloves and ties up our heads and necks and then let them bite

August 19
Sunday morning. Has the appearance of rain this morning. Something uncommon
along here in the summer. Very pleasant and cool early but it generally turns
very warm through the day
We are now between two mountains, a very picturesque place. Mountains on all
sides of us. They are now looking out a ford to cross the river. Cross the
river and travel down on the south side. Some sand in places. Making a cut
off on those on the north side of the river. Drove 9 miles and stopt for our
dinner. had some nice clear water once more but not cold. No Indians today.
Move at three. This evening cool and pleasant for traveling. Did not get into
camp till late. Nice grass. Looks like a meadow ready to mow. August 20
Move at half past seven a.m. on down the river. Beautiful road. Traveled 9
miles and stopt for our dinner. God grass, some sand hills before us. Some
more Indians came to our wagon today at noon. They were of the Piute tribe
could talk English very plain. No more danger of them now. Move at 3 p.m.
Warm. travel over some very heavy sand. Hard on the team. Travel 6 miles more
and camp on the river still. Caught up and camp past Hany's train last night.
All well. Daniel Darnel is now a traveling with Wilkison. He is going to Napa
Valley the same place where the company he is with are going. August 21
Pleasant morning cool and nice for traveling. We come very near having a rain
last night. It did sprinkle a little but none to do any good. Move at half past 7 a.m. Have some sand hills to climb. Heavy sand for a
mile. Travel 7 miles and cross the river. The last time rather

deep crossing
but it did not run into the waggon any. Move a stretch for the meadow of 18
miles. Move at half past 2 p.m. Had a sprinkle of rain. Fine evening for
traveling. The wind blowing a lively gale all evening. The dust was bad but
it kept on one side of the waggon mostly. Travel 11 miles and campt on the
river. The last time without we lay up. August 22
Left camp a quarter to eight and strike for the meadows. Keep down the river
the most of the time. Crossed some hills, not very bad. Reached the meadow at
half past ten. Stopt for noon. A trading post here or some traders from Honey
lake. Got some blankets and some spread over a scaffold. Have provisions and
whiskey to sell to emigrants at a big price. Not the best to get out of the
eatables along here without you have plenty of money. Move at half past three
and bid goodbye to Humboldt River. 60 miles without grass and but 3 watering
places. Had a nice little shower on us as we started out. Hauled hay along
for our horses. Traveled up a gradual slant to the mountains. 12 miles to the
first water. Got in about 10 p.m. and took our supper at Antelope Springs.
move again half past 11 p.m. Not much sleeping tonight with us. Travel till 3
a.m. and stop to rest the stock and take a nap. August 23
Move at 5 a.m. Without our breakfast 18 miles from Antelope Springs to Rabbit
Hole Springs. These springs have been worked on by the Government. They are
formed in trenches and pools and walled in with rocks so that stock can
water. We reached the Rabbit Hole springs half past 9 a.m. by a circuitous
road through the mountains. Stock watered, we fix for breakfast next.
Breakfast soon prepared and over. We must travel on till we get to grass. 18
miles more to the Hot springs. Have to travel one more night before we get
through. Drove in 5 and a half miles of the hot springs and stop for supper
and feed our stock. Move again
as soon as supper is over. We start for the spring, not very dark. travel on
till we get on the Salt Desert then we lost our road and wandered for awhile
till we got past the spring. Never got sight of it at all. When we got on the
desert we could hardly tell which way to go. could see no object unless it
was a dead cow brute. The desert was covered with them. stopt at a quarter of
12. Tie all the horses up for there is nothing here, not even to make a fire.
Feed the last of our hay away to the cattle and horses. Our stock is
beginning to get very tired. We traveled three or four miles past the spring,

before we stopt.
August 24
Move again still in the desert. Clear this morning and we can see the hills
or mountains, but it seems we cannot gain on them any. there is a crust of
salt on the ground. It gets very warm on them when the sun is shining. The
smooth surface reflects heat. Kills a great deal of stock in crossing it. It
was cloudy all the time we were crossing. Got to water a 8. Not very plenty
of it either and what is salt water. No grass here now. There has been so
much emigration that it is all eat off and dried up. Drove our cattle and
horses up on the side of the mountain. Not much grass. Move 4. On another
12 mile stretch. Go one mile and stop for our supper by some salt grass. When
stock is hungry they will eat it, but they don't like it. some hot springs
just before us. The ground is covered here with as pretty salt as I ever saw.
Move as soon as supper is over. Can see the steam from off some hot springs.
They are off the road some distance. Three of the boys went down to them.
They were boiling hot and very large. We could see the steam half a day
before we got to them. Water a clear as crystal. They all have a bad smell
about them. dark overtakes us at them. As soon as we got around the foot of
the mountains we could see camp fires on the creek where we were aiming for, about 8 miles off. we traveled faithful til a quarter of 12 before,we got to camp. Drove up to the edge of the bottom and turned the cattle loose in the rush about the spring till morning. And when the day first began to show its light, and we could see over the bottom, it was covered with emigrants who had been ahead of us and way laying up here recruiting their stock for the next desert. Very good grass of the kin. One company out from California to meet their friends. The whole family was along, children too. Trains still coming in. We wanted to lay by a day and a half. We went up on the side of the mountain about three miles from the road. Beautiful grass and healthier
than it was below in bottom. August 25
There was a great many dead cattle in the bottom and around it so that it
rendered it very unpleasant to camp in. Where we are now the air is pure and
the water too, good mountain water. there is a mountain above us, the highest
I believe that we have saw on the road. Looks like it was composed mostly of
rock. We are not, it is said, in the most dangerous place of Indians on the
road.
They a great trouble to the first emigrants that crossed,


murdering and
stealing. They are the Piutes. They live in the mountains around between
Honey Lake and the Humboldt. The soldiers have been out amongst them this
spring and made peace with them. August 26
Sunday
I have never saw but a few of them. They keep off the road. They say that
they are well armed and brave men in battle. It is now a raining and has been
most all morning, and it showered in the night a little. something uncommon
here. The rain now has wet the ground considerably, and is not done yet.
rained most all day. Not going to move today. Cut some flay for the next
desert, but it hasn't dried much yet. August 27
Pleasant morning-this rain (is) over. The sun shining bright, drying our hay.
6 wagons of us, as has been for a while past. 3 companies or trains. Lay up
till evening before we start n the desert and Indian around our camp now
waiting for his dinner I suppose. Move out half past 2 on the desert. We have
no road for four or five miles, very rough and hard on the teams. The rain
had softened the sand which made it heavy. Struck the road about dark. It is
firm and better than none. travel till past 8 and stop. Get our supper, but I
was so sleepy that I did not get any. As soon as supper is dispatched we move
again. Travel until three, stopt till day.

August 28
As soon as light appeared we moved on till we reached water and grass about
twelve. Very nice grass in the canon but the canon is narrow and rough and in
a hostile region so that it cannot be campt in safely. About five miles
through it before we came to open ground. Grass not so good, on sick heifer, This evening the name of the creek is Blue. Not good water not healthy for
stock., Mr. Woodman moved out this evening for Honey Lake on account of his
cattle. I do not expect that we will catch him this side of the Lake.
Our sick cow died.
August 29
Warm morning. This morn 4 of the boys left us for trifle. I left because the
other two left. Travel 8 miles and take our supper. Move again a 6 o'clock
and travel till 2 p.m. and waited till day and then drove into Honey Lake, a
tavern by the side of the road, with some vegetables for sale. Bought some
potatoes and onions. 0 how good they tasted. I liked to foundered. Lay up
till evening and then move again. soon after we started it commenced to rain, thundered and lighteninged and poured down for an hour as hard as I ever saw
it rain anywhere. It rained till it wet most everything in the wagon. Had to
stop when it was raining the hardest. I got wetter than I have been since I
left home. Travel on nothing but mud and water. cannot tell when I'm driving
into a rut, there is so much water. Drive 8 miles and camp awhile after
night, Got a very good camp after all. good grass and water in abundance all
around.


August 31
We are not in white settlements once more and have been since yesterday.
Chickens crowing of a morning makes it seem like home. Very nice valley and
looks like The hay that is put up here is nice and a great deal of it. I
suppose for sale. Move at 8 o'clock. Travel 8 miles and lay up for the day.
Pass some farms on the road. We are now in two miles from Susanville a little
town situated at the upper end of the valley. Peddlers around peddling
vegetables, potatoes, 5 cents a pound, onions, 20 cents for small ones, turnips 3 cts a lb We bought some onions yesterday. Watermelons 25 cts. for small ones. At that did not buy any. can see people riding out in their buggies. It looks strange to see men riding around dressed as though it was Sunday with their boiled shirts on. Sept 1 Sat. A pleasant morning. some frost last night. Travel two miles and pass through Susanville a passable little town for Honey Lake. soon after we pass through town we came to the mountains thick timbered. The first thing that I discovered was the oak tree. The tree that I was borned and raised under. I had not seen any since I left the States. The mountain rather rough.
Everything sounds strange in timber. travel 12 miles and camp for the day in
a very nice place.
Sept 2
Sunday'morning pleasant. Last night ice froze in the pan and bucket an inch
thick, felt like winter this morning awhile. Moved a few miles and met Mr.
Guill's overseer coming out to meet us. So we got to hear from home. Crossed
the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Drove into the edge of the
mountain meadows and stopt to take our dinner. Mr. Guill sold his mare that I
brought out for 170 dollars. Moved again several miles and campt. Late when
we got in camp. Drove up in the edge of the pine timber. Very cold of
evenings, night and morning. Seems cold enough to snow. Sept 3
We left the mountain meadow at one o'clock and struck out for the Lawson
meadows on the Feather River, a large crowd of us. Mr. Woodman' 5 hands six of
them going to Humbug with us. Left our loose stock at the mountain meadows
with Mr. Woodman till winter sets in, only taking the team and 4 others down
with us to the valley. Drove about 6 miles and campt. Had beautiful grass for
our stock. Well, we have plenty of wood now, for we would freeze if we did
not, it is so cold here in the mountains of nights. Sept4
Leave our nice little camp and strike out over the rough

mountains to the big
meadows. Roads very rough and rocky. makes about ten o'clock, but it is a
very wet and marshy place. I saw six farms on the opposite side of the
valley. Looked like very nice hoses at a distance. travel around the bottom.
Found some mountain strawberry. They grow on bushes instead of vines. 0 they
were so good, and nice I could have ate a great many more if I could got
them. Travel on to Feather river and nooned on its banks. It is a nice stream
clear as crystal, and not a small stream either at that. All pure spring
water. Move again about two o'clock cross over the river. we forded it, not
very deep.
Drove out several miles and Mr. Guill found some of his neighbors and stopt
and campt. Turned his stock in a pasture. The lady of the house came down to
see us at night. Her name was Conner. Sept 5
Move again as soon as we got ready. Our next point is Humbug Valley 8 miles
from where we campt. The road had been worked on, was in tolerable order for
a mountain road. We reached Humbug about twelve o'clock. Several hours in
town and it is a very pretty place. The town is up in the Pinery and the
sloping valley. Below it plenty water around the town. The town is supported
by mines principally. They don't pretend to raise anything up here. They
follow herding stock and wintering. They have plenty of hay up the little
valleys. Most of them are fenced up to keep stock off of them and to hire
their pastures. Mr. Guill bought some hay here for his horses price $2.50 for
one hundred pounds. Move for Grizzley Valley next. The distance is 5 miles
and up a mountain all the way. We soon reached the vale, all fenced in to
pasture by an old back I suppose.
Went 4 miles further and campt one mile this side of old man Seagraves.

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