Pioneer Diaries
Five months have passed since we left Fort Independence. The trip has taken its toll on us and the other members of our wagon train. There have been broken wagons, sickness, lack of water, and other terrible problems. Since we left Fort Choice, the trip has become even more difficult and dangerous. The trail has been much narrower, the threat of attack has been almost constant, and now we are in the middle of Devil’s Flat Desert. Ten days ago we filled our water barrels at the last water hole on the trail. Now those water barrels are almost empty, the livestock are thin and sickly and a few cattle have even died. Here are the thoughts of some of the wagon train members:
Clara Rise
This first diary is by Clara Rise. The crowded land of Kentucky has made Clara and her husband Robert mad! They decide to leave their family and go on the Hacker Trail. Clara has 2 mules and no children. They are ministers at a well-known church in Kentucky.
clara_rise_diary.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Anna Ives
Anna and her husband Martin Ives immigrated from England with their 18 year old daughter Irene, their 20 year old son Dave, and 2 oxen. Their old, small farm has not grown any vegetables all summer, so they are going to Oregon. They hope Oregon has great soil for their crops.
anna_ives_diary.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Sophie Cline
Sophie and Norm Cline are living in Indiana but have decided to move west. Their 6 year old daughter Beth and Sophie’s mother Emma are traveling with them. Sophie loves the soil in Indiana, but everyone started to move in so she wanted to move to Oregon. She has 4 oxen, 6 cows and 1 horse- she is pretty rich for a farmer.
sophie_cline_diary.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Martha Long
The next diary is by Martha Long. She and her husband Allen are from Minnesota. Martha has a 12 year old daughter named Abigail, 1 ox named Loxy, 2 cows named Dixie and Trixie, and 2 mules named Paint and Pinto. Allen and Martha were middle class farmers who want a nice place for their crops.
martha_long_diary.docx | |
File Size: | 21 kb |
File Type: | docx |