June 13, 1854 Walter and Kathleen Sanders

We are far into our trail now. We are, to be exact, at prairie crossing. Our meals are fair and not to bad but, trust me they are not the best! We are fed a small share. Each family decides how much each person gets. For our family it is one dried fruit for breakfast and a half a pound of beef with two vegetables. Those are only on the days when we do not go hunting. When we do go hunting we have much more food and we split up whatever we found in the wagon train. We are all a team. Except for Nate Page. His son and him decide to go a bit solo. They take different trails than the group and separate often. It is not that we are not found of him and exclude him; he just chooses to go sometimes. But when the He does stay with us we do share many things with him. He has a very different mind. There are not much homesteads on the trail. Our provisions are good and we are doing very well. We are resolute to get to our next checkpoint or fort. The boys in our family sleep under the wagon and the girls sleep in the covered wagon if there is enough room, if not then they can sleep outside. We are moving quiet fast too.
while on the trail we saw beautiful things that the human eye is incredulous that it is actually seeing it. The prairie is beautiful with lush grass and few trees, it is amazing. You can see so far out into the distance and it is amazing. We find many native plants, animal, and people. Everyone is friendly so far but I think I spoke too soon.
although it has been peaceful we have had some terrible things happen. Ruby bryyant fell into the fire and had burnt hand for a long time. We also had to split up our group so Nate page and his son will go on the burial grounds while the rest of the wagon train will go on the Cheyenne river trail. We also came upon a field that had such thick grass it delayed us and we had to cut a pathway to get through.
My family and I are holding in there as you would say. sometimes we can get a little emotional like every family should after leaving their home and we also have young children that complain all the time. Honestly I could not stand it so i left for a while and talked to the wagon train about our plan. I think our family will be just fine for the time being but, no one can tell what the future may hold so we will wait. Because we can.

Nate Page April 13, 1854

Dear diary,
                  My wagon train and i have gotten along together very well no arguments or fight broke out while i was with them. I broke off of my wagon train to go on a faster but dangerous path. The wild oxen here have eaten a lot every piece of grace is trimmed perfectly short with leaving no food for my animals good thing i brought lots of food for  all my animals. A while back we accidentally made a brush fire and had to high tale it of there it was spreading every where the blazing hot orange flame running across the plains trying to catch us. We have made many accidents along the way we even had a wagon train member fall into the fire when they were trying to cook dinner there hand where blistered like crazy bumps all over but thankfully we hada doctor in our train Dr.Dan helped that wagon member out she's fine now. I am now on a path that goes over indians sacred burial ground and The Native Americans here are said to be very hostile hope fully we will not be attacked as we our going over the burial grounds. Its just me and my son now on this dangerous trail it gets a little lonely out here by our selves. We sometimes think if we brought everything we needed of course we forgot some things but we forgot a family heirloom thats been bothering us for a while. I brought lots of water thankfully because there is barely any water on the trail my son and I are on, and thankfully its still potable. My son thinks this was a bad decision going on this perilous trail alone. My son james and I eat Bacon in the morning and dried beef in the evening sometimes i wonder if i brought enough food. Our sleeping habits aren't the bast and aren't the worst. Our dogs though they bark very loud at the coyotes at night i am thinking about tying their mouthes closed with rope next time. The prairie is plain not a single tree the grass is short where there is any and its fairly warm every day and as cold as ice in the night.

Dr.Dan May, 1854

Dear Diary,                                                                                                                      May 29, 1854


My family is having trouble getting into the daily routine of the trail. First you must wake up at about 6 am to start getting ready. Then you have to go eat breakfast with non palatable food, and non potable drinks. We also have to go far out into the prairie to try and find trees, and signs of civilization. If we cannot find sings of civilization, or trees we usually ask our wagon master what to do next and he usually says, "we shall move forward". The members on our wagon train are getting along very nicely, for now. You never know when something bad could turn up, and all of the people on our wagon trail would never get along again! For now all is well. We have already made the decision of leafing Nate Page, and his son go of on to the burial grounds trail. On their own! I thought they must have gone mad. I thought for a moment that, what if he had become a radical? This thought made me shiver, because the thought of radicals were so hard to think of. They were just insane! With all of their crazy stunts, and tricks. They must have to gone mad.

The prairie was beautiful last night, with the sunset. It just makes me wonder what that sunset would be like at home. Now our home is here, but now our home is in the West. I will still miss my old home dearly, but now it's time to move on to a new life. Anyway the prairie today on the other hand, was like an old sand box. Abandoned. Nothing, I mean nothing was there only us. I did spot one tree from a far distance I got everyone so happy, but then as we came closer to the tree it was dead. We were all so disappointed. Our one, and only tree dead. There were also a few patches of prairie grass, but not much. At least it is enough for our animals to fead on. We could not find water any ware today, and yesterday. So our animals are weaker than ever before, and we are also weaker than ever before! It is awful. I hope we will reach the West grounds that we are looking for. It would be a dream come true for me, and my family, and my whole wagon trail.

We have had many fates bestowed on our wagon trail. One was that Ruby Bryant had to wright a paragraph about how to heel her burnt hands! Then we had a prairie fire, it was awful. We also had to spend multiple hours searching for fire wood. My wife was very mad at me for not bringing our fire wood. Then I had to write a paragraph about how to heel a rattle snake bite. The rattle snake bit hurt so much. My wife, and daughter got very worried. I assured them that I would be fine, but they did not believe me. They were still there by my side for the whole day. I would change the time that we made that trail decision about splitting up our wagon train. We should have left our wagon train together. I am worried about Nate Pages safety with his son James. I hope they make it threw the burial grounds trail. After all of this my family is happy to be on this trail, but at times it can be ruff. We are beginning to become more adventurous, and loyal. I hope we can stay like this forever.    

Ruby Bryant, May 15, 1854

May 15, 1854

     It has been a very tedious journey. My family has been through a lot this trip.  Jacob and Anna  both came down with dysentery which is an infection. My poor children are sick with diarrhea.  I keep giving them extra water so they don't die. Hopefully, this water is potable. Is it the water that made them sick?  My mind is running in circles with reasons for the dysentery. They need water because they are unable to eat.  Only David, John and I eat from the provisions.  The choice was tough, beef jerky and hot, mushy soup when we camped.  I feel some relief because my master has excused me from making meals since Jacob and Anna are so ill and also because I am recovering from severe burns on my hands. I fell into a fire.  I have written in journal because of this.  It has been terribly painful but nothing like the pain of another wagon train member suffer from snake bite.
     Tonight, David and I will sleep outside with howling winds with Jacob and Anna since they are so sick.  We will be up taking them to the latrine.  I pray each moment for them to survive this perilous infection.
     I must write about something happy.  Today, there was a ride through a beautiful sight of long flowing grass covered with colorful wild flowers. I was told it is called a prairie.  This is a new word for me.  Big, black birds with large wing spans drifted on the powerful winds.  Dust blew up in our eyes as the wagon moved along the worn trail.  
     My writing was just interrupted with David announcing the wagon master has decided that tomorrow we will head for the Cheyenne River Trail instead of taking a shorter route through the Burial Grounds Trail. David explains the wagon master and the men have decided it is better to take the safer route than to cross a Indian burial ground.  There has been word that other wagon trains have been attacked for crossing the burial grounds. Nate Page has decided to leave the wagon train and to take the other route.
     Overall, I am exhausted and I now face another night with little sleep.  I am terrified that Jacob and Anna may die if the infection does not clear up.  The beautiful sights of the prairie gave me hope that it is all going to work out.  I pray this is true.

Introducing Dr.Dan and Esther Cotten

Dear Diary,

Today, we made the decision of moving West. I expect that the walk to Oregon will be traitorous, and exhausting. My wife and I are worried about the supply of food and water for our selves, our daughter, and all of the brave folks that will be traveling with us. I am also worried for the lives of our animals, we have two oxen, and one horse that we also need to supply food for. My wife is mostly concerned about what Indian Tribes will be on the path to the West, that makes me worry too. What my family is most exited about is a new start to our lives! New lands, new soil, new animals, and new foods will be in the West.

June 22, 1854 - Juan Hernandez

My experience on the trail has been full of ups and downs. The trail that has been set for us has been very dry. The grass has turned to mud and the mud has dried and made a hard, dusty path for the wagon train. The prairie next to the trail has been sharp, but plentiful of fruits and berries. For my dinner provisions, I eat some dried fruit, meat, and had a glass of water. For breakfast, I have bacon and dried fruit. I usually drink about two to three glasses of water a day. If we have spare time, we play cards with the set that Nate Page brought. I planned for just enough supplies, except for firewood.
The prairie is mostly flat, with a few bushes here and there. There are animals running around such as bisons, and prairie dogs are jumping and running. The path that I am on has potable water that we can drink and the animals around us can drink too. The grass is a faded green from all the animals that have run on it, and the rolling hills look beautiful in the sunset. The whole sight is just magnificent.
There has been many fates on this journey. First, as I already mentioned, I did not have enough firewood so I was scrambling to find some. Next, Ruby Bryant fell into the fire and burned her hands. She was calmly cooking dinner and had to get the salt from her wagon, tripped over a rock right into the fire! It was a horrid sight. I forgot my rifle at my home and was forced to fight the bears by throwing my knife at them and running to the water where I could swim to safety. Eventually I went back to my wagon and headed off with everyone else. My wagon train handled all the problems with ease and were calm when they figured out the solution. I just wish that I had brought my rifle instead of going through that ordeal. I feel great about this trip. I am usually positive and I feed the little children in our wagon train. If I ever get down, I just think about the new, fresh, enormous farm lands in the West, and that cheers me up.

March 13,1854 Ruby Bryant

March 13, 1854
 
3:00 AM
     I didn't sleep well last night because I know the trip will be an arduous trip.  My husband and his father have lived an agrarian lifestyle. David, is not sure if he will be able to farm in California. It is a radical move to go on this trip to become free.  I am quite clever working with textiles so I plan to make clothes for money.  This thought helps calm me somewhat, but then I think about the crossing rivers and open frontier.  I am deathly scared of water.  No one in my family can swim. How can we cross raging waters?   Will we have enough supplies?  Will we die of a lack of water?  Will Indians attack us?  Will other people on the wagon train treat us respectfully like our master?  I must not think of things in the middle of the night.  I must think of our freedom at the end of the trip and the beautiful sights along the way.
     It is not hard to choose to bring because our family does not own that much.  I watch my master and his family suffer with the sadness of leaving many beautiful items behind.  Their children are very sad to leave dolls and beautiful clothing behind.  My children are lucky in this way. The hardest part to decide on the amount supplies needed for our family and animals to survive. My husband has gone over the supply list with his master and it was packed in the wagon. I will cook for both family.  I must be careful not waste any food.


March 13, 1854


Later in the day
      We have left for Fort Independence. The loud squeaks of the wheels on the wagons trailing off, and the cries of people leaving their families and friends behind.  Are heard all around us.  Now, we  have left.  The trip has begun.  I am excited but extremely nervous.  I cried leaving my best friend Sally.  She is the slave of the next farmer over.  I will miss her children as well.  My children cried as the family said good bye to her little ones.  My heart is sad to leave behind the grave of my mother. Sally will weed around the marker and place flowers on it in the summer.
     The wagon train members have met.  Others train members have already traveled far and loaded up more supplies.  We traveled 10 miles to reach the Fort.
                                                         

Dr.Dan March, 1854

Dear Diary,                                                                                                                  March 5, 1854



Today, my family made the decision to go to the West. The Americans finally realized that it was the right time to have the Manifest Destiny. My wife and I think that the trip to the West will be difficult, with many obstacles in our way. I asured her that the Industrial Revolution had happend so, the technology was much better now. My daughter is worried about not having water for a long period of time, and also not having food. My wife is worried about not having fire wood, because we need fire wood on the trip for cooking and heat. I was also worried about that to, I was also worried about radicals they frightend me. I was also worried about the weather, because what if it starts to snow and we are not prepared? What if it is raining for days or weeks without end, and the camp site over flows with water? Anything could happen on this extremely, dangerous journey. I think that my wife has more worries than I do my self, but lets let her keep that to her self. What excites my family the most is the new start to our lives, in the West the new soil will be wonderful for our crops, the new frontier, the new people that we have yet to met.

When we were selecting items for our trip, it was a very difficult proses, because we had to leave a lot of stuff behind that we cared dearly for. This was also very time consuming. The manufactoring of our bagage was very hard, and confusing. My family was sad that we had to leave many of our clothes behind, and most of our food and water. Our family brang our horse, our two oxen's, and our first aid kits. I am a doctor so we must have our first aid kits at all times when we are traviling. My daughter wanted to bring almost all of her stuff like her mirror, her snow bots, her woven basket. We had to leave a lot of that stuff behind. My wife on the other hand barely packed anything, she only packet her woven basket, her blanket, and her spinning wheel. Unfortunately we had to leave a lot of that stuff behind too. I only needed a first aid kit, a pair of boots, clothing, and my pistol.

When my family left our home for the last time, it was very hard to say goodbye to the old house. We said goodbye, and headed to fort Independence. The whole way there my daughter was upset about leaving. My wife was in tears. I was almost in tears my self, but I didn't want my wife and daughter too get even more upset about this whole thing. On the way there we meet up with some of our friends that were going with us. The people that we meet up with were Walter and Kathleen Sanders, their two daughters, and their son. One other family that we meet up with were Nate Page and his son. We all went to fort Independence together, and when we arrived there we saw Paul and Ruby Bryant, and their two sons, their daughter, their grandfather, their male slave, and their female slave. We also saw Juan Hernandez. We were all ready to head off on our long, hard journey to the West!!

Nate Page March 3, 1854

Dear diary,  
                  It is March 3rd 1854. We are off on the frontier, and we are heading on the trail to Oregon. However, we are at the Fort Independence where we are to meet people to make a wagon train. We have passed textile mills, immigrants that were also heading west, and we have seen a radical women going out on the trail by herself ! It is arduous to walk alongside our wagon the whole way to Fort Independence. My son and I were tired after the first couple of hours. We are are worried about the ferry. I have heard it is as broken down as our house, but James and I look forward to the business we will get and the money we will make. We suspect that on the Oregon Trail we will get there in a few weeks, and hope the people we travel with aren't thieves that steal from you and leave you in the heat. It was very important to pick out all of our possessions to bring like how much animal feed to bring. With all our animals, especially our oxen, we need them to pull our wagon.

My son, James Page, is 15. To get our supplies faster to take out on the trail we split up for he is already 15 and so we could finish getting supplies in under an hour. We felt bringing food was very very important but we didn't want the animals to get some of our food and we also didn't want the dried meet going bad so we brought salt to help with our food problems except the animal problem of them getting to the food i guess we will have to risk it. We had to leave our home it was falling apart and breaking down but it still has sentimental value. James feels bad about leaving his friends Jack and Daniel smith. I feel Bad about leaving my small nice town with its baker named john he is the best gave me a free cake for my journey his bakery fills the square with its apple tarts and pies. Me and my son both miss the clash of my blacksmith shop the sparks flying on every hit the fire burning in the little cackling fire place by the side of my anvil. Me banging on different tools and my son feeding the fireplace and helping with orders from different people around the square and go through our news.  We hope we will get more work with people out west because of the gold rush and the need for tools in the gold rush. It wont be as quaint as our little town much more dirty and not as nice. Its for the business i guess. Uhh we need to move from this fort so we can get on to the Oregon trail and to the gold rush so we can get over this long journey.

May 26, 1854 - Juan Hernandez

Oh, I am so worried about these wagon thieves. They steal your wagons right under your nose. I am also worried about rabid animal eating up my food supply and possibly killing me on the spot, as well as the arduous path I will need to take to get to the West. The most important thing that I am worried about is radicals. Oh how I hate radicals. They come up with the most absurd ideas that I have ever heard of like being paid a set amount for manufacturing something. But on the bright side, I am looking forward to those beautiful frontiers and amazing farm lands where there will be miles and miles of fresh green grass. I could feed a whole family of oxen in one of those pastures, and have my wheat fields stretch out all across the lands
 How will I cross that treacherous river? I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. This whole journey excites me. It was so tough deciding which items to bring. Should I pick textiles or an extra pair of boots? A lantern or three candles? During the process of choosing, I felt a need to bring everything because the items are so sentimental to me. I had to leave behind lots of materials that could eventually help me, but I chose the ones that could help me on the upcoming trail expedition. I had many regrets leaving Fort Independence.
 A main regret was all my close friends back in Texas and I wondered if I could last this whole trip. I regret leaving behind the animals at the farm to die unless someone finds them and takes them in. I also regret not bringing another stove because the one I packed broke and now I have to eat raw food. It tastes disgusting! Luckily I have no family to worry about so I do not have to be held back by someone else, and can walk the trail by myself.
 When I left Fort Independence, the first thing I did was check to see if all my valuables were still in the wagon I bought for very cheap. As I finished my supply check, I stepped in mud and my feet got soggy. Well, that ruined my whole day! I slept on one of my blankets the first night and used the other two as a cover. I woke up to a howling dog that was riding in a wagon about 50 feet away from me. Who would bring a dog on an expedition? The next month all went by very slowly, mainly because I was doing the same thing everyday: wake up, eat some cooked meat or dried fruit, walk for the rest of the day unless I needed a break. If I needed a break, it would last ten minutes. Then go to sleep. During the last few days is where the real action came. As I was walking, another man came up to me and asked if I wanted to be in his wagon train. I said yes, but then yet another man asked if I wanted to be in his wagon train. I politely declined the second man's offer and said that I was already in a wagon train. The man didn't like this fact and decided to act on it, but he took this too far. He kicked the other man in the gut, and threw dirt in his face. Another man broke up the fight and made the trouble maker leave his own wagon train. Now, no one wants him in their wagon train.
I just walked over to where the injured man hobbled and introduced myself. I got to meet everybody in the wagon train. There names are: Ruby Bryant, Nate Page, Esther Cotton and Kathleen Sanders. Both Ruby Bryant's and Kathleen Sanders' husbands were scouting out other possible members for our Wagon Train.

April 30th,1854 Walter and kathleen Sanders

It was a radical winter. Food was extremely scarce. Our manufacturers could barely get the supplies to our shop for us to sell. Now that it is over my family and I are ready for a spring. We are traveling to Oregon soon. We want to explore more frontier, more indigenous plants and animals that we have never had the chance to see until now. I expect many things from the trip and the ending result. Everyone is ready for a better life and the only way to reach it is to go soon find land and restart our lives. It will be dangerous but we are willing to take risks. I expect the trip will be slow, painful, laboriously, and dangerous. Thieves and bandits could steal our supplies and we could starve to death without anyone knowing. Even if they did know who would stop to feed six hungry people? I also fear for my family’s health for if they are weak, it could be dreadful. But our family is too excited about our new land and new land out west.
Before going on this trip we need to prepare and pack. We cannot pack too much but it is difficult to ask my family to leave things behind, Especially Kathleen.  Each child would have two sets of cloths, one toy or thing to bring along, and one blanket. We felt as though we should bring a frying pan but we decided a Dutch oven would be multi use and if we do need it we can buy it on the way there. We also brought a loom fabric and a sewing kit since we cannot live on two pair of clothes.

We are on the road and soon enough we are at Fort Independence. It is long but not quite as long as this trip will be and we met many people on the way that might be in our wagon train. We were traveling for about 3 days when we encountered a young man. His Juan Hernandez and he travels alone. We found out later that we would be in the same wagon train. He has no family nor does he have a wife. We all decided to travel together until we departed but, we never did depart. The days were long and hot. Kathleen complains all the time about her sore feet so she had to ride in the wagon so she wouldn't be uncomfortable. Leaving our best friend’s home and our family we think is terrible but, we had to do it. I think everyone is a bit homesick from this experience. That is all for today I have to eat dinner now.

Introducing Ruby Bryant

     It's March 12, 1854 we are packing for our trip to California.   It will be sad to leave the friends we have made here in this small town of Independence, Missouri.  We are slaves in this state and treated well but in California we will be free.  This trip is scary but it will be worth the effort. I have three children; two sons ages 12 and 6 and one girl three.  My oldest son, John is strong and helpful.  Jacob the six year son wants to play most of the day but he is willing to help as well. Anna, the youngest is adorable and tries her best to perform chores. My father-n-law, Robert who is 67 will be joining us on this trip. It will be difficult for him due to his age. My husband David is 22 years old and strong.  I am 19 years old.  I know hard work and I will makes sure so that family survives this difficult trip.
     Independence, is busy place with a large, elegant red brick church that is surrounded by a white split rail fence and rocky pathway.  There are several large, majestic houses surrounding the church.  Down the different roads there are different shops such as a bakery with sweet, sugary pastry smells, and a coffee shop with strong coffee bean smells.  The horses' hoofs make a constant sound during the day of pulling carts and carriages.
     My owner lives a little out town owning a farm where my husband and father-n-law work.  My job is to work within the house cooking, cleaning and watching the children.  They have been a wonderful family to work for. 
Today is windy and a bit cold.  Our family is lucky because have been given from our owner 4 oxen and 6 cows.  We will serve our master and his family on the wagon train but we will gain our freedom in California. 

Introducing Walter and Kathleen Sanders

Its 1854 in the united states of america. Our ancestors have been fighting a long war with the British for years to free our country. Times are changing and the Indians have been pushed west. There is not enough room in the east and men are greedy. We are pushing west too to own our own land. We want freedom and large amounts of land to pass through our generations. Its a scary big world out there thats why we are  going in groups. I have heard of many people that have died on this trip. Theives and Indasin attacks but, it is all worth it. I will bring my family with me. My wife Kathleen, my two  daughters that are 6 and14 years old, my son who is 6, and another child that is expected in about five months. I live in Indiana and we are now realizing that the business is out west. we own a store and are planning to set up a new one out west for better business and Kathleen does not like Indiana. We are moving for really simple reasons. first of all there is better business in the west. Second our family does not have much land in Indiana so we decided for our sake and our children's to move west so they can inherit some land too. and lastly we don't really care about indiana it just does not feel like home to us so maybe the west will.

Introducing Nate Page

Dear diary,
                  The year is 1854 in the U.S. I have i son who is 15 years old and i work as a blacksmith and have lots of work all the time. With a house thats falling to pieces and creakes when every you take a step in side i almost fell through the stairs when me and my son were going to bed, and my sons room is 100 degrees in the summer and is below 0 in the winter. My furniture is dusty and i never get to use it because i am at work all the time and i hear that they found gold in out west and that could really help me and my blacksmith work.  So i have decided to move out west to have a fresh new happy start so we are leaving the great state of Ohio. I am taking my son and i, my 2 oxen, 2 mules, and my 1 horse me and my son will ride in the carriage pulled by the 2 mules at sometimes and i will have the 2 oxen pull as well so we can get to missouri and we are to meet with some folks to travel with along the hacker trail.

Introducing Juan Hernandez

Dear Diary,

         The time is 1854. I am heading for the West for a fresh start and better farm lands to support myself. My farm house is falling apart and my farm animals are slowly dying. I currently only have three oxen and five cows. I live in a shabby house with the paint chipping off. My cattle is my only support for money. I have no known relatives that are currently alive. Some people are talking about some "Manifest Destiny," and I do not believe in this one bit. I think the idea that Native Americans are being moved from their territory is truly horrible, but I should worry about myself and not argue with someone else's opinions. I currently live in Texas. My farm is located in an isolated part in the southern part of the state. The closest neighbor is 10 miles away. The farm is consistently buzzing with bees, mosquitos, and mice. Each blade of grass is a rich, dark green and the sun always blazes down on me.