DIARY OF JAMES AKIN, JR.
Thursday, April 15, 1852 - First day crossed Fish Creek, three-fourths of a mile; roads pretty good; plenty of water and wood.
Tuesday, April 20, 1852 - Roads very good; travel 16 miles; passed Ottumwa; pretty cold day; camp in good place, and plenty of wood and water. Overtook Caleb.
Wednesday, May 12, - Camped in the same place; rains in the evening. A man killed by the wagon running over him. Teams coming in all the time.
Tuesday, June 15, -- Laid by all day on account of sickness; not much grass; Caleb Richey and his company overtook us; plenty water, not much chips.
Wednesday, June 16 - Louise Richey died at 2 o'clock in the morning; traveled 15 miles; good roads; pleasant weather; camp on Platte; not much grass.
Wednesday, June 23 - Travel 12 miles; very hilly; bad roads; pine and cedar bluffs; cloudy, rainy weather: Elva Ingram died; camp in good place; plenty wood - no water.
Wednesday, July 7 - Travel 17 miles; drive the cattle two and one-half miles to grass; Joseph Mace overtook us; not much grass near; Indians camp one mile above us.
Saturday, July 10 - Travel 13 miles; good roads; crossed Sweet Water the last time; passed over the summit of the Rocky Mountains; Camp at Pacific Springs; pleasant day.
Sunday, July 18, -- Lay by all day; good grass near camp; sold and ox and bought a cow and an ox; Gillhams left the company; some rain and hail up the creek.
Friday, July 23, -- Travel 16 miles; very bad roads; cross Thomas' Ford on the bridge; paid $1.00 per wagon; camp on Bear River; good grass; mosquitoes bad; overtook Caleb Richey.
Saturday, July 31, -- Laid by all day; good grass; Miranda Jane Richey died; rained some in the evening; wood and water plenty.
Friday, August 20, -- Tow the cattle across the river between the wagon beds; ferry the wagons over in the evening. James Nicholson starts down the river in a wagon bed.
Sunday, August 22 -- Mother taken worse in the morning and died about 9 o'clock in the evening. We are now about 30 miles below Salmon Falls on the north side of Snake River.
Monday, August 23, -- Mother was buried about 10 o'clock in the morning about 200 yards above the crossing of the river. Travel eight miles to a spring.
Tuesday, August 24 - Lay by 'till noon; Moses Rhodes died in the morning. Travel 11 miles; good roads; camp on Dry Creek; water scarce; grass plenty.
Thursday, September 9 -- Lay by all day on account of sickness; company all left except Uncle Stewart and Caleb; not much grass; wood and water plenty; Eliza Ann Richey died at 9 o'clock p.m.
Sunday, October 10, -- James Nicholson, John T. Stewart and John Akin start with the cattle on the pack trail.
Thursday, October 14, -- Travel five miles; all leave the raft and go down the river in an Indian canoe except Uncle Stewart and W. A. Colter.
Friday, October 15, -- Reach the Cascades about 2 o'clock in the evening; everyone sick.
This is the last entry in the diary kept by James Akin, jr. Mrs. Nancy Hanson tells me that we paid the Indians who brought us down in the canoe $20 in money and our big tent. Our little sister, Mary Ann Akin, died at the scades and was buried there. We were at the Cascades about a week waiting for the steamboat to bring us down to Portland. Our father died two weeks after we reached Portland. Frances Rowe
There were eleven deaths in this company. From numerous sources, reasonably reliable, information has been secured which indicates that probably not less than five thousand persons died on the plains in the year 1852, principally from cholera--George H. Himes, Secretary This diary is copied from "Transactions of the 36th Annual Reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Association" Portland, OR June 11, 1908
Thursday, April 15, 1852 - First day crossed Fish Creek, three-fourths of a mile; roads pretty good; plenty of water and wood.
Tuesday, April 20, 1852 - Roads very good; travel 16 miles; passed Ottumwa; pretty cold day; camp in good place, and plenty of wood and water. Overtook Caleb.
Wednesday, May 12, - Camped in the same place; rains in the evening. A man killed by the wagon running over him. Teams coming in all the time.
Tuesday, June 15, -- Laid by all day on account of sickness; not much grass; Caleb Richey and his company overtook us; plenty water, not much chips.
Wednesday, June 16 - Louise Richey died at 2 o'clock in the morning; traveled 15 miles; good roads; pleasant weather; camp on Platte; not much grass.
Wednesday, June 23 - Travel 12 miles; very hilly; bad roads; pine and cedar bluffs; cloudy, rainy weather: Elva Ingram died; camp in good place; plenty wood - no water.
Wednesday, July 7 - Travel 17 miles; drive the cattle two and one-half miles to grass; Joseph Mace overtook us; not much grass near; Indians camp one mile above us.
Saturday, July 10 - Travel 13 miles; good roads; crossed Sweet Water the last time; passed over the summit of the Rocky Mountains; Camp at Pacific Springs; pleasant day.
Sunday, July 18, -- Lay by all day; good grass near camp; sold and ox and bought a cow and an ox; Gillhams left the company; some rain and hail up the creek.
Friday, July 23, -- Travel 16 miles; very bad roads; cross Thomas' Ford on the bridge; paid $1.00 per wagon; camp on Bear River; good grass; mosquitoes bad; overtook Caleb Richey.
Saturday, July 31, -- Laid by all day; good grass; Miranda Jane Richey died; rained some in the evening; wood and water plenty.
Friday, August 20, -- Tow the cattle across the river between the wagon beds; ferry the wagons over in the evening. James Nicholson starts down the river in a wagon bed.
Sunday, August 22 -- Mother taken worse in the morning and died about 9 o'clock in the evening. We are now about 30 miles below Salmon Falls on the north side of Snake River.
Monday, August 23, -- Mother was buried about 10 o'clock in the morning about 200 yards above the crossing of the river. Travel eight miles to a spring.
Tuesday, August 24 - Lay by 'till noon; Moses Rhodes died in the morning. Travel 11 miles; good roads; camp on Dry Creek; water scarce; grass plenty.
Thursday, September 9 -- Lay by all day on account of sickness; company all left except Uncle Stewart and Caleb; not much grass; wood and water plenty; Eliza Ann Richey died at 9 o'clock p.m.
Sunday, October 10, -- James Nicholson, John T. Stewart and John Akin start with the cattle on the pack trail.
Thursday, October 14, -- Travel five miles; all leave the raft and go down the river in an Indian canoe except Uncle Stewart and W. A. Colter.
Friday, October 15, -- Reach the Cascades about 2 o'clock in the evening; everyone sick.
This is the last entry in the diary kept by James Akin, jr. Mrs. Nancy Hanson tells me that we paid the Indians who brought us down in the canoe $20 in money and our big tent. Our little sister, Mary Ann Akin, died at the scades and was buried there. We were at the Cascades about a week waiting for the steamboat to bring us down to Portland. Our father died two weeks after we reached Portland. Frances Rowe
There were eleven deaths in this company. From numerous sources, reasonably reliable, information has been secured which indicates that probably not less than five thousand persons died on the plains in the year 1852, principally from cholera--George H. Himes, Secretary This diary is copied from "Transactions of the 36th Annual Reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Association" Portland, OR June 11, 1908
DIARY OF JAMES AKIN, JR.
Thursday, April 15, 1852 - First day crossed Fish Creek, three-fourths of a mile; roads pretty good; plenty of water and wood.
Tuesday, April 20, 1852 - Roads very good; travel 16 miles; passed Ottumwa; pretty cold day; camp in good place, and plenty of wood and water. Overtook Caleb.
Wednesday, May 12, - Camped in the same place; rains in the evening. A man killed by the wagon running over him. Teams coming in all the time.
Tuesday, June 15, -- Laid by all day on account of sickness; not much grass; Caleb Richey and his company overtook us; plenty water, not much chips.
Wednesday, June 16 - Louise Richey died at 2 o'clock in the morning; traveled 15 miles; good roads; pleasant weather; camp on Platte; not much grass.
Wednesday, June 23 - Travel 12 miles; very hilly; bad roads; pine and cedar bluffs; cloudy, rainy weather: Elva Ingram died; camp in good place; plenty wood - no water.
Wednesday, July 7 - Travel 17 miles; drive the cattle two and one-half miles to grass; Joseph Mace overtook us; not much grass near; Indians camp one mile above us.
Saturday, July 10 - Travel 13 miles; good roads; crossed Sweet Water the last time; passed over the summit of the Rocky Mountains; Camp at Pacific Springs; pleasant day.
Sunday, July 18, -- Lay by all day; good grass near camp; sold and ox and bought a cow and an ox; Gillhams left the company; some rain and hail up the creek.
Friday, July 23, -- Travel 16 miles; very bad roads; cross Thomas' Ford on the bridge; paid $1.00 per wagon; camp on Bear River; good grass; mosquitoes bad; overtook Caleb Richey.
Saturday, July 31, -- Laid by all day; good grass; Miranda Jane Richey died; rained some in the evening; wood and water plenty.
Friday, August 20, -- Tow the cattle across the river between the wagon beds; ferry the wagons over in the evening. James Nicholson starts down the river in a wagon bed.
Sunday, August 22 -- Mother taken worse in the morning and died about 9 o'clock in the evening. We are now about 30 miles below Salmon Falls on the north side of Snake River.
Monday, August 23, -- Mother was buried about 10 o'clock in the morning about 200 yards above the crossing of the river. Travel eight miles to a spring.
Tuesday, August 24 - Lay by 'till noon; Moses Rhodes died in the morning. Travel 11 miles; good roads; camp on Dry Creek; water scarce; grass plenty.
Thursday, September 9 -- Lay by all day on account of sickness; company all left except Uncle Stewart and Caleb; not much grass; wood and water plenty; Eliza Ann Richey died at 9 o'clock p.m.
Sunday, October 10, -- James Nicholson, John T. Stewart and John Akin start with the cattle on the pack trail.
Thursday, October 14, -- Travel five miles; all leave the raft and go down the river in an Indian canoe except Uncle Stewart and W. A. Colter.
Friday, October 15, -- Reach the Cascades about 2 o'clock in the evening; everyone sick.
This is the last entry in the diary kept by James Akin, jr. Mrs. Nancy Hanson tells me that we paid the Indians who brought us down in the canoe $20 in money and our big tent. Our little sister, Mary Ann Akin, died at the scades and was buried there. We were at the Cascades about a week waiting for the steamboat to bring us down to Portland. Our father died two weeks after we reached Portland. Frances Rowe
There were eleven deaths in this company. From numerous sources, reasonably reliable, information has been secured which indicates that probably not less than five thousand persons died on the plains in the year 1852, principally from cholera--George H. Himes, Secretary This diary is copied from "Transactions of the 36th Annual Reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Association" Portland, OR June 11, 1908
Thursday, April 15, 1852 - First day crossed Fish Creek, three-fourths of a mile; roads pretty good; plenty of water and wood.
Tuesday, April 20, 1852 - Roads very good; travel 16 miles; passed Ottumwa; pretty cold day; camp in good place, and plenty of wood and water. Overtook Caleb.
Wednesday, May 12, - Camped in the same place; rains in the evening. A man killed by the wagon running over him. Teams coming in all the time.
Tuesday, June 15, -- Laid by all day on account of sickness; not much grass; Caleb Richey and his company overtook us; plenty water, not much chips.
Wednesday, June 16 - Louise Richey died at 2 o'clock in the morning; traveled 15 miles; good roads; pleasant weather; camp on Platte; not much grass.
Wednesday, June 23 - Travel 12 miles; very hilly; bad roads; pine and cedar bluffs; cloudy, rainy weather: Elva Ingram died; camp in good place; plenty wood - no water.
Wednesday, July 7 - Travel 17 miles; drive the cattle two and one-half miles to grass; Joseph Mace overtook us; not much grass near; Indians camp one mile above us.
Saturday, July 10 - Travel 13 miles; good roads; crossed Sweet Water the last time; passed over the summit of the Rocky Mountains; Camp at Pacific Springs; pleasant day.
Sunday, July 18, -- Lay by all day; good grass near camp; sold and ox and bought a cow and an ox; Gillhams left the company; some rain and hail up the creek.
Friday, July 23, -- Travel 16 miles; very bad roads; cross Thomas' Ford on the bridge; paid $1.00 per wagon; camp on Bear River; good grass; mosquitoes bad; overtook Caleb Richey.
Saturday, July 31, -- Laid by all day; good grass; Miranda Jane Richey died; rained some in the evening; wood and water plenty.
Friday, August 20, -- Tow the cattle across the river between the wagon beds; ferry the wagons over in the evening. James Nicholson starts down the river in a wagon bed.
Sunday, August 22 -- Mother taken worse in the morning and died about 9 o'clock in the evening. We are now about 30 miles below Salmon Falls on the north side of Snake River.
Monday, August 23, -- Mother was buried about 10 o'clock in the morning about 200 yards above the crossing of the river. Travel eight miles to a spring.
Tuesday, August 24 - Lay by 'till noon; Moses Rhodes died in the morning. Travel 11 miles; good roads; camp on Dry Creek; water scarce; grass plenty.
Thursday, September 9 -- Lay by all day on account of sickness; company all left except Uncle Stewart and Caleb; not much grass; wood and water plenty; Eliza Ann Richey died at 9 o'clock p.m.
Sunday, October 10, -- James Nicholson, John T. Stewart and John Akin start with the cattle on the pack trail.
Thursday, October 14, -- Travel five miles; all leave the raft and go down the river in an Indian canoe except Uncle Stewart and W. A. Colter.
Friday, October 15, -- Reach the Cascades about 2 o'clock in the evening; everyone sick.
This is the last entry in the diary kept by James Akin, jr. Mrs. Nancy Hanson tells me that we paid the Indians who brought us down in the canoe $20 in money and our big tent. Our little sister, Mary Ann Akin, died at the scades and was buried there. We were at the Cascades about a week waiting for the steamboat to bring us down to Portland. Our father died two weeks after we reached Portland. Frances Rowe
There were eleven deaths in this company. From numerous sources, reasonably reliable, information has been secured which indicates that probably not less than five thousand persons died on the plains in the year 1852, principally from cholera--George H. Himes, Secretary This diary is copied from "Transactions of the 36th Annual Reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Association" Portland, OR June 11, 1908
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