Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries describing the overland journey from Lowell, Massachusetts to Deer Creek, Wyoming in 1849. Volume 2 concludes Churchill's journey to California. Churchill traveled with the Sagamore and California Mining and Trading Company. After its dissolution in late June, it is likely that the author joined the Oskaloosa Company. Churchill wrote detailed entries about company politics and disagreements, and also described other companies and emigrants he met on the trail. Diary...

Scope and Contents Handwritten journal of Cobbey's overland journey from St. Joseph, Missouri to Cold Springs, California in 1850. Occasionally poetic, Cobbey describes buffalo, Indian villages he visited, and bouts of mountain fever in the company. Diary is very descriptive about the geography and nature of the trail. Cobbey had limited success mining and gives a brief description of conditions in California. Journal includes an essay written by Cobbey in 1852 for Walnut Grove Academy (now Eureka College)....

Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries with typescripts in four volumes. Volume 1 concerns Hart's overland journey by ox team from Quincy, Illinois to the Humboldt Valley, Nevada, in 1852. Hart is an insightful and descriptive diarist. He writes about cooking and commerce on the plains, encounters with Indians, and dissatisfaction in his company. Hart mentions a handful of deaths from cholera and includes a moving description of one funeral. He also gives a festive account of his company's celebration of the...

Scope and Contents Handwritten diary and typewritten transcript. The diary was transcribed by Jackson's sister, Marion Jackson Gilbert, in 1855. Jackson made the overland journey with mules from Independence, Missouri to Sacramento, California in 1849. Long and descriptive daily entries focus on the nature of the California trail, encounters with Indians, and the condition of forts along the way. Several outbreaks of cholera also occurred. Jackson stopped at Salt Lake City and attended Pioneer Day festivities....

Scope and Contents Handwritten diary. Shoemaker describes his overland journey from Porter, Cass County, Michigan to Hangtown (later Placerville), California, in 1850. Upon arrival, he "bought a shovel & a pick the gold dust for to dig." Daily entries are moderately descriptive and mention camping locations, travelling conditions, encounters with Indians, and daily mileage. The diary's author is believed to have been a man named Shoemaker, but more information is unavailable. Apparently, he later became a...

Scope and Contents Overland diary and fifteen handwritten letters. Most of the letters are addressed to Spooner's wife and were written while on the overland journey by ox team from Adrian, Michigan to Sacramento, California in 1849. Spooner writes of encounters with Indians, buffalo hunting, distaste for Sunday travel, a handful of deaths within his company, and travelling conditions. Spooner also mentions his religious faith in most of the letters. Spooner stopped in Salt Lake City and gives a brief...

Scope and Contents Handwritten diary of Walker's overland journey by ox and mule team from Boston, Massachusetts to Sacramento, California in 1849. Daily entries give good description of travelling conditions. Walker describes cholera outbreaks, a variety of disagreements in the company, and attempted trade with 800 Dakota Indians. Walker also passed through Salt Lake City and describes the city and an anniversary dinner which he attended. He mentions being hired by Albert Carrington, a prominent Church...