Pringle Creek in Salem, Oregon is named for Virgil K. Pringle, who emigrated from Missouri to Oregon in 1846 and settled a donation land claim near the stream. The Southern Pacific Railroad, which later built a South Salem station in the vicinity, changed its name to Pringle in 1925. The station closed in the 1980s, but the name is still used by a post office branch and a shopping center.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24659675/virgil-kellogg-pringle

VIRGIL PRINGLE'S DIARY - 1846

• Wednesday, April 15, 1846 – Left Hickory Grove [farm] this day with my family for Oregon. Went seven miles. Stopped for more company.
• Thursday, April 16, 1846 – Absalom Faulkner and Jas. Brown and their families joined us and we went ahead 17 miles to J. Wheeler’s. Parted this day with Octavius, having bid adieu to my other brothers and sisters the day before. Went along well, teams and everything doing to my satisfaction.
• Friday, April 17, 1846 – Went this day 15 miles. Virgilia [Pringle] has the ague. We gave her Champion pills. The rest all well.
• Saturday, April 18, 1846 – All well. Made 18 miles and camped on Harrison’s branch of Auvaux. All things in good order and agreeable.
• Sunday, April 19, 1846 – Travel 12 miles. Well pleased with teams and company. Three families from Georgia overtook us. They left their homes on the 10th of March. Camped at the house of Mr. Schock, Audrain County, Grand Prairie, on Harrison’s branch of Auvaux. All well and teams first rate and everything agreeable.
• Sunday, April 19, 1846 – Went 12 miles and camped. Well pleased with teams and company. This day 3 families from Georgia overtook us on their way to Oregon; they started 10th March from home. Camped in Audrain County at the house of Mr. Schock in Grand Prairie.
• Monday, April 20, 1846 – Started in fine season and traveled on fine road generally on Grand Prairie. Went 20 miles and camped at a Mr. Palmer’s near Grand Prairie, Boon’s Lick. Teams and all things in good order. Find our cows a great help to our living. 20 miles.
• Tuesday, April 21, 1846 – This day went 18 miles over good road generally on Grand Prairie and camped at Mr. Austin’s in Randolph County. Well pleased with wagons and teams. Weather good so far and health of all improving with the exception of Mrs. Brown who complains with a bad cold. This evening Clark [Pringle] shot a gr--- and pheasant.
• Wednesday, April 22, 1846 – Passed this day through Huntsville, county seat of Randolph. Traveled 13 miles and encamped near the line of Chariton. Detained by Brown and Faulkner buying more stock. Roads good and all things in fine order. 13 miles.
• Thursday, April 23, 1846 – Traveled 14 miles over a fine farming country. The land good but too many lakes for health, and camped two miles from Chariton River; roads good but travel slow. 14 miles.
• Friday, April 24, 1846 – Crossed the Chariton this morning, found the bottom very muddy, but [i.e. had?] difficulty in getting through, the river having been off bottom but a few days. Passed through Keytesville, the county seat of Chariton County, a location similar to Cotterville on the Muscle fork of Chariton [Muscle Creek]. Went 14 miles and camped 1 ½ miles from Brunswick. 14 miles.
• Saturday, April 25, 1846 – Passed through Brunswick on Missouri River near the junction of Grand River, a place of considerable business, located on bottom land. Crossed Grand River at Crosses ferry. Paid the extravagant price of $2.50 for two teams and 5 head of loose stock. Traveled 13 miles and camped 11 miles from Carrolton. All in good health, roads in good order over a rich country thinly settled but low and of unhealthy appearance. 13 miles – 161 miles.
• Sunday, April 26, 1846 – Left encampment in good season, passed through Carrolton, located on Wakendah Creek and traveled up Moss Creek, a branch of the Wakendah running through Wakendah prairie, which is Missouri bottom, and was the greatest curiosity we had met, there being a mill about two miles from timber, and propelled by a stream running through level prairie and not a stick of timber on its banks. Went 9 miles on the prairie and camped 2 miles from Pilot Grove on the banks of Moss Creek without any wood but drift we found on the prairie that was left by the flood of 1844. 20 miles. 181.
• Monday, April 27, 1846 – Last night had a thunder storm and continued to rain this morning. Left camp in the rain, the first we had since we started. Tried our new recents [i.e. recruits?] but they stood it well. Went 16 miles and crossed Crooked River and camped on wet ground. Rained all night in Ray County. 16 miles
• Tuesday, April 28, 1846 – Left our muddy camp as soon as possible and made sail for Camden. Cool and cloudy. Roads good. Passed Camden in the evening and arrived at Manthano Brown’s, having traveled 13 miles. All well and teams in good order. Broke the tongue of the first wagon I bought, about a hundred yards from Brown’s house.
• Wednesday, April 29, 30 and 1st of May - Remained at M. Brown’s and put new tongues in both wagons and made two new yoke and employed ourselves at other arrangements for our trip.
• Saturday, May 2 – Left M. Brown’s and went about 6 miles and encamped in Missouri bottom about one mile from the ferry. 6 miles.
• Sunday, May 3 – Came to the ferry soon in the morning and found the crossing slow. Occupied the day in getting our wagons across. The day showery. Encamped at a vacant house on the south bank.
• Monday, May 4 – Completed ferrying our stock and went 3 miles and camped in Jackson County. Make slow headway. Got my bacon this day for which I paid $3.75 per hundred. Fine country of land. All well. No loss of property. 3—219 miles.
• Tuesday, May 5 – Got under headway for Blue Mills. Went ahead with my wagons and commenced loading in my flour for which I pay $2.00 for S[uper]. fine and $1.75 for fine. The first accident happened this day that has befallen us on our trip. The wagon in which Mrs. James Brown and family were, was overturned and Mrs. B. badly hurt and one of the children slightly. The oxen taking fright by a drove of mules. All much alarmed for Mr. Brown. 12 miles.
• Wednesday, May 6 – Laid by this day on account of Mrs. Brown. Completed taking in our flour. The weather still showery. The Blue Mills the best water mills I have seen in the state. Make flour that passes the Boston market, to which place they often freight. 231 miles.
• Thursday, May 7 – (1846) – Set sail for Independence, 8 miles from our encampment, at which place we arrived at 2 o’clock. Finished our outfit and encamped 4 miles beyond Independence. All things in good order, our teams doing well and not overloaded. 12 miles.
• Friday, May 8 – This day the weather was fine, the first for nearly a week. Went 12 miles to the Blue and encamped, it being too high to cross. Another wagon capsized at the encampment, a family from Pennsylvania. No injury to persons or property. The country today is very different from any I have ever seen, it being prairie, quite rolling or broken, and rocks in ledges. The soil good, interspersed with springs and patches of small timber. 12 –255 miles.
• Saturday, May 9 – This day the weather fine. Crossed the Blue soon in the morning. Went 16 miles over prairie, that is rich and beautiful but no timber or water, and encamped at the lone tree, no wood but green willows such as are common on prairie branches. Made better fire for cooking than we expected. Plenty of branch water. 16 miles.
• Sunday, May 10 – Fine weather. Went about 9 miles and dined. Then left the Santa Fe road, traveled about six miles over beautiful prairie and camped on a fine branch of running water, with its banks well wooded with oak, walnut, Linn and ash, timber generally scarce. 15 miles.
• Monday, May 11 – Rolled about 10 miles to the Wakarusa, a fine stream of clear water, between a creek and a river in size with fine timber on its banks. About half of the emigration missed the road and crossed about 4 miles above. Traveled about six miles in the evening and came into Carel with the whole emigration in sight. Divided into two parties. Our party organized with William Keithly for Captain, and O. Brown for pilot for both parties. The other party chose a Mr. [John] Robinson from Illinois for captain. Our encampment to right on a high ridge of prairie. 16 miles.
• Tuesday, May 12 – This day lost some cattle. Delayed some time to find them. Traveled only 9 miles and on same prairie as last night. 9 miles.
• Wednesday, May 13 – A fine, cool day. Traveled 20 miles to Kanzas and camped on prairie near its banks. A shower in the evening and night. Cool. Saw Indians plenty about. 20 – 309 miles.
• Thursday, May 14 – The foremost [Robinson%E2%80%99s] company crossed the Kanzas and a part of the other, myself of the number, and encamped on the bank for the night.
• Friday, May 15 – The remainder of the company crossed the ferry, which consists of two flat boats owned by a Shawnee Indian whose name is Fish. Went 4 miles and encamped. 4 miles.
• Saturday, May 16 – A fine day and a good road the most of the way. In the evening crossed a creek with very steep banks; had to double teams, which delayed much time. Rolled 16 miles. 339 miles.
• Sunday, May 17 – Our course this day was on hills running parallel with the Kanzas. The morning cool. Drove ahead till after two o’clock, it became very hot. Several oxen overcome with the heat. Stopped about three hours on a branch at the edge of the Kanzas bottom. Country still very fertile and handsome, timber scarce. Encamped this night near a Caw Village. Mr. Barnard while on guard caught one attempting to steal our stock. Made, by our reckoning, 20 miles – 20.
• Monday, May 18 – Delayed this day crossing creeks and branches, traveled about ten miles over broken prairie and encamped on a handsome branch with some cottonwood and elm. 10 – 369 miles.
• Tuesday, May 19 – Traveled over broken prairie and made good progress, passed some branches, but generally on the high lands between Kanzas and the Blue. The land generally good with plenty of rocks and springs. Camped at the branch where White and Brown ate their turkey. Make 18 miles. This night Mr. And Mrs. Brown came up, the first of our seeing them since Mrs. C. was hurt [on May 5]. A shower this night. 18 miles.
• Wednesday, May 20 – Pushed ahead for Blue River, the foremost of the caravan reached in time to cross; found it rising fast. 20 wagons crossed, the remainder detained by the water Thursday and Friday, which was much to our advantage, our teams recruiting, more overhauling provision and fine. 15 – 402 miles.
• Saturday, May 23 – Occupied this day in crossing the Blue River by fording; raised our wagons by placing blocks between the beds and bolsters and went over dry. Camped on a beautiful spring branch on the right bank of the river. A child born in the camp this night, it being an addition to the family of Aaron Richardson. This is the most beautiful and convenient spot for a farm I have seen. Our company burst asunder this day, leaving 27 with us, the captain and others taking the lead, the sickness of Mrs. Richardson and the detention being the cause.
• Sunday, May 24 – Traveled this day 12 miles and camped on a handsome branch. Found 8 of our runaway wagons waiting to join us. Three went ahead, viz., Keithly and Barnard with a company of hunters, ten in number. Price and four families from Illinois going, they knew not how but headway was the word.
• Monday, May 25 – Our course today was over the highlands between the [Big] Blue and Blue Earth [Little Blue] rivers. Road good. About 3 o’clock the most violent hurricane overtook us I ever experienced. The wind blew from every point of the compass with utmost violence but principally from the southwest, and the rain fell in torrents. Its severity was such as to blind a man and take his breath to face the storm. It continued about 45 miles [sic] when it abated and every prairie branch was a river. Went 12 miles and camped. Everything in our wagons appeared wet. Went to bed tonight in wet beds. 12 miles.
• Tuesday, May 26 – Examined our wagons and put our clothing to dry. Find our provisions generally dry and in good order and but little damaged by the storm. A fine day for the purpose; spent the day in drying and repairs. In the evening a company of 13 wagons overtook us.
• Wednesday, May 27 – Left camp about 8 o’clock and traveled about 12 miles headway and camped on a high prairie. Hauled wood about half mile. Grass good—day showery. In sight of our new company all day and at camp. 12 - 438 miles.
• Thursday, May 28 – Made sail at 8 o’clock and traveled about 8 miles over broken country to noon. Passed a stream with a sandy bed. The country more sandy. In the evening more level than for some days. Crossed and camped on another sandy stream 8 miles from place of dinner. 16 miles.
• Friday, May 29 – Left camp at 9 o’clock, not finding teams to start sooner. Arrived at another sandy stream at 12 o’clock and dined. Find the country less rolling and the sand increasing. Arrived at the Blue Earth [Little Blue] River at six and encamped on its banks. Find the river up and over the low bottoms. This stream is generally known as the Republican Fork. Traveled 15 miles. The health of all generally good. Charles [Fullerton] complains of bowel complaint and some others of our company. 15 – 469 miles.
• Saturday, May 30 – A fine day for our teams and road good. Traveled 18 miles. Begin to find some antelope and elk and other game. The country still good but more sandy and thin soil than before. Grass short but good quality and more level country, the uplands being but little above the bottoms. 18 miles.
• Sunday, May 31 – A cold, unpleasant morning and very cold rain in the evening, cold enough for November with high wind from N. E. Traveled 10 miles. Our course up Blue with sometimes over the high lands but generally on the bottoms. 10 miles.
• Monday, June 1 – Continued our course up the river, a cold, disagreeable day. Showers in the evening with hard and high wind. 15 – 512 miles.
• Tuesday, June 2 – A fine day for travel. Leave the Blue Earth early in the day and shape our course for the Platte, over ridges of level land of slight elevation. Travel 15 miles and camp without wood. Antelope been in sight for two or three days, the first one killed today. 15 miles.
• Wednesday, June 3 – The weather disagreeably cool. Started in fine season and came in sight of the sand hills of Platte in about 3 miles and arrived on the borders of the bottom about ten o’clock. This is the most romantic view I have ever seen. Make 18 miles and encamped by some willows on the banks, the sluice [sloughs?] of Grand Island. Mr. Shelton, from Franklin, had a daughter [die] in this night from a swelling on her throat occasioned by the scarlet fever before they left the State, having lost another child since they left home, which they buried in Jackson County.
• Thursday, June 4 – The weather still cold and disagreeable. Went ahead till 12 o’clock and made preparation to bury Mr. Shelton’s child, which was done in a decent manner considering the circumstances, in an elevation of the prairie bottom near the head of Grand Island. Camped this night on the bank of the river which looks very majestic, but in fact is nothing but a broad vale of sand with banks about 3 feet high, which are full at high water and the sand dry in a dry time. There is now just water enough to barely cover the bars, leaving them sometimes in sight. 14 – 559 miles.
• Friday, June 5 – The morning cool but the day pleasant for traveling and the roads of the best order, being level bottom and firm. Met two Pawnee Indians returning to the north from a hunt, their horses heavy packed with skins. Understand from them that about 30 lodges are a short distance ahead coming down the river, and that we will find buffalo plenty to two days. Made 16 miles and camped with plenty of timber. Antelope plenty. 16 miles.
• Saturday, June 6 – A fine, pleasant day. Pass thirteen boats for St. Louis from Fort Laramie, all loaded with peltry and furs. They draw about a foot of water and seldom float clear. Made 20 miles this day. 20 – 595 miles.
• Sunday, June 7 – A fine day for travel. The scenery of the country very similar since we came on the river, although there is enough of change to render it agreeable. The breadth of the river, the numerous islands and the variety of shape in the sand hills all keep the mind relieved from sameness. Buffalo sign is now plenty and we see occasionally a dead one in the bottom, but they are all on the highland plains beyond the sand hills at this season. In the fall they come in the bottom for water. The appearance of their range is like an old field closely grazed. Have seen some dog-towns for the last few days. Made 17 miles. Use buffalo chips for wood. 17 – 612 miles.
• Monday, June 8 – A good day and cool. The sand hills, the most romantic of any day yet, rising into high, irregular peaks, resembling majestic snow drifts in form. Camped near the junction of the two forks, traveling 22 miles – 22.
• Tuesday, June 9 – Another pleasant day and a great day for hunters. Buffalo plenty, two being killed and several wounded and prairie dogs and antelopes also plenty. The appearance of the country different, the sand hills disappearing on this side of the river, and the highlands but slightly rolling and the elevation but little above the bottom. Made this day 18 miles. – 18.
• Wednesday, June 10 – The weather fine for traveling but too cool for farming. The country destitute of timber. Water plenty but not good, it being in standing pools and warm and bad tasting, the alkaline efflorescence plenty, intermixed with saltpeter. Buffalo in sight almost constantly. Traveled 20 miles and camped near the hills which are still low, by some standing ponds of water, warm and bad tasting. 20 miles
• Thursday, June 11 – This morning bids fair to be a hot, sultry day, but the wind raised from southeast and rendered it very pleasant. Went in sight of the ford for dinner. After dinner went on to the ford and found ourselves too late to cross and camped on the right bank. Found a company of thirty-three wagons from St. Joseph on the other bank, having been there a week hunting cattle, a hundred head strayed from them last Thursday. 13 – 685 miles.
• Friday, June 12 – Crossed the river in the morning. Found the water in no place over our forward axle, seldom that deep; the pulling hard through the sand; put double teams to our wagons; the difficulty nothing compared to the appearance. The distance with the angle we took being about one and a half miles. Traveled up the south fork to the place of leaving for the N. fork, it being 12 miles. The day fine, wind from the east. 12 miles.
• Saturday, June 13 – Our encampment last night was with the company that lost stock and our travel today with them, which was all the chance excepting laying by, there being no chance for water till we arrived at the mouth of Ash Hollow on the north fork. The road down Ash Creek bad for three or four miles. Arrived at the north fork at 7 o’clock. Found currants and choke-cherries plenty, and a fine spring near the mouth of Ash Creek, and a cabin called Ash Grove Hotel. Inside at the bar we found the cards of all the companies that had preceded us, which was quite a treat. The distance from one fork to the other 15 miles. Day fine. Road dry and dusty. 15 miles.
• Sunday, June 14 – Left Ash Hollow and traveled up the river about ten miles and camped early, the day being warm. The hills on the fork are more rugged and rocky than any we have seen 10 miles.
• Monday, June 15 – This and yesterday were very warm days; proceeded on our journey 15 miles. The country poor and sandy and has the appearance of being formed by the wind blowing out the sand in basins, some of which are forty feet deep. Camped on the river. Feed good. 15 miles.
• Tuesday, June 16 – Laid by to recruit.
• Wednesday, June 17 – This also another warm day. Proceeded ahead 15 miles. The sand not as heavy for our teams as the two last. No other alteration in the country. Camped at a fine spring. A thunder shower after sunset. 15 miles.
• Thursday, June 18 – The day pleasantly cool. Visited Parker’s castle, a most beautiful location on the meadows of a tributary of Platte. The castle bearing strong resemblance to a real castle of ancient date. Came in view of the chimney early in the morning, which was 20 miles and camped on the river. 20 miles.
• Friday, June 19 – Passed the chimney in the fore part of the day and the formation of the bluffs have a tendency to fill the mind with awe and grandeur. The chimney might pass for one of the foundries in St. Louis, were it blackened by burning stone coal. There is a nearby bluff near it, that reminds me of prints that I have seen of the capitol at Washington. Made 20 miles and camped near Scott’s Bluffs. 792 miles.
• Saturday, June 20 – Passed the Scott’s Bluffs through a beautiful valley, near the head of which we found a cold spring at which we took dinner, then drove on to Horse Creek and encamped. Traveled 22 miles. A fine shower in the evening. 22 miles.
• Sunday, June 21 – Drove ahead over rolling uplands and came again to the Plate in about 8 miles and a handsome spring branch. Took our nooning and remained in our position for a shower to pass which was very heavy ahead of us. The grass the poorest we have found. Made this day 15 miles.
• Monday, June 22 – Came early in the day in sight [of] a Sioux encampment of about 20 lodges. They were putting up and moving on to the fort Laramie, where we arrived at about 4 o’clock and found about 200 lodges of Sioux. This was a disagreeable day, the wind blowing a tornado and the sand filling the air which continued to increase till midnight, when it abated. Camped one mile from the fort, which was 15 miles from last encampment. 844 miles.
• Tuesday, June 23 – Camped last night with about 70 wagons. This morning all united in giving our Sioux brethren a feast with which they appeared highly pleased. It was conducted with considerable order and regularity on their part, smoking the pipe of peace and a friendly address from their chief and a present of powder, lead and tobacco on our part. This done, we went ahead about six miles and encamped on the river with fine feed. 6 – 850 miles.
• Wednesday, June 24 – We deviated the usual route on leaving the fort which is over the highlands between Platte and Laramie fork. Ours was up the Platte. Traveled about 9 miles and intersected the old road at the spring which is very bold and rather warm. We now enter the Black Hills. Rose from a valley onto high rolling prairie. Went 6 miles from the spring and encamped on the banks of a clear mountain stream. Grass tolerable. 15 miles.
• Thursday, June 25 – Our course in the fore part of the day was up the aforesaid creek. Passed a large, fine spring about 10 o’clock, and timber plenty on the creek consisting of cottonwood, box, willow, choke-cherry and ash. Passed over the highlands towards another creek. Camped at a small spring 14 miles [from] last encampment. 14 miles.
• Friday, June 26 – Detained this morning hunting cattle till 10 o’clock. Went to a bold running creek to dinner. Met two companies returning from California dissatisfied with the country. Passed over the hardest pulling hill we have had on our route to a small branch of spring water and camped. 8 miles.
• Saturday, June 27 – Traveled this day 12 miles over hilly and rocky road. An axletree broke in one of Mr. Shaw’s wagons, which was replaced and ready for a start in the morning. 12 miles.
• Sunday, June 28 – The weather still continues fine, cool in the morning and evening and warm in the middle of the day. The country well watered with springs. Traveled 20 miles and camped in sight of the Platte at a spring branch. 20 – 919 miles.
• Monday, June 29 – Came to the N. fork in about 10 miles from camp after passing a stream with fine grass, water and timber. Went up the river five miles and camped on another of these handsome mountain streams, the road good. 15 miles.
• Tuesday, June 30 – Our route this day was up the river, generally on the bottom. Traveled 12 miles and camped on the river, the weather dry, roads dusty and sandy. 12 miles.
• Wednesday, July 1 – The day fine with considerable wind in the evening. Found three trappers at the ford where we arrived at noon. They had been quite successful in catching beaver; this spring had been on ground that had not been trapped for fifteen years. Crossed the ford, went up the river two miles and camped. Traveled today 12 miles.
• Thursday, July 2 – Left the N. fork and took to the mountain desert, the first time we have seen land that appears perfectly sterile. Saw plenty of buffalo. The wind blew very severe and moved the sand in clouds all day. Traveled 15 miles to a plentiful spring and encamped, the grass flourishing but closely grazed. 15 miles.
• Friday, July 3 – Traveled 18 miles, dined at a place of very irregular, miry wells. Two of our cattle got mired before we discovered them. They show no appearance until I placed my foot on them, then there was no more resistance than water. Camped tonight at a fine bold spring. A buffalo killed after we encamped. 18 miles.
• Saturday, July 4 – Encamped about one mile above Independence Rock after traveling 18 miles over hard pulling sand on the banks of the Sweetwater. We begin to discover that we are in a high region, there being frost both this and yesterday mornings and the days pleasant for the season, but the 5th and 6th laid by to recruit our teams.
• Tuesday, July 7 – Our lame oxen being much better we made sail and traveled about 12 miles and encamped on the banks of Sweetwater. The boys took a ramble on the mountains and saw plenty of mountain sheep. 12 miles.
• Wednesday, July 8 – Laid by.
• Thursday, July 9 – Traveled 15 miles.
• Friday, July 10 – Our route up the river generally on its banks, passed a narrow defile of the mountains. Made 15 miles – 15.
• Saturday, July 11 – Left the river on our left and traveled a country of barren, rolling plains for 15 miles and came onto the Sweetwater and encamped. 15 miles.
• Sunday, July 12 – This morning Mr. Townsend had a daughter born, which detained us this day. My health for the last two days has been bad, being threatened with an attack of fever. 1066 miles.
• Monday, July 13 – Our route in the fore part of the day was up the Sweetwater, everything bearing the appearance of a high altitude, the Wind River Mountains having been in sight at times for several days. After dinner we ascended the high lands to the right of the river, the highest ground we have been on. Made about 17 miles and encamped on a branch with fine grass. Passed several fine springs on the high lands. 17 miles.
• Tuesday, July 14 – Our road this morning more level and pretty good. Twelve miles brought us to the last crossing of Sweetwater where we made our halt for noon. Our road in the evening was equally good. Traveled six miles and camped on the Sweetwater one mile north of the road and between Table Rock and the Wind River Mountains. 18 – 1,101 miles.
• Wednesday, July 15 – Passed the divide [South Pass] about two miles from camp. Traveled twenty-six miles over level country, without water or grass. Had a hard shower in the evening and light one yesterday. Camp on Sandy. 26 miles.
• Thursday, July 16 – Traveled 15 miles to Big Sandy. The weather cold and disagreeable. 15 miles.
• Friday, July 17 – Our route was down Big Sandy. Traveled 15 miles and camped on its banks; road level, weather cool. 15 miles.
• Saturday, July 18 – Reached Green River in about 8 or 9 miles, crossed at a good ford, went down the river about 7 miles and camped on the right bank. Road good. 15 miles.
• Sunday, July 19 – Left Green River in the morning and traveled 18 miles over high, broken and desert country to Black Fork of Green River, and camped at a place of good grass. 18 – 1,190 miles.
• Monday, July 20 – Laid by.
• Tuesday, July 21 – Traveled 15 miles over tolerable road and camped on Ham’s Fork, a clear stream.
• Wednesday, July 22 – Still travel up Ham’s Fork. Went 18 miles to Fort Bridger; found grass plenty.
• Thursday, July 23 – Left Ham’s Fork and traveled in a more northerly direction. Went 8 miles and camped at a small stream of salt water. 8 miles.
• Friday, July 24 – The morning and evening cool. Travel 22 miles and find very little water or grass. Camped out of our course up the Muddy. 22 miles.
• Saturday, July 25 – Find water and grass plenty. Travel 7 miles and camped.
• Sunday, July 26 – Passed over the divide between the waters of Green River and Bear River. Found the road good for a mountain pass. Traveled 22 miles and camped on Bear River. 22 – 1,281 miles.
• Monday, July 27 – Travel down Bear River 10 miles and camp, grass good and willows plenty for fire. 10 miles.
• Tuesday, July 28 – Met this day a village of Shoshone Indians, 600, traveling up the river. Took dinner on South Fork. Found plenty of yellow currants nearly ripe. Travel 15 miles.
• Wednesday, July 29 – Traveled 7 miles and camp to recruit teams on Thomas Fork.
• Thursday, July 30 – Passed over 12 miles of mountain that shoots into the river and camp again on the river. 12 miles.
• Friday, July 31 – Travel 12 miles of good road and camp at a fine spring with good grass for teams. 12 miles.
• Saturday, August 1 – Pass through a gap in the mountains with a good road and reach the river bottom in 8 miles from camp, the …. High and rolling; travel 18 miles and camp 2 ½ miles from Soda Springs. 18 - 1,348 miles.
• Sunday, August 2 – Travel 2 ½ miles to Soda Springs and camp to enjoy the novelties of the place which are many and interesting. 2 ½ miles.
• Monday, August 3 – Made an early start from the springs intending to go to Port Neuf, but was stopped by an awful calamity in 3 ½ miles. Mr. Collins’ son George, about 6 years old, fell from the wagon and the wheels ran over his head, killing him instantly; the remainder of the day occupied in burying him at the place where leave the river. 3 ½ miles.
• Tuesday, August 4 – Leave Bear River and travel up a plain, covered in places with volcanic rock, and camp on Port Neuf, a branch of Columbia. Made 18 miles – 18.
• Wednesday, August 5 – Travel up Port Neuf to its head and passed through the mountains to another branch of Snake River and camped. Traveled 17 miles. 17 – 1,389 miles.
• Thursday, August 6 – Our travel today down the branch on which we camped last night 12 miles and camp, 4 miles from Fort Hall. 12 miles.
• Friday, August 7 - Pass the fort and camp four miles below on Port Neuf. Find the fort located on a rich, fertile plain, well watered with springs and creeks and some scattering timber. 8 miles.
• Saturday, August 8 – Traveled 14 miles and crossed the Port Neuf and Pannack at good fords. The road good. Camp at some springs on the edge of Snake River bottom. 14 miles.
• Sunday, August 9 – Passed the American Falls about 2 miles from camp, and some interesting springs half a mile above. Traveled today 16 miles of bad road and camped on the river bank with indifferent grass. Met Mr. Applegate from Oregon who had viewed a new route. 16 – 1,439 miles.
• Monday, August 10 – Went ten miles to the Casue or Raft River and took our nooning; at this place the Oregon and California road fork. We took the California road, intending to follow it about 300 miles and then to take the new viewed route. Went up the river four miles and camped. 14 miles.
• Tuesday, August 11 – Traveled over a level ridge to save a bend in the creek and dined on the creek 10 miles from camp. Went 2 miles in the evening and camped. 12 miles.
• Wednesday, August 12 – Ran out the Casue to the gap where the road crosses the mountain to Goose Creek and camped on the head of the stream. 14 miles.
• Thursday, August 13 – Crossed a low ridge by a gentle ascent of a branch and camped by a spring that arose among some broken rocky knobs 2 miles above our camp. 10 – 1,489 miles.
• Friday, August 14 – Traveled today 16 miles, some part of the way bad road through ridges of Snake River Mountains, and camped at a spring in a narrow gap of the mountains with knobs ahead of various shapes and form. 16 miles.
• Saturday, August 15 – Traveled 7 miles over very broken ground and road rough to Goose Creek and dined and went up the creek 8 miles in the evening on good road and camped on the creek. 15 miles.
• Sunday, August 16 – Traveled to the head of the creek and camped at the last crossing. 12 miles.
• Monday, August 17 – Passed over a chain of low, broken ridges to the head of Hot Spring Valley, 12 miles. Went down the valley 6 miles and camped by some singular springs that rise in the level bottom, forming little wells of various depths. The road good with the exception of some rocks. 18 – 1,550 miles.
• Tuesday, August 18 – Traveled today 20 miles in Hot Spring Valley and camped by the branch of a hot spring that is quite large and the water warm. 20 miles.
• Wednesday, August 19 – Took our nooning 8 miles from our last night’s camp at the place where the road leaves the valley. Passed over a ridge in the evening to the first spring of Mary’s River, 9 miles, and camped. 17 miles.
• Thursday, August 20 – Traveled 17 miles down the valley on good road and camped near the river. Water and grass fine. 17 miles.
• Friday, August 21 – Rolled down stream today 13 miles, the river generally dry. 13 miles.
• Saturday, August 22 – 14 miles.
• Sunday, August 23 – 13 miles.
• Monday, August 24 – 16 miles.
• Tuesday, August 25 – Made our camp on a mountain at a spring 8 miles from the place we left the river and 19 miles from camp of last night. 19 miles.
• Wednesday, August 26 – Found the river again in 9 miles – road rough. Went 2 miles down the river and camped. 11 – 1,690 miles.
• Thursday, August 27 – 13 miles down the river.
• Friday, August 28 – 14 miles.
• Saturday, August 29 – 15 miles.
• Sunday, August 30 – Traveled 17 miles.
• Monday, August 31 – 16 miles. 16.
• Tuesday, September 1 – 15 miles.
• Wednesday, September 2 – 15 miles.
• Thursday, September 3 – 16 miles.
• Friday, September 4 – 2 sand points - 12 miles.
• Saturday, September 5 – Arrived at the place where the Oregon Road leaves the California road and Mary’s River. 6 – 1,831 miles.
• Sunday, September 6 – The new road takes immediately to the desert of fifty-five miles extent with two weak springs on the route. We arrived at the first spring – 15 miles – at four o’clock in the evening, took our supper and gave our teams what water we could get and started for the second, where we arrived at four in the morning. Found the spring weaker than the first. 10 miles. Slept and rested till nine – 1,865 – of the 7th, then started the last stage of the desert [ Black Rock Desert]. Our stock weak and working badly, getting very little water and nothing to eat. Arrived at Black Rock at 8:15 in the evening. Left 2 steers belonging to Collins on the road, they being too weak to come in, several others barely getting though. Found a large, hot spring and plenty of first-rate grass. This desert is perfectly sterile, producing nothing but grease-wood and sage, and some of it perfectly barren and the ground very salt. The road good and level and generally firm. The mountains barren and dark looking rocks. 21 miles.
• Tuesday, September 8 – Laid by for the benefit of stock.
• Wednesday, September 9 – Traveled 8 miles to another good camp with several hot springs, some of them very hot and one cold in 10 yards of a hot one. The country barren with the exception of the places watered by the spring. 8 - 1,894 miles.
• Thursday, September 10 – Traveled 20 miles of heavy pulling road and camp at a grassy flat with plenty of water but bad for drinking. 10 miles.
• Friday, September 11 – Moved across the flat and camped, our teams being badly jaded and the desert country still continuing. 2 miles.
• Saturday, September 12 – Our first six miles was rocky, bad road, with a steep hill to go down into a canon. We then pass a flat into another beautiful, grassy canon with plenty of springs, road good. 12 miles.
• Sunday, September 13 – Travel up the canon 5 miles, the road good but crooked and narrow in places. The branch dry except where springs break out. 5 miles.
• Monday, September 14 – Eight miles from our last camp, the mountain recede and a grassy flat opens, offering us a good camp to recruit our jaded teams. The weather cool and clouds look like snow. Yesterday and today roads dusty. 29 wagons ahead. 8 - 1,941.
• Tuesday, September 15 – The first 4 miles through a narrow, rocky canon, road bad. The rest of the day’s travel the road good but rolling. Camp at a spring at a gap of a hill. Little grass. 10 miles.
• Wednesday, September 16 – Travel today 17 miles. Road slightly rolling but heavy pulling. The country improving in appearance. The sage mixed with grass in the plains and small cedar and grass on the hills. Camp at some springs at a high elevation. Plenty of grass but dry and yellow. 17 miles.
• Thursday, September 17 – Move our camp 3 miles over a ridge to another spring. Nights and mornings quite cool.
• Friday, September 18 – Pass out of the mountains by a good road into a plain and camp at a warm spring, 14 miles from our last camp. 14 miles.
• Saturday, September 19 – Found one of my oxen shot with an arrow and two cows belonging to the company also shot; one soon died and another was driven off our trail. Today was 10 miles, 8 of desert and 2 of fine, rich soil. Our camp was at a pretty mountain stream with plenty of pine timer. This is very pleasant after traveling so long through desert country. 10 miles.
• Sunday, September 20 – Cross over a mountain, the ascent about 2 miles and quite steep. Travel 9 miles and camp in a beautiful plain surrounded by stately pine and cedar. Excellent feed for our stock. 9 miles.
• Monday, September 21 – travel today 8 miles, principally through large, lofty pine timber, and camp on Goose Lake. 8 miles.
• Tuesday, September 22 – Travel 14 miles on the beach of the lake, road good. 14 miles.
• Wednesday, September 23 – Our road today was over a high plain and very stony and well timbered with pine and cedar. Camp at some holes of water at the head of a creek. Grass good. The country generally less mountainous than before. 12 – 2,020 miles.
• Thursday, September 24 – Travel today 8 miles down Pool Creek. Road tolerable.
• Friday, September 25 – Traveled 14 miles of rolling road and very rocky. Camp at a good spring. 14 miles.
• Saturday, September 26 – Travel 8 miles of stony road but generally level; but little timber today. Good camp. 8 miles.
• Sunday, September 27 – We are now in the range of country of lakes of which the Klamath Lake is the largest known. Make 9 miles and camp by a pretty lake. Road good and level. Weather fine. 9 miles.
• Monday, September 28 – Our route for 9 or 10 miles over a rocky ridge, the balance of the day’s travel level bottom and quite extensive. Make 22 miles. 22 miles.
• Tuesday, September 29 – Overtook the foremost company last night, which makes our company 50 wagons strong. Found some cattle missing this morning owing to the inefficiency of our guard. They were driven off by Indians. The day spent trying to recover them. 2,081.
• Wednesday, September 30 – Found all our cattle but ten head that the Indians succeeded in getting off. Went ahead 12 miles and camped on the Klamath Lake. Crossed the Sacramento River on a singular rock which made a good shallow ford, the river generally swimming. Road good except one steep point which was bad. 12 miles.
• Thursday October 1 – Made 12 miles on the coast of the lake and camp on a creek that enters the lake. Road good. 12 miles.
• Friday, October 2 – Still crooking round the inlets of the lake, make 8 miles and camp at a fine bold spring but not cold. 8 miles.
• Saturday, October 3 – Make our last drive on the lake. Travel 12 miles and camp near the outlet of Klamath River. Road good. 12 miles.
• Saturday [Sunday], October 3 – Cross the Klamath River four miles from camp at a very rocky ford and cross a ridge four miles and camp on the river. 8 miles.
• Monday, October 5 – Cross a spur of the Sis-que Mountains and camp without water or grass. Road bad and rough. 10-2,133 miles.
• Tuesday, October 6 – Move six miles to a tolerable camp. Road fair. 6 miles.
• Wednesday, October 7 – Cross another spur of the mountain and camp at a high flat – good grass and water. Road tolerable except a steep hill to go down. Our teams very weak.
• Thursday, October 8 – Rest our teams and improve the road.
• Friday, October 9 – Travel ten miles of tolerable road and camp on the head of a branch of Rogue River. Timber heavy and fine and the land good but very rough and broken between this and Klamath River. 10 miles.
• Saturday, October 10 – Engaged all day in making 3 miles, the branch so near impassable. Found a tolerable route at last. 3-2,158 miles.
• Sunday, October 11 – The valley opens and we pass some very pretty locations. Timber in a great many varieties, some entirely new to me. Make 10 miles and camp at a considerable sized creek, the best camp we have had for several. Road very good. High mountains around. 10 miles.
• Monday, October 12 – Travel 15 miles of very pretty mountain country and camp in a fine prairie without water. 15 miles.
• Tuesday, October 13 – Move about one mile to a spring and spend the day to explore ahead, the road not being marked. 1 mile.
• Wednesday, October 14 – Travel 12 miles of good road and camp on Rogue River, a beautiful, pure stream about fifty yards wide, but shut in by mountains. 12 miles.
• Thursday, October 15 – Move down the river 10 miles and camp. Plenty of Indians about, but none come near. Lose some cattle by them 10 miles.
• Friday, October 16 – Cross Rogue River about 4 miles from last camp. Ford good. Camp on right bank.
• Saturday, October 17 – Travel 8 miles, road good and a good camp which is not common, the country being mostly burnt. 8 –2,218 miles.
• Sunday, October 18 – Have some bad road that takes till after dark to go 6 miles. 6 miles.
• Monday, October 19 – Move one mile to a camp, having none last night, and spent the day burying Mr. Crowley’s daughter, who died yesterday evening, age about 14 years. 1 mile.
• Tuesday, October 20 – Our route continues over spurs of mountains with steep pulls and thick timber and underbrush. Make 6 miles.
• Wednesday, October 21 – The time from this to Monday, 25th, we were occupied in making 5 miles to the foot of Umpqua Mountain and working the road through the pass, which is nearly impassable. Started through on Monday morning and reached the opposite plain on Friday night after a series of hardships, brake-downs and being constantly wet and laboring hard and very little to eat, the provisions being exhausted in the whole company. We ate our last the evening we got through. The wet season commenced the second day after we started through the mountains and continued until the first of November, which was a partially fair day. The distance through: 16 miles. There is great loss of property and suffering, no bread, live altogether on beef. Leave one wagon.
• Sunday, November 1 – Moved 3 miles. Find our oxen very stiff and sore from scrambling over rocks with wagons. 3 miles.
• Monday, November 2 – No rain today but partially cloudy. Make 5 miles. 5 miles.
• Tuesday, November 3 – Clear in the morning. Rains hard from ten in the morning to midnight. Make 7 miles. Octavius goes ahead for provisions to the other side of the Callipoa Mountains, forty miles distance. 7 miles.
• Wednesday, November 4 – Make 4 miles and cross a steep hill. Oxen very weak. The new grass is no support. Very rainy. 4 miles.
• Thursday, November 5 – 3 miles today. Rains all day. Pherne and the girls obliged to walk the oxen so weak. 3 – 2,274 miles.
• Friday, November 6 – Go to the Umpqua River, 6 miles to the upper ford. Find no chance to cross, the river too high.
• Saturday, November 7 – Go to the lower ford and commence crossing in canoe, get all over but the wagons. No rain. 5 miles.
• Sunday, November 8 – Cross the wagons, and go 1 mile. Had nothing to eat yesterday for supper. A beef killed in camp and we got the paunch and upper part of the head, which did us till Monday for breakfast. Rains all day. 1 mile.
• Monday, November 9 – Ate the last of our tripe. Start with heavy hearts. Meet some Indians and get six venison hams, a great relief to our minds. Go one mile further and meet Octavius with half a bushel of peas and forty pounds of flour, which gives us joy. No rain today. The happiest day to us for many. 4 – 2,284 miles.
• Tuesday, November 10 – Travel 5 miles and cross Elk Creek and camp in first-rate feed. A rainy, cold day. 5 miles.
• Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, November 11, 12, 13 – Lay by to repair shoes and lay in a stock of meat; get 3 deer and a salmon from the Indians and our teams much improved and ourselves rested.
• Saturday, November 14 – A fine day but cool. Travel 6 miles of hilly road and camp on the head of a branch. Bury Mrs. Bounds, who died the day before, wife of J. B. Bounds. 6 miles.
• Sunday, November 15 – Travel 4 miles, find a good camp and stay 1 day for the benefit of the teams. Road muddy and heavy. 4 miles.
• Tuesday, November 17 – Make four miles to the foot of Callipoa Mountains. 4 miles.
• Wednesday, November 18 – Go over one ridge of the mountains and make 2 miles. 2 miles.
• Thursday, November 19 – Climb another ridge with double teams and make 3 miles headway and camp with little feed. 3 – 2,308 miles.
• Friday, November 20 – Move forward to the top of the mountain on gently rising ground and camp with the foremost wagons 4 miles from last camp. One steer dies at this camp. 4 miles.
• Saturday, November 21 – Make 2 miles headway and camp. Rains yesterday and today. 2 miles.
• Sunday, November 22 – Help finish the road and complete the pass of the mountains and camp 2 miles from the foot in the Willamette Valley. My wagons and one other the fist that entered the valley. All in good health and well pleased with the appearance of the the country. Headway, 5 miles – 5.
• Monday and Tuesday, November 23 and 24 – Rest and feed our teams and move one mile and make arrangements for a small supply of provisions. About seventy miles from settlement. 1 – 2,318 miles.
• Wednesday, November 25 – Travel down the valley 6 miles and passed over some spurs of the mountains and camp on the Willamette River, the handsomest valley I ever beheld. All charmed with the prospects and think they will be well paid for their sufferings. 6 miles.
• Thursday, November 26 – A very cold, rainy day. Went 3 miles and camped this day and the next. Lost 2 steers by the cold. 3 miles.
• Saturday, November 28 – Traveled 6 miles – 6.
• Sunday, November 29 – Traveled 4 miles and made a halt near where I intend to make a location.
• Monday, November 30 – Commenced making a canoe for the purpose of going to settlement for supplies in company with Robert Lancefield and Isaac Leabo, and continue our work until Thursday, December 3. I then start ahead for beef, on horseback, leaving the others to finish the canoe, and go down the river for flour, etc. I arrived at Long Tom Bath on the 4th, found it swimming, was detained until Sunday, 6th, in making a canoe and crossing in the evening met Orus Brown in company with some others coming back with pack horses to bring in those behind. I returned with them, and was from this to the twenty-fifth of the month getting my family to Salem, the weather all the time rainy and swailes of water to wade every day. Left my wagon and cattle at the forks of the river.
• I would conclude this journal by saying that I was well pleased with the society and location of Salem; was kindly received and besides much indulgence granted me as I needed, but our living is poor. Can obtain nothing but bread and meat, vegetables being very scarce and we nothing but labor to give.
• (source - Morgan, Dale Howell, Overland In 1846-Diaries and Letters of The California-Oregon Trail, Vol. I, The Talisman Press, Georgetown, Calif. 1963. Pages 163 – 188.