Index
Adventists: 161
Agriculture and crops: 173, 174; fruit trees, 173; see also fanning, irrigation, wheat
Ague: 17
Alfalfa: 171–74
Ames (1A): 29
Antelope: 48, 50, 69, 91, 97, 102, 113, 138
Antelope (OR): 172
Apricots: 173
Arabs: 88
Arkansas River: 65
Atkinson, Ed: 32–34
Atkinson, John and Polly: 40, 55
Atlantic (IA): 35
Audubon (IA): 34
Australians: 83
Badger: 52
Bailey, Jason and Henry: 17
Baker, Maggie: 143, 147, 149, 157
Baker, Marsh: 143–44, 147, 149, 151, 157, 162
Balfour, Bess: 14
Ball, John: 75, 77, 80, 88, 92, 96, 98, 101, 109, 111, 126, 137; homesick, 89, 111, 121, 127; teased, 127–28, 130, 132, 136
Bangor (IA): 27–28
Bannock Indians: war with, 74, 123
Barley: 126
Barrel Springs (WY): 158
Batavia (WI): 18
Bear River (UT/ID): 70, 106–08
Beatrice (NE): 54
Beaver City (NE): 148
Beaver Creek: in IA, 30; in KS/NE, 68
Bedding and blankets: wet, 169, 171
Bedford (IA): 80
Bennet (NE): 56
Bennington (ID): 70
Berries and nuts: 174; see also currants, huckleberries, raspberries, strawberries
Berry (IA): 28
Birds: pea fowls, 78; walking, 40; whippoorwill, 77
Blacksmithing: 51, 76, 132, 145
Blegen, Theodore C.: 10
Blue River (KS/NE): 43–45
Blythsdale (MO): 78
Boats: on Willamette R., 162
Boise (ID): 71
Boone (IA): 29
Bower, Mary E: 9; portrait, 62; birth, marriage, children, 63; diary of, 64–72; drives team, 69; ill, 70; store of, 63; store illus., 64
Bower, Weston: 63, 67; illus., lock of hair, 72; sick, 71–72
Boynton (MO): 75
Branton & Green: murderers, 169
Bridges: 77, 90; tolls, 98–99, 119
Brown’s grove (KS): 145
Brule (NE): 152
Bruneau River (ID): 125
Brush Creek: in KS, 67; in MO, 78
Buffalo (Bison): bones, 50
Buffalo Grove (IA): 23
Buford (WY); 155
Bull Springs (WY): 100
Bully Creek (OR): 136
Bums (OR): 73
Burros: 151
Butler County (KS): 63
Butterick Creek (IA): 31
Cainsville (MO): 78
Camas Prairie (ID): 70
Camp Hamey (OR): 139–40
Camp life: 19
Camp Steele (OR): 74
Carpenter, Emma: 13, 19, 30, 48; ill, 20, 22
Carpenter, Nellie: 8, 86; death, 14; diary of, 15–61; ill, 13, 22–24, 29; homesick, 33, 56; marries Tom Northey, 13, 61; as team driver, 22, 28, 32, 35
Carroll (IA): 32
Cascade Mts. (OR/WA): 163
Cassier Creek (ID): 111, 114–15
Catherine Creek (ID): 125
Cattle: 174; herds of, 14, 17, 50, 135; sold, 23
Cedar River (IA): 25–26
Cedar trees and wood: 100
Charleston (NE): 43–44
Cheese: 147; see also milk
Cherokee Trail (WY): 99n
Cherries: ground cherries, 135
Cheyenne (WY): 95, 155; powder magazine explosion, 95
Clackamas County (OR): 143
Clarinda (IA): 80
Clark, Arthur H.: 9
Clevises: 112
Clothing: of emigrants, 132, 148; for overland trip, 145, 171
Coal: mines in IA, 30
Coal oil: 146
Colvin, Ada: 8, 13, 19, 21, 86; brother Arthur, 14, 15, 51; death, 14; depressed and ill, 13–14, 17, 22, 26, 40–41, 49, 51, 54–55, 58, 61; diary of, 15, 49
Condon (OR): 73
Consumption: 99
Com: price of, 149; roasting ears, 53, 126
Coyotes: 138
Cozad (NE): 89
Crawford County (KS): 63
Currants: 129
Davenport, George: 20
Dawson County (NE): 149
Deer: 52, 105; venison meat, 113
Des Moines River: 30
Deschutes River (OR): 171
Deuel County (NE): 152n
Diseases: see ague, illnesses, smallpox
Dogs: 44, 87, 108, 110, 115, 126
Drewsey(OR): 137
Dry Creek: 116
Dutch oven: 147
Eastport (IA): 38–39
Ebbert, James E.: 164
Edmond (KS): 147
Edwards County (KS): 143–44
Elderberries: 58
Elk Mts. (WY): 99
Elkader (IA): 22
Ellenwood (KS): 66
Elwood(NE): 148
Eustoris (NE): 53
Exira (IA): 34
Fairbury (NE): 44
Farmers City (IA): 37
Fanning: in NE, 54; in OR, 173
Farragut (IA): 81
Ferns: 172
Ferries: accident in, 30; on Green R., 104; on Missouri R., 83
Fish: in trail streams, 75, 78, 120, 123
Flour: 104
Food: 164; beans, 117; butter, eggs, 49; radishes, 28; see also beef, provisions
Fort Hamey (OR): 74
Fort McPherson (NE): 50–51
Fossil (WY): 144, 161; in OR, 173
Frogs: 76
Fuel for fires: com cobs, 81; rail ties, 89; see also sagebrush
Game, wild: see deer, sagehens
Garfield, Pres. James A.: assassination, 70
Georgetown (ID): 108
Gettysburg (KS): 67
Gibson, Rev. J.L.: 45
Girard (IA): 22
Givens Hot Springs (ID): 129n
Glenns Ferry (ID): 121
Glidden (IA): 32–33
Gnats: 129
Gold: prospectors, 102
Gono, Stephen: 163
Goodspeed (overlander): 65, 68, 71
Goose Creek (ID/UT): 115–16
Gothenburg (NE): 89
Grand Junction (IA): 31
Grand River (MO): 78
Grande Ronde River and Valley (OR): 118
Grant, Gen. U.S.: 111
Grass: passim; buffalo grass, 45, 47, 87
Graves: on trails, 123, 158, 169
Great Bend (KS): 66
Green River (WY): trading post at, 103– 4, 159
Green River City (WY): 70
Guide Rock (NE): 46
Gypsies: 101
Hail storms: 88
Hampton, Grace: 146–47, 156, 160
Hampton, H.A.: 9; age, 156; birth, family, 143–44; ill, 155; journal of Mrs., 144–62
Hampton, Hattie: 158
Hampton, Lewis: 143, 146–47, 149, 151, 157
Hams Fork River (WY): 105, 161
Hansberry, Anna M.: 9, 163; age, 163; children, 163; husband Charles, 163, 166; ill, 173; letter (journal) of, 164–75
Harding Creek (IA): 31–32
Hamey (OR): town, valley: 73–74, 137, 139–41
Harrell, Camelia: 163
Harvard (NE): 53
Hat: 77
Hay Creek (OR): 172
Hays (KS): 67
Hebron (NE): 45
Hill City (KS): 147
Hillsdale (WY): 155
Hitchcock County (NE): 68
Holmes, Kenneth L.: 9
Homerville (NE): 148
Honey Creek (IA): 27
Hop vines: 172
Horses: passim; branding of, 133; choked, 120–21; double team, 18, 120–21; emigrant use, 18, 164; fight of, 145; of freighters, 173; of Indians, 75; lame, 111, 113; in rail cars, 83–86; for railroad work, 88; shod, 78, 124; sick, 76; traded for, 109
Hospital: 80
Hostetter, Thomas: 64
Houses: of rock, 173; in WI, IA, 22; see also sod houses
Huckleberries: 106
Hudson (IA): 26–27
Hutchinson (KS): 65
Illnesses: 9; boil, 81; colds, 113–14, 149; fit, 134; sore throat, 158; teething, 116, 124; see also ague, diarrhea, medicine, smallpox
Independence (IA): 23–25; Insane Asylum at, 25
Indians: 138, 166, 168; dressed squaws, 168; furnish food, 107; horses of, see horses; see also squaw wives
Inland (NE): 53
Iowa River: 27–28
Irrigation: 113, 172, 174; see also agriculture, farming
Jackrabbits: see rabbits
Jasper: 172
Jefferson (IA): 31
Jerry Creek (OR): 136
Jessup (IA): 25
John Day River (OR): 172
Jones, Hen: 117
Jump Creek (ID): 130
Juniata (NE): 53
Kansas: 143–48; emigrants from, 143
Kimball (NE): 154
Kinney Cutoff (WY): 103n
Kinsley (KS): 144–45
Lamb, Joe: 138–39
Lane County (OR): 166
Laramie River (WY): 97; Little, 155
Laundering: 20; passim
Lava: beds in OR, 169–70
Lenora (KS): 67
Lewis (IA): 35
Lewis River (ID): see Snake R.
Lewiston (WY): 102–03
Liquor and temperance: 145, 148
Livestock: see cattle, mules, oxen, sheep
Lizzie Campbell (river boat): 39
Locust Creek (MO): 75
Lodgepole Creek (NE): 91–92, 153
Loggan, Harry J.: 63
Loggan, Mrs. Charles W.: 63
Lost Creek (OR): 168
Lostine(OR): 107n
Lots Creek (IA): 79
Lowell (NE): 53
McDuffy hot springs (OR): 175
McGregor (IA): 22
McLellan, Sarah: 63
Macon (NE): 47
Magnoketa River (IA): 23
Mail: carriers, 100
Mariposa (CA): 14
Marsh Valley (ID): 115–16
Marshall, George: marries Viola Springer, 74, 133, 137–38, 140
Marshall, William: 138–40
Medicine and doctoring: 77, 145, 151
Medicine Bow River (WY): 99, 157
Medicine Creek: in MO, 76
Menonites: 66
Methodists: 63
Military: at forts, 50–51
Milk and butter: 76, 107, 130; 145–46, 148, 150, 155
Millard, Sam: 48
Mining: in WY, 102; see also coal, gold
Mississippi River: 22
Missouri River: crossing of, 38–39, 82–83
Mohawk (OR): 163
Molasses: candy, 79
Money, paper: of travelers, 145
Morgan, Alfred C.: 163
Mosquitoes: 30, 46, 52, 90, 105–06
Mount Ayr (IA): 79
Mt. Sterling (WI): 18
Muddy Creek: in MO, 77; in WY, 158
Mules: 97; traded for horses, 68–78
Murphy family: 73, 109–13, 117, 126–27, 129, 139–40
Murphy, Henderson: 123, 128, 131
Murphy, Morna: 109–11, 113, 117, 120, 123, 128, 130–31, 136, 139
Muscoda(WI): 15
Nebraska: 8, 13–14, 39–60, 82–93, 148–54
Nebraska City (NE): 39, 73, 83
Nemaha River (NE/KS): 39
Ness City (KS): 146
Nevada (IA): 28–29
Nichols (NE): 151
Nickerson (KS): 65
Nishnabotna River (IA): 35, 37–38
Nodaway River (IA): 80
North Platte (NE): 51, 89, 150
Northey, Tom: 13, 16; marries Nellie Carpenter, 13, 61; remarried, 14; son Clyde, 13
Norton City (KS): 147
Oats: crop in NE, 150; price of, 152; wild, 110
Oberlin (KS): 68
O’Fallons Station (NE): 90, 150
Ogallah (KS): 67
Ohio: 63
Onions: 129
Ontario (IA): 29
Opal (WY): 160
Oregon: newspapers of, 74; overland parties to, 74, 131–41, 163–75
Oregon Shortline R.R.: 120–21
Oregon State Library: 144
Oregon, Univ. of: 74
Osage oranges: 38
Osbome (IA): 22
Ostrander, Ed: 162
Otoe Indians: reservation, 42–43
Owyhee County (ID): 121
Owyhee River (OR): 131–32
Oxen: as draft animals, 14
Oysters: 161
Paiute Indians: 74
Parkes, Ira and Charley: 113–15
Parks, Joe: 91
Paxton (NE): 151
Peaches: 134
Peck, Mary: 149
Peckham, Halsey and Paulina: 13, 25, 28, 32–33, 47, 52, 58; sons Fred, Fremont, Charlie, Tommie, 13, 26, 37, 40, 43, 52, 59; Paulina ill, 25–27, 48–49
Peckham, Joshua and Ann: 13, 17, 26, 28, 52
Peckham, Mary Lou: 14
Phelps Center (NE): 48
Pies: 145
Pigs: 17
Pilgrim Station (ID): 121
Pine Creek: in IA, 23–24
Platte River (IA/MO): 79
Platte River (NE/WY): 48–52, 88–90, 150–53; North, 99; South Fork, 152–53, 158
Pole Creek: see Lodgepole Creek
Ponione ranch: 133
Pony Creek (IA): 22
Porcupine: 109
Port Andrew (WI): 16
Portneuf River (ID): 109–10
Prairie du Chien (WI): 18, 20–22
Prairie schooners: 144, 146, 150, 164, 168; see also wagons
Prices: of provisions, 104
Princeton (MO): 77
Provisions for the trail: 145; 154; see also beef, flour, milk, prices
Rabbit Creek (ID): 127
Rabbits and jackrabbits: 94, 157, 172
Raccoon River (IA): 31–32
Railroads: aid to travelers, 143; narrow gauge, 22; overlanders use, 9, 61–62, 67, 73, 83–88, 144, 161–62; stations, 69, 83, 85, 106, 151; wood fuel from, 103; workers on, 87; see also railroad names
Rain: passim; 26–27, 65–66, 166
Raspberries: 30
Rattlesnake Creek: in WY, 99; in OR, 74
Rattlesnakes: 42–43
Raymond: in IA, 25; in KS, 65–66
Red Cloud (NE): 46
Red Oak (IA): 36
Redmond, Seth: 25
Religion: discussed, 158
Republican River (KS/NE): 46, 69, 148
Reynolds Creek (ID): 129
Riverton (NE): 46
Roads: dusty, 22–23, 108; muddy, 25, 65, 80; in OR, 166–67; rocky, 97; rough, 107; sandy, 100, 120; on trails, 18–20
Rock Creek: in ID, 117; in WY, 98, 105
Rock House (in OR): 166n
Rock Springs (WY): 159
Rocky Bar (ID): 71
Saline River (KS): 67
Salmon Fall Creek (ID): 119
Sand Creek (KS): 67
Sandstorm: 118
Sandy River: Big, 103; Dry, 103; Little, 103
Sappa Creek (KS): 68 Schools: for Indians, 42–43
Scotts place (OR): 166 Scranton (IA): 32
Seaweard (or Seward?), John: 75–77, 79–80, 91–92, 96, 98, 101, 103, 105, 109, 113, 121–22, 126, 131, 134; ill, 78–79, 102, 104
Sellwood (OR): 162
Seneca (WI): 18
Settlement process: 7–8
Sheep: 101, 103–05, 107, 172–73
Shenandoah (IA): 81
Shepherdtown (IA): 30
Sinking Creek (ID): 126
Skunks: 117
Smallpox: 81–82
Smith’s Fork (WY): 106
Snake (or Lewis) River (ID/OR): 117, 120, 125, 130; crossing of, 122
Snakes: 32; see also rattlesnakes
Snow shed: 95
Sod houses: 42, 47–48, 66–68, 87, 147–48
South Pass (WY): 103n
Springer, Alva: 73–76, 84, 86, 94, 99, 101, 105, 109, 112–15, 123, 140; ill, 77–78 Springer, Daisy: 73, 76, 78, 93, 101, 113, 124, 134, 137
Springer, Eddie: 74
Springer, Martha: 73–74, 76, 78, 89, 91, 93, 99, 111, 126, 128, 130–31, 137; ill, 107, 111; character, 130, 138
Springer, Viola: 9; birth, 73; children, 74, 141; diary of, 75–141; drives team, 80–81, 111; marriage, 34–133
Squaw Creek (ID): 130
Squaw wives: 104–05
Squirrels: 78
Stagecoaching: stations on trails, 94, 100, 102, 118, 121
Steele City (NE): 43–44
Sterling: in KS, 65; in NE, 56
Stinking Water Creek (NE): 69
Stoves: 153
Strawberries: 29–30
Strawbeny Point (IA): 23
Sublett(ID): 111
Sublette’s Cutoff: 103n
Succor Creek (ID): 130–31
Sunday observance: 152
Superior (NE): 45–46
Sutton (NE): 53
Sweetwater River (WY): 101–03
Tents: 66
Thistles: 94
Thomas Fork (Bear R.): 106
Three Sisters mts.: 171
Thunder, lightning: 44, 89, 145
Timber: in IA, 30
Toddy family (from KY): 153–57
Toll road: in Cascade Mts., 166n
Totty family: see Toddy
Trego County (KS): 146
Turkey Creek (NE): 55
Turkey River (IA): 22
Turkeys: 60
Twin Springs (ID): 112
Union (OR): 133–34
Union Pacific R.R.: 88; see also Oregon Shortline; Railroads
Venison: 113
Vida (OR): 165
Volga River (IA): 22–23
Wagons: brakes for, 111; disassembled for railcars, 83, 86; freighters, 100, 173; greased, 126; loose tires, 129; numbers of, 14, 17, 22, 65; repairs on, 50, 131–32, 153; wheels locked, 112, 123, 136; see also prairie schooner
Walls, Burt: 16–17
Walnut Creek (IA): 37
Wapsipinicon River (IA): 24
Warm Springs (WY): 99
Water: passim; artesian, 20, 156; from RR tank, 65; scarcity on trails, 87, 94; windmills, 87
Waterloo (IA): 25–26
Weather: cold, 135–36, 157, 161, 169; flood, 140; heat, 37, 44; see also hail, rain, sandstorm, snow, thunder, winds
Weishakee Indians: 101
Weston, Elijah and Wealthy: 63
Whitewater (WI): 14–15
Wichita (KS): 65
Wildcat: 122
Willamette Valley (OR): 9, 162, 163
Williamsburg (NE): 52
Willow Creek (OR): 132–33, 163
Willow Springs (OR): 136
Wilson, Lewis: 47
Winds: 24, 26, 92, 171; see also weather
Wolf Creek (IA): 27
Women: girls rare in OR, 172; see also squaw wives
Wood: see cedar, fuel, sagebrush
Yellow Creek (MO): 75