Index
Alcoholism: see liquor
Alkali: 50, 93, 186, 200–01, 246
Antelope: 53–54, 61, 65, 143, 242; meat of, 96, 106, 142
Aspen Creek (WY): 145
Avalanche: 276–78
Ballard, Dock: 51
Balm of Gilead trees: see cottonwood
Bancroft Library: 84–85
Bandell, Marvin: 180
Baptists: 210
Barkwell, Dr.: 98–99
Barrel Creek (10): 112
Barrel Springs (TX): 187
Bear River (UT/ID): 63–65, 102, 148, 154, 286
Bear River Mts. (ID/UT): 101
Bear Valley (CA): 80
Berries and nuts: 67, 190, 194, 198, 258; see also currants, strawberries
Big Meadows (NV): 175
Blacks Fork River (WY): 146, 191
Blacksmithing: 113, 154; price for shoeing, 187
Bloomer, Amelia: 14
Bloomer costume: described, 14–15, 90, 120; illus., 12
Bluff Creek (NE): 185
Boiling springs: in NV, 75, 159; see also hot springs
Boots: 37
Bow and Arrow: trade for, 198–99
Bridger, Jim: squaw wives, 147
Bridges: 49, 64, 88, 128, 154, 181; tolls, 102, 113, 183
Briggs, William and Edleda: 172
Briggs, William, Jr., and Barbara: 169, 172
Bronson, H.T.: 189
Buck, William: 34, 39, 41, 62, 65, 74, 79
Buffalo (Bison): 53, 58, 187–88; hunting of, 141, 236; meat of, 142; tongue, 205
“Bull Heads” party: 248–50
Burrell, Mrs. Thomas: 130
Cactus: 50–51, 53, 100, 136, 140, 198, 204, 243
California: 1852 travel diaries, 15; emigrants in, 9, 80–81, 84, 115; overland parties to, 21, 33, 83, 117, 169, 211; road to, 105, 107, 179
California Historical Society: 21, 23, 209
California Road: see “Mormon Corridor”
Cannibalism: 78
Canon Creek (NV): 105
Carriages: 113
Carson Valley (NV): 112–13, 212, 279, 281, 295
Carthage (IL): 123
Castle Rocks (NE): 95, 137, 186
Cattle: 268, 289; calves, 292; die, 104, 144, 181, 190, 246;drovers, 68, 242; droves of, 142; exhausted, 76; feed for, passim; lame, 242; milk cows, 37, 39, 43, 230–31, 245, 286, 289; sold, 266; stray off, 193; traded, 251
Cedar Bluffs (NE): 185
Cedar Creek (UT): 195
Cedar Springs (UT): 197
Central Pacific RR: 35
Chariton River (IA/MO): 126
Cheney, Winthrop and Merrick: 33, 61
Chicago (IL): 175
Chickens: 281; see also sagehens
Childbirth: 111–12
Chimney Rock (NE): 55, 95, 137, 186
Cholera: 10, 13, 24, 93–94, 136, 140, 184, 237–38, 250, 272
Cincinnati (OH): emigrants from, 215
Clothing: of emigrants, 216, 270–71, 281; see also bloomer
Cole, Mr.: party of, 59
Coleman, Margaret: 245
Contra Costa County (CA): 172
Cooke, Eve Anna (“Lilly”): 211, 221, 238, 240, 247, 249, 279
Cooke, Frank W.: 209
Cooke, John Richards: 211, 217, 219, 222, 230, 242, 253, 255, 260, 264, 273
Cooke, Lucy Rutledge: portrait, frontis.; becomes blind, death, 213; body weight, 282; children, 210, 213–14; dislikes Mormons, 265; ill, 236, 240, 242–44; letters of, 209–95; marries Wm. Cooke, 210; purchases household goods, 267–68
Cooke, Sarah (Mrs. Wm., Sr.): 210; with emigrants to SLC, 228–95; Mormon defector, 212, 265; teaches music, 273
Cooke, Thomas: 211, 228, 249, 271
Cooke, William (Sr.): 210–11; with emigrants to SLC, 228–55; employed in CA, 266; killed, 212; leaves for CA, 255
Cooke, William Sutton: freighting in UT, 252, 263, 277; as judge, death, 212–13; marries Lucy Rutledge, 210; mentioned, 228, 234, 238; as miner, 212, 295; toothache, 244
Cooking: see stoves
Copperas Spring (UT): 153
Cottonwood trees: 49
Council Bluffs (IA): 170, 181–82, 211
Court House Rock (NE): 54, 95, 137, 186
Coyotes: see wolves
Crittenden, Dwight: 173
Crow Creek (WY): 63
Crow Indians: 246
Cummings, Mariett Foster: homes in CA, 163; ill, 137, 156, 158–62; journal of, 117–68; memoir by Lucy Sexton, 163–68; paints in Yosemite, 164; wears bloomers, 15, 120
Cummings, William: 117, 125; ill, 159–60
Davenport (IA): 210
Davis, Andrew Jackson: 170, 205
Deaths on trails: 13, 42, 51, 57–58, 93, 97–98, 136, 236
Devi1’s Gate (WY): 59, 98, 143, 189, 247
Diaries and journals: sources of, 23, 35–36, 85, 117, 169, 209
Diarrhea: 178
Digger Indians: 105–06, 156, 292, 294
Diseases: 13; see also cholera, illnesses, scurvy, whooping cough
Doctors: see medicine
Dogs: 53
Donner Lake (CA): 79
Donner Party: 78
Dubuque (IA): 210–11
Ducks: 203
Echo Canyon (UT): 148
“Elephant, seeing the”: 288
Elk: 184
Elk Creek (NE): 51
Elkhorn River (NE): 48
Emigrants: number of, 9, 215, 231, 239; returning parties, 51
Erie Canal (NY): 210
Farmington (IL): 277
Feather River (CA): 162
Feed for livestock: see grass
Ferries: on Bear R., 154; fees, 39, 62, 154, 292; on Green R., 62; on Humboldt R., 292; in Iowa, 45, 178–79; on Mississippi R., 123, 177; on Missouri R., 45–46, 88–89, 182; on Platte R., 246
Firearms: see guns
Fish: in trail streams, 64–65, 103, 130–31, 149, 191; in UT, 153
Fix, Mr. (of KY): 95
Flour: 281
Flowers: 24, 54, 92, 96, 139–40, 147, 201
Fogg, Edmund Wilson: 172
Food: see potatoes, provisions
Fort Bridger (WY): 147, 251; road to, 62
Fort Kearney (new, NE, on Platte R.): 9, 92, 135
Fort Kearney (old, NE, on Missouri R.): 88, 129–31
Fort Laramie (WY): 56, 96, 138, 186, 240, 243; store at, 241
Foster, Arthur T.: 118, 125, 141
Foster, Isaac and Grace: 118, 125, 166
Foster, Isaac G. and Roxanna: 118, 164, 166, 168
Foster, Stella Olmsted: 165, 168
Foster family: history, 117–18
Fremont Peak (WY): 29
Fuel for fires: see buffalo chips, sagebrush Furs: of prairie dog, mink, wild cat, wolf, 293
Galesburg (lL): 122
Game, wild: see buffalo, deer, elk, sagehens
Geese: 66
Gold: coins, 278; diggers, 280; at Placerville, 114
Gold Canyon (NV): 112
Golden Era (steamboat): 214–15
Goose Creek (ID/UT): 70, 105; Mountains, 285, 290
Grand Creek (ID): 103
Grand Island (NE): 132
Grass: passim; in plenty, 100, 245; scarcity on trails, 40, 48, 57, 81
Grave Hollow (IA): 42
Graves: on trails, 24, 44, 52, 59, 94, 136, 144, 161, 180, 183–87, 189–90, 236, 291
Great Salt Lake: 153; salt from, 257; Valley of, 150
Green River (WY): 62, 101, 146, 191
Hall, Burk: 85–86, 108, 110, 115
Hams Fork River (WY): 63, 101, 146
Hangtown: see Placerville
Hares: see rabbits
Healdsburg (CA): 213
Hobble Creek (UT): 194
Holmes, Mr. (of AR): 77–78
Horses: passim; die, 181; emigrant use, 36, 103, 177–78, 192, 211, 226, 240, 268; of Indians, 251–52; Indians steal, 73, 183; medicine for, 188; traded for, 192, 230, 268; traded with Indians, 144
Hot springs: 25, 30, 71, 105, 153–54, 159, 193
Humboldt Canyon (NY): 113
Humboldt River (NV): 72–74, 105–10, 157–59, 290–91; Desert and Sink, 75, 109–10; Meadows, 109
Illinois: 117, 119, 175–76, 210
Illnesses: 63, 90, 107; see also cholera, diarrhea, diseases, medicine, mountain fever
Independence Rock (WY): 58, 97–98, 143, 189
India Rubber coat: 180
Indians: 191, 193–96, 198, 291; deserted lodge, 140; fear of, 196; friendly, 66, 91, 103; graves, 48; horses of, see horses; kill emigrants, 105; Pawnee-Sioux battle, 91; shoot emigrants, 291; steal guns, clothes, 199; steal livestock, 48, 73, 105, 183; women, 96; see also tribal names
Injuries: 87; broken bones, 97, 197; gunshot, 71; see also deaths
Inman, Sam: 179–80
Iowa City (IA): 178
Iowa Hill (CA): 212
Jefferson City (MO): 218
Jordan River (UT): 193
July Fourth: recognized, 103, 149
Kanesville (IA): 43, 45, 170, 181, 228–33
Keegan, Elizabeth J.C.: children, 22; death, 22–23; letter of, 21–31; marries
Ketchum, 22
Keegan, James B. and Julia: 21
Kentucky: 83–84; Historical Soc., 85
Kentucky company: 191
La Salle (IL): 120
Lake Michigan: 175
Lake Springs (CA): 114
Laramie Peak (WY): 56, 95, 186, 241
Las Vegas River (NV): 199
Latter-Day Saints: see Mormons
Lexington (MO): 222
Liberty (MI): 173
Linden (MO): 88
Linn, J.I. and C.E.: 62
Liquor and temperance: 42, 54, 107, 197, 292
Little Salt Lake (UT): 196
Little York (CA): 81
Livestock: emigrant herds, 10; stray, 235; see also cattle, mules, oxen, sheep
Lone Cedar Tree (NE): 53, 238, 245
Looking Glass River (NE): 183
Loup Fork River (NE): 49–50, 183, 234
Lumbering: in Utah, 269; shingles, 253, 263, 267–68
McAuley, Eliza Ann: portraits, frontis; children, death, 35; diary of, 33–81; family of, 33; marries Egbert, 35; wears bloomers, 15, 37
McAuley, James and Esther: 33, 74, 79, 81
McAuley, Margaret: 33–34, 41, 76, 79
McAuley, Thomas: 33, 36, 38, 61, 74, 76
McAuley (Macaulay), Thomas R.: 33n, 35n, 36
McDonnell, Anne: 85
McGee, Stephen: 194
McKinney cut-off (WY): 101
Mail: carriers, 53, 56, 92, 183, 234, 239, 243, 261, 275, 295; received in SLC, 256
Malad River (ID): 154
Mammoth Spring (CA): 81
Martinez (CA): 172
Mary’s River (NV): 106
Mattes, Merrill J.: 13
Mead, H.H.: 48
Medicine and doctoring: 86, 89, 219–20, 241, 244, 250; cures for livestock, 42, 54, 59; laudanum, 238; sugar of lead, 240
Meeker, Ezra: 9, 34, 39, 41–42, 51, 63–64; wife Eliza, 34, 41, 46; son Richard, 47
Methodists: 236
Midas (steamboat): 225–26
Military: at forts, 241
Miller, Elizabeth Smith: invents bloomers, 14
Miller, Joaquin: 10
Mills: saw, 269, 312
Milwaukie company: 188
Mink skins: 293
Mississippi River: 177
Missouri: 124–29; newspapers of, 9
Missouri River: 141, 160, 197, 228; crossing of, 182; steamboat hazards, 217–18, 223
Moccasins: 138
Mohave River (CA): 201–03
Molasses: 258
Moline (IL): 210
Monmouth (OR): 122
Mormon Trail or Trace: 137, 146
Mormons: anniversary parade, 254–55; baptisms, 207; at Carthage (IL), 123; converts to, 274; Cookes join, 211, 252–85; crops of, 152; as diarists, 170–72, 254, 262; friendly to emigrants, 284; Music Hall, 273, 279; in NV, 112; on Platte R., 94; polygamy, 152, 274–75; sermons, 207; strength of, 193; Tabernacle, 151; theater, 273; Winter Quarters, 47; see also polygamy
Mosquitoes: 50, 63–64, 66–67, 91, 97, 102, 107, 134, 146, 184, 239–40
Mount Nebo (UT): 194
Mount Pisgah (IA): 43
Mountain fever: 59, 63, 158–59
Mountain sheep: 268
Mow, Deacon: 181, 184; dies, 185
Muddy Fork River (WY): 148
Muddy River (NY): 198–99
Mules: 25, 85, 99, 134, 139, 156, 187, 194, 199, 226, 245; as pack animals, 113–14
Murders: 97
Music: 230–31, 269; teachers, 210, 212, 273, 281; see also recreation Mustard, wild: 48
Napa Valley (CA): 172
New Creek (MO): 127–28
New Orleans (LA): 115
Newby, William: 256–57
Nishnabotna River (IA): 45, 130
Nodaway River (IA): 44, 87, 129
Oats: wild, 63
Ogden (UT): 154
Oregon: emigrants to, 9
Oregonian: newspaper, 14
Organization of emigrant parties: officers resign, 189; dissention, 190
Oroville (CA): 172
Ottumwa (IA): 38
Outfit for journeys: 36–37, 85
Oxen: as draft animals, 25, 36–37, 188–89, 211, 230, 286; sick, 199–200; traded, 259, 268; as travel fare, 281
Paiute Indians: 160
Papillon Creek (NE): 183
Paragoonah Pueblo ruins (UT): 196n
Pavee (Indian): 66
Pawnee Indians: 46–47, 49, 91, 132–34
Pawnee Springs (NE): 53
Peavine Springs (NV): 161
Perrine, P.J.: 184
Petteskirt Creek (UT): 194
Piedmont Springs (CA): 167
Pies: 285
Pigs: 279
Pilot Springs (NV): 155
Pintura Creek (UT): 197
Placer County (CA): 35
Placerville (CA): 33, 114–15, 212
Platte River (NE/WY): 48–49, 51, 91, 132–42, 183–89, 238–46; crossing of, 93; North, 55–58, 97, 186–89
Pleasant Grove (UT): 193
Plumas County (CA) Historical Soc.: 209
Pontiac No. 2 (steamboat): 214, 217; wrecked, 223n, 226
Poro (Indian): 65–67
Prairie Creek (NE): 184
Prairie dogs: 50, 53, 136; robe of skins, 293
Prairie schooners: see wagons
Pratt, Alida: 172
Pratt, Cavanne: 170
Pratt, Darwin: 170
Pratt, Edgar “Ned”: 170, 186–87
Pratt, Parley P.: 171
Pratt, Sarah: children, 172; diary of, 169–207; marries M. Miner, 170
Pratt, Silas and Sally: 170
Prices: in CA, 30, 281; of provisions, 45, 241, 268; in UT, 256
Priest, Viola M.: 210
Princeton (IL): 120
Prospect Hill (WY): 142
Provisions for the trail: 37, 68, 112, 241; prices of, 233–34, 271, 282, 308; see also flour, milk, potatoes, prices
Pyramid Circle (UT): 69–70
Rabbits: 141
Raccoon River (IA): 180
Ragtown (NV): 110
Rattlesnake Creek (NE): 185
Recreation: on trails, 71–72, 157, 230–31, 249
Richards, John: 214
Rivers and creeks: crossing of, 38, 93, 135, 154, 191, 234, 286–88; see also bridges, ferries, river names
Roads: dusty, 52, 72, 156–58, 194; muddy, 38–39, 86–87, 176; plank, 176; rocky, 199–200; rough, 77; sandy, 53, 57, 185, 188, 198, 200, 202, 224, 237, 245, 250
Robert Campbell (steamboat): 222
Rock River (IL): 175–76
Rock Spring (NV): 156
Rodgers, Asa: 62
Rutledge, Lucy: 210; marries Wm. S. Cooke, 210
Rutledge, Marianne (“Polly”): 210; addressee of Lucy’s letters, 214, 217; marries Mr. Willis, 210
Sacramento (CA): 22–23, 26–27, 115, 217
Sage Creek (UT): 196
Sagebrush: 24, 98, 186–87, 243
St. Joseph (MO): 85–86, 129; steamboat to, 226
Saline River (KS): 131
Saloons: see liquor Salt Lake City: 100, 151–52, 170, 192, 211, 243, 252–85
Salt River (NE): 131
Salt Springs (CA): 201
Saluda (steamboat): wreck, 222
Sampson, Benjamin: 85, 87, 102
San Bernardino (CA): 170–71, 193n, 204–07
San Francisco (CA): 171–72; Cummings home, 164–68
San Jose (CA): 163
San Pablo (CA): 172
Sandy River: Big, 60–61, 100, 146; Dry, 60, 100; Little, 100, 146; McAchrem’s branch, 60
Sanpete (UT): 194
Santa Clara (UT): River, 197–98
Sawmills: see mills
Sawyer, Francis: children, 84–85; journal of, 83–115; toothache, 113–14
Sawyer, Henry: 83
Sawyer, Jonathan and Nancy: 83
Sawyer, Thomas: 83–85, 100, 141; as gold seeker, 84, 86; ill, 90, 107–08
Schools: in San Bernardino, 204–07
Scotch emigrants: 179–80
Scotts Bluff (NE): 55, 95, 137, 186
Scurvy: 177
Service berries: 258
Sevier River (UT): 195
Sexton, Lucy Foster: 117, 119; memoir of Mariette Cummings, 163–68
Shawnee Baptist Mission (KS): 23
Shawnee Springs (NE): 93
Shell Creek (NE): 49
Sheridan Point (IA): 42
Sierra Nevada: crossing of, 78–79, 113, 162, 295
Silver Creek (WY): 146
Simpson, John: 177, 195–97, 199
Sims, Mrs. Dorothy: 21
Sinking Creek (ID): 69
Sioux Indians: 49, 55–56, 91, 133–34, 139, 242
Skunk Creek (NE): 52
Skunk River (IA): 37
Slavery: in MO, 127
Snakes: 43
Snow: 290
Solano County (CA): 35
Spring Creek (NE): 55
Springs: see hot springs
Starvation: 78
Steamboats: 211, 214; fares on, 215, 227
Stewart, George R.: author, 10
Stork: 185
Sugar Loaf Rock (NE): 138
Sulphur Springs: in UT, 192; in WY, 142
Summit Creek (UT): 197
Summit Valley (CA): 79–80
Sunday observance: 40, 51, 170, 180, 184, 205, 207, 218, 236–37, 251
Sweetwater River (WY): 29, 59–60, 97–99, 143–45, 189–91, 246–50; Strawberry branch, 145
Table Rock (WY): 145
Tahoe, Lake: 113
Terrell, George: artist, 164–65
Thomas Fork (Bear R.): 102
Thousand Spring Valley (UT): 70, 105, 156
Thunder, lightning: 185–86, 190
Timber: in lA, 177–78; in Sierra (CA), 78, 114; in WY, 241
Toothache: 114
Trading posts: 189–91
Trenton (MO): 128
Trout Creek (UT): 155
Truckee Meadows (NV): 77
Truckee River (NV): 76–79, 159–61
Turkies: 126
Tyson, Edwin L.: 36
Union City (MI): 173–74
Unruh, John D.: author, 9
Utah: military to, 241; mountains, 148; overland parties in, 9, 192
Utah Lake: 194
Ute Indians: 149
Ventura (CA): 168
Vermillion River (KS): 24
Virgin River (UT): 198
Virginia City (NV): 213
Wages: in CA, 266; in Carson Valley, 295; in UT, 252–53, 256
Wagons: abandoned, 63; numbers of, 89; sale of, 112, 204; for storage, 259; truck, 239; wide track, 281; see also carriages
Wallace, John and Robert: 66
Water: passim; poor quality, 135, 201; price on desert, 110; purchased, 266; scarcity on trails, 184, 187, 246
Weather: cold, 25, 42, 145, 182–83, 202, 250; heat, 136, 154, 187; see also hail, rain, snow, thunder, winds
Webster, Daniel: 125
Wheat: 258; coffee made with, 258; in UT, 152
Whooping cough: 259
Willis, Mr.: marries Marianne Rutledge, 210, 257, 260
Willow Creek (WY): 145
Willow Lake (NE): 136
Willow Spring (WY): 58, 142, 189
Willow Springs (UT): 154
Wills, Nancy S.: 84–85
Winds: 46–47, 60–61, 88–89, 138, 184, 188; see also weather
Winter Quarters (NE): 47
Winterset (IA): 180
Wolves and coyotes: 130–31, 184, 186
Women: ratio to men emigrants, 10
Wood: see greasewood, sagebrush
Yellow Creek (MO): 126
Yeoman, Solon: 41–42
Yosemite Valley: 164–65
Young, Brigham: 152, 212, 269, 273–74, 283
Yuba River (CA): Valley, 80