Ellen Hundley
INTRODUCTION
Margaret Ellenor Hundley1 was her name, Ellen for short. She had been born Ellenor Harris, daughter of James and Francis J. Wooldridge Harris of Abbeville, South Carolina, on March 27, 1821. She attended a girls’ school and was known as a “perfect grammarian” by her school mates and family. The Harris family moved to Grimes County, Texas, in 1830 while it was still under Mexican rule. This part of southeastern Texas was part of the cotton kingdom of the old south, a land of large plantations and black slaves. Her father died in the Battle of Golead in the revolt against Mexico in 1836. Her older brother died in a Mexican war camp. During the same year her mother died at Christmastime. This left four Harris sisters on their own: Margaret Ellenor, Martha, Lucy and Eliza. In honor of their father’s and brother’s service and deaths the Republic of Texas gave to the surviving sisters a huge land grant of 8,8882 acres, which was divided into four plantations, and the slaves were portioned out. These plantations were near the village of Anderson, the seat of Grimes County.
Just before her mother’s death, Ellenor had married Lewis Goodwin on November 6, 1836. To them were born six children over the years following: Lewis James, b. Sept. 3, 1838; Mary Francis, b. July 16, 1840; Alice Gray, b. May 15, 1842; John Robert, b. Jan. 24, 1844; Joseph Kirkpatrick, b. June 21, 1846.
Some time before 1850 Lewis Goodwin died. We don’t know when or how, but Ellenor was listed as a single woman in the 1850 Federal Census of Grimes County.
On January 6, 1851, she married again, this time to Thomas Augustus Hundley (b. Dec. 31,1824), whom she always referred to as “Mr. Hundley” in her diary. His former wife, listed as 27 years old in the Federal Census of Texas of 1850, was Mary Jane Hundley. They were both Alabamans. The census listed their children as Panina, b. Mississippi, 5; Nancy, b. Mississippi, 3; and Alice, b. Texas, 2. What happened to these children we don’t know. They don’t appear in Hundley records so-far located.
Thomas and Ellen Hundley’s first child, Thomas William “Billy,” was born Feb. 11,1853, according to Mormon generation records.3 A second son, Elijah was born October 6, 1855.
Sometime in the early 1850s the Hundleys seem to have met Mormon missionaries and were attracted to their faith. Preston Thomas, a well-known pioneer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, may have been the one who brought the new message. He carried out several missions in Texas.
It seems that the Hundleys were reticent about actually joining the new church. For one thing, they were slave-holders. This practice was not approved by the Mormon establishment. It would appear that they went overland in 1855 to scout out the land in the Salt Lake area.
The diary which we transcribe here was written on their return trip to Texas in 1856. There are no typical Mormon usages or references in Ellen’s diary. She never refers to men and women as brothers or sisters. This omission is particularly noticeable in her reference to Preston Thomas, whom they had known in Texas. In her mention of this highly revered Mormon leader, whom they met on the trail on July 14, she does not use the appellation, “Brother,” an unheard-of omission for any Mormon.
The overland journey began in Grantsville, Utah. They traveled in reverse over the usual Mormon trail through Emigration Canyon, past Fort Bridget and via what she called “the Missoura route” (June 16) to Fort Laramie. At some point they turned up the South Platte River and went along the east side of the Rocky Mountains southward in what later became Colorado. They reached Cherry Creek near the later site of Denver on July 8. The rest of their journey took the Arkansas River route, in reverse to its usage several years later in the Pikes Peak gold rush. They traversed Kansas and eventually turned south through Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) into Texas and on home to Grimes County.
Soon after their return they became Mormons and sold out their property in land and slaves, planning to traverse their 1856 route. By this time Denver had been etablished and named, and they stopped there to take part in the gold rush. Another son, Jefferson Davis, was born there on November 28, 1860.
It was not until 1862 that the Hundley family reached Heber, Wasatch County, Utah, where they settled for life. Heber lies in a beautiful Alpine-like valley amidst high mountains. It was in those mountains that James Hundley worked as a logger, helping to harvest pine, spruce, fir, and Douglas fir.4 It was when he was chopping saw logs that he was injured in an accident, and he died soon afterward on July 18, 1870. His place in the family was taken by Ellenor’s son, John Robert Goodwin, who lived out his life until August 22, 1900. He had fought for four years in the Confederate army.
Ellenor carried out the work of a typical frontier mother. The children and grandchildren remembered how she washed and ironed, carded, spun, and wove. They raised wheat and ground it in a coffee mill for bread. For a time she taught school in Park City.
She was also very active in the Church. She was a primary teacher, relief society teacher and relief society president for many years. The Hundley home was a gathering place for young and old. She died in her 80th year at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lucy Rebecca Murdock, on April 7, 1900. A family memorial to her reads. ‘‘Rich in love of all who came in contact with her. Rich in services of love and devotion and an abiding faith in the Gospel. Never once murmuring under distressing circumstances she was always rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord.”
We are grateful to the Brigham Young University Library, Provo, for the use of their microfilm of the Hundley diary. Mrs. Dortha Kimball of Safford, Arizona, is a kind of family historian, and she has shared with us her knowledge of that subject, and also a typewritten biography, “Margaret Ellenor Harris Hundley.” This document has been a mine of information. Mrs. Kimball also provided us with the portrait of her ancestor.
FROM UTAH TO TEXAS IN 1856
May 13, 1856 This day we bid fare well to our friends [in Grantsville] and started on our way to Texas we traveled 22 miles and reached the cave1 we had considerable rain and hail on us we camped at the cave
May 14 we still remained at the cave waiting for the company to start. we washed some
May 15. we still remained at the cave Alice May 14 years old to day Lewis come home from the city
May 16 Still at the cave Mr Hundley went into the city returned in the evening bringing letters from our friends in Texas
May 17 at the cave spent this day in writing to our friends
May 18 Sabbath day still at the cave getting tired of the place
May 19 washed at the cave Alice went to the City Lewis returned from the City with 3 letters
May 20 [and] 21 Still at the cave
22 left the cave and traveled 23 miles passed through salt lake City but did not make any stop. camped at emigration Kanyon 7 miles east of the City
May 23 Mr Hundley and Lewis went back to the City Mr Hundley returned and we started on had considerable trouble crossing the little mountain had to hire team to take us up camped between the little and big mountain had good water and feed for our horses. 5 miles
May 24 Started to go over the big mountain traveled 7 miles had a great deal of trouble having to unload our waggon and pack it on horses2 and by hand we got in a mile of the top and had to camp no feed for horses here it rained and snowed on us good water
May 25 Sabbath we hired help and came over this big mountain paid 5 dollars for help about a mile here we suffered a great deal of fatigue having to walk all the time we traveled about 7 miles camped at a creek good water and tolerable feed for horses we had plenty of snow to east on top of mountains
May 26 Stayed on the creek and washed. Waiting for the company to come on lonesome times in the east Kanyon
May 27 this morning we moved on about 3 miles to good grass and stoped to wait for the company to come up we had frost and ice every night. snow plenty in sight
May 28 we moved on about 2 miles and stopped still waiting for the company in the evening Mr. Gorden his wife Mother and Sister come up with us and camped
May 29 started to go on to [Fort] Bridger got as far as weber and had to stop on account of the river being up we crossed one creek in east Kanyon 12 times besides several other little streams of water to day we come 12 miles
May 30 we lay by to day I washed some. The men commencd building a raft to carry us over the river the mail come to the river but did not cross 2 men swum the river on horses and went on to the City
May 31 to day we lay by the men finished the raft but we did not cross on account of the wind being so high
June 1 Sabbath morning this morning they put in the raft they made 2 trips and the third time the rope broke and she went down the river with the mail bags and 3 or 4 men on her went down 3 miles and lodged on the same side she started from. the men took a waggon and went and got the mail part of it got washed off 3 or 4 bags and they never found it
June 2 the raft was gone and the men took one of the mail waggon beds and corked it and finished crossing the mail and 4 waggons for us it looked very dangerous to see women and children cross such a stream in the manner we did but however we all got across safe the mail men were very kind in assisting us over Mr Johnsons waggons got up with us to day
June 3 this morning we packed up and started again Will Sprouse went back to the City after Lewis Goodwin we had a great deal of trouble with our horses at the hills they would not pull I suffered a heap of fatigue walking and carrying my child and trying to catch the waggons we traveled 15 miles and camped in echo Kanyon we crossed several creeks during the day we had good grass and water for our horses
June 4 a heavy frost and plenty of ice we traveled on very well crossed bear river and camped on this side near the bank we crossed several small creeks all good water we came about 30 miles J york come up with us to day.
June 5 we started this morning come about 2 miles and broke our wagon tongue in a bog hole had to go a mile to get a pole to fix it we traveled on about 20 miles and camped on a creek good water but poor feed for horses Cub Johnson came with us to day muddy creek.
June 6 we traveled on about ten miles to day passed fort Bridger camped just this side and made a new waggon tongue crossed severel streams of water
June 7 this morning started crossed blacks fork again traveled 2 miles nooned at a creek muddy went 15 in the after noon and camped on hams fork poor feed and water
June 8 Sunday morning come on and nooned at green river come 33 miles and crossed green river camped on this side
June 9. to day we lay by and the women washed Lewis and Will and Alma Taylor come to us in the evening
June 10 this morning Mr Gordon and family left us and went on the Missoura route we traveled 10 miles farther and camped on the river we had very bad road all day crossed big sandy in the morning
June 11 we left green river this morning and traveled over a barren hilly country bad road and no water we come 30 miles and found a good spring and grass for our horses here we camped
June 12 to day we still had a very bad road a great many deep ravines to cross and heavy saluratus beds we came 10 miles and nooned on beeder [Beaver] creek had water saluratus; we crossed 2 very small streams of water in the forenoon we come on about a mile and found a cold sulpher spring white good water; and good road; we come on 10 miles and camped no grass and very little water alkali and had to bring it a mile
June 13 this morning we traveled over 20 miles and still no water but alkali and grass still on a barren sandy desert we come on camped on beer creek some of us got a little sick drinking the bad water; after we camped some of the company went about a mile and found a white sulpher spring cold good water which was quite a treat
June 14. we come on to the spring and lay bye to let our horses rest and shoe some; here they killed 2 mountain sheep
June 15 Sunday morning we started again and traveled over bad road sometimes having to make it as we went crossed several dry creeks and deep ravines still a barren sandy desert; we traveled on 30 miles and not a drop of water for our horses we still come on till 11 o clock at night and still no water we stopped here and turned out our horses and went to sleep come 50 miles in the day and night
June 16. we started on again and traveled 15 miles and still no water for our horses nor ourselves we began to suffer the little children was crying and the grown ones nearly as bad we stopped and some of the men went to hunt water after a long time they found a snow bank that had caved in the side of a deep ravine they found it by the moist dirt on top dug down and found the snow they brought us enough to have a little to wet our parched throats it was half mud but we was glad to get it our horses was about give out and we come near losing one traveling hard 2 days and one night with not a drop of water and hardly any thing to eat after the men come to us with the water we left the road and here they took the ax and broke up the snow and we melted it and gave it to our horses and made us some coffee and to look at it you would think it was half cream 2 of Cub Johnsons mules give out; it was very hard work getting to the snow as the banks was very steep but it was fortunate for us we found it for our horses would have died and we would have nearly died ourselves one of the mens tonge was so dry and swollen he could not wait for water but sucked the wet mud this was T. Taylor
June 17 we traveled 20 miles to day still over a heavy sandy road on the desert without any water in the evening we found a salt lake of water the stock could not like it; they dug around the edge of the lake small wells and found fresh cold water for ourselves and our horses we had no grass but salt grass and this our horses would not eat they had to guard our horses all the time to keep them from getting bogged and one or two did get bogged so deep that you could scarsely see them except their heads
June 18 to day we lay bye to let our horses rest as they were all about give out in the morning they killed an antelope about 10 o clock they killed another
June 19 still lay bye on account of our horses
June 20 still lying bye
June 21 to day we traveled 20 miles and found a good spring and good grass here we camped the road was good part of the time and part was heavy sand still on the desert we camped at the foot of some red mountain to day they killed an antelope
June 22. Sunday morning we crossed over the red mountains a rough rocky road traveled on 5 miles killed a buffalo come on 5 miles and camped good grass for our horses lake water this day we left the desert and entered the mountains
June 23 this morning we come over a very rocky road high rolling mountainous country we traveled 20 miles and nooned at a lake we come on 10 miles and camped on a dry creek we found some water standing in holes in the bed of the creek
June 24 we come on 20 miles over a hilly rough road crossed a great many deep ravines and steep bad places 3 small creeks very good water we reached the platte3 about 3. o clock in the afternoon and camped in the evening about 150 Indians Shoshones come up to us and camped all night with us they were very friendly they all had good horses we had good grass
June 25 this morning we forded the platte and all got over safe and come on 15 miles and nooned on a creek good water we had bad road. we come on over the mountains 10 miles and camped between the Elk Mountains good water but poor feed Cub killed an antelope on the platte
June 26 still traveling in the mountains plenty of snow on the sides bad enough road; but beautiful scenery the high mountains all colored with green trees and the snow on the sides; we come on by a bed of snow about 4 feet deep on the road side we had plenty to eat and snow water to drink here the road was boggy and bad good deal of water standing in it just this side we crossed a very large rocky creek we traveled 15 miles and camped good cold water tolerable feed here we found some ripe strawberries
June 27. this morning we had the roughest road of any we had traveled rocky we crossed a large rocky creek and several small streams all good water we passed through timber and seen a great deal we come 20 miles and camped on a small creek good water and grass plenty of mosquitoes in the mountains
June 28. good road with the exception of some steep rocky hills we crossed several streams of water 4 creeks in going a half a mile fish creek we traveled 30 miles and crossed a river the name we did not know Larama camped over on this side good water and grass
June 29. Sunday morning we come on 5 miles and met 3 trains from Arkansas Going to Calafornia with sheep and cattle we come on 30 miles and camped in the black hills we crossed several small creeks in the evening the horses ran away down the hill and broke the tounge of the waggon We had to stop and make a new one in the pines.
June 30 to day bad road steep rocky hills and ravines crossed several creeks come on 40 miles to powder river provision short
July 1 tuesday lay bye to rest our horses the women washed they killed an Antelope out of provision living on game
July 2 Wednesday traveled 30 miles crossed 2 large creeks good water camped on a small creek poor water and feed killed an antelope there was a cherokee train camped just below us4
July 3 thursday this morning 3 of our company left us and turned back with the train Alma and T. Taylor and George Brady we come on and nooned on a rocky creek traveled 30 miles and camped on a small creek
July 4 come on 10 miles crossed the Platte and nooned on this side killed an antelope
July 5 still lying bye on the Platte we washed to day they killed an antelope and a deer met 2 arkansas trains
July 6 still lying by to rest our horses Sunday; this evening they killed 3 deer and one antelope
July 7 monday we started on again this morning met 2 arkansas trains with about 1000 head of cattle traveled 25 miles and camped on cherry creek good grass and water
July 8 tuesday lay bye half the day come on in the evening. met some mexicans packed with flour going to trade with the Indians we traveled 15 miles and camped at the head of cherry creek5 passed a mexican camp on C C
July 9 Wednesday this morning 2 Californians come back from a train that we met this side of the Platte and come back with us to day we traveled 40 miles crossed black squirrel creek come over a high rolling country but good road camped at the muddy spring sorry grass
July 10 thursday this morning we met 3 arkansas trains with more than 1000 head of cattle we come on and nooned on the fountain Cabuoya6 traveled 20 miles and camped on fountain cabuoya
July 11 traveled 25 miles good road reached the Arkansas river and camped good grass here was a trader camped on the opposite side of the river with some provision the men went over and bought some corn and coffee and tobacco and beans and a little meal this was fortunate for us as we had been living on wild meat for some time and some was getting sick
July 12 to day we had some bread for dinner; lay bye to day to trade and rest our horses plenty of mosquitoes
July 13. Sunday this morning we started on again Cub Johnson and all left us except one young man to go through Mexico; and we come on ourselves we passed some Mexican and one white man camped on the road side we traded some with the men bought a little flour and some more beans and some fine beef. Cub Johnsons folks were afraid to pass through the Indians we come on 30 miles and camped on the river thousands of Mosquitoes
July 14 Monday to day we met Preston Thomas7 and company going to the vally we traveled 20 miles and camped on the river
July 15 tuesday this morning our horses was gone back the road home 8 or 10 miles on account of mosquitoes and it was late when we got them so we lay bye and did not travel any
July 16 Wednesday to day we passed Bents old fort8 traveled 20 miles and camped good grass no mosquitoes
July 17. thursday reached Bents fort9 come by 27 wickeups shians [Cheyennes] 50 come out to the waggon but treated us friendly we come to and met 6 more on horse back. there was 5 wickeups at the fort Rappehoos [Arapahoes] friendly we camped this side of the fort nice neat looking Indians and neat wickeups come 20 miles
July 18 friday this morning left the fort come to 15 miles and nooned 2 Apaches come to us and eat dinner and a Rappahow and his squaw come on to travel with us to the agent. here we seen an Indian wrapped up in his buffalo robe buried up in a tree the Indians come on and camped with us we traveled 23 miles to day
July 19 Saturday traveled 20 miles passed the Apachy 8 wickeups none come out to the waggons the old Indian come by and brought another squaw with him; 20 here we are with no company to pass through the Indians but one young man and this old Indian and his 2 squaws lonesome times and nothing to eat but beans and hominy and that to cook every night no grease nor meat to season it with
July 20 Sunday this morning we met a white man and an Indian comeing from the agent to gather all the Indians together to make them presents we passed a place where the Indians had killed a little white boy and burnt his waggon because some poeple had killed an Indian on the other road the Missoura route near fort Karney the old Indians chief that was traveling with us went with Louis and showed him the spot where he was killed he was with the Indians that killed him we come on and met the Agent10 and his train and 100 Indians just at camping time we all camped at the same place here the agent told us it was not safe for us to be alone as there was 7000 Kyoway [Kiowas] camped just below us on the river and they were mad and fighting among themselves and we had better go back with them to Bents fort and wait for company this was bad news to us but it was better to do that than for us all to be killed or robed and taken prisoners; the Agent was very kind and let us have some flour coffee and sugar
July 21 monday this morning we turned back with the train to Bents fort at noon the agent gave the Indians a beef and it made me shudder to see their cruelty to a poor dumb brute they skined it alive we come on and all camped together it made me feel awful at night to look round and see the Indians camped all around us and such a few white men and no women but Alice and myself besides squaws. we was 60 miles from the fort when we met the agent
July 22 tuesday to day we passed the Apaches the chief come out to us dressed very fine in his war dress and sword he treated us very friendly and made all his men behave themselves there were 400 come to the waggons the agent gave them their goods and provision and they appeared very much pleased with them the old chief come on and stayed all night to look at their wickeups as we passed them looked like a little town
July 23 Wednesday we come on near the fort and camped plenty of Indians with us
24 Thursday we come on and camped out side the fort the whole place covered with Indians Bent would not let us have a house in the fort
25 friday still at the fort we went down to the village and bought some mockasins
26 saturday at the fort. the Indians had a dance inside the fort they had a Utah squaw prisoner and 2 Utes scalps they were all painted and dressed out in their feathers and war capes; they made the prisoner dance with them and pointed their lances at her they had the scalps on 2 sticks and held them up and danced with them and rubbed them on the ground they enjoyed themselves finely; the old squaws danced as well as the young and sung all the time they danced it made the cold chills run over me to see their actions and hear them war hoop and yell they were dressed very fine; after their fashion with their beaded buckskin dressed all fringed off the old squaws carried the scalps they were painted black as a crow and the men that beat the drums were painted black there was about 1000 at the dance. this morning we seen a dog killed and dressed ready to eat they are a favorite dish among the squaws they had been suffering for food and waiting for the agent to come had killed some of their horses to eat after the dance the agent made them some presents and gave them some provision
27. Sunday at the fort waiting for company
28 still at the fort
29 at the fort spent an awful night the Indians brought in a pawnee scalp and they danced sung yelled and beat their drums all night long we could not sleep a minute for them I was frightened out of my life nearly
30 still at the fort
[July] 31 at the fort today some of the comanches & Kiaways come up here we had Rappahoes Kiaways commanches shanees black feet Uts Apaches Shians and Mexicans the sight of a white face looked good for you could look no way but what there was Indians
August 1 [and] 2 still at the fort
Sunday 3 this morning we started on again with a train from the fort we come on 5 or 6 miles and camped
Aug. 4 monday to day we lay by part of the oxen was gone in the evening they found them and we went on our horses were gone back 3 or 4 miles on the road and Mr Hundley had to walk after them the train went on and left us all but one man we was frightened all most to death surrounded every where by Indians we passed about 1000 wickeups commanches and Kiaways the worst Indians that was they took one yoke of oxen and killed them
Aug. 5 this morning we met about 3 or 4000 Indians they looked like an army they behaved themselves very well and did not interupt any thing but I was afraid of them
Aug 6. to day the waggon Master and his driver a Mexican had a fight and the master made the driver leave are camped on the [Arkansas] river
Aug. 7 to day we got to where we met the agent there was a Kiaway overtook us at noon he said he was looking for Pawnees that there was a company of his men a war party coming on to have a fight with them this was sad news for I began to think we was nearly out of danger of Indians. the Indian come on and camped with us I was uneasy all the time as he was looking for his men up
Aug 8 we come on again this morning the old Indian still with us we traveled 20 miles and camped
Aug 9 this morning the Indian left us and went back the Agent and Mr Bent over took us at noon 2 carriages and one baggage wagon; we come 20 miles and stopped
Aug 10 Sunday this morning got a very early start and traveled very well at noon the train killed a beef we traveled 15 miles ten thousand million of grass hoppers
Aug. 11 we come on as usual we got into the Santafee road this morning the mail passed us at noon the whole plain full of grasshoppers at Dinner Mr Bent sent us a green peach pie which was quite a treat on the plains we traveled 25 miles and camped on the river here we have rain every day and night on us
Aug. 12 this morning the Agent left us and went on with the mail we passed fort Adkison here11 took up 2 dead bodies the Mother and her daughter and carried them with their friends they had been dead 4 years rainy bad weather
Aug 13 traveled on very well plenty of grass all along the river
Aug 14 rainy wet morning today we lay by on account of rain quite cold
Aug 15 this morning Mr Bent left us and went on we started on again at noon we seen some buffalo a good ways off met a santafee train they killed 4 buffalo our train
Aug 16 come on as accident camped on coon creek no grass
Aug 17 Sunday nooned on pawnee fork 10 miles from coon creek Come on and camped at pawnee rock traveled 25 miles today
Aug 18 monday reached fort walnut12 250 miles from fort bent
Aug 19 to day we lay by the train left 44 head of cattle and we had to stop here we seen thousands of buffalo they killed 2
Aug 20 still at the fort waiting to find the oxen to day we went out and found some of the finest plums and grapes I ever saw we had some fine pies which was very good after so long a famine in the evening we come on a while down the river and camped to good grass
Aug 21. still lying by the oxen gone here there was 2 large santafee trains passed us
Aug 22 this morning Mr Hundley went out and killed a large buffalo the finest that had been killed we all went out to look at it was the first one the children had ever been close to we could see thousands all around us we caught some fine fish at the fort in the evening we started and traveled 25 miles to cow creek we traveled all night nearly
Aug 23. to day we lay by 2 trains passed us
Aug 24 Sunday to day we left the train and started on by ourselves again we traveled on 20 miles to little Arkansas and camped
Aug 25 come on 25 miles and camped on little turkey creek here we reached the Osage nation and we have to go through them alone over wild wilderness country
Aug 26 to day we lay by to wait for Levers he was with the train
Aug 27 this morning we left the santafee road and started on to the nation we traveled 30 miles and camped on the Coon
Aug 28 come on to day 20 miles and nooned on little cottonwood creek bad banks but the prettiest grass I ever saw we traveled 10 miles and camped on a creek. 20 miles to day after we stopped and got supper we concluded to go on a few miles we come about 5 and staid all night today we seen about 100 wickeups old ones an Indian city
Aug 29 to day we come on to big walnut creek here it commenced raining on us and we had to stop we staid about 2 hours and found the creek was rising very fast and we thought we had better cross over so we come over and the bank was very steep and slippery and the horses could not pull so we had to unload our waggon in the rains and just throw every thing out in the mud we had an awful time of it and we come about a quarter of a mile and broke our wagon tongue off short. so here we had to stop in the rain and mud in the dreary bottom and make a new one. wet and cold as we could be little children and all we finished it and come 15 miles
Aug 30 to day we come 7 miles to little walnut creek and it was so high we could not cross and we lay by the rest of the day in the evening Mr Hundley killed a small deer rich land hundreds of old wickeups all around but no Indians
Aug 31. Sunday this morning we crossed the creek and traveled 22 miles we crossed 3 or 4 creeks during the day all had timber on them at noon we stopped on a creek and found some fine plums
Sept. 1 traveled over a high rolling country nooned on a small creek beautiful scenery all around us. we come on and in the evening we stoped and got supper and come on 5 miles and camped on a high ridge traveled 25 miles lonesome times in the wild wilderness one lone little family and one young man 17 years old
Sept 2 to day come 15 miles and nooned on a black Jack ridge we passed water twice in the morning; a small spring on the ridge traveled 35 miles to day and part of the night
Sept 3 traveled 25 miles to day there was an Indian dog come to us at noon and about 10 O clock at night it come to us again we knew there was Indians close about so we tied up our horses and watched them
Sept 4 this morning we traveled over a beautiful country high hilly and pretty scenery all around in the morning there was some Osage Indians come to us but they were very friendly we give them some sugar and coffee and tobacco we crossed several creeks during the day
Sept 5. come on to day to the Verde grees [Verdigris] found the river very low but the banks very slippery and bad had to get a yoke of oxen from Mr Coody13 to pull us camped here
Sept 6 lay by to let our horses rest Mr Coody gave us some nice water melons which was quite a treat
Sept 7 still lying by Sunday
Sept 8. had a fine mess of beans for dinner
Sept 9. 10. 11. 12. 13 Still lying by at Mr Coodys here they were very kind to us in dividing vegetables with us and watermelons and milk. Mr Hundley was taken sick here with chills and fever and was very sick
14. Sunday this morning Mr Griers train come up with us; to day Mr Hundley was worse than he had ever been before
15 to day we started on again traveled 15 miles some bad road crossed 2 or 3 creeks
16 traveled 20 miles today some very bad road camped on a creek just this side of Hicks14 nooned on a creek to day Mr Hundley missed his chill
17 traveled on very well some bad road
18 to day very bad road
19 to day we crossed the Chickensas river 80 miles from Verdigrees
20 lay by and washed the men went to fort Gipson15 to buy provision here we got some apples
21 Sunday started on again got along very well
22 traveled on very well come 20 miles
[September] 23 this morning crossed the Canadian 40 miles from arkansas in the evening crossed the Canadian again come down the big rocky hill
24 bad rocky road
25 very rocky road still Lewis very sick
26 to day some bad road
27 some rocky road still crossed 2 large creeks
28 Sunday lay by rainy wet morning Lewis sick monday traveled on very well some hard road crossed one very large creek and one toll bridge
29 to day come on very well passed through Boggy ville [Boggy Depot, Oklahoma] heavy sandy road toll bridge
Oct. 1. to day we come in 2 miles of red river and camped Alice was very sick here
Oct 2 crossed red river come on about 4 miles and camped at a spring Alice still very sick
Oct 3 passed through Sherman [Texas] 14 miles this side of red river Alice had a chill and was very sick
Oct 4 Sunday come on to western
Oct 5 lay by to get flour Joseph Billy Alice all sick and Teresa
6 still lying by all sick
7 lying by waiting for flour
8 started on again traveled about and stopped rainy day
9 traveled on very well passed another mill
10 no accident to day mad[e] a very good days drive
11. Sunday to day passed through Dallas and crossed Trinity river we left Mr Greers train to day at night they over took us again and we all camped together
12 monday came through [unreadable word] 16 miles from Dallas
13 tuesday [unreadable word] in morning got a late start traveling about [unreadable word] camped Mr Hundley was very sick all night
14 Wednesday traveled on very well Mr Hundley [unreadable word]
[Note: There are three more entries: 15, 16, 17, and all are unreadable. Also there is another page of written material, all in a different hand, and not related to the content of the diary.]
1Mrs. Dortha Kimball, Safford, Arizona, letter of Oct. 31, 1986, says about her great-grandmother; “Notice the spelling of Ellenor. My grandfather insisted it was that way and not Eleanor, and she was called Ellen.”
2If this acreage seems outrageous, please note that land grants given by the Republic of Texas under a provision of the consitution of 1836 were a league (4,428 acreas) to each family head. William Ransom Hogan, The Texas Republic, a Social and Economic History (Norman, Oklahoma, 1946), p. 10.
3We were able to study these records on microfilm at the South Salem, Oregon, Stake Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
4United States Forest Service, Wasatch National Forest (Wash., D.C., Feb. 1952), passim.
1For identification of this cave the Public Inquiries Office of the Geological Survey in Salt Lake City recommended Orrin P. Miller as an authority on the caves of the area. He is president of the Tooele County Historical Society, Tooele, Utah. Mr. Miller has been quite helpful. He suggest that Deadmans Cave, half way between Tooele City and Salt Lake City was the locale most often used by the pioneers as a camping place. It is twenty miles southwest of Salt Lake City, just south of the Great Salt Lake. Deadmans Cave was used by the pioneers and not the more famous Black Rock Cave because the former has a good source of water nearby. It is 40 by 30 feet with an arched roof of 15 feet.
2This was a horse-drawn wagon train. Far and away most of them traveled by ox team.
3This was the South Platte River, which has its rise in the Colorado Rockies.
4Cherokees had answered the lure of California gold in 1849–1850. In the latter year some of them had discovered color in Ralston Creek, near present Denver. Others followed from Indian Territory (Oklahoma) over the following years culminating in the William Green Russell expedition, which spread the news of gold in the Pikes Peak region to the whole world. Russell’s wife was a Cherokee who told him about the possibilities. The Cherokee-Russell prospecting expediton was made up of both Indians and whites and traveled to Cherry Creek [present Denver] in 1858. It was not unusual for travelers to cross paths with Cherokee trains as the Hundleys did on this day. Foran in depth study of the Cherokee impact on the Pikes Peak gold rush see LeRoy R. Hafen’s classic introduction to Pike’s Peak Gold Rush Guidebooks of 1859. Southwest Historical Series, IX (Glendale, Calif., 1941) pp. 21–80. A note should be added that through the years the name of the mountain named for Zebuian Pike has been spelled both with and without the apostrophe. The accepted spelling today is “Pikes Peak.”
5The city of Denver stands at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. In Clyde Brion Davis’ words, Cherry Creek “ now trickles between concrete retaining walls through the city of Denver. Rivers of America Series: The Arkansas (N.Y., 1940), p. 29.
6Fountaine qui Bouille or Fountain Creek derives its name from the boiling spring of Manitou, just west of Colorado Springs. Hafen, op. cit p. 103.
7Preston Thomas was a prominent Mormon leader who took Texas as his missionary field.
8This is now a National Historic Site on the Santa Fe Trail 8 miles west of Las Animas, Colorado. It was built in 1833 by William Bent and became a principal commercial trading station on the way west along the Arkansas. The adobe fort stood at the juncture of Purgatoire Creek with the Arkansas. The full name of the creek in Spanish was El Rio de Las Animas Perididas en Purgatorio (The River of the Lost souls in Purgatory). David Lavender describes it thus: The rectangular fort faced eastward toward approaching caravans, its front wall 137 feet long, fourteen feet high, and three or more feet thick. The northern and southern walls, of the same height and thickness, were 178 feet long. At the southeast and northwest corners rose round towers eighteen feet tall.” William Bent abandoned it in 1849. Bent’s Fort (Garden City, N.Y., 1954), pp. 136–37, and passim.
9Bent’s New Fort was on the north bank of the Arkansas opposite present Prowers, in present Bent County. La vender estimates it to have been about 100 feet per side, op. cit. Dr. G. M. Willing describes it in 1859 as being “built of rock — ferrunginous sandstone — taken from the neighboring river bluffs, with a main entrance to the north with barracks for the garrision and ample accommodations for traders.” Le Roy R. Hafen, op. cit., IX, p. 101.
10We have not been able to identify this agent. The standard work on the subject is of no help. Flora W. Seymour, Indians Agents of the Old Frontier, (N.Y., 1941).
11Fort Atkinson stood on the Arkansas near present Lamed, KA. A contemporary wrote of it, “The fort itself is of adobe, or sun-dried brick, roofed with canvas, containing fair accommodations for the garrison, and defended by a few small field-pieces and the usual armament.” “The Siege of Fort Atkinson,” Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Oct. 1857, pp. 638–48.
12This was Allison’s ranch at the juncture of Walnut Creek and the Arkansas. William B. Parsons described it in the Lawrence, Kansas, Republican as “a large building made of logs of equal length, set endwise in the ground.” Quoted in LeRoy R. Hafen, op. cit., p. 325–26.
13This was at the ranch of Richard and Susan Coody on the Verdigris. In the years following it became a gathering place for parties going west to the Colorado mines. Ilafen, op. cit., pp. 41, 48–49, 51, 300.
14This was the establishment of George Hicks, who later became quite influential in promoting and leading companies to the Pikes Peak mines. Hafen, op. cit., p. 300.
15Fort Gibson was an important frontier post. It served as a military center for the whole of Indians Territory, a place where treaties were signed. There is now a town of the same name.