My name is Ross Bell, I am 13 years of age and I am the middle son in my family. I live on a farm in Indiana with my parents Jake and Martha. I have an older brother called Jake who is 15 years of age and a little brother called Billy who is 2. My father is a very hard working farmer.

20th April 1850

My parents told me today that they had decided to "emigrate", leave for a better life in the west. They had decided to leave because the farm was not making money and they had also been told that the soil was far richer in the west and there were better opportunities for farmers. I think this is great news. I have always wanted to explore the wild west, but Jake my older brother does not want to go because he will not see his girlfriend again.

26th April 1850

Today my father sold the farm and all our stock in Indiana. I just can't believe we are moving to the wild west. Mother told us to choose two toys each to take on our travels.

29th April 1850

Today we left Indiana and took a steamboat to the " jumping off point" of Independence. What a surprise  - we discovered that lots of our friends and neighbours were going on the same journey including my brother's girlfriend Becky.

30th April 1850

It was time for us to prepare for our journey West. My father bought a Conestoga Wagon for our trip. It cost him $100 but he said he did not mind paying this as we had to have a reliable wagon as it was to be our home, storage place and our protection against danger .The wagon had also to be strong and reliable for the journey over the rough countryside, but light enough for the oxen that had to pull it.

The Wagon

Mother went to the local store to buy all the supplies that we would need for the journey. She filled canvas sacks with huge amounts of food such as flour, bacon, pilot bread or hardtack, beans, coffee, rice, sugar, salt, dried fruits, baking soda and vinegar.

1st May 1850

It's time to make the final preparations.  We loaded our wagon with the following :

1  wagon, 2  spyglass, 3  lantern, 4  medicine box, 5 sewing box, 6  butterchurn,
7   axe, 8  cradle, 9  bucket, 10  washtub, 11  quilt and mattress, 12  reflector oven,
13  iron, 14  skillet, 15  whetstone and knife, 16  pewter plates, 17  spade,
18  patent leather  cups, 19  camp stool, 20  chamber pot, 21  trunk, 22 coffee pot

I helped pack blankets, tents and spare parts for the wagon.  I packed our best Sunday clothes but we would not be wearing them until we got to Oregon.