2nd May 1850

50 wagons gathered in Independence Square for the start of the long 3,200 km journey to Oregon. The journey would take around 5 months and it was important to get started early in the year to ensure time to get through the western mountains before snow blocked the passes. We held a meeting to elect a captain of the wagon trail. We elected a man called John Wayne. He would be responsible for the major decisions such as the route we would take, when to start and stop and where we would set up camp. Each wagon had to sign an agreement that they would accept the decisions of Captain Wayne.

At l am a bugle sounded, men shouted "wagons roll" and at last we were finally on the trail to Oregon. Everyone was excited and a bit afraid. Because everyone wanted to get started there was a bit of a traffic jam at first but we eventually got moving. There was dust everywhere from the wagon wheels. Four oxen pulled our wagon and my father said that later he would let me and my older brother have a turn of steering the wagon.

3rd May 1850

At 4 am there was a lot of gun firing.  We had set up camp the night before after travelling 20km throughout the day and this was the night watchmen of the camp letting everyone know that it was daybreak. I can't believe that I am getting up and dressed so early. Everyone starts doing there morning duties.

Mother starts to prepare the breakfast and father goes to help the rest of the men round up the 1,500 cattle and 2,000 sheep which have been brought on the trail.

Breakfast at last and it was my favourite - pancakes ! !  We are lucky because we have brought one of our dairy cows and we are able to milk her and have fresh milk to drink.

We set off west again towards the Kansas River.  The movement of the wagon is starting to make me feel sick so I have decided to walk by the wagon with my brother for as long as possible.

7th May 1850

We are nearly at the Kansas River and nearly everyone has realised they had packed too much into their wagons. To make the journey easier for the oxen we decided to throw out a sack of flour and some furniture that we would not be needing. This would help us to speed up a little on the trail.

We decided today to paint the plain canvas cover of our wagon because this would make it easier to find. Father, Jake and I decided to write Bells wagon on both sides and draw pictures of our selves on the canvas.

9th May 1850

At last we have reached the Kansas River. There are ferries at points along the Kansas River and we are helped across the river by Shawnee Indians. I was a bit frightened of the Indians, but they were very friendly. We now have to travel around 200 miles north west across the prairie to the south fork of the Platte River, this should take around 20 days.

12th May 1850

By now we have made many new friends. We have met up with a Mormon family who are travelling along the Oregon Trail to Salt Lake City. They are looking for a place where they can worship and live in peace. Then there is another family who are heading for the gold mine in California to make their fortune.

29th May1850

We have now reached the Great River Platte. We will now follow the south bank of the river for about 450 miles across the great plains and into the Rocky Mountains.

30th May 1850

As we travelled along the south bank we were caught up in a buffalo stampede. We were surrounded by buffalo and they were charging straight towards us.

The buffalo were coming over the plains to get water from the River Platte. All the men driving the wagons cracked their whips and drove their wagons faster to get out of the way. Mother and my little brother were crying, they were frightened. Later that day father and a few men rode off on horses to shoot some buffalo - we were going to have fresh meat to eat for a few days.

3rd June 1850

I have got used to life on the trail. I think I like when we set up camp at night best. We usually set up camp for the evening at 6 pm.  All the wagons move into a big circle for security.

Everyone gathers round the campfire and some people sing and play musical instruments. It is a bit frightening later at night as it gets really cold and you can hear wolves howling in the distance. The men take it in turns to watch over the camp in case any Indians attack the wagons and steal the cattle.

9th June 1850

It has been a week since we have had rain and we are getting thirsty. We are climbing further away from the river as we head for Fort Laramie. Captain Wayne found some cactus leaves and he gave the children them to chew, they were very juicy and sweet:

12th June 1850

One of our oxen collapsed today with the lack of water. Father told Jake to shoot it and then we would be able to eat it for supper. The oxen would be replaced by the fresh oxen that had been herded behind the wagon. Because there was no water, thre was less grass far the cattle to eat and the trail became really dusty and made Billy and I choke.

14th June 1850

At night a terrible storm started and it rained all night.  The wolves were howling again and father had his rifle beside him ready to shoot anything that came near.