APRIL 1st

Today my family and I arrived in Independence, Missouri. We are going to Oregon to find our fortune along with another 39 wagons. We will be travelling by foot and wagon. With me in my wagon is myself, my mother, my younger brother Benjamin, my older sister Claris, my grandmother Betty and my father who is the leader of our group of wagons.

There are many people travelling with us who I don't yet know but I'm sure that since we will be together for the next 4-5 months I will get to know them all pretty well.

APRIL 2nd

Before we leave tomorrow we must check that we will have enough supplies to last us the whole journey. To save us time tomorrow we did it today. We must have...

A strong wagon fit for the whole journey and draft animals (we have oxen) 
Food stuffs i.e. flour bacon coffee sugar etc etc... 
Clothes two pairs per person. 
Bedding and a tent. 
Tools leather and nails. 
Candles and matches. 
Pots, pans, cups, tubs, buckets and utensils. 
Butter churn, a plough and hand tools. 
Ropes, axes, whet stone and axle grease. 
A milk cow and chickens. 
Shotgun, rifle, ammunition and gun powder. 
Family heirlooms and keepsakes.

We have everything on the lists. It all came to a total of $539.60 .We depart for Oregon tomorrow.

This is a diagram of our wagon.

APRIL 3rd

My father finally called "wagons roll" and we were off. Our life in this part of America had ended. But our journey to our fortune had just begun!

APRIL 5th

We cut our names into independence rock today! We read over all the names already on it! There are thousands! Some I recognised others I didn't. I saw my teacher's name. Somehow I don't think any one will be too worried about school over the next few months!

APRIL 9th

We're finally on our way. I have seen so many things that I never even knew existed! It's all very exciting. Yesterday we passed many families dumping family heirlooms and house hold goods, they had obviously over packed. I'm glad now that father made us only take the important stuff. We saw many things lying in the road even a chest of drawers and a cast iron stove. It must have been quite upsetting leaving it all behind in the middle of nowhere.

APRIL 13th

We have been travelling for a few days now. Father has got us into a strict routine. We are all up by sunrise, the men yoke the oxen and mother and the other women prepare breakfast, which usually consists of bacon coffee and dry bread. We hit the trail at about seven.

At noon we stop for a cold meal of coffee and bacon or buffalo that was prepared in the morning. Then it's back on the trail again. Then at five in the evening we stop for the night, we circle the wagons for the night, the men make wagon repairs and the women cook us the evening meal, usually rice and cod or beef. The children do have jobs as well. We have to herd animals and milk the cows. A very important job that my brother, sister and I have is collecting water and firewood each day.

APRIL 22nd

Today was my birthday. I was fourteen. Mother made me a special birthday cake and grandmother knitted me a lovely red scarf to keep me warm when the winter comes.

We sang songs and danced around the campfire and I played games like leap frog and the Flying Dutchman with my new friends I have made. I had a really great birthday. But I do miss my home and my old friends.

APRIL 30th

I am sorry to inform you of Benjamin's illness. He has caught "Asiatic Cholera" he has a terrible fever, stomach pains and has been sick for the last few hours. We fear if he doesn't get better soon we may lose him. We will all say a prayer for him tonight.