March
19, 1858
Independence,
Missouri
Dear
Diary,
We have reached Independence! To
earn a little extra money, we worked around camp and ended up earning 100
dollars! What a difference that
amount of money made in our budget. We
now have enough to buy most of the things we need.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
May
1, 1858
Independence,
Missouri
Dear
Diary,
I am nervous for what is ahead. As
I look around, the sites are not like New York, but over time I become
accustomed to Independence... The
children going off to
school, happily playing along the way... The
storeowners are just opening shop. As
we left the square we made a few stops. At the first one we saw people
selling oxen. We have decided to buy 3 yokes of oxen. The other stop we made was to top off our kegs at
the
stream. Then we saw the sign for
cholera pointing toward the stream! We
have decided to boil out the kegs and let them air dry, so we will have to start
tomorrow.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
May
, 1858
Blue
Jacket River
Dear
Diary,
We must cross the Blue Jacket River.
It is one of the most fierce rivers.
Then when we got across the river we got stuck in the mud so we had to
have someone drag us out. That was the first big thing that happened to us.
Now I am wondering what might happen next.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
July
12, 1858
Register
Rock
Dear
Diary,
When we stopped to rest today, Abby had a chance to go up to Register
Cliff. Daniel and I agreed that we
should not let Abby go up to the cliff for she might
get lost, hurt or even killed. Once
we decided that we went about doing the things we had done so many times, with Abby by our side the whole time, just to make sure she did not
sneak away.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
Dear
Diary,
We are going to stick to the trail and not go through. I would not want Daniel or Abby to get hurt or killed.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
July 23
Fort
Laramie
Dear
Diary
I am beginning to miss Mother so that is why I jumped at the chance to
send a letter to her. I also sent
one to Ellen. I took a bath.
It was ever so warm. The
water was warm. We strolled around
the fort and bought oxen. We had
alkali water kill two animals. We
were supposed to watch the animals all night but some guards fell asleep on the
job. But the good new is that Louise had her baby.
Madison America is her name and she is adorable. I have been selected as
the godmother. Daniel is the
godfather.
It is beautiful here.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
P.S.
I feel the trip has gone very well.
July
28
Devils
Gate
Dear
Diary
The ground is rumbling. Buffalo
are stampeding . I am very afraid. Mr. Whitman was hurt trying to save his children.
No one died. We made it! We
did lose a day of travel. We shot 2
of the buffalo
Elizabeth Stone Robbins
July
30
Sweet
Water
Dear
Diary
We
have found a place were you can find ice in the ground. I thought that it
might be contaminated with alkali.
Captain Daniel had some people dig for a couple of hours.
Us women and men stayed away. The
men that went are Daniel, Daniel and Robert.
We
did find ice and now we can preserve the buffalo meat.
Elizabeth Stone Robbins
July
31
South
Pass
Dear
Diary
Hooray!
Half Way point!
The
water's coming down the steep mountain. I
am nervous that when we cross the water, someone might die.
The water is almost a waterfall!
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
July
31 - Still
The Mcmillen's wagon wheel snapped.
One of their water casks poured out. They only have one full cask left! I
am not sure what we can do!
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
July
31 - still
We had a celebration and sang
Oh Susanna.
We got 2 heads of cattle and a yoke of oxen.
We got the cattle from some one who was going back east.
Elizabeth Stone Robbins
August
1
Dear
Diary,
George got bitten in the leg by a snake.
Luckily, Dr. McMillen had a cure. Whisky!
George took a large amount and was in less pain.
He is now recovering.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
August
1
Parting
of the ways.
Dear
Diary
Here we must decide if we want to go the Fort Bridger way or the
Sublette Cutoff, which is a desert. We
have chosen the Fort Bridger way. Everything
went well until the morning of the 2nd day.
Lavina finds blankets missing.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
August
8
Fort
Bridger
Dear
Diary
We must buy many supplies. I am
glad the supplies we need are available here.
Elizabeth Stone Robbins
Sept.
8
Massacre
Rock
Dear
Diary
We must get past Massacre Rock. This
is a place where many violent attacks have happened in the last few months.
We have decided that we will have Daniel and Robert go first and then
have the wagon train go next. We
will all be heavily armed.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
Sept.
9
Dear
Diary
Little Abby got burned!
She
was too near geysers when one erupted. She
must wear a bandage for 2 days.
Elizabeth Stone Robbins
Sept. 10
Dear
Diary
I am so nervous! We know we are in Crow Territory. I am afraid they will hurt Abby or Daniel.
I am also afraid for Louise, Benjamin and Baby Maddie.
I can feel the tension in the air. But
Abby's arm is almost healed! Hooray!
Elizabeth Stone Robbins
Sept.
30
Dear
Diary
The
cold deep blue color of the Snake River and the hard current is what we saw and
heard today as we headed on for our new life. We
are now facing the Blue Mountains that seem so inviting. They are also so fierce.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
Oct.
5
Ladd
Canyon Hill
Dear Diary,
We
went rolling down the hill! We are
lucky that no one got hurt.
We did have to kill one oxen though.
We had some people help us pick up lost items.
I am excited we can have fresh meat.
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
Oct.
12
Whitman
mission
Dear Diary,
We
will be canoeing down the river. The
rest of the wagon train will be too. We
will have to carry everything we can on our backs.
I will carry food, one set of clothes, and you, Diary.
I am so nervous!
Elizabeth
Stone Robbins
John
Honeyman and Samuel Mcmillen, R.I.P.
1859
We
now have our own beautiful spot on the earth.
Although it is beautiful here it is very busy! I am extremely busy taking care of the house. Every
week Louise comes over and we do chores and go to the market for supplies for
the week.
Abby loves to take care of Maddie while Louise and I clean and occasionally
sew. But I tell her, "you're going to
do this for your self soon." When I saw every one, I asked Christine about schooling. She said they would teach Abby.
That is all the news I have so I think I must end you now.
Good-bye,
Diary, Good-Bye
To the People
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Last Updated: 08/28/04