The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-02-14
Notes From a Journal Kept by Mrs.
Francis n. SAWYER in a Jour-
ney Across the Plains
MAY 9 To AUGUST II, 1852.
Revis ID and Compiled for the Enter
tainment Of the Readers of the
Breckenridge News.

We left Louisville, KY, on the 18th
day of April, 1852 passengers on the
steamer, "Pike No. o. bound for ST..
Louis.
Mr.. Sawyer bought his wagon and two
mules and some Of the supplies which
we would need on our long and tedious
journey across the western plains, in
Louisville. He had bought two more
mules, and the steamer stopped at his
fathers farm in Hancock county, KY, to
take these animals aboard. At st. Louis
we changed on to a small Missouri-river
steamboat, and came up that river to
st. Joseph Here it was necessary to
lay i'm the remainder of our supplies, so
Mr.. Sawyer bought a singe-horse car
riage for my use and one more mule.
There are four persons in our company
MIR. Sawyer and myself and two young
men, Burk Hall and Benjamin Sampson,
from Hancock county, Ky. Mr.. Samp-
son is my cousin. He is consumptive,
and is going, out hoping that the trim
may benefit his health These gentle
man pay my husband for the expense of
their trip, and he furnishes everything
except one mule bought by Burk Hail.
This is not the first trip for Mr. Saw
yer. He was in the great California
rush OF 40, and went over with a large
pack train. In this train was one wagon
loaded with medicine, to be used in case
of sickness. He drove this wagon all the
way himself, and was thus the first man
who ever drove wagon over the Sierra
Nevada mountains. He knows inst what
We will need on this trip and has made
his Purchases accordingly.
Two days after our arrival in st.
Joseph all the preparations for our long
overland journey were completed, and
we came out and camped six miles from
the city.
May Owe left camp this morning,
and soon found that our road was as hard
to travel as the proverbial one that leads
t. jordan The mud was so deep and
tough that our team of four mules mired
down and stuck tight on two different
occasions, and we were greatly delayed
in having to stop and get them out. Our
progress was very slow.
We passed through Savannah, small
village, and went into camp one mile and
a half beyond that place. We intend to
travel in Missouri until we reach old
Fort Kearney, where we expect to cross
the Missouri river.
Grass for our mules is very short here
tonight. Distance travelled to-day, eight
miles.
May love started out this morning
with renewed courage. hoping that we
might not be visited by similar trials and
difficulties to those of yesterday, but our
hopes and desires went to nought. Our
mules mired again before we went far,
and our progress was much impeded.
We find some very bad branches, brooks
and ravines to cross. 1t seems that the
farmers in this section take no interest
in improving their roads, and this makes
it so disagreeable for emigrants. 1t com
menced raining this evening, and every
thing is very gloomy and unpleasant.
We pitch our camp by flowing creek
of good water where the grass is very
plentiful. Distance travelled to-day,
twelve miles.
May ii We came to the Nodaway, a
small river, before noon to-day, crossed
the stream, and are in camp ON its hank.
We were informed at the ferry that there
was no more grass for distance of
twelve miles, and as it is plentiful here
we want our mules to get agood feed and
be we'll rested before W. start over the
long barren stretch.
Distance travelled ten siiles.
May l2.-We got along without much
difficulty to-day, as our roads are improv.
ing somewhat Our way lay over a
beautiful prairie.
My mule and carriage 60 along so Fee
ly and comfortably. She never stops for
mud-holes. She is the best animal we
have. Mr.. Sawyer bought her of DIR.
Scott, OF Cloverport, and she is named
for the Doctors daughter, Jennie.
We have but little grass tonight Dis
lance travelled, twenty miles
May l3,-Ben Sampson was 30 uniort-
innate this morning as to meet with
painful accident. In crossing deep hol-
low he got his foot caught between the
doubletree and wagon box and the mem
Der was severely sprained. He has suf-
iered greatly all day.
We have had several showers OF rain
this afternoon, but keep dry and com
Portable. ! sleep in my carriage every
night on feather bed, and am not ex-
posed in any way in bad weather The
boys sleep either in the wagon or in the
tint.
Distance travelled, twenty miles.
May IA We arrived within one mile
OF old Fort Kearney this evening, and
Mr.. Sawyer sent to the ferry TO register
A u 4.