Elizabeth K. Bedwell
1852 Diary of the Oregon Trail
contributed by Don Bedwell
contributed
Note from Don Bedwell:
All text has been
copied from the original diary just as it was written, with misspelled words
etc.
????? indicates questionable spellings of places that were hard to distinguish.
Words in Italics are comments by me (Donald E. Bedwell); these comments have been added for clarity as some place names have changed over the years and to give a present approximate location. 2002
Stateof Iowa, Mahaska Co. April 29 1852
William C. Bedwell, wife Elizabeth K. Bedwell daughter of William Augustus Orrill and Lucinda Jane Humphreys and daughter of William and his first wife Sarah John, Mary J. started out from Union Mills, Iowa. Marriage records in Mahaska Co. show Sarah John’s father as Jacob John. They left after the death of William’s father Isaac Bedwell. Isaac is buried next to his wife Charity in the Bedwell cemetery that is part of the land that he homesteaded on in Monroe Township early 1840s.
April 29, 1852
Traveled half a mile and camped for the night.
April 30th
Traveled 10 miles, crossed 2 streams good bridges good roads fine weather.
May 1st
Traveled 9 miles crossed south/Skunk river good boat and Spring Creek well bridged bad roads bad camping muddy water scarcity of wood and grass
May 2nd
still camped
May 3rd
still camped
May 4th
traveled 12 miles fine weather good camping plenty of wood water and grass
May 5th
still camped and hunting the cattle
May 6th
found the cattle and traveled 8 miles bad weather bad roads and one of the wagons belonging to our company upset no damage done
May 7th
still camped and washing
May 8th
traveled 15 miles hauled wood 5 miles good camping good water plenty of grass no more from tools point for 15 miles
May 9th
traveled 18 miles fine good roads good camping plenty of wood water and grass
May 10th
traveled 7 miles crossed the Desmoin Des Moines at Martin’s old farry the one above is the best and camped on the north tree Rives fine weather plenty of water wood and grass
May 11th
traveled 12 miles bad roads bad weather muddy water scarceity
May 12th
traveled 15 miles good roads good camping plenty of wood water and grass fine weather here one wheel barrow passed us with three near to it
May 13th
traveled 22 miles fine weather good roads good camping pleanty of water and grass hauled wood 15 miles
May 14th
traveled 25 miles fine weather good roads plenty of water and grass hauled wood 15 miles
May 15th
traveled 25 miles fine weather good roads 10 miles brought us to the headwaters of Grand River where we had a great deal of trouble in crossing here we saw a few hairs out of the Elephants tail 15 miles from here brought us to Knod Creek bad crossing camped on the west bank had spring water
May 16th
Bad weather traveled 15 miles 14 miles brought us to the north fork of Nisha Botna East Nishnabotna River where we crossed with great difficulty steep muddy banks one mile father brought us to Spring Creek or in other word old ferry Bradsaws where we had good camping
May 17th
traveled 20 miles crossed 3 streams forded one and poor bridges on the others and camped on the small creek one mile west of Scots Grove
May 18th
traveled 16 miles 5 miles brought us to the south fork os Nisma Botna West Nishnabotna River where we crossed with some difficulty deep ford and muddy banks 11 miles farther brought us to Silver Creek north of present Silver City good camping plenty of water wood and grass
May 19th
traveled 16 miles fine weather dusty roads and camped 2 mile south of Kanesville Council Bluffs where we had well water and burnt Mormon rails good grass
May 20th
camped
May 21st
still camped
May 22nd
traveled 5 miles which brought us to the Missouri River bad campinggood grass scarceity of wood and water we were now withon half a mile of traders point on the lower ferry opposote Belview Bellevue
May 23rd
commenced ferrying
May 24th
finished ferrying and camped on the west bluff of the Missouri plenty of spring water up a deep rarevine
May 25th
traveled 7 miles and camped on a little branch which we called frog creek on the left side of the road good grass wood and water
May 26th
camped in the same place to wash
May27th
traveled 15 miles good camping plenty of wood water and grass East side of the road on a hill
May 28th
traveled 12 miles 8 miles brought us to a small creek well bridged 4 miles brought us to Elk Horn River wher we crossed on a boat and camped one mile west of the ferry had plenty of water wood and grass on the river bank to the right hand side of the road
May 29th
traveled 20 miles 8 miles from the river Elk Horn brought us to the raging Platte ( you must not water ther but keep on untill you come to the first byo where you must gather wood for the night and morning and it would be well to haul water too ) 12 miles farther we camped in sight of Platte river on a byo plenty of grass and water south of the road
May 30th
traveled 20 miles which brought us to Shell Creek today west of Rogers where the Indians had built a bridge here we had to pay them 25 cents for the crossing drove 1 miles further and camped for the night had plenty of water and grass got wood from the creek
May 31st
traveled 20 miles 10 miles brought us to to a small stream where we nooned drove 10 miles farther and camped on a large streem of water south of road plenty of grass
June 1st
traveled 20 miles 5 miles brought us to the loup fork today Loup River of Platte river just before reaching the river the road forkes the left goes to the ferry the right goes to the ford good water and grass scarceity of wood at this time they were very close to what today is Columbus Neb.
June 2nd
traveled 17 miles crossed 3 streams and camped on a small plenty water wood and grass
June 3rd
traveled 6 miles and reached the ford and commenced crossing quarter of a mile wide 3 feet deep quick sand bottom bad crossing
June 4th
finished crossing and traveled 5 miles and reached a small lake north of the road
June 5th
traveled 20 miles 15 miles over low wet land and 5 miles over sandy bluffs no wood and muddy water scarceity of grass
June 6th
traveled 23 miles and camped on wood river plenty of water wood grass
June 7th
traveled 20 miles 15 miles brought us to a small creek 5 mile farther brought to a small lake south of road plenty of grass no wood
June 8th
traveled 18 miles crossed
June 9th
traveled 9 miles and came to Elm Creek 8 feet wide good bridge 6 mile farther brought us to Buffalo Creek 6 feet wide good crossing ten miles further we camped on the bank of the river no wood plenty of buffalo chips
June 10th
traveled 20 miles over good roads and camped on a small lake for the night
June 11th
Lay up today and washed here you may find thousands of buffalo by going out to the blffs about 10 miles from the road
June 12th
traveled 18 miles good roads plenty of water and grass
June 13th
traveled 18 miles after traveling 12 miles we came close to the River 7 miles farther we came to Skunk Creek 10 feet wide with prety white sand bottom good crossing plenty of grass no wood 6 miles further we came to the 3 Pawnee Springs 2 good Springs about 40 rods apart near the head of the Pawnee Swamp 293 miles from Council Bluffs here we camped for the night
June 14th
Traveled 18 miles 6 miles we reached Mestayers Creek 12 feet wide good crossing good grass no wood roads a little sandy 7 miles we came to the last timber on the North side of the Platte for 200 miles 2 miles we came to wide creek 10 feet wide good crossing 2 miles we came to Blok mud creek here we camped for the night you will have to use Buffalo chips for 200 miles
June 15th
traveled 10 miles and came to Grass Creek 12 feet wide good crossing plenty of grass and buffalo chips here we stopped for noon started and traveled 4 miles and came to North Bluff creek a very beautiful stream 8 rods wide good crossing 1 mile further we camped for the night
June 16th
started this morning and traveled 9 miles over very rough sand ridges to Bufalo Creek a very beautiful stream 5 feet wide good crossing here we stopped for dinner 4 miles further we camped for the night on a very beautiful here we had good spring water
June 17th
traveled to Sheperd’s Creek 3 miles a very beautifull stream 5 ft wide good crossing 3 miles further we came to Wolf’s Springs and creek good grass good water but owing to the many branches ther is some bad places in the road 6 miles father we came to Duck Creek 12 feet wide plenty of good spring water and a good camping place 7 miles farther came to Rattle Snake River 25 feet wide good crossing the road is now quite sandy 2 miles farther we came to Cedar Bluffs and camped for the night
June 18th
traveled 8 miles and came to campered 12 feet wide good crossing plenty of good water and grass 5 miles farther we came to Horns Creek 25 feet wide good crossing scarceity of grass & fuel here we had to assend a steep sandy bluff which is very difficult to ascend 4 miles further we came to watch creek 10 feet wide good crossing the road here turns to the river and runs close to it to a point opposite the Lone Tree 4 miles her we camped for the night
June 19th
traveled 3 miles and came to Ash Hollow south of river 3 miles farther came to Castte river 8 rods wide 2 feet deep good crossing good campingplace 4 miles farther to Clam Creek this creek cannot be depended on for water as it was dry when we crossed it 3 miles farther we camped on the left of the road on the bank of the river
June 20th
lay up
June 21st
traveled 10 miles over low wet muddy road and camped on the river bad camping scarceity of grass
June 22nd
lay over on account of sickness
June 23rd
traveled 20 miles 8 miles brought us to Crab Creek 13 feet wide good crossing good water and plenty of grass 10 miles farther we cane to the Ancient Bluff ruins on the north of road 2 miles farther we camped on the river on the left of the road
June 24th
traveled 18 miles 8 miles over rough sandy roads 10 miles farther we camped on a small creek about 1/2 mile south of road in sight of Chimney Rock
June 25th
traveled 15 miles and camped on the river on the left of road plenty of grass by Scotts Bluff
June 26th
traveled 18 miles 6 miles over good road 8 miles more we reached Spring Creek and you do not cross but travel up it for some distance 4 miles further we camped on it plenty of grass and water but neither chips or wood
June 27th
traveled 18 miles 1 mile we crossed 2 very bad sloughs 8 miles farther good roads to blue rock right of road 1 mile farther we came to a very handsome creek to the left of road ther is many good springs along this creek 8 miles farther we camped on the river about 1/2 mile from the road here is the first timper for 200 miles by Neb. & Wyo. border
June 28th
traveled 10 miles and stopped on the
bank of the river here we lay up the balance of the day and washed plenty of
wood water and grass
June
29th
traveled 18 miles 12 miles brought us opposite Fort Larime then over hilly roads 8 miles and camped in the river bottom to the left of road plenty wood and water but scarceity of grass
June 30th
traveled 16 miles 10 miles brought us to a good spring to the right of road in a deep hollow 6 miles farther the road joins the Platte River near the mouth of a small creek here we camped the night here you may find a first rate spring up the north frok of this creek about 200 yard from the road
July 1st
traveled 13 miles over rolling ground rocky road to ??????der Creek Pathfinder Creek now Pathfinder Reservoir we traveled down the creek 3 miles to springs plenty of good water grass and wood
July 2nd
traveled 22 miles 4 miles to water over good roads 8 miles farther brought us to Red Rock Now known as Independence Rock 40 feet wide steep banks good crossing thence 10 miles to Platte over wet ground crossing Sago Creek Sage Hen Creek camped to the left of road some timber grass short
July 3rd
traveled 10 miles 5 miles brought us to White sand Creek a little water and wood 5 miles the road joins the river wood and water and grass plenty
July 4th
lay up and rested
July 5th
traveled 4 miles then 1 mile over small hill 5 miles in a valley 4 over hills camped on the river water wood and grass
July 6th
traveled 7 miles over the hills to the vally then to a dry creek 3 miles a spring 4 rods from the river
There were no entries from July 7th through August 7th
I will now commence keeping a journal from the forks of the road
August 8th 1852
started from Soda Springs 5 miles brought us to the forks of the road here we took the right hand road 5 m brought us to basin spring this spring is in the shape of a half circle it is 200 feet long and 10 feet wide it looks clear but is poisnous 1/4 of a mile farther is a beautiful spring of good water good wood or sage brush good grass 1 mile farther is a spring of good water plenty of grass scarcity of fuel 9 miles farther we camped on ?????meth Creek plenty of water willows and grass
August 9th
traveled 13 miles 7 miles brought us to a stream of water plenty of water willows and grass 3 miles brought us to a small creek very good grass water and wood
August 10th
traveled 16 m bad roads 8 miles brought us to a very good spring 3 miles farther we came to a small branch where we nooned water wood and grass plenty 5 miles farther we came to ross creek where we camped for the night plenty of water willow and good grass a few hundred yards farther you will come to another small creek very bad crossing 1 mile farther you will come to an extraordinary large spring of cold water good grass but no fuel 2 miles farther you will find another very large spring of cold water with the best of grass close around and wood plenty this good camping place is by old Colonel Grants’ house
August 11th
traveled 8 miles 5 miles brought us to Fort Hall I do not know of any camping place near here 3 miles farther you will find a stream of water about the size on North Skunk with plenty of grass and but little fuel some green willows being all the wood here we lay up the balance of the day
August 12th
traveled 18 miles soon after leaving camp we crossed this stream good crossing 5 miles farther we reached big ?????meth creek it is nearer a river than it is a creek for we had to put yokes under our beds to hoist them and then water ran in the bed next we came to alkali Swamp however 7 miles from the river is “Pannack” Very hard to distinguish- faded creek but i did not see any grass 6 miles farther you will find excelent spring and below it is excelent grass but you will have to use sage brush for fuel
August 13th
traveled about 2 miles when we struck the river here we lay up to wash Just below two good springs we found plenty of drift wood but had to drive our cattle about one mile up the river to grass grazing indifferent
August 14th
traveled 17 miles a mile brought us to the American falls which is quite a curroity viewed from the rocks which projects into the river below the falls you will find the roads very dusty 8 miles brought us to Birch creek bad crossing poor grass 5 miles brought us to rock creek indiffirent grass 2 1/2 miles to another small creek grazing poor good crossing but very steep hill no grass about 12 miles farther you will find raft creek plenty of willows and tolerable good grass the California road forks off here to the left 18 miles to Bull Bush spring here was tolerable good grass and we used willows for fuel
There
were no entries for August 15th through 18th
August 19th
traveled 15 miles 5 miles brought us to a small branch of good water willows and grass 5 miles the road joins the river willows and some grass 5 miles further is goose creek plenty of willows and grass here we camped
August the 20
traveled 20 miles 11 miles we came to cut rock Creek no water except some standing in holes unfit for stock you will find a good spring + plenty of grass 1 mile and a half above the crossing 9 miles further we came to rock creek good water + grass up the creek here we camped for the night
August 21st
traveled 12 miles we traveled some distance close to the creek and then struck across leaving the creek some 2 or 3 miles to the left of rock creek and camped at the crossing plenty of wood but little or no grass
August 22nd
gather to gather our gaunt looking cattle and started out traveled 15 miles all the way without water over Sandy Sage Plaine and camped on the Snake river bluff and had to drive our cattle 1 mile to the river to water some grass up a deep ravine to the south grazing short roads rough and dusty
August 23rd
Lay by to rest the cattle
August 24th
traveled 15 miles without water over sandy sage planes the first water we reached was the river which was 1 mile to the wrigt of the road and the way to it inconnevient and bad 2 miles further is a branch of warm water which empties in to the river not far from where the roads crosses it plenty of river water and sage brush but no grass at all here we camped and the cattle lay down by the wagons all night without food
August 25th
traveled 4 miles down the river to Salmon fall creek we then traveled 1/2 a mile down the creek when we crossed it and camped steep banks and bad crossing on the side of the creek where we was there was a hot spring of clear water bubbled out of the bank and run in to the creek it was most to hot for dish water but washed them very clean there was 8 woman washed there the water is scalding hot and the way we boiled our clothes was to put them into a tin bucket and fill the bucket with water and then set the bucket in the spring and I never saw beter or softer water to wash with in my life grass away over the hills to the south
August 26
traveled 6 miles down the river which brought us to the ferry this ferry is established by the emigrants but they intend to leave so soon as the Emigration is over they nailed two wagon beds to gether on which we crossed in safety here we stoped for the night good sage brush and plenty of grass down the river
August 27
traveled 6 miles half a mile from the river is a good spring of water and around is good grass 5 1/2 miles farther we camped on a bluff close to the road and drove our cattle 1/2 a mile down to “trill” hard to read -faint to the creek where there was exelent grass
August 28
traveled 21 miles 1 mile from where we camped we crossed this creek is very steep bank to decend bad crossing and then a very long steep difficult hill to ascend 5 miles from here we came to another creek grass and sage 15 miles farther we reached a small creek with plenty of grass water and sage here we camped
August 29th
rooled out and 3 miles down the same creek we camped on when we found good grass here we stoped to rest the cattle
August 30th
we traveled about 2 miles when hearing from our company that was behind we turned to the right and followed a little branch up to “Ma” hard to distinguish Bluff here we camped had plenty of sage and willow and exelent grass
Sept 1st
traveled about 18 miles for a few miles the road lay over rolling river bottom but too soon we commenced climing the Mountain and continued climing until noon roads rocky and in some places very and sometimes sidling we stoped on “Me” hard to distinguish Mountain for noon plenty of grass but no water all the all the evening we descended the Mountain towards the last the roads became more level + less rocky Just about sun down the roads forkd the right is the main road the left turned + went down to a small branch plenty willows + water + the best of grass
Sept 2
traveld 15 miles with out water this evening we turned to the right + camped in a large bottom where there was several little branches grass scarce plenty of sage
Sept 3
traveled 18 miles
September the 3rd was the last entry in this diary which puts them at about Fort Boise. There was a second diary that was the last part of their trip that had been destroyed in a fire in the 1920s. It is known from other sources that they arrived in Portland Oregon October 28,1852 and wintered there.
William, Elizabeth and Mary J. homesteaded in Lafayette, Yamhill Co. Or.
My name is Stephenie Flora. Thanks
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