The Wagon Train Diary (Part 1)

One of my wife's GreatGreat (and probably another couple of Greats) Grandfathers was on a wagon train to California during the gold rush.  He kept a diary of the trip, and copies of it have been passed down through the generations.  This is it's first time on-line as far as I know.  Excuse any errors introduced by the scanning and character recognition process.  I tried to catch them all.  I may not have.  There were a few apparent errors in the document I was working with.  I didn't correct them.

An account of a trip to California by the Palestine Company in 1850 during the gold rush.

The Morey Llewellyn Jackson family of DeKalb are descendants of Reuben Trobridge, a member at this company.

Reuben Trobridg married Mary Warren of Pennsylvania, Their daughter , Leuella Trobridge married Cassimer Jackson.

Morey Llewellyn Jackson of DeKalb was son of Leuella  and Cassimer Jackson

Curtis Jackson is son of Morey L, and Caroline(Hatch) Jackson,

The original account at this trip to California is in the possession of Prentis Trobridge, son of Sabin Trobridge,one of the company, It had become so fragile and. yellowed through the years that it took his secretary two years to decipher it.

(Note: Curtis Jackson was my wife’s father)

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Constitution

Article I. This company shall be known as the Palestine Company.

Article 2. The officers of this company shall consist of a Captain, Lieutenant, Secretary, Sergeant, and Wagon Master.

Article 3, it shall be the duty ofthe Captain to have a general oversight of the interest of the company; to form the order of march and in case of an attack from an enemy to perform the duties of a military leader to the best of his ability.

Article 4. It shall be the duty of the Lieutenant to assist the Captain in his duties, when called upon, and in his absence to perform the duties of the Captain.

Article 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep an account of the business of the Company; to keep an account of the distance of each day’s travel.

Article 6. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant to call the roll each day and to keep account of the time each man stands guard.

Article 7. It shall be the duty of the Wagon Master to see that all are ready to see that all are ready at the appointed time to report to the Captain any accident where necessary necessary repairs will be a cause for delays, and to arrange the terms as he may think proper.

Article 8. It shall be the duty of the officers of the Company to select suitable camping ground and to appoint the hour of starting in the morning.

Article 9. This constitution may be altered or amended at any time by a vote of two thirds of the Company.

Voted to adopt the above Constitution;

Voted to adopt the officers by ballot_.

Resolved that the officers of the Company shall serve four weeks.

Charles Frost elected Captain

E.N. Blair elected Lieutenant

Sabin Trobridge elected Secretary

Robert Canady elected Sergeant

Thomas Hopkins elected Wagon Maker.

April. 27, 1850.

At a meeting called for the purpose of making by— laws, the Company agreed to the following:

1. A committee of five shall be chosen to examine the outfit of each individual and none shall be received in the Company except such as have a suitable outfit

2. Al1difficulties shall be settled by a jury of twelve to be chosen by the Secretary: each party having the privilege to object to any juror.

3. Each team shall take his turn in driving ahead and none shall be permitted to pass each other without the consent of parties,

4. The Company shall not travel on Sunday except in cases of necessity, Also, that there be no target shooting on the Sabath.

5. Voted that there be no discharging of firearms after the sentinels are stationed on guard.

6. 6. Voted that no person shall molest or disturb an Indian unless they are the agressor,

7 ,This Company shall consist of not loss than 50 or over 100 men and if the majority of the Company shall think it necessary to separate for the purpose of making greater progress, it may be done by the agreement of parties.

8. . Voted that no loaded gun shall be put in the wagon except such as are Uncapped,

Voted that George Brady, Reuben Trobridge, John Murphy, Cyreno Sawyer, Jesse Gray be the examining committee,

Voted that the Committee proceed to examination on Monday morning the 29th of April 1850 and, report at the next meeting,

The meeting is adjourned by vote of the Company,

April 29 1850,

Committee reports as followed;

Names of the individuals received into the Company and their place of residence,

From Lee County, Illinois,

Charles Frost L,C. Sawyer

Charles Hale Charles Sawyer

Henry Trobridge

Alexander Gilmore

Stewart Stewartson

From Lee County

Sabin Trobridge Josech Carey

Thomas Hopkins J.W. Carney

Reuben Trobridge Nathan Howard

C.A. Strickland Franklin Hoff

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John Murphy

Abbot Reed

John Leonard

From Marshall County, Iowa

George Astley

Joseph Birch

Joseph Murphy

Robert Kennedy

Win. B, Sheffield

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From Lee County, Ill.

The committee reported that the above individuals have a good outfit and that they be received into the Company_.

Crossed the Missouri on the 4th and 5th of May and camped one mile below the ferry on the river bank.

Journal

May 6: Today we left the Missouri and traveled 12 miles and camped on a stream called Pappaum,

May 7 Lay up today to let our cattle rest.

May8 Started and travelled over rolling prairie 16 miles to .Elk Horn River, Crossed over and camped, Found tolerable good grass,

May 9 Lay still today to give our cattle a chance.

May 10 Started and traveled 8 miles over a flat and camped on the banks of the Platte

Today a part of our Company were dissatisfied b because of our slow progress and left us and now our Company numbers about 30,

May 11 Travelled about 16 miles. Camped by side of a small lake, Grass poor,

Sunday Made 12 miles over a very level country and camped on the banks of the Platte

May 12 • Grass better,

May 13 Country still continues level without any timber except very little along the river. Traveled 12 miles.

For two days we have been in company of Pawnee Indians much of the time, Sometimes they would travel with us for miles and be constantly begging, generally for something to eat, tobacco or money.

Today at noon we were met by the Chief, an old man about 6o or 70 years old. He showed us a treaty which was made with the whites in 1835, and he had kept the document in a good state of preservation, He gave us to understand that, he was the white man’s friend but he wanted us to give him something to eat which we did, arid some other presents which pleased him very much, and then he told us that we were in perfect safety while passing through his tribe, We traded 12 quarts of corn for a good buffalo skin. The Pawnees are at war with the Sioux and dared not follow us much further for fear of them. I understand that they dare not sleep on the north side of the Platte unless they sleep in a white man’s tent or camp.

May 14 We have not seen an Indian today. Came about 12 miles over a. level prairies of good farming land but passed through no timber • Camped by the side of a. small pond of good water. Grass rather poor, within the last few days (Three), about 100 horse teams have passed us. (continued)

Part 2: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977576552

Part 3: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977577054

Part 4: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977577783