Entry one-April/14/1844:
To whoever finds this journal:
My name is Caleb Smith. I am 12 years old, and I am currently on a wagon to Independence, Missouri, with my younger sister and older brother. My younger sister is half my age, and is named Hannah, and my older brother, who is 14, is named Levi. I also have a mom and a dad. The reason I am on a wagon to Independence is because that is where the Oregon trail starts. My family was originally from New York, where my dad had a banking job. However, during the Panic of 1837, that bank became bankrupt, so the family was in economic ruin for 7 years. So now the family is now heading to Oregon, hoping for the better. Personally, I am nervous going to a land barely anybody went to, but also excited at the prospect. My family is only half a mile away from Independence, and we see other wagons with families. I wonder what those families are doing. Wait, my mom is calling me. Guess I have to help with something.
5 Hours later:
My family is leaving Independence now. My family was just there to buy supplies. First, Levi and Hannah brought food and a map. My Dad and I went to get a gun for hunting, and the scenario of just in case. Today, the city was crowded with pioneer families, which was unusual, because not that many people were going on the trail now. Maybe today was different. All my family can think about is the hope of going west.
Entry two-5/24/1844:
Sorry I could not write in the past month. It was just that my family was very busy, so I could not write anything. The trail is vast and empty, filled with wheat and corn fields. There are no hills, only flat land forever, and I have not seen a wagon in 3 days. I wonder where everybody is. There have been a few buffalo herds, which were hunted by Indians. According to the map that Levi and Hannah brought in Independence, my family is somewhere in Northwestern Nebraska. Wait, there is something in the distance. I can’t believe my eyes, it’s Chimney Rock! Is my family that far from Independence already? I am so surprised yet excited to see the famous hill. Apparently Hannah noticed too. “Caleb? What is that tall hill in the distance?” she asks. “ That is Chimney rock.” I responded. “It doesn’t look like a chimney.” Hannah replies. Suddenly, the wagon stops. There is another buffalo herd, so Levi will get the gun and hunt the buffalo. That will give us lots of food, because our family’s food from Independence has just been finished. It will also give us entertainment, for we can toss any nearby Buffalo Chip.
Entry 3-June/16/1844:
My family’s wagon is somewhere between Fort Larmie and Soda Springs, somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. However, our wagon has been moving slowly because our mom has been sick of Cholera. Cholera is a disease that occurs in insanitary conditions. Apparently, there was some tinted water that mom got a few days ago that probably made her sick. Now, Levi and dad are taking care of mom, so I am in charge of driving the wagon. However, it is hard to drive a wagon up a 10000 foot tall mountain, so the wagon is moving slowly. I don’t think we are going to make it to Oregon city by winter. Wait, dad is calling. I should stop the wagon and see what has happened.
1 hour later:
Apparently, Levi realized that mom needs clean water, because in dehydration, Cholera could be fatal. Dad remembered a spring the wagon passed a little while ago, so the wagon was attempting to turn back. However, the wagon got stuck on the mountain, so for nearly 30 minutes, the wagon was trapped. Another wagon with a friendly family helped us get out, so we were on the way to the spring. After another 10 minutes, the wagon made it to the spring, and I got to do the honors of getting the bucket of water for mom. Now the wagon is turning back again across the Rockies. Hopefully, in the meantime, mom will get better.
Entry 4-August 19, 1844:
I could not write for the past 2 months because during July, I had to attempt to drive the wagon across the Rocky Mountains, and later on I had to help dad and Levi while trading at Fort Boise. Fort Boise was formerly a fur trading market, but now it is an important trading post for the supply line on the Oregon Trail. By the time the wagon made it to Fort Boise, mom was almost better from the Cholera. Although mom got better, most people with Cholera are not so lucky. Cholera is usually fatal on the Oregon trail and if Levi had not remembered about the clean water, mom would have died. Now Levi is helping me drive the wagon, for he is less occupied with helping care for mom. Now, in August, the wagon is moving towards the Dalles.The Dalles is a transition point in the Oregon Trail, because the wagons have to be unloaded onto a boat, and then will be floated down the Columbia river to our final destination, Oregon City. Dad also heard about a land route to Oregon city, but it is not likely that the wagon will go through the so-called “Barlows road”, because Levi heard about that too, but he also heard about a toll to go through, and as I explained earlier, the family is almost I still can not believe that the wagon is so close (Only 50 miles to the Dalles!) I can’t wait to reach Oregon City.
Entry 5-September/3/1844:
The boat made it to Oregon City!
After making it to the Dalles, the wagon was unloaded to a ferryboat, and the family boarded the boat. It sailed smoothly on the Columbia river. In a 16 day journey, the boat traveled 109 miles down the Columbia river. A week ago, the boat swerved into the Willamette river, past a new tiny town called Portland, and then, into Oregon City. Everyone on the boat cheered, for they were finally at their destination. The next day, the boat finally docked. Everyone rushed off the boat to get to a government office. The reason why is because when people got to the end of the Oregon Trail, the US government offered land in the nearby Willamette valley, once you filed a claim at some government office. So, my family got their belongings and left the boat. There was a line at the office, so my family waited for 30 minutes. After what felt like an eternity, Dad finally filed the claim. Then, the family borrowed horses and went to this new land to see it for ourselves. I personally think our family is lucky. Mom survived Cholera, the wagon made it before winter, and now we have lots of land for ourselves. This journey down the Oregon Trail was an adventure, and it was worth it.(Except for the Cholera.) Now, my family is ready to start a new life in Oregon.