 Jake Thompson’s journal By: JP

Today is the day, the day we set out and embark on our most difficult journey ever. We will have to make a journey clear across the united states. It will be hard, but as long as we stay together as a family. We have a backbreaking path ahead of us, but I know that we can do it. -Jake Thompson

  Today… today was the worst. I spent hours mapping making scales, and collecting supplies. I don’t thing I worked this hard ever in my life! My job in New York City was simple. i worked in the lumber fields. It was a perfect job up until I lost my wife Mary. She was killed in a factory fire right after out daughter, Candy, was born. We stared having money issues and everything started to just fall apart. I didn’t know what to do. i heard about the gold rush from one of the other men from the fields and he said it would be a great opportunity for my family. So here I am, writing away. I just hope this enough for my family, I hope… May 1, Jake Thompson

  I have been working myself have to death. Maybe I shouldn’t have waited this long. Its getting to hot, way to fast. I really don’t think I can stand anymore of this. I don’t care how hard its going to be. I’m going to do it, for my family. I cant be like my parents. I cant just abandon my kids. I know how it feels, to be left alone and cold. No child, should ever have to endure what I did. The thought that I never knew my parents is unreal. A white man name Samuel took me in and raised me as his own. I left him at fifteen and journeyed to new york city looking for new opportunities, and it worked. May 5, 1843 Well today I bought two rifles from a lone traveler. They may come in handy for food and even defense. I heard stories of people being invaded by Native Americans and killed for trying to take there land. My family needs protection. Its only been a week, but it feels like its been forever. We mad a long journey around Lake Erie and have finally gotten to Lake Michigan. Time to resupply and forge ahead -Jake Thompson

  We are in the worst condition ever. We had just crossed the Illinois state line and were raided by a group of Indians. I was badly wounded in my right shoulder and cannot lift anything heavy. Luckily my family is safe. A family of five heard the shots and came to our aid. The native Americans had no choice but to retreat. Although we look strong, the attack changed out mental state from hopeful to hopeless. I want us to make it. I need us to make it. It doesn’t matter what happens we can fight through this. We will make it out May 9, 1843 west. We will stay together as a family. That is the most important task right now. My family is strong, even though we have a hole in it. No one can ever replace my wife. My family is one… -Take Thompson

  Its has been four days since we were raided. We have been lowly picking each other off the group and helping with getting restocked. Toby helped around the camp, because I couldn’t really do anything. i mad a few things for the children. Like, a bow, fishing pole, and some other useful tools. Today was easygoing for me and I'm glad that everything went okay. My daughter,, tended to my wounds and made sure they wouldn’t get infected. Luckily my wife taught her some useful skills before she died. I thought about what it would be like if my wife was here now. Would it make things easier? We really need something to look forward to so I told my children, as soon as we get to the Mississippi river I would let them have a little fun. It would be the best thing to do. Let them get out some of that stress that they have bundled up inside of them. It would mean the world to them and that’s what I'm going to give them. Jake Thompson May 13, 1843

  Today was the big day, we finally got to the Mississippi river and I told my children about the free day. As soon as I told them I could see there mood brighten in an instant. We spent the whole day acting like a real family and had a blast. It was perfect, and best of all we took a brake for once. We have been going for about two weeks straight now and we deserve it. Its all going to work out. We are going to make it to California. I believe we will. We spent most of the day swimming in the river and eating food. I have to admit that today was the best day I have had since Mary died. Jake Thompson May 17, 1843

  We have decided to make a boat. We sold our horses and road the Mississippi river all the way to the Missouri river. From there we will make it to the starting point of the Oregon trail. We restocked at a port and we kept on going. We docked at night and had dinner. We seen many types of animals but the coolest was the mountain lion. We had a peaceful night and set sail early the next morning. We had just started out journey down the great Mississippi. Things where going smooth and then the gangs started breaking out. They made the trip really dangerous for us. We had to be carful not to make anyone mad. I have to protect my family. Jake Thompson May 21, 1843

 May 25, 1843  Were only half way there and we have used almost all of our money. We just might have to stop for a week or two. We found a little town on the side of the river and asked to rent a cabin. We all had to make it work. There was only two rooms and we had to share the beds. It was rough, but we had to make it work. Nobody said that this journey would be easy. Im going to be here for my children, especially candy. She wasn’t looking so good today. I wish Mary was with us now. she knew everything about health and sickness. I could really use some of her wisdom right now. For now, I will have to settle for my strength to keep going. Jake Thompson

  Well today couldn’t have gotten better. We were walking around town looking for jobs. Toby and I found jobs at the first place we went to. I found a job at the blacksmith in the center of town. Toby got one cleaning up after the horses in the stalls. Even though it paid well I still felt a little bad for him. My job was different. I had never don’t anything like this before in my life. Weapons were on a high demand right now because of the migration west. People need protection, because they were scared for their family. I know that I am. The people in this town are really peaceful and I hope this will work for now. I hope that we can make this work. Jake Thompson May 26, 1843

 Life is hard… today was the first time that I have ever said those words in my life. I could have given up today, but I didn’t. I thought of my family and that changed how I thought of it. If I don’t work my family isn't fed. If I don’t work my family cant live on. If I don’t work we will never make it to the west coast. Well I guess I'm going to sleep now. I'm going to work my butt off tomorrow. Jake Thompson May 30, 1843

  Were having a lot of ease in this small little town. I cant tell if its suppose to be like this. My family was invited to dinner at boys house down the street. He has become really close to my daughter and I think he actually likes her. I approve of this kid. He works very hard as a fishermen and from what people tell me he would be perfect for my daughter. I put candy in the towns school house to get some knowledge in that little head of hers. She has been doing well from what hr teacher tells me. I'm happy that this is going so well. I just hope that it lasts. I hope that we can last long enough so that we can get west. Jake Thompson June 3, 1843

  I have to admit, my family is handling this change very well. They don’t gripe when its time to get up and they work hard. I know they want to get to the west as much as I do. My family is working and that’s all that matters right now. We don’t know what we will see in the west but its got to be better then the east coast. We had no opportunities there. We didn’t know what to do anymore. So we made a change for the better. We took a risk and it has started to pay off. We have a family that can work together and survive and thrive. We know now that we are one and without this family I would be nothing. I am grateful for this family, Jake Thompson June 7, 1843

  Well today we made a choose. We have enough money now and we have to leave. We are so close to victory that I can taste it. I want it so bad, but what about my family. I have to think of them first. They are what mean the most to me and I would do anything for them. I asked them and they made their decision to leave. They want as much as I do, and we will get there. I know this now, because we can do anything as a family. Even travel across the United States. We are doing it and it will be accomplished. Jake Thompson June 11, 1843

  We have been traveling for three and a half days now. We have been doing great so far. we docked along the Missouri river and stayed the night. At first light we all got up and walked a few miles to what looked like to me a family farm. They were nice people and they helped us out. I paid $100 dollars for four horses for all of us. The family was so nice that let us eat there and rest up for the day. We took turns taking baths and they gave us some new clothes to wear and we were on our way. May 15, 1843