Personal Journal of Mary Williams, pioneer

 The snow has finally melted from our home in Buffalo, New York. Papa says that moving day is now here. Our little family will now begin our journey to the new lands of Oregon, where we will start our new life. I am saddened to leave my friends in my town, but I have overheard Papa tell Mama that this move was the opportunity of a lifetime. I just hope my little sister will be alright on the journey! She’s only seven and asks too many questions! Journal Entry #1 March 19, 1845

 Journal Entry #2 March 22, 1845   Papa, Mama, and Buck (our dog) in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains

 We have traveled now for about three weeks. We stop every three hours to rest and keep our horses taken care of. My little sister Sarah is starting to come down with a pretty bad fever. Mama is trying to lower it by soaking her feet in a cold water creek, but it doesn’t seem to be breaking. As for Papa and me, we ventured out to find something for supper and came a cross a red man! We are surely far from home, as I have never seen one before. He seemed to want to trade with us – our old rifle for a few rabbits he had caught. What a trade! We brought other rifles, but couldn’t seem to catch our own supper this afternoon. How lucky! Journal Entry #3 April 7, 1845

 = where we have traveled = where we are headed Journal Entry #4 April 20, 1845

 We have now crossed the Great Mississippi River. It was so much grander than I ever thought. I have now seen so much of this country and am still in awe of it. My sister Sarah, however, has been suffering for weeks from a high fever and may have consumption. She has been unable to breathe well and the traveling has just made her weaker. I have tried to lighten her spirits with my drawings of the new wildlife I have seen, including beautiful birds and small prairie dogs. Hopefully, she will get better soon. I miss playing with her and even having her bother me with all of her incessant questions. Journal Entry #5 May 1, 1845