Contents 



Chapter Page 

 I Ignorance of Nebraska History — A Great Thor- 

 oughfare — The Different Starting Points — The 

 Overland Stage — Marked by Graves Along the 

 Route 9 



II Start from Home in Genesee County, Mich. — Jour- 

 ney on Foot to La Salle, 111. — Down the Illinois 

 River to St. Louis — Up the Missouri to St. Jos- 

 eph — Hire Out to Drive Team — Journey With Ox 

 Team from St. Joseph to Sarpy's Landing 14 



III Crossing the Missouri — Camp Where Bellevue Now 



Stands— Gather Wild Strawberries May 28, 1852 

 — Start West on the Journey from the Missouri 

 May 29, 1852— Join Capt. Well's Train— Cross 

 the Elkhom River 22 



IV Halted by a Band of Pawnees at Shell Creek — Pay 



Toll for Crossing the Creek — Cross Loup Fork 

 Near the Present Site of Genoa 29 



V From Loup Fork to Wood River — Buffalo Chips — 

 Lone Tree— The First Buffalo Hunt— Flagging 

 Antelope 35 



VI The Journey up the Platte Valley — Hunting Moun- 

 tain Sheep— Talk With a Sioux Indian— The 

 Buffalo Hunt 43 



VII Incidents of the Journey — Out on the Trail Over 



Night — The Dogs and the Wolves 49 



VIII The Cholera— Death of Hosea Ballou— The Story 



of Mrs. Knapp and Her Baby 56 



IX Four Young Men Leave the Train and Go On Afoot 

 — Arrival at the Dalles — Trip Down the Colum- 

 bia — ^Arrive at Oregon City 62 



