n: Trimble, Sublett, Ainsly, Welch and Trammel & Co. from Mineral
Point, Wisconsin.

7th. Had a bad night last night; it rained and snowed nearly all night.
Had about two inches of snow on the ground this morning. It cleared off
about 10 A.M., when we struck our tent and started on the long journey.
Weather came off fine and warm; find some grass but none to amount to
anything; still have to cut dry grass. We made 20 miles to-day, and
camped on a small creek. We have nine teams in company that expect to
go through together, although we are not organized, viz: (besides
myself) Thomas Trimble, and William Sublett & Co., Stephen Ainsly and
party, Litwiler and company, and Daughterty and company. We have
mechanics of every trade, and various musicians, and while I am
writing, one of the company is enlivening the solitude with a fine
toned key bugle; one ought to be here in the wilderness to know the
value of music. We have 37 men in our party, and if the other teams
come up and join us we shall have 41. This I think is a large enough
party, as we cannot camp any where after this without being near other
companies, several of whom are now camped above and below us. We expect
to go as far as the Indian Mission to-morrow.

12 miles.

8th. Made 14 miles over a rather hilly country, and passed the Indian
Mission, and camped two miles from it on a creek. We found some fine
farms at this mission; it was a pleasing sight to us to see the wheat
fields; they appeared to compare well with the wheat fields of
Illinois. Passed some dead horses on the road to-day; also some graves
of those buried last year. Several teams came up and joined us this
night.

14 miles.

9th. Traveled about 25 miles to-day over a prairie country, passed
several more graves made last year. We have not seen any fresh ones
yet, but found more dead horses. This is the result of feeding too much
corn with no hay or grass. The grass seems to be getting a little
better as we get on. Have had a very hot day, and dry, and good roads
with the exception of two or three mud holes. Some more teams came up
and camped with us--we turned off from the road and camped on a small
creek.

25 miles.

10th. Had 21 wagons in our train this morning. We call all hands at 4
o'clock A.M. now, and start about 1/2 past 6. Had some rain last night,
when the wind shifted to the north-west, very cold, and we have had one
of the best roads to-day that I ever saw; plank roads