The Oregon Trail: from the diaries of a 13 year old

Day 1

April 15 1846

Today my family and I finally finished packing for the trip west to Oregon Country. After we heard so many stories about the west from the mountain men we decided to move west. Today is such a great day to start heading west too. We are leaving from Independence, Missouri and heading for Oregon country.

We've been on the road for at least an hour so far. Our oxen Billy and Henry are doing pretty good. I'm surprised there's space for us four in our wagon, my father, my mother, my big sister Judy ( she is almost 16) and I (I'm almost 14). Father and mother are in the driver's seat. Judy and I are in the wagon. We packed less than anyone else who is going to Oregon Country because we heard that people throw their un needed stuff off their wagons and we might be able to pick it up.

We packed two months worth of food, 3 outfits for Jude and 3 outfits for me. 3 outfits for mother and 3 outfits for father. We also packed some blankets, and a few books. Our oxen cost 25 dollars each, and our wagon cost 40 dollars. Oh and I forgot we also packed cooking supplies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's the end of the day and we all look tired. Right now we are alone. We highered a someone to to take us to Fort Kearney so we can meet up with some old friends and join the train. The stars are beautiful here. I could look at them all night, but father said I need to get some sleep.