Oregon Trail Journal
Dear Journal,
Mommie, Uncle John, and Sissie and me are leaving home.
Daddy died when I was little. Our house got caughted on
fire (I am only 5 so forgive my writing) Uncle
John gotted me and Emmy out. When he went back for Daddy
he was dead. So now we live with Uncle John. Mommy told
me the croppies are bad and the prices are going down.
Emmy said we are going on something called the Oregon
Trail. I don't know what is going on but we are leaving
our home.
Maryanne Johnson (really Mallory) 1852
Dear Journal,
Two years ago my husband died when our house burned down.
I got out but my brother John had to rescue my children.
When got Will he was too late. We had to go to live with
my brother John at his farm down the road. We are having
a horrible crop season for the second year in a row. With
no crops to sell we are not making any money. We have
decided to move to Oregon. We will head out in late April
to where there is good farm land.
Summer Johnson (really Brenna) 1852)
Dear Journal,
The crops are going bad. They have been bad for years.
There dad died and I tried to save him but he was already
dead. I saved the two girls.
John Williams (really Derek) 1852
Dear Journal,
Last week was the worst day of my life. My wife died,
confederate soldiers killed her.
My kids are sad for the loss.
I got a temper and killed a confedaret soldier. I told my
kids to shut there eyes and go to bed. We got are
supplies. Were leaving tomorrow.
Lucas,
Dear Journal,
We started on the wagon train today. I'm going with my
sister and my two cousins. We had to leave because we
lost our home because we couldn't pay it off.
Mom and Dad died a few weeks ago. They had a very ill
sickness. I have to help Hank now with the wood. Soon we
will get our free land.
Lucie, April 16, 1839
Fifth Grade HomePage
Note: At the
end of each day's travels, the overlanders neatly fold
and stack their clothing in the wagon bed to be ready for
the next day's journey.
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Right now we
are packing to move to Oregon. We can only pack so much
to carry in the wagon. The animals, 6 oxen, 2 pigs, 5
chickens and 4 geese are doing well. Father, sister and
brother are leaving for Oregon on April eighth. I hope
our journey isn't that rough.
Kayleigh
Dear Diary,
Me and my brothers are leaving because our stock market
crashed and we are going to Oregon to get gold and be
millionairs like before. Our parents were murdered by a
weird man that went on the Oregon Trail. We hope to find
him and do the same to him that he did to our parents.
Donnie
Dear Journal,
We, meaning my sister, Anna, my fiance', Levi and his
brother Hennry have decided to go west on the Oregon
Trail. Our crops have lack of rain and our animals are
dying. We have no choice but to move to the west.
Hopefully, there will be rich land and wonderful farming.
Our cattle are dying constantly, which makes life ever
harder hauling them away. I'm excited to go but saying
goodbye's to family and friends isn't so easy. Also my
mother and father won't be able to attend my wedding,
which will be held on the trail, ow when we reach the end
of it. We are going to sell our farm, but with no rain I
highly doubt anyone will want that much land. We are
planning to leave on April 20th. I am wondering what
wagon we will buy. And when.
Alexi, April 11, 1841
The sudden snow storm
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