Each student will "write a letter home" telling of their experience on the trail.

The road is a bit rough, but Oregon’s free land is worth it. A rattlesnake bit Bob, our uncle. Bill got cholera disease just last week. We had to throw out grandma’s piano because it was so heavy. ...Duane

Dear Grandma,

While Mother, Nick, and I were packing Pat, my step Father, was hitching up the mules to the wagon. We were packing very fast for we had to leave right because of that dreaded Cholera. When everything was packed and put into the wagon Mother said that she had forgotten the soup ladle, but Pat said that we had to get started. Luckily one of our friends let us borrow one.

Getting started was exhausting because I had done the most packing, and on doing so my back hurt, but I couldn’t rest yet. We had to move the luggage around so that we actually had somewhere to sleep and cook. Nick decided to walk for a little while, but shortly he came back up with me and we read our books we had packed for the trail. Then we both fell asleep.

When I got up Mother was making coffee for us to drink. Then it was time to get on the trail again. Along the way when we had rest stops Nick and I played in the prarie grass with our mules my favorite mule was named Flower. She was the most beautiful mule I’d ever saw. She had a silky golden brown color on her coat and a golden mane. Exept sometimes Nick and I got in trouble for disturbing the mules while they where eating, but we didn’t get into that much trouble.

Love,
Lauren

***

Some where on the Trail
April 24, 1847

Dear Grandma and Grandpa Santa,

We have been traveling for a week now. It is very dry and I am thirsty. The cattle are kicking up dust and sis has a strong fever. Brother just had gotten over his fever and I had to bury one of our oxen’s. I didn’t want to leave the poor oxen behind but we had to move on. Luckily we found a place to rest. Sis had died and we put chunks of dirt on her burial. After she was buried all the wagons ran over her grave to get rid of the smell.

We stayed camped for two nights and one day. That night I saw other, dusty old, wagons I was happy. The next morning we headed out. I was cold and hungry. I was not very thirsty because pa had some water.

I saw a cute boy traveling in the wagon in front of us. He yelled hi, I yelled hi back to him. He asked me what my name was I said Ashlie. I asked him what his name was. He said Nolan. That night we circled our wagons and the next morning I headed off with him. We made it to California and we lived happily ever after.

Sincerely,
Ashlie

***

Some where onThe Trail
April 5, 1888

Dear Nolan,

Ten days passed, and I am hungry and thirsty. I hadn’t had anything in two days. Same with every one else. It’s like a dessert here.

Then yesterday I saw a really cute girl. I got her name also. It is Taylor, and I hope that our trailer will be next to hers when we travel the trail.

When we were on the trail I saw a grave that said, "Here lies Timmy died by Getting ran over by a wagon. 1846-1852"

I also heard there was a disease called cholera running around here. Hope fully I don’t get it.

Your Friend,
Jared

***

Dear Bob,

I am recovering from an accidental gunshot wound, and now I have a hole in my leg. That really hurt. Now we have to cross the Platte River. This could be very hard.

The wagon successfully crossed the river. We however lost a milk cow while crossing. We found food, a buffalo was a tasty treat.

The way to Oregon is clear. Continue on the way we are going. The spot is Oregon City. That is where we are going. If you come out do not use a shotgun for hunting. They can backfire.

Sincerely Yours
Jake

Dear Allison,

Today we left for the Oregon Trail. I am very glad we, my family and I, are leaving. We are finally getting away from all the tar. This is a big change, but I’m very happy. There is also free land and no slavery out west. I am very glad we are moving.

It is a very long and treacherous trail out west. You have to go over many mountains. You also have to go through many rivers on the trail. There are many Indians along the trail but they are very nice to us. There is not much food along the trail. The people are all starving. This is a very adventurous journey.

How is all of the family doing? I’m doing well. I miss you very much. I hope I hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Cameron

On theTrail
April 1, 1846

Dear Uncle Jake,

We started on the trail today. We saw chimney rock and, we saw buffalo too. We ate buffalo meat for dinner. It was really good. We are off to a good start.

We were half way there on May 21, 1846 when the elephant struck. Gram died on that day from the measles. Cousin Jim got bit by a rattlesnake and got really sick. We had a lot of bad luck. I hope we don’t have any more.

We finally got to Oregon on July 4, 1846. We build a house. We used some of our wagons to build a barn too. Everything is perfect here. We are in the promise land now and we are happy.

From,
Michael

Dear Brother Joe,

Dad and I both miss you we could really use your help. The leg I broke is healed now it feels a lot better.

We are almost there but we still have a long way to go. Dad got very sick today and I’m trying to take care of him, and I have to drive the wagon too so I’m doing a lot. My friend, Billy, is trying to help me.

Today there was a rainstorm. It hit us hard last night. Dad’s sickness got worse because of the winds of the storm. We are almost out of medicine.

Sincerely yours,
Your brother,
Tim

***

April 23, 1841
The Trail

Dear cousin Fred,

You should have moved out west with the rest of us. There are lots of acres of free land. Also the crops grow overnight. It is a good Place to live.

The road is a bit rough, but Oregon’s free land is worth it. A rattlesnake bit Bob, our uncle. Bill got cholera disease just last week. We had to throw out grandma’s piano because it was so heavy.

Yesterday I saw a creature called a roadrunner. It is fast and looks strange. It walks on two stiltlike legs, runs around all the time, and has very colorful writing.

Sincerely,
Duane

***

Dear Jeremy

On the trail it is really dry. There is not a lot of water. There is just a lot of prairie. We saw some water some times. The sun was really hot.

We saw some buffalo and some other animals. Most of all we saw buffalo. They was really good. We really did not run out of buffalo. Buffalo is like the only animal here.

There was a lot of hard ships. When people died they ran over the graves so the wolves coyotes do not dig up their graves. There was a whole lot of dust. The dust got so thick that people could not see their ox. Rattlesnakes were really dangerous.

Zach

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