Kate and Jennie Smith Diaries of 1879: Overland ... - Oregon Pioneers

Tuesday: Left camp quite early. It was so foggy that I could not see more than two hundred yards. But itsoon cleared up and have had a beautiful day. We saw some very pretty scenery and some very gloomy. Wepassed through a Russian village four miles from where we camped from there missed our road and it tooksome time to get back again. We stoped for dinner on the East bank of Big Creek ……. Fort Hays and HaysCity. Hays City is the County Seat of Ellis County on the K. P. R. R. [Kansas Pacific Railroad] It is a verypretty town while there Father and Mr. Rhoades went to town to find the best road and did not return untillthree O’clock. We then started and travelled four miles to Big Creek which is a very pretty stream and therecamped.May 17 [Jennie]Cloudy today went through Great Bend this morning got some groceries then traveled eleven miles beforedinner stoped near a duch woman house traveled twelve miles after dinner and stoped on Walnut Creek avery pretty place it rained this afternoon had some music which sounded wellMay 18 [Kate]Sunday: Our first Sunday camping it has been a very long day and would prefer being on the move. We arecamping in a very pretty place but have had such rainy wether this forenoon it rained some and blew veryhard. This afternoon it has been very pleasant. Mrs. Florence Rhoades, Jennie and myself took a walk to thecreek and had a long talk which wore away the time very pleasantly. While we were away four antilopepassed near here that greatly excited the persons in the camp they followed in pursuit but returned with noantilope.May 18 [Jennie]Sunday. Still cloudy had quite a storm today the sun shone awhile this afternoon we dried all our clothestoday and put them out of the road Harry had a chill had an invitation to play croquette but instead ofaccepting took a nap then dressed and Florence Kate and I took a long walk sat down on the bank of thecreek had an interesting talk of old timesMay 19 [Kate]Monday: We left our camping ground quite early and passed through quite a hilly country around WalnutCreek and stoped for dinner on the head of the Walnut. We then passed through Lacross a small town inRush County and from there traveled eight miles to Big Timber where we camped for the night. This is avery pretty valley in which there is a Russian village which is a very odd looking places the houses are allquite small and the great part of them are made of rock and are quite neat looking. There are a few redhomes. The inhabitants are very queer looking people and dress very poor. Today has been a very hot sultryday and this evening it is threatening rain.May 19 [Jennie]Started early traveled about twelve miles took dinner on the head of Walnut Creek about five miles east ofLaCross come through Lacross this afternoon (This is in Rush Co) come thirteen miles after dinner campedon a stream called Big Timber near a Rushion Village we girls were to see the town is quite odd town had avery pleasant chat after we returnedMay 20 [Kate]