Memory-1849, May 19

May 19, 1849.

   We remained encamped to-day, in order to enable Mr., Boone, a grandson of Daniel Boone, and his family and party, who wish to join us, to come up, Messrs. Kirkendall, Jacob, and Greenbury, reached camp this morning about seven o’clock, relieving me some uneasiness on their account. They had found a ford, near the mission, about twelve miles up Kansas; but when they returned to the ferry, finding that our train had all passed over, and it being late, they remained during the night with the party that separated from us this morning. The mission which they visited, and at which they were well received and entertained, is an establishment for the education and christianization of the Indians, supported in part by the United States government, and under the patronage and superintendence of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. There is a blacksmith’s shop at the mission, and an extensive farm under cultivation.

   …A new census of our party was taken this morning, and it was found to consist of 98 fighting-men, 50 women, 46 wagons, and 350 cattle. Two divisions were made of the wagons for convenience in marching. We were joined to-day by nine wagons from Illinois, belonging to Mr. Reed and the Messrs. Donner, highly respectable and intelligent gentlemen, with interesting families. They were received into the company by a unanimous vote.

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[Edwin Bryant, Rocky Mountain Adventures, pp. 45, 45.] Read the book.