Saturday, 20 October Diary of William Polke “Left Chariton Encampment at eight o’clock this morning. The road was quite muddy and the air very cold. At 12 we reached our present Encampment on Grand Chariton, two miles from Keatsville.” “Tomorrow being the Sabbath we shall remain in camp. The health of the Indians is almost Read More »
Wednesday, 10 Oct. 1838 Diary of William Polke “The settlement of yesterday was concluded today, and every person engaged in the service, save the officers of the emigration, was paid up to the thirtieth. In order to allow the wagoners an opportunity of repairing their wagons, shoeing their horses and making other repairs necessary for Read More »
Diary of William Polke Monday, 8 Oct. 1838 “In order to reach Quincy and forward the ferriage of the river as much as possible, parties of the emigration were detached and sent a-head at seven o’clock. At 10, a great portion of the emigrants had reached the river, seven miles from the camp of last Read More »
Diary of William Polke Saturday, 6 Oct. 1838 “At a little before eight in the morning we left the encampment of last night. During the night we were visited by a fall of rain which rendered the travelling today unusually pleasant. The dust has been completely allayed, and the air much cooled. Water on the Read More »
Diary of William Polke Wednesday, 3 Oct. 1838 “Left Exeter encampment at a little before eight o’clock, and without any occurrence of note reached the Illinois River at about 11 – nine miles distant from last night’s camp. Preparations were made for ferrying the river, and we embarked in keel and flat boats directly after Read More »
Diary of William Polke Tuesday, 2 Oct. 1838 “We struck our tents at 8 this morning, and prepared for a march. Owing to the very great curiosity manifested by the citizens generally, Judge Polke, after being solicited, marched the emigration into the square, where we remained for fifteen or twenty minutes.” “Presents of tobacco and Read More »
Diary of William Polke Monday, 1 Oct. 1838 “Early in the morning we left Island Grove—travelled over a dry prairie country, seventeen miles, we reached our encampment, near Jacksonville, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Nothing occurred during our march save that a child fell from a wagon, and was very much crushed by Read More »
Diary of William Polke Saturday, 29 Sept. 1838 “In order to pass Springfield at as early an hour as possible, we rose before light, and at 8 o’clock were on our way. The Indians amongst whom a degree of pride was excited, arranged themselves into line, and with an unusual display of finery and gaudy Read More »
Diary of William Polke Wednesday, 26 Sept. 1838 “Left our encampment at the crossing at 8 o’clock in the morning and proceeded on our route. The sick appear somewhat recruited. Owing to the indisposition of our physician no report has been made since Monday. We have reason to believe that the health of the camp Read More »
Diary of William Polke Monday, 24 Sept. 1838 “At 9 this morning we left Pyatt’s Point, Ill. (the encampment of yesterday) and proceeded down the Sangamon River fifteen miles, to the place of our present Encampment, Sangamon Crossing. “ “Physician reports “there have been two deaths since my last, and the situation of several of Read More »