Under the Wagon Cover
By the time the pioneers eached this point in their journey, many supplies
had been exhausted or discarded to lighten their load. Many who had
depended on getting food at Fort Boise were disappointed, either there were
no supplies to be had or they were expensively priced.
Items packed at the
beginning of the journey:
fiddle and flute
sheet iron stove
dutch oven kettle
water keg
table
china
quilts
bedframe
chest of drawers
clothing and shoes
grandfather clock
camp lantern
guide book
chairs
needles, pins, thread
rifles and pistols
matches
knife
whetstone
ax
plow
hammer
trunk
pen and ink
Bible
doll
Items discarded along the way:
sheet iron stove
table
china
bedframe
chest of drawers
grandfather clock
chairs
plow
trunk
Here is a memorandum of our oufit and
eatables: three sacks flour, 100 lbs bacon,
50 lbs sugar, 55 lbs. coffee, 7 lbs tea, half
bushel of dried apples, bottle pickles, two
tin pans, two tea kettles, one dish kettle,
one bake kettle, one coffee mill, 6 knives
and forks, six tea spoons, three large table
spoon, eight tin and iron cups, one candle
stick, eight pounds candles, frying pan, tin
and wooden pail, keg for water, nine bars
soap, five woolen blankets, one large tent,
rifle and accoutrement.
Mary Rockwood Powers
1846
... no one should travel this road without
medicine... Each family should have a box
of physicing pills, and a quart of castor oil,
a quart of the best rum and a large vial of
peppermint essence... Anybody in
preparing to come to this country should
make up some calico shirts to trade to the
Indians in case of necessity. You will have
to hire them to pilot you across the rivers.
Elizabeth Dixon Smith
1847
My husband and I brought our Bible, dictionary,
arithmetic, grammar, charts and maps, also our
diplomas of graduation.
Sarah J. Cummins
1845
Although our teams have not got what may be
called heavy loads, it appears to be difficult for
all to get along. Consequently, we left one of our
wagons, two boxes of valuable books, trunks,
charis, etc. worth at least $300.00. This is sad
destruction but it cannot be avoided.
Samuel ?
1852
A great many had depended on getting
provisions here but failed entirely of
getting anything except fish & There is
a little sugar for sale here at .25 cents
pr pound & Prospects seem to darken
around us... some families are already
entirely out of bread...
Cecilia Adams and Parthenia Blank
at Fort Boise on the Snake River
September 20, 1857.
