George Bond’s Journal of the Family’s Immigration to Oregon in 1853
[The following is my transcription from a mimeographed booklet found among family papers, apparently given out at a family reunion about 1938. Joanne Skelton]
Foreward and transcription from original manuscript by C.A. Bond (diarist’s grand nephew)
The journal of George Bond’s journey across the plains to Oregon in 1853 is only part of his diary that he kept for several years after his arrival in the Willamette valley.
All the diaries were kept in bound account book. Each day is allotted one line in the book. Only rarely does one day’s account run over to the second line.
No attempt has been made to alter the spelling and punctuation of the diary. Some may feel that the quaintness of the orthography is a reflection on the intelligence and education of the author, but it must be remembered that in the frontier there was little standardized spelling and scant formal education. Everyone was his own dictionary. It is easy to imagine the pioneer minister transcribing the events of the day with his only light a bit of candle, or more likely the light from the campfire. The wonder is not that he spelled poorly but that he took time to spell at all—missing not a single day—no matter what the hardships.
Possibly the necessity of conserving ink and paper is one reason why each day’s entry was held to one line. The amount of news the narrator could crowd into that one line is amazing. The diarist apparently capitalized many times for emphasis.
A somewhat superficial examination of texts and maps indicates that the Bonds’ train must have followed the famous Oregon trail almost exactly along its more than 2,000 miles from the Missouri river. By 1853, of course, the trail was well-marked. First emigrant trains had begun to cross it in the early 1840’s with what was termed “the great migration” occurring in 1843 and the high tide probably being reached in 1847. [Ghent’s “Road to Oregon”] Discovery of gold in California added impetus to the westward trek in ’49. Landmarks mentioned in the diary are identical with those recorded by Nathaniel Wyeth, Sam Hancock and others, whose accounts have been printed.
It is not hard to see why it took more than five months to make a trip that can now be made over the same route in as many days when it is considered that oxen made two miles per hour—if nothing hindered them. [Ibid]
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George Bond was born in Henry county Ky. Jan. 13, 1818. His parents migrated to Washington County Indiana in 1821 and in 1830 they went from Iowa to Edgar county Ill. Apparently several branches of the family joined in the trip to Oregon in 1853. The majority of those remaining in Oregon today are descended from George’s brother Solomon Bond and his 12 sons and daughters.
George Bond was for many years a Baptist preacher of considerable reputation in Oregon. His diaries were left with his son James, who kept them secret because he felt their spelling cast discredit on his father. It was not until James’ death that they came to light. References made in later diaries show that the Rev. George Bond was well-read.
Shortly after the party’s arrival in Oregon the diary records that members scattered throughout the Willamette valley. George stayed near Oregon City for a time where he recounts that he lost an ox and “eat the first cabeg without seasoning.” Later, he says, he went south to the forks of the Willamette (Eugene)—but apparently kept his residence at Oregon City, since he later talks of “coming home.”
August 8, 1938
[Note: The original transcriber seems to have been Charles Alvin Bond, a son of Harvey Bond and a grandson of Solomon. He is listed on Harvey’s obituary of 1940 with residence at Amarillo Texas.
George Bond had a Donation Land Claim in Lane County, north across the river from Skinner’s Butte. His Land Claim papers state that he arrived in Oregon September 21, 1853, which agrees with his journal, and that he settled his claim October 16, 1853.
George died January 9, 1880, at his home and is buried at the Pioneer Cemetery on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon. Joanne Skelton]
George Bond’s Journal of the Family’s Immigration to Oregon in 1853
APRIL A.D. 1853
F1 - Got to Fathers
S2 - Went to Oskaloosa
Sb3 - preached at N Davis at nite
M4 - Got a load of flower and goods and traveled to the River
T5 - Got ham
W6 - Stretched my tent
Th7 - Loded my meet
F8 - Got the Milj [word not clear] wagon hewn [word not clear]
S9 - Loded the Wagons
Sb10 - The Davises and Father came
M11 - Raned all day
T12 - Started to Oregon traveled 12 miles camped near Mr. Jack
W13 - Traveled to little white Brest
Th14 - Layed by and fixed my decin
F15 - Traveled through Shareton point camped at Mr. Chatmans
S16 - traveled to mary white brest and [word not clear]
Sb17 - traveled to first Branch of Grand River Crosed some bad holes
M18 - got to Pisga crosed Grand River Camped in the Parara
T19 - Crosed 2 branches of Grand River good road Camped with a drove of Sheep in the Prarie
W20 - traveled 12 miles Camped on the east bank of the Nodaway
Th21 - traveled 6 miles showery weather Camped on the second branch of Nodoway
F22 - traveled 10 miles to the 3 Nodoway Camped on west Bank
S23 - lade by raned all day and nite
Sb24 - traveled 8 miles to the 4 Nodoway water bound Camped on the East bank Rafted over
M25 - Camped on the west bank
T26 - Crosed 1 Nishama Botany [probably bottom] Camped at Indian Town
W27 - Camped at Wheelers Grove
Th28 - Crosed 2 Nishand [Nishama] [word not clear] Camped on Mad creek
F29 - Crosed silver Creek and Cagg Creek Campe 6 miles the other side of Cayns mill
S30 - Saw the first Indians passed threw Canes Vill Camped on the Masourie River Botom
MAY AD 1853
Sb1 - a hard rane layed by and wroat leters to uncle Wm. Bond
M2 - Crosed the Masourie River Camped about 2 miles from the ferry
T3 - Camped and grased our catle and washed after traveling 5 miles
W4 - traveled 12 miles Camped in the Praria Elected N Davis Captin
Th5 - Crosed a creek at the Squaw bridge Camped on Elkhorne
F6 - traveled 6 miles up Elkehorne Commenced fening [probably either fencing or penning] in a wagon Box Camped on east Bank
S7 - Crosed elk horne Camped on west Bank
Sb8 - traveled 12 miles Camped near Plat Blufs at a grove
M9 - traveled all day up Plat Camped 3 miles east of Shel creek
T10 - Came to the road on the Bank of Plat traveled up Plat all day Camped on a mudy Branch
W11 - Got to Loop fork layed by and was [washed]
Th12 - Crosed Loop fork traveled 5 miles up the loop fork and camped on the west bank 5 miles
F13 - traveled all day up loop fork. Crosed some curious Sand hills Camped on a larg lake Botom
S14 - traveled 12 miles a perfect storm of wind [word not clear] that we could not pitch our tents
Sb15 - traveled 12 miles up loop fork turned south Camped in a valy
M16 - traveled to Prarie crek and crosed and camped on the west Bank a tremendeous storm of Rane hale and wind
T17 - water Bound by dry Creek traveled 5 miles and camped Morgan and Peter [perhaps Peper] swam and got an Ash tree
W18 - dried our cloaths very cold
Th19 - Crosed dry creek by clocking up traveled to wood River
F20 - Crosed wood River and traveled 12 miles up Bever creek camped Camped on the Bank lots of timber
S21 - Camped on Plat a thunder storm at Nite
Sb22 - crowded with droves of catle crosed elm creek and Bufalow creek and camped on west Bank
M23 - Came to Plat at noon Camped on plat near a slew
T24 - Camped on Plat near the Sand hills
W25 - traveled threw pawnee swamps Camped on plat used small willows for fewll whare a man was shot accidently
Th26- Camped where the shot man was Beried washed got willow brush of of an iland the Boys went a huntin
F27 - The Boy got in about noon Started 10 miles Camped in a low wet Botom
S28 - Crosed Bluff Fork of Plat traveled threw some sand hills killed a Bufalow Camped near the Bluff at a spring
Sb29 - fore miles in sand hills Crosed a number of Spring branches in the evenong saw sedar on the south side of Plat Camped near Plat
M30 - Saw rock in the bluffs camped near a cedar island Olaver found a spring
T31 - passed Ash hollow Camped on a bottom the Catle went a hollow Saw the first sage
JUNE AD 1853
W1 - raned all day past ancient Bluff Ruins Camped in Botom 1 mile from River and 2 from Bluffs got wood from Bluffs Saw Chimney Rock
Th2 - passed cort house Rock camped near Chimny Rock Cedar clifts all along the Sout side Camped near
S4 - Camped near Scots Bluffs
Sb5 - Saw first Sioux Indians
M6 - passed fort Larama Camped near Indian vilage
T7 - passed threw Black hills Camped on the River near Stares [or stones] and Elmakers trane
W8 - Camped and washed and suned our things
Th9 - traveled over roling land saw a great many red hills Camped in a sage hollow
F10 - Came to the River over a plase that we called Bables Brick yard Camped on the River
S11 - Traveled over Rough hills Br Wm left his old wagon
Sb12 - traveled in the fore noon layed by in the evening
M13 - let wagons down by ropes saw some curious srubary. Camped on the River curant brush
T14 - passed the plat River Bridge Camped near the River
W15 - left Plat River past soap springs Camped on willow Cr.
Th16 - eat snow Camped on grees Cr. Layed by a half day
F17 - Came to Independence Rock Campe on Sweet water
S18 - Crosed sweet water traveled 5 miles Camped near the Devils gate layed by half day
Sb19 - traveld up sweet water al day Camped whare old lady [or hady] wam [swam] the river
M20 - traveled up sweet water al day Camped whare we swam the oxen over the River
T21 - left sweet water Camped on a creek
W22 - snowed in the morning Camped at the snow springs layed by half day
Th23 - Peper killed an Antelope came to sweet water Camped
F24 - Came to the old Road Camped at the Pacific Springs
S25 - layed by Elizabeth Davis sick
Sb26 - do
M27 - a cold snow storme traveled to little sandy
T28 - ice a half inch thick crossed little and big sandys camped off of the Road on big sandy
W29 - a mist of rane in the morning Camped on big sand Solomons ox died
Th30 - traveled to green River camped on East Bank
JULY AD 1853
F1 - Crosed green River Camped on West Bank
S2 - traveled to Slate creek Camped
Sb3 - traveled to the Junction of the Roads Camped
M4 - Selebrated the day in traveling to Homes [?] fork. Camped on west Bank
T5 - l ayed by and washed
W6 - went up a steep mountain threw a fer grove down a mountain camped in a deep holow
Th7 - Over the mountains to Bar river Camped on Bar river between Smiths and Thomases fork
F8 - Crosed Thomases fork over the mountains Came up with Waldrips trane Camped on Bar River
S9 - Got wagon tyers set
Sb10 - traveled down Bare River crossed some pretty Branches Camped at a butiful spring
M11 - traveled down Bare River Camped at Sody Springs
T12 - left Bare River at the forks of the California and Oregon Rodes Saw some caves Camped to the write of the road herd from Oregon
W13 - traveled over mountains camped at the great Columby springs
Th14 - layed by
F15 - traveled down Ross Creek. Solomons wagon upset in Ross creek Camped on Ross Creek
S16 - crossed Portno River opasit Fort hall Camped on Portno River the muskeoes offel
Sb17 - traveld down Portno to Snake River Camped at American falls
M18 - traveled down Snake River Showery crossed stony creek and camped at Fall creek
T19 - Crosed Raft River and camped in the nite on Swamp creek
W20 - traveled down Snake River to goos creek Camped on goos creek
Th21 - layed by and fished with a wagon sheet
F22 - Camped on dry creek showery weather
S23 - Camped on rock creek
Sb24 - raned on Snake River whare old Hime [?] died Camped on Ratle Snake Bluff
M25 - Came to the Botom crossed Samon River whare Danle mired [?] great springs on the other side of the river
T26 - Crosed Snak River at Samon falls camped on North Bank
W27 - noned at a beautiful branch crossed Lads creek Camped on west Bank
Th28 - very warm traveled the spring whare the Indians killed Mr Lambert we camped at the Spring
F29 - Camped whare I left my little wagon
S30 - layed by and re loaded
Sb31 - up a long hill camped on Shaperal creek
AUGUST AD 1853
M1 - Camped on Snake creek whare the Boys left
T2 - traveled over levl road very rocky Camped at Peters spring whare Buck died
W3 - Over rolan land Camped on a Branch
Th4 - layed by and hunted Fathers oxen half day then traveled to keg spring and camped
F5 - Came to Bois River at noon Camped on Bois River whare Solomons ox died
S6 - nooned on Bois river at a butiful Bam tree
Sb7 - Down the River nooned whare an old wagon was left Camped a few miles after meeting Mr Heantly at a willow Byow
M8 - Crosed Bois River Camped on Bois River 10 miles the other side of Fort Boice
T9 - got to Fort Boice crossed wagons layed by on west Bank half day
W10 - tried to swim catle
Th11 - Swam catle over the River
F12 - traveled to Malhure River and camped on West Bank
S13 - past the sulpher springs camped on Burch creek in the nite
Sb14 - Camped on Burnt River at noon
M15 - layed by and set wagon tiers Varner Shot Wilson 5 miles back on Snake River
T16 - traveled up Burnt River crosed it 3 times camped in a thicket
W17 - Solomon and Oliver started back to hunt Wms oxen we traveled up Burnt River crosed it 6 times took a rite hand branch over a hill camped in a holow running to Burnt River
Th18 - up Burnt River past Frosts trading post up a hill camped at Kendles spring
F19 - over the hils to the 1 Powder river Camped to the write of the Road
S20 - down Powder River crossed 32 branches Camped on west bank of Powder river
Sb21 - Over the mountains Camped in Grand Round valley
M22 - traveled a cross grand Round valy over the mountains camped on a branch to the left of the Road
W24 - traveled to Lees encampment Camped whare Wms Emma was born
Th25 - layed By
F26 - traveled threw the Blew mountains Camped on the umatila River
S27 - traveled down umatila River Camped whare Daniel Davis came to us
Sb28 - traveled down the umatila camped 5 miles the other side of the Agency
M29 - passed the agency camped on Butter creek
T30 - layed by and left my Big wagon
W31 - layed by raned all day
SEPTEMBER AD 1853
Th1 - Camped at mud springs
F2 - Camped on Wilow creek noned in fore noon
S3 - traveled in the evening Camped in cedar holow
Sb4 - camped on Rock creek whare Nelson Brok his axel tree
M5 - crosed John Dayes River made a dry camp
T6 - Came to the Columby River traveled down to the Deshoots crosed the Deshoots camped on the west Bank
W7 - past N Olnys Camped on Olnys creek
Th8 - traveled up the creek bough onions Camped at the Estron foot of the Caskade mounatins
F9 - crosed Indian creak camped on the 2 mile creek
S10 - traveled 6 miles layed by half a day on camp Branch
Sb11 - layed by and herd a sermon by Elder Davis
M12 - past Barlows gate camped on a branch in the Caskade mountains
T13 - down the Deshoots mountains crosed the Deshoots 5 times Ebenzer upset his wagon twise Camped whare Nelson lost his cow
W14 - traveled to the somet Praria met Hardon Davis layed by half day
Th15 - Hana Died layed by
F16 - Beried Hanah traveled to and camped on Loral hill
S17 - went down Loral hill camped at Devnports trading post
Sb18 - layed by
M19 - Camped at the foot of the Backbone
T20 - crosed and camped on Sandy met with Joseph Stickny
W21 - Camped at Browns this is the day we got in to the Willamit valy and makes 5 months and 9 days on the Road
Th22 - to Fosters a cros deep creek to James Tongs
F23 - I went to Oregon City and stayed all nite with Br. Johnson