This trip seems to follow the path of today-s Interstate 70 and also mentions they are near a railroad. They seemed to travel from 15 to 35 miles per day.

Diary Excerpts:

16 Apr 1871 - Bid adieu to friends and relatives & started to Colorado. Will meet wagons at Ashley. Stayed night at John Dood's a No. 1 man.

18 Apr 1871 - Left Mr. Dood's for Ashley. Got there at 9 o'clock. Waggons came on at 4 in evening.

19 Apr 1871 - Started from camp in morning at 8 o'clock & traveled on to creek near Nashville, then went to Lawyer's Point. Within 12 miles of Oakaw. No trouble, only 4 waggons yet.

20 Apr 1871 - Went across the river in an old flat boar, paid 30 cents. Went across St. L. & S.E.R.R. 6 times. 4th day and within 3 miles of Mascoutah.

21 Apr 1871 - Went through Belleville & camped 8 miles from St. Louis. Reece's wagons caught us today but seemed to not want to travel with us.

22 Apr 1871 - Went on all right through St. Louis & stopped 5 miles from St. Louis. 25 miles today.

25 Apr 1871 - Came to Warrenton at 4 p.m. Nothing of McGinnis yet.

26 Apr 1871 - Came to Jonesburg & camped a few miles west of Danville.

29 Apr 1871 - Camped on Cedar Creek 12 miles west of Columbia.

02 May 1871 - Camped 3 miles SW of Boonville.

05 May 1871 - Camped 5 miles from Waverly.

11 May 1871 - Camped 2 miles from Indepenence.

14 May 1871 - Passed Udora.

16 May 1871 - Camped 3 miles from Topeka.

17 May 1871 - Crossed to the Patowattomie Reservation, seen plenty of Indians who were civil, intelligent, educated & well dressed. Passed Rossville.

21 May 1871 - Passed Ogden & Fort Riley a place of some 150 government buildings.

24 May 1871 - Traveled 18 miles today. Passed Detroit & came to Abilene a starvin garvin place of Texas Drovers & Co. About 1,000 inhabitants. Found out today that there was a train of 15 wagons behind going to Colorado.

27 May 1871 - Passed Salina today, a most beautiful little place, young, 4 year old.

28 May 1871 - Feet very sore, blistered all over, but had to walk all day, never asked to ride at all.

31 May 1871 - Camped with Englishman on plains this side of Ellsworth. Saw 7 buffalo today.

03 June 1871 - 289 miles from Kansas City and 650 miles from home.

11 June 1871 - Passed Sheridan & camped on Smoky 2 miles west of Fort Wallace.

13 June 1871 - Found no water for dinner & none at night escept for some stinking stuff in old Cheyenne well. Traveled til 11 o'clock, then found good water & grass. Traveled 35 miles today.

14 June 1871 - Camped 5 miles form Carson.

18 Jun 1871 - Traveled 25 miles today.

23 Jun 1871 - Saw mountains at a distance of 80 miles. Looked like Colorado.

24 Jun 1871 - Came to Pueblo, a nice little place.

11 Jul 1871 - Sanders today took claim up in the mountains where it is 5,000 ft high. Would keep father from coming if could, for considered it a poor place for a famly. A man could not make money.

27 Aug 1871 - Sunday - On train bound for Kansas City & arrived there on Monday.

19 Sep 1871 - Went over to Arrowrock after bidding Mo. friends goodby. Got on boat for St. Louis….$8.

24 Sep 1871 - Steamed out of Mo. River to St. Louis & went over to East St. Louis, waited til 6 p.m. for train to Mascoutah. Took train for Belleville. Stayed at the Republican House.

25 Sep 1871 - Got to Mt. Vernon at 7:40 & stayed at Mt. Vernon house.

26 Sep 1871 - At home again & glad to see folks all well.