Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Hale, Israel Foote, b. 1804 and Hale, Titus, 1834-1925
- Abstract:
- Written by Israel Hale, who travelled with his son Titus Hale, this daily diary chronicles the challenges and hardship of an overland journey by wagon train from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento that took from May 5, 1849 to October 15, 1849. The entries don't contain much narrative or stories of the trail but document travel conditions and route, condition of grass, water and wood, and dangers such as Indian raids. The diary contains a roster containing the names and places of origin of the 70 men that came in the 20 wagons that started from St. Joseph (pp 106-108). There is also a handwritten page of recipes for homemade medications. At the back of the diary are two entries, the first a History of the Road by Mormans (?) and the second a History of the Route from Humboldt to California, which detail mileages, routes and turn points.
- Extent:
- 1.0 folder (1 diary)
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
Israel F. and Titus Hale Diary. The Society of California Pioneers
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Israel and Titus Hale left St. Joseph, Missouri on May 5, 1849 and arrived in Sacramento on October 15. This diary chronicles the hardships experienced along their overland route—encountering illness, hunger, and thieves—and provides as well a picture of life on a wagon train, with detailed descriptions of forts and scenery. The end of the volume contains a list of the persons in each wagon that comprised the wagon train, and lists several medicinal recipes for cholera, sore throat, ague, and fever. Entries vary in length; some are quite long. The last entry is a brief synopsis of the events that occurred in the last month of the journey; due to illness, Hale ceased making regular diary entries.
The title page was written by Titus Hale and reads "Diary of trip to California in 1849, written by Israel F. Hale. I came with him - Titus Hale"
At the back of the diary are two entries, the first a "History of the Road" by Mormans (?) and the second a "History of the Route from Humboldt to California", which detail mileages, routes and turn points.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Israel Foote Hale, born in 1804, and his seventeen-year old son, Titus Hale, joined a wagon train bound for California in 1849. Upon arriving in Sacramento five months later, Israel Hale began mining gold, returning to Missouri in 1851 with only $1500 in gold dust. Titus Hale later returned to California, where he began farming, married, and raised a family. Titus Hale was involved with the construction of the first railway from Santa Cruz to Watsonville and served as President of the Society of California Pioneers for a time.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Titus Hale, date of acquisition unknown.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection open for research
- Terms of access:
-
There are no restrictions on access
- Preferred citation:
-
Israel F. and Titus Hale Diary. The Society of California Pioneers
- Location of this collection:
-
300 Fourth StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107, US
- Contact:
- (415) 957-1849 ext. 160