Description
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.
Background
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.
Extent
1.0 folder
(1 diary)
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on access
Availability
Collection open for research