Finding aid of the Martha Ann Freeman Papers C058853
Finding aid prepared by Unknown / Michael Lange
Society of California Pioneers
06/11/2002
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Freeman, Martha Ann Papers
Identifier/Call Number: C058853
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Container: B001392
Container: C058853
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
(1 recollection)
Date: 1905
Abstract: 15 handwritten pages. Written in 1905, Martha Ann Freeman's recollection of her family's five month journey in 1854 to California
from Missouri crossing Platte River and Sierra Mountains. Papers contain geographic information on the journey and lists of
provisions and cooking methods. Also information on daily life while travelling: fear of Indian attacks, guarding cattle,
crossing the desert and mountains and bridgeless rivers and streams.
creator:
Freeman, Martha Ann, b.1837?
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
The Martha Ann Freeman Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Martha Ann Freeman, at seventeen years old, left Rosehill Johnson County, Missouri on May 18, 1854 with her family. Her father
was Doctor H.K. Freeman, and he was the one who decided to move the family out west. They settled in Solano County at the
mouth of Cash Creek Slough on the Sacramento Road, about twelve miles outside of Sacramento on October 18, 1854. The following
summer she and her family relocated to a house in San Joaquin County in a town twelve miles east of Stockton, later named
Linden. Martha Ann Freeman's married name was Martha Ann Wootten.
15 handwritten pages. Written in 1905, Martha Ann Freeman's recollection of her family's five month journey in 1854 to California
from Missouri crossing Platte River and Sierra Mountains. Papers contain geographic information on the journey and lists of
provisions and cooking methods. Also information on daily life while travelling: fear of Indian attacks, guarding cattle,
crossing the desert and mountains and bridgeless rivers and streams.
She names her travelling party thusly: 1. Burden, Mr. and wife and child 2. Cook, John of Lexington, MO 3. Earl, James of
Lexington, MO 4. Freeman, Dr. H.K.- Father 5. Freeman, Grandfather and his second wife and her son William Gibson 6. Freeman,
Uncle James and family 7. Freeman, Uncle Thomas and family 8. Hather, Philip (?) and wife and child 9. Hurley, John and wife
and child 10. Leeper, Mr.(Jim) 11. Lovell, Hiram and family (Mrs. Burden's brother) 12. Nett (?)- Mrs. Burden's brother 13.
Newman, Uncle William and family 14. Underwood, Joe 15. Burden, Buchanan - child 16. Freeman, Susie (later Mrs. Susie Drais
of San Francisco) - child 17. Greenhalge, Mr. - head man of another train 18. Hather, Johnnie - child 19. Hurley, Torrance
- child
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American bison.
Buffalo meat
Frontier and pioneer life – California
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Pioneer children
Pioneers--California
Platte River (Iowa and Mo.)
Women pioneers