Category Archives: Uncategorized

Traveling through the Bear River Valley: Saturday, 7th. This morning we were obliged to make an inland circuit from the river, the bluffs approaching so near the river as to rend it impossible to continue along its banks. We, however, … Continue reading →

John Bidwell was born on August 5th, 1819 in Chautauqua County, New York, near the shores of Lake Erie. Today is his 197th birthday. As he noted in his diary in 1898: BIRTHDAY (79th) – Florence had an extra good … Continue reading →

From John Bidwell’s Journal: Wednesday, 4th. Did not travel. Well, that’s succinct. They had just struggled over a high divide to get from the Green River to the Bear River. They had come to a valley with water and grass … Continue reading →

Wedding bells on the Oregon Trail! Friday, 30th. Traveled about 5 miles and encamped. Guess what took place; another family was created! Widow Gray, who was sister to Mrs. Kelsey, was married to a man who joined our Company at … Continue reading →

Monday, 26th. Left Green river – moved off in a W. direction – distance 12 miles — encamped on a branch of Green river called Ham’s fork. Land high, dry, and barren, except upon the streams, which afford grass in … Continue reading →

John Bidwell and friends did some trading when they met with Fraeb’s company of hunters and trappers at the Green River rendezvous. In his journal Bidwell records some of the prices for goods: I will not omit to state the … Continue reading →

Saturday, 24th. Remained at this encampment and continued our traffic with the hunters. Chiles sold his oxen, 2 yoke, and wagon, another also was left. The hunters, or fur trappers, bought all the alcohol brought by Bartleson and others, as … Continue reading →

Thursday, 22nd. Descended Big Sandy about 12 miles and stopped where we found plenty of grass — this was very acceptable as our teams were already much jaded for the want of grass. Gray returned this evening having found Trapp’s … Continue reading →

Friday 16th. Traveled about 10 miles and encamped opposite the Wind River mountains where we were in full view of many lofty peaks glittering with eternal snow and frost under the blaze of a July sun. Sunday, 18th. Left Sweet … Continue reading →

John Gray and W.G. Romaine had set out on July 6th to see if there were any fur-trappers camped at Green River, where the trappers usually had their rendezvous at this time of year. They didn’t find anyone, so the … Continue reading →