#virtualoregontrail April 16, 1845 "Got under way..."

The Riggs' driver, James Field, kept a diary along the way to Oregon. He started it the day they left for St. Joseph. These are his first entries.

Weston, Platte Co., Mo., April 16, ’45. 

-Got under way this day at 12 m. Took the road to St. Joseph; went about 9 miles, and camped. 

17th. – This stay started in the morning; went 22 miles more, and camped about 6 miles below St. Joseph, which is now in sight, situated at the foot of the Missouri bluffs, at the far side of a prairie lying between us and it. 

18th. – Struck off in a different direction to the lower ferry, six miles from us, where we crossed the Missouri about 2 miles from the Emigrant camp, which we joined this evening. There we remained until the 29th, in the afternoon, when, in company with about 80 wagons, we rolled out about 3 miles and formed an encampment in the prairie, for the purpose of herding the cattle as they were collected in from the Missouri bottom, where they were badly scattered, and some never recovered. 

From “The Diary of James Field” Willamette Farmer (Portland, OR, Fridays: April 18 – August 1, 1879). 

18 Apr 1879 (April 16, 1845-May 27) 

https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042522/1879-04-18/ed-1/seq-3/ 

Weston, Missouri lies in Platte County, about 40 miles south of St. Joseph. Both cities are situated along the Missouri River. (Side note: I grew up in North Kansas City and lived only 15 miles or so from Weston. I wish I had known about this history then!)

Each week, I'll post the entries from this diary. I'll add supplemental information from other sources when it adds to the story. We're off! I hope you enjoy following along in this virtual journey with my great-great grandfather's family on the Oregon Trail!