The Diary of Philemon D. Morriss emigrant of 1852 About Philemon Morriss Philemon Delacy Morriss was born December 5, 1807, in Christian County, Kentucky. He married his first wife, Nancy, on January 31, 1827, in Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1831, they moved to New Salem in Menard County, Illinois, where Philemon opened a tannery and befriended a promising lad by the name of Abraham Lincoln. Family lore has it that Philemon and Abe split fence rails together in Illinois, and it is known that Lincoln lived with the Morriss family for a time. Philemon and Nancy had five children together before her death. Minerva Pierce became Philemon's second wife on April 16, 1845. Records indicate that Philemon served in the Mexican War in 1846, mustering out in New Orleans on May 26, 1847, after eleven months as a private in Company F of the Fourth Illinois Regiment. In 1849, the Morriss family moved to Polk County, Iowa, and in 1852 they emigrated to the Oregon Territory. They settled in the Santiam River valley, which was opened to settlers by treaty with the Santiam tribe on May 7, 1851. The Diary of Philemon Delacy Morriss [recorded on the inside of the front cover:] The hardest rain that has fel sinc I have been to Ioway was on Wensday the 22 day of May 1851. And the hiest waters that ever was known. On thursday the warter just lack 2 inches of comen to the mile stones. And the town covered with warter from 3 to 4 feet. - P. Morriss And it has ben rainning of and on till know [now] the last rais [raise in the water level]. And the cittisens has left on the account of the town is over flowd 2 1/2 feet deep. This the 7 day of June 1851. And not near all of the neighbours is done planting corn yet. [recorded on the front flyleaf:] Febuary the 25 1850 P. Morriss -- Dr. To Samuel Hay Worthes daughter by 6 yrds. of full cloth at one dollar twelve cents per yard and I am to make one big wheel, 2 chares and repare one little wheel for the cloth. December the 24, 1850 Bought of William Peck niniteen roes of corn -- 12.00 Febuary the 4, 1851, Philemon Morriss paid the last of Peck December 1850 -- $5.00 December the 27, 1850 Receivd of William Peck fifty bushils of corn and I am to pay it in shopwork -- $12.50 William Peck and P. Morriss settled there old account to the year 1850. And P. Morriss diew [due] to W. Peck one dollar and 25 cts. and P. Morriss is to gave James Laverty account credet to one dollar and 25 cts. DIARY OF PHILEMON MORRISS - 1852 - Sold out my land in Ioway on Monday, the 19th of March 1852 and know [now] for Orrigon. The first thing for good teams. Two good waggons and 6 yoak of oxen. All well and in good sperrets. The first bought nearly all my Teams and waggons and fit out in one week and fixt up evrything by the 21st day of April 1852 and started at 10 o'clock on Wednesday. And bid old neighbours and acquaintes - adiew. So we maid hour [our] way for Counsel Bluffs on the Mosourie River a disstance of 180 miles. We had good luck, some bad roads and one or 2 rainy days. Some corn from 25 cts. to 1.50 cts. [$1.50] per bushel. Got to Cainsville on Thursday the 29th of the pressent month [April]. We are campt 3 milds of Cainsville. Left the encampment at Cainville Thursday the 6 day of May to cross at the ferry and crost Sunday the 9 day of May the year 52. And left the ferry the same evening. And went one 1/2 milds. Bad grasen [grazing] for cattle. Then went 5 or 6 milds on Monday the 10. And lay all nite in the purrarie [prairie] and found good grass for hour stock, all in good sperrets but Hays and Disney they are not well. Stopt at 3 o'clock. Some rany this evening. May the 12 -- 1852 Wednesday the 12 day as wee leave the Mosourie River, wee travel on till wee get to the Loop fork, a disstant of 25 milds. we travel over a hy dry roling country. 2 or 3 good plaises [places] for wood and warter. Then wee get out of the OHEMAW inden country after wee cros the Elk fork. Then wee got in amoung the Pawnee indiens for 75 milds. It is now 3 o'clock and rainning and about 100 waggons to cross. All well and in good hart except Mr. Hays and he is so as to go about. This stream is about the sise of the desmoin [Des Moines River]. Thursday the 13 all up early, brecfast eat, teams yoaked up and rold on 3 milds to Mud Creek, and made a bridg out of willows. There is about 100 teams hear at pressent, wee doo cross about 10 o'clock, wee did travel on till 12 o'clock then ped. [penned] this. May the 14 1852 A fine day the meaddows is green and a fine gale of wind from the south. And about 50 teams together, ox teams and good roads and level. At 4 o'clock struck camp and pitcht tents and good level roads. Came in site of the Plat River about 2 o'clock and wee still keep up its beautiful valles. So ends this afterknoon with a good gale of wind. Some timber on the flat but mostly cottonwood. It looks verry much like rain this afternoon. Friday the 14, early up this morning, good grass, 10 inches hy the grass is pretty good so fare and has been since wee struck the Plat River, good on till noon, wee eat dinner and let hour cattle grase. And quite a number of teams together. The Plat river looks fine, runs rappid and verry muddy. Some fine groves of timber such as cottonwood and willow and is from 3 to 400 yards wide. Wee stop one hour, know [now] for a good afterknoons travel, wee did travel untill one hour by sun and thren crost Shel Creek and there was quite a number of Indiens. They demanded pay for crossin the creek but they got but little pay for it, I assure you. We went on one mild, then stayd all knight where we had lotts of grass. And did feast on wild onions, Amen for that. 49 milds from Loop fork. Saturday the 15 -- All up early a fixing for a start. A cooll nite and a heavy diew. Some rain. And 2 bridges to make out of grass. Took dinner at 12 o'clock on the edg of the river bank. Staid one hour. And, off, then rold on till nite. Struck tents, raind like the devel and the wind blew and such peals of thunder. One clap of thunder after another nearly all knight. Sunday the 16 morning. Went 2 milds and came to the ferry on Loop fork, rested the ballance of the day Sunday. Lef the ferry on Loop fork on Monday the 17. Went up the river and dose intent [does intend, or do intend] to head the main stream and save $3 ferrage for each waggon. So far so good all get along fine. Tues[d]ay the 18. Today hy wind at 12 o clock, scant food for the oxen. The grass short and thin and it is owing to late burns, moved on till nite and all is well. Wednesday the 19 day of May, up early this morning and crost the Loop fork 3 milds above Ceder River, this is a small stream one prong of the Loop fork. Then lay by all day for the weomen to wash and sun our flower [flour] and [dried, perserved] fruit and clothing [which got wet during the river crossing]. This rout is just found out by the emmegrants. Thursday morning the 20, up early started at 8 o'clock traveled till 4 o'clock, struck up camp, cool frosty nites as usel [usual]. This beets all the plasses to sleep I ever seen. Wee are know in the Sue Nateon [Sioux Nation] and in a buffalow country. Friday the 21st day of May 1852, This is a weet [wet] drisly morning a good veal stake for breacfast. Will Hoget cild [killed] a veal last knight. So gose the day till knight, and a wet day is has been and hard on the teams. Know wee come in sight of Plat river againe. And it still ceeps rainning wet. So ends the day. All weet to nite. Satirday the 22 day of May. Travelld about 18 milds to day. And lay on the banks of the Plat river it is about 4 milds west of wood creek. It has cleard off fine this evening. All in good sperrets, no buffalow sen yet but plenty of snakes. Sunday the 23, 1852, a beautiful day and travelled fine, and the first Antelop that I have sen on the trip was 15 milds about the foot of Long isleand. So I seen lotts of Buffalow sinc [since yesterday, presumably]. Monday the 24, 1852. Travelld as usel but verry warm. Tuesday the 25 some clowdy and looks some rainny but clear about noon. In the evening clowdy and gentle brez of wind. Wednesday the 26. Warm in the fore part of the day and cool in the after part and travelld fine today and campt early. This day wee did pass Ramsey. So ends the day. May 27 Thursday a fine 1852 day and good roads. Friday 28 Pleasant and warm. Very warm in deed. some rain tonite. Saturday the 29 more plesant and a fine breeze and first rate day for travling. Verry healthy indeed. No sickness in hour company except Overman's child. And wee have only past 4 fresh graves yet that has been berried this season. The weather is fine but warm. Sunday the 30, travelld 8 milds, Stopt 6 hours a fine time for weomen and men a visiten, cooken and eaten and dreadful warm. Know wee start on and travel till ten oclock to nite. This day has been sandy it dose worst our teams. Verry warm indeed. We hav knot seen any Indiens for the last two or 3 weeks. Ivens Kild a buffelow last nite and a antelope or a mounten sheep. So wee feast fine to day. Monday the 31 day of May 1852. A fine day to travel. Tuesday June the 1, 1852 The weather is wonderful warm and dry times as usel. The last shower wee had last Friday nite. Overman's child is verry sick. Also Will Hoyet and they both stayd behind today to see the doctor. Stopt today at noon 3 hours. Wee drove till 10 oclock last knight. Wensday The 2 day of June drove till knoon. Stopt and eat dinner and grazed 2 hours. The word is, drive up. All in a barrel whip up and away wee go. Very warm, some rain to nite and a prety hard wind, some thunder. O, God how bad the Muscatoes [mosquitos] did bite. No respects of persons. They wood lite on a fellow and commence gowging and boreing with there tornel [tunnel?] snout. Thursday 3, times as usel, but cool and good roads as usel and good grazeing. Friday the 4 of June. good roads only rather sandy and verry hard a good south wind, dry indeed. Wee are in sight of the chimney rock. Those ancient towers and hills. Dose look beautiful. They do look as tho some nation of people had vuiseted [visited, in this sense meaning "caused to happen" or "built"] them some 2 or 3 hundred years ago. Satirday the 5, verry warm and lay by all day and it raind after nite. Sunday the 6. The roads good and a cool and plessant day for traveling. And near the Chimney Rock. This is a beautiful high tower and a great sight for the travler the see. Monday the 7th fine today. Tuesday The same Wensday " " [ditto] Thursday the 10, Past fort Larrima [Laramie] about 2 oclock in the afterknoon. Mrs. Stumbo is very sick. Friday the 11. Travelled over some mountanious ground and rough roads. About 25 milds above the fort. Tollerable warter and grass, only wood plenty. Satirday the 12, a fine day. Wee set some wagon tire and berred [buried] Mrs. Stumbo. And travelled on and some fine spring warter and hy hills and broken grounnd. Sunday the 13, fair and good travling. Monday the 14, good roads, rather broken but cool and dusty. Tuesday the 15, clear and high hills. Clear and warm fine roads, and did travel well. N. Ivens is sick today. Wensday the 16, beautiful for travling but sandy roads. We traveled about 15 milds today. But poor grass. Thursday the 17 of June. Stopt to noon at the middle ferry good grass and warter. It is 11 oclock and 11 milds to the upper ferry on Plat river. And verry bad sand roads and broken ground. FRIDAY THE 18 of June, 1852. A mountainous road. The dust bad, some sand and ten milds above the upper ferry. We took the left hand road and dos think it the nearest. Wee stopt hear one half day. Warter and timber and tollerable grass. Satirday the 19, wee left Plat river and went to the willow springs. A disstant of 14 milds. Noond and went 8 milds and campt. Wood and grass scears [scarce] but plenty of warter in the branch. There is plenty of greas wood hear. This is a small kind of shubrrey [shrubbery]. Sunday The 20, up early all hands to buisness. Oxen look quite gant [gaunt] this morning. All in prety good health. Wee start at 8 oclock. Several tires loos on hour waggons. Broken ground to travel over today. So wee travelled on to the great independant rock. A disstant of 12 milds. Got there about 12 o'clock. This rock, its a Natural curosity, it is about 200 and 50 feet high and covers between 5 and 10 acers of ground. It is admired by the many thousands ho [who] passes it for its beauty. And there is thousands of names ingraved on the stone that will stand there for ages to come. And on the south side of the river of sweet warter there is some verry high hills and ther appears to bee great volcanos of fire, the smoke gushes out in many places. The smoke once and a while looks black just tho it came off of stone coal and at other times it looks natural. Wee crost the river one mild above this rock. It is good crossing and is 3 rods wide and 3 feet deep. grass scears. Then wee went on 4 milds to the Devels gate and on the east side of the rocks wee find this another Natural curosity to see how nature has opend a wa threw this mountain for the channel of sweet warter to run threw. The gap is 20 feet wide and the clefts of rocks on each side perpendilkular and 400 feet hy. Grass scears. Hear is some pine and seder wood and plenty enough for camping purposses. This road is verry hard on oxens feet and the roads dry and dusty. O, yes I forgot to put it in this, indepennant rock stonds on a beautiful plais and all aloan. And comes within 25 feet of the bank of the river of sweet warter. This stream I can not tell what it took its name from. Monday the 21, 1852, Left what is cald the devels gate and in one mild crost a beautiful little stream, the warter clear and swift. Then wee pass up the river threw the mountains. Tuesday the 22. Set our waggon tires and traveld on till one o'clock. Then wee had the harddest hail storm that I ever seen in all my life. The oxen ran off before the storm and crost the river and gave us some trouble. The hail fell about two inches deep and it lay in great drifts for some hours. Wednesday the 23, A beautiful cool day but heavy sand and lost 15 head of ded cattle. That we supposed to bee cild with the alkali [alkaline water]. This is a bad old chance when the cattle drink the ly. Thursday the 24 June 1852, The third day on sweet warter. A cool and a fine day to travel and came to the third ford. And knoond and traveld on and had a fine rain. Wee traveled 14 milds to day and lieve sweet warter and take the bluffs for a while. Friday the 25. Know we leav sweet warter river and assend the Hy bluffs, where we are in playing [plain] view of the snow, on hour wright. Wee traveld till knoon 10 milds to strawberry Creek, warter and some grass. The road is mostly good. This evening wee travel to one of the branches of sweet warter. A disstant of 10 milds and campt, warter is plenty and not much grass. Wee hav travelld over some snow today and eat of it. I have seen it 4 feet deep today. 20 milds today. June 26 Satirday Morning. Left the river sweet warter for the last time this morning, snow plenty. My wife stood with a beautiful bunch of flowers that she geathered this morning in one hand and a big snow ball in the other. Wee had a fine time a snow balling each other. Know 10 milds to the summet on south pass where it is abov the sea. Then 2 milds to Prosific [Pacific] Creek and campt 2 milds down the creek. Sunday the 27, Left Prosific creek this morning came to dry creek 9 milds. Water scears and bad, no grass. One mild and knoond without grass or warter or wood. Came on to the junction of the road where it devids. One gows to Salt Lake and the other to Callifornia. 6 milds wee take Left hand road. Hear is the plais that Hays left us. Hays left today. And go on to Little Sandy 7 1/2 milds and campt. The day is fine and the roads is good. Today 22 1/2 milds. Monday the 28. came to big Sandy and campt. 17 milds. Tuesday the 29 Came to big Sandy and agane and campt. some grass and plenty of warter. 15 milds. Wensday the 30, came to Green River and crost. Travelled 15 milds. Thursday the 1 day of July, came on to little creek 8 milds, campt for knoon. Then went on 7 milds to crooked creek. First rate grass one mild and a half up the creek and plenty of warter and campt. Plenty of sage for wood. Friday the 2 day of July 1852, all up early and to work this morning took a early start. Travled on till knoon, fine roads today till wee got in 6 milds of the other road, or Sublets cut of [the Sublette Cutoff]. Then wee had some high hills and rough roads. Wee travled today 20 milds. And know wee lay by the popler Ridg [Poplar Ridge]. Snow for several days in sight. Satirday the 3 day of July. This morning it is verry cold it requires mittens, overcoats, and comforts on and then cannot be comfortable. Wee ar know wright under the snow mountens. And at the poppler Ridg. good grass and warter, then wee travled on to hams creek. This is a beautiful stream about 2 rods wide. Plenty of warter and tollerable grass and hy mountens to climb. Hear we knoond. And then we travled on till knight and campt on Marsh Spring creek. Before wee got there had hy mountains to assend and bad mountains to desend. This is a beautiful spring and the best kind of spring warter. A Handsom plase to camp and tollerable grass. We have plenty of snow all around us today. Wee travled today 20 m. Sunday the 4 day of July. This is a beautiful fine morning. Wee know travel on to Bane River creek valley a disstant of 9 milds. And campt at 12 o'clock and staid the ballance of the day to wrest hour selves and teams. In the evening the clouds rose up in the west. The wind blew, the rain fell, and just at Knight the snow came down in mity torrents on the hy hy mountains above us and next morning a heavy frost and evry thing froze hard. The children crying with the cold. And such a devel of a time as it was I never seen for the time a [of] year before, we traveld today 9 milds. Monday the 5 of July, a fine prety day today. Know wee are on Bane River valley and traveld 22 milds today. Tuesday the 6 of July, up early, all hands buisey and traveld 23 milds. And is in 23 milds of the soda springs. The snow is in sight of us all the time. The mountains is verry hy and good warter. Wensday the 7 of July, a clowdy morning and raind some last knight. This will bee a fine day for travling. It is cool enough for the last of November in the states. It is necessary to ware overcoats, comforts and mittens. Those that emigrates to Orrigon should bee prepard with good warm clothing. Indeed it cant bee any other ways but cool for the country is tremendous hy and mountanious and the snow always on them those hy bluffs. Is generly covered with small ceder or pine and resembles the black hill this side of fort Larrima. Thursday the 8 day of July. This is a remarkable cool morning, frost a plenty. This day wee get to the great soda springs. Wee pass them at eleven oclock. So wee travel on till the middle of the afterknoon. Then camp on one mild BeanT [beneath, downstream from] the pool of warter. This Pool dose tas [does taste] verry strong of sulpher. So ends the day. Know we leave Bane River for good. It emtys itself in Salt Lake 60 milds from this plais. Friday the 9 day of July, This is a fine beautiful morning. All up early and buisy to work. And travld on fine today. After leving the great sulper Bason [sulphur basin, or geyser basin] to a bridg on a small stream. A disstant of 18 milds. Wee campt hear all knight and got hour cattle and horses badly poisend on the wild parsnup [parsnip]. Satirday the 10 of July 1852, Wee startted on this morning and went about three milds and till 2 oclock on the account of hour teames. They was quite week owing to the poisen they got last knight. During this stop wee hav plenty of wood, warter and grass. First rate warter. So wee know start on for the ballance of the day. So wee traveld on to the great summet where wee could see the hyest pinecle of the Rocky Mountains. A distant of 150 milds of. After we past the summet hear we came to a beautiful spring. After we past the summet hear we came to a beautiful spring. The first warter that wee see run dirictly west. This and other springs is a small tributary streams of the Columba river. 16 milds. Sunday the 11 day of July, As wee campt in the mountains last knight know wee assend a steep bluff and come in a beautiful vally and travel down it 8 milds. Cross sevrel points of bluffs and down a beautiful stream. Wee came to a fine patch of wild red currents and hear wee feast on pies at knoon. And know take a beautiful vallee for 4 milds. Some sandy. Ten milds today. Monday the 12, Morning wee strike for fort Hall. Wee got there at knoon and went on to grand Rodney [the flood plain meadows at the confluence of the Portneuf and Snake Rivers, now drowned beneath the American Falls Reservoir; from the French "grand rondee"] 8 milds. Staid all nite, shifted hour loads and crost and went on 5 milds and campt. Keep a sharp look out for the snake and digger indiens. Tuesday the 13, 1852, good roads and broken roads. 19 milds today. Wensday the 14 of July, A warm day travelled 15 m. Thursday the 15, campt on raft river, good grass and warter. 12 M. Friday the 16, To Marsh Creek 15 milds, good grass and warter But rough roads and some broken. Saturday the 17, Came on down Marsh Creek this morning 4 1/2 milds, crost and went on the river for dinner, 5 1/2 milds, fine grass and plenty of warter. Goose Creek 4 1/2 milds Then wee joind on the River agane, 7 milds. and kept down[stream] one mild, -- so campt. Sunday the 18, This morning, know wee strike out and leave the falls of the Snake River. For the fore knoon 13 miles to Cut Rock Creek and campt for the day. Philemon Mossiss Borned December the 5, 1807. Monday the 19, we traveld on to Rock Creek and campt, prety good roads, all but 1/2 mild, the last. good warter and plenty of grass and lotts of sage for fuel. And the disstant 13 M. And set some waggon tires. Tuesday the 20, All well and as we lay on Rock Creek and marcht on 9 milds and came to the same creek and crost it. Then went on 5 miles further. Mostly good roads, some few stones in the road. We campt on Rock Creek in a cinion [canyon]. It is from one hundred yards wide to 150. good warter and grass. There is a beautiful little stream runs threw this cinion. The banks is rock and from 30 to 45 feet Hy. So wee lay by 2 thirds of the day today. Wensday the 21, Wee lay by this morning about 2 thirds of the day. All well and know a recruting [resting] for a long drive opon [upon] tomorrow or to knight. Wee drove till about 11 oclock at knight. Loosed hour teames from the waggons and guarded hour cattle. Up early, got to the river about 9 o'clock. Wartered hour teames. This is 22 m. Then went on to Snake River near Sammon creek and knoond. Then went on 4 1/2 milds to Bannock creek. This is quite a brisk little stream, one or 2 rods wide. Thursday The 22 July, 1852, Tollerable grass and Lay by till Saturday till 2 oclock. Then drove 5 milds to Sammon falls on Snake River. And lay by 3 hours. Then struck out for a long drive over the dessert. A distant of 33 milds. Wee fild hour warter pots and canns and started for the drive and drove till mid knight and stopt till morning. Then drove 5 or 6 milds to Snake River And wartered hour teames and rested them 2 hours. Yet no grass for 16 m. Know wee still travel on to day. As it is Sunday the 25 and we want to get threw this streach to knight. The roads is good and the dust is deep and verry dry. No warter, nor grass, nor will knot bee for the 33 milds. And wee travelld till 12 oclock to knight and come to the river and hourselvs and teames was nearly starved for warter and grass but there was not one spear of grass. Monday the 26 of July, Wee are know 2 miles below the old crossing on the Snake River to fort Hall. Stopt hear at knoon and lay the balance of the day. Tuesday the 27, 1852, Lay by till 4 oclock and rested hour teames. Good grass one mile after wee get to the bottom. By driveing on a isle and in the river. Know for a streach down the the river for 14 miles. This evening started and come 7 miles over a heavy sand road and hy bluffs and they run close to the edg of the warter. So wee hav to bee careful or hour waggons is in great danger of up setting. Wensday the 28 day of July, good grass and plenty of warter. This morning just before day, Mrs. Beach took sick and is know verry bad. Something like the chollery [cholera]. And she dide half after 11 oclock. Was berred about 2 oclock the same day. Then wee went on this evening one mile and stopt. Thursday the 29, wee past over some bad roads and sidlen ground on the banks of snake river for 8 milds [meaning the riverbank was so steep that the wagons were in danger of sideling, or tipping over]. Wee had to bee careful to keep hour waggons from upsetting. Then wee travled over 5 miles of heavy sand road. Then came to the river agane, grass and warter plenty. Then 5 1/2 miles down the river. Friday the 30, This morning started on the road agane 5 miles to Catherine creek. Then went down the creek three quarters of a mile, found plenty of grass and warter for knoon. Then went on to Snake river a short disstant of 7 miles and campt. Satirday the 31 day, Up early for a start, all well. We travelled 8 1/2 miles and came to Snake river agane. No grass. Then wee travled about 6 1/2 miles and struck the river the second time and campt for knight. But little grass. O yes, it raind some in the fore part of the day today. Sunday the 1 day of August 1852, know wee travel on 6 1/2 miles and came to a small stream. No grass of any account, but warter plenty for stock. There we come to the Burnt hills, just to your wright. Then wee travel over a hy roling country. Good roads for 9 1/2 miles and come to a creek. Good warter and down a canion about one mile and a half. There was good grass in the fore part of the season but wee was one or 2 weeks too late. Monday the 2 day of August, know wee doo hav to assend a tremendious hy Burnt hills. Hear wee hav to doubble teames. It is 16 miles to the snake river. The first part of the road is rough and broken. About half way wee find some bunch grass to the wright. Bad camping. This part of the road is among the Burnt hills and such clowds of dust and gust of wind I never see before. It is the most disagreable day that I ever seen in my life. Tuesday the 3, Hays dide the 3 day of August 1852. 7 miles after leaving the river wee came to a dry branch where wee crost it. But a short disstant abov the ford. Plenty of warter in the willows, good spring warter but poore grass. There has been plenty of grass in the fore part of the season. Wee get hear about 10 oclock and stayd the ballance of the day. Edward Beach was verry sick today with the dieria. Wensday the 4, my family all well. And it is clowdy. Looks like it wood rain. A good deal of sickness on the road wee feel verry thankful. And thank God for his blessing. It did rain today. Wee know travel on to hot springs 4 1/2 miles. Then down the river for 4 1/2 miles, Then the road leavs the river for 2 miles and comes on it agane. Then wee travel in vicinity of it for 5 miles and campt. The last 5 miles is over hy rolen ground and some sandy. Bunch grass of to hour left 1/4 of a mile. Grass scears on the river. Thursday the 5 of August 1852, on Snake river and wee are on a stretch of 32 milds and has travled a bout 10 miles today over a good deal of sandy road. Tollerable fore grass and fuel such as willows and wild sage and some dusty. I hope wee will soon get out of the cursed sage. Friday the 6 day, started early this morning and came to Oywhee river today. Wee drove today 18. Grass rather scears, warter plenty. Philemon Delacy is verry sick today. Saturday the 7 of August. Know for along days drive. But wee hav to lay by today, Overmans wife is sick. Wee cannot travel any today. It is quite warm and wee are on oyhe river a resting good. Sunday the 8 day of August. This morning wee struck out for Malhear river. 15 miles over a good road, some dusty. A long and a graguel [gradual] assend and then a long desend. Good grass 3/4 of a mile above the road and warter. Willows for fuel. It is warm today. This river come from a lake from the foot of the blew mountains some 40 miles abov. Monday the 9, 1852, wee travel on to the sulpher springs 12 m. And warter hour oxen. No plase to camp. Then 6 miles to dry creek. Good grass but no warter. Then to Barch Creek 4 miles, good warter, grass scears, and campt. Tuesday the 10 August 1852, Then went on over rather rough roads. Wee get sight of snake river agane. Then in 2 1/2 on my right. And in 2 miles further wee come out of the bottom near the river agane. And there it enters a canion and wee see no more of it. Then 3 miles to Burnt river. Wee do assend a long hill, good roads. Then desend a long hill, good roads, and come to the river. Some grass and good warter. A tollrable plase to camp. Wee knoond hear today. Tollerable warm. Then wee went on up the river 2 miles. The first part of the road over a rocky ridg prety good camp. Warter a plenty. And willows for fuel. This is a beautiful stream and 25 feet wide. Wensday the 11 of August 1852, Wee start this morning and travling up the stream 6 1/2 miles. Crossing it 4 times and stopt for knoon. Then left the river to hour left hand and traveld over hy roling ground and rough roads for 7 miles and come to the river and good bunch grass all along the hill sides and the valles. Then 2 miles further, good roads and crost the river twice and campt. Good warter and first rate bunch grass. The wind blows verry hard this evening and we are sarrounded with verry hy mountains. Thursday the 12 day of August. This morning wee travel up Burnt River 6 miles and cross it several times. Wee hav crost it ten times in all. The further wee hav traveld up this beautiful stream, the more it dose change its appearance. Up where wee cross it last or nearly so wee doo find some prety good sised timber for the first [time] for a Leven or 12 hundred miles. Wee doo find the soil change in its appearance as well as a good many other things after wee cross and leave snake to hour left hand. Some two hundred yards wee come to a beautiful little stream and follow up it for 3 miles and cross it eight times in all. With roling ground but good roads. Then wee leave this stream and assend a verry hy mountain. Hard on your teames. Then desend a long hill and travel on 4 miles and come to a sulfer spring on a small branch one [and] 1/2 mile down the stream. Good plais to knoon. Then wee travel one mile down the little stream and come to the forks of the road. If you take the left hand, it leads to Burnt river which is one mile and a desirable plais to camp. Good grass. The right hand after leaving the forks of road you assend a hy hill and then desend down the hill and come to a beautiful little branch. Gow down 1 mile. Good plais to camp. Then you come to the Burnt river bottoms agane. Good camps all along fo[r] about 4 miles. Hear is some prety good sised timber on this stream. Hear wee come to a small branch that puts in burnt river. Stopt for the knight. The wild sage is know verry scears but some little greasweed. The dust has not been so bad today. Wee are well and in good sperrets. Hear wee doo leave Burnt river for good and has traveld up this stream for 37 milds. Friday the 13, 1852. Wee start on this morning traveld 6 miles over a good road, some broken. And knot verry much grass but good warter and willows for fuel. Got hear a 11 oclock a.m. All well and in good sperrets. Campt for the ballance of the day. There is a good many groathes [groves] of small timber a growing on this creek. The blom of gilld [Balm of Gilead, or cottonwood trees] or the tree of heaven calald [called] by sum. This is a beautiful little branch handsomly surrounded with hy mountains. They doo look hy and lonesom and yet doo look gay. Satirday the 14, 1852. Traveld 18 miles today. Come into a large bottom surrounded with hy bluffs. This is a beautiful vally. And has been good grass but the emmigration has been so great this season the grass has been eat off. Warter scears. There is willows for fuel. And in this vally, after leaving the bluff, there is a good of wild sage. Where wee did stayd last knight wee oot [ought] to come on last knight 5 miles further. Sunday the 15 day of August, campt on Powder River and travled over the first slew of P.R. 5 miles. Then 5 miles to the second slew. Then 6 miles to one branch of Powder river. Then to powder river 4 miles over a fine roling country. And crost some few little streams of warter and some rocky roads. Monday the 16 day of August. Wee have fine roads to day. The first part of the road is some rough. Then down a long desent and come to a little branch of warter. And good grass. 8 miles. Stopt and knoond. Hear the bluffs come all together and the mountains is covered with timber on your left. Then yo[u] doo assend a hill. The soil doose look black and deep and looks like the purraries of Ioway. The wild sage doose knot make any shoe today [that is, the wild sage didn't show up today... nothing to do with footwear]. I think it is a boat to gave out. Wee get to the grand rounds this evening. The road is verry rough the last 2 miles. A tremendious long hill to go down. This is one of the preties [prettiest] valles that I ever seen. It is well wartered and the finest grass I ever seen. Surrounded with hy mountains and timber on the west side of the mountains. This valley is 8 miles across it. Then wee take the blew mountains. Wee lay about the middle of the valley half the day and this is Tuesday. Lizabeth is sick today [Lizabeth may have been one of Philemon's children by his first wife, Nancy]. Tuesday the 17, 1852. We lay hear half the day today as I did mention before. Wee seen a plenty of the Cayuse Indiens here. And they are quite frendly. In the evening one of the Indiens put Overmans chamber pot on his head, it made quite a laugh. Wensday the 18, 1852 day of August, This morning left the grand Round valley and did assend a verry hy mountain. It is the commencement of the blew mountains. After wee get to the summet of the mountains then wee hav good roads. It is 8 miles a cross to Grand Round river. Just before wee get to the river wee doo hav to desend a steep long hill. This is a tollerable plais to camp in the fore part of the season. P. Morriss. Wee stayd all knight here. As we took the mountains this morning the wind blew, the clowds flew and it raind. O, heavens how cold it is. The clowds was below the tops of the mountains. Overmans child was berred this morning hear. This is a good plase to camp by crossing the river and gow on the side on the mountain up the ravein. Thursday the 19 day of August 1852. All well, know it is 8 miles to the next camp. A rough road, 3 bad mountains to climb. You assend a steep hill and cross a dry creek and assend the last bad mounten and go 3 miles further then you come to a Tollerable good plais to camp. You come to a opnen [opening] and a hy hill on your right. Looking on it to your left, a opening, thick timber on your left. Down a steep hill one half mille good warter. And plenty of grass on the hillside. Friday the 20 day of August. 9 miles over a rough road, heavy timber. Rather a hille side all the way. Come to one branch of Grand Round river. Warter a plenty but no plas to camp. Hear wee knoond. It is now 12 oclock and still heavy timber, such as pine and fur timber. Then wee go on 4 miles and the 2 first miles prety rough. The ballance of the 2 miles good roads and heavy timber such as fur and pine. Good grass to your left a half mile and warter. It is know knight and has raind to day. I am afraid the rany season has set in. All well. It looks like it woods rain to knight like the verry devel. Satirday the 21 day of August. Started this morning and traveld 8 miles over a good road. Timber the most of the way. Come to the spring at the foot of the Blew mountains. Know weee are over them. And knoond. No grass hear. This is a fine valley and good land. There is larg boandes [bands] of the cyuse indiens. And the traveld 9 miles down the river and campt for the knight. But little grass. Sunday the 22 of August. Traveld 8 1/2 miles down the river and campt for the day. Bad grass. Monday the 23 day of August. After wee leave hear wee assend a long hill and doo have a good road for 17 miles. Without warter. Just before wee come to the river, wee desend a long hill and after wee get down in the bottom, a spring to hour right. Pass down the river 3 miles and pass over a bluff 2 miles then come in the bottom. Warter to your right and plenty of grass next to the bluffs. And campt for the knight. Tuesday the 24 day of August, 1852. Early this morning wee put out. Went to the agency 2 miles [the Umatilla Indian Agency, established in 1851, burned by Cayuse Indians in 1855 at the start of the Yakima War, and officially abandoned in 1856]. And then assended a tollerable sand, hy sand hill and traveld 10 miles over a sandy road and come to Alder Creek. A good plais to campt. Warter and wood a plenty. Campt for the day. Wensday the 25 day of August 1852. Lay by till 4 oclock in the afterknoon. Then wee went to the well springs 20 miles over a hy roling country. Some 2 or 3 steep hills to pull up. Rather sandy and bad dust and bad warter and verry scears and but little grass and fuel for to use. Thursday the 26 day of August. This morning all in a pickle and sleepy and in the sand as wee did travel last knight 15 miles. To willow Creek over a good road but bad dust and the road full of chuck holes. Some warter standding in pooles. Grass rather indifferent but fuel a plenty. Friday the 27. This morning wee rose with the wind and broke for the spring. Over a hy roling country for 14 miles over a good road. Come to a small valley and wee travel down a canion 6 miles. Come to a little spring, warter scears. Past by down the canion 2 1/2 miles down the canion and come to a plenty of warter and some grass and fuel. Campt and the wind and dust blew all the day and the devel to pay. Hour eyes nearly put out and could scearsly see hour teames before us for the dust. The waggon sheets puld off, the weomen and children exposed to the wind, dust, and heat. And the children a brawlen and hot. Satirday the 28 day of August 1852. We left hear this afterknoon and went to John days river 6 miles over a rough road. And crost the branch 5 or 6 times and followd down the canion all the way to the river and campt. Sunday the 29 day of August. Left John days river this morning. Did assend a verry hy mountain rough and rocky and steep. Got to the summet and the roads forked. Wee took the wright hand over a hy roling country. Good roads and good grass all the way for 25 miles over to the Columba and campt for the knight. Monday the 30. In the morning yoaked up and went 5 miles down the Columba river. Over a good road to the Deshutes river and stayd the ballance of the day. The day is verry warm. Tuesday the 31 day of August. Up early this morning and crost Deshutes river. Ferriges [ferriage] $3 a waggon. And assendded a hy hill and then went on to the summet of the mountain and had a fare view of Mt. St. Hellen and the Cascade Mountains. Went 6 miles in all. Came to a creek. Then went on 1 1/2 miles to a spring on the right hand side of the road. And hear the road forks. And knoond. Then 6 1/2 miles to a beautiful branch, good roads and grass and campt. Wensday the 1 day of Semptember. Traveld 6 miles, good roads and fine grass and campt. Thursday the 2, Went 5 miles over a good road rather broken and came to the same branch agane. Good grass and a desirable plais to camp under 2 pine trees that stands up the bottom out to themselves, 50 yards south of the creek. Knoond till 4 oclock in the afterknoon. Then drove on till dark as it is 16 miles to the next warter and but little grass. Drove 6 miles this afterknoon and campt. Friday the 3. Then drove on to old Indien town and knoond. And puld up the longest and steepest kind of a hill and drove on 3 miles and campt. Good grass and warter and fuel. Satirday the 4. Then went on 3 miles and campt. Warter and grass a plenty. Good roads except at the branch. A bad hill to gow down and pull up. Sunday the 5th day of September 1852. Lay by to recrute hour teames. The wind blows hard and looks like it wood rain shortly. And did stay hear about 2 days and it beeing in 3 miles of the [Barlow Road] Tole gate at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Then the wind lay and wee struck out across the Cascade mountains and was in the mountains 10 days. It was a bad time but got threw safe. I did move to my house on the 10 day of November 1852. And wee got threw Cascades Mountain the 15 day of September 1852, at Fill Fosters [Phillip Foster's farm]. -- P. Morriss [The guard list below was recorded on a separate page of the Morriss diary:] 1852 May the 6 1852 A Gard List for camp duty D. Beach P. Morriss J. Willhoyets G. Overman B. Hocket ... Jerome S. J. Morriss W. Howard ... Davis T. McClain -- obconded [absconded, or ran away] M. [Mark] Disney N. Saxtons -- P. M. stood in Sweetners plase July 9 at nite C. Hexton December the 10, 1852 Know for a few itums concerning the wether. The rainny season did commence the 1 of November and did rain off and on till the 27 or 8 of November. Then it raind stiddy both day and knight till the 10 day of December. Then it commenced snowing. And this day it has been snowing off and on all day and This is the 14 day of December. The snow is 7 or 8 inches deep and grass hard to come at. And much oneasiness [uneasyness], a fear hour cattle will starve. The food is scearse and not to bee had. Alberson has been gone to the citty 8 days today and this the 14 day of December 1852. - Wensday the 15. It snowd all day and that knight. The snow is know 14 inches deep. Wee cut alder and hunt grass for hour cattle. Thursday the 16 day of December, 1852. Last knight it did snow more and in the knight commenced thawing and today it snowd like the devel. Till 11 oclock. A.M. And then a kind of mist till 2 oclock P.M. Then the sun did partly shine out and the wind blew mostly from the east. I just got in from the huntting and is tired. So ends this day. P. Morriss Friday the 17 day of December 1852, this morning it was clear till 2 oclock P.M. Then it turned cool and the fog raised and the isicicles hung on the eaves of the house. To knight it is verry clowdy and a little warmer. Satirday the 18 day of December. This day the sun comes out prety warm and it thawd a little and did freze some to knight. Sunday the 19, Clowdy and cold today and I walked on ice between my house and the Hawsses. Some Little Frost did fly. O God but potatoes did freze today and last knight. Monday the 20. A little warmer, and it snowd nearly all day. And I kild 2 deer. Tuesday the 21, It snowd last knight and still keeps snowing. And my cattle looks bad and cant stand it many day longer. It keeps me oneasy. It dose look some like rain to knight. It did mist some this evening and the snow is 18 inches deep. Wensday the 22. It has been verry cold today and feezeing all day and it has been thee colddest day so fare this winter. And it is bad looking chance for hour stock. All the little runs [streams] is froze over. Thursday the 23. This morning it modderated a little and about ten oclock it commenced snowing and snowd till late this evenin. And then it stopt and partley cleared off and it is quite cool this evening. The snow is about 18 inches deep. And it did freeze prety hard last knight. Friday the 24 day of December. Verry cold this morning and about ten oclock commenced snowing and it snowd nearly all day. The wind still continues in the north. Verry cold last knight. Satirday the 25 day, cold and snowd most all day and the wind dose shift 2 or 3 times in the corse of the day and cold agane last knight. Sunday the 26 day, This morning the moon did brite a few minuets after 3 oclock and was in the eclips at the same time. It has snowd some today and the wind is in the south. And the weather has modderated a little. O heavens I doo hope the snow is a going to go off in a few days. Monday 27 day of December 1852. Know the weather has modderated and the wind has changed round to the south. And it has raind all day. The snow is going off verry fast. P. Mossiss Tuesday the 28. This morning it is some cooler and dont look like it wood thaw much today. About 10 oclock A.M. it did turn some warmmer and commenced rainning. And raind a prety good lick ballance of the day. The snow is a going verry fast. The wind continues in the south. A good prosspect to hour stock if this cold rain dose knot chill them to death. Wensday the 29. It raind a while this morning then the fog raised and it was a perfect calm all day. And warm, the snow is a going off fast. And it is so that cattle can begin to live pretty well. And I feel encouraged about getting my cattle threw the winter where the snow is off the grass, looks fine. Thursday the 30 day of December. It has raind for 3 knights past, and continues rainning today prety hard. The snow is mostly gone off of the hill sides, that is on the south side more so than on the santeam [Santiam River] bottom. The cattle can live first rate know. As the grass is green and verry plenty and the warter hy. Friday the 31 day of December 1852. Know the snow is gawn. It has raind nearly all day and the wind blew hard from the south. Satirday the 1 day of January 1853. This has been a verry wet rainny day till 2 oclock P.M. Then a dark and clowdy evening. The wind did shift about considderable threw the corse of the day. P. Morriss was borned December the 5, 1807. Sunday the 2 day of January 1853. This has been a windy and a rany day. Quite showery off and on all day. The wind has shifted first from the south to the North and then to the east. Monday the 3 day of January. This day has been a verry prety day. But clowdy and the sun did shine about 5 minuets just at knight. It has raind evry knight for or since the 27 of December. And some of the harddest showers that I ever seen or heard. Tuesday the 4 day of January 1853. Clowdy and once and awhile a heavy mist of rain. And a heavy damp heir [air]. The wind is the southeast. It is nearly bed time know and is poreing down rain, O heavens. Just keep your shirt on boys till wee see what tomorrow will bring forth. Wensday the 5. This has been a clowdy and a rany day and disagreable. And it thundred some in the evening. The wind is in the southeast. The rains is some cold and it is hard on pore cattle, but good grass. Thursday the 6. Clear a little while this morning then the wind rose in the south and blew hard. And then it raind off and on the ballance of the day. It still rains evry knight. Friday the 7. This is a wet drisly day. Satiurday the 8. A verry clear and a plessant day. And Smith and his 2 boys and the 2 Mulkeys and myself started up the Santiam a huntting. Got to the hunting ground just at knight. Cild 4 deer that evening and campt. Sunday the 9, Eat hour breacfast, put out in the mountains and hunted nearly all day. Kild 4 deer all the black tails, and struck up camp. This is a beautiful fine day. Fine sport for the Orrigon hunters. So ends this day in telling what sport we had threw the day. Monday the 10 day of January 1853. It raind all knight. All up early this morning, know for holm [now for home]. So wee did pack hour selves well and put out in the rain. O, God how it raind all day. Got holm just at knight, half tired to death and wet and hungry. So ends the day. Tuesday the 11. This has been quite a plessant day. Some clowdy and just at Knight it did clowd up. The wind blew from the south. And about 8 oclock affter knight it commenced rainning. It is bed time so let us go to bed. P. Moirriss. O, yes as the moon did change last Sunday it appears like the weather has changed for the better. Wensday the 12 day of January 1853. The wether has been mixt up today. In the forepart of the day it raind, then the sun did shine out quite warm. Then a shower, then the sun wood shine agane. Then hail, then the sun wood shine agane. Then hail, then the sun wood shine agane. So the sun set clear and it is clear to knight. And the wind some cool and it is from the east. Thursday the 13, It is a plessant day today. The sun wood shine out once and awhile then it wood bee clowdy. In the evening it was quite clowdy and it did look like rain. Friday the 14, Same, and it is know about 8 oclock this evening and it is a rainning. So ends this day. P. Morriss was bornd in the year of hour Lord 1807. Satirday the 15 day of January 1853, This morning it snowd hard for a while. Then the sun shown out awhile, then rain awhile. And in the evening it cleard off and the sun come out quite warm. Sunday the 16, This has been quite a plessant day, rather cool and some clowdy in the evening. Then it clowded up and a kind of mist of rain and fog till knight. I hav got a bad rising on my sholder. It is bad and continues so. Monday the 17, The morning the sun rose clear. Shind awhile. Tuesday the 18, a dull and clowdy day and some cold. Last knight I did not rest much with my sholder. Also today. Wensday the 19, 1853. This has been quite a plessant day. Thursday 20 Friday 21, Satirday the 22. Those days has been beautiful sun shiney warm weather. But frosty knights. And the ground wood freeze some. My sholder is better this morning. Wee finish sowing and harrowing in wheat today. Sunday the 23 and Monday the 24, Tuesday 25, It still keeps beautiful weather. Today is some clowdy. my sholder is a little easen. I am not on the mend yet, but feel quite week and feeble. Hardley able to write. So the weather contin fine during the month. February the 1, 1853. The weather still remains fine. Know and it will freeze and frosty knights. 13th It is some clowdy today. The weather has been for sometime beautiful just like the 10 of May in the States untill now. 27th Know this day has been quite riany and some cool and looks verry squally. Rose had a calf the knight before last. This is March the 14. And it has been beautiful weather till know and from evry appearance it does look like it has set in for a wet spel of weather. As it is a rainnin at this time. March the 14, As it looks Clowdy and dismel. The grows [grouse] begins to grunt. Survigney has gown to Salem for flower. March the 23. This has been quite a squally day. Such as rain and snow. All day but knot cold. The weather has been verry mild and pleasant and the grass a growing fine. I raised the basemen[t] story of my shop today. Philemon Morriss was bornd the year 1807. April the 3, 1853. This has been a verry wet drisley rainny time for a few days past. But it is quite warm today and the grass looks fine. And a few flying clowds. A minute of the winter of 1853 It was quite warm all fall and pleasant. The rany season set in about the first of October. And gave us a shower off an on till the first of December. Then it did rain prety hard for a few days. Then moderat till the 23 & 24. Then it did snow hard in the morning so as to cover the ground. But in 2 hours it was all gone. But wee could see snow on the mountains all around us. A Christmast day it is a clowdy day. The straw berres [strawberries] is in bloom, grass good, and cattle fat. The 25 and 26 of December has been quite a rany day and on till Thursday knight. Friday is fare and the sun dose shine out warm. This is know the 30. For 2 or 3 days the last of December is was quite foggy, more so then common, but warm. The 13 of January the snow 4 inches deep. The deepest so fare. This is Sunday the 15. The snow is on yet and looks like it wood snow more before knight. The weather clowdy and cold and the wind in the east. Monday the 16 has been verry cold all day. The sun shines pale and blew. Clowds over head. Last Knight was the colddest that has been this winter. The nite of the 16 has not been so cold but snowd most all nite. So this is Tuesday the 17 of January 1854 and wee hav 10 inches of snow this morning. Evry thing looks gloomy but not much cold. The sun shines with some clowds. It will not thaw any today. Wensday 18 clowdy in the morning till 10 oclock. Then the sun shines and thawd in the evening. It is the coldest nite since I have been to Orregon. The mill pond froze over hard for 10 feet across. Thursday the 19 of January, still cold but clear all day. The wind in the northeast. Friday the 20, clear and a little moderate. Satirday the 21, This morning the sun rose in a clowd and soon the snow comes down in mity torrents and covers the ground and hear it dose lie. A little warmer. P. Morriss. The straw gave out this morning. Sunday the 22. Still cold and to nite the next coldest nite since I have been hear. Monday the 23, Still cold as the devel and sleet. [recorded on the flyleaf of the diary:] A certen cure for a sur pain in the head. Shave a plais on top of your head. And take and cut around peas [a round piece] of thin leather as big as a dollar [coin]. Spread some beefs gall on the leather and stick it on your head and it will affect a cure. Let it stic till it comes off. Perhaps it will bee 2 or 3 weeks. A receipt for to make candles out of lard. Take 8 lbs of lard and melt it. Blood warm one ounce of akuque fortes [aqua fortis, or nitric acid], pore in, heat it till the foam does rise. Skim it and mold your candles. And they will bee equal to the spirm [sperm whale oil] candles.