Transcript

"Arriving in New York in 1863 we took the train west and then went by steamboat to Florence, Neb. where we outfitted for trip across the plains. The Civil war was on and we thought it was going to last many years.

"Besides my mother and myself there were the following brothers and sisters in the party; James, George William, John, Henry B., Joseph B., Margaret M. and my neice Lydie Green. Mother had $500 in gold which she secreted in the wagon.

"Crossing the plains the oxen were nearly stampeded a time or two by Indians and once an Indian insisted on trading two ponies for one of women in our party and we had to hide her in the wagons.