I enjoy reading true stories, especially diaries. I purchased the book, Lillian Schlissel's Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey. Inside are wonderful excerpts from pioneer women's diaries. Their words bring their overland journeys across America to life.
Amelia Stewart knight was born in 1817 in Boston, Massachusetts. She married Dr. Joel Knight (b.1808) an English immigrant, in September,1834. They moved to Iowa after their first child was born. Dr. Knight hated the climate in Iowa. He took his family (now seven children) to Oregon Territory, where the climate was milder. They left Iowa April 18,1853 and arrived near Milwaukie, Oregon Territory, on September 17,1853. Six months on the trail. Can you imagine primitive camping with seven children for six months?
Amelia's diary shared a mother's view of their trip. Her diary focused on her children, the weather, and the rough terrain. She had an entry at least once a week. The Wrights had three covered wagons for their supplies and their seven children. Dr. Knight hired men to tend the wagons and their livestock. She had the daunting task of feeding everyone on their journey.
Primitive camping in all kinds of weather
Can you imagine walking in the rain, sleeping in a tent on muddy ground? (Tents didn't have flooring at this time.) Sounds miserable, especially with children. Walking over a variety of terrains, usually taking the miles on foot. One day it's freezing cold in the higher altitudes; within a week the dry desert heat is unbearable. Amelia had to feed her family, their hired help and her children, no matter the weather.
Traveling with seven children
She carried her youngest child when the ground was rough. Add to this: sickness. She doesn't dwell on her children's sicknesses, only mentioning which child had the mumps, scarlet fever, or was covered in poison ivy. And she noted the youngest had fallen out of the wagon twice because he was so active. All the other children had daily responsibilities on the journey. She related one fear-induced moment. When they lost their daughter, Lucy. She was watching wagons cross the river while waiting the Knight's turn. These crossings could take days depending on the size of the wagon train. Amelia assumed Lucy was in the wagon with her sister as normal, and the sister thought she was with her mother getting her hair combed. After they crossed the river, they discovered her missing. Lucy had been found by another family. They'd made sure she crossed the river and was reunited with her parents.
Indians-
not what she expected
The seven Knight children
Her view of Indians changed as she traveled. Most information regarding the Indian tribes along the trail were based on half-truths and racism. Amelia found the tribes were very helpful. They assisted with their livestock while the wagons forded rivers. Some would swim and guide the horses and livestock for a fee or goods. She writes of a time the wagon train traded with the Indians. She was very impressed with their beadwork. Indians often requested gifts of their supplies or cash in order to pass through their land safely. Most of their requests were reasonable.
Whites took advantage of the travelers
While the cost the white men charged to ferry them over rivers reached three dollars a wagon near the end of the trip. (Equal to $126.28 in 2026) Remember they had three wagons. These unexpected costs forced Dr. Knight to sell a prized horse in order to have the funds needed to cover the remaining river crossings. The average cost of a horse was one hundred dollars—at least those purchased to pull a wagon. His horse must have sold for far more to secure the rest of their passage to Oregan Territory.
Interesting Trivia
An interesting fact I'd never read before was what they fed their cattle when there was no grazing or hay available. A mash consisting mostly of flour. She was very worried about their oxen and did what she could to help care for them.
This strong woman wept when one of their oxen died and had to be left by the side of the road with many other. The carnage along the more desolate areas also brought tears. But she remained steadfast and determined.
Cost of living in 1853
To give some context for the diary entry below, let me share a few facts regarding the cost of living in 1853. The average income was between $300 and $500 a year. ($8,418.75-21,046.88 in 2026). The cost of their trip included wagons, supplies, oxen and or mules and horses. A family of four would need $1000 to supply their wagon for the six-month journey. (This doesn't include any additional fees.) The Knights had three wagons pulled by at least two oxen, a family of nine plus an undisclosed number to men to drive the additional wagons and livestock. Oxen valued $25 each ($1,052.34) while mules or horses at around $100 each ($4,229.38). Dr. Joel Knight, we can assume, probably made a bit more money than the average traveler. But still, things got tight. All numbers in bold were added by me to compare to 2026.
She shared the cost of items at a trading post near the end of their journey. (Tuesday, September 13th… Drove over some muddy miry ground, and through mud holes and just halted at the first farm to noon and rest awhile and buy feed for the stock, Pay 1.50 per hundred for hay.($61.18) Price of fresh beef 16 to 18 cts a pound,(6.79-7.58) butter ditto one dollar, eggs, one dollar a dozen,($42.09) onion 4 or 5 dollars per bushel,($149-210.47) all too dear for poor folks, so we have treated ourselves to some small turnips at the rate of 25 cents per dozen,) ($10.53)
Constant wagon upkeep
Amelia did what needed to be done and accepted every difficulty as part of the journey. Often after rains they had to empty their wagons to dry out supplies and make wagon repairs before continuing. Amelia seemed to accept emptying her goods along the road to lighten the load as they travel a part of the price needed to get her family safely to Oregon Territory.
Reading between the lines
It is shocking, yet appropriate for the era, to discover Amelia was pregnant with her eighth child when they left Iowa. She makes no reference to her condition directly until the day her child is born. She mentions stopping on the trail to give birth and then walking with a newborn to their new home.
Think
about all the difficulties along the trail and multiply that by ten as her
girth grows. She mentions smells bothering her, she gets very emotional over
the death of their oxen, and headaches and backache plague her. But speaking
about being with child was taboo in 1853, and I suppose writing that in her
diary was too. Her husband was a doctor, so that may have given her a bit of
peace traveling pregnant. And she'd already traveled from Massachusetts to Iowa
years earlier, so she had some idea what to expect. Still, pregnant with eight children
to keep safe. Not to mention feeding the hired help. Place her family with a
community of at least forty wagons and stress and anxiety abound.
Why I love diaries
Her diary gave me a better picture of life on the Oregon Trail. The bravery and stamina it took to reach their destination. Modern day travelers complain about flight delays, or traffic congestion. If our vehicle breaks down, help is a phone call away. And usually at the end of our journey, we're sleeping in a warm home or hotel with easy access to food and medical facilities.
As you can imagine, they didn't move into a house when they staked their claim. It took time to build a cabin and plant a garden and do what needed to be done.
Do
you think you'd be willing to relocate across country enduring the same travel conditions as
the Knights?
Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author in Historical and Contemporary Romance. She’s a 2018 Selah Finalist. Cindy has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.
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