May 1, 1853: Sunday
"During the night & early this morning got rid of a good deal of freight.  Boat lightened up and is running pretty well.  Were passed by the Honduras about 6 o’clock am.  No religious service on board."
May 2, 1853: Monday
"Reached Lexington before breakfast.  Lay there several hours discharging freight.  In the meantime I rambled over town.  A beautiful and flourishing place.  Bought Ink & Blk Tea.  At Camden about 3 o’clock.  Remained there two hours discharging freight.  Rambled over hills.  Bought 2 bush oats."
May 3, 1853: Tuesday
"Early at Wayne city.  Arrived at Kansas sound after breakfast.  Remained there over 3 hours discharging freight, some for Westport but mostly for Santa Fe."
May 4, 1853: Wednesday
"Last night—laid up all night at Weston, where we arrived at ½ past ten o’clock.  Rained all night.  Left at day light.  State raining & cold and so continued until nearly night.  Arrived at St. Josephs about 6 o’clock.  Excessively muddy.  Richardson & Carson met us on the boat with the information that the rest of the company had gone."
May 5, 1853: Thursday
"Staid on the boat all night at the invitation of the captain.  Went out early before breakfast & secured a small horse for a week.  Moved up our things with the aid of Mr. Richardsons team.  Took us till noon.  Bought his yoke of oxen on Mr. R. Dones."
May 6, 1853: Friday
"Went out in the country to buy cattle.  Cloudy & at times rainy during the day.  Stopped all night at a house that was hardly fit for a stable yet occupied by a man who is apparently tolerably well off.  Some fine rich country.  Rolling prairie covered now with an abundance of strawberry in full bloom.  Timber occasionally."
May 7, 1853: Saturday
"Day more pleasant than yesterday but showery.  Took dinner with a Mr. Davis a Cumberland Presbyterian.  Made our way back to St. Joseph & arrived there about sun down."
May 8, 1853: Sunday
"Went to the Pres[byterian] Church, heard Mr. Rud the pastor who has just been installed.  At noon after returning home Mr. Richardson brought a letter just rec’d which informed us that a portion of the company even yet waiting for us at Savannah but so brief & indefinite as seemed to render it necessary for mw to go up immediately."
May 9, 1853: Monday
"Returned late last night from Savannah.  We went out in the country to se [sic] some more cattle & complete my teams.  Richardson & Carson framing up my waggons [sic].  Got home again about five o’clock."
May 10, 1853: Tuesday
"Took waggons to blacksmiths shop.  Took nearly all day to get done what work I wanted & Bought meat & few other articles.  Had staples and rings put in ox yokes ..."
May 11, 1853: Wednesday
"Fixed ox yokes & yoked up cows & drove them round awhile to break them in which was done without much difficulty.  Loaded up waggons & started about ½ past four.  Went out of town a short distance & camped.  Neither grass nor grain to be had for cattle.  First night of camping.  Rained in the night."
May 12, 1853: Thursday
"Started early, made slow progress over desperate hilly road, and did not reach Savannah until a little before dark.  All exceedingly tired.  Much discouraged.  Others have started on and are encamped about 7 miles from ... Did not camp but put up at a house of entertainment.  Boys slept in the waggons."
May 13, 1853: Friday
"Rose early this morning and rode about 6 miles to where company are understood to be camping.  Found them, made arrangements to have their teams come in to assist us out & returned to Savannah before breakfast.  Disposed of chickens, Bees & various articles so as to lighten the load.  Late about starting & arrived at camp at 3 o’clock."
May 14, 1853: Saturday
"Went to within one mile of Oregon [town] and camped until Monday morning.  Secured Sheaf Oats and a circle corn & a brush pasture for our stock.  Day warm & pleasant somewhat windy.  Road runs over a high rolling prairie."
May 15, 1853: Sunday
"Day fine and warm.  Had to take out the cattle & water them in the morning & then placed guard to keep them from injuring some wheat in same enclosure.  Preached in the afternoon from I Jno. 4:18."