Newberry Library - Diary Moravia, N.Y., to Calif., Mar. 19

Diary Moravia, N.Y., to Calif., Mar. 19 - Dec.?, 1849, 1871

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Open book Samuel C. Jennings diary, Moravia, New York, to California, March 19-December?, 1849, 1871

Title Diary Moravia, N.Y., to Calif., Mar. 19 - Dec.?, 1849, 1871

Creator Jennings, Samuel C

Date 1871

Place East United States, Northern California, Santa Fe National Historic Trail, United States--Overland Trails, West United States

Language English

Subjects Frontier and pioneer life, Gold miners, Indians of North America, Inland water transportation, Ithaca Company

Description Formerly known as Ayer MS 447a.
In box with title: Diary. Jennings.
Cover title: Diary - Sam Jennings gold rush - 1849.
On front endpaper: Jennings, Saml C. Moravia, Cayuga County N. York.

Summary 1849 overland and California gold rush diary of Samuel C. Jennings, compiled by him in 1871, probably from his original diaries. From Ithaca, N.Y., to Independence, Mo., the diary describes travel by raft, canal boat, and river steamer, and the cities of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. En route overland, Jennings discusses mule problems; diseases (particularly cholera) and medical practice; vegetation, topography, and game (buffalo, etc.); trail conditions and availability of wood, water, and grass; encounters with other emigrant parties (Auburn Company, Capt. Bass' Company) and with bands of Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Utes, etc.; rumors of Indian troubles; the members, organization, and decision-making processes of the Ithaca Company; and provision shortages and prices at various places. Also included are descriptions of Bent's Fort and Mormon Salt Lake City. The California segment discusses boom-town Sacramento, disappointing mining results, food prices, constant rains, miserable living conditions, and the California Indians.

Biographical/Historical Note Physician, overland traveler, and California gold miner. In 1849, Samuel C. Jennings, a married resident of Moravia, N.Y., joined the Ithaca Company, a company of overlanders formed in Ithaca, N.Y. Departing Ithaca on Mar. 21, 1849, the company traveled via Wilkes Barre, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Louis to Independence, Mo., where they set out equipped with pack mules, horses and two wagons for the Santa Fe Trail. From Bent's Fort, the party, guided by a Mr. Kinney (Charles Kinney?), journeyed over the mountains to Salt Lake City. Led by a Mr. Craig (William Craig?), fifteen members continued across the desert and over the Sierra Nevada via the Truckee River route to Sacramento. Unlucky in his mining efforts, Jennings practiced medicine for provisions, and eventually must have returned to New York.

Extent 1 v. (108 p.) ; 25 cm

Format Diaries, Travel literature

User-Contributed Transcription Diary - Sam JenningsGold Rush - 1849

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection, Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 3110

BibID 130615

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2441px × 2879px 20.13 MB

File Created 6/14/2023 9:35:45 PM

Filename 991306158805867_Ayer_MS_3110_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11LUUE