The Literary Oregon Trail
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 45° 41.676 W 121° 20.570
10T E 629021 N 5061451
This is one of 13 historical markers in a special kiosk, devoted to the history of the Oregon Trail, and located at the Memaloose Park Rest Area on the south side of Interstate Highway 84 about 3.1 miles east of Mosier, Oregon.
Waymark Code: WMG9Z4
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 02/03/2013
Views: 5
The Literary Oregon Trail
Approximately 500,000 emigrants trekked westward along the Oregon-California Trails during the covered wagon era: 1841-1866. Deep wagon ruts and scars are still visible at many sites along the overland route. They provide silent, but stark evidence of the arduous journey. Considerably less mute and far more poignant, however, are the more than 2,000 emigrant journals that comprise the literary Oregon Trail. These diaries reflect both the personalities and varied backgrounds of their authors--determined, strong-willed individuals who gave up everything to start anew in the wilderness. Although some diarists were more eloquent than others, all recorded powerful accounts of the Oregon Trail.
At midday we stopped for dinner. Mr. Lionnet was content with some small pieces of biscuit but as for myself I wanted to see if I could not find some edible herbs. What a happy discovery! I recognized a species of cress that Italians call crispinio and eat with great enjoyment. I brought back an armful of this herb but when Mr. Lionnet saw it he cried out to me "Do you want to poison yourself? That is hemlock!" "Alright," I said to him, "Let me do so, I am going to enjoy poisoning myself." I melted a little bacon fat, after which I sauteed the cress in the hot pan having first parboiled it. I dined with excellent appetite. In the evening I again had some of it. Mr. Lionnet was expecting all the time to see me die or at the very least have an attack of colic. The next day, however, he also wanted to poison himself!
Honore-Timothee Lempfrit,
October 1, 1845
We was detained by hed winds &c.
We went a fue miles & was detained buy hed winds.
We had a fare fay & mad a good days travel & in camped at the crawsing.
We were detained by hed winds till late in the evening; then we went some 10 miles.
We were detained by headwinds.
We was detained buy head wind untill late in the eavning; then we imbarked & went in hearing of the Cascade Fawls.
William T. Newby,
October 26-November 1, 1843
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