Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Week #25 Fast

 Last summer when looking through some of my aunts family history stuff we came across some newspaper clippings of a relative on my moms side who was involved with horse racing and worked at one of the top Racehorse farms in the country. Below are a couple articles about him. Last year we realized he was buried close to where we visit for memorial weekend so we went and visited his grave and put flowers out. He's definitely someone I wish I could have met and talked about his time working with racehorses. 








Friday, May 26, 2023

Week #22 In the Cemetery

 
Growing up my mom, sister, Aunts, Grandma and I would make the rounds to the many cemeteries in southeast Iowa visiting putting flowers on graves for memorial Weekend. As a child I didn’t realize what a gift they were giving me by taking me to visit all these graves. It wasn’t until 2014 when I was much older that I took an interest and wanted to document the names, take photographs, and learn the stories of who these people were.

What the trunk looks like every year! 

Now each year we load up the car with Flowers, gardening tools, my genealogy books, and camera. Over the years as I’ve done more research  and find new cousins, aunts, uncles and direct descendants and visit new cemeteries each year. There’s nothing I love more than walking a cemetery searching for a new stone and the satisfaction when you find it!

Oakview Cemetery in Albia, Iowa

In 2020 I was supposed to go to Europe the first week in June but with the world shut down my mom and I took that week I was supposed to be gone and went to 42 cemeteries throughout southern Iowa and Northwest Missouri.  We had a wonderful time.

Baden Springs Cemetery near Novinger, MO. Out in a cow pasture! 

My favorite thing about visiting cemeteries is that many of them are located in beautiful spots up on a hill, surrounded by trees, in an old church yard, or out in a cow pasture. When you go at Memorial Weekend they are filled with peonies, irises, and spiria and everything is green and beautiful. 


Even though I’ve been to many of these cemeteries many times I still like to go every year, spend time at the graves, remember the people, and pass along their stories so that they don’t get forgotten. I take extra care with the graves of folks who never had children or have no descendants to visit them.

Meyer Cemetery near Queen City, MO (My 4x Great Grandparents Stone)

There is this quote I found on Pinterest I’m not sure of the Author but it sums up Cemeteries to a T.

This is a Cemetery…

Lives are commemorated, deaths are recorded, families are reunited, memories are made tangible, and love in undisguised. This is a Cemetery.

Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched.

Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are cast in bronze to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life, not the death, of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for memorials that are sustaining source of comfort to the living.

A cemetery is a history of people, a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering, always.

Greentop Memorial Park in Greentop, MO


Friday, May 19, 2023

Week #21 Brick Wall

I, like all genealogists, have many a brick wall I'd love to bust through on every branch of my family tree. But when I thought about this weeks challenge I wanted to take it a different direction to that of a literal brick wall or rather the bricks themselves! 




These photos show a brickyard that was located outside of Moravia, Iowa that was owned/ran by some of my mom's family the Van Dorin's  in the very early 1900's. In the top photo you can see a woman and children. That would be some of my 2x great grandfather's family including my Great Grandfather Willie Van Dorin. 

If you drive through Moravia today many of the buildings still standing are made from red bricks and I believe that some were built using these bricks. 

Friday, May 12, 2023

Week #20 Bearded

 In my family tree there's not a shortage of bearded men. In scanning my photos on  Ancestry.com I came across this gem of a photo of this man with a glorious beard. This is Lorenzo Lowden. I really didn't know very much about this man other than he was a 1st cousin 5x removed and the grandson of my DAR patriot John Loomis. So this gave me the opportunity to look into him and what a rich story! 


In 1832 Lorenzo's father Orren Lowden moved to Erie Co. Pennsylvania which at that time was on the western edge of civilization. Lorenzo was born in 1833 in Pennsylvania and by the age of 14 left home to go to New York. He then settled in Minnesota where he married and had a family. During his time in Minnesota he was elected as Justice of the Peace and served for 8 years. While holding this office he studied Law under the Judge he worked with. In 1868 he and his family moved and settled in Hardin Co. Iowa. When in Iowa he engaged in farming and mercantile business and also practiced Law. He died in 1899 and is buried in Iowa Falls, Iowa. One cool fact about Lorenzo's son Frank Lowden was that he served as Illinois Governor from 1917-1920. Frank married the daughter of George Pullman who was the founder of the Pullman railroad car. Franks daughter Florence Lowden Miller was even presented to the Royal Court in 1927! That included King George and Queen Mary! How cool! 

Here's another photo of his family and you can see him in the front row still with his impressive beard!

It's amazing how finding a photo of a man in my family tree simply because he has a beard can lead to Governors, Inventors, and Royalty!  

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Week #36 Exploration

 Probably one of the coolest discoveries I've found online was that of a transcription of a diary that belonged to my 4th great uncle Philip Frederick Castleman. It is a day to day diary of his trip from Kentucky to California and then to Oregon during the Gold Rush. 

Philip Frederick Castleman 1827-1913

Before I get into some of the interesting things from the Journal I want to give credit to the folks who transcribed it. "This diary was re-typed from a transcribed manuscript of the original by Peter Steelquist (4075 Brant St., San Diego, CA, 11 Sept. 2001). The first transcription was done by Dagwad A. Evans (2727 Benvenue Ave., Berkeley CA), grand-daughter of P. F. Castleman, that was microfilmed by the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (Microfilm manuscript, typescript, BANC MSS C-F 50 Pt. 1:4 FILM)." 

Also any misspellings or grammatical errors in the entries shared were left by the transcribers to preserve the diary. 

The diary starts out pretty emotional as he talks about leaving his family in Kentucky. I can not fathom that. We are so connected today that we may have family across the country or across the globe but with a click of our phone or computer we can see what they are up to online. Philip was traveling across the country and at that time it was probably assumed that the would never see them again. 

1849

Larue Co., Ky                          

May 2nd: I arose this morning with a heavy burden resting on my mind, as I had been preparing for several weeks, to leave my home, my parents, my friends, and all that was dear to me, for a period of two or three years, and probably for ever, and now the appointed day had come, when I must start to meet my company from Aetna Furnace Hart Co. and I. Tucker, who was to be my companion across the plains to Cal-, had come to assist me in getting off. After breakfast I went to Hodgenville to attend to some business, connected with my outfit after which I returned to my fathers house,& after I had gathered the part of my outfitt that I browght from home, I took leave of my *Mother Sisters and brother, and with my friend I started for his fathers on Barren Run twelve miles from the furnace we arrived at his fathers at Sun Set, here I borrowed a horse from the old man and continued my journey to the furnace, to informe the company that our waggon would meet tham at Bacon creek, the next day; I did not arrive at the furnace until 10 or 11 O'Clock P. M.; when one would naturly suppose all were at rest but it was not the case, there seemed to be a continual stir form one house to another, and all was a continual uprore for there was several persons, awaiting for the morn to part with their best freinds, & some with their boosom friends for a period of two or three years; & some untill called together on the mighty day of judgment: but however towards day the buss camed down; an all were at rest, or at lease it would have had, that appearance to a person unacquainted with all the circumstances.

The first part of their journey was to go from Larue Co. Kentucky to St. Joseph Missouri where they would essentially set off. You might think that part of the journey would be easy since most of the land they were crossing before St. Joseph was settled. But several in the group he traveled with developed cholera and a 4 died before they even made it there. I'm sure that had to give them pause to what was to come. 

May 22nd Tuesday: I arose this morning a little after day light and was informed that Mr. Pepper was dead so I crossed back on the St. Jo. side and attended his funeral this being the fourth man we had lost. So after the funeral I rote a letter to my father informing him of the sad misfortune we had already met with. So it was between 9 and 11o'clock in the A. M. before we made a start, we found the rever bottom allmost impassable for some four or five miles when we struck the hills here we came up with several trains who wer laying up on account of sickness they all appeared to want us to go on and not stop near them as they seemed to think that the disease was contageous . So we continued our march untill dark when we camped on a small rivolett for the night. The grass which looked as if it had ben trod to death by the thowsands of campers who had passed before us afforded our mules & horses a scanty feed, but it was all that could be had for it seemed that it had all ben a camping ground. This was the first night that we had ever camped on the plains so we passed some resolutions as was often said by some of our company but I think it might be more properly called some appointments as one or two had all the say to themselves. C. Churchill was appointed or proclaimed hisself captan, he appointed John Foster waggon master, H. Buckner co. physcian and I was appointed Clerk for company which appeared to be verry well satisfied for there were but few to object. The country over which we have traveled is verry fertile some six or seven miles being river bottom which was heavy timberd the rest low hills with now or then a small grove of trees, the weather fair. Dis 11 miles 

They set out from St. Joseph on May 22nd, 1849. I thought this was really interesting as I grew up just an hour north of there and have visited the city frequently. I never knew that an ancestor of mine pass through there many years ago on his journey west. This past spring I visited the Patee House Museum where they had a nice display about the men heading west seeking Gold. 


Each day they would tell of what they saw along the way noting any interesting rock formations or rivers or forts they would go by. They also talked about the Native Americans they encountered along the way. At the end of each entry he notes the weather conditions and  how many miles they traveled each day. Averaging 20 miles a day if everything went to plan. 

Here is one of the entries when they first encountered Native Americans. 

May 23rd Wednesday: We arose at the break of day and after attending to camp duties we struck our tents and started on our journey we passed several encampments and from many we heard of sickness which Nebrasca T. seemed to be fatal to allmost everyone that wer attacted with it. We passed through an *Indian village on Wolf creek here the Indians demand a tole they said that we were burning all there wood & that our animals wer eating all the grass besides they had built a kind of a bridg across the Creek so we paid them two bits apeace for our waggons be making them some presents. The Chief appeared to be in a great deal of distress he said that his people wer at war with the Pawnees and that a war party had just returned stating that his brother had been killed in an attact made on the previous eavening by the enemies. We past the mission this afternoon. Here we heard several horred stories about the Indians attacting the emigrants on the road but we had made up or minds to heare of nothing else so we were not alarmed in the least. We traveled on untill dark in search of wood and water but was at last campelled to stop without eather our horses were hobbled and turned out on the grass which were a little better than it was when we had camped on the previous eavening when we had drunk the little watter that we had in our canteens with some parched meal we all aly down to rest under the canopy of heaven without a gard as we supposed we wer in no danger of Indians notwithstanding the many horred tales we had had at the mission. The country wver which we have traveled today is verry rolen but verry fertile with a verry little timber. Weather fare Dis 20 miles.

As they traveled on they also make note of the emigrants also traveling west, the many graves, and dead animals they find along the way. 

Fort Kerny

June 4th Monday: Before we could get off this morning I discovered a no of waggons on the road whiched looked like they were all of the same company s they were extended for some five or six miles on the road in a perfect block we past Fort Kerney at then o'clock this morning when we found many emigrants encamped some were leaving there waggons with the intention of packing through while others were lightning of there stock of provisions sell for all prices under first cost and some were throwing it away on the plains we learned here that there had been upwards of four thousand waggons registered at this place all bound to cross the Rocky Mountains. This fort has not been established but short time the buildings are all of the temporary kind they are built of sod cut out in square blocks and put up like stone there being no plank used except the doors and window shutters which are brought from the Missouri river they are covered by laying poles on brush across and then covered with turf they hay built Casells of sods which answers a veryy good purpose I understand they are having a circular saw go up here so if there is any timber here they will soon exchange there sod buildings for frame buildings which will make it more much more comfortable for those who live in this remote part of the world two miles west of the fort we past some two or three men who were engaged in planting corn the prerarie had been broken and they were breaking a small hole in the sod droping a few grains of corn there and covering it slightlely left it to the mercy of animals of the plains as they had no fence around I nor any way of making one only by diching which would cost more labour than there crop would be worth We halted at noon and partook of refreshments as usule after which we traveled some two or three miles when we found a fine encampment wood being somewhat unhandy but as our animals were very much fatigue we camped for the day. Cleare weather dist 12 miles

June 9th Saturday: There seemed to be a general rush this morning with one and all to get away from the place where we had been deprived of one of our company by the awfull epidemic which seemed to be raging on the road at this time. It has become so customary to see fresh graves and company laying by on account of sickness that I seldom even speak of them or even think of them only when I see them.

On June 8th they lost another member of their party to Cholera and several were sick. They definetly did not get off to a great start and I'm sure experiencing all the death and sickness each day made it hard to want to go on. 

June 20th Wednesday: We evacuated our camp this morning by six o'clock and traveled until 11 when we halted for the noon. We did not leave untill two o'clock when we again resumed our march which we kept up untill 5 o'clock in the eavening when we camped neare some wells on the raod as we were not on the river here. We were in sight of Castle rock which had the appearance of being some 5 or six miles from the road. The bluffs are not so rought as they have been and they have a more regular or uniform appearance. We have seen but little timber today so we have to resort to buffalo chips as a substitute for wood to boil our coffee fry a little bacon bake a few slap jacks which is our daily mode of cooking. The land is verry sandy but of a much better quality than that we traveled over yesterday. The sand has not interrupted us so much day as we had a heavy rain yesterday. We have crossed two small ravines with pure running watter in each. We find a number of wells in which is good watter. If these are too far apart and we are not neare the river we dig a well which is seldom more than three feet deep. The day has been very warm but cleare. Preston More is complaining of a diarea which I feare will terminate in cholera as it has been running on two days. dist 20 mi.

One thing I tried to do while reading this was to follow along with them on a map. As they crossed rivers, stopped at forts or like above saw "Castle Rock " (probably courthouse rock)  I could  somewhat make out the trail they were traveling across the plains. I also liked in this entry he talked about what they ate. The next day they traveled to "Castle Rock" and Philip made his mark on the stone. I would love to go there some day and try to find his name!

June 21st. When we arrived at the rock we found quite a number of spectators there among them
were three ladies one of which seemed to be rambling all over the rock which was composed of a sandy composition. There were steps out in the rock so we ascended to its to where I with my pocket knife engrave my name in the stone where there were thousand of names as it was a general thing for all those who visited this rock and other noted places on the road to engrave their names. We could see Chimny rock which was some 12 or 15 miles ahead.

Courthouse Rock- Photo from NPS Website 

Chimney Rock- Photo NPS Website

They also celebrated the 4th of July along the trail. Some didn't fair as well as others :) 

July 5th Thursday: I noticed that the sun had made its appearance this morning and the day began to grow old before we had prepared our rude meale. The cause of this I can easily account for. We have a kegg of Alcohol with us which we taped yesterday eavening as it was the fourth of July and we all tasted of it pretty freely so we did not retire as soon as we had usually done. This morning after breakfast I
with two others of the company went up the creek in search of grass which we found to be verry in some places. So we hung a cople of sythes and mowed several hundred pound of hay to carry with us as we undisstood that we had to travel some sixty miles before we could get any grass after we leave here. I find the wild flax here as large as I ever saw it in the States. This streame is well supplied with timber and good grasing so it is now occupied with emigrants from its mouth some three miles above us where there is some two hundred head of animals belonging to the government train. We discovered an old Indian wigwam which has been evacuated some months. I discovered several antelope this morning one of our men killed one which was very fat. The day has been fare.

Along the way he also ran into a cousin! I think there was another entry later on where he runs into him again. 

July 6th Friday: This morning after breakfast some two or three men came to our camp in search of government horses which had strayed or been stolen from this place about nine o'clock. I went to the river where the train above mentioned were crossing. Here I found I. Foster & I. Clark who had come here early in the morning. I here found a cosen of mine who was employed as quarter master of this division by the name of George Arehart. He gave me the boat which the train had crossed with it being composed of three canoes lashed together. 

All throughout the journey they had to lighten their load, dispose of animals, and combine wagons. 

July 19th Thursday: We disposed of our last two horse waggons here on condition that it would be delivered to us in Cal. We also made another attempt to lighten our waggons by throwing away part of our loadening. We now harnessed 8 mules to one waggon 6 to one & five to the other three being all that belong to our Joint Stock Company there being one that had traveled from one days travel this side of St. Jo with us this making four waggons that belonged to our company. We left camp about nine o'clock and after passing the twin buttes a short distance we learned that the Sweet watter ran a short distance to the right so we halted for the noon and drove our animals to it as we understood there was fine grasing there after which we drove on to the Pacific Springs wher we encamped for the night there being several trains neare the Spring we took our place a short distance to the west of it. I don't think I ever saw the like before. There was an ox or horse laying dead allmost every road and still there wer trains stoping all around them. The country is assending from Sweet watter untill we got within two miles of this place when we past over the deviding ridge between the Atlantic & Pacific which is called the South Pass. One would hardly know they wer assending or desending the rise is so regular and gentle. There is no wood to be had but sage. The watter is verry cold and grasing is very moderate so our camping is in a but poor place. Notwithstanding we are on the route of the Pacific we had a few drops of rain today as we passed through the South Pass. Dist 14 miles


Sometimes they were met with unfriendly men who tried to take advantage of them and steal from them along their journey. 

Aug 23rd Thursday: Verry early this morning a gentleman came to our camp in search of a gray pony. We had not seen any strays. He then said that he belonged to a company form Cinci- and that they wer our of bacon and would give flour sugar coffee or the money for some. We had none for sale so after being informed thus he road off. We left camp at our usual hour of starting and after driving some three miles we came to the road that led through the hills their being a road through the canyon also. So we thought it best to go the river road on account of watter. So we had not proseeded far in the canyon untill the gentleman that had come to us in camp this morning rode up and asked one of our teamsters for something to eat which he got and road off amediately some distance when he was seen dividing it with another man. This caused some suspicion but we saw nothing more of them untill noon when this gentleman again came up to us in company with Goodfellow who had once threatened to take a horse from I. Foster which belonged to government as he said he has orders form the quartermaster to take all government stock. We invited them to stop and share our simple meal which was composed of cold bread and a little cold bacon and cold watter. They acepted the offer and after noon rode on in company with some of our company for several miles after which they road on ahead. The road along the river is tolerably good and once or twice to day I have seen a great deal of lava. There is no fead on the river so we left it a little before sundown as the road ran some 5 miles across the hills before it struck it again so we drove on a short distance when we came to a spring a short distance from the road. Here some two or three waggons had encamped there being a little grass scattered among the sage brush. Here I. Foster & C. Churchill wer some three miles ahead of the waggons and they thought it best to encamp here for the night so they dismounted and after freeing their horses of the saddles they went to the spring which was something more than a hundred yds off leaving their guns with their saddles. They had not more than reached the spring before the three men that nooned with us came up on a lope ordered Foster to give up the horse which he said he would not do. Goodfellow then ordered one of the which he called Wadkins to take the horse. W- dismounted and proseded a few paces towards the horse when Foster told him to keep his hand off of the horse or he would shoot him, at this Goodfellow& Jeffers which was the others named both drew revolvers and said that they would [shoot] him but Foster held on to the horse and said he would shoot the first man that tuched the horse and as Churchill never caried arms he gathered a stone and told Foster not to give up the horse so they gave up this project which would have cost them some trouble if they had undertaken to take it through. Churchill told them that they should show their athority before we would give up the horse which they said they could do when the came to Dr. White who was ahead a short distance with the Pioneers. The day has ben very pleasnat. Dist 28 miles

With the power of google and looking up things as they traveled along one of the things I looked up which was noted in the folloiwng passage is Lassen's Cutoff. Aparently this was known as the death route. This was supposed to be a "Short cut" to the gold fields but it actually was 200 miles longer. When I read that Philips group went that way I knew the rest of their trip was going to be rough. 

Sep 4th Tuesday: The morning was cool and chilled us so that the few scattered willows we had gathered on the eavening wer all consumed in a verry short time. For the puurpose of warming ourselves we left camp at 6 o'clock and traveled down the river over a sandy and barren road for some 8 miles when we came to the pooint wher the road leading to Feather river in 180 miles left the river. [margin note: Left Humbolt] Here we halted for noon when we had quite an argument about the way we should go some saying that they would go by the old road any how but finaly we put it to the vote and there being so equaly divided that if was a tie but as C- Chruchill & H. Buckner wer boath on the side in favour of going the neare way to the mines as it was called the opposing party yealded to their judgment which was much regreted by all the company long before we reached the settlements. [margin note: Took Lassin's cutoff] We left here at 2 o'clock and drove on to some springs some 12 miles from the river. The country is low and leavel and is almost destitute of vegitation excepting the sage and greasewood. It is a a ashy nature and looks as if the hole of it was covered with watter at not great period. Dist 18 mile

Since traveling in desert conditions they started traveling at night or late into the night. They also continue to have animal troubles now especially with lack of water, hot conditions, and low food supply. 

Sep 8th Saturday: We lay by untill late I the after noon when we again took up our march and after traveling untill 3 o'clock in the morning we came to a ravine. Here we wer informed that we wer at the head of the valley of the great Mudd Lake so we halted untill day when we found that we wer not neare watter or grass so we again moved on to the spring when we encamped and after getting our animals(or those that we could for we had lost three since we left the last wattering place I had worked all night trying to get one to grass but was compelled t leave it at day light as it would not travel) on the grass we prepared a hasty meal after which we lay down and wrapped ourselves in a sweet and profound sleep for several hours Dist 14 miles

On October 26th they finally had reached their destination about 7 months since setting out from Kentucky

Oct 26th Friday: We wer all ready and so we commenced our march by the first appearnance of the sun (margin note: Long's Bar). After traveling some 8 miles we came to the forkes of the road one leading to the city and the other to Long's bar on Feather river. One or two of the company was desirous of going to the city. They said to by provisions but as they had no teame but those that was far behind they all concluded to got to the dignis first so we took the road leading to Long's bar and traveled on until noon when we halted a few minutes and ate a little heard bread and drank a little watter after which we traveled untill after dark when we came in sight of the encampments at Longs. It reminded me of a city when iluminted to its hiest. As we passed throught a revine boath sides seemed to be litterly covered with tents. All had large fires neare them which made it almost as light as day and all seemed (margin note: Feather River) to be life an glee as a thousand voises seemed to mingle together some talking lafin & singing. These with the roaring of watters as they dashed over the stony beds and against the iron bound shores of this river semed wild and romantic to my ears. I now thought of the condition I was in at present my phisical strength almost worn out by the continued travels over a long and soletary road leading over mountains desarts for nearly half its distance and at present without a dollar in the world my patience being tired or almost entirely worn out but I again thought that this might have ben the case with many of these who now seemed to be enjoying all that they wished for at present and knowing there was many yet behind who was likely to suffer more than I have I thanked my God for the kindness and blessings I have received and do not murmur. We now came to the river. Here we made inquiry for Capt Swift who had left his train at the Big meadows and came on ahead. We wer told that he was on the opposite side so we crossed over when we found him encamped and after he had prepared a first rate supper as I thought we satesfied our hunger and more after which we lay doun on the sand and soon was in the arms of a profound sleep. Dist 23 miles

The next entry he talks about the first couple weeks mining and what happens when you don't strike it rich but have bills to pay!  

Oct 27th Saturday: This morning Capt Swift and my campanions the names of who I have not as yet learned started for Bidle's bar which was some 8 miles up the river. I left my rifle here at a trading establishment as I was informed that I had no use for it and it being heavy to carry. We traveled up the river and saw a great many men at work when we arived at Bidles. We wer told that there was a great deal of gold taken out a few miles up the South fork and as there was no chance to get a clame here without __________ it we thought we wowld try our luck on the new diggins so I went to a merchant & after telling him my situation he said I could have anything I wanted so I layed in a weeks provisions which consisted of a little Salt Pork and flour that had become a little sower but this was the best I could do. I also bought a ________ and pick. My bill amounted to $80 dollars this bing the largest sum I had ever owed at once without knowing certain wher the money was to come from. We set out on Sunday and traveled untill Tuesday eavening when we halted more on account of our fatigue as the road had led us over mountains and through ravines almost impassable. We now ________ out a place to mine and on Wednsday set in as if for our lives which we kept up untill Saturday eavening when it began to rain and on Sunday morning our hole weeks work was completely covered with watter (margin note: Sacramento City) and as we had taken a clame and intended to __________ it we had not made a cent and as our weeks rations wer entirely consumed we had to leave for Bidle's bar so we packed up our blanketts and set out for the bar above mentioned wher we arived on Monday. I now hired [out] a few days at $10 per day and after paying my debts and making money enough to have my expences to the City of Sacramento I left this place and falling in company with a gentleman by the name of __________ . So we set off about the 1st of November in the rane and as it was verry mudy and the streams all verry high we did not arive at the mouth of Feather river untill the 10th. Here we learned that ther was a steamboat that was togo down in a few hours so we took passage being verry much fatigued with our walk through the mud so we left at 3 and landed in Sacramento at 5 o'clock. Dist from Feather river 120 miles. Dist from ______ on the mouth of F. river _______. The valley seems to be verry leavel and fertile with a number of creeks and rivers coming from the mountains all roling there watters into the Sacramento river on the banks of these streames are seen a variety of timbers of which the oak is the largest but is not suitable for building purposes as it is low and scruby. There are a great number of ranches in this valley the owners of whome are mixed population there being Americans French duch Spanish &c &c. They all own large bands of cattle & horses which have only ben valued on account of there tallow and hides heretofore but are now valuably for their beef. These ranchers all live in houses built of dobay or unburnt brick. 

His final entry spans over a longer period of time catching up on what happened. Turns out mining wasn't that great and he tried his hand at other things. Unfortunately he got Typhoid Fever and decided to head north to Oregon to the better climate. This is where he would stay until he passed in 1913. He eventually owned a sawmill and then became a photographer. 

April 19th Saturday: The morning was clowdy and several light showers of rain fell and as I was ready for to make a start for Oregon I caught my animals and being accompanied to Olny's creek by Minges the gentleman that I had sold my intrust to in the ranch when I fell in company with 18 men all bound for Oregon so on the folowing day we left the valley and made our way (margin note: Shasty Bute) through the mountains. It rained verry hard which made it verry disagreeable traveling and as I was unwell and shuck with the ague every other day I thought it was a hard trip but I felt as though I was runing from death as I was undoubtaly unable to stand the attacts of the disease that seemed to have clung to me for the last 10 months so I bore up under these hopes that I was soon going to a healthy climate wher I might recover my health again. In three days travel we found ourselves at the foot of Shaste but here we encamped for the night in sight of a mountain where we could see the snow that has probaly layed here for ages and will lay there for ages to come. The road this far is through the most sterril mountains I have ever passed through - and would not think passable with animal at all had I not seen and drove them over them myself. We passed a beautifull (margin note: 1851 Aprl 23rd) spring to day of as good soda watter as I ever tasted before and I think much better than those on Bare river in Great Basin; yesterdy eavening I was riding a Spanish horse and as I had ben shaking with a chill for more than two hours and then it was leaving me when I felt very sick at this instant we past a steep muntain that we either had to assend or cross the Sacramento river twice. As river ws high we took to the mountain and after assending one or two verry steep points I dismounted to lead my horse over some rock in the road. The sadle having worked a little father back than its original place when I mounted my horse turned down the hill and began tojump stiff leged then he threw me over his head and I think I went through the top of some brush 10 or 15 feet high and I dare say to the distance of 60 feet down the mountain before I could stop myself but luckily I chance to escape unhurt. This is a miracle to me as there was a number of stones and trees against which if I had ben lodged I shurely must have ben injured badly. I caught my horse and after replacing my sadle mounted him again as I was so weak I could not walk.

April 24th Thursday: We left Shasta Butte at our usual time of starting & traveled on to Shasta valley. Here we halted and lay by on the 25th some of our company going to the mines and returned on the same day. They say that ther is a great many miners here and that some are doing tolerably well. We left here on the 26 and travel through Shaste Valley which is 20 or 30 miles in length and in many places 15 or 20 wide. It seemes to be verry fertile and is covered with bunch grass. There is a great munny small lakes in the valley which makes me think it is or has ben a crater and all these butes have ben throun up by fires once in time and the valley has ben worn by the stormes for many centuries into a leavel around them which give them qwite a picturesque appearance as they are surrounded by tall mountains on almost all sides. We traveled on from here crossing the Klamet and then to Roges river valley which is a beautifull place and if there was any access only by crossing sterrill & almost impassable mountains it would soon be settled with the Anglo-Saxons as it is by fare the most romantic and picturesque valley that I ever saw. Besides it is verry fertill and abounds in springs and small mountains streames of ice cold watter. Its margin is also covered with the lofty pine and furs so everry thing that is required by nature is well provided for the climate is beautifull and pleasant.  We past on from this place through the south Umpqua Contry which I find to be verry fine country and think it cannot be beat as a grasing contry. We came to many claims but found no one ocupying them. We halted a short time at the crossing of the Umpqwa N. Here there is a toun laid out and there are several ________ going up at present. I do not think this can ever be a properous toun as the country is small and cannot suport it. From here we continued our travel untill we came to the cross roads. Here our company broke up and the most of the company stoped at ________ Reed's & one or two other places. I now began to think I had not bettered my situation as I was still shaking and had not got in the Willomet Valley yet wher I expected to met with more accomadation than cowld be expected here so on the hole there wer four others that was going to start for Portland on the folowing day an so I accompanied them and we crossed the Cala _______ mountains on the tenth May 1851. We now made our way towards Portland wher we landed on the 23rd inst. As I had formed an acqwaintance with T. C. Banning in crossing the mountains he had told me that he had run a sricular saw several yares in the states and lumber being high in the upper part of the valley I bought a circular saw an B & byself went back to the forks of the Willamet river as we wer mcuh leased with this part of the country wher we established a saw mill & run it with horse power during the summer.

This is the end of the diary from Philip. Later on he would marry and have 5 children. Luckily since he took up photography there are several photos of him and his family. I also found his obituary on Ancestry which talks about the very interesting life he lived. 



Philip Castleman Tombstone in Eugene, Oregon 

Philip Castleman 





Monday, May 16, 2022

Week #20 Textile

The past few years I've been super lucky to find some quilts that my Great Grandmother, Great great aunt, and even Great Great Grandmother had a part of making. 3 of which my mom and I stumbled upon unexpectedly!! 

This first quilt we found while visiting the church my Great Grandmother attended. They had recently remodeled the church and during memorial weekend they opened it up for people to see inside. When we got inside we found baptismal records for several of my great aunts and uncles and then on display in the front of the church was this beautiful red and white quilt. When looking at the names we came across my Great Grandma Blanche Walter and Great Great Aunt Amy Miner. We were thrilled. 


Then just last year we were visiting the county historical society where my Great Grandma lived and we found 2 more quilts that she and my aunt and their church helped make! 







This next quilt below was gifted to my Aunt when she graduated nursing school. My family knew about the quilt but didn't know where it ended up. When my Aunt passed and we were going through her things I went to throw away an old pillow and luckily my cousin checked it and turns out the quilt was folded up and stored in the pillow case! Thank God for my cousin who checked or I would have hated myself forever! Turns out this quilt was pieced by my 2x great grandma Louisa Walter and then finished and quilted by my Great Grandma Blanche Walter. It's such a pretty tulip pattern. 





This last quilt is one that I made a few years ago. I made 2 of them, one for my aunt and one for my mom. It is a photo collage of my immediate family. They were surprise Christmas gifts for them. If you're wanting to make something like this I used Spoonflower to create the center panel. It's a unique way to display family photos! 



Monday, May 9, 2022

2022 Week #19 Food and Drink

Food is such a powerful thing and it's one thing that can keep us connected to loved ones who've passed on. I come from a long line of good cooks on both sides of my family and have to say when we get together we definitely eat well. There are a few dishes/foods that stand out that when eaten bring on the nostalgia and a few great cooks I want to highlight. 

On my moms side the most famous dish would have to be chicken and noodles, and I'm not referring to the soup. Chicken and noodles consists of homemade noodles cooked in broth and thickened and then served over mashed potatoes. If I ever had to pick a last meal this would be it along with my mom's hot rolls! When we would go visit my grandma Carolyn we would arrive Saturday around lunchtime and as soon as we got in her house the smell of chicken and noodles greeted us. She knew they were our favorite. Even though my grandma has passed my mom still makes them and we have them at family reunions. 


My all time favorite meal in the world. 


I made noodles using my grandmas recipe one year. 

Another one of my grandmas specialties was her gooseberry pie. She would take it to church functions and it was always a hit. She grew gooseberries in her yard so she always had a good supply. One of my least favorite things to do is stem gooseberries. I was lucky enough to obtain the recipe she used and have made it several times. A few years ago I entered it in my grandmas hometown festival where I got a blue ribbon. It was so special to be able to enter in an even that my family has been competing in for generations. I'm not necessarily a gooseberry fan but I love making them. 

My blue ribbon Pie from the Moravia Fall Festival in 2016

In that same family group the Walter's, each year for our family reunion the theme has been watermelon. My great grandpa was know for growing watermelons. I've tried my hand at it but never had quite the luck. My Cousin on the other hand has won awards with hers! 

My Great Grandpa (Far right) and great aunts and uncle and cousins.

My cousins blue ribbon watermelon. 

On my mom's dads side my great aunt Cleo was known for making good pies. After she passed away my mom snagged some of her pie plates to have since I too LOVE making pies. I also came across this photo of her in front of several pies. It's one I definitely treasure.  



One last thing I wanted to talk about that I feel only Genealogists would appreciate. In April of 2020 everyone was in the thick of Covid and everything was shut down. My mom, Aunt, and I were going to go visit a few cemeteries and we knew we couldn't go out to eat anywhere. So we packed a picnic and ate in one of the most beautiful little cemeteries. It's off the beaten path and has trees all around and a beautiful view. It made the prettiest spot for a picnic. After that I was talking to some other family members and they talked about how they would do that when they would go put flowers out for memorial day or when they were visiting graves. 

Under the tree in the top left corner is where my 4x great grandmother is buried.