Keith, Fleury F.

              Journal of crossing the Plains in 1850  
by F. F. Keith 
Sat May 4, 1850 started from St Joseph as 
a passenger in  
Platners train came up the Missourie river 
8 miles  
and camped out for the first time we 
concluded to  
cross the river at old Fort KearneySun May 
5 came  
7 miles to Savanah here Mr Platner 
concluded to  
wait for a Mr Cole from Mich and his 
daughter  
who wished to travel with us Thurs; 9 Cole 
joined us  
and we started on one of Platners men died 
in St. Jo  
Thompson taken sick and concluded to go 
home  
Mon May 13th camped at old Fort Kearney 
have felt  
quite unwell for two or three days here 
the compay all  
came together amounting to 18 men with 21 
horses and  
some of them none of the best four waggons 
we demured  
at not having more horses Platner says he 
will buy  
more horses at new Fort KearneyTues May 14 
crossed the  
Missourie river about noon drove about 20 
miles and camped  
not a particle of wood in sight found a 
little water and  
very little feed Mr Owens from Mich is 
quite sick with  
inflammation of the lungs Thurs May 16th 
drove to within 20 miles  
of Platte river Owens getting worse camped 
at Oak grove here  
one of our horses died Friday May 17th 
Owens so much worse  
we concluded to lay over not expecting he 
would live through  
the day one of the men killed a wild 
turkey which made us  
an excellent meal Sat May 18 the wolves 
howled tremendously  
over our dead horse last night which was 
not very pleasent musick  
for me at least Owens considerable better 
this morning so that we  
concluded to move on drove 20 miles and 
encamped on