Item Detail
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Morse, Eva
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1834-
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MSS SC 112
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Diary
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Eva S. Morse was born on August 5, 1834. She lived in Illinois then traveled out west in 1859, settling in Stockton, California.
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Eva's diary covers events in her life from May 5, 1859 and October 18, 1859. It is 34 pages, typed, kept as she traveled west with a large group of people'friends and family. They started on the Illinois Central Railroad and then went by wagon on the old Mormon Trail that Brigham Young had laid out. It talks about their struggles on the trail such as killing buffalo for food, keeping their animals healthy, trading with the Indians, and avoiding the various attacks by Indians that other wagon companies were undergoing. Their small group was able to avoid the danger. There is a humorous story on page 13 in the July 20th entry describing one of the steers who was in need of medical attention, but avoided it as best as it could. Eva also describes the various intriguing sights they came upon. Of Independent Rock she said, '[we] found it well repaid our toil and trouble. It was somewhat difficult to ascendmany names and dates are written on it'. She said of Devil's Gate, 'It is as great, if not the greatest natural curiosity that I have ever beheld Niagara Falls not excepted.'
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1925-1977