Diary of John Ament

Aug[.] the 7 1863

I we are bound to leave our house[.] we was ordered to move to the post[.] the order was that all the people had to move to the nearest post to them and all that was left had to be destroyed after the [9?] of Aug[.] then they changed the [[MS. faded]] to let people go whar they want to[.] some prayed we would [[MS. faded]][.] We started [[MS. faded]] [[ ] ] [[MS. illegible]] all neighbors Mr. Evans[,] Mrs. [Dares?] [[MS. faded]] together awhile[.] Mr. Evans wagon broke down [[MS. faded]] and cough up [[MS. faded]][.] the rest of our neighbors travelled all day and camped at the Widdow [Hunts?] with Mr[.] Wills family [[MS. illegible]]. We started out again [to day?][.] we traveled all day in the dirt and dust and [[MS. faded]][.]


On the 2 day we travarild [traveled] all day[.] I hav [there?] sore eyes[,] so bad that I can’t hardy stand the dust at al[.] we stoped and camped at Mrs[.] Syms[.] Ther we herd some good news at and [an] old negros hous that the white folks had all gon of and give them [[MS. illegible]] their farm to them [[ ] ] during the war[.] their names was [Herise?][.] Mr[.] Wills all camp there with us[.] we went [[MS. illegible]] this a bitter and cold chill [[MS. illegible]] in Jonson Cty[.]


we roled out the 3d day and travailed [traveled] on about 5 miles and broke the [[MS. illegible]] pole[,] then we camped in Mrs[.] [Lawson?] late and unpack the wagon and made a new [[MS. illegible]] pole[,] loaded up again and roald out[.] This brought us out of Jonson Cty the [[MS. illegible]] started [[MS. illegible]] and travaild all we could[.] that was about 10 [[MS. illegible]][.]


12

we roled out again and travaild all day in the dust and dirt crossing many rocy hills and bad places. we met [[MS. illegible]] all neighbors Mrs[.] [Baty?] and [[MS. illegible]][.] we out travald them[,] came about [[MS. illegible]] miles and camped in [[MS. illegible]][.] we had a very pleasant place to camp at[.]


13

we travaild on the same way with a great many [[MS. illegible]][.] we travd a day and their was an old woman by the [[MS. illegible]] with us[.] we crossed a bridge over a creek by the name of [syncles?][.] it had a bridge over it about 2 hundred yars long so we travar about [15?] miles and camped in Mr[.] [[MS. illegible]] and [[MS. illegible]] went to the hous to get some water[.] we had to go about 1 mile for it[.] the time we got back it was sundown[.] we got super [supper] and was all done eatin when some of ar old acquaintance [[MS. illegible]] and we got the the best for their super [supper] we coul[d] for them and that was bad enough[.]


14

I roled on again and traveld on [[ ] ] over som of the worst rodes I ever saw[.] we only traveld 10 miles[,] camped at a house on the [[MS. faded]] who I had staid befor[.] we could not get one bucket of water to use this [[MS. faded]][.] we had [ ] a hard time of it[.]


[15]

we rold out again on the 15 and travald 10 miles[,] crossed 1 bridge[,] came on to Booneville[.] their we crossed the river about 11 oclock[,] came up on the bank[,] stoped and eat our dinner[,] started again[,] travaild 7 miles farther[.] campd [[ ] ] camped at Mr. [Roulessons?][.] We pastured our stock for nouthing to knight[.] [[MS. illegible]] mutch of a [[MS. illegible]] I think[.] on the 15 on the morning of the 15 started out again rolld over hills and had [[MS. illegible]] crossed 3 bridges[.] it was up one hill and down another until we had travaild [traveled] about 10 miles[.] the by this time we was all tired [[MS. illegible]] stoped to take dinner[.] [[MS. illegible]] went down to a hous to get som water their but met with cousin [[MS. illegible]] Martin[.] he came back to the wagon with [[MS. illegible]] and would have us to go home with him and stay all knight with him[.] that was the first time we ever saw each other[.] he had one of the friendlieess [friendliest] girls & I ever saw. her name was Sallie[.] you may bet we had some [ ] fun[.] wen we started he gave us a sack of flour & 1 side of [bacon?][.] it was like parting with a brother to leave him[.] all the family was the kindest people & I was sad we had to leave them and bid them a long fare well[.] [[MS. illegible]] again [[ ] ] traveld 10 miles[.] camped at an old gentlemans[,] do not know his name[.] so we left thar the next morning [[MS. illegible]] he charged us 50 cents per bushel for corn[.]


We are in old boon[.]


18

I started out again[,] traveld all day[.] crossed the creek called [[MS. illegible]][.] it had a brig [bridge] over 20 feat from the water so [[MS. illegible]] 16 [miles?] and [[MS. illegible]] a young mans hous by the name of Tailer[.]


19

we started out[,] travild about 2 miles there we met the cars[.] the train was heavy loded with passengers[.] this was a great sight to see[.] it was the first train I ever saw[.] we went on 2nd half [[MS. illegible]] to a town called Sturgeon[.] their was depot there[.] it was [[MS. illegible]] beautiful place[.] we traveld on meeting trains all day[.] we came 10 miles further, came threu [through] [[ ] ] another little town called St Trailie [ Centralia?][.] there was another depot so I came on a little further[,] came out of boon Cty in to [[ ] ] Randolf[.] so we camped at a gentlemen by the [name] of Mr[.] Jessee[.] he had gon to to church when we got thear[.] their was something strange to me at [[MS. illegible]] for I had not h[eard] a surmon preached [[MS. illegible]] 18 months[,] so [[ ] ] he was a god old Baptist[.] whin I herd tald it made mee think of old times[.] he invited us all in his house to stay all [[ ] ] knight[.] it was very cold and we went in and stop[.] staid all knight[.] he did not charge any thing[.]


19

I started out on the Sabbath day[.] I thout it a hard thing to travel on the Sabbath but I could not do any [[MS. illegible]] so we traveld on and met people gong to church[.] we came on 10 miles came threw a town called Mexico that was the county ceit of orderan [ Audrain][.] we came on and camped at Mr[.] [[ ] ] Clark s[.] we traveld 16 miles[,] 12 on Monday morning[.] I rold out again traveld all day [[ ] ] and camped at Mr[.] Browns[.] we traveld 16 miles that day[.]


22

I started again[,] came threw a town called New Harmony[.] we came on threw bolingreen [ Bowling Green] that was the couty [county] ceit of Orderain [ Audrain][.] came on and camped at Mrs[.] haskenson[.]


23

on another day travel on out of Orderrain [ Audrain] in to Pike[.] traveld 15 miles[.] camped at Mr[.] [[ ] ] [Mackwell s?][.] he never charge us anything[.] he gave us [[MS. illegible]][,] wheat[,] [[MS. illegible]][.]


24

again I started out and went on 3 miles[.] this was about to bring [us] out of Missouri & I thout it a hard thing to leave my native contry[.] we had to go threw a toll gate[.] they [[ ] ] charged us [[ ] ] 85 cent[.] we had traveld 9 miles on the graveld road[.] their we camp in clarks ville came on down to the edge of the [[ ] ] Missouri river[.] their we staid but one our befor we came over[.] we crossed over the river [[ ] ] in a steme [[MS. faded]] [[ ] ][.] then we traveld on came threw there a long [bottom?] then out[.] we got lost and then [[ ] ] the boys had to get on the horses to hunt a [[MS. illegible]][.] they came across a man by the name of [syneks?][.] he put us on the wright road[.] we traveld on it at dark and we did not know what to do[.] it was the offulys [awfulest] looking place I ever saw[.] it was a verry large [bottom?][.] we could scarcely see the sky when we looked out[.] I was frightey almost to death[.] I had a sick brother it was bad on him after aewill [awhile][.] we herd soum dogs bark[.] we stoped[.] the boys went up a high bluff[.] their was a house but they could not keep us though he was kind enough[.] he was kind enough to [[MS. illegible]] us to the next house[.] ther we staid[.] [[ ] ] I did not [[MS. illegible]] either of the names[.]


25

I started out [[MS. illegible]] traveld [[MS. illegible]] to the [[MS. illegible]] river about [[MS. illegible]][.] their we [[ ] ] staid[.] it was dark early before befor we got crosed over[.] the boat came over and tuck [took] the [[MS. illegible]] then came back[.] about half crosed then the wagon[.]


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