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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
May 17th, 1859 -- For some days we have been travelling for every place in general, completely boxing the compass every two hours. Today however we have had a rather straighter road, aiming it would appear for some point in particular, the land has been more level and better adapted to cultivation with the usual drawback incident to Nebraska, the extreme scarcity of timber, and for anything I can see there are more inhabitants in the territory at the present time than ever will be found again at any future period. We passed this forenoon what appeared to us to be a grave, probably the last resting place of some poor wayfarer, who lies here far from home and friends, there is a pile of rocks on the tomb placed there no doubt by some pious hand to keep the spot sacred from the ruthless touch of the oft-passing wagon wheel, rest his ashes in peace whoever he be, who knows but we also, at least some of us, may find rest in a similar place.Powell
Travelled seventeen miles. We are in camp on the prairie. We are ten miles east of Elem Creek. We passed two good springs. This part from Missouri to here, the country is much broken with small draws, the grass is short, good drinking water is scarce through this part of the country. We see to day several persons from the Peak, one of which was going to draw arms on an old man for disputing his word.