Oregon150

MABEL’S JOURNAL

A short story by Alison Mae Lasher, age 10, inspired by the diaries of her great-
grandmother’s aunt, Mabel F. O’Brian, who immigrated to Oregon in 1892.

February 12, 1892, Leon, Kansas

Dear Journal,
Pa got home from Oregon. It’s a wonderful land. Ma said, “I suppose we have to
pack. We’re going west.” I’m excited to go on a trip, but I am glum because I will
leave my friends. Pa said that we leave on Tuesday. I hope Tuesday never comes.

February 16
Today we leave for Abilene. Now I am in the back of the wagon.

February 23, 1892, on the train
Dear Journal,
Riding a train sounded like fun. It was the first half hour. After that it is boring. I
packed my needlepoint bag. I’m just learning and I’m going to make a pillow
cover for Pa’s rocking chair.

February 24, Crossing the Great Plains
The train has a steam engine, a baggage car where our trunks, boxes, Pa’s rocking
chair and Ma’s organ are, a mail car, a tourist car for sleeping and our coach with
40 seats. The land is unbelievably DULL; a flat grassy plain. No tree anywhere!
We stop for wood and water for the steam engine.

February 26, Rocky Mountains
I was just getting used to the switchbacks when the train stopped. A small
avalanche is on the tracks. Pa, Robert, and Joe helped shovel snow.

February 28, Rocky Mountains
I have nothing to write about. Every day is the same. My back hurts from sleeping
sitting upright. Breakfast is cold again. Jenny is crying and Milton is teasing Ida
Belle and Eveline. There is nothing to see on the outside except snow and
sometimes a dead tree. LEAP YEAR. TOMORROW IS FEBRUARY 29!

March 1, Salt Lake City Utah Territory
We can’t go any further on this train. We have 3 choices; Virginia City where they
found gold, or California where they found gold, or to Oregon.

March 3, Boise, Idaho
I didn’t write yesterday, everything is the same. We’ve been on a train for eight
day and nights. Pa sent a telegraph in Morse code from Boise. We will be at The
Dalles on Sunday.

March 4, Baker City, Oregon
The land was flat along the Snake River. We just crossed the river. We are going
up a hill with lots of small switchbacks and a HUGE one. Baker City has many
modern buildings; Pa thinks it has too many saloons to raise children.

March 5, The Dalles, Oregon
I woke up and saw the biggest river ever. Pa calls it the Columbia River. This is
our last day on train.

March 6, 1892, Dufur, Oregon

The first day in our new house! Yesterday we got off the train in The Dalles. Pa’s
friend was waiting with Pa’s wagon. We rode to Dufur. Then we rode 5 miles to
the house Pa built in Rail Hollow. The scenery is grass and hills. The house is in
the valley. March 10 is my Birthday. I will be 13!!!