OVERLAND.--We commence the publication of a paper today that cannot fail to be interesting to a great majority of our readers; the diary of H. R. SCHUTT Esq. of a journey across the plains and mountains to California and Oregon. We are all familiar with the story of travel to California at present, in palace cars, with all the conveniences and luxuries of civilized life at command, and a recital of the toil, delays, hardships and varied experiences of passage over the same route by tedious wagons and horses will present a striking contrast to the present method. The story, although in the form of a diary, is told in an interesting manner, by one who evidently had his eyes open, and will not flag in interest to the end.
National Democrat, Cassopolis, Michigan, May 15, 1873, page 5


    [PREFACE--The following pages are designed to portray the scenes incident to the journey across the plains, in the early times of emigration, when the principal countries of the earth were aroused by the golden reports of California and the inviting climate and fruitful soil of Oregon. They contain descriptions of every noticeable feature of scenery, of mountain and desert, of animals, and the natural human inhabitants of our western wilds, of accidents and incidents that came to our knowledge or observation.]
    MARCH 22nd, 1850.--Upon this date, having our preparations for the West completed, Jno. C. Peebles and myself start from his residence a few miles northwest from Elkhart, Indiana, with a light but substantial covered wagon and four horses, having bedding and cooking implements for our journey, and expecting to be joined by Jas. H. Foster at Council Bluffs, he, for the present remaining in Elkhart, to put his business in shape to leave. His route will then be by the way of St. Louis for supplies for our journey upon the plains.
    As but little of interest is likely to occur in passing through the settled portions of states on our way to Council Bluffs, the principal starting point for emigrants from the northern states, but little more will be given than an index of our travel, and the places through which we pass. We take the farewell of home, and with good weather night finds us at Carlisle Hill.
    March 23--From Carlisle Hill to City West.
    March 23--City West to Calumet, the prairie roads are excessively disagreeable at this early season of the year.
    March 25--Today we reach Chicago by p.m.; stop at the Baltic House and ramble about the city, making slight purchases, and finding out our best route for further travel.
    March 26--With fine weather, and good roads, we travel to Napierville in company with others, who, like ourselves, are
    March 27--Today we reach Little Rock. The nights are cold, and the half-frozen sloughs are not agreeable, but gold is a magnet that swims a river, or climbs the mountain.
    March 28--We reach Paw Paw and are in company with other emigrants every day.
    March 29--From Paw Paw to Dixon, where we cross Rock River in rough, hilly prairie country.
    March 30--Travel over good roads, make a short day's travel and camp out in a grove.
    March 31--This day we travel through a good country and reach the Mississippi at Albany, where we camp in good pasturage, surrounded by many emigrants.
    April 1--We ferry over the Mississippi, which we now behold in reality, instead of dreamy visions of the geography lessons of former years. We ponder upon this as we look upon the gigantic stream, and can relish the practice of studying geography by personal observation. We are now in Iowa and stop for night, a few miles out from the river at DeWitt.
    April 2--We travel through good country, some hills, some timber and reach Buena Vista.
    April 3--We travel to Tipton and lay over one day.
    April 5--From Tipton we drive over rolling prairie; some timber in the country; camp out.
    After this we travel over very rolling country, near some heavy Indian trails that led the remainder of our journey to Council Bluffs. We passed through Iowa City where we visited the State House, and, obtaining the keys from a gentlemanly official, we strolled over the splendid structure, finding ourselves at one time at the top, where we had the city and surrounding country spread far below us, a faithful map.
    We crossed the Des Moines River at the fort, and good weather but scanty grass at length found us at Kanesville, surrounded by thousands of California emigrants, encamped in the bottoms and ravines. The lines of travel reaching this place have had their harvest from the emigrants this spring in the exorbitant price of hay, oats and corn. As we found corn very scarce, we made a trip south until within sight of the hills of Missouri, near Austin, where corn has moderated to $1.25 per bushel.
    April 11--We are encamped opposite the mouth of the Platte River for an indefinite time, waiting for grass to advance sufficiently to invite us out upon our journey, also, for the arrival of Mr. Foster with supplies for the route. Kanesville is a few miles from the Missouri River, out of the bottom land (which is subject to overflow) and just among the hills. Trader's Point and Council Point are small villages within a few miles upon the river. The inhabitants are principally Mormons temporarily settled, intending to emigrate to Salt Lake, while other proselytes from Europe and elsewhere take their places in turn to travel. There are some Mormon notables at Kanesville, we are told, among them are Elds. Hyde and Pratt.
    April 28--Today we observe a steamer approaching the landing, and on nearing us we discovered Foster on board. He has stores for our outfit, but we soon learn that his health will not warrant an immediate move. We move out 18 miles, to the Booga [Boyer?] River, that Foster may have the benefit of medical attendance by an M.D., whose acquaintance he had made on board the steamer. Here we are detained some days, only to arrange to travel by the last of May.
    May 31--Forward at last! We cross the Missouri River at Trader's Point into Indian country. While lying here a day or two before crossing the river, the Pawnees made a descent upon the Otoes, capturing about 40 horses and killing a few of their tribe. This aroused the savages so that an Oto Indian, having a Pawnee squaw, captured a few years since, stabbed, scalped, and left her lying in the clay pit at the ferry landing nearly all day, but this outraged the feelings of the emigrants so that they compelled the Indian to bury her, which he did in a grave two feet deep, and shabbily covered, which was soon obliterated by the emigrant stock. This is our first introduction to the style of executive justice adopted by savages.
    June 1--
    But as we leave no widows, nor orphans, we expect to go to California, to swim rivers if necessary, or climb mountains, or outrun Indians when our scalps are endangered. I only mean that we made an attempt at an organization for traveling in company, and started over a fair stretch of country accompanied by a ferryman and reached the Elkhorn River in good time to camp, having traveled twenty-seven miles.
    June 2--We travel from Elkhorn River to the junction with the road from Winter Quarters. On our road today, we met about two hundred Indians returning from a hunt and fight. They had many horses laden with buffalo skins and meat. They seemed jovial and were inquisitive, examining every wagon, and seeming as communicative as the disadvantage of our language would permit.
    June 3--Today we pass over rolling prairie, do a moderate day's travel and arrive at Shell Creek; good weather; poor grass; good wood.
    June 4--This morning we take the wagons across a little rickety willow bridge by hand, and being now in company with 30 men and a number of wagons, we proceed across bottom land, and reach Platte River, where we find good camp for the night.
    June 5--Rainy day; we move camp but three miles. We find plenty of fish in the Platte River.
    June 6--Today we pass Looking Glass Creek, five miles from starting, thence to Beaver River, where we use the rest of the day in making a willow bridge, carrying over the baggage, swimming the stock across, and take the wagons across by attaching long ropes, and getting upon the opposite shore, we draw them through the river. We are now according to our guide 103¾ miles from Council Bluffs. Just before dusk, we circle out to capture a wolf that has been discovered from camp, when a chase of two miles over the hills takes it to some Indians, and reveals his ownership as a dog. Of course we look at each other and retreat with a joke that will last for a number of days.
    June 7--Leave camp this morning, and pass by the remains of an old Indian village, that was burned by the Sioux in 1737 [sic]. We continue, and cross Plum Creek and Ash Creek, and several miles further brings us to camp seven miles below the ford on the Loup Fork. We have seen more game today than formerly. Elk bounding away miles ahead. The most beautiful little antelopes fleeing away before us. Deer and wolves in abundance, the latter in sight almost constantly. Distance from Council Bluffs 114¼ miles.
    June 8--We move up to the ford; examine the river, and find the best place to cross is where we first came to it. The river is 100 rods [1,650 feet] wide. We raise the wagon boxes as high as the stakes will allow, to prevent wetting the loads. This we do by putting short props upon the axles under the box. We attach long ropes to a wagon, string out our men at the sides of the wagon, and keeping the wagon right side up, we get the end of the rope across where we have a team already across to draw the wagon over, and get up the bank, and in this laborious way, in water to our waists, we get four wagons across and our camp is divided upon the sides of the river for night.
    June 9--We again commence moving the remaining wagons over the river, which detained us until one p.m., when we concluded to remain in camp for the day, as the work of the day had been laborious under the scorching sun. Here we saw a dead beaver floating down the river, which was a curiosity to us. We also saw white wolves in this section, and animals we cannot name.
    June 10--Today we traveled over prairie country in a southwest direction; saw plenty of deer and antelope, and at night camped in the open country. The entire Platte Valley is an open prairie, very lightly grassed out upon the bluffs, and in many places heavy sandy road.
    June 11--Fine weather for traveling. We come to Wood River; raise our loads and ford it, thence on until we strike the main Platte River and camp. Today we saw the first buffalo of the trip; one of the party shot one, but was unhorsed in the operation, and six miles from camp, so we fail to get beef.
    June 12--A day's travel, crossing Elm Creek in open country; good weather; grass improving; neither accident or incident is the record today.
    June 13--A good day's travel. We come in sight of other trains fore and aft. Cross Buffalo Creek. We see that companies ahead have killed many buffalo, but the season is not yet advanced enough for the main herd from Texas.
    June 14--We still pass on with good weather and roads. We are now, according to our guide, 260 miles from the Bluffs. The "guide" is a pamphlet made by the Mormons, describing the route to their settlement at Salt Lake, and the emigration is well supplied for them. We find it entirely reliable. We pass Willow Lake, Ptah Lake and pass on over as good roads as any in the States.
    June 15--Today we pass on up the Platte; the valley is from two to six miles wide; grass better; roads good.
    June 16--We lay up and fix for the route ahead; that is, that we make a note of the gentle hint in the Guide that tells us that we are to have no wood for two hundred miles. Hence, we do some baking and boiling. We are three hundred and six miles from Council Bluffs.
    June 17--As usual, a good day's travel. Pass Black Mud Creek and arrive at Bluff Creek; good weather; and very good roads. Feed is excellent; many wagons now left along that had freighted corn on the start.
    June 18--Today we pass several small creeks in short distances from each other, marked as Petile, Picanini, Goose, Duck, Weed, Shoal, Rattlesnake, Cedar Bluffs, and find camp on Camp Creek. We have a buffalo chase. We saw one down by the river, some distance from the road, and eight of the boys start immediately down on each side of him. He discovered his enemies and started for the bluffs; several shots were fired at him as he passed up, but to no purpose. As he neared the train, the dog was sent out and was soon with him, and by this time, being wearied, he turned upon the dog for fight, but finally succeeded in making his escape, pursued by four of the boys.
    June 19--This morning there is considerable anxiety in camp. The four boys that left the train yesterday in pursuit of the buffalo did not get into camp with us at night. Some were without coats, and the night was cold, but we find them as we journey about 10 a.m. upon the road. Wolves plenty, and in great variety, which did not add materially to their comfort through the night.
    Straying from the trains, for various reasons, is a common occurrence among emigrants, occasioned by straying cattle, game or curiosity. But in all cases, as there is but one road in the country, the effort of the wanderer is to reach the road ahead of his train, but as there is an enormous emigration this year, we can frequently get information whether a certain train is ahead or behind us.
    We make a good day's travel, crossing several creeks, which were noted in our guide as Pond Creek, Wolf Creek, Watch Creek, and Castle Creek. Also, we pass the "lone tree," a noted object upon this 200 miles of prairie travel. It stands upon our side of the river, just upon the brink, and being a long distance from the road is seldom visited by emigrants.
    We also passed the meridian of Ash Hollow, which we can see across the river. It is a lovely camp, with a beautiful grove in a capacious ravine. The route from St. Joseph and Independence comes across from South Platte and follows up to Laramie.
    June 20--Early this morning, the grand hailing signal of the prairie went though the camp. This was simply the cry of "Buffalo." A dozen of our riflemen were instantly ready, but caution prevented an immediate move, as five buffalo were coming down from the bluffs across the bottom to the river to drink, sixty or eighty rods from our camp. We were all impatient, but had to wait until they had disappeared down behind the perpendicular wash bank, by a single path that admitted them to the water.
    We then made a cautious circle, surrounding their entrance to the river, and as were closed up to the bank, the advantage was all on our side. We gave them a salute, and they instantly started for shore, their eyes flashing with determination, and thoroughly intent upon escape. But the narrow pass that admitted them to the river required them to observe the usual tactics of all our western countries, which is simply Indian file, or one at a time.
Hiram Rockafeller Schutt in the National Democrat, Cassopolis, Michigan, May 15, 1873, page 1


    Hiram Rockafeller Schutt was born in Ontario Co., New York, Feb. 19, 1828. His father's name was Benjamin Schutt, and his mother's maiden name was Christina Bruzee.
    He came with his parents, one brother and two sisters to Michigan in the fall of 1843.
    At the age of 19 he began teaching school, a vocation which he followed during the winter season for thirty years. He was a splendid mathematician and always took great interest in all educational work. He was especially kind to the young teachers, and many there are who can remember how he assisted them over some rough places in their work.
    In the summer of 1850 in company with others he went overland to California and Oregon, remaining four years. He was county clerk of Linn County, Oregon, for two years, and taught school one winter during his stay there. The remainder of the time he spent in the gold mines of California, where he met with fair success. Returning in 1854, he settled on the farm in Jefferson township, where he has since resided. March 25, 1858 he united in marriage with Fanny Rosbrough. To them were born four children, Stella, who lives at home, Mrs. Martha Sachse of Cassopolis, Owen of Violinia township, and Mrs. Olive Switzer of Fort William, Canada.
    In the summer of 1880, in company with others, he went to the gold mines of Colorado. Meeting with no success, he returned in 1885 and has since resided at his home. Always an uncompromising Democrat, he held office in his home town for 34 consecutive years. He was notary public at the time of his death, which office he had also held for years.
    He was not a believer in any of the orthodox creeds or theories, but strove always to be a reasoner.
    He was an honest man, and a kind, helpful neighbor. Nothing was ever too much for him to do, or no road was ever too long for him to travel when a neighbor needed help, and in his immediate neighborhood, "Uncle Hiram" will be much missed. He passed on to the higher life from his home in Jefferson, Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, 1908.
    Funeral services were held at the White church in Jefferson, Thursday, Jan. 16. The address was delivered by Mrs. Sheets, a Spiritualist of Grand Ledge, Mich.
Cassopolis Vigilant, Cassopolis, Michigan, January 23, 1908, page 1



¼½¾⅓⅔⅛⅜⅝⅞…ñ颰⁋●
Last revised February 11, 2025