jake t hompson’s journal
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Jake T hompson’s journal . By : JP. April 27, 1843. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Jake Thompson’s journal
By: JP
April 27, 1843Today is the day, the day we set out and embark on our most difficult journey ever. We will have to make a journey clear across the united states. It will be hard, but as long as we stay together as a
family . We have a backbreaking path ahead of us, but I know that we can do it.
-Jake Thompson
Today… today was the worst. I spent hours
mapping making scales, and collecting supplies. I don’t thing I worked this hard ever in my life! My job in New York City was simple. i worked in the lumber fields. It was a perfect job up until I lost my wife Mary. She was killed
in a factory fire right after out daughter, Candy, was born. We stared having money
issues and everything started to just fall apart. I didn’t know what to do. i heard about the
gold rush from one of the other men from the fields and he said it would be a great
opportunity for my family. So here I am, writing away. I just hope this enough for my
family, I hope…
May 1, 1843
-Jake Thompson
I have been working myself have to
death. Maybe I shouldn’t have waited this long. Its getting to hot, way to fast. I really don’t think I can stand
anymore of this. I don’t care how hard its going to be. I’m going to do it, for my family. I cant be like my parents. I
cant just abandon my kids. I know how it feels, to be left alone and cold. No child, should ever have to endure what I did. The thought that I never knew my parents is unreal. A white man name Samuel took me in and raised me as his own. I left him at
fifteen and journeyed to new york city looking for new opportunities, and it
worked.
May 5, 1843Well today I bought two
rifles from a lone traveler. They may come
in handy for food and even defense. I heard stories of people being
invaded by Native Americans and killed for trying to take there land.
My family needs protection. Its only been a week, but it feels like
its been forever. We mad a long journey around
Lake Erie and have finally gotten to Lake
Michigan. Time to resupply and forge
ahead
-Jake Thompson
We are in the worst condition ever. We had just crossed the Illinois state
line and were raided by a group of Indians. I was badly wounded in my right shoulder and cannot lift anything heavy. Luckily my family is safe. A family of five heard the shots and came to our aid. The native Americans had no choice but to retreat. Although we look strong, the attack changed out mental state from hopeful to hopeless. I want us to make it. I need us to make it. It doesn’t matter what happens we can fight through this. We will make it out
May 9, 1843
west. We will stay together as a family. That is the most important task right now. My family is strong, even though we have a hole in it. No one can ever replace my wife. My family is one… -Take
Thompson
Its has been four days since we were raided. We have been lowly
picking each other off the group and helping with getting restocked. Toby helped around the camp, because I couldn’t really do anything. i mad a few things for the children. Like, a bow, fishing pole, and some
other useful tools. Today was easygoing for me and I'm glad that everything went okay. My daughter, , tended to my wounds and
made sure they wouldn’t get infected. Luckily my wife taught her some useful skills before she died. I thought about what it would be like if my
wife was here now. Would it make things easier? We really need something to look forward to so I told my children, as soon as we get to the Mississippi river I would let them have a little fun. It would be the best thing to do. Let them get out some of that stress that they
have bundled up inside of them. It would mean the world to them and that’s what I'm going to give them.
Jake Thompson
May 13, 1843
Today was the big day, we finally got to the Mississippi
river and I told my children about the free day. As soon as I told them I could see there mood brighten in an
instant. We spent the whole day acting like a real family and had a blast. It was perfect, and best of all we took a
brake for once. We have been going for about two weeks straight now and we deserve it. Its all going to
work out. We are going to make it to California. I believe we will. We spent most of the day swimming in the river and eating food. I have to admit that today was the best
day I have had since Mary died. Jake Thompson
May 17, 1843
We have decided to make a boat. We sold our horses and
road the Mississippi river all the way to the Missouri river. From there we will make it to the starting point of the Oregon trail. We restocked at a port and we kept on going. We docked at night and had dinner. We seen many types of animals but the coolest was the mountain lion. We had a peaceful night and set sail early the next morning. We had just started out
journey down the great Mississippi . Things where going smooth and then the gangs started breaking out. They made
the trip really dangerous for us. We had to be carful not to make anyone mad. I have to protect my family.
Jake Thompson
May 21, 1843
May 25, 1843
Were only half way there and we have used almost all of our money. We just might have to stop for a week or two.
We found a little town on the side of the river and asked to rent a cabin. We all had to make it work. There was only two rooms and we had to share the beds. It was rough, but we
had to make it work. Nobody said that this journey would be easy. Im going to be here for my children, especially candy. She wasn’t looking so good today. I wish Mary was with us
now. she knew everything about health and sickness. I could really use some of her wisdom right now. For now, I will have
to settle for my strength to keep going.Jake Thompson
Well today couldn’t have gotten better. We
were walking around town looking for jobs. Toby and I found jobs at the first place we
went to. I found a job at the blacksmith in the center of town. Toby got one cleaning up after
the horses in the stalls. Even though it paid well I still felt a little bad for him. My job was different. I had never don’t anything like this before in my life. Weapons were on a high
demand right now because of the migration west. People need protection, because they
were scared for their family. I know that I am. The people in this town are really peaceful and
I hope this will work for now. I hope that we can make this work.
Jake Thompson
May 26, 1843
Life is hard… today was the first time that I have
ever said those words in my life. I could have given up today, but I didn’t. I thought of my
family and that changed how I thought of it. If I don’t work my family isn't fed. If I don’t work my family cant live on. If I don’t work we will never make it to the west coast. Well I guess I'm going
to sleep now. I'm going to work my butt off tomorrow.
Jake Thompson
May 30, 1843
Were having a lot of ease in this small little
town. I cant tell if its suppose to be like this. My family was invited to dinner at boys house down the street. He has become really close to my daughter and I think he actually likes
her. I approve of this kid. He works very hard as a fishermen and from what people tell me he would be perfect for my daughter. I put
candy in the towns school house to get some knowledge in that little head of hers. She has
been doing well from what hr teacher tells me. I'm happy that this is going so well. I just hope
that it lasts. I hope that we can last long enough so that we can get west.
Jake Thompson
June 3, 1843
I have to admit, my family is handling this
change very well. They don’t gripe when its time to get up and they work hard. I know
they want to get to the west as much as I do. My family is working and that’s all that
matters right now. We don’t know what we will see in the west but its got to be better then
the east coast. We had no opportunities there. We didn’t know what to do anymore. So we
made a change for the better. We took a risk and it has started to pay off. We have a family that can work together and survive and thrive. We know now that we are one and without this
family I would be nothing. I am grateful for this family,
Jake Thompson
June 7, 1843
Well today we made a choose. We have
enough money now and we have to leave. We are so close to victory that I can taste it. I want it so bad, but what about my family. I have to think of them first. They are what
mean the most to me and I would do anything for them. I asked them and they made their
decision to leave. They want as much as I do, and we will get there. I know this now,
because we can do anything as a family. Even travel across the United States. We are doing
it and it will be accomplished. Jake
Thompson
June 11, 1843
We have been traveling for three and a half
days now. We have been doing great so far. we docked along the Missouri river and stayed
the night. At first light we all got up and walked a few miles to what looked like to me a family farm. They were nice people and they
helped us out. I paid $100 dollars for four horses for all of us. The family was so nice
that let us eat there and rest up for the day. We took turns taking baths and they gave us
some new clothes to wear and we were on our way.
May 15, 1843