Missouri River near St. Joseph area — John Ordway: July 5, 1804
The party traveled along the river, passing the site of an old Kansas town abandoned around 1724, likely due to warfare pushing the inhabitants further into the plains. They noted a large lake on the north side, about three-quarters of a mile wide and several miles long, full of fish and goslings. The boat struck sandbars and drift three times without serious damage. They stopped at a beaver house for dinner, passed Yellow Ochre Creek, and camped on the south side beneath a high bank opposite well-timbered bottomland.
white horse a cross this River, proceeded on for two miles under
the bank where the old Kansas Town formerly Stood (Say in
1724) the cause of those people moveing from this place we
cannot learn, but naturly conclude that war has reduced their
nation and compelled them to retire further into the plains with
a view of defending themselves. I did not mention on yester-
day that the Lake on the north side was large say f of a Mile
wide & 7 or 8 miles long [with] one Creek & several Creeks run-
ing in to it from the hills it contains a great quantity of fish
and Goslings from which it takes its name, we passed Some verry
bad sand bars the Boat turned three times once on a Drift
wood, but recived no procevable damage, we came too at a beaver
house for Dinner, the high land on the South Side is open a fiew
trees scattering, we passed a Small creek on the left named
Yallow Oakey Creek,3 we Camped on the South Side under a
high bank, the land on the opposite Side is well timbered good
bottom, fine place for a Range verry thick high Rushes for
common
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
White Horse, across this River, we proceeded on for two miles under the bank where the old Kansas Town formerly stood (say in 1724). The cause of those people moving from this place we cannot learn, but we naturally conclude that war has reduced their nation and compelled them to retire further into the plains with a view of defending themselves.
I did not mention yesterday that the lake on the north side was large—say three-quarters of a mile wide and 7 or 8 miles long—with one creek and several creeks running into it from the hills. It contains a great quantity of fish and goslings, from which it takes its name.
We passed some very bad sandbars. The boat turned three times, once on a drift of wood, but received no perceivable damage. We came to at a beaver house for dinner. The highland on the south side is open, with a few scattered trees. We passed a small creek on the left named Yellow Oakey Creek. We camped on the south side under a high bank. The land on the opposite side is well timbered, good bottom, a fine place for a range, with very thick high rushes for common.
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