We left Kansas City, Missouri, for Portland, Oregon, Sunday evening, June 5, 1926. We left from 704 Olive Street at 3:30 PM.
Our bunch consisted of six cars, well equipped with cots, bedding, gas stoves, and everything to camp with. Melvin Simpson and family, Fred Morgan and family, Mrs. Morgan and daughter, Bro. Damron and family, Aunt Jennie, and Margaret, Bro. Alfred Smith, his sister and nephew, Burns Lundy and family, Bro. Potts and family, Sis. Duty and nephew John Fields and his wife were all in this group.
We have stopped. Some of them are about to lose their bedding. We crossed the river into Kansas and stopped again to wait on some of our bunch at 13 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
Well, at last we have gone again, leaving Will Thompson and Al Smith to fix an innertube. I never saw the like. Oh, just as I expected—a blowout. Another hour. I guess it wasn’t so bad, just about five minutes. We stopped again, a coil sticking. We are stopping in Lawrence, Kansas, to get a drink. It is a pretty place.
Well, at last we have driven into a free tourist camp about 10 PM at Ottowa. Two cars came ahead and had a meeting in the park. The rest of us never got here in time for the meeting. We set up camp, cooked and ate supper. Will Thompson and Al Smith came dragging in about an hour later, said they had five blowouts, ruined three innertubes, and spark plugs jumped after this. I guess we will all go to bed.
Monday morning, June 7, we got up about 6:00, had breakfast about 7:30, and packed up ready to go. Mamma has neuralgia. Of course, Bro. And Sis. Damron prayed for her. We are leaving camp about 9:00, stopped at a filling station to gas and air Lizzie.
Now going through Williamsburg. Sixteen miles from Ottowa. We stopped at Waverly to wait on part of the bunch. Some of them piled out on the grass to rest. They have come at last. We are stopping at Emporia where Will Thompson will visit with his aunt until we eat lunch. We got lunch here, drove down to Bro. Thompson’s aunt, but she wasn’t at home. We ate lunch on the lawn, had weanies and bread for dinner. Getting gas, and fixing to go again.
We are going to try to make it to Wichita this afternoon. Now going through Cottonwood Falls. Going through Elmdale. Sand! Sand! I feel like my eyes are full. Bettie has to water Melvin. He is dry. Hills—down one and over another. Oh, my! Melvin was whizzing around a corner and out went a tire. It won’t take long, though—he has another one ready to put on. Melvin got some lemon drops and some salted peanuts. We eat them for a pastime when he has a breakdown. Going again, and stopped at Florence to water Lizzie and ourselves. We can see a big oil field on top of a mountain. Wheat sure is pretty. Now going through Peabody. It is a pretty little place. We are stopping again at Newton to water Lizzie again. We all have to wear goggles Thomas went to sleep with his on. Mama asked him if he could sleep good with them on.
We drove into Wichita about 6:30, got something for supper uptown, then went to the tourist camp here. We drove into the tourist camp on the bank of the Arkansas River, sure is nice, a kitchen with gas plates, water, and tables to eat on. We paid $.50 per car. We are going to clean up ourselves. This is a dirty bunch. I feel like it is an inch thick on my own face. We all eleven cleaned up, and going to have a meeting in the park.
We came back from the meeting, ate supper and set up camp. We are so tired, can hardly set up. Oh, my, about 12 o’clock. I thought the wind was going to blow the tent away. Melvin had to hold it to keep it from blowing away.
Tuesday, June 8th. We got up about 6:00, cooked and ate breakfast, had steak and gravy. Eva is cleaning our glasses, getting them ready to go. Thomas broke one glass out of his, but he wears them just the same. The men are working on their cars, don’t know when we will leave here. Sis. Fields tore her stocking. Of course, she had to borrow some thread from Bettie to sew it up. Sister Jennie tore her apron, don’t know how or when she did it. She looked so funny when we told her about it.
We had dinner, French fried potatoes and vegetable soup. The people that run this tourist camp said they wished they could run this bunch out of town. Leaving the camp about 4:45. Stopped at filling station to get gas. There are so many of us that people looked at us like we were some kind of army going through the country.
Stopped at Newton, 18 mi. from Wichita to wait on Thompson and Al Smith. Here they come. Nothing was the matter. They are just behind, as usual. Well, we are ready to go again. It is raining and 39 miles to go before we get to camp. We have stopped again to buy lunch for supper. Melvin got bananas. I guess we will have bananas for supper. No, he has gone back and got some weanies, bread, and weanies again, I guess. We are gone again after fixing Al’s flat tire. Stopped on the road to fix up the side curtains to keep from getting wet. We drove in camp about 5 miles from Hutcheson at a little store, camped in a chicken yard. Bro. Fields and Kendall walked to town, didn’t think it was far and found out it was 5 miles. They caught a street car and rode part of the way back. Aunt Jennie tore her apron and asked Bettie how bad she tore hers. We ate supper, set up our tents, and went to bed.
Wednesday morning, June 9th. Bro. Fields and wife, Thompson, and Aunt Jennie got up early and left for Marksville where Bro. Fields will visit with his mother until we get there.
We got up about 6 AM, had a good breakfast and a good night’s rest, the first good night’s sleep since Saturday night. All packed up ready to go again, getting gas here and leaving camp about 9. Stopped in Hutcheson. Al is about to lose part of his load. Stopped again. Bro. Lundy had a blowout. While they fixed the tire, we got out and picked flowers and got some wheat. All the rest have gone off and left us, but we have gone again now. Bettie sneezed and Melvin said he thought we had another blowout. Cabbage by the acre. Wheat fields remind me of rice fields in Arkansas. Stopped at Sylvia to get motor oil and water. Stopped again—Al has got stuck in the sand. It is about 6 inches deep. Gone again.
Arrived in Marksville about 1 PM, found Thompson and Fields. All okay. We had dinner about 1:30 PM. Leaving Marksville about 2. Stopped at Lewis to water Lizzie again. Stopped—Al’s tire is flat again. Stopped at Dodge City. It sure is a pretty place. We had to set our clock back an hour here. Stopped at Cimmeron to see if everybody is coming. Sure enough, we are all together again. We drove into camp about 9:30 PM at Garden City, Kansas, and were so tired we didn’t cook any supper, just ate a lunch. We drove 190 miles today. Melvin and Forrest went up town, but if they were as tired as I am, they would go to bed.
Thursday, June 10th. Got up about 5:00, cooked and ate breakfast, packed up ready to go again. Everybody is feeling very well except Bro. Al. He has a sick headache. Bro. and Sis. Damron prayed for him. Leaving camp about 7:30 AM. Stopped at Deerfield. Lundy is having trouble with his tire. Gone again—Oh, my, we have a flat tire and none of our bunch is in sight, but we have another one ready to put on. I picked flowers while Melvin fixed the tire. Caught part of our bunch at Syracuse and are waiting on Thompson and Lundy here. Going through Coolage, last town we go through in Kansas.
Crossing the line into Colorado about 11 AM—out of Kansas at last. We see a lot of prairie dogs along the road. Stopped at Granada about 12 to eat dinner.
Leaving here about 1 PM. Stopped at Lamar to get gas and mail some cards. I went to sleep and just woke up. We had a blowout and none of our bunch in sight, but it didn’t take long to change tires until we were up and gone again. My, my, I think we are getting close to a polecat den from the smell of it.
We thought Kendall was in front of us. we waited at Los Animos a little while and didn’t any of the others catch up so we drove on and came to Lahunto, Colorado. Got here and could not find Kendall. They went to the post office in Lamar. We got in front of them, not knowing but what they were in front. They got uneasy about us, and Bro. Damron got in the car with Bro. Thompson and they went back to Lamar to see if they could find us. The other cars came on and we were waiting for them at Lahunta. Melvin and Kendall sent a telegram back to Lamar to tell them we were here and all okay. They sent one back which said, “Gladly Rec, And Greatly Relieved.” We drove into a tourist came here, paid $.25 a car, cooked and ate supper, washed up a little, and set up camp. Thompson and Bro. Damron got in about 9:30. We drove 166 miles today.
Friday, June 11th. Got up early, cooked breakfast, packed up early ready to go. Everybody feeling very well. Leaving camp about 7:00, drove out to a filling station to get gas and air. It is so cold this morning we have to wear our coats and sweaters. Have stopped to decide which way to go, into the southern route or the northern route. We never decided, said we would decide later. Stopped at Pueblo to eat dinner. We can see mountains from here with snow on top of them. We ate dinner in the park. It is a beautiful place. Lay down on the grass after dinner and went to sleep. Stopped at a filling station to get gas. We were all lined up. One man said, “Three cheers for Missouri.” Melvin had car trouble about 5 miles from Pueblo. Thompson went back to town and got repairs. We were delayed about 4 hours, drove into camp 9:00 at Florence, paid $.50, cooked supper, and set up camp. We drove 100 miles today. Went to bed about 11:00.
Saturday, June 12th. Got up about 6:00, cooked breakfast, had fried chicken. There are mountains all around us. We can see Pikes Peak from here, about 50 miles away. Looked through field glass. It has snow on the top of it. Thomas said he wished he had gone on the train. He was scared to go over these high mountains. All loaded up ready to go again, leaving camp about 8:00. Oil fields close to here. Oil well they said has been pumping for 38 years. Stopped at filling station to get gas. Drove about 10 miles. Today is Saturday. We have driven to a tourist camp at Canyon City about 9:30 to camp over Sunday, paid $.50.
We have got to the Rocky Mountains. Three cars went to see Royal Gorge, 18 in number, 100 miles up on a mountain. We were 8000 feet high. The canyon was 2600 feet deep. Thompson and Kendall came back over the skyline drive, but Potts had had enough of the mountains and we came on back to camp. Some of us washed. Some cleaned up. We had street meeting and were invited to the Free Methodist Church. Cooked and ate supper, got groceries for Sunday, and went to bed.
Sunday, June 13th. Got up about 8, cooked and ate breakfast, cleaned, and went to the Free Methodist church. We came back, had a good dinner, and lay down and went to sleep. When I awoke, it was raining, but didn’t rain much. Sis. Damron cooked some fried apple pies and we ate supper, and some of them went to street meeting. The rest of us went to bed.
Monday, June 14th. Got up early, cooked and ate breakfast, and packed up ready to climb mountains. Leaving Canyon City. About 8:00 we stopped at a filling station to get gas. We have stopped to let Melvin and Thomas, Forrest and Kendall go through the Penitentiary here.
Now going through the Rocky Mountains, stopped to eat on the bank of the Arkansas River. We have stopped to let some of them walk across the Arkansas River on a swinging bridge. Stopped at Salida to get gas. We saw the mountain burro and the mountain trout. My, my, snow! Snow! We have stopped to play snowball a while and take some pictures in the snow. We can drive along the mountain and rake snow off the side.
We are going over the Monarch Pass now. We are now on top of Monarch Pass, 11,200 feet high. We got out of our cars and walked 200 feet higher. My, but the wind almost took my breath. Have been driving all day through nothing but mountains and not out of them yet. My, it is some cold. We went by some snow that was over our heads. Drove into camp about 9 o’clock and ate supper, set up camp, and went to bed. It was so cold I heated a rock and took it to bed with me.
Tuesday, June 15th. Got up early. Was so cold we couldn’t sleep. Cooked and ate breakfast, loaded up ready to go over some more mountains today.
Sure is cold this morning. We have our coats and sweaters on and wrapped up in blankets.
We are leaving camp about 7:00. Stopped at Gunnison to get gas. We have now stopped at Cimaron to eat Diner. We are now going over Cerro Summit, elevation 5,000 ft. Stopped at Montrose to get gas. Have stopped at Delta to let Thompson catch up. He is behind, as usual. Well, here he comes. There is something the matter with one of his wheels. We drove into camp about 10:00 at Grand Junction. Was so tired and sleepy that we didn’t cook any supper. We have driven almost two days through nothing but mountains, but I think we are out of them for a while. Bettie said she believed if she had to go through mountains a day or two longer, she would lose her hearing and I think I would lose my eyesight. We set up camp and went to bed.
Wednesday, June 16th. Got up about 6:00, cooked and ate breakfast, packed up ready to go again, leaving camp about 10:30. Stopping at the filling station to get gas. Bro. Thompson visited with his sister last night and Bro. and Sis. Fields visited with their niece this morning, looked for them last night but found no one at home, so went back this morning to visit with them while we are here. Leaving Grand Junction about 11:30, stopping at a little store to see if we are all together, and sure enough I believe we are.
Al ran into Melvin and knocked a hubcap off his car. We are crossing the desert now. We are now crossing the line into Utah. We have stopped to eat dinner at 3:15 at Cisco.
Started again, but just got a little ways until Kendall had a flat tire. Melvin burned out a bearing about 35 miles from camp, but run on it to camp. Got to camp about 7:30 at Green River. Cooked and ate supper. We drove 125 miles today, drove through the desert all day and still in it. Set up camp and went to bed.
Thursday, June 17th. Got up about 6:00, cooked and ate breakfast. Melvin, Al, and Thompson are working on their cars. Melvin put in a new bearing and Kendall had to pull him—I mean his car to get it started. Leaving camp about 9:00, stopped at Green River, a little town 2 miles from camp to get gas. We have stopped to see a geyser. It shoots away up, then it quiets down and shoots up again. Stopped at Price to eat dinner. It is a pretty place. We have been going over a mountain, but just about over. Two men are driving about 3,000 head of sheep and we have stopped to see them and take their picture. They said they could only drive them about 6 mi. a day. They camp overnight and have dogs to watch over the flock at night and keep them together. They were driving them to another range. We drove into camp about 11:00 at Provo, were so tired and sleepy and cold we went to bed. We didn’t cook any supper, just ate a lunch.
Friday, June 18th. Got up about 6:00, cooked and ate breakfast, had steak and gravy. Sis. Jenny said they had hot pancakes. Well, we are all packed up ready to go again. Drove four days through nothing but desert and mountains. Leaving camp about 9:30. Stopped in Salt Lake City to sightsee a little. It is a big place. We went through the yard where the temple was, but didn’t go through the temple. Drove on to Ogden from Salt Lake where we ate dinner at 1:30 in the city tourist camp.
Bro. and Sis. Fields and Bro. Lunday & family drove on to Logan where Sis. Fields will visit with her sister until we get there. We have stopped at a filling station to get gas. Drove into Logan, found Fields and Lundays. All okay. Met Sis. Field’s sister. Drove across the line into Idaho about 7 o’clock. Drove into camp about 8:00 at Daton, Idaho. Camped at a school house. Wasn’t any tourist camp here. Drove 167 miles today. Ate a lunch, set up camp, and went to bed.
Saturday, June 19th. Got up about 4:00, cooked and ate breakfast. All loaded up ready to go. Leaving camp about 7:00. Stopped at Downey to get gas. Left Kendall behind to work on his car. Drove on into Pocatella, got gas, and waited on Kendall here. Getting a supply for dinner here. Ate dinner at American Falls. Drove into camp about 6:00 at Twin Falls to camp over Sunday. Paid $.50. drove 209 miles today. Cooked and ate supper, and got a supply for Sunday. So cold we set up camp and went to bed.
Sunday, June 20th. Got up about 7:00, cooked and ate breakfast, and had a little meeting of our own. Cooked dinner, had a good boiled dinner. Went to sleep in the afternoon. The children played jump the rope. We made some fried pies for supper. Ate supper and went to tent meeting. Got back about 10:00 and went to bed.
Monday, June 21st. Got up early, cooked and ate breakfast. All loaded up ready to go. Leaving camp about 6:30. Left Lundy and Thompson behind for Lundy to work on his car. Stopped at Mountain Homes to eat dinner and to wait for Lundy and Thompson to catch up. I think today is Forrest’s and Bro. Pott’s day, haven’t had but 3 flat tires. Stopped at Boise to get gas. Drove into a free camp about 8:00 at Fruitland. Drove 110 miles today. Cooked and ate supper. It is nice and warm. Went to bed about 10:30
Tuesday, June 22nd. Got up early, cooked and ate breakfast, had steak and gravy. Bettie is sick this morning. All loaded up ready to go again. Leaving camp about 8:00. Stopped at filling station here to get gas. We have just crossed the line into Oregon. Have stopped. Bro. Damron has broken his steering gear right on the Oregon line. Have to go back to Payette to get repaired. Was delayed about 2 hours. Stopped at Huntington to get something for dinner. Had to set our clocks back an hour here again.
We are now going through the Blue Mountains. They are much prettier than the Rockies. They have oiled roads in Oregon. Stopped at Baker. Have to take all of our bedding out and unroll it and shake it. They said to get the weevils out of them. We are going to eat dinner here. We can still see snow on the mountains.
Stopped at Logan to get gas and supplies for supper. Glad to know Bettie is improving. Melvin had a flat. In about a mile Bro. Damron has a flat. Left him and Thompson behind to fix it. Waiting at Meacham for them to catch up. Drove into camp at Pendleton about 11:00. Paid $.50. drove 190 miles today. Set up camp and went to bed.
Wednesday, June 23rd. Got up about 6:00, cooked and ate breakfast. Before Bro. and Sis. Damron got up, their son Charlie and another brother drove in from Portland to meet them here. They drove all night. They didn’t stay long until they started back to Portland. We are leaving camp about 9:00, going to try to make it to Portland today. Drove about 10 miles then stopped. Melvin has a flat tire. Drove about another mile and he has another one. Car trouble! Car trouble! I think they are all having car trouble. About 151 miles from Portland and Melvin has to pull Lundy to a garage, the first time anyone has had to be pulled on the trip.
We are following the Columbia River today. Kendall is ahead, Thompson and Potts behind. Here the rest of us sit—on the hot desert. We are sitting in Oregon looking across the Columbia River into Washington. Quite a change in the temperature—snow yesterday and about 96 degrees today. Melvin can only pull Lundy a little ways at a time. The engine gets so hot that we have to stop and let the engine cool off. Melvin has pulled Lundy about—or rather his car about 20 miles into Arlington. The crankshaft was broken. We decided it would take too long to put one in, so just pulled him on in to Portland. Kendall went back to see what was the matter with Thompson and Potts. Blowouts! They said they had one right after another, but have finally got here.
Leaving Arlington about 4:00. Well, Melvin has another puncture. This one makes only 3 today. We can see Mt. Hood. It has snow on top. I guess we are getting along pretty well now except Bettie and Sis. Lindsey. Bettie has lost her shoe and Sis. Lindsey lost her hat.
We drove until about 12:30 and the drivers got sleepy. They couldn’t stay on the road. We came to Multnomah Falls, falling 600 feet. We stopped to see them and we all were so sleepy that we just piled down on the ground, rocks, and grass and went to sleep and slept until daylight. Got up and started again. Got about 3 miles and Melvin’s oil line was stopped up and out went 2 more bearings. Well, Thompson backed and hooked on and away we went, about 30 miles, to the camp grounds. We drove onto the camp grounds about 7 o’clock. Bro. and Sis. Damron watched over their little flock and God watched over all and landed us safely and soundly in Portland, Oregon on June, 24th, 1926.