I was looking forward to writing this post as it is very interesting but I had to lay the ground work first by introducing you to James and Celestia
Did anyone catch the series 1883 last fall about the series Yellowstone Duttons going west? Well, this is very similar story but with our family. I say very similar because of course Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are not actually my grandparents. And maybe the fact that Grandpa James didn't have to kill people to make it west or get chased by Indians and maybe the little fact that his daughter didn't get shot by an arrow and die. Other than that, they could of used our story to make the series.
In 1865, the Conquillettes decided to move from Illinois to Iowa. The following in an excerpt from "The History of James Coquillette and Celestia Wayne Burnside Coquillette". This part was written by Mary Coquillette Green. The surviving daughter of James and his first wife, half sister to Grandma Nettie Sheldon. She kept a journal of the move and is something special.
Enjoy until the next time
J
When our folks were thinking of going west, father and Uncle Jim Burnside went to Iowa to look for a location. They were gone longer than we expected, and mother said "If I had a rope around Pa’s neck, I would bring him home". When they did get home, it was in the night, and the little ones were in bed and asleep. Mother prepared supper for them, and in the confusion, John was awakened, and he called out "Pa! Pa! Mom said if she had a rope around your neck, she would bring you home".
We farmed one season after Father bought in Iowa. We had a hop yard the last year and after hop picking, we had a sale and got ready to move as soon as we could. We left Franklinville on my 18th birthday, October 3rd, 1865. We traveled with our teams and wagons. We had one covered light wagon in which father and mother and the children rode in. Wilson and I in the other wagon. I kept a journal on the road that will tell the particulars of our journey west.
Mary’s Journal
Tuesday, October 3rd, 1865, Left Franklinville between 2:00 and 3:00, o'clock in the afternoon and arrived at Marengo about sundown and stayed overnight. With Lizzie Smith. We met a funeral possession about 2 miles West of Marengo.
Wednesday, October 4th Left Marengo about 11:00 o'clock. Pass through Garden Prairie, a small town. Arrived at Belvedere, camped one mile out of the village and slept in our wagons overnight.
Thursday, October 5th. Left our stopping place before sunrise, drove until it got warmer, then stopped and cooked breakfast. Passed through Cherrie Valley. Had a splendid view of the Kishwaukee River before breakfast, though. Drove through Rockford, the largest village yet about 1:00 o'clock. Drove within two miles of Winnebago and stopped for the night. Slept in our wagons again. It rained quite hard in the night.
Friday, October 6th. Woke up this morning and found it raining. It stopped about 7:00 or 8:00 o'clock and we started on our journey. Did not cook our breakfast but went on. Passed in sight of Pecatonica. Went within 8 miles of Freeport.
Sunday, October 8th. Left Elroy this morning. Did not see any chance of going to meeting and did not want to stay there all day, so we started. Pass through Nora about 3:00 o'clock this afternoon, and here we are in Warren. Got here at sundown. Our folks have gone down to see if cousin John Platts are at home. At Nora, we got in company with a family by the name of Pride. Expect to go with them to the river. Our folks have got back, cousin John’s folks are not home. Eva is in Nora.
Monday, October 9th. Left Warren about 10:00 o'clock. Stop to see Eva Platt. We ate our dinner in Wisconsin and camped for the night in the lead regions. What a good time we were having one week ago tonight at Mr Modish's! What a change in one week.
Tuesday, October 10th. Passed through White Oak Springs and drove on to new Digings where the axle tree to the wagon broke and detained us about half a day and getting it replaced. We then started on our way again and drove to Benton where we stopped for the night.
Wednesday, October 11th. Lost the log chain about 3 miles back and Wilson went after it, which gave us a late start. He found it however, and we drove as far as Fairplay and stopped.
Thursday, October 12th. Arrived at Dunleith about 10:00 o'clock. When we got to the river, the steamer was just ready to start, so we had to wait an hour. It was splendid to sit and passed through Dubuque. We had a good view of the city. It is a large place but too hilly to suit me. I never saw rocks and hills before this trip. We went about 10 miles from the river then camp for the night.
Friday, October 13th. Left our stopping place before sunrise and drove 25 miles today. Passed through White Water about 9:00 o'clock. Passed cascade, which is quite a pretty place. Stop this side of Cascade for dinner. Drove onto Monticello and stopped for the night. Did not get through Monticello, however.
Saturday, October 14th. Pass through Monticello this morning and stopped to get some things which we needed to go to housekeeping. Drove to the first Prairie where in attempting to cross the stream we got stuck in the mud. We had to unhitch one team, help them out, and hitch both teams on the back of the wagon and pull it out of the mud. Arrived at Uncle James Burnsides about 4:00 o'clock. Took tea with them. Nettie. Julia, Emma and I are going to stay here tonight while the rest go to Mr McArthurs. Uncle James has a very pleasant place.
Sunday, October 13th. This is a very pleasant day. Uncle James, and Aunt Polly have gone to Manchester, and we are to stay with Menzo and Alice.
This ends my journey and now for life in Iowa.
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