Drake University - Quax Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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GOVERNOR DRAKE'S RESIDENCES 1 . na, . Old Homestead His Own Home Whcn Wounded Drake 55 Sora., l Drakesville, Iowa, - South East cor. Public Square, in a large brick building Wholesale and retail MERCHANTS, Keep constantly on hand a large and complete assort- Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, GRGCERIES. HARD-WARE, TINWHKE., IRQN. NHILJ, MECHANICS' Tools, Boots ana' Shoes. Ammunition, FLOUR, BACON. GRAIN, ETC., ETC. In short they are in every way prepared to lluliil and ASSISI Ihe WBSIBIII Emmigrant, upon most reasonable terms, and in a direct competition with river prices. Please give them a call and see the above statements verified. March lst, 1853 ment of' Th b e pi K rel are of residences in D k 'll I h h Governor Drake It d d g h nrly I f Th b Il the ld D k ho tcad: the lnrgc one was th h fth G s brother William. It t th h th I lb G t It ft b g d d th Civil War. Th Ilf h use was the Governor'so h d h II I d h I1 I I 4 h I p th pi Th advertise t py fan ad printed on thc ba k 1 Th E Z I G ld I1 h N ff t by rh G Th d ry kept by h h I ngthe plainsto Californiai 853 Th f ll I ll 'IO fh 9 G ld I4

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GEN. FRANCIS MARION DRAKE

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We Emigrantis Guide PREFATORY REMARKS lygffiwffiax T IS not the purpose of the author, in presenting this brief work to f 3', 'v' the public, to make it a scheme of speculationg but it is done f l ,T , through the belief that it may be of some benefit to the adventurous it emigrant to California. 455573 It is not prepared from memory, after his return, and after the incidents connected with the journey are partially obliterated from the mind, but from a journal kept by him while performing the journey, in the spring and summer of 1852, in which every important thing was carefully noted down, at the time. Aware of the many difficulties the emigrant has to encounter, owing to numerous stretches, void of either timber, grass or water, these notes were taken for the benefit of himself and friends, with the view of crossing again the present year. Believing, there- fore, that much of the suffering heretofore experienced in crossing the plains might be avoided, did the emigrant know each day where to pitch his tent the following evening, so as to have the .most eligible situation to procure the articles his wants demanded-- know where he is, and the progress made each day. These, and other reasons of a sim- ilar character, are deemed a sufficient apology, for laying this little work before the public. Numerous Guides of a like purport have been issued from the press, many of which are-quite imperfect, although the most of them have been found to be of great utility to the emigrant. To B. B. I-Iorn's, of Iowa, and Andrew Child's, of Wisconsin, I would refer, as having been of intrinsic worth to theilast ycar's emigrants. But as material changes have been made in the route since their issue, the author of this work, believing that a guide of more recent date than those alluded to, would better suit the wants of future emigration feels warranted in offering it to the public for what it is worth, making COUNCIL BLUFFS CITY, on the Mimouri river, the starting point. He would also apprise all emigrants crossing the Mississippi river above Quincy, that the natural road on the south side of the Des Moines river, is on a fine ridge, extending quite to the Missouri river, and is consequently the best route. Those crossing at Keo- kuk, Montrose, Fort Madison and Burlington, will find it to their advantage to cross the Des llfloines river on the bridge at Farmington, and intersect the divide road at Harmony Inn. The author has deemed it unnecessary to encumber his work with a superabun- dance of words, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the different routes. He has marked the one be deems most eligible, and the one he would travel, were he to perform the journey again. Neither has he attempted to gloss his work with rhetorical flourishes, for the purpose of astonishing the natives. His object is to benefit the emi- grant rather than excite his admiration of things not serviceable to him on the route. I THE AUTHOR. Dral-eseille, Iowa, F ebruary, 185 3. I5