Skip to main content

Edward Evans Parrish (1791-1874), Oregon Trail Diary

 Collection
Collection Number: A&M 0093

Overview

Typescript copy of the diary of Reverend Edward Evans Parrish, a native of Monongalia County, West Virginia, written during a journey to the Oregon territory from 1843 to 1845. The diary begins in October 1843 when Parrish and his group left Hoskinsville, Morgan County, Ohio, and ends in July 1845. Diary is twenty-seven pages and chiefly consists of brief entries. Parrish primarily describes their route west along the Oregon Trail, including the rivers they crossed and other geographical features along the way. Other topics include the weather and heavy rains impeding their journey; moving up cattle and horses; animals on the prairie, including antelopes and buffalo; hunting buffalo; encounters with Native Americans; the health of his family and others in the camp; activities in the camps; the organization of the camps; and their arrival in Oregon City in December 1844. Transcript was made from a copy of the diary printed in the Transactions of the Sixteenth Annual Reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Association, 1888.

Dates

  • Creation: undated

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Biographical / Historical

Reverend Edward Evans Parrish was born in 1791 and raised in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He married Elizabeth Bussey (d. 1826) in 1814 and had six children. In 1827, he married Rebecca Maple (d. 1880), with whom he also had six children. In October 1843, Reverend Parrish left Monongalia County, West Virginia, and traveled west to Oregon territory. Parrish died in 1874.

Extent

0.01 Linear Feet (Summary: 1/4 in. (1 item in 1 folder))

Physical Location

West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/

Title
Edward Evans Parrish (1791-1874), Oregon Trail Diary, undated
Author
Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository

Contact:
1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown WV 26506-6069 US
304-293-3536