Diary of Francis Bowhay Contributed by: Linda Beals ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ Again thanks to Todd Holzhausen for letting me type up the journals. Linda Beals The last couple pages of Francis Bowhay’s diary were a journal kept by Fred Bowhay’s trip to California with Claud Mallory. 1904 Fred Bowhay and Claud Mallory’s Trip to California We left Owosso Michigan at 8:44 a.m. November the 22nd arrived at Jackson at noon where we ate dinner and changed cars for Chicago. Arrived at Michigan City at 5 p.m. Where we ate supper. After supper we passed down around the southern end of Lake Michigan. The moon shining on the water and the many different lights made a beautiful sight. Arriving at Chicago at 7: p.m. we got off train at 12th street. Transferred to St. Paul Depot. Went to the Oxford Hotel where we wrot some letters. After looking around town a while we left Chicago at 9:30 p.m. Our collored porter, directed us to sexion ten in turous sleeping car No. 1240. We went to bed at 10:30 p.m. not sleeping very good first night. Wen. Nov. 23 Our second day, finds us in Iowa the great corn state. Arrived at Councel Bluff at 3: p.m. crossed the Missouri river over to Omaha Nebraska, at 3:10 p.m. One of the largest bridges in the world. We lay over at Omaha one hour, got a railroad shave, saw first herd of cattle, three hundrd long stockyards. Saw one man that sold eighty car loads of cattle at Omaha, saw first six horse mule team between Omaha and Cheyenne. Thur. Nov. 24th, Our third day. Nebraska is also a great corn state. We arrived at Cheyenne, Wyoming, at 10:30 a.m. Stopped 45 minutes. Bought stamps and mailed letters. Cheyenne, has about three thousand people. We crossed Wyoming plains saw Rocky-Mts, eight miles away with snow on the peaks. Went through our first tunnel in Wyoming Rowlin at 4:p.m. Fri. Nov. 25, Our fourth day. We arrived at Ogden, Utah, at 4:15 a.m. crossed Salt Lake at 6: a.m. Took twenty minutes to cross. The bridge cost thirty thousand dollars. Then we crossed old Salt Lake, it is many miles across, it is all dried up, the bottom is covered alkali. After leaving Old Salt Lake we gradually go up grade until we reach the highest point of our trip five thousand feet above sea level. After which we strike Nevada, desert. Now, we can see nothing but dry sand and the mountains along ways away. At 3: p.m. we strike the mountaing again going through four tunnels inside of three hours. Sat. Nov. 26 Our fifth day . Arrived at Grand Cannon California about 6: a.m. the greatest cannon in the world. Arrived at Sacramento at 9: a.m. and at Oakland, 11: a.m. Crossed Francisco Bay arrived at San. Francisco city at noon. Left at 5:35 p.m. for Los Angeles. Sun. Nov. 27 Our six day. Arrived at Los Angeles, at 11: a.m. got our dinner at the Nack? Hotel. After dinner we looked over the city. We left for Sante Anna 5:17 p.m. arrived there at 6:30 p.m. stoped at the Lacy house that night. San Francisco is a very large city, it has 40,000 people, it is the dirtest city I ever saw. Los Angeles is another large city, every street is neet and clean. Santa Anna is a fine little town, its streets are as clean as a whistle. Has about 9,000 people. Nov. 30th We went for a drive this morning, saw all kinds of trees, vines and flowerd, also orange groves. It would be very hot here only for the breese that comes from the ocean. Dec. 3rd We are now at Buena Park a small town. We are boarding at the Hotel, Have a nice room and good board. Jan. 1st Claud and I went to Sante Anna to-day and took dinner with Mrs. Stroup and the boys, we had a fine diner, after dinner we sent for a drive with the boys. Jan. 8th We slept with our windows open. It sounds good to hear the rain pattering on the roof. Feb. 5th Claud and I went out to Needles. This place is on the banks of the Colorado river between California and Arizona. Feb. 27th Claud and I went to a temperance lecture, it was fine. Every city and nearly every town is provided with plenty saloons. Claud and I have no time for them. April 27th We have been to Long Beach today, took a bath in the ocean, had a delightful time. Expect to go to Pasadena tomorrow, and out on to Mt. Low? May 6th We landed in Owosso, glad to see old Michigan once more and our loved ones.