An excerpt from A trip across the plains, and life in California by George Keller, 1851.

In this book, Ohio native George Keller documents his experiences during his travels to California via an overland route across the western United States. He records major stops and landmarks along the route, observations about the scenery and landscape and his group’s encounters with Native Americans, as well as notes on the mining experience in California and gold extraction techniques. Chapter 1 documents how Keller decided to embark on this journey to California for gold and the first stages of his travels. In the final pages of his book, Keller provides a “Guide to California by the Overland Route” for future emigrants. In this section, he helpfully details the supplies required for the journey as well as step by step directions from St. Joseph, Missouri to California.