The Journey Begins

"The party boarded the steamer ARCTIC, at Pittsburg on April 1st, 1853 and 'started the 2' according to the diary kept by Hellen Stewart in a little leathercovered book, printed in London and given to her by her "Aunt Simpson". It has a silver clasp.

Agnes Stewart also kept a diary on the trip west, and both diaries show plainly what delightful girls these Stewart sisters were. Hellen became attached to newly-met fellow travelers on the ARCTIC and hated to leave them when, at St. Louis, the party transferred to the HONDURAS for the trip up the Missouri river to St. Joseph, one of the outfitting points for the westward bound emigrants. Hellen comments that the scenery on the Missouri reminded her of "some old ruined castle I have read about."

On the 20th of April, they had arrived at St. Joseph, but the women and children stayed on board the steamer all night. By the 29th of April, some of their company had started on the road to Oregon, but John Stewart and family still lingered at St. Joseph and on May 2nd, Elizabeth
Young Stewart married Frederick Warner there. Record of their marriage in St. Joseph's court house states that the parties were "bound for Oregon."

Notes: Steamboat picture is just an example of a steamboat that would have been like the one on which the Stewarts & Warners traveled.

Pine Township is now apart of Pittsburgh, PA.