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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., July 1, 1954
Diamond Anniversary Edition, page 6

COMING WEST BY IMMIGRANT TRAIN
By Frank L. Jackson

My parents, Samuel and Emmaline Jackson, with their three children, Frank (myself) then sixteen; sister Nellie fourteen, and George five, also a young aunt, Laura Coley, left Waterford, Ohio Washington county- the latter part of May in the spring of 1837, to begin our trek Westward.
Grandad Coley (mother's father) took our party to Roxbury by wagon. There after boarding a boat, we traveled up the Muskingum River to Zanesville, Ohio. We traveled by train from Chicago. We had to lay over here a few days before taking a train to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here we were again delayed for a few hours, as we had to change trains here.
While we carried baskets of food for our journey, we decided to eat a hot meal while we could. George wouldn't eat a bit, too many flies.
We were on the train eight days between Council Bluffs and Alkali (now Arlington), Oregon.
One of the most exciting incidents occurring while on the trip, was when a couple of young fellows began shooting at prairie dogs, from the train windows while we were crossing Nebraska. They ceased their sport, by the request of the conductor.
Another bit of excitement remains in my memory, my first glimpse of an Indian. When we pulled into Cheyenne, Wyoming, there was an Indian - walking back and forth on the platform. He was dressed in buckskins and moccasins, and wearing a feathered head-dress; we youngsters were quite thrilled and decided this must be out West.
While another engine had been added, a number of other passengers and myself got out and walked coming over the Blue Mountains. The train traveled much the same route then as now, passing through LaGrande, Oregon; past Meecham and into Pendleton, then on to Alkali.
Dad made arrangements with Ed Haskley (a cowboy, who was dressed in khaki, chaps and spurs) who came across the Columbia on the ferry when we did to take us to the home of Amos Coley, mother's brother, who with his family had preceded us west a few years before.
We had to wait tired and hungry, while Haskley rode to his ranch for team and buckboard.
The family and what belongings could be crowded on (leaving the rest until morning) then started on the last lap of our journey.
We arrived at the Coley ranch near midnight. Aunt Laura called lustily, "Have you any room for tramps".
Aunt Mell, as my aunt was called, was overjoyed at seeing us again. Uncle Amos was away from home on some job at the time.