Every account of the American western emigration is valuable, no matter how short. The pioneers never expected their children, grandchildren, and future generations would be interested in their humble journeys but it was one of the largest mass migrations in U.S. history.
In our time of easy mobility, we forget that leaving the east to move to California in the mid-19th century was like going to another planet. It was hard, dangerous, and many didn't make it.
James Richey's short but lively account is an good example. The small details, like the cost of crossing a river, the first site of Native Americans, and the difficulty of loading cattle on a boat are all interesting and useful to historians.
