August 21, 1839 ~ Wednesday

21^st I parted with Mr Carver & family & Br & sister Thomas & left Rochester & rode to the
end of the seven mile prairie & stoped several hours as father Coltrin was vary sick from
thence we rode to Br Chenia's & spent the night distance of the day 28 m

August 22, 1839 ~ Thursday

22nd We crossed a twelve mile prairie & stoped several hours also a fourteen mile prairie we
found the flies bad upon the horses we spent the night at the house of Mr Shaws on the main
branch of the Okaw an indian name & (a hebrew) frase distance of the day 40

August 23, 1839 ~ Friday

23 Crossed one eighteen mile prairie & took breakfast & then rode across the fourteen mile
to Paris from thence to Mr G. Moke & spent the night distance of the day 40

August 24, 1839 ~ Saturday

24^th We left the state of Illinois & passed into the state of Ia. We crossed the wabash & spent
the day & night with Dr Modesett a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. I was much
fatigued & had a fever. I had an interview during the evening with a Mr Adams that
had been a constant companion of Br Asahels for several years & appeared to be the most
capable of giving me a correct account concerning him in evry point of view, of any
man in the West. [written sideways in left margin]^ASAHEL H. WOODRUFF^ He informed me that in the main point he was vary steady & temporate
in his habits, & did not believe in the principle of white lying or misrepresenting in order to
carry on his business or merchantdize, he got along well in his business untill the last year of his
life, he had bought a large quantity of Books & they did not sell as well as he expected & he was
not able to meet all of his payments, this was a source of much regret to him & the main cause
of his esstate being insolvent. During the last year of his life he manifested a desire to more
fully improve his mind than he ever had done. he read many of Thomas Paine's writing & they
more fully esstablished him in the gospel of Jesus Christ although Pains writing were against
the gospel. Asahel considered his writings eisily to be refuted. Asahel was more free to open
his mind to Mr Adams than any other man consequently he was more capable of Judging of
his views & feelings upon spiritual subjects he informed me that his mind was deeply ingaged
in the subject of the faith of the latter Day Saints. At first he said but little about it but before his