Spoon River

"Seventh day morning 19th
[Saturday, October 19, 1867] Got
a very early start this morning. Cars passed out of Prairie City just as we went in. Bought 3 lbs of rice for 50 cents, a quarter's worth of tea & 15 cts worth of Labelia. A thriving little place this. Noon--are feeding about a mile east of Ellisville on the east
bank of Spoon river. Crossed on a large double covered free bridge. Have met 20 wagon loads of beautiful coal. They get it at the back about 5 miles from here for 5 cts a bushel & deliver it in Prairie City for 15."

We came through tiny Prairie City and picturesque Ellisville. Just east of town, a modern bridge spans the Spoon River. Its banks are shady and cool, and we could imagine Ann and her family eating lunch there while the horses rested. Ann mentioned coal, which is mined a few miles away. Instead of wagons, we saw carloads of coal being shipped by rail.