Page 4 - Keays Diary with forward 1866 and Cover

D I A R Y
Mrs. E. L. Keays

1866

Left Decatur in a hard rain, but as the sun rose the clouds

vanished and with a fresh breeze from the southwest made one of the

most beautiful days I ever saw; the prairies and villages looked

exquisite in their fresh suite of green.

When we passed Jacksonville, I was perfect1y charmed, contrary

to the proverb of “being disappointed in expecting too much”, from having

always heard it praised. From there to Meredocia was very pretty scenery;

at the river it was perfectly splendid. The river was full and all over

the bottom, clear to the opposite bluff we went on the embankment like

riding thru a lake. It was five miles the Conductor said, from there to

Quincy, all the way looked very low to me.

There were several pretty places, Mt. Sterling, I think must be
pleasant and quiet.

The bluffs before we got to Quincy are very pretty, reach out a

long way; before we get there a man wanted us to buy tickets for an omni-

bus to the Ferry, but the wind was blowing very hard and I found it im-

possible to walk and carry things. I found a boy that carried them to the

Ferry, and a Gentleman very kindly assisted us on the boat and off, so we

got along nicely.

After crossing the river the country is beautiful and the soil

is clayey, not black and rich like Illinois, still they say good for

small grain and hay.