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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
September 1st, 1859 -- Three miles brought us to Genoa, quite a neat little village snugly ensconced in a nook in the valley close to the mountains which rise nearly perpendicular, completely covered with tall pine and cedar, the tall, trim, spiral-topped trees, with their bright evergreen foliage, look quite ornamental and add a nameless, indefinable charm to the whole scene, which in my humble opinion renders it one of the cosiest little retreats I ever remember seeing. Wallace Hamilton here sold his oxen for $50, one of them being sick. Getting ahead of our teams, I stepped into a barroom to wait till they came up. I accidentally saw in a California paper which I picked up, that Mr. Edwards, Editor and Proprietor of the Marengo Visitor had been drowned in the Iowa River while bathing on the 25th of July last.Powell
Travelled 12 miles. We passed Genoa, contains about 20 houses, one good store and some small trading houses. We have been travelling up the valley all day. About one sixth is fenced. It is about 30 miles by from 5 to 15 in width. We have been travelling close to the foot of the mountains and plenty of good water. We passed some hot springs close by Genoa. 10 feet from where the water burst forth, I saw fish. Where I saw fish, I could scarcely hold my hand for warmth. Some of the boys said there were cold water springs put into the same slew.