Stephen Vandiver Jones (1840-1920) left his position as a principal in Washburn, Illinois, to serve as assistant topographer on the second expedition. He wrote relatively little about himself or his companions in his journals, choosing instead to focus his records on the typical tasks of a topographer: instrumental observations, sketches, and mathematical calculations.
John F. Steward (1841-1915) joined the Powell expedition as assistant geologist, but he was forced to resign his post when the exertion required by the exploratory work combined with a rheumatic affliction and an old war injury to nearly disable him.His journal is frank, honest, and informative, and his technical geological notes surpassed on occasion the detail of even Major Powell.
Walter Clement Powell (1850-1883) was first cousin of Major Powell and joined the expedition as assistant to E. O. Beaman, the official photographer. His journal focused on the personalities rather than the science of the expedition, and his picturesque and lively entries provide the fullest understanding of the day-to-day joys and sorrows, achievements and frustrations of the expedition.