A W Garr (1833 - 1898)

Abel Weaver Garr (1833 - 1899) Profile

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Abel Weaver Garr

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 41, Line 1745.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 2, Page 44, Line 1745.

Book of the Pioneers, Book 1

Book of the Pioneers, Book 1, Page 266.

Book of the Pioneers, Book 1.

Burton, Robert T., to the members of the Hand Cart Association, Handcart Veterans Association

Burton, Robert T., to the members of the Hand Cart Association, Handcart Veterans Association, October 1, 1907.

Now, I desire to accompany this report with a very brief history of that notable event. As appears from the daily journal referred to, this relief company left Salt Lake City on the 7th of October, 1856, for the purpose of aiding the incoming emigrant companies. Our information as to their whereabouts was very meagre indeed. It is hard for the people living now to comprehend the situation fifty years ago, when sometimes we had a monthly mail, and sometimes no mail at all for six months. What information we obtained was from carriers who came to advise President Young of the situation.



We made as good time as men and animals could make under the circumstances. But I desire to state that at one time while we were traveling down the Sweet Water [Sweetwater] about 300 or 400 miles east of Salt Lake City, the snow was so deep that the axle-trees of our wagons dragged and we were compelled to remain camped at the same place for one or two days in consequence of the severity of the storms, but with no idea other than resuming our journey when the weather would permit, until we found the companies we were sent to relieve.



As will be noticed from the daily journal, we sent our expresses on various occasions, but were unable to locate the parties we were looking for until we were camped at Devil’s gate, near the mouth of the Sweet water, when the express returned and reported them camped on the Platt River. The weather was cold, the snow deep, the people poor and nearly destitute of clothing, and some provisions. These supplies had been donated by the people in Salt Lake, and these people had been very liberal in their donations, (for they were all in straightened circumstances) but had given such articles as they could and such as would aid the suffering imigrants. Most of the supplies were given to Capt. Edward Martin’s Hand cart company, whose sufferings were intense and necessities very great. A strict account was kept of all these disbursements. The lives of the people were too precious to permit of our carrying anything in the wagons which could possibly be dispensed with. We consequently cached, at Devil’s gate, all freight that, in our judgment, could be left, so as to relieve the company.



It will be seen by reference to the Journal that the cold was so intense that it was not deemed advisable to travel at all for several days. During this time we were engaged in caching the goods. At one time, on the 6th of November, the thermometer dropped to 11 degrees below zero. As soon as the weather permitted we pressed on towards Salt Lake City, traveling up the Sweet Water, and taking every advantage possible of roads and conditions to save the people, but in spite of all that we could do many were laid to rest by the wayside. These matters I do not desire to dwell upon. I would rather forget them and look the brighter side, and thank the Lord for his kind providence in saving those whom he did spare.



In traveling up the Sweet Water we began to meet teams sent to our aid, which relieved the situation to such an extent that when we reached the head of the Sweet Water we were able, on the 19th of November, to get most if not all of the emigrants in the wagons and from this time on we made good time.



On arriving at dry Sandy, as will be seen, George D. Grant, Wm. H. Kimball and others left for Salt Lake City, leaving me in charge of the camp. We were then making good progress day by day, although it appeared at times that our road was entirely blocked with snow. However we met with no difficulties that were not easily overcome until we arrived at East Canyon on November 28th. We found the road there sidelong, but were enabled to get all the wagons over safely, thanks to the foresight of president Brigham Young, who had kept ox teams constantly traveling up and down the big mountain to keep the road open for us. We succeeded in getting over that part of our journey without serious difficulty, although the walls of snow on each side were as high as the bows of the wagons, and those who witnessed this sight can never forget it, as those 104 wagons freighted with human beings who had been so miraculously saved, wended their way up this mountain. It was indeed to us a great sight, as we were now near our homes.



I cannot leave this subject without expressing thanks to those brave men who were constantly day and night in their efforts to save the people, and more especially do I wish to remember those who endangered their lives to carry express East and West under the most difficult circumstances: Notable among these were: Jos. A. Young, Steven Taylor, C. H. Wheelock, Abel Garr and Dan Jones, most of whom have passed away. Of course, too much credit cannot be given to the entire company for their indefategable labors night and day, as before stated, to save the people.

Transcript for Burton, Robert T., to the members of the Hand Cart Association, Handcart Veterans Association, 1 October 1907. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 4

Burton, Robert T., to the members of the Hand Cart Association, Handcart Veterans Association.

Burton, Robert Taylor to S. S. Jones, Handcart Veterans Association

Burton, Robert Taylor to S. S. Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, November 9, 1906.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Presiding Bishop’s Office 
Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-Day Saints</center>



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">14 North East Temple Street, 
Salt Lake City, Utah</center>



 



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">November 9, 1906</center>



 



S.S. Jones, 
Provo, Utah



Dear Brother: —



I am in receipt of your favor of October 10th, last, and I feel that I owe you an apology for not sooner replying thereto.



It is true as you state that I came to the 14th Ward Assembly Hall when the Hand Cart people assembled there and found it was so crowded that I could not very well make my way to the stand; the crowded condition of the Hall as stated, and my business affairs at the office requiring almost constant attention, I did not press my way to the front. But I do not wish you nor my hand cart friends to think it was because I had forgotten the importance of the event they gathered together to commemorate, had opportunity occurred I would like to have spoken a few words to the survivors of that 1856 expedition.



I state for your information, that on the 7th of October, 1856, we left Salt Lake City with a small detachment of cavalry and three or four wagons in which we had limited supplies. We made fairly good headway passing over the old emigrant route from the Big Mountain and up Echo Canyon, etc., and finally made Fort Bridger on the 12th of the same month. Here we obtained some little additional supply and forage, etc., and then pursued our journey on the old route. As before stated crossing Green River at Sandies and so on over South Pass, until we arrived at Sweet Water [Sweetwater]; traveling down the Sweet Water we arrived at the Devil’s Gate on the 26th of October, however, I may say that the snow was so deep and the storm so excessive that we were compelled to lay up one or two days on the Sweet Water. It might be well now for me to here state that our progress was necessarily slow as the axle-trees of our wagons dragged through the snow as we were making our way toward the people who were in distress, and we were going from our homes.



In the meantime, we had forwarded an express to ascertain, if possible, where the Hand Cart people were; this express was carried by two of our bravest men, who have many years departed, namely: Joseph A. Young and Able Garr. They reported that they had been farther down to the Platte and had no tidings of the people. We refitted them up, however, and sent them on again to find the people, which they did, as you probably remember, on the head of the Platte River.



Now Brother Jones, it would be too tedious at this time to explain to you all the features of that terrible march from and back to our homes. In charge of the expedition was our departed friend George D. Grant, aided by Wm. H. Kimball and myself. On our return toward our homes Grant and Kimball were compelled to leave me and come to the City. By this time, however, we had got the most of our people in comfortable wagons, and from that on, made fairly good headway toward the City, in spite of the storm, snow and frost.



Arriving at the Big Mountain on the evening of the 30th of November, where the snow had piled up on each side of the road nearly to the tops of our wagons, which had been kept open by the efforts of our dear President Brigham Young by the use of ox teams passing up and down the road. This was a sight which to those who were present could never be forgotten; 104 wagons ladened with the survivors of the distressed companies and the hardships endured before we got there, are many of them too severe to be related. I have striven for years to obliterate from my mind some of the sights that I witnessed on the return to the Valley.



In conclusion, let me say if it will be of any service to you or any one else who may desire to further perpetuate the remembrance of this terrible trip, I have got every days camp noted in my journal, and the forage and provisions that were bestowed upon the companies’ and individuals, just as we were compelled to scantily dole them out, so that we could have at least quarter rations in the hardest of the time.



You will probably think my letter somewhat lengthy and so it is, but as you know I have hardly entered upon the history of this matter, but will say, that if I am permitted to remain until there is another gathering of the same kind I will take pleasure in contributing my mite to the comfort of the survivors who may be spared to assemble on such an occasion.



With kind regards and well wishes to yourself and others interested, I am,



As ever, Your Brother, RT Burton

Transcript for Burton, Robert Taylor to S. S. Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, 9 Nov. 1906. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, fd. 2

Burton, Robert Taylor to S. S. Jones, Handcart Veterans Association.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, June 21, 1847.

Robert T. Burton journal

"Robert T. Burton journal", Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, November 30, 1856, Page 54-58.

Following is the camp journal of Capt. Robert T. Burton's Relief train, which returned to G. S. L. City with Edward Martin's hand cart company:
"Tues, Oct. 7. Left G. S. L. City, going east, to meet the emigrating companies. Camped tonight at the foot of the Big Mountain.
Wednesday, Oct. 8. Passed over the Big Mountain, and camped in East Kanyon [Canyon]; had a light snowstorm.
Thursday, Oct. 9. Had good roads: camped in Echo Kanyon [Canyon]. 
Friday, Oct. 10. Camped near a little grove at the head of Echo. 
Saturday, Oct. 11. Traveled down the 'Old Pioneer Road;' camped tonight at a big hollow, good feed and water.
Sunday, Oct. 12. Arrived at Fort Bridger. Left some of our flour, feed, etc., at this place. Got some beef, etc. Camped here tonight.
Monday, Oct. 13. Left Fort Bridger; camped tonight on Black's Fork; met Brothers [Abraham O.] Smoot, Dan Jones and others; some teams returning that had been back on the road &lt;and&gt; got tired of waiting.
Tuesday, Oct. 14. Brother Smoot returned with us to meet his son; camped tonight on Black's Fork. Again sent on an express to meet the company and report back to us their situation, whereabouts, etc. &lt;The express was carried by&gt; &lt;Cyrus&gt; H. Wheelock, &lt;Joseph&gt; A. Young, Stephen Taylor, &lt;Abel&gt; Garr.
Wednesday, Oct. 15. Traveled to Green River. Left some flour, feed, etc. Camped tonight on Big Sandy at 8 o'clock. 
Thursday, Oct. 16. At the Big Sandy, &lt;we&gt; met Capt. Smoot; camped here tonight; let him have some flour, beef, and teams and 18 men. 
Friday, Oct. 17. Started late; camped on Little Sandy. Feed scarce; looked like a storm.
Saturday, Oct. 18. Clear and fair, storm passed to the right and left us. Camped tonight on the head of Sweet Water. Good feed and wood. Looked like a storm.
Sunday, Oct. 19. Killed one beef. Started &lt;in the afternoon&gt; in p.m.; camped below the mouth of Willow Creek. Tonight commenced storming; very cold; good feed.
Monday, Oct. 20. Stayed in the same place today. Brother [James G.] Willie came to us near night fall.
Tuesday, Oct. 21. Started early in the morning to meet Capt. Willie's company; camped with them tonight; dealt out flour and clothing to them. William Kimball and several others returned with him with teams, etc. Snow deep.
Wednesday, Oct. 22. Traveled 17 miles. Snow growing deeper and deeper all the way. Camped tonight under the Wallahualtah Rock.
Thursday, Oct. 23. Stayed in the same camp. Snow deep; could not travel.
Friday, Oct. 24. Clear and fair, some warmer; started on. Camped tonight below the Three Crossings of Sweet Water. Snow still deep. Saw a large herd of buffalo three miles distant.
Saturday, Oct. 25. Wind blowing hard; camped tonight below the Wallahualtah Rock. Snow going away slowly. Weather some warmer.
Sunday, Oct. 26. Traveled 19 miles; camped near the Devil's Gate; found the express that had been sent on at this place, waiting further orders. Had heard nothing from the company behind.
Monday, Oct. 27. Remained in the same place. Feed tolerably good. From this point sent on another express to the bridge on Platte River, &lt;Joseph&gt; A. Young, Abel Garr, Dan Jones, to find the company, if possible, and report back their situation, whereabouts, etc.
Tuesday, Oct. 28. Remained in the same camp. Weather fine; snow going away. At night cloudy; snow began to fall fast. After prayers, ceased snowing.
Wednesday, Oct. 29. In the same camp. Fine warm morning; continued through the day.
Thursday, Oct 30. Good weather; snow going away slowly; remained in the same camp. Express returned tonight at 7 o'clock &lt;and&gt; reported &lt;that&gt; the companies on the Platte River had been camped there several days, not far apart.
Friday, Oct. 31. Find and clear; started this morning to meet the company of hand carts; met them on Greasewood Creek; camped with them tonight; dealt out to them flour, clothing etc.
Saturday, Nov. 1. Started back to &lt;for&gt; the Valley. Brothers Grant and Robt. T. Burton went back &lt;further East&gt; to meet Brother [William B.] Hodgett's company, four or five miles back; about noon &lt;it&gt; commenced snowing. Snowed until late at night; camped near Independence Rock.
Sunday, Nov. 2. Camped tonight at Devil's Gate, snow deep, very cold.
Monday, Nov. 3. Remained at same place. So cold that the company could not move. Sent an express to &lt;G&gt;. S. L. City, Joseph A. Young, and Abel Garr, to report our situation and get counsel and help.
Tuesday, Nov. 4. Cold continued very severe. People could not move; stowed away the goods of the trains in the houses. Capt. Martin's camp moved 3 miles and camped.
Wednesday, Nov. 5. Weather continued cold; neither of the companies moved. Capt. Hunt's company arrived here at 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 6. Colder than ever. Thermometer 11 degrees below zero. Stowed away the good of Capt. Hunt's train. None of the companies moved; so cold the people could not travel.
Friday, Nov. 7. Remained very cold. Could not travel. Stowing away goods, trying to save the people, stock, etc.
Saturday, Nov. 8. Wind did not blow so hard; some warmer this morning; hunting up the horses and cattle to move on the morrow; camped at the same place.
Sunday, Nov. 9. Fine, warm morning. Hand-cart company and Capt. [William B.] Hodgett's company moved on at 11 o'clock a.m. Capt. [John A.] Hunt's company not yet done 'catching' goods.
This evening had a meeting of the officers of the companies to appoint brethren to remain with the goods left here by Captains Hodgett's and Hunt's companies. Dan Jones left in charge or President F. M. Alexander and Benjamin Hampton counselors, with 17 other brethren from the two companies. The brethren were instructed in their duties.During our stay here, we had meetings ever evening to counsel together and ask the Lord to turn away the cold and storm, so that the people might live.
Monday, Nov. 10. Very fine morning. Capt. Hunt's company fixing to start, getting up cattle, etc. The last wagon moved on about 2 o'clock. Capt. Grant, &lt;Cyrus&gt; H. Wheelock, Stephen Taylor and Robt. T. Burton moved on at 3 o'clock; camped tonight with Capt. Hodgett.
Tuesday, Nov. 11. Started early in the morning; overtook the hand cart company at 10 o'clock. Brother &lt;Ephraim K.&gt; Hanks was with them from the Valley, brought good news; camped tonight on Bitter Cottonwood.
Wednesday, Nov. 12. Fine morning, warm for the season; sent on an express to the South Pass. It returned at 5 o'clock this morning, and four teams with some flour. Camped above Three Crossings.
Thursday, Nov. 13. Very pleasant morning. Companies all moving on finely. Camped again on the Sweet Water, at the lower end of the 16 mile drive.
Friday, Nov. 14. The weather very pleasant; all the companies moving on. Camped on the 16 mile drive, about 4 miles from Sweet Water. Good feed, not much wood. No deaths in camp tonight. Capt. [John A.] Hunt's company ahead, Capt. [William B.] Hodgett near.
Saturday, Nov. 15. Weather continued fine and warm; traveled on 8 miles and camped on Sweet Water; not much wood, not very good feed.
	Sunday, Nov. 16. Met 10 teams from the Valley, Brother Call's company, on Rocky Ridge; camped in a little cottonwood grove; good wood and feed.
	Monday, Nov. 17. Fine, warm day; camped on the branch of Sweet Water.
	Tuesday, Nov. 18. Cloudy, snowing in afternoon; met several teams, Wm. Kimball, &lt;James&gt; Ferguson, J. Simmons, &lt;Hosea&gt; Stout and others; camped tonight at our station on Sweet Water.
	Wednesday, Nov. 19. Snowing in the morning; sent an express to the City. Company moved on, all in wagons; 3 o'clock, Capt. Grant and Robt. T. Burton, after seeing the ox trains, moved on after the company. Camped tonight on Dry Sandy.
	Thursday, Nov. 20. This morning Brothers Grant and Kimball, and others started for the City. Robt. T. Burton was left in charge of the companies; camped at bend on Big Sandy.
	Friday, Nov. 21. This morning looked like storm; in the afternoon snowed a little; met some teams with flour, and camped tonight on Green River.
	Saturday, Nov. 22. This morning fair, but cold; met more teams; sent some back to the ox-trains with flour, etc. Camped on Black's Fork.
	Sunday, Nov. 23. Fine day, some cloudy; snowed again at night. Camped at Fort Bridger.
	Monday, Nov. 24. This morning took in supplies for the company from Brother Lewis Robison's. Started late. Camped on the Muddy, good wood and feed; very cold.
	Tuesday, Nov. 25. This morning started another express to the City, by &lt;Cyprus&gt; H. Wheelock, Bullock and others. Sent two other teams to the ox-trains. Camped on Bear River; plenty of wood.
	Wednesday, Nov. 26. Cold, but clear. Camped tonight in the head of Echo Kanyon [Canyon]; met Brother Little and others from the City.
	Thursday, Nov. 27. This morning snowing a little; camped tonight on &lt;the&gt; Weber River. Had another express from the president.
	Friday, Nov. 28. Today the road was sideling; got all the wagons over safe. Camped in East Kanyon [Canyon]; met several of the brethren here. 
	Saturday, Nov. 29. Passed over the Big Mountain, snowing fast. Stopped snowing after noon. Passed over Little Mountain; camped in the head of Emigration Kanyon [Canyon]; met supplies.
	Sunday, Nov. 30. This morning started early; arrived in S. L. City a little before noon with all the hand cart company and several families from the ox-trains.
	Had in the trains 351 horses and mules, 104 wagons and 32 oxen."

Transcript for Burton, Robert T., [Journal], in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 Nov. 1856, 54-58

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008.

Elizabeth H. Kingsford autobiographical sketch, undated

Elizabeth H. Kingsford autobiographical sketch, undated.

The handcarts, or many of them, were built on wooden axles instead of iron; and with leather boxes. We expected to find these vehicles already at hand on our arrival at Iowa City. Thus work consumed between two and three weeks of time, in which we should have been wending our way to Salt Lake City. There were two companies which contained about five hundred and fifty-six persons. There were one hundred and forty-six handcarts, seven wagons and six mules and horses, fifty milk cows and beef animals. There was one wagon loaded with goods for the Church. To each of these two companies were apportioned a mule team, and two wagons hauled by oxen. These were to carry the commissary stores, tents, etc. On July 15th the company left Iowa City under the captaincy of Elder James G. Willie, for Florence, a distance of 277 miles. At Florence, the two hand-cart companies were consolidated. Edward Martin was appointed Captain and Daniel Tyler was his assistant. On August 25th the camp broke, travelled about two miles and then camped.



On the 27th of August we made a final start from Cutlers’ Fork, on our long tedious journey across the vast plains of a thousand miles to our future home. We continued our toil day after day, pulling our handcarts with our provisions or rations, our little children, etc., through deep sands, rocky roads, or fording streams. It was a dreary journey. Many miles each day were traveled ere, with tired limbs we reached camp, cooked supper, ate and retired for the night to rest, to pursue our monotonous course the following day.



On the 7th of September near Soup [Loup] Fork, we were overtaken and passed by Apostle F. D. Richards, C. H. Wheelock and other returning missionaries from Europe. About the middle of this month we learned that A. W. Babbitt had been killed by some hostile Indians.



After toilsome and fatiguing travel, we reached Laramie on the 8th day of October. Here we rested for a short time. Our provisions by this time had become very scant, and many of the company went to the Fort and sold their watches and other articles of jewelry. With the proceeds they purchased corn meal, flour, beans, bacon, etc., with which to replenish their stores of food which had become very scant. Hitherto, although a ration of a pound of flour had been served out daily to each person, it was found insufficient to satisfy the cravings of hunger; but the weary pilgrims were then about to experience more deprivations in this direction. We rested a couple of days and then resumed our toilsome march. Shortly after leaving Fort Laramie it became necessary to shorten our rations that they might hold out, and that the company be not reduced to starvation. The reduction was repeated several times. First, the pound of flour was reduced to three-fourths of a pound, then to a half of a pound, and afterward to still less per day. However we pushed ahead. The trip was full of adventures, hair breadth escapes, exposure to attacks from Indians, wolves and other wild beasts. When we reached the Black Hills, we had a rough experience. The roads were rocky, broken and difficult to travel. Frequently carts were broken down and much delay was caused by the needed repairs.



During the time of leaving Laramie and reaching the Platte, my husband had been taken sick. He was afflicted with mountain fever. His appetite was good and he could eat more than his rations. But his ambition was gone. All attempts to arouse him to energy or much active exertion were futile. On the 19th of October the last crossing of the Platte River was reached; but when we went into camp that noon my husband was not there. Two of the company went back to look for him. They found him sitting by the roadside, resting. He was very weak. They assisted him into camp. When we resumed our journey he was put in to a wagon, and rode a few miles to the bank of the river, when it was discovered that the teams had become so weak they were unable to haul the freight across the stream, so my husband was compelled to alight.



“The River” says Elder John Jaques, “was wide, the current was strong, the water was exceedingly cold and up to the wagon bed in the deepest parts, and the bed of the river was covered with cobble stones.” Some of the men carried some of the woman on their backs or in their arms, but others of the women tied up their skirts and waded through, like the heroines that they were, and as they had gone through many other rivers and creeks. My husband [Aaron Jackson] attempted to ford the stream. He had only gone a short distance when he reached a sand bar in the river on which he sank down through weakness and exhaustion. My sister, Mary Horrocks Leavitt, waded through the water to his assistance. She raised him up to his feet. Shortly afterward, a man came along on a horseback and conveyed him to the other side of the river, placed him on the bank and left him there. My sister then helped me to pull my cart with my three children and other matters on it. We had scarcely crossed the river when we were visited with a tremendous storm of snow, hail, sand and fierce winds. It was a terrible storm from which both the people and teams suffered. After crossing the river, my husband was put on a handcart and hauled into camp; and indeed after that time he was unable to walk, and consequently provision had to be made for him to ride in a wagon. As soon as we reached camp, I prepared him some refreshment and placed him to rest for the night.



From this time my worst experience commenced. The company had now become greatly reduced in strength, the teams as well as the people. The teams had become so weak that the luggage was reduced to ten pounds per head for adults, and five pounds for children under eight years. And although the weather was severe, a great deal of bedding and clothing had to be destroyed—burned—as it could not be carried along. This occurence very much increased the Suffering of the company, men, women and children alike.



On the 20th of October we traveled, or almost wallowed, for about ten miles through the snow. At night, weary and worn out, we camped near the Platte River, where we soon left it for the Sweetwater. We were visited with three days more snow. The animals and immigrants were almost completely exhausted. We remained in camp several days to gain strength. About the 25th of October, I think it was—I cannot remember the exact date—we reached camp about sundown. My husband had for several days previous been much worse. He was still sinking, and his condition now became more serious. As soon as possible after reaching camp I prepared a little of such scant articles of food as we then had. He tried to eat but failed. He had not the strength to swallow. I put him to bed as quickly as I could. He seemed to rest easy and fell asleep. About nine o’clock I retired. Bedding had become very scarce, so I did not disrobe. I slept until, as it appeared to me, about midnight. I was extremely cold. The weather was bitter. I listened to hear if my husband breathed—he lay so still. I could not hear him. I became alarmed. I put my hand on his body, when to my horror I discovered that my worst fears were confirmed. My husband was dead. He was cold and stiff—rigid in the arms of death. It was a bitter freezing night and the elements had sealed up his mortal frame. I called for help to the other inmates of the tent. They could render me no aid; and there was no alternative but to remain alone by the side of the corpse until morning. The night was enveloped in almost Egyptian darkness. There was nothing with which to produce a light or kindle a fire. Of course I could not sleep. I could only watch, wait, and pray for the dawn. But oh, how those dreary hours drew their tedious length along. When daylight came, some of the male part of the company prepared the body for burial. And ho, such a burial and funeral service. They did not remove his clothing—he had but little. They wrapped him ain [in] a blanket and placed him in a pile with thirteen others who had died, and then covered him up in the snow. The ground was frozen so hard that they could not dig a grave. He was left there to sleep in peace until the trump of the Lord shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall awake and come forth in the morniing of the first resurrection. We shall then again unite our hearts and lives, and eternity will furnish us with life forever more.



I will not attempt to describe my feelings at finding myself thus left a widow with three children, under such excruciating circumstances. I cannot do it. But I believe the Recording Angel has inscribed in the archives above, and that my sufferings for the Gospel’s sake will be sanctified unto me for my good. My sister Mary was the only relative I had to whom I could look for assistance in this trying ordeal, and she was sick. So severe was her affliction that she became deranged in her mind, and for several days she ate nothing but hard frozen snow. I could therefore appeal to the Lord alone; He who had promised to be a husband to the widow, and a father to the fatherless. I appealed to him and he came to my aid.



A few days after the death of my husband, the male members of the company had become reduced in number by death; and those who remained were weak and emaciated by sickness, that on reaching the camping place at night, there were not sufficient men with strength enough to raise the poles and pitch the tents. The result was that we camped and with nothing but the vault of Heaven for a roof, and the stars for companions. The snow lay several inches deep upon the ground. The night was bitterly cold. I sat down on a rock with one child in my lap and one on each side of me. In that condition I remained until morning. My sick sister, the first part of the night, climbed up hill to the place where some men had built a fire. She remained there until the people made down their beds and retired, to sleep, if they could. She then climbed or slid down the hill on the snow, to where there was another fire which was kept alive by some persons who were watching the body of a man who had died that night. There she remained until daylight.



It will be readily perceived that under such adverse circumstances I had become despondent. I was six or seven thousand miles from my native land, in a wild, rocky, mountain country, in a destitute condition, the ground covered with snow, the waters covered with ice, and I with three fatherless childen with scarcely nothing to protect them from the merciless storms. When I retired to bed that night, being the 27th of October, I had a stunning revelation. In my dream, my husband stood by me and said—“Cheer up, Elizabeth, deliverance is at hand.” The dream was fulfilled.



“The 28th of October,” says John Ja[c]ques in his history of this journey, “was [a] red letter day to the handcart expedition. On that memorable day, Joseph A. Young, Daniel Jones and Abel Garr galloped unexpectedly into camp amid tears and cheers and smiles and laughter of the emigrants. Those three men being the express from the most advanced relief company from Salt Lake, brought the glad word that assistance, provisions and clothing were near, that ten wagons were waiting at the Devil’s Gate.” Thus you see, my dream and my husband’s prediction were fulfilled.



The next day we left the Platte and started for the Sweetwater country, On the 31st of October another grand surprise met us. On reaching Greasewood Creek, we met George D. Grand [Grant], R.F. Burton, Charles Decker, Chauncey G. Webb and some others, with six wagons of flour, etc. sent from Salt Lake.



On the First of November we arrived at the Sweetwater bridge, some five miles from Devil’s Gate. We arrived there about dusk in the evening. We camped in about a foot and half of snow. It was a busy evening before bed time in clearing away the snow. For this purpose many used cooking utensils, plates and other things. The ground was hard and almost impenetrable; and it was with the greatest difficulty that the tents could be erected. It became a question that night, whether we should camp there for the winter or go forward to Salt Lake Valley. It was decided to go on. At Devil’s Gate the freight was left, as the teams were too weak to haul it. It was left in charge of Daniel W. Jones, Thomas M. Alexander and Ben Hampton, with seventeen emigrants to guard it through the winter.



It was several days after that—I do not remember the exact date—that we made the last crossing of the Sweetwater. In speaking of that memorable event, Elder John Jaques says: “It was a severe operation to many of the company. It was the last ford the company waded over. The water was not less than two feet deep, perhaps a little more in the deepest parts, but it was intensely cold. The ice was three or four inches thick and the bottom of the river muddy and sandy. The stream seemed to be about forty yards wide. Before the crossing was completed, the shades of evening were closing around, and this, as every-one knows, is the coldest hour of the twenty-four, especially at a frosty time. When the handcarts arrived at the bank of the river one poor fellow who was greatly worn down with travel exclaimed: “Have we got to cross here?” Being answered “Yes” he again exclaimed: “Oh dear, I can’t go through that!” His heart sank within him and he burst into tears. But his heroic wife came to his aid, and in a sympathetic tone said, “Don’t cry, Jimmie, I’ll pull the handcart for you.” In crossing the river the shins and limbs of the waders came in contact with sharp cakes of ice which inflicted wounds on them which did not heal until long after they arrived in this valley. And some of them are alive, some of them bear the marks of them to this day.”



After this crossing we camped for several days in a deep gulch called “Martin’s Ravine”. It was a fearful time and place. It was so cold that some of the company came near freezing to death. The sufferings of the people were fearful, and nothing but the power of a merciful God kept them from perishing. The storms continued unabated for some days. Said E.K. Hank[s] in speaking of if [it]:—“The storms during the three days were simply awful. In all my travels in the Rocky Mountains, just before and afterwards, I have seen nothing like it—nothing worse.” When the snow at length ceased falling, it lay thick on the ground, and so deep that for many days it was impossible to move the wagons through. I and my children with hundreds of others were locked up in those fearful weather-bound mountains.



Elder Hanks gives the following graphic pen pictures of his first meeting with Martin’s company which he with others had been sent to relieve, and which some of them had given up for lost, believing that they had perished in the storms. “I think” he said, “The sun was about an hour high when I spied somethin[g] in the distance that looked like a black streak in the snow. As I got near to it, I perceived it moved, then I was satisfied that this was the long looked for handcar[t] company led by Captain Martin. I reached the ill-fated train just as they had camped for the night. The sight that met my gaze as I entered their camp can never be erased from my memory! The starved forms and haggard countenances of the poor sufferers, as they moved slowly, shivering with the cold to prepare the evening meal, was enough to touch the stoutest heart. When they saw me coming they hailed me with joy inexpressible.”



Children, I was there, Martha Ann was there, Mary Elizabeth was there, they, my daughters, and Aaron, my son.



Elder Hanks had killed some Buffalo meat which he distributed among us. We eagerly devoured it.



I will not continue this narrative much longer, but will hasten to convey us to our destination. We came by easy stages the remainder of the journey, and finally reached Salt Lake City at mid-day on Sunday, November Thirtieth, 1856. Thus ended the ever memorable overland voyage from the Missouri River to the Capital of Utah, in the eventful year of 1856.

Transcript for Elizabeth H. Kingsford autobiographical sketch, undated

Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson Kingsford reminiscences in Utah Pioneer Biographies, 17:92-103

Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson Kingsford reminiscences in Utah Pioneer Biographies, 17:92-103.

After a short stay in Boston, we proceeded to Iowa City, which place we reached on July 8th. At this place we started to make preparations for our terrible overland journey across the vast plains to Utah. The mechanics were very busy manufacturing hand carts on which to haul our provisions, small children, etc. The hand carts or many of them, were built on wooden axles instead of iron; and with leather boxes. We expected to find these vehicles already at hand on our arrival at Iowa City. Thus work consumed between two and three weeks of time, in which we should have been wending our way to Salt Lake City. There were two companies which contained about five hundred and fifty six persons. There were one hundred and forty six hand carts, seven wagons and six mules and horses, fifty milk cows and beef animals. There was one wagon loaded with goods for the Church. To each of these two companies were apportioned a mule team, and two wagons hauled by oxen. These were to carry the commissary stores, tents, etc.



On July 25th, the company left Iowa City under the captaincy of Elder James G. Willie, for Florence, a distance of 277 miles. At Florence, the two hand cart companies were consolidated. Edward Martin was appointed captain and Daniel Tyler was his assistant. On August 15th, the camp broke, travelled about two miles and then camped.



On the 27th. of August we made a final start from Cutler's Fork, on our long tedious journey across the vast plains of a thousand miles to our future home. We continued our toil day after day, pulling our hand carts with our provisions or rations, our little children, etc., through deep sands, rocky roads, or fording streams. It was a dreary journey. Many miles each day were traveled ere, with tired limbs we reached camp, cooked supper, ate and retired for the night to rest, to pursue our monotonous course the following day.



On the 7th., of Sept., near Soup [Loup] Fork, we were over taken and passed by Apostle F.D. Richards, C.H. Wheelock and others who were returning missionaries from Europe. About the middle of this month we learned that A[lmon]. W. Babbitt had been killed by some hostile Indians.



After toilsome and fatiguing travel, we reached Laramie on the 8th day of October. Here we rested for a short time. Our provisions by this time had become very scant, and many of the company went to the fort and sold their watches and other articles of jewelry. With the proceeds they purchased corn meal flour, beans, bacon, etc. With which to replenish their stores of food which had become very scant. Hitherto, although a ration of a pound of flour had been served out daily to each person, it was found insufficient to satisfy the cravings of hunger; but the weary pilgrims were then about to experience more deprivations in this direction. We rested a couple of days and then resumed out toilsome march. Shortly after leaving Fort Laramie it became necessary to shorten our rations that they might hold out, and that the company be not reduced to starvation. The reduction was repeated several times. First, the pound of flour was reduced to 3/4ths. Of a pound, then to a half of a pound, and afterwards to still less per day. However, we still pushed ahead. The trip was full of adventures, hair bredth escapes, exposure to attacks from Indians, wolves and other wild beasts. When we reached the Black Hills, we had a rough experience. The roads were broken, rocky and difficult to travel. Frequently carts were broken down and much delay was caused by the needed repairs.



During the time of leaving Laramie and reaching the Platte, my husband had been taken sick. He was afflicted with mountain fever. His appetite was good and could eat more than his rations. But his ambition was gone, all attempts to arouse him to energy or much active exertion were futile. On the 19th of October the last crossing of the Platte River was reached; but when we went into camp that noon day my husband was not there. Two of the company went back to look for him. They found him sitting by the roadside, resting. He was very weak. They assisted him into camp. When we resumed out journey he was put into a wagon, and rode a few miles to bank of the river, when it was discovered that the teams had become so weak they were unable to haul the freight across the stream, so my husband was compelled to alight.



"The river" says Elder John Jaques, "was wide, the currant was strong, the water was exceedingly cold and up to the wagon bed in the deepest parts, and the bed of the river was covered with cobble stones". Some of the men carried some of the women on their backs or in their arms, but others of the women tied up their skirts and waded through, like the heroines that they were, and as they had gone thru many other rivers and creeks. My husband attempted to ford the stream. He had only gone a short distance when he reached a sand bar in the river on which he sank down thru weakness and exhaustion. My sister, Mary Horrocks Leavitt, waded thru the water to his assistance. She raised him to his feet. Shortly afterward, a man came along on horseback and conveyed him to the other side of the river, placed him on the bank and left him there. My sister then helped me to pull my cart with my three children and other matters on it. We had scarcely crossed the river when we were visited with a tremendous storm of snow, hail, sand and fierce winds. It was a terrible storm from which both the people and teams suffered. After crossing the river, my husband was put on a hand cart and hauled into camp; and indeed after that time he was unable to walk, and consequently provision had to be made for him to ride in a wagon. As soon as we reached camp, I prepared him some refreshment and placed him to rest for the night. From this time my worst experience commenced. The company had now become greatly reduced in strength, the teams as well as the people. The teams had become so weak that the luggage was reduced to ten pounds per head for adults, and five pounds for children under 8 years. And although the weather was severe, a great deal of bedding and clothing had to be destroy-burned-as it could not be carried along. This occurrence very much increased the suffering of the company, men, women and children alike.



On the 29th of October we traveled, or almost wallowed, for about ten miles through the snow. At night, weary and worn out, we camped near the Platte River, where we soon left it for the Sweet water. We were visited with three days more snow. The animals and immigrants were almost completely exhausted. We remained in camp several days to gain strength. About the 25th of October, I think it was-I cannot remember the exact date-we reached camp about sundown. My husband had for several days previous been much worse. He was still sinking and his condition now became more serious. As soon as possible after reaching camp I prepared a little of such scant articles of food as we then had. He tried to eat but failed. He had not the strength to swallow. I put him to bed as quickly as I could. He seemed to rest easy and fell asleep. About nine o'clock I retired. Bedding had become very scarce so I did not disrobe. I slept until, as it appeared to me, about midnight. I was extremely cold. The weather was bitter. I listened to hear if my husband breathed—he lay so still. I could not hear him. I became alarmed. I put my hand on his body, when to my horror I discovered that my worst fears were confirmed. My husband was dead. He was cold and stiff—rigid in the arms of death. It was bitter freezing night and the elements had sealed up his mortal frame. I called for help to the other inmates of the tent. They could render me no aid; and there was no alternative but to remain alone by the side of the corpse till morning. The night was enveloped in almost Egyptian darkness. There was nothing with which to produce a light or kindle a fire. Of course I could not sleep. I could only watch, wait, and pray for the dawn. But oh, how those dreary hours drew their tedious length along. When daylight came, some of the male part of the company prepared the body for burial. And oh, such a burial and funeral service. They did not remove his clothing-he had but little. They wrapped him in a blanket and placed him in a pile with thirteen others who had died, and then covered him up in the snow. The ground was frozen so hard that they could not dig a grave. He was left there to sleep in peace until the trump of the Lord shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall awake and come forth in the morning of the first resurrection. We shall then again unite our hearts and lives, and eternity will furnish us with life forever more.



I will not attempt to describe my feelings at finding myself left a widow with three children, under such excruciating circumstances. I cannot do it. But I believe the Recording Angel had inscribed in the archives above, and that my sufferings for the Gospel's sake will be sanctified unto me for my good. My sister Mary was the only relative I had to whom I could look for assistance in this trying ordeal, and she was sick. So severe was her afflication [affliction] that she became deranged in her mind, and for several days she ate nothing but hard frozen snow. I could therefore appeal to the Lord alone; He who had promised to be a husband to the widow, and father to the fatherless. I appealed to him and he came to my aid.



A few days after the death of my husband, the male members of the company had been reduced in number by death; and those who remained were so weak and emaciated by sickness, that on reaching the camping place at night, there were not sufficient men with strength enough to raise the poles and pitch the tents. The result was that we camped out with nothing but the vault of Heaven for a roof, and the stars for companions. The snow lay several inches deep upon the ground. The nights were bitterly cold. I sat down on a rock with one child in my lap and one on each side of me. In that condition I remained until morning. My sick sister, the first part of the night, climbed up hill to the place where some men had built a fire. She remained there until the people made down their beds and retired, to sleep if they could. She then climbed or slid down the hill on the snow, to where there was another fire which was kept alive by some persons who were watching the body of a man who had died that night. There she remained until daylight.



It will be readily perceived that under such adverse circumstances I had become despondent. I was six or seven thousand miles from my native land, in a wild, rocky, mountain country, in a destitute condition, the ground covered with snow, the waters covered with ice, and I with three fatherless children with scarcely anything to protect from the merciless storms. When I retired to bed that night, being the 27th of October, I had a stunning revelation. In my dream, my husband stood by me and said—"Cheer up Elizabeth, deliverance is at hand." The dream was fulfilled.



"The 28th of October," says John Jaques in his history of this journey, "was a red letter day to this hand cart expedition. On that memorable day, Joseph A. Young, Daniel Jones, and Abel Garr galloped unexpectedly into camp amid tears, and cheers and smiles and laughter of the emigrants. Those three men being the express from the most advanced relief company from Salt Lake, brought the glad word that assistance, provisions and clothing were near, that ten wagons were waiting at the Devil's Gate." Thus you see, my dream and my husband's prediction were fulfilled.



The next day we left the Platte and started for the Sweetwater country. On the 31st of October another grand surprise met us. On reaching Greecewood Creek, we met Geo[rge]. D. Grand [Grant], R[obert]. F. Burton, Charles Decker, Chauncey G. Webb, and some others with six wagons of flour, etc. sent from Salt Lake. On the 1st. of November we arrived at the Sweetwater bridle [bridge], some five miles from Devil's Gate. We arrived there about dusk in the evening. We camped in about a foot and a half of snow. It was a busy evening before bed time in clearing away the snow. For this purpose many used cooking utensils, plates and other things. The ground was hard and almost impenetrable; and it was with the greatest difficulty that the tents could be erected. It became a question that night, whether we should camp there for the winter or go forward to Salt Lake Valley. It was decided to go forward. At Devil's Gate the freight was left, as the teams were too weak to haul it. It was left in charge of Daniel W. Jones, Thomas M. Alexander and Ben Hampton, with seventeen emigrants to guard it through the winter.



It was several days after that—I do not remember the exact date-that we made the last crossing of the Sweetwater. In speaking of the memorable event, Elder John Jaques says:—"It was a severe operation to many of the company. It was the last the company waded over. The water was not less than two feet deep, perhaps a little more in the deepest parts, but it was intensely cold. The ice was three or four inches thick and the bottom of the river muddy and sandy. The stream seemed to be about forty yards wide. Before the crossing was completed, the shades of evening were closing around, and this, as everyone knows, is the coldest hour of the twenty-four, especially at a frosty time. When the hand carts arrived at the bank of the river one poor fellow who was greatly worn down and [-] travel exclaimed: "Have we got to cross here?" Being answered "Yes" he again exclaimed; "Oh dear, I can't go through that!" His heart sank within him and he burst into tears. But his heroic wife came [to] his aid, and in a sympathetic tone said: "Don't cry, Jimmie, I'll pull the hand cart for you." In crossing the river the shins and limbs of the waders came in contact with sharp cakes of ice which inflicted wounds on them which did not heal until long after they arrived in this valley. And some of them are alive, some of them bear the marks of them to this day."



After this crossing we camped for several days in a deep gulch called "Martin's Ravine". It was a fearful time and place. It was so cold that some of the company came near freezing to death. The sufferings of the people were fearful, and nothing but the power of a merciful God kept them from perishing. The storms continued unabated for some days. Said E[phraim]. K. Hank[s] in speaking of it:—"The storms during the three days were simply awful. In all my travels in the Rocky Mountains, just before and afterwards, I have seen nothing like it—nothing worse". When the snow at length ceased falling, it lay thick on the ground, and so deep that for many days it was impossible to move the wagons through. I and my chidldren with hundreds of others were locked up in those fierceful weather-bound mountains. Elder Hanks gives the following graphic pen pictures of his first meeting with Martin's company which he with others had been sent to relieve, and which some of them had given up for lost, believing that they had perished in the storms. "I think" he said, "the sun was about an hour high when I spied something in the distance that looked like a black streak in the snow. As I got near to it, I perceived it moved, then I was satisfied that this was the long looked for hand cart company led by Captain Martin. I reached the ill-fated train just as they had camped for the night. The sight that met my gaze as I entered their camp can never be erased from my memory: The starved forms and haggard countenances of the poor suffer[er]s, as they moved about slowly, shivering with the cold to prepare the evening meal, was enough to touch the stoutest heart. When they saw me coming they hailed me with joy inexpressible". Children, I was there, Martha Ann was there, Mary Elizabeth was there, they my daughters and Aaron, my son.



Elder Hanks had killed some buffalo meat which he distributed among us, we eagerly devoured it.



I will not continue this narrative much longer, but will hasten to convey us to our destination. We came by easy stages the remainder of the journey, and finally reached Salt Lake City at mid-day on Sunday November the 30th. Thus ended the ever memorable overland voyage from the Missouri River to the Capital of Utah, in the eventful year of 1856.

Transcript for Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson Kingsford reminiscences in Utah Pioneer Biographies, 17:92-103

"Express," Deseret News

"Express," Deseret News, November 19, 1856.

EXPRESS.—Elder Joseph A. Young and br. Abel Garr arrived, from the three immigrating companies yet due, at 4 a.m. on the morning of the 13th inst. Elder Young reported the condition of the immigration to be very favorable, considering the lateness of the season, and that abundant relief would reach them soon after he left Fort Bridger.



Cap. [Edward] Martin's company, the only hand-cart company out, is expected to arrive on or about the 23d inst.



Particulars of the condition and whereabouts of the three companies yet back, will be found in Cap. Grant's letter and Elder Young's Remarks' printed in this News.



The express found no snow between the South Pass and the Big Mountain.

Transcript for "Express," Deseret News, 19 November 1856, 293

"Express," Deseret News.

Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 4

Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 4.

Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 7

Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 7.

Jackson, Aaron, [Reminiscences], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 15:2-7

Jackson, Aaron, [Reminiscences], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 15:2-7.

"We reached Iowa City by train, July 8th. We had expected to find our handcarts already for us but instead we had to delay two <or three> weeks to make them. Instead of iron axles they were poorly constructed of wood. The boxes were of leather.
	"There were two companies organized containing 556 persons, 146 handcarts, seven wagons, six mules and horses, fifty milch [milk] cows and beef animals. There was one wagon with goods for the L.D.S. Church at Salt Lake City. To each of the two companies was apportioned a mule team and two wagons hauled by oxen to carry tents, stores, etc.
	"On July 15th the company left Iowa City for Florence, Neb., 277 miles away. At Florence the two companies were consolidated. Edward Martin, was made captain, and Daniel Tyler, his aide. On August 25th we broke camp and traveled two miles. On August 27th we left Cutler's Fork.
	"On September 7th when we were near Soup [Loup] Fork we were overtaken and passed by Apostle F.D. Richards, C.H. Wheelock, and other returning missionaries. We learned that A[lmon]. W. Babbitt had been killed by Indians. Apostle Richards encouraged the companies to move on although some were wondering if we could get across the plains and over the mountains before winter set in, as autumn was already with us and had barely got a good start. The apostle and the missionaries were traveling light with a fast outfit of horses and soon passed us and got to Salt Lake weeks before we reached South Pass.
	"On October 8th we reached Fort Laramie. Our provisions were beginning to run low so some of the converts who had money or jewels took them to the fort and exchanged them for food.
	"We had been poorly outfitted from the first and when our food supply got low we were reduced to one half pound of flour per person per day.
	"On October 19th we got to the last crossing of the Platte river. My father was very sick. He was too ill to walk so they gave him a ride in a wagon. When we got to the river the teams were too weak to ford the stream and he had to wade.
	"The weather turned off very cold. The people were hungry and weary. Their shoes were wearing out and many were barefooted. My mother's sister, Mary Horrocks Leavitt, became ill and was deranged her mind from the hardships. While mother carried us children across, her sister helped my father wade through the cold waters of the Platte.
	"Then a terrible storm set in. We struggled along as best we could. My mother told how the chilled and tired company would join in singing that famous old Mormon hymn, 	Come, Come ye saints, no toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way; 	Tho hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day. 	'Tis better far for us to strive, Our useless cares from us to drive; 	Do this, and joy your hearts will swell-All is well! All is well! 
	"It was after this crossing that a terribly foolish thing was done. The carts were heavily laden with clothing, bedding and other equipment. The people were getting so weak they could hardly pull the carts. Instead of making camp there as they were forced to do a few miles further on when the snow got too deep, they actually piled up great heaps of clothing and bedding and burned them. Those precious quilts and coats would have been greatly appreciated a few days later, but the great mistake was made. Instead of caching the goods or just leaving it by the wayside, they destroyed it so it was impossible to go back and get it when it was sorely needed a few miles further on.
	"On October 20th the company walked ten miles in the snow and camped near the Platte river about where it leaves the Sweetwater. For three days snow fell and we remained in camp. Then on again. On October 25th we stopped at sundown, and the men put up the tents. My father died in the tent that night. My mother discovered he was dead about midnight and called for help, but none could come to her aid, so she had to lie there by the corpse all night.
	"The next morning they put him and thirteen other dead persons in a great pile and covered them with snow. The ground was too hard to dig graves.
	"Many took sick and died along that weary trail. Nearly one hundred fifty lives were lost from cold and starvation as that company of inexperienced English people, unused to the wilderness, tried to make their way through deep snow over the Rockies, by way of the Sweetwater and Southpass.
	"The men became so weak and so few remained that they could not put up the tents. My mother related that one night when it was bitterly cold she was too weak to find wood or make a fire. Sitting by the cart on a stone she clasped her three little children to her and sheltered them with her shawl as best she could. Holding me on her lap with my sisters at her side she remained that way all night, a widow, cold and hungry in a strange land. While the wolves howled and sharp wind chilled the heart the poor travelers somehow managed to keep on going.
	"On October 28th Joseph A. Young, Daniel Jones and Abel Garr, galloped into camp from Salt Lake City amid the cheers and tears of the sufferers. They brought news that relief was coming and that Brigham Young had ordered wagons to come to our aid from Utah.
	"The next day we started up the Sweetwater. On October 31st, at Greasewood creek, George D. Grand [Grant], R.F. Burton, Charles Decker, Chauncey G. Webb and others with six wagons of flour from Salt Lake, met our company.
	"On November 1st, we got to the bridge of the Sweetwater, five miles from Devil's Gate, Wyoming. There was a foot and a half of snow on the ground. The travelers had to scrape it away from the ground with cooking utensels in order to make a place to camp.
	"At Devil's Gate we left Daniel W. Jones, Thomas M. Alexander, and Ben Hamilton and 17 others to guard a cache of freight we left there. Several days after that we came to the last crossing of the Sweetwater. The water was two feet deep and there was three or four inches of ice. When the people and carts tried to cross, the ice broke, plunging them into the cold water, the jagged pieces of ice cut their legs and feet, and many of them left blood on the snow and bore the scars to their death.
	"One poor chap, when he saw the stream broke down crying, and said, 'Do we have to cross here? I can't! His wife said, 'Jimmie, I will pull the cart for you'. Luggage had long since been reduced to ten pounds for adults, and five pounds for children.
	"Then we camped for several days at Martin's Ravine. There is a monument there now to commemorate the suffering of that place. There were several days of storm and it was impossible to move. E.K. Hanks said he had seen nothing worse in his years in the wilderness. He had killed a buffalo and he gave us some meat to eat.
	"Finally we got over the South Pass, and down to Fort Bridger, and into Utah. We reached Salt Lake, Sunday, November 30th.

Transcript for Jackson, Aaron, [Reminiscences], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 15:2-7

James G. Bleak journal

James G. Bleak journal, February 1854.

Transcript for James G. Bleak journal, 1854 February-1860 February

James G. Bleak journal.

John Bond, Handcarts West in '56

John Bond, Handcarts West in '56.

Transcript for John Bond, Handcarts West in '56

J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald

J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald, December 15, 1878.

Transcript for J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald, 15 December 1878, 1

J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald.

Marilyn Austin Smith, Faithful Stewards--the Life of James Gray Willie and Elizabeth Ann Pettit, 95-120

Marilyn Austin Smith, Faithful Stewards--the Life of James Gray Willie and Elizabeth Ann Pettit, 95-120.

Transcript for Marilyn Austin Smith, Faithful Stewards--the Life of James Gray Willie and Elizabeth Ann Pettit, 95-120

Millville Ward, Record of members collection, 1836-1970

Millville Ward, Record of members collection, 1836-1970.

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa, October 1856.

Transcript for Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa 1856 October-November

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa.

Salt Lake Herald

Martin's Handcart Company, 1856 [No. 10]

Rogerson, Josiah, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856 [No. 10]", Salt Lake Herald, December 8, 1907, Page 28.

I finished our chapter, No. 9, Sunday, Dec. 1 with the arrival of the majority of the members of our handcart company, in Main street, and around and in the tithing yard. That scores of friends and relatives, and I know of fathers of families, had been waiting for weeks with the most intense solicitude and anxiety for the arrival of our train, is a matter of history, past half the decade, and the expressions of fear and doubt as to the existence of the sought for were written on many countenances. 
<center>Dead in the Wagons.</center>
The wagon I rode in this morning from the head of Emigration canyon was driven by Elder Joel Parrish, of Sessions, or Centerville, settlement in Davis county, and as we stopped for a few minutes near the block since then of the Walker brothers' residences, a lady asked. "Please where is Father Waugh?" and my mother, knowing of his death the day before, pointed to the next wagon north, where she could find the veteran. She was there instantly, and found her father, wrapped in a sheet, and dead. I shall not tell of her grief and the scene that followed. The aged Scotch worthy had braved and weathered the storms of the Rocky mountains from the Platte bridge, and when within eighteen to twenty miles from the valley, and the Zion he worshiped, and to which he was returning after a three or four years' mission to Scotland (his native land), succumbed to the hardships of the journey, between the Big and Little mountains, and was brought into the city for interment. 
One more instance of this kind will suffice—but I could record a dozen, and then I shall hasten to the conclusion of my narrative, for it has been anything but a pleasant task for several weeks past. 
An old English farm hand, coming to Utah in the early 50's went down to Iron county, Utah, and as he worded it, "wrought" for two or three years in the building of the works of and the experimenting in treating iron ores in that county. The wife of his youth, four daughters and two sons, still back in Lancashire, England, in the fall of '55 or spring of '56, the father walked, with sis [his] sack of provisions on his back, nearly every mile of the 275 miles to Salt Lake City, and striding into President Brigham Young's office and showing his iron work scrip for his labor performed, entreated that he would receive that as pay and send for his family to come out that season. They were sent for, sailed, and the six came through safe and sound, the stalwart sire meeting them the Sunday morning of our arrival. His sons and daughters are located near Parowan, and in the settlements of Arizona, and his name was James Williamson. The majority of our company were taken in and cared for in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah counties that winter, and when I think of all this and the mountain of service rendered by the rescuing and relief party without one dime of remuneration, in what class of humanity do you place the Mormon people?
But little has been written in these annals as to the sayings and doings of President Brigham Young, when he learned, about the 4th of October, 1856, from President Franklin D. Richards and others of the returning missionaries, how far back the handcart and wagon companies were at that date on the plains, and I will not close without a few more paragraphs on this important point in this history. 
Church Historian Jensen, having thumbed the pages of the Deseret News for that year, and nearly every document in his archives bearing on that subject, will be good authority and interesting. 
In the "Contributor" of March, 1893, as to the church emigrations of 1856, Historian Jensen says: "Relief trains—On Saturday, Oct. 4, 1856, Apostle Franklin D. Richards and his company of missionaries arrived in Salt Lake City. They reported to President Young the progress of the different companies towards reaching the valley, and that they were more or less in danger of snowstorms in the mountains before they could reach the city, as it was getting so late in the season. 
"The mere thought that the handcart companies might be exposed to the cold blasts of a mountain storm was enough to arouse the brethren in the valley to immediate action. 
"In the general assembly of the Saints in Salt Lake City, the next day, which was Sunday, Oct. 5, President Brigham Young called upon the bishops and people generally to raise immediately sixty mule and horse teams, twelve tons of flour and forty extra teamsters, to help in the immigrating trains, some of which were being handled by inexperienced men, and even some by women and children. Also a quantity of vegetables was called for, together with bedding, clothing and wearing apparel of all descriptions to clothe and keep warm the emigrants. 
The general conference convened in Salt Lake City on Monday, the 6th. After the opening exercises, President Young stated that the first business that must be attended to was to send assistance forthwith to the emigrants back on the road. He then called those who were willing to go, or send teams, to come to the stand and report, saying that if a sufficient number of teams, teamsters, etc., did not volunteer, he would close the conference and, together with Brother Kimball, start back to help the companies, and President Kimball then requested the blacksmiths in the congregation to retire, as they were wanted to shoe the horses and repair the wagons of the brethren who were preparing to start out to help the emigration. 
"The hearty response to this call for teams, men and provisions, clothing, etc., is characteristic of that brotherly love and warmth of feeling which distinguishes those who love their fellow men. 
"It must be born in mind that at this time it was not known in the valley that the companies on the road were in any immediate danger, but this timely call for teams to send back was a precautionary measure to guard against possible calamities. 
"Most of the teams called for got ready and started on the 7th of October in charge of George D. Grant, one of the brethren who, three days previously, had returned from a foreign mission. 
"The (relief) company had no snow to contend with till they got to the Sweetwater. There, on the 19th and 20th of October, they encountered a severe snowstorm. 
"When they met Captain Willie's handcart company on the 21st, the snow was from six to eight inches deep, and the emigrants were truly in a bad condition, but the relief brethren rendered them all the assistance in their power. 
"Brother William H. Kimball and other brethren from the valley were selected to return with them, and assist them with counsel and work; and previous to this Captain Grant had sent an express (east) to ascertain, if possible, the situation and whereabouts of the emigrant companies farther back and report to him, but thinking it unsafe for them to go farther than Independence rock, he advised them to wait there for the main company. When the main company overtook the express at Independent rock, the brethren composing it had heard nothing from the rear companies, but had themselves traveled through snow from eight to twelve inches deep all the way from Willow creek to Devil's Gate. 
As the brethren had only a little feed for the animals, the horses were now ‘running down' very fast, and not hearing anything from the companies, Captain Grant and the brethren with him began to think that perhaps they had taken up quarters for the winter: consequently, he dispatched Joseph A. Young, Daniel W. Jones and Abe Garr as an express farther east in search of them. 
"These brethren traveled on till the 28th of October, when they met Captain Martin's handcart company sixteen miles above the Platte bridge; Captain Hunt's company was encamped ten miles below Martin's handcart company. Captain Martin informed the brethren that fifty-six had died on the journey up to that date. The express then pushed on to meet the wagon companies."
Passing Stenhouse's brief narrative as to our company in his "Rocky Mountain Saints," and which was not furnished him by one of our members, but by one of the members of the two wagon companies, we find a paragraph even there that has the ring of sterling truth in defense and praise of President Young as to his unceasing energy and anxiety for our rescue. He says: "When the news reached Brigham Young, as already stated, he did all that man could do to save the remnants and relieve the sufferers. Never in his whole career did he shine so glorious in the eyes of the people. There was nothing spared that he could contribute or command. In the tabernacle he was "the lion of the Lord," and his fierce language was kindled against those whom he supposed were the cause of the calamity."
And the Deseret News says, in its pages of Dec. 3, 1856: 
"Never have we witnessed such alacrity in answering to the calls of the first presidency in turning out at such a time of the year, with animals, provisions and clothing in abundance to rescue brethren and sisters whom the most of those who went forth to save had never seen."
On Dec. 2, '56, after Martin's company had come in, sixty relief horse and mule teams left Salt Lake City with two span to a wagon with supplies and provisions to help bring in the remainder of Hodgett's and Hunt's companies, and by Dec. 16 all the members of the two wagon companies and relief party were in Salt Lake City, and that year's emigration finished.

Transcript for Rogerson, Josiah, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856 [No. 10]," Salt Lake Herald, 8 Dec. 1907

Salt Lake Herald.

"The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News

"The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News, November 26, 1856.

The Companies yet on the Plains.



Elders George D. Grant and William H. Kimball arrived from the companies yet out, at 11 p.m. of the 24th inst., and bring in a very favorable report, considering the season of the year. Elder Kimball, after a brief rest from his former trips, again started to the relief of the immigration on the 11th inst., in company with Elders Hosea Stout, James Ferguson and Joseph Simmons, and met them four miles beyond the first station on the Sweet Water.



Elders Grant and Kimball left the Pacific Springs at 3 p.m. of the 20th, and Capt. [John A.] Hunt's and [William B.] Hodgett's companies would camp there that night. Judge Isaac Bullock and all the men at Fort Supply had gone to their assistance, taking all the oxen down to two year olds, and Capt. Grant had sent them ten additional horse teams. This assistance would meet them on the 21st, and they would soon roll into Forts Supply and Bridger, where they are advised to tarry until spring.



There was but little snow until they reached the east slope of the Big Mountain; and at the spring at the west base of that mountain they met Elders Joseph A. Young, Brigham Young jr., Feramorz Little and others who had gone out to keep the road open. The snow was about waist deep, for some ten rods on the summit, but light and easily passed through.



Capt. [Edward] Martin's hand-cart company were all comfortably stowed in wagons and traveling from 25 to 30 miles a day, with Elder Charles Decker leading the first hundred. They camped on Green river on the 21st, would reach Fort Bridger on the 23d and this city, probably on the 28th, and the other hand-cart hundreds will doubtless arrive in quick succession.



Elders Hosea Stout, Heber P. Kimball, James Ferguson and George W. Grant were at the mouth of Echo kanyon [Canyon] on the 24th, and will arrive this evening, the 25th.



Thus through the kind providences of the Almighty, notwithstanding so late a start and the opposition of the wicked and the raging of wintry storms, the immigration will all reach comfortable quarters for the winter, and that too with far less mortality than has often attended companies amply supplied with all the customary facilities for crossing the plains.



The brethren and sisters so opportunely relieved expressed unbounded gratitude for the prompt, energetic and ample aid sent to their relief. And well might they be astonished to meet clothing, provisions, men and teams so liberally and bountifully provided without money and without price, a circumstance so entirely unusual in their former experience.



Notice—Through some oversight a few mistakes occurred in the 'Remarks by Elder Joseph A. Young as printed in No. 37. Capt. Martin's company was met 16 miles above the Platte bridge, and Capt. Hunt's company was 10 miles below Capt. Martin's. Rocky Avenue is about 36 miles east of Devil's GAte. Elder Young and Abel Garr left Capt. Grant's camp for this city on the 3d. inst.

Transcript for "The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News, 26 November 1856, 301

"The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News.

Woodward, W., to Albert Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, 12 Sep. 1906. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, fd. 2

Woodward, W., to Albert Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, 12 Sep. 1906. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, fd. 2.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Franklin, Idaho, Sept. 12 1906</center>



Albert Jones, Dear Bro.



Seeing an announcement in the Deseret News of Sep 3 I was anxious to correspond with you, My paper was mislaid and only last night I found it.



I belonged to the 4th. Hand cart Co. Jas. G. Willie capt. Or rather was called president when our company was organized: Millen Atwood Capt. Of 1st hundred; Levi Savage Capt 2nd hundred; William Woodward Capt. 3rd hundred; John Chislett capt 4th hundred; A H [Johan August] Ahmansen capt of 5th hundred.



Willie &amp; Atwood, are dead, Savage lived in Southern Utah; Chislett and Ahmansen apostatised



I was clerk of camp at Iowa City, and historian, two days after my arrival on the 2nd of June 1856.



Directly after our company arrived the 1st &amp;2nd Hand Cart companies were organized Some of our people were put in the 1st Co. Some in the 2nd Co the balance made the 3rd Co.



Edmund Ellsworth capt of 1st. Company John Oakley and Wm. Butter, aids. McArthur capt. of 2nd company, Spicer W Crandall, &amp; Truman Lenan aids Edward Bunker capt 3rd Company (Welsh) David Grant &amp; John McDonald aids. the 4th company as I have mentioned above. I was present when the 5th and 6th companies were organized, but subsequently they were merged into one.



The Relief Train came to us one night on the Sweetwater. The express met us two days before, composed of C. H. Whetlock[,] J.A. Young, Steve Taylor &amp; a bro Garr. They were away to take comfort to the 5th company and urge them to travel to meet the relief train. Geo D. Grant was in command of the relief train. He left some wagons with our company; W. H. Kimball in charge. Snow came on us the night we met the express about a foot deep. We had given all our flour out at the suggestion of some of the express as the relief train they said would soon be with us. We had lost half of our cattle this side of Fort Kearney, and we were in a poor fix to travel in the snow. So we staid till the relief train came. (two days later)



Some of you tell of hardships; hardships they were truly. We buried 68 . I kept the camp journal as our clerk gave out. Our butcher died, so I became butcher. In crossing the Rocky Ridge, two of our teamsters gave out in a bitter snow storm. Atwood and I had to take their places and we picked up the straglers. Our wagons were full of people, we got to camp away in the night; next day we buried 13 and the 2nd morning 2 more besides them.



We arrived in SL City Nov 9th.



To talk of our experiences is a thrilling theme. I was 8 weeks at Iowa camp. I have lived here more than 46 years. Yours t[ruly] W. Woodward



I approve of the move of Hand Cart veterans meeting. Will be at the meeting in the City if all is well. 



W T Wright &amp; wife of the 2nd hand cart co live here, but ha has left the Church. G. T. Marshall of one 1st company lives here &amp; his sister lives in the next settlement. Jas. [James] [?]ew, than a boy, lives on Bear River some 12 miles away. (A non member) 



G T Marshall was a child at the time of his coming - his mother a widow with some 6 childran.



I would like to see a history of the companies of 1856 published I was a returning missionary at the time 23 years old. W.W.



Albert Jones, I think I saw you once in Franklin

Transcript for Woodward, W., to Albert Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, 12 Sep. 1906. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, fd. 2

Young, Deseret Evening News, 2 April 1889

The Companies Yet on the Plains

"The Companies Yet on the Plains", Deseret News, November 19, 1856.

The Companies yet on the Plains. 
DEVIL'S GATE, Nov. 2, 1856. 
PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG:



Dear Brother:—Knowing the anxiety you feel for the companies still out, and especially for the Hand-cart Company, I have concluded to send in your son Joseph A. and br. Abel Garr on an express from this place.



We had no snow to contend with, until we got to the Sweet Water. On the 19th and 20th of October we encountered a very severe snow storm. We met br. [James G.] Willie's company on the 21st; the snow was from six to ten inches deep where we met them. They were truly in a bad situation, but we rendered them all the assistance in our power. Br. Wm. H. Kimball returned with them, also several other brethren. The particulars of this company you have doubtless learned before this time.



[They arrived on the 9th inst., as already noticed.—ED.]



Previous to this time we had sent on an express to ascertain, if possible, the situation and whereabouts of the company yet back, and report to me. Not thinking it safe for them to go farther than Independence Rock, I advised them to wait there. When we overtook them they had heard nothing from the rear companies, and we had traveled through snow from 8 to 12 inches deep all the way from Willow creek to this place.



Not having much feed for our horses they were running down very fast, and not hearing anything from the companies, I did not know but what they had taken up quarters for the winter, consequently we sent on another express to the Platte bridge. When that express returned, to my surprise I learned that the companies were all on the Platte river, near the upper crossing, and had been encamped there nine days, waiting for the snow to go away, or, as they said, to recruit their cattle.



As quick as we learned this, we moved on to meet them. Met br. [Edward] Martin's company at Greasewood creek, on the last day of October; br. [William B.] Hodgett's company was a few miles behind. We dealt out to br. Martin's company the clothing, &amp;c., that we had for them; and next morning, after stowing our wagons full of the sick, the children and the infirm, with a good amount of luggage, started homeward about noon. The snow began to fall very fast, and continued until late at night. It is now about 8 inches deep here, and the weather is very cold.



It is not of much use for me to attempt to give a description of the situation of these people, for this you will learn from your son Joseph A. and br. Garr, who are the bearers of this express; but you can imagine between five and six hundred men, women and children, worn down by drawing hand carts through snow and mud; fainting by the way side; falling, chilled by the cold; children crying, their limbs stiffened by cold, their feet bleeding and some of them bare to snow and frost. The sight is almost too much for the stoutest of us; but we go on doing all we can, not doubting nor despairing.



Our company is too small to help much, it is only a drop to a bucket, as it were, in comparison to what is needed. I think that not over one-third of br. Martin's company is able to walk. This you may think is extravagant, but it is nevertheless true. Some of them have good courage and are in good spirits; but a great many are like children and do not help themselves much more, nor realize what is before them.



I never felt so much interest in any mission that I have been sent on, and all the brethren who came out with me feel the same. We have prayed without ceasing, and the blessing of God has been with us.



Br. Charles Decker has now traveled this road the 49th time, and he says he has never before seen so much snow on the Sweet Water at any season of the year.



I am sorry to inform you of the death of br. [Thomas] Tennant, among those who have fallen by the way side.



Br. [John A.] Hunt's company are two or three days back of us, yet br. Wheelock will be with them to counsel them, also some of the other brethren who came out.



We will move every day toward the valley, if we shovel snow to do it, the Lord helping us.



I have never seen such energy and faith among the 'boys,' nor so good a spirit as is among those who came out with me. We realize that we have your prayers for us continually, also those of all the Saints in the Valley. I pray that the blessings of God may be with you and all those who seek to build up the kingdom of God on the earth. 
GEORGE D. GRANT.

Transcript for "The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News, 19 November 1856, 293

Young, Deseret Evening News, 2 April 1889.

Young, Joseph A., "Remarks," Deseret News

Young, Joseph A., "Remarks," Deseret News, November 19, 1856.

REMARKS. 
By Elder Joseph A. Young, Tabernacle, Sunday, Nov. 16, 1856. 
[REPORTED BY J. V. YOUNG]



Brethren and sisters, as I have the latest news from companies yet on the plains , and as you are all anxious to hear from them, I have been the first one called upon to speak to you this morning.



You are aware that Capt. Geo. [George] D. Grant's relief company left this city on the 7th of Oct. to go and meet the immigration. Capt. Grant kept an express in advance until we reached the Devil's Gate, when he sent three of us on to the Platte river, to see if we could find the companies or hear of them.



We traveled until the 28th, when we met Capt. Edward Martin's company of hand carts and Capt. Hodgett's wagon company, at a place called Red Buttes, 16 miles below the Platte bridge. We met Capt. J. A. Hunt's wagon company 26 miles below the bridge.



The brethren and sisters appeared to be in good health and spirits. Capt. Martin informed us that about 56 out of 600 had died upon the plains, up to that date. Those who had died were mostly old people.



On the 29th, I returned from Capt. Hunt's to Capt. Martin's company. Capt. Martin had started early in the morning, and when I overtook them their cry was, "let us go to the Valley; let us go to Zion."



I camped with them that night in the snow, at a place called Rocky Avenue, near the Devil's Gate. The next day I journeyed on towards Capt. Grant's company, and on the 31st rode into their camp and found all well.



In the morning Capt. Grant sent me and br. Abel Garr on an express to this city. We found plenty of teams at Fort Bridger, and by this time the hand carts have all the assistance necessary to take them up and bring them in within nine days from to-morrow. There were teams enough, so soon as they could meet them, to bring them right through as fast as horses and mules can travel, and such will be done.



All the companies requested me to inform the Saints in the valleys that they desired your faith and your prayers, and that they would endeavor to merit them in their journey and after their arrival.



That the blessing of God may attend them is my sincere desire: Amen.

Abel Weaver Garr

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