Aaron Jackson Sr. (1823 - 1856) Profile

Individual

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Aaron Jackson, Sr.

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Albert Jones notes, circa 1906

Albert Jones notes, circa 1906.

The Emigrants made hand Carts at Iowa Paul Gourley



Left Iowa Camp July 28th 20 days lost// here 
Two companies—one under Edward Martin[;] one under Jesse Haven



<s>18-4/7 miles per day to make the 1300 in 70 days</s>



Arrived at Florence 22nd August



<s>average travel 12 miles per day</s>



Companies consolidated in one Edward Martin &amp; Daniel Tyler Capts.



Left Florence August 25th 1856 for the 1000 miles journey



576 men[,] women and Children



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">146 Hand Carts 
Wagons 
4 to the Cart—5 of us</center>



 



Two wagon Companies behind us 
Benjamin Hodgett 
John A[.] Hunt



Company provisioned for 60 days



100# flour being given to each Cart for transportation



Sep 2 Col Alma [Almon Whiting] Babbit[t]—Thomas Margetts &amp; Child—James Cowdy &amp; wife and others killed—Mrs. Margets carried away by Indians.



Isaac Brockbanks mother



The March



Bro Evans the fourth death[.] tin cup record[.] Mother on the lead



&lt;above&gt; Passed near the spot where A W Babbitt was killed 
Too many meetings for prayer &amp; preaching 
Moses Cluff and the Buffalo



Danl Tyler and the Mules



The girls and boys courting



The buffalo Chips—the dainty chins



John Watkins[,] Brother Compsan



The Hymn—Come come ye Saints



Oct 8th At Larimie. Over Coat 
Flour[,] Bacon[,] Apples &amp; Peaches



The Tennant Cattle driving and guarding



The people getting weary with the work— 
John Jacques [Jaques] night adventure



The Appetites—



The 20th October crossing the North Platte



The first snow storm—which reached West to the Wasatch range and the great gloom



Snowed three days



The Songs of Zion



The deaths increasing[,] McBride 
Old Scotch Man 
his toes out of snow



Our Tent—the death of Jackson



callous to death



Dug the grave of a young man while he walked by its side[,] 14 in this Grave[,] Red Butte



Stone and the Wolves—a foot in a shoe brought to Camp—



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Juvenile #23 Jan -1-88</center>



 



John Watkins &amp; the Ox



Oct 28—Rescued:: Joseph A Young 
Daniel W Jones 
Abel Garr



The big blue &lt;Government over&gt; Coat



The scene in Camp at the Rescue



Young girls eating toasted raw hide—as girls do gum 
Bread Making—Bed making 
Tents[,] Cyrus H. Wheelock 
Snow 1½” 
&lt;Fry Pans&gt;: for shovels [-] 
Rescuers[:] David Garr 
George D Grant 
Robt J Burton 
Charles Decker 
W H Kimball 
Reddick N[ewton] Allred



The crossing of the Sweet Water



W[illiam] S Binder hauls my hand Cart through—



The axle broke 
Kimball carried me over—



S. S. went on



I remain &amp; get another Cart and took on our things



The Council at Devils Gate



Cyrus H Wheelock’s address



10 men stay at Devils Gate with the goods of Hand Cart—People and of the Wagon Companies



Rested at Martins Ravine 2 or 3 days



The accidental burning of John Jacques [Jaques] Record



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">one third died</center>



 



[Edmund] El[l]sworth &amp; [Daniel D.] McArthur 497 Souls—100 Carts 5 Wagons 
Jas D [James G.] Willie &lt;66 died&gt; 500 Souls—120 Carts—6 Wagons 
[Edward] Martin &amp; [Daniel] Tyler, 576 Souls, 146 Cars—7 Wagons



1856 Five hand Cart Cos. 
[Edmund] Ellsworth—[Daniel D.] McArthur—[Edward] Bunker—Willie ([Edward] Martin &amp; [Daniel] Tyler)



Timing the People time of death 
S S Jones and Eph Hanks



The feet of the People frozen



[irrelevant data]



The life Guardsman [David] Blair buried at Quaken Asp hill



The survival of the fittest 
Martins Lot the toughest of all 
My Vow behind the Log fire



The American Axe:



Nov 28<s>28</s>th over the Big Mountain 7000 to 8000 Altitude[,] the Oxen [illegible] 8 ft Snow

Transcript for Albert Jones notes, circa 1906

Binder, William Lawrence Spicer, Reminiscences [n.d.]

Binder, William Lawrence Spicer, Reminiscences [n.d.].

Oct 8th Arrived at Fort Larimie [Laramie] this evening[.] we here overtook Cap[tain] Hodgetts Company all enjoying good health. 
Oct 9th The company was detained a good portion of the day in the vicinity of the Fort. The Captain having Some business with the officers of the Fort. Travelled 3 miles in the after part of the day.
Nothing of particular moment occured while travelling through the Black Hills (excepting a few deaths) we made very good time averagin 12 miles per day in a hilly country, untill we arrived at Deer Creek on the [sentence unfinished]
Oct 17th. Here on account of the threatening aspect of the wheather and the weak condition of our teams and men the Camp Authorities deem it expedient to reduce our then almost exhausted stock of clothing and necessary traps from 17 lb to 10 lb per head. which order was most effectually carried out by the officiousness of the Captains of hundreds.
Oct 19th About noon to we arrived at the Upper crossing of the Platte. I drew my handcart alone across the wide Stream: it being bitterly cold and Lizzie [Eliza Camp Binder] was very weary. Bro Wm Spicer carried her across the river. When we reached the North Side &lt;of the river&gt; Bro Aaron Jackson lay on its Banks in a very exhausted condition. we placed him on our handcart and drew him into camp. which had located about one mile from the crossing
I stood guard the former part of the night until 12 m
Oct 20th Bro A[aron] Jackson died from exhaustion early this morning. To our great surprise when camp was aroused some 3 or 4 inches of Snow had fallen on the ground, which, add to the intense cold morning had a very discouraging effect upon us. Bro [Jonathan] Stone an aged gentleman who crossed the River on the Bridge to avoid wading was benighted and &lt;is&gt; supposed lost his way as he never came into camp again but this morning an English boot with a &lt;human&gt; foot in it was brought to Camp by Bro Jos[eph] Mc Murran [McMurrin] which were identified as all that was left of Bro Stone. It is supposed that being very fatigued had lain himself down to rest and was attacked and eaten by wolves
Near the middle of the day our camp<s>ed</s> was moved to a locality where we would be nearer the River and where also we could be the better sheltered from the peircing winds[.] we arrived at the Red Buttes at the close of days meeting the whole of our day’s march a bitterly keen wind and drifting Snow. Before we could pitch our tents we had to remove several inches of Snow which labour took a long time to perform on accound principally of the scarcty of Spades and Shovels in the Company
At this camp we remained untill the morning of the 29th instant. During our sojourn at this Camp we were placed under very trying circumstances being reduced to very low rations of flour, a scanty supply of clothing and in addition to these evils, it became our painful duty tobury very many of our friends and traveling companions[.] also to see our cattle vanish from our view through starvation every day.
During the morning of the 28th our Captain had rallied the camp as was our custom every day to meet for general Prayers. and while there he made know to the Saints the startling fact that our provisions had nearly exhausted. he informed us that if we were willing to reduce our amount of flour to one half of what it then was there would be enough to last us two days which he proposed we do[.] we accepted the proposition not knowing where or when we should have another supply. a few minutes after the meeting was dispersed our hearts were made glad with the appearence of three bretheren who had come as an express from the relief company who were Stationed at Devils Gate. It is impossible to describe the joy and gratitude that filled every heart upon the arrival of such messengers of Salvation. 
On the morning of the 29th we broke Camp and travelled westward to meet our Valley friends and remain for the night at Rocky Avenue
On the night of the 30 we camped at the Willow Springs and on the 31st we meet our relief at Grease Wood [Greasewood] Creek. We received some articles of clothing, some vergetables and a little flour. many of our company travelled Barefooted through the mud and slush in moving from Greasewood Creek to the Sweetwater where we reached on the evening of Novr 1st
Nov 2nd Was out in the surrounding country looking up our Scattered Stock and while absent a meeting of the Camp was convened[.] I returned in time (about mid-day) to hear the closing remarks of Bro Geo[rge] D Grant. We left the camp about noon and travelled to the fort which was Situated immedeately West of Devils Gate where we arrived in a very cold and almost perished condition[.] a part of its log houses was torn down to furnish fuel for the company. We remained at the Fort three days
Nov 6th We moved from the Fort and located the Camp in a small Ravine on the North Side of the Sweetwater[.] we experienced a good deal of dificulty in crossing the River: it being most intensely cold. After I had crossed <s>the</s> I again went in the Stream and assisted Bros S[amuel] S and Albert Jones out of the water they being fast in the in the bed of the River and perfectly discouraged so that they could not pull an ounce. Several of the Valley brethern whose names I did not know laboured dilligently for hours in carrying the women and children over the Stream. After we had got to camp Captain Martin Sent me and another brother back to the River with a message to the brethren on which ocassion through my clothes being so wet I got severely frozen
While at this Camp our rations were reduced to 4 ounces of flour per day

Transcript for Binder, William Lawrence Spicer, Reminiscences [n.d.]

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

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, November 30, 1856, Page 66-68.

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

Deseret News

Immigration to Utah

"Immigration to Utah", Deseret News, October 15, 1856.

Transcript for "Immigration to Utah," Deseret News, 15 October 1856, 254

Deseret News.

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

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

Josiah Rogerson, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856," Salt Lake Herald-Republican

Josiah Rogerson, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856," Salt Lake Herald-Republican, November 17, 1907.

Transcript for Josiah Rogerson, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856," Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 17 November 1907, 14

Josiah Rogerson, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856," Salt Lake Herald-Republican.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger B

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger B, Page 250.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger B.

Salt Lake Tribune

Strong Men, Brave Women and Sturdy Children Crossed the Wilderness Afoot

Josiah Rogerson, "Strong Men, Brave Women and Sturdy Children Crossed the Wilderness Afoot", Salt Lake Tribune, January 4, 1914.

Transcript for Josiah Rogerson, "Strong Men, Brave Women and Sturdy Children Crossed the Wilderness Afoot," Salt Lake Tribune, 4 January 1914

Aaron Jackson, Sr.

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