Individual

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Alfred Brown

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Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, July 3, 1843.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, April 15, 1844.

“[Elders] will present before the people “General Smith’s views of the powers and policy of the General Government,” and seek diligently to get up electors who will go for him for the presidency.  All Elders will be faithful in preaching the gospel.”

Transcript for Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, April 15, 1844

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, April 10, 1843.

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

Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877)

Edward Hunter letter

"Edward Hunter letter", Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877), July 17, 1850.

Having arrived at Kanesville in safety with my Brethern and friends about the second week in December I went to see most of the families I was to assist and bring out agreeable to your directions, and notified them to prepare themselves to join me in my company out the coming spring. Staid a few days in Kanesville and by the Council of Elder O. Hyde set out for Philadelphia to go to the United States Mint and make sales of our Gold Bullion – Returned in March to consummate my Missions –



 The first companies of golddiggers with Horse Teams had began to arrive – Those who afterwards passed through with ox Teams had bought up all the choice Cattle in the Country which occasioned a heavy rise in the price of cattle and the consequence was I had to delay in my arrangements in our emmigration to obtain cattle cheaper. I could not get broke cattle at any price. However by the strictest economy in making purchases in trades and sales I have succeeded in getting a tolerable good stock and a number of good cows. There has been an anxious excitement in Pottawatamie Co. St Louis and other places to get to the Valley at the expense of the Perpetual Fund – and I have had numerous calls from every quarter. Some I found necessary to assist who could not wait. to wit Widow Lyons [Sarah Bigler Lyons], Joseph Young, Isaac Decker, &amp; Solon Foster agreeable to the council of Elder Hyde. I received a note from Br. Hyde giving me instructions to organize all the remaining companies with mine as no other Company would start later by his counsel and calling upon J.L. [Joseph Leland] Heywood to assist. I had my cattle herded and kept in a yard in Stringtown. Our waggons began to assemble on the Welch Farm near by- June the 25th 1850 made a start for our Journey. Staid a few days at Bethlehem 1½ mile from the Ferry to obtain Blacksmith Tools &amp;c. July 2nd most of our Teams &amp; Waggons crossed the River at the Lower Ferry. July 4th At the 12 mile Creek we organized our Companies, where Edw[ar]d Hunter was appointed President of the Company[,] J.L. Heywood his Councillor. Rob[er]t Campbell Clerk. Benj[amin] L Clapp &amp; N[athaniel] H[enry] Felt Chaplains. E.D. Wool[l]ey 1st Captain. Lewis Wight, Jon[a]than C Wright. W[illia]m. [Mc]Pherson, Royal Barney, Jesse Haven, George Thompson and Andrew Burnham were made Captains of Tens. and the following is list of Families comprising our Camp Sisters Phiners, [Lydia Goldthwaite] Knight, Bro [Lewis William] Wight, [James A.] McCall, [Merritt] Rockwell, Sisters [Ann] Condit, [Mary Dull] McMinn[,] [Rhoda Ann] Fullmer, A[melia] Campbell, Walker, Sisters [Margaret Hall] Rushton, [Lydia] Knight. Brs J.C. Wright, [William] Pitt, [James Weaver] Palmer, Spilsberry [George Spilsbury], [Andrew] Burnham, [Jacob Flynn] Hutchinson, Silcox [Nicholas Thomas Silcock], [Miles] Romney, [Henry Miller] Parker, [Elijah] Fordham, Sis Stewart[,] Br Heywood, [Edwin Dilworth] Wool[l]ey, [Royal] Barney, [William Henry Harrison] Sagers, Meechum [Meacham], [James[ Lawrence, Sis [Margaret Major] Butterfield. Br. [Nathaniel Henry] Felt, Hamiston [Lyman Harmiston], [Sisson] Chase, [Oliver Hunt] Dudley, Sis [Ellen Stuart] Lockley, [Amelia Brown] Spencer, Brs [Jesse] Haven[,] [Benjamin Lynn] Clapp, [Mr.] Burlingame, Cluff, [Nahum] Bigelowe, Hewitt [Orin Taylor Hulet], [George] Thompson, [Joseph] Buxton, Sisrs Fanny Murray, Persus [Persis] Young, [Nancy Zerviah] Green &amp; Lydia Knight. The following is a Summary in round numbers of the strength of our Company[:]



Persons 261. Waggons 67. yk [yoke] of Oxen 106. Cows 113. Horses 10. Sheep 19. Dogs 19. Cats 6. Doves 6. Loose Cattle belonging to individuals 40



 Perp[etua]l Fund 5,554.41....



 Loose Catttle in herd – P.F. 27 – X   # I have along with me Merchandize from England consigned to Prest Brigham Young and principally to N K Whitney[.] wt of Freight 4877lbs



 Mess[r]s Heywood and Wooley have made a start with us, with a heavy stock of Church Property. The strength of their teams was insufficient for their heavy burdened waggons and they found the necessity of drawing upon the resources of the Perpetual Fund till they arrive at Fort Kearney where they intend to hire; with that view I have turned them out – 3½ yoke of oxen and 2½ yoke of Cows. Up to the present we have got pretty well started and are getting along prosperously. At first we were visited  with constant and heavy storms attended with thunder and lightning which has made the roads very difficult to travel to say nothing of the sloughs and hollows. Many of our Cattle have suffered from Feet and sore necks but most of them are nearly well. While our Brethren were assembled on the 4th for organizing the Brethren with the mail hailed us with their presence. All well and in good spirits. Our anxiety for news from the Salt Lake City and to obtain Letters broke in upon the good order of our meeting and all were glad enough to adjourn. Br R Campbell from the Valley called over the Letter List after handing out a few letters stopt to get a few refreshments and left for Kanesville.



 July 6th overtaken by Elder O Hyde &amp; suits staid with us an hour and proceeded on. We have passed some 60 graves of the Brethren who have died of the Cholera and by the dates seemed to have died between the 15th of June and the 7th of July. It may be interesting to give some of their names[:] Marg[are]t Dana, Har[ie]t Dill, Ameroy Nicholls [Ambrose Nichols], John Smith, M M Norris, Alford [Alfred] Brown, Marg[are]t McDougal, Dr Brally [Jesse Charles Braley,] Rhoda Smith[,] Jane Gray, Wm. Fox, Calvin C Hall, Charl[o]tte Thompson, J. T. M. Sellan[,] E[mma]. E[liza]. Camp. Elisha Hawrist 32 yr. Geo Catlin, Sis E Malary [Elizabeth Kennedy Mallory] 50. Irinda Crandell [Crandall] 23[,] Mary Johnston 40. several others. We have reason to be thankful that we have been comparatively free from this dire calamity. One of our Company was taken severlly ill, but by strict attention and proper remedies soon recovered.



 July 16th had the painful task of recording the death of an interesting young man by the name of Washington Marshall teamster for Br[other Nathaniel] Felt. An accident occurred wherein Sister Stewart's Boy received an injury by 2 Waggon Hubs bruising him. As many of our Cattle were wild and unbroke I esteem it a marked providence that no other damage is sustained and that the Camp at the present time is in such excellent health and that some who started sick are fast recovering their health. Frequently meeting waggons from the Fort passing back for provisions.



 July 19th Overtaken by Col. Reese in his Chaise. He has 8 waggons back bound for the Salt Lake City. Each waggon 3000 wt of Goods. This morning too Mr. Thompson Clerk of the Firm of Riley left our Camp destined to overtake their goods bound for the same place. Sundays we set apart to rest our Cattle do washing – blacksmithing and have preaching – and camp instruction.



 30 Miles East Ft Kearney [Kearny]- Sunday July 21st 50



As Kincaid [Kinkead] and Livingston are in our immediate vicinity and about to proceed on with dispatch I hasten to bring this communication to a close. Our Camp is in a healthy state – none sick with us. We have travelled about 90 miles this week. Last Sunday we took into consideration the propriety of making 2 Divisions. it answers our purpose. Our Cattle improve on the road. Within 10 miles of us lies our 2nd Division all pretty well. Col. Reece's trains is a few miles back of us. We received the intelligence of a death from Cholera in his company. We design holding a meeting this afternoon and having a preach from Benj[ami]n L[ynn] Clapp. Nothing of any importance has occurred on our journey – Save all is health, peace and that a hope inspires us that we shall improve in the prosecution of our journey and hail our Brethren and friends in the Valley. I expect to make a full report of my mission when I reach you. Considering the high price of Stock and of Provender &amp; Provisions the Brethren generally have as good an outfit as I could anticipate. Wheat Flour $6.00 per 100 corn 2 to $2.50 per bu. Bacon from 6 to 9 cts Hay $1.00 per 100 – Groceries and other provisions equally high. Our waggons are most of them new and many are in good repair[.] We expect to reach Fort Kearney <strike>by</strike> or before the middle of this week. We would be remembered our friends in the Valley. and our prayers are for the prosperity of Zion



We subscribe ourselves ever yours in the everlasting Covenant



 Robert Campbell, Clerk.                                                                     Edward Hunter

Transcript for Edward Hunter and Robert Campbell letter to Brigham Young, 17 July 1850

Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877).

Genealogical charts and biographical sketches of members of the L.D.S. Church, Ogden Stake

Austin Cravath Brown

"Austin Cravath Brown", Genealogical charts and biographical sketches of members of the L.D.S. Church, Ogden Stake, 18, 53.

I was born 30th April 1850 near Council Bluffs, Iowa. When I was six weeks old, my parents started on the long journey across the plains, with their own team, which consisted of one yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, & one ox on lead, working in single harness. The family consisted of nine members: Father & mother, two brothers Rodolphus [Cravath] aged 16 & Daniel aged 4. Four sisters Hellen [Cravath] 14 years Mary [Cravath] 12 years Laura [Cravath] 10 & Hester Ann 2 tears old, & the six week old baby. In Jonathan [Warren] Footes Co. 
Two weeks out from the Missouri River the cholera struck the camp, and my father was the first one to fall a victom to its ravages, and two days later my brother Rodolphus also died leaving my mother with her family of little ones to cross the plains. 
The three older girls yoked up the team and drove the rest of the way to the Salt Lake Valley, where we arrived 17th. Sept 1850.

Transcript for Brown, Austin Cravath, Autobiographical sketch, in Genealogical Charts and Biographical Sketches of Members of the L.D.S. Church, Ogden Stake, 26 vols., 18:53

Genealogical charts and biographical sketches of members of the L.D.S. Church, Ogden Stake.

Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856

Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856.

About the middle of may 1850 I bid adue to Fremont Country Iowa a<n> made my way to Kanesville. After a few days respit crossed the Missouri river below the mouth of the Platte. And was organized in the following manner by Orson Hyde: Johnathan Foot was appointed captain over one hundred and five waggons and Joel Gerill and William Wall captains of fifties and Utta [Ute] Perkins, Chester Loveland, Thomas Maun [Peter Maughan], Abraham Coon and myself were appointed captains of ten in the second fifty.</n>



On the fifteenth of June we left the banks of the Missouri[.] We had not been traveling long when old man Gidcomes [John Tidcomb’s] daughter of about ten years of age was run over by one of the waggons and her thigh bone broken. I set the broken limb which was the[n] my first experience in the sergical line. It was perhaps through good luch [luck] more than good manegement that the bone mended very well.



On the third day after we left the River we were visited by one of the most distressing plagues that ever befell the human family. The first to be afflicted with the disease was Alfred Brown who departed this life about two hours after he was taken with the dreaded disease. The next morning after attending to his intermant the camp moved on. During the day three more were afflicted. One of them died while we were traveling, and the two others died while we were camped for the night. The same night my younger child was taken sick with the same affliction and died in the latter part of the same night and was burried the next morning.



I think I never saw so exciting a time and a people so completely frightened out of their sences as the people comprising my ten for the sickness was confined principly to the ten under my charge. The first company of ten started on their journey in the morning wlile [while] we were burying the dead. During the time of yoking and hitching up seven others were taken which rendered it very difficult for us to move. Only by some of the men driving two and three teams was it made possible for us to cross Salt Creek.



After two or three efforts to receive help from the foremost portion of the company I must confess I was somewhat irritated and went myself. Although surrounded by the dead and dying I clamored upon a waggon wheel and there in plainess rebuked them for their cowardice and inhuman treatment of their brethren. As a result Wm. Hall, Chester Loveland, and Thomas Robinson volunteered to assist in taking care of the dead and dying and driving of the teams. After burying one person by the way we overtook the main body of the company about two-o’clock.



We continued our journey through sickness and death untill we passed through Fort Carny [Kearney]. After this time attacks of the prevailing epidemic were not so prevelant nor dangerous. Some days we passed from fifteen to twenty-five &lt;graves&gt; of emigrants going from Missouri and Illinois to California, all bearing nearly the same date. In many cases it was a disgreeable task to pass the decomposing bodies of which had been removed from their shallow covering by the wolves. In one place I saw the mangled bodies of twenty-three human beings. Some were without the appearance of a burial. The nearer we approached the mountenous region the less sickness we had.



When within twelve miles of Fort Larney [Laramie] we were, if such a thing were possible, threatened with a still worse contageon than we had previously been afflicted with. The Siox Indians were camped on either side of the Platt[e] River and by the score were dying daily with the small-pox. Some were piled in heaps by the side of the road while others were sunk with rocks in the river. Very fortunately for us we escaped without receiving harm from this contageon.



While in camp a few miles above Larney we come very near loosing a very useful member of our company, a man by the name of of Spafford, who came nearly being drowned. He had lost his mother three sisters and one brother the result of the colora [cholera]. Through the infatiguable energy of Thomas Robinson and John Chitesten [Chidester] he was saved from a watery grave.



From here we slowly persued our way through the mountains sustaining none other than the loss of a few cattle by reason of which we were ocompelled [compelled] to leave on a waggon at Devils Gate of the Sweet River. And on the seventeenth of September we entered the Great Salt Lake which at first sight had the appearance of a dreary waste or a vast desert whose dry and parched soil seemed to bid defiance to the husbandmen to bring forth from its bosom the comforts of life. By means of irregation however it was found to produce equal to any other country of the same latitude.

Transcript for Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008. Supplement after 31 December 1850: Page 15-16.

Jones and Taylor family histories, undated

Jones and Taylor family histories, undated.

[Elmer Taylor]



It was about the middle of July 1850, that he started for Salt Lake city in Captain Foote’s “hundred” and Abraham Coon’s “ten”. The thrid day cholera attacked thecamp, a man named [Alfred] Brown being the first one to succumb. Half of Horace Spafford’s family, the mother [Martha Stiles] and five children who were traveling with the Taylors, also died, the father [Horace] and five children recovering. Several of Captain Coon’s family were stricken, but none of the Taylor family, twelve in number, were even assailed. In all there were about thirty victims. Elmer [Taylor] assisted in digging th gtaves [graves] and burying the dead. Eight miles above Fort Laramie, Mattison [Madison] Welsh [Welch] and Nelson Spafford narrowly escaped drowning while swimming the Platte river, driving stock to feed. Elmer Taylor was of the party, and though a poor swimmer, while his companions were experts, by holding on to an ox’s tail he crossed and recrossed the deep, a swift-running stream without difficulty. On the Sweetwater his father [Benjamin Franklin Taylor] nearly died from being poisoned by a snake.

Transcript for Jones and Taylor family histories, undated

Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898

Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898, Autobiography, Vol. 1,2.

Transcript for Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898, Autobiography volume 1, 1894 and Autobiography volume 2, 1894

Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898.

Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal

Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal, June 1850, Page 21.

Transcript for Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal, 1850 June-September

Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal.

Warren Foote papers, 1837-1941

Warren Foote papers, 1837-1941, May 1837, Page 110-26.

Transcript for Warren Foote, Autobiography and journal, 1837 May-1879 December, 110-126

Warren Foote papers, 1837-1941.

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Hartland, Niagara, New York, United States

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Daniel Merritt Brown

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3 days west of Winter Quarters, Nebraska Territory, United States

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