Alma Eldredge (1841 - 1925) Profile

Alma Eldredge (1841 - 1925)

Individual

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Alma Eldredge

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 11, Line 447.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

"Alma Eldredge Pioneer of 1847 Dies in Salt Lake," The Roosevelt Standard

"Alma Eldredge Pioneer of 1847 Dies in Salt Lake," The Roosevelt Standard, February 25, 1925.

"Alma Eldredge Pioneer of 1847 Dies in Salt Lake," The Roosevelt Standard.

Diana Eldredge Smoot autobiography, 1912, (2-5

Diana Eldredge Smoot autobiography, 1912, (2-5.

After the departure of Brother Young and his Company, those of the number left in Winter Quarters who could, began immediate preparations to follow as soon as possible.  As fast as they were ready to leave, they moved out a distance and camped on the Horne River until everybody was ready to start.  The Saints were then organized into hundreds and fifties. Brother Daniel Spencer was Captain over the First Hundred, after President Young’s Company and my Father was Captain over the first fifty in Brother Spencer’s Company.



When the Companies were all organized they moved out a short distance apart.  They camped with not more than one day’s travel between two companies for fear of encountering the Potawataimie [Pottawattamie] Indians, who were at that time out on their hunting trips.



We followed the trail of the Pioneers, Brother Parley P. Pratt riding ahead on the horse to locate camping places for us. In many instances we found and camped on the camping grounds of the Pioneers.



One thing which I remember very distinctly, was the finding of the first mail box after leaving Winter Quarters.  While Father was breaking camp and hitching up to start one morning, I, with a girl companion wandered up on a little knoll a short distance from where we had camped.  On this knoll I found a stake driven into the ground, on top of this stake a hole had been bored and plugged with a cork.  Returning to my Father, I told him what I had seen and he went to the spot, drew out the cork, and found a letter written by President Young, to the camp.  He read the letter to the camp and replaced it in the stake that the following companies might also find it and read the message.



Several days later, we saw a patch of willows some distance from the road.  This seemed to promise water, and my father turning to Gid Ensign said, “If you will go down there,” indicating a certain point, “and bring me a jug of water, I will give you twenty-five cents.”  The boy went, and in the exact spot pointed out by my Father he found another letter from Brigham Young.  Evidently his Company had camped there and thought we might do so on account of water.



After this we traveled for some time with nothing of especial interest to break the monotony of the days until we had an encounter with a band of Sioux Indians at Chimney Rocks. There were about a hundred braves in war paint and feathers headed by a Chief.  They thought we had come to take their land away from them, but when they were finally convinced that we did not want to molest them, they seemed quite friendly.  We cooked them a big dinner, after which the “peace pipe” was smoked by all the men in both bands.  A large fire was built, the Indian Braves forming a semi-circle on one side, the white men on the other side facing them.  The pipe was then passed from the Chieftain clear around the circle.  A dance followed, in which all took part in characteristic ways.



As we moved on they followed us for two or three days, but they offered no opposition to us.  However, they insisted that the deer and buffalo belong to them and that we must not kill them.  On this point we had to be careful and not anger them.



At Laramie, we camped and had all the horses in the Company shod, but the next point of interest which impressed me, was the meeting of a huge herd of buffalo at Platte River.  Traveling along the bank of the river about noon, we were between the stream and the hills where the herds ranged.  They surged down upon us on their way for water.  The men of the Company crowded all the wagons of the train into as close a bunch as possible and all the women and children into the wagons.  They drove the cattle into a line with their heads turned from the buffalo and then stationed themselves at the head of their oxen with whips and no other weapons, owing to their promises to the Indians.  As the herd crowded closer to us, pawing the earth and tossing their heads, the men kept up an incessant shout and waving of their whips.  Suddenly, when they were just about upon us, the herd separated about in the middle, part going one side of the train and part the other side.  Not one head of cattle was lost and not a person injured.  As the buffalo dashed into the river beyond us an immense fellow fell and our men shot him, but of course this had to be kept quiet so the Indians would not hear of it.  This was the only large herd we saw tho’ we frequently came across smaller bunches until we reached the region of the mountains.



At this time I was driving a team of oxen which my brother Edmond [Eldredge], started out to drive.  He was taken sick during the journey and for about two hundred miles I did all the driving of the team immediately behind my Father’s in the train,  followed by my Mother’s carriage which she drove from Indianapolis to Salt Lake Valley.  I became so proficient in some respects that the men had to look after their laurels and in the matter of locking wagons, which method was employed in place of brakes, I could beat any man in the train.



Just as we were entering the mountain region, we met President Brigham Young and his party, who were on their way back to Winter Quarters, for their families.  My Uncle John Eldredge was with the party, and he took the team I was driving and drove it into the valley.  At this place Brother Heber [C]. Kimball asked my Father what he had in the way of goods and provisions for his family.  On learning that we had supplies enough for our own use and to help others less fortunate, Brother Kimball promised my Father that neither he nor his family would every want for bread, and the promise was verified all through the days of privation during the settling of the valley.



From there the journey was monotonous, except for the common interest of travel, until we reached the top of the peak from which we had our first view of the Valley.



On Sept. 21, 1847, our Company reached the top of the mountains just at sunset with the rest of the train spread out behind us.  It was necessary for us to descend to the foot of the mountain before dark, in order for the rest of the train to reach the top to make camp.  My Father asked me if he hitched “Billy,” a riding pony which I had ridden a good deal during the journey, in front of his team, if I thought I could lead them down the side of the mountain.  I thought I could alright, so the pony was saddled and I mounted.  Father instructed me to hold the reins close to the bit to prevent the pony from falling if he stumbled on the rough, bushy trail, and thus I led the team of three yoke of oxen down the mountain and into the valley.  Before we reached the bottom, I was so excited and nervous, the tears were streaming down my face, but father kept cheering and encouraging as he followed beside his team.  When we reached the bottom, however, he confessed that he had never felt so sorry for a child in his life and said it was very clever work for a 10-year old girl.  We camped at the foot of the mountain that night and



at mid-day of September 22, 1847, the Company rolled in and pitched camp at the North side of the old fort, where our Company built their fort as soon as possible.  As soon as breakfast was over on the morning of the 22nd. camp was hurridly broken and the teams started on the last stretch of the long, long, journey.  As soon as we were well on the way, I, with two other girls on horseback, left the Company to hurry on to the fort.  There was no danger of us losing our way as the trail of Brother Brigham’s Company was quite plain, and better than that, we could see the smoke from the fort.  As we left the train Uncle John Eldredge called after us to look out for Indians and be careful for they might get us anywhere.  Tho’ it was only a joke, it served to hurry us had we been inclined to lag.  As we neared the fort, I forged a little ahead of the other girls and rode into the fort first.  There were three women in the first Company and two who came with the Mormon Battalion who were in the fort ahead of me, but they are all dead now, and as far as I know, there is no woman living who was in the fort before I was.



Tho’ the journey was long and fraught with anxiety, we had none of the hardships to endure, which were the lot of some of the later Companies.  We had comparatively little sickness, with only one birth and one death.  We had good teams and good wagons, plenty of good feed and provisions and altogether, the trip was a very pleasant one.

Transcript for Diana Eldredge Smoot autobiography, 1912, (2-5

Eldredge, Alma, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1911], 5-8

Eldredge, Alma, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1911], 5-8.

Great caution had to be used in handling the Stock on account of the vast amount of Buffalows Roaming in the country[.] On the 12 of June 1847 a Company of one hundred wagons were orgenized at Winter Quarters and Daniel Spencer was apppointed Captain and on the 13 Started west on the trail of the Pioneer company. After the train crossed Elk Horn River about 25 miles from Winter Quarters the Company halted for a couple of days for this purpose of completing the Organization[.] the main company was divided in to two Divisions and Ira Eldredge was appointed Captain of the first Division of 50 wagons and Perry Green [Perrigrine] Sessions, was appointed Captain of the Second Division of 50 wagons[.] then their were appointed Captains for each 10 wagons in order that all incidents and details could be looked after[.] they traveled with in a mile of each other[.] During the first 500 miles we were kept advised of the movements and condition of the Pioneer company by written information placed on Buffalow Skulls set up by the side of the Pioneer trail & by like means information of our proceedings were left for those who were to follow in days to come. 
On the 3 of September 1847 when we were crossing Big Sandy 16 miles <s>of</s> East of Green River we met President Brigham Young and a large number of other members of the Pioneer Company on their Return to Winter Quart[r]es &amp; with them a number of the Mormon Battallion Soldiers on their Return to their families and friends[.] We Learned from President Brigham Young that the Great-Salt-Lake Valley had been Selected for a Resting Place for the Saints 
On the 18 of September 1847 we camped at the West Base of the Big Mountain on the North Fork of Parley's Canyon[.] Ephrahem [Ephraim] Hanks a member of the Battallion who had returned from California by the way of the Great-Salt-Lake went with the Returning Pioneer Company, until He met Fathers Company &amp; he being a Single man and a Cousin of Fathers, took up his abode with Fathers family and returned to Great Salt Lake Valley. He told the People about the Great-Salt-Lake and the valley could be seen when we emerged from the mount of Emigration Canyon. On the East side of the Valley. 
The morning of the 19 of September 1847 Father arranged for me to go on a Poney with Cousin Eprhem [Ephraim] Hanks and thus procure an early Sight of the Great-Salt-Lake Valley. We reached the mouth of the Canyon about 10 oclock, when we reached the mouth of the Canyon we raised slightly to the north for about two hundred feet to raise out of the Ravine which continued West, and when we reached that point we could see a large portion of the Valley and also a large portion of the Great Lake at the Spot where we Stopped. Mr. Hanks said "Brothers here is the Spot where the Buggy in which President Young was ridding Stopped for him to look over the Valley and after he looked for a few minutes He said "This is the Place, drive on" and thus a decission [decision] was reached for the Saints to multiply and increase. 
 The Company emerged from the mouth of the Canyon about 4 oclock in the afternoon and passed down the Sloping Platteu [plateau] and camped near the Bank of a Small Stream Since named City Creek

Transcript for Eldredge, Alma, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1911], 5-8

Eldredge, Alma. Reminiscences and diary, 1857-1898, 17-21

Eldredge, Alma. Reminiscences and diary, 1857-1898, 17-21.

On the 12
th
 day of June 1847, a company of One Hundred Wagons was Organized at Winter Quarters, and Daniel Spencer was appointed Captain and on the 13
th
 Started west on the Trail of the Pioneer Company. After the Train crossed Elk Horn River, ab[o]ut 25 miles from Winter Quarters, the Company haulted [halted] for a couple of days, for the purpose of completing the Organization. The main Company was devided in to Two Devissions [divisions], and Ira Eldredge was appointed Captain & the first Devission of 50 Wagons and Perry Green [Perrigrine] Sessions was appointed Captain of the Second Devission [division] & 50 wagons. Then there were appointed Captains for each Ten Wagons, in order that all incidents and details could be looked after.
During the time the Companies were travelling through the Country occupied by the Sioux Indians, they traveled within a mile of each other in order to be better prepared for defence in case the trains Should be at&lt;t&gt;acked by the Indians. Great Caution had to be used in handling the stock on account of the vast amount of Buffalow roaming in the Country. For Miles and Miles the land would be dot[t]ed with those animals, as far as the eye could reach, and on the most distant Hills the animals would be constantly appearing and disappearing the entire days.
During the first 500 Miles we were kept advised of the moovements [movements] and Condition of the Pioneer Company by written information placed on Buffalow skulls sett up by the side of the Pioneer trail, and by like means information of our proceedings were left for those who were to follow in days to come.
On the 3rd of September, when crossing Big Sandy, 16 Miles East of Green River, we met President Brigham Young, and a large number of the other members of the Pioneer Company on their return to Winter Quarters, and there with them a number of the Mormon Battallion Soldiers on their return to their families and friends.
We learnt from President Young that the Great Salt Lake Valley had been Selected for a resting place for the Saints.
 On the 18th day of September 1847 we camped at the West Base of the Big Mountain, on the North Fork of Parl[e]y's Canyon, Epraham [Ephraim] Hanks a member of the Mormon Battallion, who had returned from California, by the way of the Great Salt Lake Valley, went East with the returning Pioneer Company, untill he met Father's Company, and he being a Single man, and a cousin of Father's, took up his abode with Father's Family and returned to Salt Lake Valley. He told the People about the Great Salt Lake Vall[e]y, and the Valley and the Great Salt Lake could be Seen when emerged from the Mouth of Emigration Canyon, on the East side of the Valley.
The Morning of the 19th the night hearders [herders] arranged with Mr. Hanks, to go on horse back with them and thus procure an early Sight of the Great Salt Lake Valley. As soon as the Train was ready to moove [move] this party Started on and I went with them on a Poney. We reached the Mouth of the Canyon about Ten Oclock, in the morning, when we emerged from the Mouth of the Canyon, we raesed [raised] slightley to the North for about two hundred feet, to raise out of the Revain [ravine] which continued west, and when we reached that point we could See a large portion of the valley, and also a large portion of the Lake. 
 At the Spoot [spot] where we Stoped Mr. Hanks, Said, Brethren, here is the Spot where the Buggy, in which President Young was riding Stoped for him to look over the Valley, and after he looked for a few moments, he said "This is the Place," drive on, and thus a decission was reached for the Saints to multiply and increase in.
My curiosity was grattified when I reached the elevated spot at the mouth of the Canyon, looked over the broad Space between the two ranges of the Mountains no Houses or Trees in Sight and the dark blue Salt Lake in the West 
The Company emerged from the Mouth of the Canyon, about Four Oclock this after noon, and passed down the sloping platteau and camped near the banks of a small Stream, Since named "City Creek["]

Transcript for Eldredge, Alma. Reminiscences and diary, 1857-1898, 17-21

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, June 21, 1847, Page 46.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

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Warren Township, Marion, Indiana, United States

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Esther Ann Eldredge

Ira Eldredge

Nancy Black

Hyrum Eldredge

Edmund Eldredge

Diana Tanner Eldredge

Alanson Eldredge

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Coalville, Summit, Utah Territory, United States

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Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

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Alma Eldredge

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