Benjamin Ashby (1828 - 1907) Profile

Individual

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Benjamin Ashby

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British Mission Manuscript history and historical report

A conference of the presiding elders of the Welsh conferences.

"A conference of the presiding elders of the Welsh conferences.", British Mission Manuscript history and historical report, March 12, 1857.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, April 8, 1853, Page 1-19.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Index to the British Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, Church History Library

Index to the British Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, Church History Library.

Zion's Trumpet: 1856 & 1857 Welsh Mormon Periodical, translated and edited by Ronald D. Dennis (Religious Studies Center, BYU, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2017) 1856 pp. 78, 106-7, 139, 144, 167, 169, 245-46, 281; 1857 pp. 42, 86-87

Zion's Trumpet: 1856 & 1857 Welsh Mormon Periodical, translated and edited by Ronald D. Dennis (Religious Studies Center, BYU, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2017) 1856 pp. 78, 106-7, 139, 144, 167, 169, 245-46, 281; 1857 pp. 42, 86-87.

Ashby Ancestry

Ashby Ancestry, Page 22.

Ashby Ancestry.

Ashby, Benjamin [biographical sketch], Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook 1906-1914, fd. 5

Ashby, Benjamin [biographical sketch], Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook 1906-1914, fd. 5.

Benjamin Ashby autobiography, circa 1897-1904, 25-30

Benjamin Ashby autobiography, circa 1897-1904, 25-30.

We had now one wagon 3 oxon and two cows[.] one wagon had been sold in the winter and one Bro Noble had taken to the valley[.] the rest of the cattle had never returned from the winter herd ground



We exerted ourselves to get ready to start and I laid in a stock of provisions[.] I bought of Bro [Willard G.] McMullin some 12 busher [bushels] of corn and I came across a man who had twelve Bushels to sell for which I made him a pair of mens shoes giving him twelve and half cts per Bushel[.] we also bought seventy pounds of flour[,] a pound or two of sugar[,] some cloth for one new shirt which with two old ones comprised my wardrobe[.] my sister Martha had accompyed Bro. Nobles family to the valley the year previous[.] my sister Harriett engaged to go with some of President Youngs family[.] My Bro Nathaniel drove the team for old father [Deacon John] Haven so there was seven of us at home very destitute of sutable clothing[.] I had an old pair of Boots and I bought some mogensons [moccasins] from a squaw[.] also had a pair of rubber shoes—which when obliged to wear in the hot sands sweating just so as to be unbearable



I was in possession of an odd ox which I intended to work single but Bro Brigham Young sent us an ox so we had 2 yoke of Oxon and a yoke of cows[.] we went out to the camp as early as we could in order to let the cattle recrute before commencing our Journey[.] In a short time the company was organized and we moved on to the Elkhorn River[.] here I was taken with pain in my stomach which lingered upon me for days[.] at last I endeavored to find some wiskey and I could not find any in camp until I came to Bro McMullen[.] he gave me half of what he had about one third of a gill into which I put a teaspoon full of cyanne [cayenne] pepper and drank it and went to sleep and slept nearly 24 hours and got up [.] well there was very little that occured of intrest except what is recorded in history[.] We were organized in Joseph Busbys [Busby’s] ten but traveled in Erastus Snows as my Sister Elizabeth and had married Bro. Snow in Winter Qua[r]ters



During our stay the first winter in Winter Qua[r]ters a band of Omaha Indians camped a short distance from us, one afternoon a messenger arived in their camp with the news that the Souix [Sioux] Warrers [Warriors] had slain some of their people and for two nights and days the Mourning and lamentation of those people was most pitifull and heart rending to listen to



Before we started on our journey we were organsed and kept guard over the cattle which were staked on the outside of the correll [corral] during the night. At five in the morning the bugle sounded and cattle was loosed and herded[,] breakfast got and everything got ready when the cattle were driven in and yoked[.] the last to leave the camp ground was Prest Brigham Young who[se] fatherly care was always manifest



On[e] morning on the Loup Fork where we had campt Our team was the last to leave the ground and I had just started when the staple droped from the yoke[.] I was obliged to take of[f] the yoke to fix-it[.] Bro Young was just going out of sight over the hill upon his coach[.] in a few miniutes he was by my side and assisted me to replace the staple and yoke the oxon and get under weigh [way] again[.] In a few days he sent me to get the staple which was Brooken [broken] mended by the Blacksmith



One evening as we drove into camp Sister Harriett met us and told us that she had fallen under the wheels of the wagon as she was getting out of it and received but slight injery though the wagon was loaded with about forty hundred pounds[.] a most miraculous escape



When we arived at the alkali country we found [illegible] the thickness of two [illegible] which we found quite handy the next winter for hulling corn which we used for food as it was some time before there was any mills to grind it



When we got to the last crossing of the Sweetwater we stoped some 8 or 10 days waiting for teams from the valley which were to meet us there[.] the oxon commenced to die and it was said it was the alkali[.] the people some of them fed a considerable tobacco to their oxon and according to my observation it poisoned the cattle worse than the alkali and caused more death[.] we had one ox taken sick and I gave him about two pound of fat pork and he recovered



At last the teams arived and was distributed among the companies[.] I lightened up my wagon about from 8.50 to 400 pounds of corn and we started up the hill leading over the South Pass[.] while camped at the Sweetwater we had a heavy storm of snow and rain but we had drawn up our wagons behind a clump of willows which sheltered us much from the storm. We also had some pleasant wheather and I did several jobs of shoe mending for which received some money[.] But it had no purchasing power as their was nothing to sell



The first night we camped at Pacific Springs[.] here we broak [broke] up into small companies in order to better journey through the rugged mountains and be better accommodated with campgrounds and avail ourselves of the smaller pastures for feeding the cattle[.] The roads were of the most primitive kind[.] When we got to Fort Bridger I traded some powder for some Antilope skins from which I made me some mogensens [moccasins] and with which mother faced my pants after we arrived in the valley.



The last day of our Journey was the most arduous and trying of the whole Journey[.] the road crossed the creek about twenty times and in the morning I had broken one of the houses of the wagon and the iron braces was all that held it and they were bent causing the wagon to run out of the road and I was obliged to keep the oxon out of the road so the wagon could be kept in it[.] this was a difficult task and I wished to stop and have assistance come from Salt Lake and help us in[.] but mother objected to stoping unless we were forced to so I kept on successfully passing and overcoming every obstacle until we reached the mouth of the canyon[.] so we got into the fort all right[.] I beleave that nothing but mothers prayers and faith enabled me to accomplish a seeming imposibility[.] We were met by Bro Noble and taken to his house in the north fort and kindly received by his wife Mary and family[.] we occupied one of his rooms during the winter

Transcript for Benjamin Ashby autobiography, circa 1897-1904, 25-30

Charles Neal autobiographical sketch, 1913

Charles Neal autobiographical sketch, 1913.

We had to wait about three weeks for the hand carts to be finished before we could start on our journey across the plains. There were about 125 hand carts and about 275 men, women and children in the company. Israel Evans was Captain and Benjamin Ashley [Ashby] assistant captain. Charles Neal was teamster most of the way. After a long and tedious journey on the plains, our food supply was exhausted and we had to live four days on buffalo meat without salt. We arrived at Salt Lake City Sept. 11, 1857. I further continued my journey to Lehi, and on the 24th of Sept., I returned to Salt Lake City and found Miss Annie England who came across the sea and plains with me. We were married the same day by Elder Israel Evans, Captain of our company. 
 
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In 1866 I was called to go to the Missouri River with four yoke of oxen to bring the immigrants, making me three trips across the plains. While at the Missouri River, I met the two orphan children of my sister Ellen Eggerson who died and was buried at sea on the Fourth of July. Her infant baby died on the 21st of July in Nebraska and was buried there.



I returned and brought with me my sister's little son [daughter], 2½ years old. When about four days out from the Missouri River, I was taken very sick and was not expected to live, in fact Captain Harden [Horton] Haight was about to leave me there and if I should recover I would be brought in on the Stage, but I begged the captain to bring me along with them, telling him if he would, I should recover and they brought me along.



And after traveling for about three hundred miles with good care I was able to drive my own team and got back all right.

Transcript for Charles Neal autobiographical sketch, 1913

Deseret News

Arrival and Latest News

"Arrival and Latest News", Deseret News, August 19, 1857, Page 4.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19</center>



 



ARRIVAL AND LATEST NEWS.—Elder Levi Stewart and two sons, and Elder Isaac Bowman and Mrs. McMinn arrived on the 16th inst.; they left Leavenworth on the afternoon of July 11.



Br. Bowman informs us that Elder Jesse B. Martin's wagon company was traveling on the North side of the Platte, and was about 36 miles below Laramie on the 3d of this month. They had lost 11 head of cattle by a stampede, but were pursuing their journey at the rate of 15 miles a day. Elder Charles R. Dana, David W. Rogers and James Carrigan were in Elder Martin's company.



Elder William Walker's freight train was at Deer Creek on the 8th inst., and Elder Israel Evans' hand-cart company would arrive there that evening. Elder Benjamin Ashby is with Elder Evans. There are 30 hand-carts, 2 teams and some 150 persons in the company; they are very lively and making good progress.



The Texas company, under charge of Elder Homer Duncan, was passed at Ash Hollow on the 29th of July. Their animals were in good order and all were getting along well. Elders Williams and John M. Moody are in that company.



Col. Hoffman, the Commandant at Fort Laramie, treated brs. Stewart and Bowman with marked kindness and courtesy.



Br. Bowman states that the crops in many parts of the States are very poor, and that there is but little grass between Fort Bridger and the Missouri river. Also that myriads of grasshoppers infest the route, and are making their way East.



The 2500 hundred troops ordered to Utah had not started so late as the 11th of July. Clippings from the papers brought by brs. Stewart and Bowman, will appear in the News' as fast as space will permit.

Transcript for "Arrival and Latest News," Deseret News, 19 August 1857, 188

Deseret News.

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Sketch of Life of Margaret Simmons Bennett Beck

"Sketch of Life of Margaret Simmons Bennett Beck", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 3-4.

When spring came the Lord continually opened the way for us in our journey westward, and by the 18th of May we were in Iowa City ready to begin the long journey across the plains.


We crossed the plains in the first Handcart Company 1857. Our family consisted of my Father, Mother, my sisters, Catherine, and Hannah, and I. At that time I was nine years old; Kittie was seven, and Hannah was 18 months old.


The handcarts were brought and in a small grove near Iowa City preparations were made for our journey of fifteen hundred and thirty-five miles. Israel Evans of Lehi was our Captain, with Benjamin Ashby was his assistant. Israel Evans proved to be a splendid Captain, taking the best of care of the immigrants, laboring faithfully from early morning until late at night, always selecting the best of camping places, and caring constantly for the health and comfort of his company. One day az we were nearing Salt Lake Valley I had a very sore foot. I remember that Captain Evans lifted me up on his own mule, put me in the saddle, and got a girl named Annie Neal [England] to lead the mule over the mountain.


While on the prairie one day sister Kittie fell asleep by the roadside. We traveled on, leaving her to be picked up by the wagon which accompanied us as it came by. But when we camped at night the wagon had not brought Kittie! Mother was almost frantic. A search party went to seek her and found that a strange company had picked her up, and they restored her to us.


Our company left Iowa, so history says, the latter part of May and arrived at Florence on the 13th of June. My sister Annie was placed in the handcart with a shade over her; Father and Mother pulled the handcart loaded with food, cooking utensils, etc., while my sister Kittie and I walked behind, usually holding to the back of the cart. Thus we traveled with a company of 149 souls from Iowa City to Florence, and thus we traveled from Florence to Salt Lake. A mule team wagon was provided to carry our tents and heaviest provisions.


Our cloesest companions while crossing the plains were the members of the family of Brother William Ball, former members of the "Old Kent Road Branch." Carrie [Caroline Simmons] Ball, a girl of eleven, and "Bill Ball" or William Simmons were good company for us girls. Ball's folks and ours have always been great friends. Among those of the company who located in Lehi were the Joseph Slater Family, W. L. Hutchins [Hutchings] and family, and the Clayton family. Sister Martha Durton was a daughter of the Claytons.


There was only one death in our company, and that was of an infant. We had the usual experiences of camping out, of wading streams, and of seeing great herds of buffaloes. Johnson's Army, too, followed close behind us most of the way.


We arrived in Salt Lake City September 11, 1857.

Transcript for "Sketch of Life of Margaret Simmons Bennett Beck," 3-4.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Fishburn, Robert Leeming, "Pioneer Autobiographies," in Chronicles of Courage, 8 vols. [1990-97], 2:204-8

Fishburn, Robert Leeming, "Pioneer Autobiographies," in Chronicles of Courage, 8 vols. [1990-97], 2:204-8.

We camped on the outskirts of the city [Iowa City, Iowa]; and during our sojourn there, we had people from the surrounding country come to our camp to see and to talk with us. They were curious to inquire what there could be in our religion that would cause us to emigrate in such numbers from our native countries to go to a barren wilderness as Utah was represented to be, and that we could start with handcarts on a journey of over thirteen hundred miles through a desert country inhabited only by the savage Indians and wild beasts of the forest, and yet be so cheerful, for we were cheerful, happy, and contented, though we had a long and arduous journey before us. We felt that the Lord would preserve us and would give us strength and power of endurance sufficient to enable us to go through.



	After waiting here three weeks, our handcarts were ready. The company was provided with tents, cooking utensils, and three or four mule teams and wagons to haul them and our surplus provisions in. We were organized with Israel Evans as captain of the company and Benjamin Ashby to assist him. When we left Iowa City, we had in the company between four and five hundred men, women, and children, the strength of the company being divided out to the best advantage, the single young men being used where they were most needed so as to help those who were not so strong. The rest of the brethren and sisters who came with us from Liverpool to Iowa started a day or two after us with ox teams and wagons, Edward Martin being the captain of that company. The two companies traveled together nearly all the way through.



	After traveling from Iowa City to Florence, or Winter Quarters, which was situated on the Missouri River, a distance of three hundred miles from Iowa City, we were joined by a company of Saints from St. Louis, there being about one hundred of them. We there rested several days until such time as all of the supplies were ready and loaded for our journey across the great American desert of a thousand miles which now lay before us. All being ready, we started again on our journey the latter part of the month of June. I do not remember the exact date.



	We traveled along as best we could until the evening of the third of July when we reached a small settlement of our people, called Genoa, about one hundred miles from Winter Quarters. Sometime during that night Apostles John Taylor and Erastus Snow and also James Gembel came into our camp, bringing the intelligence of the assassination of Parley P. Pratt, which intelligence cast quite a gloom over the entire company. These brethren were fleeing to the Rocky Mountains as fast as they could for safety, but remained with us until the morning of the fifth, when they bade us a kind farewell.



	We left Genoa on the morning of the fifth and proceeded once more on our arduous journey, which we found was indeed hard before we got through having to wade streams of water and pull our loads through mud holes and swamps, uphill and downhill, and over the sand hills, which was the hardest labor we had on the entire journey, as we had to call on the entire strength of the company to haul the carts, pulling them a short distance, and then going back for the others, and after doing this we would have to go back to help the teams up. However, we got along first rate, all things considered, for we were both cheerful and happy and were disposed to make the best of everything, which tended very materially to lessen our burdens.



	We enjoyed ourselves in various ways around our camp fires at night, after having had supper. Groups would be gathered around the fires and would entertain themselves in recounting the incidents of the day, singing and reciting; and very frequently, when not too tired, we would have a dance. I had a violin I brought with me, and being the only one in the company who could play, the duty of making music for the brethren and sisters devolved upon me. Myself and three young ladies did considerable singing, their names being Eliza P. Noble, Elizabeth Walker, and Sarah Pollard. They also came from Bradford at the same time I did, came on the same vessel across the Atlantic, traveled together on the cars to Iowa, and from there pulled at the same handcart with me to Salt Lake City. While traveling on the road, we sang for miles, which used to make the time slide along pleasantly and would also make our burdens seem lighter. It not only made us feel more cheerful and happy, but it had the same good effect upon all the company.



	The only circumstance I can remember occurring that cast a feeling of gloom over the whole company was when we had nearly reached Laramie. Our provisions were almost exhausted, and we had not the slightest idea where we were going to procure any. This gave us some uneasiness when we realized that we still had five hundred miles to travel before reaching our destination. However, before we had consumed all the provisions, we learned that President Brigham Young had sent out a large quantity of flour, causing it to be stored at different points on the road for the express purpose of relieving the emigrants as they came along.



	One night when camped a few miles this side of Laramie, we finished up everything we had in the company in the shape of provisions. After supper we held a meeting which was rather a solemn one. The captain of the company informed us that there would be no necessity of us starving for the want of flour between this point and Salt Lake City, but that we should be compelled to travel the next day fourteen miles without breakfast to a place called Horseshoe Creek where we should find flour. He then asked us how we felt about handing over our outfits, which consisted of our handcarts, teams and wagons, tents, cooking utensils, etc., to the Church when we arrived in Salt Lake City, if we were provided with provisions through the remainder of our journey, for these things belonged to the company, having been bought with their money and not with Church funds. We very willingly agreed to hand them over rather than starve; and while we could not help but feel that somebody was at fault for the scanty supply of provisions furnished us, we could not do otherwise than acknowledge the hand of a kind and over-ruling Providence in blessing his servant Brigham with wisdom and foresight sufficient to cause such an abundance of provisions to be sent out and stored at different points expressly for the relief of any and all emigrants who might need such relief. Had such relief not been afforded to us, we certainly must have perished on the way.



	The next morning we got up bright and early, packed up, and were soon on the way without breakfast; but we were cheered in the thought that it was only a matter of a few hours' travel before we should be able to satisfy our hungry appetites. We traveled the fourteen miles and reached Horseshoe Creek. There was a small company of brethren here from Salt Lake City taking care of the place and the supplies, which fact made it the more pleasant for us. Flour was soon served out, and as quickly as possible made into bread and baked, and then eaten with a good relish until all were satisfied. Though we had nothing else to eat, we counted this very sweet and were very thankful to get it. We remained here and rested the balance of the day. Had a splendid time, enjoying ourselves first rate, and at night after supper we had a dance. The contrast in the countenances and feelings of the brethren and sisters on this occasion was indeed quite marked as compared with those of the evening previous. I may here remark that a few of the brethren were detailed for guard service each night, being called out in their turn, so that each did his share of this labor, which made it satisfactory to all parties concerned.



	The next morning we were busy in loading up with flour sufficient to last us to a place called Deer Creek. This being done and breakfast over, we soon had our tents taken down and loaded into the wagons, and proceeded once more on our journey. All went along as smoothly as it were possible under the circumstances, and in a few days we reached Deer Creek, where we found a larger number of brethren from Salt Lake City than were at Horseshoe Creek. I don't know the exact number; but so far as my memory now serves me, there must have been not less than forty or fifty, under the direction of N. O. Jones. They were busy building log houses in such a shape as to form a fort when built, with the view of being the better prepared to protect themselves from Indian depredations. Here we received a hearty welcome from Brother Jones and the brethren who were with him, and found an abundant supply of flour.



	In a consultation between Brother Jones and our captain and his assistants, Brothers Evans and Ashby, it was deemed advisable for us to remain there two or three days in order that we could have a good rest and recruit up a little, as we were by this time getting somewhat worn down, having traveled with our carts since leaving Iowa City, about nine hundred miles. This, when announced to the brethren and sisters, was quite satisfactory with them. The next day Brother Jones caused a beef to be killed, which was distributed among the company. It was quite a treat, as it was the first fresh meat we had seen since leaving the City of Iowa, and proved to be too much for the stomachs of a great many.



	During our stay here, we had a most enjoyable time. Indeed, I can scarcely believe it would be possible to find a company of people under the same conditions and circumstances who could be more happy and contented and enjoy themselves better than did our company while at Deer Creek. After five days, and being supplied with flour to last us until we reached Devils Gate, we once more resumed our travels, feeling considerably better for the rest and also for the general good time it had been our privilege to enjoy. We left here with the hearty good wishes of all the brethren for our welfare and safe arrival in Salt Lake City.



	Being thus so nicely recruited, we traveled cheerfully along, realizing that each day brought us nearer to our destination. In due time we reached Devils Gate, remaining there overnight. Next morning we received more supplies of flour, and continued our journey, nothing of any importance occurring until we arrived at Fort Bridger, where we halted to get more supplies.



	Sometime during the night there was a wagon load of potatoes brought into camp from a place that was then known as Fort Supply, which was settled by our people. I happened to be one of the guards that night; and being informed of the contents of the wagon and that the potatoes were brought in expressly for the brethren and sisters of our company, I asked permission to take a few, which was cheerfully granted. Having a fire in the camp to warm at while on duty, I took these potatoes and baked them; and when baked I divided them out among my traveling companions, those who pulled at the same cart with me, reserving one for myself. I don't know that I ever enjoyed anything more than I did that potato, for we had not seen one since we left the ship at Boston, being a period of about five months. The next day they were served out among the brethren and sisters, and with some beef that was also distributed were considered to be a rich treat by all who participated.



	On receiving the information that we were now only about one hundred miles from Salt Lake City, we were quite jubilant, knowing that it was now only a matter of a few days' travel before we should reach our destination; and strange as it may appear, though we had then traveled with our carts upwards of twelve hundred miles, we made the last hundred miles in four days and arrived in Salt Lake City on the eleventh day of September, being only a few days less than six months since I left my home in England.



	Although our journey was long and tedious, and we had to endure many hardships, more particularly that part of the journey from Iowa City to Salt Lake city, a distance of over thirteen hundred miles, with men, women, and children pulling handcarts over every kind of road, wading rivers and streams, yet we were indeed abundantly blessed of the Lord. He gave us strength and the power of endurance sufficient to enable us to go through. There was but one death, and that was one of the brethren belonging to the St. Louis company, who was very ill when we joined them at Florence, and died three days after we left that place. The brethren and sisters of our company who had traveled all the way from Liverpool together came safely through, not one being left on the way, which to my mind was something marvelous, and exhibited in no small degree the mercies and blessings of an all-wise and overruling Providence in thus caring for and preserving us from sickness and death, and in permitting us all to reach our destination. (1857).

Transcript for Fishburn, Robert Leeming, "Pioneer Autobiographies," in Chronicles of Courage, 8 vols. [1990-97], 2:204-8

Griffith Roberts reminiscence and diary, circa 1865, 19-21

Griffith Roberts reminiscence and diary, circa 1865, 19-21.

In the Evening of the same day as we landed, we were disbached on our journey to the State of Iowa, by "Rail," Via Albany, Buffalo, Chigago, Rock Island to Iowa City, (7 Days journey) We camped about 3 miles West of the above named City, for 3 weeks,



As I was rather short of money, my wife &amp; myself went to Iowa City to seek for something to do at our Trade, so I had a job to make a suit of Clothe from one Brother, named, John Morris, a Forman in a Tailor shop in the City, And my wife had some quilting to do, at the same house, And we made about seven Dollars and Fifty Cents And with this money we were able to bye provisions to enable us to reach "Florence,"



About the 20th May, we left our camping ground and traveled the first day about 3 miles, and camped, hear we were organized as a Company, under the dictation of Elder James A. Little, as follows,:—Elder Israel Evans, as our Captain, Benjamin Ashby as his assistant, And myself "Captain of the Guard,"



There were of us about 150, or 160, men, women &amp; children, we had one chigago waggon, &amp; 4 mules leaving Iowa, about 33 Hand-Carts, &amp;c and 9 tents, we were 3 weeks crossing the state of "Iowa" Roads muddy, and almost unpassable in many places.



When we arrived at "Council Bluffs," we hard the sad inteligence of the martyrdom of Elder, Parley, Peter, Pratt,



We arived at Florence, and stopped hear nearly two weeks preparing for the other part of the journey, about the first of July, we left Florence having recived about 20 more men, &amp; women to swell the number of our little Company. We traveled the first Day, and camped on little "Papio," Next morning we were honoured by a visit from Elder John Taylor, &amp; Elder Erastus Snow, of the quorum of the "Twelve," And they gave us valuable instructions in relation to traveling &amp;c we reached the "Elk Horn" River by the 4th And camped on the East banks, this being Sunday, we stayed untill monday, And as the River had flooded over the Bottoms at the Crossing we had to go up the River for 18 miles to get to the Ferry We reached to "Loup Fork" River by the Friday following and hear found a small settlement of the Brethren, About 100 families, called the "Beaver Settlement"



And as the Saints were anxious for us to tarry there over Sunday, being that Elder Erastus Snow, was there, we did so, and by so doing, gave an opportunity for the sisters to wash &amp;c



some parts of the journey, I suffered much from the "Palpatation of the heart" As we had very heavy roads to pull the "Hand Carts" over very many sand Hills, and swampy ground, &amp;c



When we got to the Buffalo Country our Bakon [bacon] was running very short, 12 of us went out after a Buffalo, And after much running and shooting, we succeded in securing him, and cutt him up, and packed him on 4 or 5 Hand Carts, that the Brothren unloaded at the Camp for that purpose, we reached camp about 12 oclock at night, &amp;c



About this time a Bro. from St. Louis died; he was in "decline" for 7 years.



a little Baby died about the same time who was born when we were stoping at Genoa City, or the "Beaver Settlement,"



When we were about "chimney Rock" we found all our "provisions Bags" empty, except the Floor Sack, And we traveled to Great, Salt, Lake City, with but little else than Bread, &amp; water,



On the "South Pafs" pr "Pacific Springs" we met 75 "Horse-Men" under the command of Col. R. T. Burton, traveling East to watch the movements of the U.S. Troops (or mobs) sent hear, by President James Buchanan to destroy the Servants of God, And scatter the saints, these men (or Brothren) under the command of Col. Burton, were in exelent spirits we camped with them that night, And we were greatly encouraged by Elders James, W. Cummings, &amp; R.T. Burton,



Next day, we saw, at about 2 miles distance, another company of 50 men (as we learned by one of the Brothren running to meet them,) they were traveling on another Road, these were from "Provo" City



Sep, 11th Friday noon, we entered Great, Salt, Lake City, the first one we saw of our aquointances, was Brother Edward Parry, Park, St George, he greeted us very warmly, next was Brother E.C. Morris, &amp; Bro. Edward L. Parry, close by Pres, B. Young's house



We then went to camp to the 17th Ward Square, And about half past 2 p.m. my friend &amp; Brother John Parry, Jun, came to the camping ground to see me, also sister Parry came and took us home to their house, and made us welcome, And we truly felt thankfull for the kind reception, And the comfortable rest which we found at Bro. John Parry, Jun's house, for we had arrived in Salt Lake City, penny-less, And had no means by which we could procure food or lodging.

Transcript for Griffith Roberts reminiscence and diary, circa 1865, 19-21

"Hand Cart Veteran Summoned," Davis County Clipper

"Hand Cart Veteran Summoned," Davis County Clipper, November 22, 1907.

"Hand Cart Veteran Summoned," Davis County Clipper.

Morgan, Evan Samuel. Diary of Evan Samuel Morgan

Morgan, Evan Samuel. Diary of Evan Samuel Morgan.

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

First 100, report, June 1848.

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Susan M. Witbeck autobiographical sketch, circa 1898, 5-7

Susan M. Witbeck autobiographical sketch, circa 1898, 5-7.

While I had been working in Iowa City, preparations had gone ahead for the journey. The handcarts were ready and loaded with our supplies. They were rude two-wheeled carts, with a sort of box on an axel between the wheels. There could not have been a more difficult mode of travel. We would push and pull these carts across more than a thousand miles of trackless plains, barren desert, and towering mountains.



I knew when I left England that ours was to be an handcart company, but it was impossible for me to realize the hardships I had to meet. Misgivings or fear never entered my mind, for it was the only way I could get to Zion, and the journey had to be met with faith and courage.



We left the camp ground on the 22nd of May, and moved out about three miles, where I had a chill. The first week we traveled only from four to five miles a day on account of the rains. Our bedding was wet all the time.



Our company consisted of 150 persons, 69 males and 81 females.



When the weather was good, we traveled from fifteen to twenty and sometimes twenty-five miles a day. We arrived at Florence, a way station, on June 13th. Here we were detained until the 19th on account of rains.



Most often the evenings around the campfire were pleasant, and we were happy.



I remember that one night there was a terrible storm. Our tents blew over, and we sat in Brother Lyman Wood’s wagon. I never heard such thunder in my life, and the rain came down in torrents. There was a wedding in camp that night, a Brother [Elias] and Sister [Elizabeth Smith] Crane, who were not deterred by the storm.



At Florence, they cut down our baggage to fifteen pounds. That included everything but flour.



The first Sunday out we spent on the Elkhorn; the next, at Genoa, on the Loop [Loup] Fork. There the only baby was born to Brother [Heinrich] and Sister [Regina] Muller. It did not live long.



On the 4th of July we traveled sixteen miles before we came to water. We had camped the night before on the sand hills, without water for the stock, and only a little for the people.



On the morning of the 24th of July we were 95 miles below Ft. Laramie.



We stopped at Deer Creek September 11th. We crossed the Little Mountain, and arrived in Salt Lake at three o’clock p.m. September 12, 1857, where we were glad to lay down our handcarts, but sorry to part with our kind captain Israel Evans and his assistant Ben Ashby.



For days before we reached Salt Lake, relatives of some of our group had come out to meet them and take them to the homes of loved ones waiting for them. Our company was constantly getting smaller. As each happy load pulled on away from us, it began to slowly dawn on my mind that there would be no one to meet me, and no home to go to, when I reached my destination. The feeling of loneliness kept increasing, until the last night we camped, before reaching Salt Lake, I could control my feelings no longer, I wandered far away from the camp, threw myself upon the ground, and gave way to all my stored up heartache. It happened that the mules later strayed away, and Captain Evans, going in search of them, heard sobbing. Following the sound, he found me.



Taking me into his arms, he wanted to know the cause of my grief, for I had been cheerful and happy as we traveled along. I opened my heart to him with all its loneliness and fears. He comforted me, and told me I would be welcomed by all the saints, and that many homes would be opened to me, and maybe some proposals of marriage would be made too. He earnestly asked for and received my pledge that I would marry no one until I had been in the valley two years.



All he told me was true, for we are never without friends, when we are among the saints of God.



I slept the first night in Salt Lake at the home of William Clayton; and stopped a few days at the B. Wilton Egeton home. Then I went to Grantsville to live with Brother Martindale’s family. They were very considerate of me, and I stayed there all winter.

Transcript for Susan M. Witbeck autobiographical sketch, circa 1898, 5-7

William L. Hutchings diary, 1857-1877, 10

William L. Hutchings diary, 1857-1877, 10.

Transcript for William L. Hutchings diary, 1857-1877, 10

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Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

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William Hardin Ashby

Mary Jane Ashby

Emma Smith Ashby

Susan Hammond

John Jefford Ashby

Harriet Maria Ashby

Nathaniel Ashby Jr.

Richard Hammond Ashby

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Newcastle, Hull, and Carlisle Conferences

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Counselor in Welsh Presidency, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

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Benjamin Ashby

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