Brigham Young Jr. (1836 - 1903) Profile

California Mission

Elders Gillet, Young, and Riter

President and Sister Young

Missionaries at the Paris Exposition

Mission Photo

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Brigham Young, Jr.

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library.

Millennial Star

Valedictory

Brigham Young Jr., "Valedictory", Millennial Star, 29, no. 27, July 6, 1867, Page 424-426.

Emigration-Valedictory

"Emigration-Valedictory", Millennial Star, 55, no. 9, February 27, 1893, Page 148-149.

Salutatory

Brigham Young Jr., "Salutatory", Millennial Star, 52, no. 40, October 6, 1890, Page 632-633.

Millennial Star.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, April 24, 1864, Vol. 2, Page 6, Line 211.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, April 24, 1864, Vol. 1, Page 5, Line 211.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Charles K. Hansen record, circa 1917, 91-96

Charles K. Hansen record, circa 1917, 91-96.

Peter C. Johanssen [Peder Christian Johansen] whom my wife and I was assist on the journey, had a little girl very, sick here, my wife was attending her; an[d] shortly before we reached Omaha she breathed her last, and was buried there[.] I was one of four to pack the corps over one mile to the graveyard, as the man was to stingy to hire a coatch to haul her there.—



During our stay in Omaha, which was about one and a half day, we was visited by hundreds of the inhabitants, who was pretty much &lt;all&gt; Apostates, some had been in Utah and had returned to Omaha, and others had never been there, but all labored very energetically to persuade the emigrants not to go any further, the took them with them home, and showed them all the courtesey possible, to make it appear the great interest they was taking, in their wellfare, and at the same time told the most horrible stories about Utah and the Mormons, but I do not remember more than one family who remained there; and I believe it was on account of him not having money enough to take him any further, and that was a man from Copenhagen named Jensen.



Well, after we had provided our selves with provisions to last us till our regular supply arrived from Chicago, we boarded the U.P. train and went as far as the north Platt[e], where our Cattle was feeding, there had been bought in Utah, and drove from there, to the Platt-River that spring (Our company of Emigrants, was an independent Company, we had no assistance from the church; but had sent our money from Denmark to the emigration Agent to buy our provissions cattle and wagons etc etc.—) and had been &lt;fee&gt;ding there for some time, and was now in pretty good order for traveling, but a delay was caused some way or other, before our wagons and provissions arrived for bout three weeks, in which time great many of the Emigrants died, so we made a whole grave yard while laying on the Platt, but finally the day for starting our tedious journey had come, our Company was organized into five small companies, each with a captain &lt;who&gt; there drove ahead of his company, and the companies, each in turns, took the lead of all the companies. one day at the time.—We was now moving, but, o! what far croocked marks we made, the half of the Oxen was only half brock,[broke] and the teamsters not brock at all, the biggest part of them was danish, there could not speak one english word, and the Cattle had never been in Denmark, hence the croocked marks, but the[re] was wide roads on the plains in those days, so the men and the cattle was drilling each other, till the learned to travel on the most difficult roads, and brought each other through to Salt Lake City, but our experiencess was great with many hardships in traveling from eighteen to twenty six miles a day, tramping besides our wagons, through heath and dust, forthing [fording] Rivers and streams, and drying our wet clothes on our bodies, as we was traveling along, and some times we did not make camp till nine o clock in the evening, and of cours, we had to continue till we found feed, and water for our teames, and then when we did camp the teamsters as a rule had to unhitch and part of them herd the cattle, while an other part was standing guard around the camp to watch against Indians, and other dangerous characters that we came in contact with from time to time, and as a rule it was raining, thundering, and lightning almost every night, so that often when we was released from our guard we were often drenched to the skin, and had to dry our cloths in the sun during the day as we traveled along.—Deaths was almost a daily occurrence, and many of the Emigrants did not seam to care much whether the loved or died.



One sad accident happened to one of our teamsters, a fine young man twenty one years old, named Niels Peter Hansen, where we was traveling at the time, the road made a curv like a horseshoe, and brother Hansen's wagon happened to be right on the curve, when a Rabbit jumped up, and run opposit[e] the train, and three of the brethren took after it, two with guns, and one with a Revolver, the latter been Niels Peter Rasmussen from Aarhus (generally known as mason Rasmussen) but suddently the Rabbit turned, and run toward the train, right in the ben, and as the brethren turned to pursue their pray, brother Rasmussen stumbled, and his Revolver went off and the bullet hit brother Hansen right in his forehead; he fell of cours and the whole train was stopped, for some time.—Brigham Young junior was in the train and he, and two of his brothers, and others administered to him, but to no use. h[e] had got his death blow, he was put in his wagon till we arrived at a Soldier Station[.] there was a pretended physician, there was going to show his skill, in extracting the bu[llet] he dug out a whole saucer full of brain, but no bullet, which caused the poor sufferer to go cracy, he suffered imencely for six days before he died. His parents had emigrated the year previously, and was living on the Weber, and when we came in we happened to camp a short distance from where the lived, and they came running to camp with glad faces to receive their Son and you can imagain their feelings, when the accident was explained to them.



Well, our company was moving slowly toward the west, under the direction of our captain William G. Rise [Leonard G. Rice] nothing serious happened; only the naturally trials, and hardships connected with such a journey, some murmuring, and dissatisfaction of course, and among those who did not do the least grumbling was Peter C. Johansen, the man that I, and my wife was serving, and whose teamster I was, he had from the very beginning of our journey, gravelled and grumbled, and found fault with every thing, and keeping getting wors[e] every day, so that his company was not very desirable, but as he was the man there loaned me three hundred dollars, danish, for mine, and wifes Emigration, I felt to bare with him as much as possible which I did; as long as I thought that he was honest, but when the company was camping two or three miles this side of Ft Larmy, [Laramie] I, with some other brethren went into the town for to do a little treading[trading], and as soon as I was out of sight, he turned everything upside down in the wagon,and stole the biggest part of my provission and boxed it up, which my wife accidentally happened to see, and in a few days we began to feel the effect thereof, as we was first told our sugar had given out, then our fruit, then baccon, its ets and in a short time we was put on half rasons[rations] of flour so we had a mighty scant living, which cause that my wife often had to go to her friends to beg a piece of bread; to keep her from fainting, as she was in a delicate condition, and the most aggravating part was, that we had bought the provissions with our own money, and we had to go hungry when others had a great surplus.—



Our severest experience, was when we arrived at the south pass, here we was over took by a heavy snowstorm, there lasted for two days, the snow got knee deep, and no earthly show for the cattle to get anything to eat, which made it look very glooming, as our very lifes was depending upon them, and what added greatly to our sufferings was that there was no sign of fuel in camp of any kind and no possible shove to get anything where with to make a fire, so women had to warm their little children under their own cloths.—Several of us brethren went to the captain and asked him what we was to do to procure fire where with to warm our selves, and do the necessary cooking, and asked him if we could not cut down some of the Tellegraph poles, he answered, he could not give permission to do anything of the kind, so we left him, and thought we would be our own lawmackers, before we would see, our women and children frees, and starve to death.—We subsequently went to work; each two men took a yoke of cattle, chain, and ax, and went for the telegraph poles, cut them down for about two miles, left the wires on the ground, hauled the poles to camp; made fires, and it gave new life all over.—



Another bad fiture at that time was, that the english Emigrants was out of provisions, although they had had, the same amount as the Scandinavians but the latter had proved; that they knew better how to occonemice, they had suficesent to take them through; but not enough to take the English also, and the result was that Brigham Young had to leave camp in his carriage, and with the greatest possible haste made for Salt Lake City, and dispatched six wagon loads of provision, to help the suffering english Emigrants and



on the 5th of October about dusk a very rainy day, the emigrant train wheeled in on the church farm three miles south of the City, where we were instructed to turn our teames out to feed, during Conference time.—We had now reached our destination, and both man, and beast of the whole company, was pretty well worn out, and we felt to lift our hearts in thanks to God; that we had been preserved on this long tideous journey, as many were now missing of those there was with us, at the beginning of our journey.—Parants had lost their children, and children parants, many had been made widowers, widows and orfants, but all for the gosple sake and the Lord has promised a hundred-fold in this life, and life eternal in the world to come, for all these sacrifices.—



The next morning, October 6th 1867, after a very stormful and rainy night we got up early, and had a general cleaning up, and put on our very finest attire, the day was very windy but we started for the City, and I for one felt like I could kiss the very ground I was stepping on. I was now in Zion, where the Prophets and Apostles of Christ dwell…



[Note: A typescript version (Charles Keilgaard Hansen, Reminiscences [ca. 1917]) is also available in the LDS Church Archives.]

Transcript for Charles K. Hansen record, circa 1917, 91-96

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Johanna Larsen Winters, reminiscences

"Johanna Larsen Winters, reminiscences", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 3-8.

There was no food in camp and nowhere we could buy any. By this time all the younger children in the company were sick and it began to look as if we should all perish. Means had been provided by the heads of every family to cover all expenses from the time we left our old homes until we should reach Salt Lake, as there would be no church teams to meet the emigrants that year. The money was forwarded and men sent from Salt Lake to make the purchases. One man to buy the provisions and another to buy the oxen and wagons and a few cows. All were supposed to be at the Platt[e] Station at the time of our arrival. There was nothing, not even a message.


Brigham Young, Jr. was with the company returning from his mission to England, he was such a kind fatherly man. His brother, Joseph A. Young and wife came to North Platt to meet him and with them our wonderful Captain Rice who was to lead us across the Plains. A meeting of the Brethren had been called and each man according to the number in his family put up enough to buy a few sacks of flour from the nearest point, which was divided every morning a pint cupful for each adult in the family. Two children had already died and a number more were not expected to live. It was train time, again everybody waiting and watching and sure enough it was loaded with wagons, oxen and a few milk cows. Everybody got busy unloading and putting the wagons together with Captain Rice there to help them. But no provisions, nor a word from the man in charge had come. Brigham Young Jr. had sent several telegrams to different parts in the State of Maine where he was ordered to make the purchase, but no reply. The situation was becoming alarming—children sick and dying. The oxen was numbered and corresponding numbers were drawn by the Brethren, so each man had three teams. The cows were sold to anybody who had the money. My father paid $90.00 for the best one, the others were sold for less, and all were anxious and willing to help feed the sick. It was now towards night and a message to Brigham Young Jr., came from Mr. Man from the east. (I will not mention his name) The message said that when he got there he saw a large stock of bankrupt goods advertised for sale at a bargain, so he bought the goods with the money belonging to the company on the strength of getting the same amount that he had coming to him in the adjoining state, but failed to get it and said he dared not come back without the provisions. Brigham Young Jr. called a meeting of all the returned missionaries to interpret it, so they could all understand it.


My father said the suspense for a few moments was terrible. At last, Brigham Young, Jr. asked the returning missionaries if they knew of any one in the company who had any surplus means. A Bro. Nielson from Sanpete said, "Yes, there is one man, but I doubt whether he will let it go now." Bro. Young told him to call him and talk to him." They told him what Bro. Young wanted to see him about and he said, "Yes, I have a little more money left, there are seven of us in my own family besides I paid the emigration for 24 poor persons, including teams and provisions until we reach Salt Lake. I have still $24.00 left, but not one dollar more for that man to handle.


Brother Young then said, "Will you lend it to me?" He said, "Yes provided you promise to purchase the provisions yourself." Which he did.


Brother Young and another man left the same night for the east, and returned on the third day with the provisions which were distributed according to numbers in each family. Captain Rice ordered all to pack up and hook on to the wagons. He said, "We must pull out of this death hole if its only half a mile." Ten children had already died and were buried there, besides an old lady 82 years of age. We had been waiting there three weeks—it did seem good to get into fresh air and to get a drink of fresh water. Captain Rice was a wonderful man—he seemed to know every inch of the road between North Platte and Salt Lake. We all had to walk, none were allowed to ride, he said the oxen had all they could do to pull the load. The feed was beginning to dry up.


The captain said we must cover at least 30 miles a day in order to reach Salt Lake by October Conference which must be done. A certain number of the younger brethren were to take turns to herd the oxen at night and before starting in the morning the hymn "Come, Come, Ye Saints" was sung and prayers were offered by one of the brethren. Then we started out to walk ahead of the teams. We were not allowed to walk behind because of Indians. We made aprons of burlap sacks and picked up fuel as we went along, mostly buffalo chips or anything that would burn. If there were streams to cross, the captain, would pick us up, one in front of him on his horse and another behind him and keep on going back and forth until all were across. Every day was about the same only the farther we got, the more rough and rocky the roads seemed to be, sometimes we would find some old Indian sandles and tie them under shoes to ease our feet a little. At times some of the returning missionaries would walk along with us telling some of their experiences. Sometimes we would sing a verse or two of "Come, Come Ye Saints."One of the Brethren asked us one day if we ever sang:


 


<blockquote xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Think not when you gather to Zion. 
Your troubles and trials are through. 
That nothing but comfort and pleasure 
Are waiting in Zion for you.</blockquote>


 


 


 


I think he had a purpose in doing it—we looked up the Hymn and at least it gave us food for thought and study. Things went along as usual. The days getting a little shorter and the nights colder and longer. It seemed like we were traveling up hill all the time. We got up one morning and found the ground completely covered with crickets. They would hop into our pans and kettles over the fire as fast as we could flip them out with a fork. We traveled in crickets for two days. They would crush under the wheels like so much sand or gravel. Once in a while we would see a deer or an antelope. Some of the brethren had bought old army guns at a soldier station near Julesburg. When we passed and of course, everybody was anxious for fresh meat, but accidently a young man was shot, the bullet lodged in the back of his head.


Brother Young sent a message to Julesburg, to send the army doctor as fast as horse flesh could take him. He came and traveled along with us for three days, but was unable to find the bullet. The young man died and was buried there.


I think it was within the next day or two we were camped on a large, open flat, the oxen were brought to camp as usual and yoked up ready to start, we sang our morning hymn, prayer was offered by Brigham Young. Just them we all noticed at a distance something like a small campfire in the direction which we were to travel. There was no sign of anything else to be seen, the fire increasing in size and the wind bearing right toward us. The captain ordered the oxen unyoked and said we will sing again, and again he offered prayer. The oxen were driven in an opposite direction for fear of a stampede. It was now coming close and getting hot. Brother Young stepped up on the highest part of a wagon tongue, raised his hand and said, "Brethren and Sisters, stand still, we are not here to be destroyed." He still stood there, all at once he pointed to a little cloud not much larger than a man's hand and said, "There is our deliverance." At the same moment a terrific peal of thunder and a flash of lightning and then the rain poured down. We then thanked the Lord for our deliverance, and we went on our way rejoicing. We traveled on as usual making over 30 miles a day. All went well until it commenced to rain. It rained steadily for four days. It was hard to find anything to make fire with. Then it turned to snow which was worse. For three days the ground was covered with snow, the poor oxen could find nothing to eat only the tops of dry bushes and a few branches on the side hills, but still we had to travel. The nights were cold and the days grew shorter. A few cases of Mountain fever developed—my father was one of them. There was not much left at this time that the sick could relish—only milk, and every one that had any were willing to divide. Brother Young was handy with his gun, he would kill a deer once in a while and divide it among the sick for stew or broth which was a great help to them. And all recovered slowly.


We now traveled on until we reached Green River. At this point Brother Lewis Robison, from Salt Lake was running a ferry boat. It was then arranged that the few small rigs drawn by horses or mules should be taken across first on the boat. Then the women and children. The ox teams had to cross the stream and the driver with them. The water was high and swift. The oxen had to swim and pull the load—the captain on his horse followed each wagon across to steady it and keep it from turning over. There were fifty wagons, two yoke of oxen on each wagon. Imagine how tired that man and his horse must have been. Now, before we started to cross, the captain gave strict orders to tie utensils of all kinds onto the wagon or they would float down stream. The wagon next to ours was driven in and two or three buckets or kettles floated down stream. The woman, on the impulse of the moment jumped into the stream trying to grab them. The woman had on a heavy skirt of homespun, which filled with air and she floated down stream. Although it looked terrible it reminded me of pictures I had seen and read about fairies floating on the water. The captain galloped his horse quite a ways past her and then plunged in and brought her ashore. I have often wondered if he was not tempted to say a swear word or two. Captain Rice was a wonderful man.


I do not remember how long it took us from there to Salt Lake. We traveled late and early. We reached the old camping ground on October 5th, at 11 o'clock at night.

Transcript for "Johanna Larsen Winters, reminiscences," 3-8.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Hansen, Charles Keilgaard, Reminiscences [ca. 1917]

Hansen, Charles Keilgaard, Reminiscences [ca. 1917].

Hansen, Jens, Diary, in Geneva Frost Gilbert, comp., Our Danish Heritage and Our Temple Work on the Peter Frost Family, 1899

Hansen, Jens, Diary, in Geneva Frost Gilbert, comp., Our Danish Heritage and Our Temple Work on the Peter Frost Family, 1899, June 1987.

Tuesday 9th 	We arrived in Quincy and went by river to Detroit. In the afternoon at 6PM we went by railroad and stopped quite often.
Wednesday 10th We were riding all day and saw Lake Michigan and reached Chicago in the evening at 10PM. The train stopped all night.
Thursday 11th We left Chicago and reached St. Joseph. Here we went onboard [on board] a steamboat which took us to Omaha. We stayed here a couple of days and talked to some acquaintances. I bought a stove and a tent and several other small articles. We then went by railroad to North-Platte; here we stayed for some time, making preparation for our trip through the desert.
I received a letter from my family at home. Everything was fine. Encl[osed]. was $40. I worked here and earned some money and this helped me with my trip. Our company consisted of wagons, each drawn by four oxen. In our company was Brigham Young jr. and two of his brothers and several brethren from the valley. Shortly after commencing the trip we were organized into five companies, each with 10 wagons. Heel [Archibald Newell Hill] was captain for the first. Chr[istian]. C. Christensen [Christiansen] for the 2nd. A[nders]. Nielsen for the third. I for the fourth and August Olsen for the fifth. F[rederick]. [C.] Sorensen was Scout Captain and the leader of the company was brother Rich [Leonard Gurley Rice]. We passed Juelsborg where I bought an additional wagon as I was afraid that the one we had could not carry our whole load.
In my wagon was Hans Hansen from Langeland and his wife and her sister and Maren K. Pedersen; we divided our four oxen between the two wagons. Brother Hans Hansen, his wife and sister traveled in one of the wagons and I and sister M.K. Pedersen in my wagon. This made our trip more convenient. After some days we reached the old road which I knew well as I had been that way twice before, and had already recorded the travel through the desert before in my life; but this trip was the most pleasant, as I was in good health and felt a peace inside, and felt assured that the Lord was satisfied with my mission. I felt a joy thinking about my loving family who I soon was going to see again, after being separated from them two years. We arrived in Great Salt Lake City 5th Oct.

Transcript for Hansen, Jens, Diary, in Geneva Frost Gilbert, comp., Our Danish Heritage and Our Temple Work on the Peter Frost Family, 1899-June 1987 [1988], 54

Hansen, Jens, Diary, in Geneva Frost Gilbert, comp., Our Danish Heritage and Our Temple Work on the Peter Frost Family, 1899.

Improvement Era

Fox, Ruth May, 'From England to Salt Lake Valley in 1867'

"Fox, Ruth May, 'From England to Salt Lake Valley in 1867'", Improvement Era, 38, July 1935, Page 406-409, 450.

In July, 1867, we started for North Platte, which was then the terminal of the railroad and the outfitting place for those who were going West. It took us nine days to reach our destination. Emigrant trains did not travel very fast in those days; then, too, they were switched off on every possible occasion. We had to change trains at Niagara Falls and to our delight had a few hours stay near that awe-inspiring torrent which is forever dashing over the brink to the foaming depths below.	
One night we spent on a cattle boat sailing up the Missouri river. The cattle, judging from their bellowing, seemed not to enjoy our company any better than we enjoyed theirs.	
Arriving at North Platte, which was then a little railroad town, we found that the company would be delayed one month. This situation was a serious one; every day meant loss of time and means. Several excuses were given for the delay. One was that some of the brethren were in the east on business. They had been detained, and must return to the Valley with this company. Another was that the Indians had burned a train-load of provisions and more supplies must be purchased. Still another was that here was fine grazing and the cattle must start out in good condition.	
Meanwhile, there we were with our trunks and traps. The full quota of wagons had not yet been purchased and the housing of men, women, and children was a real problem. Finally the railroad people tendered us the use of a great barn of a building which happened to be empty, and there we set up some kind of housekeeping for the coming weeks.	
At night we made our beds on the floor, and with gratitude let me say, we could hang up a protection from wandering eyes. My father, after deducting other expenses, found that he had only money enough to buy one yoke of cattle and two yoke were necessary to pull the heavily loaded wagons across the rough way.	
It so happened that a certain brother had a wagon and one yoke of cattle, so the bargain was made that father join his cattle to this outfit and drive all the way for his share in the wagon. The owner of the outfit had a wife and seven children. Our little family consisted of five, as father was bringing a little girl across the plains to join her relatives in Salt Lake City. So you see there were fourteen persons with all their worldly possessions in that one wagon. The owners of the wagon used it for a sleeping apartment and my father bought a small tent, just large enough for the five of us to lie down in side by side like sardines in a can. This we unstrapped every night and fastened again to the wagon each morning.	
Imagine if you can these would-be drivers, who had, perhaps, never seen a Texas steer before, go though the procedure for the first time of yoking their cattle. Truly no rodeo could match the scene. The men had to be instructed in this art and some did not learn very quickly. The same was true of the use of firearms. Every man was supposed to have his own gun and ammunition though he had never fired a shot in his life.	
Indeed there were many things for an immigrant to learn. He must be willing to understand and accept the discipline of the camp, become used to having his flour, potatoes and bacon measured out to him each day according to the number in his family.	
The captain of a company must be a real dictator. What he says must go. One crack of his or his assistant's whip on the tent or wagon cover meant "Get up quickly!" which we did and made hurried preparation to start. So now everything is in readiness, the command is given and our sixty wagons—fifty of them belonging to Scandinavian Saints—are on the way, and we could sing:
<center>"Westward, Ho" "We've left the realms of Babylon and crossed the mighty seas; We've left the good old ship where we walked about at ease. 	and now's the time for starting boys, we'll jog on if you please. So get up; my lads, Gee whoa! Push on my lads. Heigh Ho! For there's none can lead a life like we merry Mormons do"</center>
Other than one birth and an accidental death by a bullet when men were shooting sage-hens, our journey across the plains seems to have been rather lacking in perilous adventure but was always interesting.	
We camped once more where there were trees and water. I do not remember the name of the place, but I do remember this incident: It was quite late at night when one of the brethren thought he could hear someone stealthily moving among the bushes. You must know that everyone was a little watchful of Indians. So this brother took out his pistol and three times he gave the warning, "Speak or I'll shoot! Speak or I'll shoot! Speak or I'll shoot!" and then off went the gun. This, however, caused some merriment as it was discovered later—that it was merely the wind playing with the leaves.	
After we left civilization the first place we came to was Julesburt, which was nothing more than a trading post but at least it broke the monotony of the journey.	
One of the diversions of the plains was picking up buffalo chips for fuel. This task fell to the women and girls who wore aprons in which to gather and carry them. Once in a while a few Indians would come into camp when we were eating and offer to barter trinkets for food.	
One day we had an Indian scare. Someone thought he saw a few Indians on the hills not far away. Every man was ordered to take out his gun and carry it on his left shoulder as he drove, with his right hand. This, too, proved to be a false alarm. I think there was no dancing in our company. Occasionally we were called to evening prayer with the tune of "Do What is Right," played from a bugle in the hands of Brother Stephen Hales.	
The Platte is a very winding river so we crossed it many times without much inconvenience, as the Scandinavian brothers would take us girls on their backs and carry us across the stream. Sometimes the distance traveled would be only eight miles a day because of heavy sandy roads. One night we pitched our tent in this sand when lo the wind blew and the rain descended and beat upon that tent and great was the fall thereof. Mother was hurried to the wagon of a friend and we girls held up the tent while father tried to drive in the pins, which was an almost hopeless task. This situation gave us sympathy for the man of Bible fame, but after all, situations are just the way you take them. If we had thought shower baths instead of cold rain running down our backs and arms the occasion would have been a delightful one. However, as we trudged along the next day we sang lustily:
<center>"We may get wet a little when we have a shower of rain, The heat may skin our noses, but they'll soon get well again. And when we think of Zion's land, we'll forget the wet and pain So, Gee up! My lads, Gee whoa! Push on my lads, Heigh Ho! For there's none can lead a life like we merry Mormons do."</center>
We had not completed one-half of our journey, when we discovered a shortness of food in camp, but it happened that a government post, I think it was named Fort Platte, had been ordered to evacuate. So we were able to buy some supplies from the soldiers.	
One has to be accustomed to the western air and atmosphere before he really can have any idea of distances. In our camp was a man named San Givans who had crossed the plains many times. Walking along by his side one day as we were coming in view of Scot's Bluffs, I asked how long before we would reach them. His answer was, "Oh, two or three hours." But to my astonishment it took us one day and a half before we passed through the openings between those bluffs.	
Fort Laramie was another place where some needed supplies could be bought, and oh, what a joy it was when we discovered wild berries and ground cherries growing there! Now we were going into the Rocky Mountain region, and I remember that once at least we had to descend a hill so steep the cattle had to be unhooked and the wagons let down by ropes and manpower. Chimney Rock and Independence Rock had both contributed to our recreational activity but no one but those who have walked over prairies and deserts for days, where water is so scarce that the creeks were reduced to little puddles of alkali water, can imagine the beauty and glory of a river. On the Sweetwater we rested, washed our clothing, went in bathing, and had a real jollification.	
On one of these few and far between occasions, father being very tired, having walked every step of the way; after he had unyoked his cattle, threw himself on the ground to rest when one of the brethren came along and asked, "Well, Brother May, how are you today?" Father answered quickly, "Oh! There isn't much the matter—I have a sick wife, two sore heels and two dummies, that's all."	
I was one of the dummies.	
At South Pass we had a snowstorm which delayed us two or three days and made the road very muddy for pedestrians and hard for the cattle to pull their loads as part of the way was up hill.	
When we were out of the Indian country Brigham Young, Jr., and his brother John W., and the other brethren who were returning from business trips or missions left us for their homes in Utah as they could travel much more quickly with their horses and carriages; and they were asked to report that provision were again becoming scarce. As a result we were met at Coalville by Brother Samuel Hill who had been sent by President Brigham Young with a load of potatoes and other edibles enough to last until we reached Salt Lake. As we passed through Wanship I noticed a man standing in the doorway of a rock cabin. As he stood there he seemed to be as high as the roof, but nevertheless his dwelling looked good to me for I said: "That is not much to wish for, father, but I wish we had a place as good as that to get into." This incident shows that my ambitions for a home were not very exalted.	
At Echo Canyon we were joined by a couple of boys whose home was in Goshen. These lads offered to ride us girls through this rugged freak of nature, so lickety split we came down the narrow defile expecting every minute to be thrown from the rickety old light wagon and killed. This afforded great sport for the boys who knew no fear of the canyon and saw no dangers, but to emigrants who had never seen such a sight it was breath-taking to say the least.	
Our last pull was through Parley's and up to the top of the hill. This was accomplished at twilight and here we got our first glimpse of the little city of Salt Lake.	
I have to admit some disappointment as I exclaimed: "Oh, have we come all this way for that?" We continued on to the campground that night. Next morning was the Sabbath.	
The sky was blue and radiant. The valley fair and the grand old mountains proudly guarded the home of the prophets. The family took a bath in a wash basin, put on our best clothes and went to the tabernacle services. My dreams came true and all was well in Zion.

Transcript for Fox, Ruth May, "From England to Salt Lake Valley in 1867," Improvement Era, July 1935, 408-9, 450

Improvement Era.

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

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, June 1848.

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

Our Pioneer Heritage

Our pioneer heritage, Vol. 7, Page 342-344.

Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 11, Page 61-64.

Our Pioneer Heritage.

William Gibson journals and notebooks, circa 1841-1890

William Gibson journals and notebooks, circa 1841-1890, Vol. 2,3.

We had a very pleasant passage to New York then went by Steamer to A[l]bany then took the Cars to the fitting out place <s>with</s> which this year was North Platt[e] Station about two hundred miles farther on from Omaha[;] here we had to wait one month for teams waggens &amp; provisions While waiting here Br &amp; Sister [Brigham] Young [Jr,] John W Young[,] Oscar Young &amp; some others came up to us &amp; journeyed with us to Utah &amp; Br Warren was appointed to purchase the provisions &amp; they were very bad &amp; scant too the flour could not be used till passed through a sieve &amp; then we would take maggots out on each bag of it[;] appeared to be some old flour that he had bought cheap such a man could not stand long &amp; after we came to Utah he appostatised &amp; was cut off the Church[.] Br Brigham did the best he could for us on the way buying us good provisions whenever he could get a chance at any Soldiers fort or Camp we passed on the Way. there was a number of poor Saints who had not Means to buy teames &amp; waggons of their own &amp; for them was purchased two Ox teams &amp; two Waggons &amp; Br Stephen Hale &amp; I were called upon to drive them while David [Gibson] who was a good teamster though Deaf was called to drive one filled with merchandise for Brigham with he did for about 8 hundred Miles to Salt Lake City Thus I had the honour for it was one to drive I may say the last Ox team that ever crossed the Plains with the poor Saints. . .



I had a severe pain in my left side before I left England while attenting to &amp; nursing Br Brigham Kimball &amp; it was often very bad now but there was no use in grunting about it so I had just to grin &amp; bear it. I had got Henrietta [McKay] a passage in a mule team belonging to the Company. She went on it about half of the way but not liking the familiarity that the owner wished to make with her she left it &amp; traveled with the poor Saints in my ox team the rest of the way &amp; then jeered at by him &amp; some others that she &lt;was&gt; going to become the old mans wife when the[y] got to the Valley she told them that she was not a Mormon &amp; did not believe in Polygamy that she Loved me as a Father but if she was going to Choose a Husband old as I was she would rather &lt;choose&gt; me than a Dozen of such things in points as she saw arrond [around] her I may say here that she joined the Church when she came to Utah &amp; was married to a good young Man in the Church



We met with some snow storms before we got in &amp; a brother in Wales waggon died from cold[.] I got in to Salt Lake City Saturday night at 10 oClock[.] I think Conference was next day &amp; on the Second day of Conference I was called with quite a number of others to take another Mission to the Muddy in Arizona four hundred miles South of Salt Lake City[.] David came on with me but we were with much fatigued &amp; my side was very bad

Transcript for William Gibson journals and notebooks, circa 1841-1890, vol. 2, 73-74 and vol. 3, 198

William Gibson journals and notebooks, circa 1841-1890.

Young Woman's Journal

Overland Trips Across the American Desert

Sangiovanni, G.G.R., "Overland Trips Across the American Desert", Young Woman's Journal, August 1912, Page 428-429.

Travel was a little different from Omaha. Instead of yoking oxen, we went on the Union Pacific to North Platte. Indians were bad that year. The Round House and everything was fortified. There were already two hundred Mormon emigrants camped ready to start for their mountain home. We were on the south side of the river, when all of a sudden our "picket" called attention to a long crooked, black streak in the distance coming towards us. Everybody got out their glasses. Brigham Young, Jr., said, "Yes, they are Indians on the warpath." There were about one thousand cattle and horses down by the river. The herders were in swimming. Such a rush as there was to get between the stock and the river. We could see the Indians pretty plain by that time, most of them were stark naked, and painted. They were humming their war chant. All of a sudden they changed their course and left us alone. There were about five hundred of them. We made forts with our freight and baggage that night so that if attacked we could make the women and children lie down inside, and throw bedding and other goods over them. But no attack came.
We reached Salt Lake Oct., 5th, . . .

Transcript for Sangiovanni, G.G.R., "Overland Trips Across the American Desert," Young Woman's Journal Aug. 1912, 428-29

Young Woman's Journal.

Young, Brigham, Jr., Journal

Young, Brigham, Jr., Journal, November 1866, Vol. 8.

Sunday [Aug] 11
th
 Rolled out a mile or two this evening[.] The Commander of the troops stationed here offered to protect us if we were afraid of an attack from the Indians. I told him we were obliged and that we would not fail to Call if we 
needed
 his assistance. Our Camp was formed on Platt[e] river.
Monday Aug 12th Bright and early Camp was broken up, and we were soon in marching order. L.G. Rice Capt. N.H. Felt Chaplain similar officers were also appointed for the Danes. 
Tuesday 13th All is peace in our Camp. At noon one Danish brother was run over and his leg broken, he is doing well. The Limb having been properly set. 
Wednesday Aug 14th [18]67 Usual routine of getting up early and Camping at noon[,] resuming our journey at 3 p.m.[,] and Camping again at 6 or 7 p.m.
Thursday 15th Through Car[e]less shooting one of the Danish<s>ing</s> brethren shot above the eye, the ball penetrating to the brain, so that some of it ran out. We administered to him but dare move the ball as the brains would immediately follow. He unsible and I felt to say in the name of the Lord he should recover. Some sickness in Camp, but the people feel well. 
Friday 16th 67. The Indians attempted to take our stock[.] they did not fire, and so are resured ours, and they went away. We were Camped at Big springs where J. Streeper lost his mules several weeks since[.] Arrived near Julesburg and Camped. 
Saturday 17th Telegraphed Father, "all well." visited the town of Julesburg and succeeded in getting provisions for the remainder of the people. Our wounded men are doing well, Better health in camp. 
Sunday 18 Aug/67 Remained <s>here</s> encamped near Julesburg. Weather very pleasant. 
Monday 19th Towards night moved out and made our Camp above Julesburg. The soldiers were inclined to stope us and enquire into our organization, but we soon Convinced them that we were Capable of protecting ourselves. We have [-] commenced our journey up Pole Creek. 
Tuesday 20th made about 6 or 7 miles having given out provisions. About 10 p.m. The man who was shot died against my faith. and that of several others. 
Wednesday 21st /67 Buried the Danish brother who died &lt;from a gunshot wound.&gt; I made a few remarks expressive of my feelings in relation to the accident. My faith has been that he would live, but I feel to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all things. Continued our journey up Pole Creek. We hear that Br[i]gham W. Kimball is dead. 
Thursday 22 Continued our Journey, and crossed Pole Creek and the R.R. track about 3 a.m. above Julesburg. Stopped at 7 p.m. about Seven Miles from Water. 
Friday 23rd Left our Camp ground at 2 a.m. and reached mud springs at 8 a.m. The cattle walking nearly as fast as the horses; we have traveled 27 miles without water and have suffered but little for that necessary article. Here the soldiers who were stationed to protect travelers tried to sell us Government mules with U.S. on and not vented, and when we would not buy them they wished us to say nothing about it to the officers.
Saturday Aug. 24th 67 our Camp was near Court house Rock, or Butte. It rained tirrifically <s>and</s> and entirely quinced a pra[i]rie fire which threatened to destroy our[.] I was introduced to several of the officers. Called at Mr. Bullocks house. 
Saturday 31st/67 Continued our journey. Camped on the river, Passed through Considerable sand. 
Sunday Sept. 1th/67 Camped on Horse shoe. Here we turned <s>off</s> out of camp one Dutchman who bought grain of the soldiers, then they got drunk and one when threatened fired four shots into our Camp the balls striking three wagons and barely missing John W. &amp; myself at whom he fired. We did not return the fire thou Sorely tempted to kill the rascal. One of the balls Came within three inches of going through two of our sisters Haight &amp; Tellery. The soldier was arrested, but nothing done about it.
Monday Sept. 2nd/67 Continued our journey without accident. Camped on one of the small streams which cross the road. Water scarce. 
Tuesday 3rd To day one of the brethrens oxen died, the first we have lost out of the train. Water scarce again. Have met several freight trains Jour[n]ey to &amp; from Fort Phil. Kearney teamsters report the Indians bad near that Fort. Saw fresh Indian sign where we camped. 
<s>Tuesday</s>Wednesday Sept. 4th/67 We made about twenty miles yesterday. &amp; moved &lt;to day&gt; 2[.] stopped for noon, water scarce. Met a man who says there are plenty of Indians in the neighborhood. but in small bands. Telegraph station at Platt[e] Bridge where I shall telegraph for Flour to be sent to Green river. We learn that there are no troops at Sweet Water, Camped near Box Elder on a small, stream. Indians sign is plenty on the road and in the hollows. Killed several chickens plenty of deer sign. 
<s>Wednesday</s> Thursday Sept. 5th/67 Rolled out to Box Elder, where we saw James McDonalds grave buried May 17, 1864. More Indian tracks, nooned <s>on Platt river</s> where the road first approaches Platt river, all well in camp no more cattle have died. 
Reached Platt Bridge where we obtained 2000 lbs. flour and 700 of bacon for the Company, which obviated the necessity of telegraphing home for supplies. Rolled out and at Independence Rock 10 of the mule<s>s</s> &amp; horse teams left the ox train. When on the Rocky Ridges we encountered a very heavy Storm which nearly used up man &amp; beast. This occured about the 15 inst. Took Coach at Millersville[.] Mms. G. &amp; John W. accompanied me. Arrived at Salt Lake on the 23rd inst. in safety. Our teams arrived on the evening of the 26 &amp; 27. in good order. Considering the trip past made. We were glad to greet our friends and were every where received with the greatest kindness. Father settled first draft &lt;of $1500&gt; J.W.G. &amp; B.G.J. Some two weeks since.

Transcript for Young, Brigham, Jr., Journal Nov. 1866-Dec. 1867, vol. 8, box 2, fd. 1

Brigham Young, Jr.

Birth Date

Death Date

Gender

Sources