Catherine Jane Allen (1840 - 1932) Profile

Individual

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Catherine Jane Allen

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"Mrs. Katherine J. A. Tripp," Deseret News

"Mrs. Katherine J. A. Tripp," Deseret News, May 4, 1932.

"Mrs. Katherine J. A. Tripp," Deseret News.

"Mrs. Katherine Tripp," Deseret News

"Mrs. Katherine Tripp," Deseret News, May 3, 1932.

"Mrs. Katherine Tripp," Deseret News.

"Mrs. Katherine Tripp," Salt Lake Tribune

"Mrs. Katherine Tripp," Salt Lake Tribune, May 3, 1932.

"Mrs. Katherine Tripp," Salt Lake Tribune.

Tripp, Catherine Jane Allen, "My Experience As A Pioneer," [1-2]

Tripp, Catherine Jane Allen, "My Experience As A Pioneer," [1-2].

We landed on the eastern coast of America in June 1863. During the latter part of the same month, we left Florence, Nebraska to begin our journey to Utah.
There were two hundred people who organized to make our camp. This was both older people and children. Each family had its own wagon. The wagons had huge white covers and were drawn by oxen. Our camp did not suffer as many hardships as some of the other camps did. The leader had a great deal to do with the way the camp got along. Mr. Delmore was our leader. He was a wonderful man with a very good character. He was always kind to everyone in the camp, his close friendship and intermingling among the people seemed to make us forget some of our hardships.
Our journey was approximately 3,000 miles. We traveled at the rate of ten miles each day. The younger folks walked practically all the way in order that the older people and children could ride.
There was not very much sickness among our people. Every now and then some of the children were ill but not seriously. The only death in camp was of a widow who left seven small children. It was a very pitiful situation but we all “pitched in” and helped to take care of the children. We were all thankful that no other deaths occurred on our journey.
Many families brought their cows along with them so we had plenty of fresh milk, butter and cheese. Our butter was very easily made . . . we would put cream in a covered pail which was hooked to the back of the wagon. The shaking and jolting of the wagon made a very good churn so we always had nice fresh butter without any trouble. Our other food was made up of the provisions we had brought with us such as potatoes and flour with which we made our bread.
We younger folks were the ones who kept things looking bright around the camp. We were always trying to do something so as to forget our troubles. One day a group of us decided to explore a little of the country which we were in. Our camp had set camp a little earlier than usual that day. We all set off hoping to make our exploration worthwhile. The grass we had to plod through was shoulder high. All at once we heard a rattle and there before us we saw a rattler ready to spring. We all turned and ran for dear life. Not any of us stopped running until we reached camp. We were so breathless and excited after that long run that no one could tell the story of what happened to us until a little later. The older folks just shook their heads and told us that we should have heeded their warnings. This was one of the most thrilling experiences we had on our journey. We never dared to go on any more exploration trips unless we were armed. Aside from rattlesnakes, the Indians were our most dreaded enemies.
Every day when we stopped to make camp, we put the wagons so as to form a circle. This served as a protection against the Indians. The oxen and what few horses we had were left on the outside of the circle to graze. One evening at sunset we saw two Indians approaching our camp. Everyone became excited. The men were preparing for defense in case of an attack. To our surprise, we saw that they were making signs to show us that they wanted to be friendly. Mr. Delmore and a few of the other men went up to them to see what they wanted. The Indians told our leader that they did not intend to hurt us but wanted to make friends with us so as to help us on our journey. We were greatly overjoyed at hearing this for if we had the friendship of the Indians, our greatest trouble would be over. The Indians kept us all interested in the many things they were telling us. Towards dusk we heard a great stampede outside our camp. At this the Indians leaped up and away they galloped on their horses. We looked out and to our amazement we saw a whole band of Indians trying to steal our oxen. Our men, those who had horses, went after them and succeeded in returning the largest part of our oxen. After this experience we were always suspicious of any Indians who attempted to be friendly with us for in this sly way of theirs they could have succeeded in getting away with many of our provisions.
About a week after this incident, we entered this great valley (Great Salt Lake) through Emmigration Canyon. Everyone was overjoyed to see that our hard journey was nearly at its end. We arrived here in the Salt Lake Valley in October 1863.

Catherine Jane Allen

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