Claudius Victor Spencer (1824 - 1910) Profile

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Claudius Victor Spencer

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Christopher Jones Arthur autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

Christopher Jones Arthur autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938.

{Pages 5-6}



We steamed up to St. Louis and from there to Keokuk and found Father [Christopher Able Arthur] under the weather. Our trip up was a pleasnt &amp; enjoyable one. We camped in Keokuk on the hill 6 weeks. Our tent was near a clump of trees—The camp in white looked very nice. We spent an enjoyable time—After going into the woods nearby, shooting game birds, and it furnished us many a game dinner.



One morning shortly after our arrival, Father walking thro the camp met Cyrus Wheelock—Bro Wheelock spied Appleton Harmon walking about and called to him at the same time informing Father that here comes the Utah giant. Father put his arm across Bro Harmons Shoulder, showing that he was taller. Isaac C. Haight had charge of the emigration and ran short of funds. He asked father to help him out. Father told him he had divided his means among his children. If they were willing he could have $1000.00. Bro. Haight came to me and I said I was perfectly willing to loan my part. Bro Haight on arriving in the valley paid the loan but I never saw a cent of my portion but I felt all right if father needed it.



Our first camp after leaving Camp at Keokuk was Montrose opposite Nauvo[o], wher Claudius V. Spencer was camped with several wagons awaiting our arrival. We organized the first night; Claudius V. Spencer President, Father captain of the 50 wagons &amp; C[hristopher]. J[ones]. Arthur Clerk. Next morning we started for Salt Lake City, sometimes stuck and mending and repairing breakdowns. I drove a wagon across with 2 yoke of steers and they were beauties. My wagon contained the provisions for our outfit. We met many adventures killing buffalo and had one stampede.

Transcript for Christopher Jones Arthur autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

{Volume 2, pages 6-7}



May 26th 1853, fourteen wagons started on the journey West with father, and joined Claudius V. Spencer’s camp at Montrose. In the afternoon meeting held to organise the company, father [Christopher Able Jones] was appointed captain of the Company, Nestice, [John Joseph] Hayes, Walker, [James] Gailey [Galley] and Evans Captains of ten wagons, who were instructed by Pres. [Claudius V.] Spencer in their duties. See that every family attended to morning and evening prayer, in their tents of wagons. Also see that guard duty was kept up every night, which was approved of by all present.



27th. Early start. Pleasant weather. Drove to and camped at Sugar Creek. Father had 3 wagons and a buggy, 8 yoke of oxen, 1 span of horses, 3 colts, weaned, 1 black horse colt for Benjam[in Arthur], 1 sorrel mare colt to Mary Ann [Arthur], 1 grey mare colt to me. We reached Salt Lake City Sept. 26. We had a very interesting trip. I drove 2 yoke of oxen and light wagon, which contained the family supplys &amp; where me and Benj’m slept. We had comfort all the journey. Father &amp; Mary Ann rode in the carriage

We had an excellent journey across the plains after leaving the Mis[s]ouri River but our President was not very agreeable as a general thing however the Lord blessed us remarkable. At Council Bluffs we broke down a wheel of one of the wagons, my cousen John took it back for repairs which was the last we ever saw of him, he has written to me several times &amp; in one of his letters told me that he staid in Iowa several years married there &amp; finally moved with his family to Denver where he became Sheriff of the County, finally moved on some ranches &amp; went into the business of stockraiseing, he was a large man and writes that he has a nice family, sent me several invitations to go and visit him.



We arrived in the Valley September _____1853 after a successful trip of ____ months _____ days &amp; found my brother Joshua in a Salt box room (1) with a wife.

Claudius V. Spencer Company report, 1853

Claudius V. Spencer Company report, 1853, Page 13.

Claudius V. Spencer Company report, 1853.

Excerpt from Ove C. Oveson journal, 1860-1920

Excerpt from Ove C. Oveson journal, 1860-1920.

. . . (ther com Joseph Sharp &amp; Patriark John Smith and I. and 21 more Danies [Danish] Emigrants was hired to Drove Oxsen [oxen] for 25 Dollar a Month. Drive Oxtime to Salt Lake City, lodet with Fright on an other Road) the Emigrants went nort to Wyoming and as timsters [teamsters] vend Sout[h] to Atchison, Rod 3 mils south of Atcison on a small Krick [creek] and herded Oxsen to the 12 of July 64[.] we fik the Oxsen to the Wagons &amp; ther was 43 Wagon and 4 yol[k] of Oxsen to ich Wagon. Ther was One yok of Traned Oxsen for ich Wagon and 3 yok of Sters very Wild. Ich of os get over wagon and Oxsen 22 Danis[h] &amp; 22 Englis[h] (12) &amp; Wells (10) (non of os knoed which end of the Oxsen to put the Yok



the 15 of July A[ndrew] C[hristian] Nielson was hert but got allright.



the 23 maede we big Blue River and and then Croside we and com to Letle [Little] Blue filte Den for som time left then on to platt[e] River and the Road from Wieoming [Wyoming] the 2 of August 64, to this time noting verry bad[.] we Brok 2 Wagen tones [tongues] and 1 Axel no Oxsen Deed nor lost, we foloved Platt River to the 11 of August then crossed the River with 11 Wagons and maed the Kamp 13. This morning 4 Ogsen [oxen] lost[.] Sharp and [Claudius V.] Spenser [Spencer] went efter them but ditten fine Them.



The 14 vent 16 miles to Nort[h] Platt[e] fulte south side of that River which we riched,



on the 24 of Aug 64 we com to Fort Larami[e] we had crossed Nort Platt 3 times and 1 Oxsen Died and 6 Lost but we found that was Lost. We had some Trople [trouble] with Indians, the[y] burned a treen [train] of 11 wagons, Killed the Men drove of[f] the Mule[.] the vagons was stell Smoking when we Past there the nixt day. The Indians burned the Grass and other Mischife. 9 Man was leing with Pistol in hand when a Company ½ Day ahead of or Burried them. We kossed [crossed] Nort Platt the 3 time et tok os 2 Days that was the 3, 4 of and the 6 we left the River an com to Willo Spring



the 6 and on the 7 Sept 64 our Captan Sharp Di[ed] and Jens Sharp &amp; A C Nielson vent ahad vith him and buriet him a[t] Svitwater [Sweetwater] 3 Crossing



the 8 we com to Svitwater, then 13 com Adam Sharp &amp; a Tinker from Salt Lake City and vanted 4 Men to go with them to the Station for a tage Sharp op and plase him in a Metalic Cof[f]in and 3 men &amp; myself vent and dok him op and plased him in a Mital Cofin and that was Soderet and he was sed in my Wagon and f[r]om ther to Veber [Weber] I had my bet [bed] on top of his Cofin, that Day we crossed Svitwater 4 times. That night nove (?)



14 at Noon ve camped with a little Krik [creek],



15, 16, Drow [drove] very Slow, oxen giv out to the 2 to the 20 that big crossing. Her[e] we seen menny butiful Senery tru the black hills in Hams fork, The Devels [Devil's] gate, Indepentent [Independence] Rock the Oxen Deid efter giting a half Plug of tobaker btwin 2 Sleises [slices] of Pork, it was to kill or Cure.



On the 22 roede ve Green River



23 of Sept 64 crosede we Gre[e]n river ther I led sik in the Vagon



the 27 past Fort Bucher.



the 29 Crosede we Bear River



the 2 Oct.. Campede we in Eko [Echo] Kunion [Canyon].



the 3 com past Weber City



the 5 Crosede we Weber River an Parley Kannon [Canyon]



the 6 in the Efternun [afternoon] to Salt Lake City. . . . On the Road we had et very most Hart Work[.] the company lost 200 Oxen and the Captain Deid and on Sout[h] pass was without food for nearly 3 days and coud not move, on account of the Oxen was to few &amp; wore out, then there com 50 yok Oxen from Salt Lake and plenty of Flower an other food. I was Sick for 10 Days when we riched Salt Lake, was not able to Wark nor Drive the time the 15 M H Peterson, Hans Kraglund, Christin and Myself mad.

Transcript for Excerpt from Ove C. Oveson journal, 1860-1920

Hammond, Selina Walker, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1913-1915], 1-3

Hammond, Selina Walker, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1913-1915], 1-3.

The people then moved to a smaller boat and went up the upper river to Keokak [Keokuk], Iowa, where all the Saints camped until they could get ready to cross the plains. They had to get wagons and cattle and the most of the outfit to last until they got to Salt Lake, and we had to cross Iowa farther than the other trains had to go in years that had passed.
We crossed the Missouri River on a ferry boat. Mother’s sister, Catherine, and sister-in-law and one of her boys stayed there at Kanesville. (James Preece died on the ship before they reached New Orleans. He was buried there.) They would not go farther, so we went on without them. Before we came to the Missouri River we crossed some water that came out of the river when the river was high, and we had to cross with a ferry boat, and one of our wagons went back into the water and wet all our things that were in it. Father [John Walker] had a stove pipe hat in a leather case and it went floating down the stream and John threw his hat in to keep it company.
We took up our march across the great plains where Indians, wolves, coyotes, buffalo and jack rabbits roamed. I remember well the first Indians we met. I think they were the Sioux or Shoshones. They were traveling, the warriors, squaws and papooses, with tent poles fastened to the horses sides, and dragging it along. I thought they looked queer as they were the first Indians we had seen and we felt a little afraid of them as we had heard what dreadful things they had done to the immigrants on the plains. Then, when we came to Wood River we came across a big heard of buffalo and some of our men shot one or two to have some meat. Father thought he would like to have one of the hides to make a robe, so he went to where they had killed them. My sister Maria and I were with him as he drove a pair of horses there. One was a mare and a very spirited animal, and when he tried to put the hide in behind, she smelled the hide and dashed off at full speed. Father grabbed at the lines but missed them. Then he got hold of one side of the bridle, but after holding on for a hundred yards or more he was knocked down and hurt. The horses and wagon went over him. He was able to stop them again and unhitched her and lead her away a distance and had me hold her while Sarah went to help him. The horse pulled away from me and ran off as fast as she could run, with harness on, and we never saw her again. The President of the company said it was not safe for any men to go back to hunt for her so we got along the best we could. We had to take a yoke of cattle to haul the light wagon until we got to Laramie. Father was badly hurt and had to lie in bed most of the way, and did not get well enough to work until after he moved out to Cottonwood. At Laramie father bought another horse and my sister Maria drove them from there to Salt Lake.
We all enjoyed traveling, although it was a long hard trip. Claudi[u]s [Victor] Spencer was president of the company and there were fifty wagons in the train. Brother [Christopher] Arthur was Captain of the ten we belonged to. Mother [Ann Preece Walker] made some butter and also cheese on the way. When we stopped to rest the teams, she would save the milk and make cheese, and would press them with a wagon tongue. We milked two cows, good ones, and lots of the people of the company would come to her to buy some of the cheese, and she would sell what she could spare. Our cattle got quite poor before we got through, and mother would mix up flour in dough and feed them the dough in balls to give them strength to get through.
Well, we got through and arrived in Salt Lake the 20th of September. Father and mother commenced hunting for a place that they could buy so we could have a home.

Transcript for Hammond, Selina Walker, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1913-1915], 1-3

Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872

Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872, Vol. 6.

Transcript for Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872, Volume 6, circa 1864-1872

Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872.

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.

Hurren, Emma and Gretta Camp. "Life Sketch of My Grandmother, Emma Hurren Woolf."

Hurren, Emma and Gretta Camp. "Life Sketch of My Grandmother, Emma Hurren Woolf.".

My mother joined the church in 1851, a year before I was born. We left England in April 1856 for Utah. I was then four years old and only a few outstanding incidents of the trip and our trek across the plains stand out in my memory.



	The members of our family who made the journey were my father and mother and my sisters Mary, Sara and myself. Also my grandfather David Reeder, my uncle Robert Reeder and his [sister] Caroline. We sailed from Liverpool on May 4 1856 on the ship "Thornton." There were 764 saints on this ship and we were under the direction of James D. Willie. We arrived in New York on June 14, 1856.



	While crossing the plains, I distinctly remember my father giving us rawhide to chew and we thought it was delicious. I also remember my older sister Mary, then eight years old, freezing her legs so badly that all the flesh came off and the bones were bandaged with raw buffalo meat which saved her legs, although she was always partially crippled. There was a doctor, not of our faith, who looked at her frozen feet that had carried her over a thougsand mile trail, pulling a hand cart in the James G. Willie Company and he said shaking his head: "I will take her feet off, one above the knee and one below - then she will live for a little while. That is all I can do with feet frozen as black as that." When she cried, being young and tired and sick, her mother stood up straight and said,. "If she dies, she dies with her feet on." She lived to be in her eighties and walked on those fee serving everyone and endured to the end.



	Our little company of 100 kept dying of cholera. At one time 13 were buried in one grave. They dug a large round hole, put them in with their feet to the center and covered their faces with cloth and covered them with dirt. I remember my father lifting me up to look in the grave. Before they were out of sight of the grave the wild animals were howling over there [sic] graves. My grandfather died October 1, 1856, shortly before we reached the Salt Lake Valley. I remember Claudius Spencer as one of the company of men sent out to meet our wagon train. They insisted that mother and the other women burn practically everything we owned, including bedding, in order to make the loads lighter. We reached Salt Lake on November 9, 1856 after great suffering from exposure and lack of proper provisions.

Transcript for Hurren, Emma and Gretta Camp. "Life Sketch of My Grandmother, Emma Hurren Woolf."

"Names of Persons Who Volunteer to Go as Teamsters" in Offerings for the assistance of the P. E. F. immigrants

"Names of Persons Who Volunteer to Go as Teamsters" in Offerings for the assistance of the P. E. F. immigrants, October 1856.

"Names of Persons Who Volunteer to Go as Teamsters" in Offerings for the assistance of the P. E. F. immigrants.

"News from the Frontier," Deseret News

"News from the Frontier," Deseret News, August 31, 1864.

NEWS FROM THE FRONTIER.—By the politeness of Wm. S. Godbe, Esq., we are enabled to give the following:-Yesterday morning Mr. Godbe received a dispatch from his agent at Atchison to the effect that Emerson Shirtleff, J. Cnina, Mr. Truman and John Worley, freighters for Mr. G., and Mr. Crandall, freighting for Walker Brothers are all encamped at Marysville, about 100 miles out from Atchison, waiting for an escort.



Claudius V. Spencer, with a train of twelve ox wagons, crossed the Weber yesterday morning, and will arrive in town to-morrow.

Transcript for "News from the Frontier," Deseret News, 31 Aug. 1864, 384

"News from the Frontier," Deseret News.

Peterson, Peter, [Interview], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 23:125-27

Peterson, Peter, [Interview], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 23:125-27.

10. At what place did you join the company or wagon train with which you came to Utah?
 
10. He was with the Sharp and Spencer Company as a teamster, there was 46 wagons and 4 yoke of oxen for each wagon.
11. When did it leave for Utah? 11. It left for Utah June, 1864.
12. What was the place of your destination in Utah? Why did you come to Utah? 12. Our place of destination was Salt Lake City. And we came for our religion.
13. When did you arrive there? 13. We arrived on Oct. 1, 1864.
14. Who was the leader of your company or train? 14. Sharp and Spencer were the leaders of the Company.
15. Method of travel (handcart, ox team, mule team, horseback, etc.)? 15. The method of travel was by ox team, four yoke to the wagon.
31. Do you recall seeing any buffalo or hunting any wild game? If so, tell about some incident. 31. I do not recall seeing any buffalo or hunting wild game.
34. Tell about coming to your state in a covered wagon. 34. Here they fixed up cattle cars to ship the 1000 people. After we arrived, to the place where we were to take ox team, they asked for 43 teamsters. I voluntered and got a job. We stayed here for three months. We herded the oxen and each was given a long whip and was expected to learn how to drive. I had never seen an ox team before. After selecting the drivers they asked us if we could walk three miles. We said "Yes" and our bedding and our belongings were loaded on a wagon and was unloaded three miles from town. The Captain threw out the bedding, cooking equipment and supplies, then ordered us to get our own meals. For the next three months, I lived on fat bacon, coffee as black as your hat, and burned bread. I was glad when we arrived at our destination.

Transcript for Peterson, Peter, [Interview], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 23:125-27

"Pioneer Who Came to Salt Lake City in 1847 Passes Away," Salt Lake Telegram

"Pioneer Who Came to Salt Lake City in 1847 Passes Away," Salt Lake Telegram, January 5, 1910.

"Pioneer Who Came to Salt Lake City in 1847 Passes Away," Salt Lake Telegram.

Reddick N. Allred journal

Reddick N. Allred journal, August 1854.

Transcript for Reddick N. Allred journal, 1854 August-1856 November

Oct 6th. 1856 I attended conference in Salt Lake City, but as the <handcart> emigration was belated and likely to be caught in the mountains in the snow without provisions and the necessary cloathing I responded to a call upon the brethren to assist them in, and on the 7th about 50 men and 20, four horse wageons with ten ton of flour, with other provisions and cloathing left the city. I got a pony to ride from Wm. B. Pace. G. D. Grant camped at the foot of the big Mountain with ten wageons and I camped at the east foot of the little mountain with ten wageons</handcart>



8th. We crossed the big mountain and overtook Bro. Grant on East Kanyon [Canyon] at the cotton wood grove[.] encamped for the night where we joined his camp and organized. G. D. Grant had been apointed by letter from the President to lead the company and R. T. Burton clerk. Charles Decker capt 1st. ten and I of the 2nd. ten[.] Wm. H. Kimball Sergt. of guard and C. H. Wheelock Chaplain.



It snowed all the afternoon &amp; evening so that I took cold and it gave me a severe pain in my breast that lasted one month that was almost like takeing my life.



Sunday 12th. we reached Bridger where we got seven beef cattle.



Monday 13th. met Capt. A. O. Smoot in advance of the church train, in order to obtain supplies. <s>&amp;</s> &lt;He&gt; returned with us and on <s>Big Sandy on</s> the 15th. left with Bros. Wheelock, Joseph A. Young[,] S. Taylor &amp; A. Garr who were sent ahead to meet the trains. We crossed Green River and on the 16th. met Cpt. [Abraham O.] Smoots train on Big Sandy where we camped. I suffered much from the pluricy or a pain in my breast &amp; side.



Oct. 18th. 1856 We arrived at the South Pass and camped on the Sweat Water [Sweetwater] 3 miles from the Pass. It snowed and was quiet cold.



19th. Capt. Grant left me in charge of the supplies of flour, beef cattle, four waggeons, the weak animals, and eleven men for guard. I killed the beef cattle &amp; let the meet [meat] lay in quaters where it frose and kept well as it was very cold &amp; storming almost evry day. We were reinforced by 3 wageons &amp; 6 men loded with flour.



23rd. I recieved an express from Wm. H. Kimball in charge of Capt. Willy's hand cart company then at stony point forty miles below in a deploreable condition.



24th. I took 6 teams and met them 15 miles below in such a hard west wind that they couldnot travel faceing the drfting snow even if they had been ready for duty. I found <s>them</s> &lt;some&gt; dead &amp; dying laying over the camp in the drifting snow that was being piled in heaps by the gale &amp; buerrying their dead.



We set in with the rest to make them as comfortable as posable &amp; remained in camp till next day.



25th. The waggeons were all filled with the most infirm and we made my camp <s>in goo</s> altho. many didnot arrive till late at night. Fifteen were bueried on the ground below &amp; three at my camp. On our return to camp we found one of the men sick with the small-pox and to avoid any further out brake if posable I sent &lt;him&gt; homeward with one man alone to obtain a Physician.



Oct. 26th. Bro. Kimball sent an express to the city for more help as the other companies hadnot been yet heard of, and went on himself with Capt. Wille's company leaveing me with a few men &lt;(7)&gt; to keep up the station till the last train should arrive. Capt Grant had said that he would send me back with the first train, but he sent word by Bro. Wm. Kimball that he wouldnot feel satisfied unless I stoped at the station as their lives depended upon it. &lt;being kept up&gt;



On the 13th Nov. Ephram Hanks arrived from S L. City and reported 150 wageons on the way to relieve us, but nothing having been heard from the trains I sent a man with him to meet them.



They started next morning (14th.) and as it was very cold &amp; the wind blowing a gale from the West he set a sail behind his wageon and struck out at the rates of ten knots. Bros. John Van Cot &amp; Claudeous V. Spencer arrived this morning but their stay was short as another man was comeing down with the smallpox. Bro. Spencer tried to induce me to brake up camp and return to the City. I declined this propposition, and he said he would return. I advised him to stay for the lives of the Company the depended upon us &amp; he then said that he moved that as I was President of the Station they center their faith in me that I should get the word of the Lord to know what we must do. to this I objected as he had already said what he would do. They returned next day. I sent a letter by them to the companies on the road <s>sent out for our assistance</s>, for them to come on as fast as the condition of their teams would allow, but &lt;he failing to present the letter&gt; all the <s>teams</s> companies turned back with them untill they got to "Bridger" where Lewis Robinson prevailed on them to stop untill he could send a messenger to President Young, the result of which was to turn them all back again with instructions to go untill they met Capt. Geo. Grant. Spencers team after reaching the Big Mountain was turned back and arrived at my Camp the same evening that Capt. G. —arrived with the last company. The team was in an exhausted condition, reminding them of my words to them, that "if they wanted to save the team leave it with us, &amp; keep it there to help the needy," but C. A. Spencer wouldnot consent. President Young told Wm. Kimble that he didnot care if he turned same so quick that it would snap their neck. But I saved my neck by sticking to my post. Joseph A. Young came to my camp with the first inteligence from the last companies, &amp; went on to the City next day.



Capt. Grant got into my Camp on the 17th of Nov. just 30 days since he left me, and saluted me with "Hurah for the Bull Dog—good for a hang on."



Nov 18th. The teams having all arrived we were organized into Companies of (10's) Tens by wagons—each ten taking up a Company of one hundred as they were organized in the Handcarts—my ten wagons hauling Capt. Mayo's company. All could ride, altho. much crowded. We then set out for the City with this half starved, half frozen and almost entirely exausted Company of about 500 saints. But from that time on they did not suffer with hunger or fatiegue, but all suffered more or less with cold. As well as I was provided I even lost my toe nails from frost



I had a good tent &amp; took in 5 Bretheren—including Capts. Tyler &amp; Martin, and the 3 sisters Quinn to do our cooking



After geting well started Capt. Grant with a number of others started ahead to the City leaving Robert T. Burton in Command with me to assist him, and after hard marches &amp; much suffering, which was however, lessened by assistance from Salt Lake City in the shape of Cooked provisions &amp; men to Clear the snow on the mountain passes—making it possible for our much exausted teams to get along with their heavy loads, we arrived in the City in triumph. Capt. Burton leading one &amp; I the other as we moved up the Street in two lines to the Tithing yard where we were greeted with much praise &amp; a hearty welcome to the City of the saints where we as well as the new comers could rest from our labours and our work could follow us.



Thus ended one of the hardest &amp; most succesful Missions I had ever performed, for although the Mission with the Mormon Battalion was long hard &amp; teadious, &amp; therefore very severe, yet this was Short &amp; Sharp in the extream.

Reddick N. Allred journal.

Spencer, Claudius to Brigham Young

Spencer, Claudius to Brigham Young, November 12, 1856.

Spencer, Claudius to Brigham Young.

William Broomhead diary

William Broomhead diary, October 1856.

October 5 at meeting Brigham called for teamsters and I volunteered to go back to meet the hand carts



went to find out when to start  



[October 6] went to meeting in the morning afternoon got a wagon. 



[October 7] Tuesday morning fixed the wagon. Start from the City at noon, tonight, camp between the mountains, from 10 til 11 onlook on guard.



Wednesday, 8th: Prayer by Br. Beckstead. Started at 7:00 o’clock, going up the big mountain it came stormy and snowed in the evening, on guard from 7 to 11



In the morning of that 12 sunday came to brigger and camped at 4 in the afternoon &lt;preyaer by [illegible, possibly J. Young] Snow thru the night



mondy 13 Started at 8 about 20 miles north met up by [Abraham] Smoot and David James. They stayed with us all night, preyar by C.[Cyrus] H. Welock [Wheelock], singing. 



Started in the morning at 8 tusday 14 went with J Peck to see some anchant looking mountains camped under hams fork at 4 o’clock. went out hunting to be back in the evening, singing and prayer by B.[rother] Smoot and some remarks by him and J. Young. Three [or eight?] more wagons came up and travelled with us



Started Wednesday 15 At 8  J Peck came up and traveld with us. J. Young wile and sum outhers went on ahed to meet the comp. [companies], but we catched them and camped with them that night on Big Sandy at 8. Preyar by C. Welock.



Thursdy 16 started at 8, met P.[Porter] Rockwell and his train, camped on Big Sandy at 4 went out to hunt antelope with sum outhers and we kiled one. B.[Brother] Smoot company came up at dark and camped with us killed a beef on gard from 2 till 7 had a dance in the eveng



friday 17 started at 12 smoots company and 18 of our hands went with him and we came to little sandy we met the frieter of gilberts [Gilbert and Garrish freight train] ahead and lerned from him the peticulrs [particulars] of babit [Almon W. Babbitt] and outhers that were kiled By indians



saturday 18 at 9 and came to sweet water [Sweetwater] and it snowd from 11 in the evenig we killed a beef



on sunday morning 19 snowed till 10 started at ½ past 10 left 7 [or 4 or 9?] men and 4 waggons and 4 beef oxen 17 horses and most of the flour  it was very coald we traveled 15 miles and camped on sweetwater  at 1 we met gilberts train of 15 waggons  camped at 4 singin in the evenig and prear by [illegible John B. Welby?]  it snowd in the eveng and it looked like as if we wear going to have a heve [heavy] storm but the clouds Devided to the right and left  it clearde up again about 10 and in the morning thear was about an inch and a half



monday 20 snowed in the morning and the wind was very high and coald  we stayed there all Day  it snowed all Day  in the evning Brother Willey [James G. Willie] and anouther man [Joseph Elder] came from the train and told us that they wer 23 miles from us and that they were out of provisions that night



tusdy 21 started at 8 camped with wiles [Willie's] company at 5 the day was cold and in the evening it snowed. they buried 4 that night and 5 the night before  the capten gave them flour and cl[o]thing and some teams to help them in. w. [William H.] kimbl [Kimball] went back with them. we by hadwood



wednesdy 22 drove 18 miles it was a bitter coald day and snow was from 8 to 12 inch Deep. camped at 6. &lt;on gard from 1 til 8.&gt; Singin, prey by Wm [William] Broomhead. snow that night



thursdy 23 stayed there all Day



friday 24 started at 12 drove to the three crosing  we saw two herds of Buffalow  in the evening gathered round the camp fir and had singing and prear  captain Grant gave us som good instrouctions on prear and said that if we was unighted [united] as one man that the lord would hear and answer our prears  remove the snow so that we could be a help to those on the plains and so he cald [called] on Br wilk [probably Cyrus Wheelock] to be mouth in prear and ask that for thos things that we need  layed hands on two of the Brothers that was sick and restored



saturdy 25 fin morning though the wind blew high, the feed for the anemals was all coverd with snow and it was hard on them as well as on us to gard them wher the snow was so Deep and the roads so bad to travel but the Lord blesd the anemals the waggons our food and us and we had caus to rejoise all the time for we are children of his care and he takes care of his children if they will listen to his word  started at 9 the river was hard to cross the ice was so thick and yet it was not thick anuf [enough] to cross on  we traveled abot 12 mils and camped abot 5 oclock after supper singin prear by captain grant  I sang sum Songs for the boys  had a good time as we had every night  retired abot 9 oclock



sunday 26 fine morning all is well traveled to within 2 miles of the Devils gate and camped  the express was at the gate had been there 4 days and had heard nothing of the carts  they came up to our camp  singin after supper  prayer by J Young  singin



mondy 27th the wind blew very hard  blowed sum of the waggon covers off  the capten sint an expres of 3 men to go as far as the plat[te] brige they started at 9  the camp moved about half a mile nearer the mountins to get out of the wind and to get wood hander  spint that day in cooking and geting wood and fixing ways to break the wind of  Singing after supper prear by Bro [illegible] three of us set up singin and talking till half past 11.  the wind was rathr high all night



tusdy 28 fine morning but [illegible] wind spint that Day in singin  remarks from sum of the Brethrn and getting wood and snowbaling  at Dusk it clouded over and snowed hard and it seemed as if we was going to have a Deep snow  the cap caled the camp togethr and made sum remarks on the goodness of god and that we was in his hands and wished us all to be one and caled on C H Wilock [Wheelock] to be mouth in Prear



wednsdy 29 clouded  the snow that fell in the night soon went  saw a herd of antelope  sum of us went out  t[w]o of the boys kiled one  in the after noon the captin red sum for us  on gard at night from 5 till one  prear by cap grant



thursday 30 fine morning  after Breckfast prear by Jahall [Joel] Parish  E[dwin] Peck and mysilf went on the mountins at Devels gat[e] with the spiglass to see if we could see anething of the Boys or the handcarts coming. But we could not  it was about 4 miles from camp to the top  wether fine  in the evening Joseph [A. Young] and the Boys returned from the compnes an gave thear report  they were on the Plat[te] prear by B [Brother] Ch Wilock [Wheelock]  started next morning at 9 o clock



Saturday 1 of Nov [November] Bro Wilock [Wheelock], D [Daniel W.] Jons [Jones] and myself was ap[po]inted to go to Cap Hogigts [Hodgett] compney and hury them up  we met the company at the Bad Slough  campd with them that night  caled the company together and talked to them  prear By D Jones 



started in the morning on sundy [November 2] C H W [Wheelock] and myself to go to Hunts comp[any]  it snowed and rand from 11 till 12 at night  met them about 7 [miles] from plat[te] river  camped without wood in the snow



[November 3] started in the morning at 9 came to willow springs  it was very cold sum of the sisters froze thear feet  camped ahead at large camp fire made and caled the camp together and spoke to the sa[i]nts  i was caled on to speak and i spoke with the spirit  it was as cold a night as i ever seen  that night the saints felt well and promised to do as they wear toald to  prear by wilock [Wheelock] and outhers Spoak   helped them up prospect hill and then started for the Devels gate got thear after dark



tusday 4 fine  in late some of the waggons of Hoggets [Hodgetts] for the hand cart comp  the hand cart camp started that day we[n]t about 3 miles  the last wagon left at sundown  we had a meeting that night  the Brethren spoke well and with the spirit  prear by E. [Edward] martin



wednesday 5 the wind [two or three word illegible] our teems could not face it [two or three words illegible] river  some of the boys came Back from the cart compny and they could not face it  went with H [Harvey] cluff to get sum from the moutin 



Wednesday 5 very coald 11 Degrees Bellow zero  fe[t]ched sum wood from the mountin on a cart  Brouther Hunts compny came up after Dark  we had a meeting at night prear By [illegible]



thursdy 6 the wind blew the snow so that we could not get up the cattle  We had a meting at night of the valey Boys of those that had the [instruments?]  the Brethren spoke well and with the spirit  i was caled on to speak and did so  Prear By C H welek [Wheelock]



fride 7 verey coald and windy  meting at night I was not thear



saturday 8 fine morning  got sum wood on a cart from the mountins  we cam up the river on the ice an loaded up hunts waggons  prear at night By R T Burton



sunday 9 got up the cattle to start  grat many of the cattell frose to Deth it was so coald and stormey  started at 11 Drove B [Brother John] godsalls teem  traveled 5 miles  Saw Som Bufalows



menday 10 fine all Day  Drove to the willowC rick [Willow Creek] and camped  eframe [Ephraim] hanks came to us from the valey and reported that 2 hundred teem had started but he did not no if they had not turned Back on acount of the storm and that c spencer [Claudius Victor Spencer] and van cot [John VanCott] came to our post and scared out and turned back  prear By E hanks



tusdy 11 fine morng but the wind Blew very coald  camped on Bitter cottonwood crick  Prear by c [Charles] Decker



wednesday 12 fine  met the middle of the 3 crossings  a fals alarm By a fire on the mountain  camped at the 3 crossings



thursdy 13 met 3 teems from the valy   fine came to the 16 mile drive   prear By M [Moses] Cluff



friday [14] fine  met 3 more teems  traveled 12 miles  prear By b [illegible wilkins?]  &lt;camp on sweet-water&gt;



Saturday 15 fine  camped on the rockey reges &amp; met sum teems that day



sundy [16]  pased hunts compny camped on strbry creek  prear B [Brother] E [Ephraim] hanks



mendy 17 [this entry should actually read Tuesday 18] met tems all Day  camped by the post  Fergson and kimbel [Kimball] met us [a few words illegible]  prey By J ferguson   snowd that night



tusdy 18- [Wednesday November 19] traveled to Big sandy river [illegible] captin grant and kimbel [Kimall] and fergson started hom on express  met sum oxen goeing to [illegible] wags comp  camped on Big sand[y] [road] &lt;C welock [Wheelock]&gt;



thursday 20 [Friday November 21] fine but cold camped on green river  that was my Barthdy My 23 &lt;prear J Simons [Joseph M. Simmons]&gt;



Friday 21 [Saturday November 22]  very could  i frosted my nose that Day  camped on Blacks fork



saturday 22 [Sunday November 23] it snowed  we came to Brigger [Bridger] had a weding there that night



sunday fine 23 [Monday November 24] camped 11 miles from Briger  met sum teem that night



mondy 24 [Tuesday November 25] camped on Bear river it was very coald



tuesdy 25 [Wednesday November 26]  met Joseph young and outhers   camped in ec[h]o can[y]on  snow 13 [or 15] inches Deep  sister squir[e]s was confined that night  the child lived and boath come in safe



Wednsdy 26 [Thursday November 27] camped on webber [Weber]



thursdy 27 [Friday November 28] camped in est [East] canyon in the cottonwood grove



friday [Saturday November 29]  crosed Boath mountins the snow was from 1 to 23 feet Deep and in kil[l]ians kanoun [canyon] snow 18 inches  



cam into the city about ½ past levan [eleven] on sunday 29 [30] Day of november   i was great hom By my wife and frends with joy



December mondy 1

Transcript for William Broomhead diary, 1856 October-1857 April

William Broomhead diary.

[Report on the Rescue of the Martin Company], in "History of Brigham Young,"

[Report on the Rescue of the Martin Company], in "History of Brigham Young,", November 11, 1856.

John Tobin arrived from Bridger. heard nothing of the last hand cart company. He reports that the teams which went out are returning. Prest B Young sent Joseph M. Simmons, Hosea Stout, Wm H. Kimball, and J. Ferguson, to meet the incoming teams and turn them back, and to have the
<s xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">m</s>
 teams continue Eastward till they met the Companies.
12th Claudius V. Spencer arrived from the <s>p</s> plains. Four teams with grain started East.
13th The First Presidency received an <s>dispatch</s> &lt;Express&gt; early this morning, and they, with W. Woodruff went into the Prest’s Office. The express brought tidings in effect as follows: Bro Jos A Young &amp; Bro Geo Grant, had parted. They agreed that they should not go any further than Devils gate. But Joseph A &lt;then&gt; went on to the Platte. Found them at the Upper crossing of the Platte. <s>Soon Bro Grant arrived and prepared</s> They were in camp and had been there 9 days waiting for the snow to go off. Soon Bro. Grant arrived and prepared the Camp for moving. He said to Joseph A, “What would your father do now if he was here?” Joseph answered, “If my father was here he would take all the books and heavy materials and cache them, in order to save the lives of the people. So they agreed to do it. They cached all their articles at Devils Gate, and took up the weak and the feeble and started towards home. They then sent an Express back to tell the teams that were on the road to come to them. But John Vancott and Claudius V. Spencer had got to the Sweetwater, and not hearing anything from the hand cart companies, they turned back with their teams and nearly all the company followed them. This news arrived in the city several days since, and an express was sent out to meet them and turn them back. All the companies were together, 2 ox trains and the Hand-cart train. When the brethren found them many of the old oxen had died, but the young oxen, many of them, were fat and fine. Bro. Tannant, who had bought Prest Young’s place, is dead. He died near Scott’s Bluff’s. The people were suffering with cold and hunger some. David H Kimball and others went ahead and picked out Camp grounds, made up fires, and shoveled off snow. When the camp came up they would take the old men and women and children that could not walk and carry them to the fire, and help them get supper, and would then dance around their fires and sing and shout to keep up the spirits of the Company, and while journeying during the day, would wade over all the streams and drag the hand carts over, and carry over all the lame men, women and children.
When Wm Kimball met with Bro Van Cott he took one pair of his mules and put on to his own wagon, and told him to turn around with the other, to the east, &amp; follow him till they came to the company as the companies had lain back at sweet water [Sweetwater] to water. Elder G.D. Grant wrote a good letter to prest Young, giving a description of the Company, and their situation. He says that not more than one third of the hand-cart company were able to walk and many were barefoot and freezing their toes.

Transcript for [Report on the Rescue of the Martin Company], in "History of Brigham Young," 11 Nov. 1856, 983-86

Claudius Victor Spencer

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