Dan Jones (1810 - 1862) Profile

Plaque honoring early Welsh missionary Dan Jones and converts Thomas and Sarah Jeremy  (photo of the Jeremys)

British Missionaries, Liverpool 1855

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Dan Jones

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Andrew Jenson, "Jones, Dan," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

Andrew Jenson, "Jones, Dan," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 3.

Andrew Jenson, "Jones, Dan," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report, January 15, 1853.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report, January 4, 1845.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report.

European Missionaries from Zion

European Missionaries from Zion.

Arrived in Liverpool Sep 1846.Departed from Liverpool 5 Jul 1847.Presided over the Preston and Clithero Conferences, England.  (Mill Star 8:121)

Transcript for European Missionaries from Zion, MS 17956, Box 37, Fd. 11

High Priests of Nauvoo and early Salt Lake City

Nauvoo Restoration, comp., High Priests of Nauvoo and Early Salt Lake City, M251.33, Page 69.

High Priests of Nauvoo and early Salt Lake City.

Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports

Jones, Dan, Captain

"Jones, Dan, Captain", Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports.

Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports.

Millennial Star

Millennial Star, Vol. 15.

Arrived in Liverpool, Dec 24, 1852. 15:42  Elder Dan Jones has proceeded to field of labour and will be under the direction of the Presidency of the church in the Welsh Principality. 15:842  Elder Dan Jones is appointed to succeed Elder W.S. Phillips in the Presidency of the Church in the Welsh Principality.

Transcript for Millennial Star, Vol. 15:32, 15:42, 15:842

Millennial Star.

"A Letter from Capt. D. Jones to President W. Phillips," The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration (1987), by Ronald D. Dennis, 184-89

"A Letter from Capt. D. Jones to President W. Phillips," The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration (1987), by Ronald D. Dennis, 184-89.

Bank of the Green River, October 12, 1849.



Perhaps you are thinking that we are at the end of our journey by now; but the main causes which have kept us longer than some who went before us are that there were so many rainstorms on the first 300 miles of our journey that it was difficult to travel because the wheels of the covered wagons would often sink very deep in the mire, and also that after we came to the highland, the grazing was and still is very scarce for the animals. And this is not strange when you consider that from 6,000 to 7,000 covered wagons, each pulled by three to six yoke of oxen, besides several thousand cattle, sheep, mules, and horses have passed along this road during this summer toward the paradise of the Saints and the country of gold; these consume much of the grass, but if you add to these all the thousands of buffaloes, antelope, elk, etc., who own, by poor grazing, this wilderness and desolate, parched land—this together with other considerations caused us to slow down and be content if we could travel but ten to twelve miles each day, and it was proved to our satisfaction before that this is the only way we can complete our journey. There is hardly a day that we do not come across skeletons of the oxen of those who went before us on the roadside, a monument to their foolishness in traveling too fast at the beginning of a journey as long as this one.



Not so with us or the other Saints, thanks to the God who preserved us. Whereas others leave their animals, their covered wagons, and thousands of dollars' worth of their provisions along the road, we are enabled, through the blessing of God, to wend our way steadily and comfortably along, although slowly; and while we find the graves of others often alongside the road, we rejoice and give thanks, as will you, that no one has died in our camp since we left Council Bluffs, nor has there been hardly any sickness. We have been on this journey now for over three months and have traveled 863½ miles, have ascended to the height of over 7,000 feet above sea level; and almost unawares we have been surrounded on nearly every side by snowy tops of the Rocky Mountains, which perpetually dwell in the white clouds. O, majestic sights!! They are beyond description.



There are between us and the Salt Lake Valley still 164 miles; yet I am confident that this journey will be finished within fifteen days, with the blessing of our God. O, hail, blessed day! All the Welsh who are here with me are living as befits the Saints, acknowledging God in all their ways and praising Him morning and night for keeping them until now from the captivity of persecuting Babylon, until their sweet voices resound in unison in the massive rocks around us, and we almost believe that they with their melodious voices charm the wolves who play outside our camp at dusk and so far have rendered them as harmless to us as our flock of sheep.



Since about a week ago nature has put on her white wedding gown as if to receive some new inhabitants in the fissures of these everlasting mountains; it spread a white carpet before the door of everyone one night, and spread a snowy white blanket lightly on some who had not taken care to close the cover of their wagon before night! The snow piled up between the wagons so that we did not see some of our neighbors until the evening; but we did not die in the snow this time according to the prophecies of our enemies. The sun shone pleasantly the second morning! The earth soon changed her garment, and soon between 200 and 300 wagons could be seen in a majestic row climbing the steep slopes while all were singing the songs of Zion; and we made camp in the evening under the crimson smile of the sun of the Western world. The Saints from the Valley sent more than eighty yoke of oxen over 300 miles to meet us, and great is the help they are to us. This is brotherly love worthy of emulating, and we anticipate more each day. All the news we have from the Valley brings joy to our hearts. May thousands of the race of Gomer soon come after us to the freedom of this country.



The Welsh are holding up under the difficulties of this journey, and are learning to drive oxen better than my expectations, and are winning praise from all the other camps of the Saints for their organization, their virtue and their skill, and especially for their singing.

Transcript for "A Letter from Capt. D. Jones to President W. Phillips," The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration (1987), by Ronald D. Dennis, 184-89

Albert Jones notes, circa 1906

Albert Jones notes, circa 1906.

The Emigrants made hand Carts at Iowa Paul Gourley



Left Iowa Camp July 28th 20 days lost// here 
Two companies—one under Edward Martin[;] one under Jesse Haven



<s>18-4/7 miles per day to make the 1300 in 70 days</s>



Arrived at Florence 22nd August



<s>average travel 12 miles per day</s>



Companies consolidated in one Edward Martin &amp; Daniel Tyler Capts.



Left Florence August 25th 1856 for the 1000 miles journey



576 men[,] women and Children



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">146 Hand Carts 
Wagons 
4 to the Cart—5 of us</center>



 



Two wagon Companies behind us 
Benjamin Hodgett 
John A[.] Hunt



Company provisioned for 60 days



100# flour being given to each Cart for transportation



Sep 2 Col Alma [Almon Whiting] Babbit[t]—Thomas Margetts &amp; Child—James Cowdy &amp; wife and others killed—Mrs. Margets carried away by Indians.



Isaac Brockbanks mother



The March



Bro Evans the fourth death[.] tin cup record[.] Mother on the lead



&lt;above&gt; Passed near the spot where A W Babbitt was killed 
Too many meetings for prayer &amp; preaching 
Moses Cluff and the Buffalo



Danl Tyler and the Mules



The girls and boys courting



The buffalo Chips—the dainty chins



John Watkins[,] Brother Compsan



The Hymn—Come come ye Saints



Oct 8th At Larimie. Over Coat 
Flour[,] Bacon[,] Apples &amp; Peaches



The Tennant Cattle driving and guarding



The people getting weary with the work— 
John Jacques [Jaques] night adventure



The Appetites—



The 20th October crossing the North Platte



The first snow storm—which reached West to the Wasatch range and the great gloom



Snowed three days



The Songs of Zion



The deaths increasing[,] McBride 
Old Scotch Man 
his toes out of snow



Our Tent—the death of Jackson



callous to death



Dug the grave of a young man while he walked by its side[,] 14 in this Grave[,] Red Butte



Stone and the Wolves—a foot in a shoe brought to Camp—



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Juvenile #23 Jan -1-88</center>



 



John Watkins &amp; the Ox



Oct 28—Rescued:: Joseph A Young 
Daniel W Jones 
Abel Garr



The big blue &lt;Government over&gt; Coat



The scene in Camp at the Rescue



Young girls eating toasted raw hide—as girls do gum 
Bread Making—Bed making 
Tents[,] Cyrus H. Wheelock 
Snow 1½” 
&lt;Fry Pans&gt;: for shovels [-] 
Rescuers[:] David Garr 
George D Grant 
Robt J Burton 
Charles Decker 
W H Kimball 
Reddick N[ewton] Allred



The crossing of the Sweet Water



W[illiam] S Binder hauls my hand Cart through—



The axle broke 
Kimball carried me over—



S. S. went on



I remain &amp; get another Cart and took on our things



The Council at Devils Gate



Cyrus H Wheelock’s address



10 men stay at Devils Gate with the goods of Hand Cart—People and of the Wagon Companies



Rested at Martins Ravine 2 or 3 days



The accidental burning of John Jacques [Jaques] Record



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">one third died</center>



 



[Edmund] El[l]sworth &amp; [Daniel D.] McArthur 497 Souls—100 Carts 5 Wagons 
Jas D [James G.] Willie &lt;66 died&gt; 500 Souls—120 Carts—6 Wagons 
[Edward] Martin &amp; [Daniel] Tyler, 576 Souls, 146 Cars—7 Wagons



1856 Five hand Cart Cos. 
[Edmund] Ellsworth—[Daniel D.] McArthur—[Edward] Bunker—Willie ([Edward] Martin &amp; [Daniel] Tyler)



Timing the People time of death 
S S Jones and Eph Hanks



The feet of the People frozen



[irrelevant data]



The life Guardsman [David] Blair buried at Quaken Asp hill



The survival of the fittest 
Martins Lot the toughest of all 
My Vow behind the Log fire



The American Axe:



Nov 28<s>28</s>th over the Big Mountain 7000 to 8000 Altitude[,] the Oxen [illegible] 8 ft Snow

Transcript for Albert Jones notes, circa 1906

Bathsheba W. Smith journal

Bathsheba W. Smith journal, June 1849.

Transcript for Bathsheba W. Smith journal, 1849 June-October, 23

Bathsheba W. Smith journal.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, July 1849.

Ezra T. Benson's 100, report

"Ezra T. Benson's 100, report", Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, September 24, 1849, Page 8.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Chapman Duncan reminiscences, 1852-1874, 11a

Chapman Duncan reminiscences, 1852-1874, 11a.

In July I went back on the road to Independence Rock and assisted Geo. A. Smith Emigration company into this valley. We encountered a heavy storm on the pass. Sixty-five head of cattle were killed by the storm. Returned home the last day of Oct. and built an end to my cabin.

Transcript for Chapman Duncan reminiscences, 1852-1874, 11a

Dan Jones Emigrating Company journal

Dan Jones Emigrating Company journal, May 1856, Page 2.

Transcript for Dan Jones Emigrating Company journal, 1856 May-December

Dan Jones Emigrating Company journal.

Deseret Evening News

Pioneer Trail Experiences

"Pioneer Trail Experiences", Deseret Evening News, April 26, 1913, Driggs, Ben W., [Letter].

Concerning the pioneer trail experiences of Bishop John A. Hunt, deceased, and others, Mr. Ben W. Driggs of Ogden writes as follows.



Capt. Hunt had charge of what was called an "Independent" company of Saints in 1856, those who were in circumstances to purchase their outfits and he piloted these people as far as the "Devil's Gate" on the Sweetwater, when they were overtaken by the storms of winter and could proceed no farther. The whole train with their oxen were left there in charge of Daniel W. Jones and a few others for the winter. All the cattle died from starvation during that cold winter. The people were rescued by those sent out after the belated hand cart emigrants. Prest. Brigham Young made an urgent call for volunteers to go out to their rescue. Men and teams were gathered in the different settlements and they soon started for Fort Bridger, where many of the members of Capt. Hunt's "Independent" company and hand cart people were found bivouacked in some log stable near the fort. Ten men with five four horse teams were found at Pleasant Grove (myself one of the number). We left Salt Lake City Dec. 2, 1856, and loaded up the "starving" emigrants at Fort Bridger and hurried them in to the city over roads of snow from two to ten feet deep. I cannot recall one of the party that I was with being now alive. We had no gum boots or other warm clothing like we have today "but we got there all the same." Capt. Hunt was on the ground and did his part nobly.



We overtook John Van Cott's ox train on feast Canyon creek. A party of men were on the Big Mountain trying to maintain a trail over the divide. To say the journey was a hard one is putting it mildly.

Transcript for Driggs, Ben W., [Letter], in "Pioneer Trail Experiences," Deseret Evening News, 26 April 1913, sec. 3, X

Deseret Evening News.

Deseret News

Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City

"Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City", Deseret News, October 22, 1856.

JOURNEY FROM FLORENCE TO G. S. L. CITY. 
PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG:



DEAR BROTHER:—We left Florence (Winter Quarters) K. T., on the evening of the 3rd Sept., accompanied by Elders C. H. Wheelock, J. Van Cott, G. D. Grant, W. H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, C. G. Webb, W. C. Dunbar, James McGaw, Dan Jones, J. D. T. McAllister, N. H. Felt and James Ferguson; G. D. Grant being selected as captain of our company.



The rear of our season's emigration had started on the road, with the exception of Elder Wm. [William] Walker with 10 wagons, laden with a portion of P. E. Fund baggage.



Previous to leaving Florence we sent Elder Jos. [Joseph] A. Young back to ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts of Elder Walker. He rode back 50 miles, and, learning that Walker's train was yet some 25 or 30 miles in the rear, returned to join us for the plains.



Elder E. Snow accompanied us to our camp, 3 miles west of Elk Horn, and on the morning of the 5th, having completed his business with us, returned to the States.



We overtook our rear company of wagons, in charge of Captain I. A. [James A.] Hunt, during the forenoon of the 5th, and nooned with them about 10 miles east of the Loup Fork. He has in his company 240 persons, 50 wagons, 297 oxen and cows, 7 horses and mules, and some 4 church wagons. The majority of this company have light loads and good teams, and are generally well provisioned. They would probably ferry the Loup Fork on the 7th.



On the evening of the 7th we overtook Elder Edward Martin, about 40 miles from the Loup Fork, with the rear of our P. E. F. Emigration for this season. He had with him some 576 persons, 146 hand-carts, 7 wagons, 6 mules and horses, and 50 cows and beef cattle; also one wagon mostly loaded with church goods. His company was in most excellent spirits, and though he had the greater proportion of the feeble emigrants, the health of his camp was very good; and he was able to average about 100 miles a week, without fatiguing his company.



Here, from a company of returning Californians met the previous day, we learned of the increased hostility of the Cheyennes, and that they had already made a successful attack upon A. [Almon] W. Babbitt's ox train. Of the four teamsters in that train two were killed and one wounded; and a woman named Wilson (as was presumed from the tracks) was severely wounded and taken prisoner, and her child, about two months old, was murdered. The wagons were plundered, but, as we subsequently learned, most of the property was retaken by Captain Wharton of Fort Kearney.



Refreshed by our short interview with Captain [Edward] Martin's company, we drove about 10 miles further and found br. [William B.] Hodgetts' camp. This company is composed of 150 persons, 33 wagons, 84 yoke of oxen, 19 cows and some 250 head of heifers and other loose cattle. This includes br. Thomas Tennant and family, with 4 wagons and 1 carriage. Br. Hodgetts' company, though generally pretty heavily laden, were in good traveling condition and making excellent progress.



On the 9th inst. we met with two brethren from br. J. [James] G. Willie's company of hand-carts, in search of 30 head of cattle that had strayed from their camp about 50 miles in advance.



Accompanied by br. James Ferguson, we this day visited Capt. Wharton at Fort Kearney, and received a confirmation of the news of the attack of the Cheyennes upon Mr. Babbitt's train. The troops had made an attack upon a Cheyenne village and killed 10 warriors. This increased the rage of the Cheyennes, and from that time we were informed that they had divided into war parties for the purpose of attacking small parties of emigrants.



Here we met a returning Californian who had escaped from one of their assaults, with the loss of his wife killed, and his boy, some 3 or 4 years old, taken prisoner.



Capt. Wharton declared himself incompetent to afford any protection to emigrants, and had some doubts of his ability to maintain the post, for want of troops. Mr. Babbitt had left Fort Kearney for Utah a week previous, accompanied by Thomas Sutherland and a driver.



As we were leaving the fort for our camp on the north side of the Platte, a discharged soldier came to Capt. Wharton with the news of another massacre by the Cheyennes. This soldier had accompanied Thomas Margetts and James Cowdy, and their families, from Laramie and on returning from a buffalo hunt, when about 125 miles from Fort Kearney, found the wagon plundered and the murdered remains of his traveling companions.



The soldier's account of the affair, as given to brs. [James G.] Willie and [Millen] Atwood, will give you the particulars and is as follows:—



STATEMENT 
Made to James G. Willie and Millen Atwood, of the Fourth Hand-cart Company; by a man who gave his name as Henry Bauichter, and who came into their camp on the morning of Monday, September 8, 1856:



"I am a discharged soldier from Fort Laramie, which I left on the 29th of August, 1856. After traveling about 30 miles I overtook a wagon with two mules and two horses, one an Indian horse with a white face, the mules alone drawing the wagon, which was accompanied by two men, one of whom gave his name as Thomas Margetts and the other as James Cowdy. The former of these men had a wife, and the latter a wife and child. They came, as they stated, from Great Salt Lake City, and were on their way to the States.



About 70 miles above this point, or 125 miles above Fort Kearney, I and Thomas Margetts went out on horseback in search of buffalo, on the 6th of Sept., and between 1 and 2 p.m. I soon killed a buffalo, upon which Margetts returned to the wagon to fetch some things for carrying away part of the animal, while I staid behind to dress it.



On Margetts' return from the wagon he filled one utensil, principally the tallow, and started again for the wagon, and I remained to fill another utensil which Margetts had brought. This occupied me about half an hour, when I also started in the direction of the wagon, noticing, before reaching it, that the cover had been stripped off, and that neither mules nor horses were to be seen.



On my arrival I discovered on the ground the bodies of Margetts, Cowdy, and Cowdy's wife and child all dead, except that the child was crying and bloody. I could not see any wounds on any of the bodies, but an arrow was sticking in Cowdy's thigh.



The wagons, the hinder part of which was on fire, had been completely ransacked, and all that was of any immediate use taken away.



I looked round for Mrs. Margetts, whom I could not find. The feathers from a bed had been strewn on the ground by the side of the wagon, but I could not see the bedtick.



I saw, at some considerable distance, 12 men or more, apparently riding very fast, who were, as far as I could discover, Indians. None of the bodies were scalped.



The buffalo which I killed was over the bluff, about a mile and a half from the wagons, but I did not hear any report of fire-arms during my absence from it. Not feeling myself safe in the neighborhood of the murders, I escaped with my horse, and with the loss of my discharge and other papers, and about $300, a gold watch and other things, which I had deposited in the wagon, intending to make the best of my way to Fort Kearney and there report the facts as quickly as possible.



The two horses above mentioned were ridden, at intervals during the journey, by Mr. and Mrs. Margetts."



On the 12th we overtook and camped with br. Willie's company, at North Bluff creek, consisting of 404 persons, 6 wagons, 87 hand-carts, 6 yoke of oxen, 32 cows, and 5 mules. They were considerably weakened by the loss of their oxen, which they had failed to recover, but were in good spirits and averaging from 14 to 16 miles a day. Here we forded the Platte to the south side, and were followed by the hand-carts. Never was there a more soul-stirring sight than the happy passage of this company over that river. Several of the carts were drawn entirely by women, and every heart was glad and full of hope.



We spent the afternoon of the 15th inst. with br. A. [Abraham] O. Smoot, about 20 miles west of Ash Hollow. There were in his company 88 souls, 42 wagons, 265 oxen, 6 cows, 15 mules and horses, and 1 carriage. They had provisions for 23 days. Br. Smoot lacked drivers, having only 33 men fit for duty. His oxen were in good condition, but his loads were very heavy. Gilbert and Gerrish's train of 17 wagons was travelling in company with him.



On the 16th inst., 37 miles in advance of br. Smoot, we camped with br. O. [Orrin] P. Rockwell, who had 5 wagons and 11 yoke of oxen in charge, in addition to three families, viz., Grimshaw, Cook and Barnes, whom he had turned back towards Laramie, deeming them too weak to pass in safety, Br. Rockwell accompanied us to Fort Laramie, where we arrived on the morning of the 19th. Col. Huffman received us with much kindness, as also did J. W. Tutt, the sutler. Here we received a small recruit of mules and provisions, and purchased some good buffalo robes for the P. E. Fund passengers in the rear.



On the 23d inst. we parted, at the Platte bridge, with Capt. Dan Jones, who met his brother and remained to recover a cached thrashing machine. Here also we purchased a few more robes for Capt. J. G. Willie's company.



During the forenoon of the 24th, after leaving our camp at Willow Springs, we met Messrs. Hawley, Lambson, Amy and party on their way to the States, and advised them to wait at Laramie for the company of missionaries reported in their rear.



Same day, and near Independence rock, we nooned near Patriarch John Smith and two other brethren, who had come out with flour for the companies. Br. Smith returned with us. The same evening and about 8 miles further on, we camped with Elder P. [Parley] P. Pratt and company, all in good health and most excellent spirits, and promising fair for an honorable and successful mission.



On the 27th, 15 miles east of the Pacific Springs, we nooned with br. Wm. Smith and two other brethren from Farmington, with 2 wagons and flour for the companies. We counseled them to cache their flour and go on to meet br. Willie and his company, which they agreed to do.



On the 28th, 3 miles east of Big Sandy, we camped with br. Talcott, who also had flour for the companies. We gave him the same counsel, to go on with his teams to help br. Willie.



On the 29th we camped with br. [Jacob] Croft's company, consisting of 58 persons, 14 wagons, 80 yoke of oxen, 30 horses, and 130 loose cattle; they are principally from Texas and the Cherokee land. They were healthy and in good spirits, and gave us a most hospitable reception. This was the last company passed by us on the road.



At Bridger, on the 1st of Oct., we were welcomed by Major Burton and a small party of the mountain boys; and on the evening of the 4th were happy to receive your welcome and blessing at home.



Assuring you of our continued exertions to promote the welfare of God's kingdom, and praying that your life may be spared long to God's people, as also the lives of your Council, we remain, sincerely and obediently, yours in the Christ, F. D. RICHARDS, 
DANIEL SPENCER, 
Agents P. E. Fund.

Transcript for "Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City," Deseret News, 22 October 1856, 258

Deseret News.

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Abigail Smith Abbott autobiography

"Abigail Smith Abbott autobiography", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 31.

On the sixth day of July 1849, I gathered my children together, eight in all, and one son-in-law, and started for the valley of the mountains in George A. Smith's company. As we had to walk across the plains, I made moccassins for my children to wear, as I did not know when I would get shoes for them again.


We came in contact with many Indians, but were never harmed by them, for instead of fighting them every one gave them food.


Just four months to the day we arrived in Salt Lake.

Transcript for "Abigail Smith Abbott autobiography", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 31.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (1877), 342-43

Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (1877), 342-43.

[Bathsheba W. Smith]



In May, 1849, about four hundred wagons were "organized and started West.



In the latter part of June following, our family left our encampment. We started on our journey to the valley in a company of two hundred and eighteen wagons. These were organized into three companies, which were subdivided into companies of ten, each company properly officered. Each company also had its blacksmith and wagon maker, equipped with proper tools for attending to their work of setting tires, shoeing animals, and repairing wagons.



Twenty-four of the wagons of our company belonged to the Welch saints, who had been led from Wales by Elder Dan Jones. They did not understand driving oxen. It was very amusing to see them yoke their cattle; two would have an animal by the horns, one by the tail, and one or two others would do their best to put on the yoke, whilst the apparently astonished ox, not at all enlightened by the guttural sounds of the Welch tongue, seemed perfectly at a loss what to do, or to know what was wanted of him. But these saints amply made up for their lack of skill in driving cattle by their excellent singing, which afforded us great assistance in our public meetings, and helped to enliven our evenings.



On this journey my wagon was provided with projections, of about eight inches wide, on each side of the top of the box. The cover, which was high enough for us to stand erect, was widened by these projections. A frame was laid across the back part of our wagon, and was corded as a bedstead; this made our sleeping very comfortable. Under our beds we stowed our heaviest articles. We had a door in one side of the wagon cover, and on the opposite side a window. A step-ladder was used to ascend to our door, which was between the wheels. Our cover was of 'osnaburg,' lined with blue drilling. Our door and window could be opened and closed at pleasure. I had, hanging up on the inside, a looking-glass, candlestick, pincushion, etc. In the centre of our wagon we had room for four chairs, in which we and our two children sat and rode when we chose. The floor of our traveling house was carpeted, and we made ourselves as comfortable as we could under the circumstances.



After having experienced the common vicissitudes of that strange journey, having encountered terrible storms and endured extreme hardships, we arrived at our destination on the 5th of November, one hundred and five days after leaving the Missouri river. Having been homeless and wandering up to this time, I was prepared to appreciate a home.

Transcript for Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (1877), 342-43

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1849: Page 8H.

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1849: Page 6.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008.

Hunt, John A., [Journal], in "Church Emigration Book"

Hunt, John A., [Journal], in "Church Emigration Book".

The company which left the camp-ground near Iowa City, in charge of Captain Jones, Aug. 1st, 1856, is what became known afterwards as Capt. Hunt’s wagon company. In September, 1891, when the writer visited St. Charles, Bear Lake County, Idaho, where Captain John A. Hunt now acts as Bishop, he obtained the journal kept in his company while crossing the plains in 1856, and from the interesting narrative contained therein the following items have principally been culled:
When the company left the camping ground near Iowa City, it consisted of 56 wagons, but when fairly out on the plains it numbered 240 persons, with 50 wagons, 297 oxen and cows, and 7 horses and mules. The majority of the company had light loads and good teams, and were well provisioned generally. There were also some wagons along loaded with Church goods.
While journeying through Iowa, Thomas Parry, a teamster, aged 21 years, died on August 13th. On the 14th, Elders Ferguson, Webb, McAllister and Dan Jones started ahead with the mule teams, leaving John A. Hunt in charge of the company.
 On the 15th the train crossed the Des Moines River at Fort Des Moines, and on the 27th arrived at the Missouri River and camped near the town of Florence. 
On the 29th the people were busy laying in their stock of provisions for the journey across the plains. Flour at this point cost $4.50 per hundred; cornmeal $2.50 per hundred; sugar from 12 to 15 cents per pound. 
On Saturday the 30th, a meeting was held at which Apostle Snow gave instructions to the emigrants. A child two years old died that day. 
On Sunday the 31st the company moved out of Florence about 3 miles, to a place where the feed was good, and in a meeting held in the evening Apostles Erastus Snow and Franklin D. Richards addressed the emigrating Saints.
On the 2nd of September the journey was resumed and continued for some time, averaging about 15 miles a day. 
On the 6th, Sister Esther Walters gave birth to a daughter; and the train &lt;was&gt; passed by Apostle Franklin D. Richards and company of missionaries. 
On the 8th and 9th the company was ferried across the Loup Fork. 
Wood River was crossed on the 15th. On the 21st Brother Elias Davis died of diarrhoea. 
On the 24th, Sister Mary Noble, of Brighton, England, gave birth to a daughter. 
On the 2nd of October the company crossed the Platte from the north to the south side, at a point about 30 miles east of Chimney Rock. 
On the 4th, Susannah Bruner, from Switzerland, died quite suddenly. 
On the 5th they met Parley P. Pratt and escort, en route for the States. 
On the 6th, John Turner, an English brother, died with diarrhoea, near Scotts Bluffs, and another child was born.
While traveling on the 7th some of the oxen took fright and stampeded about 12 wagons left the road carried off by the frightened cattle at a break-neck speed in all directions. During the consternation, which became general throughout the camp, Sister Esther Walters from Swansea, &lt;Wales,&gt; was knocked down and so injured that she expired a few minutes later, leaving a babe only four weeks old – the same that was born on the 6th of September.
On the 9th of October the company arrived near Fort Laramie; a five-year old boy [John Joseph Wiseman] died. 
On the 12th Brother [William] Beesley and [William] Bell with their respective families and wagons left the company and returned to Fort Laramie, in order to escape the severity of the weather. 
On the 15th the company forded the river to the north side, and on the following day forded it again to the south side. 
On the 19th the company passed Capt. Martin’s hand-cart company just as the people were pulling out after dinner; many of them hauled their hand-carts along side of the wagons of Captain Hunt’s company, in which several of the of the Saints shed tears when they saw aged women and children, with haggard countenances and worn out constitutions, pull with all their strength to get their carts along over the sandy road. That same evening the company arrived at the upper crossing of the Platte, followed closely by the hand-cart company. Captain Hodgett’s company had just forded the stream.
When the emigrants in the three respective companies mentioned opened their eyes to behold the morning of Monday, Oct. 20th, they found the ground covered with snow, which during the night had fallen to such a depth that the companies could not move. The cattle in Captain Hunt’s company were driven into the camp corral in the afternoon, when it was found that 12 or 14 head were missing. It commenced to snow again late in the day.

Transcript for Hunt, John A., [Journal], in "Church Emigration Book"

Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal

Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal, July 1849.

Transcript for Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal, 1849 July-October

Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal.

"Letter

"Letter, July 13, 1849.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Country of Indians, Omaha, July 13, 1849</center>



Dear Brother Phillips—



Hastily, and almost before a dog opens his mouth in the camp, I take this early morning opportunity to send you a few lines. There is not time to portray the sight around me nor to preamble, for the mosquitoes are biting, the sun is almost up, and I am awaiting the call to get under way with fifty wagons to the Far West, beyond the furthest borders of every civilized country to the midst of the red-skinned people of the forest.



Wm. Morgans and William Davies from Rhymni have followed us this far at my request, so they can tell you our course in more detail, which time and my duties do not permit me to do now. And at this time I say to you only, do as they direct you by letter; for I had the opportunity to speak with them much that I cannot write about now. In Council Bluffs I established a part of the Welsh company which came here, and a Welsh branch of the Church, with Wm. Morgans as president. The prime objective of this is so they will be ready in this center point to receive, welcome, and direct such of our dear nation as may come after us. For they can give details of the advantages of the country, and of the Welsh who have stayed in that part of it. I shall only say, allow those of the Saints who wish and who you think best qualified to come here as soon as they can; and those who cannot go as far as the Valley of the Mountains can come to this beautiful country and earn enough soon to help them the rest of the journey.



There are of us Welsh twenty-four covered wagons loaded going forward now, and we have come about eighteen miles on our journey successfully. You shall receive the names from Wm. Morgans.



All news from Zion is good. You shall receive the newspaper which is also published here from William Morgans.



…;"hurry after us to build Zion; come one, come all, according to the directions of your presidents, out of Babylon, from the midst of pestilence and disease, wars and battles of a transitory world to the freedom of the children of Zion—to the safe place of the redeemed." It is possible to come here for the cost which I noted in the Prophwyd, that is between 6 and 7 pounds apiece for those fourteen and older; and it is possible to soon earn assistance to proceed, which cannot be earned in Wales in a long time.



Everyone from this company here is very content, and very eager to see their relatives, etc., following them soon. My dear wife and baby arrived here safely a few days ago and in time to go along with us. The cholera imposed heavy losses on our small army along the rivers, especially on the accursed waters of the Missouri; yet, the effect was small in comparison to that on other people throughout the neighboring boats and towns.

Transcript for "Letter [July 13, 1849] from Capt. Jones to President William Phillips," The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration (1987), by Ronald D. Dennis, 175-77

"Letter.

Linforth, J., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star

Linforth, J., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, January 10, 1857.

We have just received a letter from Elder James Linforth, five miles west of Fort Laramie, Captain Hunt's company, the contents of which have in the main been published in former correspondence: we however extract the following items—



Captain Hunt's, the rear company of this season's emigration, had passed the portion of the route infested by hostile Indians unmolested, and on the 11th of October was encamped five miles west of Fort Laramie, all in good health and spirits, with one exception—brother W. Paul was in delicate health.



"The following-named individuals of the company have died. 
Elias Davis, September 21st, aged 44 years, from Kent Conference. 
Susannah Bruner, October 4th, aged 64 years, from Swiss and Italian Mission. 
Marinda L. Pay, October 5th aged 11 weeks, from Kent Conference. 
John Turner, October 6th aged 42 years, also from Kent Conference. 
Esther Walters, October 7th aged 39 years, from Wales. 
John J. Wiseman, October 9th aged 5 years, from Kent Conference.



These deaths were all from natural causes except Sister Walters', which was occasioned by a stampede of the rear teams. She was knocked down by the oxen and kicked so that death was almost instantaneous. We learn that Thomas Tennant, of Captain Hodgett's company, died on the 4th instant, and is buried in the cemetery at Fort Laramie. His death will be much regretted in England, as it is here, for all must have wished that a man who had been so liberal with his fortune, in gathering the Saints, should have lived to reach the Valley in safety, and to enjoy all the blessings of which he was worth. Died in Captain Martin's company, Brother Loader, and Sister Wynn, from Liverpool. . . .



"On the day we crossed the Platte we met a company of emigrants from Utah, among them we regretted to find Mr. Jonathan Grimshaw, formerly a railway goods manager at Nottingham. He informed me that he did not like the religion, nor Utah, but refused to say on what points his mind had undergone a change, and had nothing to say concerning the authorities of the Church, except as men he respected them. The Company numbered some forty or fifty. The chief fault expressed by all except Mr. Grimshaw was "no work and no provisions" though they said the wheat crop for this season would be good. . . .



The Mission in Europe and the Elders in charge are continually prayed for by the Saints of this company, who do not forget their brethren yet left in the old countries, but wish they were on the way to Zion. I desire a kind remembrance to Elders Benson, Little, Calkin, and all in the Office.



I remain, yours faithfully, 
J. Linforth."

Transcript for Linforth, J., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 10 January 1857, 27-28

Linforth, J., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star.

Salt Lake Herald

J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscence

"J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscence", Salt Lake Herald, December 8, 1878.

SOME REMINISCENCES



SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 7, 1878. Last week my letter started the handcart company from Florence, August 25th, (1856,) in charge of Captain Edward Martin, assisted by Daniel Tyler. The company was divided into six hundreds, each superintended by its respective captain. While the company was at Florence, F. D. Richards, Erastas Snow, and several other prominent men were on the camping ground, all but Erastas Snow on their way west, returning from missions, chiefly to Europe.



The company moved on the day named from Florence to Cutler's Park, two and a half miles and camped, staid there the next day and night, and left the next morning. While there, A. W. Babbitts dressed in corduroy pants, woolen overshirt, and felt hat, called as he was passing west. He seemed in high glee, his spirits being very elastic, almost mercurial. He had started with one carriage for Salt Lake, with the mail and a considerable amount of money. He was very confident that he should be in Salt Lake within fifteen days. He intended to push through vigorously and sleep on the wind, meaning an airfilled mattress.



One ten and tent of the company staid another night alone at Cutler's park, a birth having occurred in the tent in the morning of the 27th, shortly after midnight of the 26th. The next day, 28th, the ten struck their tent and followed. The company, coming up with it in camp at Elk Horn crossing, very late at night, and after the camp had gone to bed. The Elk Horn valley was remarked as one of the finest pieces of country on the whole journey west of the Missouri.



The two wagon companies under Captains Benjamin Hodgetts and John A. Hunt left Florence by September 1st, and Cutler's Park by September 2nd, and were purposely kept within available call of the handcart company during most of the journey. The statistics of the three companies, when fairly launched on the great plains have been given thus-Martin's handcart company, about 576 persons, 146 handcarts, seven wagons, including one carriage, six mules and horses, fifty cows and beef cattle, also one church wagon with freight; Hodgett's wagon company, 150 persons thirty-three wagons, eighty-four yoke of oxen, nineteen cows, and about 230 head of heifers and other loose cattle; Hunt's wagon company, 240 persons, fifty wagons, 297 oxen and cows, seven horses and mules, and four church wagons with freight. It will be understood that these figures, however correct when taken, were constantly subject to greater or less variation during the journey.



On leaving Florence the loads on the handcarts were greater than ever before, most carts having 100 pounds of flour on, besides ordinary baggage. The tents also were carried on the carts. The company was provisioned for sixty days, a daily ration of one pound of flour per head, with about half a pound for children, being the principal item.



On the 7th of September, west of Loup Fork, the company was overtaken by F. D. Richards, C. H. Wheelock, J. Van Cott, G. D. Grant, W. H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, C. G. Webb, W. C. Dunbar, James McGaw, Dan Jones, J. D. T. McAllister, N. H. Felt and James Ferguson, who left Florence September 3d, passed Hunt's wagon company on the 6th, east of the Loup Fork, and Hodgetts' wagon company on the 7th, ten miles west of Martin's company, and arrived at Salt Lake city, October 4th, having left Dan Jones at Platte Bridge with his brother, September 23rd.



Crossing the hills on the way from the Loup Fork valley to the Platte valley, the handcart company had a dry march of two days. One on the 9th of September, in the afternoon the company came to a round pit or pond of water. Parched with thirst, the cattle rushed pell mall into the pond and stirred up the mud until the water was thick and black, before the people had supplied themselves for their own use. But it was all the water available, and so it was used for cooking purposes-making coffee, tea, bread, and porridge or hasty pudding, which when made was quite black, but was eaten and drunk nevertheless. At 7 p m, the camp started for Prairie creek, nine miles, reaching it between 11 and 12 o'clock, but very glad to get to clear running water, after having been without two days.



On September 11, eight or nine miles from Lone Tree and Wood river, the company passed the graves of two men and a child belonging to A. W. Babbitt's wagon train, who had been killed on the 25th of August by some Cheyenne Indians, who were on the war path that summer. Two of the teamsters escaped death, and Mrs. Wilson was taken prisoner. Most of the property plundered from the wagons was subsequently recovered by Captain Wharton and the United States troops at Fort Kearney. A mile or two east of the graves of the teamsters a paper was tacked on a board, on which the chief of the Omaha Indians disclaimed participation in the murders. Early in the journey from Florence the company met two or three hundred Omahas, who passed by quite peaceably.



On September 19th, two or three teams from Green river, going east were met, and the man informed the emigrants that Indians had killed A. W. Babbitt and burned his buggy thirty or forty miles west of Pawnee springs. On September 23d, about six miles east of Bluff creek, and about seventy yards to the left of the road, a little harness, two wheels and the springs of a burnt carriage or buggy, and a few other things were seen. These were supposed to be relics of A. W. Babbitt's outfit. The company brought the springs along; but what became of them ultimately I don't know who knows. Babbitt had left Kearney about the 2d of September, with Thomas Sutherland and a driver. Two miles farther on, Captain Hodgetts, Moses Cluff, and Nathan T. Porter were busy with a dead buffalo, which they had run out of a herd and killed for the handcart company, having previously killed one for their own wagon company. Some of the handcart people stayed to skin and quarter the buffalo, and bring it along on four handcarts. At night it was divided among the company, about one pound to each adult. This was the first buffalo beef the company obtained. Buffalo beef, the lean part of it, is good eating on the plains, but it is coarser than ox or cow beef.



The next day, September 24th, the company passed the place where it was supposed Thomas Margette [Margetts] and others were killed by Indians, there being a quantity of feathers strewn about, a blood-stained shirt, and a child's skull. The company camped at Duckweed creek that night, and after dark all the men were called out to form a line around the camp, as it was supposed that Indians were lurking around. About 11 o' clock the men were called in, a double guard was set for the night, and the rest of the men were seriously talked to for half an hour or so, but one of the company who was fond of preaching, on the necessity of vigilance in an Indian country. Then the men were dismissed to their tents, except the double guard. In the afternoon of the 25th, five Indians, some of the squaws, on ponies, rode past the company and near to it, carefully scrutinizing it, but they had nothing to say, and then they rode off towards the Platte. These were the first Cheyenne Indians the company had seen.



On the 3d of October, near Chimney Rock, a company of United States dragoons, under Major Hunter, with ten or twelve mule teams, from Fort Kearney for Fort Laramie, passed the company, and a boy named Aaron Giles, left the handcart company and went with the soldiers. On the 4th of October the company passed Scott's Bluffs. Parley P. Pratt's company of missionaries, going east from Salt Lake, passed the Bluffs about the same time but the two companies did not see each other.



The company arrived at Fort Laramie October 8th, and camped east of Laramie Fork, about a mile from the fort. Before reaching Laramie the company met a fine looking and finely-dressed friendly Indian chief on a fine American horse, and soon after two dragoons on horseback, who, that is, the dragoons, gave some sweetmeats to the children of the company and appeared immensely pleased to see the people. Laramie's Peak, in the distance, gave the first adequate idea of the Rocky Mountains-grand, gloomy and mysterious. On the 9th, many of the company went to the fort to sell watches or other things they could spare and buy provisions. The commandant kindly allowed them to buy from the military stores at reasonable prices-biscuit at 15 1/2 cents, bacon at 15 cents, rice at 17 cents per pound, and so on. Some brought a few things at the sutler's, but much higher prices ruled at his store.



I believe the company left Fort Laramie the next day. Thenceforth, until the close of the journey, although noteworthy events were on the increase, and some of them were indelibly impressed on the minds of the emigrants, yet they were so fully occupied in taking care of themselves that they had little time to spare to note details with exactness, and many notes that were made at the time were lost subsequently and cannot now be found. Up to this time the daily pound of flour ration had been regularly served out, but it was never enough to stay the stomachs of the emigrants, and the longer they were on the plains and in the mountains the hungrier they grew. Most persons who have crossed the plains with ox teams or handcarts know well enough the enormous appetite which that kind of life gives. It is an appetite that cannot be satisfied. At least such was the experience of the handcart people. You feel as if you could almost eat a rusty nail or gnaw a file. You are ten times as hungry as a hunter, yes as ten hunters, all the day long and every time you wake in the night, and so you continue to your journey's end, and for some time after. Eating is the grand passion of a pedestrian on the plains, an insatiable passion, for he never gets enough to eat. When the emigrants would arrive at Salt Lake and be invited into the houses of their friends, the newcomers would eat and eat and eat until they were literally and perfectly ashamed of themselves, and then retire form the table, hungry. I forget how long it would take an emigrant in those days to fill up and reduce his appetite to its normal condition, but it was a long time, a number of weeks and it was an expensive process. No such outrageous appetite comes to you in crossing the continent by rail, and very thankful you may be that it does not, for it is a serious infliction upon those who have it, as well as upon their hospitable friends.



Well, at the time when this great appetite was fairly roused up and had put on its strength and was still further strengthened and sharpened by the increasing coldness of the weather, the extra pinching time commenced. Soon after Fort Laramie was passed, it was deemed advisable to curtail the rations in order to make them hold out as long as possible. The pound of flour fell to three fourths of a pound, then to half a pound, and subsequently yet lower. Still the company toiled on through the Black Hills, where the feed grew scarcer for the cattle also. As the necessities of man and beast increased their daily food diminished, at the time when it was as the emigrants might have said, with Sir Walter Scott, "like a summer - dried fountain, when our wants were the sorest."



In the Black Hills the roads were harder, more rocky and more hilly and this told upon the handcarts, causing them to fail more rapidly, become ricketty, and need more frequent repairing. One man's handcart broke down on afternoon in the hills, and by some mischance the company all went on, leaving him behind, alone with his broken cart and his and his family's little stock of worldly goods thereon, including his rations, which he could not afford to leave, though he lost his knives and forks also some biscuits and butter and sugar which he had bought as extras at Laramie, and a few other things, he was drawing his little child in his cart, as he had drawn her most of the journey, and as he subsequently drew her to the last crossing of the Platte, but when his cart broke down he had to transfer her to somebody else's cart and sent her on with the company. So he remained behind with his cart, anxiously expecting somebody to turn back and help him, but no one came. Night drew on apace and still he was all alone, save and excepting the presence of a prowling wolf, which could be seen in the streak of light on the western horizon, a little outside of the ordinary rifle range. Happily, just as the darkness was settling down Captain Hodgett's wagon company was observed coming down the opposite hill, from the east, at the base of which it encamped, a quarter or half a mile distant from the benighted and lonely handcart, who eagerly went and told his tale of the misfortune to the wagon people, and they took him in for the night. Toward midnight two men with another cart from the handcart camp, seven miles off arrived in search of their missing companion. They also stayed with the wagon company that night, and next morning early the three handcarters started after their own company, coming up with the camp just as it was breaking up and the emigrants were getting ready to start for the day's march.



At Deer creek, on the 17th of October, owing to the growing weakness of emigrants and teams, the baggage, including bedding and cooking utensils, was reduced to ten pounds per head, children under 8 years five pounds. Good blankets and other bedding and clothing were burned, as they could not be carried further, though needed more than ever, for there was yet 400 miles of winter to go through. Again might the emigrants have said, with the Scotch poet, "Like a summer - dried fountain, when our wants were the sorest."



A detachment of soldiers were stationed at the bridge over the North Platte, to remain there until the emigration had passed, and then to withdraw to Fort Laramie to winter. On the 20th of October the company crossed the Platte, for the last time, at Red Buttes, about five miles above the bridge. It may have been the 19th, but I am inclined to think it was the 20th. That was a bitter cold day. Winter came on all at once, and that was the first day of it. The river was wide, the current strong, the water exceedingly cold and up to the wagon beds in the deepest parts, and the bed of the river was covered with cobble stones. Some of the men carried some of the women over on their backs or in their arms, but others of the women tied up their skirts and waded through, like heroines as they were, and as they had done through many other rivers and creeks. The company was barely over when snow, hail, and sleet began to fall, accompanied by a piercing north wind, and camp was made on this side of the river. Captain [John] Hunt's wagon company camped on the other side of the river, and Captain Hodgett's was on this side. That was a stinging night, and it told its tale on the oxen as well as the people. That snowstorm appears to have been a very extensive as well as severe one, reaching westward at least to the Wasatch range. It snowed heavily at Green river at that time, and the thermometer fell to zero there.



Here we are, only at the last crossing of the Platte, and yet I have occupied all the space that you will be willing to spare today.



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">J. J.</center>



 



[also in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 Nov. 1856, 14-20]

Transcript for J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald, 8 December 1878, 1

Salt Lake Herald.

Stewart, Elizabeth White, [Autobiography], in Workman, Mary Ellen B., comp., "Ancestors of Isaac Mitton Stewart and Elizabeth White" [1978]

Stewart, Elizabeth White, [Autobiography], in Workman, Mary Ellen B., comp., "Ancestors of Isaac Mitton Stewart and Elizabeth White" [1978].

When we completed our journey to Iowa City we were informed that we would have to walk four miles to our camping ground. All felt delighted to have the privilege of a pleasant walk. We all started, about 500 of us, with our bedding. We had not gone far before it began to thunder and lightning and the rain poured. The roads became very muddy and slippery. The day was far advanced and it was late in the evening before we arrived at the camp. We all got very wet. The boys soon got our tent up so we were fixed for the night, although very wet. We camped there until September.



The hand cart company had started ahead of us. We started on our journey across the Plains on the third of September with two yoke of oxen, two cows, a tent, a covered wagon, our trunks and bedding and provisions, and seven of us in the family, so we had to walk except when we went through the water. I think we would travel from fifteen to twenty-five miles per day, when the weather was fair.



We had about forty wagons in our company, led by Captain John Hunt. We got along real well, had no trouble with Indians, but when we were near Fort Laramie a herd of buffalos came along as we were traveling and caused our cattle to stampeed, resulting in the death of Mrs. [Esther] Walters. She was driving the team in front of ours. She was knocked down and tramped upon by the oxen. She never spoke, but died in a few minutes, leaving a young baby [Jane Walters]. This sad affair cast a gloom over our camp. She was sewed in a blanket and buried on the wayside.



Another sad event, one night a father and little son went out for wood to make a fire. They never returned. One leg was found in the father's boot. Wolves had eaten them.



The weather was fair and we got along real well until we were near the Platte River. It was getting very cold by this time. We finally reached the last crossing of the Platte River. We were then about 500 miles from Salt Lake. Our company camped on the east side and the hand cart company passed over that night. All our able-bodied men turned out to help them carry women and children over the river. Some of our men went through the river seventy-five times. The snow fell six inches during that night; there were thirteen deaths during the night. They were so worn out. It was a terrible night for them. This was on the twentieth of October. The snow continued falling for three days. From this time we had no food for our cattle; when it stopped snowing and we could see to travel, our cattle were so weak they would drop in the yoke. Then they would kill them for us to eat. Our provisions were getting very low and we were then living on a fourth pound of flour per day and we used nothing but the poor meat for our noon meal. We were in this condition until we reached Devil's Gate. We could then go no further. Our two yoke of oxen and one cow had died and the rest of the company about the same. We had nothing to burn only the wet sage brush from under the snow, and melt the snow off the sage for our water to make our tea and make our bread with soda and sage water, what little we had. The snow was then from three to ten inches deep. The ground was frozen so hard they could not drive the tent pins, so they had to raise the tent poles and stretch out the flaps and bank them down with snow.



We were nearly out of provisions. Our dear mother [Mary Ann Sayer White] said she had never seen her dear family want for bread, but said the Lord would provide. About midnight that night all the camp had retired and we were awakened with a noise, and thought it was the yelling of Indians. We got up expecting they were upon us, but to our great surprise the noise was caused by the teamsters of relief team and some of the camp shouted for joy. They were loaded with all kinds of provisions: flour, bread, butter, meat of all kinds, but all frozen so hard. Everything was so good. The bread was like cake, so sweet and nice. I remember we had to cut everything with the hatchet, but oh how thankful we all were that the Lord had answered our prayers and saved us all from starvation. Through the timely action of President Brigham Young in organizing this company we were saved. The loaded wagon that came to our camp was from Draper. George Clawson and Gurnsey Brown were the teamsters.



The next evening we had made our camp fires. The boys had cleared the snow away and several of us young folks were sitting around the fire singing when our captain, John Hunt, and those two teamsters stood there until we got through, then the Captain came to me. He said that Mr. Brown was going to take a load of sick and old folks and if I would go with them, as his wife needed help, he would give me a horse, but I told him I would rather he would take my mother, as I could not leave her, but she begged me to go and said they would soon follow. I bade my dear mother good-bye, thinking she and the folks would soon follow, but they did not for two long weeks. I was lonesome when I left camp and we overtook the camp ahead of us. We stayed there and got Sister Esther Brown, one of the girls that crossed the sea with me. I felt so pleased to have her with us. We had a load of sick and infirm folks under the cover. We had to sit in the front with the men folks. We had to walk considerable. When we got to the foot of the big mountain, the snow was so deep I had to put men's boots on. The teamsters were tall and so was Esther, and she could step in their tracks, but I could not in hers and had to make my own road up both mountains, frequently falling down. The snow was so deep and drifted but they told us when got to the top we would see Salt Lake City. We were so thankful and delighted that it seemed to renew our strength and energy. It was the hardest part of my journey, but the thought of being nearly at our journey's end after six months traveling and camping was cheering. If only my dear mother had been so near I would have felt so much better.



When we got to the top of the big mountains the men folks took of their hats and we waved our handerchiefs. They then pointed out Salt Lake City and I could not believe it was, for it looked to me like a patch of sagebrush covered with snow. I could not believe it until we got nearly to it. We arrived in Salt Lake City just at sundown on the thirtieth day of November, 1856. the last handcart company came in on the afternoon of that day. 



...



We kept behind the last handcart company so that our able-bodied men could assist them. My brother Barnard, with others, would go into their camp and see how they were suffering. He said it was terrible. Our company assisted them all they could, but there does not seem to be any account of our assistance in their history.

Transcript for Stewart, Elizabeth White, [Autobiography], in Workman, Mary Ellen B., comp., "Ancestors of Isaac Mitton Stewart and Elizabeth White" [1978]

Thomas E. Jeremy collection, 1827-1931, Daybook

Thomas E. Jeremy collection, 1827-1931, Daybook, February 1849.

[This is written in an "almanack." Begins with disjointed entries.]



July M[onday] 9. In the camp of Israel



July T[uesday]10. In the camp of Israel



September Su[nday] 2. I was rebaptized by Capt. D[an]. Jones in the river Platte, Confirmed by the laying on of hands by G[eorge]. A[lbert]. Smith &amp; Capt. D. Jones



September Th[ursday]. 13 <s>Eliza Thomas married with Clark</s> This is right day



September f[riday]. 14. <s> Eliza Thomas married with Wm. Clark</s>



September S[aturday] 15. Eliza went from us to day



September Su[nday]. 16. Eliza Clark had her bag of clothes from our waggon to day



September Su[nday] 23. Started from Sweet Water, team came from the Valley to fecth [fetch] us



October M[onday]. 22 Dated 2 letters to Wales to day about 52 miles from the Valley



T[uesday] 23 Sent 2 letters to Wales one to Blacklion and one to David my brother--



S[aturday]. 27 Came into the Valey of the Great Salt Lake to day[.] Stayed in the mouth of the canions [canyons]



Su[nday]. 28 Stayed in the mouth of the canion at meeting twice



M[onday] 29 Came down to the City

Transcript for Thomas E. Jeremy collection, 1827-1931, Daybook, 1849 February-June, 1850 January

Thomas E. Jeremy collection, 1827-1931, Daybook.

Utah State History Cemeteries and Burials Database

Utah State History Cemeteries and Burials Database.

William I. Appleby autobiography and journal, 1848-1856

William I. Appleby autobiography and journal, 1848-1856.

Transcript for William I. Appleby autobiography and journal, 1848-1856

William Woodward letter to Heber C. Kimball

William Woodward letter to Heber C. Kimball, June 11, 1856.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">L.D.S. Camp Nr. Iowa City, 
Iowa June 11th 1856.</center>



Prest. H[eber]. C[hase]. Kimball: Dear Brother, Thinking you would like to hear of the emigration of the European Saints, &amp; the progress of the "Hand-Cart" companies, I have concluded to write to you from this point, &amp; tell what little I can about the Emigration of the "Mormons" on their way to Great Salt Lake Country. In the first place, our camp ground is about two miles west of Iowa City, on a rising point of land. It is a good location &amp; was selected by bro. D. Spencer.



This place was selected in the early part of May, &amp; several of the Saints came here. James Ferguson's company came on the ground on the 14th of May, numbering about 531 souls. In company with James Ferguson were Edmund Ellsworth, S[picer]. W[ells]. Crandell[,] W.B. Hodyetts, John A. Hunt, J.D.T. McAllister &amp; D[aniel]. D[uncan]. McArthur. Since that time this place, has been an important place for business, such as making "Hand-Carts," "Ox yokes," "Ox-bows" &amp;c.



Dan Jones' company came into camp June 2nd numbering about 500 souls, mostly from Wales. Health of this company tolerable good. Up to this time 16 infants of Bro. Jones company have died, since they left Liverpool, &amp; one adult; total died in Capt. Jones company 17 souls. I came in this company. Riding in the cars was very trying to the infants. Up night &amp; day after crossing the sea is very trying to weak persons.



Bro. Spencer is President of the emigration to Deseret from Europe &amp; is constantly on hand attending to his business. James Ferguson assists him. J.D.T. McAllister is commissary of the "P.E. Fund" store, which is at this place[.] Daniel Tyler is Bishop of the camp—Daniel Spencer &amp; James Ferguson his counsellors. C.G. Webb superintends the making of Hand-Carts. E[dward]. Bunker the making of ox yokes, ox bows &amp; the hauling of timber from the woods some six miles distant from camp. Wm. Walker is going to haul luggage from this place to the Valley at $12.50 pr. hd. lbs. if two thirds of the cash is paid down; if it is paid in Utah when the things arrive there, it is to be $15.00 pr. hd. lbs.



The best of feelings exist in camp. The "Hand-Carts" are thought considerable of by all of us, &amp; the bad feeling if such a thing you can call it is, we wanted to go by the First companies—that is the boys that are left.



The First "Hand cart" company rolled from this place on the 9th of June, in fine spirits. This company has a band with it, &amp; is led by Capt. Edmund Ellsworth—he is assisted by John Oakley &amp; William Butler. This company was greatly cheered by all present as it was leaving the Ground: it numbered 278 souls[.] they had with them 6 yoke of cattle, 3 mules &amp; 1 horse &amp; 3 wagons &amp; 56 hand carts. Five persons to each cart.



The second Hand-Cart company left this point to-day about 11 A.M. led by Capt. D.D. McArthur assisted by S.W. Crandell &amp; T. Lenord. McArthur's company left in fine spirits—they are generally hardy scotch &amp; fine travellers.



The Third company is now fitting up—they are "Cambrian-Americans." We call everybody here, "Americans"!



J. Van Cott, W.H. Kimball &amp; G.D.Grant are purchasing cattle for the company. I guess they are in Missouri.



A Dependent Company of ox teams will start when they get their cattle. The wagons that are here &amp; those that are gone by the two "Cart" companies, came from Chicago and cost from $75.00 to $110.00 dollars. Flour at this point is worth about $3.50 pr. hd. lbs. Bacon about $9.00 pr. hd.



We have heard that another ship load of emigrants have arrived at New York by the ship "Thornton" numbering when they left Liverpool 764 souls. James G. Willie, Miller [Millen] Atwood, &amp; Moses Clough preside over the Thornton's company. We expect them at this point by the 16th or 17th of June.



We have meetings twice on Sundays &amp; occasionally thro' the week. Many strangers attend our meetings on the Sabbath &amp; listen attentively to what is said. We have many "hand cart" sermons preached; &amp; a "hand-cart" song sung, the chorus of which is the following:—"For some must push &amp; some must pull, As we go marching up the hill. Then merrily on the way we'll go, until we reach the Valley."



Seventeen lbs. of luggage is what is allowed to each person with the "Hand-Cart" companies. Much luggage will have to come by Wm. Walker's freight train.



I have but little to say about the difficulties in Kansas, or the nominations for president. Buchanan late ambassador to Gt. Britain &amp; Beckenridge of Kentucky have been nominated by the Democrats of Iowa City, the former for President of the U.S. the latter for vicepresident.



The best of feelings exist amongst us that are left on the camp ground. We are only waiting for the word "Up &amp; go to the Valley".



I am clerk to the camp; &amp; Postmaster; that is, bring &amp; take letters to &amp; from the Post Office.



Our camp is now rather quiet since the two first companies have left us. Occasionally a Gentile or two visit us enquiring about our strange religion, &amp; the reasons we are moving westward. I have heard thro' Bro Tyler that times are rather hard in the Valley—Bro Tyler has received a letter from his wife bearing date March 28th 1856. When difficulties commence with the Saints what must they be when the[y] reach the Gentiles.



Give my kind love to bros. Brigham &amp; Jedediah &amp; Sister Kimball &amp; all of the family. Tell Lucy that her Bro. Loren from Nauvoo is in camp &amp; is going to the Valley this season. Remember me to the young folks &amp; all enquiring friends. I enjoy tolerable good health &amp; I am in good spirits



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Yours truly, in the Everlasting Covenant, 
William Woodward</center>



 



I have sent a letter to Laura M.H. by the mail that I send this one



June 16th. Our camp is busy turning out the Hand-Carts. Yesterday we had good meetings. The Spirit of the Lord was with us &amp; we felt well. Bro. Spencer is gone to St. Louis on business. James Ferguson has gone out to see how the hand cart companies are getting along. Peace prevails here.



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">W. Woodward</center>

Transcript for William Woodward letter to Heber C. Kimball, 11 June 1856

William Woodward letter to Heber C. Kimball.

Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days

Prophets of the Restoration

Global Histories

Revelations in Context

Women of Conviction

Joseph Smith Papers

Church Historian’s Press

More

Publications

Church History Museum

Historic Sites

Church History Library

Visit

Church History Catalog

Missionary Database

Pioneer Database

Treasures of the Collection

Pioneer Resources

Research

Church Historic Sites

Quick Links

Church History Biographical Database

/chd/landing

motherReferenceId

fatherReferenceId

Halkyn, Flintshire, Wales, United Kingdom

birthPlace

associatedPeople

departed-from-field

arrived-in-field

missionQualifier

maritalStatusWhenCalled

Journal History - May 11, 1843; August 19,28, and December 5, 1844; January 3 1845; June 21,1847 - Mission information. Accompanied by Mrs. Jones. Served as mission president 1845-1854

missionaryActivityNotes

images

missionOrganizationReferenceIdValue

locationServed

company-arrived

joined-company

with-pioneer-activity

Jane Melling

Claudia Jones

pioneerCompanyReferenceIdValue

departed-from-home

Journal History - August 28, 1852 - Mission information. Served as mission president 1845-1854

Dan Jones

Alternate Names

Birth Date

Death Date

Gender

Sources