David Dunn Bulloch (1844 - 1928) Profile

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David Dunn Bulloch

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Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, November 18, 1875, Vol. 1, Page 41, Line 1354.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, November 18, 1875, Vol. 2, Page 36, Line 1354.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

David K. Stoddard autobiographical sketch, undated

David K. Stoddard autobiographical sketch, undated.

We lived here [St. Louis] untill the spring of 1851, and then we organized a company of ten to cross the plains to Salt Lake City



John Easton was appointed captain of the ten. and the names of the members of the company are as follows. John Easton and family, James Easton and family, Robert Easton and family, Alexander Easton and family, Mrs. Easton, their mother, and two unmarried sons George and Matthew Easton, James Williamson and family, Sandy Kear [Kerr] and family, Sandy [David] Mustgared [Mustard] and daughter, John and Andrew Burt, Joseph Horn, James, Robert and David Bullock, James Berner, John Stoddard, my father, my mother, John Stoddard, my brother and I David Stoddard.



We left St. Louis in April and were six weeks on the road to Winter Quarters. We were compelled to stop here a long time, it seemed, because the rivers had overthrown their banks and it seemed impos[s]ible to take the old road up the Platte River or that of the old Mexican Trail. So we were compelled to send out scouts to locate a route which would be posible to use in safety.



After a delay of several weeks we were organised into a company of with a train of 50 wagons so as to be strong enough to insure our safety. This company was captioned [captained] by Captain [Alfred] Cardon [Cordon]. Or known as Captain Cardon's Company.



After a week[']s travel we were discouraged as so much time was wasted. Captain [John] Easton called us all into council and laid before us the condition of affairs, ask[ed] if we were willing to travel alone as a company of ten and leave the others. We all agreed to do this as near as I can remember. About the fifth day of our trek, we saw a great cloud of dust in the east, we judged about one mile away. Captain Easton called a halt, we thought it was a band of Indians and we would surely be destroyed. To our surprise we found it to be a large herd of buffalo which we estimated to be around five thousand. The herd we judged to be one mile long and one fo[u]rth of a mile wide. We had all we could do to save our wagons from being turned up side down. Another day we came in sight of a large Indian camp, we passed by in peace and camped about three miles from them. We had just made fires and were preparing our suppers, when suddenly the camp was surrounded by about two hundred indians. We gave them all the camp could spare in eatables and soon they went away whooping in their Indian fashion. I could tell volumns [volumes] of incidents which happened during this trek but time will not permit. But will say that after a great many days of travel and hardship we reached Salt Lake City on Friday October 5th 1851, with Captain Cardon's Company.



[Variant version of text also in Our Pioneer Heritage, 20 vols. (1958-77), 13:391]

Transcript for David K. Stoddard autobiographical sketch, undated

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Recollections of David D. Bulloch

"Recollections of David D. Bulloch", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 42.

In 1863 Samuel White was Captain of our Company. He was also our Captain in 1868. A circumstance happened when I was down to the plains. Brother Charles Adams from Parowan had his three yoke of oxen on his wagon and an electrical storm came up and the lightning split telegraph poles and struck the hind end of the wagon, made a hole in the cover large as a hat and set the wagon on fire. He was loaded with 3400 pounds of powder, stoves, etc. We all ran to his rescue, pulled off the cover and used the emigrant cans of water we had along to drink to douse the fire. The lightning ran right through the wagon, along the tongue and killed five out of his six oxen and knocked him down. Had it struck an immigrant wagon many would have been killed.


When we returned with the emigrants in 1863, those in my wagon all remained in Salt Lake.

Transcript for "Recollections of David D. Bulloch," 42.

David Dunn Bulloch, reminiscences

"David Dunn Bulloch, reminiscences", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 46-49.

In April 1868 Andrew Corry, Oratro [Horatio] Morrill and myself left to go after the poor, or rather to bring the immigrants into the valley. After we had traveled a day out of Salt Lake we were organized into a Company with bishop John R. Murdock as Captain, Brother Warner was assistant Captain, Benjamin Arthur as Clerk and I was appointed Sergeant of the Guard. As to the guards, four men were appointed night guard and they did all the guarding of the teams at night, down and back. Four men were appointed each day to guard the animals whenever they were out. Thus would they take it in turn until the 50 men would take their turns at night guarding. Four men were appointed each day to guard the animals whenever they were out. Thus would they take it in turn until the 50 men would take [t]heir turns at night guarding. Four men would also be appointed each day as day guards and whenever we camped they took the animals out and guarded them that they did not get away and the Indians drive them off. This also took the rounds. Then there was a camp guard of four men, two taking the first half of the night and two the second half. This was arranged in order and each would get his turn.


A little incident which I will relate happened while camping in Echo Canyon. There were from two to five wagons from the settlements between Cedar and Salt Lake. Foot racing was discussed by the teamsters. The Beaver boys claimed they had the fastest man and Fillmore thought they had the best man. While they were talking about their men I suggested they run their men for candy for the crowd but Fillmore said no, we want to [run] for money. After we had dinner the Fillmore boys came up to where Ben Arthur, Andrew Corry and I were laying in the shade of the wagons and asked us if we would bet on the Beaver man, whose name was Baker. I told them I would bet $5.00 on Baker just to see them run. So Tanner of Fillmore and Baker ran 50 yards and the Beaver man won the race. Murdock and Warner were the judges. After they had run I said if Tanner is your fastest man I have $5.00 more in my pocket which I will bet that I can beat him. We ran and I beat him. Captain Murdock said, "Well, Dave, I had no idea when you bet that you thought you could beat him, but that you wanted to give him back the money you had won."


Nothing of importance happened until we got to Greenriver where we found the river [to be] higher than for many years. We were unable to swim our animals. They would not face the stream so everything had to be ferried over. A cable was stretched across the river and fastened to large cottonwood trees on either side of the river. The boat was fastened to this cable with ropes and pulleys. The first load that was put on the boat were four of Murdocks largest animals, four of mine, and Murdock, Corry and myself, besides two men who ran the boat. When we got in [the] center of the river the water came into the boat which caused the animals to step around. The boat came within an ace of capsizing. Had it done so, there would have been no show for us. We would undoubtedly of [have] lost our lives. It was a bitter cold day and we had on overcoats and boots. The men were certainly excited and said when we get over we had a very narrow escape and he [they] would never load the boat so heavy again. After we got over the river, we had to travel in water from two to three feet deep for a mile or more.


They did not load the boat so heavy after that and we got along O.K., that some day about twenty-five miles further up the river the ox train was being ferried over and the boat capsized and oxen and men went into the river. The men clung to the yokes on the oxen and three or four men from Cache Valley were drowned with the oxen. It took us all day to get ferried over. That night we camped on the bank of the over flow stream.


The next day when we camped for noon we were about 20 miles from the river. When we went to hitch up again I thought I would hitch up one of my mules out of the loose herd. (We usually drove the two span on the wagon and I had six mules in what we called the loose herd.) When I went to get my mule out of the herd he was gone and I knew he had been stolen. I got on one of my other mules and rode back to the river and the train went on.


I got to the river about dark and stayed at one of the camps where they were building the railroad. I want to say I never in all my life saw a rougher set of men, cursing, swearing and drinking all night long.


In the morning when I got up I found my mule was gone and I was left a foot and among strangers and the train was going further on. I went to where I had staked him and found he had pulled up the bush I had staked him to. I followed his tracks for two miles or more and found him which made me feel very thankful. I went back to camp and got some breakfast and then rode up and down the river and hunted 'till noon, then got discouraged and decided to go back to the train. As I was riding along I saw a little canyon off to the left which I felt impressed to go up. When I got part way up I went to the side of the hill on the highest point I could find and looked around. At some distance away I saw some horses and a man and when he saw me he rode away and I went up to the horses and there was the mule I had lost. To say I was thankful won't hardly express it. I rode up to him and threw the rope around his neck and rode back down the canyon. I believe this man had stolen my mule. I overtook the train that night about midnight. When I told Brother Murdock my experience he was surprised and thought I was a very lucky man. I was very thankful and felt I was led by divine guidance.


At one time one of the night guards was sick and I took his place. The next day I got into Marve Dalton's wagon and put my new saddle in also and went to sleep while crossing the Medicine Bow River which was very high. When the mules got into the center of the stream they made a quick turn and tipped the wagon over. There I was, asleep, under the bows and cover. I scrambled out where the cover was torn off and swam to shallow water taking my saddle with me. Marve lost some of his provisions and things he had in his wagon. He got his wagon out. This was in 1868.


When we reached Laramie, our destination, I went out into the country to look at the mules, as Peter Neilson had sent $400[.]00 with me to get him a span and also a wagon. I got a span for which I paid $325.00[.] I also bought a second hand wagon for $65.00. I got the use of the team and wagon for buying them. I also bought a new wagon for the church and got the use of it for bringing it back. I loaded the two wagons with freight, one for Fort Bridger and the other for Walker Brothers in Salt Lake and myself. I was then taking an outfit for housekeeping home with me as I expected to marry the next spring. My other team and wagon was loaded with immigrants for the valleys. When the saints came in who should go with me whom should I meet with them but our old friend George Hunter who went down in my wagon to the Missouri in 1866 when he went on his mission.


When George met Andrew and me after the greetings the first thing he said to us was: "Boys, I have brought two of the finest girls I could find in England for you. Letitia for Dave and Hager for Andrew." It turned out that Andrew married Letitia (and she proved to be all that George said she was) and Hagar married a man from Provo.


Geeorge Hunter drove one of my teams home for me, which was a great help, and "Cap", the boy I took down with me drove one and I drove the other. I should like to state here that the mules I bought for Brother Neilson, after keeping them three or four months were sold to James Andrews of St. George for $600.00, and the wagon he could of sold for $125.00. This Brother Neilson was my grandfather, Peter Neilson. His two granddaughters later married David Dunn Bulloch's 2 sons, David C. Bulloch, and Warren Bulloch.


While camping about 20 miles from Bridger a man came up to our camp and asked if he could get something to eat. I said, "Yes sir, I never turn a man away hungry." He said he had been refused by two or three people. He rode with us and as we drove down into the river one of my wheels broke down. George Hunter, being a wheelwright, said if I could get a piece of hard wood for spokes and fellys he could fix the wheel. This man stayed with George and helped him unload and said he would stay with me till the last day in the afternoon if I needed him.


I went to the nearest station and asked a man if he had a piece of hardwood I could get to fix my wheel. He said yes [I have] a broken wagon tongue. His wife came out and said, "No you can't have that we need it for something else." I said "All right madam, I don't want it." I went on to Bridger where a man had all kinds of broken wagons and told me to go and help myself to anything I needed. I thanked him and told him I hadn't any money with me to pay him but would pay him when I delivered my freight, which I did. When I paid him he said had it of been four times as much he would of trusted me as he knew I was an honest man when he looked into my face. We arrived home in due time, about November, with nothing of importance happening.

Transcript for "David Dunn Bulloch, reminiscences", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 46-49.

"Recollections of David D. Bulloch", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 2-3.

In the Spring of 1851 about twelve of the Scotch families, including ours, decided to move on toward Utah. Their outfits were secured in Saint Louis. Each family had two yoke of oxen and two cows. I well remember the names of our oxen and cows. One team of oxen were jet-black named Buck and Luke, the other yoke or team were red, named Tom and Dine. The cows names were Pidie, a high strung, spotted red and white cow and Flecky, a brindle cow as gentle as a lamb. One man had two span of horses, the only horses in the company.


After leaving St. Louis we traveled onward until we came to Council Bluffs where we were joined by others and organized into a large company. On our way to this point, going through timber and over rough and muddy roads my father [James] broke his wagon tongue. While we stopped to make another tongue the company with the exception of Brother Stoddard went on into camp. While we were waiting for father to find a suitable piece for a tongue I sat in the wagon with Robert [Bullock] and Tena [Christina] my Sister. I was fooling with an old Youger gun. It was loaded and accidentally went off. The bullet passed through a feather bed we had, through the hind end of our wagon and just glazed [grazed] Brother Stoddard's head. He was standing near his own wagon. He at once came to see what was wrong. He found the wagon full of smoke and feathers and David frightened nearly to death. After the wagon tongue was repaired we drove on to camp and joined the company. Upon arriving at the Missouri River we met immigrants who had come from different parts of the country and we were here organized into a larger company.


But in traveling in this large company we were hindered considerably. Some of the men had never driven oxen before, others had only little experience and their troubles would hinder the whole train. Therefore, after a few days of travel with the train, our Company from St. Louis broke with the main company and traveled on ahead of them to Salt Lake. We were called The Independent Scotch Company. The only horses we had in our company were stolen by the Indians a few days after we left the main company. We all threw in to help the family along and we all arrived safely in Salt Lake two weeks ahead of the big company of 1851.

Transcript for "Recollections of David D. Bulloch", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 2-3.

"Recollections of David D. Bulloch", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 43-44.

Came back with immigrant train. George Hunter was called to go on a foreign mission and he went with my Father [James Bulloch] and me down to the Missouri River. My Father brought the first horse rake that ever came to Cedar and the second reaper and mower, William Walker having the first. William Walker brought his from California in the Spring. Father's came in the fall. My Father was first to run the rake. John Parry run the horse rake on the Cedar Meadows the first season. Previous to this the hay was raked by hand rake. Timothy Adams and Chris Mackelprang each got them a wife on that trip [Louisa Houchen and Lenora Bailey].


While camping on the banks of the Platte River on our way home with the Immigrants there was no wood, nothing but buffalo chips. There was an island in the middle of the river with wood on it. I took off my clothes and thought I could wade to the island and get some wood. I got out where it was too deep to wade and had to swim. I stopped to see if I could touch the bottom when the water took me below the island in the middle of the stream where the two rivers meet. I turned and swam back and after a big effort and almost exhausted I reached the shore where I grasped some bunches of grass and drew myself out. I had gone in away above camp and came out way below. I was alone so [if] I had of drowned no one would have known what happened unless they found my clothes. It was on an open prairie and to get my clothes I had to go way out around camp.


While I was on this trip I came near losing my life. Instead of passing one of the mailing stations the immigrants took a short cut off so I walked to the station to get our mail, then hurried to overtake the train. They were just pulling into camp when I got there and I was sweating and all heated up walking so fast, so I lay down underneath the wagon on the grass which was about two feet high. I lay there for sometime and the dampness gave me a cold. Next day my cold was worse and finally pneumonia set in. For about two weeks I was a very sick man. Morgan Richards, who was along, has often said since that he never expected me to get well. Lying in the wagon, traveling in the hot sun and dust, and jolting along with nothing to eat but bacon, molasses and bread. I shall never forget how I suffered. No doctors, no medicine. I don't know what saved my life, only the power of my Heavenly Father. I was just able to be up when we came to a bad place. My Father asked me if I thought I could drive over this place and I said I thought I could. I got on one of the mules and drove over and had just got over when I began to go blind. I said to some of the passengers, "tell my Father to come quick," and that was the last I knew. When I came to I was in the wagon. That was the only time I ever fainted in my life. After we got to the mountains where the sage brush was I gained very rapidly and by the time I got home had fully recovered.

Transcript for "Recollections of David D. Bulloch", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 43-44.

David Dunn Bulloch

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