Easton Kelsey Sr. (1813 - 1899) Profile

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Easton Kelsey, Sr.

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Hansen, Hans F., Reminiscence and diary 1855-1909, fd. 2, 1

Hansen, Hans F., Reminiscence and diary 1855-1909, fd. 2, 1.

We left St. Louis and went on the steamship up the Missouri River to Kanesville where we arrived in June 1852. There we purchased some wagons and some oxen for the trek across the country to the Rocky Mts. We were unable to purchase enough wagons and oxen for our trip and we had to stay there one month, and then bought some more equipment and prepared ourselves to leave which was set for the first of July. We left Kanesville for the journey ahead of us which we were told was some eleven hundredmiles. During the travel we suffered an awful lot from cold and hunger and shortages of food, but the Lord’s blessings were still with us and we prayed to the Lord and that is what saves us.
There are forty wagons in the company. We proceed on our way with a prayer to the Lord. Our first Captain is Kelsey and our second captain is C. Butler and both of them are good men, and if we will do just as they tell us, everything will be all right. My thoughts are always that I soon will be able to live in what I dream of as a real home, together with the others, and there have peace, and worship God as we desire and no other things will have power to change it.
Arrived Salt Lake City Oct 16, 1852.

Transcript for Hansen, Hans F., Reminiscence and diary 1855-1909, fd. 2, 1

Historical Department journal history of the Church

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008. Supplement after 31 December 1851: Page 4.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Luman A. Shurtliff autobiography, circa 1852-1876, Autobiography, circa 1852-1876

Luman A. Shurtliff autobiography, circa 1852-1876, Autobiography, circa 1852-1876.

Transcript for Luman A. Shurtliff autobiography, circa 1852-1876, Autobiography, circa 1852-1876

Richards, Joseph Hill, Autobiography, 19

Richards, Joseph Hill, Autobiography, 19.

Shurtliff, Luman Andros, Journal

Shurtliff, Luman Andros, Journal, May 1841.

Transcript for Shurtliff, Luman Andros, Journal, 1841 May-1856 Apr., fd. 1, 282-91

Shurtliff, Luman Andros, Journal.

Stevens, Augusta Dorius, Autobiography, 3-5

Stevens, Augusta Dorius, Autobiography, 3-5.

This unloading point is on the east side of the river, and we remained there a month to prepare for crossin the Plains; getting the Oxen, wagons, and equipment ready for the journey. At this point I experienced a new phenomimon. There came a day the worst wind and thunder storm that I could ever imagine and an experience I had ever known of in Denmark or on the journey so far. The appointed time came for the great journey across the Plains into the almost unknown West. The wagons and equipment and members of the emigrating party were taken over the Missouri River by ferries and the oxen, cows and horses had to swim across as there was then no accommodations for ferrying animals across the Missouri. 
There were representatives of several nationalities including Americans but in our particular division of the emigrant tra[in] in which included fifty wagons, there were twenty-eight from Copenhagen and in our company of ten wagons there were included quite a number of Americans. Our Company was presided over by John Butler who was the Captain over our Company which occupied ten wagons. The entire fifty wagons with occupants was presided over by a head captain in the person of E. Kelsey, and the whole emigrant train is known as Kelsey's Company. There were then five companies with ten wagons to each company. Each presided over by a captain; a chief captain to preside over the entire train of fifty wagons. The women generally rode in the wagons and always slept in the wagons. Personally I thought the emigra[ts]wagons most remarkable vehicles as I had never seen anything of the kind before starting on this journey. Upon nearing the Rocky Mountains, the oxen became somewhat worn out and then it was necessary for many women to walk while traveling. Upon camping at night the wagons were driven in a circle and the camp fires were made inside the circle. Being young and in my fifteenth year, this being the year 1852, it became a part of my regular duty to gather buffalo chips [w]hich served as part of the fuel for the camp fires. During the first part of the journey across the plains, the novelty of travel was new and the evenings across this trip we felt to enjoy the company of the members and the friends we had made. One member had a fiddle as we then knew it and all joined in the evening dances around the camp fires within the big circle. Prayers a[n]d hymns were part of the daily morning and evening program. After walking a good deal during the days, I felt so tired I could often have been glad to have gone to bed without supper but I always had to help with the dishes and help with camp duties including the preparing of the beds. 
Occasionally I walked with some of the other girls in head of the train; as far as we dared to go on account of the Indians and then wait for the wagons. My thought would go back to my parents in Denmark feeling sure that I should never see them again because the journey into the wild west seemed so long and hard and uninviting that it seemed I could never hope to have them join me in the distant place somewhere far in the west known as Zion. Surely my elderly parents at least when I had left in the Old Country could not endure the hardships of such a journey. I had my sobs and cries and pangs of sorrow. What comfort it would have been to me if I could even have been able to speak or understand the American language in this to me the New Land of America.
One of the singular incidents that happened enrout[e] was the occasion of a stampede of a herd of buffalo which came direct to ward our wagon train. The stampede ran providentially just in head of the train with the fierceness of the rush and tramp and as it appeared almost a cyclone of dust. This caused a great commotion and almost stampeded among the oxen and horses of the train. The few rifles available were used and fortunately enough for the emigrants, a few buffalo fell which were prepared and this gave us extra provisions on the long journey in head of us. Upon another occasion nearly a dozen Indians came on their horses and approached the emigrant train. A great deal of apprehension was caused among the emigrants as they felt sure an impending disaster was before them. They thought this was the first contingent of hordes of Indians that lurked in the ravines near the trail. The daily prayers were answered and we were assured the Heavenly Father was mindful of the needs and protection of his Saints. The Indians spread their blankets by the side of the trail and each wagon was required to give its toll of food to the Indians as it passed. 
Most unusual treatment and care was given me by the family of Ravens who stood the expenses of my journey. Especially did I appreciate the kindness of Sister Ravens as she cared for me as her own child. I assisted them all I could on the journey to at least partly pay for their unusual kindness to me. 
When we had advanced to the Green River Station, now Green River Wyoming, the supply of flour had been exhausted. The fall snows commenced bringing the cold blizzard and wintery blast all of which added to the perils of the journey. It became necessary[y] to send a man with the best and fastest equipment on to Salt Lake City to get flour and rush back to Green River which was only sufficient to sustain the party in the train for the balance[e] of the trip.
On into the mountains we went along the already broken trail which had now been traveled over by the emigrant trains for five years. We arrived in Salt Lake City October 16, 1852 after eight months and twelve days of journeying since I had waved my last farewell to my parents and friends from the deck of the ship that sailed away from the port of Copenhagen.

Easton Kelsey, Sr.

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