Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Ebenezer Beesley

birth-date-qualifier-birth

"Another Pioneer Gone," Deseret Evening News

"Another Pioneer Gone," Deseret Evening News, March 21, 1906.

"Another Pioneer Gone," Deseret Evening News.

Beesley, Sarah Hancock, [Reminiscences], in Handcart Stories, 28-34

Beesley, Sarah Hancock, [Reminiscences], in Handcart Stories, 28-34.

Mrs. Ebenezer E. Beesley, widow of the pioneer musician, related the following:
"Don't ask me anything about that. You should go and talk to Mrs. [Hannah] Lapish. She can tell you all about it. Oh, she is full of life and very enthusiastic about it but I am not. Those are dreadful stories and I don't see why we shouldn't try to forget them. I say "Bury them with the dead who died on the plains." My children have often tried to get me to write my handcart story but I will not."
And so it was only by cautious suggestions that step by step her conversation was led back to the handcart stories.
"Indeed I did walk all the way. Neither my husband [Ebenezer Beesley] nor I were twenty when we were married in March and we left England in April for the Valley. We got our handcarts in a place called Omaha, I believe, at a town called Florence. I don't remember exactly when we left but we were thirteen weeks crossing the plains and it was September when we got here. I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and the people were just coming out of the old Bowery where the Assembly Hall now stands. I never shall forget how clean they looked. Oh, they all looked so fresh and clean and nice. The women were all dressed in calico dresses and wore sun bonnets. It was a different sight from what you see now-a-days but Oh! It was so good! I never shall forget it. Our company was the company of '59 and Mr. Ro[w]ley was our leader. We didn't have nearly enough to eat and oh, the suffering! (Here her mind seemed to revert back and she tried to think of something else to talk about. It was rather difficult to lead her back to her story again. Finally she said? "We didn't have nearly enough food to begin with. There was 200 lbs. of flour to each handcart and four people to a handcart. Long before it gave out entirely we didn't have nearly enough bread. When we reached Green River, there wasn't a pound of flour in the company. When we started, we had eighteen team of oxen and not one of them reached the Valley. They didn't seem to be able to stand the trip as well as we did. When they were worn out and about ready to die, the men would kill them and we would sit up all night watching for a little piece of meat. Did you notice that wild rose bush in my garden near the gate? I've had it there ever since I lived here. You know there wasn't anything growing along the whole way that we could put in our mouths until we discovered these wild rose berries. When we would come to a bush we would pick just as many as we could and then eat them. Many a time they saved my life I know. They are rather soft and fluffy inside and didn't taste very good but we could chew on them for a long time. They were shaped like a pear only ever so much smaller, you know.
"Yes, Mr. Beesley carried his violin with him and we used to gather around the fire at nights and sing and listen to the music. The popular song was the handcart song. "For some must push and some must pull" Of course after a while we all got so hungry that we couldn't have good times any more. Lots of the men and women could not get out of their beds. Yere [there] were about 250 or 300 people in the company and we only had eight tents. Once or twice we tried to sleep in the tents but that was dreadful. Yes that was dreadful. Everyone was in everyone else's way. We didn't like that a bit so we used to just sleep on the ground. We would draw our handcarts up in a circle and someone would guard us all night. If it rained we would sometimes sleep under the handcarts.
"Of course we didn't suffer with cold but we did with heat. The sun was so hot that sometimes it seemed as if we could stand it no longer. Or sometimes the wind would blow the sand and dirt all over us. They told us in England that everyone had to eat a peck of dirt before he died. I had more than my peck while I was crossing the plains but it didn't take the place of food. One day I remember before we got to Green River we were all literally on the verge of dying of starvation. Some of the people could go no further and we were in the heights of despair when we met some rough mountaineers. They felt very sorry for us and told us if we would come over to their camp they would give us some breakfast. I never tasted anything better in my life and it was cooked by squaws too. They seemed to be living there with those men. The first thing they gave us was milk and whiskey and we had to drink it out of gourds. Yes, I remember that so well. Then they gave us a sort of bread or cake that they cooked in kettles over the fire. Oh, it was all so good and there was plenty of it. Then when we were through, we carried some back to the one's who were too sick to come with us. I remember one Scotch girl stayed there with them. One of the mountaineers offered her a home and her legs were in such a condition she could travel no farther so she stayed. Yes, she never did get to Salt Lake and she left Scotland to come to Zion too. She wasn't the only one who never reached the Valley.
'No, we didn't have any trouble with the Indians. They told us before we left England that we must be good to them and if we had any trinkets we could give them to bring them along. They did so like trinkets. At first we were a little annoyed at so many of them begging but we always treated them nice and they never hurt us. In fact they saved our lives at various times, such as when they gave us food. 
'Our handcarts had handles on the front and the back too, for some must push and some must pull, you know. The wheels were high so that they could be used for wagon wheels after we got here. It may sound funny to say that it was hard to push them down the hills but it was. Often the wheels were in sand up to the hubs and it was very hard to get them down hill. We had to ford a great many rivers and sometimes some of the carts were simply washed down stream. I remember when we had to ford the Platte River for the first time. We were in water above our waist and the current was strong. We couldn't cross it single file. Ten or twelve of us would have to lock arms in order to get across. As long as we had flour the men had to carry it on their shoulders. Of course our clothes had to dry on us. It was very disagreeable and of course impaired our health. Our Captain had the only horse in the company and he had to ride in head in order to find a place where we could get water. We had to get water. I think we walked about 25 miles a day and sometimes, Oh it was so hard. The cpatain's [captain's] wife and children were in the company.
Companies were sent out from Salt Lake to meet us and bring us food. They saved our lives and gave us courage to come on, for we were at Green River, 300 miles away then. The band came up Emigration canyon to meet us and escorted us to the City. We went down on the old High School square and there our luggage was dropped out and the handcarts taken away. We slept out on the ground that night. We were used to it. The next day we carted what little bedding and luggage we had into some woman's house and dumped them on the floor. It was soon after our arrival, I remember, that Mr. Beesley heard a man playing on a tin whistle. He said to me, "If that man can play a tune on a tin whistle, he can play a flute" so he went and got acquainted with him. I think he was later the leader of the Military Band. 
"There is one woman, who whenever I met her always says, "Now lassie, do your share?" She was in our company and they put her to pull on a handcart with an old man. Very often he would say to her, "Lassie, now do your share". and she has never forgotten it. I also remember another poor woman whose baby was born on the plains and died a few hours later. There was no stop made. She was put in one of the handcarts and jogged along. I don't remember whether she ever lived to get here or not. . .
"After we got here I wrote to my mother and told her what a dreadful time we had had and that she must wait until some other means was devised. She answered that they would come it [if] they only had knapsacks. They came by ox team a few years later, and mother was carried into my little home. She only lived eight weeks. The journey was too much for her.
"There were lots of dreadful things happened that I won't talk about because I'm sure those poor people would not like them talked about. I think we were not so badly off as the people who came in the cold weather. The man who built this house told me that he had seen men, women and children frozen to death while they were sitting up-right. We met a few wagons on their way to and from California and these companies certainly were strange sights to them. They often pitied us and gave us food. Yes, I crossed the plains with a handcart once but I am thankful I have never had to again. I couldn't do it. One such experience is quite enough.

Transcript for Beesley, Sarah Hancock, [Reminiscences], in Handcart Stories, 28-34

Deseret News

Latter Day Saints' Immigration

"Latter Day Saints' Immigration", Deseret News, August 24, 1859, Page 197.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">LATTER DAY SAINTS' IMMIGRATION.......1859.</center>



NAMES OF PERSONS IN CAPT JAMES BROWN'S COMPANY, ORGANIZED AT FLORENCE, JUNE 12, 1859: 
William Steele and family 
Lara Olsen 
James Hickson 
Nels and Botila Nelsen 
John A. Stalker 
Pider and Ola Nelssen 
Mildred Johnson 
John Christian Yensen [Jensen] and family 
N. W. Birdno and family 
John Owen 
John Johnsen and family 
Mary B. Farell 
John Larsen and family 
Solomon Gamet and family 
Karna Larsen and family 
Enoch Lewis and family 
Pider [Peter] Ahlstrom and family 
G[eorge]. L. Farell and family 
Karen Christiansen 
Anne Milton and family 
Marie Landstrom 
Samuel Dickson 
Ola Neilson and family 
R. E. [Eli] Kent and family 
Beritia Johnsen [Bertha Jensen] 
George Sparks 
Bengt and Oilya [Cilia or Sissa] Malmgren 
Martha Smith 
Hannah Jorensen 
George Pierce and family 
Pernella Jorensen 
Lucindo and Lucy A. Cady 
Andre and Marie Ekeland [Ekland] 
Hanna Sparkes [Sparks] 
Aanna Christian and Mathilde Bergton [Bergtop] 
Daniel Campbell and family 
James Morell 
A[nders]. O. [Olsson] and Ingre [Ingra] Nyborg, 
Aman Campbell and family 
Anders and Korner [Karner] Nelson 
Samuel Handy and family 
Ichumra Sanberg [Sandberg] 
George Sparkes and family 
Magnus and Turider Jarnesen [Jerensen] 
Samuel and Grace Davidson 
Sarah Parsons 
Christina Magnusem [Magnuson] 
Maro Rymer 
Lopter Johnsen and family 
William McKay and family 
Gadni Erasmus 
Ann and Mary Garvy 
Vicka and Gustaf Jornesen 
William Crotcher 
Sorein and Maren Nelsen 
John Bassett and family 
Christin Andersen and family 
Lacinda [Lucinda] Ann John A. Root 
Jhon Dhalsks 
Edmund and James Dicks 
Ann Hansen 
Mary Eveline 
Neils Nelsen 
James Goodwin and family 
Lars Jensen 
Charles and Ann Clipton [Clifton] 
Karen M. Gorensen 
Robert, Ann and Eliza Garnett 
Jens B. Jensen 
Mik[k]el Rasmusen and family 
Phoebe, James A., and Ches. [Charles] W. Gibson 
Ingilon Tomson 
Goren Sorensen and family 
William Gittings and family 
Frederick Longemust [Longmark] and family 
George Watson and family 
Margaret Axley 
L. Jensen 
James Hay 
Anne Kutrusa 
Mary and Joseph H. Kay 
Jens and Hans Jensen 
Eliza Slack 
Anie Sidersom 
John C. Reader and family 
Anne Didero 
Catharine Glass 
Sophia Ciderstrom 
Levi and Charlotte Minnerly 
Anders Hokeberg and family 
Eliza I Rion [Rich] 
Elna Anna and Christen Anderson 
Sarah Steers 
James and Mary A. Finlayson 
Cilya Ryback 
John Larsen and family 
Sarah Alexander and daughter 
C[arl]. A. Zit[t]ing 
William Wright and family 
Thomas Wand 
John Frost 
Robert and Ann White 
Amos [Ambrose] Greenwell and family 
Philip, Mary and Ellen M. Sharp 
Ann Hill 
Joseph Russell 
John and Mary Trascott 
Edward Haskshom 
Jeremiah Stocks and family 
J. C. Darrow and family 
Stephen Coup[e] 
Seth Wood and family 
Christopher Seeston 
Typhene Fairchild[s], sen. 
Thomas Stocks and family 
Typhene Fairchild[s], jun. 
John H. Gordon and family 
William Cole and family 
Ann Smith 
Mason Cutler and family 
Joseph Wintel 
William C. Rounde [Rounds] and family 
John Larsen and family 
Lans Olsen 
Richard W. Call 
Maria Hyalteny 
Rachel Williams and family 
Anna Marsen 
David Evans 
Neils Harsen 
Charles Harman and family 
Dedrick Funck [Funk] and family 
Thomas and Ann Rogers 
Hannah and Sidsea Johnson 
William Howell 
Oler Fullsen and family 
John Jones 
John Johnsen and family 
James Price 
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS, 252.



NAMES OF PERSONS IN CAPTAIN HORTON D. HAIGHT'S COMPANY



Frederick Kesler, Alexander Piper [Pyper] and family, John King, Anna Kirk, Ellen Jones, Betsey Titt, Levi Garret, Anthony Wilson, John G. Hogland and family, James Whitehead, Charles C. Dulin, Charles H. and Mary Crow, James Davenport, Ann Booth, Mary Gurney, Lewis Osborn, Caroline Harris and family, Agnes Steel, Patrick Burns.



Henry A. Smith, Louis Palanteen, John Harvey, Jesse Field and family, John Taylor, Alexander Ott and wife, Francis Bolto, Shadrach Jones, Thomas Baker, Francis Broadbent, Isaac Howells, Thomas Lonhust [Longhurst], Matthew and Wm. Mott, Adam Pall, John and George Horrocks, William Royal, Daniel Jacobs, Jacob Wagon, Frederick Holland, Benjamin P. Mortengrane, Samuel Young, Andrew Christopherson, Neils Andersen, Josiah Combs [Coombs], Josiah Holland, Benjamin and Anna Harman, Joseph and Maria Davis, William Crowther, James and Alice Crane.



John Evans, William Davis, Talaesen [Taliesen] Hughs, Henry, Eliza and Edmund Love[s]ay, Thomas Foote, wife and child, Elijah Parsons, Noah Mee, John Bone, William and Eliza Slack, Miles and Jane Williams, Samuel Fletcher, Thomas Prill, Thomas Jones, Margaret and William Bate, William and Emily Hart, Joseph Price, Robert and Chas. Harman, David Longhurst, John and David Louis, Thomas Lenham, Daniel Smoth [or Smith], Isaac Allen, William Hay, Joseph Beacroft [Beecroft], and family, John Marcroft and family, William W. Reed, Daniel Saberniller, John and Ellen Sutherland, David Roberts, Simon Smith, John Riggs.



James Hodges, Jabez Dangerfield, Daniel House, wife and child, William Cook, John Chamberland, James H. Rigg, William Walker and family.—Total, 134.



NAMES OF PERSONS IN THE HAND-CART COMPANY, CAPTAIN GEORGE ROWLEY.



Mark and Bithiah Lindsey, Paul Henry and Elise Moriell [Morrell], Thomas MacIntyre [McIntyre], Sarah Tuffley, Ann Lewis, Richard Hills, Richard A. Cooper, Agnes Birrel [Birrell], Ellen Lyde [Gyde], Emma Booth, Maryannne Nuns, James Harris, Sarah and Catherine Farrer, Henry Olpin and family, Ann Wright and daughter, Ann Godfrey, Joseph Gilbert, Edward Moor an family, Emma Cook, William Jarvis and family.



Thomas Martin, Reuben Atkins, Henry and James Hobbs, John Smith and family, Martha McRay [McKay] and family, Tullerton [Fullerton] Stewart, Mary Kirkpatrick, Henry Florence, William and Lovina Mann, Abraham Duffin, William Adams, Elizabeth Watson, Clara Bartlett, Catharine Fahy, John Ince, William Wild and family, Margaret and John Thornley, Ebenezer and Sarah Beazley [Beesley], Thomas and Louisa Maycock, Henry I. Strugnell, Emma Slade, Richard and Sarah Jones, Fanny Fry, Frances E. and Sarah A. Pearson, Joseph and Mary Schofield, Thos. Schofield.



Elizabeth Gledell [Gledhill], Joseph and Sarah Broadbent, Elizabeth Dixon, William Whitehead, Mary Henthorn, Squire Thornton, Mary Ann and Franklin Andrews, William and Jane Robison, Benjamin and Eliza Lamb, Edward and Mary J. Shanks.



James and Catharine Davis, Mary Shaw and family, Mary and Franklin Davies, Thomas and Maryann Dickinson, William Scogings, Louisa Budd and family, Chas. Wilson and family, Joseph Ligget, Mary Ward and family, James Turnbull, Benjamin Hibbert, George and Harriet Jones, George Stedman [Steadman], John and Ann Cartwright, Maria Jane and Alice Hanson, Esther Yeats, George Reid, Rebecca and Adelaide Harris, Jonathan Wolsteinham [Wolstenholme], Jane Mitchell, Matilda Barrett, Ann Hibbert, Mathias Nibyon.



A. Titting, Aldertine Bertelson, Caroline Simeon, Carl Rosburg [Rosberg] and family, Lars Mattison and family, Ola Yenson [Yenson or Jenson] and family, Tufne [Tufra] and B. Bengtson, Maons [Mons] Larson and family, Martin Hansen and family, Anders Yonson, Annes Stungberg [Strongberg], Mary Petroel and family, William Atkin and family, Yens and Johannes Yonson, Neil and Hanna Olsen, Peter Lanson [Larsen] and family, Soren M. Wadd [or Vadd] and family, Henrok Preson [Henrich Pearson] and family, Heahan [Haagen] Anderson, Mathilde Arvidson, Peter and Sophia Yorgensen, Yoron [Jorgen] Olson.



Ola Rosenblad, Anders Y. Yonson and family, H. O. and Mary Hagleby, Christine and Karen Petra Hagenson [Haagensen], Lars C. Christiansen [Christensen], Nils Christian, Christine S. Christiansen [Christensen], Rasmine Christoffasen [Christoffrson] and family, Peter Peterson, Christian Sorenson and family, Soren Sorenson and family, Anders Sorenson and family, Tomas C. Christiansen [Christensen] and family; Frank Pitman, Robert McKay and family, James Harris.—Total number of persons, 235.



NAMES OF PERSONS IN THE EUROPEAN COMPANY, Capt. Robert F. Neslin.



James Wood, George D. Keaton and family, Mary Ann Tuffley, Caroline Woods, Joseph Watson, James Bond and wife, Ann Boot, Emily Lovell [Lovatt], H[enry]. H. Harris [Harries] and Mary, Mary Wild, James, Eliza and Harriet Smuin, Maria, Edward and Adele Dessaules, Jeremiah Whitehouse, Elijah Tamms, Sarah J. Thomas, Sarah Gilbert, William Seymour, Charlotte Burciot [Barclot], James McArthur and family, Nathan Hanson and family, William Wilcock and family, William Cullimore and family, Charles Kidgall [Kidgell], Martha Bates, John Higson and family, Christopher and Ann Sprout [Sproat], John Slade, John and Elizabeth Slade, Caroline Callort,



Charles Barrett, James Gillmen [Gillman], George Kirkham and family, James Payne and wife, William Busby and family, Givinllyn [Gwenllian] Martins [Martin], Owen Roberts and family, Thomas Burchell, Mary Davis, W. T. Teitgen [Tietjen] and family, Nils Lanson, Elma True, Magnus A. and Elyse [Elsa] Fynands [Fyrando], Yens Neilson and family, Jones Halverson and family, Rasmus Yenson [Jensen], Ann L. Anderson, Sophia and Amie Christiansen, Neils Peterson.



Thrine [Lena Dorthea] Hanson [Hansen] and family, Soren P. Guhl and family, Martha Christoffson, Hans Andersen, J. C. Granstein [Grovenstien] and family, Rosina [Rasmine] F. Frantsen [Frandsen], H[ans]. L. Dastrap [Dastrup] and family, Ingerborg [Ingeborg] Peterson and son, Mattea Yenson, Badil and Neils Peterson, Maren Anderson, Yens Peterson, H. C. Klingbeck and family, Mattea [Mette] M. Hanson and family, Thos. C. and Else M. Yenson [Jensen], Jacob and Inger K. Christiansen, Yens [Jens] Hanson and family.



Mads P. and Karen Rasmusen, Yens [Jens] and Anna [Anne] M. Mickleson, Yens Mickleson and family, Martha Betsen [Bentson], Rasmus Neilson, Neils and Ilnak Ogord, Hans Hanson, Yens Neilsen and family, Maren K. Olsen, L. [Johan] F. Klingback and family, Mattea M. Christiansen, Johanna M. Hanson, Maria Fygesen [Tygesen], H[ans] P. Iverson, Anna Yensen [Jensen] and child, J. C. Christiansen and family, Jorgen Andreasen and family.



Karen M. Peterson, Hamra Mattson, Pauline Augestsen, Anna M. Hanson, Karen Sarenson and family, Thomas P. Vad, P[eter]. C. and Frederika Mattsen [Madsen], Christer [Christen] and Else Yensen [Jensen], Lars Neilson and family, Peter A. Deline and family, Tilda A. Hansen, Asmund Waldermasen [Waldemarsen] and family, Dessa [Sissa] Fried [Frid] and child, Martin and Dorta Peterson, Karen and Eilen Onesdson, N[iels]. L. [Jensen] and Ellen C. Ogord [Aagard], C. and Ann Olson, B[ror]. Serensen [Sorensen] and family, Peter Swenson and family, Kresta [Kjersti] Abasen [Aagesan], Ole and Annie Peterson, Ole Hagg and family, Anna Peterson, Jacob Malmstron and family, Neila C. Heisel[t] and family, Hans J. Neilsen, Maren K. Christiansen and child, Sachareas [Zacarias] and Maria Andersen, P[eter]. A. Fielstad [Fjelsted], Elenor [or Helena] P. Kier, Louisa C. Neilsen, Yens C. J. Vaarden and family, Andreas Ink, Christen and Annie M. Andersen, Yena [Yens] Larson, Soren Neilsen, Nielsina D. Kissen, Maren Christensen.



Kiersten Peterson, Inger M. Christensen, Anna M. Anderson, Else Mattson, Sissa Peterson [Petersen], Hans J. Hanson and family, Neilsen C. Neilsen, Christen Olsen, Peter Monsen, Lars and Matta Hansons [Hanson], Catrena Olesen, Christen and Christina Jepperson, Sophia Olivia and Frederick Orsted, Rasmusine [Rasmine] Jepperson, [Jeppesen], Mads and Anna Forgenson [Jorgensen], Carolina H. Jacobson and child.



Christen Christoffersen, Rasmus Hanson and family, Maren Christensen, Soren Peterson and family, Christen Andersen and family, Anders and Andrea G. Yensen [Jensen], Christen [Christen] C. Yorjensen [Jorgensen, Kiersten Nielsen and family, Yens [Jens] Anderson and family, Lars C. Peterson, Matta [Mette] M. Larson, Neils Jacobson, Bold [Bodil] M. Hanson, Ole Oleson and family, Maren Yenson [Jensen] (aged 80), Marta Johansen, Chari August [Aagrist].



Sven Olesen [Olson] and family, Anders and Caroline Peterson, Neils P. Larsen and family, Johannes Andersen and family, Lars Moretsen [Mouritsen] and family, Lena Mariager, C[hristian]. J. Leondgren [Lundgreen], Peter Christoffaser [Christoffersen] and family, Anders Yensen and family, Harriet Mead, Maren Hansen, Christen and Caroline Lorensen, Maren Christensen and son, Matilde [Matilda] Sorensen.—Total, 372.



Yens [Jens] S. Dahl, aged 73, died August 1st.

Transcript for "Latter Day Saints' Immigration," Deseret News, 24 August 1859, 197

Deseret News.

Henry Hobbs journal

Henry Hobbs journal, May 1859.

Transcript for Henry Hobbs journal, 1859 May-1860 July

Henry Hobbs journal.

Hobbs, William, "From Missouri to The Valley, 1,000 Miles by Hand-cart," Deseret News

Hobbs, William, "From Missouri to The Valley, 1,000 Miles by Hand-cart," Deseret News, June 4, 1921.

We sailed from England on April 11, 1859, on the sailing vessel, "William Tapscott," from Liverpool, landing in New York May 15. We left New York by boat, called the "Isaac Newton," going up the Hudson River to Albany, and took the train there for Toronto, Canada, by the Niagara Falls route. From there we went overland part of the way, and on railroads part of the way to St. Joseph, Missouri, then to Florence, Nebraska, where we waited two weeks, for the hand-carts to come from St. Louis.



	When the hand-carts arrived, they were put together for the journey to cross the Plains. I was employed by George Q. Cannon to drive an ox team, three yoke of oxen, the wagon being loaded with flour. The train consisted of five wagons loaded with different kinds of provisions. The wagon train always stayed in the rear, the hand-carts going in front. One hundred pounds of flour was put into handcarts, as there were not teams enough to haul all of the flour. The company had so many trunks that they had to be left on the camp grounds, under guard.



	We started out on our long journey singing a song known as "Hand-Cart Rolling." George Q. Cannon came out to the first camp that we made and stayed with us that night, then bade us "Godspeed," and a captain was appointed for each ten cars. We had a string band along with us. Brother [Ebenezer] Beesley was the leader of the band which consisted of two violins, a bass viola and a piccolo. They made good music, music which cheered us on the journey.



	All the men who were strongest were put to guarding the cattle at night, taking shifts in their turn. Thousands of buffalo were in sight almost continually on the Plains. You could buy all the buffalo hides you wanted for a dollar per hide. There were buffalo skulls on the route, with the names of the captains on them who had gone before us.



	The first Indians we encountered were the Pawnees, who swarmed through the camp, the old chief having a lot of ponies which he wanted to trade for a white woman, and would not take "No" for an answer at first. He finally left without his white woman. Some of the young bucks started out and killed a buffalo and brought it into camp and cut it up for us. They camped with us that night, and the next day they hooked on to some of the hand-carts, with their lariats and pulled the young girls' hand-carts by the horn of their saddles.



	There was a great stampede in those days for California Gulch, at Leadville, Colorado, and hundreds of people were coming and going along the route, so we had plenty of company as far as Ft. Laramie, Wyoming. An outfit from Missorui overtook us and camped with us a few nights. After they left us, we found a buffalo on the route which they killed, and put on the body of it a notice saying, "For the hand-cart company." We traveled on, and reached the Elkhorn River where we found a small settlement called Genoa, built by the Morning people, who gave us all the milk we wanted, and we got along all right until we reached Ft. Laramie, where we obtained more provisions. Many times on the journey we came to sand hills and had to take the provisions out of the carts and carry them to the top of the hills, then come back and pull the empty carts up the hill through the deep sand.



	In passing through the alkali flats, two oxen I was driving died from drinking, alkali water. As they had not died from any disease, they were cut up and eaten by the company. When we got to Devil's Gate, we had only about two pounds of flour left for each person. The Ben Holladay stage drove by us every day, so we sent word of our condition into Salt Lake by the stage. We were looking for relief every day, and the last two days before relief came, we went hungry, having not a thing to eat. The next morning we saw teams in the distance, coming toward us, an they had provisions for us which were sent out by Brigham Young, in charge of John Taylor and Franklin D. Richards. We then had provisions, such as flour, bacon and onions, to last us through to Salt Lake City. The teams went on East to meet the last company that was coming out that fall.



	We lost an old man on the journey by the name of Shanks. He was from Liverpool. He was afterwards found by the stage driver partly eaten up by the wolves. His wife died also during the journey.



	We came across the Weber river and followed the old stage route over the Big and Little Mountain, and when we emerged from Emigration Canyon, there was the city lying at our feet that all our songs and hopes and prayers were centered in, and we landed in the Tithing Office yard thus ending our journey of a thousand miles by hand-cart.

Transcript for Hobbs, William, "From Missouri to The Valley, 1,000 Miles by Hand-cart," Deseret News, 4 June 1921, 4:8

Hobbs, William, "From Missouri to The Valley, 1,000 Miles by Hand-cart," Deseret News.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886 Ledger B

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886 Ledger B, Page 353.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886 Ledger B.

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