Emma Elizabeth Ward (1848 - 1926) Profile

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Emma Elizabeth Ward

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"Sarah Jane Allgood," In Biographical Information Relating to Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel database

"Sarah Jane Allgood," In Biographical Information Relating to Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel database.

We landed about the 28th of June in New York City, at Castle Gardens(Castle Gardens became Ellis Island)and stayed there one day and night. We took a boat from there up the Hudson River. Then we took a train through some states, I forget just where. And transferred to a side wheeler steamer. The reason for doing this was that at the time the Civil War was raging and many Rail Road bridges had been burned. Many times the soldiers nearly scared the life out of us. Going up the Missouri, on that old side wheeler we eventually arrived in Wyoming, Nebraska. There we joined a company under the leadership of Captain Joseph Rawlins. The teamsters were there with the cattle and wagons, and loaded our luggage. The old people rode, but the young had to walk. Our rations on the plains were a little flour, beans, and for extra taste a few dried peaches. My Mother would cook for breakfast a small griddle cake, composed of flour, baking soda, and water. Which turned so yellow that it almost made us vomit to look at it. This cake she divided up betwixt four of us. It was made tasty by a little home made molasses, called Black Strap. After this hearty breakfast we walked all day making various distances to the next camping place. There we would get a supper of small griddle cakes, a few beans and dried peaches. We did not have any meat or vegetables from the time we left home until we arrived in Salt Lake City. When we came to water, the cattle always drank first, we took what was left. One night we came to a small camp of soldiers, where there was a deep well. The whole company started to draw it up until the water was as black as night, but it tasted so good to us all. On the way across the plains my brothers and myself carried a bed tick and gathered buffalo chips. We used the chips to build fires at the camping place each evening. I was very healthy and strong, never knew a days sickness. Girls that seemed well and healthy in the day, they'd be burying them at night.  
 
One day after making a long drive, we came to a place on the Platte River where there were hundreds of wikiups and Indians. The Captain called a meeting and said "No fires tonight and no one outside the corral." The cattle would rest a while and be kept inside the corral enclosure. If the Indians came and demanded our flour we would all starve. We went all that night, even the cattle without water or food. Then we started out early the next morning and were not molested. I waded every stream and river, but the Green River, even the Platte. When we crossed the Green River the Captain ordered everyone to ride, so as to get on the other side quicker on account of the Indians. We crossed in the dark of night. 



There was a companion of mine named Emma Ward, we came from the same place. We walked, slept, and ate together. One day we walked until we were just give out. We sat down and said we couldn't go any further. We sat there until the wagons were just like little specks in the distance. Our feet were so sore and blistered we just didn't care. While sitting there a young man came to us on a horse. We didn't see where he came from nor where he went, but he talked to us very nice and encouraged us to go on. He promised us if we would try we would make it alright, and would not be harmed. We were so tired and give out, we didn't care whether we died or lived. But he was so nice, and gave us such encouragement, that it seemed to make us feel better, and have added strength. So we got up and went on. It was after dark when we got to the wagon train. We arrived at the camping place just as a hastily organized band of men were starting back to search for us. We recieved a severe lecture for separating from the wagons as Indians were all around us. Having passed many places where wagon trains had been burned. The numerous newly made graves were a grim threat of what our fate would be if the Indians found us. Since then I have told people about the man on the horse, and they have said that they think maybe it was one of the "Three Nephites". And I truly believe it was. After incredible hardships we finally arrived in Salt Lake City in the latter part of October 1864.

Emma Elizabeth Ward

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