George Benjamin Wallace (1817 - 1900) Profile

George Benjamin Wallace (1817 - 1900)

Individual

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George Benjamin Wallace

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Historical Department journal history of the Church

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 19, 1849.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, October 10, 1869, Vol. 2, Page 15, Line 585.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, October 10, 1869, Vol. 1, Page 14, Line 585.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849. 1849 September 24. Page 1.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Coalville Times

Local Briefs

"Local Briefs", Coalville Times, February 2, 1900.

Coalville Times.

Deseret Evening News

Elder's Correspondence: Extract from a letter from F. D. Richards to the Editor

"Elder's Correspondence: Extract from a letter from F. D. Richards to the Editor", Deseret Evening News, June 12, 1852, Page 2.

Deseret Evening News.

George Benjamin Wallace Emigrating Company journal

George Benjamin Wallace Emigrating Company journal, June 1847.

Transcript for George Benjamin Wallace Emigrating Company journal, 1847 June-September

George Benjamin Wallace Emigrating Company journal.

George Washington Hill collection in Cache Valley Historical Material, circa 1955, reel 4, item 57, 18-31

George Washington Hill collection in Cache Valley Historical Material, circa 1955, reel 4, item 57, 18-31.

Transcript for George Washington Hill collection in Cache Valley Historical Material, circa 1955, reel 4, item 57, 18-31

Haskell, Thales Hastings, Autobiography, 1867

Haskell, Thales Hastings, Autobiography, 1867.

We now prepared to start across the plains in company with many others[,] destination not known. Started out and in a few days got organized into companies of hundreds, fifties, &amp; tens. A[braham] O[wen] Smoot was Captain of our hundred. Geo[rge] B[enjamin] Wallace Captain of fifty and a man by the name of [James] Smithies, Captain of our ten[.] I had never been accustomed to drive an ox team, and in a bad place managed to run one wheel on to a bank &amp; broke an axel tie. I heard a great many making remarks about me in being a very careless boy to let such an accident happen but I thought if they had a cautioned me a little before hand it might have done more good. The next day we got a stick and had <a>new one put in[.] Francis came back to meet us about this time having been at work on the Platte running the ferry boat. I now considered quite a load of responsibility taken from me. But he was soon taken sick with the rheumatism and could not get out and into the waggon without help. This made it rather hard on me again. I was large of my age and though but 13 years old was expected to do a mans work, standing guard hearding &amp;c. Some where about this time we had to turn out a yoke of cattle to go back and help Grants company whose cattle had been stampeded and had to have assistance and we put in a couple of yoke of cows in the team in place of the oxen and shortly after this another ox got tender footed so we now had one yoke of good oxen two yoke of cows and a single ox in the lead thus we traveled. Saw a great many Indians, the most of these were friendly, well dressed and well inv[..]tes[.] We also saw a great deal of wild game and vast herds of Buffalo[.] our hunters often killed a buffalo or an antelope so that we generally had a suppli of fresh meat. At the Pacific springs we met Brigham and the rest of the pioneers who told us that they had found a proper place for the saints to locate[.] Travld on a few days and arrived at Bridger's Fort and here Bridger told us some interesting stories about the valley of the great Salt Lake. Said that grain could not be raised there and the the snow fell so deep that the Buffalo had all died off &amp;c &amp;c[.] Started on again and soon began to get excited about getting to the valley &amp; some companies began to get divided the best teams taking the lead[.] I remember Elder Wallace got in sometime before us[.] We had a rough road &amp; Francis rheumatism still got worse and every rock the wheel struck would make him fairly scream with pain[.] I of course got duly lectured about careful driving &amp;c[.] Camped one night on the top of the little mountain and had to lock the wheel to keep from blowing back down the mountain as there was a perfect gale of wind. In the morning we got a glimpse of Salt Lake and the valley we so much desired to reach. Arrived in the valley[.] camped near where they had commenced building an adobe fort.</a>

Transcript for Haskell, Thales Hastings, Autobiography, 1867

Historical Department journal history of the Church, June 21, 1847, Page 38.

James Smithies diary, 1846-1859, 3A-6A, 6B-19A

James Smithies diary, 1846-1859, 3A-6A, 6B-19A.

Transcript for James Smithies diary, 1846-1859, 3A-6A, 6B-19A

Peter Olsen Hansen papers, circa 1869-1893, Journal, circa 1876, 67-69

Peter Olsen Hansen papers, circa 1869-1893, Journal, circa 1876, 67-69.

[1847]In due time the companys started <in charge="" elder="" of="" richards="" willard=""> &amp; followed the track of the Pioneers, which laid over the Elkhorn river &amp; Longs fork, up on the north side of Platte river to Fort Laramie, over the black hills and to the north side again, from thence up the Sweet water to the pacific Springs, down through Ecco canyon to the Weber &amp; so on over the big Mountain &amp; down into the Great Salt Lake Valley, where they had to cut their road through a Mable [Maple] grove. It was the 24th of July when they arrived there, and my brother claims that Prof. Orson Pratt &amp; him were two first in the valley.</in>



After wards some more companies fitted out &amp; started under the guidance of Elder John Taylor. I was started off on the 14th of June with a waggon &amp; 3 yolke of cattle. Four of the wagons were B. Kimballs. Our captain of ten was br James Smithies, and George B. Wallace who was president of the Boston branch when I joined the church, was our captain of fifty &amp; A[braham]. O. Smoot our captain of hundred. For the first week I felt tired when night came, but after that I <s>F</s> did not feel so any more and I was happy indeed, and felt proud of my trust. Beside Sister [Nancy Ann] Smithies we had two other women with us, Mary Ellen K[imball]. &amp; Mary [Ann] Forsgren. Bro. Fayett [Lafayette] Granger &amp; Moses Thurston came &lt;from Nauvoo&gt; with two wagons &amp; desired to travel with us for to have one woman each for them on condition that they would furnish us with bacon &amp; groceries, and this prooved a blessing unto us. Granger was a clever man to travel with and his teamster was a good lad. It was said that 9 hundred waggons had <s>past over the rocky</s> went on the road that season. But we got along well &amp; were much blest by our heavenly father continually, and the journey was very interesting to me and I took much delight in keeping a dayly journal for Mr. Kimball, which I, sorry to say, lost on another trip. Many a little insident transpired which I will make mention of as far as I remember them.



The first half of the journey we made on the north side of the Platte or Nebraska river. which is &lt;so&gt; very wide &amp; shallow &amp; was a great natural curiosity to me. Before we struck this we crossed the Elk horn on a raft. Now &amp; then we would see where the Pioneers had fallen cotton wood trees for their animals to brows on. And when we got to <s>the</s> Loup fork we camped for night and crossed over next day. This is no small <s>tas</s> undertaking as the river is very wide and full of quick sand, so that we were under the necessity of dobling teams, that is hitching-to with one another, which of course took dobble the time, as we had to go back after the other half of the wagons. Next day we continued our journey up the <s>river,</s> &lt;Platte&gt; always camping within a short distance of the river and how I used to delight to see our cattle on good grass, eating till they were filled and laid down. Now we were on the great planes where we sometimes would see many thousands of Buffalos in a day. This name however is misplaced as it belongs to a kind of ox without any hunch, and these are hunchbacked ones should be called Bisons. We passed three vacated villages belonging to the Pawnees. The houses or wikiups were round and built of wood. It was said that the Sioux had drove them away <s>because of hors</s> for horse stealing. Soon after this we passed a large encampment of Sioux of about 500 fine looking lodges made of Buffalo hides. Some of them followed us 2-3 days and were very friendly, nevertheless we were required to have our guns hanging in the wagons so as to be seen. We crossed over many fine streams of water &amp; travelled over many <s>a</s> beautiful meadows &amp; prairies, but trees &amp; bushes were very scarce. Jed[ediah]. Grants camp lost most of their cattle by a stampede. Some 60 miles behind us but few found.



The stampede was caused by a person going into the correl [corral] by moonlight in a white shirt &amp; several wagons broke down.



For 150 miles we were without any wood at all, and had to be thankful for the dry dung &lt;dropt by&gt; from the wild cattle, which answered very well for fuel. Windy days were ha[r]d on us teamsters, and we very glad after camping to go and have a good wash in shallow water which was warmed by the rays of the sun. One Sunday we were encamped oposite Scotts Bluff, which consist of hard clay &amp; is said to be 300 feet high. Notwithstanding the great width of the river, some of us waded across and ascended the Bluff where we found Bro. Parley P. Pratt ahead of us. On the top was a grove of scrub pines, and from there we saw 7 camps looking like so many white chalk circles on green paper. and returning I felt well paid for going. The plains being so exceedingly level this mountain is seen by The Traveler more than 20 miles below, where there is another curiosity of hard clay called Chimney rock &lt;because it resembles a high chimney&gt; which I ought to have mentioned first. This is also seen a long way off. B/ A few days after passing these places we came to Fort Laramie where below which we crossed over to the south side <s>of</s> and soon after crossed the Laramie fork, after which we came along by the Fort which had the appearance of being clean &amp; orderly. Pretty soon I saw a wild mountain sheep run up the hill for here we struck the extremities of the Rocky Mountains, and Laramie peak was looming up before, and the vast plains we saw no more that time. From this time hence we saw far less grass than we would liked to see, and <s>every where</s> &lt;the&gt; vegetation was more grey than green, for now we <s>got int</s> were in the regions of wild sage as it is rather wrongfully called. Now we went going into the Black Hills, which had been presented by to us by some strangers as being dreary, destitute of feed &amp; dangerous to pass.



B/ camping on wood river, plum creek, Elm creek etc. Dog town. One place in that region after the month of June because of a certain poisonous weed growing there.



We however did not find it so, and there were plenty of grass in places especially on the la Bont [La Bonte] &amp; the la Prel<s>l</s>e which are tributaries to the upper Platte. After coming out of the hills <s>which</s> we had some distance of level ground to travel over and then we had to cross over onto the north side again when we left the Platte and traveled over a barren Desert for 2-3 days till we struck the Sweet Water. This stream we followed up for a week, crossing it a number of times, the country being very rocky and bleake.



<s>After leaving Sweet water for good we crossed over the Summit of the rocky Mountains on what is called the south pass.</s>



first at Independance Rock where we camped for the night &amp; I took a good look at that solid rock with its many two names &amp; <s>in</s> Next day we traveled to Devils gate. We also camped at the three crossings. The Region is sandy &amp; full of granite rocks.



After leaving Sweet Water for good we crossed past through another ruggy region, crossing <s>goos</s> straw berry creek &amp; following up the Wagon Back a rocky ridge to pass over the summit of the Rocky Mountains or as it is called the south Pas[s].



When we crossed Greeswood [Greasewood] creek Grangers lead cattle got scared &amp; pulled the wagon off the bank &amp; it turned bottom up into the creek. One of the women were sitting in the wagon when it turned over and got under the load. Two of us jumped into the water &amp; saved her from drowning. We past Willard Snows <s>camp</s> &lt;company&gt; and stayed for to repare the wagon.



Just over the ri&lt;d&gt;ge we camped at the Pacific Springs, called so because it runs to the Pacific Ocean. On the north side of the road is a big meadow or swamp which however is rather dangerous for the cattle to walk on. Right there at the pacific Springs we met our beloved President Brigham Young, Elder Kimball and more than half of the Pioneers on their way back to Winter Quarters. We were of course glad to see each other, but as the air was very chilly we could not feel as good as we otherwise would. We stopped next day &amp; held meeting.



The Pioneers told us that they arrived in entered Salt Lake Valley on the 24th of July and hot. they had had to make much road[,] had commenced to plow &amp; sow the same day, but that after it had come up a company of the dismissed soldiers from the Mormon Battalion had arrived &amp; while they were rejoicing in dance their cattle destroyed a whole plantation. After this we traveled <s>for several days</s> over a level country crossing the Sandies [Big and Little Sandy Creeks], which are branches of Green river, which we came to after four days travel, forded it and continued traveling over a level country crossing the branches or as the here are called forks of the river. On the last of these branch streams lies Fort Bridger, a trading post. Here is a nice green plain, and from here to Salt Lake Valley we traveled over mountains. At first we came up through a forest of cedars where I saw two natural curiosities viz. two cedar trees in spiral form. After some days travel we came to a <s>opn</s> place where there was a spring of mountain tar or asphalt which we used for axel grease. Next we had Bear river to ford, <s>which is a very</s> at a very rough &amp; strong place. After this we came to a place where is a cave in the mountain side. From this place we traveled in 3 days down through Echo Kanyon [Canyon] and forded the Weber river before camping for night. The high perpendicular red &lt;sandstone&gt; cliffs at the mouth of Echo canyon drew my attention as one of the grandest natural sites I ever saw. Next day we travelled up thro Pratts pas[s], and after crossing a mountain stream &lt;many times&gt; which I afterwards learned was called Big canyon creek, we encamped at the foot of the Big Mountain or as we called it the "five mile hill" because we had a rough upward road for five miles. Going up that hill was our task the next day &amp; as it was near night when we got to the top <s>of th</s> and our cattle were tired we camped night but there were scarcely any grass &amp; after letting them browse a little on the oak brush we had to tie them to the wagons. Speaking of oak I must here <s>note</s> observe that the first place we saw oak was <s>t</s> in Echo canyon and I was the first seeing it for I had an occasion to go unto the hills to look for a missing ox &amp; coming down I came through an oak patch which reached to my knees. From this high point we could see the great salt Lake.



In the morning we took an early start. The road down was so steep that we had to lock both hind wheels, and so dusty that we had to stop at times to let the dust pas off so that we could see where w&lt;:h&gt;ere we were going, and there were also many stumps of maple trees which our Pioneers had cut down to make road. At night we camped on a flat place at the foot of the last <s>mountain</s> hill called the little mountain. To ascent this we had to double teams, and from there we had a <s>very</s> exceedingly rough road to travel down through what is called Emigration canyon &amp; encamped in a hollow on the west side of the mountains. After so much rough traveling I was glad for having got through.



Next day we drove down over the bench to the fort, arrived in G. S. L. City Sept. 29, 1847.

Transcript for Peter Olsen Hansen papers, circa 1869-1893, Journal, circa 1876, 67-69

Pomeroy, Irene to Ophelia M. Andrews

Pomeroy, Irene to Ophelia M. Andrews, March 5, 1848.

Miss Ophelia M. Andrews, 
 
North New Salem
 
Franklin County
 
Massachusetts. 
 
(Care of Col Wilson Andrews).
Kane Io[wa] May 16 1848
Great Salt Lake City March 5th 1848. 
Cousin Ophelia; Having a little leisure from domestic cares I thought (I would) write you a few lines knowing you would be very anxious to hear from us. We are all well contented and happy. We have a log house made of hewed logs sixteen by eighteen and covered with planks and slabs. Our fireplace is made of clay pounded into one corner and the fireplace cut out just such shape as you please. The rest is sticks plastered outside and in which makes it quite nice. We have quite a nice door made of fir boards which were sawed since we arrived. We have nothing but the boards of our wagon for floor yet. We have a window with five squares of ten by twelve glass and one of cloth pasted on. There is two beds at the east end of the room and curtains drawn across the room in front of the beds and a little chamber floor over the beds where we keep our provisions. Picture to your self Irene sitting in such a room as this writing on her same chest which stood in her chamber in Mass. Mr. Pomeroy and Thales have gone to what is called the Cotton Woods for poles to fence the land. Francelle is filling the little creampither (your mother and mine used to play) with water and washing it in the washdish. Mother is knitting. (I will fill this page with family concerns now I have come so near to it and tell you on the next how we came hear and what kind of place it is). We have two yoke of oxen; two cows, two heifers (two years old) a pair of horses, three hens, two chickens and a dog. We have killed one yoke of oxen for beef. We expect to have a garden in front of our house. Our farming land is five or six miles from hear. The houses are built adjoining each other in the form of squares enclosing ten acres each. It was thought wisdom to have them in this manner for this season because we could better defend ourselves from all kinds of danger. When the companies arrive next summer we expect to commence a brick house. There will be a city laid out then and each building will have land for all necessary purposes and a large garden and the farming land will be with out the city. When Mother [Ursula Billings Haskell] wrote you at winter quarters we were preparing for our journey still fart[h]er west. Thales went down into Missouri with Br Wallace and bought a new supply of provisions and we left winter quarters June 17th and I can assure you we passed through a variety of scenes (for) a distance of ten hundred and sixty miles from W.Q. Rivers, brooks, mudholes, mountains, plains, woods, broken waggons, Indians, Buffaloes, Wolfs, deer, antelope, wild dogs, bears &amp;c. The Indians were very friendly. They do no hurt if we kept strong guard out so they could not steal our horses and cattle in the night. We passed through some places where it (was) almost impassable, mountains of cragged rocks seeming as it were bending over us on either side of the road. At another time we would be on the side of a mountain below us on one side of the road 50 or 100 feet straight down a Grandmother says on the other side a mountain and seeming every moment as if the waggon would be upset. This was the last part of the road. The first 1000 miles was mostly praries, see nothing byt [but] land as far as the eye could reach. You can look on the map and see where we came. We came nearly the whole of the length of the Platte river and camped on its bank most every (night). We walked a great part of the way where there were bad roads. (Catherine says tell them I could walk 10 or 15 miles per day.) We generally travelled from 10 to 15 miles in a day sometimes 20 and once or twice 25. We did not travel on Sundays (and) on the whole we had quite a pleasant journey. We would (about half a dozzen) go on ahead of the waggons, find some place of curiosity and wait for the teams to come up. How many many (times) mother and I would say how Aunt Lomanthy would love to see this and that. Grandmother might have come if she had thought so. There is some older than she here. I presume you have heard of Richardson's bitters. The old man's son is here and his sons mother came from Vermont. Emeline is yet in W.Q. When we came away she was teaching school in the same family where she has been.
The[re] was about 500 waggons came last summer. Such only came as could buy provisions, the rest stayed to raise it. We expect a much larger company this season. Well after all this long journey when we were coming over mountains and between them, all at once a little narrow passage between the mountains called a cannian [canyon] (I think I have not splled i[t] right) opened into a beautiful valley.

Transcript for Pomeroy, Irene to Ophelia M. Andrews, 5 Mar. 1848, in Letters, court orders, and documents pertaining to the Saints in Missouri

Pomeroy, Irene to Ophelia M. Andrews.

Smoot, Abraham O., "Early Experience of A. O. Smoot," in Early Scenes in Church History, Eighth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series [1882], 25

Smoot, Abraham O., "Early Experience of A. O. Smoot," in Early Scenes in Church History, Eighth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series [1882], 25.

In April, 1846, I left Nauvoo and started westward with quite a large company of my southern friends. On arriving at Winter Quarters I was ordained a Bishop and appointed to preside over a Ward, and spent the winter in building cabins to shelter the people and in looking after the wants of the poor. In the spring of 1847 I was appointed to organize and lead westward a company of Saints having one hundred and twenty wagons. I chose as my assistants Major Russell and Geo. B. Wallace. We arrived in Salt Lake Valley on the 24th day of September. . . .
I remember a rather remarkable instance of healing that occurred at Winter Quarters, which I think worth relating:
During the winter of 1846-7 while the Saints were encamped on the banks of the Missouri there was a great deal of sickness among them, and many died. Among others who were afflicted was a man by the name of Collins, who had followed up the Church for some time on account of his wife being a member, but who never felt quite satisfied to embrace the gospel, although he never opposed the work. When he was taken sick it was not thought by his friends that he could recover, as he had appeared to be sinking rapidly under the effects of the disease, and for some time he lay in a semi-unconscious state, from which it was feared he would never rally.
However, he finally regained consciousness and looked around, when I asked him if he had any message to leave before he died. He immediately replied that it would not do for him to die then, as he had not been baptized, and urged very strongly to be taken right down to the river to receive this ordinance. . . . from that time became a healthy man.
CHAPTER III. A. O. Smoot ; On my return from England in 1853, on board the new steamer Pacific, we encountered a severe storm. . . . I had seventeen thousand dollars in gold in my possession, and I did not even fear that I would lose that. . . . we finally arrived safely in New York with the wrecked vessel, after a voyage of sixteen days. . . . I remained at Lexington about eight days looking after the interests of the Saints and purchasing stock, after which I returned to St. Louis, where I met the company of Saints I was to conduct across the plains. On reaching Atchison, our starting point for the overland journey, the company was stricken with the cholera. There were over forty cases, and of these some fifteen proved fatal. Numbers were healed instantaneously through the prayer of faith when the Elders laid their hands upon them, although apparently near death’s door; others gave way entirely to fear, failed to exercise faith and soon died. After we had started upon our journey and when the last person who had been afflicted had recovered, I was prostrated with the same dread disease. The train was stopped and the whole company fasted and prayed for two days for my recovery, but I continued growing worse until my limbs and the lower portion of my body were apparently dead, but then the faith of the Saints and the power of the Almighty prevailed in my behalf and I recovered. I had, however, lost seventy-five pounds in weight within a few days.

Transcript for Smoot, Abraham O., "Early Experience of A. O. Smoot," in Early Scenes in Church History, Eighth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series [1882], 25

Woodruff, James Jackson, Mary Ann Jackson Woodruff biographical sketch

Woodruff, James Jackson, Mary Ann Jackson Woodruff biographical sketch, April 1917.

The winter was passed in preparing for the long journey in the spring. On April 7, 1847, the pioneers, led by the Prophet Brigham Young, left Winter Quarters and their dear wives, children, sweethearts and homes in the care of a merciful Father, and started to locate a home in the Rocky Mountains, to establish a new Zion to the name of Israel's God.	
 After her husband started with President Brigham Young and the Pioneers, much anxiety was felt in the camp for their safety and many fervant prayers were offered to the Lord in their behalf.	
 on the 25th of May, 1847, her babe was born. Sister Woodruff felt to rejoice and thanked the Lord for the precious gift. She named him James Jackson Woodruff. She named him for a dear girlhood friend who had enlisted with the Mormon Battalion, James Ferguson.	
 Before starting with the pioneers, father [Wilford Woodruff] asked her if there was anything that he could give her to make her happy. She said yes, that she wanted to follow the pioneers. He said that she did not realize what she had asked for as it was as much as the life of herself and babe was worth to start on that journey at that time. Her reply was that she would take her baby and start and if she died she would be in the wake of the Camp of Israel on their way to build a city to the Name of the Lord in the midst of the Rocky Mountains. On the 16 June my heroic mother started with my dear Grandfather Apheck [Aphek] Woodruff, with 2 wagons, 2 horses and oxen and 1 cow. One wagon was loaded with flour milling machinery; the other was used by Grandfather, Mother and Babe and provisions, bedding, cooking utensils and clothing. Grandpa was 69 years old when he reached the Valley. We were in Captain A[braham]. O[wen]. Smoot's Company l00, Geo[rge]. B[enjamin]. Wallace 50 and Samuel Turnbows 10.	
 Dear Mother came near to a bad accident while traveling. She stood on the rounds of the wagon tongue and ballanced herself to spring backwards to the ground by holding to the front of the wagon box. Her skiert [skirt] caught on the tongue hammer and she was thrown in the front of the wheel and by working her body with her hands until the team was stopped, through the blessings of the Lord, she was saved from being crushed to death. Dear Grandfather said never again, when you want to get out of the wagon I will stop the team.	
 It was customary with mother occasionally to ride with Sister Mariah [Maria Lucy Dewey] Wooley, wife of Bishop John [Mills] Wooley, from noon until evening, as they camped close together. One day after riding she took her babe and started for her wagon. After passing one camp after another it got dark and the only light she had was the camp fire.
Emigrant to Salt Lake Valley Sept. 23, 1947 A[braham]. O[wen]. Smoot's Company of 139 souls 52 wagons, 16 horses, 1 mule, 185 oxen, 75 cows, 16 sheep, 4 swine and 57 chickens. Apheck [Aphek] Woodruff aged 69 years Mary [Ann] Jackson Woodruff 28 years James Jackson Woodruff 1 month old Fifth 10, first 50, fourth 100, Second Division Two wagons 2 horses, 8 oxen and 1 cow

Transcript for Woodruff, James Jackson, Mary Ann Jackson Woodruff biographical sketch 1917 Apr., 1-2

Woodruff, James Jackson, Mary Ann Jackson Woodruff biographical sketch.

Woolley, John Mills, Reminiscences [ca. 1851], 71-74

Woolley, John Mills, Reminiscences [ca. 1851], 71-74.

We got back about the 20
th
 [May 1847]. I then was busily employed in getting ready for the journey.
The 10th June we started[.] Went to the Horn river and joined with those who had previously started [and] were wa[i]ting for the rest if the company to come up[.] we camped there and tarried till the 20th June. They there organized for traveling
We sta[r]ted about the 20th[.] There was in all 566 waggons, The weather was tolerable warm, therefore our progress was slow as it was difficult traveling in so large companies, The country was destitute of timber in a great degree[.] some it be to scarse to afford wood for fuel, we used Buffalo dong [dung] as a substitute[.] some places we obtained kind of bush called Sage Brush, We travel[e]d up the Platt[e] to Larama [Laramie] then crossed the black hills, While on the plat[te] one of my cows died, and the only one that gave milk, The young man James J[ackson]. Davidson my driver (as I had 2 waggons I had a driver) he had one cow along[.] We then traveled up the sweetwater, 
We got to what is called the Pacific Spring[s] the 5th of September[.] this is what is called the south pass[.] here we met the Pioneers on their return to Winter Quarters[.] they staid there with us one day, 
the 7th we started[.] it snowed on us near half the day[.] the weat[h]er had been quite coll nigh[t]s[.] The place they had located in the Great basin of the Salt lake great basin of north America[.] this is about 230 miles from here 
We arrived in the valley the 26th of September[.] the roads for the last hundred miles had been hilly and rough in the extreme . . .

George Benjamin Wallace

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