Jacob Hofheins (1812 - 1890) Profile

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Jacob Hofheins

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Jacob Hofheins Diary: MS4761 Church History Library

Jacob Hofheins Diary: MS4761 Church History Library.

"Elder Jacob Hofheins," The Mormon

"Elder Jacob Hofheins," The Mormon, April 11, 1857.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Elder Jacob Hofheins.</center>



 



AT Conference, on Sunday last, Elder Hofheins was released from his mission to the German population of this State, and left for the West on Wednesday evening. Bro. Jacob has labored diligently while he has been in the State, both at Toms River and New York. Believing he would be an efficient assistant in the emigration across the plains, we have started him thus early for the frontiers. Bro Jacob returns to his family and the Church in Zion with our approbation and blessing.

Transcript for "Elder Jacob Hofheins," The Mormon, 11 April 1857, 2

"Elder Jacob Hofheins," The Mormon.

McCune, Henry Frederick, Autobiography and diaries, 1919-1924, fd. 1, 9-13

McCune, Henry Frederick, Autobiography and diaries, 1919-1924, fd. 1, 9-13.

We left New York about the first week in May for Iowa City, The Outfitting Point. In passing Through Chicago, My Father purchased two Wagons from Peter, Schuttler, for himself, and many more for other members of the Company, who were on their way from Delaware, and who joined us later in Iowa City, A few days after our arrival in Iowa City, our wagons arrived, by Rail, and were dumped out on the Prairie, three miles out of Town, and we had to put them together, Then our Cattle arrived from Missouri, about half of them were young unbroke Steers, Then the Fun began, Matching the Teams, and Breaking them in to work, which in due time was done and about the end of May we started on our long journey to the Valleys of the Mountains, My Father drove one of our Teams, and I the other, We were about a month on our way in reaching Council Bluffs, on the banks of the great Missouri River, By this time our young Steers were getting quite tractable, and worked nobly in their Yokes, and I had become quite an adept as a Teamster, 	
Our Captain, &amp; Guide, for the journey, was a German, by the name of Jacob, Hoffeins, and was a very uncouth, and vulgar Man, but was the only Man Apostle john, Taylor, could find of our People that had any experience on the Plains, and he had recently returned from a Mission in Germany, and also had been a member of the Mormon Battalion[.] We crossed the Missouri River on a Ferry, there being no Bridges in those days across the great River, The Cattle were made to swim across, which was a very difficult task, but was finally accomplished safely, and we Camped on the Historic Ground, Winter Quarters, now known as Florence, We remained here about a month, during that time we were joined by a Company of Saints from St Louis, under the Leadership of Elder James, Hart, Apostle John, Taylor, thought it best, for the two Companies to join, under the Leadership of Hoffeins, as Capt, Hart had never crossed the Plains, Our Conjoint Company now consisted of sixty Wagons, I was now 17 years old,	
We left Florence, on a beautiful June morning, for the Great West, All went well as we travelled on towards our future Home, until we came to the Loup Fork River, a very dangerous Stream, and which we had to Ford, it being full of Quicksand, made it very difficult fording, especially as we had to go up the bed of the Str[e]am, for over a mile, We put twelve yoke of Oxen on to a wagon, and was obliged to keep them in quick motion all the way or the wagons and Oxen, would sink and be lost, It took us all day to Ford the sixty Wagons across this treacherous Stream, but it was accomplished without Accidents, and every body was happy, We were now in the Buffallo country, and we encountered tens of thousands, every day, for weeks, We often had to stop, and let large herds of them cross the road before we could move on, Our Hunters, my Father [Matthew McCune] being the Chief, kept us well supplied with fresh Meat, and we dried quite a lot and brought it into the Vallys, so that we had dried meat all the following Winter, The only trouble that we encountered with the Indians, was the Stampeding of our Cattle, by which our Company lost forty head of our youngest Oxen, two of that number, were my Fathers, which crippled us greatly, We followed the trail of the Thieves for two days, It lead us into a great Desert, and we were obliged to give up the Chase, as our Horses were fagged out, and there was no feed nor water, so we were obliged to return empty handed, tired out, and very sleepy, having had no rest or sleep, for two nights, The night of our return, it came my turn to be Camp Guard on the last four hours of the night, and our instructions were, not to move about, but to sit quiet in one place, for fear that the Indians might pick us off with their Rifles[.] I took. my Post, that which was occupied by the Guard I relieved, by a wagon wheel, and in spite of all I could do, I fell asleep, with my Rifle in my arms, I was awakened by our Captain, Jacob, Hoffiens, who Cursed and Swore awfully and awoke the whole Camp, with his noise and bluster, and at the morning meeting, he proposed that I be tied to a Wagon wheel and whipped, He had no more than said the word, before the young Men with whom I had been out for the Cattle, Pounced upon him, and would have given him a severe whipping, if my Father and I had not interceded for the Wretch, But they run him out of Camp, and kept him out for three days, He became very Pennitent, and was allowed to come in, but he was no longer our Captain, By a Unanimous vote my Father was sustained as Captain of the Company, for th[e] remainder of the journey. In due time we arrived at Fort Laramie, where we found some French Traders, who had a big herd of Cattle, supposed to be Cattle stolen from other Companies, by the Indians, with whom they were in League, My Father purchased a Yoke of Oxen of them, to replace the yoke that was run off by their Emissaries, the Indians, The Plains in those days was teaming with Game, from Buffaloes, to Prarie Chickens, and Rabbits, Deer and Antelope, in droves[.] So we had all the fresh meat we could wish for, but we did not kill for Sport, but just what was needed for our daily use, That was President Brigham, Youngs, Counsel, to all of the Emigrants, 
About the first of September, we arrived at a place called Deer Creek, there we met Elder N.V. Jones for the first time since he left us in India, and it was a very happy meeting, He was dressed in a Buckskin suit, and looked grand, he was a tall handsome Man, He kindly let us have a Yoke of big fat Oxen, which helped us greatly and for which we were grateful, as our faithful Cattle were drilled down very thin and weary, and were very sore footed, We arrived in Salt Lake City, on the 21st day of September, 1857, and pitched our Tent on the 8th Ward Square, Now occupied by the City, and County, Building,

Transcript for McCune, Henry Frederick, Autobiography and diaries, 1919-1924, fd. 1, 9-13

Our Pioneer Heritage

Our pioneer heritage, Vol. 12, Page 103-105.

Our Pioneer Heritage.

Richards, S. W. and Briant Stringam

Richards, S. W. and Briant Stringam, August 18, 1857.

<center>Dear Creek Station Augt 18th 1857</center>
Prest. Brigham Young
Dear Brother.
We take pleasure in availing ourselves of this opportunity to write you a few lines, that you may be posted of our where-abouts, the intelligence we have thus far obtained upon the road &amp;c. &amp;c.	
We reached this place this A.M. and found all things well and an excellent spirit prevailing with the bretheren. 	
In relation to our Emigration, concerning which we know your anxiety, we haste to inform you, that we met Bros Evans, Martin, and Ashby with their companies of Handcarts &amp; wagons about 4 miles East of Independence Rock on the morning of the 17th inst, all well and cheerful, and travelling at a rapid rate. Just at evening of the same day we met Bro. Moody with a part of the Texan Company about 4 miles East of the Willow Springs, with good teams, and able to travel at a rapid rate. About 6 miles back of this company and about 3 miles from where they leave the Platte, we met the first company of Government Wagons loaded with Freight &lt;designed&gt; for the Troops. This company consisted of 26 wagons with 6 yokes of cattle to each wagon, and a few head of extra cattle. There were only two or three extra men with the train in charge, and everything appeared very civil and quiet. The same evening we passed the 2nd Government train in camp, about 4 miles above the crossing of the platte, and judged them to be of about the same size and character as the first company. At the upper crossing of the platte, Elders [Matthias] Cowley, [Christian] Christensen [Christiansen], and [James P.] Parkes with their companies of Handcarts and Wagons were camped and staid last night. We conversed with Elders Cowley and Parkes, and found that they were moving along very comfortably, and teams had been doing well. These last named Companys of Hand carts were depending upon the station at Devils Gate for their entire breadstuff to last them from that point into the Valley. They were about 380 persons, &amp; Elder parks judged they would require about 600 lb per day.	
About 3 miles below the upper crossing we met Elder Homer Duncan, with the remaining portion of the Texan company and their Herd of Stock, moving as freely along as the large herd they had would allow. Elders [Jacob] Hoffheins [Hofheins] &amp; &lt;Harts&gt; companies have passed here today. They are rather weak for team having lost nearly fifty head of cattle in stampedes. They succeeded in buying a few yoke of a trader near here which enables them to move along with tolerable speed.	
Elders Young &amp; Little have not yet arrived at this point with the remainder of the Emigration but are supposed to be only about two days behind.	
Elder Walker's team with passengers' Luggage we passed on the 16th about 40 miles above Devils Gate, and Stewart's train of goods at same place. Every thing we can learn relative to the Emigration is as prosperous as could be expected.	
We leave here early in the morning for Horse shoe Creek, and will look after the rear companies of our Emigration and forward them with all possible speed. We shall also endeavour to learn all that we can about the Troops and report as often as expedient.	
Bro. N.V. Jones informs us that on the 16th he had conversation with Reshaw who had just arrived from Laramie from whom he learned that word had been passed from Gen. Hearney to the Fort that he had orders to remove our stations from the line, and assured Bro. Jones that he and the bretheren would have to leave &amp; that his information was from a reliable source. Bro. Jones further inquired as to the where abouts of Genl. Hearney, but Reshaw said he could not find out.—that the commander at the Fort knew but would only give him to understand that it was the intention to remove everything from the road and pass over it under a forced march so that no news should go in advance. In the plan of their operations, secretiveness, seems to be a very prominent feature. He thought they would not be along here before the first of September.	
Col. Sumner's Command have now been gone among the Schyennes several days longer than they were rationed for, and have not been heard from. It is already believed by the Mountaineers that he and his party have been "used up" by the indians. The Cheyennes have already succeeded in stealing some 440 head of Beef Cattle from one of the rear Government trains.	
From report we expected to find a company of McGraw's men at Markhams station say about 30 men and very bad at that, but on arriving there we found the full number was only 14 men under Surveyor Lander, that they were very civil, and were waiting McGraw's arrival so that they could proceed on through to California and complete the surveying they have to do on the line. Some two or three Routes are being surveyed through south of this by the soldiers which perhaps accounts for the report that soldiers were in Sweet Water &amp;c. Col. Johnson is said to be out with a Battalion, and also Col. Cooke on different routes.	
We feel that we are realizing the blessings put upon us by the servants of the Lord daily, and ever pray that they may continue.	
Praying for the increasing welfare of Israel and the rulers thereof in Zion, we remain
<center>Yours faithfully in Christ,	</center>
 S.W. Richards 	Briant Stringam

Transcript for Richards, S. W. and Briant Stringam, 18 Aug. 1857, in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 35, box 25, fd. 23

Richards, S. W. and Briant Stringam.

Sarah M. Cannon journal

Sarah M. Cannon journal, May 1857.

Transcript for Sarah M. Cannon journal, 1857 May-September, Folder 1, 1857 May-September

Sarah M. Cannon journal.

Terry, Thomas Searles, Autobiography [ca. 1856], 15-16

Terry, Thomas Searles, Autobiography [ca. 1856], 15-16.

We got ready to Start and our wagons left Winter quarters on the Ninth of June 1847[.] we traviled out 28 miles to the Elk Horn River, 
<s xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">we</s>
 here we waited till All of the wagons had come up.
on the Eighteenth of June, there was 656 wagons on the Ground, and was all Organized into Companys of tens, and tens into fiftys and fiftys into Hundreds[.] Our wagons was in the first ten and first fifty and the &lt;first&gt; Hundred, our fifty left next Morning for the Mountains in the command of Perrygreen [Perrigrine] Sessions and Elijah F[unk] Sheets Captain of the first ten And Daniel Spencer Captain of the hundred 
we left the Elk Horn River June 19, 1847[.] We were on the road three months and Six days, We was Pilgrims inceach [in search] of A Home, we was Banished by a ruthless Mob, who was Sancioned by the Authorites of our <s>Goverm</s> Goverment, from our homes and the land of our Birth to Seek an <s>Asyl</s> Asylum in the far distant West among Savages, and the wild Beast of the Mountains, but the noble Band of Pioneers who was lead [led] by President Brigham Young, who was the Prophet of God; They had Started in the Spring, we followed their trail as much as possible[.] it was Some times difficult to follow, as the heavy rains and the high Grass, had covered it all up, our journey was Toilsome And fetaugeing [fatiguing] yet we had Many Senes [Scenes] of Pleasure and of joye, while on the Plaines[.] I enjoyed myself first reat [rate], on the Plaines it was A new life to me, and which Suited well, I enjoyed good health, And the time pass a way Pleasant, 
After a journey of one Thousand and thirty Miles which took us three months and 6 days, we arrived on the 25th of September in the valley of the Great Salt Leake [Lake], where the Pioniers had Arrived on the 24th of July, 1847 and which place they had selected a home for the Saints,

Transcript for Terry, Thomas Searles, Autobiography [ca. 1856], 15-16

Thomas S. Terry autobiography and diary, circa 1856

Thomas S. Terry autobiography and diary, circa 1856, June 1857.

Transcript for Thomas S. Terry autobiography and diary, circa 1856, 1857 June-1859 December

Thomas S. Terry autobiography and diary, circa 1856.

[List of those filing for lots, 1848], in Salt Lake County Recorder's Office, Land records [ca. 1847-1860]

[List of those filing for lots, 1848], in Salt Lake County Recorder's Office, Land records [ca. 1847-1860], Page 11.

[List of those filing for lots, 1848], in Salt Lake County Recorder's Office, Land records [ca. 1847-1860].

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He was called to serve among the German speaking people in New York.

Jacob Hofheins

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