Jacob Houtz (1814 - 1896)

Jacob Houtz (1814 - 1896) Profile

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Jacob Houtz

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Millennial Star

Arrivals

"Arrivals", Millennial Star, 15:4, January 22, 1853, Page 58.

Millennial Star.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, November 18, 1869, Vol. 1, Page 17, Line 694.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, November 18, 1869, Vol. 2, Page 18, Line 694.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Orson Spencer, The Prussian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Liverpool: S. W. Richards, 1853

Orson Spencer, The Prussian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Liverpool: S. W. Richards, 1853.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, June 21, 1847, Page 10.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008.

Index to Utah pioneer biographies

Utah Pioneer Biographies

"Utah Pioneer Biographies", Index to Utah pioneer biographies, 32, Page 82-83.

From Nauvoo we went again to Iowa and did not start West until 1853. In the company were mother, step father, half brothers James and Hyrum, and my half sister Rachel. Others to make up the company were Orson Spencer, Jacob Houtz, the family of the sister of Jacob Houtz, Aldro Lord, Joel Terrill, Charles, Henry, Emily, Mary and Sarah Woodmansee and myself.	
Although only a boy I took turn standing guard, helping to get game when needed, and assisted in every way possible as did the others. We, however, had an easier time than some of the early pioneers because we were well equipped with oxen, wagons and supplies. Weather conditions were as good as could be expected, yet there were hardships at the best, and we had to be constantly on guard against Indians and wild beasts. We had all the experiences, as did the other pioneers, of fording rivers, cattle stampedes, and Indian troubles.	
My step father and I had two yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, a span of horses, one light and one heavy wagon loaded heavily with freight. For food we had bacon, crackers, dried pumpkin, squash, dried fruit, flour and milk and butter from the cows. We would milk the cows in the morning, put the milk in a jar and by night through the chug and jar of the wagon it would be churned to butter.	
When we reached the Missouri River we were detained three weeks waiting to ferry, the traffic was so heavy crossing east and west. It was here I had my first Indian trouble. I had been away from camp all day and upon returning found an Indian trying to steal mother's best blankets. She tried to make him understand that she was going West and needed them, but neither party was able to know what the other said as they each spoke a different language. I went into the tent, got the old musket and pointing it at the Indian told him to be off. He seemed to comprehend the words and started towards the river. As he jumped in he made a motion of defiance. I raised my gun to my shoulder and fired as he came up the bank on the other side. He was heard to say, by some boatsmen who knew his language, that he would get even. Not knowing the nature and policy of the Indians I regretted my rash act afterwards. Three days later we crossed the river and one day out from there we came across a company of thirteen wagons under Captain Hazard going to California who had been attacked by the Pawnees, the tribe to which the Indian belonged. The guard was killed and the provisions stolen. We always thought the Indian had taken the company for us and had raided them.	
When nearing the West we seemed to have more and more trouble with the Indians. One day we met a lone man whose party had met with them. He had escaped with his life and two horses. He had no food and was practically destitute of clothes. We gave him some supplies and he proceeded East alone.	
While traveling through the Black Hills we caught up with two companies which had met with misfortune at the hands of Indians. They were going to California and were large in number. They had four or five hundred horses and oxen, some thirty-five vehicles and a goodly number of persons. We joined with them and gave each other support until we had passed the dangers from Indians.	
When we were two days out from Laramie, Wyoming we met a California company who had been raided and robbed by the Rapahoes, whom we found the most troublesome. They asked to buy clothes and as they could well afford it, having preserved their gold from California, they offered to pay $100 for 100 pounds of flour. We could not spare so much but did sell them 50 pounds for $25. We gave them some bacon and cooking utensils.	
One day while in Wyoming we espied an Indian blanket in a tree. All of the boys claimed to have been the first to see it and to decide the matter we ran a race to the tree. As I neared it and getting a whiff of wind from the direction of the tree I stopped and told the others they could have it. We found it contained the body of a dead Indian which had from appearances been there several days. Many things we learned concerning the wild red men as we went on and many more after settling in Utah.	
Just to give an idea of the prices in early days in Utah. While nearing our journey's end we came across an alkali lake. We shoveled and sacked up some saleratus, which we found could be had for the digging and when we got to Salt Lake sold 25 pounds for $25. This was used in cooking.	
We arrived in Utah for October conference 1853, after two months travel. Our company had covered 1,100 miles and we were indeed grateful for the reception given us by the saints and more so to know we had come that long hazardous journey and could now make a home unmolested by our enemies of the East.

Transcript for Hill, William John, [Autobiography], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 32:82-83

Index to Utah pioneer biographies.

Joseph S. Murdock diary and reminiscences, 1889

Joseph S. Murdock diary and reminiscences, 1889, Page 9-13.

When we got to Sarpes [Sarpy's] Point on the masura [Missouri] River we crosed and went to the Cold Springs. her[e] my Brother John died and was Buried in a Ind[i]ans grave that Carnal [Colonel] Cane [Kane] had taken up his [-] we moved on to Omahaw [Omaha], the next spring started for the Rocky Mountains. In crossing the horn and on up the plat[te] rive[r] continued to goo back to sarpes point 40 miles the other side[.] I found a yoake of oxen and drove on to camp and took my horse and started to get the oxins. I traveled about 6 miles and come too a muddy crick [creek] and co[u]ld not get my horse across so I dun my lines up on his neck and let him go[.] he went Back to camp I cros[s]ed the crick and found the cat[t]le and drove them to the crick and it came on darck and I got lost. 
After travling round some[,] it [was] very dark[,] I found some high grass and pulled and mad[e] my Bed for the night. I had a sheep skin around my s[h]oulders and no co[a]t or vest[.] I dremp of Buffalows robes for it was cold and the woolves howled and I tho[u]ght of Camp[,] my Mother wor[ri]ed[,] my wife tried to comfort her[.] When the stars came out [I] astarted for camp and got ther at sun up and now [no] oxen yet[.] We moved onto the sarpes point and camped for some daes [days.] I found that the oxen was Brother John Ta[y]lors. Brother g[e]orge Can[n]on and myself went Back and got them oxen and all was wright without mony and without prise [price]. I had A yoak of oxens ti[r]ed from over heat[.] we came to a camp of the Sues [Sioux] Indens [Indians]. they had taken from amongst the Buffalo a lot of oxen and the Brethren went over the plat[te] to B[u]y them[.] I set down on the ground and a man rode up to me and said Boy take this horse, and sadle and goo over the river and trade them for what you can get. I said maby you need that your self[.] he said that is non of your Bisnes [business.] I said all wright[.] I got up and mounted the horse and went over the river and Brother Charles Rich had charge of bying the cattle[.] I said I need a yoke of catle[.] he said all wright and when my turn Came I got up and puled of[f] the sadle and Bridle and asked an ind[i]an what he wold give for the hors. He gave me ox for the hors[.] I asked another what he would give for the bridle and sadleand he told me if [I] wold give my shirt and bridle sadle, he gave a ox[.] I puld of[f] my shirt then I asked that ingan [Indian who] o[w]ned the other ox they told me the indan was on a hunt[.] I told them I come Back to the river the next morning and would by the ox[.] we moved camp 4 miles that nite. 
the next morning I took a Peck of Corn and Calico, dres patern and went Back to the river[.] the indan came acros with the ox and I got him for the corn and dres patern[.] I got one ox from the man and one from the inden so that maid my teem good[.] so you Can see that I was blest[.] the mans name was Jacob Houtz he lives at Springville[, Utah.]
we moved up the Plat[t] river on too the Devels [Devil's] gate and on to sandy[.] ther we met President Yo[u]ng returning from salt Lake in the year 1847[.] We traveled on to green river[.] there we forded and went on too Fort Brigder [Bridger] then too Bear river then to Ec[h]o Canion [Canyon.] then crosed the weber river then over the little mountain then to mouth of Emigration Canion [Canyon] and camped for a few dais then moved to the Old Fort on City Creak [Creek] . . .

Transcript for Murdock, Joseph Stacy, Diary and reminiscences 1889, 9-13

Joseph S. Murdock diary and reminiscences, 1889.

Spencer, Daniel, Diaries 1845-1857

Spencer, Daniel, Diaries 1845-1857, Vol. 2.

Transcript for Spencer, Daniel, Diaries 1845-1857, vol. 2

Spencer, Daniel, Diaries 1845-1857.

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/chd/landing

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Union, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States

birthPlace

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Mary Elizabeth Houtz

Lucinda Houtz

Lydia Mease

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He was called to preach in Prussia, but was banished eight days after arriving in the country.

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Springville, Utah, Utah Territory, United States

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Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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The Church History Biographical Database is a powerful research tool that contains biographical entries on over 100,000 early Latter-day Saints, such as pioneers who traveled to Utah and missionaries who served throughout the world from 1830-1940.

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Jacob Houtz

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