James Darling Ross (1824 - 1878) Profile

British Missionaries, Liverpool, 1855 - discussed plans to utilize handcarts to bring some Saints to Zion during 1856 season.

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

James Darling Ross

birth-date-qualifier-birth

British Mission history 1841-1971

British Mission history 1841-1971.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report

Appointments

"Appointments", British Mission Manuscript history and historical report, August 23, 1856.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report.

British Mission manuscript history and historical reports 1841-1971

British Mission manuscript history and historical reports 1841-1971, November 5, 1853.

British Mission manuscript history and historical reports 1841-1971.

European Missionaries from Zion

European Missionaries from Zion.

"J. D. Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star

"J. D. Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 15.

"J. D. Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star.

"J.D. Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star

"J.D. Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 14.

"J.D. Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star.

"James D Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star

"James D Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, January 22, 1859, Vol. 21.

"James D Ross," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star.

5th Company of 50 report

5th Company of 50 report, September 1852.

5th Company of 50 report.

Charles Sansom autobiography, 1907, 12-80

Charles Sansom autobiography, 1907, 12-80.

Transcript for Charles Sansom autobiography, 1907, 12-80

Council Point Emigrating Company journal

Council Point Emigrating Company journal, November 1851.

Transcript for Council Point Emigrating Company journal, 1851 November-1852 September

Council Point Emigrating Company journal.

Deseret News

The Immigration

"The Immigration", Deseret News, August 15, 1860.

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The Immigration.
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The following are the names of persons in Capt. John Smith's company of immigrant saints, as per his report forwarded to President Brigham Young from Laramie on the 27th of July:



John Smith; Lorin, Lovina, Hyrum S. [Smith], Jerusha C. [Celesta], Edwina M. [Mariah], Emma T. [Irene], William A. [Arthur] and Sarah E. [Ellen] Walker; Minor J. [Jewett], Lucy M. [A.], Sarah [Adelia], Eliza [Alida], and Francis Prisbrey; Mary Ann [Marianne] Pearson; Minor G. [Grant], Mary Ann [Hershey], Joseph [Smith] and Lucy Ann Prisbrey; Nathan [Cutler], Isabella [Wells], Wingaliea [Wingallea], Carey F. [Cora Isabelle] and Lydia B. [Lydia Rebecca] Davis; Alfred Holmes; William [B.], Ann [Annie Hayes], Thomas Stennett], Sarah Ann [Stennett], Martha [Stennett] and George [Joseph] Popfelton [Poppleton], Milam [Milan Lucian], Elizabeth [Sanborn], Edgar, Norman, James, Julia [Ann] and Alma [Milan] Fillmore; Daniel [Babcock], Thankful [Ann Grant], Martha [Minerva], [Daniel] Ranson, Marantha, Rosille [Thankful Rosella], Oscar [Newman] and Antha [Elmira] Fillmore; Orin Stoddard; Osmar, [Mary] Jane, Lucy Ann, Andrew J. [Jackson], Clarence [Augustus], Eveline [Augusta], Osmar G. and Charles [Merrit] Lamb; James O. [Orrin], Mary Jane [Fillmore], Jerome [Truman], Caliste [M.] and Denver [Orrin] Lamb; William and Mariette Burbeck; Karl G. [Gottfrid], Anna [Henrietta Meith], [Karl Frederick] Reinhard and Ortille [Anna Ottillie] Maeser; Camilla [Clara] Mieth; John [Jacob] Slaugh; William [Wilkinson], Mary [Ellen Stones], Hannah and Clementine Tuke; William and Jane Knapp [Knopp]; John and Susan Reynolds; John, Anna [Eva Dittmore], Henry, Mary [Elizabeth], and William Herbert [Herbst], Henry Didmore [Dittmore]; Mary and Henry S. Sheen [Sheets], William, Ann, Sarah, Thomas H. and Albert H. Starkey; Elizabeth Dunavan [Donovan]; William, Dinah [Ingham], John and William [Ingham] Nutter; Nancy [Nutter] and Elizabeth [Ann] Stemworth [Stanworth]; Henry, [Agnes] Francis [Goble], Joseph, Henry S. [Sidney] and Harriet J. [Jane] Howell; Eli, Martha and Ruth [Alice] Whitely; Thomas and Sarah Morgan; George and Eliza Gunn; William, Caroline [Hutchins] and Charles Brozier [Brazier]; Mary Ann [Gunn] Adey; Ann and Benjamin Gunn; John [C.], Caroline [Barham], John W. [William], Louisa B. [Barham] and Priscilla [Barham] Gunn; William, Emma [Baker], William [Baker], jr., Louisa, Fanny and Betsey Gunn; Betsey Judd; Cornelius, Frances [Hobbs], Jane [Caroline] and [Frances] Lucy Traveller; William [James], Jane [Gadsby] and Sarah J. [Jane] Panter; George Harrison; Nicholas, Julianna, Levi, Mary and Jane Lesater [Lasater]; John, Sarah [Blecher], Elizabeth, Louisa, Alice, Joseph, Hyrum and Esther Charrington [Cherrington]; John, Sarah and Ann Hughes; David, Ann, Sarah and John Evans; Philip [Phillip], Margaret [Davies], Elizabeth and Joseph [D.] Naughan [Vaughan]; John and Ann Beer [Beers]; James and Elizabeth Thompson; Henry, Caroline [Good], Malinda, Nancy A. [Ann] and Benjamin Hershey; Xavier F. and Mary Schlage; [James] Henry, Jane [Allen], John H. [Henry] and Mary J. [Jane] Blackner; Joshua, Elizabeth [Hoskins], Mary [Carter], Ellis [Davies], Benjamin [Hancock], William H. [Henry] and Caroline Salisbury; Mary [Whitehead], Mary A. [Ann] and Adam Chatwick [Chadwick]; James and Jane Sewell; Henry, Isabella [Elizabeth Archibald], Elizabeth and Henry [James] Anderson; Ellen [Easton] and George [Lawson] Scott; William, Eliza [Jane Broadbent], Frederic [William], Miranda [Jane], Mary [Elizabeth] and Sarah [Ann] Mullin; Mary E., Mary [E.] and Eliza Shawan [Shewan]; William and Ellen Young, Ann [Slater] Bunding [Bunting], Ann, John and Alfred Fenn; Stephen, Jane [Ellen Glover], James [William], Sarah, Margaret, Jane E. [Ellen] and Eliza [Elizabeth] Shelton [Skelton]; Benjamin, Phebe [Phoebe Davis], Margaret [Jane], Mary, Ann, Sarah, Emma and Thomas J. [John] Isaac; Daniel, Margaret [Evans], Ruth, Margaret, Samuel [H.] and Anna Williams; John O., Margaret [Jane John], Elizabeth, Emilie [Emily Caravena] and Chas. [Charles Cogan] Thomas; John E., Mary [Davies], Thomas, Evan [E.], Jane and Gorner [Gomer Isaac] Rees; Richard Williams; John [Haines], Sarah [Jane Davis], William [Davis], David [Davis], Thomas J. [John] and Ann L. [Anne Lianne] Williams; John Williams, sen.; William and Eva [Morgan] Bath; John Jenkins; Maria and Ann Bath; Hannah, Fanny and George Watson; Philip Bath; John, Hannah [Draycott], Mary A. [Ann] and Hyrum Bates; Joseph and Sarah Bradley; Evan and Margaret Thomas; John [Phillip] and Rachel [Williams] Isaac; Theophilus and Mary Williams; Thomas [Daniel] Stephens; Mary A. [Ann Webb] Stephens; William D. Roberts; Rodney [Quinby] Shoemaker; William Willis and Herman Davis.



There had been three deaths in the company before arriving at Laramie. William Glover, aged 80, died on the 1st, John [Cartwright] Cherrington the 10th, and Emma Blackner on the 15th of July. The last two were children not a year old.



The following are the names of persons in the First Hand-cart company, Capt. Daniel Robinson, which left Florence June 6, 1860:



Robert Stoney and family, [William] Oliver Mawson, George Pacer [Facer] and family, James Cook, George Nash and family; George Rogers and family; Mary Ann Gorton, Charles [M.] Webb and family; Susan Lavender and family, Amelia Rothwed [Rothwell], John Wagstaff, Demas Ashdown and family; Emma Jackson, Alfred Birmingham, Henry Nichols, Sarah Nichols, Alice [Bryant] Hook and family, Harriet Taylor, Thomas Birmingham, Edwin [Morrell] Curtis and wife, Hugh Cousins, Mark H. Forscutt and wife, Maria Holmes, Ellen Payne, William Walker and family, Henry Harrison, Sarah Birmingham, Hannah Slater, Sarah Booth, George Wright, Jabez Faux, David Holder, Dorathy [Dorothy] Kipling and family, Joseph Bell and family, Annie H. Hobbe [Annie E. Hobbs], George Meldrum and family, Jane Meldrum, Edward P. [Pearson] Holder , Andrew [Walker] Higgie [Heggie], Charles McNeil and family, John [Black] McCulloch and family, James Beverland and wife, Ann [Pearson] Holder, Margaret Whitten, Henry Tempest and family, William Williams, Eliza Rogers, Levi Naylor, Mary Matthews, Mary Nash, Ann Richardson, Joseph Slater, Mary Ann Webb, Christian Christiansan [Christensen], Thomas Green and family, Elizabeth Parkinson and family, Jesse Wilgas [Wilgus] and family, William Hemmings and family, John W. [William] Townsend and family, Elizabeth Royall [Royale], Jane Baker, Christopher Gardner and wife, John Stonestion [Stonestrom] and family, William Falconbridge, David Moffit [Moffat] and family, Thomas Jones and family, John Lewis and family, John Gibson and family, Henry Jacques and family, Robert Siddoway and family, William [Walter] Shewar [Shewan] and family, [Foster] Thomas Hook, Ann Stevens, William Ordige [Ordidge] and wife, John Wardle and family, David Richards and family, Ann Jackson, Hugh G. [Greenleaf] Sibbell [Sibbett] and family, Fanny [Franz] &amp; Mary Ann Robison, Richard Cough [Gough] and family, John Pilling, William Brownlow and wife, Hannah Cockin, John Siddoway and wife, Pridger [Pridgen] and Phoebe Thacker; [John] Joseph Welch and family, Conrad [Alma] Smith and family, Joseph Lapish and family, David [C.] Robison, Daniel Robison and family, William [R.] Corbett [Corbitt] and family, Augustus [Embley] Pierce and family, A. Dalrymple, William Robinson [Robison].



In the company there were 233 persons, 43 hand-carts, 6 wagons, 38 oxen and 10 tents.



The following are the names of persons in Captain James D. Ross' Wagon company:



James D. [Darling] Ross and family, George Smith and family, George Fawns [Farnes], Charles Budd, Harriet Husband [Husbands], Susan Husband [Husbands], Henry McEwan and family, Mary G. [Gilmore] White, Ebenezer Tucker, Frank Wilson and family, James Nibley and family, Thomas Dee and family, John Marsten and wife, John Frehand [Treharne], Wm. [William Bell] Barton and wife, Emma Walker, John J. Duke and wife, Wm. Cooper and wife, Sarah Clark, Henry Druce and family, Owen Jones, John Green, Richard Fry and wife, James Tucker and wife, Aaron Rigby and family, Wm. Robson and family, Richard Rankin and wife, Malcolm Donald and wife, Jane Allen, Wm. Ferguson, Joseph Graham and child, Henry [S.] Winson [Vinson] and family, Ann Haigh, Fanny Teaqnes [Teagues], Phillip Edwards and wife, Emily Davis, Thomas Parry and family, Edward Lloyd, Thomas Bolton [Boulton] and family, Thos. Hodgkins [Thomas Hodgkiss] and family, Valentine Rock and family, Thos. [Thomas Goldman Smith] and Benj. [Benjamin Franklin] Smith, Thomas [H.] Bradshaw and family, Mary Rumreal and daughter, Precila Blackatt [Priscilla Blackett], Rebacca [Rebecca] Murray and daughter, Winter Hastings, and family, Robert McCloy, Eliza Scalpin [Scelpin], Neils Snueson [Thueson] and family, M. C. E. Schaneveld [Edward Conrad Emil Schvaneveldt] and family, Nill [Nell] Fulson , Ola N. Lindgreen and family, Wm. Rodgers and family, Henry McCoy, Wm. Cooper and wife, Sarah Clark, John Croft and wife, Jesse [Jessie Sophia] Mitchell, Wm. Thornton and family, John C. Loosle [Loosli] and family, James Furriman [Fuhriman] and family, Annie Stiescheweld [Hegesveld], Ulrich Looslie and family, Maria Perenand [Perenaud], Louisa Perenand [Perenaud], [Johann] Rudolph Fley [Frei], Magda [Magdalena] Schneider, Johannes Diem and family, Caroline Schneeble [Schneibel], Conrad Huten [Hafen] and family, Daniel Benelie [Bonelli], John Hebbur [Reber] and family, John Stahele [Staheli] and family, Margaretha Vengar [Venger]; Samuel Hoffman and wife, Henuck [Heinrich]Kuhn[,] Sebrath Bar[,] Susannah Ledler [Sedler], Godleb Fley [Gottleib Frei], Maria Naf [Anna Maria Frei Naef] and family, John Stanfer [Staufer], Frederick Stanfer, Magdaline Kushu [Magdalena Kirsher] and family, Nicholas Huber, Wm. Stahele [William Staheli], Anna [or Hannah] Sidler, Eliza Stahele [Elizabeth Thalman Staheli], Christian Rerger [Berger] and family, F. Schapple [John Henry Schlappi] and family, Harnrich Schalerer [Heinrich Scharrer], and family, John Jnoser [Moser], Verena Ravver [Reber], Madalena Galli.



There were 249 persons, 36 wagons, 142 oxen and 54 cows in this company when it left Florence on the 17th of June.



The following are the names of persons in Captain Jesse [Easters] Murphy's company:



E. M. [Jesse Easters] Murphy and family, Jacob Dalson, Emanuel Bird [Murphy], Thomas E. Murphy and family, Thomas Stelfox and son, Fanny Stelfox, John Barnett and family, Margarett [Margaret] Lang, Jane Thomas, Joseph [William] Ovard, Nahima Holder [Nahum Cole Holden] and family, Elam Meecham [Mecham] and wife, Salsbury [Salisburg] Cummings, Sarah Jane Cummings, Mary Heuchett [Henchett], Wesley Norton, Benjamin P. Brown and family, Wm. Johnson, Emerett Sawyer and family, Margaret Denny and family, Edward Blair and family, Joseph Brown and wife, James Collins, Catherine Collins [Collings], Wm. H. Hunt and family, Jane Burden, George [Franklin] Jarvis and family, W. C. [William Cook] Reamer and family, Margaret Hardie [or Hardy], Jamesh [James Lippecot] Wilbert, Charles M. Webb and family, Wm. Lark and family, Robt. Clarkson and family George Spiers and family Rose Anna West, Eliza Smith, Anna Sherriger [Sherregar] George Ostler, John Crisholm [Chisholm] and family, Thomas [Benjamin] Davis and family, James Collins [Collings] and family, Mahonri M. Cumer [Collings], Robert E. Hartlett [Hurlett] and wife, John Eardley and family, Josiah Eardley, W. L. [Lot] Webster and wife, Eliza Williams, Thomas Overd and family, Thomas Smith and family, Isabella Reid, Joel S. Campbell and family, John W. Jenks [Jinks] and wife, More [Moroni] Campbell and wife, Dorthea Clark and family, John Kynaston and wife, Wm. [William Windsor] Jones and family, Frances Sprowl [Francis Sproul] and family, Lewis Taft and wife, Benj. N. Gavitt [Gavitte], Alonza D. Gavitt, Samuel Bee and family, M. [Mannery] Hulmes and family, Joseph Warburton and family, David [Giles] Roberts, Henry Hug and wife, Henry Buz [Benz] and family, Margaretta Wamftler [Wampfler], George Bouelle [Bonelli], Elizabeth Pankhausen [Frankhausen], John Uluck Stucke [John Ulrich Stucki] and wife, Henry Hafter and wife, Babetta Kunzei [Barbara Kuenzle], George Delthelm [Diethelm] and wife, Frederick Thencer [Theurer], Hendrick Gubler and family, Maria Benelli [Bonelli], Mary Huckstrasser [Hochstrasser] and family, John Gubler and family, Ulrich Traber and family, Maria Rutschi, Jacob Graf and family, Maria Stahl, Gottlieb Herschi [Hirschi], Ulrich Auer and family, Paul A. Schettler, Allretoo Bischef [Albrecht Bischoff] and family, Wm. Ostler and wife, Elizabeth Schneider, Edward Haber [Huber] and family, Damitile [Domitilo] Henriod, Richard Morris and family, Lettice Thomas and daughter Martha McCreery, Charles Miles, Joseph Morris and family, Christina Elliot, Caroline Goswold.



This company when organized consisted of 279 persons, 38 wagons 164 oxen and 39 cows and left Florence on the 19th of June.



The names of emigrants in the 4th wagon and 2d hand cart companies have been received and will be published next week.

Transcript for "The Immigration," Deseret News, 15 August 1860, 189

Deseret News.

"Died," Salt Lake Herald

"Died," Salt Lake Herald, October 2, 1878.

"Died," Salt Lake Herald.

Emigration list for Spring, 1860

Emigration list for Spring, 1860, Page 11.

Emigration list for Spring, 1860.

George K. Bowering journal

George K. Bowering journal, July 1842.

Transcript for George K. Bowering journal, 1842 July-1875 January, 79-118

George K. Bowering journal.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008. Supplement after 31 December 1860: Page 19.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008. Supplement after 31 December 1852: Page 33.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Johann L. Baer autobiography, circa 1908, 17-18

Johann L. Baer autobiography, circa 1908, 17-18.

Starting on our journey across the plains or American Desert Brother Disam, a Swiss, helped us to continue our journey from New York. He bbought 4 teams. I drove one, was to pay him after we arrived in the valley. This I agreed to do. Our train consisted of 35 wagons with 2 or 3 yoke of cattle to each. 8 wagons belonged to the Swiss. We proceeded fairly well until on a very hot day the cattle with their tongues hanging out with thirst about noon we reached Platte river where we watered our cattle. Our wagon was heavy loaded, 3500 lbs. on it with 3 yoke of cattle and 2 of us to drive. One of the oxen was half buffalo. We had him hitched with his mate which was as gentle as a lamb to the wagon tongue. I drove the front ones, my partner the back ones. I unhitched mine but he was afraid of the buffalo. He was a big stout man over 6 feet tall. He could have reached over the gentle one without going between them, but he would not. They had to be watered, no question about that or they might run down with the wagon into the river and mash things to pieces. I started to unhitch them. I was small and could not reach over. I had to go between them. As I took hold of the yoke ring, the buffalo commenced to jump and jump and the other one got scared and jumped too. I was knocked down on the wagon tongue and got pressed in between them with no way to escape. It seemed everyone was scared and kept their distance, leaving me to my fate. But as soon as the Captain, J[ames]. D. Ross saw what was going on he came with a big stick right in front of the infuriated animals and in the twinkling of an eye they jumped to one side. The axle broke, a wheel fell off. It gave me a place to jump. I made the leap and fell exhausted. When the people came[,] a Swiss Sister who could speak three languages got some water and bathed my head and wounds. Brother Ross administered to me. As soon as a new asle [axle] was put in they lifted me into the wagon and we journied on again. They finally got the yoke off the buffalo, but it took the whole camp 2 hours to get it on again, so it was decided to trade him off the first chance we had, to a ranchman, which we did. In a day or two I was able to walk again, holding on to the wagon, as I had difficulty to breathe. In 2 weeks I was called again to take my turn as watchman from 8 to 12 that night. I tried to be excused as I did not feel well enough. I had such a heavy pressure on my lungs, but I had to go anyway. In a short time blood came out of my mouth in lumps that nearly choked me. I had to take them out with my fingers. My lungs have been weak ever since. I had such faith in this Latter-Day work that I thought when I could see that place of refuge I would fall down and kiss the very ground and praise God’s Holy name. But Oh! how soon it changed. All along our way we had our morning and evening prayers and sang the songs of Zion. As we were getting closer to the Rocky Mountain Range, a strange feeling came over me, evil forebodings of terrible things, troubles and trials seemed to penetrate my whole system. I felt like the air was full of demons and evil spirits which made me feel so miserable I cannot describe it. The nearer we got to our journeys end the worse I felt. When we reached the top of the big mountain we could look down into that chamber and see teams on the Sabboth day going up and down the canyon hauling wood. I was so horrified and inquired who they were. They answered saying that they were Gentiles. Well, we were told in the old country that no Gentiles would come here as it is the Lords chamber where the people of God had a hiding place till his wrath is passed over the nation. About 7 or 8 miles from Salt Lake City we made a noon halt. There came a few heavy set fellows from the valley, one of them offered up a prayer but they did not remove their hats. On inquiring who they were I was informed they were some of the twelve to meet us. Well, I did think very little of them, because they would not remove their hats in time of prayer, while all the rest of us were bareheaded. I also found out that those teamsters on the mountain roads were Mormons, Brighams, and Kimballs and others. Reader, you might think how I felt, coming from Babylon in full confidence to go to the Saints of the Most high and found them such transgressors of the law, which would not have been tolerated in Babylon so called. O my God, my God what shall the end be? O Israel of old has gone astray in spite of the warning of the prophets and here Israel of the Latter Days going astray, yea their prophets and leaders their seducers. As we arrived at the city square, which was dusty as could be and a strong wind blowing, we were in a puzzle, thousands of miles from home and friends, destitute and in a strange country, with little understanding of their language, no advice, no help, no assistance in any way, there you are to root or die.

Transcript for Johann L. Baer autobiography, circa 1908, 17-18

Nibley, Charles W., Reminiscences of Charles W. Nibley (1849-1931) (Salt Lake City: 1934), 16-22

Nibley, Charles W., Reminiscences of Charles W. Nibley (1849-1931) (Salt Lake City: 1934), 16-22.

By the spring of 1860 my ever thrifty and prudent mother [Jane Nibley] must have had saved away some two or three thousand dollars. There was nothing but war talk in the United States that spring and lest my father [James Nibley] and older brother [James] should be drafted into the war which was just then beginning, it was thought that we had better pack up with what means we had and start for the west rather than wait longer to try and accumulate any more. Accordingly we auctioned off our belongings in the month of May, 1860, and started for the west. We first went to Boston where we joined a company of emigrating saints, from Boston to Albany, New York, then up the Mohawk Valley over the present New York Central Railroad route to Buffalo, Niagara Falls and on the Michigan Central Railroad through Canada and Detroit to Chicago. From Chicago we traveled by rail to Hannibal, thence on to St. Joseph on the Missouri River. That was the farthest west that any railroad had extended in 1860. At St. Joseph we took the boat up the river to a place called Florence which is six miles above Omaha.



Here we met large numbers of emigrating saints congregating there and outfitting for the travel across the plains. It was here that I first began to get the least insight into Mormonism and Mormon methods. Meetings were held regularly, hymns sung everywhere and oft and the religious enthusiasm and spirit of the people were entirely different from what we had left behind in the east. A great number of the emigrating saints were assisted by the Church through the perpetual emigrating fund, but luckily we were rich enough to buy an outfit of our own and travel in what was called the "Independent Company." The family of Thomas D. Dee, who was then a boy of fourteen, was in the same company. J.D. Ross was the captain of the company. George Q. Cannon was in charge of the emigration and was there at Florence buying cattle, wagons and supplies for the emigrating saints. I think in June we first saw Apostles Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich and a young boy who was not then an apostle, Joseph F. Smith by name, who were on their way to fill missions in Europe.



Our outfit consisted of a brand new Schetler wagon, two yoke of oxen and two cows. We had a new Charter Oak stove in the wagon and our tent, bedding, provisions, etc.



We camped at Florence for nearly a month, as I remember. We lived in an old shack of a house during that time which was just enough shelter to keep some of the rain from wetting us. The house was located right where the reservoirs of the present water works are which supply they city of Omaha with water, the same being pumped out of the Missouri River into these reservoirs and filtered. I find from Jensen’s Church Chronology that our company left Florence, Nebraska, June 17, 1860, and arrived in Salt Lake City on Monday, September 3rd. The company consisted of 249 persons, 36 wagons, 142 oxen, and 54 cows.



Our journey across the plains was of the usual ox team kind. There was little of special note that transpired. On the 4th of July we were near where they city of Kearney now stands and we heard the artillery from across the river at old Fort Kearney. This is about 200 miles from Omaha. We traveled about 90 miles a week which was an average of 15 miles a day for six days a week. No traveling was done on the Sabbath. It was always a day of rest and religious worship. I remember how green we all were with respect to yoking up cattle or milking cows or greasing the wagon or in doing anything that pertained to frontier or pioneer life.



At Florence when our two yoke of cattle and wagon were turned over to us, my father got on the off side of the cattle and tried to drive them. Of course, they were frightened and ran away down the hill to where the present engine house of the Omaha water works now stands at Florence. But we soon learned to manage things. The little tent which we had would be folded up carefully and tied behind the wagon. The tent poles, the two props and the roof pole would be tied together and there was a place for them in the wagon. Our bedding was all carefully taken care of and so we journeyed on. At noon the cattle would be unhitched, perhaps not always unyoked, and after eating a little we would give them a drink, and in the course of an hour and a half or two hours we were plodding on our road again. Of course, there are inconveniences and more or less hardship in that mode of travel but as I was a child of 11 years of age I do not remember the hardships; on the contrary, I rather enjoyed the whole trip. One thing that I distinctly remember is seeing tens of thousands of buffalo on the hills west of Kearney.



Sometimes the captain would have to stop the train and allow herds of buffaloes to slowly cross the wagon road and as they were in very large numbers this would occupy sometimes an hour. We often had buffalo meat to eat. It was very sweet and good. We would get long strips of it and hang it up to dry in the hot sun and when it was thoroughly dried it could be kept for days and weeks and was much better eating than chipped beef.



Every night the wagons were formed in a circle at some level convenient place for camping near water and each wagon would start its camp fire and cook supper, what little cooking there was to do, which consisted mostly of baking bread in an iron skillet, a utensil about eighteen inches in diameter, about four or five inches deep, made of cast iron. It had a heavy lid and it had three or four short legs to raise the body of the skillet from the ground and admit the fire underneath and then we put coals on top of the heavy lid. We often had difficulty in finding wood to burn as there were so many trains and so many camping places and no forests, whatever. It was a question to find something to make a fire. The best fuel we had on the plains where there was no wood at all, was what was called "buffalo chips," which in reality is simply sundried buffalo dung. After the cows were milked in the morning the milk that was not used would be put in a tin churn and strapped along side of the wagon and by noon it would be thoroughly churned and butter could be gathered and buttermilk could be had for lunch.



The thunder and lightning and rain storms that transpired periodically along the plains of Nebraska were something terrific and occasioned us some inconvenience and considerable fright. The Indians were very plentiful and sometimes a little troublesome although we never had any conflict whatever with them, but I can remember that they were a haughty and insolent lot, as they would ride upon their ponies decked in their feathers and paint and would frighten most of us people who were not used to them.



We young ones walked with bare feet most of the way across the plains. We soon got used to the wagon and tent and campfire life. Our bedding was rolled in bundles in the morning and the bundles simply unrolled at night upon the ground, thus the beds were made again. Altogether it was rather an enjoyable time for a boy of my age than any hardship. At least if it was hardship I did not feel it so. Of course to my father and mother at their time of life it must have been very different, and, no doubt, they suffered great inconvenience and more or less trial and sacrifice in it all.



We suffered no loss until we reached the crossing of Green River on the old immigrant road. At this point one of our best oxen laid down and died. This left us with three oxen and two cows. We yoked up one of the cows with the odd ox and traveled right along, as our load through consuming our provisions, was becoming lighter each day. The last Sunday of the trip was spent near Parley’s Park, a day’s travel with oxen from Salt Lake City. George A. Smith and other leading brethren came over the mountain to greet us and welcome us to our new country.



On Monday, September 3rd, we came out of the canyon and onto the bench near Fort Douglas, and I can very well remember with what joy and pleasure each one of our company, and even I, myself, looked upon the little growing city in the wilderness. We felt that all of our troubles and trials were practically at an end, when as a matter of fact, they had only just begun. For all the changing vicissitudes of pioneer life had to be undertaken and gone through with. Many things were difficult to learn and carry on.

Transcript for Nibley, Charles W., Reminiscences of Charles W. Nibley (1849-1931) (Salt Lake City: 1934), 16-22

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger A

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger A, Page 358.

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

Ross, J.D., to Brigham Young

Ross, J.D., to Brigham Young, September 1, 1860.

Bigg Mountain 
Saturday morning 
Sept 1st 1860



Dear President Young



The company of which I have the charge will camp west of the little mountain on Sunday probably all day as we purpose getting over the little mountain this evening and intends to rest on sunday and will reach the city on monday forenoon, should you deem it necessary to send any one to import Council to the company we will be right glad to receive them, the health of the company is good[.] the spirit of union and peace reigns among us[.] we have had one death on the journey a Swiss Brother who unwisely eat the flesh of an Ox that died of Alkali and was posioned [poisoned.]



Yours Obedien[t]ly



J.D. Ross

Transcript for Ross, J.D., to Brigham Young, 1 Sept. 1860. Brigham Young office files 1832-1878, General Incoming Correspondence, reel 38, box 27, fd. 18

Ross, J.D., to Brigham Young.

The Mountaineer

Local News: Names of Emigrants

"Local News: Names of Emigrants", The Mountaineer, August 18, 1860.

Transcript for "Local News: Names of Emigrants," The Mountaineer, 18 August 1860, 206

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Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Presided over the Cheltenham Conference

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Sarah Elizabeth Ross

Helen Miller

David James Ross

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John Edgar Ross

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Acted as president of the Kilmarnock Conference, Scotland, Millennial Star, vol. 15: 720, 730. Appointed to the charge of the London Pastorate, Millennial Star, vol. 21, 22 Jan 1859, 61.

James Darling Ross

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