James Henry Hart (1825 - 1906) Profile

James Henry Hart (1825 - 1906)

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James Henry Hart

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"Mormon in Motion, the Life and Journals of James H. Hart, 1825-1906, in England, France, and America." by Edward L. Hart. Copyright 1978 by Edward L. Hart, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 78-60386. Church History Library M270.1 H325h 1978

"Mormon in Motion, the Life and Journals of James H. Hart, 1825-1906, in England, France, and America." by Edward L. Hart. Copyright 1978 by Edward L. Hart, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 78-60386. Church History Library M270.1 H325h 1978.

Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877)

Richards, S. W. and Briant Stringam, Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877), 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

Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878 (bulk 1844-1877).

Henry Frederick McCune, autobiography and biography of his life and works, A.D. May 31, 1840 to December 15, 1924

Henry Frederick McCune, autobiography and biography of his life and works, A.D. May 31, 1840 to December 15, 1924, Page 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

Henry Frederick McCune, autobiography and biography of his life and works, A.D. May 31, 1840 to December 15, 1924.

John W. Dutson autobiography, undated

Dutson, John William, John W. Dutson autobiography, undated, Page 29-30.

I joined with Thomas Featherstone to fit out a team etc. for the valley ... on the 10th of June 1857 I moved my family on board the steamer Silver Heels, bound for Florence in connection with my family. Sisters Mary Ann Boote and Caroline Jenkins were passenger's in my charge.



on the following day the 11th at four oclock we sailed. Brother Snow, Brother Taylor and H. Hart, our president of Saint Louis came with us, the boat was crowded with passengers, I was appointed to preside over all of the saints. On lower deck I appointed all the men on board to guard luggage, passengers' and etc. from insults, and theft, each taking turn to guard two men coming on watch at a time, owing to so many, being crowded on the boat, and being so warm, many were taken sick with something that made its appearance like Cholora [cholera.] we had two cases of small pox, one had to leave the boat, the other was moved on the upper deck. It was an infant. It died after we landed. I was kept busy all the time attending to the sick, washing deck etc. To try to keep away disease,



on the 8th day we landed at Florence, having no death, nor accidents on the way. I did not sleep any all the way felt very much fatigued. began to be very sick, had them to put the wagons together, and keep an account of those given to individuals, and store tents and wagon covers, after fitting out all with wagon covers, tents etc. Got some cattle and moved all the wagons, on the hill at Florence. Wait for Deleware [Delaware] Company. I was very sick also my wife was very sick, while we waited the health of the company was generally very good. Brother John Taylor, then organized the company. J.H. Hart Captain of the company[,] Thomas Terry Captain of the first ten wagons, and myself Captain of the second ten wagons, and we were to travel together, that is both the Deleware and Saint Louis companies as far as Laramie, and then if it was thought best, that each company should travel alone, as it was thought that feed would be scarce, we then got our cattle yoked nearly all unbroken cattle and started on our journey, on the road from Florence, about three miles one wagon in my ten, broke down, it belonged to Mr. Snell. I stopped and sent the other wagons on.



Next day we made a new axle, and moved on to little Pappio [Papillion] where we found the company. Here we met with a company of thirty wagons, apostates from the Valley. Thomas Harris Captain nearly all the emigrants, that left St. Louis the year before, were returning, they commenced to speak hard of the Valley. Brigham Young etc. tried to get some of our company to return, Captain Terry and I went to their Capt. and told him to keep his company to themselves, and to mind their own business or we would force them to do so, Capt. Hart being back in Florence, it fell to our lot to manage this business. they did not succeed in turning any back.



Next morning they hoisted their flag and started. We left on our way to Great Salt Lake City, this was the 30th day of June.



We spent the 4th of July at Lukes Fork, here bapt. Hart, our Capt. arrived and also the Deleware company with capt. I offines, here Brother Charles G. Shill was appointed our chaplain, we had by this time got our cattle in very good subjections, rolled on well, arrived at first crossing of Platt[e]. Here we found a settlement made by some of the St. Louis, brethren who started early in the spring, named their fort Genoa, had plated garden, they brought me some radishes etc. They were all cheerful, helped us to cross the river, which was very difficult on account of the quick sand, crossed all safe and camped that night.



started next day, a dreadful storm came up about noon, it came so quick, that we could not form a corrall. we lost none of our cattle in this storm. We had a pleasant journey only feed very scarce, grasshoppers had eaten nearly all the grass, when we got to little snake creek our cattle was very restless, we spend noon. Some Sioux Indians came to us, they were friendly toward us. We got dinner and then moved on, we had traveled about a mile or so, when our cattle stampeded while attached to the wagons. Both companies being together their were forty wagons and three carrages. I had just been back and cautioned all in my ten to rope their lead cattle, that were wild, and when I had just got to the second wagon to the lead of the ten, a team in the third ten run starting the whole train, at this moment I took a large club and prepared myself to do the best I could to save the lives of the people. I yelled to the women and children, to stay in their wagons, and not to jump out, but many of them jumped out while the wagons were coming in all directions. many were run over and some were expected not to live. I broke the train, as well as I could, with the club I had in my hand, and then saved the lives of many, that was lying on the road, that jumped from the wagons. Brother Terry and I went around to see who was hurt etc. We administered to them as we found them on the ground. Some of them would ask us, to administer to them a number of times[.] we administered to some from five to seven times, they began to recover, there was a great many hurt, but no one was killed. We then carried those, that were hurt, the best way we could to their wagons, pitched their tents, and stopped to attend to the wounded. That night the first half of which I had to take my men, and guard the cattle, found the cattle to be uncontrollable. Brother [Simpson David] Offiker [Huffaker] Capt. of the Guard gave me more men, so that we could keep the cattle. At twelve oclock my time being up. My men were relieved by the other guard. I told the captain of the relief guard how the cattle acted, he wished me to stay with him. I done so, the cattle had broke several times this night, to run but we had succeeded, to get them back, until about the fifth time, when they broke some of the men run to get out of the way of the cattle. As the herd run I rushed in with a big club, and divided them in a few minutes. I got the portion that was behind to stop, six horsemen was then dispatched to get those back, that had run, they brought but a portion of them back, those that run having divided and in the dark, they could not see them, until the next night[.] the horsemen were in persuite of them, but could not see them. Tracked them, across the north and south platt, they returned, and that night, I was called upon to select seven men from my ten, and to go with three days provisions, to try to find the cattle. Bro. Offaker also was to take seven men with him and provisions etc.



We started at sunrise in the morning, traveled that day, on track of the cattle, next day we lost the track. We then thought it best to take different directions, to try to find them, we done so but could see nothing of them. Bro. Offaker said he should go about 20 miles down the river and then he should return.



I was out on my third day and about sundown was 10 miles from camp, at the south platt river, had just crossed the river to go to camp when I saw a train of wagons, coming up from old fort Karney [Kearny] on the south road. I then wanted the boys to say what we should do about seeing what train that was, I said it may be one of Uncle Sam's trains going to Utah, or it may be a mormon train, and likely we could find out something of our cattle, some said it would not be safe to go if it was a U.S. train. I said that I wanted two men to vollenteer to go with me and hail the train. Bro. Wm. Robinson of the Deleware Co. and Bro. James Mitchell of the Saint Louis Co. said they were ready to go. we started and when we had rode within about a half of a mile from the road we could see, by the appearance of the wagons, that it was a government train. The guard many of them were on foot and horseback. When they saw us coming to ward them, many of them dismounted, tied their horses to the wagons, and got in their wagons, and some walked on the other side of the wagons. I rode out from the other two that was with me, to meet their Capt. After a while three men rode out from the road and dismounted. I then asked where the Capt. of the train was, they all looked half frightened, one said it was the man next to him, he said it was the next, so the third man said he was Capt. I then asked him where the train was from, he said from Independence. I asked where he was going, he said to Utah, I asked if he was going to help drive the mormons, he said no they were going to enforce the laws of the United States. Then I told him we had lost some cattle, asked him if he could tell us where they was; he replied he had not seen them. So bid them a very good day, and started for camp. This was the first train of the Utah Expodition [Expedition].



We crossed the river and started that night, we got to north Platt[e] river about 8 or 9 oclock, It was so dark we could not cross the river that night. We crossed the river at day light. Brother Huffaker got to camp, the night before, he had not found cattle we lost in the stampede 46 head weakend our teams very much. We had cattle enough, left to move the wagons, by assisting one another to Laram[i]e. Then those that could, was to buy and help themselves. We done this and got along well; we then divided our Company, as spoken of at Florence, and traveled separate, at this time one in my company died, an aged sister, named Brown. When I got to Deer Creek, I wrote to Fillmore City Utah, to inform my folks of my coming[.] my mother and family residing there. While at Deer Creek, Bro. Sam Richards, and Bro. Snider, came there on their mission to England, I loaned Bro John Carlos, one of my revolvers, to go with them as a guard to Independence. Our teams by this time, had got very weak, but we got along to near foot of Big Mountain, when we met some fresh teams; my Brother-in-Laws John and William Cowley met me at this place, and helped us in to Salt Lake City.



We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 20th of Sept. 1857. All were well, except 2 or 3 that were ailing, one death on the way; was 12 weeks crossing the plains. We lost about 60 head of cattle, we left one old wagon on the road.

Transcript for Dutson, John William, "A Short History and Genealogy of John W. Dutson," 29-39

John W. Dutson autobiography, undated.

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.

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

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

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

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

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/chd/landing

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Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdonshire, England, United Kingdom

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Presided over the Brixton branch which he had been largelyinstrumental in creating.

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On 31 Dec 1851, he reached the Island of Jersey, having beenappointed president of the Channel Islands conference. Several months later he was appointed first counselor to thepresident of the French Mission, which he held until March 1854,when he was released.

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Emily Ellingham

James Ellingham Hart

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Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, United States

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James Henry Hart

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