Jedediah Morgan Grant (1816 - 1856) Profile

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Jedediah Morgan Grant

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High Priests of Nauvoo and early Salt Lake City

High Priests of Nauvoo and early Salt Lake City, Page 53.

High Priests of Nauvoo and early Salt Lake City.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, August 17, 1843.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, May 22, 1835, Page 2.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Jedediah M. Grant journal

Jedediah M. Grant journal.

Nauvoo Restoration Inc., comp., Nauvoo Seventies list

Nauvoo Restoration Inc., comp., Nauvoo Seventies list, Vol. 2.

Nauvoo Restoration Inc., comp., Nauvoo Seventies list.

Bean, George Washington, Autobiography, 1897, 40

Bean, George Washington, Autobiography, 1897, 40.

. . . . for the west on the 13
th
 of June 1847 having in chrge [William Wallace] Caspers wife [Sarah Anna Bean Casper] & child [Sarah Jane Casper] & cow, with all the supplies that we could take for 18 months time.
The family by this time were about well and we did not expect to see them again for more than a year. 
The Emigration Companies were forming at Elkhorn river about 20 miles west of Winter Quarters, I got into Capt J[edediah] M[organ] Grants 100, Willard [Trowbridge] Snows 50 &amp; John Vances 10.
it was quite an undertaking for a 16 year old boy to assume but I had been through a good experience in the last two years, and my faith was good that the Lord would help and we would pull through all right. We rolled out in good order. 
June 18th and after many vicissitudes and trials, reached Salt Lake Valley Oct 4th Our company lost 46 head of oxen by a stampede caused by a boys laziness, there being thousands of wild Buffalo all around us at the time. they were no doubt absorbed by the wild herds, we reached the valley in good shape and were received with great kindness by the family of Capt Jeff Hunt and located in the Old Fort as it was called . . . .

Transcript for Bean, George Washington, Autobiography, 1897, 40

Byington, Joseph H., Letter

Byington, Joseph H., Letter, May 3, 1905.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Neeley Idaho Onida Co May 3 1905 </center>
To the Historian of the Gedediah [Jedediah] M. Grants Hundred
I saw a peace in the News of May the 1 requesting a few lines from any one that came out in Gedidiah Hundard as I was one that came out in his Compney in the yeare 1847 I thought I would drop you a few lines[.] I was born January 25, 1829 in the &lt;state&gt; of Ohio in Astabuley Co in a little Town &lt;cald&gt; Shieffeld [Sheffield.] at that I came out with a man by the name of Lievi [Levi] Evens[.] Later we was in Brother [Joseph Bates] Nobals [Noble's] fifty in Robert Harvey Pircerse [Peirce's] tenn [ten.] the first incounter that I can think of was when we was travling on the South fork of the Plat[te] River was that the fifty had too stop travling to let a Haird of Bufflows pas[s] down to the River[.] I think as ny [nigh] as I can recllate [recollect] that we stoped from three quarters of an hours to one hour 
the next was when our fifty and Brother Snows fifty was Camped clost to geather when Brother Snows lost 75 head of theare Cattle throught a stamped[.] I was on gard at the time the gurd from our fifty run over to try and stop the Cattle from git[t]ing out but we coldent stop them[.] we keep them in till theay made three Cir[c]les around the Correll when theay brok[e] out and took for the Paraies and I beleve that theay never got But 4 head of them[.] this was on the Plat[te] River 
the next axadent was somewhere on the Sweatwater [Sweetwater] we had stop the train or the Compney to look for a crossing over a little strem when Brother Charl[e]s Decker and som on[e] or two more that was with him came riding up with thear Blankets ti[e]d on thear sadles and floping[,] stamped the teams and theay went through the strem without looking for a Crossing and as ny as I can rectleact theare was a wagon brokin nor eny one hur[t.] you will hafto excuse my writing and spelling[.] I remain your Brother in the Gospel of Christ				
<center>Joseph H. Byington Sr</center>

Transcript for Byington, Joseph H., Letter, 3 May 1905, in B. Fay Byington, comp., The Family History of the Byington Family [1984], 77-78

Byington, Joseph H., Letter.

Deseret Weekly

Pioneer Mrs. Duzette

"Pioneer Mrs. Duzette", Deseret Weekly, April 17, 1897, Page 29.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">PIONERR [sic] MRS. DUZETTE Rockville, March 28, 1897.</center>
As I [Mary Adeline Ewing Duzette] have seen nothing recently from this part of far away Dixie I thought I would write a few items of Pioneer history to the many readers of the NEWS. I am the daughter of Samuel Ewing, the third child of a family of nine children. I was born May 31, 1833, in Lancaster county, Penn., Little Britain township. I was 13 years of age when we crossed the plains. We were in Jedediah M. Grant's 100, Brother Noble's 50, and Hayes and Kimball's 10. We buried my mother [Esther Shaffer Ewing] fifteen miles this side of Laramie; she was the first white woman of the Latter-day Gospel who laid down her life in seeking religious freedom in that journey, and will no doubt be numbered with the martyrs. We prepared her for her last resting place—the best that our limited facilities would allow. We wrapped her in a quilt, and having nothing with which to make a coffin, we laid her in a deep vault dug in a deeper grave, sawed the table up to cover the vault, then filled the grave with rocks, brush and earth, to prevent the prairie wolves from disturbing all that was earthly of our dear loved one. Then we left her in her cold and lonely resting place to continue our sad and lonely journey with heavy hearts and weary steps; leaving, it seemed, half our life and all its sweetness behind us. Our feelings can better be imagined than described. It was a scene that beggars description.
<p style="background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing: 0px" xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">But such things were endured with the best possible grace, all for the love of the truth. Surely such suffering will not go unrewarded, and a time come when we rejoice for all the hardships we have endured for the Gospel; and even now we are proud to know that we are counted worthy to suffer for Him who laid down His life for us.
<p style="background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing: 0px" xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Our long, lonely and tedious journey terminated October 7, 1847, when our eyes rested on the valley of the Great Salt Lake.

Transcript for "Pioneer Mrs. Duzette," Deseret Weekly, 17 April 1897, 573

Deseret Weekly.

Eliza R. Snow journals, 1846-1951

Eliza R. Snow journals, 1846-1951.

Ellsworth, Edmund, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 5, item 5

Ellsworth, Edmund, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 5, item 5.

in February crossed the river enroute for the mountains when through mud and storm we traveled west, at Richardsons Point.
Bro. Edwin Little, Son of Susan Stilson died. he was my friend and I mourned his loss. when we arrived at Garden Grove I was sent back to Nauvoo with a span of horses and carriage to trade them for Oxen and waggon. Prest Young sent for many things needed in camp in case I could get any of them. I was greatly blessed obtained every thing he sent for and brought his wife Harriet Cook to the camp where I arived shaking with ague in time to help mow the hay for winter. this was winter quarters on the west bank of the Missouri River. as winter set in I was sent in charge of Prest Youngs and Kimballs Cattle over 100 miles up the river to the Rush Bottoms where a man by the name of Lathrop wintered[.] he took charge of the stock and I returned safe.
During my stay at Lathrops two days and three nights I shot over 40 wild Turkeys most of them I shot by moonlight off the trees on which they roosted. I was one of the four men who started a Brass Band[,] the first in the Church, their names were Wm. Pitt[,] James Smithies[,] James Standing. during the winter we were called on to play for many dances sometimes six in a week[.] this was done to keep up the spirits of the people in this place[.] many of our people died through the hardships and fatigues of the journey.
In the early spring I was called to go with the Pioneers to the Rocky mountains[.] when we arrived at Loop [Loup] Fork of the Platte River we had to cut Cottonwood Trees for the horses to eat the bark as there was no feed. a little further west we came to the Buffaloes So thick the feed was All consumed and they were verry poor. We were thouraly instructed to humble ourselves and go as men of God that the blessing of the Lord might attend us. We crossed the La Platte at Larimie [Laramie] thence through the Black hills to the upper crossing
By this time the River had swollen so mutch we could not ford. we was compelled to go to the timber where we hewed out three large Canoes[.] these we framed together thus making a good ferry boat on which we ferried our waggons. before we got our waggons ferried the emigrants for Oregon began to arrive. when Prest Young appointed ten of us to remain and ferry them with the promise we should share equaly with them who went ahead to the Valley in all the honours of the mission[.] the ten selected to stop all expected Their families would arive in a few days when we were to follow the Pioneers. it was thought by so doing we could get of the emigrants flour and Bacon that would help the mission on its return. we were kept busy ferrying for about two weeks expecting every day to hear that our families were near at hand[.] after waiting another week there came to us some ten or twelve men from the Battalion going back to meet their families. it was soon arranged that part of us both companies should start back to meet our families while the rest staid to keep camp[,] no one thinking we would be gone over from two to five days. we only took provision to last three days when we arrived at Larrimie the Indians had brought the news that there were waggons Coming up the Platte with no idea of the distance. provisions could not be bought[.] we went on 175 miles which we traveled with only one Antelope and one hare for the company. this was less than half a meal each in 7 days. I never expect to witness greater excitement than prevailed when we beheld at a distance a camp of waggons lying bye for the Sabbath[.] our horses did their best to carry us to breckfast where several of us found our families. Truly my soul was filled with joy at meeting my wife [Elizabeth Young Ellsworth] and two litle ones [Charlotte and Edmund] in company with the saints mooving to Salt Lake. at Strawberry Creek we met and camped with the returning Pioneers this night the Indians stole 52 head of the Pioneers horses which greatly distressed the company on their return To winter quarters[.] I accompanied the saints to the Valley where we arrived on the 12 of Oct

Transcript for Ellsworth, Edmund, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 5, item 5

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.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, September 26, 1856, Page 33.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, August 15, 1847, Page 3-4.

Capt. Jedediah M. Grant wrote the following from his camp in the wilderness.


Kimball Springs, Aug. 15, 1847.


Pres. Brigham Young and Council,


Dear Brethren: After my best respects, etc., I will inform you that the brethren and sisters composing the third hundred of the camp of Israel are mostly enjoying good health and spirits, and were all greatly desired to see you and those that are with you; and if kind Heaven smiles on us even expect to soon enjoy that privilege, although weeven a little in the rear from several causes, which Brother Phineas, the bearer of, this will explain to you. He has been with us about three weeks; he met us about one hundred and seventy-five miles below Ft. Laramie, he is now on the eve of returning. As the brethren of the camp are sensible of your great anxiety to hear from us and your families in Winter Quarters, I will say for you satisfaction that they were all well, without scarcely an exception, when we left Winter Quarters.


We have been highly favored in our journeying our late start and the numerous host that are journeying together.


In relation to our wagons, teams and general information concerning the camp, Brother Phineas can relate it to you with as much correctness as though [I] were I to write all the particulars.


I send you the communications from Col. Kane and assure you that all things are working in Washington in the different departments about as we would wish them. The Colonel entertains no fears of our being removed from Winter Quarters. His hand, heart and feelings are as worse as ever and a little more so. He wished me to explain to you the meaning of the dash at the close of his letter, which is "his respects to the council and all his Mormon friends all around and over the Omalian Hills." I send you a letter from Sister C and also one from Bro. B


Your Brother John is with us and is well and of great use to the camp in giving us counsel and advice.


If there are any teams sent back to assist the camp, We wish you to remember the third hundred.


Your children, Bro. C. [Charles] Decker and wife, Edward Ellsworth, wife and children are all well. On my return from the east, I found my wife very ill, so much so that she was nearly unable to to undertake the journey; her health had continued very bad and is so still; she feels the need of the prayers and faith of those who have influence with the Most High.


I wish you and the council, when assembled, to remember her in your prayers, that she may recover her health.


Please remember me to all the brethren in your camp.


 


<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">As ever yours,</center>


 


 


<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Pr Franklin K Shedd</center>


 


 


<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">[Jedediah] M. Grant.</center>


 


 


<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">[per Franklin K. Shedd]</center>

Transcript for Jedediah M. Grant letter, 15 August 1847, 3-4.

Historical Department office journal, 1844-2012

Historical Department office journal, 1844-2012, Page 51.

Historical Department office journal, 1844-2012.

Jacob Gates journals, 1836-1861

Jacob Gates journals, 1836-1861, January 1843, Vol. 2].

Transcript for Jacob Gates journals, 1836-1861, [Volume 2] 1843 January-1847 October

Jacob Gates journals, 1836-1861.

John B. Fairbanks journal

John B. Fairbanks journal, February 1846.

19 clear. The crick to high to cross. Stayed all day 20th clear weather water down in crick. Crossed over &amp; drove to the Elkhorn River &amp; crossed &amp; was organized into the 4th Company of ten of the 2nd fifty &amp; third hundred by J.M.Grant, Capt. of 3 . 100 &amp; I was appointed Capt. of the ten, stood guard half the night—



June 21 (Sunday) Stayed at the horn &amp; helped cross some wagons together with the artillery, made out the roll of numbers in my ten &amp; handed to Capt. Grant



22 Crossed Father Cutllr &amp; some others to go back to winter quarters, tooks the roof off of the raft &amp; started for the Platt river arrived at the Platt about 4 oclocks P.M. <s>(23)</s> &amp; camped with our Brethren, that were ahead of us (23) the whole camp of about 600 waggons started up the river all organized in companies of hundreds, fifties &amp; tens, with their Capt. at their heads. Travelled about 12 Miles &amp; Camped



24 th Started about 9 o clock A.M. &amp; traveled about 12 miles &amp; stoped for the night.



25th Capt. Grant called his company together &amp; sugested the idea of Starting earley in mornings. The company acceded to the proposition, seven oclock was appointed the time of starting. We started accordingly and drove about 14 miles—camped about 4 oclock P.M. The whole camp even called together in Councill, to regulate the affairs of traveling &amp; it was agreed that we should travel as we had done until1 Tuesday 26st. Started out in regular order about 8 oclock A.M. Travelled about 12 Miles &amp; camped, after the cattle were watered &amp; sent out to feed. Capt. Grant called his company in together &amp; gave them some instructions in regard to travling &amp; also in regard to them praying &amp; other duties which envolve upon them. He gave the Capt. of tens particular instructions to appertain the condition of the fire arms in their respective &amp; the amount of powder &amp; lead &amp; report to the Capt of 50.



27th Reported to Capt. Snow the condition of fire arms &amp; amt. of lead &amp; powder in the 4th 10.. 43 powder, 128 lead, 9 rifles, 4 muskets, &amp; [-] +3 pistols, all in good order Breakfast Started &amp; drove about 14 miles &amp; camped. Stood Guard half this night.



June 28, 1847 (Sunday) Breakfast &amp; prayer helped my wife wash until 1 oclock P.M. Then went to meeting. Prayer in the evening then retired to bed



29th Prayer then breakfast. Yoked our cattle &amp; started drove about 14 miles &amp; camped made a bridge across the crick. Supper &amp; prayer. Then went to bed.



30th Prayer &amp; Breakfast got ready to proceed on our journey. Started &amp; drove a bout 12 miles camped, prayer Supper. Then retired to bed.



July 1st Prayer &amp; Breakfast then prepared to start—Started about 8 oclock, drove about 12 miles camped, prayer, supper



2nd prayer breakfast Started about 8 oclock crossed the Creek fork of the Platt[e] River then drove about 5 miles, &amp; camped.



July 3 1847, Prayer, breakfast Started about 8 oclock, drove 12 or 15 miles &amp; camped, prayer, supper, stood guard until 1 oclock A.M. Then went to bed



4th Prayer, breakfast. Started on drove to a small crick made a place to ford it, crossed over &amp; drove til near sundown. Then camped, prayer, supper, bed.



5th (Sunday) Prayer, breakfast, brought water to wash, went to meeting, made a place to ford a creck [creek] near when we camped—



6th prayer, breakfast, Started 8 oclock traveled about 12 Miles camped



7 Prayer. Breakfast, Started traveled 14 Miles. Camped Prayer—Supper retired.



8 Prayer. Breakfast. Started 8 oclock traveled 15 Miles, camped prayer. Supper Stood guard the latter part of night.



9th Prayer, Breakfast, Started 8 oclock, traveled 14 Miles Camped, Prayer, Bed.



10th breakfast, prayer. Spoked a wheell That was broken yesterday. Started 1 oclock P.M. traveled about 10 Miles &amp; camped prayer, supper, bed



11 Prayer, breakfast. Started 8 oclock traveled about 10 Miles &amp; camped, washed got wood for Colpitt—prayer bed.



12th Sunday prayer breakfast: got some wood, went to meeting, prayer, bed



13 Prayer, breakfast, Started ½ past seven, traveled about 14 Miles camped, prayed supper Stood guard ½ night cattle rushed out pen <s>went to bed &amp; broth</s> Capt. Snow’s Waggon.



14 Prayer breakfast, Branded cattle all day. <s>Started at 8 Oclock. Travelled about 14 Miles &amp; camped</s> a company went to hunt killed one Buffaloe, lent my six shuter pistol to Brn. Baker &amp; he lost it, prayer, supper. Company meeting changed our mode of traveling each 50 travel &amp; camp &amp; heard cattle Sepperate.



Prayer, breakfast.

Transcript for John B. Fairbanks journal, 1846 February-1847 July

John B. Fairbanks journal.

John H. Henderson autobiography, circa 1909, 38-42

John H. Henderson autobiography, circa 1909, 38-42.

So now all things being ready we hitched up our teams leaving the Clark family behind and traveled eight or ten miles and camped just about where the line divided the united States and mexaco {Mexico} at that time. but we was on the way to the great starting place so we traveled with out my particular incedent transpiring. Stoping about two miles below where they crosed the river to winterquarters by a nice little lake with plenty of fish so I could use my spare time ketching fish which was very little as we had to gather our suplys for the journey{.} so we made two trips in to missourri {Missouri} for corn and such other things that we needed. but when all was ready we crosed the river to winterquarters and stayed a few days geting organised to the different companys then started for the horne river where each would get with the company he was to travel with crossing the plains. here we had to buyld rafts of logs and ferrey the wagons across. while here two men started bac{k} to winterquarters in a wagon and was attacted by indians and one of them killed. but it was geting in to july and we had got only forty miles on our journey but each company got together traveled twenty miles to the platt{e} river{.} here we found where a man had been killed by indians and afterwards lerned that he was a half breed returning from the ponneer vilige so we knew that there was danger all now so no indival was to be alowed to stray a away from the train. now our way up the north side of the platt{e} river and we traveled on the north side of the loup fork above the old ponneer village{.} here we found a sutiable crossing place where the river was wide and not deep but full of quick sand which made it quite dificult. So the men was in the water waist deep all day long. Some teams would get stalled and we would have to go their assistence with five or six yoke of oxen to pull them out. but we all got across with no other damage than the breaking of one wagon tongue{.} but we soon put in a cottonwood pole for a tongue and went on our journey. we were now on grand island{.} here we experienced one of these wilde stormes which their part of the country is subject to. while we were traveling along and the wether being clear and warme there came up a cloud very sudenly and the wind began to blow and the rain began to fall and within a few minits we were in a torant of rain and wind and the rain beat through the wagoncovers and the wind blew some of them off and tore others and we got well soaked. but the storm was soon over and the sun shining as bright as ever and we was on the move again. and eventually reached the maine platt{e}. now when we organised our company we was to have tain of the hundred then a captain of each fifty and captans of tens and Jedadiah M. Grant was captain of the hundred and Joseph B{ates} Nobles caption of the first fifty with Willard Snow captian of the second fifty and our orders was to travel all together in one company till we reached green river and from there we was to travel any way to make the best time to the valey. but there had been a sadies bacti{...}ith some of the second fifty and to {-} asked to be each fifty travel to its self. by the time we reached the main platt{e} the fealing had grown quite strong. so one ev{en}ing after we had been traveling all day through the sand hills and the teams very tired and the men weary and mabe a little cross captian with his fifty about half a mile from where the first fifty camped and that night the order for traveling was vilated for the first time so the squel was their cattle stamped {stampeded} in the night and broke away from them. So next morning when they gathered them in there was mising over ninty head of their cattle. and word was sent ahead to the other companys and all halted{.} here the famous porter rock. Will {Porter Rockwell} met us who had been sent from the valey to hurry up the companys and joined in the search for the lost cattle. but after severls days no trace having been found the diferend companys furnished what help they could spare and by yoking in many cows captians Snows company was able to move again and he made the boast that they would give us a wild goose chace. but ocasionly the cattle would come in to the the road and follow it for a short distance then turn off again. So the chace went on till they reached the place of an old frenchman ten miles below fort larema {Laramie} and here they found the cattle in his karall {corral.} the frenchman had seen them pasing or they had come to his place and he had karaled them. So the men began to try to negosiate with him for his services for stoping the cattle. but ocasionly the cattle would come in to the the road and follow it for a short distance then turn off again. So the chace went on till they reached the place of an old frenchman ten miles below fort larema {Laramie} and here they found the cattle in his karall {corral.} the frenchman had seen them pasing or they had come to his place and he had karaled them. So the men began to try to negosiate with him for his services for stoping the cattle. but the old fellow was hard hearted and wanted to drive a hard bargin and no persuasion as to the value of the oxen to the emagrants would do and the men was entierly at the mercey and the out come of it all was the frenchman picked out two of the finest and best oxen in the drove and the men started back with the others. but during this time we were having hard work at the camp to manage the cattle{.} they had became so unruly we would herd them in the day time and karaal them at night in a karaal formed of our wagons with an opening at each end for the cattle to pas in and out with a gard at each opening to keep them from going out through the night. but one night somthing started them and they made abrake for the mouth of the karaal and the gard in trying to stop them was knocked down and only saved himself from being trampled to death by falling near one of the wagons and crawling under it out of their way. the cattle took down a dry wash through heavy timber and over the dry trees that had been blown down and ran for four miles before they stoped. but the men was soon after them and when we got around them we staid and herded them untill morning and when they were brought in to camp we found we had several head crippled and on{e} of the g{u}ard quite badly hurt. S{o} it was desided to hitch up and travel and leave our friends that was after the runaways behind which was a pretty hard proposion but it seemed that we could do nothing else so away we went. but every day we would put provison in a sack and sit a pole in the ground and hang the sack on it. but this soon ended the second or third day they over took us. but terrebly used up{.} now it is to be remembered that these men was on barback horses not even a blanket under them and the horses poore you can guess their condition after a ride of about a hundred and fifty miles. but we was all together once more and on the jorney through the black hill country. after this I only remember one time that our cattle stamped and then they broke two wagon wheels and one axel tree. kiled one cow and broke the leg of a two year colt. from this on we mostly left them on the range with herdsmen with them. So we traveled on crossed the platt{e} river at what was called the last crossing{.} from there twenty miles to a place called the poison springs{.} so caled from the great number of cattle that died here and was suposed to be poisoned by drinking the watter but most likley going to long with out watter it being nearly two days jorney from the platt{e}. the next camping place was twenty miles to what we called willow creek{.} here arived quite late it being a very long drive{.} so the herdsmen took the cattle out for the night. and was a little carless and let some of them stray off and in the morning when they brought in the cattle about one third of them mising and after a short search levi {Evans} writter {Riter,} amos {Herr} neff and me was sent back on the road as there was the tracks of three head of cattle going back on the road. So we traveled for miles and could {not} find any more tracks. So I said to the others that the rest of the herd not gone back the{n} on the road. So we rode long distances each side of the road but could find not trace of any cattle. So we rode on till we reached the poison spring wash and here we found the three head that we had been tracking all the fore noon lying down chewing their coodes. after reaching the main platt{e} the buffalo became very numarious, in fact so plentiful that they were troblesome and one fore noon when we had got barly started we seen the advanced guard coming over the bluffs about four off making strate for our train{.} now at first it seamed nothing to be alarmed at but as they come nearer with the wings growing wider till they extended up and down the river botom for miles and the leaders but a few hundred yards away making strate for the center of our train and no signs of turning to the right or left we seen that we would sweept in to the river wagon teams and people. they were so close we could see their eyes glimmer. so the impuls{e} seemed to work on every man at the same time and all sprang from the wagon, with guns in their hands faceing them and began to fire at them. and after nearly all had fired and some read to give them another round the leaders threw up their heads give a sniff and turned down the line of wagons and as soon as they reached the end of the train jumped in to the river. but word soon came along the line to hurry up the buffalos was crowding the hind wagons and would soon be crushing them if we did not move faster so every teamster began to whip and slash and hurry up his team and we kepted it up till after sundown never stoping for noon. and it may seem incredable to people nowday as there is no buffalos and but few people aliving that ever seen them on the great plains{.} but all day long there was a traveling boddy of buffalos foure miles deep and many miles long pasing our train. I will not atem{p}t to put an e{s}timate on the number that I seen that day for it would seem unreasable to people these days. it seems to be the nature of these anamals when traveling from one place to another to always travel on the lope never noticeing any thing in front of them. and it was but little less than a mericle that we got them turned aside. there is another incedent I will mention here while traveling up the platt{e}. we had been traveling across some sand riges and as we emerged on to the river bottom we seen a large camp of indians on the oposit side of the river. and a little farther on we some to a place where the ground was literly covered with dead buffalos{.} the indians had been over the day before and rounded them in a flat the shape of a basin and kepted them there and slautered them till they lay thick over several acres of ground. then they would hide down e{a}ch side of the back and take out the sinues and some times would take a part of the hind quarter but otherwise they lay as they died. not one of them had the skin taken off as they were not fit for robes this time of the year. and here let me say I seen a site that was quite interesting. there was a gang of very large wolves close by the oxen and they seemed not to be anyways afrade of us but would move off slowly when we rode toward them then stop and look back at us. there was what white wolves gray wolves and black wolves and there was an anamel that I can not tell to this day what it was. he was a very stout built fellow very heavy in front and liter behind with a thick short head and smooth hair and his tail was not bushy like the others and he had short stuby ears loo{k}ed more like a bull dog than any thing else that I know of. and he wood turn and look at us as though he said I am not afraid of you. I dont know to this day what it is caled. but now lets return to our hunt for our cattle{.} if I had been left to my self I should have started back with the three that we had found as there was not signs of any more in that direction{.} but not so with mr. witter {Riter} and mr. neff. they led off up the wash and we rode about five miles then rode back again. now here I think these two men alowed their anxiety to overcome their judgement and when the jugement is over balanced the reasoning facilty is dorment{.} it seems they could not reason so they started back on the toards the platt{e} river and rode ten miles before they could discover that no cattle had traveled back on the road{.} So we rode back but not yet satisfied theire anxiety down the wash three miles to the platt{e.} here we got off of our horses and led them to water and here I expected a little beter sense but was fooled {a}gain when ritter said to neff that he better go back and get three head of oxen and start on the road toards camp and he would take me with him and go through the hills and come to him some where on the road{.} to me this was one of the most insaine idiers yet as there was no chance for the cattle to be where he proposed to go{.} they could not of yet got without cross the road that we had traveled from the camp all the time looking for tracks and could discover only the three them to supose that a hundred head of cattle could cross a dry dusty road with out making any track was more than I could see. but neff refused to go eteither for fear or becase he had no faith in the trip so he (neff) proposed that I had beter go. So when I see the dirty trick they were going to play on me first thought was to object but I had always been taught to listen to those older than myself. So I said if I have to go its time to start and turned and rode away and left them. I will tell you here of our mount so you can better understand our sittuation. riter was on an old horse quite poor and very slow and neff rode a nice high spirited mare in good flesh. and I rode a two year old colt quite thin in flesh but plenty of life. So here I parted with my two frends and turned my lonely face toards the three head oxen when I got to them they were half mile below the road. So I hured them along. but just at this time a number of old buffalo bulls come down from the hills rite between me and the road and put up a terable belowing and bauling and pawing of the earth around the dead carcakus and as I was pasing them the oxen atem{p}ted to go to them which gave me considerable troble but my colt being spry and easy managed{.} I steared them by and reached the road and started toards home if there was any home{.} the sun was not over two hours high here I began to feel my situation and lonelesess more acute than ever alone on the plains. and my little colt liable to fail me at any time and leave me about{.} I had no faith that writer {Riter} and neff would come to me any more from the way they had acted{.} I thought they would traver the same corse till they were far ahead of me then come to the road and then go to camp and leave me to get there the best I could with the oxen. but no use to try to discribe my fealings and lonelyness them few hours for its imposable. So I hurryed them oxen for four or five miles faster than they traveled it the last time before. they all had their mouths open and their tounges out so I seen that would not do so I slowed up and took it more easy for a while. and here I discovered that some persons was ahead of me{.} I could see their tracks plain in the road so I inspec{t}ed them and two wearing mackisons and two seemed to have their feet raped up in cloths and there was one foot track but who could they be. I could give no idea. So the oxen being rested I pushed on again faster. and a little after sundown I came in sight of them half a mile or more ahead. and thinking they had not seen me the country full of riges and hollows and while they was in one hollow out of sight of I would rush the oxen and reach another holow to be out of sight when they were on top the rige so this went on till there was only one more rige between us. So as they raised the top of one ri{d}ge I raised the top of the one behind so we came in full view of each other{.} this was the first they had seen me and one of the men hollowed{.} I now seen they were white men and answered back. and when I came to them they were five men from our camp. I now remembered our pasing them just after we left camp but suposed that they turned back after we past them but they had followed about sixteen miles before they turned back but now I had company and felt satisfied with my lot. we was now fifteen miles from where we had left camp. So we traveled slowly as all was very tired and on our way we found a large ox that some of the companys had left behind. and had escaped the wolves and indians. and he had been here so long that he was in fine condition and very genttle so the men would take turns riding the ox and my poney for a little rest. So we traveled along in this way till within four miles of where we left the camp. and near a spring of water a few rods from the road we stoped and turned off to get a drink. and just after we left the road two horsemen rode up to the oxen and suposing it to be writer {Riter} and neff I turned and told them to drive the oxen along and we would over take them in a short time. now the men had been with out water all day and we taried a few miniuts at the spring. but when we got back to the road there stoot {stood} the oxen the same as we left them and no horsemen in sight{.} so we started on and when we reached where we left the camp there was no camp here. now here we was tired out, and nothing to eat and had had nothing all day. but we conclued to stop and rest till morning so we struck a fire as it was geting cool but we could get no sleep having no beding and the night air being quite cool. and when we sent a man to see about the oxen he reported that they were gone so this of corse was the end of our camp for that night. and when we reached bear river we were met by O.B. Adams of the mormon batalian with a fresh yoke of oxen{.} we thought now we would hurry on and soon be to the valley but that night our best ox was bitten by a rattle snake. and was so swolen in the morning that we had to leave him so we had but very little benifit only having a fresh yoke but no more teame than before. from here on we traveled withh out any respect to company and having nothing to hinder only rough roads to travel and high mountains to cross. we made very good time and reached the place where Salt lake City now is. on the first day of october eighteen hundred and fourty seven and camped on what is known as the old pioneer square.<on april="" day="" of="" sixth="" the=""><in><the time=""><was><to><a cap=""><snow><past on=""><old><miles><be><now><thirteen><there><in><we and="" eat="" fifty="" had="" horses="" miles="" nothing="" now="" over="" rode="" the="" to=""><of><were></were></of></we></in></there></thirteen></now></be></miles></old></past></snow></a></to></was></the></in></on>

Transcript for John H. Henderson autobiography, circa 1909, 38-42

John Martin autobiography, 1907, 54-57

John Martin autobiography, 1907, 54-57.

Jedediah M. Grant wanted teamsters to accompany him to Utah and required them to deposit $10.00 to insure their going with him and he would refund the money when they arrived in the valley. I engaged with him and had to pay my passage up the Missouri river to a landing place called Bethlehem. In april I went up and when I got to this landing place the cattle and provisions had not arrived. I had to look for work now because board was $2.00 per week and I was broke. . . .



The day before I was to start back to Bethlehem, as I now expected that everything would have arrived by this time, I went fishing. I intended to take the biggest fish back with me but after setting and fishing all day I caught nothing but a mud turtle. Nor had they ever before.



Next day I walked back to the camp at Bethlehem and was glad that I had helped the Emerys as good as I had done while staying with them. When I arrived in camp all was bustle and life in getting ready to start west. It was a very hard task to mate and break the yoke cattle as some of them had never been hitched to a wagon before. In the course of two or three weeks we got over the Mo. [Missouri] river and camped. The first day of our journey west we had three wagon-tongues broken. The teamsters were inexperienced drivers of oxen and most of the oxen were not broke so it was no wonder we would get in such a mix-up.



When the train would go too far from us we would run to the hind of the wagon and “haw” them, but when they would get too close to us we would shout “gee”, So it was “hawing” and “geeing” all the way as we jolted over the prairie.



But when the oxen got broken and the drivers got accustomed to their new place it was not necessary to run around the wagons, but by simply speaking a word the oxen would obey. The second day we travelled six miles and so on by degrees.



Opposite Fort Kearney one of my lead cattle died. It was a fine two year old heifer. I worked three yoke some of the time, and in crossing a creek with four yoke they upturned the wagon, but slightly damaged the goods.



At Green river we met George Grant a brother of Jedediah, who came with some work oxen and provisions[.] When we got on top of Little Mountain we camped for the last night. We intended to make a very early start the next morning. But when the herders rounded up the cattle it was found that some of them had strayed off. We took a very scant breakfast and set out to find them. It was midday before we got them all together again.



Coming down Emigration Canyon three of our wagons broke down and one or two were left behind for the night. Some of the men returned from the city next day to bring them in. Most of us got to the mouth of the canyon by dusk, that evening, but had to wait there. There were two roads leading into the city. One at that time was Emigration Street, now known Third South Street. The other was South Temple Street. I came by this road. The hill was very steep and as I was descending it, my trunk containing all my worldly goods fell out without my knowing it.



[Journal excerpts also published in Drucilla H. McFarland and Ruth M. White, "Mormon John" Martin: Utah Pioneer Family History, [1969], 23-28.]

Transcript for John Martin autobiography, 1907, 54-57

John Vance journal

John Vance journal, June 1847.

Transcript for John Vance journal, 1847 June-October; 1849

John Vance journal.

Peirce, Robert, Letter

Peirce, Robert, Letter, August 1848.

. . . . We left Winter Quarters the 12
th
 day of June <in company with six hundred & forty waggons> and arrived at the place of destination the 3
rd
 day of October a journey of near 4 mo, the first six hundred miles, nothing very worthy of remarks except a tractless wilderness, and wood scarce, but Buffalo dung plenty, Cooked many days with buffalo chips! Immence herds of buffalo, thousands in sight at a time, no serious damage from the savages, here we first came in sight of snow, on the rockey Mountains, about the middle of August, the last six hundred miles, is through mountains & sand desert, it is perfectly sterile and worthless[.] it is not adapted to the support of man or beast, the mountains covered with eternal & perpetual snow, we have traveled as much as three days at a time, without one mouthful for our Cattle and horses to eat or drink, many died, many taken by the Indians, our loss was immence (the Company) we lost fifty horses in one night, & seventy head of oxen at another time, & many small losses, we had six waggons loaded and got through with the loss of but one ox myself

Transcript for Peirce, Robert, Letter 1848 Aug. 31, [1-2]

Peirce, Robert, Letter.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1186, Ledger A

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1186, Ledger A, Page 88.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1186, Ledger A.

Richey, James, Autobiography [n.d.], 4-5

Richey, James, Autobiography [n.d.], 4-5.

. . . Soon after i was married i crost the missi[ss]ppi river and started west[.] wee stopt on the desmoin [Des Moines] river and waited for some provistions[.] wee also stopt on fore river and workt a while[.] wee then traveled on to pisga[h.] here I was taken down sick and was neare unto death but finally i got beter and my wife was takeen down sick and was very low for a long time but finally recovered[.] i stayed at pisga[h] tel late in the fall when mee and my brother in law Joseph mangum moved to winter quarters on the missouri river whare I stayed tel spring[.] while we ware in ioway [Iowa] my brother benjamin left is [us] and went on to council bluffs[,] whare entered the mormon battallion and went to calafornia [California] whare he died and thus i was deprived of a friend that was neare and deare to mee
my wifes mother died at winter quarters from being exposed in traveling in an inclemant season of the year[.] i stayed at winter quarters tel spring and then started with the first camp for the vall[e]y of the mountains whare i arrived with my family after a long and tegious [tedious journey]—i arrived in salt lake vally in october in the year 1847[.] i left my fathers family at winter quarters on the missouri river whare they lived tel the spring of forty eight when they started for salt lake vally and joined mee in the fall of the same year[.] when they left my father started on a mishion [mission] to texas leeveing his mother at winter quarters[.] he filled his mishion and returnd to winter quarters and emigrateed to the val[l]ies in the year 50 [gran…] and ther[e] died of colerry [cholera]

Transcript for Richey, James, Autobiography [n.d.], 4-5

Shedd, Franklin Knox, "The Road to California: The Mormons," Bunker Hill Aurora

Shedd, Franklin Knox, "The Road to California: The Mormons," Bunker Hill Aurora, July 29, 1848.

THE ROAD TO CALIFORNIA. 
	THE MORMONS.



	In the Bunker Hill Aurora have appeared several letters written by a young man named Franklin K. Shedd, whose parents reside in Charlestown, and who, in the spring of 1847, left that city, and emigrated with the Mormons in their misguided wanderings to the Far West. As these letters contain much interesting information regarding the country through which he travelled, we submit them to our readers, premising that their author died in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake, on the 22d of February last, in consequence of eating the wild parsnip while on a hunting excursion, mistaking the root for one of similar appearance, eaten by the Indians. Mr. Shedd was only twenty-three years of age, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. His funeral was very numerously attended, and he was buried on a mountain near Salt Lake City, in the northeast part of Upper California. His death in that distant land while in the bloom of a youth which afforded much promise, is but another melancholy instance of the sad effects of following new and untried lights, whether in morals, society, politics or religion.



	Council Bluffs, June 6th, 1847



	Knowing your anxiety for my welfare, and having a little leisure time, I improve it by writing to you of my present situation. . . .



	I shall . . . accompany Mr. J. M. Grant, who is well provided with all the requisites for the journey, and will be as well fitted as any that goes out. I shall drive one of his teams, and live in the wagon, which is strong and water-proof. I shall carry all my things, and I will here say that I have had the good luck not to lose anything on my journey so far. . . .



	Indian Territory, Platte River, near



	Fort Laramie, July 25th, 1847.



	A few of the pioneers who left Council Bluffs to search a location for the main body early this spring, we met yesterday on their return. They will continue their journey back to-morrow, and by them I send you these lines in haste.



	I wrote you from Council Bluffs, and told of many things which I have no time to repeat. There are in this company, about six hundred wagons and three thousand individuals. I suppose you think I am in the heart of the wilderness, but I have not seen any yet, but I am in the largest mowing-field, and the greatest farm for live stock I have ever seen or imagined. For the last fortnight I have seen continually herds of buffaloes, from 25,000 to 100,000 in each herd. Their meat is better than Boston market beef. You may think I have told my story in haste, but my figures are right.—They are so plenty that there is danger of their running among our cattle, and causing them to stray away with them. There are cattle and horses among them which are supposed to have strayed from other companies at different times. I had a chase once with about 1000 or 1500, (on foot,) and shot one bull. It is grand fun, for they are clumsy things to run.



	There is a hunting party of about 500 Sioux Indians encamped in sight of us to-day. They are the finest looking Indians I have seen yet, and have beautiful ponies. I shall try to trade for one if possible. We smoked with them, and in the meantime their daughters were riding their wild colts about at a great rate.



	We are formed in six companies of about 100 wagons each, having captains appointed to hundreds, fifties and tens. Each hundred travels in double file, breaking their tracks, or following in the tracks of the foremost, as they choose. We generally break from four to six tracks of roads, and when we encamp, each hundred forms a circle, with gaps at each end, thus [illustration of a circle with openings on each side]; the area in middle is used for a cattle yard in the night.



	I have a wagon by myself to sleep in, that is dry and convenient. I drive two and three yoke of oxen. All my things which I started with from Charlestown, are preserved. I wear nothing but overalls and shirt, and shoes in bad places.



	There are no rocks, or ledged or trees here. We burn “buffalo chips;” it make good fire, and is abundant. Our location will probably be on a lake called “Utaw [Utah],” about thirty miles from the Great Salt Lake. We have in our company every thing good for a settlement—the best of cattle and mules, and two grist-mills, two six-pound cannon, a boat and a bell. The health of the camp is remarkable—no deaths, and but few cases of sickness. F. K. S.



	Sixty miles east of the Pass of the Rocky



	Mountains, Sept. 6, 1847.



	. . . I cannot tell you all that I have seen, but will relate some few things. In this country there are places where lakes have dried up, and a large mount of stuff called saleratus, lays on the bottom. It is pure and white to the depth of four or six inches, and will make good bread, and soap. A great many of the folks use it altogether—the U. S. Army also used it.



	We have not seen timber for some hundred miles, and do not expect to for a hundred or less to come; we burn buffalo chips, (dung) which are dry and very abundant. We fare sumptuously on bear, buffalo, deer and antelope meat. The other day I shot two fowls called mountain sage-birds, as large as turkeys, and the meat is as good; they were very tame, and probably would be easily domesticated; they look like the Eastern partridge. Wolves are very numerous, and some panthers have been seen. We have lost about sixty head of cattle; 20 have died from poison, and 40 have strayed away among the buffalo herds. When we travel, we go from 10 to 20 miles per day. We have stopped Sundays, and when a wagon breaks down we stop and repair—set fires, &amp;c, &amp;c, and the women bake and wash. Everything I took from Charlestown I have preserved.



	There is much travel on this route now, and probably will be for the future. We met Gen. Kearney and escort with about one or two hundred mules, about six weeks ago, on his return to the States.—This morning is chilly—I can hardly hold my pen, and we are about to start. I wrote you two letters since I left Council Bluffs. You may hear from me once more this season.



	F. K. S. 
	 
	Salt Lake Valley, Great 
	Basin, Oct. 14th, 1847.



	Having still one more opportunity of sending you a letter this fall, I improve the chance.



	Having still one more opportunity of sending you a letter this fall, I improve the chance. Having still one more opportunity of sending you a letter this fall, I improve the chance.



	My health is and has been as good as I possibly could wish ever since I left home, and even remarkable while on the road from Council Bluffs to this place, considering the great change in my mode of living, such as being deprived of vegetables and fruits in their season, (with the exception of a few berries I gathered on the way,) and sleeping exposed to the weather—sometimes in wagons and at others in the open prairie, or on the mountains, when my turn came to guard the camp or herd the cattle, a duty from which no one was exempt, not even the captains. . . .



	Since my last I have gone through such places and over such mountains as would make the heart of a Bostonian quake, were he to come upon them unawares and inexperienced—such as can[y]ons, where the water has gullied away the mountains for ages, leaving the banks on either side nearly perpendicular to the height of 400 feet, for 50 miles in extend, and only a place at the bottom barely wide enough to admit our wagons in single file, and a small brook, which we had to cross frequently with great difficulty and danger. The place called the South Pass is simply a place where two ranges of mountains seem to terminate or change their course.—The Wind river mountains can be seen on the northwest, about 95 miles off, with snow on their tops at all seasons of the year, and another range at the south-east, about 100 miles off; the same range, I think, forms the eastern boundary of this valley. . . .



	I attended a ball given to the Indians and Mountaineers, at Mr Bridge[r]'s fort on Green river; it was attended by the young men and girls of our “hundred,” and I very readily went through their forms in dancing. . . .



	At a camp on the Platte river, near the Sweetwater, a man proposed to go to the mountains in the north—apparently but a short distance—and bring down a snow-ball. He set out at noon, and was gone all day till dark when the camp was alarmed for his safety, and many sallied out on their horses in search of him. He was found about midnight, in the mountains, quite “tuckered out.” The distance was found to be 15 miles. . . .

Transcript for Shedd, Franklin Knox, "The Road to California: The Mormons," Bunker Hill Aurora, 29 July 1848

Shedd, Franklin Knox, "The Road to California: The Mormons," Bunker Hill Aurora.

Simpson Montgomery Molen, Autobiography, reel 5, box 6, fd. 15, item 1

Simpson Montgomery Molen, Autobiography, reel 5, box 6, fd. 15, item 1.

In the Spring of 1847 after procuring a Scanty supply of provisions and clothing, we resumed our dreary march and on reaching what was then called Winter Quarters we joined the main body of Mormon Emigrants with whom we traveled to Salt Lake valley—We traveled in J[edediah] M[organ] Grants hundred and Wil[l]ard [Trowbridge] Snow fifty—The journey was long and tedious consuming over three months time. Roving bands of Indians made frequent visits to our camp demanding presents as tokens of peac[e] and friendship. On the Plains on either side of the Platt river were thousands of Buffulow and our cattle seemed to partake of that wild disposition and Stampedes by our cattle were a frequent occurence[.] one night—when Correlled they got scared at a Buffalow robe and made a dash for more room breaking down two wagons in their exit—and scatered among the herds of wild cattle many of them we never found which weakened our teams and retarded our Progress. Often our teams while traviling on the road would get scared and run and it would be with much dificulty we get them stoped. On arrival in the valley we pitched our tents on what is now the Western part of Salt Lake City near where the old fourt [fort] stood. This was in the fall of 1847 which make us <s>myself and</s> the family Pioneers and founders of Utah

Transcript for Simpson Montgomery Molen, Autobiography, reel 5, box 6, fd. 15, item 1

Sperry, Charles, Autobiographical sketch [n.d.], 2-3

Sperry, Charles, Autobiographical sketch [n.d.], 2-3.

Sperry, Charles, Autobiographical sketch [n.d.], 2-3.We soon began to prepare our wagons for starting and looking after our teams. We left Hyland Grove about the middle of June with three yoke of oxen and two wagons and 3 cows. Crosed the Mosary [Missouri] river the 3rd day. Made our wasy [way] to the Elk Horn and ferred that stream on a logg raft. Left there about the last of June. We ware orgenised into Jedediah [Morgan] Grants and Willerds [Willard Trowbridge] Snows fifty[.] then we took our jurny westward. Sometimes there was so manny compeneys camped clost together that it was ncecessary to travel in too or three columns. There was a gard cald out to go with the cattle when we camped. Sometimes the cattle remaind out all night but very often they ware brought up and correld. We kept gard in our camp as well as with our cattle. We traveld up the Platt[e] river for nundreds of miles. Fort Laremy [Laramie] was about 500 miles from Elk Horn. We crost the Plat[te] river at that place for the first time.	
The emegrants going to Oregon traveld on the south side of the river while we traveld on the north side until we came to Laremy [Laramie]. We traveld some distance up the south side then crost over a ridge and struck the sweete water [Sweetwater] and traveld up that streem for some distence. Then crost the back bone and pased the Pissific [Pacific] Springs. After that all the water ran west. We had a nomber of stampeeds of cattle on the way. They would git scared of something brake out of the correll and run off. At one time about 25 head broke away and went back to the Masary [Missouri] river about 150 miles. One of our oxen was with the bands. He came on the next year. Sometimes the whole trane of 50 or 100 wagons would stampede then evry boddy would have to look out for themselves to keepe from being run over.	
We got into the Salt Lake valley with 5 oxen, 3 cows, 2 wagons. Near the first part of Oct. 1847 we arrived.

Transcript for Sperry, Charles, Autobiographical sketch [n.d.], 2-3

Sperry, Harrison, Papers, 1919-1926, fd. 1, 1-2

Sperry, Harrison, Papers, 1919-1926, fd. 1, 1-2.

My father and his family left Nauvoo in the year 1846 traveling westward through Iowa and came to Utah in 1847 in Jeddy Dyer [Jedediah] M[organ]. Grant's company the father of President Heber J. Grant. While crossing the plains the weather was extremely cold and inclement and the people suffered a great deal from improper shelter. The roads were muddy, the wagons would mire down 
<s xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">and the chains would break</s>
 but we kept on. Many people died from exposure, my mother dying at Mt. Pisgah. My father and a brother died at Winter Quarters from scurvy and blackleg where approximately 600 others died from the same terrible disease where great chunks of flesh would drop off from their feet and legs.	
While encamped near a stream called Big Horn, about twenty miles from Winter Quarters, the camps were organized in a more systematic order. When 100 wagons would arrive prepared for the journey they were organized in companies of one hundreds, fifties and tens. At 5 o'clock each morning the bugle would sound as a signal for every man to attend prayers before leaving his wagon. Then the people would do their cooking, eat and feed their teams, etc. until 7 o'clock when the bugle would sound again and the train would move on. At 8:30 P.M. the bugles were sounded again when all would have prayers in their wagons and be retired by 9:00 o'clock. Each night the wagons were arranged to make a great oval correl and the cattle <s>and horses were tied inside this circle</s> to prevent them from being stolen by the Indians. The pioneers were constantly on the alert to protect themselves <s>for</s> from attacks from the Indians as the Indians had made several attempts to steal cattle <s>and provisions</s>. However, in general the Indians showed a <s>xxxxxxx</s> friendly spirit toward the Pioneers. There were seven companies that followed westward in 1847.	
The pioneers traveled through Echo Canyon and East Canyon over Big and Little Mountain into Emigration Canyon, and then into Salt Lake valley.

Transcript for Sperry, Harrison, Papers, 1919-1926, fd. 1, 1-2

Westover, Mary E. Shumway, [Reminiscences], in Margaret Shumway Sevey, comp., The Charles Shumway Family, 1806-1979 [1979?], 35

Westover, Mary E. Shumway, [Reminiscences], in Margaret Shumway Sevey, comp., The Charles Shumway Family, 1806-1979 [1979?], 35.

We camped out about twelve miles from the river, on a place they called Sugar Creek. We camped there about three weeks, waiting for the rest of the Saints to come so they could organize the companies. Then President Young organized the companies, and we started on. The traveling was awful. On account of the mud and storms, we sometimes could not travel more than a mile or two in a day. We had ox-teams, some had horses. We came as far as the Missouri River and there we stayed all winter. They called this place, Winter Quarters. There, my whole family was sick with the chills and fever, and there, my mother died in a wagon-box on the ground. There were hundreds of people camped at Winter Quarters.	
Our supplies that we brought from Nauvoo became very scarce so that everybody donated everything that they could spare. Mother donated two feather beds; Father [Charles Shumway] donated his best suit of clothes and a chest. This chest was filled with donations from the compnay, and it was sent to Missouri to buy corn. They ground the corn and we live on cornmeal all that first summer. That is what caused so much sickness, not having any vegetables, nothing but corn meal and cornbread to eat. That was the hardest time we had coming to Utah. We didn’t even have such a hard time coming across the plains.	
Father was called to go with the First Company with President Young, and he had had the chills all winter. President Young came past our camp one day while we were in Winter Quarters, in his carriage, and told Father he wanted him to go with him, but father was too weak to harness his team and said he would have to take his son along to help him, but if he did that, there would be nobody left to take care of his family, and get them on the way, west. Father found a man whose named was Byrd who wanted to go West, but had no way of transporation. When Byrd found that we had no driver for our wagon, he offered to drive our team of oxen. Father and brother Andrew, left with President Young’s company for the West, leaving his second wife, Louisa Minerly [Shumway], my youngest sister, and myself [Mary Eliza Shumway] to follow with the man, Byrd. One week after my father left us, my younger sister died of Black Canker.	
Part of the time while crossing the plains, we traveled four wagons abreast for protection from the Indians. There were one-hundred and forty-four people in the first company of pioneers, and they reached Salt Lake Valley on the 24th of July and commenced plowing.

Transcript for Westover, Mary E. Shumway, [Reminiscences], in Margaret Shumway Sevey, comp., The Charles Shumway Family, 1806-1979 [1979?], 35

Young, Brigham H., Autobiographical sketch, 1847, 3-11

Young, Brigham H., Autobiographical sketch, 1847, 3-11.

I was soon involved in Capt. Grants company & had the honor of being chosen as one of the night gua<r>d of the cattle half of every other night. We laid here about two weeks waiting for the last wagons to join us, as this was the last company of the season, Many found that they had little repairs to make such as reset[t]ing tire, & shifting their loading, I had to put in a new axel tree in my wagon, it took me two days to find a stick to make it of, John Young <Sen> was president of the Company. The first day out we made about five miles, there was about 100 wagons, divided into 50 in each division, Brother Snow, & Bates Nobles Capt of fifties, we made about 12 or 15 teen miles a day, we had a disagreeable time in crossing the Loop [Loup] fork, nothing of note happened until we had made about 400 miles reaching the Buffalow [buffalo] country. One morning two of our company took their guns & struck out into the low hills, about 11 oclock they over took the train a good deal excited, & reported that they had killed a monster, we were ordered to camp for dinner, Bro. Pierce said they could take his horses & wagon, the only horse team in the out fit, the box was soon set upon the ground, there was some faults tongues & levers placed on the running gears, four men was to go back. Capt Grant asked the hunters what time they would be back, the awnser [answer] about 5 oclock, 5 oclock came & no hunters in sight, night came the cattle corralled [corralled], & all went to bed, except the night guard to keep the cattle in the correll, about 11 oclock the wagon came, it was left about eight rods west of our correll every morning as daylight appears there is a sucshion of wind from the west, the first breeze, the cattle [s]cented the blood, & every animal seemed to be on their feet, making a rush for the carkess [carcass], it seemed as though the whole Earth trembled it was a frightful time, as I looked out the cattle at the mouth of the correll were on top of eacher [each other] as high as the tops of the wagons in the rush, they tiped over the wagon on the end of the night wing with one occupant who came out all right, they ran past the carcas about 80 rods, & lost the s[c]ent, they wheeled around in two divisions passing back a past our camp, I canot describe the terror & dread that we were in, if they got with the Buffalo, we were with out teams. There soon <were> some 20 men running after the cattle Calling to them, but the lowing & bells, made two [too] much racket to be heard, when they had run about four miles they stacked up so that the men got around them, in the mean time the carkus [carcass] was moved to one side, & delt out to the people, & a poor deal at that, for there was but little tough meat on the bones; The horns broken off of about thirty oxen & 2 or 3 colts with broken legs, was cleared away, & everything in readiness to receive the cattle, they came about ten oclock, ordered to yoke up, each man got his yoke & began to hunt up his team, the cry was soon heard, I am minus an ox, another, I am out of two, all told there were 26 head short, 4 of the best cattle; Joseph W. Young & another man were called upon to go in search of the lost cattle, their outfit was two plug horses, & five days food, they were absent ten days, returned without the cattle, they tracked 150 milles [miles].		
There was 5 or 10 thousand lbls [lbs] of freight that had to be placed upon the company, every one was to take according to the strength of his team about four oclock we roled out, traveled about five miles &amp; camped in two divishions, about 50 rods apart, after the cattle had eatten a little they were placed in the corrells, with a strong guard, about midnight I was awakoned by the stampede of the other correll, the cattle seemed much frightened, &amp; bewildered, we talked to our cattle which seem to passafy them; the other company soon had their cattle back in the correll, we soon found out the need of the cattle lost. We moved along as best we could to make up for our lost time, about eleven oclock as we were moving a long, we discovered a band of Buffalo coming over the ridge north of us, heading for about the center of our train. As they came nearer they increased in numbers, until there were thousands. They follow their leader, &amp; travel in a three cornered shape. <s>Shape</s>, they see nothing before them, &amp; travel in a short galiop [gallop]; we see that our only chance was to turn them as we could not get out of their way, so voli&lt;n&gt;teers were called for with their guns, they succeeded after many shots to turn them to the left, as they came around &amp; passed by us they seemed to be not two rods from us, many very large, we felt very much relieved, for a few minutes ago, it looked as though we were to be trampled under foot, it is a wonder that our cattle had not stampeded, we roled a long for two or three days as usual, We were brought to a halt, to let a large herd pass in front of us, they crowded into the river until they damed it up until it ran over their backs, The next thing of note was of meeting of Gen. Freemont, &amp; party returning from one of his western trips, he came down from the Yellow Stone [Yellowstone] country, he had but very little to say. We killed very few Buffalow, big mouth Baker said that he killed three with one bullet, The next thing of note was return of Phineas H. Young &amp; another man, who was sent back from the main body of the Pioneers who had reached Green River 160 miles of the great valley where we were expected to camp for the winter, we were very glad to get direct news from the Pioneers.		
The two men were sorely disapointed not finding their families in the Company, The men said they would continue on their journey East, They staid with &lt;us&gt; 4 days to give the people &lt;a chance&gt; to write back to their friends, there was a &lt;little&gt; provishion furnished, &lt;them&gt; their outfit consisted of a small Poneney [pony], frying pan, Coffee Pot, &amp; hatchet, two old rifles &amp; a very little Powder &amp; lead, they had five hundred miles before them, nothing to be seen but red skins &amp; Buffalow; It was sad parting for me, my Father had then traveled some fourteen hundred miles, the most &lt;of&gt; the way on foot, carrying his gun. We traveled along the banks of the Platt[e] until we got opposite Ft. Larima [Laramie] which stands back in a cove about one mile south of the river, it was low &amp; we croosed [crossed] &amp; drove out about four miles &amp; camped, it looked good to see a house again, we soon had the Black hills to climb which was very hard on our catt[l]es feet, the gravel was so sharp, In a hundred &amp; fifty miles we recrossed the platt[e] again, here we found a few of our Pioneers who was detained to build a boat to cross the companies as the[y] came up, when we came up the &lt;stream&gt; was so &lt;low&gt; we could ford it, The next place of note was Sweet Water [Sweetwater], &amp; Independance [Independence] rock, It &lt;is&gt; said that when the big rush of forty three or four to Oregon the &lt;emigrants&gt; all met there &amp; spent the 4th of July &amp; had fifty two weddings, &amp; named the rock, the next place of note is the Devel's [Devil's] Gate, the feed being poor we made a short noo&lt;n&gt;ing after we had traveled about four miles, we discovered that &lt;we&gt; were four women short, the question was asked, are they Kidnapt [kidnapped], a few men went back about a mile &amp; see the lost women. The next place is Rockey [Rocky] Ridge, it has got its right name, on top of the ridge we met President Young &amp; company on their return trip, it was about dinner time, &amp; we camped for the night, we wanted to know all about the great Bason [Basin], we had a good visit but a little bad luck, about daylight the Indians steped up &amp; got seven head of horses, young &amp; old that was tied to &lt;the&gt; Cannon wagon, they cut the bell strap, &amp; skipted [skipped] for parts unknown.		
About Ten oclock we seperated. Our next place of note was the South Pass after traveling eight hundred miles of upgrade, we found our selves on the Back Bone of America, I compaired the water of the Atlantic &amp; pacific [Pacific], I could &lt;see&gt; no diferance, Green River was the next place of note, in due time we arrived &amp; found the river low &amp; we crossed without any trouble, then fifty miles to old Ft Bridger, we arrived there all safe about dinner time, we camped for the night after dinner quite a number of us strooled [strolled] up to the Fort. Messrs Bridger &amp; Vasques were owners, the Fort consisted of 8 rooms covered with poles &amp; dirt, it had been cleaned up, &amp; we were made welcome, &amp; was envited to bring our music &amp; have a dance in the evening, Bridger had Squaws but the[y] kept out of sight, this whole country was claimed by the Snake tribe, they were very numerous, they have a way of dressing their robes &amp; other skins far superior to any of the other tribes, they never split their robes. 		
In their storeroom was a small supply of Indian goods, a little sugar, tea, coffee &amp; Sarvis [Service] berries, a pint was a pound all around; Mr. Vasques was a scholar, &amp; very interesting to talk with, he told me where I could find the Indian Medicine Spring, &amp; fill up my tea pot, I would find &lt;it&gt; good for the wagon also for sore throat, or any kind of a sores. I found it to be so, We had our little dance, &amp; bid them good by, it seemed &lt;good&gt; to get under a she&lt;l&gt;ter again, In the morning we started for the Great Valley one hundred &amp; thirteen miles to make, we moved along until we reached Salaratus Creek three miles east of Bear river. We found a good Spring of water, &amp; we camped for the night, here Sister Grant breathed her last, 83 miles east of the valley.

Transcript for Young, Brigham H., Autobiographical sketch, 1847, 3-11

Young, John R., Memoirs of John R. Young: Utah Pioneer, 1847 [1920], 56, 60-61

Young, John R., Memoirs of John R. Young: Utah Pioneer, 1847 [1920], 56, 60-61.

I may relate a little incident in my own life. My father and my younger brother, a lad of five years, went with the advance company of pioneers. My brother Franklin W. and I followed in Jedediah M. Grant's company. On Ham's Fork, near Fort Bridger, a cow gave out, and I was left behind the train to try to bring her into camp. At sunset, while about three miles behind the camp, letting the cow rest, I saw an Indian just across the creek move from behind a tree. Needless to say I made quick tracks toward camp.
In the morning we found that the Indians had killed the cow. It proved to be a band of Sioux, on the war path after Shoshones. Had they been angry at us, they could have killed me as well as the cow,—Brigham's counsel was bearing fruit. Neither my scalp, nor our cattle, beyond that one cow, were interfered with, while Fort Bridger was heavily raided.
To me the migration of our people for the next twenty years was a wonderful history. Our companies often scattered far apart in order to get feed for the cattle; our men, weak in numbers and but poorly armed; our women and children often compelled to walk, and therefore, sometimes quite unconsciously going too far ahead to be safe, or, in spite of the vigilance of the guards, becoming weary and lagging behind, yet not a single life was lost by the hand of the Indians.
Again the cheerfulness with which the people passed under the rod during these unparalleled journeys was no less marvelous than the protecting providence that was over them. Picture in your mind starting out on a certain morning, in company with five hundred men, women, and children. We walk eight or ten miles, then halt for dinner. Five hundred head of cattle have to be unyoked, watered, then driven to pasture and guarded, while fires are built and dinner is being prepared. Then the cattle are reyoked, the wagons packed, and the line of travel is taken up again.
Thousands of our people, many of them mothers with babes in their arms, walked every foot of that ten hundred thirty-seven mile stretch from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake. Day after day the toilsome journey is renewed. At night a quilt or blanket is spread upon mother earth for a resting place. Days pass into weeks, and weeks into months, before the longing eyes find rest and the weary feet pass down the dusty road of Emigration Canyon. Picture then, their feelings, when, on reaching a certain eminence, the Salt Lake Valley, with the Dead Sea glimmering beyond, burst like a vision of glory upon their view! Old and young break down, and weep for joy.
Having foreshadowed the immigration movement in general, I turn back to the parting at Winter Quarters. Owing to the poverty of our people, and to the lack of men, conditions were such that in making up the Pioneer Company many families were divided. Such was the case in my father's family. My dear mother, poor in health, was left behind with my only sister, Harriet, to follow several years later.
It fell to my lot to cross the plains in Captain Jedediah M. Grant's company. Brother Grant was a man of wonderful energy. In fact, the various companies which followed on the heels of the pioneers were led by a host of stalwarts; so that in my youth I became acquainted with many solid men of Joseph's day. Foremost among them, to my mind, were Brigham Young, John Taylor, Geo. A. Smith, Parley P. Pratt, Uncle John Smith, and Uncle John Young.
The last-named stood as a father to me; and yet, during that pilgrimage I was like a waif upon the ocean. The camp fire was my home, and I was everybody's chore boy. While this arrangement taught me self-reliance, it chilled my heart, and turned me against those finer, more tender endearments of life which ever abound in happy, lovable homes; and from this experience I have learned to pity the child that grows up without a mother's care and caress.
On reaching the Valley, our people at first all lived in the "Old Fort."

Transcript for Young, John R., Memoirs of John R. Young: Utah Pioneer, 1847 [1920], 56, 60-61

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