Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Joel Judkins Terrell

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856

Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856.

About the middle of may 1850 I bid adue to Fremont Country Iowa a<n> made my way to Kanesville. After a few days respit crossed the Missouri river below the mouth of the Platte. And was organized in the following manner by Orson Hyde: Johnathan Foot was appointed captain over one hundred and five waggons and Joel Gerill and William Wall captains of fifties and Utta [Ute] Perkins, Chester Loveland, Thomas Maun [Peter Maughan], Abraham Coon and myself were appointed captains of ten in the second fifty.</n>



On the fifteenth of June we left the banks of the Missouri[.] We had not been traveling long when old man Gidcomes [John Tidcomb’s] daughter of about ten years of age was run over by one of the waggons and her thigh bone broken. I set the broken limb which was the[n] my first experience in the sergical line. It was perhaps through good luch [luck] more than good manegement that the bone mended very well.



On the third day after we left the River we were visited by one of the most distressing plagues that ever befell the human family. The first to be afflicted with the disease was Alfred Brown who departed this life about two hours after he was taken with the dreaded disease. The next morning after attending to his intermant the camp moved on. During the day three more were afflicted. One of them died while we were traveling, and the two others died while we were camped for the night. The same night my younger child was taken sick with the same affliction and died in the latter part of the same night and was burried the next morning.



I think I never saw so exciting a time and a people so completely frightened out of their sences as the people comprising my ten for the sickness was confined principly to the ten under my charge. The first company of ten started on their journey in the morning wlile [while] we were burying the dead. During the time of yoking and hitching up seven others were taken which rendered it very difficult for us to move. Only by some of the men driving two and three teams was it made possible for us to cross Salt Creek.



After two or three efforts to receive help from the foremost portion of the company I must confess I was somewhat irritated and went myself. Although surrounded by the dead and dying I clamored upon a waggon wheel and there in plainess rebuked them for their cowardice and inhuman treatment of their brethren. As a result Wm. Hall, Chester Loveland, and Thomas Robinson volunteered to assist in taking care of the dead and dying and driving of the teams. After burying one person by the way we overtook the main body of the company about two-o’clock.



We continued our journey through sickness and death untill we passed through Fort Carny [Kearney]. After this time attacks of the prevailing epidemic were not so prevelant nor dangerous. Some days we passed from fifteen to twenty-five &lt;graves&gt; of emigrants going from Missouri and Illinois to California, all bearing nearly the same date. In many cases it was a disgreeable task to pass the decomposing bodies of which had been removed from their shallow covering by the wolves. In one place I saw the mangled bodies of twenty-three human beings. Some were without the appearance of a burial. The nearer we approached the mountenous region the less sickness we had.



When within twelve miles of Fort Larney [Laramie] we were, if such a thing were possible, threatened with a still worse contageon than we had previously been afflicted with. The Siox Indians were camped on either side of the Platt[e] River and by the score were dying daily with the small-pox. Some were piled in heaps by the side of the road while others were sunk with rocks in the river. Very fortunately for us we escaped without receiving harm from this contageon.



While in camp a few miles above Larney we come very near loosing a very useful member of our company, a man by the name of of Spafford, who came nearly being drowned. He had lost his mother three sisters and one brother the result of the colora [cholera]. Through the infatiguable energy of Thomas Robinson and John Chitesten [Chidester] he was saved from a watery grave.



From here we slowly persued our way through the mountains sustaining none other than the loss of a few cattle by reason of which we were ocompelled [compelled] to leave on a waggon at Devils Gate of the Sweet River. And on the seventeenth of September we entered the Great Salt Lake which at first sight had the appearance of a dreary waste or a vast desert whose dry and parched soil seemed to bid defiance to the husbandmen to bring forth from its bosom the comforts of life. By means of irregation however it was found to produce equal to any other country of the same latitude.

Transcript for Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856

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

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

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

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

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1850: Page 15-16.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Joel J. Terrell diary

Joel J. Terrell diary, July 1846.

. . . venison and on the 18th Capt. [James] Brown returned from Santafee [Santa Fe] with our money to this time weather changeable on the evening of the 24th I started to hard scrabble or white oake [Oak] creek nearing 30 mi &amp; with an attachment went to attach property[.] returned the 26th in the evening[.] all the detachments having started for Larimy [Fort Laramie] the day before I went up fountain kabacia 3 or 4 m, staid with Capt [Nelson] Higgins all night[.] overtook Co. next day som 36 ms from <s>kabacia</s> pueblow [Pueblo] 3 ms above crossing kabacia Co having got there the 26th[.] Staid heare till the morning of the 30th and pursuid our march 20 ms to Jimmys camp and encamped for the night. This evening we were visited with a cold rane with wind and some haile before we could pich our tenst [tents] which rendered it verry dissagreable



31st took up line of march some 18 ms to Stony point, encamped for the night this event in crosing the divide before we got here it hailed and rained verry hard which was verry bad on us and our anamils. this night I was officer of the gard and about 9 ocloc it so hard I got leave of our capt to relieve the garrd but being verry wet and cold I had verry little rest all night



June 1st took line of march some 15 ms to <s>Stony</s> &lt;Cherry crick [Creek]&gt; and encamped for the night This evening I picked a mess of greens made a churn staff and dasher and some of the boys killed a she bare of the black kind tolerable pork.



2nd we took up line some 15 ms down same creek and encamped for the night



3rd this morning we took up line some 16 or 17 ms and encamped on the s fork of the river Plat[te] for the night



4th we took up line of march 18 ms and after passing 2 forts luptons and some other encamped for the night peace off river



5th This day took march for crosing some ten ms crossed went down som six ms and encamped for a season[.] the bank of it at this place it is about 3 hundred yds wid[e] from 3 to 6 feet deepe



6th This day qu[i]te pleasant I washed 3 shirts and wamunes [women's] haversack and handkerchief[.] we are now in the fork of the plat[te] and Cash LaPoode [Cache La Poudre River] <s>at which we have</s>



7th this morning we took up line of march crosed cash Lapoode marched 15 ms and encamped for the night on drye creek or rathar [rather] for a season to water for our beef cattle



8th this S[ebert] d Shelton came with our beef cattle[.] I am now called to attend to the gard



9th this morning we marched up dry creek some 12 ms and are encamped for the nighit with orders to cook 2 days on the expectation of not having the privilege of wood



10th we took up line of march some 20 ms and encamped on a small creek the name of which I have not learned but from appearance I am pleased to call it little Sandy or cleare creek



11th this morning <s>shortly after</s> we took up march went to <s>20</s> &lt;18&gt; ms encamped in a bottom on a small branch of horse creek[.] this evening Amasa liman [Lyman,] woley[,] Tibbet and R Stevens came to our camp which gave som of us much satisfaction Others disstress of mind at any rate it gave us an other chance to part with one dollar more of our hard earnings it was joy and grief to me



12th we took up line of march 20 ms encamped for the night on an other branch of horse creek[.] this day shortly after we started we killed 2 bufalow [buffalo] in pretty good order



13th This morning marched 5 ms and encamped on horse creek till the morrow[.] this creek takes its name from the many heards of horses having ben seen and caught heare 3 ocloc this day the detachments being caled together[.] Elder Limon [Lyman] delivered a verry appropriate address in relation to our going to California and carry out the principles for which we inlisted in connection with which he also gave us some <s>varya</s> verry able council and instruction &amp;c which verry consoling he having done it with the spirrit of niceness



14th this morning a detachment of 11 being sent on to Laramy[.] I being one of that number to find some stolen horses[.] we traviled some 40 ms and lodged all night on a branch some 6 ms from Larimy



15th when we got in about 1-1/2 ms of there on a high hill we were meet by a war party of the Souix [Sioux] Indians who made a verry hostile apperarance being mou[n]ted on horseback well armed with bows arrows guns speers,etc. there was not fare [far] from 100 tha[t] seen us at a distance supposed us to have ben the Crow Indians with whom tha [they] were at war but finding the mistake tha all commenced shaking hands with us and you may depende tha went the whole hog as that tha gladly escorted us to Laramy[.] this evening we found some of the horses neare Larimy in the hands of some Frenchman who dwelt in lodgs[.] we sent our express back for more help and we lay under a tree this night



16th this day an additional attachment came to our assistance and we took what we could find and returned back a short distance to camp



17th we took up march crosed river by blocking wagons and went some 4 ms &amp; encamped for the night.



18th We marched 16 ms &amp; encamped for the night.



19th This day we traviled some 17 ms to willow branch &amp; encamped till munday.



20th This day Elder limon gave us all a good whipping at 2 ocloc and a great deal of good council in relation to the corse we should take



21st this day we marched 12 mi. crosed horse shue [Horseshoe] river little further &amp; encamped on a small streame for the night good water.



22 we took up march some 15 ms through or over the black hills crosing several pretty streems of water &amp; crosed a butiful streame of water to apearince an excelent mill privaledge[.] this streame is called by Indians Man I shall call it black creek from <s>its afte</s> its having its location through the black hills on which we encamped for the night.



23rd we took march over the black &amp; lead hills crosing some small streams principly dry crosed deer creek a pretty stream of water and encamped on its bank to waite for [Nelson] higgins detachment[.] this day we traviled 18 ms this day we kiled a grsley [grizley] &amp; one cub



24th Verry warme



25th We took up march traviled 18 ms[.] T[homas] Williams kills a first rate buffalo[.] we encamped on on mane plat at the mouth of big deer creek.



26th we marched 16 ms. &amp; encamped on the plat



27th this day we marched up to the ferry 4 ms[.] the pioneers established it[.] we encamped for a season to get blacksmthing done



28th This day 15 of us ware detaled to overtake the Pioneers &amp; we left long 10 o cloc a m[.] traviled some 18 ms and took a recess of an houre or 2 and some refreshment &amp; good springs heare[.] this day went some 31 ms to brackish water or purlash swamp



29th came 5 ms to willow springs this day went some 27 ms struck Sweete water [Sweetwater,] independent [Independence] rock[.] went 6 ms to Devils gate and stoped for the night



30th Took up march 30 ms up river to sweete and stoped for the night a greate deal of sand from ferry heare or to this place wood scarce but good water &amp; feede and rocky mountains on the right[.] this day indeede and a range of timber on the left on the left



July the first we took up march 32 ms to mountain springs and encamped for the night.



2nd we took up marched 40 ms and lade own ground this this day[.] we crosed the divide imediately on the west side of from Laramy [Laramie] said great divide 280ms[.] here we came to the green springs or pacific springs[.] the waters of which run into the greate pacific[.] this is a verry greate boiling spring surrounded by a qua[g]mire[.] water verry cold



&amp; same 32 ms[.] &lt;laid&gt; on the bank of a branch top big sandy[.] feed verry scarce



4th this day we went some 10 ms to ferry of green river the pioneers having moved some 2 ms below shortly after we got thare brigum [Brigham Young] and some of the 12 meet meet and ferryed us over and escorted down to there camp[.] we were received with three cheers of hosanna to god and the Lamb by Brigum and all the rest with amen &amp; amen



5th this day we marched 20 ms to a streem called blacks fork and encamped for the night. good feed heare[.] some brush for wood[.] this day traviled 18 ms and cared sd creek some 4 times[.] we crosed and encamped on it for the night.



7th we took up line of march 17-3/4 miles to bridger after crossing the before mentioned black fork some 4 or 5 times and encamped for the night[.] black fork divides into various branches heare some 4 or 5 feede plenty heare



8th this morning frost this day the pioneers lay by to get something don this forest is in latitude 41-19-13 the earth heare is 6665 feete above the level of the great pacific.



9th this 6 of us started back to meete company.



10th 2 oclock this day got to the ferry &amp; encamped



11th 10 o clock Am Elder Brannan &amp; myself left to meet company



12th meet them 10 ms of green springs 100 ms from Bridger



17th after breakfast I left my mess because I was not able to please the mistress and I believe no boddy else could who wishes to do rite[.] from which time I eat nothing till evening except a few mouthfuls of dryed buffaloe



18th Nothing worth noting



19th This day we arived at fort brgger [Bridger] &amp; encamped for the night.



20th took up march 15 ms to a small &lt;branch&gt; of black fork and encamped for night.



21st we took up march through a verry mountainous &lt;shruby&gt; country pased through a long narrow valley or 2 and into an other to a firstrate spring in side of the bluff to left hand neare which we encamped for the night on a small stream of baer [bear] river



22nd. this morning we marched 16½ ms to the cave springs and encamped for the night good feede wood scarce land good pararie smooth some 47 mi from heare to bridger



23d this morning we took up march down same valley some 17 or 18 ms the first part of which was smothe [smooth] pararie &lt;well set in grass&gt; the balance rough s[c]rubby brushey &amp; rough[.] on the south the side a chane of high ball mountains <s>on the north high</s> and on the north of this narrow valley a chane also of high rocky mountains[.] a part of this valley is covered with gooseberrys[,] courents [currents.] read [red] and yellow and white thorne <s>scrubby oake</s> and willows[.] along this little branch we pased several good springs and encamped for the night amongst the willows[.] the mountains heare on either side are verry high



24th this morning we pased down this valley some 7 ms to wever [Weber] Creek and turned down it to the rite one mile or upwards NW co[u]rse and encampecd for the night[.] this valley upwards of 80 rods wide &amp; geese flew over this evening[.] we have quite a refreshing shower this evening



25th we lay by this day to rest our teams and do some washing[.] 3 pm Elder Limornon delivered a sermon in which he gave rich enstructions and counsel without favor or affections



26th we took up march some 15 ms after going down the stream some 2 ms crosed over to left kenyon [canyon] north southeast up an other and encamped for night.



Just this side of crosing hundreds of acres of firstrate farme land well watered springs plenty &amp;tc currents, goosberies &amp;tc in greate plenty &amp;tc &amp;tc black read [red] yellow &amp;tc



27th we took up march kenyan [Canyon] creek several ms &amp; after crossing it 10 times we left it and turned to rite, up a kenyan[,] up a gradual assent through grove of fur pine[,] small shugar [sugar,] and various kinds of under groth [undergrowth] the grove continues neare the summit[.] this mountain farom [from] said summit I had the most sublime the most commanding and the most glorious view my eyes ever beheld[.] I was filled with admiration and delite at the grand appearence of the towering mountains of Israel[.] from this summit pased down a kenyon of thick timber come to small branch <s>in</s> &amp; a short distance from summit went down into open valley and encamped for the night[.] this day some 15 ms

Transcript for Joel J. Terrell diary, 1846 July-1847 July

Joel J. Terrell diary.

"Joel J. Terrell," Ogden Daily Herald

"Joel J. Terrell," Ogden Daily Herald, February 26, 1883.

"Joel J. Terrell," Ogden Daily Herald.

Norma Baldwin Ricketts, The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1996), 23

Norma Baldwin Ricketts, The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1996), 23.

Watt, Ronald G., Consecration Deeds Index, 1854-1868

Watt, Ronald G., Consecration Deeds Index, 1854-1868.

Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days

Prophets of the Restoration

Global Histories

Revelations in Context

Women of Conviction

Joseph Smith Papers

Church Historian’s Press

More

Publications

Church History Museum

Historic Sites

Church History Library

Visit

Church History Catalog

Missionary Database

Pioneer Database

Treasures of the Collection

Pioneer Resources

Research

Church Historic Sites

Quick Links

Church History Biographical Database

/chd/landing

company-arrived

joined-company

pioneerCompanyReferenceIdValue

Default List Title

Name

Presided Over

Sources

Title

Joel Judkins Terrell

Birth Date

Death Date

Gender

Sources