John Alger (1820 - 1897) Profile

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John Alger

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Deseret Evening News

Local and Other Matters: Returned Home

"Local and Other Matters: Returned Home", Deseret Evening News, December 11, 1877, Page 3.

Deseret Evening News.

Historian's Office missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, circa 1925

Historian's Office missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, circa 1925, June 4, 1877.

Historian's Office missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, circa 1925.

Historical Record Book, 1841-1874

Historical Record Book, 1841-1874, April 21, 1855, Page 185.

Historical Record Book, 1841-1874.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, June 4, 1877, Vol. 2, Page 42, Line 1645.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, June 4, 1877, Vol. 1, Page 39, Line 1645.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Shoshone Mission journal, 1855 May-1857 October

Shoshone Mission journal, 1855 May-1857 October, September 7, 1856, Page 41-60.

Transcript for Shoshone Mission journal, 1855 May-1857 October, 41-60

Shoshone Mission journal, 1855 May-1857 October.

Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock, circa 1896, Autobiography, Part Three

Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock, circa 1896, Autobiography, Part Three, June 1896.

. . . in the Spring I went over to winter quarters and saw Brother Brigham and he said we should have another team. We had got two pigs one cat one dog, two yoke of cattle all of Father’s tools four cows 27 bushel of corn meal and 25 lbs of flower to be used in case of sickness[.] I had got for our nuts some shoes for us boys but mine were well worn[.] we took along Levi and Ira Reed when we got to winter quarters sure enough the President had a team for us which Levi and Ira drove we started from winter quarters the 18th of May 1847[.] Mother was in the team I drove but She walked all the way untill we got to Cache Cave—We started from the mills the 15 of May and from Winter quarters the 18th Where we went to the Elkhorn and was organized in Captain Zera Pulsipher’s Company[.] I[t] fell to my lot to stand guard with John Alger[.] the first night out I took my turn with the men day and night besides it was Mosiah this and Mosiah that untill I was well nigh worn out[.] when I was on duty in the day Mother drove the team[.] Levi stood guard also



Ira drove that team when Levi was on duty[.] We heard that Father was at Platte Ferry[.] When we got there he was gone he had heard that we were not coming this summer. So he goes back to the Valley to make a fresh start his animals were there and he had made a little means which he took in[.] Brother Lewis Robinson was at the Ferry when we came up he was going in to the valley and I think that he in a jokeing manner invited Mother to go with him Saying we might catch bro Levi before he arrived in the Valley – Mother being of a persevering nature took the bait had her wagons rolled out for the journey[.] Captain Pulsipher told her to stop and asked her what She wanted to start out that way for saying the Indians would kill us before we got through[.] She said She would sooner risk that than to have her free hearted boy killed “you know &lt;said she&gt; that You have imposed on Mosiah[.] Besides his guarding day and night he has to run at the call of tom dick and harry untill he is nothing but skin and bones” – Said he “Your tongue is hung in the middle and works at both ends[.] the cussed thing out [ought] to be cut off[.]” Mother ordered out her little company[.] we came on. When we got to Cache Cave we stopped to noon[.] some of the Battallion Boys came along with their Pack animals going on to the States[.] They said President Levi W. Hancock and Brother Petigrew is comeing behind They are going to the States[.] Brother Hancocks Family are not comeing on this season[.] “ We bid them good “bye”[.] now Said Lewis Robi[n]son “ Mosiah you get on the off side of your team[.] Sister Clarissa you get in Mosiah’s Wagon [.] Ira get in the other wagon drive on[.]” every thing was done so quick—I held the dog diamond in my arms – we met the two Brethren[.] “How are you bro Levi[.] how are you Brother Petigrew and where are you going?” Oh! to the States Said Father[.] My wife and Children are not comeing on this season and I am going to bring them on next season good bye[.]” “good bye” was the answer as on they rode—“O Brother Levi[,] What would you now give if you could meet your Family now right here[?]” “O, I would give all I am worth[.]” But what would you give me this minit [minute] if I could Produce your Family now Your Wife and Children”? Father comes back looks at the Team sees Ira Reed’s wide chin under the Cloth of the Wagon he was driveing[.] sees the dog in my arms[.] Jumps from his horse and into my Wagon—I suppose we might as well let the curtain fall[.] Lewis’ had his fun our joy was full[.] Brother Petigrew went on alone leading his animal[.] We traviled towards the valley[.] it was the first time mother had rode[.] She hapened to get her foot between the harness and Box and hurt it conciderably so She rode the most of the way from there to the valley[.] when I had got to the mouth of emigration Kanyon [Canyon] my nigh hind wheel broke down it was the wagon sent to help us and it was old[.] the bottom of the Spokes was wrapped with rags to keep the wheels from wabling and groaning with their infirmities[.] But soon men and Brethren were on hand to cheer us, hearing how nobly mother had generaled the journey with out the loss of even one of fathers tools[.] we got in the 3rd of august 1848

Transcript for Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock, circa 1896, Autobiography, Part Three, 1896 June 6, 98-100

Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock, circa 1896, Autobiography, Part Three.

Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955

John Pulsipher journal and autobiography

Joel Edward Ricks, "John Pulsipher journal and autobiography", Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955.

Transcript for John Pulsipher journal and autobiography in Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955

Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

Brigham Young's 1848 emigration division, First 100, report

"Brigham Young's 1848 emigration division, First 100, report", Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, June 1848, Page 1-6.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Charles Pulsipher reminiscences, circa 1915

Charles Pulsipher reminiscences, circa 1915, Page 22-27.

In May we fitte[d] up for traveling again and on the 20th we Started out again pull[e]d out again to Loup Fork where we found the water high and it was with considerabale difficulty that we got over and while waiting to get over one of our co a little 8 year old boy of Bro Neffs a step son hers was Charle Beers sliped into the river and was drownd[.] this brought a gloom over the whole co he was a lovely inteligent child[.] we made him a coffin out of a cotton wood log by diggin it out and made it without nals[.] the organizeing of the co was completed their by [thereby] appo[i]nting Father Capt of the 50 and other capt of 10[.] We traveld on very pleasantly haveing fine wether[.] Met some large bands of Indians[.] We made them some presents that kept peace with them[.] we all ways thought it better to give them presents than to fight them and when we got up into the Buffalo country we wa[s] glad to get some fresh meete to go with corn bread[.] I was appointed one of the hunters for the co and Br Alger for the other one[.] we started one after noon and Shot one down. I stade to guard it while John went to get a team [to] haul it in[.] their had a large company of the wild fellows, been in to the river for a drink and when they saw the white coverd wagons come along and severel men run out to get a shot at them they took scare and run with great fury rushing over every thing that was in their way and they [run] strait towards where I was guarding my beef and the farther they run the larger the herd got and all joind in the race and by the time they got near me they had increast to about 2000 head comeing with great fury[.] I thought they would slacken down before they got to me but the nearer they come the harder the[y] seamed to run and mad[e] the whole earth tremble with their heavy bodies jumping[.] when I found they was comeing direct to me it looked like I would [be] tramped under their feet but my onley chance was to stand my ground so I pulld off my hat swong it and hollard as loud as I could and when they come within a few feet of me they crowded a little one side so as to pass me and then crowded in again and filld up the space and when I see that they try to pass me without jumping upon me and I took courage and kept up my nois[e] untill the[y] had got past and I will assure you I was very glad when they had past and left me safe[.] their was one man told me that he heard me 3 miles away[.] by this time it was getting dark &lt;*&gt; and began to rain I built up a fire to lite the team to me but the rain came so hard and the brush very small that the fire soon went out[.] left me in the dark the thus my onley chance was to listen to hear them holler which they did but as the wind was against me I could not make them hear and I found they was about pass me on one side[.] So I had to leave my beef and run to cut them off from passing me I soon made them hear and we met but it was so dark and still raining the [that] we descded we could not find the beef so we started for camp Some 4 miles away they had kept up a fire from the wood they had geatherd from the river that showed us the way back[.] So we made a strait line for the Camp over hills and hollers and we stept off one bank about 10 or 15 ft and all went down together 4 yoke of cattle and 3 men but as it was sandy no one hurt so we geatherd up our guns and went on again and got to camp all right glad to find a good Supper and warm fire to dry our wet close [clothes] by alltho it was not our company but we staid all night with and went on the next morning to over take our own co and they was glad to see us come up for they had been looking all night[.] was afraid that we had been trampled down in the Stampede[.] we did not care to hunt any more for severll days and the company begin to get hungry for some beef so they desided to lay over and give us a chance to get some[.] we started early in the July morning and traveld untill late in the after noon before we found any as we had nearly got out of their range and when we saw them they were standing as if asleep but kept one sentinal on guard to warn them if and [any] one aproched[.] I saw that we had got to be very carefull if we got a good shot at them[.] So I proposed that we come up on both sides of them so that if they did get a scare we could one get a shot at least[.] I went around in hollow and when we got nearer we crawled close to the ground untill we got about near enough them we signeld to each other by putting a red hanker [handkerchief] on our ramrods and reaching it up in sight and when bot[h] was ready we made a shot so near together that we droped one in his tracks[.] then the other 6 run directly towards John but he was quick in getting another load into his gun so that when they past him he took another just back of the front legs and centered him through the heart and fell in his tracks[.] So we had 2 near together but about 15 miles from camp[.] I went to dressing the beef while John struck for a team to haul it in[.] he got back about 11 oclock at night with a keg of water and some supper and I can tell you that water was good as I had not had any since earley in the morning[.] we soon loaded the 1800 or 2000 [pounds] of beef into the wagon and mad[e] our way back to camp arriveing their a little before day light then we had to lay over an other day to cure our meat[.] this is done by cutting thin sliceses and dip into boiling brine and then spread on a rack made of willows and keep a slow fire under it for 24 hours then it can be string on a cord and hung in the wagons to finish drying which makes spendid eating in a time of scarcety[.] We traveld on the next day but didnot find any more buffalo on the rest of the journey but we had sufficiant meat to last us through to S L Lake wher[e] we arrived on the 22nd of Sept. having been 4 m and 2 day on the way from the Missouri River 1030 mils dureing our traveling I got acquainted one young lady while she was driving an ox team acrost the plains her Bro having one in the Battalion to serve his country and left her to drive the team. In the spring of 49 Apr 30 we were married by President Brigham Young.

Transcript for Charles Pulsipher reminiscences, circa 1915, 22-27

Charles Pulsipher reminiscences, circa 1915.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1848: Page 3.

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

Hosea Stout reminiscences and journals, 1845-1869

Hosea Stout reminiscences and journals, 1845-1869, May 31, 1848, Vol. 2, Page 376-392.

Hosea Stout reminiscences and journals, 1845-1869, June 12, 1848, Vol. 3, Page 1-41.

Transcript for Hosea Stout reminiscences and journals, 1845-1869, Volume 2, 376-79, and, Volume 3, 1-41

Hosea Stout reminiscences and journals, 1845-1869.

Job Smith autobiography, circa 1902

Job Smith autobiography, circa 1902, Page 15-16.

As the spring of 1848 approached, preparations were made for the journey westward. The pioneers of course having returned, we were informed of the length of the journey and the kind of country we were expected to settle.



Again the wagon question came up, and seeing that the vehicle had carried us so far a distance of 330 miles from Nauvoo with safety, and further that no opportunity had been found to obtain a better one, it was decided to try it again. Brother John Alger volunteered to repair it with new bolster and sanboards and it was then loaded up for the 1000 mile journey. My sister Ann had already gone, and myself to drive for my board, and the hauling of 400 lbs of breadstuff, there were but two left for whom to haul the required amount of provisions, 400 lbs. to each person with seed wheat, and what other goods and chattels we possessed were again loaded up. My uncle was now so far recovered from his lameness that he was able to drive his steers on his wagon, they being very gentle. He started in [Zera] Pulsipher’s company, and the Perkin’s teams in Pres. [Brigham] Young’s company. Prest. Young’s company numbered 200 wagons, Pulsipher’s about 50. After travelling 120 miles I was transferred to drive one of President Young’s teams, which I drove about 100 miles, and was then transferred to drive for Thomas Bullock, the clerk of the camp and general church recorder, at that time. Elder [Wilson Gardner] Perkins team and also Prest. Young’s team, which I had driven were not overloaded and the work was pleasant and not over burdensome. Of course I did my share of herding and attending the cattle in common with all the other drivers. My teams had consisted one of 4 and the other of six manageable oxen. But Bullock’s team was another sort of task. His team consisted of six oxen and three cows, which always left one odd animal to take turns with those which gave out. The load was very heavy and the animals very poor so that I had very hard work to keep pace with the better teams, frequently having to unyoke a tired animal and fill its place with the odd cow. Bullock’s occupation being a clerk, he knew nothing about cattle and often blamed me when I thought I deserved pity. I always did the best I could for him and his team and we finally arrived in Salt Lake Valley on September 25th, 1848. During the journey I had my trials in addition to the daily routine of driving and caring for a tired team. I started with very poor shoes which soon wore out on the road, and my clothes very scant and thin which soon became very ragged. Sister [Henrietta] Bullock helped to keep my rags together but shoes, I did without, travelling barefooted several hundred miles, finally when nearing the journey’s end I obtained a pair of moccasins from some Indians.



Our manner of travelling was quite unique. Up the north side of the Platte river two lines of wagons abreast. After unyoking cattle at night several teamsters drove the herd to where they could best find feed, sometimes as far as a mile, herding them until dark, then driving them to camp, place a rope around each animal’s horns and at the other end of the rope driving a stake in the ground. Very early in the morning cattle released and started up again at given signal. Wagons were all driven at camping time so as to form two half circles, thus making one circle complete, each wagon driven so as to lock his off front wheel behind the near hind wheel of the wagon before him. This formed a complete corral for the teams all night, instead of roping them. Another curiosity of travel at that time was the vast number of Buffaloes to be seen for a number of days. At one time looking forward up the Platte Valley as far as the eye could reach, the landscape was almost black with them, they were so numerous.



My uncle with his wooden wagon made better time than my company so that he got in a number of days before the President’s company. I found him camping near the old Fort. He [his] wagon seemed to have lasted very well so long as the country was not rocky or gravelly, but when arriving in the mountain country the fellies nearly wore out; to prevent this as far as possible, they were wrapped in Buffalo raw hide so that the wagon lasted until reaching their destination.

Transcript for Job Smith autobiography, circa 1902, 15-16

Job Smith autobiography, circa 1902.

Mosiah L. Hancock autobiography, undated

Mosiah L. Hancock autobiography, undated.

On the 10th of May, 1848, mother sent me forth to Winter Quarters to see Brother Brigham and find out if we could go to the Salt Lake Valley. He said, "Yes, and here is a team." So I took a team back with me, and our team was for us and the other team was for father's 2nd wife. But the 2nd wife did not come with us, so mother took charge of both teams.



We started with 27 bushels of cornmeal, 15 lbs. of flour, 2 pigs, a dog, and a cat. There was Uncle Levi Reed, 2½ years older than I; and Uncle Ira Reed, a little younger. Levi and Ira drove one team and I the other; although when I would be out hunting, mother would drive my team. We all walked because we were heavily loaded. We left the Indian Mills on May 14, 1848; and we left Winter Quarters on May 18th.



While we were camped at Winter Quarters, Mary Dunn came to our camp and wanted to go with us, but mother said we could not take her because we had no room. Mary's mother had died and her father had gotten a stepmother for his children. She came with her bundle of clothes to our wagon, and with what joy I hailed my noble, beautiful wife! But Mary had to go, and oh what sorrow as I saw her depart. We were separated for life.



We went over to Elk Horn and were organized in Zera Pulsipher's company of 50. He was captain. There was John B. Butcher, John Bills, Wm. Burges[s], John Alger, Samuel Alger, Lewis the tinner, Brother Bunday, Brother Neff, and Charles Pulsipher. I took my duty thru the day with the men, and had my turn standing guard at nights. My first turn standing guard was with John Alger. He said I could have the first turn if I would stand till one o'clock; which I did.



We killed our first antelope at Soapfork [Loup Fork]; and I also caught a catfish there that weighed 36 pounds. John Pulsipher helped me pull it out! We got our first buffalo about 100 miles out of Soapfork. There were four of we boys, and we went to camp and brought out seven yoke of oxen to get the buffalo! John Benton mourned because of the parts of the buffalo we threw away. Then we boys thought we would stroll along up the Platt[e] in quest of other game; but we went too far and got surrounded by wolves before we got back. We got a severe scolding when we got home, but the howling and the massing of the wolves was a great deal worse in my estimation!



When we got to within two days travel of Laramie, we just about got into some trouble with a large company of Sioux Indians. John Alger started in fun to trade a 16-year-old girl to a young Chief for a horse. But the Chief was in earnest! We got the thing settled, however, and were permitted to go without the loss of Lovina. We went thru Laramie and on to Platte Ferry. Father, in returning from the Battalion trip, had stopped there, but had gone on to Salt Lake Valley because he had heard we were not coming until next year. We found Lewis Robinson at Platt[e] Ferry, and he was going on to the valley. Mother wished to go also, for I was so free to do everybody's bidding that I was nothing but skin and bones, and mother was afraid that I wouldn't live thru it. She talked to the captain of the company, but he gave her the most insulting language, so we pulled out and went on. I did not have to stand guard for that company any more, and I began to mend from that time forth.



When we got to Cash Cave [Cache Cove] we met father and brother David Petigrew going back to the bluff for us. So father returned with us to the valley. While we were going down East Canyon Creek, mother's foot got caught in between the box and wagon tongue and broke the toe at the upper joint; but the skin was not broken. So father anointed her foot there and administered to her and it was healed quite soon. We went on and at the mouth of Emigration canyon I broke a hind wheel; but we had some of father's carpenter tools along and the wheel was mended.



This evening August 2, 1848, Edmond Ellsworth and Charles Shumway came up to our camp with some roasting ears. August 3rd, we drove into the old fort in Salt Lake Valley . . .

Transcript for Mosiah L. Hancock autobiography, undated

Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude

Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Vol. 1, Page 33.

Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude.

Thomas Bullock journals, 1843-1849

Journal, 1848 May-September

"Journal, 1848 May-September", Thomas Bullock journals, 1843-1849, May 24, 1848, Page 8.

Transcript for Thomas Bullock journals, 1843-1849, Journal, 1848 May-September

Thomas Bullock journals, 1843-1849.

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