John Crook (1831 - 1921) Profile

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John Crook

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Crook, John, Autobiography, in Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Collection, 1828-1963, reel 12, item 6, 8-10

Crook, John, Autobiography, in Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Collection, 1828-1963, reel 12, item 6, 8-10.

By the time I was ready to start on my journey I had $10.00 left. Elder Cunningham from Salt Lake City had charge of the Church Affairs, so the Giles folks and myself, some 4 wagons of them, gathered in Hang Hollow and prepared for our Journey. 
About the 1st of June 1856 we left Hang Hollow for Florence Nebraska. We were to gather at Bluff City about 6 miles across the Missouri River. We crossed the river on a ferry boat the 2 day of June. 
The first company of saints to cross the plains was organized about the 4 of June under direction of Phils Merril [Philemon C. Merrill]. The company consisted 50 wagons divided into 10 companies. E[noch]. B[artlett]. Tripp was the sub captain over the Giles and my self company. The first day’s drive was 6 miles and the next day to the river ferry which was a trying time to all who were green hands with cattle. 
 In going down a steep hill to the ferry my 2 wild yoke started to run and ran the wagon into deep gully and broke the axle. After all repairs and crossing the river we were organized with camp and cattle guards. All went very peacefully until one night something stampeded the cattle overturning wagons in their mad rush. It was supposed that the stampede was caused by some roughs who followed us from Council Bluffs. We had to stay here 3 days gathering up our cattle some never being found, having mixed up with the Buffalo. This season thousands of Buffalo were seen every day. One time a herd of Buffalo charged our train and stampeded the who[le] train causing accidents to some of the people. Sometimes we traveled on the north side and sometimes on the south side of the Platte River. In going over the Black Hills we had to camp without water a drive of 35 miles. 
 In traveling through the Black hills the train was divided into three divisions, we traveled about one half day’s drive apart until we reached the Big Mountain. In going over this Mountain we had our first view of the Salt Lake valley. 
 On the 14 of Aug we mooned [nooned] in a little valley at the head of Parley’s canyon there was no road so we had to travel over Little Mountain[.] We had a hard time getting over this mountain. as we passed what was termed as Hogs back a road cut through a hill we had a full view of Salt Lake valley, oh what joy filled each of us at the sight. 
About noon on the 15 of August we rolled into Salt Lake City and camped on Emigration square.

Transcript for Crook, John, Autobiography, in Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Collection, 1828-1963, reel 12, item 6, 8-10

Crook, John, [Autobiography], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 7:252-56

Crook, John, [Autobiography], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 7:252-56.

It was understood that a company of saints would be organized about the first of June. An Elder Cunningham from Salt Lake City had charge of the Church affairs in the Bluffs. So the Giles's folks, some four wagon of them and myself gathered in a ravine south of the city called Hang Hollow, making up and preparing our necessary outfit.



About the first of June 1856, we left Hang Hollow for Florence, Nebraska. The gathering place was about six miles from Bluff City across the Missouri River. We crossed our wagons on a ferry boat about the second day of June. The first company of saints to cross the plains was organized about the fourth of June under the direction of Philo [Philemon C.] Merrill as captain who had crossed the plains nine times before. The company consisted of some fifty wagons, divided in companies of ten with a sub captain.



The Giles and myself were in E.B. Tripp's company. Elder E.B. Tripp was returning from a mission to the Eastern states, he had two wagons of his own. The first day's drive was about six miles and the next day to Elk Horn river ferry, a trying time to all who were green hands with cattle. In going down the hill, which was very steep to the ferry, my two wild yoke of cattle started to run, and ran the wagon into a deep gully washed out by rains in the road. Result a broken axle. A grove of hard wood close by supplied a new one and a few spare ones to take along. The end of one stick which was a little long I made into a maul, which I have to this day, 1893. this axle was put into Fat[h]er [William] Giles' wagon on big Sandy and Green River. After completing all repairs and crossing the river we were thouroughly organized with camp and cattle guards. Being then in an Indian country it required a thourough system of watchfulness.



All went along very peacefully until one night camping on Wood River, something was seen to crawl in among the cattle and the cattle stampeded, overturning some wagons in their pelmell rush. It was supposed the stampeded was caused by some roughs, who followed us from Council Bluffs with that intention. Cattle when crossing the plains in Indian countries also are very easily stampeded. Here we had to stay three days gathering up cattle, some never being found, having got mixed with the buffalo. Father Giles lost two good cows in the buffalo herds. This season buffalo were very thick on the plains, herds of thousands were seen every day. We sometimes had to stop the train while the herds went past to water. One day while nooning on Wood River, a big herd came charging on us from the hills. All hands were called out with guns and fired into them to turn them off. Another time while traveling buffalo charged our train and stampeded our whole train, causing some accidents, some ladies I believe got badly bruised, being thrown out of the wagons.



Most of the emigrant trains traveled on the south side of the Platte River up to old Fort Laramie. But we traveled all the way on the North side. Captain Merrill said we would find the best feed on the north side of the river. In going over the Black hills to Sweet Water creek we had to camp one night without water, a drive of about 35 miles between water. At Independence Rock the train was halted for one hour, giving the people a chance to gather saleratus. The country is a vast plain here with saleratus swamps and stretches of sage brush intervening. I gathered about one bushel in big chunks. This article was much sought after when arriving in the valleys. But I held onto mine which I found to my benefit in after years. This article in the crude state is pure if not so nice looking as the imported, which had to be hauled in wagons as other merchandise one thousand miles.



After leaving the Platte river and traveling through the Black hill country. It was thought best to divide the train into three divisions as feed was in smaller patches and more scattered than on the great Platte meadows. Dr. Peter Clinton was appointed over one division and E[noch].B[artlett]. Tripp another one. Both these gentlemen were of Salt Lake City and well known. Captain Merrill kept the larger division. And thus we traveled about one half day's drive apart until we reached the Big Mountain. In going over this mountain we had the first view of the Salt Lake valley at a distance which made all rejoice, realizing that our journey's end was near.



On the 14th. of August we nooned in a little valley between what is called Big and Little mountains. This valley is at the head of Parley's canyon. No road down there, travel went over Little Mountain and down Emigration canyon. While nooning here a small train of wagons under the charge of Mr. Parrish came along in a rush. They had left Florence about the same time as our train, and we had encountered them once or twice on the Platte bottoms. They had bragged of beating us into Salt Lake City by two weeks or more, as their company was small and would have the advantage of feed etc. Teams they said would be in better condition. But when they undertook to climb the hill the roads being slippery with the showers, their teams gave out and had to double and tripple in some cases. Well, we had quite a time also in getting over the mountains. So we had to camp in Emigration canyon that night. Early next morning we hitched up and about four miles down the canyon the road passed over what is termed a Hogs back, a road cut through a hill. And then you had a full view of Salt Lake City and valley. There was the blue water of the Salt Lake in the far west and the beautiful settlements in the foreground. Enchanting to the eye. There was the scene before us that we had long looked for, and read and sung about, the city of the Saints. Oh what a joy filled each bosom at the sight. About noon the 15th of August we rolled into Salt Lake City and went into camp on Emigration square.



[Variant versions also in Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Collection, 1828-1963, reel 12, item 6, 8-10 and Reminiscences and diary [ca. 1861-1864], 2-3 in Church Archives. Also published in Utah Historical Quarterly, Apr. 1933, 55-56 and Treasures of Pioneer History, 6 vols. [1952-57], 6:61-63.]

Transcript for Crook, John, [Autobiography], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 7:252-56

"Emigrants For Utah," Deseret News

"Emigrants For Utah," Deseret News, August 6, 1856.

EMIGRANTS FOR UTAH.



COMPANY WHICH LEFT FLORENCE, IOWA, JUNE 5TH. ELDER PHILEMON C. MERRILL, CAPTAIN. 
James Cooper, W. F. Fream, A. Maltha, E. Brunson wife and 2 children, George Russell; S. A. [Samuel A.] Woolley, L. H. Mausley [Louis Henry Mousley], F. Raymond, S. [Stephen] Golding, wife and 3 children, E. Steele, James Steele, H. M. Turner, wife and 2 children, A. J. Turner, J. W. Hammer, Jeter Clinton, B. P. Brown, Henry Eckells, wife and 2 children, Samuel Cursley and wife, Abraham Hayes, Charles Hammer, Frances Nash.



Elisha Edwards, David P. [Pinkney] Rainey and wife, Thomas Singleton, wife and 2 children, Archibald Kerr, wife and 2 children, McCaslin Frost and wife, Charles Singleton, William Maylett and wife, Samuel Rudd, Edward Rudd, Matthew Moore; William Sanders, wife and 3 children, George [Sloan] Bailey, wife and 3 children, William Smith, wife and 4 children, Joseph Clark, wife and 2 children, John [Henry] Craghead, wife and 5 children.



E. B. [Enoch Bartlett] Tripp, Phebe Weltan, Daniel Munns, wife and 3 children, John Simperley, wife and 4 children, Francis Miller, John Ashcroft, wife and 4 children, Samuel Philips [Phillips], Joseph Roe, Thomas H. [Huskinson] Giles, wife and 4 children, Thomas Rasband, wife and 2 children, William Giles, wife and 6 children, George Giles, wife and 1 child, Harriet Green, John Crook, George Spratley, James Haggard [Hoggard] , wife and 4 children, Ann Roe.



Francis A. [Almon] Brown, wife and 2 children, Augustus P. Canfield, Hannah H. Brown, Joel A. [Almon] Bascom, Lucina A. Burton, Henry I. Runnels, wife and 4 children, Colinan Toplin [Joplin] and wife, [Benjamin] F. Wood[w]ard, Susannah [Pilling] Laycock and 3 children, George and Eliza S. [Sophia Brown] Rust, M. C. Kinsman, Nancy Kilbreath and 1 child, Catherine Brown and 2 children, William Black, Frederick Spat and wire, Lawrence Fry, Samuel Vowels.



Edwin Whiting, Samuel Crain, wife and 5 children, Gilbert Avery, wife and 4 children, [Thomas] Jefferson Dimick, wife and 6 children, William G. Palmer, wife and 3 children, Joseph and Henry Field, William Nowell and wife, James McCloud, Jesse [Askew] Tye, John Burlston.



 



HANDCART COMPANY, E. ELLSWORTH, CAPTAIN. 
LEFT CAMP NEAR IOWA CITY, JUNE 9, 1856. 
Edmund Ellsworth, Thomas Fowler, Thomas Passey, Eliza Robinson, Mary Ann Bates, Mary Ann Meadows, Andrew Galloway, wife and child, David Bowen, William Harmon, Edward Frost, wife and 2 children; Elizabeth Franklin, Eleanor Hill, Sarah Ann Sprig, James Shinnsen [Sheen], and 12 children; Ann [Perkins] Price and 2 children, Eleanor Vaughan, Mary Mays [Mayo], Alexander Stevenson, wife and 7 children, George Clark [Clarke], wife and 3 children; Thomas Ivins, John Powell, wife and 6 children; Daniel Jones, wife and 6 children; Mary Ann Baker and 5 children; John Lloyd, wife and 6 children; Wm. Green.



Arthur [Archer] Walters, wife and 5 children; John Devenoux [Devereaux], Thomas Richins, wife and child; Mary Ann Jones, Thos. [Thomas Bradford] Bourne, wife and 6 children; John Robinson, wife and 4 children; George Hanson, wife and child; James Birch, wife and 3 children; Absalam [Absalom] Frisby, Ann Ham, Hannah Baldwin, John Ash, Jr., wife and 2 children, Richard Preater [Preator], wife and 2 children; Hester [Esther] and Hannah Jones; Hannah [Chapman] Goodworth, and 4 persons; John Chapman, James Murray, Henry Moss, George Warding [Waring], George Williams, James Bowers, wife and 6 children.



Samuel Bond, wife and 2 children; Walter Sanders and 3 children; Eliza Jeffries, Richard Sheltar [Shelton], Joseph Argyle, wife and 6 children; William Pratt, wife and 4 children; William Morriss [Morris] and wife; James and Sabina Jones; Jas. [James] Bailey, wife and 5 children; C. H. Briggs [Charles H. Bridges], William Birch and wife; Elizabeth Walker, Abraham Hurst [Hunt] and wife; John Lee, wife and 6 children; Sarah and Joseph Ash; Jon Wellings [Job Welling], wife and child; John [Rowe] Moyle, wife and 5 children; John Bunney and wife; John Dunney [Doney] and wife; William Yeo, William Butler and wife; John Oakley, Robert Stodart [Stoddart], wife and 12 persons.



Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Walker and wife; John Kettle, wife and 6 children; Thomas Eldridge [Eldredge], wife and child; Joseph Rasdell and wife; Sarah Marshall and 6 children; Maria Good [Goode], John A. Phillips, George Nappriss [Neppress], John Lewis and child; Thomas and Benjamin Lloyd; John Henwood, Jane Lewis, Elizabeth Henwood, and 2 children; James [Constable] and Ann [Miller] Warner; Sarah T. [Sarah Jane] Miller, William Brough, Elizabeth and Emma Walker, James and Mary Commonder [Commander], Alice Brough.



 



HANDCART COMPANY, D. [DANIEL] D. McARTHUR, CAPTAIN. 
LEFT IOWA CITY CAMP, JUNE 11, 1856. 
Walter Grainger, wife and 5 children; William K. [Knox] Aitken and 2 children; Ellen Wandles; Ellen Wandles, jr.; Mary Mathierson [Mathieson]; Thomas Gallup [Gallop] and wife; James Reid, wife and 4 children; George Muir, wife and 2 children; John Frew, wife and 4 children; Alex. McDonald; Agnes Stewart and 3 children.



Hugh Clotworthy, wife and 4 children; Mary McGowan; Joseph McDougall [McDougal]; John McDonald; William Johnstone [Johnston]; wife and 4 children; John Bell, wife and 2 children; Elizabeth Shields; David Chambers, wife and son; A. M. [Anna M.] Randall and son; Elizabeth and Emma M. Burdett; William Hall; Samuel Hargraves, wife and 7 children; William Finlay [Findley], wife and child.



William Meikle, wife and 2 children; Mary Hay; Agnes [Adamson] Anderson, wife and 2 children; Richard Kennington, wife and 5 children; Mary Ann Bone; Robert Parker, wife and 4 children; Bedson Eardley and wife; Mary Bathgate and daughter; William Lawson; George Peacock; John Gray, wife and 4 children; James Crawford; Elizabeth [Cumming] Reed [Reid].



Elizabeth Twiddle [Tweddle]; Catherine Grainger; James Dechman [or Dickman]; John Dreany [or Dramey], wife and 2 children; Isabella Park; James Gardner, mother and 4 children; Neil P. [Peter] and Georgeina [Georgine Maria Keller] Ipson; Sarah Smart; Hannah Hodgetts; Peter and Elizabeth Richardson; George Johnstone [Johnston], wife and child; Janet Hardie, and 5 children; Andrew Smith; Anna Furer [Furrer]; Josephine Ludut [or Ludert] and child; Henry E. [Ebenezer] Bowring, wife and child.



William and Maria Wright; Rebecca [Wood] Sanderson and 2 children; William Hillhouse, wife and 8 children; Elizabeth Maxwell, and 5 children; Elizabeth Dorrech [Darragh]; Ellen Russell; Elizabeth Maxwell, Mary Gale; Patrick [Twiss] Birmingham, wife and 3 children; Thomas Lucas, wife and 3 children; William Lawrenson, wife and 2 children; Mary Baranigan [Brannigan]; Elizabeth Morehouse; William Heator [Heaton], wife and 2 children; John McClare [McCleve], wife and 7 children; Henrich Elliker, wife and 7 children; John Schies, and wife; Susannah Bruner; Ralph Ramsay, wife and child; Margaret Dowule [Downie].



DANIEL D. MC'ARTHUR, Captain. 
TRUMAN LEONARD,SPICER W. CRANDALL, Counselors.

Transcript for "Emigrants for Utah," Deseret News, 6 August 1856, 176

"Emigrants For Utah," Deseret News.

Giles, Thomas Huskinson, Autobiography, 1854-1903

Giles, Thomas Huskinson, Autobiography, 1854-1903.

"The Passing of John Crook," Wasatch Wave

"The Passing of John Crook," Wasatch Wave, April 1, 1921.

"The Passing of John Crook," Wasatch Wave.

Treasures of Pioneer History

Treasures of Pioneer History, Vol. 6, Page 60.

Treasures of Pioneer History.

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