John Ford (1807 - 1902) Profile

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John Ford

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John A. Sutton autobiography

John A. Sutton autobiography, 1883, Page 7-9.

My next trouble was to know how to go across the plains, one thousand miles. I hadn't money to pay my fare and my case looked rather dark, as all the trains that hired men to drive teams had gone. I finally succeeded making a contract with a man by the name of Jarvis to take me across the plains. I was to fix up his wagons and milk his cows on the journey. Therefore, in the beginning of July the company moved out on the plains and was organized. There were about one hundred wagons and Job Smith was appointed captain.
 On the first part of the journey nothing of interest occurred except the running away of cattle, breaking up of wagons, getting stuck in the mud, a great deal of which was in consequence of unskilled drivers. While crossing a creek at what is called the Catholic Mission, not far from Big Blue, one man got drowned. He was sick and while crossing a log, he fell in and was drowned before anyone knew it.
 We arrived close to Fort Carney [Kearny] where we encountered a terrific storm, the water rising so high that our cattle were stampeded and we had to remain there two days. Finally we took up our line of march and passed along the Platte River on the south side until we got to Ash Hollow. We camped there and drove our cattle across the Platte to feed. I was one who was detailed to cross the river and herd the cattle. Being very tired, I laid down and went to sleep. I was roused up by suddenly by something rattling. I looked and there was a great rattle snake ready to make a jump. Having seen many of them on our travels and hearing many incidents related to them, I dared not move for fear he would bit me. Finally I made one spring and got out of his way. Fortunately for his snakeship there was nothing I could kill him with than a buffalo chip.
 At this place we encountered Captain [Darwin] Richardson's Company which had started one week ahead of us. He made his brags that he could beat us into Salt Lake City by two weeks. We told him all right, but we thought not. We then traveled on and crossed the South Fork of the Platte. The river being dangerous to ford, we got as many as ten and twenty yoke of cattle on to one wagon. I crossed the Platte that day about six times, it being about one-half mile wide. Rest assured that when night came I was ready for sleep.
 When we came within ten miles of Fort Laramie we encountered the Sioux Nation of Indians, 6,000 strong. They were a noble race of people, of fine physique. They were making chiefs. Their method was to form a circle, stick secures [skewers] through the breast, twist a rope around them and the one that could endure to walk around this circle the longest was considered the greatest chief.
 The next day the Danish Company came up. The Indians took two of the cows and killed them. The captain reported at the garrison of Fort Laramie what the Indians had done. A company with one cannon and an Indian interpreter were then ordered to go and demand the[y] pay for the cattle. While parleying with the Indians there was a misunderstanding between the chief and the interpreter. The captain ordered one of the men to shoot the chief, which he did, and in less than twenty minutes the Indians killed all the company, broke their cannon and threw it into the Platte. There was then great fear that the Indians would take Fort Laramie. Men were sent in every direction to all posts around to make forced marches to get out of the way. Our company traveled all that day and that night in the Black Hills. We had been without water for one day, when we caught up with the company, James Brown of Ogden, being captain. He told us we could not stop, for there was not enough water for his company and ours and that he would shoot the first oxen unyoked. A man by the name of John Hill, who drove the team ahead of me, said, "All right, we will see." He stepped up to his wagon and got out his blunderbus, then went up to Old Buck and let him out of the yoke. "Now," he said, "Shoot." Captain Brown saw that it was no use to resist any longer and concluded we could stay.
 Arriving at Platte Bridge, it was thought best to divide the company into three parts. Here an incident occurred which seemed as though I was to be left on the plains, for Mr. [Henry John] Jarvis' provisions had given out and he told me he could not take me any further. Still I had found a friend in Mr. [John] Ford, now living in Centerville, Utah. He had lost two of his sons who had died of cholera. Mr. Ford told me he would be glad if I would come and drive his team and the change was a blessing to me for I had to suffer many indignities from Mr. Jarvis. I drove Mr. Ford's team till he arrived at Salt Lake City, which was on the twenty third day of September, and we had made our camp at Jordan Bridge.

Transcript for Sutton, John Allen, Autobiography [ca. 1883], 7-9

John A. Sutton autobiography.

Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes

Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes, Vol. 4.

Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes.

Smith, Job, Autobiography, [ca. 1902], 41-42

Smith, Job, Autobiography, [ca. 1902], 41-42.

On June 1st I was appointed by William Empy the emigration agent for that season to take charge of a company soon to start and who were getting their teams and general arrangements in readiness. 
June 7th our organization having been effected with myself as Captain[,] Elder [Thomas C.] Martell (afterwards of Spanish Fork) captain or sargent of the guard, with other brethren as captains of ten (wagons or families) the company consisting of 36 families, we made a start. Our cattle mostly wild with only myself and two others who had ever handled an ox whip in their lives you may guess we had a picnic. We moved a few miles only. Next day tried again. 
Friday, June 9th Bro. [Augustus J.] Harper and myself started out with others to get our teams, and when about 200 yards from camp were both stricken with cholera. We crawled our way back to the wagons and every thing was done for us that friends could devise, but about 5 o'clock in the evening Bro. Harper died, and the disease slowly began to abate and I shortly regained my activity. Some of the younger men dug a grave for our beloved friend and brother, and joining two clothes chests end to end together, the adjoining ends being removed, a sort of coffin was improvised and the body buried with all the attention and detail possible on such an occasion. 
Monday the 18th another victim was claimed by the cholera in the person of my wife's mother, Mrs. [Ann Sheffield] Fowles, as we had no lumber or boxes to be had, some elm bark was taken from some growing trees and placed around the body and the body buried as sacredly and decently as the conditions permitted. These two were the only deaths which occurred in our company. We now soon got our teams under control and commenced to travel in earnest. Loads that proved to be too heavy for their teams were on appeal lightened by leaving such articles or weight and little value as the families could spare.
 The company had subscribed and purchased for me a mule and saddle which gave me an opportunity of riding forward and selecting camping places, searching for good feeding grounds, etc. We made good time every day except Sundays on which day we always rested and once in a while for a general washing day. We also gathered for prayers at night, after which guard was set, every man taking turn half a night. Good order observed and religious services held on Sundays. In this way we made moderately good speed and kept our teams up in good spirits, and soon passed the behind ones which had travelled too fast at first and thus worn out their teams.
 W[illiam]. W[alton]. Burton our company clerk some years later wrote for the Juvenile Instructor relates the following incident which occurred on the journey and which I called to mind when I read it. A brother John Ford fell sick on the way, and badly needed a little brandy. Henry [John] Jarvis who had three wagons loaded with merchandise had brandy, but refused to dispose of any except for cash. Bro. Ford's cash had all been spent for his outfit but offered his watch as security for a pint of brandy. But Jarvis was inexorable and refused. Talking the matter over at night around the camp fire the clerk reported that the captain of the company remarked that Jarvis's brandy would never reach Salt Lake City. Nothing more was afterwards thought about brandy until coming down Emigration Canyon the wagon carrying it overturned the demijohn containing the brandy broken and the brandy spilt into the creek. Near Laramy [Laramie] an episode occurred which is related in the August 1908 number of the Improvement Era, which see.
 Before arriving at Green River we met Elder John Taylor (apostle) who gave us a letter of introduction to Elder Washington Jolly. He with a large drove of Mexican cattle were some distance ahead of us, and asking in our behalf a few pairs of cattle to strengthen our teams as our force was now growing low. In company with Henry Jarvis who owned four of the wagons I rode ahead and overtook Bro. Jolly at Black's Fork. We gathered and yoked up 24 head of Mexican cattle out of his herd, with which we returned to camp at Green River and after distributing them where most needed we started a gain and passing three other companies on our way reached Salt Lake City September 25th, 1854.

John Ford

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