John Van Cott (1814 - 1883) Profile

John Van Cott (1814 - 1883)

Individual

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John Van Cott

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British Mission Manuscript history and historical report

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report, January 15, 1853.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report.

Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library.

Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports.

Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson

Van Cott, John

"Van Cott, John", Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 2, Page 727-728.

"Van Cott, John", Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1, Page 198-199.

Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson.

Mormon Missionary Diaries

Mormon Missionary Diaries, Brigham Young University.

Mormon Missionary Diaries.

Scandinavian Mission manuscript history and historical reports, 1855-1920

Scandinavian Mission manuscript history and historical reports, 1855-1920, Vol. 1, 2, Page 60, 217.

Scandinavian Mission manuscript history and historical reports, 1855-1920.

Deseret News

Arrivals

"Arrivals", Deseret News, October 8, 1856.

ARRIVALS.—Oct. 1, several of the St. Louis company came in, and probably all of them are now here. 
—Oct. 2, Elder Bunker arrived with the 3d handcart company. 
—Oct. 4, Elders Daniel Spencer, John Van Cott, Franklin D. Richards, George. D. Grant, William H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, James Ferguson, William C. Dunbar, J. D. T. [John Daniel Thompson] McAllister, Cyrus H. Wheeloch [Wheelock], Nathaniel H. Felt, James McGaw and Chauncey G. Webb, returned from their various missions. They left the frontiers on the 4th of September, and report a continuation of lively times in Kansas, and some killing and depredations by the Cheyennes, who had killed Thomas Margetts and child, James Cowdy and wife, and carried off Margetts' wife; they had also killed several persons who were with A. [Almon] W. Babbitt's freight train; and Babbitt and the two men with him were missing. Margetts and Cowdy were on their way back to England by their own counsel.



Some of the companies of Saints will be late in arriving; but we omit particulars, for Elder Ferguson kept a journal of the incidents of travel across the plains, which we trust will be written up in time for the next 'News.'



Br. Feramorz Little returned from prosecuting his trip to the States, his company being deemed too small to travel below Laramie.

Transcript for "Arrivals," Deseret News, 8 October 1856, 245

Arrival of the Danish Companies

"Arrival of the Danish Companies", Deseret News, September 24, 1862.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">ARRIVAL OF THE DANISH COMPANIES.</center>



The independent companies of Scandinavian Saints, Captains [Christian A.] Madsen and [Ola N.] Leijenquist [Liljenquist], numbering about five hundred persons, with eighty wagons, and about six hundred head of stock, arrived form over the plains yesterday afternoon.



The immigrants are in good health, and their stock in good condition. According to the reports of Elder [John] Van Cott and Capt. Madsen, these two companies, which traveled together most of the way form the Missouri river, have had most remarkable good luck, having lost but six or seven head of cattle; and the only accident that occurred to their wagons, was the breaking of one tong in getting over the mountains near the end of the journey, indicating good management, not only on the part of the captain’s, but of the teamsters, only two or three of whom, as understood, had ever drove a team before they started on the long wearisome journey, which they have so successfully accomplished.



Capt. [Homer] Duncan’s company is expected to arrive some time to-day.

Transcript for "Arrival of the Danish Companies," Deseret News, 24 September 1862, 100

Return of Missionaries

"Return of Missionaries", Deseret News, September 17, 1862, Page 96.

RETURN OF MISSIONARIES.—Elders Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, John Van Cott, Elias H. Blackburn, John Brown, Jos. C. Rich, F. My. Lyman, George J. Taylor, R. H. Parker, and J. M. Allen, arrived in the city last evening, from missions in the old world. We have seen but one or two of these brethren; they themselves were, and reported the others also, were in excellent health. We shall expect to hear from the brethren, and our readers will no doubt, be gratified to learn of the condition of the work in the countries where they have been laboring.

Transcript for "Return of Missionaries," Deseret News, 17 September 1862, 96

Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City

"Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City", Deseret News, October 22, 1856.

JOURNEY FROM FLORENCE TO G. S. L. CITY. 
PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG:



DEAR BROTHER:—We left Florence (Winter Quarters) K. T., on the evening of the 3rd Sept., accompanied by Elders C. H. Wheelock, J. Van Cott, G. D. Grant, W. H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, C. G. Webb, W. C. Dunbar, James McGaw, Dan Jones, J. D. T. McAllister, N. H. Felt and James Ferguson; G. D. Grant being selected as captain of our company.



The rear of our season's emigration had started on the road, with the exception of Elder Wm. [William] Walker with 10 wagons, laden with a portion of P. E. Fund baggage.



Previous to leaving Florence we sent Elder Jos. [Joseph] A. Young back to ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts of Elder Walker. He rode back 50 miles, and, learning that Walker's train was yet some 25 or 30 miles in the rear, returned to join us for the plains.



Elder E. Snow accompanied us to our camp, 3 miles west of Elk Horn, and on the morning of the 5th, having completed his business with us, returned to the States.



We overtook our rear company of wagons, in charge of Captain I. A. [James A.] Hunt, during the forenoon of the 5th, and nooned with them about 10 miles east of the Loup Fork. He has in his company 240 persons, 50 wagons, 297 oxen and cows, 7 horses and mules, and some 4 church wagons. The majority of this company have light loads and good teams, and are generally well provisioned. They would probably ferry the Loup Fork on the 7th.



On the evening of the 7th we overtook Elder Edward Martin, about 40 miles from the Loup Fork, with the rear of our P. E. F. Emigration for this season. He had with him some 576 persons, 146 hand-carts, 7 wagons, 6 mules and horses, and 50 cows and beef cattle; also one wagon mostly loaded with church goods. His company was in most excellent spirits, and though he had the greater proportion of the feeble emigrants, the health of his camp was very good; and he was able to average about 100 miles a week, without fatiguing his company.



Here, from a company of returning Californians met the previous day, we learned of the increased hostility of the Cheyennes, and that they had already made a successful attack upon A. [Almon] W. Babbitt's ox train. Of the four teamsters in that train two were killed and one wounded; and a woman named Wilson (as was presumed from the tracks) was severely wounded and taken prisoner, and her child, about two months old, was murdered. The wagons were plundered, but, as we subsequently learned, most of the property was retaken by Captain Wharton of Fort Kearney.



Refreshed by our short interview with Captain [Edward] Martin's company, we drove about 10 miles further and found br. [William B.] Hodgetts' camp. This company is composed of 150 persons, 33 wagons, 84 yoke of oxen, 19 cows and some 250 head of heifers and other loose cattle. This includes br. Thomas Tennant and family, with 4 wagons and 1 carriage. Br. Hodgetts' company, though generally pretty heavily laden, were in good traveling condition and making excellent progress.



On the 9th inst. we met with two brethren from br. J. [James] G. Willie's company of hand-carts, in search of 30 head of cattle that had strayed from their camp about 50 miles in advance.



Accompanied by br. James Ferguson, we this day visited Capt. Wharton at Fort Kearney, and received a confirmation of the news of the attack of the Cheyennes upon Mr. Babbitt's train. The troops had made an attack upon a Cheyenne village and killed 10 warriors. This increased the rage of the Cheyennes, and from that time we were informed that they had divided into war parties for the purpose of attacking small parties of emigrants.



Here we met a returning Californian who had escaped from one of their assaults, with the loss of his wife killed, and his boy, some 3 or 4 years old, taken prisoner.



Capt. Wharton declared himself incompetent to afford any protection to emigrants, and had some doubts of his ability to maintain the post, for want of troops. Mr. Babbitt had left Fort Kearney for Utah a week previous, accompanied by Thomas Sutherland and a driver.



As we were leaving the fort for our camp on the north side of the Platte, a discharged soldier came to Capt. Wharton with the news of another massacre by the Cheyennes. This soldier had accompanied Thomas Margetts and James Cowdy, and their families, from Laramie and on returning from a buffalo hunt, when about 125 miles from Fort Kearney, found the wagon plundered and the murdered remains of his traveling companions.



The soldier's account of the affair, as given to brs. [James G.] Willie and [Millen] Atwood, will give you the particulars and is as follows:—



STATEMENT 
Made to James G. Willie and Millen Atwood, of the Fourth Hand-cart Company; by a man who gave his name as Henry Bauichter, and who came into their camp on the morning of Monday, September 8, 1856:



"I am a discharged soldier from Fort Laramie, which I left on the 29th of August, 1856. After traveling about 30 miles I overtook a wagon with two mules and two horses, one an Indian horse with a white face, the mules alone drawing the wagon, which was accompanied by two men, one of whom gave his name as Thomas Margetts and the other as James Cowdy. The former of these men had a wife, and the latter a wife and child. They came, as they stated, from Great Salt Lake City, and were on their way to the States.



About 70 miles above this point, or 125 miles above Fort Kearney, I and Thomas Margetts went out on horseback in search of buffalo, on the 6th of Sept., and between 1 and 2 p.m. I soon killed a buffalo, upon which Margetts returned to the wagon to fetch some things for carrying away part of the animal, while I staid behind to dress it.



On Margetts' return from the wagon he filled one utensil, principally the tallow, and started again for the wagon, and I remained to fill another utensil which Margetts had brought. This occupied me about half an hour, when I also started in the direction of the wagon, noticing, before reaching it, that the cover had been stripped off, and that neither mules nor horses were to be seen.



On my arrival I discovered on the ground the bodies of Margetts, Cowdy, and Cowdy's wife and child all dead, except that the child was crying and bloody. I could not see any wounds on any of the bodies, but an arrow was sticking in Cowdy's thigh.



The wagons, the hinder part of which was on fire, had been completely ransacked, and all that was of any immediate use taken away.



I looked round for Mrs. Margetts, whom I could not find. The feathers from a bed had been strewn on the ground by the side of the wagon, but I could not see the bedtick.



I saw, at some considerable distance, 12 men or more, apparently riding very fast, who were, as far as I could discover, Indians. None of the bodies were scalped.



The buffalo which I killed was over the bluff, about a mile and a half from the wagons, but I did not hear any report of fire-arms during my absence from it. Not feeling myself safe in the neighborhood of the murders, I escaped with my horse, and with the loss of my discharge and other papers, and about $300, a gold watch and other things, which I had deposited in the wagon, intending to make the best of my way to Fort Kearney and there report the facts as quickly as possible.



The two horses above mentioned were ridden, at intervals during the journey, by Mr. and Mrs. Margetts."



On the 12th we overtook and camped with br. Willie's company, at North Bluff creek, consisting of 404 persons, 6 wagons, 87 hand-carts, 6 yoke of oxen, 32 cows, and 5 mules. They were considerably weakened by the loss of their oxen, which they had failed to recover, but were in good spirits and averaging from 14 to 16 miles a day. Here we forded the Platte to the south side, and were followed by the hand-carts. Never was there a more soul-stirring sight than the happy passage of this company over that river. Several of the carts were drawn entirely by women, and every heart was glad and full of hope.



We spent the afternoon of the 15th inst. with br. A. [Abraham] O. Smoot, about 20 miles west of Ash Hollow. There were in his company 88 souls, 42 wagons, 265 oxen, 6 cows, 15 mules and horses, and 1 carriage. They had provisions for 23 days. Br. Smoot lacked drivers, having only 33 men fit for duty. His oxen were in good condition, but his loads were very heavy. Gilbert and Gerrish's train of 17 wagons was travelling in company with him.



On the 16th inst., 37 miles in advance of br. Smoot, we camped with br. O. [Orrin] P. Rockwell, who had 5 wagons and 11 yoke of oxen in charge, in addition to three families, viz., Grimshaw, Cook and Barnes, whom he had turned back towards Laramie, deeming them too weak to pass in safety, Br. Rockwell accompanied us to Fort Laramie, where we arrived on the morning of the 19th. Col. Huffman received us with much kindness, as also did J. W. Tutt, the sutler. Here we received a small recruit of mules and provisions, and purchased some good buffalo robes for the P. E. Fund passengers in the rear.



On the 23d inst. we parted, at the Platte bridge, with Capt. Dan Jones, who met his brother and remained to recover a cached thrashing machine. Here also we purchased a few more robes for Capt. J. G. Willie's company.



During the forenoon of the 24th, after leaving our camp at Willow Springs, we met Messrs. Hawley, Lambson, Amy and party on their way to the States, and advised them to wait at Laramie for the company of missionaries reported in their rear.



Same day, and near Independence rock, we nooned near Patriarch John Smith and two other brethren, who had come out with flour for the companies. Br. Smith returned with us. The same evening and about 8 miles further on, we camped with Elder P. [Parley] P. Pratt and company, all in good health and most excellent spirits, and promising fair for an honorable and successful mission.



On the 27th, 15 miles east of the Pacific Springs, we nooned with br. Wm. Smith and two other brethren from Farmington, with 2 wagons and flour for the companies. We counseled them to cache their flour and go on to meet br. Willie and his company, which they agreed to do.



On the 28th, 3 miles east of Big Sandy, we camped with br. Talcott, who also had flour for the companies. We gave him the same counsel, to go on with his teams to help br. Willie.



On the 29th we camped with br. [Jacob] Croft's company, consisting of 58 persons, 14 wagons, 80 yoke of oxen, 30 horses, and 130 loose cattle; they are principally from Texas and the Cherokee land. They were healthy and in good spirits, and gave us a most hospitable reception. This was the last company passed by us on the road.



At Bridger, on the 1st of Oct., we were welcomed by Major Burton and a small party of the mountain boys; and on the evening of the 4th were happy to receive your welcome and blessing at home.



Assuring you of our continued exertions to promote the welfare of God's kingdom, and praying that your life may be spared long to God's people, as also the lives of your Council, we remain, sincerely and obediently, yours in the Christ, F. D. RICHARDS, 
DANIEL SPENCER, 
Agents P. E. Fund.

Transcript for "Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City," Deseret News, 22 October 1856, 258

Deseret News.

DUP Pioneer History Collection

History of O. N. Liljenquist

"History of O. N. Liljenquist", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 8.

April 21, 1862, I left Copenhagen the second time, for Zion, In charge of a company of saints, numbering 484 souls. This was the fourth and last company that started from Copenhagen to Zion in the spring of 1862. . . . The four companies we made into two at Florence. C.A. Matson was appointed captain over one and myself over the other, and our great chief John Van Cott, presided over both as we traveled close together. We arrived safely at Salt Lake City Sept. 22, 1862.

Transcript for "History of O. N. Liljenquist", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 8.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

"Eastern Immigration," Deseret News

"Eastern Immigration," Deseret News, September 10, 1862.

EASTERN IMMIGRATION.—Captain [Christian A.] Madsen’s and [Ola N.] Lujenquist’s [Liljenquist] companies—under the presidency of Elder John Van Colt [Van Cott]—with eighty wagons, camped on Pacific Creek last saturday evening.



Captain Homer Duncan’s train passed Pacific Springs yesterday morning.

Transcript for "Eastern Immigration," Deseret News, 10 September 1862, 81

"Eastern Immigration," Deseret News.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church, September 1, 1856, Page 1-2.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 28, 1856, Page 1-2.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, June 21, 1847, Page 7.

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

Kuhre, Martin Petersen, Journal

Kuhre, Martin Petersen, Journal, January 1861.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">July 1862</center>
The first of July. I herded our oxen and our cow. I was not satisfied with our oxen and gave the brethren to understand it and they thence told me I could have my money back if I desired it. I concluded that I myself would get my wagon.
2nd. I went to Omaha in the morning and looked at some wagons but returned again without buying any.
3rd. I bought the one pair of oxen from the brethren and had to give $69.75 for them. I went out and looked at a cow but went back again without buying it.
4th. The jubilee of the Americans.
5th. I and my wife went out and got a cow and gave $15 for it.
6th. Sabbath. We wrote some in a letter home to Denmark and herded our stock.
7th. Nothing remarkable.
8th. Very strong thunder and two English brethren were killed by the lightning.
9th. Rain and we almost swam in water in the tents. I bought a wagon for $50.
10th. I set [blank space] on the wagon and sent the wagon to the smith's and bought provisions.
11th. I bought provisions and fixed for the journey.
12th. The same. We loaded our wagon and should have driven out to the camp but our oxen were gone.
13th. Sabbath. I went out and looked for the oxen and found them. We drove out to the camping place.
14th. We sent a letter to the post office for Odsherred to our mother. Our caw [cow] went away. I hunted it up and should have driven after the others but one yoke broke and I had to go to Florence and buy a new one. I came to the camping place the same night.
15th. We drove a ways and camped about noon time.
16th. We drove 10 miles and camped by Elk Horn River.
17th. We drove in the morning further. We met the Church teams in the afternoon. We drove 14 miles and camped.
18th. We drove a ways and camped.
19th. We drove 16 miles.
20th. Sabbath. We drove 16 miles and camped at Loup Fork.
21st. We were forded over the river. One of the oxen was lame. I filed it between the hoofs and poured some boiling tar in the sore.
22nd. The ox was very lame. We drove [blank space] miles and camped.
23rd. We drove 10 miles and camped. My beloved wife was all the time sick some on account of the hardships of the travels.
24th. We drove 20 miles. Our ox is yet considerably lame. We met some Church wagons. Lucy Sorensen died today. My dear wife is very sick. Protect her Oh Lord from sickness and death.
25th. I got the loan of an ox. We continued our travels towrd [toward]
26th. The same. Sabbath. We had rest in the afternoon. I am not as happy as I should be.
28th. We continued our journey. 
29th. Soren Sorensen's wife died today. We drove 12 miles and camped. My beloved wife is better today, thanks to Thee O my heavenly Father for all thy mercy and compassion towards us.
30th. We continued our journey. Poor roads and many bad places to get over but in all everything went very well.
31st. The same. We drove over many bad waterfalls and up steep hills.
<center>Aug. 1862</center>
The first of August. We continued our journey.
2nd. Very sandy roads and warm but we got through the sand banks and camped on a green plain by the river.
3rd. Sabbath. We drove all day. Very warm and heavy sand.
4th. We continued our journey. All the time the same sandy road.
5th. We crossed a river and on the same sandy road.
6th. Sandy road and very warm.
7th. Same sandy road although it was better. We got to see the English company. They were camped a half mile from us. I was on guard at the oxen in the evening. From 7 to 9 hard thundering weather came up and lightning flashed a little way from me and it was like someone had hit me on the head with a club. I sank down and almost lost my senses but thanks to Thee, oh Lord, Thou spared my life.
8th. Sandy roads. A very big sand hill that we had to assist one another to drive over.
9th. Better roads but warm.
10th. Sabbath. We drove around the English company. They were lying in camp and we drove early in the morning.
11th. The road was some better but sandy now and then.
12th. I let the lame ox be shod but it did not seem to help. We drove 16 miles and held a rest in the afternoon.
13th. I borrowed an ox but it ran away at noon and I had to borrow a couple of others.
14th. My ox very lame. I took two strange oxen that were among the rest, but they soon came after them and I thence had to have my own again hitched up.
15th. I drove with my own oxen half the day and with Bro. Christain [Christian] Poulson's the other half. We passed an Indian company.
16th. My ox fell in front of the wagon a little way from the camping place. I got one as a loan to drive the wagon up with but the other one would not rise. At last it did rise but we could not manage to get it to move from the place so it was impossible to get it along so I had to let it go to a tradesman for 2 [blank space] and five weeks back I had paid $35 for it to Joseph Young, the Church agent for oxen and wagons.
17th. Sabbath. We drove 4 miles and thence held it as a day of rest. We had meeting.
18th. We drove 14 miles without water or grass. Steep hills and rocks. At one place we had to assist one another up with double teams for every wagon. I bought a young ox from Christian Poulsen and shall pay for it when I get home with 24 dollars. Oh God bless him for his goodness towards me.
19th. We drove 12 miles. Considerable hilly roads and some rocky but not so much as yesterday. I had to [blank space] 
20th. We drove 18 miles without water or grass and camped along the river and drove the oxen accross it. We had to go over in the evening and lay over there all night in order to hold watch. Some rode over and some waded the river up to their breasts.
21st. We held a day of rest today.
22nd. Good roads. We drove 19 miles.
23rd. Very hilly and rocky and sandy roads. We camped at 2 in the afternoon and rested.
24th. Sabbath. Some sandy roads.
25th. We came to Indians and camped in the afternoon.
26th. All the time Indians.
27th. A high sand hill which we had to help one another over. We camped by a station. Many Indians followed us.
28th. We held as a day of rest. We had considerable visits from the Indians.
29th. We drove a ways and took rest in the afternoon by a place where there were a few gardens and a small brook with water.
30th. We drove 23 miles without water or grass.
31st. We crossed a river. It was very warm. On our way we passed Sweetwater.
Sept. 1862
The first of September. We drove 21 miles.
2nd. Continuously warm. We drove over the river three times.
3rd. Drove over the river twice. Drove 20 miles without stopping.
4th. Very cold. We drove 10 miles. Very hilly roads.
5th. Considerable hills and rocky. We drove over the river once. Accross from us in north [sentence unfinished]
6th. My beloved wife is sick. Oh Lord restore her.
7th. Sabbath. We drove 25 miles without water. My wife is very sick.
8th. My wife is well according to circumstances.
9th. We drove over the river and camped.
10th. We drove 12 miles to Green River and camped.
11th. We drove over Green River. Very strong stream and the water reached our wagon beds but we got safely over. We drove 16 miles and found an excellent camping place.
12th. In the morning the Brethren Lyman and Rich reached us and Bro. Van Cott accompanied them. Rain all day and we had to lie still.
13th. Very bad roads on account of rain. We drove 11 miles.
14th. We drove 25 miles.
15th. Great deal of rain and hail and very bad roads. Two [blank space] fell and dies.
16th. The roads better. We drove down a very steep, long rocky hill.
17th. We drove over Bear River.
18th. We drove through the mountains and camped in Echo cañon [Canyon].
19th. We passed through narrow mountain passes.
20th. One of our oxen was gone. We searching [searched] for it without finding it. We took a cow and hitched it up and drove a long way after the company in expectation of the ox that strayed away. We drove behind all day. Came to a little town and we passed a camp by a river and fed our stock and boiled some of our new potatoes. We came to the camping place late in the evening. Our ox was not there.
21st. Bro. [blank space] was buried in the morning. The company drove and I remained with my wagon in order to return and hunt for my ox. I tried to have a horse but could not get any. I went 15 miles back and found my ox in the evening but it was very wild and was running around in the woods. At last we got it in with a man's cattle in the corral. I was lying in the hay during the night and got hold of the ox but it ran away from us in the morning again. 
22nd. I ran after it the whole forenoon and got it in the corral again. I took it and led it out again and reached the Church train. It got unmanagable and I had considerable work with it, but got it in the yoke and let it pull till evening. It was tied to the wagon during the night and thus it was a little more acquainted with it when we yoked it again in the morning.
23rd. We drove another road. I took my ox and came happy home with it. We drove out ten miles and up with the Church wagons that were camped and we camped with them.
24th. We were lying still together with the Church wagons.
25th. We drove along as the Church wagons should lie still. We caught a wagon that was driving alone and we made company.
26th. We reached Salt Lake City.

Transcript for Kuhre, Martin Petersen, Journal 1861 Jan.-1865 Sept., 45-48

Kuhre, Martin Petersen, Journal.

Madsen, Christian A., Letter, Gunnison [Utah]

Madsen, Christian A., Letter, Gunnison [Utah], February 13, 1869.

I assisted Elder Joseph W. Young at Florence in the outfitting business. 
July 15th he caled me as Captain of a Company of 45 Wagons for Zion with Emigrant Saints. Elder [Ola N.] Liljenquists Company and mine was put under the supervition of Elder John Van Cott, and we again had the pleasure of being under his wise and noble guidance.
During my labors at Florence, where at one time there were over 6,000 emigrants we had a laborious but pleasant time, in fitting up the Companies; and a multitude of business was performed, with a firmness highly commendable and to the manor of the Superintendent our beloved Brother Elder Joseph W Young; the arranging and organising skill by which he finished one Company after another, might almost seem magical for lookers on, considering the inconviniences he had to conquer. I shall not forget the day we had the hurricane, which lifted a whole pile of wagonboxes, throwed it over and covered Joseph W; by the providence of heaven he was not killed, but badly injured on forehead and nose, from which he however soon recovered, though suffered a great deal. 
We left Florence the 15th of July, and after a very prosperous journey, we arrived on the 22nd on September to the bosom of the Church.
<center> C. A. Madsen</center>

Transcript for Madsen, Christian A., Letter, Gunnison [Utah], 13 Feb. 1869, [4], in Missionary Reports, 1831-1900

Madsen, Christian A., Letter, Gunnison [Utah].

Martin, Sophronia Moore, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1915], 1

Martin, Sophronia Moore, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1915], 1.

In the spring of 47 We started our journey to the Mountains. We had to cross a stream of water on a raft, and while crossing the river a young man swore and profaned the name of THE LORD, so that Brother Parley P[arker]. Pratt could not stand it any longer, and told him "you have forfeited your life ever so many times to-day". The next day Brother Alfred [Boaz] Lambson was called to take back a message to Winter Qua[r]ters. He took the young man with him, and as they were riding in their carriage an Indain [Indian] raised up behind a bush and shot and killed him. Brother Lambson whipped up his horses and went on alright after that. He took him to Winter Quarters and he was buried there. You see it does not pay to profane the name of the LORD. That was the only death we had from our company all the way to UTAH.	
 As we traveled along we came to a little Post Office dug in the bank of the Hill. There were two dead wild cats in it, and when they were taken out, there we found a letter from President YOUNG telling us their camp was alright. OH there was such a funny thing happened to-day. A dog jumped at a buffalo and got his teeth caught in its tail and away went the Buffalo and the Dog for the water, now was not that a funny way for a dog to take a buffalo to water?	
 From the time we left NAUVOO untill we arrivied in The Salt Lake Valley, I drove Cows every day we traveled. So you see I did all I could do to get butter and milk into the valleys of the mountains, and I came every step of the way Bare Footed.	
 Brother DANIEL SPENCER was Captain of the Hundred, and PERRY GREEN [PERRIGRINE] SESSIONS was Captain of the fifty, and ELIJAH [KNAPP] FULLER was Captain of the Ten of the Company that I came across the plains with. PARLEY P. PRATT and his family came in the same Company, and also JOHN VAN COTT and his family, and also Uncle JOHN SMITH and Aunt CLARISSA [LYMAN SMITH] as we all called them. The[y] were Uncle GEORGE A. SMITH'S parents.	
 After we arrived in the Salt Lake Valley we lived in a tent....

Transcript for Martin, Sophronia Moore, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1915], 1

Orson B. West typescript collection, circa 1982-1987

Jens C.A. Weibye, reminiscences and journal, circa 1862

"Jens C.A. Weibye, reminiscences and journal, circa 1862", Orson B. West typescript collection, circa 1982-1987, Page 300-333.

Transcript for Jens C. A. Weibye, reminiscences and journal, circa 1862 in Orson B. West typescript collection, circa 1982-1987, 300-333

Orson B. West typescript collection, circa 1982-1987.

Our Pioneer Heritage

Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 6, Page 48-49.

Our Pioneer Heritage.

Pratt, Parley P., Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1985], 329-31

Pratt, Parley P., Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1985], 329-31.

After a few days' rest I began to prepare for journeying to the mountains with my family. My wagons were overhauled and put in order, tires reset, chains repaired, yokes and bows arranged in order, wagon bows made or mended, etc., etc. This occupied most of my time till June.
Early in June I loaded my goods and family into my wagons, and, obtaining a few more cattle, started for the Rocky Mountains; or rather for the Elk Horn River, where we expected to form a rendezvous, and establish a ferry, and wait the arrival of others, and the organization of companies for the purpose of mutual safety in travelling. 
Arriving at Elk Horn River with a small company, we made a ferry of a raft of dry cotton-wood timber, and rafted over our own company of about fifty wagons. We then organized for herding and grazing purposes, and continued to aid others in crossing and organizing until five hundred and sixty-six wagons were finally crossed and organized ready for a march. In the final organization of this vast company Father Isaac Morley and Bishop Whitney assisted, or rather took the oversight—being a committee appointed for that purpose by the Presidency before they left. As Brother Taylor and myself were present, we were appointed and invited to take a general superintendency of this emigration. 
The organization consisted of companies of tens, fifties and hundreds, with a captain over each, and the whole presided over by a president and two counselors, a marshal, etc. President John Young was called to preside—having been nominated by the Presidency before their departure. John Van Cott was appointed marshal. 
Thus organized, this large company moved on up the Platte about the Fourth of July. There were some difficulties and jealousies during the first few days, on account of some misunderstanding and insubordination in the order of travel. This at length became so far developed that it was found necessary to call a general halt on the Platte River, and hold a council of the principal officers, in which things were amicably adjusted and the camp moved on. 
Arriving at the Loupe [Loup] Fork of Platte River, we continued up it quite a distance above the trail the pioneers had made, as we could not ford the river in their track. We at length found a ford, and with some difficulty on account of quicksands, forded the river and made our way over to the Main Platte, re-entering the pioneer trail. As we passed up the Platte on this trail the companies in front had frequently to halt and build bridges, etc. On one occasion Peregrine Sessions, who was captain of our company of fifty, and myself found two horses which had probably strayed from some former travellers, and which, after several unsuccessful attempts by different parties, Brother Taylor succeeded in driving into camp, and he and I captured them. We were at the time ahead of the company, following up a stream to try and find a ford. This was a very timely providence to me, as I had lost all my horses the previous winter, and was now pioneering for the company without any horse, and on foot. 
After journeying for several hundred miles up the Platte, we at length met two messengers from the pioneers under President Young, from Salt Lake Valley. These were P[orter]. Rockwell and E[zra]. T. Benson; who had been sent out to try to find us and report our progress and circumstances. Having visited all the camps, they returned to the valley, or rather to where they met the President and pioneers, on their way back to Winter Quarters on the Missouri. I accompanied them back nearly one day's ride on the way, and then bid them God speed, and returned to my own camp. Soon after this our fifty met the President and company of pioneers and camped with them one day. 
A council was called, in which I was highly censured and chastened by President Young and others. This arose in part from some defect in the organization under my superintendence at the Elk Horn, and in part from other misunderstandings on the road. I was charged with neglecting to observe the order of organization entered into under the superintendence of the President before he left the camps at Winter Quarters; and of variously interfering with previous arrangements. In short, I was severely reproved and chastened. I no doubt deserved this chastisement; and I humbled myself, acknowledged my faults and errors, and asked forgiveness. I was frankly forgiven, and, bidding each other farewell, each company passed on their way. This school of experience made me more humble and careful in future, and I think it was the means of making me a wiser and better man ever after. 
After bidding farewell to the President and pioneers, and to my own brother, Orson Pratt, who was one of them, we continued our journey; and after many toils, vexations and trials, such as breaking wagons, losing cattle, upsetting, etc., we arrived in the Valley of Great Salt Lake late in September, 1847.

Transcript for Pratt, Parley P., Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1985], 329-31

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907

Record book

"Record book", Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907, October 1856.

Transcript for Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa 1856 October-November

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907.

Salt Lake Herald

J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscence

"J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscence", Salt Lake Herald, December 8, 1878.

SOME REMINISCENCES



SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 7, 1878. Last week my letter started the handcart company from Florence, August 25th, (1856,) in charge of Captain Edward Martin, assisted by Daniel Tyler. The company was divided into six hundreds, each superintended by its respective captain. While the company was at Florence, F. D. Richards, Erastas Snow, and several other prominent men were on the camping ground, all but Erastas Snow on their way west, returning from missions, chiefly to Europe.



The company moved on the day named from Florence to Cutler's Park, two and a half miles and camped, staid there the next day and night, and left the next morning. While there, A. W. Babbitts dressed in corduroy pants, woolen overshirt, and felt hat, called as he was passing west. He seemed in high glee, his spirits being very elastic, almost mercurial. He had started with one carriage for Salt Lake, with the mail and a considerable amount of money. He was very confident that he should be in Salt Lake within fifteen days. He intended to push through vigorously and sleep on the wind, meaning an airfilled mattress.



One ten and tent of the company staid another night alone at Cutler's park, a birth having occurred in the tent in the morning of the 27th, shortly after midnight of the 26th. The next day, 28th, the ten struck their tent and followed. The company, coming up with it in camp at Elk Horn crossing, very late at night, and after the camp had gone to bed. The Elk Horn valley was remarked as one of the finest pieces of country on the whole journey west of the Missouri.



The two wagon companies under Captains Benjamin Hodgetts and John A. Hunt left Florence by September 1st, and Cutler's Park by September 2nd, and were purposely kept within available call of the handcart company during most of the journey. The statistics of the three companies, when fairly launched on the great plains have been given thus-Martin's handcart company, about 576 persons, 146 handcarts, seven wagons, including one carriage, six mules and horses, fifty cows and beef cattle, also one church wagon with freight; Hodgett's wagon company, 150 persons thirty-three wagons, eighty-four yoke of oxen, nineteen cows, and about 230 head of heifers and other loose cattle; Hunt's wagon company, 240 persons, fifty wagons, 297 oxen and cows, seven horses and mules, and four church wagons with freight. It will be understood that these figures, however correct when taken, were constantly subject to greater or less variation during the journey.



On leaving Florence the loads on the handcarts were greater than ever before, most carts having 100 pounds of flour on, besides ordinary baggage. The tents also were carried on the carts. The company was provisioned for sixty days, a daily ration of one pound of flour per head, with about half a pound for children, being the principal item.



On the 7th of September, west of Loup Fork, the company was overtaken by F. D. Richards, C. H. Wheelock, J. Van Cott, G. D. Grant, W. H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, C. G. Webb, W. C. Dunbar, James McGaw, Dan Jones, J. D. T. McAllister, N. H. Felt and James Ferguson, who left Florence September 3d, passed Hunt's wagon company on the 6th, east of the Loup Fork, and Hodgetts' wagon company on the 7th, ten miles west of Martin's company, and arrived at Salt Lake city, October 4th, having left Dan Jones at Platte Bridge with his brother, September 23rd.



Crossing the hills on the way from the Loup Fork valley to the Platte valley, the handcart company had a dry march of two days. One on the 9th of September, in the afternoon the company came to a round pit or pond of water. Parched with thirst, the cattle rushed pell mall into the pond and stirred up the mud until the water was thick and black, before the people had supplied themselves for their own use. But it was all the water available, and so it was used for cooking purposes-making coffee, tea, bread, and porridge or hasty pudding, which when made was quite black, but was eaten and drunk nevertheless. At 7 p m, the camp started for Prairie creek, nine miles, reaching it between 11 and 12 o'clock, but very glad to get to clear running water, after having been without two days.



On September 11, eight or nine miles from Lone Tree and Wood river, the company passed the graves of two men and a child belonging to A. W. Babbitt's wagon train, who had been killed on the 25th of August by some Cheyenne Indians, who were on the war path that summer. Two of the teamsters escaped death, and Mrs. Wilson was taken prisoner. Most of the property plundered from the wagons was subsequently recovered by Captain Wharton and the United States troops at Fort Kearney. A mile or two east of the graves of the teamsters a paper was tacked on a board, on which the chief of the Omaha Indians disclaimed participation in the murders. Early in the journey from Florence the company met two or three hundred Omahas, who passed by quite peaceably.



On September 19th, two or three teams from Green river, going east were met, and the man informed the emigrants that Indians had killed A. W. Babbitt and burned his buggy thirty or forty miles west of Pawnee springs. On September 23d, about six miles east of Bluff creek, and about seventy yards to the left of the road, a little harness, two wheels and the springs of a burnt carriage or buggy, and a few other things were seen. These were supposed to be relics of A. W. Babbitt's outfit. The company brought the springs along; but what became of them ultimately I don't know who knows. Babbitt had left Kearney about the 2d of September, with Thomas Sutherland and a driver. Two miles farther on, Captain Hodgetts, Moses Cluff, and Nathan T. Porter were busy with a dead buffalo, which they had run out of a herd and killed for the handcart company, having previously killed one for their own wagon company. Some of the handcart people stayed to skin and quarter the buffalo, and bring it along on four handcarts. At night it was divided among the company, about one pound to each adult. This was the first buffalo beef the company obtained. Buffalo beef, the lean part of it, is good eating on the plains, but it is coarser than ox or cow beef.



The next day, September 24th, the company passed the place where it was supposed Thomas Margette [Margetts] and others were killed by Indians, there being a quantity of feathers strewn about, a blood-stained shirt, and a child's skull. The company camped at Duckweed creek that night, and after dark all the men were called out to form a line around the camp, as it was supposed that Indians were lurking around. About 11 o' clock the men were called in, a double guard was set for the night, and the rest of the men were seriously talked to for half an hour or so, but one of the company who was fond of preaching, on the necessity of vigilance in an Indian country. Then the men were dismissed to their tents, except the double guard. In the afternoon of the 25th, five Indians, some of the squaws, on ponies, rode past the company and near to it, carefully scrutinizing it, but they had nothing to say, and then they rode off towards the Platte. These were the first Cheyenne Indians the company had seen.



On the 3d of October, near Chimney Rock, a company of United States dragoons, under Major Hunter, with ten or twelve mule teams, from Fort Kearney for Fort Laramie, passed the company, and a boy named Aaron Giles, left the handcart company and went with the soldiers. On the 4th of October the company passed Scott's Bluffs. Parley P. Pratt's company of missionaries, going east from Salt Lake, passed the Bluffs about the same time but the two companies did not see each other.



The company arrived at Fort Laramie October 8th, and camped east of Laramie Fork, about a mile from the fort. Before reaching Laramie the company met a fine looking and finely-dressed friendly Indian chief on a fine American horse, and soon after two dragoons on horseback, who, that is, the dragoons, gave some sweetmeats to the children of the company and appeared immensely pleased to see the people. Laramie's Peak, in the distance, gave the first adequate idea of the Rocky Mountains-grand, gloomy and mysterious. On the 9th, many of the company went to the fort to sell watches or other things they could spare and buy provisions. The commandant kindly allowed them to buy from the military stores at reasonable prices-biscuit at 15 1/2 cents, bacon at 15 cents, rice at 17 cents per pound, and so on. Some brought a few things at the sutler's, but much higher prices ruled at his store.



I believe the company left Fort Laramie the next day. Thenceforth, until the close of the journey, although noteworthy events were on the increase, and some of them were indelibly impressed on the minds of the emigrants, yet they were so fully occupied in taking care of themselves that they had little time to spare to note details with exactness, and many notes that were made at the time were lost subsequently and cannot now be found. Up to this time the daily pound of flour ration had been regularly served out, but it was never enough to stay the stomachs of the emigrants, and the longer they were on the plains and in the mountains the hungrier they grew. Most persons who have crossed the plains with ox teams or handcarts know well enough the enormous appetite which that kind of life gives. It is an appetite that cannot be satisfied. At least such was the experience of the handcart people. You feel as if you could almost eat a rusty nail or gnaw a file. You are ten times as hungry as a hunter, yes as ten hunters, all the day long and every time you wake in the night, and so you continue to your journey's end, and for some time after. Eating is the grand passion of a pedestrian on the plains, an insatiable passion, for he never gets enough to eat. When the emigrants would arrive at Salt Lake and be invited into the houses of their friends, the newcomers would eat and eat and eat until they were literally and perfectly ashamed of themselves, and then retire form the table, hungry. I forget how long it would take an emigrant in those days to fill up and reduce his appetite to its normal condition, but it was a long time, a number of weeks and it was an expensive process. No such outrageous appetite comes to you in crossing the continent by rail, and very thankful you may be that it does not, for it is a serious infliction upon those who have it, as well as upon their hospitable friends.



Well, at the time when this great appetite was fairly roused up and had put on its strength and was still further strengthened and sharpened by the increasing coldness of the weather, the extra pinching time commenced. Soon after Fort Laramie was passed, it was deemed advisable to curtail the rations in order to make them hold out as long as possible. The pound of flour fell to three fourths of a pound, then to half a pound, and subsequently yet lower. Still the company toiled on through the Black Hills, where the feed grew scarcer for the cattle also. As the necessities of man and beast increased their daily food diminished, at the time when it was as the emigrants might have said, with Sir Walter Scott, "like a summer - dried fountain, when our wants were the sorest."



In the Black Hills the roads were harder, more rocky and more hilly and this told upon the handcarts, causing them to fail more rapidly, become ricketty, and need more frequent repairing. One man's handcart broke down on afternoon in the hills, and by some mischance the company all went on, leaving him behind, alone with his broken cart and his and his family's little stock of worldly goods thereon, including his rations, which he could not afford to leave, though he lost his knives and forks also some biscuits and butter and sugar which he had bought as extras at Laramie, and a few other things, he was drawing his little child in his cart, as he had drawn her most of the journey, and as he subsequently drew her to the last crossing of the Platte, but when his cart broke down he had to transfer her to somebody else's cart and sent her on with the company. So he remained behind with his cart, anxiously expecting somebody to turn back and help him, but no one came. Night drew on apace and still he was all alone, save and excepting the presence of a prowling wolf, which could be seen in the streak of light on the western horizon, a little outside of the ordinary rifle range. Happily, just as the darkness was settling down Captain Hodgett's wagon company was observed coming down the opposite hill, from the east, at the base of which it encamped, a quarter or half a mile distant from the benighted and lonely handcart, who eagerly went and told his tale of the misfortune to the wagon people, and they took him in for the night. Toward midnight two men with another cart from the handcart camp, seven miles off arrived in search of their missing companion. They also stayed with the wagon company that night, and next morning early the three handcarters started after their own company, coming up with the camp just as it was breaking up and the emigrants were getting ready to start for the day's march.



At Deer creek, on the 17th of October, owing to the growing weakness of emigrants and teams, the baggage, including bedding and cooking utensils, was reduced to ten pounds per head, children under 8 years five pounds. Good blankets and other bedding and clothing were burned, as they could not be carried further, though needed more than ever, for there was yet 400 miles of winter to go through. Again might the emigrants have said, with the Scotch poet, "Like a summer - dried fountain, when our wants were the sorest."



A detachment of soldiers were stationed at the bridge over the North Platte, to remain there until the emigration had passed, and then to withdraw to Fort Laramie to winter. On the 20th of October the company crossed the Platte, for the last time, at Red Buttes, about five miles above the bridge. It may have been the 19th, but I am inclined to think it was the 20th. That was a bitter cold day. Winter came on all at once, and that was the first day of it. The river was wide, the current strong, the water exceedingly cold and up to the wagon beds in the deepest parts, and the bed of the river was covered with cobble stones. Some of the men carried some of the women over on their backs or in their arms, but others of the women tied up their skirts and waded through, like heroines as they were, and as they had done through many other rivers and creeks. The company was barely over when snow, hail, and sleet began to fall, accompanied by a piercing north wind, and camp was made on this side of the river. Captain [John] Hunt's wagon company camped on the other side of the river, and Captain Hodgett's was on this side. That was a stinging night, and it told its tale on the oxen as well as the people. That snowstorm appears to have been a very extensive as well as severe one, reaching westward at least to the Wasatch range. It snowed heavily at Green river at that time, and the thermometer fell to zero there.



Here we are, only at the last crossing of the Platte, and yet I have occupied all the space that you will be willing to spare today.



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">J. J.</center>



 



[also in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 Nov. 1856, 14-20]

Transcript for J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald, 8 December 1878, 1

Salt Lake Herald.

Scandinavian Jubilee Album

Scandinavian Jubilee Album.

Spencer, Claudius to Brigham Young

Spencer, Claudius to Brigham Young, November 12, 1856.

Spencer, Claudius to Brigham Young.

William Broomhead diary

William Broomhead diary, October 1856.

October 5 at meeting Brigham called for teamsters and I volunteered to go back to meet the hand carts



went to find out when to start  



[October 6] went to meeting in the morning afternoon got a wagon. 



[October 7] Tuesday morning fixed the wagon. Start from the City at noon, tonight, camp between the mountains, from 10 til 11 onlook on guard.



Wednesday, 8th: Prayer by Br. Beckstead. Started at 7:00 o’clock, going up the big mountain it came stormy and snowed in the evening, on guard from 7 to 11



In the morning of that 12 sunday came to brigger and camped at 4 in the afternoon &lt;preyaer by [illegible, possibly J. Young] Snow thru the night



mondy 13 Started at 8 about 20 miles north met up by [Abraham] Smoot and David James. They stayed with us all night, preyar by C.[Cyrus] H. Welock [Wheelock], singing. 



Started in the morning at 8 tusday 14 went with J Peck to see some anchant looking mountains camped under hams fork at 4 o’clock. went out hunting to be back in the evening, singing and prayer by B.[rother] Smoot and some remarks by him and J. Young. Three [or eight?] more wagons came up and travelled with us



Started Wednesday 15 At 8  J Peck came up and traveld with us. J. Young wile and sum outhers went on ahed to meet the comp. [companies], but we catched them and camped with them that night on Big Sandy at 8. Preyar by C. Welock.



Thursdy 16 started at 8, met P.[Porter] Rockwell and his train, camped on Big Sandy at 4 went out to hunt antelope with sum outhers and we kiled one. B.[Brother] Smoot company came up at dark and camped with us killed a beef on gard from 2 till 7 had a dance in the eveng



friday 17 started at 12 smoots company and 18 of our hands went with him and we came to little sandy we met the frieter of gilberts [Gilbert and Garrish freight train] ahead and lerned from him the peticulrs [particulars] of babit [Almon W. Babbitt] and outhers that were kiled By indians



saturday 18 at 9 and came to sweet water [Sweetwater] and it snowd from 11 in the evenig we killed a beef



on sunday morning 19 snowed till 10 started at ½ past 10 left 7 [or 4 or 9?] men and 4 waggons and 4 beef oxen 17 horses and most of the flour  it was very coald we traveled 15 miles and camped on sweetwater  at 1 we met gilberts train of 15 waggons  camped at 4 singin in the evenig and prear by [illegible John B. Welby?]  it snowd in the eveng and it looked like as if we wear going to have a heve [heavy] storm but the clouds Devided to the right and left  it clearde up again about 10 and in the morning thear was about an inch and a half



monday 20 snowed in the morning and the wind was very high and coald  we stayed there all Day  it snowed all Day  in the evning Brother Willey [James G. Willie] and anouther man [Joseph Elder] came from the train and told us that they wer 23 miles from us and that they were out of provisions that night



tusdy 21 started at 8 camped with wiles [Willie's] company at 5 the day was cold and in the evening it snowed. they buried 4 that night and 5 the night before  the capten gave them flour and cl[o]thing and some teams to help them in. w. [William H.] kimbl [Kimball] went back with them. we by hadwood



wednesdy 22 drove 18 miles it was a bitter coald day and snow was from 8 to 12 inch Deep. camped at 6. &lt;on gard from 1 til 8.&gt; Singin, prey by Wm [William] Broomhead. snow that night



thursdy 23 stayed there all Day



friday 24 started at 12 drove to the three crosing  we saw two herds of Buffalow  in the evening gathered round the camp fir and had singing and prear  captain Grant gave us som good instrouctions on prear and said that if we was unighted [united] as one man that the lord would hear and answer our prears  remove the snow so that we could be a help to those on the plains and so he cald [called] on Br wilk [probably Cyrus Wheelock] to be mouth in prear and ask that for thos things that we need  layed hands on two of the Brothers that was sick and restored



saturdy 25 fin morning though the wind blew high, the feed for the anemals was all coverd with snow and it was hard on them as well as on us to gard them wher the snow was so Deep and the roads so bad to travel but the Lord blesd the anemals the waggons our food and us and we had caus to rejoise all the time for we are children of his care and he takes care of his children if they will listen to his word  started at 9 the river was hard to cross the ice was so thick and yet it was not thick anuf [enough] to cross on  we traveled abot 12 mils and camped abot 5 oclock after supper singin prear by captain grant  I sang sum Songs for the boys  had a good time as we had every night  retired abot 9 oclock



sunday 26 fine morning all is well traveled to within 2 miles of the Devils gate and camped  the express was at the gate had been there 4 days and had heard nothing of the carts  they came up to our camp  singin after supper  prayer by J Young  singin



mondy 27th the wind blew very hard  blowed sum of the waggon covers off  the capten sint an expres of 3 men to go as far as the plat[te] brige they started at 9  the camp moved about half a mile nearer the mountins to get out of the wind and to get wood hander  spint that day in cooking and geting wood and fixing ways to break the wind of  Singing after supper prear by Bro [illegible] three of us set up singin and talking till half past 11.  the wind was rathr high all night



tusdy 28 fine morning but [illegible] wind spint that Day in singin  remarks from sum of the Brethrn and getting wood and snowbaling  at Dusk it clouded over and snowed hard and it seemed as if we was going to have a Deep snow  the cap caled the camp togethr and made sum remarks on the goodness of god and that we was in his hands and wished us all to be one and caled on C H Wilock [Wheelock] to be mouth in Prear



wednsdy 29 clouded  the snow that fell in the night soon went  saw a herd of antelope  sum of us went out  t[w]o of the boys kiled one  in the after noon the captin red sum for us  on gard at night from 5 till one  prear by cap grant



thursday 30 fine morning  after Breckfast prear by Jahall [Joel] Parish  E[dwin] Peck and mysilf went on the mountins at Devels gat[e] with the spiglass to see if we could see anething of the Boys or the handcarts coming. But we could not  it was about 4 miles from camp to the top  wether fine  in the evening Joseph [A. Young] and the Boys returned from the compnes an gave thear report  they were on the Plat[te] prear by B [Brother] Ch Wilock [Wheelock]  started next morning at 9 o clock



Saturday 1 of Nov [November] Bro Wilock [Wheelock], D [Daniel W.] Jons [Jones] and myself was ap[po]inted to go to Cap Hogigts [Hodgett] compney and hury them up  we met the company at the Bad Slough  campd with them that night  caled the company together and talked to them  prear By D Jones 



started in the morning on sundy [November 2] C H W [Wheelock] and myself to go to Hunts comp[any]  it snowed and rand from 11 till 12 at night  met them about 7 [miles] from plat[te] river  camped without wood in the snow



[November 3] started in the morning at 9 came to willow springs  it was very cold sum of the sisters froze thear feet  camped ahead at large camp fire made and caled the camp together and spoke to the sa[i]nts  i was caled on to speak and i spoke with the spirit  it was as cold a night as i ever seen  that night the saints felt well and promised to do as they wear toald to  prear by wilock [Wheelock] and outhers Spoak   helped them up prospect hill and then started for the Devels gate got thear after dark



tusday 4 fine  in late some of the waggons of Hoggets [Hodgetts] for the hand cart comp  the hand cart camp started that day we[n]t about 3 miles  the last wagon left at sundown  we had a meeting that night  the Brethren spoke well and with the spirit  prear by E. [Edward] martin



wednesday 5 the wind [two or three word illegible] our teems could not face it [two or three words illegible] river  some of the boys came Back from the cart compny and they could not face it  went with H [Harvey] cluff to get sum from the moutin 



Wednesday 5 very coald 11 Degrees Bellow zero  fe[t]ched sum wood from the mountin on a cart  Brouther Hunts compny came up after Dark  we had a meeting at night prear By [illegible]



thursdy 6 the wind blew the snow so that we could not get up the cattle  We had a meting at night of the valey Boys of those that had the [instruments?]  the Brethren spoke well and with the spirit  i was caled on to speak and did so  Prear By C H welek [Wheelock]



fride 7 verey coald and windy  meting at night I was not thear



saturday 8 fine morning  got sum wood on a cart from the mountins  we cam up the river on the ice an loaded up hunts waggons  prear at night By R T Burton



sunday 9 got up the cattle to start  grat many of the cattell frose to Deth it was so coald and stormey  started at 11 Drove B [Brother John] godsalls teem  traveled 5 miles  Saw Som Bufalows



menday 10 fine all Day  Drove to the willowC rick [Willow Creek] and camped  eframe [Ephraim] hanks came to us from the valey and reported that 2 hundred teem had started but he did not no if they had not turned Back on acount of the storm and that c spencer [Claudius Victor Spencer] and van cot [John VanCott] came to our post and scared out and turned back  prear By E hanks



tusdy 11 fine morng but the wind Blew very coald  camped on Bitter cottonwood crick  Prear by c [Charles] Decker



wednesday 12 fine  met the middle of the 3 crossings  a fals alarm By a fire on the mountain  camped at the 3 crossings



thursdy 13 met 3 teems from the valy   fine came to the 16 mile drive   prear By M [Moses] Cluff



friday [14] fine  met 3 more teems  traveled 12 miles  prear By b [illegible wilkins?]  &lt;camp on sweet-water&gt;



Saturday 15 fine  camped on the rockey reges &amp; met sum teems that day



sundy [16]  pased hunts compny camped on strbry creek  prear B [Brother] E [Ephraim] hanks



mendy 17 [this entry should actually read Tuesday 18] met tems all Day  camped by the post  Fergson and kimbel [Kimball] met us [a few words illegible]  prey By J ferguson   snowd that night



tusdy 18- [Wednesday November 19] traveled to Big sandy river [illegible] captin grant and kimbel [Kimall] and fergson started hom on express  met sum oxen goeing to [illegible] wags comp  camped on Big sand[y] [road] &lt;C welock [Wheelock]&gt;



thursday 20 [Friday November 21] fine but cold camped on green river  that was my Barthdy My 23 &lt;prear J Simons [Joseph M. Simmons]&gt;



Friday 21 [Saturday November 22]  very could  i frosted my nose that Day  camped on Blacks fork



saturday 22 [Sunday November 23] it snowed  we came to Brigger [Bridger] had a weding there that night



sunday fine 23 [Monday November 24] camped 11 miles from Briger  met sum teem that night



mondy 24 [Tuesday November 25] camped on Bear river it was very coald



tuesdy 25 [Wednesday November 26]  met Joseph young and outhers   camped in ec[h]o can[y]on  snow 13 [or 15] inches Deep  sister squir[e]s was confined that night  the child lived and boath come in safe



Wednsdy 26 [Thursday November 27] camped on webber [Weber]



thursdy 27 [Friday November 28] camped in est [East] canyon in the cottonwood grove



friday [Saturday November 29]  crosed Boath mountins the snow was from 1 to 23 feet Deep and in kil[l]ians kanoun [canyon] snow 18 inches  



cam into the city about ½ past levan [eleven] on sunday 29 [30] Day of november   i was great hom By my wife and frends with joy



December mondy 1

Transcript for William Broomhead diary, 1856 October-1857 April

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/chd/landing

motherReferenceId

fatherReferenceId

Canaan, Columbia, New York, United States

birthPlace

associatedPeople

baptizedBy

baptizedByReferenceId

company-arrived

joined-company

with-pioneer-activity

Martha Van Cott

Lovina Jemima Pratt

Lucy Lavinia Sackett

Mary Van Cott

Losee VanCott

pioneerCompanyReferenceIdValue

released

arrived-in-field

missionQualifier

maritalStatusWhenCalled

He was transferred to oversee the Scandinavian Mission after the death of <a href="/chd/individual/willard-trowbridge-snow-1811" target="_blank">Willard T. Snow</a>.

missionaryActivityNotes

priesthoodOfficeWhenCalled

Great Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States

residenceWhenCalled

missionOrganizationReferenceIdValue

Birmingham, Worcestershire, Cheltenham, and HerefordshireConferences

locationServed

departed-from-field

arrived-at-home

called

departed-from-home

set-apart

He was called on a special mission to the Scandinavian Saints in Sanpete County, Utah.

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States

deathPlace

Default List Title

The Church History Biographical Database is a powerful research tool that contains biographical entries on over 100,000 early Latter-day Saints, such as pioneers who traveled to Utah and missionaries who served throughout the world from 1830-1940.

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John Van Cott

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