Joseph Watson Young (1828 - 1873) Profile

Joseph Watson Young (1829 - 1873) Profile

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Joseph Watson Young

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Biographical Encyclopedia

Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, Page 546.

Biographical Encyclopedia.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report, 1857.

British Mission Manuscript history and historical report.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, November 1, 1863, Page 1.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 8, 1868, Page 2.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 6, 1849.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, February 15, 1853, Page 1.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, March 3, 1868, Page 1-2.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, June 10, 1873, Page 2.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, February 22, 1857, Page 7.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Joseph W. Young papers 1849-1872

Joseph W. Young papers 1849-1872.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1849 March

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1849 March, October 1849.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1849 March.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1853

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1853, August 1854.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1853.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1857 April

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1857 April, August 1857.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1857 April.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1857 April-1857 August

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1857 April-1857 August.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1862

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1862, June 1863.

Joseph W. Young papers, Journal, 1862.

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c, Page 287.

JSP nil

Transcript for Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c, p. 287, Family History Library

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c.

Anton Jansen diaries, 1855-1875, fd. 2, 97-101

Anton Jansen diaries, 1855-1875, fd. 2, 97-101.

"Arrivals from the Plains," Deseret News

"Arrivals from the Plains," Deseret News, October 10, 1860.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Arrivals from the Plains.</center>



 



On the evening of the 3d instant, Captain Joseph W. Young arrived with his freight train, consisting of some thirty wagons, with ox teams, which have made the trip to the Missouri river and back this season. The cattle, which we did not see, are said to have returned in good order and condition, looking better than some that have only been driven from the States this year.



 



Capt. E. D. Woolley, with a train of nine mule wagons, with which he went to the east from this city last spring for merchandize, was also in company, and several others, increasing the number of wagons that came in with Capt. Young to fifty one.



Capt. William Budge, in charge of the last immigrants company, consisting of some seventy wagons and over four hundred persons, arrived on Friday about noon. There were four deaths and four births reported, in the company, during the journey from Florence.



It is gratifying to witness the arrival of the immigrant Saints in good health and spirits before the winter snows begin to fall on the mountains, rendering their passage cold and uncomfortable.

Transcript for "Arrivals from the Plains," Deseret News, 10 October 1860, 249

"Arrivals from the Plains," Deseret News.

Bernhard H. Schettler autobiography, undated, 18-23

Bernhard H. Schettler autobiography, undated, 18-23.

In May, brother N. V. Jones and Jacob Gates arrived from Liverpool to superintend the emigration in New York and Florence, Nebraska, and after having informed myself through them what was best to take along, I began to fit myself out for my journey. Besides fitting myself out, I bought a little variety of merchandise which I expected to be able to exchange to advantage for a place in Salt Lake City. Cladius V. Spencer, whom I had. entertained the previous Fall on going out to England, had now returned, and gave me some advice in the purchase of goods.



 



I think it was on the 11th of June, 1861, when the Saints were to start for the West. A company had arrived the day before from England, and I was kept busy on the 11th in the weighing of their luggage, as it as being transferred from the vessel to the cars, until it was getting dark, when I ran upstairs to mother and Emily to take with them my last meal, and fetch a few articles which I had not yet sent to the station. Having attended to this, I bid to Emily my last adieu, and mother accompanied me to the railway station in Jersey City where the train was already loaded with the Saints. Brother Orson Pratt desired me to take charge of the company until we reached a certain place in Pennsylvania, where brother John D. T. McAllister was to join us with a small company, and then take charge of the whole. I did this agreeable to request, and now bid good-bye to my dear mother to go back to Emily, not knowing whether I would ever see her again. At 10 o'clock P.M., the train left, and I well remember the happy feelings I experienced in starting for Zion. I occupied a place in a car where I had all the Swiss Saints together, and between singing, talking, and making music, the time passed very pleasantly. Being an emigrant train, we made for slow time. As expected, in Pennsylvania, brother John D. T. McAllister met us with his little company and I turned over my superintending to him. In Chicago, we had some four or five hours delay, changing cars, and at Quincy, we took the steamboat for Hannibal down the Mississippi River and from there again by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri, passing near Jackson County, which of course was an interesting place for us. At St. Joseph we embarked on a steamer and started up the [Missouri] River until we reached the following, Florence, in Nebraska, it being the 21st of June, having made the journey in 10 days and nights. Here arrived, we got our luggage all out onto the landing, and before we could get this done and the things covered up, we had a tremendous rain storm come on, which drenched our luggage so badly as to do much damage.



 



I moved with my company of Swiss onto the hill and into the so-called Church warehouse, which was simply a barn, pretty well filled with machinery taken apart which was to be shipped to Salt Lake when convenient. Here I made myself and company as comfortable as possible, awaiting the time for our starting by ox-train across the plains. I had not been here many days, when my brother Paul A. arrived by mule-train from Salt Lake going on a mission to Holland with captain Van der Vonde. He stayed with me nearly two days relating to me much of his experiences of crossing the plains and his stay in Utah. During his stay, I baptized sister Beneke, who had followed us up from New York, Paul assisting in the confirmation. When Paul was ready to continue his journey, I accompanied him to the steamboat landing and saw him off going down the Missouri River, and I turned back to my Swiss company.



It was over three weeks that we had to wait before we could start with our ox-teams. Joseph W. Young was superintending the emigration at this point, and it took a good deal of maneuvering to fit out the company and start them on their journey. There was a large corral near our camp ground where the cattle were being put as fast as brought, and from there turned out to those who had paid for their teams, and it was amusing to see the brethren take their first lesson in driving cattle. The cattle would get entangled, wagons upset, things smashed, the brethren lose their patience, get excited, and often times present such a picture as to cause me to have a hearty laugh.



 



I went out hunting a little and remember getting one rabbit. One evening as I was returning from town with some provisions for the company, a tremendous storm overtook me before I reached camp, and as I was ascending the hill, within a hundred yards from camp, a streak of lightening descended and struck into the ground within about 15 feet in front of me. I stood almost paralyzed like in a flame of fire for a few seconds, and then hurried to the barn feeling thankful for the preservation of my life. This was the most terrific lightning I ever experienced in all my life.



 



About a week before leaving Florence, I got my wagon and cattle. The wagon was of the Peter Schuttler, Chicago make, and the three yoke of oxen were as follows. One ordinary sized yoke, the best in the company, the nigh one being red and the off one, yellow. These I put to the tongue. Then came a larger yoke, the nigh one a brindle, the tallest in the company, and his mate a white one. Then came a pair of cows, which I also yoked up and put in the swing head of the big oxen. One of these cows, a dark red one, was with calf and I only milked her about three weeks when she dried up. The other one being speckled, I milked all the way across the plains. Then came a yoke of steers, the nigh one a dark brown, very lazy, and his mate a speckled one, good to pull. These I had on the lead. The cattle were being taken every afternoon out on a pasture and brought back to the corral on the following forenoon, and when they were in the corral, we would yoke them up occasionally and take lessons in handling and driving them. I selected Christian Hirachi for a teamster, Elaza Raetz, who had a little eight year old girl, for my cook, and Elizabeth Kunkler to do the wash. To these, I furnished their board and took their boxes across the plains for their services.



 



A few days before starting on our big journey, I took with my teamster the best yoke of cattle and the wagon to Omaha, about six miles distant, and there bought a box of soda crackers and dried beef, which with sugar and tea, constituted nearly (all of what) I ate and drank. In the beginning, I ate bacon and drank milk, which seemed to disagree with me. The latter gave me diarrhea.



 



It was about the 15th of July, 1861, when we started from the old church warehouse westward for Utah. My team presented a fine appearance, my wagon contained about 3000 pounds, and the animals were well able to pull it through any place that we might have to pass. I had my secretary (desk) along, packed in a sheet iron box, my Sharp's rifle tied inside the wagon to the bows, my tent to the side of the wagon on the outside, and some pots and kettles under the wagon, also some chains and extra yoke. Most of my merchandise I let Claudius V. Spencer freight across at 15 cents per pound. Our first day's journey was but a few miles, and each day, we increased the distance until we made 20 miles in one day, camping (stopping) generally three times per day, although sometimes only twice according to the feed and water supply. Mostly all would walk by the side of their teams, though some rode part of the time, and a very few, nearly always. When getting near to a camp site, we would be looking out for fuel, which in the forepart of the journey would consist of dry brush or roots, and after we got out some distance, of buffalo chips which answered very well for baking.



 



Joseph W. Young was captain of the company, but after a few days out, the company was found to be altogether too large for camping, especially; therefore, the company was divided into two, Anson Harmon taking charge of the latter. Joseph W. Young drove in a light mule team with one or two others, and overtook one company after another, giving instructions and directing things in general. Each captain was mounted and had three mounted guards, mostly mules, each guard had two revolvers besides (at night) a rifle. Every man in the train had to stand night guard, two till midnight, and two until four A. M. My turn came every two weeks, and I well remember standing around the sagebrush fire and hearing the coyotes (small wolf) howling at night, in the distance. It was our duty to go around the corral every half hour examining each wagon and tent and see that all was right, and (that there was ) no approaching danger. When we were out a few days on our journey and had just gone into camp, we had quite a company of Indians coming to us, who were begging for groceries, which were furnished to them; we were warned of their thieving proclivities. That same afternoon we had an immense rain storm. Shortly after this, when traveling along the road, bother Orson Pratt with some other brethren overtook us. They were traveling with mule teams, often in company with brother Joseph W. Young.



After about 10 days traveling, we came to South Fork, where we had to cross the Platt[e] River on a ferryboat. This boat was capable of holding two wagons with one yoke of oxen each at a time. The captain came to me and said, "Now, brother Schettler, put your best yoke of oxen to your heavily loaded wagon, and when you arrive on the ferryboat on the other side, keep them on a run until you get on to solid ground, for if you don't, your wagon will sink out of sight." I knew I could trust my wheelers and put them on. The women and children had been taken across, and all cattle but those hitched up, were being driven into the river and made to swim across. Christian and I carefully drove onto the ferryboat, and as we approached the other side, I saw the quicksand through which we had to drive for a distance of about 300 yards. Christian on one side and me on the other, we started the team on a run, and nobly they did their work, as fast as we went, nevertheless, the wheels cut in about a foot deep. It was a terribly hard pull. When we got onto solid ground, we stopped and rested, then got the other cattle yoke up and hitched, and when ready to start, the big brindle ox balked for the first and only time, absolutely refusing to pull. It was some time before we could coax him to go, and at last he did, starting on a run, pulling the whole load almost alone. We had about a mile to go to camp and by the side of the road leading to it there was a tree which I did not notice in my anxiety, watching the team as we ran along, me on the offside, keeping the team on the road and close in front of the wagon wheel. I found myself all at once as by some unseen power, pulled to one side of the wagon, and on looking up, saw the tree within about two feet of me, threatening me to be crushed to death if it had not been for the timely warning received. As it was, I escaped unhurt, and felt to thank the Lord for his preserving care that had been over me for good. All the teams got across the river in safety and we had a good camp site where we enjoyed an early supper and dinner.



During all the journey, I enjoyed remarkably good health. I made it a point not to drink from every stream of water that we crossed, as numbers of the people did, and complained of belly ache and thirst. I used to drink only tea at each stop two or three times per day, from two to three pints each time, and ate dried beef and crackers. From here on, we traveled several hundred miles along the Platt River, camping often by the side of it. On one occasion, having gone into camp early in the afternoon for the day, and the women being engaged in washing, I took my gun and started out hunting. I saw a stork (a great blue heron?) on a distant island in the river, another small island lying between me and the stork. I left my boots on the shore, pulled up my pants and waded through the river to the small island, crossed it, and now had the stork within about 250 yards. I took aim, and dare say came very near hitting him, but not quite, as he raised his large wings and majestically flew away, and in view of this, I saw what I believed to be a buffalo on the other side of the river, but too far out of reach to expect to be able to shoot him. I waded back to my boots and went to camp, an unsuccessful hunter. One of the brethren had killed a beaver weighing 150 pounds, which was quite interesting sight to me.



From here on, we had to cross a good many alkali waters which had their effect upon the cattle. Every few days, one would die, commencing with a little bleeding at the nose, and within 24 hours after that, laying over to die. I dreaded it, although my cattle were still spared. About 450 miles out of Florence, we saw Chimney Rock on the other side of the Platt River, reaching up about 500 feet, which was quite a sight to behold. When we got near Laramie, we had to cross the Platt River, which as quite an undertaking, as the river was wide and at the crossing, about two and half feet deep, coming near the wagon bed. As we were driving along through it, my cattle came to a stop so that I had to roll up my pants and wade by the side of the cattle, whipping them to do their duty. We thus made the task, coming out all right.



We next made Castle Rock, where there was much alkali. I had noticed the day before, my big brindle ox bleeding a little at the nose so that I dreaded I might lose him. Sure enough, when we got to Castle Rock, I noticed him drinking much and refusing to eat. Late in the evening after I had retired to my tent, the guard put his head in saying, "Brother Schettler, your brindle ox is dead." The next morning, I saw his carcass laying on the prairie much swelled up. The captain used my white ox, and loaned me a very good yoke of cattle for a few days, which did me much good service. We were now in the mountains and had to occasionally ascend and descend steep hills. At one time especially, we had to descend a very steep hill so that we had to lock all our wheels with chains and select soft, sandy ground through which we slowly slid our wagons down to safety.



When nearing South Pass, we had some very cold weather. Our water buckets had half an inch of ice on them and in the morning, we had two inches of snow on the ground. The captain now pushed ahead with considerable determination, making from 18–22 miles per day, which for cattle with very heavily loaded wagons over rough and sandy rods is good work. At Green River, we had to cross the stream, which was quite a task, but was performed successfully with loss. As we neared Fort Bridger, one of my best yoke of cattle, the yellow ox, was alkalied, and after we had left camp in the morning and traveled about a mile, he stopped and I had to take him out of the yoke. I hated to part with him. I let Christian go on with the team, and I stayed behind to see how he would act. He soon lay down by the side of the road grunting with pain and after all the train had passed, I noticed a coyote Sneaking along smelling his soon to be meal. I hated to shoot the ox, but still I did not like to leave him to his fate, but was obliged to do so at last. I well remembered the place and recognized it when traveling east by rail in 1870.



I now had to again call on the captain for help. I got the loan of a yoke of big red oxen which were terribly lazy. The whip had no effect on them at all, and the only way I could get them to pull was by sharpening a stick of wood and punching them with that in their hind legs. In this way I got along pretty well until after a few days I got another yoke in place of them which I used to Salt Lake City. The company lost in all about 20 head of cattle on our journey across the plains, which was considered very fair. In traveling along the hilly country I experienced the danger of straying from the train, being out hunting, as many did. I came very near one time of losing sight altogether of the train in the hills, and after that never again went off any distance. We lost one man that way whose name I do not remember. He was an old hunter, and although we stayed half a day hunting for him, never found him.



I now began to feel as though I would be glad to get to our journey's end, and was happy when we got to the head of Silver Creek Canyon, where we camped near some of our people's log houses, and were visited by them exchanging a few groceries, which were scarce for some onions and potatoes, which we did not have, but which after enjoying a hearty meal of them, gave me the bowel complaint so that I did not eat any more of them on that journey. After another day's journey, we got to Kimball's Station 24 miles out, where we stayed half a day, and assisted in making a piece of Swampy road passable by packing rocks on willows on it. The following afternoon, we reached Hardie's Station, where in Parley's Canyon we camped for the last time before reaching Salt Lake City. Several days previous to this, A. M. Musser and John B. Maiben, Church agents, met our company and took the notes of the passengers for their immigration across the plains. During the last few days of our journey, we were often visited by parties living in the neighborhood. On the morning of the 23rd of September, 1861, we struck camp and soon emerged from the mouth of Parley's Canyon onto the bench lying to the southeast of Salt Lake City, from where we had a beautiful view of the whole valley, and it being a fine warm day, we were highly pleased with thus finishing our journey.

Transcript for Bernhard H. Schettler autobiography, undated, 18-23

Bitter, Rosina Wilhelmina Aust, Autobiographical sketch, in Roberta Blake Barnum and Paul Russell Peine, Saint George, Utah, Original Pioneers [1999], 45

Bitter, Rosina Wilhelmina Aust, Autobiographical sketch, in Roberta Blake Barnum and Paul Russell Peine, Saint George, Utah, Original Pioneers [1999], 45.

We stayed in Winter Quarters 3 weeks waiting for church teams. We put our belongings that we did not need in the middle of the wagon up to the bows. They made two compartments in each wagon, then put one family in the front with 3 children (the 4th born on the trail) and two families in the back. There was one tent for two wagons and the necessary camp kettles were tied under the wagon. 
We started across the plains 2 July 1861 in Captain Joseph Young’s Company. We all walked to keep up with the oxen. I had a baby to carry. We used buffalo chips when there was no wood. Our provisions were given out once a week, which was flour, bacon, died apples, tea and sugar. 
We arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 20 Sep 1861.

Transcript for Bitter, Rosina Wilhelmina Aust, Autobiographical sketch, in Roberta Blake Barnum and Paul Russell Peine, Saint George, Utah, Original Pioneers [1999], 45

Church Emigration Book

Church Emigration Book.

Claridge, Samuel, Autobiography [ca. 1910], fd. 274, 2-4

Claridge, Samuel, Autobiography [ca. 1910], fd. 274, 2-4.

CR 1234 5: Brigham Young office emigrating companies reports, 1850-1862

CR 1234 5: Brigham Young office emigrating companies reports, 1850-1862. Joseph W. Young company report: Page 17.

CR 1234 5: Brigham Young office emigrating companies reports, 1850-1862.

Davis, Albert Wesley, [Autobiography], Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine

Davis, Albert Wesley, [Autobiography], Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, October 1926.

In 1861, the year I was twenty years of age, I was called to go back to the Missouri River, and drive a team of four yoke of cattle, to get the poor, and bring them to the valley. The company was in charge of Joseph W. Young; but when we arrived at the Missouri, he remained there as agent, to fit up the other companies, on their way to the Salt Lake Valley. Ansel Harmon had charge of the company on the return journey. We made the trip both out and back without any great difficulty; and the next year, President Brigham Young was requested by the President of the United States, to send out a company of cavalry, to guard the mail on the plains between Salt Lake City and the Missouri River. I was with this company. We went back as far as Independence Rock, on the Sweetwater; and some of us went farther down, on the Platte. There we camped quite a while; and then returned to the South Pass, and camped there a while; after that we made our camp at Fort Bridger. While at Bridger, the Indians came in one night, and ran off a rancher's horse. He had his horses in a corral, but the Indians let them out. Lot Smith was our captain, so he took part of the company, and followed the Indians up north; I don't know just how far, but into Idaho. He could not travel nights, because there was no way to track the Indians, and thus they got away. They had fresh horses; but the company got pretty close to them, at times. After we had been out several months, we received word to return home.

Transcript for Davis, Albert Wesley, [Autobiography], Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Oct. 1926, 244

Davis, Albert Wesley, [Autobiography], Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine.

Eliza R. Snow journals, 1846-1951

Eliza R. Snow journals, 1846-1951.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 3, 1860.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, June 21, 1847, Page 38.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, September 15, 1860.

Henry Pugh journal excerpts

"Henry Pugh journal excerpts", CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 10, 1853, Page 5-28.

"History of Alice Davis Crane," A History of the Three Wives of James Crane: Alice Davis Crane, Elizabeth Stewart Crane, and Rachel Briggs Crane (Crane Family Genealogical Committee, 1951

"History of Alice Davis Crane," A History of the Three Wives of James Crane: Alice Davis Crane, Elizabeth Stewart Crane, and Rachel Briggs Crane (Crane Family Genealogical Committee, 1951.

My brother Joseph and the young man named James Crane that I was engaged to, immigrated to America in the year 1856.



The next year, 1857, they sent the money for my brother William and myself to come to New York. We got to New York and hired out there for one year. That was the year Johnson's Army was sent up against the Saints. In the spring of 1858 we left New York and went to Iowa City, myself, my two brother and James Crane. I married James Crane April 5, 1858 in Iowa City. We all got places and hired out. My husband and myself hired to the same place to a man named Huff, he was a doctor, but he thought he would quit the doctor business and go into raising sugar cane. He took up a quarter section and put in a large patch of cane, hired a lot of men and had a steam engine to grind the cane. He was giving or promised to give big wages to my husband to be foreman. I had to do the cooking. We worked hard there all summer expecting to get enough to get our outfit to immigrate to Utah the coming spring.



They have very cold severe winters in Iowa and that fall the frost came a little earlier than usual and his cane got froze so his molasses business proved a failure and he could not pay his hands. In the fall we left Doctor Huff and hired to a farmer that lived near by for the winter; my husband to do the chores and me to do house work and cooking. The name of the farmer was Mr. Barling, he had a wife, daughter, and three sons. We lived there until spring. We heard there was a church train going to Utah and Bishop Hester [Frederick Kesler] and Joseph W. Young and Orten [Horton D.] Haight from Utah were around buying up cattle to take the train through to Salt Lake. They wanted so many teamsters so my husband thought it would be best to move into Iowa City, as we lived about 16 miles out in the country. We told Mr. Barling we would like to get our pay as we had not drawn any of our wages all winter. He said if we would stop and work all summer, in the fall he would pay us, but if we left then he could not pay us. They let us have a little flour and corn meal and a few pounds of butter so we left there and rented a room. My husband and my two brothers worked together and made a little until Bishop Hester [Kesler] came along to hire teamsters. I think he got ten teamsters in Iowa City, my husband and two brothers being among the number. My oldest brother got married the night before we started, as young women could not go with the church train. We only had one wagon and a yoke of oxen, and there was three couples to occupy this wagon, my husband and I, my oldest brother and his wife, that had just married, and Thomas Foot and wife. The other teamsters had a tent to sleep in. The wagon we had was a large one with boards across the top of the wagon bed. One couple had to make their bed below and the other two couples to make their beds on the top, so we took it in turns sleeping below, we had a not very comfortable time getting up to Florence. It was the fifth of April when we left Iowa and it would snow and then rain and melt the snow until the wheels of the wagon would be to the hubs in mud and then we would get stalled and clear everything out of the wagon and everyone put their shoulder to the wheel until the wagon was out. Some days we would only go four miles. When we came to a place called the skunk bottoms with so much snow and rain the river had overflowed its banks and all the river bottoms were under water about a mile and a half across. It looked liked the sea, we were standing wondering what to do when a covered wagon drove up with two men in, they asked us where we were going we told them to Utah. They said they were from Utah and had been back to the states on business and were now returning home. My husband asked them how they were going to cross, they said if you will join in with us we will show you. So they took the two wagon beds and lashed them together after unloading them and caulking them so they would be water tight then ferried over where the water was shallow. The men waded and pushed the wagons before them but where it was deep they used poles and worked their passage. Some of our little company objected to going over this way, my husband called on those that were willing to join with him and the others would take their own course, when they saw they would be left the unwilling ones all joined in. They had to cross this stream three times, they were all pretty badly used up. The last trip they took us three women over. It snowed on us all the way across and it was bitter cold but it was worse on the men that had been in the water all day as it was now nearly dark we were all so numbed with the cold it was all we could do to stand on our feet. There was a house not far off so we rented a room and stove for the night and made a big fire set up and dried our clothes and bedding and were soon singing and chatting with each other as though we had had a splendid time.



I don't remember the names of the two Utah brethren, one of them was bishop in one of the wards in Juarez, Mexico where my brother Joseph C. Davis is now living. When we arrived at Fort Des Moines in the state of Iowa the other company had left with word for us to follow on as quickly as possible which we did and the next day we overtook them. We overtook them just as it was getting dark. An old gentleman named [Joseph] Be[e]croft and his Wife from London had charge of the camp and the boys that had been hired to drive the train to Utah had charge of the cattle that the brethren had been buying up. The crowd all seemed to have the blues they all felt so down-hearted they did not seem to have any life in their camp. My husband asked them if they were Mormons they replied, "Oh yes, we are Mormons.



My husband asked them what was the matter with them, well they said. "We have been driving cattle all day and have had nothing to eat and was not likely to get anything." He asked the old gentleman if he had anything to cook, he said yes but he had not had time to cook it, it's been raining all day and was still raining. He said he had flour and bacon, tea, coffee, and molasses. My husband said, "What, you have all them things in your wagon and all going hungry?" They said yes, but we have no bread and it has rained so we could not bake. He asked them if they had a camp kettle, they handed him one that would hold about three gallons, also some flour. In about fifteen minutes my husband had made them a kettle of mush and they had molasses and butter. They s[t]ill had a good supper. We fixed up the two tents and sat up and sung and talked until midnight. The next morning the old gentleman said to my husband, “Brother Crane, you had better take charge of this camp now for I would starve them all to death with my wagon full of provisions." My husband told him he would not take charge of his camp but would help all we could. We traveled together and got along alright and arrived at the camping place on the Missouri river. We stopped here about six weeks until the oxen that were poor got fat. We had four hundred head. My husband was put in charge of the herd until we left. When the train started on the plains my husband was put captain over ten wagons, there were seventy-five wagons in all. Brother Orten [Horton] Haight was captain of the company, Bishop Hesler [Kesler] was Commissary and also in charge of all the freight. We were over three months on the plains. In some places it was laborious work on the cattle. After passing through the sand hills at Laramie, Wyoming the oxen began to die and continued until we got within two hundred miles of Salt Lake City. It got so we could not move the train and we had to send to Salt Lake City for help.



Considering the length of the journey we had a good time and considering the inexperience of the teamsters some of them that had never seen an ox before, much less yoking them up and driving them. My husband was captain over ten wagons, there were four women in our 10 wagons. The captain told them if they would do the cooking they would be free of expense when they got to Utah or they would owe 40 dollars for their board. Three of them concluded their husbands would settle for their board so the cooking fell to my lot, and the other three women cooked their own. There were 13 men to cook for, my husband and ten teamsters and two of the men that drove the loose cattle and myself made 14 and we had good yeast light bread all the way. I never felt better and had better health than I did crossing the plains, we had plenty of provisions and had a good time.



I only had one pair of shoes. I started off in a hurry and left one pair behind so when I got about halfway my shoes gave out since we had to walk most of the way. We were walking along one day, Bishop Hessler was riding along in his buggy, he stopped and asked me if that was all the shoes I had and I told him it was. He told me to wait until our wagon came up and get up and ride and when we camped he would give me a pair of shoes. He gave me a good pair of strong shoes that lasted me until I got to Salt Lake City. I always had great respect for Bishop Hessler he was a very good man also Captain Orten Haight and Joseph W. Young a brother's son of Brigham Young they were all good men.



On September 29, 1859 we arrived in Salt Lake City and how thankful we felt when we came in sight of the wished for city. There is no one who can tell the happy feelings that a Latter-day Saint has when they first get sight of the City. Well that was my experience. Such a happy thankful feeling that we had been preserved to get there in safety. The train, being a church train, we drove into President Brigham Young's yard. The family had prepared supper for the whole company.

Transcript for "History of Alice Davis Crane," A History of the Three Wives of James Crane: Alice Davis Crane, Elizabeth Stewart Crane, and Rachel Briggs Crane (Crane Family Genealogical Committee, 1951

Improvement Era

Pioneer Experience Confirming an Answer to Prayer

Folsom, Hyrum P., "Pioneer Experience Confirming an Answer to Prayer", Improvement Era, 20, July 1917, Page 30.

In July, 1860, my father and family left Council Bluffs and joined the pioneer train from Salt Lake City to the Missouri river, which returned the same year. Joseph W. Young, Captain; Wm. W. Riter, Joseph Weiley, Ansel Harmon, James Malin, guards of the train, which contained over sixty wagons. Our family joined them at Florence. The following night our two cows strayed from the camp, and in the morning I got on a pony and started out to find them. When about a mile from the camp I came to the brow of the hill that led to the Missouri Bottoms, and on a mound I knelt down and prayed that I might be directed to where the cows had strayed. Looking off on the Bottoms, I saw a farm house at the edge of the timber and close to the Missouri river, probably two miles away. I was very strongly impressed to go to that house and did so, and inquired of the party living there, if he had seen my cows, and described them to him. He said he had not, but I was impressed that he was not telling the truth. However, I started through the timber and rode two or three miles through it where I could not see out, and finally came out at the same house. I saw some cattle down the open plains in the river bottoms and during the day I traveled some twenty miles. Two or three times I went into the woods, and when I got into the woods I would follow a trail, wandering around probably a mile or two, and invariably I would come out where this house was.	
Each day when I left camp, I would kneel down on the mound and pray that I would be directed to where the cows were. For five successive days, I repeated my travels from twenty to twenty-five miles, and each time passed through about the same experience, enquiring each day of this man at the same farm house, if he had seen my cows. He always said no. The next day, about 7:30 in the evening. I was again traveling through the woods and again came out at this farm house. After I came into the open, my two cows came out of the opening on the opposite side and stood and looked at me for a minute, and then walked on towards this house and started to go into the yard. I headed them off, and drove them off to camp. 	
This man beyond a doubt had been milking these cows night and morning, for they showed that they had been properly attended to from day to day. It was a great source of satisfaction, not only to our family but to the general camp, to see me drive these cows into camp, for the next morning the train started for Utah.	
At the time we lost the cows one of our oxen strayed from the camp. I had only seen this ox two different times. The next day the train started for Salt Lake City and camped about eight miles from Florence, on the Papio. I left the camp in the morning to find this ox. When I arrived at this hill I knelt down and prayed and I was impressed to go North, up the River from where I had been going , and I again traveled all day without hearing or finding out anything about this ox. About dusk I concluded I would take a route leading through Florence, where I bought some crackers and cheese. The moon was shining brightly, and by taking this round-about way, which I was very peculiarly impressed to do, it would be some three miles farther to reach the camp. I traveled up by the farm houses around Florence. Each house that I would come to, I would look among the cattle to see if I could discover my ox. Finally a farm house which was probably a hundred yards from the road impressed me, and in looking around among the cattle that were lying down resting for the night, I discovered an ox that I thought looked very much like the one I was hunting. I tied my pony to the fence and went and kicked the ox, and he got on his feet. I said, "There is my ox." I tied a rope around its horns, tied the other end to the saddle, and started to the camp, eight miles away. The ox came along nicely for about three miles, when it laid down in the road. I got off my pony and kicked it, and got it on its feet. After a mile or so, it again lay down, and after two or three repetitions I started the pony and went behind and drove it. I arrived at camp as it was coming day light, and not only my parents but the whole camp were surprised and glad to see me with the ox.	
I have never at any time of my life doubted but what the impressions I had given me were in answer to my prayers. On some occasions since, when faith has been inclined to be weak, these instances have made my faith strong.

Transcript for Folsom, Hyrum P., "Pioneer Experience Confirming an Answer to Prayer," Improvement Era, July 1917, 784-85

Improvement Era.

Jefferies, William, Reminiscences and diary, 1886, 22

Jefferies, William, Reminiscences and diary, 1886, 22.

Near the latter part of the year 1860, I was on a visit to the City of London for a few days, and was sitting in a room at 43 Islington, in company with John Cook, President of the London Conference, and James Brown, Elias H. Blackburn, and F. M. Lyman, from Utah, when the spirit of the Lord rested down upon me powerfully, and showed me how my emigration could be brought about the following spring. We attended a meeting in the evening. This emigration spirit remained with me, burning in my very bones. At the close of the meeting, and while on our way to our sleeping place, I told Bro. Blackburn about this spirit of emigration that had rested upon me and was still inspiring my whole being. He advised me to write to the Presidency at Liverpool immeadiately for my release. C.C. Rich, Amasa M. Lyman, and George Q. Cannon,were the Presidency at this time. I wrote. My release came promptly. I had the priviledge of emigrating in the spring, and, in the mean time, I was to introduce my successor Bro. Blackburn, turn matters over to him, and then I was free to visit the Saints for the last time, and do all the good I could till emigration time arrived. And they pronounced the blessings of God upon me, throughout my generations, for ever and ever. I traveled and labored according to their counsel till the last day of March, 1861.
 In this brief account of my missionary labors for the last four and quarter years, I have said but little about my real labors in detail. I did not purpose to do so. All I designed to write was a brief outline for the information of my children when my blody [body] is mouldering in the tomb. It is a very important part of my life. It has been all the world to me. No man can estimate its value. And as to my labors in those precious years—they are before the heavens—they are recorded on high; and I can meet their results with joy in the great day of accounts when I shall be weighed in the balance of the Eternal Father. <center> Chapter 8 Marriage and Emigration</center>
I had been advised by one of my file-leaders in the ministry in regard to marriage. This occurred nearly three years before the period to which this chapter brings me. But a few moments consideration of the circumstances surrounding a traveling Elder soon led him to agree with me that it had better be deferred till emigration time. This principle guided my course in this matter.
Some time after receiving my release to emigrate, I made arrangements for marriage, and I was married to Mary F. Auld, on Tuesday, April 3, 1861, by a clergyman of the Church of England, at the Church of St. Phillips and Jacobs, in the city of Bristol, thus honoring the law of the land; and in the evening of the same day I honored the Priesthood of God by having Elder George Halliday marry us at the residence of my wife.
Having made arrangements to emigrate, we went to Liverpool April 11, 1861. We went on board the ship Manchester (Captain Trask) on Saturday April 13, 1861, and on the next day, Sunday the 14th, the Presidency, C. C. Rich, Amasa M. Lyman, and George Q. Cannon, came on board and organized the company. Claudius V. Spencer was appointed President, and Edward Hanham and myself his counselors. We set sail on the 16th. Our family consisted of myself, my wife, my wife’s mother, and my wife’s two brothers, James and Franklin. We had a pretty good passage, arriving in New York in about twenty-eight days, where we found the war spirit rife, and Castle Garden occupied by United States Soldiers. We passed officers, got passengers and luggage on board the Cars as soon as possible, and started on our trip to Florence, Nebraska, the latter part of our trip being by steamboat up the Missouri River. Our company was the first of the season, and we remained at Florence some seven or eight weeks. A Church Store was started for the emigration season, and I was engaged in it for a time. Joseph W. Young came from Utah with ox Teams for the transportation of the Saints and their luggage from this point to Utah, and I was appointed to act as his Clerk in emigration business. All the companies were started, and six days after the last company started, in which were the members of my family, J. W. Young, Orson Pratt, Erastus Snow, B. Stringham, and a few more of us started out to overtake the trains. We overtook the last company at Loupe Fork crossing, and, after remaining with them one day and two nights, we went on to Wood River. There I stayed, at Bro. Johnson’s, from Monday till the following Friday afternoon, working at emigration accounts, and particularly preparing lists of names of emigrants to send to the Deseret News for publication. Our company arrived at Wood River. I joined it, and found the family doing pretty well—better than when they were at Loupe Fork, for my wife was pretty sick about that time. I continued with the company the remainder of the trip. I was appointed Chaplain and Marshall. From this on I walked the prairie, waded the streams, attended to the duties of my offices, and got along as well as I could, arriving in S.L. City on Monday afternoon, Sept. 23, 1861, feeling thankful to our Heavenly Father for His preserving care over us.

Transcript for Jefferies, William, Reminiscences and diary, 1886, 22

Joseph Orton autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

Joseph Orton autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938.

Joseph W. Young, Journal

Joseph W. Young, Journal, June 1858.

Joseph W. Young, Journal.

Joseph Watson Young, Journal

Joseph Watson Young, Journal, June 1858.

Joseph Watson Young, Journal.

Joseph Young Emigrating Company journal

Joseph Young Emigrating Company journal, February 1853.

Joseph Young Emigrating Company journal.

Keetch, Mercy Truth Barker, Reminiscences 1902

Keetch, Mercy Truth Barker, Reminiscences 1902, Vol. 2.

C. soon got back and told me to get ready. we was soon of[f] to florence. when we see Bro. young he was sorrey we had not seen us before some of his train was Allreadey started[.] soon as i could i told Brother young why we was so late in coming to find his help[.] he saw he could see now why he had Been delaid so much. i told him how hard they had tried to stop us. o the name of joseph. W. young <How. dear to me> no father could be kinder to his own. daughter. then he was to me. When we was ready to start. C. went to the storr and Bought me A. tule and washbord with my gold desser. he sent to me. when i was in England to put on my Watch chain.) When we was in homah in the winter there was A saill C. went to it and got Afew 4. quilts. 4. china plats. 6 china cups. and sorcers all white. one have. plat..) we was behind the train. c had to travel. fast and late before we caught up. i was tired when we did stop..when Bro. young caught up with us. he. told me to use tea and coffee for the water was very bad. if. i. would not. to be shore. my men had what they wanted. i had 5 to cook for. they got wood and water c tended fire and got the things from the wagon i needed and put up the things when i had don.with them). .
one day the captin heird A noise in the hills he thought. Antlop was coming he made A gap in the train. for them to pas thro if they came. But they past A head o the oful dust the cap said there might of. bin A stamppead.) i had good luck with my camp men one. was. a full lase and disagreed But the others handled him.) 
one day they teased. C. so much to go hunting to get some fresh meat..and they would do the work he should do. so he went. and All don well But he that should of wated on me he laid down on the grown and would not help me so i had to do the best i co[u]ld. these wagings was so very high in the frunt i could not reach the flour or Aney thing i wanted But i tried to and made myself sick) 3 or 4 days. i could not do Aney work. and it hert me so to ride But i could not walk…the youngest in my mess was A boy A little over 12 years. he was such A dear little boy he mist his. ma so bad he left her in ohama he was so deleaket he could not eat anething i had for him. i asked him what he eat At home he. said with a choak. Bread and milk. he could not stand it. to hear home or Mother menchened i would talk to him Alone to see if I cold learn Anething to do. to help him. he was so Afull bashful i found out he liked suger. he had plenty After that..
i was sick on the 12th of September..the train drove on. the cap went. Aways of And rested till we was. ready to go. we caught up with the train at. noon they stoped for earely noon ithink the captin. told them to .V when we stoped one of the men i had to cook for came to speak to me. and told me not trouble A boute the cooking he would. see to it All right he was. A very good latter day saint. not marred i think he had Bin disaapinted by the songs he yoused. to sing. he could sing nice. his name was cris valentine.) they told me it was near. green river were my Baby [Charles Greenwood] was Born. i do know it was A dry camp for there was not aney water good or bad. i had just A little in our cag. i think it was A boute. 8. o clock in the morning when baby was Born. on the 8th day when they they camped for noon. i drest and c took me out of the wagon and set me on the wagen. toung wile he took. my bed out to shake it. and tray to fix it A little. better i had not bin out many minets. when every thing was A goen Around i called to c. to hurry And take babe. he told me After he was just in time to save. us from faling. i don’t know how he got me. in the wagging. But the Brethern Adremistred to me i then got A little better. and at night i ondrest. not to dress Again till A boute conference..time) i had been very sick. this time from the 8th to conference there was but few if Aney reley belived I would ever get. well. i could hear. what they. was sayin and it hurt me they had no more faith. for me. i called Bro. young to me. and told him. i was i was goen to get well my work was not don hear neither had i received the Blessings the Lord had promised me. when i was in Babylon. now i am home in Zion. . . .

Transcript for Keetch, Mercy Truth Barker, Reminiscences 1902, vol. 2, 8p

Keetch, Mercy Truth Barker, Reminiscences 1902.

Knud Svendsen reminiscence and journal

Knud Svendsen reminiscence and journal, December 1856.

Knud Svendsen reminiscence and journal.

Madsen, Christian to Brother Widerborg

Madsen, Christian to Brother Widerborg, July 25, 1858.

Salt Lake City 25 July 1858
Dear Brother Widerborg,
We arrived happy and well on 9 July after traveling across the prairie for thirty-nine days. The company consisted of about forty men with forty-seven mules and horses. Brother H[orrace]. Eldridge was our captain, and Joseph W. Young was captain of the guard. We assume that the rest of the company, including Brother [Iver N.] Iversen, left Iowa three weeks after us and that they will arrive here early in September. I drove one wagon with four mules across the prairie. Knud Svendsen from Vendsyssel drove another. Each of these two wagons accommodated five people, and each constituted a kitchen. Ædler was our cook, Oman cooked for the second kitchen, and [Niels Christian] Poulsen for the third. The entire company consisted of thirteen wagons and five horsemen. Everyone, both people and animals, survived the ordeal. All of the Indians we met were friendly. We kept a strong watch at night and sometimes during the day. . . .
Christian A. Madsen

Transcript for Madsen, Christian to Brother Widerborg, 25 July 1858, in Frederick Hale, ed., Danes in North America, [1984]

Madsen, Christian to Brother Widerborg.

Oliphant, Charles Henry, Autobiography, 9-10

Oliphant, Charles Henry, Autobiography, 9-10.

We were the only two Americans in the camp; which was made up of Welsh and English, who had no experience in these circumstances and surroundings. This threw much labor on to me. We started on to the Plains under these difficult circumstances. We arrived at Loop [Loup] Fork and with some difficulty crossed it. The day we crossed, some fat, wild cattle were seen on the east side. The following day Jos. W. [Joseph W. Young] directed me to take some men and try to get them. We crossed the river and followed them until we found Indian tracks behind. The long travel on foot and fording the river twice in the hot sun was very heavy on me. After arriving in camp at night, there came on a terrific thunderstorm. The men of the camp seemed panic stricken and the cattle began to scatter. Gathering 3 or 4 men who still retained sufficient coolness to work under my directions, we saved the cattle. The result of these exertions was: the following day I was taken down with brain fever, from which I did not recover for five months.	
At Wood River brother Levi Stewart and Isaac Knight came up with us. By them word was sent to the Valley of my helpless condition and of the sickness of the wife [Mary Ann Pugh Young] of Jos W. While we were in the Pawnee country along Wood River, the Pawnees with several hundred warriors made a raid on camp evidently to plunder. Before they left they taxed us pretty heavy in camp outfit, flour, sugar and &amp;c.	
Jos. W. wife grew no better and I continued very low. Nothing of special importance happened until we arrived at Independence Rock. There we were met by two teams from the valley, the result of the news of our condition taken in by brothers Stewart and Knight. One was sent by Uncle Brigham, the other by brother Feremorz. My feelings cannot be described in making this connecting link with friends whom I had so long desired to see. Myself and family with necessary things were put into these wagons. Jos. W. took his own wagon with his sick wife in it. Charles F. Decker had charge of these teams. While sick on the plains I have but little recollection of dates. I think this took place about the first day of September. The teams were driven as fast as the sick could bear. We crossed Green River in the middle of the day and stopped to rest. There Jos. W. wife died. The teams drove to [Fort] Bridger as soon as practicable and there obtained something to put the body in. We arrived in Salt Lake City in the evening of the 25th of September 1853.

Transcript for Oliphant, Charles Henry, Autobiography, 9-10

Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883

Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883.

Our Pioneer Heritage

Our pioneer heritage, Vol. 4, Page 73.

Our Pioneer Heritage.

Parry, Edward Lloyd. Autobiography

Parry, Edward Lloyd. Autobiography.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. A, Page 19.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886.

Smith, Jesse N., Autobiography and journal

Smith, Jesse N., Autobiography and journal, October 1855.

Tues. 9. Got my wagon from Nebraska City but one of the axletree nuts was defective.
Wed. 10. Bro. Stickells took his team and my wagon and we went to Nebraska City where I had a hole drilled through the nut and through the point of the arm or axletree for a linch pin to hold on the wheel. Upon returning found Capt. William Hyde's train just starting out. John L. Smith was &lt;so&gt; far recovered as to start with this Company. Another young woman and child died, did not hear their names
Fri. 12. Hauled up a load of flour for J. W. Young from Nebraska City.
Sat. 13. Gave a Bro. Wiscombe a pair of pantaloons.
Sun. 14. Strolling through the grave yard noticed the grave of the infant son of [-] C. Geertsen also those of two daughters of C.A. Petterson from Skåne Sweden. Two children named Crawford and a man named Thomas Thurgood died recently. The blankets which I forwarded per Adam's Express Company from Chicago arrived at last[.] Went out to the rendesvouz of Capt. W. S. Snow's Company. rainy.
Mon. 15. Hauled some provisions out to the Camp, then bought 20 bushels of corn unshelled for J. W. Young, $1.00 per bushel. Still rainy. Several of the boys went to town, among them Joseph A. Young who got drunk
August, 1864 
Tues. 16. Fitted up a lot of ox yokes.
Wed. 17. Helped Capt. Snows company to make a start, spliced a wagon tongue.
Thur. 18. A Mr. L.B. Kinney, a brother of Judge J.F. Kinney made an agreement to go through with me and pay me $200 for hauling him and boarding him on the road.
Fri. 18 [19]. Bought another load of Corn
Sat. 20. Judge Kinney brought his brother up to our Camp. The latter had been appointed Indian agent for Utah.
Sun. 21. The steamer arrived bringing W. C. Haines and some luggage that was left behind. Loaded our wagons for the journey[.] I put in two large trunks to haul as far as Snow's train. Wrote to Bro. Silas, although the mail was reported stopped by Indians troubles beyond Fort Kearney. Started about 4 p.m. Drove about 11 miles[.] Camped near a farm house and got water at a well. Mon. 22. Our party numbered 6 wagons, 1 carriage, 13 men, and 15 horses and mules. Overtook a train sent out from Nebraska City by McCann and Metcalf[.] Nooned with them, one of their wagons loaded with Indians goods suddenly took fire from some unknown cause and completely consumed but little was saved, loss estimated at $6000 to 8000.—Camped at a place called Salt Creek[.] travelled some 40 miles.
Tues. 23. Rained last night[.] road heavy. At noon I gathered prairie gum, the first I had tasted since my boyhood. Overtook Hyde's and Snow's trains at Antelope Creek. travelled about 35 miles.
Wed. 24. Travelled with Snow's train it being Indian times. Met a man who had been wounded by the Indians, he with two children was fleeing to the settlements. A wagon wheel broke down, it was filled and the tire set. Made about 10 miles.
Thur. 25. Made 16 miles through a tract of country destitute of water and timber.
Fri. 26. 15 miles today. A young sister [Julia Cushing]Webb died and was buried at the noon halt. She was 19 years old and lately married, assisted at the burial, there was no coffin the body was sewed in a blanket, fresh wild flowers and boughs were strewn in the grave, was touched by the afflictions of the husband.
Sat. 27. Warm day[.] J.A. Young got drunk and &lt;made&gt; every body feel uncomfortable. Reached the Platte 16 miles. Hope for better health with plenty of water. Our camp of so many souls were entirely unprovided with Comforts for the sick, no tea or Coffee, no spirits nor wine not even any variety of food. Flour, bacon, beans and sugar Constituted the whole bill of fare although with great care a medicine chest of all the articles in the old mineral practice costing $300, was provided. Bro. Joseph W. Young asked me to take the medicines and deal them out to the sick, but this I absolutely declined to do, not understanding the working of the medicine and being too tender in the conscience to administer them. 
Sun. 28. Made 7 miles, Hyde's and Groesbecks trains came up, also McCann's and Metcalf's train. Meeting was called[.] spoke as did others.
Mon 29. Made 15 miles.
Tues. 30. Called at Fort Kearney, saw many soldiers and some Indians in government uniforms, on to Kearney City where we over took some 50 wagons, William Adams among the number waiting for greater strength to face the dangers of the Indian Country ahead. Here Marcus Holling came to me and told a sorrowful tale, trying to drive oxen after he had got sick and been left at Fort Kearney Hospital. He was entirely out of money, he was not fully restored to health, the circumstances under which he left home were such that he could not apply to his former friends for assistance and he begged me to get him a place in one of the trains, failing to do which he must die on the prairie as he could obtain no employment and could neither go on nor return. I was moved by his appeal and applied to Joseph W. Young in his behalf. Camped 2 miles [from] Fort Kearney City 12 miles today.
Wed. 31. Prevailed upon Bro. Young to take Mr Holling into Capt. Snow's Company. Went back to Fort Kearney with Holling for his things and delivered a telegram for Bro. Young at the office and mailed a letter for Mr. Kinney. Overtook the train, we had now a vast moving Caravan of wagons some 200 in number. Made about 16 miles.
Thur. Sept. 1, 1864. In the afternoon a very large government train en route for Fort Caramie [Laramie] passed. And several small trains, also some troops passed. Made we thought 13 miles. Four Pawnee Indians Came into our Camp, after receiving some tobacco, they expressed a willingness to fight the hostile Sioux.
Fri. 2. Reached Plum Creek where some 200 soldiers were encamped. A train was captured and burned here about two weeks before and a number of people killed, the ranch was also burned. All the ranches in this region were now deserted. And much property was sacrificed, traveled 10 miles
Sat. 3. At our noon halt a woman named Mary Ann Price was run over and killed. She was a member of the Church. Assisted to dig the grave. The day was exceedingly hot. The burial was near Peniston and Miller's ranch, her husband had charge of a freight train. 14 miles today.
Sun. 4. Moving, Saw an Indian burial place, the dead were, after their manner placed upon scaffolds. 13 miles today.
Mon. 5. Travelled with Hyde's train, passed Gilman ranch, lately the scene of an Indian fight and another ranch that had been burned. Bro. Hilliard from England died. 15 miles. Heavy cold rain in the night, was on guard
Tues. 6. Passed Jack Morrow's ranch, deserted like the rest, although a strong place. 12 miles today.
Wed. 7. 18 miles reached O'Fallon's Bluffs[.] Met a party of 7 packers from Virginia City Nevada, they had seen no Indians.
Thurs. 8. 17 miles.
Fri. 9. 16 miles
Sat. 10. Our party left the oxtrains. And drove on ahead 25 miles.
Sun. 11. Crossed the South Fork of the Platte at Julesburg, 33 miles
Mon. 12. Took the Pole Creel route. Met some returning Miners from Virginia City[.] rained towards night, 40 miles.
Tues. 13. Our plan of travel was as follows: Start at ap. 3o [sic] a.m. travel about 10 miles[.] breakfast. Then until 3 or 4 p.m. dinner, then drive till after dark and Camp without fire. Made 38 miles. Pole Creek was destitute wood, a small stream holding an even size for over 100 miles of mountonous Country.
Wed. 14. Passed a camp where a man lay sick with diphtheria, and had so lain for 30 days, he had one attendant, he said he was better, but that his own brother went off and left him to die.
We had seen antelope for several days and to day Ezekiel Holman was fortunate enough to bring one in, which was divided with a famishing party of returning miners that we met.
Thurs. 15. Reached the Black Hills, ascending a divide a beautiful scene of undulating woodland presented itself. 38 miles. Camped on the mountain side[.] on guard.
Fri. 15 [16]. 40 miles, Crossed the Laramie Fork of the Platte. J. W. Young and H. B. Clawson Concluded to go on with the Mail. Wrote to Bro. Silas to day that I hoped to reach the City in 12 days. Crossed the little &lt;Careturie&gt; Fork where there was a Mail Station. Met the stage &lt;Coach&gt; from the West, the first we had met.
Sat 17. Breakfasted at Rock Creek. Crossed the Medicine Bow and Camped at the foot of the mountain of the same name. 19 miles.
Sun 18. Passed Fort Halleck, saw a fine elk, H.B. Clawson went on with the stage[.] No feed, the Country very desolate. Crossed the North Fork of the Platte[.] There being no feed traveled nearly all night, 55 miles.
Mon. 19. Teams failing, drove 15 miles to the summit of Bridger's pass. Camped on Sulphur Creek.
Tues. 20. 30 miles. Dry Camp.
Wed. 21. 30 miles. Very cold. Strong head wind and very dusty[.] Passed Barrel Spring. Constantly meeting returning miners in various stages of destitution, Some on foot, with insufficient Clothing and without food[.] gave them food almost every day
Thur. 22. Stormy, reached La Clede Station at the head of Bitter Creek, Continued on[.] made 28 miles, no feed, tied up the animals. J. W. Young and my passenger Mr. Kinney, took the stage and went on.
Fri. 23. Cold and windy. Feed scarce, some of the animals failing very fast. 30 miles, was a chronic sufferer with piles, but to this was added bloody flux. Joseph A. Young left a wagon at a mail station. Brother Paul A. Schettler was very kind to me, he rode in the wagon with me.
Sat. 24. 30 miles. Weary of the desolate Bitter Creek.
Sun. 25. Were all glad to reach Green River, after watering crossed and stopped on the bluffs on the home side for breakfast.
Reached Granger's after dark on Ham's Fork. Obtained some flour and fed to the animals with water
Mon. 26. Very poorly. Overtook Warren's train and Camped with it. Here I saw Wm. M. West, David Ward and a number of others from Parowan as teamsters.
Tues. 27. Reached Yellow Creek
Wed. 28. Reached the mouth of Silver Creek, hard day for the teams.
Thur. 29. Breakfasted at W.H. Kimball's, here I saw John Smith and a part of his Company, took dinner at Hardy's. Reached the State road just as President Young and party were returning from the South. Fell in behind them and drove into the City.

Transcript for Smith, Jesse N., Autobiography and journal, 1855 Oct-1906 Apr., 212-18

Smith, Jesse N., Autobiography and journal.

Stoney, Robert, Reminiscences and diary

Stoney, Robert, Reminiscences and diary, June 1860.

Transcript for Stoney, Robert, Reminiscences and diary, 1860 June-August

Stoney, Robert, Reminiscences and diary.

Thompson, Harriet Ann, Reminiscences

Thompson, Harriet Ann, Reminiscences.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">WILLIAM THOMPSON</center>
	
"We came to Utah in 1853, crossed the ocean in the old style sail-vessel "Galconda" [Golconda]. Mr. Bwerker was the sea captain. It took 70 days to cross from Liverpool to New Orleans. We were detained in mid-ocean because of a severe storm. From New Orleans we traveled to "Keokuk" waiting at this point 3 weeks for ox teams to be fitted out for crossing the plains. The next move was to Salt Lake City. They put ten out fits in a company. Each company having a captain. Our captain was Joseph W. Young.
My father, William P. Thompson, a sick Mother, a cripple, with four young children, set out on this long trip. At night Father stood guard against the Indians, he drove ox team during the day. Mother and baby 10 months old, Sarah Ann, rode. The other members walked full distance. Well I do remember our feet, sore and blistered with walking. Also fear of the Indian attacks. One time they stole Father's watch. Again on the journey Mother was real ill. She had mountain fever. Being to[o] sick to travel, they camped on the Platte River. Joseph W. Young, our captain, administered to her and promised her she would be better and live to see Salt Lake Valley, and she did. 
We arrived there in the month of October, after a nine month journey.["]

Transcript for Thompson, Harriet Ann, Reminiscences

Walker, Mary Lois, A Sketch of My Life

Walker, Mary Lois, A Sketch of My Life.

This document contains 469 pages of transcript from Mary Lois Walker's personal journal.

Transcript for Walker, Mary Lois, A Sketch of My Life

Webb, Mary Ann Ward, "The History of Mary Ann Ward Webb and Her Diary of the Journey to Utah (1864)," in Robert R. King and Kay Atkinson King, Mary Ann Ward Webb: Her Life and Ancestry [1996], 98-103

Webb, Mary Ann Ward, "The History of Mary Ann Ward Webb and Her Diary of the Journey to Utah (1864)," in Robert R. King and Kay Atkinson King, Mary Ann Ward Webb: Her Life and Ancestry [1996], 98-103.

August 12. 
Moved out
. Bro Ross left a parcel with me. it got misplaced; he found it in a wagon after a long search.
August 13. Not well. spent the day on the camp ground.
August 14. Better, had a meeting. Bro Warren Snow spoke. he is our Captain. The cattle was wild and we didn't move out today. We had a meeting in the evening. a very heavy tempest came on at night. we all got wet.
August 15. Moved from that camp at 5 A.M. arrived at another at 7 P.M. all very tired. Jemima sick. Slept in Bro. [George] Halladay's tent. it was wet and miserable. such a time we had. cattle wild.
August 16. Carried wood a long way.
August 17. Arose early. moved at 12. Dorcas Deben[ham] walked with me and was very tired.
August 18. Had the first morning meeting singing and prayer. I walked from 11 until 6. We came where Capt Hyde had camped. there are 4 graves here. Jemima [Ward] is not well and very despondent.
August 19. Walked all day arrived at Camp at 6.
August 20. Started at 10 A.M. and went 16 mi. rode a little way with Sister Griffiths, caught up to Capt Hyde's camp + had a jolly time.
August 21. Walked 12 mi. slow traveling.
August 22. Left my Camp + rode with Camp Hyde's. Our Co. did not catch up with us. Slept in Bro. Metz tent, enjoyed the visit very much. So many of my dear friends are in this company.
August 23. Capt Snow's Co. caught us and I went home.
August 24. We traveled all morning. a wheel broke. we stayed 4 hours. Capt. Hyde's Camp passed us and Bro. Metz asked me to stay with them as there was to 17 Hollanders baptized in the Little Blue. Bro. J.W. Smith baptized. Bro Ross confirmed them.
August 25. Traveled that day with them, found some wild plums. nice and ripe. We had a treat.
August 26. Was with them today. saw Capt Snow's Camp and walked 3 mi. alone in a very dangerous part; when I arrived in camp they were moving out for fear of the Indians. Julia Webb died and was buried that afternoon. We traveled 9 miles. left Camp at 7 P.M. and stopped at 11 P.M. I had been walking all day was very tired so rode a little way with Bro Young.
August 27. Struck the Platte River at 3 that afternoon. Stayed that night a little scotch boy was run over and killed instantly.
August 28. Traveled 9 mi. and held a meeting in the evening. Bro Girbe was married. Not well.
August 29. Traveled a long distance was very tired.
August 30. Not well. Passed Fort Laramie, saw 2 Indians Camps some distance passed [past] the fort.
August 31. Traveled a long way. killed a big rattle snake.
September 1. Elizabeth Chidock is very sick with a fever. We walked in Capt. Hyde's Camp with Sister Willis.
September 2. We walked all the morning with Capt. Hyde's Co. saw many Indians and Soldiers. saw the head and mane of a buffalo. There are many Bones and bodies of people killed by the Indians but they did not harm us.
September 3. Was with Capt. Hyde's Co. Not well, rode a little way.
September 4. No better, was administered to by Bro. Fotheringham.
September 5. Some better not able to walk
September 6. Still sick not able to walk Sept 6 + 7 + 8 a little better.
September 9. Some better walked a little way[.] Elizabeth Chiddock died at 11 o clock and was buried at 1 o clock along the Platte River. much lamented.
September 10. Better, walked with Elizabeth's Mother, Sis.Willis in Capt. Hydes Co. stayed all night to try to comfort her. She was her only girl and one of the best that ever lived. a life companion of mine and so much better than I, but Father knows.
September 11. Traveled in the morning in their camp. Ours caught up with us, and we joined them. Their Co. passed ours and crossed the Platte River, we did not see them again.
September 12. Crossed the River it was very damp and cold and some got wet in the River was feeling better.
September 13. Better. came to a creek and camped.
September 14. Felt well, the road is between high bluffs.
September 15 + 16. Have passed high bluffs.
September 17. Sunday. Well. Traveled all day. It was much colder and we must make all the haste we can.
September 18. Crossed the water 4 times, passed Cedar Point.
September 19. Saw tops of mountains.
September 20-21. Mountains + plains. scenery is beautiful.
September 22. Saw Black Hills.
September 23. Came to pine hills.
September 24. Traveled through the black hills, they are high and covered with black pine. the wind is very blustery, we did not get to camp until 9 o clock was very tired. Jemima is very sick, and we could not make a fire.
September 25. Jemima is better. crossed the Laramie, saw snow on the Mountains.
September 26. Jemima better. Bro [John Moburn] Kay died and was dressed in his robes and buried at little Laramie. He had filled a mission, and was President of the Co., on the ship + on the plain. His wife and daughter + husband was with us.
September 27. The weather is cold, the road is rocky.
September 28. Bro. [Thomas Owen] King killed an Antelope and gave us some of the meat.
September 29. Very cold, scenery is beautiful.
September 30. It froze ice 2 in. thick, the wind is very cold. Had some snow, camped near a mountain covered with snow. I was running down a hill and fell and cut my face, my right eye is very painful. Passed Fort Carney [Kearny].
October 1. My face is very painful, my eye is swollen.
October 2. I am blind. Jemima is sick, and Walter Pike not well.
October 3. No better. Jemima was administered to.
October 4. Jemima is not much better. Camped early. I had to put up the tent, and get her to bed[.] So many in our wagon sick. Bro George Careless is one of us. A wagon was smashed went off the road into a creek.
October 5. Heard of the valley teams.
October 6. Met 12 yoke of oxen, and 2 wagons, we were put in one of them, traveled over very rough roads and very dangerous. Camped at the Sulphur Springs.
October 7. Very rough roads
October 8. Had a long journey to go, but could not get there, so many of the cattle gave out. Seven fell down in the day and took a long time to get them up. We had to make a dry camp. This is the last train coming for the season and all the wagons are heavily loaded with merchandise. Each one is packed the wagon box full. There are stoves in ours, and then the luggage of 12 of us and the bedding.
October 9. Meet some more cattle and wagons. Jemima limb set fast with Inflammatory Rheumatism. Walter Pike very sick.
October 10. Jemima tried to walk but could not[.] was carried and put in another wagon.
October 11. They are no better. Camped at Bitter creek.
October 12. James Steed gave us some butter and potatoes.
October 13. Traveling faster now.
October 14. The day was stormy.
October 15. Jemima + Walter Pike very sick with fever. made him a bed in the mess Wagon.
October 16. Walter no better.
October 17. Both very sick. came to Green river, it is a pretty place and a nice day, everything looks good.
October 18. James gave me some molasses, went 4 miles. Such suffering for my sick ones to ride over rough roads.
October 19. Came to Black Fork. met Bro. Ross and his brother, he gave us some apples, they are good.
October 20. Had a good time with our old friends. Came to Ham Fork. Jemima + Walter some better today. Bro Ross gave us some onions + potatoes.
October 21. Made a long drive. Walters fever went down. Had a bad spell. looked like he was dead. I worked with him, prayed fervently for Father to spare his life. Called for help + by faith he was soon breathing and came to.
October 22. Had a roasted potato for supper to keep my Father's birthday.
October 23. They are both some better. but can't eat. I tried to get some milk, but could not. then I tried to buy some fish from a man who had caught some. He told me to go catch some. I tried + caught a snake. that was more than I could stand + was crying + met Capt. Snow. I told him they would die if I could not get them something they could eat. He gave me a hand and I made them some soup they could eat it and that saved them, with much faith they got better.
October 24. Have a cold. this is my 24th birthday and I am so thankful that my dear ones are better. so many have died. Walter Pike is a fine boy of 18 coming alone. I have done all I could to care for him as he was assigned to our Co.
October 25. Stopped at Weber one day to make up the books. We had to pay 25c per pound for our luggage over 70 lbs. Our bill was $60.00. We had a good time here. John Wimmer came with oxen and wagons to us and we was in his wagon. he shot a wild goose and I cooked it English style, some of the other boys came and we had feast. They said they had not tasted one as good, and if I could cook like that I might choose any one of them. That was out first experience with joking Utah boys, that evening was not to be forgotten. It was known that we girls of Bro Careless' Choir were always together had a good time. In the wagon that started there was 12 of us. Bro Tuddenham and wife their 2 daughters Polly and Elizabeth one boy William. Bro George Careless. Dorcas Debenham, Sister Gilbert, Emma Loveless, Jemima, Walter R. Pike + myself. 
October 26. Started through the mountains, not very well. 
November 2. Washed and changed our clothes for we all had body lice from the Nebraska Camp ground. I put our clothes in a sack and burned them that was the end of them. Arrived in Salt Lake City via Parleys Canyon. We met on the Camp grounds by Bro Bentley and Bro Staines. We went with Bro Bentley to Bro William Godbe home, stayed all night. Met Sister Dawson and other friends. Jemima and I stayed with Sister Anne Godbe as cook and etc. until January 21st 1865.

Transcript for Webb, Mary Ann Ward, "The History of Mary Ann Ward Webb and Her Diary of the Journey to Utah (1864)," in Robert R. King and Kay Atkinson King, Mary Ann Ward Webb: Her Life and Ancestry [1996], 98-103

Wilkey, Ann Gregory to Dear Children, n.d

Wilkey, Ann Gregory to Dear Children, n.d.

When we began to make preparations to cross the plains, it was April. While waiting for the company to get ready, Sister Alice Ellison gave birth to a daughter the 3rd of May 1853. She named her Alice. We stayed at Keokuk for 6 weeks, then word was given for us to be ready to start on our journey. Then we started on our long and tedious journey across the plains.



Brother Joseph Young was our captain, the company was called the "ten pound company". Our company numbered 53 persons, Bro.[John] and Sis. [Ann Gregory] Wilkey, Bro.[Samuel] and Sis. [Charlotte] Claridge and two children [Elizabeth and Samuel], Bro. [Henry Golding] and Sis. [Elizabeth] Golden, Charles and Elizabeth Wilkey Kemmish and family, Thomas Carter, wife [Mary Ann Goble] and son Hesikiah, Ambrose Hunt and wife [Sophia], Winerd Whitley and wife, Francis [Frederick] Pay and wife [Elizabeth], Bro. [John] Sutton, wife [Mary] and family, Charles Longstone [Longson] and wife, Bro. [John] and Sis. [Susannah] Claxton and daughter [Susannah], Thomas Lane and mother [Mary Lane], Bro. William Eddington and wife [Mary Jane Hales], Bro. [George] Birchell and wife [Sarah], Bro. Ellison, wife and family and a young lady, Bro. Bessent [Isaac Bessant], wife and family, Bro. wife and family and a young lady, Bro. [Benjamin] Ribbick, wife [Matilda] and family, Bro. Singleton, wife and family and Sister Lane, an old lady who while trying to get out of the wagon while it was going, fell, the wheel passed over her body. She died the following day. There was also a young woman died of consumption while crossing the plains. When we started we did not realize what our trip would be or did we think of what we would have to pass through before we reached our valley home.



We passed through a place called Laramy [Laramie] at night; when we camped, your father [Charles] and Uncle Charlie Kemmish went back to Laramy for a few provisions, thinking to get there quicker they crossed the mountains and got lost. They traveled on and on and got into a cactus bed. As it was night they could not see. After a while they came to an Indian camp, the Indians were friendly to them. They got through safely but were foot sore and tired. I shall never forget that night, we occupied the same tent as Bro. Francis Pay and wife. He asked Aunt Elizabeth and I if the men had returned, we answered, "No." He consoled us by saying, "Oh, they are devoured by the wolves or killed with the Indians." That was a night of terror and anxiety for us. I would place my ear to the ground, thinking perhaps that I might hear them or their footsteps, but no footsteps or sounds could I hear. Morning came and they did not come. The captain gave orders to start traveling and so we had to go along leaving our husbands behind. The company traveled on until noon and then stopped for dinner and to rest the teams for a little while.



Then they started to travel again, Aunt Elizabeth kept looking back finally we saw two persons coming a great distance behind us which proved to be our husbands. Oh, how thankful we were to see them coming, then we started on our journey again, we traveled until night then we halted to prepare supper. We had to gather buffalo chips to cook our supper with. We were very tired after walking all day for we could not ride in the wagons. We were always in terror, never knowing one minute from another that we would be killed or trampled to death by buffaloes. The Indians would ride up to our wagons in their war paints, great big men. They would frighten us as we did not know what their intentions were. When we saw them coming, the men would gather the wagons as close together as possible, placing the women and children in the wagons and the men would walk each side of the wagons carrying their weapons. Sometimes they were quieted down by giving them a sack of flour. We were once frightened by prarie dogs. Looking ahead we saw what we thought was a large band of Indians. The women and children climbed into the wagons and the men went in head with their weapons. As we came closer to them, they proved to be a band of prarie dogs on a hill sunning themselves. They looked a great deal better to us than if they had been a band of Indians.



We traveled along day after day, each day our provisions getting less and the journey very rough. We started out with a pound of flour a day then a half pound, then a quarter of a pound a day then it got to nothing at all.



The night my first child, Annie, was born the first of October 1853, there was not a spoonful of anything in camp. We were then 10 days travel from Salt Lake City. Aunt Elizabeth told me if I had seen the mountains we were going down I would not have stayed in the wagon. It took all the men with ropes tied to the wagons to keep them from tipping. The men had to pull back with all their strength to keep them from turning over. That was hard on the men as well as the horses. The next day after Annie was born teams came from Salt Lake City with provisions and helped us along until we reached our journey end.



We were then placed on the public square in Salt Lake City, with no shelter, but the blue sky above us and the ground beneath no home and nothing to eat and in October. My baby was then ten days old. I was very sick and tired and very weak having had not much food and being sick, but dear friends came. Bro. and Sis. Theabald took us to their home. They had been in Utah two years. We remained with them a few weeks. I had a chance to get rested and regain my strength. It took me a long time to get very strong, I was so run down and half starved.

Transcript for Wilkey, Ann Gregory to Dear Children, n.d

William Ellis Jones journal, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

William Ellis Jones journal, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938.

I hope to go to the valley this year[.] I shall have to go with the Church teams as I have none of my own[.] I have a wagon and a cow and flour enough to last me across the plains[.] I have been trying for many years to get a team to go on my own means but I am tired of waiting although it seems very probable that by waiting another year I might be able to go but I do not like to risk it as I have been disapointed so often.



I started to Salt Lake valley July 11th 1861 in Bro. Joseph W. Youngs company[.] I found the journey far more pleasent than I expected[.] I drove an ox team the last two hundred miles



we arived in Salt Lake City Sepr. 23rd.

Transcript for William Ellis Jones journal, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

Yates, William, Journals, 1848-1891, 4p

Yates, William, Journals, 1848-1891, 4p.

The teames Came in from the Valley to help the Poor Saints. About 200 hundred Waggons in all. I assisted in helping of the Emigration and 
on the 11th of July We left The Last Emigration train of the Season. I drove an Ox Team all the way to the Valley and got along much Better than I expect. I had no difficult or accident all the Way although I was Very Sick with the summer Ague of near two Weeks. The Plains is not one of the most conveniant places in the World to be sick[,] Yet still the folks were very kind to me. I got a brother to drive team for me 2 or 3 days and Bro Erastus Snow who was traveling with us told me Beath [bathe] every day in the Platt[e] River which I did and after taking Some of His Pills I Soon got Better.
We were travelling in Joseph W. Young's company consisting of about 80 Waggons which was devided into two Camps. Ansal [Ansil] Harman having charge of our Camp, and Heber Kimbal[l], having charge of the other, Orson Pratt and Erastas Snow travelld in our company about 2 Weeks during Which time we received Some Splended Discourses from Orson Pratt in the Correl after We had Camped for the night. We encountered 2 or 3 Thunder Storms, but having good double <s>Waggo</s> cover on our waggon the rain didnot Penetrate. The only accidend in our Company was that of a Little Boy breaking His Arm just after we Started and he was all right again befor reaching the valley. 2 or 3 Wemon [Women] were confine on the Road and all did Well. 
2 days before reching the Valley my Wife was taken Sick which lasted over a Week. We arrived in G.S.L. City on the 23rd of Sept 1861 having accomplished the journey accross the Plains of 1030 Miles in a little over ten Weeks.

Transcript for Yates, William, Journals, 1848-1891, 4p

Young, Brigham H., Autobiographical sketch, 1847, 3-11

Young, Brigham H., Autobiographical sketch, 1847, 3-11.

I was soon involved in Capt. Grants company & had the honor of being chosen as one of the night gua<r>d of the cattle half of every other night. We laid here about two weeks waiting for the last wagons to join us, as this was the last company of the season, Many found that they had little repairs to make such as reset[t]ing tire, & shifting their loading, I had to put in a new axel tree in my wagon, it took me two days to find a stick to make it of, John Young <Sen> was president of the Company. The first day out we made about five miles, there was about 100 wagons, divided into 50 in each division, Brother Snow, & Bates Nobles Capt of fifties, we made about 12 or 15 teen miles a day, we had a disagreeable time in crossing the Loop [Loup] fork, nothing of note happened until we had made about 400 miles reaching the Buffalow [buffalo] country. One morning two of our company took their guns & struck out into the low hills, about 11 oclock they over took the train a good deal excited, & reported that they had killed a monster, we were ordered to camp for dinner, Bro. Pierce said they could take his horses & wagon, the only horse team in the out fit, the box was soon set upon the ground, there was some faults tongues & levers placed on the running gears, four men was to go back. Capt Grant asked the hunters what time they would be back, the awnser [answer] about 5 oclock, 5 oclock came & no hunters in sight, night came the cattle corralled [corralled], & all went to bed, except the night guard to keep the cattle in the correll, about 11 oclock the wagon came, it was left about eight rods west of our correll every morning as daylight appears there is a sucshion of wind from the west, the first breeze, the cattle [s]cented the blood, & every animal seemed to be on their feet, making a rush for the carkess [carcass], it seemed as though the whole Earth trembled it was a frightful time, as I looked out the cattle at the mouth of the correll were on top of eacher [each other] as high as the tops of the wagons in the rush, they tiped over the wagon on the end of the night wing with one occupant who came out all right, they ran past the carcas about 80 rods, & lost the s[c]ent, they wheeled around in two divisions passing back a past our camp, I canot describe the terror & dread that we were in, if they got with the Buffalo, we were with out teams. There soon <were> some 20 men running after the cattle Calling to them, but the lowing & bells, made two [too] much racket to be heard, when they had run about four miles they stacked up so that the men got around them, in the mean time the carkus [carcass] was moved to one side, & delt out to the people, & a poor deal at that, for there was but little tough meat on the bones; The horns broken off of about thirty oxen & 2 or 3 colts with broken legs, was cleared away, & everything in readiness to receive the cattle, they came about ten oclock, ordered to yoke up, each man got his yoke & began to hunt up his team, the cry was soon heard, I am minus an ox, another, I am out of two, all told there were 26 head short, 4 of the best cattle; Joseph W. Young & another man were called upon to go in search of the lost cattle, their outfit was two plug horses, & five days food, they were absent ten days, returned without the cattle, they tracked 150 milles [miles].		
There was 5 or 10 thousand lbls [lbs] of freight that had to be placed upon the company, every one was to take according to the strength of his team about four oclock we roled out, traveled about five miles &amp; camped in two divishions, about 50 rods apart, after the cattle had eatten a little they were placed in the corrells, with a strong guard, about midnight I was awakoned by the stampede of the other correll, the cattle seemed much frightened, &amp; bewildered, we talked to our cattle which seem to passafy them; the other company soon had their cattle back in the correll, we soon found out the need of the cattle lost. We moved along as best we could to make up for our lost time, about eleven oclock as we were moving a long, we discovered a band of Buffalo coming over the ridge north of us, heading for about the center of our train. As they came nearer they increased in numbers, until there were thousands. They follow their leader, &amp; travel in a three cornered shape. <s>Shape</s>, they see nothing before them, &amp; travel in a short galiop [gallop]; we see that our only chance was to turn them as we could not get out of their way, so voli&lt;n&gt;teers were called for with their guns, they succeeded after many shots to turn them to the left, as they came around &amp; passed by us they seemed to be not two rods from us, many very large, we felt very much relieved, for a few minutes ago, it looked as though we were to be trampled under foot, it is a wonder that our cattle had not stampeded, we roled a long for two or three days as usual, We were brought to a halt, to let a large herd pass in front of us, they crowded into the river until they damed it up until it ran over their backs, The next thing of note was of meeting of Gen. Freemont, &amp; party returning from one of his western trips, he came down from the Yellow Stone [Yellowstone] country, he had but very little to say. We killed very few Buffalow, big mouth Baker said that he killed three with one bullet, The next thing of note was return of Phineas H. Young &amp; another man, who was sent back from the main body of the Pioneers who had reached Green River 160 miles of the great valley where we were expected to camp for the winter, we were very glad to get direct news from the Pioneers.		
The two men were sorely disapointed not finding their families in the Company, The men said they would continue on their journey East, They staid with &lt;us&gt; 4 days to give the people &lt;a chance&gt; to write back to their friends, there was a &lt;little&gt; provishion furnished, &lt;them&gt; their outfit consisted of a small Poneney [pony], frying pan, Coffee Pot, &amp; hatchet, two old rifles &amp; a very little Powder &amp; lead, they had five hundred miles before them, nothing to be seen but red skins &amp; Buffalow; It was sad parting for me, my Father had then traveled some fourteen hundred miles, the most &lt;of&gt; the way on foot, carrying his gun. We traveled along the banks of the Platt[e] until we got opposite Ft. Larima [Laramie] which stands back in a cove about one mile south of the river, it was low &amp; we croosed [crossed] &amp; drove out about four miles &amp; camped, it looked good to see a house again, we soon had the Black hills to climb which was very hard on our catt[l]es feet, the gravel was so sharp, In a hundred &amp; fifty miles we recrossed the platt[e] again, here we found a few of our Pioneers who was detained to build a boat to cross the companies as the[y] came up, when we came up the &lt;stream&gt; was so &lt;low&gt; we could ford it, The next place of note was Sweet Water [Sweetwater], &amp; Independance [Independence] rock, It &lt;is&gt; said that when the big rush of forty three or four to Oregon the &lt;emigrants&gt; all met there &amp; spent the 4th of July &amp; had fifty two weddings, &amp; named the rock, the next place of note is the Devel's [Devil's] Gate, the feed being poor we made a short noo&lt;n&gt;ing after we had traveled about four miles, we discovered that &lt;we&gt; were four women short, the question was asked, are they Kidnapt [kidnapped], a few men went back about a mile &amp; see the lost women. The next place is Rockey [Rocky] Ridge, it has got its right name, on top of the ridge we met President Young &amp; company on their return trip, it was about dinner time, &amp; we camped for the night, we wanted to know all about the great Bason [Basin], we had a good visit but a little bad luck, about daylight the Indians steped up &amp; got seven head of horses, young &amp; old that was tied to &lt;the&gt; Cannon wagon, they cut the bell strap, &amp; skipted [skipped] for parts unknown.		
About Ten oclock we seperated. Our next place of note was the South Pass after traveling eight hundred miles of upgrade, we found our selves on the Back Bone of America, I compaired the water of the Atlantic &amp; pacific [Pacific], I could &lt;see&gt; no diferance, Green River was the next place of note, in due time we arrived &amp; found the river low &amp; we crossed without any trouble, then fifty miles to old Ft Bridger, we arrived there all safe about dinner time, we camped for the night after dinner quite a number of us strooled [strolled] up to the Fort. Messrs Bridger &amp; Vasques were owners, the Fort consisted of 8 rooms covered with poles &amp; dirt, it had been cleaned up, &amp; we were made welcome, &amp; was envited to bring our music &amp; have a dance in the evening, Bridger had Squaws but the[y] kept out of sight, this whole country was claimed by the Snake tribe, they were very numerous, they have a way of dressing their robes &amp; other skins far superior to any of the other tribes, they never split their robes. 		
In their storeroom was a small supply of Indian goods, a little sugar, tea, coffee &amp; Sarvis [Service] berries, a pint was a pound all around; Mr. Vasques was a scholar, &amp; very interesting to talk with, he told me where I could find the Indian Medicine Spring, &amp; fill up my tea pot, I would find &lt;it&gt; good for the wagon also for sore throat, or any kind of a sores. I found it to be so, We had our little dance, &amp; bid them good by, it seemed &lt;good&gt; to get under a she&lt;l&gt;ter again, In the morning we started for the Great Valley one hundred &amp; thirteen miles to make, we moved along until we reached Salaratus Creek three miles east of Bear river. We found a good Spring of water, &amp; we camped for the night, here Sister Grant breathed her last, 83 miles east of the valley.

Transcript for Young, Brigham H., Autobiographical sketch, 1847, 3-11

Young, Joseph Watson, Autobiography, in Papers, 1849-1872, box 1, fd. 3, 70-75 (manuscript) or box 1, fd. 4, 33-35 (typescript

Young, Joseph Watson, Autobiography, in Papers, 1849-1872, box 1, fd. 3, 70-75 (manuscript) or box 1, fd. 4, 33-35 (typescript.

Young, Joseph Watson, Papers, 1849-1872, box 1, fd. 1

Young, Joseph Watson, Papers, 1849-1872, box 1, fd. 1, Vol. 3.

Left the Missouri river July 17
th
 with heavy loads & weak teams for the Val[l]ey. Now was the trying time for the Saints. There was no stop[p]ing short of the Valey.
My wife still remained sick. The cares which devolved upon me were very trying both to body &amp; soul. The details of the Journey I may give hereafter.
At the South pass I left the company &amp; took my wife in my horse wagon &amp; company with Charles Decker &amp; others with the hope of giting her to the Valey, but was disapointed. She died at Green river, on Tuesday Sept. 20th 1853. She had been sick for six months &amp; died a mere anatomie. I brought her remains into the City of Gt. Salt Lake <s>City</s> where they were inter[r]ed on the 28th of Sept. My father, Uncle Brigham, Phineas &amp; Joseph were present, also my brothers[,] Sister &amp; a numerous train of friends
On the 29th I started out to meet my company, accompanied by my brother William &amp; brother-in-law Guernsey Brown. Met the company on the 1st Octr. 10 miles east of Bear river[.] Traveled with them two days, but finding their teams to[o] weak to cross the Mountains, G. Brown &amp; I went again to the City &amp; procured a supply of teams.
On the 10th Octr. I brot my all safely into the city &amp; campd them on Union Square.

Transcript for Young, Joseph Watson, Papers, 1849-1872, box 1, fd. 1, vol. 3, 124-26

Young, Joseph Watson, Papers, 1849-1872, box 1, fd. 1.

Zebulon Jacobs reminiscences and diaries, 1861-1877, folder 1

Zebulon Jacobs reminiscences and diaries, 1861-1877, folder 1.

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