Levi Ward Reed (1831 - 1893) Profile

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Levi Ward Reed

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

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

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



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

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

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

John Heward autobiography, circa 1871

John Heward autobiography, circa 1871.

May 3, 1848 we started west in company with Eliazer [Eleazer] Miller, for the mountains. We stayed at Winter Quarters now called Florence, (Nebraska) several days. June 2 we got to the Horn. The companies were organized into Hundreds and fifties, to keep the Indians from stealing the horses and cattle.



We came from Winter Quarters with the Ezerale [Zera] Pulsipher company. We traveled a long way on the Platte River. The grazing for our cattle was generally good, and for wood we used buffalo chips. We would find a little wood and sage brush now and then.



June 30, 1848 Levi Reed and I went to hunt and killed a buffalo, the first that was killed by our company. July 12 we came to the ancient bluff ruins. July 22 we got to Laramie (Wyoming); the road soon became gravelly and the cattles feet got sore. Aug. 26 we were at the Pacific Springs. James P. Terry, my wifes brother, came this far to help us along—with one yoke of his fathers oxen and we agreed we should return to fetch father Terry the next season—and he took one yoke of my oxen back. We could not move for want of teams, but there were t[e]ams sent from the valley to help those that needed or wanted help. So President Brigham Young told Bro. Vance [Hanks] to help us to the valley. We traveled along with Brigham Youngs group – our company had gone and left us. We now traveled fast but the weather was cold and it snowed several times.



Sept 22, 1848 we got to the valley of the mountains.

Transcript for John Heward autobiography, circa 1871

Mosiah L. Hancock autobiography, undated

Mosiah L. Hancock autobiography, undated.

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Transcript for Mosiah L. Hancock autobiography, undated

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, June 1848.

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

"The Dead," Deseret Weekly

"The Dead," Deseret Weekly, December 9, 1893.

"The Dead," Deseret Weekly.

[List of those filing for lots, 1848], in Salt Lake County Recorder's Office, Land records [ca. 1847-1860]

[List of those filing for lots, 1848], in Salt Lake County Recorder's Office, Land records [ca. 1847-1860], Page 11.

[List of those filing for lots, 1848], in Salt Lake County Recorder's Office, Land records [ca. 1847-1860].

Levi Ward Reed

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