Miles Park Romney (1843 - 1904) Profile

Miles Park Romney (1842 - 1904)

Individual

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Miles Park Romney

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Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, October 11, 1875, Vol. 1, Page 29, Line 1240.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, April 9, 1862, Vol. 1, Page 3, Line 114.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, April 9, 1862, Vol. 2, Page 3, Line 114.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, October 11, 1875, Vol. 2, Page 32, Line 1240.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Albert Wesley Davis, A pioneer experience 1926

Albert Wesley Davis, A pioneer experience 1926, Page 1-3.

Bishop Preston put me in charge of the teams to come back. There I waited for awhile until a company of Latter Day Saints was organized to come to the valley. Brother Atwood, a returning missionary was in charge of this company. We traveled together and had not much trouble until we got west of Laramie. At that time we were five hundred miles from any settlement. We camped one noon about twenty miles west of Laramie in Cottonwood Hollow. Below the road in this hollow there was a thicket of brush and timber and a spring was down in this thicket.



I took the mules that I was in charge of down to the spring to water them. As they had about finished drinking the cattle from the train began to come to the spring. And just at that time somebody hollered "Indians" and one of my teamsters was there with a bucket of water. I road up to him and told him the Indians were coming. He dropped his bucket and ran for camp. At that moment the Indians commenced whooping their war whoop to stampede the cattle and get them away from me. As they did so I commenced the same and ran rapidly back and forth between the cattle and got them on the dead run up the hollow towards camp. At that six Indians came into the herd and tried to turn them away from camp I had on two navy revolvers and as the Indians came into the herd I drew one of them and commenced shooting at the Indians. By the time I had emptied this revolver I had driven the Indians out of the herd. They got one of my mules into the bush ahead of them but it broke back and came into the herd again and I got every animal into the corral not one being lost.



As I got them in some one holloed to me that the Indians were coming down the hollow from above the road. I rode around and took [look] up the hollow towards two Indians. I got within almost pistol shot of them before they seemed to see me. And as they saw me coming they turned and rode down another hollow out of sight. I saw them no more.



The only one that come to meet me just as I about got the cattle to the corral was Miles Romney, brother of Bishop George Romney. As he met me I handed him my empty pistol and told him to load it as quickly as he could. There was a man back the road that had been walking behind the Indians that I drove out of the herd. They surrounded him and he broke through between their horses and ran for camp. As he did so I saw them shooting with arrows. One arrow with an iron spike went into his cheek bone and the spike clinched. In trying to pull it out the arrow was pulled off of the spike. He ran into camp and Miles Romney and Whimberg [Anders Wilhelm Winberg], both returning missionaries, got a pair of horse shoe pinchers and tried to pull it out. They couldn't do it. After I got things qui[e]ted down they came to me and wanted to know if I would go into the corral and pull the spike out of the man's face. I told them I would go. So I went and laid an ox yoke on the ground and had the man sit down on the yoke. Then I said to Miles Romney and Brother Whimberg, "You both take him by the head and hold him solid for I am going to pull." I got hold of the spike with the pinchers and pulled with all the force I had. The spike came out and the man rose to his feet and took me by the hand and thanked me for pulling out the arrow. They anointed him with oil and administered to him and it wasn't long before he was well.



We hitched our teams up and drove off onto the Platte River and camped for the night. I lay under the wagon on the ground all night with both of my pistols on and did not get much rest. We drove on after that and had no further trouble.



After a few days I spoke about taking the mule teams and going on ahead as I could travel faster than the ox teams. But Brother Atwood said, "If you mountain boys leave us and the Indians come upon us we would not stand much show of getting away from them.["]



There was another missionary returning home, I think his name was [John] Swenson. He was shot through the fleshy part of his arm and some of the immigrants were also wounded, but there were none killed.



There was a woman who was quite stubborn when asked to get out and walk over the sand hills. She would get mad and sometimes start back [on] the road. At this time she had acted in that way and had said a number of times that she wished the Indians would get her. She was back [on] the road and the Indians did get her and carried her off. I learned some years afterwards that she jumped off the horses that they had her on into the Platte River and was drowned.



From that time on we had no further trouble with the Indians.



If those Indians had got our animals away from us, being there with men, women and children we would have perished. For we could not have moved having no way to carry our provisions and bedding. So I consider that if ever the Lord performed a miracle it was at that time because me being alone without the help of the Lord I could not have saved the animals from being taken. We arrived home all-right with all that were with us and no further harm done.

Transcript for Albert Wesley Davis, A pioneer experience 1926, 1-3

Albert Wesley Davis, A pioneer experience 1926.

Deseret News

Immigration Lists

"Immigration Lists", Deseret News, September 20, 1865, Page 402-403.

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



CAPTAIN MINOR G. ATTWOOD'S COMPANY left Wyoming, July 28th, 1865:—



Minor G. Attwood, Captain; Charles B. Taylor, Assistant Captain; Andrew W. Winberg, Chaplain; John Swenson, Commissary; Miles P. Romney, returning Missionary; Albert Davis, John Alford, Joseph Bircumshaw, Mrs. Whitmall and family, Henry V. Evans, F. Benson, Joseph Heaps, Mrs. Frankom and family, Margarett Gregg, Isaac Quinn, S[arah]. A[nn]. Hughes, M[ary]. A[nn]. Jemmett and daughter, John Everett and family, Thos. Wise and family, H[ans]. C. Hogstead and family, Jens Jacobsen and family, A. P. Nielsen and family, Ann Petersen and family, Lars Petersen and family, Peter Neilsen and family, Bengt Olsen, Maria Hakansen and family, John Hoffman and family, Anders Ericksen and family, Morten Olsen and family, A[nders]. J. Agaard and family, Jens Larsen and family, Carl Andersen, Anders Andersen and family, Peter O. Holmgren and family, Eleanor Eklund and family, C. J. Hansen, F. C. Petersen and family, Jens C. Christiansen and family, Peter Christiansen and family, Christopher Jensen and family, H. C. Jensen and family, M. P Sorenson, Johannes Larsen, A. and J. J. Lejon, Anders Andersen and family, Torkee C. Petersen and family, Morten Iversen and family, Jens C. Petersen and family, Bengta Hansen and family, Gusta Pego [Pegan] and family, Gertrude Christiansen and family, H[ans]. W. Hansen, Caroline Brom, John Gentrup, Marie Jensen, Mechaline Jensen, Jens Andersen, C. F. B. Lebbert [Lybbert] and family, Maren Jacobsen, Lars Pedersen, Anne Larsen, Soren O. Waddel and family, Anne Jensen, Lina Mickelsen [Michaelsen], Ole Andersen and wife, Gustave Johansen and family, Johannah Andersen and family, E. F. Olsen, Johannah C. Thompsen, Christian Pearsen, M. C. Jensen, Marlina D. Simmondsen [Simonsen] and family, Niels O. Andersen, Anna M. Anderson and daughter, Line Mortensen, Line [Tine] Sorensen, Christian Nicholsen, Maren Petersen and family, Christian Nielsen and family, Knude Thorgesen and family, Metter Johansen, Anne Johansen, Hans Petersen, Marie Stoge [Skog] and family, J. F. Ablard, Marie Lotbom [Lothem] and family, Bette Johnson, Anne Andersen, Sophia Andersen, Soren Christiansen and family, Anders Monsen, Soren Jensen and family, Lars Hansen, Lars Hansen, Ingomer Iversen, Elce Eriksen, Stene L. Ottersen [Ottesen], Ann Kiza Lanberg and family, Charlotte Bensen, Christine Eliasen, Katrina M. Nielsen, Maria Lowdall, Johannah Norgrave, Gine [Gina] Pedersen, Meter [Mette] Christiansen, Anders Johansen, Annette Gundersen, Amelia Wallgreen, Karen C. Hansen and family, Marlina Halset, Christy Holsen, Ann Karrina Christiansen, Christian Andersen, Ingomer Hensen, Johannah C. Christiansen, Mette M. Morgansen, Hans Sorensen, Nelsena Fredrickson, Kerstina Holm, Ole Nielsen, Lovisa Nielsen, Elce M. Christiansen, Nicholina Thomsen, Andrea Thomson, Sophia G. Olsen, Magdalena C. Garstrom [Gahnstrom], Amelia Matteson, Martha Johansen, Niels Hansen, Peter Erecksen, Peter Christiansen and family, T. C. Grundtvig, Jens C. Jensen, Jorgen Christensen, Johannes Andersen and family, Erick Ericksen and family, M[ichael]. W. Christiansen, Johannes Olsen, Fredrick Frightnight [Freichnecht], Sara Andersen, Kersten Jensen, Sarah Memgersen [Magnusen], Anne Knudesen, Eleanor Carlsen, Maren Larsen and family, Johan Johnsen, Anders Holm, Marianna Petersen and family, Anna Hansen, Guldbrand Olsen, Johanne Poulsen, Johanne Ernstensen, Christian M. Christiansen, Christian Christiansen and family. Axeline Petersen, M. F. Holm, Marian Petersen, Corneilus Hunt and wife, Benj. Roberts, Arthur Mitchell.



CAPTAIN HENSON WALKER'S COMPANY started from Wyoming, August 12th, 1865:—



Henson Walker, Captain; Robert Pixton, Chaplain; Joseph Hammer and family, John Hammer, John Eastham and family, Enoch Cowdel, Thomas Biddle and family, Ann Lucas and family, William Hefferan and family, Wilson Symons [Simons] and family, George Simpson and family, Hannah Simpson and family, Ann Allston and family, Adolphus H. Noon and family, A[nnie]. Noon and family, Henry Smith and family, Sister [Catherine] Slaughter and family, George Glenfield, William Bostick, John South, George Eardley, Jacob Muller, Joseph Baguley [Bagley] and family, Edward Trimble and family, sister McMahon and child, Joseph Meeks, Joseph Braithwaite and family, William Tissley and family, Joseph Bagnal and wife, S. S. Shilletoe, Thomas and Wm. Williams, George Morrin, William Freeman and wife, Clara Lamburn, E. Savage.



This train is accompanied by ten merchant wagons.

Transcript for "Immigration Lists," Deseret News, 20 September 1865, 402-403

Deseret News.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, November 8, 1865, Page 8-22.

Transcript for Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1896-2001, 8 November 1865, 8-22

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

Juvenile Instructor

An Exciting Trip Across the Plains

"An Exciting Trip Across the Plains", Juvenile Instructor, 30, January 1, 1895, Page 34-35.

In the summer of 1865 five mule teams driven by Americans started with loads of merchandise from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City.	
There Americans concluded for mutual safety to travel with a company of Danish Saints who were going to cross at that time with oxen.	
Nothing of note transpired until they reached Fort Laramie. On this particular day M. [Miner] G. Atwood, captain of the company, and M. P. [Miles Park] Romney, a returning missionary, were riding in advance of the company in search of feed for the animals.	
When they reached the fort they were told that if they would turn their teams across the Platte River they would find good grass.	
Accordingly when the train came up a camp was made at the place indicated and the cattle driven across the river to graze, this being after dark.	
While the Danish guards, with M. P. Romney as captain of the guard, were being placed around the animals a party of mounted men came up, whooping like Indians.	
Most of the guards stood their grounds. The captain of the guard then addressed the invaders in the following manner:	
 "We have lived too long in an Indian country to take you for red-skins, and we will shoot the first man who attempts to molest our cattle."	
One of the party replied, "D----you, shoot now!"	However in a few minutes they all seemed to have left. But a short time after one of the guards noticed some one driving a number of mules from the herd.	
He fired, but without effect, as the persons were soon across the other side of the river.	
The people in camp were aroused by this time, and the captain sent more men to strengthen the guard, which was kept up during the night. But when morning dawned it revealed the fact that seventy-four head of cattle and several mules were missing.	
This caused a delay of two or three days, and also a search for the missing animals, which were nearly all recovered from different places where the would-be thieves had driven them.	
The company then broke camp and resumed their journey, but had not gone far when they were stopped by a company of United States cavalry. The officer stated that some of these people were being forced to go to Utah against their will.	
A meeting was called and the people were then addressed by apostates from Fort Laramie, who tried to persuade them not to go to Utah.	
The officer then offered those who wished to stay transportation back to the states or employment at Laramie. A vote was called but not one accepted his generous (?) offer, seeing which the officer sounded a retreat and returned to the fort considerably crest-fallen.		
The train again traveled on until they reached what is known as Cottonwood Hollow. Here they turned out for noon, and were just taking their animals to the springs to water when the war whoop of the Sioux Indians was heard. They poured in on all sides, yelling and screeching like demons, as only maddened red-skins can.	
They tried to stampede the cattle, but were prevented from doing so by the active exertions of Albert W. Davis and others, who were mounted at the time.	
Those of the men who had firearms fired at the Indians, who returned a shower of arrows and a volley of bullets, which resulted in the wounding of nine Danish men, one of whom was John Swenson, boot-maker, of Salt Lake City, who was shot through the arm. Some of the people who were on foot had stayed behind and had not come up with the train at the time of the attack by the Indians.	
As the Indians retreated some of them went back the road and met the persons who were behind. They lassoed one woman and dragged her off, after having shot her husband through the body so that he could not reach camp until it was impossible to recover the woman.	
This was also witnessed by some men who were freighting goods for W. S. Godbe, and who made it a point to catch up and camp with the other company at nights.	
But they were unable to render any assistance, and so the poor woman was never seen nor heard of again, although steps were taken by the Church for her recovery.	
Some of the Danish were badly wounded, but they had great faith, and through the administration of the Elders, all soon recovered except one man, who has been an invalid from the effects of it ever since.	
Probably some of the Indians were killed, as they left without obtaining any spoil.	
After this time strong guards were kept up night and day, and the company reached Salt Lake City in peace and safety.
Junius Romney. Age 16. Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Transcript for Romney, Junius, "An Exciting Trip Across the Plains," Juvenile Instructor, 1 Jan. 1895, 34-35

Juvenile Instructor.

Miles Romney journal, circa

Miles Romney journal, circa, March 1850.

On the 29th [of June] we yoked up our cattle and Crossed the Missouri River and travelled to the 12 mile Camping ground and Organised the Company of 187 wagons. Bishop Ed' Hunter Appointed Captin



On the 4 day of July/ On the 5th We Broke up our Camp took up our line of March as exiles from the once Boasted land of freedom/ The land of the free and the home of the brave.



With harts beating with gratitude to that being who feeds the young ravens when they cry and suffers not the sparrows to fall to the ground with out his notice Sending forth the inward emotions of gratefull harts for his guidance and protection.



The first River we came to was Called Salt Creek, But betwixt the Missouria [Missouri] and this plase we travell over a beautifull country of thousands of Miles in Extent of Roling praire clad with Beautiful green/ And for fertility and richness of soil It cannot be surpassed. In a few Days we came down on the South side of the Platte River[.] The next place of any note is Fort Kearney [Kearny], where there is United States trooper stationed for the protection of Emigrants We tarried there one Day and then Started, there was two men who were attacked with the cholera, one recovered the other Died, and was buried on the Platte. With the exception of these two cases the Company enjoyed good health Untill we arrived at Fort Larima [Laramie.] A Sister Campbell was sick of Consumption The Company stopt at the fort, 3 days to trade for Provissions the second morning before daylight, We had the Cattle in a Corall and all in an instant, they Broke or had A stampede, That is when they were all peaceple and quiet, in the twinkling of an eye, they Jumpt and ran for the mountains, and imeadatley all the Men, and Boys, went after them, But when we got them all, or at least all we could find, back to the camp, we found to our surprise there were 30 yoke of our best oxen Missing. In half an hour news came to camp from some of our outguards that they had seen A man on horse back running our cattle round the point of the mountain at full gallop[.] Seeing their was no time to be lost having no horses severall men struck over the mountains in different directions and by taking Cut offs Come in Sight at a Distance. A man on a Mule was Driving them before him at full speed But seeing we were coming up with him he turned in Another Direction and we were soon in possession of our cattle and on our way back to the camp. It was a Frenchman at the fort the Herdsman as we afterwards found out that was running them of[f] and if we had been 15 minutes later and Coming in sight of him we should have lost them he would have got behind the mountains and we should have seen them no more but having got them We started on our journey with glad harts having found them[.] In 3 days from Fort Larrima[,] We came into the buffaloa Country The most Beautifull Sight that can be imageined to see thousands upon thousands of those Noble Animalls ranging over their native hills and plains which his left to them and the Native Savage in quiet possession almost undisturbed with the Exception of a few Emigrants Ocassionally passing through on their way to Oregon or California[.] Then after Leaving the Bufalo Country We come into the Black hills A name quite appropriate Black, Bleak, Sterile Barren Country without vegetation with the Exception of Sage Bushes which is in abundance. After passing through all variouss Changing Scenes which his Naturall and Common to an emigrating Company



On the 1st of October at the highest point of Altitude on the Big Mountain which was 17¼ miles from Salt Lake And there we had a Veiw of the North Part of the valley to our joy and satisfaction Our feelings gave vent in thanks giving to God And on the 3 ofOct/50 Arrived in the City of Great Salt Lake with my family[.] All well[.] Praise ye the Lord

Transcript for Miles Romney journal, circa 1850 March-1855 May, 1-2

Miles Romney journal, circa.

Nielson, Peter Anton, Autobiographical sketch, [1-2], in Utah Pioneer Biographies, compiled by Yalecrest Camp, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers

Nielson, Peter Anton, Autobiographical sketch, [1-2], in Utah Pioneer Biographies, compiled by Yalecrest Camp, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

June 14th arrived in New York, June 15th got into Castlegarten [Castle Garden].



	June 19th arrived at Quincy, Ill, crossed the Mississippi River to Missouri side, stayed two days without tents or shelter and in heavy rain storm.



	Arrived at St. Joseph on 23rd, left by steam boat up Missouri River, arrived at Wyoming, Nebraska on 26th. Brought with us 3 corpses that died on the steamer, four others died between New York and St. Joseph. We stayed at Wyoming 5 weeks, got cleaned up and ready to start for our journey crossing the Plains.



	Prices for wagons were $200.00 in greenbacks and about $100.00 in gold. Each pair of oxen cost $150.00 and 80% had never had a yoke on them, which was the cause of our slow travel.



	Here, on June 29th we buried Lars Peterson. He was 30 years old, he had sold his property in Denmark for $1800, about $1000 in our money.



	On July 31st we started to cross the plains with 45 wagons and teams in charge of Captain Minor G. Atwood and C[harles] B[arber] Taylor, his assistant. John Stevenson [Swenson] in charge of commissary, John Gindrup, Secretary.



	On September 19th the company arrived at Ft. Laramie. Here we called a meeting, where it was given out in three languages from the U.S. Officers of the Fort that the Indians were on the Warpath, and not for us to go farther, and offered us free passage to any part of the U.S. we wished to go. After we were all made familiar with the offer it was called to a vote by A[nders] W[ilhelm] Winberg. We all voted to refuse the offer and took a chance to go to Zion.



	September 22nd about three days going from Laramie at a place named Cotton Wood Hollow, we had camped for noon driving the loose stock and our teams up a ravine to a watering place about ¾ mile or more from camp. The Indians came up on us from their hiding places. Seven of our company was badly wounded. John Stevenson [Swenson] came to camp with two arrows in his left arm. Peter Doctor with an arrow in his cheek and one clear through his neck. A Swedish Brother had one arrow in the small of his back. He never was able to walk on the rest of the journey. All we could do to relieve the wounded was let them sit down on the wagon hub, with their backs resting against the spokes.



	Our instruments of relief consisting of common blacksmith pinchers or nippers, with these we extracted all the arrows except the one from Peter Doctor’s neck. We hunted the camp over and found a pair with extra long handles. We laid the Doctor on the ground with his head resting on an ox yoke, two men sat on him while Albert Davis gave a strong pull and managed to get the arrow from his neck.



	Brother Peter [Oluf] Holmgreen [Holmgren] (later of Bear River City) was shot by a bullet, he fell, then arose, staggered three or four steps and fell again. We took him for dead but he recovered. Anderson was shot in the face. It took a little of his cheek and nose. Holmgreen was still lying as if dead until we had cared for the other wounded. At this time Mrs. [Johanna Janssen] Holmgreen was lying in their wagon with her new born son, John [Peter], in her arms. Brother Frederick [Frantz] Grunottwick [Grundtvig] came to camp with an arrow fastened in his hip. His wife was taken by the Indians and we never heard of her again.



	At Sweet Water a relief train consisting of 44 mule teams met us with provisions, and relieved us of our sick and invalids, so we went on shoveling snow so we could put up our tents.



	We reached Green River at noon and decided to cross that day, it took until after dark. One wagon with a man, wife and children was left on a sand bank in the middle of the river all night. The king bolt of the wagon had broken. Captain asked me to go and bring them in at daylight. They were all well only had a restless night. We had to swim our teams and many a teamster had to hold on to oxen or wagons to keep from being drowned.



	On Nov. 8 we landed in S.L.C. Utah on 8th ward square where the City and County Building now stands. Brigham Young, W. W. Riter met us and shook hands. Beside the company of emigrants of 45 wagons we were joined by 10 more wagons of emigrants, which gave more protection, as the Indians were on the warpath. These wagons were loaded with freight in charge of Albert Davis with Lewis Romney [Miles Park Romney] his assistant. These two captains coming from Utah at age of 25 years in my opinion was more than half the fighting force against the Indians for protection of emigrants

Transcript for Nielson, Peter Anton, Autobiographical sketch, [1-2], in Utah Pioneer Biographies, compiled by Yalecrest Camp, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers

The Semi-weekly telegraph

The Immigration

"The Immigration", The Semi-weekly telegraph, June 14, 1865, Page 2.

THE IMMIGRATION.—Elder Thomas Taylor manager of the immigration this year, arrived in this city on Sunday morning. He came in ahead of the immigration, for the purpose of procuring teams to assist the companies now on the Plains. The first train expected in is a mule train, and will be in about four or five weeks, the remaining trains are expected in some what later.



We learn from other sources that, owing to the wet and changeable weather which prevailed at the time of the starting of the trains considerable sickness prevailed in the companies. Elders W. H. Waylett and Miles Romney were both sick. At the date of our information, Elder Romney was recovered and, owing to the indefatigable labors of Elder Joseph L. Barfoot and others, in administering to the sick, many had entirely recovered, and the greater portion were in a promising condition.

Transcript for "The Immigration," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, 14 June 1865, 2

"The Immigration", The Semi-weekly telegraph, September 14, 1865.

THE IMMIGRATION.—Elder Thomas Taylor manager of the immigration this year, arrived in this city on Sunday morning. He came in ahead of the immigration, for the purpose of procuring teams to assist the companies now on the Plains. The first train expected in is a mule train, and will be in in about four or five weeks, the remaining trains are expected in somewhat later.
We learn from other sources that, owing to the wet and changeable weather which prevailed at the time of the starting of the train considerable sickness prevailed in the companies. Elders W[illiam]. H[enry]. Waylett and Miles Romney were both sick. At the date of our information, Elder Romney was recovered and, owing to the indefatigable labors of Elder Joseph L. Barfoot and others in administering to the sick, many had entirely recovered, and the greater portion were in a promising condition.

Transcript for "The Immigration," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, 14 Sep. 1865, 2

The Semi-weekly telegraph.

Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine

Davis, Albert Wesley, [Autobiography]

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

When we were ready to return, William B. Preston put me in charge of the teams. I waited a while for a company of Saints who were coming to the valley. Brother Miner G. Atwood, returning from a mission, was in charge of this company. We traveled together without much trouble until we got west of Laramie, about five hundred miles from any settlement. We camped one day at noon about twenty miles west of Laramie in a place called Cottonwood Hollow. Below the road in this hollow there was a thicket of brush and a spring of water. I took the mules that I was in charge of down to this spring to water them. As they had about finished drinking the cattle from the train began coming to the spring. Just at that time someone discovered Indians. I rode up to one of the teamsters and told him the Indians were coming. He dropped his bucket of water and ran for the camp. At that moment the Indians came into sight whooping and trying to stampede the cattle and get them away. As they did this I commenced the same and whooping and riding rapidly back and forth behind the cattle was able to get them on the dead run for the camp. Six Indians came into the herd and tried to turn the cattle away from the camp. I had on two navy revolvers and with them I commenced shooting at the Indians who were forced to leave the herd. They got one of my mules into the brush ahead of them but it broke away and came back into the herd again. Not one of our animals was lost. As I got the cattle into the camp someone called that the Indians were coming down the hollow from above the road. I immediately rode around and took up the hollow towards the Indians. When I got almost within pistol shot of them they saw me coming and wheeled around and rode down another hollow out of sight and we saw them no more.	
Just as I got the cattle to the corral Miles [Park] Romney, brother of George Romney, came to meet me. As we met, I handed him my empty pistol and told him to load it as quickly as he could. Back in the road was a man who had been walking behind the company. The Indians which I drove out of the herd surrounded him and he broke through their horses and ran for camp, as he did so I saw that the Indians were shooting at him with arrows. One arrow with an iron spike went into his cheek bone and the spike clinched. In trying to pull it out the arrow was pulled off and the spike left in his cheek. He ran into camp and Miles Romney and a brother by the name of [Anders Wilhelm] Winberg, returning missionaries, got a pair of horse shoe pinchers and tried to pull the spike out. They could not. After things were quieted down these brethren came to me and wanted to know if I could get the spike out of the man's face. I said I would try to do so. We laid an ox yoke on the ground and had the man sit on it, then I said to Miles and Brother Winberg: "You take him by the head and hold him tight and I will do the pulling." I got hold of the spike with the pinchers and pulled with all the force I had and the spike came out. The man stood on his feet and taking me by the hand said "thank you" in broken English, for he was a convert from Denmark. We anointed him with oil and administered to him and he was soon well again. That night as we camped on the Platte River basin I lay under the wagon and got very little rest, fearing another attack by the Indians. After that we drove on and had no further trouble.	
After we had traveled for a few days I said I would take the mule teams and go on ahead as I could travel faster than the company with ox teams, but Brother Miner G. Atwood said: "If you mountain boys leave us and the Indians come upon us we would not stand much show of getting away from them." So we concluded not to leave them. There was another missionary returning home with this company by the name of Swenson. He was shot through the arm and some of the immigrants were also wounded by the Indians, but no one was killed.	
There was also in the company a woman who was quite stubborn. When she was asked to get out of the wagon and walk over the sand hills she became angry and sometimes started back on the road saying she wished the Indians would get her. At one time she acted this way and was back on the road some distance and the Indians did get her and carried her off. It was told me some years later that she jumped off the horse she was riding into the Platte River and was drowned.	
If the Indians had succeeded in getting our cattle from us when they tried, we would have perished for we could not have moved our wagons. So if ever the Lord performed a miracle he surely did at that time. We arrived home without further trouble.

Transcript for Davis, Albert Wesley, [Autobiography], Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Oct. 1926, 246 and ibid., Jan. 1927, 6-7

Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine.

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maritalStatusWhenCalled

priesthoodOfficeWhenCalled

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

residenceWhenCalled

setApartBy

missionOrganizationReferenceIdValue

locationServed

associatedPeople

departed-from-field

St George, Washington, Utah Territory, United States

Colonia Dublán, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico

deathPlace

Default List Title

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

Name

Presided Over

Sources

Title

Miles Park Romney

Birth Date

Death Date

Gender

Sources