Myron Tanner (1826 - 1903) Profile

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Myron Tanner

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Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849. 1849 September 24. Page 1.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008. Supplement after 31 December 1849: Page 8B.

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1849: Page 6.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal

Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal, July 1849.

Transcript for Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal, 1849 July-October

Isaac Clarke Emigrating Company journal.

Lucy Meserve Smith papers, 1848-1892 Family history and autobiography

Lucy Meserve Smith papers, 1848-1892 Family history and autobiography, June 1889.

I taught school 5 1/2 days in a week and Sabbath school on Sunday. When my six months were up I bade adieu to the Paunee [Pawnee] Mission, went home, made preparations, and started with the rest of the family for the Salt Lake Valley. Our family including teamsters, hunter and cowboy, numbered 19, souls. Sister Bathsheba Smith and myself did the work for 14, with the help of Phineas Daily at the washtub, and Thomas Adshead to help bake the bread.



Sister Sarah [Smith], and her baby John Henry, and Sister Hannah, and her baby Charles Warren, and Teamster was a seperate family, Sister Sarah being quite feeble in health, Sister H. had to do the most of the work for their portion of the family. We left Kanesville June 22 1849. cross[ed] the Missouri July 11th cross[ed] Elk Horn 17th cattle stampede, lots of bother to get them togather again



Apostle Geo. A. Smith Capt. of 50. Elder Myron Tanner Capt. of ten, each ten has a Capt., the first Welch Co. of saints help to compose our 50.



July 31. Br. Bensons cat[t]le stampede, one sticks up his nose and gives a snuff, then the rest all follow suit, they pay no more attention to a Co. of men than if they were mice, they rush over every thing they come in contact with for miles before they halt[.] Apostle Ezra Taft Benson Capt. of 50, Elder Silas Richards Capt. of another 50



We crossed the Loup Fork of the Platt[e] River, the water very high and swift, but we all get over safely by some of the brethren getting completely drenched trying to ride over on the animals back. They both went rolling over one top of the other in the water until we feared they would drown, but they come out safely



August 7th, we saw the first Indians here that we have seen since we left home. They are friendly to us although one man was killed by Indians in br. Gullies [Samuel Gully] company, a little in advance of us. One Ox supposed snake bit. We travel 13 miles, no water. Camp close by br. Benson's Co. get water from their well fetch wood in the old Gundelo wagon, as it is called because of the variety of rattle-traps brought along in it.



Aug. 8th. Brs. [B.F.] Stoddard and [William] Ham[b]lin went a hunting catch a Buffalo and Antelope, start back for a wagon[.] they lose their way, having covered their meat with a blanket they lay down til morning, then came for the old Gundelo, and went for their game, but to their surprise it had all been devoured by wolves so they killed another Antelope and came back feeling a little chop-fallen over the loss of their nice Buffalo meat.



Aug. 9th. drive 9 miles, stop and bate by Platt[e] lake then drive five miles[.] stop for the night[.] dig five feet deep[.] find good water



Aug. 10th, we start out[.] stop by the Platt[e] River to bate, the water is soft and nice, Buffalo on the other side taking a draught. It seemed to us that the Lord had <s>had</s> caused this land to become fertile for This saints sake, as two years ago it was perfectly barren, and now the rains are abundant which makes grass plenty, and Oh, such lovely Cherries, they are larger than Musket Bullets[.] they grow on low bushes. We had a perfect feast, We felt to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for them.



Aug. 11th, we start on three miles[,] camp on Skunk Creek[.] Phineas Dailey [Daily] and I wash[.] Sister Bathsheba bakes 7 large loaves of bread, The brethren dig a well to get good water to drink.



Aug. 12th, we had a meeting to day, had two excelent discourses from Apostle George A. Smith, and Elder [William Ivins] Appleby on the wars, commotions, desolutians [desolations] of Kingdoms, and the necessity of our being humble and faithful to God.



Aug. 13th, bro Benson is very sick with bilious Cholic. Prest Smith washes and anoints him[.] he goes to sleep[,] is better



Aug. 14th, brs. [William] Hamblin and [Phineas] Daily each, Pick a patent pail full of sand cherries, they were a gr[e]at treat to our whole camp here in the desert. We stop all day as br. Benson is not able to travel.



Aug. 15th, we start[,] pass cold springs, which is 295 miles from winter quarters.



Aug. 16th, we drove four miles then stop to wash and bake as we shall come to no more wood for two hundred miles



Aug. 17th, we drove eleven miles today. It commenced raining, thundering, and lightning and hailing and such hailstones I never saw before, they were as large as hens eggs, Br.[William B.] Simmons said he picked up one as big as his fist. The horses broke loose, the cattle tore around as though they thought the Indians were after them.



Aug. 18th, we drove eleven miles, br. Benson is worse[,] sends for Prest. Smith



Aug. 19th, Sunday to day. br. Benson requests the saints to meet and pray for him, we did so confessing our sins, some said they got out of humour once in a while. I thought if we could keep from showing the inside of our hearts we did first rate, as we had so many vexatious things to encounter.



Aug. 20th, we drove 13 miles[,] cross Goose Creek, and Duck Weed Creek, it is hard crossing over the sand bluffs, we saw a herd of Buffolo about two miles off on the bluff, we encamped for the night.



Aug. 21st. cloudy. br. Babbit comes into camp with the Mail from the Valley, we met and hear the letters read from the Presidency[.] they were very cheering to us all. we have a dance in the after-noon, both Companies meet.



Aug. 22, we cross smoll creek, Shoal Stream, and Battle Snake Creek. stop and bate near Cedar Bluff, came 14. miles to day[.] Wm Hamlin killed a Deer to day.



Aug 23rd, cross the six feet wide Creek and a No. of others, one of the Welch brs. upset his wagon, but no harm done, we drove over the high sandy bluff and stop. Peter [Smith] gets kicked by his ox[,] the animal being wild when he was unyoking[.] he turned and kicked, Peter looked very pale, some of the brethren administered to him[.] he soon got over his injury. A woman bitten by a dog[.] he was sentenced to be shot but obtained a reprieve in case he would go with the Express to the valley, being a good dog to keep off Indians.



Aug. 24th, We drive 10 miles to day, a Thunder shower this evening. The Welch leve a jaded ox back on the range



Aug. 25, we drove 14 miles to day[.] cross a wide creek[.] br. [Elisha Averett] Everett broke the hound of his wagon, mended it at noon while bating.



Aug. 26th, a company of Sioux visited us, they appeared genteel and pleasant and were very neatly clad, and manifested no disposition to steal from us. It is very cold to day



Aug. 27th, fair weather not quite as cold as yesterday[.] the sun shines very hot at noon[.] we passed some beautiful flower gardens, resembling fields of red clover, it makes me think of home. We traveled about 14. miles to day. We passed over beds of sand, which I should think were beds of rivers formerly. We camp near Ancient Bluff Ruins.



Aug. 28th, we pass bluff ruins[.] grass poor and scarce, roads dry and sands fly, no wood yet. Buffolo chips burn very well, bake our biscuits nicely. A gun goes off in a wagon accidently a few shot[s] hit Prest Smith and a few another man, but no serious damage done. Great Frost last night[.] water froze in our wagons last night.



Aug. 29th, very cold this morning. We traveled about 14. miles, very uncomfortably cold riding throuhg the day



Aug. 30th, we drove 13 miles[.] warm weather, dry and sandy, no wood yet[.] we stop opisite Chinney [Chimney] Rock at noon



Aug. 31st, we drove about 14. miles to day, stop near Scotch Bluffs, fair weather.



Sep. 1st, we drive 13. miles to day[,] fair weather, a wagon ran over sister Lewis son, hurt him slightly



Sep. 2, we have a meeting as it is Sunday[.] Pres. Smith preached, after meeting the ordinance of baptism was administered. In the afternoon we moved on 4 miles[.] dry and sandy, sand flies very badly.



Sep. 3d, we travel til we come to Rasbaws trading Post where we encamp for the night. A large Co. of Sioux here[.] they treat us very politely. Plenty of wood here.



Sep. 4th, we drove 4. miles in the morning before breakfast, stop[,] wash and bake[,] plenty of wood.



Sept. 5th, drove 15 miles, pass Fort Larimie [Laramie] about 6 o'clock P.M., stop 1. mile this side, plenty of wood



Sept. 6th. we passed over some very sandy hills, come to a very steep hill where we have to lock both wheels, stop under the hill to bate, grass very good, river close by, fair weather[.] the plains completely covered with flowers, their variety are to[o] numerous to name. Larime [Laramie] Peak looks like a black cloud it is so high and far away.



Sept. 7th, we pass along gently over the Black Hills[,] find a few spots of green grass for the animals, drive about 12 miles a day, fair weather, wood plenty, good springs and brooks in the deserts, very sandy, Sage and Prickly Pears in abundance. High thick shoes are needed here, we must make a two pail pot of hash for dinner



Sept. 8th, we travel til noon[,] came up with br. Silas Richards Co.[,] stop to do some Smithwork. A Welch br. strolls away from camp, and could not be found[.] it was a great hinderence to us, we traveld two miles and camp for the night



Sept. 9th, our folks are still searching for the lost man[.] br. Richards camp went past.



Sept. 10th, we find the lost man in a camp 5. miles on a head of our camp.



Sept. 11. We drove 15. miles and encamp for the night.



Sept 15. leave the Black Hills.



Sept 21. teams came from Salt Lake Valley to help us along.



Oct. 1st we traveled til 11. o--clock at night to get to the willows as we found no feed for the animals, and it is snowing very fast. We camp, for how long we knew not.



Oct. 2d, we lose 60. head of cattle, The snow drifted six feet deep, no wood only as the brethren dug roots and Elder Myron Tanner made a fire in our Iron kettle and baked pancakes and boiled Coffee in the front end of his wagon so we could have a basin of coffee and one pancake a piece that whole day, as not one of &lt;us&gt; women could get out to do a thing[.] the storm was still raging so badly. The front of my wagon was full of snow. I tried to get up to get a snow ball[.] I was so very thirsty but I fainted and fell back. Sister Bathsheba [Smith] had two small children, she had a little stove in her wagon. Sister Sarah [Smith] and Hannah [Smith] with the two boys John Henry [Smith] and Charles Warren [Smith] were in another wagon J[ohn].H[enry]. was one year old C[harles].W[arren]. 8 months. The Mothers were oblige[d] to stay in <s>in</s> bead to keep the babies hands covered til the men could set up a little stove, as the weather was so very cold.



Oct. 3d, the brethren dug away the snow and made a fire of the roots, and I stood on the snowy wagon floor and made out biscuit[s] and passed out to the men to bake and they made coffee and we enjoyed our breakfast. We were oblige[d] to stay a number of days before we could move on, the snow was so very deep, had it not been for the help from the valley, we must have left a portion of our wagons in the willows, being 280. miles from Salt Lake City.



Oct. 7th, we drive through the South Pass and encamp &lt;for the night&gt;



Oct. 10th, we have a few inches of the beautiful.



Oct. 12th, we cross Green River



Oct. 16th, we cross Hams Fork



Oct. 18th, we drove all day and Coral our wagons[.] the three fifties all together. We have a large pile of Sage brush in the center, then set it on fire[.] it lit the whole country around. Prest. Smith preached and related a Prophesy which he uttered in the Kirtland Temple, that the wild beasts should pick the old mobocrat Dr. Dodd's bones. Br. Elijah Cheena being in the Temple at the time that George A. Smith uttered that Prophesy, and also being at the grave with G.A. Smith, and seeing Dr. Dodds bones strewn about having been dug up and picked by the wolves, and his name plain to be seen on the board[.] br. Cheena [Cheney] arose and testified to the litteral fulfillment of that Prophesy. The old Dr. died with Cholera on the plains, while on his way to the gold regions.



Oct. 26th. it is impossible for me to keep my journel the weather is so cold. We are in the midst of Mountains covered with snow.



Oct. 27th, we arive in Salt Lake City quite late in the evening tired and hungry, but I must cook supper for myself and teamsters, and then I could go back to my wagon and go to bed, and thank my Heavenly Father for my safe arrival. We found my husband's Father and Mother well and pleased to greet us.

Transcript for Lucy Meserve Smith papers, 1848-1892 Family history and autobiography, 1889 June, 28-37

Lucy Meserve Smith papers, 1848-1892 Family history and autobiography.

Myron Tanner, Biography of Myron Tanner (1907), 13-15

Myron Tanner, Biography of Myron Tanner (1907), 13-15.

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"Brother George A. Smith on my arrival at Kanesville informed me that he was in need of my services, and put me in charge of his 'ten.' Ezra T. Benson had fifteen wagons under his supervision and we had twelve. There was considerable delay in crossing the Missouri, and George A. Smith becoming impatient put the management of the teams and outfit in my charge, in order to facilitate and hasten the work. My work was so satisfactory, that Brother George A. subsequently gave over to me much of the responsibility of conducting the teams across the plains, as I was familiar with horses and cattle, with which I had worked all my life.



"As an illustration of the difficulties we had, I may say here that some of these brethren whose lives had been given largely to the ministry were hardly familiar with team work and many of those who were driving had little experience. Apostle Benson at the outset took the lead. He would permit his men to drive into muddy places where they became fastened and after struggling for some time in the mud—all the time the wheels becoming more difficult to extricate—he would finally put on an extra team in order to pull out the wagon. Finally, I prevailed upon him and George A. Smith to give me a free hand in management of the teams. After that, whenever we reached a place where I thought we were likely to be 'stuck' in the mud, I would double my teams and put the wagons through, one at a time. Such a method was so much more expeditious than waiting until the wagon became fastened in the mud and then trying to pull it out. The latter method was such an easy means of making balky horses, and besides it entailed a useless lot of pulling to no purpose. Soon those in the rear followed my example and we afterwards got along without so much delay and with less difficulty.



While traveling up the Platte, Apostle Benson became very sick. It looked very much as though he must die, and the anxiety among the brethren and sisters became so great that God’s aid was implored in the most solemn manner. The brethren who had been through the temple dressed in their robes. I was sent as guard to the top of a hill overlooking the country, especially of the little valley where the camp was made. To the top of an opposite hill another young man was sent to act also as guard. From the position I occupied, I could look down upon the fifteen men dressed in their temple robes, devoted in prayer and supplication to God for the recovery of one of their leaders. To me the sight was a most impressive one and had a lasting influence upon my life."



"About the time we left the North Platte our teams began to give out, but in the meantime Brother George A., as he was affectionately called all his life, had sent ahead to Salt Lake for help which met us at the South Pass in Wyoming, just over the main chain of the Rocky Mountains at the head of the Sweet Water. At Willow Springs a heavy snow storm overtook us and we were delayed for some time."



"As may easily be imagined," he says in continuing his narrative of the journey, "there are some men in such a company whose selfishness manifests itself to the displeasure of their companions. About this time a little circumstance occurred that gave me some insight into the character of Brother George A. and into his manner of dealing with men. There was one man in the company who, besides moving his family and provisions was also hauling freight for Livingston. His need of help exceeded that of other members of the party and although some thought that he was using their help to his personal profit in freighting, Brother George A. was nevertheless charitably disposed to favor the man. When help was sent for, Brother George A. asked the use of a new saddle which he had, but the man refused, and George A. was compelled to send the last saddle he had to Salt Lake in order to get new teams. The saddle, however, was very much needed in the camp where those whose business it was at different times to gather in the stock were obliged to ride bare-back.



"When help reached us it was equitably distributed, and the man with his new saddle and his freight was really given more than his share. However, the freight pulled heavy and the man really needed more help than he had secured in order to move it into Salt Lake, but the teams of others were also equally heavily taxed in crossing the mountains. His frequent murmurings to Brother George A. finally aroused the latter’s impatience. George A. then, in a calm and brotherly manner, recited the selfishness of the man who was bent on keeping his saddle new until he entered the valleys, whatever hardship it entailed on others.



"This statement aroused the man’s anger. He became excited and furious when he now saw himself confronted with the results of his own selfishness. He ran to his wagon, got the new saddle, ran back to where Brother George A. was, threw it on the ground and exclaimed,'I hope to God I never see it again.' George A. pointed to the saddle and said, "Of what benefit is such action now? You compelled us to get along the best way we could and put us to great inconvenience in order to keep your saddle new until you reached the valleys, and now having more than your just proportion of the aid sent us, you grow angry, throw your saddle down, which shows your folly and exposes you to the ridicule of the entire camp.' If some of the others had had their way, a rebuke to the man for his selfishness would have taken place long before this. Brother George A. had the happy faculty of waiting till the right time to say the right thing. As a boy, I frequently had the opportunity to observe both the wisdom of his words and the value of his example.



"We reached Salt Lake, as I now recollect, in October, 1849.

Transcript for Myron Tanner, Biography of Myron Tanner (1907), 13-15

Norma Baldwin Ricketts, The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1996)

Norma Baldwin Ricketts, The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1996), Page 23.

Norma Baldwin Ricketts, The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1996).

Myron Tanner

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