Nancy Elizabeth Bethers (1837 - 1931) Profile

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Nancy Elizabeth Bethers

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Brigham Young office emigrating companies reports, 1850-1862

4th Company of 50 reports, 1852.

"4th Company of 50 reports, 1852.", Brigham Young office emigrating companies reports, 1850-1862.

Brigham Young office emigrating companies reports, 1850-1862.

Deseret News

4th Company

"4th Company", Deseret News, September 18, 1852, Page 2.

4th Company, Joseph Outhouse, Capt., and 1 person; Benj. Waldron and 3 persons; Hamilton G. Park and 8 persons; Wm. Lunsford and 14 persons; Josiah C. Wright and 6 persons; John Galley and 1 person; Daniel Page and 5 persons; Joseph Bartholomew and 6 persons; Thos. Brown and 8 persons; Thos. Cottam and 3 persons; Daniel Sumption and 3 persons; Wm. Loyd and 7 persons; John Williams and 3 persons; Thos. Day and 5 persons; Benj. Gibson and 3 persons; Alex. Kidd and 4 persons; Wm. Bickmore and 8 persons; Gilbert Bickmore and 2 persons; Saml Bickmore and 7 persons; Wm. Hudson and 7 persons; T. Clarkson and 3 persons; [J]ohn Meckley &amp; 4 persons; Zadock Bethers and 9 persons; Jas. Randall and 2 persons; Martin Potter and 14 persons; Joseph F. Tracy and 4 persons; Silas H. Tracy and 4 persons; Orval Colvin and 5 persons; Wm. K. Barton and 3 persons; Francis Thornton and 4 persons; John Finney and 3 persons; James Wells and 4 persons; Arthur Parker and 7 persons; Wm. Long and 5 persons; Samuel Harwood and 6 persons; John Ormond and 5 persons; John Spiers and 4 persons; John Cottam.

Transcript for "4th Company," Deseret News, 18 September 1852, 2

Deseret News.

Mary Jane Bethers York, Autobiographical sketch, reel 14, box 20, fd. 4, item 4, 1-2

Mary Jane Bethers York, Autobiographical sketch, reel 14, box 20, fd. 4, item 4, 1-2.

My parents knew the Prophet Joseph Smith well and their religion meant so much to them. I also was a true Letter [Latter] Day Saint.



When the “Mormons” were coming out West my parents decided to come also. When we came from Illinois to Iowa we visited the Nauvoo Temple. We lived in Council Bluff Iowa, six years.



I was now 18 years old when my parents left Iowa for Utah, June 4, 1852, Our company consisting of 45 wagons. My father was captain of the [Fourth Ten of the] company. Our personal equiment consisted of three yoke of cows, three oxen and three new wagons. One was loaded with household goods and one for transportation of our family.



There were no stampedes on our journey. We saw buffalos feeding but we were not bothered by them.



The first Indians we encountered were the Souix [Sioux] Indians, when we were going to cross the bridge over Luke [Loup] Fork River. They wanted $500.00 for the company to cross over; My father had two fine dogs with him whom he prized very highly. The Indians made an agreement with him, if he would give them one of the dogs they would let them cross over the bridge. They took the best dog and the company crossed over.



It was the custom of all the companies to camp early in the afternoon in order to get the cattle out to feed and the evening meal over and the camp arranged before nightfall. Members of the company took their turns guarding the camp at night.



We camped over one day each week to rest the cattle, wash the clothing, bake the bread and make preparations for the following weeks journey. We occasionally had programs and visited and the entire company seemed to be happy. There was one death during the journey. The preceeding campany having numerous deaths from Cholera.



As our company was proceeding along, we noticed some wolves digging up the body of a woman which had been buried by the preceding company.



During our journey to Zion we had driven a long ways, the cows gave but one quart of milk, but after feeding and resting over night they gave considerable milk, supplying the people with plenty of milk and cream to use and make their butter. The cream would be placed in a churn in the morning before starting on the days journey and by the time camp was made for the night the butter would be made.



The first place for our company to camp in the State of Utah was at Devils Gate, near Echo, Utah, where my father killed two antelopes. This is where the death occured. The three year old daughter and only child of Mr. &amp; Mrs. Calvin [Colvin] died. They took their table and made a boc [box] in which to bury the child’s body. The grave was covered with cactus to prevent the wolves from molesting the body. Before the child died her father walked back and forth, carrying her in his arms and singing, “Come, Come Ye Saints.”



The first snow fell before our company left Devils Gate. The cattle were turned loose and they shook the snow from the trees so as they could get the leaves to eat.



My mother, myself and sister, Nancy, also my five brothers had the measles while crossing the Plains. This made us quite miserable for awhile but soon got better.



We arrived in Provo, Sept. 22, 1852, and we were met by many people who had arrived in previous companies. They brought us food to eat and told us where to camp which was very much appreciated.

Transcript for Mary Jane Bethers York, Autobiographical sketch, reel 14, box 20, fd. 4, item 4, 1-2

"Nancy Elizabeth Bethers Smith," The Work Progress Administration (Utah Section) Biographical sketches, ca. 1930-1940

"Nancy Elizabeth Bethers Smith," The Work Progress Administration (Utah Section) Biographical sketches, ca. 1930-1940.

They left Council Bluffs Iowa to come to Utah on June 4th 1852. There were 45 wagons in the company they came with, Zadock was Captain of the train. His belongings were: 3 yoke of cows, 3 oxen &amp; 3 new wagons. One was loaded with household goods, another with provisions and the family rode in the other.



There were no stampedes on their journey-they saw herds of Buffalow feeding along their way but were not bothered by them.



The first Indians they encountered were the Sioux Indians when they came to the bridge over Luke [Loup] Fork. They demanded $500.00 before they would allow the pioneers to cross the bridge. Of course, the pioneers didn't have the price so the Indians finally told Mr. Bethers they would allow them to go if he would give them his best dog. This he did and they continued their journey.



It was costumary to camp in the early afternoon so as they could get their cattle out to feed and get their evening meal over and camp arranged before night fall. Members of the company took their turn in gaurding the camp at night.



They camped one day each week to rest the cattle, wash clothing, bake bread . . . . They occasionally had programs and visited one another often. They had only one death in their company. Many people of the preceeding company had died with Cholera and as Mr. Bethers company came along, they saw the wolves digging up the body of one of these people.



During their journey to Salt Lake, their cows furnished them with plenty of milk &amp; cream. They would place the cream in a drum, fast[en]ed to the wagon in the morning. At night when the[y] stopped to camp their butter would be made.



Their first camp in the state of Utah was at Devils gate near Echo, Utah. Here Mr. Bethers killed two antelope. Here also is where the first death occurred. It was the only child and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Gates. Before she passed away her father walked to and fro with her, singing "Come, Come, Ye Saints". They made a box from a table and buried here [her] at that place.



The first snow of the season fell while they were camped at Devils gate.



Mrs. Bethers and her children had the measles along the journey.



Many of the people continued from Salt Lake to Provo where they settled. Mr. Bethers and family were among them.



They arrived at Provo September 22nd 1852.

Transcript for "Nancy Elizabeth Bethers Smith," The Work Progress Administration (Utah Section) Biographical sketches, ca. 1930-1940

Nancy Elizabeth Bethers

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