Nathaniel Henry Felt (1816 - 1887) Profile

Nathaniel Henry Felt (1816 - 1887)

Missionaries at the Paris Exposition

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Nathaniel Henry Felt

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Andrew Jenson, "Felt, Nathaniel Henry," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

Andrew Jenson, "Felt, Nathaniel Henry," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 2.

Andrew Jenson, "Felt, Nathaniel Henry," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.

Eastern States Mission history, 1830-1977, Church History Library

Eastern States Mission history, 1830-1977, Church History Library.

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, May 1, 1865, Vol. 1, Page 7, Line 286.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, October 8, 1864, Vol. 1, Page 17, Line 734.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, May 1, 1865, Vol. 2, Page 8, Line 286.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, October 8, 1864, Vol. 2, Page 19, Line 734.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Deseret News

Arrivals

"Arrivals", Deseret News, October 8, 1856.

ARRIVALS.—Oct. 1, several of the St. Louis company came in, and probably all of them are now here. 
—Oct. 2, Elder Bunker arrived with the 3d handcart company. 
—Oct. 4, Elders Daniel Spencer, John Van Cott, Franklin D. Richards, George. D. Grant, William H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, James Ferguson, William C. Dunbar, J. D. T. [John Daniel Thompson] McAllister, Cyrus H. Wheeloch [Wheelock], Nathaniel H. Felt, James McGaw and Chauncey G. Webb, returned from their various missions. They left the frontiers on the 4th of September, and report a continuation of lively times in Kansas, and some killing and depredations by the Cheyennes, who had killed Thomas Margetts and child, James Cowdy and wife, and carried off Margetts' wife; they had also killed several persons who were with A. [Almon] W. Babbitt's freight train; and Babbitt and the two men with him were missing. Margetts and Cowdy were on their way back to England by their own counsel.



Some of the companies of Saints will be late in arriving; but we omit particulars, for Elder Ferguson kept a journal of the incidents of travel across the plains, which we trust will be written up in time for the next 'News.'



Br. Feramorz Little returned from prosecuting his trip to the States, his company being deemed too small to travel below Laramie.

Transcript for "Arrivals," Deseret News, 8 October 1856, 245

Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City

"Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City", Deseret News, October 22, 1856.

JOURNEY FROM FLORENCE TO G. S. L. CITY. 
PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG:



DEAR BROTHER:—We left Florence (Winter Quarters) K. T., on the evening of the 3rd Sept., accompanied by Elders C. H. Wheelock, J. Van Cott, G. D. Grant, W. H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, C. G. Webb, W. C. Dunbar, James McGaw, Dan Jones, J. D. T. McAllister, N. H. Felt and James Ferguson; G. D. Grant being selected as captain of our company.



The rear of our season's emigration had started on the road, with the exception of Elder Wm. [William] Walker with 10 wagons, laden with a portion of P. E. Fund baggage.



Previous to leaving Florence we sent Elder Jos. [Joseph] A. Young back to ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts of Elder Walker. He rode back 50 miles, and, learning that Walker's train was yet some 25 or 30 miles in the rear, returned to join us for the plains.



Elder E. Snow accompanied us to our camp, 3 miles west of Elk Horn, and on the morning of the 5th, having completed his business with us, returned to the States.



We overtook our rear company of wagons, in charge of Captain I. A. [James A.] Hunt, during the forenoon of the 5th, and nooned with them about 10 miles east of the Loup Fork. He has in his company 240 persons, 50 wagons, 297 oxen and cows, 7 horses and mules, and some 4 church wagons. The majority of this company have light loads and good teams, and are generally well provisioned. They would probably ferry the Loup Fork on the 7th.



On the evening of the 7th we overtook Elder Edward Martin, about 40 miles from the Loup Fork, with the rear of our P. E. F. Emigration for this season. He had with him some 576 persons, 146 hand-carts, 7 wagons, 6 mules and horses, and 50 cows and beef cattle; also one wagon mostly loaded with church goods. His company was in most excellent spirits, and though he had the greater proportion of the feeble emigrants, the health of his camp was very good; and he was able to average about 100 miles a week, without fatiguing his company.



Here, from a company of returning Californians met the previous day, we learned of the increased hostility of the Cheyennes, and that they had already made a successful attack upon A. [Almon] W. Babbitt's ox train. Of the four teamsters in that train two were killed and one wounded; and a woman named Wilson (as was presumed from the tracks) was severely wounded and taken prisoner, and her child, about two months old, was murdered. The wagons were plundered, but, as we subsequently learned, most of the property was retaken by Captain Wharton of Fort Kearney.



Refreshed by our short interview with Captain [Edward] Martin's company, we drove about 10 miles further and found br. [William B.] Hodgetts' camp. This company is composed of 150 persons, 33 wagons, 84 yoke of oxen, 19 cows and some 250 head of heifers and other loose cattle. This includes br. Thomas Tennant and family, with 4 wagons and 1 carriage. Br. Hodgetts' company, though generally pretty heavily laden, were in good traveling condition and making excellent progress.



On the 9th inst. we met with two brethren from br. J. [James] G. Willie's company of hand-carts, in search of 30 head of cattle that had strayed from their camp about 50 miles in advance.



Accompanied by br. James Ferguson, we this day visited Capt. Wharton at Fort Kearney, and received a confirmation of the news of the attack of the Cheyennes upon Mr. Babbitt's train. The troops had made an attack upon a Cheyenne village and killed 10 warriors. This increased the rage of the Cheyennes, and from that time we were informed that they had divided into war parties for the purpose of attacking small parties of emigrants.



Here we met a returning Californian who had escaped from one of their assaults, with the loss of his wife killed, and his boy, some 3 or 4 years old, taken prisoner.



Capt. Wharton declared himself incompetent to afford any protection to emigrants, and had some doubts of his ability to maintain the post, for want of troops. Mr. Babbitt had left Fort Kearney for Utah a week previous, accompanied by Thomas Sutherland and a driver.



As we were leaving the fort for our camp on the north side of the Platte, a discharged soldier came to Capt. Wharton with the news of another massacre by the Cheyennes. This soldier had accompanied Thomas Margetts and James Cowdy, and their families, from Laramie and on returning from a buffalo hunt, when about 125 miles from Fort Kearney, found the wagon plundered and the murdered remains of his traveling companions.



The soldier's account of the affair, as given to brs. [James G.] Willie and [Millen] Atwood, will give you the particulars and is as follows:—



STATEMENT 
Made to James G. Willie and Millen Atwood, of the Fourth Hand-cart Company; by a man who gave his name as Henry Bauichter, and who came into their camp on the morning of Monday, September 8, 1856:



"I am a discharged soldier from Fort Laramie, which I left on the 29th of August, 1856. After traveling about 30 miles I overtook a wagon with two mules and two horses, one an Indian horse with a white face, the mules alone drawing the wagon, which was accompanied by two men, one of whom gave his name as Thomas Margetts and the other as James Cowdy. The former of these men had a wife, and the latter a wife and child. They came, as they stated, from Great Salt Lake City, and were on their way to the States.



About 70 miles above this point, or 125 miles above Fort Kearney, I and Thomas Margetts went out on horseback in search of buffalo, on the 6th of Sept., and between 1 and 2 p.m. I soon killed a buffalo, upon which Margetts returned to the wagon to fetch some things for carrying away part of the animal, while I staid behind to dress it.



On Margetts' return from the wagon he filled one utensil, principally the tallow, and started again for the wagon, and I remained to fill another utensil which Margetts had brought. This occupied me about half an hour, when I also started in the direction of the wagon, noticing, before reaching it, that the cover had been stripped off, and that neither mules nor horses were to be seen.



On my arrival I discovered on the ground the bodies of Margetts, Cowdy, and Cowdy's wife and child all dead, except that the child was crying and bloody. I could not see any wounds on any of the bodies, but an arrow was sticking in Cowdy's thigh.



The wagons, the hinder part of which was on fire, had been completely ransacked, and all that was of any immediate use taken away.



I looked round for Mrs. Margetts, whom I could not find. The feathers from a bed had been strewn on the ground by the side of the wagon, but I could not see the bedtick.



I saw, at some considerable distance, 12 men or more, apparently riding very fast, who were, as far as I could discover, Indians. None of the bodies were scalped.



The buffalo which I killed was over the bluff, about a mile and a half from the wagons, but I did not hear any report of fire-arms during my absence from it. Not feeling myself safe in the neighborhood of the murders, I escaped with my horse, and with the loss of my discharge and other papers, and about $300, a gold watch and other things, which I had deposited in the wagon, intending to make the best of my way to Fort Kearney and there report the facts as quickly as possible.



The two horses above mentioned were ridden, at intervals during the journey, by Mr. and Mrs. Margetts."



On the 12th we overtook and camped with br. Willie's company, at North Bluff creek, consisting of 404 persons, 6 wagons, 87 hand-carts, 6 yoke of oxen, 32 cows, and 5 mules. They were considerably weakened by the loss of their oxen, which they had failed to recover, but were in good spirits and averaging from 14 to 16 miles a day. Here we forded the Platte to the south side, and were followed by the hand-carts. Never was there a more soul-stirring sight than the happy passage of this company over that river. Several of the carts were drawn entirely by women, and every heart was glad and full of hope.



We spent the afternoon of the 15th inst. with br. A. [Abraham] O. Smoot, about 20 miles west of Ash Hollow. There were in his company 88 souls, 42 wagons, 265 oxen, 6 cows, 15 mules and horses, and 1 carriage. They had provisions for 23 days. Br. Smoot lacked drivers, having only 33 men fit for duty. His oxen were in good condition, but his loads were very heavy. Gilbert and Gerrish's train of 17 wagons was travelling in company with him.



On the 16th inst., 37 miles in advance of br. Smoot, we camped with br. O. [Orrin] P. Rockwell, who had 5 wagons and 11 yoke of oxen in charge, in addition to three families, viz., Grimshaw, Cook and Barnes, whom he had turned back towards Laramie, deeming them too weak to pass in safety, Br. Rockwell accompanied us to Fort Laramie, where we arrived on the morning of the 19th. Col. Huffman received us with much kindness, as also did J. W. Tutt, the sutler. Here we received a small recruit of mules and provisions, and purchased some good buffalo robes for the P. E. Fund passengers in the rear.



On the 23d inst. we parted, at the Platte bridge, with Capt. Dan Jones, who met his brother and remained to recover a cached thrashing machine. Here also we purchased a few more robes for Capt. J. G. Willie's company.



During the forenoon of the 24th, after leaving our camp at Willow Springs, we met Messrs. Hawley, Lambson, Amy and party on their way to the States, and advised them to wait at Laramie for the company of missionaries reported in their rear.



Same day, and near Independence rock, we nooned near Patriarch John Smith and two other brethren, who had come out with flour for the companies. Br. Smith returned with us. The same evening and about 8 miles further on, we camped with Elder P. [Parley] P. Pratt and company, all in good health and most excellent spirits, and promising fair for an honorable and successful mission.



On the 27th, 15 miles east of the Pacific Springs, we nooned with br. Wm. Smith and two other brethren from Farmington, with 2 wagons and flour for the companies. We counseled them to cache their flour and go on to meet br. Willie and his company, which they agreed to do.



On the 28th, 3 miles east of Big Sandy, we camped with br. Talcott, who also had flour for the companies. We gave him the same counsel, to go on with his teams to help br. Willie.



On the 29th we camped with br. [Jacob] Croft's company, consisting of 58 persons, 14 wagons, 80 yoke of oxen, 30 horses, and 130 loose cattle; they are principally from Texas and the Cherokee land. They were healthy and in good spirits, and gave us a most hospitable reception. This was the last company passed by us on the road.



At Bridger, on the 1st of Oct., we were welcomed by Major Burton and a small party of the mountain boys; and on the evening of the 4th were happy to receive your welcome and blessing at home.



Assuring you of our continued exertions to promote the welfare of God's kingdom, and praying that your life may be spared long to God's people, as also the lives of your Council, we remain, sincerely and obediently, yours in the Christ, F. D. RICHARDS, 
DANIEL SPENCER, 
Agents P. E. Fund.

Transcript for "Journey from Florence to G. S. L. City," Deseret News, 22 October 1856, 258

Deseret News.

Edward Hunter and Robert Campbell letter to Brigham Young

Edward Hunter and Robert Campbell letter to Brigham Young, July 17, 1850.

Having arrived at Kanesville in safety with my Brethern and friends about the second week in December I went to see most of the families I was to assist and bring out agreeable to your directions, and notified them to prepare themselves to join me in my company out the coming spring. Staid a few days in Kanesville and by the Council of Elder O. Hyde set out for Philadelphia to go to the United States Mint and make sales of our Gold Bullion – Returned in March to consummate my Missions –



 The first companies of golddiggers with Horse Teams had began to arrive – Those who afterwards passed through with ox Teams had bought up all the choice Cattle in the Country which occasioned a heavy rise in the price of cattle and the consequence was I had to delay in my arrangements in our emmigration to obtain cattle cheaper. I could not get broke cattle at any price. However by the strictest economy in making purchases in trades and sales I have succeeded in getting a tolerable good stock and a number of good cows. There has been an anxious excitement in Pottawatamie Co. St Louis and other places to get to the Valley at the expense of the Perpetual Fund – and I have had numerous calls from every quarter. Some I found necessary to assist who could not wait. to wit Widow Lyons [Sarah Bigler Lyons], Joseph Young, Isaac Decker, &amp; Solon Foster agreeable to the council of Elder Hyde. I received a note from Br. Hyde giving me instructions to organize all the remaining companies with mine as no other Company would start later by his counsel and calling upon J.L. [Joseph Leland] Heywood to assist. I had my cattle herded and kept in a yard in Stringtown. Our waggons began to assemble on the Welch Farm near by- June the 25th 1850 made a start for our Journey. Staid a few days at Bethlehem 1½ mile from the Ferry to obtain Blacksmith Tools &amp;c. July 2nd most of our Teams &amp; Waggons crossed the River at the Lower Ferry. July 4th At the 12 mile Creek we organized our Companies, where Edw[ar]d Hunter was appointed President of the Company[,] J.L. Heywood his Councillor. Rob[er]t Campbell Clerk. Benj[amin] L Clapp &amp; N[athaniel] H[enry] Felt Chaplains. E.D. Wool[l]ey 1st Captain. Lewis Wight, Jon[a]than C Wright. W[illia]m. [Mc]Pherson, Royal Barney, Jesse Haven, George Thompson and Andrew Burnham were made Captains of Tens. and the following is list of Families comprising our Camp Sisters Phiners, [Lydia Goldthwaite] Knight, Bro [Lewis William] Wight, [James A.] McCall, [Merritt] Rockwell, Sisters [Ann] Condit, [Mary Dull] McMinn[,] [Rhoda Ann] Fullmer, A[melia] Campbell, Walker, Sisters [Margaret Hall] Rushton, [Lydia] Knight. Brs J.C. Wright, [William] Pitt, [James Weaver] Palmer, Spilsberry [George Spilsbury], [Andrew] Burnham, [Jacob Flynn] Hutchinson, Silcox [Nicholas Thomas Silcock], [Miles] Romney, [Henry Miller] Parker, [Elijah] Fordham, Sis Stewart[,] Br Heywood, [Edwin Dilworth] Wool[l]ey, [Royal] Barney, [William Henry Harrison] Sagers, Meechum [Meacham], [James[ Lawrence, Sis [Margaret Major] Butterfield. Br. [Nathaniel Henry] Felt, Hamiston [Lyman Harmiston], [Sisson] Chase, [Oliver Hunt] Dudley, Sis [Ellen Stuart] Lockley, [Amelia Brown] Spencer, Brs [Jesse] Haven[,] [Benjamin Lynn] Clapp, [Mr.] Burlingame, Cluff, [Nahum] Bigelowe, Hewitt [Orin Taylor Hulet], [George] Thompson, [Joseph] Buxton, Sisrs Fanny Murray, Persus [Persis] Young, [Nancy Zerviah] Green &amp; Lydia Knight. The following is a Summary in round numbers of the strength of our Company[:]



Persons 261. Waggons 67. yk [yoke] of Oxen 106. Cows 113. Horses 10. Sheep 19. Dogs 19. Cats 6. Doves 6. Loose Cattle belonging to individuals 40



 Perp[etua]l Fund 5,554.41....



 Loose Catttle in herd – P.F. 27 – X   # I have along with me Merchandize from England consigned to Prest Brigham Young and principally to N K Whitney[.] wt of Freight 4877lbs



 Mess[r]s Heywood and Wooley have made a start with us, with a heavy stock of Church Property. The strength of their teams was insufficient for their heavy burdened waggons and they found the necessity of drawing upon the resources of the Perpetual Fund till they arrive at Fort Kearney where they intend to hire; with that view I have turned them out – 3½ yoke of oxen and 2½ yoke of Cows. Up to the present we have got pretty well started and are getting along prosperously. At first we were visited  with constant and heavy storms attended with thunder and lightning which has made the roads very difficult to travel to say nothing of the sloughs and hollows. Many of our Cattle have suffered from Feet and sore necks but most of them are nearly well. While our Brethren were assembled on the 4th for organizing the Brethren with the mail hailed us with their presence. All well and in good spirits. Our anxiety for news from the Salt Lake City and to obtain Letters broke in upon the good order of our meeting and all were glad enough to adjourn. Br R Campbell from the Valley called over the Letter List after handing out a few letters stopt to get a few refreshments and left for Kanesville.



 July 6th overtaken by Elder O Hyde &amp; suits staid with us an hour and proceeded on. We have passed some 60 graves of the Brethren who have died of the Cholera and by the dates seemed to have died between the 15th of June and the 7th of July. It may be interesting to give some of their names[:] Marg[are]t Dana, Har[ie]t Dill, Ameroy Nicholls [Ambrose Nichols], John Smith, M M Norris, Alford [Alfred] Brown, Marg[are]t McDougal, Dr Brally [Jesse Charles Braley,] Rhoda Smith[,] Jane Gray, Wm. Fox, Calvin C Hall, Charl[o]tte Thompson, J. T. M. Sellan[,] E[mma]. E[liza]. Camp. Elisha Hawrist 32 yr. Geo Catlin, Sis E Malary [Elizabeth Kennedy Mallory] 50. Irinda Crandell [Crandall] 23[,] Mary Johnston 40. several others. We have reason to be thankful that we have been comparatively free from this dire calamity. One of our Company was taken severlly ill, but by strict attention and proper remedies soon recovered.



 July 16th had the painful task of recording the death of an interesting young man by the name of Washington Marshall teamster for Br[other Nathaniel] Felt. An accident occurred wherein Sister Stewart's Boy received an injury by 2 Waggon Hubs bruising him. As many of our Cattle were wild and unbroke I esteem it a marked providence that no other damage is sustained and that the Camp at the present time is in such excellent health and that some who started sick are fast recovering their health. Frequently meeting waggons from the Fort passing back for provisions.



 July 19th Overtaken by Col. Reese in his Chaise. He has 8 waggons back bound for the Salt Lake City. Each waggon 3000 wt of Goods. This morning too Mr. Thompson Clerk of the Firm of Riley left our Camp destined to overtake their goods bound for the same place. Sundays we set apart to rest our Cattle do washing – blacksmithing and have preaching – and camp instruction.



 30 Miles East Ft Kearney [Kearny]- Sunday July 21st 50



As Kincaid [Kinkead] and Livingston are in our immediate vicinity and about to proceed on with dispatch I hasten to bring this communication to a close. Our Camp is in a healthy state – none sick with us. We have travelled about 90 miles this week. Last Sunday we took into consideration the propriety of making 2 Divisions. it answers our purpose. Our Cattle improve on the road. Within 10 miles of us lies our 2nd Division all pretty well. Col. Reece's trains is a few miles back of us. We received the intelligence of a death from Cholera in his company. We design holding a meeting this afternoon and having a preach from Benj[ami]n L[ynn] Clapp. Nothing of any importance has occurred on our journey – Save all is health, peace and that a hope inspires us that we shall improve in the prosecution of our journey and hail our Brethren and friends in the Valley. I expect to make a full report of my mission when I reach you. Considering the high price of Stock and of Provender &amp; Provisions the Brethren generally have as good an outfit as I could anticipate. Wheat Flour $6.00 per 100 corn 2 to $2.50 per bu. Bacon from 6 to 9 cts Hay $1.00 per 100 – Groceries and other provisions equally high. Our waggons are most of them new and many are in good repair[.] We expect to reach Fort Kearney <strike>by</strike> or before the middle of this week. We would be remembered our friends in the Valley. and our prayers are for the prosperity of Zion



We subscribe ourselves ever yours in the everlasting Covenant



 Robert Campbell, Clerk.                                                                     Edward Hunter

Transcript for Edward Hunter and Robert Campbell letter to Brigham Young, 17 July 1850

Edward Hunter and Robert Campbell letter to Brigham Young.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, September 1, 1856, Page 1-2.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 28, 1856, Page 1-2.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Martha S. Heywood reminiscences, undated, Journal

Martha S. Heywood reminiscences, undated, Journal, January 1850.

Transcript for Martha S. Heywood reminiscences, undated, Journal, 1850 January-1856 August

Martha S. Heywood reminiscences, undated, Journal.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. A, Page 145.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. A, Page 54.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886.

Record of members collection, 1836-1970

Record of members collection, 1836-1970.

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa, October 1856.

Transcript for Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa 1856 October-November

Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa.

Salt Lake Herald

J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscence

"J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscence", Salt Lake Herald, December 8, 1878.

SOME REMINISCENCES



SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 7, 1878. Last week my letter started the handcart company from Florence, August 25th, (1856,) in charge of Captain Edward Martin, assisted by Daniel Tyler. The company was divided into six hundreds, each superintended by its respective captain. While the company was at Florence, F. D. Richards, Erastas Snow, and several other prominent men were on the camping ground, all but Erastas Snow on their way west, returning from missions, chiefly to Europe.



The company moved on the day named from Florence to Cutler's Park, two and a half miles and camped, staid there the next day and night, and left the next morning. While there, A. W. Babbitts dressed in corduroy pants, woolen overshirt, and felt hat, called as he was passing west. He seemed in high glee, his spirits being very elastic, almost mercurial. He had started with one carriage for Salt Lake, with the mail and a considerable amount of money. He was very confident that he should be in Salt Lake within fifteen days. He intended to push through vigorously and sleep on the wind, meaning an airfilled mattress.



One ten and tent of the company staid another night alone at Cutler's park, a birth having occurred in the tent in the morning of the 27th, shortly after midnight of the 26th. The next day, 28th, the ten struck their tent and followed. The company, coming up with it in camp at Elk Horn crossing, very late at night, and after the camp had gone to bed. The Elk Horn valley was remarked as one of the finest pieces of country on the whole journey west of the Missouri.



The two wagon companies under Captains Benjamin Hodgetts and John A. Hunt left Florence by September 1st, and Cutler's Park by September 2nd, and were purposely kept within available call of the handcart company during most of the journey. The statistics of the three companies, when fairly launched on the great plains have been given thus-Martin's handcart company, about 576 persons, 146 handcarts, seven wagons, including one carriage, six mules and horses, fifty cows and beef cattle, also one church wagon with freight; Hodgett's wagon company, 150 persons thirty-three wagons, eighty-four yoke of oxen, nineteen cows, and about 230 head of heifers and other loose cattle; Hunt's wagon company, 240 persons, fifty wagons, 297 oxen and cows, seven horses and mules, and four church wagons with freight. It will be understood that these figures, however correct when taken, were constantly subject to greater or less variation during the journey.



On leaving Florence the loads on the handcarts were greater than ever before, most carts having 100 pounds of flour on, besides ordinary baggage. The tents also were carried on the carts. The company was provisioned for sixty days, a daily ration of one pound of flour per head, with about half a pound for children, being the principal item.



On the 7th of September, west of Loup Fork, the company was overtaken by F. D. Richards, C. H. Wheelock, J. Van Cott, G. D. Grant, W. H. Kimball, Joseph A. Young, C. G. Webb, W. C. Dunbar, James McGaw, Dan Jones, J. D. T. McAllister, N. H. Felt and James Ferguson, who left Florence September 3d, passed Hunt's wagon company on the 6th, east of the Loup Fork, and Hodgetts' wagon company on the 7th, ten miles west of Martin's company, and arrived at Salt Lake city, October 4th, having left Dan Jones at Platte Bridge with his brother, September 23rd.



Crossing the hills on the way from the Loup Fork valley to the Platte valley, the handcart company had a dry march of two days. One on the 9th of September, in the afternoon the company came to a round pit or pond of water. Parched with thirst, the cattle rushed pell mall into the pond and stirred up the mud until the water was thick and black, before the people had supplied themselves for their own use. But it was all the water available, and so it was used for cooking purposes-making coffee, tea, bread, and porridge or hasty pudding, which when made was quite black, but was eaten and drunk nevertheless. At 7 p m, the camp started for Prairie creek, nine miles, reaching it between 11 and 12 o'clock, but very glad to get to clear running water, after having been without two days.



On September 11, eight or nine miles from Lone Tree and Wood river, the company passed the graves of two men and a child belonging to A. W. Babbitt's wagon train, who had been killed on the 25th of August by some Cheyenne Indians, who were on the war path that summer. Two of the teamsters escaped death, and Mrs. Wilson was taken prisoner. Most of the property plundered from the wagons was subsequently recovered by Captain Wharton and the United States troops at Fort Kearney. A mile or two east of the graves of the teamsters a paper was tacked on a board, on which the chief of the Omaha Indians disclaimed participation in the murders. Early in the journey from Florence the company met two or three hundred Omahas, who passed by quite peaceably.



On September 19th, two or three teams from Green river, going east were met, and the man informed the emigrants that Indians had killed A. W. Babbitt and burned his buggy thirty or forty miles west of Pawnee springs. On September 23d, about six miles east of Bluff creek, and about seventy yards to the left of the road, a little harness, two wheels and the springs of a burnt carriage or buggy, and a few other things were seen. These were supposed to be relics of A. W. Babbitt's outfit. The company brought the springs along; but what became of them ultimately I don't know who knows. Babbitt had left Kearney about the 2d of September, with Thomas Sutherland and a driver. Two miles farther on, Captain Hodgetts, Moses Cluff, and Nathan T. Porter were busy with a dead buffalo, which they had run out of a herd and killed for the handcart company, having previously killed one for their own wagon company. Some of the handcart people stayed to skin and quarter the buffalo, and bring it along on four handcarts. At night it was divided among the company, about one pound to each adult. This was the first buffalo beef the company obtained. Buffalo beef, the lean part of it, is good eating on the plains, but it is coarser than ox or cow beef.



The next day, September 24th, the company passed the place where it was supposed Thomas Margette [Margetts] and others were killed by Indians, there being a quantity of feathers strewn about, a blood-stained shirt, and a child's skull. The company camped at Duckweed creek that night, and after dark all the men were called out to form a line around the camp, as it was supposed that Indians were lurking around. About 11 o' clock the men were called in, a double guard was set for the night, and the rest of the men were seriously talked to for half an hour or so, but one of the company who was fond of preaching, on the necessity of vigilance in an Indian country. Then the men were dismissed to their tents, except the double guard. In the afternoon of the 25th, five Indians, some of the squaws, on ponies, rode past the company and near to it, carefully scrutinizing it, but they had nothing to say, and then they rode off towards the Platte. These were the first Cheyenne Indians the company had seen.



On the 3d of October, near Chimney Rock, a company of United States dragoons, under Major Hunter, with ten or twelve mule teams, from Fort Kearney for Fort Laramie, passed the company, and a boy named Aaron Giles, left the handcart company and went with the soldiers. On the 4th of October the company passed Scott's Bluffs. Parley P. Pratt's company of missionaries, going east from Salt Lake, passed the Bluffs about the same time but the two companies did not see each other.



The company arrived at Fort Laramie October 8th, and camped east of Laramie Fork, about a mile from the fort. Before reaching Laramie the company met a fine looking and finely-dressed friendly Indian chief on a fine American horse, and soon after two dragoons on horseback, who, that is, the dragoons, gave some sweetmeats to the children of the company and appeared immensely pleased to see the people. Laramie's Peak, in the distance, gave the first adequate idea of the Rocky Mountains-grand, gloomy and mysterious. On the 9th, many of the company went to the fort to sell watches or other things they could spare and buy provisions. The commandant kindly allowed them to buy from the military stores at reasonable prices-biscuit at 15 1/2 cents, bacon at 15 cents, rice at 17 cents per pound, and so on. Some brought a few things at the sutler's, but much higher prices ruled at his store.



I believe the company left Fort Laramie the next day. Thenceforth, until the close of the journey, although noteworthy events were on the increase, and some of them were indelibly impressed on the minds of the emigrants, yet they were so fully occupied in taking care of themselves that they had little time to spare to note details with exactness, and many notes that were made at the time were lost subsequently and cannot now be found. Up to this time the daily pound of flour ration had been regularly served out, but it was never enough to stay the stomachs of the emigrants, and the longer they were on the plains and in the mountains the hungrier they grew. Most persons who have crossed the plains with ox teams or handcarts know well enough the enormous appetite which that kind of life gives. It is an appetite that cannot be satisfied. At least such was the experience of the handcart people. You feel as if you could almost eat a rusty nail or gnaw a file. You are ten times as hungry as a hunter, yes as ten hunters, all the day long and every time you wake in the night, and so you continue to your journey's end, and for some time after. Eating is the grand passion of a pedestrian on the plains, an insatiable passion, for he never gets enough to eat. When the emigrants would arrive at Salt Lake and be invited into the houses of their friends, the newcomers would eat and eat and eat until they were literally and perfectly ashamed of themselves, and then retire form the table, hungry. I forget how long it would take an emigrant in those days to fill up and reduce his appetite to its normal condition, but it was a long time, a number of weeks and it was an expensive process. No such outrageous appetite comes to you in crossing the continent by rail, and very thankful you may be that it does not, for it is a serious infliction upon those who have it, as well as upon their hospitable friends.



Well, at the time when this great appetite was fairly roused up and had put on its strength and was still further strengthened and sharpened by the increasing coldness of the weather, the extra pinching time commenced. Soon after Fort Laramie was passed, it was deemed advisable to curtail the rations in order to make them hold out as long as possible. The pound of flour fell to three fourths of a pound, then to half a pound, and subsequently yet lower. Still the company toiled on through the Black Hills, where the feed grew scarcer for the cattle also. As the necessities of man and beast increased their daily food diminished, at the time when it was as the emigrants might have said, with Sir Walter Scott, "like a summer - dried fountain, when our wants were the sorest."



In the Black Hills the roads were harder, more rocky and more hilly and this told upon the handcarts, causing them to fail more rapidly, become ricketty, and need more frequent repairing. One man's handcart broke down on afternoon in the hills, and by some mischance the company all went on, leaving him behind, alone with his broken cart and his and his family's little stock of worldly goods thereon, including his rations, which he could not afford to leave, though he lost his knives and forks also some biscuits and butter and sugar which he had bought as extras at Laramie, and a few other things, he was drawing his little child in his cart, as he had drawn her most of the journey, and as he subsequently drew her to the last crossing of the Platte, but when his cart broke down he had to transfer her to somebody else's cart and sent her on with the company. So he remained behind with his cart, anxiously expecting somebody to turn back and help him, but no one came. Night drew on apace and still he was all alone, save and excepting the presence of a prowling wolf, which could be seen in the streak of light on the western horizon, a little outside of the ordinary rifle range. Happily, just as the darkness was settling down Captain Hodgett's wagon company was observed coming down the opposite hill, from the east, at the base of which it encamped, a quarter or half a mile distant from the benighted and lonely handcart, who eagerly went and told his tale of the misfortune to the wagon people, and they took him in for the night. Toward midnight two men with another cart from the handcart camp, seven miles off arrived in search of their missing companion. They also stayed with the wagon company that night, and next morning early the three handcarters started after their own company, coming up with the camp just as it was breaking up and the emigrants were getting ready to start for the day's march.



At Deer creek, on the 17th of October, owing to the growing weakness of emigrants and teams, the baggage, including bedding and cooking utensils, was reduced to ten pounds per head, children under 8 years five pounds. Good blankets and other bedding and clothing were burned, as they could not be carried further, though needed more than ever, for there was yet 400 miles of winter to go through. Again might the emigrants have said, with the Scotch poet, "Like a summer - dried fountain, when our wants were the sorest."



A detachment of soldiers were stationed at the bridge over the North Platte, to remain there until the emigration had passed, and then to withdraw to Fort Laramie to winter. On the 20th of October the company crossed the Platte, for the last time, at Red Buttes, about five miles above the bridge. It may have been the 19th, but I am inclined to think it was the 20th. That was a bitter cold day. Winter came on all at once, and that was the first day of it. The river was wide, the current strong, the water exceedingly cold and up to the wagon beds in the deepest parts, and the bed of the river was covered with cobble stones. Some of the men carried some of the women over on their backs or in their arms, but others of the women tied up their skirts and waded through, like heroines as they were, and as they had done through many other rivers and creeks. The company was barely over when snow, hail, and sleet began to fall, accompanied by a piercing north wind, and camp was made on this side of the river. Captain [John] Hunt's wagon company camped on the other side of the river, and Captain Hodgett's was on this side. That was a stinging night, and it told its tale on the oxen as well as the people. That snowstorm appears to have been a very extensive as well as severe one, reaching westward at least to the Wasatch range. It snowed heavily at Green river at that time, and the thermometer fell to zero there.



Here we are, only at the last crossing of the Platte, and yet I have occupied all the space that you will be willing to spare today.



 



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



 



[also in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 Nov. 1856, 14-20]

Transcript for J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald, 8 December 1878, 1

Salt Lake Herald.

Salt Lake Herald-Republican

Some Reminiscences

John Jaques, "Some Reminiscences", Salt Lake Herald-Republican, December 29, 1878, Page 1.

SOME REMINISCENCES



SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 28, 1878. 
Editors Herald: 
Some people have supposed that, in the course of these papers narrating the journey of the fifth company of handcart emigrants across the plains in 1856, I should "tell it all." They need have been under no apprehension on that point. I could not tell it all. I do not know it all. No human being could tell it all. No human being knows it all. One pair of human eyes could see and one pair or human ears could hear only a small portion of all that transpired in the course of that eventful expedition. Scores of incidents occurred outside the ken and the cognizance of any one observer in or with the company. Only the All-seeing Eye saw and only the All-seeing Ear heard all the occurrences in that long and wearisome journey. But, according to intimation last week, I will tell a little more by and by. This week, however, let me say a word about the other handcart companies that season.



Five handcart companies, in all, crossed the plains that year, all composed of "Mormon" emigrants chiefly from Europe. The three first were led by Captains Edmund Ellsworth, D. [Daniel] D. McArthur and Edward Bunker, respectively. Starting early in the season, these companies had no winter weather to contend with, and they arrived in this city with comparatively little suffering on the route, and in correspondingly good spirits. Captain Ellsworth's company left Iowa city June 9th and Florence July 19th, arriving in this city September 26th. Captain [Daniel] McArthur's company left Iowa city June 11th and Florence July 24th, arriving in this city with Captain [Edmund] Ellsworth's company. These two companies at starting are reported to have numbered in the aggregate 497 souls, 100 handcarts, 5 wagons, 24 oxen, 4 mules and 25 tents. Bunker's company numbered about 300 souls. It left Iowa city June 23d and Florence July 30th, and arrived in this city October 2d.



An abundant entrance and a royal welcome to this city were enjoyed by [Edmund] Ellsworth's and [Daniel] McArthur's companies, they being the first emigrants of any creed or nationality who crossed the plains with hand carts. On the 26th of September Governor B. Young, H. C. Kimball, D. H. Wells, and many other citizens in carriages, several gentlemen and ladies on horseback, with part of Captain H. B. Clawson's company of lancers, and the brass bands under Wm. Pitt, went to near the foot of the Little Mountain, and halted there. Governor Young and H. C. Kimball drove on to meet [Edmund] Ellsworth's company, and when they came up with it the emigrants were regaled with melons, during which [Daniel] McArthur's company came up. Thence to the public square in this city the following order of procession was observed: Lancers, ladies on horseback, Governor Young's, H. C. Kimball's and D. H. Wells' carriages, the bands, [Edmund] Ellsworth's and [Daniel] McArthur's companies, citizens in carriages and horseback. Before reaching the city, the procession was largely increased by men women and children on foot and on horseback. The procession reached the public square about sunset, and the emigrants were addressed by Governor Young.



The fourth company was led by James G. Willie, assisted by Millan [Millen] Atwood. The company started rather late in the season, and suffered a good deal in consequence, though much less their the fifth and last company did, for the fourth company arrived in this city before the fifth had bidden its final adieu to Devil's Gate. Perhaps it will not be amiss here to give a brief sketch of the journey and experiences of the fourth company.



Most of the emigrants composing this company sailed from Liverpool on Sunday, May 4th, on board the ship Thornton, Captain Collins, and numbered 761, James G. Willie presiding over them, assisted by Millen Atwood, Moses Cluff and J. A. [Johan August] Ahmanson. During the voyage Capt. Collins proved himself to be considerate and kind, allowing the emigrants every reasonable liberty and privilege, and complimenting them highly upon their cleanliness and good order, and their readiness to comply with his requests. He said he never wished for a better lot of passengers.



The company arrived at New York on the 14th of June and at Castle Garden were heartily welcomed by John Taylor and N. H. Felt. On the 17th the emigrants left New York , arriving at Dunkirk on the 19th, when they embarked on the Jersey City for Toledo, where they arrived on the 21st, and the next day they were at Chicago. At Toledo the emigrants were unkindly treated by the railroad employees and put to much inconvenience. On the 23rd the company left Chicago in two detachments, several hours apart. At Pond Creek it was learned that the bridge at Rock Island had fallen while a previous train was passing over it. Erastus Snow and some other Utah People were on that unfortunate train at the time, but escaped uninjured. The emigrants left Pond Creek on the 26, and arrived at Iowa city the same day, where they were welcomed by Daniel Spencer and others.



The fourth handcart company left the camp near Iowa city on the 16th of July, with James G. Willie captain, and consisted of about 500 souls, 5 mules, 12 yoke of cattle, 120 handcarts, 25 tents and 5 wagons. Each passenger was allowed seventeen pounds of baggage, including bedding. During their stay in camp the men had employed themselves in making handcarts and ox yokes and the women in making tents. At Fort DesMoines Mr. Chas Good kindly presented the company with fifteen pairs of children's boots. At different places on the route through Iowa considerable opposition was manifested by the residents toward the company, and threats of personal violence were made. The company was also annoyed by a posse with search warrants based on frivolous pretences. On the way from Iowa city to Florence several persons left the company. The handcarts were not very good ones, and some of the axles were almost worn through before arriving at Florence, which was on Aug 11th.



Having repaired the handcarts and completed other preparations, the company, now about 425 souls, left Florence on the 16th with four "independent" wagons added to it, and rendezvoused on the Papillon, leaving that place for the west on the 18th. On the 28th William Haley [Hailey], and elderly man, was missed from the company, and was not found until the next morning. He had been out all night, exposed to drenching rain, but he soon recovered. On the 28th the company came up with a large camp of Omaha Indians, who were very friendly. They sold some buffalo meat to the emigrants , invited the officers of the company to visit their camp, and hospitably entertained them, On coming to the place where A. [Almon] W. Babbitt's wagon train men were killed by Indians, the company covered up the graves.



On the morning of Sept. 4th, thirty, more than one half, of the oxen were missing, they having stampeded, and the company staid two days to look for them, but in vain. During their stay, A. [Almon] W. Babbitt, A. [Abraham] O. Smoot and O. P. [Orrin Porter] Rockwell visited and comforted the company. On the 6th the company yoked up some wild Arkansas cows to help out the broken teams, and proceeded, Joseph Elder and Andrew Smith going in search of his missing cattle. On the 8th Henry Banichter, a disharged soldier from Fort Laramie, met the company and said that the Cheyenne Indians had killed Thomas Marggetts [Margetts] and James Cowdy and wife and child, about seventy miles west, while he, [Henry] Banichter was gone away from them to fetch in some buffalo meat which he and [Thomas] Margetts had killed a mile or two away. It was supposed that Mrs. Margetts was carried away captive by the Indians. On the 12th, F. D. Richards and party in three carriages, with the two men, Elder and Smith, overtook the company on the North Bluff creek. That night and the next morning the Richards party addressed the emigrants encouragingly and W. D. Dunbar sang several songs to comfort and cheer them. The same morning the company crossed the Platte, the Richards party leading. On the 15th several Arapahoe Indians were met, who watched the emigrants that night, having told them that the Sioux and Cheyennes had attacked a large emigrant train and killed many of the emigrants. The first frost, a severe one, was experienced on the night of the 7th of September. That day Ellen Cantwell was bitten by a ten-rattle rattlesnake, which was subsequently killed, but the girl was not fatally affected. On the 18th a woman named Stewart was missed. Several men went to search for her, but she got into camp before they did, though much exhausted after staying out all night and having been vigorously serenaded by wolves. Jonathan Grimshaw's company, numbering about 100, was met on the 28th. On various occasions considerable time was expended in the repair of handcarts.



The company arrived at Fort Laramie on the 30th, where the four "independent" wagons were detached, remaining there until a wagon company came up. A small ration for the company was obtained at the fort. Two women also staid at the fort, one of whom quickly got married. At this fort and also at Platte bridge, F. D. Richards had bought some buffalo robes for Willie's and Martin's companies. The company left the fort on the 1st of October, and met P. P. Pratt's company of missionaries the same day.



From Iowa city to Florence the daily flour ration of this company was ten ounces, with little groceries. On leaving Florence the company was provisioned for nearly sixty days at one pound of the flour per head per day. Adults received this ration, and children then received eight ounces. About eight miles west of Laramie the rations were reduced to fourteen ounces for a man, twelve ounces for a woman, eight for a child, and four for an infant. On the 12th the rations were reduced to ten and a half ounces for men, nine for women, six for children, and three for infants. That day Allred Peacock and George Edwick left the company near Platte bridge. By this time many of the men were growing weak. The last ration that the company had was served out on the 19th, at the fifth crossing of the Sweetwater. On the 20th C. H. Wheelock, Joseph A. Young, and two other men were met, with the welcome intelligence that George D. Grant with relief wagons was at hand. Snow commenced to fall this day. On the 21st, as the little ones were crying for bread, fourteen wagons, with flour, onions, and clothing, bedding, shoes, etc., were met. Here the snow was six to ten inches deep. On the 22d William H. Kimball with six of the relief wagons turned back and came on with the company toward this city, the other relief wagons going along to the assistance of the later companies. On the 24th Reddick N. Allred and others with six wagons were met. The next day, fifteen miles west of the company's last crossing of the Sweetwater, other teams with provisions were met. On the 21st seven wagons from Fort Supply, a settlement on Green river, and three from this city were met. On November 1st, further help was met. On the 2d the company passed Fort Bridger, which was then a "Mormon" fort or settlement and the same day Eph. [Ephraim] Hanks passed the company. The next day more supplies were met for the later companies of emigrants, and William H. Kimball and Mr. Thomas came on ahead of the company toward this city. On the 4th Seth M. Blair and others with wagons were met. On the 8th William H. Kimball was met with a load of provisions. On the 9th the company arrived in this city and the emigrants were soon taken into comfortable quarters. Some of the company had their hands and feet badly frozen, but everything that could be done was done to alleviate their sufferings. After leaving Fort Bridger the company was assisted by about fifty wagons.



During much of the journey the diarrhoea prevailed in the camp. Consequently many were sick and had to ride before relief was met. Many had to be refused the privilege of riding. A heavy snowstorm, with a fierce north wind, was encountered in crossing the Rock ridge and the South pass, though the company traveled sixteen miles that day, still drawing the handcarts. This was the most disastrous day of the journey, 15 persons dying from fatigue, want, and exposure to the cold and storms. Some would pull their handcarts all day and die in the night. The total number of deaths in the company from Liverpool to this city is given as 77, of which 68 occurred between Iowa city and this place. There were also 8 births and 8 marriages.



Among the various wagon companies that crossed the plains westward that season, in addition to those of Captains [John] Hunt and [William} Hodgetts were the following, principally or partly composed of "Mormon" emigrants: A. O. Smoot's with 42 wagons; O. P. [Orrin Porter] Rockwell's 6; Croft's from Arkansas, 34; two or three St Louis companies, one under John Banks; P. [Philemon] C. Merrill's; Henry Boley's, 13; B. [Benjamin] L. Clapp's, from Texas, 14; a Danish company, 28; Clark's, English, 6; J. W. Hawkins', 8; Preston Thomas, from Texas, 8. Also, the following with merchandise: Gilbert &amp; Garrish's, 28 wagons; another, under J. Y. Greens, for the same firm 20; Livingston, Kinkead &amp; Co.'s, 36; W. S. Godbe's, 7; Conyer's, 16; and Stephen B. Rose's. Most of the companies with emigrants needed more or less help before they were through the journey. Some of these figures are rather closely approximate than exactly correct, and the statistics of most if not all of the companies varied at different parts of the journey.



[also in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 Nov. 1856, 33-38]

Transcript for John Jaques, "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 29 December 1878, 1

Nathaniel Henry Felt

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