Oscar Orlando Stoddard (1821 - 1896) Profile

Oscar Orlando Stoddard (1821 - 1896)

Individual

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Oscar Orlando Stoddard

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Missionary reports, 1831-1900

Missionary reports, 1831-1900. 1859, May 7 - Father.

Missionary reports, 1831-1900. 1859, May 7.

Missionary reports, 1831-1900.

Fjeld, Carl Johan Ellefsen, [Autobiography], in Andrew Fjeld, comp., A Brief History of the Fjeld-Fields Family [1946], 20-26

Fjeld, Carl Johan Ellefsen, [Autobiography], in Andrew Fjeld, comp., A Brief History of the Fjeld-Fields Family [1946], 20-26.

On the 3rd [July 1860] the company was fully organized, consisting of twenty-one carts, it was divided into three divisions. Fisher was in charge of the first section, A[nders] Christensen in charge of the second section, while I looked after the third division. Six wagons, drawn by oxen, accompanied us, hauling our tents, provisions, and sundries. Oscar Stoddard was our captain. On the 4th we received one hundred pounds of flour to each cart and then pulled out of town. My cart was quite heavy as the only help I had to pull was the little my wife and children could do, while at the other carts there were two or three men.



	On the 5th we traveled a short distance and in the evening three couples were married by Brother Widerborg. One couple, Lars Andersen and Marie, was from Norway.



	On the 6th, Brothers Cannon and Widerborg came out and bid us goodbye. We camped in a very pretty place, and after importuing our Heavenly Father for his protection and care we retired to rest.



	On the 7th, a pound of flour per person, which was our allotment per day, was dealt out to us, and we started on our way. We had not gone far when a wagon broke down and we had to stop while another one was brought from Florence.



	On the 8th we made another start and on account of my hand cart being so heavy the captain relieved me of a sack of flour.



	We traveled then for several days without let or hindrance until we reached Loup Fork, about one hundred miles from Florence, where we held a meeting. The captain expressed his satisfaction of the peaceful spirit which prevailed among the Saints. Brother Christensen and a brother from Switzerland and I spoke. We expressed our pleasure for the good feeling which existed in our midst and extorted each other to press steadily forward with our faces toward the west.



	On the 16th we crossed Loup Fork on a ferry.



	On the 18th the captain’s mule ran away but was soon found. A couple of days later the oxen got on a rampage and ran into a corn field, damaging the crop to the extent of eight dollars which we had to pay.



	On July 24th we traveled two miles before breakfast and then camped for the day in honor of the Pioneers of 1847, who had, under the leadership of Brigham Young, entered the valley of Great Salt Lake.



	In the evening George Q. Cannon overtook us. He was traveling with the express on his way to Zion. He spoke to us for a short time.



	On the 6th of August we crossed over a great bank of loose sand and gravel. We had to double the manpower to pull the carts through, and five yoke of oxen were necessary on each wagon to make the grade.



	On the 8th we traveled until eleven o’clock at night before we found water. One of the oxen took sick, largely on account of the ill usage it received from the driver.



	On the 10th it died, right near our cart – the poor brute. Five Indians came to our camp and the captain gave them some food. The road is heavy and we are 429 miles from Florence.



	The 11th: Heavy road and many sand banks.



	On the 12th I was fortunate in getting the mate to the ox that died, to pull my cart. Two other carts were also attached and it went along fine.



	On the 13th we passed Chimney Rock and on the 15th we passed Scotts Bluff. The road here was very heavy and we were deceived by a mirage.



	On the 18th we arrived at Fort Laramie and as the road was better on the other side of the river we crossed over. We first carried all of our stuff over, the water being waist deep, then we pulled our carts over. During these days the captain lost his mule and a collection was taken up to replace it.



	On the 20th the captain purchased a horse.



	The 22nd: The road is heavy, rough and hilly. We camped on the other side of Deer Creek where there was a fine store and many Indians.



	On the 27th we traveled seventeen miles along the Platte River and camped near the stream. Here another ox died with that same wagon, and I had to give up my faithful “Bolly Ox.” it was not long, however before anothe ox died and I received Bolly back again: so altogether, I had him fifteen days.



	On the 28th we crossed the Platte River on a bridge called the Upper Ferry. We were charged six dollars to cross.



	On the 29th we travelled six miles before breakfast and camped for the last time on the Platte River. As we were now nearing Red Mountain we had to carry water with us for the next camp, as it was seventeen miles to the next water.



	On the 30th we camped on a large creek where there was plenty of water but no grass.



	On the 31st we passed Sweet Water [Sweetwater] Settlement and camped two miles beyond on Sweet Water. This was a very heavy road, so I was both hungry and tired, but for all that, no regrets.



	September 1st: A good road: We camped again on Sweet Water. We passed a settlement today, also Hells Port. (Devil’s Gate).



	            ENTICINGLY open, yet we did not turn in,



	            Thus avoiding the ‘very appearance of sin,’



	            For the home we are seeking, the land of our quest,



	            Is drawing us hopefully on to the west,



	            So onward we’ll struggle o’er many a hump,



	            For the quitter is really and trully a chump.



	On the 2nd: Very heavy road; we camped near Sweet Water.



	On the 3rd: The road a little better but always upgrade. We traveled 18 miles and crossed Sweet Water three times. We received fifteen sacks of flour from a settlement. Cannon had promised us this flour if we needed it. It came in handy. I might remark here that we received at the rate of a pound and a half per person per day of flour from Fort Laramie.



	On the 4th we traveled sixteen miles and camped by a little spring, crossing the Sweet Water two times. The cattle are very poor; so we can not travel as fast as we would like.



	On the 5th we traveled thirteen miles and camped by a little spring. The road is steadily going up hill. Yesterday and today Mons Pederson and Bent Benson [Bengtson] helped me pull my handcart.



	The 6th: Today Heber is one year old. I gave Niels Tommenson a knife and silver chain if he would haul our bedding on his wagon. The load on my cart made me very faint at times–heavy road and poor food. Hans Young of Fredrickstad came riding into camp today. He is traveling with a company of thirty-five wagons loaded with merchandise for Salt Lake City. They are seventeen miles on the road behind us. We camped on the Sweet Water.



	On th 7th Hans Young went back to his company having received four sacks of flour from our captain. At noon we camped by a little creek 779 miles from Florence. This evening we camped by a little spring near a settlement with a post office. The road here is very good with plenty of grass and water.



	On the 8th we traveled eighteen miles and found neither grass nor water, but we had brought some water with us from our noon camp. As I was the nightwatchman, the captain had given me orders to arouse the camp at midnight, which I did, and we traveled seven miles in three and one-half hours in the most beautiful moonlight, where we found plenty of grass and water.



	I was so sore on my breast from the harness that I could not pull today; so Sister Lorentze helped my wife with the cart. This evening we came to the Big Sandy River. During the night two oxen died.



	On the 10th we traveled eighteen miles and camped on the Big Sandy. At noon we had to leave an ox that was nearly dead. We had not gone far when it died. A[ndreas] Rasmussen of Norway and I. Janson of Sweden went back and helped themselves to considerable of the meat of the dead ox. The captain spoke to me about it, as I could talk a little English, and told me to warn them not to eat it, which I did, but to no avail. They ate plenty of it and offered me some which I refused.



	On the 11th we traveled nine miles and came to Green River. The handcarts were taken across on a ferry but the oxen and wagons forded the stream a little below the ferry. Here we picked up a poor family which had been left by a former company on acccount of two very sick children. The children were some better now.



	On the 12th we traveled five miles and camped on Green River. Here is the highest point on the journey as the water is now traveling with us towards the West.



	On the 13th we traveled twelve miles and camped on Black Fork–very heavy road.



	On the 14th we traveled eighteen miles and camped two miles from Black Fork. Captain Haight and company passed us today. Hans Young is with this company.



	On the 15th we traveled seven miles and camped near Black Fork–good road.



	On the 16th we traveled eighteen miles without a road, through sagebrush and dry land.



	On the 17th, the same heavy road.



	On the 18th we went two miles and came to the old trail; passed P. A. Fjeldstead’s grave. In all we traveled thirty-five miles without a road. We did not pass through Fort Bridger, but went up and down many hills.



	On the 19th we came to Bear River. There is a nice little settlement here where a number of Saints live. One lady who lived here alone desired a companion to live with her; so Ingabor[g] Fredricksen of our company decided to stay with her as the lady offered to pay one dollar per week. At noon we camped on a creek eighty miles from the Utah line. This afternoon we met a company which was going to Pike’s Peak, and as some of the teamsters were Mormon boys they gave us a sack of potatoes which we divided among us.



	On the 20th we traveled fifteen miles and came to Echo Canyon, a beautiful valley.



	On the 21st, after traveling fifteen miles, we came to Weber River where Echo Canyon ends. At noon we camped two miles from a settlement and near a mail station. When we were ready to move on again one of our men got into a fuss with some of the men at the mail station who had driven his cows in among our man’s mules, and in the end our man was stabbed in the back with a knife. We were unable to catch the fellow who did this and the affair delayed us to the extent that we only traveled two miles from our noon camp.



	On the 22nd we left the river and traveled up through a narrow pass for thirteen miles and camped on a creek. Here the fourteen-year-old daughter of the family we had picked up at Green River, died, and was buried.



	On the 23rd we had to go up quite a steep mountain, and crossed the river many times. At 4:45 in the afternoon we reached the top of Big Mountain where we got our first glimpse of the western edge of the Great Salt Lake Valley. With joy and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for bringing us thus far in safety, we gave three rousing cheers in honor of our future blessed home. We went five miles down the mountain side and camped near a post office with Brother Ifhenk.



	THE JOURNEY’S END



	On the 24th of September, 1860, we took up our handcarts for the last time; we pulled them fourteen miles on to the camp grounds in Salt Lake City. Here we set them down, never more to realize how heavy they had been, how hard to pull.

Transcript for Fjeld, Carl Johan Ellefsen, [Autobiography], in Andrew Fjeld, comp., A Brief History of the Fjeld-Fields Family [1946], 20-26

Hafen, Mary Ann, Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860 [1938], 21-26

Hafen, Mary Ann, Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860 [1938], 21-26.

When we reached Florence, Nebraska, near present Omaha, we were forced to stop for a while because there were no teams enough to take us across the plains to Salt Lake City. The men set to work making handcarts and my father, being a carpenter, helped to make thirty-three of them. Ours was a small two-wheeled vehicle with two shafts and a cover on top. The carts were very much like those the street sweepers use in the cities today, except that ours were made entirely of wood without even an iron rim.	
When we came to load up our belongings we found that we had more than we could take. Mother was forced to leave behind her feather bed, the bolt of linen, two large trunks full of clothes, and some other valuable things which we needed so badly later. Father could take only his most necessary tools.	
My son Roy in his research in Western history, has made a special study of the handcart companies that crossed the Plains to Utah, from 1856 to 1860. There were 2,969 persons, using 662 carts. Five of the companies crossed in 1856. The last two of these started too late—leaving Florence on August 16 and 27 respectively. They were caught by early snows in present Wyoming and suffered terribly. The fourth company, comprising 500 persons, lost over sixty; and the fifth company, of 576 persons, lost between 135 and 150 through freezing and starvation. Compared to them, our company was very fortunate and got along real well. 	
He says our company was the tenth and last to cross the Plains in handcarts. We had crossed the ocean in the William Tapscott, leaving England on May 11th and reaching New York on June 16th. There were 731 Mormons on board this vessel, including 312 from Scandinavia and 85 from Switzerland. Not all of these were to go by handcart, however.	
Our company was organized with Oscar O. Stoddard as captain. It contained 126 persons with twenty-two handcarts and three provision wagons drawn by oxen. We set out from Florence on July 6, 1860, for our thousand-mile trip. There were six to our cart. Father [Samuel Stucki] and mother [Magdalena Stettler Stucki] pulled it; Rosie (two years old) and Christian (six months old) rode; John (nine) and I (six) walked. Sometimes, when it was down hill, they let me ride too.	
The first night out the mosquitoes gave us a hearty welcome. Father had bought a cow to take along, so we could have milk on the way. At first he tied her to the back of the cart, but she would sometimes hang back, so he thought he would make a harness and have her pull the cart while he led her. By this time mother’s feet were so swollen that she could not wear shoes, but had to wrap her feet with cloth. Father thought that by having the cow pull the cart mother might ride. This worked well for some time.
One day a group of Indians came riding up on horses. Their jingling trinkets, dragging poles and strange appearance frightened the cow and sent her chasing off with the cart and children. We were afraid that the children might be killed, but the cow fell into a deep gully and the cart turned upside down. Although the children were under the trunk and bedding, they were unhurt, but after that father did not hitch the cow to the cart again. He let three Danish boys take her to hitch to their cart. Then the Danish boys, each in turn, would help father pull our cart.	
Of course we had many other difficulties. One was that it was hard for the carts to keep up with the three provision wagons drawn by ox teams. Often the men pulling the carts would try to take shortcuts through the brush and sand in order to keep up.
After about three weeks my mother’s feet became better so she could wear her shoes again. She would get so discouraged and down-hearted; but father never lost courage. He would always cheer her up by telling her that we were going to Zion, that the Lord would take care of us, and that better times were coming.	
Even when it rained the company did not stop traveling. A cover on the handcart shielded the two younger children. The rest of us found it more comfortable moving than standing still in the drizzle. In fording streams the men often carried the children and weaker women across on their backs. The company stopped over on Sundays for rest, and meetings were held for spiritual comfort and guidance. At night, when the handcarts were drawn up in a circle and the fires were lighted, the camp looked quite happy. Singing, music and speeches by the leaders cheered everyone. I remember that we stopped one night at an old Indian camp ground. There were many bright-colored beads in the ant hills.
At times we met or were passed by the overland stage coach with its passengers and mail bags and drawn by four fine horses. When the Pony Express dashed past it seemed almost like the wind racing over the prairie.
Our provisions began to get low. One day a herd of buffalo ran past and the men of our company shot two of them. Such a feast as we had when they were dressed. Each family was given a piece of meat to take along. My brother John, who pushed at the back of our cart, used to tell how hungry he was all the time and how tired he got from pushing. He said he felt that if he could just sit down for a few minutes he would feel so much better. But instead, father would ask if he couldn’t push a little harder. Mother was nursing the baby and could not help much, especially when the food ran short and she grew weak. When rations were reduced father gave mother a part of his share of the food, so he was not so strong either.	
When we got that chunk of buffalo meat father put it in the handcart. My brother John remembered that it was the fore part of the week and that father said we would save it for Sunday dinner. John said, "I was so very hungry and the meat smelled so good to me while pushing at the handcart that I could not resist. I had a little pocket knife and with it I cut off a piece or two each half day. Although I was afraid of getting a severe whipping after cutting a little the first few times, I could not resist taking a little each half day. I would chew it so long it got perfectly tasteless. When father went to get the meat on Sunday noon he asked me if I had been cutting off some of the meat. I said ‘Yes, I was so hungry I could not let it alone.’ Instead of giving me a scolding or whipping, father turned away and wiped tears from his eyes.”	
Even when we were on short rations, if we met a band of Indians the Captain of our Company would give them some of the provisions so the Indians would let us go by in safety. Food finally became so slow that word was sent to Salt Lake City and in about two weeks fresh supplies arrived.	
At last, when we reached the top of Emigration Canyon, overlooking Salt Lake, on that September day, 1860, the whole company stopped to look down through the valley. Some yelled and tossed their hats in the air. A shout of joy arose at the thought that our long trip was over, that we had at last reached Zion, the place of rest. We all gave thanks to God for helping us safely over the Plains and mountains to our destination.

Transcript for Hafen, Mary Ann, Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860 [1938], 21-26

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1860: Page 34.

Oscar O. Stoddard report

"Oscar O. Stoddard report", CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, September 24, 1860, Page 2-7.

The second hand cart company of the season under Capt. Oscar O. Stoddard arrived in G.S.L. City, having left Florence, July 6th &lt;1860&gt; with 126 persons and 22 handcarts. These were the last immigrants who crossed the plains with handcarts.	
Following is a brief account of Elder Stoddard's mission and the journey across the plains of his handcart company. "This may certify that Oscar O. Stoddard and father started from Salt Lake City, May 7, 1859, for Michigan, U. S., arrived in Florence, N. T., the 15th of July, traveling most of the way &lt;on foot, then walked most of the way&gt; through Iowa and Illinois to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where we arrived on the 18th of August. &lt;Here we&gt; found a few saints who were glad to see us. Stayed a week there, went to Lappahauville, where on the 28th of August we baptized Martin T. Frost, and on the 19th of October, at Howell, Livingston Co. baptized my brother, Henry C. Stoddard; and on the 2nd of April, 1860, baptized Benjamin H. Briggs, his wife and daughter, in the town of Haudy, Livingston Co., Michigan. <s>ahe</s> &lt;The&gt; next day my father, my brother and myself started on our return to the Valley. We walked most of the way to Iowa City, where we stopped, three weeks, for a company of the saints to get ready to emigrate, when we came on and assisted them in getting to Florence, where we arrived on the 15th of June. Father started in two or three days and came on in Capt. John Smith's company. I remained with my brother in Florence till Bro. Geo. Q. Cannon came up with the saints, when he chose me to take charge of the second handcart company, and we left Florence the 6th of July, and came on us as well as we expected. <s>Had</s> &lt;We had&gt; a very good trip across the plains and arrived in Salt Lake City, the 24th of September, 1860, all (with one or two exceptions) in good health and spirits, not leaving any on the road, bringing every one that started with us from Florence, and all who joined us on the road. On the 24th of July I baptized one person in the Platte river, and on the 2nd of August baptized three more in the Platte, making nine persons in all while on this mission, and having traveled about 5,000 miles, most of the way on foot." Captain Stoddard also wrote the following:	
 "The following are a few incidents of travel that took place on the plains in the summer of 1860, in the last hand-cart company, of which I had been appointed captain by George Q. Cannon, Emigration agent for that year, Although not fully equipped we went into camp with the carts on the evening of the 4th of July, 1860, and did not camp two nights on the same ground from that time till we did it on the 8th Ward Square of Salt Lake City.	
It was three days before we fairly got all together, wagons, teams and hand-carts. There were 21 hand-carts and seven wagons with three yoke of oxen to each wagon and there were also with us, traveling in their own teams, Stephen Taylor and family, also Brother Paul and family from South Africa followed us up and joined us about the third day out and by the advice of Bro. Cannon, Bro. Paul was chosen chaplain over the English speaking portions of the company, Bro. Christian Christiansen having been chosen caplain of the Scandinavian &lt;and&gt; Swiss portion. Owing to the minutes of the journey being taken at the time with a lead pencil, they became illegible before I had an opportunity of copying them, so I am writing from memory and I cannot remember the number of souls who were in the company at the start. Bro. Cannon told them at the start if they would be humble and faithful not one of them <s>not one of them</s> should die on the road to the Valley, which was literally fulfilled, as everyone who started from Florence with us came into Great Salt Lake City, with us except <s>except</s> a Swedish girl whom her parents left with Bro. Myers at Bear River and we also picked up others on the road. A Bro. Chapman and family, with wagon and team, joined us at Genoa &lt;a sister&gt; left by some former company was taken up by us at Wood River. She had had much sickness and had lost three children by death and a mother and daughter then stick [sick] unto death but they were so anxious to come to the Valley that we took them in and brought them along. The sick daughter died in East Canyon, a few miles below the food of the Big Mountain and was buried there. 	
And now I will mention a few incidents wherein the Lord blessed us in a special manner. First, just after leaving Wood River and reaching the Platte, while camped at noon, Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Bro. Taylor spoken of as traveling with us, with his family while sitting on some bed clothes spread in the shade of a wagon, not feeling very well, was seized with spasms and twitching till it seemed as though she was going to die. I was called by a Sister [Eliza] Rogers, who was by her, to administer to her, and seeing her condition I was wondering what could be the matter and felt fearful and she was going to leave us immediately. With humble and diffident feeling, I laid my hands upon her head and almost mechanically rebuked the evil spirits and in the name of Jesus Christ commanded them to depart and leave her system. Immediately her paroxyms ceased and she spoke to us and asked why we did not let her go, why we called her back to this world of trouble—During her convalescense she informed Sister Rogers (the sister who was with her) that while at Council Bluffs spiritualism was was quite common and that in the family where she resided they often had sittings or circles, headed by the circuit preachers, and after a while they induced her to sit at the table with them when it was discovered that she was the strongest medium among them and astonished them at the manifestations give through her. They obtained such a hold over her that she began to feel and fear their influences and resolved to break away from them when some of the spirits, prominent among them an Indian doctor, informed her as she was intending to go to Salt Lake City she would not live to get there, for they would come and get her, when she got to the Platte River. The result of their attempt to carry her off we have seen, but the sequel is yet to be told.	
When Sister Rogers told me the foregoing, I immediately told Sister Elizabeth she should go to Salt Lake City, but she would have to go there through the Platte River; she would have to be baptized in the Platte. So on the 25th of July we camped on the Platte and held a celebration and looked up a place to baptize in, and the weather was nice and clear, but as we repaired to the river side to perform the ordinances of baptism the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds and a severe wind arose, raising the waves in the river till they looked fearful and almost discouraged us from doing our work, especially as to all appearance it looked like keeping up for the day. But a calm feeling came over me and I mildly said: "Brothers and sisters, let us proceed with our preparations, sing, pray and get ready and if your faith is sufficient, we will yet be able to do our work. We kept on getting ready and when we had finished the weather was clear and serene and the water was without a ripple and we finished our work unmolested. That evening Bros. George Q. Cannon, Horace S. Eldredge, Wm. H. Hooper and others passed our camp on the road to the valley.	
As for Sister Elizabeth, she came in to the Valley, got married and became the mother of five daughters &lt;and&gt; three sons, all of whom except one daughter are now living and call me father and she has never been troubled with those spirits since.	
The next incident I will mention is crossing the Platte river at Laramie. Having traveled up the Platte on the north side and found it to be a rough, hilly road, east and bad for hand-carts between Laramie and the Upper Crossing I thought I would try and cross the North Platte at Laramie and travel up the south side of it and &lt;as&gt; there were some in the company who were timid about crossing with handcarts. I was in a quandary what to do about it. We camped about four miles below Laramie and during the night I dreamed I saw ourselves camped on the side of the river and when I told my dream it seemed to allay all fears, so we started at sunrise and moved camp up the river till opposite Laramie. Then the sisters did their washing while we overhauled our provisions, issued rations, increasing the rations of flour from a pound a head per day, which had been issued up till that time, up to one and a quarter pound a head her day and hunted up a ford and prepared to cross. We hitched up all ready and drove one wagon over, unloaded it, came back and took in the loads of the hand-carts and then went over with them, leaving the empty carts <s>and then went over with them</s> to haul over by hand, I helping to haul over the first one myself, none but the men hauling &lt;the carts&gt; over the river. The women and children were hauled over in the wagons and we were over and in camp two miles up the river at sundown. 	
The next incident of moment was at Independence Rock on the Sweetwater river. I got a letter from Bro. Cannon informing me there was 14 sacks of flour for me at the Three Crossings of the Sweetwater. When I arrived at the Three Crossings we found a man there with the flour which we took into the wagons and from that raised our rations of flour to a pound an a half <s>pounds</s> per head per day, which we kept up till we arrived in Salt Lake City. At the first camp this (the west side) of Quaking Asp Ridge, A few teams from the Valley passed us and camped a short distance east of us and they came back and spent the evening with us, enjoying themselves as young folks will, till between ten and eleven o'clock, when they started for &lt;their&gt; camp and feeling jolly, hurrahed, fired off pistols, shouted etc. and the Danish Saints, having gone to bed in a tent and all asleep, being suddenly aroused, by the uproar, were frightened and some one shouted "Indians" which created a panic and a rush was made for the tent door to get outside. Bro. Christiansen, their chaplain, a small man, lying at the tent door, started to go with the rest, but the rush was too soon and powerful for him, and he was trampled under foot till the tent was cleared when he found himself free, but with a shoulder out of joint with the knuckle below the socket. The next morning, one of the brethren by using his knee as a lever, tried to pull his arm out and pry the shoulder in place. After three or four unsuccessful attempts, he begged him to stop as he could stand the pulling no longer. I was then informed of the circumstance and went to him and found him with his arm in a sling but able to be around. We managed to get him on the camp pony and let him ride along the road as the camp moved along, till we camped at night. Hopping to find a chance to send him forward into the city, but did not. In the evening, just after prayers and as we were preparing for bed he sent for me to come to and administer to him. I complied and anointed his shoulder as well as his head with consecrated oil and in confirming the anointing with my hands upon his head, I prayed for the muscles and sinews to relax that the joint may have room to get to its place. After I got through administering to him I said: "Bro. Christiansen, go to bed and to sleep and if you will have faith you shall wake up in the morning with your shoulder in its place", and he said: "I believe you Captain", after which I went to bed and the first thing I heard in the morning, the Danish interpreter called me and said: "Captain Christiansen's shoulder is in its place as you told him last night it would be". And so it was an did not trouble him any more to my knowledge, though I have never seen him since he left the camp ground in Salt Lake City.	
One more incident and I will close this narration. When we got to the mouth of Echo Canyon we stopped to noon and turned out our cattle near a mail station, and when we hitched up for the afternoon start, Bro. Paul, our chaplain, missed a cow of his, just as the train started. He went back to look for it and found it shut up in a pen and on going to let her out he was accosted by the stage driver who also was stopping for noon, who demanded him to desist and drew out a pocket knife and stabbed him in the back, near the shoulder blade. Bro. Paul came on after the train and on his coming up word was brought forward to me and I went back to the station on horse back. Among the passengers on the incoming stage was a district judge for Utah and he told me the case should be looked into and for me to take the cow and as soon as he arrived in the city he would have the case put into the hands of the Prosecuting Attorney and attended to. I came on with the cow and that is the last I ever heard of the affair, but when we were coming up the Big Mountain we met the driver going down with the outgoing stage having changed teams with the driver of the same, when they met. I have never seen him to know him since. The judge came in to the city but did not stay long; he left with Governor Dawson; his name I think was Crosby.	
We landed on the Eighth Ward Square in Salt Lake City on the 24th day of September, 1860, having just dealt out one weeks rations and also meeting, on the square, persons, under the direction of the Bishopric, with vegetables, molasses, provisions, etc. which were distributed among them as needed or required <s>them</s> so they were well received and I must say, according to the best of my understanding and knowledge, that this, the last hand-cart company, came across the plains in as good condition as any one of them.	
There was one incident that happened that I regretted and it caused me some anxiety at the time but I soon gained the ascendency over the difficulty. It was this: Bro. George Q. Cannon in selecting teamsters to drive the teams with the wagons taking the provisions and extra freight of the company chose a couple that had come down from the Valley that season with Joseph W. Young on a trial trip to try the feasibility of oxen making the trip from the Valley to the Missouri River and back in one season and it proved a success and thus there was no more need for hand-carts. One of these teamsters was Danish and was to act as interpreter for me to communicate with the Danish Saints and the other, as having a little experience, was to have charge of the teams when it was necessary for me to be absent from them with the hand-carts. I trusted him and, at his request, nominated him before the company as wagon-master in my absence and it soon turned out that he got it into his head that he had sole charge of the wagons and had a right to sit in judgment upon the members of the company who were traveling with their own wagons. Accordingly, he cited Bro. Paul, our chaplain, to appear before the council of his teamsters to answer to certain charges and when Bro. Paul asked the privilege of bringing witnesses he was refused. I thought it time for me to interfere and I told Bro. Paul that he need not answer the summons, if he was refused witnesses, upon which the wagon-master asserted his claim as independent master of the wagons, whether I was present or absent. I gave him to understand that when the wagons and hand-carts were together, they were all under my charge and he was supposed to be included with them, as I was captain of the company. If he had had his will it was his intention to rule over the people like a tyrant but meeting with a determined check he subsided and threatened me with a High Council trial when we got to the City and took notes of my actions from that time on but his charges were not noticed and I never heard from them again. This was the most unpleasant incident of the journey."	
The following details of the Stoddard Hand-cart Company were addressed to Elder Junius F. Wells, Editor of the "Contributor". The communication is not dated but Elder Stoddard wrote: "I send you the foregoing communication as Bro. Palmer thought you would like it when I informed him that I led the last company of handcarts.	
<center>				Yours truly in the Gospel of Jesus Christ 					OSCAR O. STODDARD</center>

Transcript for Stoddard, Oscar O., Report, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24 Sept. 1860, 2-7

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

Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883

Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">May 1858</center>



Saturday 25th Crossed the river to Florence to make preparation for starting Monday[.] found the Brethren making active preparation for starting



Sun 30th rained this forenoon[.] Staid at Bro Binneys to Supper[.] slept in camp house[.] this afternoon out at Bro Davenports &amp; staid there over night



Mon 31st active preparations for starting[.] one team got ready &amp; started out ahead



Tues June 1st to day Bro Clark rushed me to go to Crescent to get a horse for him[.] I went but the horse was not purchased so I came back &amp; staid at the Kinneys[.] had the ague on the way[.] found the camp had all left &amp; gone out a few miles



Wed 2nd after breakfast I went to br pypers store &amp; found the company now left a bundle[.] a James pyper came with me to the first division of the camp when we soon after started &amp; soon came up unto the second division &amp; all together made 14 miles &amp; camped on the Horn river[.] a very heavy rain made bad road



Thurs 3d last night another heavy rain[.] soon after starting we overtook three more of our wagons &amp; after traveling 20 miles camped



Frid 4th after breakfast started &amp; came about 12 miles &amp; nooned on the Platte[.] came on &amp; crossed Shell creek &amp; afterwards found a great deal of water to go through from the overflowing of Shell Creek[.] camped on a slough no timber[.] made 25 m[iles]



Sat 5th started in good season[.] crossed a slough[.] soon after very deep water came nearly over the wagon bed &amp; just at noon crossed another about as bad[.] nooned &amp; dried our things then came on &amp; camped on Loup Fork[.] made 18 miles[.] some returned teamsters from camp Scott passed us to day &amp; some others came to camp this evening who gave us to understand their minds were that we could hardly get to Salt lake[.] they gave exagerated accounts of the number of troops placing them double the number they actually were



Sun 6th came on in the morning &amp; near noon met Col. Kane with an escort of Mountain boys who brought the correct news from the Valley[.] Governor Cumming had gone in &amp; seemed disposed to do justice[.] Col Kane was leaving dispatched to Washington[.] we all nooned together[.] Bro [Hector C.] Haight read a letter from President Brigham Young &amp; after dinner we came on to [.eno.] attended meeting just at night



Mon 7th got sister Hough to bake some bread for us[.] we spent the day in crossing Loup fork[.] Just got over &amp; camped near the river for night



Tues 8th got a late start[.] drove on about 20 miles &amp; camped on the prairie[.] organized by chosing H.S. Eldredge Captain[,] H.C. Haight Chaplain &amp; J. W. Young Sergeant of the Guard[.] prayer [......] &lt;to night&gt;



Wed 9th this morning started at half past 4[.] drove 3 or 4 miles &amp; stopped for breakfast then came on about 10 m &amp; stopped for dinner[.] a damp lousy day &amp; the roads heavy making it hard for the teams[.] crossed a number of sloughs with water in, one of them near ¼ mile in width then came on about 19 miles farther &amp; camped near night without water



Thurs 10th started early &amp; traveled about 12 miles &amp; stopped for breakfast by [a..] all slough then came on about 6 miles farther &amp; stopped for noon after crossing Prairie creek[.] after dinner came on [....] 10 m &amp; camped on Prairie Creek over night



Fri 11th came on about 12 miles to Wood river &amp; in about 3 hours built a bridge &amp; crossed then came about 12 or 14 miles farther &amp; camped on the open prairie in sight of the Platte nearly opposite fort Kearny



Sat 12th Came on 13 M &amp; nooned on Elm creek &amp; soon after starting Bro John Gleasons team ran away &amp; came near starting the whole train[.] they ran about three miles &amp; hindered us about two hours then we came about twelve m farther &amp; camped on Buffalo Creek



Sun 13th traveled 15 miles &amp; nooned on buffalo Creek after crossing &amp; this afternoon saw a train on the South side of platte[.] came about 12 m[.] got supper then went 8 m farther &amp; camped on the prairie[.] feed poor



Mon 14th Most of the day was hard traveling[.] roads sandy[.] traveled 25 miles[.] camped at a large clear spring of cold water



Tues 15th started in good season &amp; after traveling about 5 miles we saw some Indians coming towards us from the bluffs &amp; soon after we came to their camp[.] these were about 30 of them[.] we gave them something to eat with which they seemed well pleased &amp; then we left them &amp; came on &amp; nooned on the platte[.] this afternoon we drove till about 4[,] got supper &amp; fed &amp; drove on till after dark &amp; camped on the platt[e] having made 21 &amp; crossed a number of tall sloughs &amp; one creek[.] very warm day



Wed 16th crossed some sandy bluffs &amp; some low marshy ground[.] hard road all day[.] passed quite a number of Indians[.] some of the horses got skared[.] camped on rattlesnake creek



Thurs 17thCame on 31 miles &amp; camped on Watch creek 3 miles above Ash hollow[.] passed some very sandy road



Frid 18th came on 34 miles &amp; camped near Ancient bluff ruins[.] passed 20 lodging indians



Sat 19th Started early[.] passed the ruins[.] had some Sandy road[.] came on 30 miles &amp; camped a few miles below chimney rock[.] saw one or two trains going down over the platte



Sund 20th started &amp; came 10 or 12 M &amp; stopped to let the horses rest[.] had a meeting[.] very warm[.] there came up a hevy storm just as we were getting readyto start but it passed over without any injury to us[.] after we had started it turned &amp; came back &amp; gave us some rain which did not last long &amp; we continued &amp; camped near scotts bluffs



Mon 21st came on about 10 miles &amp; moved then came nearly as much further &amp; got supper <s>camped</s> near the river when there was plenty of wood to cook with[.] saw 4 or 5 trains going down on the other side of the river[.] also a few Indian were in Sight on the other side[.] we then came on till after 11 o clock &amp; had to camp without water &amp; very little grass



Tues 22nd got up our trains early &amp; came on about 5 miles &amp; camped near the river &amp; found wood water &amp; grass[.] some Indians came to us while we were eating breakfast who were camped on ahead[.] after breakfast we came on and passed them &amp; came on &amp; nooned[.] About 7 M below fort Laramye [Laramie.] passed it came on 10 or 1l M &amp; camped in the Black Hills



Wed 23rd started this morning &amp; came on 11 or [12] M &amp; nooned on the platt[e.] soon after starting I saw 2 Elk but they got away from us[.] we came on about 12 m &amp; stopped for supper at cottonwood springs then drove on about 9 m &amp; camped at 11 o clock on the open prairie without water[.] teams quite tired



Thurs 24 started soon after 4 o clock &amp; drove on 9 miles &amp; got breakfast near a creek with little water[.] after leaving there we came to the river in 1 mile &amp; supposed we would strike it again soon but drove on near 25 m before we came to it[.] horses quite tired &amp; very thirsty[.] we found good feed &amp; let them rest til 5 or 6 o clock[.] then came on about 5 miles &amp; camped in good season on the river



Frid 25 came on about 2 m &amp; came to the river then some six or seven in our rough mountainous country &amp; came to the river &amp; nooned[.] had a very good road for a no. of ms[.] took supper near the river today[.] came over some very sandy road &amp; camped



Sat 26th after driving 6 or 8 m we came to a mail station at the mouth of Deer creek &amp; the company stopped &amp; traded some with the traders[.] we then came on &amp; had some very sandy road till supper after which we had quite a good road till we camped for the night[.] the road keeps near the river all the way along here



Sun 27th came on 9 m to Platt[e] bridge[.] stopped &amp; traded a little then came to the upper ford 3 m &amp; nooned[.] then some 16 m to Mineral springs &amp; camped



Mon 28th after breakfast we came on 13 miles &amp; nooned near Willow spring[.] there were some mountaineers in camp[.] after dinner we came 15 m to Greasewood creek &amp; took supper here and met two families from the valley Beaubrer &amp; Hoops[.] we then came 10 or 11 m &amp; camped on Sweet water river A M near Independence rock



Tues 29th came on past devils gate &amp; nooned on sweet water then took supper about 10 M farther then drove 10 m further &amp; camped on sweet water[.] feed poor[.] passed a train of goods going up



Wed 30th started &amp; soon passed some California emigrants[.] came on to two crossings of the sweet water[.] came on [.] m further &amp; took supper[.] we took [- - - -] came on 12 miles further &amp; camped without water [.] poor feed



Thurs July 1st started at half past 9[.] came on 3 or 4 miles[.] found some water then moved on some 6 or 7 m farther &amp; camped for breakfast on Muddy Creek[.] came on 10 m farther &amp; got dinner then 10 m farther came to sweetwater[.] there Sidney &amp; I stopped on the bench[.] had a storm during the night



Frid 2nd came on 14 m &amp; stopped for dinner on the sweet water within 2 m of south pass[.] came on over only [10] m [.] stoped for supper without water[.] cam 10 m farther[.] stopped at 12 o clock[.] plenty of water[.] poor feed



Sat 3d came on 10 m &amp; nooned on little sandy creek[.] then came on 13 m further &amp; camped on Big Sandy Creek



Sun 4th came on 10 m &amp; nooned on Big Sandy[.] Joined a company of apostates from the Valley. then came on to [-] tobrt[.] camped for 2 hours[.] got supper then ferried over and cam on 2 m &amp; camped on the bench where there was good feed



Mon 5th started about half past 2 o clock[.] came on 12 m to Blacks fork &amp; stopped for breakfast &amp; then [- - - - - - - - -] &amp; nooned [- - -] then camped [- - -] on the muddy[.] poor feed



Tues 6th Started at ½ past 7 o clock and came on about 10 m and stopped for breakfast [- -] then came 13 m farther to fort Bridger [- - - -] then came 2 m and stopped at [- - - - - -] before the camp[.] started [- - - -] to leave us behind &amp; they go on ahead into the valley and make the best of our way in so we staid over night



Wed 7th came on 4 m &amp; nooned at [. . . . . . . . .] came on 7 m farther &amp; camped at [- - - - -] a couple [- - -] [. . . . . . . gir.] soldiers staid &lt;in&gt; with



Thur 8th came on 7 m to Bear river[.] baided [bated] a short time then came on 5 m farther &amp; nooned[.] then came 11 m farther to Cache care at the head of echo Kanyon [Canyon] &amp; camped[.] met quite a number of teams going out on the road of [...] goods for Livingston &amp; Kincaid.



Frid 9 th this morning while we were eating breakfast a larg number of [- - - - - - -] after which we hitched up &amp; came on 15 m down Echo Kanyon [Canyon] &amp; nooned[.] then came &amp; crossed over Weber river &amp; camped for the night[.] good feed for horses



Sat 10th came on 12 m &amp; nooned on E[ast] Kanyon [Canyon] creek[.] then came on &amp; camped for the night at West foot of Big Mountain[.] hudsons horses were so tired we did not get in till 12 o clock



Sun 11th Started in the morning and drove 14 m and arrived in GSL City having been absent about 2 years &amp; 5 months &amp; traveled near 10,000 miles

Transcript for Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883

Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883, 295-307

Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883, 295-307.

A few incidents of travel that took place on the plains the summer of 1860 in the last Hand cart company of which I had been appointed Captain by George Q. Cannon Emigration agent for that year[.] although not fully equipped we went into camp, on the evening of the fourth of July and never camped two nights on the same ground from that time till we did it on the 8th Ward square in Salt Lake city[.] it was three days before we fairly got all together[:] wagons[,] teams[,] &amp; Hand Carts[.] there were 21 Hand Carts and 7 wagons with three yokes of Oxen to each wagon and there were also with us traveling with their own team[,] Stephen Taylor and family[.] also a brother [Nicholas] Paul and family from South Africa followed us up and joined us about the Sixth day out and by the advice of Bro Cannon[,] Bro [Nicholas] Paul was chosen Chaplain over the english speaking portion of the company[.] Bro Christian Christiansen [Christensen] having been chosen chaplain of the Second anarcian and swits Swiss portion[.] owing to the Minutes of the journey being taken at the time with a lead pencil[,] they became illegible before I had an opportunity of copying them so I am writing from memory and I cannot remember the number of souls who were in the company at the start[,] but Bro Cannon told them at the start if they would humble &amp; faithful not one of them should die on the road to the valley which was literally fulfilled as every one who started from florence with us came into Salt Lake city with us except A Sweedish girl whom her parents left with Bro Myers at Bear river and we also picked up others on the road[.] a Bro Chapman &amp; family with wagon and team joined us at Genoa[.] left by some former company was taken up by us at Wood river and brought to the Valley[.] also a family named [John] Cherrington whom we found at Green river who had had much sickness and had lost three children by death and another a Daughter then sick unto but they were so anxious to come to the valley that we took in and brought them along[.] the sick daughter died in East Canyon a few miles below the foot of the big Mountain and was buried there and now I will mention a few incidents where in the Lord blessed us in A special manner



first just after leaving wood river and reaching the Platte while camped at noon[,] Elizabeth Taylor daughter of the Bro Taylor spoken of as traveling with us with his family[,] while sitting on some bed clothes, spread in the shade of a wagon (not feeling very well), was seized with spasms and severe jerking and twitching till it seemed as though she was going to die[.] I was called by a sister Rogers who was by her to administer to her and seeing her condition was wondering what could be the matter and felt fearful she was going to leave us[.] immediately and with a humble and diffident feeling I laid my hands upon her head and, almost mechanically rebuked the evil spirits and in the name of jesus Christ commanded them to depart and leave her system[;] when immediately her paroxysms ceased and she spoke to us and asked, why we did not let her go[?] why &lt;we&gt; called her back to the world of trouble[?] She had got past all pain and was going off in a nice four horse carriage finely caparisioned during her convalescence &lt;she&gt; informed Sister Roger (the sister who was with her) that while at Council Bluffs spiritualism was quite common and that in the family where she resided they often had sittings or circles headed by the circuit preacher and after a while they induced her, to sit at the table with them when it was discovered she was the strongest medium among them and astonished them at the manifestations given through her[.] they obtained such a hold over her that she began to feel and feare &lt;fear&gt; their influences and resolved to break away from them[.] when some of of the Spirits[,] prominent among them[,] an Indian doctor[,] informed her as she was intending to go to Salt Lake city[,] she would not live to get there for they would come and get her when she got to the Platte river[.] the result of their attempting to carry her off we have seen but the sequel is yet to be told[.] when Sister Rogers told me the foregoing I immediately told Sister Elizabeth she should go to salt Lake City but she would have to go there through the Platte river[.] she would have to be baptized in the Platte so on the 24th of July we camped on the Platte and held a Celebration and looked up a place to baptize in and the weather was nice and clear[,] but as we repaired to the river side to perform the ordinance of baptism the sky be came suddenly over cast with clouds and a severe wind arose raising the waves in the river till they looked fearful and almost discouraging us from doing our work especially as to all appearances it looked like keeping up for the day[,] but a calm feeling came over me and I mildly said Brothers &amp; Sisters let us proceed with our preparations sing[,] pray and get ready and if your faith is sufficient we will yet be able to do our work[.] we kept on getting ready and when we had finished the weather was clear and serene and the water was without a ripple and we finished our work unmolested[.] that evening Bros. G.Q. Cannon[,] H.L. Eldredge[,] W. H. Hooper and others passed our camp on the road to the valley[.] as for Sister Elizabeth she came into the Valley[,] got married and be came the mother of five daughters and three sons all of whom except one daughter are now living and call me father and she has never been troubled with those spirits since.



the next incident I will mention is crossing the Platte river at Laramie[.] having traveled down the Platte on the north side and found it to be a rough hilly road and bad for Hand carts between Laramie and the upper crossing[.] I thought I would try and cross the North Platte at Laramie and travel up the south side of it and as there were some in the company who were timid about crossing with the Hand carts I was in a quandary what to do about it[.] we camped about 4 miles below Laramie and during the night I dreamed I saw ourselves camped on the other side of the river and when I told my dream it seemed to allay all fears so we started at sunrise and moved camp up the river till opposite Laramie[.] then the sisters did their washing while we overhauled our provisions[,] issued ration[s] increasing the rations of flour from a lb a head per day which had been issued up till that time up to 1¼ lbs per head p[e]r day, and hunted up a ford and prepared to cross[.] we hitched up when ready and drove one wagon over unloaded[.] it came back and took in the loads of the Hand carts and then went over with them leaving the empty &lt;carts&gt; to haul over by hand[.] I helping to haul over the first one myself[.] none but the men haul[in]g the carts over &lt;the river&gt; the women and children being hauled over in the wagons and we were in camp over and in Camp 2 miles up the river at sun down [.] the next incident of moment at Independence rock on the sweet water river I got a letter from Bro cannon informing me there was 14 sacks of flour for me at the three crossings of the sweet water when I arrived at the three […] &lt;crossings&gt;[,] we found a man there with the flour which we took into the wagon and from that raised our rations of flour to 1½ lbs p[e]r head p[e]r day, which we kept up till we arrived in Salt Leake city. at the first camp this the west side of quaking asp ridge a few teams from the Valley pass[e]d us &amp; camped a short distance East of [us] and they came back and spent the Evening with us and enjoying themselves as young folks will till between 10 &amp; 11 O clock[.] when they started for &lt;their&gt; camp and feeling jolly hurrahed[,] fired off Pistols[,] shouted &amp;ce. and the Danish Saints having gone to bed in a tent and all asleep [,] being suddenly aroused by the uproar were frightened and some one shouting Indians[.] it created a panic and a rush was made for the tent door to get outside[.] Bro christian Christiansen[,] their Chaplain[,] a small man lying at the tent door[,] started to go with the rest but the rush was too soon and powerful for him and he was trampled underfoot till the tent was cleared when he found himself free but with a shoulder out of joint with the knuckle below the socket[.] the next morning one of the brethren by using his heel as a fulcrum tried to pull his arm out and pry the shoulder in place[.] after three of four unsuccessful attempts[,] he begged him to stop as he could stand &lt;the pulling&gt; [..] no longer[.] I was then informed of the circumstance and went to him and found him with his arm in a sling but able to be around[.] we managed to get him on the Camp pony and let him ride along the road as the camp moved along till we camped at night[,] hoping to find some chance to send him forward into the city but did not and in the evening just after prayers and the camp we were preparing for bed he sent for me to come and administer to him[.] I complied and annointed with his shoulder as well as his head with consecrated oil and in confirming the annointing with my hands upon his head I prayed for the muscles and sinews to relax that the joint might have room to get to its place and after I got through administering I told said Bro Christiansen go to bed and go to sleep and if you will have faith you shall wake up in the Morning with your shoulder in with &lt;its&gt; place[,] and he said[,] I believe you captain[.] after which I went to bed and the first thing I heard in the morning[,] the Danish Interpreter called me and said[, ] Captain, Christiansens shoulder is in its place as you told him last night it would be and so it was and did not trouble him any more to my knowledge though I have never seen him since he left the camp ground in salt Lake city



one more incident and I will close this narration[.] when we got to the mouth of Echo Canyon we stopped to noon and turned out our cattle near a Mail Station and when we hitched up for the afternoon start Bro Paul our chaplain missed a cow of his as the train started[.] He went back to look for it and found it shut up in a pen and on going to let her out he was accosted by the Stage driver who was also stopping for noon who demanded him to desist and drew out a pocket knife and stabbed him in the back near the shoulder blade[.] he came on after the train[.] on his coming up word was brought forward to me and I went back to the Station on horse back and among the passengers on the in coming stage was a district judge for Utah[.] he told me the case should be looked into and for me to take the cow and as soon as he arrived in the city he would have the case put into the hands of the prosecuting attorney and attended to. I came on with the cow and that is the last I ever heard of the scrape, but when we were coming up the big Mountain we met the driver going down with the out going stage having changed teams with the driver of the same when they met and I have never seen him to know him since. the judge came in and I think qualified but did not stay long nor gain a very honorable name or to cause &lt;reason&gt; his name to be had in very honorable remembrance [-] but as I remember his name &lt;it&gt; was to over Judge Crosby and left with Governor Dawson[.] I did in my mind that it was Henry Hudson if there is in the list of judges sent one of that name it was he the judge came in but did not stay long[.] he left with governor Dawson[.] his name, I think was Crosby[.] we landed on the 8th ward square in Salt Lake city on the 24th day of September 1860, having just dealt out one weeks rations and also meeting on the Square persons under the direction of the Bishopric with vegetables[,] molasses[,] provision &amp;c which were distributed among them as needed or required. so they were well received and I must say according to the best of my understanding and knowledge that this[,] the last Hand Cart Co came across the Plains in as good condition as any one of them all



there was one circumstance happened that I regretted and it caused me some anxiety at the time but I soon gained the ascendency over the difficulty[.] it was this[.] Bro. Geo[.] Q. Cannon in selecting teamsters to drive the teams with the wagons taking the provisions and extra freight of the company chose a couple that had came down from the valey that season with Joseph W. Young on a trial trip to try the feasibility of oxen making the trip from the Valley to the Missouri river and back in one season and it proved a success and thus there was no more need for Hand Carts[.] one of these teamsters was danish and was to act as interpreter for me to communicate with the danish saints and the other as having a little experience was to have charge of the teams when it was necessary for me to be absent from them with the Hand carts[.] I trusted him and at his request[,] nominated him before the company as wagon master in my absence and it soon turned out that he got it into his head that he had sole charge of the wagons and had aright to sit in judgment upon the members of the company who were traveling with their own wagon[.] accordingly he cited Bro Paul our chaplain to appear &lt;before&gt; the council of his teamsters, to answer to certain charges and, when Bro Paul asked the privilege of bringing witnesses he was refused[.] I thought it time for me to interfere and I told Bro Paul that he need not answer the summons, if he was refused witnesses upon which the wagon master asserted his claim as independent master of the wagons whether I was present or absent[.] I gave him to understand that &lt;when&gt; the wagons &amp; hand carts were to gether they were all under my charge and he was supposed, to be included with them as I was captain of the company[.] if he had had his will it was his intention to rule over the people like a tyrant but meeting with a determined check[,] he subsided and threatened me with a High council trial when we got to the city and took notes of my actions from that time on but his charges were not noticed and I never heard from them again[.] This was the most unpleasant incident of the journey, and I send you the foregoing communication as Bro Palmer thought you would like it when I informed him I led in the last company of Hand carts



Yours truly in the gospel of Jesus Christ



 



Oscar O. Stoddard 
To Junius F. Wells, 
Editor of the Contributor

Transcript for Oscar O. Stoddard journals and record book, 1856-1860; 1883, 295-307

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