Richard Sessions (1799 - 1879) Profile

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Richard Sessions

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Charles R. Dana papers, 1847, 1859

Charles R. Dana papers, 1847, 1859, Page 82-86.

Wednesday. May 22nd. 1850.



All things being prepared beforehand I took my family and Started for the Valley. They consisted of; Myself, Margaret, Charles Carrol, Roswell Root, and George Carloss. Susan and her two boys: Martin and Moroni. My Son in-law Henry Kingsley and Horace Rockwell and their wives; each had a team and waggon. I had altogether three waggons, twenty six head of cattle: and some Sheep which we were driving through for Bro. Demill. Bro. Perry and Hulet and their families were in company. On Sunday 26th they made choice of me to lead them.



Nothing of importance transpired while we were traveling to Kanesville. We arrived there on the 1st. day of June; and after a day or two, we moved down to near Bethlehem: where we found Horace. Elizabeth. Henry and Mariett. waiting for us. Horace &amp; his wife had been living in Missourie for some years; and Henry &amp; Mariett left Pisgah a few days before I did &amp; went by Savannah to obtain flour.



7th. This day Elder Hyde Organized a com. [company] of one hundred waggons. He Appointed James Pace for Capt. of the hundred. Bro. [blank space] Sessions Capt of the first; and David Bennett Capt. of the Second fifty.



8th. Organized the tens. I was chosen Capt. of the 2d. Ten in Bro. Bennets fifty



11th. Crossed the Missourie River.



13th. Began to move on our way to the Valley: rolled twelve miles. this evening Bro. Luther Warner was taken with Cholera.



14th. Bro. Bennets com. [company] all moved on this day except Bro. Stephen Perrys Ten: they remained to see how it would go with Bro. Warner. Just as we were nearly ready to roll; Margaret steped up to me and said "Pa, I believe I will go and see Bro. Warner a moment before I leave." I Said Margaret, I do wish you would not go. She said that she thought she could tell him something that would help him. She finally went; and shortly after noon She complained of sickness at the stomach[.] I administered to her, and she felt better; but soon appeared to be worse again; so that by the time we had got into camp; it was evident that Cholera with all its attendant horrors had fastened its iron grasp upon her. We administered every kindness in our power; but notwithstanding she swooned, was gone near two minutes: She seemed much elated when she came to her self again: and said "Pa, I have been there." where have you been Margaret? said I. "With the Saints, and the place was glorious, but I have a work to do." She continued to cramp for <s>two</s> three, or four hours, and then Sunk into a drowsiness. A little before day break, the brethren administered to her: almost directly, symptoms of immediate dissolution appeared. and by day break. She was a lifeless corps[e]. We laid her out in all her Temple clothing: Made a coffin of packing boxes, and gave her a decent burial. Her age was forty three years, two months, and fifteen days. The whole distance from the Missourie river was twenty four miles. Bro. Warner died on the fourteenth. Seven died altogethe[r] before we were rid of that plauge [plague] for a few days.



17th. We commenced to move on again; but buried Bro. Keyes at noon.



18th. This morning, in addition to our other troubles Henry missed his horses: there is no doubt but the Indians Stole them: it was all the team that he had.



26th. Sister Elizabeth Mallory, a dear sister of Margarets, was taken with Cholera.



27th. She died soon after sun rise. Thus in the Short space of twelve days, two sisters fell victims by the hand of the destroyer. Now more united in their lives, was not long seperated by death. Having recieved and held firm the faith of the everlasting gospel: been lively members in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and having always maintained a good report, been true friends, Kind sisters affectionate Mothers, and tender wives



And having died in peace; we have an assurance that their Spirits mingle with those of the just; and that they will come forth in the morning of the first resurrection to enjoy that rest which has been promised to the faithful.



We buried four this day. I kept the journal of the fifty as well as my private journal: this was by the request of Capt. Bennet, and his Com.



Nothing of much importance transpired after this untill we reached the City of the Great Salt Lake which was on the 23rd. of Sept.

Transcript for Charles R. Dana papers, 1847, 1859, 82-86

Charles R. Dana papers, 1847, 1859.

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Lucinda Haws Holdaway, reminiscences

"Lucinda Haws Holdaway, reminiscences", DUP Pioneer History Collection.

My husband was away much of the time, buying up oxen preparatory to starting back to Salt Lake Valley.


March 3, 1850, we left Lebanon to go to Kanesville, Iowa, where we would receive a shipment of woolen mills machinery which we were to take to Salt Lake Valley, this being the first machinery of its kind to enter that Valley.


We reached Kanesville about the 15th of May. I took sick with chills and fever; but after we crossed the Missouri River I got better.


In the early part of June we left Kanesville in Wm. Pace's Co. It was divided in two sections, with 50 in a section. Richard Sessions was at the head of our division. Everything went well until the cholera broke out. We could not get a bit of good water anywhere. The water in the Platte River was thick with mud and very warm. We had no boxes to bury them in, so they were wrapped in a white sheet and laid in the cold ground—not even a slab to mark their graves. Sometimes a large rock or tree marked their burial place.


After the cholera died out, we got along real well without an accident for several hundred miles. We had all the buffalo and antelope meat we wanted and some deer meat, which we got in the Black Hills. The company dried a lot of it and it came in very well, for we needed it when we go out of the buffalo country. One day we say a large herd of buffalo. They were crossing our path just ahead of our train. The men rushed upon them and had a lively chase. One man's horse was hooked from under him but fortunately he was not hurt. Many times I have seen great heards of buffalo feeding at the river edge. In the evening they came out of the hills and went down to the Platte River to drink. At first they were so tame that they would come up in our herd of cows and sheep and smell around. One night a buffalo ran past the camp. Some of the men shot and wounded it but it didn't stop. My husband and a Mr. Reynolds chased the animal and killed it. They lost their way in the dark and didn't reach camp until the next morning. I sat up all night looking for them for I was afraid that the wolves would kill them. The camp had to wait three days for a young man who went on foot after the buffalo and was lost. We were glad when all of the company was safe again.


My husband was on guard at night and during the day he walked ahead and drove the stock. He shod the horses and was looked to as a kind of overseer of the company. I had to cook for 4 men and drive our team besides.


One day I got in some serious trouble. My team was the last one. We had to cross a stream with a very steep bank. My wagon plunged into the stream and the wagon nearly stood on end. My horses balked and I could neither get out of the wagon nor make them pull the wagon out. Fortunately there was a man walking behind me who helped me get the team through the stream.


We were not getting into the mountains on this side of the Sweetwater River. Our wagons were loaded with machinery and our teams were just about given out. Our bread stuff was all used up except some whole corn, which I made hominy of and we lived on this until we reached Salt Lake Valley in September, 1850.

Transcript for, "Lucinda Haws Holdaway, reminiscences."

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1850: Page 5.

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

John H. Redd diary

John H. Redd diary, June 1850.

Transcript for John H. Redd diary, 1850 June-August

John H. Redd diary.

Levi W. Hancock papers, 1832-1878

Levi W. Hancock papers, 1832-1878, Journal, September 1846.

Transcript for Levi W. Hancock papers, 1832-1878, Journal, 1846 September-1847 October

Levi W. Hancock papers, 1832-1878.

Millennial Star

Emigration

"Emigration", Millennial Star, August 15, 1850.

We have attended the organization of 350 wagons of Salt Lake Emigrants up to Saturday 8th inst., Capt. Milo Andrews [Andrus] is a-head with fifty wagons. Next follows, Capt. Benjamin Hawkins with one hundred; Thomas S. Johnson, Capt. of 1st Division, and ---- Capt. of Second Division. We left them at Council Grove 12 miles from Bethlehem west of the Missouri river, on the morning of the 7th inst. Next in succession is Bishop Aaron Johnson with a train of one hundred wagons; Elisha [Elijah] Everett [Averett], Capt. of 1st Division, and Matthew Caldwell, Capt. of the 2nd Division. Next in order is Capt. James Pace with one hundred. Richard Session, Capt. of 1st Division, and David Bennett, Capt. of 2nd Division. The Emigrants are generally well fitted out with wagons and teams, provisions, &amp;c.



There are some wagons quite too heavy. Those brought from St. Louis are good, but too heavy. A heavy wagon with a stiff tongue is unsuitable for the journey. Let no person hereafter buy a wagon for this trip unless its tongue has a joint in the hounds forward of the axletree. Light wagons that will bear from sixteen to twenty hundred pounds, are the most suitable for this service. These heavy lumber concerns should be left here, and not used by our people, neither by anybody else, unless they choose.



The number of California wagons that have crossed at this point, is about 4,500 averaging 3 men to the wagon, making 13,500 men, and about 22,000 head of horses, mules, oxen, and cows.



Our own emigration to Salt Lake Valley will amount to about 700 wagons as nearly as we, at present, can determine. They take two new carding machines in addition to one sent last year, besides much other valuable machinery. They also take about 4000 sheep and 5000 head of cattle, horses, and mules.



With the facilities for improvement that are already in the Valley, and those that are now going, we may expect to see that hitherto, desolate region, growing rapidly into importance, and consideration. Success to the West, and to Western enterprize, to Western men and measures! "Let the Wilderness and the solitary place be glad for them, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose."

Transcript for "Emigration," Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 15 August 1850, 252-53

Millennial Star.

Registry of names of persons residing in the various wards as to bishop's reports, 1852-1853

Registry of names of persons residing in the various wards as to bishop's reports, 1852-1853. FamilySearch International.

Registry of names of persons residing in the various wards as to bishop's reports, 1852-1853.

The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848

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

The Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848.

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