Rufus Bronson Ensign (1832 - 1915) Profile

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Rufus Bronson Ensign

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Ensign, Martin Luther, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 1, item 9, 1-2

Ensign, Martin Luther, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 1, item 9, 1-2.

I went with Ira Eldridge and drove three yoke of oxen and wagon to the Valley for John Eldridge, brother of Ira, who came with the Pioneers. 
<s xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Daut</s>
 Datus came with the pioneers, he and Bro. Frost came together. They brought a plow ready stocked and were the first to plow a furrow, going a few rods and broke the beam, (The remains of this after being worn out were put in the museum as a relic.)	
the Pioneers started from Winter Quarters sometime in April. We started about the <s>15</s> 15th of May. Luman [Ashley Ensign] drove Bro. Frost's team; [John] Calvin [Ensign] and Rufus [Bronson Ensign]drove Mother's to the Valley. There were six companies of one <s>un</s> hundred wagons each, with six capt's of hundreds, 12 of fifties, 60 of tens, making one thousand wagons in all to the best of my judgment the way we were organized.	
We drove close together for protection until near Fort Laramie not knowing our destination until we met some of the Pioneers that were sent back to meet us and let us know our destination. Were told it was Great Salt Lake Valley about 550 miles farther on. Were told to break un into fifties and go as fast as our teams could travel.	
After leaving Fort Laramie, we left the Platt[e] and went over the Black Hills, a very hilly road but plenty of food and water and wood, coming out to the Platt[e] River again. Went up it a few days and then crossed it and went on to Independence Rock on the Sweetwater River, camped here and had a dance on the rock, it being flat on top and large enough for a cotillion. The Pioneers were here on the 4th of July and gave it the name.	
 We went up the Sweetwater to the dividing ridge of the Rocky Mountains. Now we came down the Western Slope. On big Sandy Creek we met the returning Pioneers, Pres. Brigham Young and Company. Datus was with them, he came back with us. Ira Eldridge's Fifty being in the lead of all the companies.	
 Arriving in the Valley on the 18th Sept. 5 or 6 days before any of the other companies, we drove to the Fort that the Pioneers had built around a term or block.

Transcript for Ensign, Martin Luther, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 1, item 9, 1-2

"Pioneer Who Died Suddenly at Home Early Last Night," The Herald-Republican

"Pioneer Who Died Suddenly at Home Early Last Night," The Herald-Republican, May 10, 1915.

"Pioneer Who Died Suddenly at Home Early Last Night," The Herald-Republican.

"R. B. Ensign, Indiana Fighter, is Dead,"

"R. B. Ensign, Indiana Fighter, is Dead,", May 10, 1915.

"R. B. Ensign, Indiana Fighter, is Dead,".

"Utah State News" Ephraim Enterprise

"Utah State News" Ephraim Enterprise, May 15, 1915.

"Utah State News" Ephraim Enterprise.

Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days

Prophets of the Restoration

Global Histories

Revelations in Context

Women of Conviction

Joseph Smith Papers

Church Historian’s Press

More

Publications

Church History Museum

Historic Sites

Church History Library

Visit

Church History Catalog

Missionary Database

Pioneer Database

Treasures of the Collection

Pioneer Resources

Research

Church Historic Sites

Quick Links

Church History Biographical Database

/chd/landing

company-arrived

joined-company

with-pioneer-activity

Lydia Ensign

Mary Bronson

Luman Ashley Ensign

John Calvin Ensign

Martin Luther Ensign Sr.

pioneerCompanyReferenceIdValue

Default List Title

Name

Presided Over

Sources

Title

Rufus Bronson Ensign

Birth Date

Death Date

Gender

Sources