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Historian's Office collected historical documents, circa 1851-1869

Washington F. Anderson letter, Bear River Ferry, to Deseret News editor

"Washington F. Anderson letter, Bear River Ferry, to Deseret News editor", Historian's Office collected historical documents, circa 1851-1869, August 12, 1857.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Bear River Ferry, August 12, 1857.</center>



Editor of the News,



Dear Sir—According to instructions received from brother Sessions, I proceed to make a brief summary of the most important incidents of our journey from Carson Valley to this place. On Wednesday July 15th, the California Company of S. D. S. emigrants under command of brother H. Thatcher and the Carson Valley Company met together at Eagle Valley and organized for the journey to Salt Lake City.



President Loveland of Carson Valley presided at the meeting, and P. G. Sessions was duly elected Captain of the Company; H. Thatcher Sargeant of the Guard; Theodore Curtis Chaplain, and W. F. Anderson Clerk.



Interesting and instructive remarks were made by President Loveland, Captain Sessions and others; after which the meeting adjourned and others; after which the meeting adjourned Sinedie.



The company consisted of 37 Men; 16 women; and 18 children, in all 65 souls; 17 wagons, 40 horses, and 32 mules.



On the following morning, July 16, after prayer by President Loveland, we commenced our journey zionward. Nothing of importance transpired before reaching the Humboldt. The Pah-Utah [Piute] Indians as a general thing were friendly and appeared favorably disposed.



On Wednesday 22nd, brother Mathew Thompson and sister Ellen Livingston enlivened the monotony of our travel with a marriage festival, the nuptial ceremony being performed by Elder Cook.



On the 23rd, we met Livingston and Kincaid's cattle train from Salt Lake City. Also some emigrants trains from Missouri. As the emigrants reported some trouble with the Indians, having killed 10 Indians a day or so before; it was deemed a necessary precausion to instigate a day Guard, both in front and rear of the wagons, and Brother A. B. Cherry was duly elected Captain of said Guard.



On the 28th, reached Stony Point on the Humboldt. McManus train from Missouri camped a mile above us, and one of their men named Waters, being mistaken for an Indian, received a gun-shot wound, supposed to be fatal, from one of their own guard.



On the 30th, we passed Gravelly Ford. Some 25 miles above we met a train from Missouri, who report that 3 men had been murdered by the Indians, near the eastern mouth of the canyon. Some men were dispatched from our camp, who, in company with some from the Missouri train, searched for and found the three bodies, concealed in the sage-brush in an adjoining canyon. They were shockingly mutilated and one of them scalped. Their names were ascertained to be John Stein, John Everheart, and John Lebaugh. We gave them a decent burial on the following morning, with prayer at the grave by Captain Sessions. At the head of the Humboldt, we heard of several other bodies having been found, among them one female. We reached Goose Creek on the 6th of August, and Raft River on the 8th. Since passing Gravelly Ford, the California emigration has averaged some 30 wagons[,] mostly families and immense herds of cattle.



was unfortunately marred by a division of sentiment in our midst, in relation to ourmode of travel. Several members of the company, brother Hunter, Baker, Curtis, sister Call and some packers, contrary to the counsel of Captain Sessions, left the train and travelled on. The Chaplain's place was supplied by brother Seconard [Leonard] Wines, who was unanimously <s>appointed</s> elected to fill that office.



On Wednesday 12th, reached Bear River Ferry and the settlements safely, feeling truly grateful to Almighty God for his protecting care and watchful providence over us during all our journey. While numbers of the Gentiles on our right hand and left, have been the victims of the of the Lamanites, we have been left unharmed and have reached our point of destination in safety and in health. For this we bless and magnify His glorious name humbly beseeching Him to enable us to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience to His commandments and to the commands of His servants, whom He has placed in lawful authority over us, in this His last dispensation. Even so, Amen



 



<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Respectfully yours, 
W. F. Anderson.</center>



 



List of the Names of the Male Members of the Company Spoken of Above.



P[errigrine]. G. Sessions 
Charles [Carlos Lyon] Sessions 
Joseph [Wycoff] Thatcher 
John [Bethewel] Thatcher 
W[ashington] F. Anderson 
Levi Dorathy [Dougherty] 
Robert C. Sharkey 
Jesser Cherry 
R[asmus] M[ads] Englestad 
Albert Ninde 
Joel Loveland 
John Boss 
John A. Workan [Workman] 
Snell 
Jarvis Baker 
Theodore Curtis 
Mathew Thompson 
Hezekiah Thatcher 
George [Washington] Thatcher 
Washington [Bolivar] Rogers 
Oliver [Norton] Harmon 
James Bell 
A[aron] B[enjamin] Cherry 
Isaac Hunter 
Leonard Wines 
William Cook 
William Price 
William Jenny 
Cyrus &amp; George [Snell] 
Sinam [Simon] Baker 
Joseph Baker 
Oliver Heeler

Transcript for Anderson, Washington F. to Editor, 12 Aug. 1857, Bear River Ferry, in Historian's Office, History of the Church 1839-[ca. 1882], 414-18, 12 Aug. 1857

Historian's Office collected historical documents, circa 1851-1869.

Perrigrine Sessions Emigrating Company, Journal

Perrigrine Sessions Emigrating Company, Journal, July 1857.

Thursday
, July 30th. Left camp at 7 a.m. travelled about 15 miles through the Rocky Canyon and nooned at the springs; in the afternoon drove 15 miles through the canyon and camped at the river, passed Gravelly Ford about 10:00 o’clock this morning. Some California emigrants inform us that three men, John Stein, John Everheart and John LeBaugh, have been murdered by the Indians. bodies were found this evening shockingly mutilated and concealed in the sagebrush by their murderers. Distance 30 miles.
Friday July 31st. This morning buried the bodies with prayer at the grave by Captain Sessions and left camp at half past seven; nooned in a canyon after about 15 miles drive, met several emigrant trains with large herds of cattle. In the afternoon made about 12 miles and camped about one-half mile from the river. Distance 27 miles.
Saturday August 1st. Left camp at 7 a.m. Travelled about 15 miles and nooned. In the afternoon made about 14 miles, crossed the North Fork of the Humboldt and camped about 4 miles therefrom, passed some 60 or 70 emigrant wagons on their way to California, driving large herds of cattle from Missouri and Arkansas. This evening after prayer it was decided by unanimous vote to hold meeting in the morning and travel in the afternoon. Distance 29 miles.
Sunday August 2nd. Held divine service this morning. Remarks by Elder Sessions, [Theodore] Curtis and others. Left camp at 12 N. and travelled about 15 miles[.] camped near Haws’ Bridge. Emigrants report several murders committed by the Indians on ahead. this evening after prayer the company voted unanimously to travel by the Goose Creek mountains instead of Haws’ cut off as had been proposed. Distance 15 miles
Monday 3rd. Left camp at 7 a.m. Traveled about 15 miles, crossed some of the head waters of the Humboldt, nooned and in the afternoon Travelled over very hilly roads and camped about 10 miles east of the wells, met some 30 emigrant wagons mostly from Mo. Distance 25 miles 
Tuesday 4th Left camp shortly after 7 drove about 16 miles and nooned, no water, but dug a well and got a small supply. small creek we afterwards ascertained to be about a mile distant. in the afternoon drove about 6 miles &amp; camped. distance 22 miles
Wednesday Aug 5. Left camp at 7 a.m. Travelled about 13 miles and nooned at some springs a few hundred yards to the left of the road, in the afternoon made about 3 miles and camped at a chalky spring instead of going on to Goose creek as first intended. some emigrants we met report that they had killed 5 indians who had shot their horses and stolen about 11 head of cattle. distance to day 16 miles.
Thursday Aug 6th. Left camp shortly after 5 a.m. passed Rock springs and Goose cr[eek] Cañon and camped about a mile from the mouth thereof, met many emigrants to day with wagons and immense herds of cattle mostly from Missouri. in the afternoon had lectures on polygamy by Bros Baker and Sessions. distance to day 20 miles.
Friday 7th. Left camp at 7. travelled about 14 miles and nooned on Goose creek. in the afternoon made 7 miles and camped near the summit of the Goose creek mountains, taking the cut off. grass and water first rate, and the road much better than the old road. Distc [Distance] 22 miles
Saturday Augt 8th. Left camp a little before 7. crossed the summit of the mountain, and after travelling 20 miles, nooned on the Raft river where the road crossed the river[.] in the afternoon made about 6 miles and camped. this evening after prayer the company voted unanimously to go to deep creek on the morrow. distance 26 miles.
Sunday 9th Held a testimony meeting this morning at 6 a.m. remarks by Bros. Price and others condemning the practice of swearing among the members of the company. well received. Left camp about 7. crossed Raft River twice, travelled about 13 miles and nooned on the right of the road at the first creek east of the Raft. in the afternoon drove to Deep creek. several animals giving out during the trip. arrived there after night. distance about 40 miles.
Monday 10th Left camp a little before 8 travelled about 12 miles and nooned at Hensley’s springs. Bro: Baker, Hunter, Sister Call and Theodore Curtis here left the company contrary to the counsel of the Captain. in the afternoon made 7 miles and camped on the hills near the road. bunch grass first rate, but no water. Leonard Wines was here duly elected chaplain of the company in place of bro: Curtis who had left. distance 19 miles.
Tuesday Aug 11. Left camp at Daylight. watered at Blue Springs, breakfasted about 2 miles beyond and camped on the Malade. Distc 30 miles
Wednesday 12. Left camp about 7. reached the ferry on Bear River and crossed by 11 a.m: travelled about 4 miles and nooned. Captain Sessions here gave leave to the company to disperse and travel as suited them best. on motion of bro: Wines a vote of thanks was tendered to bro: Sessions by the comp[an]y for the able and gentlemanly manner in which he had conducted us throughout the entire journey. Compy accordingly dispersed.

Transcript for Perrigrine Sessions Emigrating Company, Journal, 1857 Jul-Aug

Perrigrine Sessions Emigrating Company, Journal.

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