William Byram Pace (1832 - 1907) Profile

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William Byram Pace

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Elk Mountain Mission journal, 1855 May-October

Elk Mountain Mission journal, 1855 May-October.

Mormon Indian Missions - 1855

Wesley R. Law, KEEP+ Mormon Indian Missions - 1855. Brigham Young University, 1959. Page 8.

Wesley R. Law. Mormon Indian Missions - 1855.

A Mormon chronicle: the Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876

A Mormon chronicle: the Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876. 1955. Page 30-79.

Transcript for A Mormon chronicle: the Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876 edited and annotated by Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks (1955), 1:30-79

A Mormon chronicle: the Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

Brigham Young's 1848 emigration division, First 100, report

"Brigham Young's 1848 emigration division, First 100, report", Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, June 1848, Page 1-6.

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Larson, Carl V. comp. A Database of the Mormon Battalion: An Identification of the Original Members of the Mormon Battalion (Salt Lake City: U.S. Mormon Battalion, 1997), 182

Larson, Carl V. comp. A Database of the Mormon Battalion: An Identification of the Original Members of the Mormon Battalion (Salt Lake City: U.S. Mormon Battalion, 1997), 182.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. A, Page 7.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886.

Salt Lake Telegram

Now And Then

"Now And Then", Salt Lake Telegram, July 29, 1926, Page 8.

Salt Lake Telegram.

William B. Pace autobiography, 1904

William B. Pace autobiography, 1904.

. . . in the Spring moved back, crossed the river and moved on a farm near Keg Creek with the view to prepare to move to Salt Lake Valley another year, traded mules for oxen and sent teams across the Plains to help emigration. Later it fell to my lot to go out on the Plains and drive a team for the "afterwards famous" company of John D. Lee. We traveled in President Young's company and arrived on the upper crossing of the Sweet Water [Sweetwater] to be near South Pass in September 1848 where we met teams from Salt Lake Valley. Here we unloaded and started back.

Transcript for William B. Pace autobiography, 1904, 10

William B. Pace autobiography, 1904, 8.

From Sutters Fort we took the the Trucky [Truckee] River route accross the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the summit of which we met Samuel Brannon direct from Salt Lake Valley, who informed us that the Church had established Head Quarters in Salt Lake, that the Pioneers had returned to the Missouri River, but several companies were in the valley and more coming this year. This was the first reliable word we had received of the Church's where-abouts which was enthusiasticaly welcomed.



Brannon was the man that had charge of a company of Saints that sailed in the Ship Brooklyn from New York in 1846 to California, anticipating that the Church would gather to Oregon, and his visit to meet President Young was to induce him to settle in California, failing in this, he was returning "solitary and alone", (and very indignant because of his failure), to his home in San Francisco, where he soon became very rich, refused to gather with the Saints in Salt Lake and finally died a pauper.



The next day, I believe, we met Capt. Jas. Brown of the Mormon Batallion [Battalion] and a company of men. You will remember he was sent to Pueblo from Santa Fe, their term of enlistment having expired they were mustered out of Service, but had to go to California for their pay, hence this trip. From his statement of things in Salt Lake, scarcity of provisions, etc., many not well provided were recommended to go back to California and winter, hence many went back with Brown.



The next day we struck the head waters of the Trucky [Truckee] River which we followed to the desert, thence to the Steam Boat hot springs on the overland route, thence to and up the Humbol[d]t River, passing over the Goose Creek Mt. to Snake River and Fort Hall.



Here we left the overland route and struck South (without a trail) for Salt Lake where we arrived during the last days of September 1847, finding the people generally engaged in building a Fort which was at that time about breast high in the highest place. Very little was known about the surrounding country at that time, but all seemed to have an abiding faith in the words of Brigham Young that "this was the place he had seen before he left Nauvoo." and had gone to work in earnest to prepare for winter. The emmigration was mostly all in, when we arrived, many were short of provisions but all seemed sanguine that they would "pull through."

Transcript for William B. Pace autobiography, 1904, 8

William B. Pace autobiography, 1904, Page 14-15.

We finally pulled out of San Bernardino with Alexander Williams, myself, the Adams', Abrams the Jew, William Perkins and his wife who were returning from a Mission to the Sandwich Islands, and one other whose name I disremember, two wagons, eight mules and six riding horses. With this outfit and a goodly supply of provisions, we took leave of the good people of San Bernardino and wended our way through the Cahone [Cajon] Pass early in April 1853, and soon reached the Mojave River.


Our trip homeward was without any incidents of moment until we reached the Santa Clara Creek in Utah. On our way we had met Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich and a few others at Mountain Springs, about twenty-five miles west of Los Vegas, who were on their way back to San Bernardino from Conference in Salt Lake City. They, seeing our numbers few, cautioned us as to Indians from there on, until we reached the settlements. Hence every precaution that could be, was taken and we moved on slowly. From there to Los [Las] Vegas, across the Vegas Desert and all up the Rio-Virgin, no sign of Indians until we began to feel safe. Crossing the Mesa and a chain of mountains we saw no sign of natives. Here we reached the Santa Clara Creek and stopped and turned our animals out for noon, taking no precautions for danger. The cooks went about preparing dinner, and Abrams the Jew, as was his custom when opportunity offered, opened up his pack of goods to give them air, I suppose.


I, being teamster, was doing something about the wagons near Abrams. All of a sudden eight or ten Indians came walking into camp. On looking farther I saw we were completely surrounded by not less than four-hundred of the blackest looking Indians nature ever produced.


"Here was a pretty kettle of fish." We were eight strong, poorly armed and one of our number a woman. It was no use to go after our animals for most of them were already in the possession of the Indians. To say it looked like all was lost, does not express it. Well, to be brief, all seemed to stand where they were. The Indians on their way, walked into camp, and as Abrams was all unpacked, they made him the first call, appropriating some trifling objects and tucking them under their clothing. To this he demurred and drew an old Allen's pepper-box pistol, as if he would annihiliate the whole tribe. Standing close by him, it suddenly occurred to me this would not do, hence I grabbed for the pistol and at the same time gave him such a shove that he went sprawling over the wagon tongue, dropped the pistol, which I picked up and proposed to empty it into his carcass if he did not keep still. He was a man that weighed over 200 pounds, while I was rather small. This or some other power changed the minds of the Indians in a twinkling, for before I had fairly finished with the Jew, the old chief was patting me on the back and saying "Big Captain" then he jumped on a rock close by and made a speech to the Indians. Presently our animals were driven back and two Indians told to herd them, then all the natives except the chief and the two herdsmen vamosed up the road.


The relief from what appeared to be annihilation was great. We finally settled down, got our dinners, fed the chief and the two Indians, then our animals were brought in and we hooked up and pulled out, the chief and the two indians going with us. About five miles up the creek where the road passed under a cliff, we overhauled the indians busily engaged removing the obstructions they had placed in the road to hinder our progress. It seemed they had calculated on our coming past this place before we stopped for noon, but having stopped where we first struck the Santa Clara, they had concluded they had force enough to over power us there, and hence moved down with the result above stated. The obstructions removed, the old chief made another speech to the indians and they left us. we drove on to about where the little town of Gunlock now stands, and camped.


The old chief and two indians came into camp, took our animals and made us understand that they would place them on good feed, and return them in the morning. We gave them something to eat and trusted them. The old chief, which we learned, was named Tutsagubet, stayed with us as surety, I suppose, for the safe return of the animals.


The next morning our animals came in all right and we drove to the Mountain Meadow (the place since notorious for the Lee Massacre) and camped, Tutsagubet and the two indians still with us. They took our animals as before. The next day we drove to Antelope Springs, the indians still guarding us, and the next day we came in sight of Cedar City. Tutsagubet said we were safe now and they would go back, we gave them some presents and parted.


In after years I had occasion to organize a mining district in that country which was designated " Tutsagubet Mining" district, in honor of the old chief, long since dead. This was the only momento I could make for his kindness in thus saving our lives.


At Cedar City, one of the settlements established by George A. Smith in 1851, we traded for some butter and eggs and fared sumptuously. From here to Provo, the end of our journey, nothing of note, except plenty of high water at Beaver, Sevier and Spanish Fork occurred which was overcome and we reached Provo safely in May 1853, finding all well, my wife having given birth to a daughter in January 5, 1853 which added to my joy in getting home.


At Payson I met my mother and family. My father had gone to England on a Mission and every thing looked like it needed looking after, so I decided to locate there, as soon as the Spanish Fork River was passable.

Transcript for William B. Pace autobiography, 1904, 14-15.

In the spring of 1850 we set out for the valley of Great Salt Lake. Arriving opposite the mouth of the Platte River[.] my father was elected captain of 100 wagons and after ferrying across the Missouri River, set out on our journey, on the south side of the Platte River with fair outfits.



About 300 miles up the Platte the Cholera struck us and three or four died and were laid to rest by the road-side. This struck with terror, the hearts of the people, but through frequent administrations by a few brave men, the calamity was averted and the company moved on.



In the Black Hills, I was appointed hunter for the camp, and spent most of my time supplying Buffalo, and Antelope for the hungry, and had many thrilling experiences during the season, one, which I will mention. While the company was laying over Sunday in the Black Hills, Alex Sessions and myself made it up the previous night to go out and kill an antelope before breakfast. Sunday was a day of rest, when the grass was good, and the camp generally layed over and held meeting, and we should have stayed, but our boy zeal was too great, so we went off by daybreak and tramped over hill and dale until about 10 o'clock without getting even a shot at anything. At last we gave up and started for camp, Passing near some Currant brush in a ravine, we thought it probable we would find water to drink, turned in that direction and got water. On starting back I saw a fresh bear track in the sand and said to Alex: "We had better get out of here", when a large grizzley bear jumped off the cliff above us and landed within 6 feet of where we stood. Not caring for any bear meat just at that time, we took to the trail and by a stupendous effort beat him running some 50 yards. Though I had the satisfaction of punching him in the head several times, with my gun, as evidenced by the blood and hair afterwards found.



On reaching the open country Mr. Bear retreated leaving us master of the field, but two of the worst scared boys it was possible to find anywhere. I had been in many bear fights and succeeded in coming off victorious but this one, some-how we neither of us, seemed to want[.] possibly the growl which was terrible, and the manner he had of introducing himself caused us to decide rather quickly, then our legs did the rest. Well we told it in camp as a narrow escape, which was variously criticised. It is strange how brave some men are, when there is no possible danger.



One man in particular said, "if he had been there he would have taken a butcher knife and carved him up,["] but you see neither of us wanted him that bad, however I remembered this man, and a few days later the camp lay by for a general buffalo hunt, my special attention was given this man to go in my crowd and was successful. On going out we soon came on a few scattering bulls.



With mischief predominant I got them to let me go ahead when I soon wounded a bull by breaking his shoulder, and he stopped for fight, then I insisted, when the company came up, that my special friend have the honor of killing him. This was agreed to. I told him to walk up to within 20 feet of the bull and shoot him in the head. Well he got within 30 yards and drew up to shoot, when the buffalo made a lunge for him. My friend dropped his gun and took to his heels, then the crowd had the bad taste to yell: "run", "take your knife to him" etc. while the bull only made one jump and stood his ground, my friend ran 200 yards at breakneck speed without looking back. The bull was killed by one shot when the fun was over.



I mention this to show that men who are so awful brave where there is no possible danger, will not always do to tie too. Laying in all the dried buffalo meat we could haul, we moved on, with no unusual incident,



arriving in Salt Lake Valley near the last of September 1850 and disbanded.

Transcript for William B. Pace autobiography, 1904, 12

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Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee, United States

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Margaret Angeline Pace

Lucinda Gibson Strickland

John Ezra Pace

James Pace Jr.

Mary Ann Pace

Warren Sidney Pace

Martha Elmina Pace

Amanda Lucinda Pace

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Provo, Utah, Utah Territory, United States

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The Church History Biographical Database is a powerful research tool that contains biographical entries on over 100,000 early Latter-day Saints, such as pioneers who traveled to Utah and missionaries who served throughout the world from 1830-1940.

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William Byram Pace

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