William Madison Wall (1821 - 1869) Profile

William Madison Wall (1821 - 1869)

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

William Madison Wall

birth-date-qualifier-birth

Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, Page 658.

Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, February 24, 1856, Page 4.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Missionary reports, 1831-1900

Missionary reports, 1831-1900.

Statement of William M. Wall Historian’s Office Dec. 12, 1857 (Reported by Leo Hawkins) I left my home in Provo May 13.th. 1856, &amp; this City on the 17th. Arrived at Carson July 2nd., left there on the 23rd. I attended Judge Drummonds’ Court. There was a man taken for stealing. Drummond sent for me to defend him; I would not. Drummond said I was a licensed atorney &amp; I must. I told him licensed or not I did as I had a mind to in such things, and I would have nothing to do with it. The prisoner, John Simpson, was fined. He got away and they put 4 of the boys in prison for letting him escape. Bro’s Leonard Nuies &amp; Jesse Earl were two of them Pool, in company with John Whitbeck, A.P. Chesley, T.S. Johnson, Thaddeus Fleming, Joseph Kelly, (W?) C. Crandall, James Phelps, G.W. Parish, &amp; Z. Snow, bound for Melbourne. We touched (2) Tahiti, and lay there five days. I was told by an American gentleman who had resided here for 30 years, that previous to the arrival of the Christian missionaries there was not a case of bastardy known on the Island, and until the arrival of the French there had been but very few – the missionaries being parties – and they were kept private, but since the arrival of the French, prostitution had become almost general. . We touched at the Fidgi Island, and lay there 36 hours. Here I measured men 6 ft. 6 in. high, &amp; saw some taller – they were well proportioned men, destitute of clothes, except a small bunch of bushes over their privates. After a passage of 104 days we landed at Melbourne and staid there two days when we shipped for Sidney on the Barque “Monarch” and seven days after landed in Sidney. We held a conference on the 20th of December; I was appointed President of the New South Wales Conference. I then visited all the Saints in that Conference and then went up the Hunters’ River on the steamer William Williams. I travelled and preached in the vicinity of Melbourne some 4 weeks, when I received a letter stating that I was (3) wanted in Sidney, as there was some difficulty among the Saints, on account of the Presiding officer of that Conference, William Chevalier, marrying a woman to a man, by the name of William Robb, who had a wife who was then living, which had created considerable excitement among the Saints, and great prejudice with the outsiders. I undertook to cut Chevalier off the Church, and also Robb, but could not get any backing, and we settled it the best we could. I then labored in the vicinity of Camden and Campbell Town, but found the people very hard. I returned to Sidney and was appointed to labor in that vicinity in connection with Elder A.J. Stewart. Bro Stewart and I labored in that vicinity until the 1st of June. I was appointed an agent to get up a company to sail for Zion – Bro Stewart was appointed Secretary. We succeeded in getting up a company, and on June 27th, 1857 we sailed from Sidney, on the ship “Lucas,” Capt J.C. Dachett. We encountered two heavy squalls off the Coast of New Zealnd, after that we had a pleasant (4) voyage, but tedious; we landed at San Pedro on the 12th of October (There were 4 children born on the trip). I hired a carriage and started for San Bernardino to get wagons to haul the Saints to San Bernardino . I arrived at Los Angelos at 4 o’clock in the afternoon; one of the animals becoming lame through want of shoeing. I stopped for the night to get the animals shod. I soon discovered that there was great excitement in the town against the Mormons, on account of a company being massacred by the Indians, which they laid to the Mormons. Mr. Chatman, Quartus S. Sparks, Dr Andrews, and many other apostates, whose faces I knew, but could not call by name, gathered around me and threatened to hang me; they seemed to be very much excited. I heard Dr. Andrews say, that he would as soon see Gov. Young’s hearts’ blood run, than to see cold spring water when he was dry. They threatened me most furiously and gathered round me, about 25 of them; they finally drew off from me a little, and I called for my room and (5) went to bed early in the evening. About 10 o’clock at night there came a company and knocked at the door and asked for if William M. Wall was in there. I told them he was. They said they had some business with him and wished him to open the door. I told them it was after my business hours and I would wait on them in the morning. They then said there was no use in any of my damned poss-uming, they had got to hang me and was going to do it. I was unarmed at the time, but on searching the room I found I could take the roller out of the bedstead, which I did and stood at the door intending to defend myself the best I could. I told the mob that I should not unlock the door, but they could kick it down if they wished, as it was very shackely, but there was one thing certain, the man that came in first I should kill. They then withdrew, after rolling a volley of curses upon me. In the space of half an hour, another company, or the same, returned, one pretending to be the Sheriff of Los Angelos County; he said he had (6) <a writ="">for William M. Wall and he wanted that door opened. I told I should not open the door. He said he was Sheriff, and he would be God damned if he would not take me. I told him I should not open the door, but if he chose to knock it down, to do so, but I should certainly kill him. I also said I had not injured any body, and had not been in the United States for nearly two years and never was in that County before that morning. After threatening, and swearing the most horrible oaths that I ever heard, both him and his comrades withdrew threatening that they would shoot the house to pieces if I did not give up. During the night I received a letter, purporting to be from a friend, advising me to leave the room as they had a company organized to take me from my room and hang me, and they would be 100 strong for one. This letter also advised me to go out by a back passage and cross the street to where I would see a light in a small store and there I would find the (7) undersigned, who would befriend me until I could get away. When the man came with the letter, I would not let him in, but made him put it over the door. I lit a candle but did not take time to read the letter or any part of it. The spirit dictated me to blow out the light, which I did, still continuing to forbid them to come in. The man who brought the letter pretended to be alone, but I could hear talking with other persons. I again stood by the door and told them that I had done nothing and should most assuredly kill the man that came in. They then withdrew and went to the bar room where I could see through my window, I should think about 25 men, who took glasses of liquor round, and returned, with the most furious oaths and threats and commenced firing their revolvers, but did not shoot any into the room; they then withdrew about half an hour before day. I staid in the room until sunrise, and then went down and paid my bill, and said nothing to the Landlord or any body (8) else. In a few minutes I discovered Dr Andrews walking down the street; he motioned with his cane as though he was motioning for some others to come. Mr Chatman and some ten or a dozen others gathered around me and threatened me most furiously and said that I had been guilty of murdering a couple of men at Springville last winter. Dr Andrews then came up and I spoke to him – it was the first time I pretended to known who he was – I offered him my hand, but he said no, he did not shake hands with with any of my Kind. They said “he have killed old Parley Pratt, one of the damned scoundrels, and we intend to finish every one we got hold of.” Dr. Andrews said he knew me, that I was Bill Hickman’s mate and my course was run, that I was one of Brigham Young’s hounds, “no,” said he, “not a hound, a bull dog that bites wherever he points.” I then almost became satisfied that they would kill me, and bore them a faithful testimony of the truth (9) of the gospel, of being a prophet, and also of the Prophet Brigham. I then told them that I was not afraid to die, but at that time the spirit of fear had left me, but I told them that there was one little particular I wished to impress upon their minds, and that was that some of them had got to die in the operation and I did not wish to kill any man that had a drop of honest blood in him; if there was any such man I begged of them to withdraw and let the worst hounds they had remain to do the deed as I should certainly kill three or four. This seemed to put the spirit of fear upon them and they dropped off one at a time until there was but a few round me. Dr. Andrews invited me into a room, as he said, to decide the difficulty. I told him I had nothing to decide, but made it a practice to kill all dogs that took hold of me. They then all withdrew except Dr. Andrews, Mr Chatman, and one or two other apostates I told them they had better be off if they wanted to be (10) healthy; they stepped back a little and I got into my carriage and rode towards San Bernardino, but soon turned for San Pedro. I fell in with Bros Joseph Matthews, Norman Taylor and David Holliday. I hired them and another man brother, making 4 teams. We went down to the beach and got the Saints with some of their luggage and started for San Bernardino – came out three miles to the Springs. The next day travelled 30 miles to the Monte, most of the Sisters walking. I then learned that they a company on to overtake me and assassinate me on the road to San Bernardino, but they had missed me and all got drunk on the strength of it and had a regular drunken row and fight among themselves, A man took the news back to Los Angelos that he had seen where there had been a scrape in the road, and that he supposed I had murdered the crowd – 5 men – They then filled up another company and sent them to see after them, but they met them, they having \ (11) got sober enough to ride. We came on the next day to a little place about 12 miles from San Bernardino The next day (Saturday) I reached San Bernardino the company all well and in good spirits. On Sunday I was called on to preach; I preached and delivered the company to the charge of the Presidency there. I then went to work and got teams and got the remainder of the luggage from San Pedro, which I did in the course of ten days and settled up the business of the company to general satisfaction. I was threatened considerably while in San Bernardino, by Jerome Benson and others. I stopped at the residence of my brother-in-law, Alva Downey. The house was watched for several nights, but no attempt made for any assault on my person, but I could hear the most furious threats every day, that I never should leave there alive. They inquired how and when I was going to leave, I did not let them know until the morning I started. I started with the mail at one o’clock (12) on the 8th of Nov. There was about 20 of those mobocrats standing around, they asked me if I was going through with the mail. I told them I was intending to go myself I was not going to send a hand. I had at that time a splendid double barrelled shot gun, three revolvers, a good bowie knife and a legging knife all in sight; they looked very savage at me, but said nothing. We came on up to the mouth of the Cahoon Pass and there fell in with a young man, Wilbur Barney, the son of John Barney who wanted to come through with us. He travelled slowly, and on the 9th or 11th fell in with Bell’s train near the foot of the Mohave – some 15 or 20 mule wagons and about the same amount of camels and dromedaries. They said the camels performed well in the sand, in crossing the desert, but they were no account at all in the mud. I had a conversation with the wagon master; he asked me if I was an American. I told him I was, that I was lately from Australia and had got a job of carrying the (13) mail to Utah. He told me I would have to be careful as I was going through an Indian country and they are very hostile; and, said he, you will have to keep your mouth shut pretty close when you are among the Mormons; I presume they will treat you well. He then said the mormons United States had got into a difficulty with the Mormons and he feared it would be a serious difficulty before it was ended. I said I presumed it would be a small matter for the United States to settle the difficulty. He said he thought it would not be so damned easy as there was from 20 to 30,000 fighting men, and the hell of it was they were all united, and commanded by the smartest man in the United States, and the women, and children, and old men would raise grain, while the younger class of men would lay in the mountains and annoy the Government Troops for the next ten years to come. He also said the Mexican war was no comparison to this difficulty. He furthermore said that the Mormons (14) were well drilled, for the United States had taken pains to drive them from place to place until they were well drilled and would whip the regulars two to one, and they were acquainted with hardships and a mountain life. indian battles, with no aid from Government, and his people are the richest people in the U.S. for the size of them&gt; I then told him who I was, and that I had become personally acquainted with Mr Beale in 1853 as he was passing through the southern part of the Territory exploring, and I was at the same time in charge of a company defending the Territory against Indian hostilities and that I was one of the men that had been driven from my home and forced into the mountains. I said he was right in his estimate of Gov. Young being the smartest man in the United States, and simply because God honored answered inspired him, and he Knew what to do, and everybody acceded to it; and, that before I would be driven I would do as he said – be in the mountains and fight for my rights for the next 10 or 20 years, but I was an American citizen and wished to support the laws of the United States while they would give me my rights in (15) common with my fellow men. I told him we had begged and had tried every plan to obtain our rights, and now they had got us they determined to make us fight for them. I then told him I had two wives of my own that God had given me; they had been faithful and true to me and I should defend them while I had strength in my body to do so – and I did not deny them in any nation or country. He then patted me on the shoulder and said he gloried in my spunk gut, that he did not blame me at all for my feelings. At the foot of the Mohave we fell in with Elders John Quincy, Knowlton, &amp; Orson Miles, &lt;&amp;&gt; Charles Hardin and George Harden. We travelled on, nothing of importance occurred until we reached Los Vegas – we found a few indians there. We then fell in with 40 or 50 indians, they seemed friendly as soon as they found who we were, but they inquired very particularly into our religious tenets. As I could talk (16) rather the best indian in the crowd, they directed their conversation more particularly to me. I had no difficulty in convincing them that Bros. Knowlton, Miles and myself were Mormons, but the balance they said might be Mormon papooses (children) but there was not much Mormon in them, showing on their finger nails how much. We then came on to the Muddy – the company went on ahead, leaving Mr Williams and myself with the mail. They reached the Muddy a little before day, when the Indians discovered them, one got upon the hill and cried “Merikaes” (Americans) The squaws ran in every direction, but we soon arrived with the mail, an Indian also arrived there from the Virgin; by that time they had surrounded the party and seemed to be pretty savage, but when they learned from this Indian who we were they treated us very friendly – some of the children stole some few articles. One of the indians stole a pistol from us, and Isaac the chief of the Rio Virgin made him give it up – an indian overtook us about half way across (17) the desert with it. Isaac travelled with us about half way up the Rio Virgin to his home. He told me to tell Brigham that he had not stole anything from the Mormons; he paused a little, and then said, rather reluctantly, nor from the Merikats neither; and that he did not intend to steal anything from the Mormons, as they had never inter- rupted him. He said that the Mormons could pass there whenever they pleased, but the Merikats had shot his men and killed them, and he intended to kill the Merikats. He said “tell Brigham to speak to God for me, for I don’t want to be sick.” We then came and met Bell’s train going down from the Santa Clara to the Virgin, all in good health and spirits, but were still a little afraid of the indians. We came on to the Santa Clara – got there in the night – the Indians raised considerable excitement and wanted to know who we were. When they learned who we were they began to holloa out for Benjamin, one of the brethren; they built up fires &amp; went for him. We told them we had (18) to eat and they got some corn for us but we did not see fit to take it as we had nothing to pay for it and we thought they were in a worse fix than we were. I arrived at Provo, on the 2nd of December, we had bad weather from the rim of the basin – found the brethren in all the settlements in good spirits. I arrived in this city last evening and made the report of my mission to Prest B. Young – he spent two hours asking me questions; and blessed me and said I was welcome home. Dec. 12. 1857 Statement of William W. Wall. His Australian Mission – difficulties in Los Angelos – Interview with Beale’s wagon master -</a>

Transcript for Missionary reports, 1831-1900, MS 6104, Church History Library

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c, Page 277.

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 977.343/N1 K29c.

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Autobiography of Mary Manerva Dart Judd

"Autobiography of Mary Manerva Dart Judd", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 3, 6-9.

In the spring of 1850, my father [John Dart] sold the farm for cattle to complete our outfit for Salt Lake Valley, then the objective point of the wandering Saints.


When on our journey about two days, the wagon which my Uncle Julian Roberts had made for my father in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and which father had supposed would last for years, got so dry that the wheels began to give way. We succeeded in trading it for a larger and better one. We gathered with the saints at the general campground, at the mouth of the Platte River.


This was a beautiful place, with groups of wagons here and there among the groves of large trees. I had never before seen so large a collection of wagons. It was the place appointed for the Saints to rendezvous for the purpose of organizing into companies and receiving instructions before starting out on the Plains.


They were first organized into tens, comprising ten wagons or families, with a captain. Five of these ten's constituted a fifty with a captain over them. These were supposed to be strong enough to take care of themselves in the ordinary emergencies of travel. Two of these fifties were expected to travel near enough to each other to consolidate under a captain of one hundred in times of danger from Indians. Every family was expected to be prepared to live for six months, and to have bread for one year. After we had organized and crossed the Platte River, we considered that we were fairly well started on our journey across the Great Plains.


It would be one thousand miles of travel where we should find only savage Indians and not much less savage mountaineers. During the first days of travel, we found that the pestilence was keeping us company.


A number of children were running along on foot. We saw a boy, about 12 years old, lying by the road side under a tree. At first we supposed that he was asleep. My father stopped his team, and going to the boy found that he was so nearly dead that he spoke with difficulty. We gave him some prepared brandy and pepper which we carried with us. This revived him. He said his father's name was Rollins. He had a large family, and for that reason, had perhaps, not missed his son. He was in Captain [William] Wall's company just ahead of us. We took him to his father who was camped with two or three companies on a rise of ground.


That night the rain descended in torrents. Our company traveled on the South of the Platte River, the route usually traveled by the overland migration to California. The Saints were counseled to travel on the north side of the river, following the track first made by the pioneers to Salt Lake Valley. We had considerable difficulty in getting through a mirey piece of ground which resulted in breaking our wagon tongue.


While stopping to repair damages, my mother [Lucy Ann], my sister, Harriet, and my brother, George, were taken with the cholera. When repairs were completed, we started on. Soon after, George said, "Father, I want to get out." Father took him out a short time, and he laid him back into the wagon. He was dead. In this sorrowful condition we traveled on to the camp, about four miles distant. After arriving there and turning out the team, father laid the remains of my brother under the wagon. It was nearly dark. I was very sorrowful. After walking around a little I came back to the wagon and found the body of my brother had been taken away. At a little distance I saw a light and started towards it. I was met by my father and asked, "Where is my brother?" He replied, "He is alright now he is buried." It grieved me very much that they had carried him off without my seeing him. It was perhaps wise to not permit my young mind to be impressed with the rude, uncoffined way in which they were obliged to put his remains into the earth. Fortunately for the young, the keen edge of grief soon wears off.


About four o'clock in the morning, my sister left us to keep company with our departed brother. In the morning we buried her on a small rise of ground away from human habitation, among the howling bea[s]ts of the plains. They died about twelve hours apart. My mother was quite sick but we indulged hope of her recovery. Arriving near Ft. Laramie, we camped for the night on a beautiful plat of grass. Here, about midnight, our sorrows culminated in the death of my mother.


For some time we had been so absorbed in our own toils, watchings and sorrows that we had no time to sympathize with our fellow travelers in theirs. A number of families had suffered. Perhaps the most grievous case was that of Mr. Rollins whose little boy my father had picked up nearly dead by the roadside. Twelve out of fifteen in his family had passed away.


Passing Laramie, we camped in a beautiful place by a springs for a week, to rest and clean up our wagons and clothing. Here a gentleman died, and as some doubted his being dead, he was put into a grave and it was left open for some time, hoping he might come to life. I think the fear of death gave the pestilence a greater hold on some persons than it otherwise would have had.


The cholera had swept off many of the California emigrants who had preceded us on the route south of the Platte. We saw places where it was evident companies had camped and buried many of their number. In some places clothing had been spread out on the bushes and left near the remains of their owners, the living having no use for these infected mementos of those they had buried. We saw where some bodies had been dug up by wild beasts; other places we saw a foot or hand projecting out of the grave, etc. These reminiscences and scenes of horror I hope humanity seldom witnesses again.


It is a testimony of the Lord's care of this people that those who traveled on the north side of the Platte as counseled to do, had no problem with cholera, they did not even lose an ox.


As we approached the mountains we felt more vigorous and healthy. As we approached the buffalo range we saw immense heards [herds] of them. When we encountered one on the move, our captain would order a halt in order to take better care of our animals and prevent them from stampeding with the buffalo, of which there was considerable danger. We dried considerable quantities of buffalo meat to last us into Salt Lake Valley.


We heard about a salaratus lake and then gathered large quantities with others of the company to take with us to be used in bread making and also soap manufacturing. We also found wild currants and a yellow fruit which we named buffalo berries in honor of the noble animal.


We crossed several streams where we had to raise wagon boxes to keep the goods inside from getting wet. The passing of Fort Bridger the crossing of Bear River and other streams indicated that we were approaching the object of our tedious journey. For three months we had been traveling away from a civilization which had cast out the Saints, to build up a better one in the desert. After long desert travel, Salt Lake City was beautiful to us with its streams of crystal water running along the streets. There were not many houses, but there were enough to give it an air of civilization and comfort.


We left our home in Bridgeport, Connecticut in April, 1849, and arrived in Salt Lake City in September, 1850. We had traveled about 3,000 miles and passed through many changes and vicis[s]itudes, some of them of a very trying nature. Three of our dear ones had passed through the gateway of death, we trust, to a better life beyond. They ended their work; we still live on to accomplish ours. . .


We sold all the grain we had and bought a team and wagon and started for the mountains. When we got onto the bottoms the cholera overtook us about four o’clock in the afternoon. My brother George died within an hour (June 28, 1850) after taking the disease. My sister Harriet died the next morning about four o’clock. We buried them there away from any human habitation on a little hill on the flat.


We traveled on until within four miles of Fort Laramie where my mother died. Three out of our family since we had crossed the river.


At the mouth of the Platt[e] river that night there was a stampede. a mule came from the Fort with a chain on or something of the kind and the cattle became frightened and stampeded. We used the broken chairs for a cover over our mother. She died July 6, 1850, having been baptized before she died. At her funeral was sung, “And if We Die Before Our Journeys Through, All Is Well.” There were elders from the mountains met us there and administered to her before she died. Brother [Otis] Terry and sister Levi [Leva] Judd were the only ones that dared to help us as the others were afraid of the cholers [cholera].


Our family was the first that took the cholera in our camp, but there was some fifteen that died in our camp. Soon after we came into the buffalo country my father took quite sick and thought he might die. Elder Blodget and others told him if he got baptized it would heal him, so he was baptized and was healed and came on to the Valley. . .

Transcript for "Autobiography of Mary Manerva Dart Judd," 3, 6-9.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856

Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856.

About the middle of may 1850 I bid adue to Fremont Country Iowa a<n> made my way to Kanesville. After a few days respit crossed the Missouri river below the mouth of the Platte. And was organized in the following manner by Orson Hyde: Johnathan Foot was appointed captain over one hundred and five waggons and Joel Gerill and William Wall captains of fifties and Utta [Ute] Perkins, Chester Loveland, Thomas Maun [Peter Maughan], Abraham Coon and myself were appointed captains of ten in the second fifty.</n>



On the fifteenth of June we left the banks of the Missouri[.] We had not been traveling long when old man Gidcomes [John Tidcomb’s] daughter of about ten years of age was run over by one of the waggons and her thigh bone broken. I set the broken limb which was the[n] my first experience in the sergical line. It was perhaps through good luch [luck] more than good manegement that the bone mended very well.



On the third day after we left the River we were visited by one of the most distressing plagues that ever befell the human family. The first to be afflicted with the disease was Alfred Brown who departed this life about two hours after he was taken with the dreaded disease. The next morning after attending to his intermant the camp moved on. During the day three more were afflicted. One of them died while we were traveling, and the two others died while we were camped for the night. The same night my younger child was taken sick with the same affliction and died in the latter part of the same night and was burried the next morning.



I think I never saw so exciting a time and a people so completely frightened out of their sences as the people comprising my ten for the sickness was confined principly to the ten under my charge. The first company of ten started on their journey in the morning wlile [while] we were burying the dead. During the time of yoking and hitching up seven others were taken which rendered it very difficult for us to move. Only by some of the men driving two and three teams was it made possible for us to cross Salt Creek.



After two or three efforts to receive help from the foremost portion of the company I must confess I was somewhat irritated and went myself. Although surrounded by the dead and dying I clamored upon a waggon wheel and there in plainess rebuked them for their cowardice and inhuman treatment of their brethren. As a result Wm. Hall, Chester Loveland, and Thomas Robinson volunteered to assist in taking care of the dead and dying and driving of the teams. After burying one person by the way we overtook the main body of the company about two-o’clock.



We continued our journey through sickness and death untill we passed through Fort Carny [Kearney]. After this time attacks of the prevailing epidemic were not so prevelant nor dangerous. Some days we passed from fifteen to twenty-five &lt;graves&gt; of emigrants going from Missouri and Illinois to California, all bearing nearly the same date. In many cases it was a disgreeable task to pass the decomposing bodies of which had been removed from their shallow covering by the wolves. In one place I saw the mangled bodies of twenty-three human beings. Some were without the appearance of a burial. The nearer we approached the mountenous region the less sickness we had.



When within twelve miles of Fort Larney [Laramie] we were, if such a thing were possible, threatened with a still worse contageon than we had previously been afflicted with. The Siox Indians were camped on either side of the Platt[e] River and by the score were dying daily with the small-pox. Some were piled in heaps by the side of the road while others were sunk with rocks in the river. Very fortunately for us we escaped without receiving harm from this contageon.



While in camp a few miles above Larney we come very near loosing a very useful member of our company, a man by the name of of Spafford, who came nearly being drowned. He had lost his mother three sisters and one brother the result of the colora [cholera]. Through the infatiguable energy of Thomas Robinson and John Chitesten [Chidester] he was saved from a watery grave.



From here we slowly persued our way through the mountains sustaining none other than the loss of a few cattle by reason of which we were ocompelled [compelled] to leave on a waggon at Devils Gate of the Sweet River. And on the seventeenth of September we entered the Great Salt Lake which at first sight had the appearance of a dreary waste or a vast desert whose dry and parched soil seemed to bid defiance to the husbandmen to bring forth from its bosom the comforts of life. By means of irregation however it was found to produce equal to any other country of the same latitude.

Transcript for Gilbert Belnap autobiography, 1856

Historical Department journal history of the Church. Supplement after 31 December 1850: Page 15-16.

Index to Utah pioneer biographies

Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Index to Utah pioneer biographies, Vol. 19, Page 202-205.

ext:	. . . . where we remained until the spring of 1850, when we started for Utah. We left Galena, Illinois April 22, 1850. We had two good wagons with double covers, we had three yoke of cattle and one yoke of cows to each wagon. We traveled one mile over Fever River, the weather was very cold. That night one of the sisters in the company gave birth to a baby girl. I attended her, and she got along very fine. Some more teams met us here, and our company now consisted of nine wagons. We crossed the Mississippi at Smith's Ferry on the 24th. We then held a meeting and Brother Maughan was chosen captain of the company with Zebedee Coltrin, and Noah Packard, as councilors. We traveled in mud and rain through Iowa, the road passing many creeks filled with water from the rain, and many bad storms, some times it seemed that our covers would be torn off and the wagons blown away. With my baby and family of eight to cook for I had no time to keep a journal. We arrived in Kanesville, in May near the end of the month, all well. We stayed there one week to wash our clothes and to rest our cattle. Here we met friends from England, and were organized in companies. Captain Foot[e] of 100, William Wall of 50 and Peter Maughan of 10.
We then continued our journey. I find this entry in my journal for June 3rd. We have found no water today so after baiting our cattle, we drove on till midnight in hopes of finding water, we then corralled our cattle until day break, having traveled 26 miles without water.
	June 4th . we found a little water this morning but so muddy that the cattle wouldn't drink it, there is plenty of feed among the sage brush. We drove to Big Sandy, and camped at noon with Captain Loveland. About two o'clock Brother Maughan sent Mr. DeWitt back to help Mr. Ebley, who is back with his cow, she is lame and sick with hollow horn. We drove on eight miles, and camped on Big Sandy between two high banks, very sandy.
	June 5th. we learn this morning that Mr. Ebley will stay a few days with his cow, his wife and two young men who are traveling with them will stay also. They are back 24 miles, by creek. We are sorry to leave them, but the company had already been delayed, and it was not thought wisdom to wait longer. We traveled 22 miles, crossed Green River and camped two miles out. The country is barren, black currants plentiful, weather fine.
	June 6th. we started early this morning, at noon came up with Captains Bair, and Smith, and traveled behind them till sundown, and then turned off the road and found a good camp on Black Fork. We met Bro. Call from the valley. Saturday June 7th. we remained in camp until noon and then started, we found Captains Wall. Loveland and Belknap, camped on Hams Fork. We concluded to wait here in hope Mr. Ebley will come up. Sunday 16th. this morning all things are pleasant and quiet, we had public preaching in front of the camp. This afternoon I hear some complaining of feeling sick, we think it not healthy to stay so long in one place.
	Monday 17th. we started about noon today, we have been waiting for some muskets which Capt. Foot went back to Kanesville after, as there was a deficiency in firearms. Traveled three miles, and camped on three mile creek, some bad roads but no bad accidents.
	Friday 21st. we were called this morning to bury two of our company who died of cholera, there aremore [are more] sick in camp. We have been in sight of the Platte River all day. Camped on Salt creek. Some of the camp came up with another child dead they burried it on the bank of the creek at twilight. I makes us feel sad to bury our friends thus by the way.
	Tuesday 25th. started early this morning, the weather cool and windy. At two o'clock it commenced to rain very hard thunder and lightning, some of the brethren had to stand in front of their cattle as they would not face the wind and rain. The mother of the five children spoken of yesterday died this forenoon, she will be buried this evening. We have passed five fresh graves today. The road is good but crooked, following the ridges. We are camped on a creek which is called Pleasant Point. We have buried Sister Spafford, the mother of nine children, there are no more sick in camp and we hope the worst is over.
	July 10th. we had a shower of rain which makes it feel cool and refreshing this morning, we traveled 16 miles. We passed 11 graves and camped on the plain without food or water. The mosquitoes are very bad. The next day Sister Maughan was called upon to suffer the loss of her little boy, who fell from the wagon and was run over. They fashioned a rude coffin from a box and buried him by the roadside.
	The Maughans reached Salt Lake August 18th, 1850.

Transcript for Maughan, Mary Ann Weston, [Journal], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 19:202-5

Index to Utah pioneer biographies.

James Albert Jones and Dorothy Heidel Mansfield, Some Early Pioneers of Huntington, Utah and Surrounding Area (1980), 78-79

James Albert Jones and Dorothy Heidel Mansfield, Some Early Pioneers of Huntington, Utah and Surrounding Area (1980), 78-79.

[Warren Foote]



11 June 1850. We traveled in company with 3 other families to the place where the company was to organize. It was 18 miles below Kanesville and we arrived on the 21st. Elder Orson Hyde proceeded to organize a company of 100. He nominated me to be captain, with Otis L. [Lysander] Terry and William [Madison Wall] captains of 50. The company started from the Missouri River 17 June 1850.



After a wearysome journey of 101 days, we arrived in Salt Lake City, 26 Sept 1850. There were about 20 deaths in the company, most of them caused by cholera, in the beginning of the journey.

Transcript for James Albert Jones and Dorothy Heidel Mansfield, Some Early Pioneers of Huntington, Utah and Surrounding Area (1980), 78-79

Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898, Autobiography

Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898, Autobiography, Vol. 1,2.

Transcript for Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898, Autobiography volume 1, 1894 and Autobiography volume 2, 1894

Mary Ann Maughan autobiography, 1894-1898, Autobiography.

Maughan, Peter, [Reminiscences], in Edward W. Tullidge, Tullidge's Histories of Utah

Maughan, Peter, [Reminiscences], in Edward W. Tullidge, Tullidge's Histories of Utah, Vol. 2.

. . .The Lord had shown me in a dream, the spring previous, where to dig to get our fit out; so my boys and I went to work and obtained eight hundred dollars in eight weeks. 
Having thus obtained means for our outfit we took up our line of march for Great Salt Lake City. After crossing the Mississippi, I was appointed captain of the company which was composed of Mormons and Gentiles. We continued so organized until we got to Kanesville, where we arrived in May, safely and doing well. We were then organized into Captain W[illia]m. [Madison] Walls' company, and I was appointed "Captain of Ten." 
We left the Missouri River in June, en route for Salt Lake City. We had a great deal of sickness and death by cholera on the plains. 
On the 12th day of July I was driving my first team, when my son Peter, aged about three years, fell out of the wagon, and the wheels passed over his breast and bowels, so that he only lived about one hour. We made him a coffin and buried him on a little elevated spot of ground, and we then proceeded on our way. 
We arrived in Salt Lake City, September 17th, 1850.

Transcript for Maughan, Peter, [Reminiscences], in Edward W. Tullidge, Tullidge's Histories of Utah, vol. 2, "Biographies (Supplemental Vol.) of the Founders and Representative Men of Northern, Eastern and Western Utah, and Southern Idaho" [1889], 37

Maughan, Peter, [Reminiscences], in Edward W. Tullidge, Tullidge's Histories of Utah.

Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal

Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal, June 1850, Page 26.

Transcript for Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal, 1850 June-September

Warren Foote Emigrating Company Journal.

Warren Foote, Autobiography and journal

Warren Foote, Autobiography and journal, May 1837.

Transcript for Warren Foote, Autobiography and journal, 1837 May-1879 December, 110-126

William Madison Wall

Birth Date

Death Date

Gender

Sources