undefined undefined Transcript | Church History Biographical Database

Church History Biographical Database

Transcript

Transcript for McNaughton, James, Journal, 1851-1858

Sabbath June 5th 1853. Meetings were held for public worship at the [Keokuk, Iowa] camp ground, at ½ past 10. A.M. & at 4. P.M. The Saints were addressed by Elders [Appleton Milo] Harmon, & [James] McNaughtan [McNaughton]

Sabbath June 12th 1853. Meetings were held on the ground at ½ past 10 A. M. Addressed by Bro: Haight in the afternoon by Elders Haight & McNaughtan[.] In the Evening a Testimony Meeting was held where many of the Saints bore Testimoney. These were good times, on both Sabbaths. The Lord truly blessed us.

Monday June 13th 1853. A Months Provisions were served out. Flour, Bacon, Sugar, Soap & Salaratus. each waggon a Wash Tub, Bucket, Bpan, Baking Kettle, a whip, & a Hatchet between 2 Wagons.

Wednesday June 15th 1853. In the Mor: got everything packed up, our oxen yoked Hitched on & Moved off at ½ past 9. o’clock A.M. Camped in the afternoon after travelling 9 Miles, Elder Harmon leading the Company.

Thursday Mor: June 16th 1853. A Meeting of all the Men in the Camp was called by Bro: Harmon, & Organized into Tens. Captains names are as follows[:] 1st James McNaughtan, 2nd William David [Davis,] 3rd Wm Stewart, 4 Robert Orr, 5th Corneliens [Cornelius] Bagnall, 6th James Cowdy, 7 Wm Gouff[,] 8th Richard Attwood.

Thursday June 16th 1853. Continued. By the time the Companies were organized a Constable from Keokuk came to the Camp & found one yoke of Oxen with ours, not belonging to us, but which had been drove along by Mistake. For this President Harmon was arrested under a charge Lassing & taken before Squire Stoke, Keokuk. President Harmon called for an adjournment until 2 P.M. & he had to deposit 160 dollars for security for his appearance

Friday 17th June 1853. President Harmon, employed Mr. Cloget Attorney to attend his case, got witness & came to trial, was discharged, “Not guilty[”] was the verdict—during the time of Bro: Harmons absence from the Camp I was left in charge of the Camp.

Saturday June 18th 1853[.] we started & traveled to Sugar Creek. Camped there, & Branded our cattle—distance 12 Miles.

Friday 24 June 1853. Elder Haight after seeing the last of the Saints leave Keokuk for this season came right on & made up to us[.] He arrived early in the Mor: a Meeting was held at which time Bro: Haight nominated that Elder Appelton Harmon be our president & lead this Company right through to the Valley[.] received with uplifted hands. Haight Then Moved that I be appointed Captain of Fifty. received & that Wm Aird, be appointed Captain of Ten, in The place of McNaughtan. President Haight addressed the Brethren on their duties & responsibilities & that if Men would not do their duty & fulfill that committed to their trust—that we should “cut the damned rascal’s throat than be Humbuged with them” & showed “That they were not called to allow unrighteousness to be practised & infringe upon the patience & good works of the faithfull”

Saturday 9th July 1853. President Harmon left us & went on to Kanesville leaving me in Charing [charge] of the company. We got along very well considering the absence of our President[.] We arrived at Kanesville or close by where we found Joseph Young’s Company. We halted near to his Camp a few hours, when our Captain came to us, & we moved on to the Ferry where are Jacob Gates’ Company where we halted. The Danish Company had just got over[.] I saw Bro: John Forsgreen

Thursday July 14th 1853. Having got our provisions to serve untill we got to the Valley & finding that Bro Gates’s Company had not all got over The Ferry By the counsel of Bros; Haight, & Harmon we removed to another Ferry passing through The Town of Kanesville—distance to the Ferrey 17 Miles. The roads being bad Many of the Waggons stuck in the Mud—Bro: Bagnall’s & some others stuck all Night! So we Camped 5 Miles from the Ferry.

Friday Mor[ning]: July 15th 1853. By order of our Captain we put on 4 Yoke of oxen to a Waggon leaving Me with the remainder of the Waggons untill the return of the Oxen. Many got ferried accross the Missouria [Missouri] River on Friday evening, begining with My Waggon No. 1

Saturday Mor: July 16th 1853. Captain Harmon returned to Kanesville on business, leaving me to Mannage the remainder of the Waggons & cattle in being ferried over, which was all done by 3. o’clock P.M. at 5. P.M. I gave orders for all the Cattle to be taken down & to see that every Man’s Cattle was present, then moved off 1 Mile & ½ to a better Camping ground & better feed for the Cattle—This place is near to Winter Quarters, where Many of the Saints were interred. Here we spent Sunday July 17th which was a day of rest to all.

Monday Mor: July 18th 1853. Our Captain Appleton M. Harmon returned & at 10. o’clock we moved on 8 Miles to this ground, where we went to work & cut down some trees[,] built a round tire[,] set fire in order to Make Charcoal[.] Next Mor: it was good Charcoal—

Tuesday July 19th[.] This day our Black Smiths & our Captains not the least buisy!—for the good of the Company. Rains heavey this afternoon whilst it suits the Camp while resting, hinders our Craftsmen from mending, & our Industrious & well disposed women from Washing. Its all right, because we dont seek to alter it

October 16th 1853. Our Train & also Cap: Brown’s got into Great Salt Lake City—It being Sunday the Meeting was conveened in the Tabernacle notwithstanding we were Met by Many of the Natives & old acquaintances.

See Your Ancestors in the Church History Biographical Database.

Using data from your FamilySearch tree, we can now show your direct ancestors in the search results. To turn this feature on, you will be redirected to FamilySearch where you will need to log in. Once logged in, you will be returned to the Church History Biographical Database.

Feedback