Transcript

In the spring of 1851 we started and crossed the plains arriving in Salt Lake City on the 7th day of Oct. after a toilsome journey. On the 30th of July my wife had a little girl, Second Daughter, still born [stillborn] on the Loop [Loup] Fork. Elder Pratt told us to name it so we called her Amelia Lorinda. My wife was quite poorly the rest of the way. I had a very hard time on the road, altho I had a gentle team and I did not have to work ten minutes on my wagon all the way. I did not even Brake a bow key, but some one that unyoked my cattle lost one, but I had some extra ones in a little side box so that did not hinder. Many times I would have to drop my whip when we drove in to camp and go to work on a wagon or something else, and let some one else unyoke my team. I had charge of all of Elder Pratts teams and they were mostly wild cattle that never was yoked till he started. He had only enough of broke cattle for leaders, and the teamsters were about as bad. When I would get across a bad place, I would give my whip to Lansing, (he was not quite nine years old) and he would drive my team, and I would help all the others across and then run till I over took my team again. When we got into the City I heard Br. S. [James] W. Cummings (captain of hundred) tell Br. P. H. Wells that he would not go through what I did crossing the plains for five hundred dollars. For fear some might think that Elder Pratt put to much on me, I will say he has always done well by me.

Soon after we passed Fort Bridger we met Br. Cooley who informed me of the death of my Mother, which was quite a heavy blow to me, for I was looking forward to the time and only a few days at that, till I would see my Parents and Brothers and Sisters and friends that had gone on a head.