Transcript

Transcript for Carl Johan Sundback journal [transcript] in John R. Bohman family history collection, 1862-1865, 32-42

July 25, 1864
Johanna [Charlotte Gronland] got still worse and she needed me all the time. The company moved out one mile from the camp. Only we and another family were left behind.

July 26, 1864
Sister [Caroline] Pettersson was with us last night. Johanna was under heavy pains, but it looked like everything was going to be all right; and at 6:30 p.m. Johanna gave birth to a little girl who looked healthy and well.

The mother was administered to just before she was delivered, and she received great power to go through her worst moments.

The child was blessed by Elder A[nders]. Swedlund and was given the name of Alma Wyomina. The mother was soon relieved of her pains.

July 27, 1864
We got hold of a wagon, and loaded out [our] belongings and the sick in it. Then we traveled 10 miles before we made camp. All went well so far and both mother and child were well according to the circumstances.

July 28, 1864
We continued our journey and traveled 16 miles that day. Everything went well, but we were very tired in the evening, and especially Johanna who had to lay in the crowded wagon and take all the bumping and shaking.

July 29, 1864
We traveled only till noon, and camped the rest of the day. Johanna and the child were as well as could be hoped for according to the circumstances during such a trip.

July 30, 1864
We only traveled 10 miles and camped the rest of the day.

July 31, 1864
We traveled 20 miles that day, but we had to go over a lot of hills so the trip was hard for the oxen, Johanna and the baby; yet everything went well. Johanna is a little peevish again. She wants to be waited upon, which is being done as much as possible.

August 1 - 6, 1864
We went on everyday, and some days traveled 26 miles. In the afternoon of August 4th we came to the Platte River. So far we had traveled 140 miles since we left camp “Wyoming”. Here we found the English company which left camp 3 days before us. A child died in our wagon.

On August 5th our wagon broke apart, so we had to lay still all afternoon for repair. We met wagons all the time which were on the road down (going east). There were many houses along the Platte River, and on August 6th I met a Swede who lived there 160 miles from Nebraska City. He was from Jonkoping. He had cultivated 40 acres of land and operated a business with a variet[y] of things. In the afternoon we passed several beautiful places. We traveled 22 miles that day.

August 7, 1864
In the morning we passed Fort Kearney and 2 miles further west there were several businesses in a nice little town. There were bakers and blacksmiths. I guess that the rest of the people lived from the cattle industry.

We followed close behind the English company and traveled about 20 miles that day.

August 8, 1864
The roads are a little sandy. Johanna walked for a little while this morning. It’s the first time since she gave birth to her child that she is trying to walk. <The girl was born July 26th = 13th day> In the afternoon we passed a partly burned house where a man lay dead. The Indians had plundered and killed him. A company of soldiers passed us. They were going after the Indians. The brethren got orders to keep their weapons in readiness.

August 9, 1864
In the morning we passed a place where 10 wagons loaded with different kinds of supply and machinery had been burned and 11 men had been killed. There were some other men there who had just buried the dead. This was also the work of the Indians. We rested at noon by a store which also had been raided by the Indians, but no one had been killed. In the afternoon we crossed the Plumb Creek.

August 10 - 12, 1864
We were in company with the English and several small groups joined us. It wasn’t good to go in small groups across the prairies that year because the Indians were very restless. It was said that they had burned 75 provision wagons on the way to the military in Salt Lake City. The grass starts to get dry. The people who live here on the prairie have fled from their homes and are staying where the soldiers are stationed for protection. It is warm during the day. Shortly after noon on August 12th we passed Cottonwood Spring. There we did meet a large company on the way down. They had been there for 4 days. 200 soldiers were stationed there, and there were several stores open for business. We traveled more than 20 miles that day.

August 13, 1864
We traveled only till noon, and camped the rest of the day. It was raining a little during the morning hours. Everything has gone well so far during the trip. There may be some who complain a little, but it doesn’t effect the majority. They only make life sour for themselves and make the trip more difficult.

August 14, 1864 (Sunday)
We traveled a good distance before we camped at noon. We met two Indians on horseback. They were the first Indians that I had seen on this trip, and the first ones that I have ever seen. Their clothes were very colorful. The rain yesterday made it a little cooler today and the air was cleaner. In the afternoon we camped at Falun Bluff Trading Post. We saw some Indians there and they seemed to be friendly. I spoke in the meeting that evening. Several Indians came and they were very nice beggars.

August 15, 1864
It rained a little in the morning. Several Indians have come in to Falun Bluff last night. Further along the road we passed an Indian camp.

August 16, 1864
We drove only till noon and made camp. We received provisions for 14 days. There were some of the members who were dissatisfied and didn’t want to listen to reason. I have personally not found anything to complain about.

August 17, 1864
We had a little difficulty with the firewood, it was wet because of the rain, and there was nothing else to burn. It was raining a little in the morning. Captain Confield [Isaac A. Canfield] has been sick the last few days.

An old sister from Skanes Conference died in the afternoon just before we made camp. She was 75 years old. Sven Ericksson from Torska had taken care of her during the whole trip.

August 18, 1864
We drove passed a couple of cities where the Indians had put up their tents by the houses. There were even soldiers there and they seemed to live in peace. One of these places had the name of “Old California”. We drove 25 miles that day and camped in a very nice place.

August 19, 1864
We didn’t drive very far that day, and we camped at “Jul[e]sburg” by North Platte. The place where the telegraph is crossing the river, we found several houses that were occupied.

August 20, 1864
We crossed the North Platte River and all went well. The water was not deeper than up to the axels of the wagons. Three miles further north we crossed a creek with clear running water and followed it for some distance. At noon we camped at a place where some cactuses were growing. There was also a tremendous amount of flying grasshoppers not far from North Platte. They annoyed us a great deal when they came flying right into our faces.

August 21, 1864 (Sunday)
We had a nice camping place last night, and we only drove for a while in the morning. We camped for the rest of the day because we had quite a few who were ill in our company, and the captain had his hands full in administering to the sick. We didn’t hold any meeting during the day as was planned, but during the evening meeting one of the coachmen spoke with great power.

August 22, 1864
We arose at three o’clock in the morning and prepared to move on. We had 26 miles to go without any water for the oxen so we had to use the time well. When half of the company had moved out, two horses came galloping, and when the oxen, which were yoked up to the wagons, saw them, they started to run with the loaded wagons in all directions. Four wagons overturned and got damaged, one of the oxen broke a let [leg] and had to be slaughtered, two oxen broke both the horns off of themselves and received several scratches, and one ox got one of the front legs ran over which made him useless for the time being.

No person was injured although there were several people in the wagons that overturned. Four persons got the whole wagon load over themselves, but they didn’t sustain the least of any injury—a real miracle. The wagons that had gone ahead must return, and we stayed in camp all day to repair the wagons. The womenfolks got busy with washing and baking etc.

August 24, 1864
We arose at 3 o’clock in the morning and proceeded the distance which we should have gone yesterday. We crossed Pole Creek (Lodgepole Cr.) and went north.

A Sister [Johanna] Bran from Skane died in the morning and was buried where we rested at noon. There we didn’t have any water for the oxen and only dry grass. Sister Bran had three children, [Christina, Adela, and Joseph] one of whom was only six months old. She had been ill for 14 days before she died. Her husband was left behind in Sweden because he was in the armed services. He was to join the family the next year.

We came to a water hold in the evening, but the grass was pretty poor. We were very tired after the trip that day.

August 25, 1864
We went to Courthouse Rock. There was a creek with good water and there was also plenty of grass so we camped there.

August 26, 1864
We drove to Chimney Rock and camped there. I went fishing in the afternoon and I got some small fishes.

August 28, 1864
We came to the vicinity of Scotts Bluff in the morning. It is a great mountain of a very fine kind of clay which is in a state of petrification. Courthouse Rock and Chimney Rock are of the same kind. All of these places are romantic to behold.

We found some soldiers west of Scotts Bluff who were building houses. We rested there till noon. It was very warm in the afternoon, but we still drove for a while before we camped.

August 29, 1864
We camped after dark, having driven all day and only rested twice. The grass was good by the camp.

August 30, 1864
We were given beef in the morning and pork in the afternoon. There was almost no grass for the animals. In the afternoon we had a real storm which lasted for several hours.

August 31, 1864
We received apples and sugar in the morning. A Sister Birgitta Roslina Lindqvist from Gottland died and was buried close to the camp. There was almost no grass at all in that place. Sister Sofia Pettersson from Jonkoping was still very ill. They mostly seemed to have the illness so-called Augustfever.

In the afternoon we passed by Fort Laramie on the north side, after which we crossed the Platte River and drove on for another 5 – 6 miles before we camped. Laramie was a beautiful place and there were some trees growing there also. Just outside of Laramie there is a river flowing into the Platte River. It is called Laramie Fork. We crossed the river in order to avoid seven miles of sandy road. There were many soldiers in Laramie and several houses. I didn’t go into town because we had camped ½ mile north of town.

September 1, 1864
We drove only six miles that day and camped right next to the river where there was plenty of grass. We went fishing there and picked buffalo berries.

September 2, 1864
We crossed the river again, and then we took off up into the mountains. We watered the animals at 10:00 a.m. and then we went all day without anything to eat or drink for both people and animals. We camped at a little creek in the evening where there was just enough water for our needs but there was very little grass.

September 3, 1864
We continued through the mountains and rested at a spring close to the road. We had many hills to drive over, and we kept on till we came to the Platte River again.

Sofia Pettersson was still very ill.

September 4, 1864 (Sunday)
We drove on and crossed the Platte River over to the north side. The grass has been poor ever since we left Fort Laramie. We had some rain in the afternoon. We oftentimes encountered strong canyon winds from west or southwest.

September 5, 1864
We forced our way through several very difficult canyons, and in the afternoon we crossed the river again. This crossing was hard because the bottom of the river was sandy. In the evening we camped close to where we had crossed the river.

September 6, 1864
We traveled some eight miles and then made camp. There we received beef. We continued, however, in the afternoon, and at the end of the day we were given our ration of pork.

September 7, 1864
We continued the trip in a terrible sleet with the wind right in our faces. We received extra provisions.

September 8, 1864
The journey continued, but in the afternoon I went fishing with Brother [Johan] Quarnberg.

September 9, 1864
I went fishing all morning and we had good luck, but in the afternoon the company went across the upper Platte Bridge over to the north side of the river.

September 10, 1864
We didn’t break camp until 10 o’clock a.m., and then we drove some 15 miles before we camped for the night at a place where there were some springs. During the day we had some mishaps. A wheel on one of the wagons broke into pieces and another wagon turned over. Last night 5 oxen died from over-exhaustion. We may be up against some serious problems if this is going to continue.

In the morning Brother Qvarnberg and I went fishing. We got seven salmonds.

September 11, 1864 (Sunday)
We made quite good headway during the morning hours. It’s getting rather cold at night. It was raining in the afternoon, so we camped beside some springs and stayed there over night. Johanna is ill with a cold and diarrhea and she is very peevish. Sofia is still very ill.

September 12, 1864
We were awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning, and as soon as the oxen could be hitched to the wagons we took off for the hills, up and down the mountains. Sometimes it looked like the skies were below the mountain tops. In the evening we camped at a little creek which had a lot of clear water. One of the teamsters drove his wagon so that one wheel broke into pieces. Sister Bengta from Skåne got sick in our wagon. We always have a couple of people in our wagon who are ill.

September 13, 1864
We were lying still all day in order to repair the wagon and to give the oxen a chance to rest up a bit. There was plenty of grass, but it was dry. A 75 year old man Mans Stangberg, died in the morning, and 17 year old Lars Lindgren died in the afternoon. They were both from Skåne.

We had much to do during the day with those things which pertain to our comfort. Almost everyone needs to be a shoemaker, a tailor, and a washwoman on a trip through the wilderness; it is quite necessary.

Johanna is feeling better, but Per Nilssons wife [Bengta] got sick, so there are always two or three who are ill in our wagon.

Now it is freezing rather thick ice on the water during the night.

September 14, 1864
We continued our journey, and toward noon we arrived at Sweetwater. We passed a place in the river where the water had dried out, and there we saw saleratus weed in abundance. It looked good, but all those who had collected some of this weed were told by the captain to throw it away. Their loads were large enough. Some of the teamsters had collected several sacks of it.

We received provisions yesterday and we received 2 pounds of pork instead of 1½ each. We continued the journey and in the afternoon we arrived at the “Devil’s Gate”. It is a very narrow mountain pass where Sweeetwater runs southward through some mountain passes.

In the evening we camped in a place where there was a lot of sagebrush. This brush is good as firewood, and that was all that was growing in this region.

September 15, 1864
We didn’t break camp until 9:30 a.m. but then we drove until 2:30 p.m. through a very narrow canyon with high mountains on both sides, and we passed some rather dangerous places. We rested for a couple of hours afterwhich we continued till late in the evening.

September 16, 1864
I had guard duty last night, and then it was my turn to walk behind the wagon during the day. We crossed “Sweetwater” three times during the afternoon. We made camp at a telegraph station, but it was late before we got to rest.

September 17, 1864
We only drove a short distance before we rested for lunch, but then we continued until the evening. We had to camp in a place where there was no water but was plentiful with firewood and grass.

September 18, 1864 (Sunday)
We were awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning and started driving at daybreak. We drove till 10:00 o’clock when we came to water again. We stayed there for a few hours, after which we continued until we came into a deep valley where there was plentiful grass. We also camped here for the night.

September 19, 1864
We had ony gone a short distance when we again passed a telegraph station. It is very cold during the nights now, and we have had to go against a strong wind during the last two days.

We left Sweetwater in the afternoon and drove through some very narrow mountain passes. We camped in the evening near some springs where we also found plenty of firewood.

September 20, 1864
We continued on our way through very narrow mountain passes and uphill. We rested again at Sweetwater at noon, where we also received meat. After this we drove on until late in the evening when we again camped by Sweetwater and made it as comfortable as possible. Some of us were lacking provisions and we didn’t have time to bake bread, which fanned the ambers of dissatisfaction, breaking out in rather serious complaints. The leaders are not giving due consideration to the feelings of the people.

September 21, 1864
Now we left the Sweetwater River never to cross it again on this trip. At noon we passed “South Pass” and rested by a little creek. Here we received pork. We continued four more miles for [blank space] and camped for the night. Here we got the rest of the provisions.

It should be noted that the teamsters here received pork from the provisions-wagon although they had 40 pounds per person with them. At the same time the immigrants had to be satisfied with 1½ pounds per week. Besides, we were given the shanks while the teamsters got the side pork.

During the day and the evening we had a terrible wind blowing right against us.

September 22, 1864
We traveled seven miles before taking a break, and then we drove 16 more miles in the afternoon and came to Big Sandy Creek.

September 23, 1864
We only made 14 miles all day, and in the afternoon it was very cold. We camped by the road, and it was one mile to water.

September 24, 1864
We made good progress before we stopped for lunch. The weather was clear and beautiful and not so cold as yesterday. We drove on in the afternoon and came to the Green River which we crossed and camped on the west side. There was hardly any firewood to be found.

September 25, 1864 (Sunday)
We traveled 22 miles and came to Hams Fork in the afternoon. It was late before the last wagons came into camp. A wheel on one of the wagons had broken down seven miles from the camp, so they had to leave the wagon there over night.

It was difficult to find firewood. But I was always way ahead of the company so I had always plenty of firewood.

September 26, 1864
We were laying still all day while the wagon was towed in and repaired. We found plenty of grass, water, and firewood.

September 27, 1864
We arrived at Blacks Fork at noon where we paused for a while. There we received flour. We drove on and camped by a creek over night.

September 28, 1864
I began to get a headache, and in the afternoon I was so weak that I had to get into the wagon and ride.

September 29, 1864
I didn’t hear nor see anything else than how the wagon was shaking terribly, and I had a killing headache.

October 1, 1864
I was not conscious of anything until in the afternoon when we camped in the Echo Canyon.

October 2, 1864 (Sunday)
We drove through the canyon and came out in the Weber Valley. In the afternoon we camped in the middle of the settlement. Some Swedes were living there, among whom was the brewer Andersson from Gothenburg.

October 3, 1864
We drove through the Silver Creek Canyon and camped in Parley Park.

October 4, 1864
We drove through the Parley Canyon and camped a few miles from Salt Lake City in the evening.

October 5, 1864
We drove into Salt Lake City and unloaded the wagons with the goods for the Church in Brigham Young’s yard. Our wagon was unloaded and was left just where it stood.