Transcript

Salt Lake Valley
(eight miles from the city)
Friday, Sept. 6, 1850

My dear Mother, Brothers and Sister —

Knowing that you would be glad to hear from me, and having a good opportunity of sending it as Brother Orson Hyde is going to return on Monday. I scarce know how to commence. We arrived here on Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, all in good health and spirits after a long and toilsome journey. The first part of the journey was rough; after that the roads were good. until within seventy miles of the Valley. Our health has been mostly good. We had four deaths in our company, most of them were sick before they started. I can truly say that the Lord has blessed us. While [hundreds] were laid low on the prairie, we were preserved. Some days we would pass thirty graves, besides what were [on] the roads which we did not see. Most of them died in one month in June. They were gold¬diggers, and most all of them were from Missouri and Illinois, and no doubt those that had been the cause of the death of Joseph and Hyrum, and the mobbing of the Saints. Truly the words of our Prophet have been fulfilled, "That their bones should bleach on the prairies," which they do, for scarce a grave was there that had not been opened. They died of cholera. Some had slight attacks in our company. Bro. Harvey took sick with the same complaint and was very sick, but through the laying on of hands he was healed, as were several others. Some think that the complaint is caused through drinking different kinds of water. Some of it is very bad. You must bring something along to put in your drinking water, such as ground ginger, composition, and acid or lemon. This will make the water drink better and be more healthy. Potatoes we found very good. We had a few the first part of the journey, but wished we had brought more. We saw many buffalo and killed six or seven in our company. George killed the first one. It is very much like beef. We dried a quantity of it. Well, of that I will say no more. . . .

I must bring my letter to a close, else I cannot send it. May God bless you all and soen bring you here is my prayer to God, Amen.

From your son and daughter,
George and Susannah Clark.

[Source: http://rogergrua.com/Clark-Ward/Clark_George_S/Clark,%20Susannah%20Dalley%20history.htm]