Transcript

In the spring of 1853 we started across the plains by ox team. There were forty wagons in our company. It was quite an exciting time, getting ready for this long journey first we had to divide our company into four groups, ten wagons in each company. This being done so we could find better camp grounds and feed for our animals and to guard against Indians. Our Captian was Bishop Tingey. I remember we were traveling along the La Platt River there was a herd of sixty buffalo swam across the river and stampeded our cattle. There were about three wagons tipped over and three wheels smashed to the groung [ground] and a woman got her leg broke in the wreck. This delayed us two or three days. We had a hard time to gather our cattle and also to repair our wagons.

I remember while we were camped two Indians killed a buffalo about a mile and a half from our camp. Bp. Tingey took me out with him to see the buffalo, the Indians wanted to trade the buffalo for me and I struck out for camp being almost scared to death.

I remember as we were traveling along three men rode up to our train and asked if there was any one there from Sheffield, Eng. My father being the only one, spoke up and said he was from that place. While passing remarks about Eng. my father told them he had worked for their father for fifty years. They had quite a long talk. They told us they had been trapping and hunting and also prospecting and now they were on their way back to England. They wished us success while crossing the plains.

It was a long trip, we had some pretty good times and at other times not so bright. Some nights we sang and played games and made the best of the trip, as best we could, as our parents were all poor. We held church on a Sunday in a camp circle.

We arrived in Salt Lake City some time about the 20th of Sept. 1853. We were five months crossing the plains.