My father, David Osborn, received most of his education by studying evenings by the light of the fire. . . . Father called his family together and asked them if they were willing to go west with him. Mother, being in poor health, felt that she would rather go home to her father's home (Indiana) at least until her health was improved, but we children all wanted to go with Father. Mother [Cynthia Butler Osborn], seeing how we felt, decided she would rather face the hardships of the journey than be parted from Father and we children. On June 15, 1852, our family started westward to Salt Lake City. We left Nauvoo [Kanesville] and after traveling 250 miles, Mother gave birth to her eleventh child, who was born dead. The company stopped one day only, then continued their way traveling over rough and untrodden roads. Two weeks later, July 2, 1852, Mother, who had braved hardships greater than she could bear, passed away. Eight children were left for my father to care for. Two were married and came to Utah with Father. We arrived in Salt Lake City September 9, 1852. We made the trip in covered wagons drawn across the plains, taking almost three months.