Transcript

Besides her own children, Mother assumed the responsibility of bringing a young girl [a]long, whose emigration she paid, and in return the girl assisted her in caring for the children. This girl was killed on the plains in a buffalo stampede. At the time of the accident she was leading me by the hand beside the wagons, when like a terrible tornado the animals ran for their lives, and in their mad rush trampeled everything in their path. Just how I happened to escape, I do not know, but I feel that it was through the blessings of my heavenly father that my life was saved. Mother also paid the emigration of all the saints in Stavanger, numbering seventeen, who were ready to leave at that time.

We finally reached Florence on June 12, and camped until July 7th. where we made preparations for the remainder of the journey. Mother bought two yoke of oxen, three cows, one wagon, one tent, a stove, boiler, cooking utensils, etc. She had brought with her from home many valuable articles of copperware, including a very large kettle which she used as long as she lived, this was filled with cooking utensils etc. She also brought many pieces of valuable silver ware, silk, and other dress materials, also shoes and clothes enough to last the family for two years.

The company with which they crossed the plains was called "The Independent Emigration Company," which means that they were able to pay their own expenses. J[ohn]. R. Young was their captain. W.W. Cluff had charge of the company while crossing the ocean.

While they were encamped at Florence, the young widow [Mother] was married to John Gustave Jorgenson, a young missionary from Dramen, Norway, whom she had met at Stavanger, where he was doing missionary work. To this union was born five children, the first two dying in infancy. The other three were Enoch, Bertha, and Heber.

The journey across the plains in 1863 was one of hardships, excitement, privation, and sore trial. Mother was sick with mountain fever, when the accident occurred to the hired girl which brought on a relapse, almost costing her life. While on the journey, one yoke of oxen died and they had to hitch up the cows; the only fuel available was buffalo chips.

The company arrived in Salt Lake City September 12, 1863.