Transcript

Great caution had to be used in handling the Stock on account of the vast amount of Buffalows Roaming in the country[.] On the 12 of June 1847 a Company of one hundred wagons were orgenized at Winter Quarters and Daniel Spencer was apppointed Captain and on the 13 Started west on the trail of the Pioneer company. After the train crossed Elk Horn River about 25 miles from Winter Quarters the Company halted for a couple of days for this purpose of completing the Organization[.] the main company was divided in to two Divisions and Ira Eldredge was appointed Captain of the first Division of 50 wagons and Perry Green [Perrigrine] Sessions, was appointed Captain of the Second Division of 50 wagons[.] then their were appointed Captains for each 10 wagons in order that all incidents and details could be looked after[.] they traveled with in a mile of each other[.] During the first 500 miles we were kept advised of the movements and condition of the Pioneer company by written information placed on Buffalow Skulls set up by the side of the Pioneer trail & by like means information of our proceedings were left for those who were to follow in days to come.

On the 3 of September 1847 when we were crossing Big Sandy 16 miles of East of Green River we met President Brigham Young and a large number of other members of the Pioneer Company on their Return to Winter Quart[r]es & with them a number of the Mormon Battallion Soldiers on their Return to their families and friends[.] We Learned from President Brigham Young that the Great-Salt-Lake Valley had been Selected for a Resting Place for the Saints

On the 18 of September 1847 we camped at the West Base of the Big Mountain on the North Fork of Parley's Canyon[.] Ephrahem [Ephraim] Hanks a member of the Battallion who had returned from California by the way of the Great-Salt-Lake went with the Returning Pioneer Company, until He met Fathers Company & he being a Single man and a Cousin of Fathers, took up his abode with Fathers family and returned to Great Salt Lake Valley. He told the People about the Great-Salt-Lake and the valley could be seen when we emerged from the mount of Emigration Canyon. On the East side of the Valley.

The morning of the 19 of September 1847 Father arranged for me to go on a Poney with Cousin Eprhem [Ephraim] Hanks and thus procure an early Sight of the Great-Salt-Lake Valley. We reached the mouth of the Canyon about 10 oclock, when we reached the mouth of the Canyon we raised slightly to the north for about two hundred feet to raise out of the Ravine which continued West, and when we reached that point we could see a large portion of the Valley and also a large portion of the Great Lake at the Spot where we Stopped. Mr. Hanks said "Brothers here is the Spot where the Buggy in which President Young was ridding Stopped for him to look over the Valley and after he looked for a few minutes He said "This is the Place, drive on" and thus a decission [decision] was reached for the Saints to multiply and increase.

The Company emerged from the mouth of the Canyon about 4 oclock in the afternoon and passed down the Sloping Platteu [plateau] and camped near the Bank of a Small Stream Since named City Creek