Transcript

When we reached Florence, now Omaha Nebraska—my sister Sophie and I saw our first Indian. Mother left us in the wagon while she went to a Prayer Meeting; while she was gone the Indian lifted the wagon cover and looked in and I can tell you we soon broke up the meeting. He was naked all except a few rags and bearskin fringe, beads and a headress of feathers. We stayed here six weeks, until the wagon train came from Utah.

We started on July 28th with Rosel Hyde as our chief captain. The train consisted of 102 wagons drawn by oxen, and as near as I can remember, there were 11 mule teams. After we had crossed the Platte River my little brother died and we buried him on the plains. Mother and we girls walked many miles on this trip. I often wonder now how many women would do as much for their religion.

We landed in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 13, 1862 [1863], and not a soul to meet us, so we sat on our sacks until nearly dark and mother cried all the time for we thought we were left and had no place to go. But the teamster with which we had come had forgotten his whip and when he came back for it and found us there, he took us home with him and took care of us until father could come.