Transcript

Transcript for Gardner, Nathan Hale, [Biographical sketch of Ann Rogers Snow] 1978, 10-11

Ann tells the story in very simple terms to her grand daughter Jessie Gardner about 1902: “Incidents of the plains.” It was 50 years ago, the last of September since I arrived in Salt Lake Valley and I have passed through so many scenes since then that incidents of the plains have passed from my mind. Early in June 1852 we were organized into a company of 50 with Bro. [Joseph] Outhouse as Captain of the company. There was a captain for every ten wagons. We crossed the Elkhorn River and started out on our long journey with full faith that the Lord would guide us through.

“In this age of steam and electricity one can scarcely imagine that anyone could be all day going 10 or 15 miles, but the Saints traveled this way in early days, camping where we could find feed and water. When a wagon needed repairing they would stop a day and the women would wash and cook and prepare to continue the journey. 3 or 4 weeks after we started there was a little trouble arose in the company and part of the company went on and we were left with 10 wagons and we came all the way with this small company with Bro. Page as our Captain.

“When we came near Ft. Laramie the Sioux Indians frequently visited our camp. They were well dressed in their buckskin suits which were all trimmed with beads. One day there were several rode past our train and tried to stampede our cattle, but we were blessed and the cattle were not frightened. Thus the Indians were unable to carry out their designs.

“Sometimes there was a herd of Buffalo or Antelope skipping over the plains, and occasionally one was killed and then we would have fresh meat, which was a great treat as our supplies were scant.

“The weather was warm until we reached Sweetwater, when it was very cold and froze hard. Just before we came to Green River we saw about one hundred Snake Indians, but they turned off the road and did not molest us. We crossed the Green River and in a few days reached our destination, tired and weary from our long journey, some of us having walked half of the way. We were truely glad and thankful to rest”.

Ann R. Snow