Transcript

Transcript for George Whitaker writings, undated

About the 10th of June we left Winter Quarters and traveled a few miles and was organized into companies. Bishop [Edward] Hunter was the Captain of our hundred. Brother Jos[eph]. Horn[e] was Captain of fifty. Brother [Abraham] Hoagland was the Captain of our ten. There was about 600 wagons altogether. After crossing the Elk Horn River we traveled four wagons abreast. We heard that the Tawnee [Pawnee] Indians were hostile. We wanted to keep as close together as we could for fear of an attack from the Indians. We could not travel many miles in a day. When we got to the Tawnee [Pawnee] Village the Indians were gone. We then traveled two abreast for a few days, then we traveled in a straight line. After that we traveled in companies of fifty which we found more convenient.

My first boy was born at Independence Rock on the Sweet Water, Aug. 27, 1847. On the 13th of September we met President Young with the Pioneers going back to Winter Quarters. About the first of October our Company got into Salt Lake Valley. My wagon broke down in Emigration Canyon. I had to stay there three days till they brought me a wheel so I could get into the Valley.

On or about the 4th day of October I arrived in Salt Lake Valley.