Transcript

Transcript for Goddard, Elizabeth Harrison, Autobiography [ca. 1900], 63-64

. . .My Husband [George Goddard] was enabled to do a little trading and earned his fit out for the plains vis-2 Yoke of Oxen and 2 Yoke of Cows and a Waggon as well as provisions for the journey across the Plains. To help us along our journey we parted with considerable that we brought from England. My husband being no Teamster. We engaged a Bro [Henry] Green to drive the Team across the plains. Taking his Wife [Elizabeth Green] and Niece with us and finding food for them all, also to have 1 Yoke of Cows at the journeys end. The Lord was very kind to us in blessing us with kind Friends[.] But found much to contend with on the plains. We crossed the Missoura [Missouri] on the 9 th of June 1852 ariving in Salt Lake City on the 15 th of September 1852 with 3 children vis. Eliza[,] Joseph & Mary.

In July the Cholera broke out in our Camp when our daughter Eliza was seised with it[.] afterwards our eldest Son George was attacked and then our little Henry about 3 years old who did not live many hores [hours]. The others linger[e]d, George seemed to improve & would be dressed to go and see some children baptised. but I think he took cold and had a relapse and we had to trust with him. Dear Eliza was the only one who recovered but was very weak for some time. Having laid away 5 of my children who were all so healthy in England. But the change of climate seemed to affect them. Some Mothers & Fathers were taken away with this scourge[.] I felt I would rather part with my children, than be taken away from them.

We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 16th of Sept 1852 with our Oxen & Cows minus our Waggon which broke down a few days before we reached our destination. Brother [John] Tidwell who was our Captain (a very easy going man) and did not trouble himself much about the trials of others. We had to let our Wagon go for a mere trifle, and divide our baggage into other waggons. When at our journey's end we lived in a large tent that was lent to us while we purchased a home.