Transcript
Transcript for Hayes, John Henry, Autobiographical sketch, in Autobiography of John Henry Hayes: Families and Ancestors [2003], 6-8
Bro Morris son [Edward] made it very unpleasant for me crossing the plains, being very harsh and overbearing with me, but his father [Edward] was very kind to me all the way and took the place of a good kind father, for which there has always been a kind warm feeling in my heart, a feeling of love and esteem and the teamsters and emigrants were very kind to me, knowing that I had no relatives with me, the teamsters would some times give me a ride. I was only ten years of age, and very small for my age, and they would sometimes take me with them when they went fishing
When we arrived at the last commissary. Let me explain. When the wagons with their teamsters left Salt Lake City, they had much provisions with them for the emigrants, and they would unload parts of it at different points along the way, to avoid hauling it to Florence and then back again. thus they would replenish their supplies at these places on their way back to Salt Lake City. The family who had charge of the last was named Peck and they came with us they had some boys, some cows and a riding pony to drive them with. they took kindly to me, and the boys liked me to be with them, and we would take turns riding the horse and driving the cows and they would give me milk which I really enjoyed. they accompanied me to the head of Echo Canyon. Brother Peck wanted me to go and live with them, but I wanted to get to Salt Lake City or Zion as it was called. I saw quite a number buried on the plains, who had left their all for the gospels sake[.] I often think of them and of Brother Claytons Hymn[:]
"And if I die before my journeys oer
Happy day all is well
We then are free from toil and sorrow to
With the just we will dwell.["]
And many there were whose bodies were laid away on those dreary plains, and methinks that the last two lines were beautiful and true, but it was a sad scene, a shallow grave, a wrap, no coffin, place in their shallow abode, with hymn and a prayer of dedication, covered over with dirt, and the wagons would roll on, with the relatives mourning, leaving an unmarked grave.
We experienced some quite cold weather on the way
We arrived in Salt Lake City, (at that time called Great Salt Lake City) on thursday evening Oct 15th 1863, being two months and one day crossing the plains……