Transcript

I came to Utah with my parents in October 1849. There are only a few incidents that I remember of the journey across the plains. The one which made the most impression on me was my father getting his leg broken. According to the custom when we camped at night the wagons were placed in a circle which the cattle were put during the night. Our team consisted of three oxen and one cow. Father was milking the cow in the morning before we started on the days journey, a colored woman shook a white cloth from the front of her wagon, which frightened the cattle and caused them to stampede. Father was knocked down and his leg broken, two or three others were injured and the cattle scattered for miles. We only had one wagon drawn by two yoke of cattle. Our family consisted of father, mother, father’s mother, and myself and sister. After the accident Mother drove the team the greater part of the way to Salt Lake or until Father was well.