Transcript
Transcript for Hodgert, Robert, [Journal], in Robert Hodgert: Pioneer Ancestor [198-?], 30-32
May 4th, Thursday. We left St. Louis and arrived at the campground about five miles from St. Louis. This was the first drive for me. The following day Elder Eldredge came and organized us a company and appointed William Field our captain because he had been to Great Salt Lake City before.
May 6th. We made a short drive.
May 7th. We traveled to the St. Charles Ferry and ferried over into the city.
May 9th. To Cottieville, and so traveled on passing through Warrenton, Danville, Williamsburgh, Columbia, and Rockport, where we ferried over the river and passed through Boonville, Lone-Jack, and through Jackson County; crossed the line; crossed another ferry and on the 11th of June passed Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and camped at Salt Creek, three miles from Fort Leavenworth. This is the campground selected for the saints from the States. On our arrival found them in a hollow on the right-hand side of the road. The health of our camp was good all the way up. Of those who came by the river and camped in the hollow, a great many died, among the number being Elders A.D. Buckland, Jesse Turpin, John A. James, and James Ballinger and wife. One of our company, Sister Harrison died through visiting the other camp, we supposed. The emigration from England was larger this year, conducted by William Empy. Their place of outfit is at Kansas. About one-tenth of the emigrants from England died with the cholera. I was now fully satisfied that the land route was the best and the healthiest which confirms the words of the Prophet Joseph "that the destroyer rides upon the waters and our lives were unsafe on the Missouri River." We bought our outfit of provisions at Weston. Flour was $3.50 per 100 pounds and corn meal $1.00. I bought 200 pounds of flour and 250 pounds of corn meal. We received our luggage alright at Fort Leavenworth, which was sent up the river by Brother Gallagher.
June 18th, Sunday. Our company, consisting of 39 wagons and one cart, made a start this afternoon.
June 30th. We got into the St. Joseph's and Kearney Road.
July 1st. Arrived at the Big Blue River and met a band of Pawnee Indians, about 70 in number. Rested on the 2nd (Sunday) and on Monday the 3rd, ferried over the river—cost of each wagon was $1.20.
July 9th. We came to the Little Blue River and traveled by it a few days.
July 13th. We left the Little Blue River this morning.
July 16th, Sunday. We arrived at Fork [Fort] Kearney this afternoon.
July 29th. We arrived this evening at Ash Hollow and came up to Captain W. E. Horner's company. We remained here three days.
July 30th. Captain Horner's company left.
August 2nd. We traveled 14 miles and met Elders E.T. Benson, O. Spencer, E. Snow, and a few others on missions from Utah.
August 9th. Mrs. Hodgert met with an accident in stepping out of the wagon on the off-side while we were traveling. She was run over, and the hind wheel passed over her hip. No bones were broken but she was confined to the wagon several days. She felt the effects of it for some time.
August 12th. We arrived at Fort Laramie. Elders O. Pratt, H. Eldredge, S.W. Richards, George Halliday, and T.S. Williams came up to us while camped here and passed on before us.
August 18th. Arrived at the River "LaBonte" and laid up one day. As there was some dissatisfaction in the company through two of the company getting drunk occasionally, it was agreed to divide into two companies. Accordingly, a company of 19 wagons was organized under Isaac Groo— one of the 19 of the wagons was mine.
August 20th. We started this afternoon and left the other part of the company under Captain Field.
August 27th. Arrived at Independence Rock and gathered some good Saleratus.
September 10th. We arrived at Fort Bridger.
September 19th. The company arrived in Great Salt Lake City. We did not arrive in the city till the 21st on account of one of the hind wheels breaking down when within one mile of the mouth of Emigration Canyon. However, I went into the city myself and met with James Ure who took me to Bishop Hunter, and he sent me to John Sharp to get a wheel. I found Isaac Sutton and family and they sent some provisions by me to my wife and family, when I returned in the evening to the Canyon. I visited the city next day and saw John Sharp and on September 21st entered Salt Lake City with my wife and family, consisting of Thomas, Ellen, and Alfred Robert, and with no loss of anything except the wheel of the wagon broken.