Transcript

I did not walk across the plains. I rode a horse and a good animal it was. [William] Ben[jamin Hodgetts] was put in charge of the Emmigration to see the emigrants to Iowa City. We Camped in the Iowa Camp Ground 21 weeks. My health being rather poor he took us to board at the boarding house for 12 weeks. During this time he was in Missouri on church work.

Miss Birchley, Squire [Thomas] Tennant and mother bought 200 heifers to take across the plains. Squire Tennant died on the plains. Ben left the train and traveled 60 miles with his body to have him buried at Laramie Wyoming. Later his body was taken to Utah for burial. We never got our heifers off the plains.

We then came on the plains. My brother William Ben was appointed Captain of the East independent wagon Company in 1853 Nathan T[anner]. Porter was his assistant. There were 39 wagons led by Ben. At this time the Indians had become very hostile. We got as far as an old fort, known as Devel’s [Devil’s] Gate, here we were called upon to help the hand cart company. It was bitter cold we were snowed on for 10 days. The Hand Cart Company camped by us and we shared with them. Then Joe A. Young and brother Grant George, I think, Came back to meet us from Utah. We gave up our five wagons and 20 yoke of oxen to the hand Cart Company and moved into the old fort. We stayed here 10 days and the hand cart company went on. Brother William Carter from Utah came and took us on. Hundred of teams came. We left our belongings in the old fort. Our four blue chests (1 of them I have now.) The next summer Ben went back for them and for some freight for the Church. Of the four chests we only got one back.