Transcript

We crossed the plains in John Murdock's Company. We left Florence Neb[raska]. June 15, 1863. I was then 12 years of age. We had to cross the river and it took a long time to get the wagon over. All that were able to walk had to wade across. Somehow, in doing this my sister lost her shoes that she had worked so hard for in Omaha. She was heartsick as these shoes and stocking were all she had. My sister [Marie Charolette Jacobsson] and I walked nearly all the way across the plains. Mother [Edela Nielsson Jacobsson] would make us mogisons [moccasins] out of rags she would pick up along the way. The roads were so rough and hot it was impossible to go barefooted. We made from 15 to 20 miles aday. We had some terrible experiences. At one time it rained two day straight, and the wind was so hard we had to all of us hold it down so our tent wouldn't blow away.

After we left the Plat[te] River we had to carry water with us and then go until we would come to water again, then the Captain would have us stop long enough to get our clothes washed. After three more days we came to the Hop River where we had to cross on a Ferry.

During our travels across the plains was the time of the Civil War. It was at the time of our travels here that we got word of the battle of Gettysburg was fought, and that there were so many bodies on the ground you could hardly walk.

After this we came into Indian country. We had met a few bands who wanted to trade some ponies for children. Just before we got to Laramie, Wyoming the men let the cattle out to feed. Indians came and stampeded them and they all ran away. The night guards got only a few of them back. Then they tried to steal one of the little girls. At night some were hovering around our camp, and the Captain told mother to keep us all in the tent. You see, mother had a three year old girl [Hannah Dorthea Jacobsson] and a baby [John Joseph Jacobs]. The Captain told two men to build a big bon fire in the morning to make the Indians think we were still there, and for everybody to leave at 3 O'clock in the morning, with only one yoke of oxen to a wagon. When we were well out of sight some of the men went on horses to see if they could find the rest of our cattle. We camped for the night and the next day the men came with the cattle.

After we crossed the Laramie River we had to take longer drives, because of some poison swanps [swamps] where we lost some of our cattle. One of the mountains looked like a loaf of bread, and they called it "The Loaf". Then we crossed Chimney Rock, which was a pretty sight, very beautiful country. We camped by the River that night and could see Indians hanging in the trees. We came to Green River, and from there to Echo Canyon, then to the Weber River and Wanship. When we got to Wanship we met some very nice people who gave us some bread and milk, something we hadn't seen since we left Omaha. I got terrible frightened traveling over this rugged mountain country, seeing the wagons slide down the mountain side with only one yoke of oxen. Then we passed over the summit in Parley's Canyon where there was a saw mill. Then we turned north over the mountains down Emigration Canyon, and on to Salt Lake City. We first went to the Eight Ward Square which is now known as the City and County Building grounds. We arrived there about 3 P.M. on the 2nd of September.