In the Spring of 1861 we left St Louis for Florence got on the Boat put our cart and oxen and all on board the boat and got all Safe to Florence had to Stop there five weeks a day or two befor the time to Start the captain came [to] me. Sister Bate who are you going to have for a teamster[?] Brother Huish i am not able to feed a man nor cannot take his luggage So i have no other way than to drive my own team[.] he laughed at me and what do you Londoners know about driving cattle[?] not a thing but i will have to learn and my Faith is i can do it and get in with the rest of you[.] well if that is you Faith may it be according to that Faith[.] So we Started and was Eleven weeks on the plains[.] i had to walk by the side of my team every day we could none of us with only the two youngest but the lord Blessed us with and strength and we all got into the vally Safe, when i got on to the camp ground my means and provisions was used up i but i expected to Receive Some pay from a Br[other] that i let have a Hundred of flour and half Bushel of white beans but he passed off and did not pay me[.] well what i was going to do for Bread i did not know[.] i did not know where he was Gone, and had Seven children to be fed, but the lord was at our aid.