Transcript

Erastus Snow preached to us to gather to Zion. He said, “I will have a steamer ready by the first of May.” Father though he could not go that year, but Brother Snow said the word of the Lord was to gather to Zion, so my Father started the first day of May. We went up the Mississippi until we came to the mouth of the state of Kansas, but it was then Indian territory and there we were fitted out at what they called Mormon Grove. Then we started across the plains in 1855.

When we were near the old Fort Laramie, we stopped. Wm. S. Godbee [Godbe] had seven wagons. A Dutch boy was a teamster for one wagon. He left Mr. Godbee here and I was hired by him to drive his team, three yoke of oxen. I was 12 years old. I yoked my oxen three times a day, and drove them to Salt Lake city. My parents left me, and were in Salt Lake two weeks before me. My load was very heavy. I hauled heavy tin and medicine. I also had the cook in my wagon. We ran out of flour and Billie [William] Godbee went to Salt Lake City on a mule and sent us two sacks of flour. We landed in S. L. Oct. 26, 1855.