Transcript

. . we got ready and took our journey in Company with Brother Freeman for the Vally of the GSL May the 1 ^st 1851

we traviled through a Mobicrat Country unmolested but of all the times for rain and mud I never saw the like[.] our team was Spry and able for their load and we rolled along gladly[.] we camped On the Musquito [Mosquito] Creek one night when we had to Stake our waggon down to keep it from being taken away with the wind and rain[.] we traveled to Council Bluffs when we was detained a long time waiting for Companies enough to be Organised to be able to travel through an Indian Country[.] the Indians were thought to be very Hostile that Season[.] without being Organised A Small company of us Crossed the Missouri River[.] Camped near Winter Quarters[.] I went there frequently and wondered over and examined closely the place that my brethren and Sisters ware had been Banished to with feelings that will not be for gotton and many other things as well as that is Stamped readly in my heart and will stay thare until the times Of Restitution[.] I feel thankful that the Saints seemingly is going to have a Season of rest but whether the Saints will live their religion as well when the[y] are let alone as when the[y] are driven and Smiten[.] I do not kno[w] but Suffice to say we are going to the Vallies of the Mountains for A Season to try and learn the ways of God for the[y] Seem Strange to us some times but my desire is in going to the vally that I may be faithful to the religion that I have imbraced even to the end of my calling for I know if I am faithful it will land me beyond the power of Men and devils or Blood thirsty demons from Hell or from Some Infernal reigions that is continually Panting for the Blood of the righteous

we Stopped thare two or three weeks and indured many heavy rain Storms[.] we got organized[.] John Smith was Captain of hundred[.] David L. Lewis was Captain of ten[.] we traveled till we came to the Horn[.] we found its waters So wide and that we could not Fourd it[.] we remained thare for Several days to see if waters would fall but it rather increased[.] we did not have money enough to pay our Ferreage therefore we concluded we would go up the Horn till we could Foard it[.] Consequently we took our journey and traveled many dayes without seeing much prospects of crossing the Horn until we became weary[.] we came to a place whare thare was a little Iland [Island] in the middle of the river whare we thought we could put a brige across the River[.] we done So and all Crossed the river I think the next evening and than came a rain that night and in the morning the bridge was gon but we was on the other Side of the of river all right only that we was very Suspicious of the Indians and our Suspition was [.t.] without a cause altogether although we did not know the danger we was in at that time[.] all the reason that we had for Suspition was a few days previous to this time four or five Indians came to our Camp. The[y] the[n] had the appearance of warriers[.] we fed them and the[y] went a way and that was all we Seen of them. I suppose the[y] thought our Company rather large to medole with[.] we persued our goirney [journey] over the plains and through the Sandy Bluffs and through many dangerous roads whare we Seen plenty of Bufalo gaseing at the Foriners [foreigners] on their Land[.] Soon we came in sight of the Plat[te] River which was a Sight of rejoicing to us for we had been a long time wandering in [t]he mountains[.] it was not but a few days after we came to the Plat[te] River when we was over taken by Orson Hyde and Judge Brookers and some others that ware with them[.] they had been plundered and robbed of nearly all that the[y] had by the Indians[.] this accounted Some for our fears at the bridge[.] we furnished them Some things[.] I let Brookus have a bed quilt and that was the last of it[.] I should have wrote that David L Lew[i]s was our Chief Captain and pilate while we was in the Mountains[.] much credit is due him for his persevearance and Services to the Companys in unnone [unknown] places[.] we all arrived Safe on the Plat[te] And then we gourneyed a long with bitter courage[.] Although we had Some difficulties to settle as we went along that I will not Stop to mention[.] we traviled for several days along the Plat[te] till for Some reason that I do not know Some of the hindmost teems got frightened and ran with the other teems and Suddenly all the teams in the Company was running with all their might[.] I was Standing at the head of my teem but it was as much as I could do to get A way from the wheels of the waggon as the[y] passed Swiftly a long[.] our teem did not run very far when one of the leaders fell and the waggon was Soon on him[.] I got thare Soon[.] Maria was out of the waggon[.] when I got up we got the children out of the waggon and got the[m] o[u]t from under it but his horn was broke off and frunt of h[i]s Scull with it and it was with Some difficulty that we kept him from bleeding to death. That was not all the damage t[h]at was done[.] thare was not many hurt[.] thare was Some waggon wheels broke down waggon beds run off and &ce[.] we Soon gathered our things together again and Camped for the night[.] I was very much concerned about my Stear for I did not know whether he would live or not knowing that I had not been enough without him to haul my waggon but Henry Nilson [Nelson] Volinterly offered me a good Strong Cow to work in place of my Stear which I thankfully accepted[.] it was more than I expected from a man that I was so little Acquainted with[.] that night the Sound of the ax hammer and Saw was heard nearly all night[.] Next morning in go[o]d Season we all rolled out but my ox was not more than able to follow us[.] Still we continued our gourney and he began to Mend and in A bout eight day we put him in the teem again and was thank[f]ul to Brother Nilson[.] in consequence of our long trip round the Horn Some ware out of previsions[.] Shortly after we left Larimee [Laramie] we had enough and some to Spare[.] in all those things I feel to ack[n]o[w]le[d]ge the Lord and his goodness in Sending to us the gospel of Salvation to all Obey it

while we traveled the weather was generally good after we come to the Plat[te] but the feed for our Animals was very Scearce[.] we got tired of traveling in so large a company and Some eight or ten wagons of us with Captain David L Lewis and Set out for the Vally[.] we Met a good Many of our brethren going out to meet the Companies with flour and vegetables &cc[.] we traveled with very good Success[.] we arrived in GSL City September the 9^th1851