Transcript

When we started across the plains, I remember Mark Jeffs, William M. Giles and all of the Giles family who crossed the plains in the same wagon as we were in. I remember the storm on Wood River. All that were able of two families in tents, had to stand up and hold the tents from blowing down while water ran under our beds and water snakes crawled under us.

I also remember a dead Indian that had been fastened in a tree by his tribe as a last resting place for him. These incidents were more or less startling.

I recall being extremely thirsty and having Mark Jeffs and Rob going to the Platt[e] River and getting some water for us. Mark and his father were in this train. The teamsters were John Turner, Calvin Henry, Jacob Baum and William Clyde of Springville, a brother of George W. Clyde.

In the same wagon with us was a young girl [Agnes Taylor] from Scotland, who afterwards became Mrs. Calvin Henry. My sister Agnes became Mrs. John Turner. The Lindsay family were also members of this train. I remember seeing rough log cabins somewhere on the plains and the few trappers there.

I remember Fort Bridger and Coleville. There was a herd of sheep in the brush at Coalville, which drew my attention. We were camped on Silver Creek, which was fourteen or fifteen miles from Heber when father and Fred J. Giles came to meet us with vegetables and fresh eatables. We arrived early on the 22nd day of September 1862 in Heber.