Transcript

They left Council Bluffs Iowa to come to Utah on June 4th 1852. There were 45 wagons in the company they came with, Zadock was Captain of the train. His belongings were: 3 yoke of cows, 3 oxen & 3 new wagons. One was loaded with household goods, another with provisions and the family rode in the other.

There were no stampedes on their journey-they saw herds of Buffalow feeding along their way but were not bothered by them.

The first Indians they encountered were the Sioux Indians when they came to the bridge over Luke [Loup] Fork. They demanded $500.00 before they would allow the pioneers to cross the bridge. Of course, the pioneers didn't have the price so the Indians finally told Mr. Bethers they would allow them to go if he would give them his best dog. This he did and they continued their journey.

It was costumary to camp in the early afternoon so as they could get their cattle out to feed and get their evening meal over and camp arranged before night fall. Members of the company took their turn in gaurding the camp at night.

They camped one day each week to rest the cattle, wash clothing, bake bread . . . . They occasionally had programs and visited one another often. They had only one death in their company. Many people of the preceeding company had died with Cholera and as Mr. Bethers company came along, they saw the wolves digging up the body of one of these people.

During their journey to Salt Lake, their cows furnished them with plenty of milk & cream. They would place the cream in a drum, fast[en]ed to the wagon in the morning. At night when the[y] stopped to camp their butter would be made.

Their first camp in the state of Utah was at Devils gate near Echo, Utah. Here Mr. Bethers killed two antelope. Here also is where the first death occurred. It was the only child and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Gates. Before she passed away her father walked to and fro with her, singing "Come, Come, Ye Saints". They made a box from a table and buried here [her] at that place.

The first snow of the season fell while they were camped at Devils gate.

Mrs. Bethers and her children had the measles along the journey.

Many of the people continued from Salt Lake to Provo where they settled. Mr. Bethers and family were among them.

They arrived at Provo September 22^nd 1852.