Transcript

Now we were transfered to a steamboat and sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. From there we sailed on another steamboat to Kansas City. Many of our dear brethran contracted cholera and died and were buried there. The rest of us bought oxen and covered wagons and started on the trek across the desert, which took 17 weeks. The Indians took some of our cattle so president Olson commanded us all to carry guns on our shoulders. When we came to Fort Laramie, the Captain with 32 soldiers promised us compensation for our loss. The[y] pursued the Indians but were ambushed and killed by the Indians who then took over the fort.

We finally arrived in Salt Lake City Oct. 5th 1854, and shortly after that my sister Anne Marie Olhus died.