Transcript

In June, 1848 almso alms almost three thousand people left for the Rockies. They were divided into three large companies with one of the Presidency in charge of each group. We came with Brigham Young. At Horseshoe Creek, Nebraska, Mother [Elizabeth Haven] gave birth to her fifth child, John. Uncle Joseph Parmer and wife Mary stopped a day or so with us, then we hurried on and soon caught the large company. Fathers [Israel Barlow's] outfit was made up of two horses and a wagon and several oxen and cows. The cows furnished milk and butter. Many a time when we baked bread, since no wood was to v be had, we made our fire of buffalo chips. Although I was just four years of age I can remember many incidents of the plains, especially tge [the] herds of buffaloes and a scare or two from the Indians. I also remember a terrible storm which blew our tent down—giving us a midnight soaking. I have heard them tell how the guards, wet and dripping, faced the furious rain never daring to leave their posts for Indians generally did their stealing during the fiercest storms. Once we had a stampede. Several hundred of our frightened oxen, cows and steers raced away at full gallop bellowing into the darkness with the men on horses after them. We all hurried into our wagons fearing that the terrified animals might turn and come smashing into our camp. The terrors of a stampede are not soon forgotten.

When we reached the valley on the 23rd of September, . . . We brought two orphans with us across the plains, David Turner and Marion [Maria] Burgess.