Transcript

. . . and we were successful in obtaining sufficient means so that in the spring of 1850 we crossed the Missouri River, May 10, and were organized into companies of tens, fifties and hundreds.

We had much sickness. The cholera made the appearance among us, claimed many victims. On arriving at Sweet Water [Sweetwater] the camp organization broke up. Snow fell and some became concerned as to our safety and those having strongest teams went on and left many of their less fortunate brethren and sisters behind. They tried hard to persuade me to go with this group; this I refused to do and told them that I would stay and live and die with the Saints and would not forsake my friends in an hour of peril. I was called to be captain of those left behind, some 35 wagons. The Lord was with us and we arrived in the Valley only one day behind the others.

We arrived in Salt Lake Valley September 5. We came in by way of Parley's Canyon, found my brother Allen collecting toll, this being a toll road and he had been placed there for that purpose.