Transcript

We had to wait some time for our fit outs for 10 Pound Co., and Grandfather [Valentine Reeve] & Father [Robert Warne Reeve] fitted out 2 yoke of Cattle and Wagon of their own, as in the 10 Pound Co. there was 10 to a wagon and tent. We travelled 18 miles to a small place called Little Boston on the Hills 5 miles above Montrose and opposite Nauvoo. I went with Father to Montrose and saw Nauvoo on the opposite side of the river, and the Temple was then standing.

My Mother [Christiana Keddington Reeve] died at Little Boston and was buried in the Woods. Her prayers to the last were for me as the only child left that I might prove faithfull to the work of God, for she had an Idea that Father would not, for he had got very much dissatisfied with the trials we were passing through and lamented the leaving of a good home; but I wanted to go to Zion. While my mother lay dead in the wagon, a Bevy of young ladies at night sang "The Resurrection Morn." I thought I never had heard anything sound so heavenly. It was the first time I ever heard it, but I always remembered it.

As for me, crossing the plains was mostly a good time. Once when we got into the Pawnee Indian Country, the Indians stopped us and made us pay tribute. And the Cheifs had a tent in our Camp for the night, and I had the job of guarding their tent from 9 to 1 o'clock. That was my first guarding that I had done, and I was rather timid but it went off first rate. Another night on the Platt[e] River close by Fort Laramie, I was on guard when it kept up incessant thunder, lightning & rain—so much lightning that we could see the cattle plain, and the thunder was fearfull. But (we) got along all right, and Grandmother [Elizabeth Ellis Keddington] stayed up and got us some good Buffalo Head Soup and bread. At that time 1853, you could see Buffalo by the thousands along the Platt River, also Deer and Antelope.

My Father married a Miss Elizabeth Pitt at Laramie. This was a sore trial for me and our family; and me and her never got along in Peace long at a time. An incident which happened at Green River will show how things stood. I walked a great deal hunting & fishing, but when we came to a large River or Creek I would go to the Wagon to ride over. And a day or two before coming to Green River, Father had given (me) a pair of New Shoes and Stockings; and as we were nearing the river, I run for the wagon. My stepmother was sitting in the hind part of the wagon. I asked her to make room for me and tried to get on. She pushed me back, and I had to wade, and it was deep. I stumbled and lost one of my new Shoes & Stockings. So when I got to Camp I told Father how it happened, but she denied it and said I lied. And for the first time I can remember, my Father Kicked me and Cuffed me on the head. My Grandfather [John Tipple Keddington] hearing the Rumpus told Father I had told the truth. And that caused their first quarrel but not the last. But with all our troubles we arrived in Salt Lake City in October after Conference.