Transcript

. . . they found the companeys fast preparing for a Start and all went to work together and we all got fitted up far a moove west with what my husband had and what those brethern helped him too part as a lone [loan]to be replaced again and part as a donation[.] we ware fitted up as comfortable as we could be with waggons and teams and provisian besides Some cows and Sheep and teamsters and Some to drive the Stock[,] for all that had loose Stock brought it along[.] The names of those 2 brethern that So kindly helped us to be able to come with the first company was Zasabel [Jezreel] Shoemaker and Aaron [Benjamin] Cherry[.] them and us traveld together in the Same company all the way to the valley[.] So on Monday June the 14th we Started from winter quarters with all our family together with our teamsters numbering in all Seventeen persons[.] we traveld out about 3 miles that day and camped and the next day traveled on about 15 miles and overtook brother Taylors company and on the 16^th we reached elkhorn river and overtook the main camp crossing the river[.] it took a long time to cross over So maney waggons and Stock[.] here we had to Stop a few days to organise the different companeys and heare [here] the brethern held a council and it was desided that a part of the company Should Start on and our companey was to waite untill others came up and that night about dark Bishop Whitney and father Cuttler arived bringing with them Jacob Wetherby who had Started back to winterquarters[.] in the mourning on buisness in companey with 2 other men and 2 wiman and while passing through Some Tall grass 3 naked indians Sprung up out of the grass and Jacob and another man tried to get them to let the team pass which they had Stoped and while the[y] ware laboring with the 2 indians [Indians] that has stop[p]ed the team[.] the 3rd indian Shot brother Wetherby and then the 3 indians runt [ran] and disapeard[.] Soon after Bishop Whitney and Cuttler came up and brought the wounded young man to our tent[.] we all See that he could not live So we fixed him a bed in our tent and done all we could to ease his pain[.] he Sufferd awfuly pain all through the night and the next mourning it being Sunday. about 9 oclock his Suffering ended in death[.] he was conchious untill a few minits before his death then he draped [dropped] off like one going to Sleep[.] So as the companys ware nearby all gone on they had to burry brother Wetherby that night[.] our folks had raised a liberty pole and his grave was dug near the foot of the liberty poal and he was laid to rest with a few wards [words] from C C Rich and prays by him[.] he was burried just at dark so we ware in fear of indians and had to keep out guards all night[.] here we had to waite untill the brethern would arive that had gone back to winter quarters to bring on the cannon and amonishion [ammunition] and guns that was left for the indians ware reported to be hostile[.] So it was thought best that this company Should bring on the Artilery[.] thare was allso a Skift or boat fitted up on wheels and the cannot [cannon] placed on that

and drawn by a Strong Yoak [yoke] of oxins [oxen.] So earley the next morning on monday the 21^st the big cannon was fired off and after br[e]akfast we again took up the line of march to overtake the companeys that had gone ahead[.] we traveld about 12 miles and reached the main camp[.] here they had to arainge to put on 2 yoak of cattle onto the cannan [cannon] and furnish a driver for the Same as we had not a driver to Spare in our company[.] and it was desided that Mr Rich Should have charge of one of the cannons as there was two cannons to be taken west in case of aney attack by indians[.] So the boat and one cannon and the big bell was in our company[.] Mr Rich had charge of the company after all was arainged[.] We Start in travling through this country[.] we had to place out Strong gaurds at night[.] So you can judge the feeling of wimon and children traviling through an indian country not knowing what moment we might be attacted by the wild Savages and not verry Strong in number of men for there was more wimon and children than men in our camp[.] So we realised that we must be humble and prayrfull and put our trust in the Lord and it was through his mercy and kind care that Saved the people on this daingerous jeorney for we praid to the Lord in faith and he answerd our prayrs for he will hear those that trust in him and obey his laws as given through his prophets[.] we continued our jearney on[.] traveld ten or twelve miles a day untill we reached the platt[e] river[.] Some times it was thought best to travil in five companyes abreast for Saftey[.] one night there was an indian arrow Shot into one of our ca[l]ves in our Company[.] we now had to correll [corral] our Stock at night by making a correl of our waggons and keep a gaurd out at night[.] then in the morning at daylight the big bell would be rung for the men to drive out the Stock to git what feed they could git before time for Starting[.] the bell was So arainged over the boat and cannon that it could be rung by pulling a roap [rope.] it Soon was found not ne[ce]ssary to travil So maney a brest and then we would travil faster[.] we ware detained a good deal by having to repair bridges that the pionears that had left a head of us in The Spring had made for president Young and Some of the apastles [apostles] and others ware gone a head to look out a location for our final Stopping place and we now ware following up there trail in travling up the plat[te] river[.] timber Somtimes was verry Scarce and hard to git but we maniage to do our cooking with what little we could gether up while in camp[.] one morning my husband was trying to hitch up an unruley oxe and the ox jumped over the waggon tong[u]e and fell on my little Son Joseph [Coulson Rich] and come verry near killing him[.] we ware all verry much frightend about[.] but he Soon got over his hurt and we travel on but with Some little fear of trouble with the indians as we ware near the Paunee [Pawnee] agency and had met Some men from the Station that had told our men that there was a war partty prowling through the country that might give us Some trouble but our companeys would generly camp clost [close] together and when we would Stop to camp would Somtimes fiar [fire] off the cannon as those indians were verry [a]fraid of the big gun as they called it and as we ware frequently meeting traders they would keep us posted as to the moovements of the indians and when in camp a strong picket guard would be placed out and by using great care and wisdom we ware permitted through the mer[c]ies of our heavenly father to travel among the Savages tribe of indians unmolested[.] all tho us nurves [nervous] wimon ware often verry much frightend for fear of an atact [attack] of the indians and I do know it was throug[h] the protecting hand of god that we made the long jearney [journey] across the planes from Illinois to great Salt Lake valley when we ware but few in number[.] at one time an arrow Shot into a calf which Showd to us that indians ware prowling around near our camp and Several time[s] men out garding the Stock at night would See indians lurking around which would cause our men to drive the Stock into our waggon correll for Safty[.] along about this time we passed through Severl indian viliages looked over by white agency[.] They Seamed verry friendly but Seeing So maney waggons passing Seamed a Surprise to them[.] it truley was a daingerous trip and had we not been convinced by the power of the Lord to know that we ware preparing to help lay the foundation for the building up of the kingdom of our heavenly father on this earth according to his holy commandment to his prophet Joseph Smith we never could have undertaken Such a jearney[.] it was our faith and our knowledge that the Lord had Set his hand the Second time to establish his work on the earth in order to prepare a people to be worthee to receive him at his Seccond coming which we as a people know is near at hand and that this the work of the latter days will never Stop nor be stoped untill he makes his appearence the Second time to redeem his chosen people[.] the day is now near at hand and the rising generation that will read this book will maney of them live to See that day So my dear children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and maney others of my young readers let me beg of you to lay aside all folly [folly] and foolishness and humble yourselves before the Lord and Seak a knowledge of this the work of the Lord in this the latter day and be prepared to help in this great work for as Shure as you live and read my testamony to the truth of this the Latter day work[.] It is true for I have Seen the prophet of god[.] I have Set under the Sound of his voice[.] I have heard him prophecy and lived to See the fullfillment of his prophecies and I do know for myself that he was a true prophet and that the work that the Lord brought forth through him and the foundation he has laid for his followers to build a pon [upon] will last throughout time and all eternity and no earthaly power can hinder the Same[.] the heavens are preparing for the fullfillment of all the words utterd by our prophet Joseph Smith[.] he is allso thare to work in behalf of this work and will be with the Saviour at his coming[.] So the wicked may Stop there efforts against this people for these works will fall to the ground to thare Shame and disgrace[.] We jearneyed on up the platt[e] river[.] come into the buffalow country[.] Saw maney large heards [herds] of buffalow[.] brother Lewis Robison was the first one in our company to kill a buffalow[.] he killed one that would weigh over a thousand pounds[.] now we all Stoped and had a feast all through our camp[.] we Stoped a few days to wash[,] iron and cook while the men folks repaird up there waggons and let there teames rest and recrute up as we ware in good feed and when all the companeys would all come up we would Start on again[.] but while passing through the buffalow country we did not travel verry fast for all the men folks Seamed to want to kill a buffalow[.] So they would travel a few miles and camp and go hunting for that was new Sport for them[.] So Mr Rich got after a large herd[.] him and Several of our company the[y] ware a [on] horse back[.] he killed three[.] the first one he wounded[.] it was a verry large one and it turned apon him and came verry near killing the horse he was riding but he Shot again and killed him[.] So on the next day he killed two more and they dressed them and divided out the meet [meat] in the company and the men folks fixet up Scaffels [scaffolds] out of willows and Spread out the meet cut up in thin Slices and made fiars [fires] underneath and as one Side of the meet would git dry they would turn it over and by So dooing it became dry[.] they called it jerk meet [meat.] we put it into Sacks and we had enough to last us all the jearney through and it was the Sweetest meet I ever tasted[.] the children grew fat on it[.] we allso tried out the tallow for we needed grease in our cooking[.] every other company also Supplied themSelves well jearked meet [meat.] We ware Severl days travling through the buffalow country[.] Some days we could See herds of thousan[d]s together and Several times the[y] would come in large herds crossing just ahead of our teams as hard as they could go and in Such large numbers that the roaring of them would frighten our Teams So that the drivers had all they could do to prevent a Stampead among our cattle[.] it was verry daingerous in travling throw [through] this country but we ware presearved from aney Searious accident[.] while on this trip it was a grand Sight to See those herds of wild animals[.] Thousands in a gang raicing a cross the prairees[.] for the Sight of our waggons Seamed to frighten them and it caused us to fear they might attack us in there flight[.] well after we got through with the buffalows we came into a land alive with what is called praria [prairie] dogs[.] the hole country was alive with them[.] they lived in holes in the ground and would make the hills Sound with there barking all night long[.] they are about the Size of Small puppys and as cunning as they can be[.] they would Set near there holes by hundreds and bark and yelp untill the boys would git allmost up to them and then dodge back in there dens and Stick there heads out and bark[.] Some of the men Shot Some of them and they are han[d]som[e] little dogs with more fur than hair on them[.] if we could have caught them alive we would have tried to tame them just because they ware So Small and pretty[.] Some of our company named that place dog town from Mr [Charles Coulson] Riches jearnal[.] he Sais he believes he Saw at one time ten thousand head of buffalow feeding together while passing through the buffalow country

on the 29^th of July we camped in Sight of what is called chimney Rock

and on Augst 1^st we camped at the foot of chimney Rock[.] this is a large mound with a rock Sticking up in the center like a chimney about two hundred and fifty feet high[.] here maney of our camp went on to the top of the mound and found the names of Some of the pionears that was a head of us for they had grass there[.] Some time before here my husband rote his name on the rock with red keal[,] allso my name and names of his other wives that was with us and our childrens names[.] we left and traveld on and came in Sight of Larama [Laramie] peak[.] we then began to cheer up thinking we ware gitting nearer our jearneys end for we had word from president young and Kimball telling us to cheer up and it would not be long before we would find a resting place

on the 5^th of August we camped opasite Larama [Laramie] fort[.] crossed over the river and traveld on the west Side

and on the tenth we Struck the black hills

and on the 12^th we camped on harse Shoe [Horseshoe] creek[.] found a nice coald Spring of good watter[.] it was named by the pionear that was a head of us and called Kimballs Springs[.] about this time we ware having verry warm wether[.] So much So that us wimon got verry much Sunbernd[.] we had Sand and dust rocks and hills to pass over and Sometimes ware worn out and verry tired but not So much So as our brethern that had to walk most of the time and drive teams and Stand guard at night[.] O what a time we all had crossing the plaines from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City[.] when I now See those brethern and Sisters come to these valleys riding in cars in the Shade and that too in one third Shorter time than we ware coming and when they git here have Something nice to eat and plenty in the land and then hear them complain of hard times[,] I think they ought to have at least about 2 weeks of expearence Such as the brothers and Sisters had when we came[.] then perhapse they would feel more thankfull and would not feel to complain as I have heard maney do[.] for when we came there was no one to welcom us with potatoes[,] fat[,] beef[,] honey[,] butter and all the good things that the country could produce[.] no we could have nothing of the kind but yet we felt to thank the Lord for proticting us to where we could rest in peace

about the 25^th we came to the Soleratus [Saleratus] lake[.] this was a beautifull lake as white as Snow and was pure Saleratus which we could cut out in large cakes[.] we gethered Sacks full and brought with us to the valley which lasted us a long time to make bread with[.] here we camped at independence rock where we again left our names on the high rock[.] this was quite a plesent camping ground[.] from this place we traveld on[.] passed another Saler[a]tus lake and camped on the Sweet watter [Sweetwater] and from that on maney of our cattle ware Sick and a number died which caused a delay in our travels for our teames by this time ware verry weak but we Still mooved on a few miles a day and Some times lay by a few days to repare waggons and wash and bake and let the teams rest

and on monday the 30^th camped between the mountains[.] we then traveld a few miles and camped on Sweet watter as we traveld along the Sweet watter river

September the 1^st we traveld over bad roads of Sand[,] mud and rocks[.] So bad was the roads that we could not make much head way

on the 2^nd we met about 30 waggons of pionears that had been with president young and company to seek out a Stopping place for the Saints[.] among them was brother William Clayton and John pack[.] they were returning to winter quarters to bring on there familys[.] hear it blew up could [cold] and rained and was verry disagreable but we bid adieu to those brethern and traveld on knowing we Soon Should meet president Young[,] Kimball and the rest of the twelve

and on Sunday the 5^th we reached the pacific Springs having traveld through the South pass[.] here we met president Young and all the ballence of the twelve and pionears[.] this was a time of rejoicing[.] here the two companeys lay by 2 days to hold meeting and hold council with the brethern and talk over what was best to be done

and on the 7^th the pionears Started on there return trip and our company Started on our jearney towards our resting place in the valley of the great Salt lake[.] about this time my mother in law[,] my husbands mother [Nancy O’Neal Rich,] was taken verry Sick and about the Same time her youngest daughter [Nancy Rich Porter] the wife of brother John [President] Partis [Porter] who was allso in Mr Richs company was confined in her waggon and had a fine Son [John President Porter.] So alltogether we had to travel verry Slow and on the day we parted with the company of pionears it commenced Snowing and Snowed all day[.] this was on the 7^th of September[.] it was a Sudden chainge from the hot wether of the month of august[.] we traveld 9 miles and camped on the dry Sandy[.] here one of our oxen died

we Still continued our jearney untill the 11^th when we crossed green river and traveld 4 miles down the river and camped and on Sunday 12[th] lay by to rest our teames and from thare traveld on and camped on black fork and from thare traveld on untill the 17^th we camped on the muddy

and on the 20[^th] we crossed bear river and for a few days Severl of our company was unfortunate in braken [breaking] there wagons which would detain the [w]hole company for awhile[.] So after fixing up the wagons we Started on

and on the 7^th traveld up the canyon five miles and companeys camped all together and on the 30^th cross over the big mountain and then down the canyon[.] had a verry bad road[.] one of our company a brother Cheery [Cherry] overturned one of his waggons but not much damiage done[.] we got all rited up again and passed over another mountain and camped

on the 1^st of October we camped in the edge of the valley[.] here mother Rich was verry Sick

and on Saturday October the 2^nd we traveld Six miles and landed in what is now Salt Lake City[.] camped at a deep Spring near the old fort[.] great was our joy to think we had reached a resting place that we could call our home in the mountains