Transcript

After Suffering the hardships and persecutions that were thrust upon the saints at that time we emigrated for America; my parents [John and Christina Heder], two younger brothers, and my self [Mary Sophia Heder], when I was thirteen years of age.

We left Copenhagen in a small sailing vessel that had cattle in the bottom, the emigrants next and the deck was packed with sheep. The first day out the North Sea became so rough that the big waves washed all the sheep from the deck, so we were forced to go back and wait untill the storm ceased. We arrived in Liverpool and stayed in Castle Garden three week then started for America. Before starting we were advised by the missionaries to destroy our trunks and roll our clothing and bedding in canvas as that would be cheaper and less bother. While our baggage was being transfered from one ship to the other it fell over board so that everything but what we stood in was lost. We were on the deck and could see the fishermen come out and get it and sail for land. After a long hard journey we landed in New York and went from there to the Mississippi River in cattle cars on account of the Civil War. The doors had to be kept shut and every thing still so the enemys would think they were empty.

We went from there to Omaha on a small raft that had no railing. The captain was a very rough unkind man who in his blustering about pushed a little six year old boy over board and just sneered at the frantic mothers pleadings to stop and save him.

We went from Omaha to Florence and on our way we got lousy so that when we got to Florence we had to stay in the bushes while mother washed and dried our clothes, as we hadn't been able to replace those which we lost. We stayed there three weeks and then started with ox teams for Utah. I walked every step from Omaha. We endured many hardships on the way and the sun was so hot that it completely destroyed my bonnet and my dress hung about my bare legs in fringes.

We arrived in Salt Lake City Nov. 5, 1863