Transcript

Transcript for Staheli, John, [Interview], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 27:60-61

From there [New York City] we traveled by railroad to the city of Florence in the Central States, where we were to prepare for the journey across the plains. As we had no means of transportation, the church provided us with a wagon and ox team for which we were to pay after arriving in Utah. This fee was know[n] as the Immigration Fund and was to be paid in yearly installments with a high rate of interest.

Our company consisted of about fifty wagons with two families to a wagon. The company was well organized for the trip. A captain was appointed and everything was done in systematic order. My father was the bugler and gave the signals for the various orders. At an early hour in the morning the bugle was sounded for the people to get up, get breakfast have prayers and prepare for the days journey. When all was in readiness the bugle was again sounded and the captain led the train out in single file.

At noon and again in the evening the train formed a large circle to protect themselves against the Indians and to provide a corral for the oxen. If the grass was not sufficiently plentiful the oxen were herded on the outside.

Several times during the journey the ox train was stampeded by herds of buffaloes, but the country being level, no damage was done to the wagons or occupants. The trip as a whole, was a successful one.

We arrived in Salt Lake Valley in the summer and were given a warm reception by the people there.