Transcript

Camp Ground 2 or 3 miles from Florance [Florence]
July 1st 1861

Elder J. Cowper Wife & Family

Dear Bro[the]rs. & Sister

I again take my pen to write you a few lines & tell you a few things that have transpired since I [w]rote last. we landed as I befor told you on the 2 June at Florance wear we staid till Saturday the 29[.] I belive we told you that we was liveing in a house altogether[.] their was Myself[,] Elizabeth[,] Anne[,] Mozey[,] the three Sisters[,] & a young Bro. that as Married the young one[,] also A young Man & his Wife from the same place[.] this made ten of us. the young Man and his Wife boarded together. we other 8 all have lived together & got along well[.] you may wish to know how we have got a long for means to live[.] well we made good use of all the Money we had which lasted till Bror. Joseph W. Young arrived here[,] or I might say at Florance[.] when he arived[,] which was two weeks last night & two weeks to Day he called the Saints together & Bror. Gates

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gave up the care & charge of the Church Emigration[,] that is those going through with the Church Train[,] to the Charge of Bror. Young who as charge of the hole Train[.] he their had the Names of those taken who was going through by the Church also their Money[-] that is all they had[.] I had 40 cents left & when I gave in our Names I also gave up the Cents[.] from this time we received our rashons from the church stoar which are very good[,] Namely as follows[:] 9 lbs of Flower[,] 2 lbs Bacon[,] 1 [Cp?] sugar[,] 3 oz Tea[,] ¼ lb coffee[,] ½ lb Dried Aples[,] a little Salt[,] Soap[,] &c[.] this is for each Adualt wely [weekly.] so you see we are not to Starve on our Trip[.] in fact[,] I belive we shall be taken good care off if we do right[.] in fact when I come to look at God's dealings with his people it makes me feel well & causes my heart to rejoice[.] he as called upon the Saints to do a good deal in the old Country the past few years & I find a good part of this people who are going through by this Train are those who have been faithfull & helped to build up the work in the Old Country[.] I can see that those who are faithfull come out right all the time

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so be faithful & help to role on the work for the kingdom must be built up & the work Acomplished[.] my feelings are to do all I can for I know we shall have our reward for all we do so all be faithfull and hold fast to the princibles of the Gospel. Bror. John[,] as I told you befor[,] stick true to the work of God and do your duty like a Man of God[.] Ann[,] be wise & do not trifle Away your time[,] but prepair & follow us[.] there is nothing about the trip but what you can all make out very well if you make up you[r] minds to live your religion & put up with all the troubles & trials as they come along. as regards this little Company that [are] with me[,] we have got along fine & done well[.] our health as been good[,] the spirit of God as been with us[,] which as inable us to rejoice all the time & I may say under all sircamstances I have keept myself about right side up & helped the rest all in my power[.] they have looked to me as their head or Bror. for Advice & when given have been faithfull to the same thus far. we have now a New seen [scene] befor us but my intentions are still to be a true bror. & friend to my little flock if they will alow me to do so[,] which I belive

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they will[,] so do not fret about us for we are alright & shall be so long as we do right[.] I have charge of the 8 who are with me & are ansrable good for them to the church as all is down to my Name. & intend to see alright when we get through as far as it is in my power. it whould do you good to see this Company of teams that have arived from the Valley to take home the Saints who have not means to take themselves[.] there is about two hundred Teams devided into four Companies[.] the first arived here last thursday & since then all have come in[.] our Company is the first one & numbers I believe 49 waggons out of which 7 are loded with Flour & bacon to last us to the first place they left flour on their jurney coming down[.] they left flour at sevral places on their jurney which we are to pick up as we go along. there is from 12 to 14 in each waggon & one Tent to two waggons on purpos for the Women[.] the Men are to get along as best they can but all will be prety comfortable[.] we have 12 grown up persons & one infant in our waggon not including the teamster