Transcript

Transcript for "Sketch of Life of Rebecca Card Walton," 1.

When we arrived at Winter Quarters, there was not much left of that historic place; a few old chimneys were still standing—the wild mustard had grown and completely covered the ground. It was as tall as the chimneys and was in full bloom. We camped at this two nights. My husband and I visited the City of the Dead. There at rest we found old Brother Bosley and his wife. This was a great surprise to my husband, as the winter before the saints left Nauvoo, he and his father had worked for Mr. Bosley.

The day we left Winter Quarters we made but a short drive, for tomorrow was our national holiday. (yes, tomorrow I will be 16 years old.) To our surprise two royal visitors drove into camp. They were Brother Orson Hyde and Judge Brockus. They were on their way to Salt Lake City. They stayed and helped us celebrate. They unloaded a small cannon and while it rang out in that wild country, the flag was flying and music playing. They enjoyed our picnic, then loaded up the "little sow" as they called the cannon, bid us goodbye and left us. We passed Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah. A sister Thompson died and was buried at Ancient Ruins; another woman was killed in a stampede; twin boys were born to another woman. These were some of the incidents of the journey.

We arrived in Salt Lake City September 25, 1851—making it a five months journey.