Transcript

We camped here [Florence] and helped get the equipment ready for the trip across the plains. We formed family groups. My sister Jemima, Water R. Pike and I made up our group. We were divided into two companies under Captains Warren S. Snow and Wm Hyde. We were in Captain Snow’s company.

On August 13the we were ready to go. George Careless was in the same wagon with us. There were 12 passengers to a wagon which was loaded to the bows. Passengers in name only for we had to walk. We started in wet weather, the cattle were wild, so the first day was more or less of a scramble. This kind of traveling was very hard on most of us. We sang and had prayers night and morning and thus kept up our spirits. It was too much physical strain for many and we sadly left many shallow wayside graves. When we reached the Little Blue River seventeen Hollanders in Captain Hyde’s company, who were not permitted to be baptized in Holland, were baptized.

Those in our wagon kept well until Oct. 1st, when Jemima took Inflammatory Rheumatism, Walter Pike and Geo. Careless the fever that caused the death of so many. I was left to nurse and care for them as best I could while they lay in the wagon going over rough roads. This I did for three weeks. My care was rewarded, they all recovered though I am sure nothing but faith and prayers saved their lives. Oct. 24th was my birthday, they were all better, I was so glad for so many had died. Of the original company of 1,000 almost 100 died on the way. On Nov. 2nd we arrived in Salt Lake, cold tired, footsore, and weary, but happy for it was the land of Zion for us.