Transcript

In the spring of 1847 we left winter quarters following the trail of the Pioneers with ox teams. We traveled in Bishop [Edward] Hunter's hundred, Joseph Horne's fifty and Archie Gardner's ten, all good kind leaders. Near the Pawnee village about 100 miles from Winter Quarters my oldest son Robert, five and a half years old, was kicked under the wagon by an ox and two wheels ran over him which caused his death. He lived till we traveled 500 miles, under great suffering, when he died and was buried. On the [Platte] river near Deer creek, near Fort Bridger, 100 miles from Salt Lake, William, my only son alive, fell out of the wagon and the two right wheels ran over both his ankles. I picked him up and called some Elders and administered to him and then we pounded some cedar berries and wrapped them around his ankles. He cried a little but in a few days he was as well as ever. While traveling along I picked up several dry buffalo bones and threw them under the wheels to try the weight of the wagon, but the wheels crushed them to powder, so I knew the power of God saved the boy for future usefulness. He has filled two honorable missions to New Zealand. On the evening of Oct. 1, 1847, we landed in Salt Lake valley and camped for the night, next day drove to the place called Old Fort now. Oh, how pleased I was for a little rest for I was nearly worn out.