Jesse Murphy Company (1860)
Date Unknown
- Type
- Wagon
- Category
- Church Train
- Direction
- Westbound
- Departure
- 19 June 1860
- Departed From
- Florence, Nebraska
- Arrival
- 30 August 1860
- Captain
- Jesse Easters Murphy
- Number In Company
- 283
279 individuals and 38 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha).
View Summary- "Arrival of Companies," Deseret News [Weekly], 5 September 1860, 212.
- "Arrival of Emigrants," The Mountaineer, 1 September 1860, Supplement 1.
- Burton, Richard F., The City of the Saints, and Across the Rocky Mountains to California [1971], 181.
- Campbell, Leora Margyann Talmadge, [Reminiscences], in Our Pioneer Heritage , 20 vols. [1958-77], 4:54.
- Clarkson, Robert, Journal, 89, in David Romney Crockett, ed., The Life and Journal of Robert Clarkson (1834-1867) .
- Eyring, Henry, Reminiscences [ca. 1896], 27-28, 29.
- Jarvis, Ann Prior, Autobiography 1890, reel 1, item 1, 25-28.
- Jarvis, George, Autobiographical sketch, in St. George Stake, High Priest Quorum Genealogical Records, 1872-1906, reel 6039, 98-99, in Record of Members Collection 1836-1970.
- "Latest from the Emigration," Deseret News, 1 August 1860, 172.
- "Latest from the Plains," Deseret News, 8 August 1860, 180.
- Little, Mary Elizabeth Tullidge, [Autobiographical sketch], in Our Pioneer Heritage , 20 vols. [1958-77], 15:104.
- Little, Mary Elizabeth Tullidge, Autobiography of Mary Elizabeth Tullidge Little. 9-10 Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Some restrictions apply.
- "Local News: Arrival," The Mountaineer, 4 August 1860, 198.
- "Local News: Names of Emigrants," The Mountaineer, 18 August 1860, 206.
- "Local News: News From the Plains," The Mountaineer, 11 August 1860, 2.
- "The Companies on the Plains," Deseret News, 15 August 1860, 188.
- "The Immigration," Deseret News, 15 August 1860, 189.
- "The Incoming Emigration," Deseret News, 8 August 1860, 180.
- Turley, Richard E., "A Pioneer Account [Henry Eyring]," Pioneer , Sept.-Oct. 1993, 19.
, Phoebe | 50 | About 1810 | Unknown |
Auer, Catherine | 9 | 19 July 1850 | 1 April 1930 |
Auer, Heinrich | 16 | 11 November 1843 | 20 October 1862 |
Auer, Ulrich | 19 | 22 July 1840 | 28 October 1925 |
Bailey, Anne | 53 | About 1807 | 2 April 1888 |
Bailey, Betsy | 15 | 7 April 1845 | 13 July 1861 |
Barnett, Eliza | 12 | 4 September 1847 | 19 September 1883 |
Barnett, Eliza | 41 | 3 June 1819 | 12 February 1898 |
Barnett, Elizabeth | 7 | 8 February 1853 | 15 May 1928 |
Barnett, John William | 41 | 6 May 1819 | 26 September 1877 |
Barnett, Matilda | 14 | 4 December 1845 | 13 October 1882 |
Bee, Frederick Farman | 13 | 28 November 1846 | 5 November 1916 |
Bee, Jane | 40 | 2 January 1820 | 6 September 1891 |
Bee, Jane Baker | 9 | 26 October 1850 | 14 September 1938 |
Bee, Robert | 11 | 27 December 1848 | 1 February 1926 |
Bee, Samuel | 40 | 13 July 1819 | 11 November 1887 |
Bee, Samuel Robert | 15 | 5 September 1844 | 28 April 1923 |
Bee, Sarah Farman | 2 | 15 May 1858 | 13 September 1942 |
Bee, Stephen | 4 | 18 April 1856 | 8 August 1948 |
Bentz, Elizabetha Lang | 56 | 12 April 1804 | Unknown |
Bentz, Heinrich [or Henry] | 57 | 30 December 1802 | Unknown |
Bentz, Regula | 20 | 1 July 1839 | 20 October 1920 |
Bischoff, Adolph | 1 | 30 November 1858 | 6 March 1940 |
Bischoff, Annie Wieland | 31 | 16 October 1828 | 17 September 1909 |
Bischoff, Charles | 11 | 16 February 1849 | July 1936 |
Bischoff, Charles Albrecht | 32 | 28 March 1828 | 22 July 1897 |
Bischoff, Frederic S. | 3 | 31 July 1856 | 18 March 1950 |
Bischoff, Rosina | 10 | ca. 1850 | Unknown |
Blair, Edward Fenwick | 4 | 19 July 1855 | 4 June 1926 |
Blair, Edward Francis W. | 35 | 6 December 1824 | 19 September 1880 |
Blair, Eleanor Jane | 2 | 30 September 1857 | 20 October 1927 |
Blair, Jane Eleanor T. Fenwick | 31 | 26 May. 1829 | 11 December 1871 |
Blair, Martha | 7 | 11 April 1853 | 16 February 1890 |
Blair, Mary | 7 | 11 April 1853 | 23 April 1939 |
Bommeli, John George | 33 | 23 May 1827 | 3 December 1899 |
Bommeli, Maria | 29 | 20 March 1831 | 19 January 1913 |
Brown, Ann Pierce | 59 | 21 December 1800 | 29 June 1924 |
Brown, Benjamin Pearce | 28 | 30 December 1831 | 14 September 1905 |
Brown, Joseph | 55 | 28 December 1804 | 22 October 1888 |
Brown, Rebecca Webb | 22 | 26 October 1837 | 20 January 1922 |
Brown, Sarah | 2 | 17 May 1858 | 19 May 1947 |
Burden, Jane | 23 | About 1837 | Unknown |
Campbell, Clarcy Jane | 14 | 1846 | 1868 |
Campbell, Joel | 8 | 1852 | 1892 |
Campbell, Joel | 44 | 27 September 1815 | 2 June 1862 |
Campbell, Joseph | 2 | 1858 | Unknown |
Campbell, Leora Marjorie Talmage | 15 | 5 August 1844 | 26 July 1910 |
Campbell, Moroni | 21 | 20 July 1838 | 29 September 1875 |
Campbell, Orson Grant | 11 | 15 August 1848 | 21 February 1906 |
Campbell, Reuben | 10 | 1850 | 1909 |
Campbell, Rosetta Charity | 30 | 7 June 1830 | After 1870 |
Campbell, [Child] | Infant | 1860 | Unknown |
Chisholm, Hannah | 45 | About 1815 | Unknown |
Chisholm, Hannah | 14 | About 1846 | Unknown |
Chisholm, John | 16 | About 1844 | Unknown |
Chisholm, John | 48 | About 1812 | Unknown |
Clark, Dorthea | 23 | About 1837 | Unknown |
Clark, Elizabeth | 1 | About 1859 | Unknown |
Clark, Henry | 3 | About 1857 | Unknown |
Clarkson, Ann | 28 | 13 February 1830 | 8 February 1862 |
Clarkson, Ida Clarissa | Infant | 19 September 1859 | 1 February 1922 |
Clarkson, Robert | 26 | 17 January 1834 | 8 March 1868 |
Clarkson, Ruth | 2 | 12 September 1857 | 12 May 1867 |
Collings, Catherine Ann | 13 | 20 February 1847 | 8 September 1881 |
Collings, Deseret Rosetta | 8 | 28 January 1852 | 27 January 1937 |
Collings, Elizabeth Bewick | 46 | 13 September 1813 | 14 June 1898 |
Collings, James | 15 | 3 January 1845 | 21 November 1930 |
Collings, James | 48 | 29 May 1812 | 20 October 1910 |
Collings, Mahonri Moriancumer | 4 | 17 January 1856 | 1 October 1947 |
Cummings, Salisburg | 55 | 30 January 1805 | Unknown |
Cummings, Sarah Jane | 19 | 19 August 1840 | 15 September 1892 |
Dalson, Jacob | 20 | About 1840 | Unknown |
Davis, Amelia | 10 | 20 December 1849 | 8 March 1880 |
Davis, Jemima Price | 34 | 10 August 1825 | 8 March 1925 |
Davis, Thomas Benjamin | 36 | 14 October 1823 | 23 January 1889 |
Davis, William | 13 | 13 May 1847 | 1 April 1896 |
Denny, Eva | 5 | About 1855 | Unknown |
Diethelm, Barbara | 25 | 9 January 1835 | 11 November 1878 |
Diethelm, George | 31 | 9 December 1828 | 31 August 1901 |
Eardley, Agnes Ann | 5 | 10 November 1854 | 8 November 1909 |
Eardley, Ann Cross | 33 | 27 July 1826 | 11 January 1904 |
Eardley, Clara Elizabeth | 11 | 11 February 1849 | 2 February 1913 |
Eardley, John | 33 | 26 August 1826 | 28 March 1910 |
Eardley, Josiah Henry | 18 | 5 May 1842 | 30 December 1931 |
Eardley, Louisa Eliza | 3 | 9 March 1857 | 5 December 1936 |
Eardley, Mary Ellen | 1 | 12 January 1859 | 27 July 1943 |
Elliot, Christina | 30 | About 1830 | Unknown |
Eyring, Henry Carlos Ferdinand | 25 | 9 March 1835 | 10 February 1902 |
Fankhausen, Elizabeth | 25 | About 1835 | Unknown |
Gavitte, Alonza D. | 19 | About 1841 | Unknown |
Gavitte, Benjamin N. | 43 | About 1817 | Unknown |
Gosnold, Caroline Blanche | 30 | 27 March 1830 | 1 December 1881 |
Graf, Anna Barbara | 1 | 25 February 1859 | 14 January 1924 |
Graf, Anna Barbara Graf | 29 | 7 January 1831 | 12 March 1913 |
Graf, John Jacob | 46 | 1 December 1813 | 2 December 1880 |
Graf, John Jacob | 7 | 18 April 1853 | 11 June 1914 |
Graf, John Traugott | 3 | 24 January 1857 | 18 August 1884 |
Gubler, Anna Katherina | 34 | 22 November 1825 | 26 May 1897 |
Gubler, Anna Mary | 9 | 27 December 1850 | 15 June 1926 |
Gubler, Dorothea Hafter | 45 | 25 July 1814 | Unknown |
Gubler, Heinrich | 33 | 19 February 1827 | 30 June 1876 |
Gubler, Herman | 3 | 11 December 1856 | 7 March 1941 |
Gubler, Johannes | 41 | 29 November 1818 | 2 January 1897 |
Gubler, John | 6 | 10 September 1853 | 6 June 1935 |
Gubler, Louisa | 8 | 10 January 1852 | 14 December 1930 |
Gubler, Magdalena | 28 | 5 May 1832 | 18 February 1894 |
Gubler, Magdalena | 6 | 26 July 1853 | December 1870 |
Gubler, Maria Ursula | 37 | 10 January 1823 | 20 September 1901 |
Hafter, Anna Maria | 47 | 5 March 1813 | 15 September 1883 |
Hafter, Heinrich | 50 | 13 July 1809 | Unknown |
Hanchett, Mary Rosetta | 22 | 20 August 1837 | 29 June 1869 |
Hardy, Margaret | 25 | 29 November 1834 | 18 March 1890 |
Henriod, Domitile De Ligne | 62 | 16 March 1798 | April 1872 |
Hirschi, Gottlieb Theophile | 23 | 16 January 1837 | 24 January 1900 |
Hochstrasser, Margaret | 45 | 10 July 1814 | 24 September 1905 |
Hochstrasser, Maria | 35 | 13 August 1824 | 1 August 1891 |
Hochstrasser, Rudolph | 20 | 1 September 1839 | 24 August 1916 |
Holden, Almira Lucinda | 11 | 12 December 1848 | 27 September 1866 |
Holden, Almon Nahum | 9 | 27 July 1850 | 9 December 1897 |
Holden, Electa Lucinda Meacham | 29 | 21 July 1830 | 21 August 1923 |
Holden, Julia Ann Isabell | 2 | 1 October 1857 | 4 April 1934 |
Holden, Mittie Maria | 4 | 11 November 1855 | 10 March 1926 |
Holden, Nahum Cole | 41 | 2 April 1819 | 8 February 1895 |
Huber, Albert | 15 | 13 January 1845 | Unknown |
Huber, Edward | 46 | 26 September 1813 | 21 February 1869 |
Huber, John Paul | 10 | 25 November 1849 | 15 August 1921 |
Huber, Joseph Edward | 7 | 22 September 1852 | 4 February 1933 |
Huber, Maria Anna Schlecht | 46 | 3 December 1813 | November 1861 |
Huber, Mary Matilda | 13 | 3 March 1847 | 15 March 1923 |
Hug, Henry | 30 | 16 October 1829 | 17 March 1902 |
Hug, Maria | 26 | 6 August 1833 | 19 October 1860 |
Hulmes, Clara Anne | 9 | About 1851 | Unknown |
Hulmes, Frances B. | 22 | About 1838 | Unknown |
Hulmes, James | 15 | About 1845 | Unknown |
Hulmes, Mannery | 53 | About 1807 | Unknown |
Hulmes, Mary | 31 | ca. 1829 | Unknown |
Hulmes, Robert | 11 | About 1849 | Unknown |
Hunt, Althea Ella | 2 | 8 February 1858 | 9 November 1944 |
Hunt, Cora Jeannette | 7 | 10 April 1853 | 9 September 1936 |
Hunt, Eliza Ann | 10 | 14 October 1849 | 13 October 1930 |
Hunt, Madeline | 8 | About 1852 | Unknown |
Hunt, Margaret | 33 | 23 January 1827 | 15 February 1884 |
Hunt, Mary [or Margretta] | 1 | About 1859 | 1930 |
Hunt, William H. | 34 | 16 May 1826 | 15 October 1892 |
Hunt, William Henry | 5 | About 1855 | Unknown |
Hurlett, Robert E. | 9 | About 1851 | Unknown |
Hurlett, Sarah | 38 | About 1822 | Unknown |
Jarvis, Amelia | 7 | 3 January 1853 | 13 August 1908 |
Jarvis, Ann Catherine | 11 | 27 October 1848 | 8 October 1956 |
Jarvis, Ann Prior | 30 | 30 December 1829 | 10 January 1913 |
Jarvis, Brigham | 9 | 20 October 1850 | 15 September 1933 |
Jarvis, George | 37 | 25 March 1823 | 6 January 1913 |
Jarvis, George Frederick | 13 | 16 June 1847 | 1 January 1919 |
Jarvis, Margareth | 2 | 28 November 1857 | 12 January 1934 |
Jarvis, Samuel Walter | 5 | 18 April 1855 | 7 February 1923 |
Jinks, John Nelson | 30 | ca. 1830 | Unknown |
Jinks, Margaret | 18 | About 1842 | Unknown |
Johnson, William | 27 | About 1833 | Unknown |
Jones, Anne | 7 | 31 March 1853 | 14 January 1936 |
Jones, Hannah Davis | 38 | 12 October 1821 | 9 May 1885 |
Jones, Sarah Hannah | 13 | 24 January 1847 | 20 April 1926 |
Jones, William Windsor | 44 | 12 May 1816 | 21 July 1882 |
Kuenzle, Barbara [or Babetta] | 61 | About 1799 | Unknown |
Kynaston, John | 31 | 30 June 1828 | 14 March 1900 |
Kynaston, Mary | 32 | About 1828 | Unknown |
Lang, Margaret Barbara | 34 | 17 April 1826 | 14 September 1891 |
Lark, Clarissa | 12 | 26 March 1848 | 8 February 1873 |
Lark, Erastus Robert | 7 | 15 February 1853 | 11 April 1925 |
Lark, Isabella | 4 | 23 August 1855 | 21 June 1941 |
Lark, Mary Clarkson | 35 | 28 October 1824 | 26 January 1901 |
Lark, Minns | 9 | 1 March 1851 | 26 March 1939 |
Lark, William | 39 | 15 March 1821 | 23 May 1889 |
McCreery, Martha | 62 | ca. 1798 | Unknown |
Mecham, Elam | 60 | 9 October 1799 | 4 March 1876 |
Mecham, Elmira Batchelor | 63 | 21 August 1796 | 29 August 1880 |
Miles, Charles | 54 | About 1805 | Unknown |
Morris, David Hyrum | 2 | 6 April 1858 | 24 August 1937 |
Morris, Elizabeth | 54 | 23 March 1806 | 21 February 1878 |
Morris, Emma | 27 | 21 April 1833 | 15 November 1916 |
Morris, John Hope | Infant | 3 June 1860 | 26 October 1860 |
Morris, Joseph | 20 | 22 June 1839 | 22 February 1922 |
Morris, Mary Ann | 13 | 25 December 1846 | 23 May 1914 |
Morris, Richard | 22 | 24 June 1837 | 12 December 1901 |
Morris, Richard Alexander | 3 | 26 November 1856 | 14 July 1936 |
Morris, Robert | 17 | 10 November 1842 | 23 July 1863 |
Morris, Susan | 16 | 19 May 1844 | 15 December 1935 |
Murphy, Emanuel Bird | 5 | 14 October 1854 | 19 April 1943 |
Murphy, Emanuel Masters | 50 | 15 September 1809 | 23 July 1871 |
Murphy, Gideon Mann | 6 | 12 February 1854 | 12 March 1938 |
Murphy, Hyrum | 14 | 3 March 1846 | 13 March 1916 |
Murphy, James Harris | 11 | 26 February 1849 | 18 June 1920 |
Murphy, Jesse Easters | 28 | 27 January 1832 | 25 March 1916 |
Murphy, Levona | 9 | 6 May 1851 | 16 March 1875 |
Murphy, Mary Ann Reed | 35 | 7 November 1824 | Unknown |
Murphy, Mary Elizabeth | 4 | 29 July 1855 | 18 March 1940 |
Murphy, Nancy Judd Easters | 46 | 30 July 1813 | 25 February 1898 |
Murphy, Rebecca | 2 | 14 September 1857 | 15 November 1860 |
Murphy, Simon Frederick | 13 | 18 January 1847 | 10 November 1924 |
Murphy, Thomas Eriel | 35 | 15 November 1824 | 11 February 1897 |
Murphy, Thomas Gaden | 11 | 22 June 1848 | 30 March 1907 |
Murphy, William Columbus | 18 | 1 April 1842 | 17 February 1895 |
Nash, Charlotte Burkett | 28 | 5 December 1831 | 11 January 1913 |
Nash, John | 34 | 24 October 1825 | 7 January 1891 |
Norton, Jacob Wesley | 26 | 14 November 1833 | 5 September 1901 |
Ostler, George | 26 | ca. 1834 | Unknown |
Ostler, Susan Mary | 31 | About 1829 | Unknown |
Ostler, William | 27 | ca. 1833 | Unknown |
Ovard, Betsy | 6 | 28 February 1854 | 30 December 1874 |
Ovard, Esther Stowe | 17 | 7 December 1842 | 30 July 1924 |
Ovard, George | 7 | 4 December 1852 | 25 May 1897 |
Ovard, Hannah Stowe | 44 | 14 December 1815 | 8 October 1888 |
Ovard, Jacob Israel | 2 | 14 August 1857 | 13 July 1931 |
Ovard, Joseph William | 15 | 8 February 1845 | 20 November 1916 |
Ovard, Mary Ann | 12 | 12 April 1848 | 20 November 1916 |
Ovard, Thomas | 44 | 27 July 1815 | 7 March 1890 |
Ovard, William | 9 | 23 December 1850 | 7 April 1936 |
Reamer, Amenia | 12 | About 1848 | Unknown |
Reamer, Augustus | 13 | About 1847 | Unknown |
Reamer, James Terley | 15 | 26 September 1844 | 6 September 1880 |
Reamer, Mary Ann | 1 | About 1859 | Unknown |
Reamer, Mary Ann Wilbert | 37 | 10 June 1823 | 21 February 1916 |
Reamer, Sarah | 9 | About 1851 | Unknown |
Reamer, Thomas | 6 | About 1854 | Unknown |
Reamer, William Cook | 41 | 26 October 1818 | 19 November 1881 |
Reid, Isabella | 26 | ca. 1834 | Unknown |
Roberts, David Giles | 34 | 18 March 1826 | 18 May 1893 |
Rutschi, Maria | 45 | ca. 1815 | Unknown |
Sawyer, Emerett | 14 | About 1846 | Unknown |
Sawyer, Henrietta | 38 | 2 September 1821 | 18 March 1893 |
Sawyer, Henrietta | 14 | 20 April 1846 | 2 March 1922 |
Sawyer, Joseph | 43 | 10 July 1816 | 7 February 1902 |
Sawyer, Mary Ann | 11 | 17 August 1848 | 22 April 1918 |
Schettler, Paul Augustus | 32 | 13 August 1827 | 3 November 1884 |
Schneider, Elizabeth | 42 | About 1818 | Unknown |
Sherregar, Anna | 50 | About 1810 | Unknown |
Smith, Annie Sophia | 18 | 22 December 1841 | 31 August 1919 |
Smith, Eliza | 14 | About 1846 | Unknown |
Smith, Martha Reed | 41 | 28 February 1819 | 17 December 1905 |
Smith, Thomas | 43 | 21 February 1817 | 31 August 1893 |
Spiers, Agnes | 5 | 28 June 1854 | 19 October 1862 |
Spiers, George | 33 | 6 January 1827 | 18 December 1919 |
Spiers, Janet | 9 | 30 May 1851 | 4 July 1928 |
Spiers, Janet Lyon | 31 | 5 January 1829 | 26 October 1919 |
Spiers, Thomas Lyon | 1 | 31 May 1859 | 12 March 1922 |
Spiers, William Harrison | 11 | 19 June 1849 | 19 June 1908 |
Sproul, Agnes Matilda | 6 | 17 May 1854 | 29 March 1929 |
Sproul, Anne | 24 | 13 July 1837 | 21 July 1869 |
Sproul, Elizabeth | 21 | 16 December 1838 | 10 December 1862 |
Sproul, Francis | 20 | 12 April 1840 | 1 October 1918 |
Sproul, Francis | 48 | 27 September 1811 | 6 March 1869 |
Sproul, Isabella | 23 | 13 July 1837 | 1863 |
Sproul, Mary | 10 | 24 May 1850 | 8 February 1898 |
Sproul, Robenia | 45 | 12 July 1812 | 2 November 1898 |
Sproul, Robinia | 17 | 27 September 1843 | 10 December 1871 |
Stahl, Maria | 54 | About 1806 | Unknown |
Stelfox, Fanny | 63 | About 1797 | Unknown |
Stelfox, Thomas | 39 | 13 January 1821 | Unknown |
Stelfox, Thomas, Jr. | 6 | About 1854 | Unknown |
Stucki, John Ulrich | 23 | 8 June 1837 | 18 June 1918 |
Stucki, Margaretha Huber | 25 | 28 February 1835 | 6 November 1912 |
Taft, Johanna Holmes | 56 | About 1804 | Unknown |
Taft, Lewis | 55 | 11 May 1805 | 10 October 1890 |
Theurer, Frederic | 20 | 29 September 1839 | 7 February 1922 |
Thomas, Elizabeth | 9 | About 1851 | Unknown |
Thomas, Jane | 19 | 4 March 1841 | 18 February 1913 |
Thomas, Lettice | 35 | About 1825 | Unknown |
Trauber, Maria Caroline Haffter | 22 | 3 May 1838 | 20 October 1897 |
Trauber, Ulrich | 26 | 10 April 1834 | 17 March 1901 |
Tullidge, Jane Puckett | 26 | 14 February 1834 | 18 January 1919 |
Tullidge, Mary Elizabeth | 28 | 18 April 1832 | 27 December 1914 |
Wampfler, Margaret Boss | 65 | About 1795 | 31 January 1861 |
Warburton, Elizabeth Ellen | 1 | 25 December 1858 | 15 December 1938 |
Warburton, Emma Watmough | 26 | 9 April 1834 | 3 April 1920 |
Warburton, Joseph | 28 | 21 September 1831 | 22 March 1911 |
Warburton, Sarah Ann | 2 | 19 September 1857 | 27 November 1900 |
Webb, Charles Marles | 26 | 27 March 1834 | 27 January 1875 |
Webb, Hannah Simock | 23 | 26 March 1837 | 21 December 1924 |
Webb, William James | 1 | 24 October 1858 | 19 June 1934 |
Webster, Emma Whaley | 25 | 18 September 1834 | 4 March 1909 |
Webster, William Lot | 25 | 31 October 1834 | 7 April 1897 |
West, Rose Anna | 40 | About 1820 | Unknown |
Wilbert, James Lippecot | 64 | 25 November 1795 | 9 January 1864 |
Williams, Eliza | 29 | About 1831 | Unknown |
Having lived in Utah since 1857, Jesse Murphy returned to the Missouri River in 1860 to escort his father's family west. At Florence, Nebraska Territory, he was named captain of 279 emigrants. There were 38 wagons, 2 carriages, 255 head of livestock, and a threshing machine belonging to Captain Murphy's father. They left Florence on June 19. At Loup Fork ferry, two missionaries with a small wagon caught up to and joined the company. The missionaries had been serving among the Cherokees in Indian Territory. On June 30 the company passed Wood River Center. Captain Murphy often permitted two sisters (ages 10 and 12) to ride on his father's threshing machine, a practice that led to a memorable event. As they forded the Platte River, water flooded over both the thresher and the girls. Fortunately all were saved as Murphy held the girls up high so that their parents, on the other side of the river, could see that all was well.
In mid-July they reached Ash Hollow and passed Fort Laramie in late July. George Q. Cannon, in charge of Mormon emigration that year, overtook them at Greasewood Creek and camped with them at Independence Rock on August 7. When some in the company saw the many emigrant graves near Devil's Gate, they did not want to continue until the Captain promised them that none of them would die on the trail. His promise was fulfilled as there were no deaths.
On August 23, celebrated adventurer Richard F. Burton passed the emigrants as they were descending Quaking-Asp Hill. "The descent was long and rapid—so rapid, indeed, that oftentimes when the block of wood which formed our break dropped a bit of old shoe leather nailed upon it to prevent ignition, I felt, as a man may be excused for feeling, that catching of the breath," Burton wrote. "The sides of the road were rich in vegetation, stunted oak, black-jack, and box elder of the tallest stature; above rose the wild cherry, and the service-tree formed the bushes below. The descent, besides being decidedly sharp, was exceedingly devious, and our frequent 'shaves'—a train of Mormon wagons was crawling down at the same time—made us feel somewhat thankful that we reached the bottom without broken bones."
Burton also wrote that Captain Murphy flew the American flag and that the emigrants, "though weather-beaten, all looked well." Murphy's company was at Sulfur Creek on August 16. On August 29 the two missionaries who had earlier joined the company arrived in Salt Lake City. The rest of the company arrived the following day. Of his travel with the company, one of the missionaries recalled, "I enjoyed myself excellently while crossing the plains, walking nearly the whole distance and to me it was more like a pleasure trip, than a toilsome pilgrimage." Two babies were born en route.