April 18 we arived in New orlene [New Orleans] on the 22 we left and ar[r]ived in the City of St Lewis [St. Louis] may 2nd I then went to work in a coal mine to optain [obtain] means to continue ower [our] jerny [journey] west ward, we remained there until April 1853 I was then chosen as Capta[i]n of 12 wagons but more famelys as many had to join two famely to one wagon in that way we traveled to councelblufs [Council Bluffs] we then joined in with others and a pointed Daved Wilkey [David Wilken], as ower Che[i]f Capta[i]n. We ar[r]ived in salt lake City September 3d having been on the road 5 months.