Heritage Gateways

Pioneer 1848-1868 Companies

1846-52 (age 46-52), Standley, Alexander Scobia (Iowa experience)
Crossed Iowa in 1846 and stayed, making preparations, until the final call of Saints to leave Iowa in 1852. He died four years later.

1846-7, Crow, Robert (Mississippi Saints)
Robert Crow and his family journeyed from Mississippi to Grand Island, NE, hoping to meet up with other Mormons along the trail. Finding none, the group journeyed to Ft. Laramie, then wintered in Pueblo. The Crow family caught up with Brigham Young's pioneer company at Ft. Laramie in 1847 and accompanied it to the valley.

1846-7, Draper (Palmer) (Brown), Phebe (Mormon Battalion Wife and son, Zemira)
One of four women that accompanied the Mormon Battalion all the way to California and her son, Zemira, the youngest person in the Battalion. She rode a mule. Her husband was a 2nd Sergeant. They were the first family to settle in Draper, Utah.

1847-1852: Immigration/Emigration to Utah-Ships and Companies
1847-1852: Immigration/Emigration to Utah-Ships and Companies

1848, Brown, John (Journal Entries)
John Brown helped lead the Mississippi Saints to Grand Island, NE, Ft. Laramie, and Pueblo. He returned home, took 4 blacks to Winter Quarters (1947), two of which died on the way. He and the other two came with Brigham Young's "Pioneer Company" in 1847. He returned to Missssippi and brought his family to Utah in 1848.

1848, Bullock, Thomas (Brigham Young's Company)
Thomas Bullock was the clerk of the "Camp of Israel," which meant travelling to the valley in 1847, returning to Winter Quarters, then back to Great Salt Lake City in 1848. He was in charge of the "BIG" Church Records Wagon. It broke down twice, his oxen died, and he wrote a long letter to Levi Richards detailing the trip, statistics, and circumstances in the valley.

1848-1868, Black Pioneers
Blacks were also pioneers along the Mormon trail.

1848-60, Mormon Emigrants (Stan Kimball Info.)
The early pioneers became experts at making the trek as they continued to help fellow pioneers also make the trek.

1848-68, Mormon Emigrants (General Information)
Besides the first group of pioneers, more that 70,000 [latest estimates: 60,000]came in later companies.

1848-68, Points of Departure and Time Periods
As the immgration continued, the pioneers left for their trek west from different locations.

1848: Brigham Young's Last Trek to the Valley
Brigham brought his large extended valley in 1848, never to return to the States.

1849 (age 26), Little, James Amasay (Brigham Young's Nephew)
Nephew of Brigham Young. How to stop animals from being stampeded.

1849 (age 4), Willden (Johnson), Ann Jane (Boat Experience)
Ann Jane Willden (Johnson), 1849, Boat Experience, 1849 (age 4). Sea experiences from a young person's perspective.

1849 (age 7), Hill (Romney), Hannah Hood
Childhood remembrances of Winter Quarters, snakes, travelling with strangers, walking bare foot, and having her hair cut short.

1849, Forty Niner Company Preparations (New York)
Preparations of a New York company of 25 young men headed to the gold fields in California

1849, Welch Emigrants (Dan Jones - Background Information)
The Welsh emigrants of 1849 were among the first foreign speaking pioneers in Utah. As others of their countrymen arrived, several areas largely composed of Welshmen were settled, including Wales, Willard, Spanish Fork, 15th and 16th Wards in Salt Lake City; Malad and Samaria, Idaho.

1850 (age 15), McDonald, William
This colorful summary is in his own spelling and grammar and will put a smile on your face in spite of the tragedies mentioned. ("Us boys Engoyed the Wild Countrey...")

1850 (age 33), Clemens, Ann Wilde
She lost her first husband on the trail trying to stop a stampede. Her second husband died two years later helping emigrants cross the Missouri River.

1850 (age 33), Weston (Maughan), Mary Ann (Journal Entries)
Journal (daily) entries of the trek. Death, storms, usual problems. Must have travelled Parley Pratt's "Golden Pass" road as a toll was paid to cross over a "dreadful" road they had to repair along the way.

1850, Ferry Crossings (Platte to Malad Rivers)
Ferry costs in 1850 from the Platte to the Malad Rivers.

1851 (age 35), Goddard, George
He came from England with his wife and seven children, five of whom died before reaching Utah. Circumstances led to the purchase of thousands of needles (in England) which, when later sold (even in rusty condition), financed his trip across the plains and got him into merchandising in Salt Lake City. He was part of the missionary handcart company (going east) in 1857.

1852 (age 17), Utley (Carter), Harriet Temperance
Harriet Temperance Utley moved with her family to Council Bluffs in 1847, came to Utah in 1852. Her father died along the way. She unvieled the monument in Winter Quarters to those who died along the trail.

1852 (age 22), Gillespie, John (Steamship)
When the steamship "Saluda" exploded on the Mississippi River, John lost all his tools. His sister-in-law was badly scalded. He bought cattle in Missouri for emigrants leaving Council Bluffs. He went alone to Utah and promised to return to help his parents and family coming with the last emigration company that year. He met them at the Sweetwater River and provided them timely assistance.

1852 (age 24), Parks (Taggart), Fanny
Fanny married a widower, George W. Taggert, and became a teen-age mother to his little girl. He joined the Mormon Battalion while she was still in the east. She made her way to Winter Quarters and survived under difficult circumstances. Her husband returned in 1847, they moved to the Iowa side of the Missouri River, and emigrated to Utah in 1852.

1852 (age 25), Watkins, William Lampard
Married at age 17. Left Nauvoo with wife and child at age 19 (1846). Sojourn in Iwa, making money off gold rushers; crossed the plains in 1852. His wife delivered a child at the Bear River.

1852 (age 46), Willden, Sr., Charles
Iron worker from England. Spent three years (1849-1852) in the east, securing the funds to emigrate to Utah. Was sent to work in the Iron Mission (near Cedar City). Later built a wooden stockade fort where Cove Fort is (between Beaver and Fillmore).

1852 (age 7), Willden (Johnson), Ann Jane
Ann Jane Willden (Johnson), 1852 (age 7). The family stopped at Council Bluffs for 3 years before making the trip.

1853 (age 11), 1855, 1865, Burges (Slater), Elizabeth (Crossed 3 times)
After coming to Utah in 1853, her parents went back to St. Louis in 1855 (disagreeing with polygamy). Elizabeth married a Mormon and emigrated again.

1853 (age 15), Davis (Carter), Sarah
Smallpox broke out on the ship. Two brothers died at sea. Effect of scars. She and her friends got lost on the trail, a humbling and frightening experience. They were rescued by an Indian.

1853 (age 18), Henriod, Gustave Louis Edward (French - Trek Summary)
1853 - Trek Summary. This is well-worded description of trail life from an educated, perceptive French teen-ager.

1853 (age 18), Henriod, Gustave Louis Edward (French)
One of the first Mormons in France. Good trek description, became a teacher and helped create the Deseret Alphabet.

1853 (age 26), Ririe, James (Ten Pound Company)
Ririe was an independent sort, worked hard as a Mormon, but was excommunicated over a disagreement with one of his leaders. A superior rebaptized him. He came with a group that was supposed to have all expenses covered by ten British pounds. He kept careful records of costs and felt that President Isaac Haight might have profited at the expense of the group, which ran out of food along the way.

1853-4 (age 16-17), Christensen, Mads Frederick Theobald (Ship/Trek Experiences)
Brother of the famous artist, C.C.A. Christensen. Different/interesting description of his sea and river voyage to St. Louis.

1853-7, Immigration/Emigration to Utah-Ships and Companies

1854 (age 15), Neilsen, Rasmus and his son Christian
Christian translated and edited his father's journal describing their voyage to America and trek to Utah. Large numbers of this group died. Rasmuss helped a number of persons financially.

1854 (age 30), Cruickshank (Morrison), Mary Margaret Forquhar (Scotland)
Eleven weeks sailing brought her family to New Oreans. It took two more weeks by boat to reach St. Louis. Here the immigrants were forced into quarantine. The healthy immigrants began to notice sickness after the first day and by week's end, 80 persons had died. Mary lost three of her four children along the way.

1855 (age 21), Coombs, Isaiah Moses (Church Freight Train)
Married at age 20. His non-Mormon wife refused to leave Illinois and accompany him to Utah. His experience with a heavily-loaded Church freight train was eventful. Not one of the 4 oxen he started with made it to the valley. This train was the last for the year. Food was scarce for the animals, bad weather hit, and the train needed to be rescued.

1855 (age 23), McFarland, Archibald
Last year of immigration through New Orleans. Cholera, outfitting description, two women shot and killed by men in their own group.

1855 (age 43), Fish (Bell), Ann
Fish (Bell), Ann, 1855 (age 43). Her husband was sick and went to the valley the year before. The company she started with left her. She came alone with her children, joining up with a freight wagon train.

1856 (age 23), Goudin (Cardon), Susanna (Italy - Handcart Pioneer)
The only member of her family to come to Utah. The father of the family she travelled with died. She pulled a cart containing a two-year old girl of a friend. When grown up, the girl ended up becoming the second wife of Susanna's husband.

1856 (age 6), McBride, Peter Howard (Ireland)
Came across the plains with the Martin Handcart Company. Cyrus Wheelock carried him over the Platte River with two other boys on his horse. Peter slipped off going up the bank. His father made 25 trips across the Platte and died that night.

1856, Handcarts (About the 5 companies of this year)
Information about the five handcart companies in 1856.

1856-60, Handcarts - Part 1: (Background Info)
Needing a less expensive mode of transportation, many of the pioneers began to use handcarts, some make without any metal.

1856-60, Handcarts: Construction Plans (Steve Pratt)
Stephen Pratt builds handcarts for a living in Cove Fort, Utah. This is his set of copyrighted instructions on how to construct a handcart.

1856-68, Mormon Emigrants (Railroad, then wagons)
Later in the migration west, railroad trains were used for parts of the journey west.

1857 (age 17), McCune, Harry F. (from India via New York City)
His family was rich, some of the few converts from India. His father was a British officer. Crossing the plains was a real adjustment for a teen-age rich boy.

1857 (age 55), Johnson, Joel Hills (Trek back to the States - journal entries)
This trip was precipitated by the death of his brother-in-law, Almon Babbitt, at the hands of the Indians in 1856. It followed the Martin Handcart and Mountain Meadows tragedies. It is one of the rare accounts of a trip going east instead of west.

1857, Freight Wagons
Freighting materials along the trail was a constant activity. The largest freighter, by far, was done by Russel, Majors, and Wadell. These same men supplied materials to the army during the Utah War and later started the Pony Express. The account was reported by British overlander, William Chandless.

1857, Johnston's Army (Private Mason's Experience)
Andrew grew up in Connecticutt, joined the Army (age 20), was anxious to fight the Mormons in 1857. In a rough part of the trail a washerwoman committed suicide and the whiskey wagon was destroyed. He deserted the Army in 1860, married a 16 year old Mormon girl and went to California as a result of the Morrisite battle in which his wife's family was involved.

1857-60, Handcarts - Part 2(b): Statistics/summaries
There was one missionary and five emigrant companies after the unfortunate Martin company.

1858 -1863: Immigration/Emigration to Utah-Ships and Companies

1859 (age 14), Maudsley, Mary S. (Prussia)

1859 (age 18), Carter (Harris), Jane (Handcart)
Good description of her trek, weight limitations, corralling cattle with handcarts, death of Indian woman and two boys by other Indians. She delivered a baby along the way and almost died.

1859 (age 27), Haight, Horton David (Captain - Biographical Sketch)

1859 (age 31), Brown, James Stephens (Captain)
The outfit consisted of fifty-nine wagons and one hundred and four yoke of oxen, eleven horses, thirty-five cows, and forty-one head of young cattle that were driven loose. We had provisions for seventy-five days. There were nine different nationalities of people represented, namely: English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, Danish, Swedish, Norwegians and Icelanders; we also had some Americans from the Eastern, Middle and Southern States, all mixed together. Many of them had never driven an ox one mile in their lives. Indian problems.

1859 (age 32), Johnson (Randall), Mildred Eliza
Visiting a brother in Council Bluffs, she was taught about the Mormon church by William H. Folsom (architect, father-in-law to Brigham Young). She came to Utah and became a teacher. She wrote to her sister and described her trek west (burning sun, burning sand, ice in August, steep canyons).

1859 (age 32), Rowley, George (Handcart Captain - Biographical Sketch)
Came to Utah in 1855, went back to England on a mission, captain of handcarts.

1859 (age 34), Fautin, Thomas C. Christensen (Handcart - Denmark)
The cost of each adult who crossed the plains, with hand-carts, would be 150 regsdaler, ($75.00) and they were to advance $20.00 for each handcart emigrant. This money was to be sent to America. The company went a new route to Florence. Inger walked by his side carrying a nine month old child, Amazene most of the way.

1859-60 (age 58), Johnson, Joel Hills (Return to Utah from Genoa)
Johnson was released from presiding over the Genoa Station in 1859 and tried to return to Utah. His wagon broke down; he chose to wait until 1860 to return. He kept a detailed journal of the trip.

1860 (age 29), Robison, Daniel (Captain of 9th Handcart Company)
This was Daniel's first trip across the plains. His wife, Rachel, gives a wonderful description of the construction, pushing, and pulling of the handcarts, camp organization, duties, etc. The company fared relatively well.

1860 (age 31), Young, Joseph Watson (Captain, Church Train)
Son of Lorenzo Dow Young. It was noticed that draft animals going to the States and back were in very good shape. He brought along 100 emigrants.

1860 (age 40), Stoddard, Oscar O. (Captain - Last Handcart Company)
The tenth (last) handcart company was relatively small. Some of its members were Swiss and settled in Santa Clara (by St. George). Good description of crossing the Platte River at Ft. Laramie.

1860-68, Mormon Emigrants (Church Trains)
The handcart method was abandoned in favor of church owned wagon trains.

1861 (age 20), Grimshaw, Duckworth (Wales)
Nothing came easily for Duckworth, but he was quite resourceful. His story contains interesting tidbits of life in Wales, the trip to Utah and adjustment to a new home. He immigrated two years before his parents.

1861 (age 37), Spencer, Claudius and Cannon, David (age 23) - Captains
The right men at the right time, very creative financing and determination turned a difficult situation into a unique success.

1861 (age 6), Mineer (Felt), Alma Elizabeth (Sweden)
Alma almost lost her father on the plains.

1861 (age 8), Hill (Hall), Caroline Elizabeth (First Wagon Train sent from Utah)
First Wagon Train sent from Utah. Her brother died at Winter Quarters, leaving her and her mother to cross the plains.

1861 (and more), Murdock, John Riggs, Captain (Biographical Sketch)
Joined the Mormon Battalion as a teen-ager. Crossed the plains eleven times to bring emigrants to Utah (more than any other man).

1861, Sanderson, John and wife, Rebecca Wood
John's wife would not join the Mormon Church, so he came to Utah without her in 1850. He went on a mission in 1855, Rebecca and children were baptized and came with the first handcarts to Florence, NE. John met them in 1859, worked in the area until the family could afford to go to Utah. He got lost on the way back (a blatant case of "stubborn male driver").

1861: Emigration Summary
Brigham Young addressed the handcart issue in Oct. conference of 1860. Church Trains would begin in 1861, eliminating the need of further handcarts.

1861: Immigration; Scandinavian Saints
They came on the largest sailing ship as of that date. Most required Church assistance and came in the John R. Murdock Company.

1861: New Emigration Policy (Church Trains)
Realizing the great responsibility resting upon the men who had been called year after year to meet the incoming converts, Church authorities published the following epistle February 28, 1861. It was basically the plan used thereafter.

1862 (age 10), Mills (Palmer), Louisa Harriett, (Came Alone)
Because of a lack of funds, her brother and sister came in 1861, she in 1862 (Miller Company), and her sister in 1863. Routine details of trip described. First taste of watermelon.

1862 (age 14). Price (Kunkel), Isabella (Capt. Haight Company)
Isabella Price (Kunkel) was 14 when she crossed the plains in 1862. Sixty years later she told her daughter of her experiences in a lengthy letter. She includes details not mentioned in other accounts. She is off on some names and details, but the events, from leaving England to her arrival in Salt Lake City, are generally accurate.

1862 (age 15), Canfield, Lucy and Isaac (age 44)
Isaac was unamimously chosen as captain of an 18-wagon Independent Company. No major excitement. May have gone down the Weber River towards Ogden.

1862 (age 27), Hogberg (Swaner), Helena (Sweden)
She spent most of her life caring for others. Compared the advantage of Church Trains over Independant Trains.

1862 (age 27), Wilkins (Steadman), Elizabeth (Duncan Company-Four Letters to England)
They could not afford to bring her mother. Father came, but died at sea. Elizabeth wrote four letters to her mother. The first was written one day out to sea, the next from Florence (telling her mother what the train, food, and travel was like - lots of suggestions), the third from Salt Lake City (had a monogomous and a polygomous marriage offer), and the fourth a year later.

1862 (age25), Wood, William (Unique Background/Trek Experience)
Wood served in the British Navy for almost 6 years before heading to Utah. He and his fiance were divided along the trail. He describes well the common problems of overland travel and his particular problems.

1862, Stokes, Henry (Clerk of Miller Company)
Henry Stokes, 1862 emigrated to America from England in 1860 with a wife and three young children. He found work in New York and stayed for two years. Much of their luggage burned at St. Joseph, Missouri. Church Trains from the Valley (Salt Lake City) delayed because of high water in the streams (bridges had to be built). Stokes was clerk of the Henry Miller Company. Good descriptions of Echo Canyon, Chalk Creek (Coalville), and Silver Creek (between Parley's Park and Wanship) Canyon (Golden Pass Road). There were eight births and twenty-eight deaths recorded for that company

1862, The Poulsen Families (Peder, Christian, James)
1,556 Danish Saints embarked on 4 ships out of Hamburg. The Athena stalled in calm seas, water went bad, and 38 died. When James lost his wife and children, and almost died himself, he tried to find a ship in the Atlantic that would take him back to Denmark. Death continued to stalk the families, but the survivors continued to Utah. James married the lady who nursed him back to life.

1862-4 (age 30-32), Briggs, Thomas
Thomas was 19 when his family arrived in New Orleans. Thirteen years, a wife, four children and numerous experiences, he finally made it to Utah (1864). An effort to emigrate in 1862 was aborted. The family had been so isolated from other Mormons that the family had not attended church services for ten years. By selling milk and herding cattle along the way, he and his son earned $37. They began the trip with $3.

1862: Emigration and other Events
Emigration, Protecting the Overland Stage and Mail Route (Ben Holliday), Fort Douglas Established (Col. Conner), and Indian Affairs (Peteetneet, Washakie, lack of Fed. funds for Indians in Utah)

1863 (age 18), Lofdahl (Evans), Johanna Lovisa (Sweden)
Came alone in the Wm. B. Preston Company, broke her leg in a fall from her wagon, became 2nd wife of teamster that took her home to care for her.

1863 (age 19), Debenham (Dowden), Naomi
Her older brother, Edgar, immigrated in 1862. She and her 13-year old Brother came the next year. Edgar died 3 weeks after Naomi arrived.

1863 (age 35), Rollins (Lightner), Mary Elizabeth
She joined the Church in 1830 as at the age of 12. She was living with her uncle, Algernon Gilbert [partner in Gilbert/Whitney store in Kirkland, Ohio]. She passed through most trials of the early church period. She saved copies of the Book of Commandments from a mob, married a non-Member, Adam Lightner, bore 10 children, moved about, and decided in 1863 to emigrate to Utah. She kept a journal of the trip including the following note about herself: "sinner, while everyone else is at prayers. I don't much like our preacher, he strokes his beard too much and speaks too low."

1863, Young, John R. (Captain)
Upon arriving at Omaha, I was selected to take charge of an independent company; people who had means to immigrate themselves to Utah. On the 8th of August I commenced the task (mission, we called it, for we all served without pay) of leading these people, who were Scandinavians, from Omaha to Salt Lake City. When it is remembered that these people spoke a language that I did not understand; that they were not accustomed to driving teams; that I had to teach them even how to yoke their cattle, and hitch on to their wagons, it will be easy to imagine the magnitude of the task I had undertaken. Stolen horses were rescued from the Indians in a daring raid. He fought off two wolf packs. Indians retaliated, causing two stampedes, once with loose cattle, the second as the company descended a hill. Three persons were killed, numerous others injured.

1863: Emigration and other Events
Emigration statistics, drought, new governor, Bear River Massacre, clothing manufacture, freighting to Montana, Uniform Postage Act.

1864 (age 10), Alston, Christopher
Came alone with a younger brother; mother and siblings came in 1865. Food remained a significant memory. Described reception at mouth of Parley's Canyon.

1864 (age 16) and 1866, Blake, William
The family could not afford to come together. The mother and two daughters remained in England until funds became available. The father died along the way. In 1866 William became a teamster for one of the Church Trains and helped finance the trip for his mother and two sisters from those and previous earnings. His sister, Johanna, married the captain of the train, John Holladay.

1864 (age 16), Blake, William (William Hyde Company)
His sister died in St. Joseph, his father died on the plains. Tents and food were set up for the immigrants at Washington Square [400 South and State Streets]. William was hungry after every meal along the journey.

1864 (age 24), Nielson, Andrew Christian
Had interesting youth. His description of his journey as a teamster, with 51 other immigrants hired as teamsters. "We were as ignorant as the oxen." They were Danish and Scottish and the animals couldn't understand either. Oxen and then the captain died. Requests for replacement oxen, provisions, and a metal coffin were telegraphed ahead.

1864, Auerbach Family (Jewish)
The Auerbach brothers came to Utah from the gold fields of California and established "The People's Store" on Main Street. Later they operated out of the Brooks Arcade on 3rd South.

1864-1868: Immigration/Emigration to Utah-Ships and Companies
Includes a miscellaneous immigration summary from non-European countries at the end.

1864: Dutch Immigration
The first missionaries to the Netherlands arrived in Rotterdam, August 5, 1861. The first company of Dutch converts, 60 in number, left Rotterdam June 1, 1864, and crossed the plains in Captain Wm. Hyde's train.

1864: Emigration and other Events
Mining and smelting begin in Utah; two horticultural societies started, one led to creation of the State Fair.

1864: Reception of Captain Hyde's late Company
It was snowing in the Wasatch Mountains as the company came through them.

1864: Scandinavian Immigration (350 Mostly Sweden and Norway)
The ship Monarch of the Sea cleared for sailing, and on Thursday, April 28th, sailed from Liverpool, England, with 973 souls on board. Scandinavians crossed the plains in Captain William P. Preston's company of about fifty Church teams.

1865 (age 16), Hagell (Naisbitt), Catherine
Mother died, baby brother died at sea, no Church Wagons sent to Wyoming, NE, this year. Finances a problem, so she is the only one in the family to continue that year. Food shortages and lonliness along the way. The rest of her family comes in 1866. She married the next year as the second wife, the first wife dying soon after leaving her with 7 children to raise. She had 8 of her own.

1865 (age 23), Andelin, Maria Lofdahl (Sweden)
She came alone, the only Mormon in her family. An Indian attack west of Ft. Laramie forced them to travel at night.

1865 (age 42), Atwood, Miner Grant (Captain)
Member of the Missionary Handcart Company, brought South African immigrants to Utah. His wagon train was attacked by Indians west of Ft. Laramie.

1865 (age 51), Andersen, Anne Larsen
Connected with royalty, this well-to-do mother (after the death of her husband) financed 20 other immigrating persons. She bought flour for the company at Ft. Laramie and also provided milk. Indians attacked the (Atwood) company by Ft. Laramie.

1865: Emigration and Other Events
Colonization extended, the most important being the Muddy Mission (in current Nevada). The Black Hawk War began in central Utah, hurting Indians and Whites. Cold Weather and flooding caused some damage. Lincoln's 2nd Inauguration brought Mormons and soldiers at Ft. Douglas closer together.

1865: Immigration from Scandinavia
557 Scandinavian Saints had a relatively good trip. The company was attacked by Indians (7 men wounded, 1 lady kidnapped - never found).

1866 (age 14), Crane, Henry
It took only 70 days for this company to cross the plains. Henry drove a cow the whole way. His younger brother died just before Ft. Bridger.

1866 (age 15), Jenson, Andrew
Later to become a historian for the Mormon Church, Andrew wrote a detailed description of his trip to Utah. Part 1 covers the trip to Nebraska.

1866 (age 15), Jenson, Andrew, Part 2: Crossing the Plains
Later to become a historian for the Mormon Church, Andrew wrote a detailed description of his trip to Utah. Part 2 covers the trip from Nebraska to Utah. This account is full of details, if not dramatic events.

1866 (age 16), Warnick, Charles Peter (Sweden)
The Warnick families were part of Abner Lowry's "Sanpete" (or Cholera) Company. Eight members of his family died. Charles was sad, but not bitter. He was a hard-working, thoughtful person.

1866 (age 18), Blake, William (Teamster - Church Train)
William Blake, 1866 (age 18). His sister died in St. Joseph, his father died on the plains. Tents and food were set up for the immigrants at Washington Square [400 South and State Streets]. William was hungry after every meal along the journey. A year and a half later, he volunteered to be a teamster for the Church trains in 1868. The money he earned help pay the expenses of his mother and sister, who immigrated that year. They were reunited on the Missouri River.

1866 (age 18), Greenhalgh (Mace), Mary Ann (England)
The family came to New York in 1865, worked, and emigrated in 1866. Mary's mother would not agree to travel with another emigrant family, fearing vermin. The family was assigned to a freight wagon (carrying Tabernacle Organ material) and didn't have to share with another family. Their trip was pleasant; Mary had a minor Indian scare. Her father started the first water-powered loom in Salt Lake and Southern Utah.

1866 (age 30), Grundvig, Frants (Frantz or Franz) Christian
He and four other men were wounded in an Indian ambush. His 28-year-old wife, was kidnapped (taken on the back of an Indian pony) and never seen again.

1866 (age 35), Hopkins (Clark), Caroline
Mother of 15 children, emigrated 17 years after becoming a Mormon. She kept a detailed journal that she sent back to relatives in England, fulfilling a promise "...I told you I would send you the truth of how things were." She included observations of the country side, shopping, time spent waiting to cross the plains, and details of ordinary events along the trail to Coalville where she stopped at a nearby relative's.

1866 (age 8), Nielsen, John (Abner Lowery "Sanpete" Company)
Difficulty financing the trip (came through a benefactor - 2 children left in Denmark). The crossed the plains in Abner Lowery's "Sanpete" Company. It was also known as the "Cholera Company," with more than 100 dying from the disease.

1867 (age 13), Norr (Miller), Georgina (Denmark)
Soon after her baptism, the Church officials began advising the Danish Saints to send one or two of their children to Zion if they could not find the means to send the entire family. Georgina was the first of her family to make the long journey. She was hungry on the plains and burned up her socks in a fire. She used rags around her sore feet.

1867 (age 15), Larsen (Winters), Johanna Kirstine (Denmark)
No teams were sent. The money gathered from the immigrants was mishandled by one of the emigration agents and no supplies had been purchased. The problem was solved [see other 1867 accounts of this affair]. The company faced hardships but Brigham Young, Jr. and Captain Rice provided good leadership. They were forced to walk faster and longer. Johanna adds details to Niagra and the Green River crossing.

1867 (age 25), Kennard, L. H. (Non-Mormon Freighter, Civil War Veteran)
At the age of 19 he enlisted in the Union army and fought for three years in the war between the states. He then became a schoolteacher, but before long the prospecting fever overcame him and he traveled west, hoping to strike it rich in Montana. He became a freighter and landed, instead, in Utah.

1867-68 (age 19-20), Watson (Neville), Alice E.
Alice was the only member of her family to come to Utah. She and 19 others came on the Ship "Hudson" 1n 1867. Their group missed connections in New York and had to wait until the next year to emigrate. She married James W. Neville, one of the other 19 the following July. She summarized her trip in a short paragraph.

1867: Emigration and Other Events
It was the first year since the introduction of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund that teams and wagons did not go back to the railroad terminus to meet the Saints and escort them to Utah. large merchant trains, home industry started, the University of the state of Deseret restarted, St. Mark's Academy begun, Indian Troubles (Walker War begun), West Jordan's Rock Church (still there) completed, Deseret News became a daily newspaper, Cove Fort completed, the Muddy Mission, the Salt Lake Tabernacle completed.

1868 (age 10), Miller (McAllister), Mary Ann
She lost her father to an accident (or murder) at New York harbor. Shortly after, her brother died.

1868 (age 14), Wilson (Cleghorn), Eliza
Eliza came alone with her aunt and cousin. The company passed a teamster, killed by Indians, and his load of brooms. She gave a few details of her travel. She was disappointed in Salt Lake City and wanted to return but couldn't. Her aunt remarried and she owed the Perpetual Emigration Fund money. She was sent to live with Mary Ann Angell Young, Brigham Young's wife, who lived in an adobe cottage just east of the Eagle Gate, known as the White House.

1868 (age 17), Boak (Browne), Margaret Ann (England - Dressmaker)
Her family came with Captain McArthur's ox train. Charles Browne, a teamster from Spanish Fork, talked the family into going there after arriving in Salt Lake City. The family went and Charles married Magaret the night they arrived.

1868 (age 21), Clucas (Mullet), Elizabeth Ann (Isle of Man)
Raised as an orphan, she married the day before crossing the plains and celebrated her 21st birthday a month later. Precious blankets given her by her aunt and uncle were stolen on the Missouri River. The company waited at Laramie for another company to join them and came safely to the valley.

1868 (age 45), Shill (Bird), Anne
Anne's account was written by a granddaughter. She lost her husband in New York and ended her trip at the Weber River (where she was taken in by relatives).

1868 (age 69), LeMarchant (DeLaHaye), Nancy (Jersey)
A rather independent woman, Nancy raised her children mostly alone and came to Utah at an old age. The wagon she rode in tipped over in a washed-out section of road. The wagon was destroyed and she was hurt.

1868 (age 9), Boshard, Marie (Switzerland)
Marie could not eat the hardtack bread on board ship. Her uncle met the family at Benton, Wyoming and helped with the trek. She spent her teen-age years living with Eliza Burgess Young, wife of Brigham, first in Provo and then in the Lion House.

1868: Emigration and Other Events
Big immigration push (much information), Great dropped from name of Salt Lake City, Indian War fading, greatest grasshopper plague, 100,000 population, sericulture (silk work) stressed as a home industry.

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