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Historical Pioneer
Journals
William Clayton Journals
April | May
| June | July | August
- April 1847
- April 9, 1847 --
- Friday. Playing in the band across the river.
- April 10, 1847 -- Location:
Winter Quarters - 1014 miles left, Nebraska
- Saturday. Clayton at home.
- April 11, 1847 -- Location:
Winter Quarters - 1014 miles left, Nebraska
- Sunday Life threatened.
- April 12, 1847 -- Location:
Winter Quarters - 1014 miles left, Nebraska
- Monday. Wood cutting and needing hay.
- April 13, 1847 --
- Hosea Stout's calculations.
- April 14, 1847 --
- Half an hour of notice that he will be in the first company.
- April 15, 1847 -- Location:
Elkhorn River Crossing - 986 miles left, Nebraska
- Reached and crossed the Elk Horn River
- April 16, 1847 --
- Names every member of the camp and their responsibilities.
- April 17, 1847 --
- Walking and gun instructions.
- April 18, 1847 --
- Accident with an ox. Daily routine with bugle outlined.
- April 19, 1847 --
- Mileage counter idea (odometer), toothache, fishing by boat.
- April 20, 1847 --
- Fishing, tooth extraction, blacksmith work, and an unsuccessful
hunt.
- April 21, 1847 --
- Visit with Pawnee Indians, caught in a thunderstorm, setting
up guard at night.
- April 22, 1847 --
- Crossed more creeks, saw Indian burial mounds, looked over a
burned out government station, and revisted the idea of an odometer.
- April 23, 1847 --
- Adventures fording a quicksand laden river.
- April 24, 1847 --
- Very detailed description of Pawnee Indian dwellings, and some
fishing experiences.
- April 25, 1847 --
- Organizing hunters. Worrying about water from the river.
- April 26, 1847 --
- Assigned to help with documenting trip. Some horses stolen.
Breaking a new road.
- April 27, 1847 -- Location:
Chapman, Nebraska
- More horses stolen. An accidental shooting. More rain.
- April 28, 1847 --
- Crossing a river. Wild onions. Feed for the livestock. Cool,
clear water.
- April 29, 1847 -- Location:
Grand Island (Sturh Museum), Nebraska
- Scant feed. Dry, dry, dry and dust. Ford a stream. Sick horse.
- April 30, 1847 -- Location:
Grand Island (Sturh Museum), Nebraska
- Buffalo chips. Cold and windy.
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- May 1847
- May 1, 1847 -- Location:
Grand Island (Sturh Museum), Nebraska
- Buffalo hunt. Suspense and excitement. Praire dogs.
- May 2, 1847 --
- No Sunday hunting. Move for feed. Hard-headed buffalo.
- May 3, 1847 --
- Wary of Indians in the vacinity, laundry done, and some hunting.
- May 4, 1847 --
- Reminded of saftey measures, letters home, traders on the trail,
and military drills.
- May 5, 1847 --
- Horseback riding.
- May 6, 1847 --
- Hordes of buffalo. Lost spyglass.
- May 7, 1847 --
- Lost spyglass found.
- May 8, 1847 --
- Figuring out accurate mileage, more buffalo, poor feed for the
animals and no wood for cooking.
- May 9, 1847 --
- Poor feed, poor feet, poor buffalo.
- May 10, 1847 --
- Bad dream, leaving markers, better feed, better meat, and beautiful
landscape.
- May 11, 1847 --
- Bad water from dead buffalo, digging wells, and digging wolf
pups.
- May 12, 1847 --
- Salty dust, rain clouds, fishing, and finally the odometer.
- May 13, 1847 --
- Contention among a few. Cold. Snakes.
- May 14, 1847 --
- Swampy travel. Violets. Tough inclines. Credit where credit
is due.
- May 15, 1847 --
- Cold wind and rain. Poor feed ahead. Treeless bluffs. Indian
camping spots with children.
- May 16, 1847 --
- Sunday hunting, odometer refined, and a present of candles.
- May 17, 1847 --
- Leaving another message. Lots of small streams. Who gets the
most 'equal' part of the buffalo?
- May 18, 1847 --
- Lecture on gratitude and waste. Hunters chastised. Creek named.
- May 19, 1847 --
- Who leads? Who follows? Worst road and weather of the trip
so far. Wolf Creek named.
- May 20, 1847 --
- Odometer breaks. Fremont map accuracy questioned. New plants
noticed.
- May 21, 1847 --
- Dinosaur bone? Rattlesnake encounter. Souix Indian encounter.
- May 22, 1847 --
- Detailed description of beautiful scenery. Baby eagle. Wolf-dog.
More rattlesnakes. Mock trials for amusement.
- May 23, 1847 --
- Snake bite! Bone mail. Gnats that bite.
- May 24, 1847 --
- Horses not as strong as the oxen now. Mules are doing well.
Souix Indians.
- May 25, 1847 -- Location:
Bridgeport, Nebraska
- Chimney Rock in view.
- May 26, 1847 -- Location:
Bayard, Nebraska
- Indian pony mishap. Young eagle accident. Chimney Rock measurement.
Antelope.
- May 27, 1847 -- Location:
Scottsbluff - 541 miles left, Nebraska
- Awe at the beautiful landscape.
- May 28, 1847 -- Location:
Mitchell, Nebraska
- Rain delay and amusements to pass the time. Good fish and cold
water. Indian hunting party near.
- May 29, 1847 --
- A Saturday lecture on the proper behavior of good men.
- May 30, 1847 -- Location:
Henry, Nebraska
- Prayer circle. Peace in camp. Minutes of yesterday's discourse
read by Brigham Young.
- May 31, 1847 -- Location:
Torrington, Wyoming
- Barren countryside. Antelope. End of a month.
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- June 1847
- June 1, 1847 -- Location:
Fort John/Laramie - 508 m. left, Wyoming
- Meeting with the Colorado folks. Heard about battalion deaths.
- June 2, 1847 -- Location:
Fort John/Laramie - 508 m. left, Wyoming
- Description of Fort Laramie.
- June 3, 1847 -- Location:
Fort John/Laramie - 508 m. left, Wyoming
- Ferrying across the river. Many bluffs.
- June 4, 1847 -- Location:
Guernsey, Wyoming
- Members and livestock from Brother Crow's Company join the
camp.
- June 5, 1847 -- Location:
Guernsey, Wyoming
- Ten and a half mile day up and over several bluffs.
- June 6, 1847 -- Location:
Glendo, Wyoming
- Pioneers camp at the base of bluff. Travelers inquire about
roadometer.
- June 7, 1847 -- Location:
Glendo, Wyoming
- The pioneers rest in the best feeding camp yet.
- June 8, 1847 -- Location:
Douglas, Wyoming
- Pioneers travel over the steepest bluffs yet.
- June 9, 1847 -- Location:
Ayres Natural Bridge State Park, Wyoming
- Heading for the Platte River
- June 10, 1847 -- Location:
Glenrock, Wyoming
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- June 11, 1847 -- Location:
Glenrock, Wyoming
- The pioneers camp near Missourians before crossing the river.
- June 12, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- The pioneers and the Missouri Company barter.
- June 13, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- The Elders remind the brethern of staying close to their covenants.
- June 14, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- Twenty three wagons have difficulty in ferrying across river.
- June 15, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- Pioneers continue to ferry the Platte despite winds and high
river.
- June 16, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- Rafts are built to ferry companies across the Platte.
- June 17, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- The last wagon has successfully made it across; there's much
rejoicing!
- June 18, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- Pioneers remain along the Platte River while they ferry the
Missouri Company across.
- June 19, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- Steep countryside and the proverbial ox in the mire.
- June 20, 1847 -- Location:
Casper, Wyoming
- The barren, treeless, sage-covered land makes for tough camping
life.
- June 21, 1847 -- Location:
Independence Rock - 314 miles left, Wyoming
- Pioneers reach the Sweet Water River and the Devil's Gate.
- June 22, 1847 -- Location:
Independence Rock - 314 miles left, Wyoming
- The Missouri Company has once again passed the Pioneer Companies
on their journeys to the West.
- June 23, 1847 -- Location:
Independence Rock - 314 miles left, Wyoming
- The Pioneers can now see the snowcapped Wind River chain of
the Rocky Mountains.
- June 24, 1847 --
- While travels go well, the second horse is shot accidentally.
- June 25, 1847 -- Location:
Branch of Sweetwater - 248 1/4 m. left, Wyoming
- The nights are colder, the days hotter as Pioneers reach the
higher, snow filled altitude plains.
- June 26, 1847 -- Location:
South Pass - 210~ miles left, Wyoming
- The brethren are only about 2 miles from the Continental Divide
and the South Pass!
- June 27, 1847 -- Location:
Little Sandy River - 204 miles left, Wyoming
- Oregonian Harris describes the living suitability of the Cache
Valley just north of the salt lake.
- June 28, 1847 -- Location:
Little Sandy River - 204 miles left, Wyoming
- The Pioneers find out what the Salt Lake area is like; they're
anxious to see it for themselves.
- June 29, 1847 -- Location:
Little Sandy River - 204 miles left, Wyoming
- The Bretheren have come down with an illness; possibly due to
the saleratus.
- June 30, 1847 -- Location:
Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming
- The Pioneers have formed their encampment along the Green River.
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- July 1847
- July 1, 1847 -- Location:
Green River Ford - 69 miles left, Wyoming
- William Clayton has caught the illness; ferrying across the
Green River commences.
- July 2, 1847 -- Location:
Green River Ford - 69 miles left, Wyoming
- The first Pioneer companies have made it across the Green River;Clayton
still ill.
- July 3, 1847 -- Location:
Green River Ford - 69 miles left, Wyoming
- The last wagon has made it across the river; the new encampment
is filled with mosquitos!
- July 4, 1847 -- Location:
Green River Ford - 69 miles left, Wyoming
- Five brethren ferry another company across the river.
- July 5, 1847 -- Location:
Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming
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- July 6, 1847 -- Location:
Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming
- Pioneers cross Blacks Fork River where there is much vegetation
including several varieties of flowers.
- July 7, 1847 -- Location:
Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming
- The Pioneers set up camp right outside of Fort Bridger.
- July 8, 1847 -- Location:
Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming
- The Pioneers stay at Fort Bridger to do some trading.
- July 9, 1847 -- Location:
Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming
- After leaving Fort Bridger, the Brethren travel down extremely
steep bluffs.
- July 10, 1847 -- Location:
Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming
- the Pioneers travel over the mountainous Continental Divide!
- July 11, 1847 -- Location:
Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming
- The Western Plains are filled with several different mineral
resources for the Pioneers. Which road should we take?
- July 12, 1847 -- Location:
Weber River Ford - 41 miles left, Utah
- The Bear River is successfully forded; the West is mountainous,
yet fertile.
- July 13, 1847 --
- Brethren Young is recovering from illness while the rest of
the companies decide on scouting out the Weber River Canyon.
- July 14, 1847 -- Location:
Weber River Ford - 41 miles left, Utah
- Brethren Young is recovered; a team is chosen to create a road
to the Weber River Canyon and to check out if it's passable.
- July 15, 1847 -- Location:
Weber River Ford - 41 miles left, Utah
- Everyone has recovered from illness; the rear wagons arrive
at encampment.
- July 16, 1847 -- Location:
Weber River Ford - 41 miles left, Utah
- The Pioneers trek through the narrow Mountain Passes before
they reach Weber Canyon.
- July 17, 1847 -- Location:
Weber River Ford - 41 miles left, Utah
- Clayton turns 33 years today; Pioneers reach the red fork of
the Weber River. The Canyon is in sight. President Young is very
ill again.
- July 18, 1847 -- Location:
Weber River Ford - 41 miles left, Utah
- President Young is very ill; the Brethren decide to hold prayer
meetings before they continue.
- July 19, 1847 -- Location:
Summit of last ridge - 11 miles left, Utah
- The Pioneers reach the summit of the dividing ridge of the Mountain
that lies just beyond Weber Canyon.
- July 20, 1847 -- Location:
Summit of last ridge - 11 miles left, Utah
- The Pioneers travel very slow through the narrow mountain gaps.
- July 21, 1847 -- Location:
Summit of last ridge - 11 miles left, Utah
- The Pioneers travel through the steep and narrow mountain gap.
- July 22, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren are still finding it difficult to trek through
the narrow canyon. Fields for crops are found. The Salt Lake Valley
has been seen!
- July 23, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Pioneers begin to prepare fields for their crops; many
irrigation routes are established.
- July 24, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- President Young arrives at the settlement; Plans are made to
send companies out to Cache and Utah Valleys.
- July 25, 1847 -- Location:
Summit of last ridge - 11 miles left, Utah
- Before Brother Horace Whitney departs he expresses to the Brethren
his wishes for their healthy lifestyle.
- July 26, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren explore the Mountain surroundings; hot sulphur
springs and a river are found and investigated.
- July 27, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Pioneers trade with the Indians.
- July 28, 1847 --
- President Young explores the Great Salt Lake; Plans are set
for the city.
- July 29, 1847 --
- The Pueblo Brethren arrive at the camp.
- July 30, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The twelve Brethren leaders hold a council with the officer
of the battalion.
- July 31, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren begin to construct the temple; the Utah and Shoshone
Indians are present.
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- August 1847
- August 1, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren unite to have meetings in which to discuss their
religion and their building plans for their city.
- August 2, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren compose a letter that is sent to the remaining
emigrating companies. The established Brethren in the Salt Lake
Valley can help.
- August 3, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- William Clayton spends day at sulphur springs working on the
distance charts.
- August 4, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- A new roadometer is being made.
- August 5, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Pioneers go out to explore the Utah Lake.
- August 6, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The day very warm.
- August 7, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
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- August 8, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren resume baptism and give sacrament.
- August 9, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The twelve leaders decide on a name for their settlement: Salt
Lake City, Great Basin, North America.
- August 10, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren continue to build and explore. Salt from the Lake
is good! Clayton reviews his journal accomplishments.
- August 11, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The adobe buildings are being made; a child has drowned in a
nearby creek.
- August 12, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Soldiers secretly leave the establishment to go back to their
families at the Winter Quarters.
- August 13, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Brethren gathered 130 bushels of salt in twenty-four hours!
- August 14, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren enjoy bathing in the Salt Lake.
- August 15, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Pioneers organize companies for the trek back to Winter Quarters.
- August 16, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The odometer is fixed and the companies preparing to go to the
Winter Quarters.
- August 17, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren organize into designated companies for the journey.
- August 18, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- As Pioneers return to Winter Quarters they have rough travels
in the mountains near Brown's Creek.
- August 19, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Pioneers arrive at Red Mountain Creek; cattle are over driven
during the journey.
- August 20, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- After a cool, twenty and a half mile day, the Pioneers arrive
at Reddings Cave.
- August 21, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Brethren find oil and coal near Bear River.
- August 22, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Pioneers find copperas spring; establish camp at Muddy fork.
- August 23, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- Pioneers reach Fort Bridger.
- August 24, 1847 --
- Camp is set up at Ham's Fork after traveling twenty-three miles.
- August 25, 1847 -- Location:
Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah
- The Pioneers camp on Green River.
- August 26, 1847 --
- In three days the Pioneers will meet up with the nine companies
arriving from the Platte River.
- August 27, 1847 --
- The Brethren trade with the Indians.
- August 28, 1847 --
- After traveling twenty-three miles the Pioneers camp at Pacific
Creek.
- August 29, 1847 --
- Pioneers trade with the Shoshone Indians before going to Sweet
Water.
- August 30, 1847 --
- More trading with the Indians.
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