Date: June 18, 1847
On the Oregon Trail, Wyoming:
The horse were swam across the river in the morning. William
Clayton went fishing at a creek and brought back sixty fish.
Thomas Bullock had to spent the morning hunting for two stray
cattle. He became very wet and cold wading through the high grass
for five or six miles.
More Missouri emigrants arrived and employed the pioneers to
to ferry them acrossed. The new ferryboat, named "The Black Hills" was
launched. Appleton Harmon wrote: "I worded on the ferryboat and
got it launched about 1 p.m. and crossed a loaded wagon on it.
It worked well and was built of two dugouts twenty feet long
and ties across. They were placed six feet apart and run plank
lengthwise."
While the wagons were being ferried over, the captain of the
Missouri company invited some of the men for breakfast. Thomas
Bullock commented: "Eating a good breakfast from Woman's Cooking
is a remembrance of past times & renews the desire for such times
to come again."
The ferry ran all afternoon with great success. Brigham Young
called together those who were appointed to stay behind and operate
the ferry until the second company arrived. They were Thomas
Grover, Luke Johnson, John W. Higbee, Francis M. Pumeroy, William
Empey, James Davenport, Appleton M. Harmon, Benjamin F. Stewart,
and Edmond Ellsworth. In the evening, the Twelve went off a ways
from camp and read to these brethren formal written instructions
that included:
"You are about to stop at this place for a little season, for
the purpose of passing emigrants over the river and assisting
the Saints, we have thought fit to appoint Thomas Grover Superintendent
of the Ferry, and of your company. If you approve, we want you
to agree that you will follow his council implicitly and without
gainsaying and we desire that you should be agreed in all your
operations, acting in concert, keepint together continually and
not scattering to hunt."
"As your leisure, put yourselves up a comfortable room that
will afford yourselves and horses protection against the Indians
should a war party pass this way. But, first of all, see that
your boats are properly secured by fastening raw hides over the
tops of the canoes or some better process. Complete the landings,
and be careful of lives and property of all you labor for, remembering
that you are responsible for all accidents through your carelessness
or negligence and that you retain not that which belongs to the
traveler."
"For one family wagon, you will charge $1.50, payment in flour
and provisions at stated prices or $3.00 in cash. You had better
take young stock at a fair valuation instead of cash and a team
if you should want the same to remove."
"Should emigration cease before our brethren arrive, cache your
effects and return to Laramie and wait their arrival, and come
on with them to the place of location. . . . When our emigration
companies arrive if the river is fordable, ferry them and let
them who are able pay a reasonable price. The council of their
camp will decide who are able to pay."
Eric Glines wanted to stay behind even though he had not been
appointed. The brethren wanted Brother Glines to continue on
with the pioneer company but said he might do as he pleased.
Wilford Woodruff wrote: "He did not manifest a good spirit & Br
Young reproved him." Brigham Young launched into a sermon. He
said that went he gave a man counsel, it should not be rejected,
or many arguments should not be presented to alter the counsel. "When
a man did it, I will turn on my heal & leave him." [The men appointed
to stay behind even voted that they did not want Brother Glines
to stay behind. He later repented and would follow after the
pioneers, camping alone and with a Missouri company until he
rejoined the pioneers on June 26.]
He said that the young Elders were eternally grasping after
something ahead of them, which belonged to others instead of
seeking to bring up those who were behind them. He said that
the way for the young Elders could enlarge their dominions and
get power, was to go to the world and preach the gospel, and
then they would bring their converts with them to the house of
the Lord.
"The Lord is determined to establish his kingdom in the last
days & He will have a faithful diligent and obedient people and
He chastises the Saints to keep them humble and make them do
their duty. If we had not been mobbed and afflicted but always
been in prosperity, we should have been lifted up in pride of
our hearts and not gathered together and build up Zion as we
ought to have done, so that these trials will work together for
our good."
The provisions obtained thus far from the Missouri companies
were distributed. They had received enough goods for about twenty-three
days. They estimated that they had received about $400 worth
of goods at Fort Laramie prices. Not bad for a week's work.
Elkhorn River, Nebraska:
Eliza Snow attended a meeting at the Beech's wagon. Most of
the Parley P. Pratt family was there. She wrote that they had "a
refreshing time."
George B. Wallace gave orders for his fifty to move one mile
from the river, where they camped for the night. His fifty were
part of the Abraham O. Smoot company. The Wallace company consisted
of 223 people. The captains of tens were James Smith, Samuel
Rolfe, Joseph Mount, John Nebeker, and Samuel Turnbow.
[Included in the first ten led by James Smith were: Margaret
Frosgreen, Lafayette Granger, Fales Hancall, Ursula B. Hancall,
Peter O. Hanson, Mary Ellen Harris, Harriet Higbee, John Mount
Higbee, Judith H. Higbee, Sarah Higbee, Silas Somers Higbee,
John Chatfield Leonard, Jane W. Matthews, Susan Noble, John Peacock,
Elias Fraser Pearson, Francella E. Pomeroy, Irene U. Pomeroy,
Levi Savage, Mathew Savage, James Smithies, Mary Smithies, Nancy
Ann Smithies, Robert Smithies, Joshua Terry, George Benjamin
Wallace, Mary McMurphy Wallace, Melissa M. King Wallace, and
Jacob Weatherby.] [Included in the second ten led Samuel Rolfe
were: Ephemia Bouck, John A. Bouck, Elijah Clifford, James J.
Davidson, Albert Corning Dewey, Harriet Adams Dewey, John Henry
Dewey, Mariah Dewey, Joseph Dunlap, Elnathan Eldredge, Elnathan
Eldredge Jr., Frederick Baker Eldredge, Joseph Underwood Eldredge,
Ruth Baker Eldredge, Sarah Eldredge, Pliny Fisher, Abigail E.
Gibbs, Gideon Hayden Carter Gibbs, Samuel R. Knight, Eliza Lee,
Matthew A. Lee, Elizabeth Rolfe, Horace Cowin Rolfe, Mary Ann
Elizabeth Rolfe, Samuel Jones Rolfe, Samuel Jones Rolfe Jr.,
William Jasper Rolfe, John Sinrie, Charlotte Frost Train, Chauncey
Turner, Hannah Turner, Harriet M. Turner, Henry Moroni Turner,
John Wesley Turner, Julia Turner, Elizabeth Walker, John Wixom,
John D. Woolley, John Mills Woolley, and Maria Lucy Dewey Woolley.]
[Included in the third ten led Joseph Mount were: Margaret Bryson,
Charles Hart, John Hart, Archibald Newell Hill, Dorcas Adelia
Moor Kingsbury, Joseph Corroden (Twin) Kingsbury, Louisa Loenra
Alcina Pond Kingsbury, James Lawson, David Lewis, Annis L. Moor,
Charles H. Moor, Elizabeth M. Moor, George W. Moor, Mahala D.
Higby Moor, Mary L. Moor, Thomas Moor, Elizabeth B. Bessad Mount,
Joseph Mount, Mary Jane Mount, Almina Pond, Stilman Pond, Urban
Van Stewart, -------- Thompson, R. Thompson, Henrietta Keyes
Whitney, Samuel Alonzo Whitney, Andrew Wood, Jane Wood, Arin
Woodberry, Catherine Woodberry, John Woodberry, Matilda Woodberry,
Elizabeth Bartlett Woodbury, Hannah Marie Woodbury, Jeremiah
Woodbury, John Stillman Woodbury, and Thomas H. Woodbury.] [Included
in the fourth ten led John Nebeker were: Elizabeth Bowen Blackburn,
Jehu Blackburn, Julia Ann Jameson Blackburn, Charles O. Chase,
Charles S. Chase, Sarah M. Chase, Susan Sterns Chase, Elizabeth
Davis, Mariah Davis, Barbara Fitzerald, John Fitzgerald, Mary
Ann Cosatt Fitzgerald, Martha Ann Henderson, Elizabeth Klineman,
Mariah Lane, William P. Lane, Lemuel W. Merrill, George Murdock,
Gideon Allen Murdock, John Murdock, Mary C. Murdock, Sarah Murdock,
Aaron Nebeker, Ann Van Wagener Nebeker, Ashton Nebeker, Elizabeth
Nebeker, George Nebeker, Henry Nebeker, Ira Nebeker, John Nebeker,
Lurena Fitzgerald Nebeker, Mary Ann Nebeker, Peter Nebeker, Rose1la
Nebeker, William Henry Nebeker, William Perry Nebeker, Christianna
Kull Riser, George Christian Riser, Joseph H. Riser, Mary Ann
Riser, Ann Stidham, David Stidham, William Stidham, Daniel D.
Wheeler, John J. Wheeler, Joseph S. Wheeler, Lueyann Wheeler,
Margaret Wheeler, Martha Willis Wheeler, Thomas J. Wheeler, W.
W. Wheeler, Ann Cherry Willis, John H. Willis, Josephine Willis,
Joshua Thomas Willis, Margaret Cherry Willis, Margaret Martha
Willis, Mary Lucretia Willis, Thomas J. Willis, and William Wesley
Willis.] [Included in the fifth ten led Saumel Turnbow were:
Andrew Jackson Allen, Delilah Andrews Allen, Margaret M. Allen,
Martha E. Allen, Martha Evans Allen, Pumecy F. Allen, William
Coleman Allen, John Armstrong, Joseph H. Armstrong, Mary Armstrong,
Sarah Benbow, Thomas Benbow, Sarah Carter, William Cavit, Hyrum
S. Church, Sarah Ann Arterbury Church, Emily Harris, William
Harris, Cynthia Utley Stewart Hill, George Richard Hill, George
Washington Hill, James Jackson, Mary Ann Jackson, Ezekeil Keelog,
John Miles, Abraham Owen Smoot, Margaret Thompson McMeans Smoot,
Delpha Jones Steward, Randolph H. Steward, Akmedia Stewart, Benjamin
Franklin Stewart, Caroline Stewart, China Ann Stewart, David
Stewart, Eliza Jane Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, George Rufus
Stewart, Lawrence Stewart, James Wesley Stewart, John Calvin
Stewart, Joseph Virgil Stewart, Joshua Lawrence Stewart, Mary
Eveline Stewart, Mary Jane Stewart, Nancy Lorena Stewart, Polly
Richardson Stewart, Ruthinda Emma Stewart, William Stewart, William
Anderson Stewart, Saphrona Ellen Turnbow, Epsy Adaline Turnbow,
John Gillenroy Turnbow, Milton Octabis Turnbow, Robert Franklin
Turnbow, Samuel Turnbow, Silvira Caroline Hart Turnbow, and Aphek
Woodruff.] Peregrin Sessions also moved his fift out during the
afternoon. His fifty (also known as the Parley P. Pratt company)
were part of the Daniel Spencer Company. The Sessions company
consisted of 75 wagons and 1885 people. The captains of tens
were: Elijah F. Sheets, Jon Van Cott, Elijah K. Fuller, William
Leffingwell, and Asa Barton. [Included in the first ten led by
Elijah F. Sheets were: John Beck, Hannah Jane Brown, Isaac Brown,
Isaac F. Brown, Isaac Burnham, George Henry Crosby, Hannah Elida
Baldwin Crosby, Jesse W. Crosby, Arthur Richardson, Darwin Charles
Richardson, Jane Cyrene Richardson, Olive Tharden Richardson,
Solon Darwin Richardson, Carlos Lyon Sessions, David Sessions,
Lucina Sessions, Martha Ann Sessions, Mary Sessions, Patty Bartlett
Sessions, Peregrine Sessions, Elijah Funk Sheets, Susanna Musser
Sheets, Joseph A. Stratton, Mary Ann Stratton, and Thomas Siris
Terry.] [Included in the second ten led by Jon Van Cott were:
Abigail Abbott, Ann Marsh Abbott, Joseph Abbott, Lewis Abbott,
Thomas Marsh Abbott, John Beer, Luther V. Burglow, James Clements,
Benjamin Denton, Alma Pratt, Ann Agatha Walker Pratt, Belinda
Marden Pratt, Elizabeth Brotherton Pratt, Hannahetta Pratt, Helaman
Pratt, Julia Pratt, Martha Pratt, Mary Wood Pratt, Nephi Pratt,
Parley Pratt, Parley Parker Pratt, Phoebe E. Sopher Pratt, Sarah
Houston Pratt, Franceayna Rogers, Isaac Rogers, Isaac Rogers
Jr., Mary Miranda White Rogers, Isaac Thomas, Matilda A. Thomas,
John Van Cott, Lovinia Jemima Pratt Van Cott, Lucy Lavinia Sackett
Van Cott, Martha Van Cott, and Mary Van Cott.] [Included in the
third ten led by Elijah K. Fuller were: James Brinkerhoff, Janette
Brinkerhoff, Mary Ann Brinkerhoff, Sally Ann Snyder Brinkerhoff,
Caroline Clara Smith Callister, Helen Mar Callister, Helen Mar
Clark Callister, Thomas Callister, John Everett, Sarah Ann Everett,
Catherine Walker Fuller, Cornelius Fuller, Elijah Fuller, Elijah
Knapp Fuller, Revilo Fuller, Willys Darwin Fuller, Alfred Boaz
Lambson, Melissa Jane Lambson, Melissa Jane Bigler Lambson, Alexander
Abraham Lemon, Ann Elizabeth Lemon, John Knox Lemon, Katherine
Mayer Lemon, Margaretta Lemon, Mary Ann Lemon, William McClure
Lemon, Eunice Sibley Bliss Moore, Harriet Moore, Samuel Moore,
Sophronia Moore, Stephen Bliss Moore, Margaret Sears, William
Sears, Agusta B. Cleveland Smith, Clarissa Lyman Smith, Jesse
Nathaniel Smith, John Smith, John Lyman Smith, Mary Akins Smith,
Silas Sanford Smith, and Tomazin Woodward.] [Included in the
fourth ten led by William Leffingwell were: Alfred C. Beach,
Cordelia Beach, Laura H. Gibbs Beach, Rufus Beach, Sarah Cole
Beach, Caroline Conrad, Amos Gustin, George W. Gustin, Jane Pristine
Gustin, Mary Gustin, Mary Peterson Gustin, Nancy Bruster Gustin,
Susannah Gustin, Thomas Gustin, Thomas Jefferson Gustin, Elizabeth
Holden, William Riley Holden, Warner Johnson, Adam Leffingwell,
Caroline M. Leffingwell, Cynthia Leffingwell, Eunice Leffingwell,
Joseph Lyman Leffingwell, Mary J. Leffingwell, Roxana Matilda
Leffingwell, William Leffingwell, Wm. Leffingwell Jr., Amanda
Savage, David Leonard Savage, Mary Abigail White Savage, Mary
Theodoria Savage, Margaret Singley, Nicholas Singley, Alva West,
Norman S. Williams, and Tabitha York.] [Included in the fifth
ten led by Asa Barton were: Asa Barton, Mary Barton, Elizabeth
Harris Browett, Harriet Browett, Solomon Chase, Sarah Ann Dewitt,
Elizabeth Gates, George Gates, Samuel Newton Henderson, Sarah
Holden, Asa B. Hunter, Jesse Hunter, Keziah Hunter, Martha Hunter,
Mary B. Hunter, Samuel Hunter, Elizabeth A. Matthews, Elizabeth
Jane Matthews, Emma Louise Matthews, Ezekial Cunningham Matthews,
John Lynn Matthews, Maria Marcissa Matthews, Nancy Melissa Matthews,
Thomas Marion Matthews, William Matthews, James Kemp McClenahan,
Nancy McClenahan, Armenus Miller, Silas Miller, Fanny Parish,
Joel Parish, Priscilla Parish, Samuel Parish, Clarinda Pollock,
James Pollock, Priscilla Pollock, Thomas Pollock, Aaron Dunham
Thatcher, Alley Kitchen Thatcher, George Washington Thatcher,
Harriet Ann Thatcher, Hezekiah Thatcher, Hyrum Smith Thatcher,
John Bethuel Thatcher, Joseph Wykoff Thatcher, Katherine Mary
Thatcher, and Moses Thatcher.] Near one of the encampments that
night, the dead body of a man was found which had been picked
by wolves. They found a letter in his pocket that indicated he
was the "bearer of dispatches" for the Indian Agent from St.
Louis. It was believed that he had been killed by Indians.
Summer Quarters, Nebraska:
The ground was saturated from the recent rains. The men were busy
getting puncheon timber, hauling brick, and finishing rooms in
the houses. Brother Cobly came up from Winter Quarters and reported
that the bridge across Turkey Creek had been washed away because
of high waters.
Kearny detachment of the Battalion, in California:
The detachment traveled twenty-five miles through the mountains,
through heavy woods. They noticed a grave on the way.
Mormon Battalion, at Los Angeles, California:
A detail of men returned from the mountains with two liberty poles,
fifty feet long.
Kirtland, Ohio:
William McLellin returned in the morning before breakfast to continue "bashing" against
Elder Lyman Littlefield. His host even joined in the arguments
against him. Elder Littlefield wrote: "I bore my testimony faithfully
which made no apparent impression, but I felt that I had done my
duty towards them."