Heritage Gateways

Pioneer Date Summary

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06/18/1847 - Crockett

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."

Sources:

• Cook, Joseph C. Kingsbury, 116
• Appleton Milo Harmon Goes West, 34-5
• Howard Egan Diary, Pioneering the West, 75-77
• Luke S. Johnson Journal, typescript, BYU, 13
• Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:207-08
• Beecher, ed., The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow, 179
• Bagley, ed., The Pioneer Camp of the Saints, 195
• The Journal of Nathaniel V. Jones, The Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:19
• Kelly, ed., Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-1847 and 1859, 178
• Journal of Henry Standage in Frank Alfred Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion, 227
• Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.193
• Black, Pioneers of 1847: A Sesquicentennial Remembrance
• The History and Journal of Jesse W. Crosby, typescript, BYU, 33

Source: 150 Years Ago Today ©These materials have been created by David R. Crockett. Copies of these materials may be reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit must be given to David R. Crockett. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of Mr. Crockett, Tucson Az, crockett@goodnet.com.