Heritage Gateways

Pioneer Date Summary

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06/17/1847 - Crockett

Date: June 17, 1847

On the Oregon Trail, Wyoming:
Thomas Bullock observed: "The mosquitoes have been very plaguy the past night; they are more numerous there than any other place on our route."

Wilford Woodruff wrote: "Early this morning we swam our horses over the river. One mule came near drowning by being tangled in a rope but the curant carried him ashore & he made a live of it. The men went to work to finish their ferry boat while the men continued to cross waggons on the raft." The rest of the pioneer's horses were left over on the other side because the brethren thought that it was too cold and the wind was blowing too strong to risk crossing them on this day. The men suffered greatly working in the cold water.

The last of the pioneer wagons were ferried over by 2 p.m. All the wagons were once again moved into a circle. Phinehas Young's wagon was the exception. It did not return from the mountains until the evening.

They then started to ferry over wagons for two emigration companies for $1.50 per wagon. William Clayton wrote about the great opportunity to earn some provisions. "Two companies of the Missourians had arrived and made application to be set over at a dollar and a half a load. When the contract was made with the first company to be sent across [p.241] as soon as our wagons were over, the other company of ten wagons offered to pay the brethren 50c per man extra if they would set them over first, making $5.00 over the stated price for ferryage being ten of the brethren to work at it. Colonel Rockwood had made a contract to the above effect with the first company and did not like to break it. However, he received a hint that this was Colonel Markham's day for the use of the boat and consequently Colonel Markham had a right to take the last offer if he chose. He took the hint and they went to work forthwith at a dollar and a half a wagon in provisions at Missouri prices and 50c extra per man, in what they preferred for themselves."

The ferry operation continue all night and by daylight the last of the Missouri companies had been ferried over.

Elkhorn River, Nebraska:
Charles C. Rich sent a note back to John Scott at Winter Quarters ordering him to send the cannon "as the whole camp is waiting." He also wrote to Alpheus Cutler, the presiding member of the High Council, requesting that he help Brother Scott in sending the cannon, boat, and Nauvoo temple bell.

Ira Eldredge's fifty, part of the Daniel Spencer Company officially started their pioneer trek, leaving the Elkhorn River. The Eldredge fifty consisted of 76 wagons and 177 people. The captains of tens were Isaac Haight, Hector Haight, Samuel Ensign, Erastus Bingham, and George Boyes.

[Included in the first ten led by Isaac Haight were were: Joseph G. Baxter, Eveline Mattin Boggs, Mary Boggs, Esther Jones Brown, Catherine Adelia Hatwick Curtis, Alanson Eldredge, Alanson Eldredge, Alma Eldredge, Diana Eldredge, Edmond Eldredge, Esther Ann Eldredge, Hiram Eldredge, Ira Eldredge, Nancy Black Eldredge, Martin Luther Ensign, Caleb Haight, Caroline Eliza Haight, Eliza Ann Snyder Haight, Isaac Chauncey Haight, Sarah A1dridge Haight, Temperance Keturah Haight, Isaac James, Jane E. James, Silas James, Sylvester James, Ruth Martin, Hannah Potter, John H. Potter, William Potter, Ann Elizabeth Roper, George Smith Rust, Amanda Spencer, Anna, Twin Spencer, Charles Henry Spencer, C1audius Victor Spencer, Daniel Spencer, Edwin E. Spencer, Emily Spencer, Frances C. Spencer, Gilbert H. Spencer, Hirum Theron Spencer, Mariah Antoinette Spencer, Mary Leone Spencer, Elizabeth Howard Standage, Ephraim R. Whitney, and Harriet Whitney].

[Included in the second ten led by Hector Haight were: Alexander Boss, Alfred Boss, Calvin Boss, David Boss, David Boss Jr., Martha Boss, Maria Davidson, Alphonzo Green, Alva Alphonzo Green, Betsy Murdock Green, Sarah Annadella Green, Hector Caleb Haight, Horton David Haight, Julia Van Orden Haight, Mary Adelia Haight, William Van Orden Haight, Chelnecha Smith Hambleton, Jerusha Lucretia Hambleton, Lucy Ann Hambleton, Madison Daniel Hambleton, James N. McIntire, Rosannah McIntire, William F. McIntire, Eunice Sweet Murdock, Joseph Stacy Murdock, Mary Murdock, Nymphus Coridon Murdock, and Sally Stacy Murdock.]

[Included in the third ten led by Samuel Ensign were: Anna Abbott, Rufus Abbott, Polly Woodsum Bond, Ann Brimhall, Adelia Ann Brown, Mary Jane Brown, Niamah Brown, Phebe Narcissia Brown, William Brown, Eliza Clement, Albert Crandall, Mary Crandall, Melissa Crandall, Alva Cummings, Benjamin Franklin Cummings, Mary Cummings, John Calvin Ensign, Julia Searles Ensign, Lydia Esther Ensign, Lyman D. Ensign, Martin Luther Ensign, Mary Bronson Ensign, Mary Everett Gordon Ensign, Rufus Bronson Ensign, Samuel Ensign, Samuel Lozene Ensign, Edwin Frost, Emeline Frost, Mary Elizabeth Frost, Belinda Hickenlooper, John Thomas Hickenlooper, Sarah Hawkins Hickenlooper, William Haney Hickenlooper, Eliza Holmes, Ellen Holmes, George Holmes, Hyrum Holmes, Oliver Holmes, Samuel O. Holmes, Rosetta King, Amanda Nowlin, Bryan Ward Nowlin, Edwin Randolf, Ann Snedaker, Marris J. Snedaker, Almira Sophia Taft, and Harriet Taft.]

[Included in the fourth ten led by Erastus Bingham were: Brigham Heber Bingham, Edwin Bingham, Erastus Bingham, Lucinda Gates Bingham, Maria Louisa Bingham, Olive Hovey Bingham, Olive L. Bingham, Perry E. Bingham, Sanford Bingham, Willard Bingham, Henrietta Deming, Maria Deming, Moses Deming, Wayne Deming, Elijah Norman Freeman, Mary Bingham Freeman, Thomas Gates, Alvin Greely Green, Austin Greeley Green, Fanny Greeley Green, Harriet Ann Green, Robert Green, Beason Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis, John Moss Lewis, Martha Ann Lewis, Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, William Crawford Lewis, Caroline J Ostrander, Eliza Morrison Ostrander, Elizabeth Ostrander, and William C. Staines.]

[Included in the fifth ten led by George Boyes were: Elizabeth Boyes, George Boyes, Hewy Boyes, Margaret Boyes, Thomas Boyes, William Boyes, Daniel Drake, Horace Drake, Orson Perkins Drake, Patience Perkins Drake, Isaac N. Goodell, Jacob Houtz, Lucinda Houtz, Lydia Mease Houtz, Mary Elizabeth Houtz, Hannah Pearce Ralston, John Ralston, Josephine Ralston, Asaph Rice, James Rigby, Ambrose Shaw, Permelia Shaw, and Phoebe Spiers.]

Joseph Horne's fifty, part of the Edward Hunter Company also officially started their pioneer trek. The Horne fifty (also known as the John Taylor company) consisted of 72 wagons and 197 people. The captains of tens were Ariah C. Brower, Abraham Hoagland, Archibald Gardner, William Taylor, and Thomas Orr Sr.

[Included in the first ten led by Ariah C. Brower were: Elizabeth Boyes, Samuel Bringhurst, Ann Elizabeth Brower, Ariah Coates Brower, Ariah Hussey Brower, Margaret E. Hussey Brower, Victoria Adelide Brower, Ann Cannon, George Q. Cannon, William Farrar, Elizabeth Cole Holmes, Robert Holmes, Elizabeth Ann Horne, Henry James Horne, Joseph Horne, Joseph Smith Horne, Mary Isabelle Horne, Richard Stephen Horne, Ann Kelly, John Mackay, James I. Orr, Elizabeth Pugmire, Hannah Pugmire, John Pugmire, Jonathan Pugmire, Joseph Hyrum Pugmire, Mary Pugmire, Helenora Symonds, William Symonds, Annie B. Taylor, Elizabeth K. Taylor, George J. Taylor, Jane Ballantyne Taylor, John Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Leonora Cannon Taylor, Mary Ann Taylor, Mary Ann Taylor, Sophia Whittaker Taylor, Maria L. Woodward, and Alexander Wright.]

[Included in the second ten led by Abraham Hoagland were: Dorcas Millikin Andrews, Simeon Andrews, Elizabeth Cain, Joseph Cain, Job Harker, Joseph Henry Harker, Susannah Sneath Harker, Abraham Elias Lucas Hoagland, Elizabeth Hoagland, Emily Hoagland, John Hoagland, Margaret Quick Hoagland, Peter Hoagland, Isabella Leach, James Leach, Elizabeth DeGroat Oakley, Ezra Hemstead Nassau Oakley, John DeGroat Oakley, Margaret S. Oakley, Mary Elizabeth Oakley, Mary M. Oakley, Abigail Parsons Robinson, Isaac P. Robinson John, Jr. Robinson, John Sr. Robinson, Lawrence Robinson, Sarah Abigail Robinson, Adelia West, Chauncey West, Mary West, Emeline Whittaker, George Whittaker, and Harriet Whittaker.]

[Included in the third ten led by Archibald Gardner were: Abigail Sprague Bradford, Ithamer Bradford, Mariana Bradford, Pleasant Sprague Bradford, Rawsel Bradford, Sylvester Bradford, Triphenia Bradford, Andrew Correy, George Correy, Janet Correy, Margaret Clemmie Correy, Archibald Gardner, Jane McKeown Gardner, Janet Gardner, Janet Gardner, John Gardner, Margaret Gardner, Margaret Gardner, Margaret Callander Gardner, Margaret Livingston Gardner, Mary Jane Gardner, Neil Gardner, Niel Livingston Gardner, Robert Gardner, Robert Gardner, Robert Gardner, Robert Pierson Gardner, William Gardner, William Gardner, Mary Luckham, Mary Gardner Luckham, Roger Luckham, Agnes Duncan Park, Andrew Duncan Park, Hugh Duncan Park, James Duncan Park, Jane Duncan Park, Jane Duncan Park, John Duncan Park, Marian Ellen Park, Mary Ann Park, William Duncan Park, William Park Sr., Dolly Sprague, Hezekiah Sprague, Margaret and Sweeten, Robert Sweeten.]

[Included in the fourth ten led by William Taylor were: Elizabeth Arrowsmith, John Taylor Arrowsmith, Angeline B.W. Bennion, Ann Bennion, Esther W. Bennion, Hyrum Bennion, John Bennion, John R. Bennion, Mary Bushell Bennion, Mary Panter Bennion, Samuel Bennion, Samuel Roberts Bennion, Jane Cole, John Cole, Mary Ann Cole, William Cole, William Fields, Mary Jones, Ann Mackay, Ann Mackay, John Mackay, Thomas Mackay, Catherine Quail, Catherine Quail, Henry Quail, John Quail Jr., John Quail Sr., Thomas Quail, William Quail, Anges Rich, Elizabeth Rich, John Taylor Rich, Samuel Taylor Rich, Agnes Taylor, James Taylor, Lovina Taylor, William Taylor, John Topham, Catherine Turbet, Eleanor Turbet, John Turbet, Nephi Turbet, Thomas Turbet Jr., and Thomas Turbet Sr.]

[Included in the fifth ten led by Thomas Orr Sr. were: Elizabeth Albern Babcock, Dolphus Babcock, George Babcock, Jerusha Jane Babcock, John Babcock, Lucy Babcock, Permelia Babcock, David Blackhurst, Ellen Blackhurst, Joseph B. Blackhurst, William Blackhurst, Catherine Orr, Isabella Orr, May Ann Orr, Thomas Orr Jr., Thomas Orr Sr., Jane Park, John Park, Louisa Park, Louisa Park, Marian Park, Mary Ann Park, Ann Pitchforth, Mary Mitchell Pitchforth, Mercy Pitchforth, Samuel Pitchforth, Sarah Barbara Pitchforth, Francis Pullin, Hannah Pullin, and Edward Tattersall.]

Samuel Russell's fifty, part of the Abraham O. Smoot's Company also officially started their pioneer trek. The Russell fifty consisted of 95 people. The captains of tens were Lauren H. Roundy, Amasa Russell, and Farnum Kinyon.

[Included in the first ten led by Lauren H. Roundy were: Celestia Ann Farr, Enoch Farr, Lorin Farr, Nancy Bailey Chase Farr, Persis Atherton Farr, Alvin Harding, Joseph L. Harding, Violette Otis Harding, Emma B. Harrington, Leonard Ellsworth Harrington, Loise Russell Harrington, Theodore Spencer Harrington, William Peacock, Byron Donalvin Roundy, Jared Curtis Roundy, Lauren H. Roundy, Lorenzo Wesley Roundy, Myron Shadrach Roundy, Betsey Roundy, Nancy J. Roundy, Susannah Roundy, Wm. Heber Roundy, Abigail Thorne Russell, Esther Russell, Francis Maria Russell, Helen Russell, Henry Russell, Maria Russell, Samuel Russell, Valasco Russell, Olive Hovey Walker, and Peter Winward.]

[Included in the second ten led by Amasa Russell were: Samuel Brown, Amanda Chipman, Beulah Chipman, William Henry Chipman, James Chipman, Martha Elizabeth Chipman, Sinah Ceneth Chipman, Stephen Chipman, Washburn Chipman, Adam McDonald, Seth Rigby, Amasa Russell, Andrew Jackson Russell, Ann Russell, David Dudley Russell, Hannah Knight Russell, Henry Madison Russell, Elijah Shockley, Elijah H. Shockley, Elijah S. Shockley, James D. Shockley, Lidy F. Shockley, Mary Shockley, Mary E. Shockley, Matilda Ann Shockley, Richard Shockley, Helen S. Thorn, Joseph Thorn, Joseph C. Thorn, and Lorena Thorn.]

[Included in the third ten led Farnum Kinyon were: John Adams, John Harris Henderson, Farnum Kinyon, George B. Kinyon, Hyrum Kinyon, Lucinda Kinyon, William H. Kinyon, Ann McMinds, Emily Ann McMinds, James McMinds, William McMinds, Elizabeth Meaks, Peggy J. Meaks, Pridy Meaks, Sarah Meaks, Louisa Norris, Betsy Persons, Carlos Shephard, Charity Shephard, Lydia Shephard, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Swarthout, George W. Swarthout, Horley Swarthout, and Tramand Swarthout.]

Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
Walter and Maria Wilcox visited Mary Richards to say good-bye. They were leaving for Missouri where they would be spending the summer and maybe the winter.

Kearny detachment of the battalion, in California:
The soldiers camped at Bear Creek at Johnson's Ranch, the last house that they expected to see. They were forty miles north of Sutter's Fort.

San Francisco, California:
Addison Pratt decided to travel to the New Hope settlement on the Stanislaus River to help harvest nearly three hundred acres of wheat. He traveled by boat in the bay with some of the Brooklyn Saints, George K. Winner, Richard Knowles, Isaac Goodwin, and Samuel Ladd. The spent the night at Samples Ferry, in the straits of Carquinez. The ferry was run by one of the Brooklyn brethren, Abram Combs.

Mormon Battalion, at Los Angeles, California:
John Allen, the disgraced soldier who was drummed out of town, was recaptured near the city and put back in jail. He later escaped by digging a hole through the adobe wall. In the evening, Colonel Stevenson started efforts to convince the battalion to reenlist. He read an order calling for volunteers to reenlist for six more months. No one stepped forward to sign. The army was worried the Los Angeles would not have enough men to properly guard the post. The building of the fort was progressing slowly. Henry Standage commented: "They cannot in reason expect us to enlist again and especially when they know the treatment we have received, receiving no pay to go home and no ammunition to be given to us with our guns and no pay for our back rations, although we have paid out much money on the road when our rations were kept back or in other woords when the Col might have procured full rations at Govt. expense. But hard was been our fare as soldiers."

Kirtland, Ohio:
Elder Lyman O. Littlefield, still in Kirtland, was visited by former apostle, William McLellin. Elder Littlefield wrote: "He commenced upon me in relation to the Church, its authority, its transgressions, etc. I argued in defense until 12 o'clock at night."

Sources:

• Arrington, Charles C. Rich, 114
• Journal of Albert P. Rockwood, typescript, BYU, 55
• Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:206
• Luke S. Johnson's Journal, typescript, BYU, 12
• Howard Egan Diary, Pioneering the West, 75
• William Clayton's Journal, 240-41
• Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), 192-93
• Bagley, ed., The Pioneer Camp of the Saints, 194
• Black, Pioneers of 1847: A Sesquicentennial Remembrance
• Journal of Henry Standage in Frank Alfred Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion, 227
• The Journal of Nathaniel V. Jones, The Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:19
• Ellsworth, The Journals of Addison Pratt, 331
• Ward, ed., Winter Quarters, The 1846-1848 Life Writings of Mary Haskin Parker Richards, 148

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.