�鶹��ý

When we get there amongst the rest

Industrious be and we’ll be blessed

And in our chambers be shut in

While judgement cleanse the earth from sin.

For well we know it will be so

God’s servants spoke it long ago

And tell us it’s high time to start

To cross the plains with our hand carts.

—John D. T. McAllister, “The Hand Cart Song,” verse six

Historical Introduction

In 1843, mountain men James Bridger and Louis Vasquez began building an outpost fort on the Black Fork of the Green River. This fort became known as Fort Bridger. As the fur trade was then in decline, the outpost was designed to aid overland emigrants following the Oregon Trail. Due to disputes with Latter-day Saints in the region, Bridger was driven from the fort in 1853, and Vasquez sold it to Church leaders in 1855. Fort Bridger became a U.S. army post in 1858.[1] In July 1859, one year after the transfer of the fort took place, newspaper editor Horace Greeley said this of the fort:

Fort Bridger, whence my last was sent, may be regarded as the terminus in this direction of the Great American Desert. Not that the intervening country is fertile or productive, for it is neither; but at Bridger its character visibly changes. The hills we here approach are thinly covered with a straggling growth of low, scraggy cedar; the sage-bush continues even into this valley, but it is no longer universal and almost alone; grass is more frequent and far more abundant; Black’s Fork, which, a few miles below, runs whitish with the clay-wash of the desert, is here a clear, sparkling mountain torrent, divided into half a dozen streams by the flat, pebbly islets on which the little village—or rather post—is located.[2]

From Fort Bridger, the Eighth Handcart Company left the Oregon Trail, which turned north toward Soda Springs (Idaho), and headed southwest to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Trail historian Stanley B. Kimball points out that “the 70-mile long trail in Utah winds through a string of canyons in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, the last barrier to the new Mormon Zion. It is the best-known section of any of the many emigrant trails used by the Mormons.”[3] To follow the Eighth Handcart Company’s route from Fort Bridger, Nebraska Territory to Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory in summer 1859, see “Map 6. Mormon Pioneer Trail in western Wyoming, 1847” and “Map 7. Mormon Pioneer Trail, 1847, and Golden Road, 1850, in Utah,” in Kimball’s Historic Sites and Markers along the Mormon and Other Great Western Trails.[4]

Source Note

Thomas McIntyre, diary, CHL; Henry Hobbs, diary, CHL; Hans Olsen Magleby, diary, CHL; and Mathias Brock Nilsson, diary, CHL.

Document Transcripts

Monday, August 29, 1859 (day 82 on the Mormon Trail)

[McIntyre] At seven a.m. we have a death in our camp, [Ann Hansen Jensen],[5] aged forty-nine. She had been sickly since she left home. We bury her on near to a creek near the south of the road. The Danish Saints attend to the rites of burial. We travel over hilly ground[6] but good roads, ford Bear River,[7] which is very high, and camp about a quarter of a mile from the crossing. Traveled today twenty-one miles.

[Hobbs] A fine morning. One old Danish lady [Ann Hansen Jensen] died this morning and was buried at half past eight a.m. After the funeral we left for Bear River, twenty-two miles. Took a little refreshment four miles this side. Had a hard laborious day’s work and one awful hill to climb. Dust up to our knees and required much strength to bring it down.

[Magleby] A Danish sister [Ann Hansen Jensen], the wife of Mads Jensen,[8] died this morning and was buried. Traveled about twenty miles and camped for the night, after having crossed a creek by the name of Beaver.

[Nilsson] We arose bright and early in order to get ready for an early start, but as a sister had died during the night and had to be buried, we were delayed. The dead sister’s name was Ann [Hansen] Jensen from Lolland, Denmark. She was forty-nine years old and left a husband [Mads] and five children [Anne, Hans, Maren, Karen, and Peter Jensen] in our company. After breaking camp, we traveled five miles and came to some alkali and warm springs, thence we traveled up a hill about six miles and then down a very steep hill until we reached the Bear River. After crossing that river, we made camp for the night.

Tuesday, August 30, 1859 (day 83)

[McIntyre] A wet morning, but we start with heavy roads but can only go eight miles and camp at Yellow Creek.[9] We meet here Brothers [John] Taylor[10] and [Franklin] Richards,[11] who are on their way east to assist in the immigration.[12] Many of the Saints meet their friends here. We enjoy ourselves around a large campfire.

[Hobbs] Traveled eight miles to Yellow Creek, wet and a muddy road to travel. Just as we got to Yellow Creek there was a steep piece of bank to descend, some water at the bottom. Several handcarts upset. I saved one man from being hurt. I picked a fine lot of currants here. Soon after we arrived in camp we were met by John Taylor and Franklin D. Richards, two of the Twelve [Apostles]. It was quite cheering to know that these brethren had been sent by Brigham [Young] to see after our welfare. They have with them some twenty oxen and wagons and flour to assist the different companies into the [Salt Lake] valley.

[Magleby] Camped about noon by the side of a little stream where we found many berries. In the afternoon two of the Twelve [Apostles] came from the [Salt Lake] valley to us, John Taylor and Franklin D. Richards. They were sent out to help the company with provisions and cattle, which they brought along with them. They stopped in our camp during the night.

[Nilsson] We resumed our journey at eight o’clock [a.m.] in the morning and had considerable pulling uphill but at length reached the head of Echo Canyon.[13] We crossed Echo Creek,[14] was overtaken by a rainstorm, and made camp for the night after traveling about ten miles. Towards evening we were met by Apostles John Taylor and Franklin D. Richards, who came out from Salt Lake City in their carriages to meet us. Other teams from the [Salt Lake] valley followed them, and they all camped with us overnight. During the night an English brother by the name of [Edward] Shanks died. He had been bitten by a poisonous [reptile] on the night of August 21st. He swelled up and turned almost yellow on his body before he expired.

Wednesday, August 31, 1859 (day 84)

[McIntyre] Another death in our camp.

Brother [Edward] Shanks, aged sixty-six, dies this morning and is buried on the left of the road near the first camping place at Yellow Creek. We also receive melancholy tidings of the wife [Mary Shanks] of the deceased, who strayed from our camp on the evening of the [August] 25th instant. She was discovered by a party of immigrants dead and partly eaten by wolves. They buried her where they found her near Green River.[15] In the evening we receive some useful instruction from Brothers [Franklin] Richards and [John] Taylor.

We start at ten a.m., ascend a long hill of gradual ascent of two miles, and descend on the other side among dust and camp at Echo Canyon. Traveled six miles.

[Hobbs] Brother [Edward] Shanks died. He was nearly seventy years of age and had completely worn himself out pulling his cart. I helped to get pebbles to lay on him to prevent the wolves eating him up. This morning intelligence was brought to the camp that Sister [Mary] Shanks had been eaten by the wolves. She also pulled to the last to the shame of the young sisters who rode in their place. They were good Saints, had been good friends to the servants of good, and the sad news will fall like a thunderbolt on the ears of their friends. Brother [John] Taylor made a short speech and said as it was for truth we had left our homes, to still keep that in view; be humble, keep the commandments of God, attend to our prayers, and we should be blest and not be led away by seducing spirits. Told the young sisters not to be in a hurry about getting husbands, but see who they were going to have or they may be miserable all their lives. He said there was plenty of places for them as servants, and while in place they could look out for themselves. At eleven a.m. we started for Echo Canyon, sixteen miles. We had one steep hill to climb. A friend helped me up the hill, then the remainder was downhill.

[Magleby] Before we broke camp, the Apostles spoke to us. The journey of the day was hilly but mostly downhill. We camped among the mountains. Here we found many berries.

[Nilsson] A meeting was held in the morning at which Elders Franklin D. Richards and John Taylor addressed us. They congratulated us on being so near the end of our journey. After meeting we buried our dead brother, [Edward] Shanks. We left our campground about nine o’clock a.m. and traveled down Echo Canyon about seventeen miles and camped for the night.

Thursday, September 1, 1859 (day 85)

[McIntyre] Rained all night and continues this morning. We pull through heavy roads, but we have not much to pull with them, which is one comfort. Travel nine miles through the canyon and take dinner. Camp a mile east of Weber.[16] Traveled today seventeen miles.

[Hobbs] Left at eleven a.m. after having considerable rain. Here we gathered some beautiful currants, the best we had got on the journey. They were black, red, and yellow. Camp traveled seventeen miles, very wet and uncomfortable. I was quite exhausted pulling the handcart myself all day. I was traveling some hours after dark. Climbed two steep hills all alone, which made great drops of sweat roll down me. While traveling along I found [Paul] Morel up to his knees in water. I helped him out and traveled several miles to the end of Echo Canyon. We could not catch up with the camp, so we stayed here for the night. A man here who sold spirits took me and Morel and Frank Pitman in and baked a cake, made some warm coffee and gave it [to] us. Here we thought Morel would have died. He was seized with cramp, went quite pale and as cold about his forehead as death. This was from overexertion. A man in the house gave him some salt and pepper for the cramp. Poor Frank [Pitman] was also unwell. I was delighted with the wild romantic scenery, and the rude rocks which presented themselves to view here among these mountains are good places of defense for the Saints.[17]

[Magleby] Continued the journey.

[Nilsson] We continued our march about nine o’clock [a.m.] in the morning and traveled downhill all day for a distance of about fifteen miles and camped for the night on the Weber River. As we had gone into camp quite early in the evening, I went up into the hills, where I found a lot of beautiful currants, which I ate with relish, it being the first fruit I had tasted in the mountains. We obtained provisions for in the evening, three cups of flour for each man.

Friday, September 2, 1859 (day 86)

[McIntyre] We start again, at eight o’clock [a.m.], cross the Weber Bridge,[18] ascend a long hill. Take dinner by [East] Canyon Creek,[19] and after crossing Canyon Creek for six times, we camp. Many of the Saints meet their friends here.

[Hobbs] Got our breakfast and traveled twenty-seven miles pulling my cart alone. Me and [Paul] Morel helped each other along today. Had a leg of beef and some good milk, a cucumber, four peaches, a loaf, some meat, etc. We did not arrive in camp till eleven p.m. Had to cross the water seven times. Carried Morel and his wife [Eliza Morel] through four waters, and then William Kimball[20] and Ephraim Hanks[21] overtook us and told an Indian lad to put a rope to our carts and let his mule drag us up the hill. He dragged me through three waters, upset me twice and Morel once, the hill being so slanting I was dragged for some distance but not hurt. Morel’s cart was upset and somewhat damaged. I was wet and cold when I arrived in camp. Captain [George] Rowley gave us some whiskey and sugar, which very much revived me. The Saints seemed glad to see me, my wife [Jane Hobbs] especially.

[Magleby] Many met us from the [Salt Lake] valley, among them Hans P. Lund[22] and Madsen. We had to cross the creek many times today.

[Nilsson] We continued our journey at seven o’clock [a.m.] in the morning, crossed the Weber River to its left bank. I was left alone with my handcart, as Caroline [Chappell Woodward] had gone in with a man from the Sessions Settlement.[23] Traveling uphill, we crossed a small stream a number of times, passed over a summit,[24] and camped for the night in East Canyon. Here Elder Madsen met us and treated us to watermelons.

Saturday, September 3, 1859 (day 87)

[McIntyre] At nine a.m. we begin fording the other crossings of this never-ending [East Canyon] creek and commence to ascend the Big Mountain[25] with double teaming. We manage to get to the top, and in descending we tie the wheels of our carts.[26] We camp at the foot of this mountain. Traveled today eleven miles. We meet Brothers [Ezra] Benson,[27] [Erastus] Snow,[28] [William] Kimball, and others of the brethren here.

[Hobbs] Crossed over several creeks and wended our way up the Big Mountain. It is very steep and five miles to the top. [Paul] Morel was my friend to help me up, or I don’t know how I should have got my cart [to the top]. It was as hard to go down the hill three miles as it was to climb it. Dust knee deep. Had to tie one of the wheels to let the cart down. Baked some cakes and then went two miles to camp.

[Magleby] I with my company went over Big Mountain and camped by the side of Little Mountain,[29] about thirteen miles from the [Salt Lake] city.

[Nilsson] We resumed our journey about seven o’clock [a.m.] in the morning and traveled uphill most of the day to get to the top of Big Mountain. Here we had to tie the wheels of our handcarts and slide down the steep hill. We made camp by the foot of Little Mountain, and in the evening three pounds of flour was distributed to each person in camp.

Sunday, September 4, 1859 (day 88)

[McIntyre] We ascend the Little Mountain[30] on the same principle as we did the other, tie our wheels and descend with care.

We fix up a little here and are addressed by Brothers [Ezra] Benson and [Erastus] Snow. Being Sunday, many came from the [Salt Lake] city to escort us in, also two bands of music. We are now in view[31] of the city,[32] and how shall I describe my feelings of joy when I beheld it. We march in procession through the principal streets until we arrived at Union Square[33] and there, by kind friends, was laid out for us everything in the eatable way that the [Salt Lake] valley produced. We forgot all our little trials of the journey in the kind and generous feeling that met us on every hand. After partaking of the good things that were so liberally bestowed on us, we all dispersed with our several friends and relations.

[Hobbs] Brothers [Ezra] Benson and Erastus Snow met us in camp. Brother Benson was glad to see me. Left a little before eight a.m. for the [Salt Lake] valley, fifteen miles. The Scandinavians helped the English up the Little Mountain and we them. It was a warm job. The chain of one of the wagons broke and rolled some distance down the hill and tipped over. We thought surely some of the passengers inside would have been killed, but none was hurt. While traveling fast through the canyon, [Paul] Morel fell and hurt himself. He was taken into the wagon, and I pulled within five miles of the valley. Charles Stephens met me on horseback and stood treat.[34] Had a number of small streams to cross.[35] Camped on the bench one hour for meeting. Brothers Benson and Snow addressed us and said when they came here, there was not a house to be seen, no kind friend to bid them welcome to their table and ask them to eat, a hard winter to live through, perhaps the most severe the Saints have ever experienced—but little food and lots of grasshoppers to eat what little they raised. All these things we had not to experience but could go to the homes of our friends and get food to sustain us, and now, says Brother Benson, after you get some warm biscuits and butter, don’t turn up your noses, as some have done, but continue to live your religion as you have done, and all your expectations shall be realized and a thousand times more. He told us not to hire to anyone till we knew who they were, and then we would not be taken in by land sharks.[36] After receiving these instructions, we started for the valley, all the horsemen in front. We had not gone far before we were met by two bands of music. The first tune I recognized was “O ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky arches over the vales of the free,” etc.[37] There was thousands of spectators who seemed pleased to see us. We passed through many beautiful streets. Went by Brigham’s [house].[38] There was a large crowd on top of his house looking at us, Brigham among the rest. I was much delighted with the beautiful appearance of the city. When we reached the public square, the brethren played “Home Sweet Home.” After being greeted by our friends, Bishop [Leonard] Hardy[39] requested the lookers-on to leave the camp so that we may get some refreshment, but it was in vain. He entreated the people to go, for they would gaze upon us at length. The provision was handed out, and such a variety I never saw. There was bread, butter, eggs, milk, coffee, tea, sugar, boiled beef, roast beef, mutton, pork, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, mushmelons, watermelons, green peas, kidney beans, and tarts, etc. Sister Martin gave me and Jane [Hobbs] an invitation to go and sleep at their house.

[Magleby] Ate breakfast before we broke up camp. Two of the Twelve [Apostles] came to us and brought us into the [Salt Lake] city. When we had come to the last mountain pass, we camped by the creek in order to wash and change our clothing. Here Apostle [Ezra] Benson spoke to us in English and [Apostle] Erastus Snow in Danish. We broke camp for the last time. A big band from the city went in front of us, and many thousands from the city came to meet us, among them some Norwegians which I know. The music took us by Brigham’s [Young] house, where he himself with his counselors and many others stood on the porch and greeted us. We camped now for the last time on the old camping place. The citizens brought us much of the good things of the earth for our refreshments, so that we might remain here many days. The music played until nine o’clock in the evening while we partook of our evening meal. Oh Lord, our Eternal Father, be thou thanked for this thy goodness towards us, that we have been brought happily through all the circumstances and have been gathered with the people here in the valleys of the mountains. May we in the future continue to do right and be worthy of thy guidance until we are saved in thy presence. This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus, amen.

[Nilsson] We left our encampment at seven o’clock [a.m.] to climb over Little Mountain. We had to double teams, and we took half of our handcarts up to the summit first and then went back after the other half. A young man with an old wagon and a yoke of oxen had come out to meet us on the Weber [River], and as he was going up the slope of Little Mountain, the tongue[40] of his wagon slipped out of the yoke,[41] and the wagon went backwards down the steep mountainside, made a turn, and rolled over into a hollow. A child was sleeping in the wagon, but it never got hurt. We were now all on the summit looking down into Emigration Canyon,[42] and we were told that this was the last hill we had to cross on our journey. Upon hearing this we all shouted with thanksgiving to the Lord. Continuing our journey, we went down to the mouth of Emigration Canyon, reaching that place about one o’clock [p.m.]. Here we stopped to wash and clean up a little preparatory to entering the [Salt Lake] city. Apostles [Erastus Snow] and Ezra T. Benson had come out to meet us together with a number of others. My partner, Caroline [Chappell Woodward], also came back to her handcart.[43] President Brigham Young had told the people that there would be no meeting in the afternoon in the [Salt Lake] Tabernacle. So, when we started for the city about three o’clock [p.m.] in the afternoon, hundreds of people were coming out on the road to meet us, some on horseback, some in wagons, and still others on foot. A brass band met us near the mouth of the canyon and took the lead as we marched through the city to the 19th Ward Square. This square lies between Second and Third West and First and Second North Streets, Salt Lake City. Here we found piled up loads of provisions of all kinds—whole wagonloads of bread. This caused our mouths to water and tears to stream from our eyes. We had been living very scant for more or less than three months and had had no regular or substantial meals since we had left Copenhagen, Denmark, on the first of April last.[44] Some of the brethren came along and divided the provisions among us. A few of the emigrants were taken home by friends, but the majority of us remained in camp overnight.

Notes

[1] Gordon B. Dodds, “Fort Bridger,” in New Encyclopedia of the American West, 382.

[2] Greeley, Overland Journey, 198–99.

[3] Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers, 96.

[4] Kimball, 8–9.

[5] Ann Hansen Jensen (1810–1859), FamilySearch–K2VX-Q5N. See “Appendix 3: Eighth Handcart Company Roster,” in this volume; hereafter Appendix 3.

[6] The East Foot Dividing Range (Wyoming) was about 942½ miles from Florence, 88½ miles to Salt Lake City. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 76–77.

[7] The Bear River (Wyoming) was about 950¼ miles from Florence, 80¾ miles to Salt Lake City. It is the world’s longest river that does not empty into an ocean; instead, it flows into the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 76–77; Urbanek, Wyoming Place Names, 13. Obridge Allen described the waterway in his guidebook: “Crossing—river 400 feet wide, depth variable, current swift with a large pebbly bottom, this river empties into the Great Salt Lake, and furnishes an abundance of trout; in the next distance the road crosses a high ridge, the ascent and descent gentle and easy.” Guide Book, 67.

[8] Mads Jensen (1811–1888), FamilySearch–K2MC-SFF. See Appendix 3.

[9] The Yellow Creek (Wyoming) was about 959½ miles from Florence, 71½ miles to Salt Lake City. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 76–77. “Crossing—stream 8 feet wide, with sharp banks; willow for fuel, grass in abundance,” Obridge Allen notes. Guide Book, 67.

[10] John Taylor (1808–1887), FamilySearch–KWJC-VF5, was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1838. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:14–19.

[11] Franklin Dewey Richards (1821–1899), FamilySearch–KWNN-566, was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1849. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:115–21.

[12] Apostles John Taylor and Franklin D. Richards reported on their encounter with the Eighth Handcart Company to the editor of the Deseret News. For the full transcript of this letter, see Appendix 1 in this volume.

[13] Echo Canyon or Deep Ravine (Utah) was about 970½ miles from Florence, 60½ miles to Salt Lake City. Here the overland emigrants began their twenty-mile descent down Echo Canyon (Utah). Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 78–79; Van Cott, Utah Place Names, 124. Obridge Allen notes “meadows of grass and cedar on the bluffs; this creek is walled in by high rocky bluffs; the road continues down the valley of the creek crossing at short intervals. Good camping grounds may be found from two to three miles along the creek; wood in abundance from this point to the mouth of Emigration Canyon.” Guide Book, 67. Horace Greeley narrates his experience of passing through this area:

This cañon reminded me afresh that evil and good are strongly interwoven in our early lot. Throughout the desolate region which stretches from the Sweetwater nearly or quite to Bridger, we had in the main the best natural road I ever traveled—dusty, indeed, and, in places, abrupt and rough, but equal in the average to the carefully-made and annually-repaired roads of New England. But in this fairly-grassed ravine, hemmed in by steep, picturesque bluffs, with springs issuing from their bases, and gradually gathering into a trout-brook as we neared the Weber, we found the ‘going decidedly bad,’ and realized that in the dark it could not but be dangerous. For the brook, with its welcome fringe of yellow, choke-cherry, service-berry, and other shrubs, continually zigzagged from side to side of the cañon, compelling us to descend and ascend its precipitous banks, and cross its sometimes miry bed, often with a smart chance of breaking an axle, or upsetting.

Overland Journey, 203.

[14] The Echo Canyon Creek (Utah) flows through Echo Canyon into the Weber River. Van Cott, Utah Place Names, 124.

[15] Apostles John Taylor and Franklin Richards further reported the gruesome details of Mary Shanks’s death, burial, and disinterment by wolves in their letter to the Deseret News. The full letter can be found in Appendix 1 in this volume.

[16] The Weber River (Utah) begins in the western Uinta Mountains and empties into the Great Salt Lake to the northwest; it is named for John H. Weber, one of General William Henry Ashley’s trappers in 1823. Van Cott, Utah Place Names, 392. Obridge Allen had this to say about the river: “U.S. Mail Station No. 35. At the mouth of Echo Creek and Canyon; grass in abundance.” Guide Book, 67.

[17] During the Utah Expedition of 1857–58, the Utah Territorial Militia (Nauvoo Legion) fortified the narrow Echo Canyon to deter the U.S. Army from entering the Salt Lake Valley. Led by Colonel Nathaniel V. Jones, Latter-day Saints dug ditches and trenches to protect their troops and built water dams to potentially flood the wagon road below. They also created breastworks and prepared boulders to fall on the U.S. Army men as their “last line of defense” against the invading troops. These fortifications were observed and admired by overland Saints in subsequent years. Metcalf, “Nauvoo Legion and the Prevention of the Utah War,” 309–10. See also “Pioneer Defense Fortifications Historic Site/Marker,” in Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers, 97.

[18] According to Obridge Allen, the Weber River Crossing (Utah) had a “current swift, with a large pebbly bottom which makes it difficult to cross in high water, grass in abundance.” Guide Book, 67.

[19] The East Canyon Creek, also known as Bauchmin’s Creek or Emigration Canyon Creek (Utah), which drains through East Canyon, begins in the Wasatch Mountains and drains into the Jordan River to the southwest. It was about 1,001¼ miles from Florence, 29¾ miles to Salt Lake City. Van Cott, Utah Place Names, 128; Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 78–79. “Eight feet wide, clear water, fuel and grass plenty,” Obridge Allen writes. “Road crosses the creek in next distance at short intervals, abundance of trout in all of the streams between this and Salt Lake City.” Guide Book, 67.

[20] William Henry Kimball (1826–1907), FamilySearch–KWV7-1JB, was a member of the earlier handcart rescue party in fall 1856.

[21] Ephraim Knowlton Hanks (1826–1896), FamilySearch–LZ27-Y5B, was a member of the earlier handcart rescue party in fall 1856. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 2:764–66.

[22] Hans Peter Lund (1821–1880), FamilySearch–KWJF-J6F.

[23] Sessions Settlement (Utah), today known as Bountiful, was settled by Perrigrine Sessions and other early Latter-day Saint pioneers in 1847. Van Cott, Utah Place Names, 46–47.

[24] Summit of Ridge (Utah), today known as Hog’s Back, was about 996¾ miles from Florence, 34¼ miles to Salt Lake City. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 78–79.

[25] Big Mountain (Utah) was about 1,018¼ miles from Florence, 17¾ miles to Salt Lake City. It was the tallest and most difficult mountain the overlanders encountered on the westward trail to Utah. From its 7,400-foot summit, Latter-day Saint pioneers enjoyed their first view of the Salt Lake Valley below. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 78–79; Van Cott, Utah Place Names, 33. Obridge Allen writes the following of this treacherous slope: “Mountain steep, to descend which requires great care with vehicles.” Guide Book, 67. See also “Big Mountain Historic Site/Marker,” in Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers, 101–2.

[26] This was generally done with chains or ropes to slow the speed of the wheels so the pioneers could better control the handcarts while descending steep hills.

[27] Ezra Taft Benson (1811–1869), FamilySearch–KWJH-CWG, was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1846. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:99–102.

[28] Erastus Snow (1818–1888), FamilySearch–KWJ4-KJX, was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1849. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:103–15.

[29] They likely camped near Brown’s Creek (Utah), today’s Mountain Dell Canyon Creek, which was about 1,017½ miles from Florence, 13½ miles to Salt Lake City. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 80–81. See also “Last Camp Historic Site/Marker,” in Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers, 102.

[30] “The ascent from Big Canyon Creek to this point is very steep,” Obridge Allen warns. Guide Book, 67.

[31] At the mouth of Emigration Canyon (Utah). Obridge Allen points out, “From this point you have a splendid view of the Great Salt Lake and city.” Guide Book, 67.

[32] Salt Lake City was about 1,031 miles from Florence. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 80–81. Horace Greeley provides his readers with a picture of the City of the Saints:

Salt Lake City wears a pleasant aspect to the emigrant or traveler, weary, dusty, and browned with a thousand miles of jolting, fording, camping, through the scorched and naked American Desert. It is located mainly on the bench of hard gravel that slopes southward from the foot of the mountains toward the lake valley; the houses—generally small and of one story—are all built of adobe (sun-hardened brick), and have a neat and quiet look; while the uniform breadth of the streets (eight rods) and the ‘magnificent distances’ usually preserved by the buildings (each block containing ten acres, divided into eight lots, giving a quarter of an acre for buildings and an acre for garden, fruit, etc., to each householder), make up an ensemble seldom equaled. Then the rills of bright, sparkling, leaping water which, diverted from the streams issuing from several adjacent mountain cañons, flow through each street and are conducted at will into every garden, diffuse an air of freshness and coolness which none can fail to enjoy, but which only a traveler in summer across the Plains can fully appreciate. On a single business street, the post-office, principal stores, etc., are set pretty near each other, though not so close as in other cities; everywhere else, I believe, the original plan of the city has been wisely and happily preserved. Southward from the city, the soil is softer and richer, and there are farms of (I judge) ten to forty or sixty acres; but I am told that the lowest portion of the valley, nearly on a level with the lake, is so impregnated with salt, soda, etc., as to yield but a grudging return for the husbandman’s labor. I believe, however, that even this region is available as a stock-range—thousands on thousands of cattle, mainly owned in the city, being pastured here in winter as well as summer, and said to do well in all seasons. For, though snow is never absent from the mountain-chains which shut in this valley, it seldom lies long in the valley itself.

Overland Journey, 206–7.

[33] Union Square (between Third and Fourth West and between Third and Fourth North, Salt Lake City), was the arrival point where overland wagon and handcart companies camped on their first night in the Salt Lake Valley during the 1850s. Woods, “Arrival of Nineteenth-Century Mormon Emigrants,” 208–9.

[34] To pay for another person’s costs.

[35] Last Creek (Utah), today’s Emigration Canyon Creek, was about 1,021 miles from Florence, 10 miles to Salt Lake City. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 80–81. Obridge Allen explains: “From this point you follow down the creek in the canyon, crossing the creek at short intervals.” Guide Book, 67.

[36] Traditionally, someone who swindles sailors when they come ashore. In this pioneer context, it refers to those who sought to swindle the newly arrived overland immigrants.

[37] “O Ye Mountains High” was written by English convert Charles W. Penrose in about 1854 and published in the Millennial Star in 1856, before Penrose had ever actually been to Utah. It was sung to the popular song tune “Lily Dale.” Davidson, Our Latter-day Hymns, 70–71.

[38] The Lion House, President Brigham Young’s family residence, was built between 1854 and 1856 in downtown Salt Lake City on South Temple Street. A statue of a lion resting above the front porch gave the home its well-known name. Hobbs seemingly confused the Lion House with the neighboring Beehive House, where Young personally resided. W. Randall Dixon, “Lion House,” in Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History, 668.

[39] Leonard Wilford Hardy (1805–1884), FamilySearch–KWJH-XHQ, was ordained a member of the Presiding Bishopric in 1856. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:236–37.

[40] A shaft that sticks out at the front. It is used to pull the wagon.

[41] A bar attached to the necks of oxen (or other animals) so they can work together; the tongue of the wagon connects to the yoke between the animals so they can pull it.

[42] Mouth of the Canyon (Utah) was about 1,026 miles from Florence, 5 miles to Salt Lake City. Clayton, Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, 80–81. See also “Little Emigration Canyon Historic Site,” in Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers, 100–101.

[43] Mathias Nilsson and Caroline Chappell Woodward were married on September 6, 1859, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley by handcart. Nilsson, diary, September 6, 1859, CHL.

[44] The Scandinavian emigrants had departed from Denmark on April 1, 1859, five months and four days earlier.