"I laid the matter before my brother Edward and he said Elizabeth has only just got a place to work and I've not sufficient means to take us both through, and another thing, you are only getting 10 dollars per month and I am getting 12. I I told him nine weeks wages would not take me to Florence. Edward said, "How do you feel about going this season?" I answered that I would just as leave go this season as any other if I had sufficient money to take me to Florence. Edward said, "I will give you 10 dollars to help you on your way if you wish to go and William Icam and his wife will start with you. The boss says he will send the wagon to take the baggage for all three of you." I agreed to go and Edward gave me the 10 dollars. We started and took the train on the July 23rd 1861.

"We rode all through the night through the various states until daybreak, which was the 24th of July. Then we saw and heard the fireworks going off as the train passed through the different states. We traveled until Sunday morning, then we were obliged to lay over then until Monday morning, about 8 o'clock. I recollect myself and Mr. Icam went up into the meat market and found out meat was very cheap. 4 cents a pound, mutton 3 cents a pound, beef 4 cents and so on.

"We then took the train for St. Joseph, Missouri. Now these were exciting times. We were herded inside of the cars by the conductor for they were going to throw on full steam for they had received a telegraph dispatch that soldiers were waiting for the train to come along. We finally came to an open prairie where the soldiers were. They train halted and they soon jumped on board. They rode full speed for a long distance until we came to a large hotel. The train stopped and the soldiers formed into a line and they surrounded the house. The train started up again. Soon after, it commenced to thunder and lightning very much. We left the train that evening and started to walk down to the river and just before getting there the rain came down in torrents. We were dripping wet and what was worse, the man who was hired to bring our baggage down, came and dumped it all in a pile. The result was the boxes got tipped ever which way and broken and wet through. We had to make our beds on the floor of the boat that night. The next morning the boat started up the river to Florence. The boat being heavy loaded with government freight for the soldiers, and the water being low, made it quite difficult for the boat to get up the river. After a long time we reached Omaha where the captain of the boat found out that the last of the freight had to be landed there, this leaving the passengers about 4 miles to walk. Myself and Brother Oget being the only two that reached Florence that night. In reaching there, to my surprise, I saw John Biggs, a brother that crossed the sea with me. He said I was just in time to hire out to E. R. Wright with him to drive an ox team across the plains. I hired out the next morning for dollars per month and my board. The freight not being ready as it was promised, we went out to herd the cattle until the freight came up the river. We were expecting it every day for two weeks. We were busy herding and yoking up our wild cattle trying to break them in ready for the trip across the plains - one thousand miles, which proved to be a very long and tedious journey.

"We started out on our journey the 3rd of August 1861, with eleven wagons loaded with cotton machinery and a printing press. After two or three days travel, E. R. Wright asked George Stringham if he would bring in Mrs. Godbee's 3 loaded wagons and join our train which he did and our boss hired him to be our wagon boss and to hunt for feed for the cattle. Us teamsters drove all day. In our turns we herded the cattle all night. I well remember one dark and cloudy night [when] myself and Brother John Biggs were to go out and release the other two after supper. We saw their fire when we started from the camp. It seemed to be about 2 or 3 miles distant. We lost sight of the fire in crossing a creek in a very crooked and deep ravine. We traveled in the dark and crossed the cvreek four or five times. It must have been as crooked as a snake. We traveled for two hours and worked up on a hill. There we saw the fire again and started for it again and in reaching it, to our surprise, we had turned around and got back to the same campfire we started from. George Stringham asked us if we had released the cattle guards. I told him the experience we had gained. He had a good laugh to see us so wet through.

"`John,' says he, "I will give you a good guide for the future." He took us out of the ravine upon the back and pointed to a small fire. "Now you see that fire away over yonder," says he. "Yes," says I. "Now look up in the sky straight over the fire and see that large star. Now go straight in a line for the star and you will get there." We started off again crossing hills and hollows. By keeping sight of the star we reached the herd boys, but the cattle were scattered all over. The two boys started for camp to get their supper which was a very late one. 

"John Biggs and myself just as soon as we could see in the morning started to gather up our cattle ready for starting on our day's journey, but it took so long to gather them up, we could not drive very far that day. We traveled on the next day and saw a herd of buffalo and shot and skinned one of them, it being the first time I had eaten buffalo meat. It was very tough but better than none. Still traveling on we saw antelope, they being so wild we could not get anywhere near them. In traveling along and grass being very scarce, our wagon boss, George Stringham, started out to hunt some and came across a herd of wolves, threw his lariat and caught one by the neck, tied it to the horn and came galloping along with it - it trailing along the ground and the dust flying. He finally caught up with us hollering and yelling and swinging his hat and stampeding the cattle and wagons, some going one way and some another, capsizing one load of looking glasses.

"I was up in my wagon riding at this time. I three on my brake which happened to be a good one. It stopped them almost directly. This I consider was a blessing as I had a young lady in the wagon at this time. She was very much afraid of an accident. The wagons were scattered every which way for awhile. As soon as the teams could be got together, E.R. Wright ordered the cattle unhitched from the wagons and called for help to get the wagon turned right side up - which had rolled down the bank and into a deep creek. We finally succeeded in getting it out, unpacking the goods and laying them on the bank in the sun to dry. This was all through carelessness but he was a great one for fun. 

"The freight when dry was not quite so bad as expected. We then hitched up again and drove until we found grass for our cattle. There we corralled for the night. Started off early the next morning and had a long day's drive and crossed the desert about eleven o'clock in the evening before we reached water. We camped in a ravine that night and in the morning we saw a drove of prairie chickens which seemed to be very tame. The boys got out their guns and pistols and shot all but one. When it found it was alone, it flew away. We soon plucked them and ate our breakfast and considered they were sent there for us. We then started out for our day's journey although very late because it was late at night before we reached the water.

"I well recollect one of our brother teamsters named Thomas Keatley became very sick. He had been lying in the wagon 8 or 9 days. I went to him and asked if I could do anything for him. He said, "Yes, I would like for you and some of the boys to take me down to the river and give me a good wash." When we stopped for noon we did so. The Platte River was very low at this time but according to his wishes we packed him about half a mile to the river, gave him a good wash and carried him into the wagon again. He then wished to see E.R. Wright and asked him if he would let him have a little of that brandy that he got in his wagon. E.R. Wright said no. I then told him Brother Keatley was very sick and I thought a little would do him good. He still refused to let him have a little saying there's not much the matter with but laziness. I assured him he was very sick but he still refused. I told him I would pay him for it. I had some silver in my pocket. But no, he would not.

"We traveled across the Platte River twelve miles to Paunies Spring, along the Platte to Laramie, then across the Platte keeping up there, 30 miles to Deer Creek, from Deer Creek to Plate Bridge 70, crossing the Platte to Red Butte where Brother Keatley died and was buried in some old blankets putting a piece of board with his name cut on it with a pocket knife.

"Then to Willow Springs, thence to Independence Rock on to Sweetwater, four miles to Devil's Gate 90 miles from Sweet water from then to Persifeck Springs. From there to Dry Sandy. From there to Little Sandy. From there to Big Sandy, then to Green River. From there to Black Folk, from thence to Bear River. From there to Yellow Creek, thence to the head of Echo Canyon. From Big Canyon Creek over the big mountain to Ephraim Hanks' Ranch. E. R. Wright leaving the train in the hands of George Stringham to bring over the little mountain. E. R. Wright started up his mule team to reach Salt Lake City in time for the October Conference which comes off on the 6th of October.

John's Own Hand

"Hafter we got nisly started over the little mountain, the next morning George Stringham helped us hitch up our cattell and got us started. He then jumped on his horse and rode around his boss, reaching the city 12 hours ahead of his boss, E. R. Wright. After having one day's drive camping on the little mountain, he [E.R. Wright] drove up to a station to get his dinner. He was talking about his train behind saying, "I have left it in good hands. George Stringham is behind, bringing it along. Ephraim Hanks looking in his face saying, "Why George Stringham passed by hear on his horse several hours since." Now this put E.R. Wright to a standstill. He did not know what to do. But he finely concluded he would go on. George rode into the city that night and came back the next day to meet us. And brought him a sack of potatoes for us and few groceries. We camped that night at the head of Emigration Canyon. We had a good feast that night on Utah potatoes.