January 1, 2008

Nevada's Online State News Journal

 

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[From (ed.) Howard R. Egan, Pioneering the West 1846 to 1878: Major Howard Egan's Diary (1917), pp. 169-182.]
Nevada History:

 

PIONEERING THE WEST

1846 to 1878

MAJOR HOWARD EGAN'S DIARY

 

ALSO

 

Thrilling Experiences of Pre-Frontier Life Among Indians: Their Traits, Civil and Savage, and Parts Of Auto-Biography, Inter–Related to His Father's,

BY HOWARD R. EGAN

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Edited, Compiled, And Connected In Nearly Chronological Order

BY . . . WM. M. EGAN

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

ILLUSTRATED

 

Published by

HOWARD R. EGAN ESTATE

Richmond, Utah

1917

 

 

PART III.

PIONEERING: SALT LAKE to CALIFORNIA.

SEC. I. ROUTE SOUTH AND NORTH.

27. A DIARY.

By Howard Egan, of His Trip in 1849-50, From Fort Utah (Provo City) to California, With the Distance, Water, Feed and Suitable Camp Grounds, Numbered From 1 to 89, Etc. Kept for a Future Traveling Guide.

            Sunday, November 18th, 1849. We started from Fort Utah in company with Brothers Granger and Hills, having three wagons and fifteen head of animals and forty souls, for California. It stormed for three days previous to our starting, which has made the roads very bad. After traveling seven and a half miles we came to a small spring branch, and we traveled up a little further and camped at Hobble Creek (*now Springville) , which is a good camp ground with feed and wood in plenty.

            Monday, 19th. The morning was warm and pleasant. Brother Orlando Hovey started in company with us this morning, having a wagon, four yoke of cattle and four men. Our company numbered fourteen men and boys. We traveled eight miles and came to a creek about ten feet wide (*Spanish Fork), which is a good camp ground, with wood in plenty. We came nine miles and camped at a small spring branch (*near Salem), where the feed was good and plenty of willows for fuel.

            Tuesday, 20th. This morning we had a severe storm of rain and sleet, which made the roads very bad. This afternoon the road is much better. We passed several good camp grounds. No. 6 (*Payson) is a beautiful stream, there being two branches with wood in plenty. All the streams and

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springs up to No. 10 were good camps. We came twenty-three miles and camped on No. 10, where there are plenty of willows. There is a branch of this creek a quarter of a mile ahead.

            Wednesday, 21st. This morning Brother Badger and Brother Burnett came to our camp with a letter from Salt Lake. We traveled twelve miles over a bad road and came to No. 11, a spring at the right of the road, which is a good camp ground, with plenty of grass and sagebrush and plenty of wood one mile away. We came five miles to No. 12, a spring branch, and camped. The feed was good and wood in plenty. This is the last camp in the Utah Valley.

            Thursday, 22nd. Last night it commenced snowing and continued until this morning. Today we crossed the dividing ridge between the Utah and the Sevier Valleys. We traveled twelve miles and camped at the Sevier River, No. 13. The river is about four rods wide and' three and one-half feet deep, with the south bank steep. The feed was good, and plenty of wood and willows for camp use.

            Friday, 23rd. The morning was pleasant and we traveled twelve miles over a beautiful road to camp 14. where feed and water was plenty. In the dry season you will have to go two miles east, where there is a good spring. We traveled fourteen miles and camped at No. 15, a spring, with feed good and plenty of cedar. The road is good between the Sevier and this camp, with the exception of about four miles.

            Saturday, 24th. The morning- was pleasant, and we traveled three miles and came to No. 16. a good camp, with plenty of willows. We went on two miles further and came to No. 17, a creek, with plenty of wood. We traveled ten miles, and came to No. 18, a spring, and good camp, with plenty of willows. We then came six miles and camped at No. 19, a brackish spring and poor camp ground, with no wood and less sage, and feed very short.

            Sunday, 25th. This day's travel has been over a crooked, rough and stony road. We traveled two miles and camped at No. 20, a spring branch, with wood and feed in plenty.

            Monday, 26th. The weather was very cold. We traveled six miles and came to No. 21. a small creek, a good camp ground, plenty of wood and feed. We traveled fourteen miles and camped at No. 22; plenty of wood and feed short. We are now traveling in company with six horse teams and twenty-eight men.

            Tuesday, 27th. We traveled five miles and came to a small creek, No. 23, a good camp ground, plenty of feed and willows. We came a quarter mile and crossed No. 24. a good

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camp ground; a half mile further we came to Beaver Creek, No. 25. It commenced snowing and we camped. This stream is about one rod wide ; wood and feed plenty, a beautiful camping place. Our company is now organized. H. Egan is captain, and Brother Orlando Hovey has joined our company. Brothers Granger and Egan take his provisions.

            Wednesday, 28th. Last night we had a severe snowstorm. We traveled about seven miles down the Beaver and found the road was not passable. We then traveled seven miles east, close to the foot of the mountain, where we struck a road that bore south through the mountains. We traveled about four miles and found good feed and plenty of wood, no water. We traveled eighteen miles, but were only eight miles from where we camped last night.

            Thursday, 29th. The morning was pleasant, and we traveled about thirteen miles and camped at a spring, the feed being good and plenty of sage. Ten miles of the road today was through a rough mountain country and very rocky. Brother John Hills broke his wagon tire in two places. Spring No. 26, where we are camped, is about one mile from the road and about three miles from where you first enter the Little Salt Lake Valley.

            Friday, 30th. We traveled ten miles and came to No. 27, a creek with plenty of willows and feed. It is a good camp ground. We came six miles and camped at No. 28, a creek about one rod wide, with plenty of wood and feed. The road has been very good today. We are in sight of the Little Salt Lake. The weather is warm and pleasant.

DECEMBER, 1849.

            Saturday, 1st. We traveled six and a quarter miles and came to creek No. 29. It is a good camp ground, with plenty of wood and feed. We caught up with Mr. _____'s company at this creek. He laid up to do some blacksmithing, and kindly offered to have our wagon tire welded, and any other work we wanted.

            Sunday, 2nd. We traveled four miles and came to No. 30, a spring and good camp ground. Then we came seven miles to Muddy creek No. 31, a bad creek to cross; wood plenty, feed short. We traveled six miles and came to a spring branch, feed and wood plenty. We met four men belonging to Captain Smith's company, who had lost their road and had been living on mule flesh for sixteen days.

            Monday, 3rd. We traveled sixteen miles and camped at No. 33, a spring branch : wood plenty and feed short.

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            Tuesday, 4th. Last night it commenced snowing, and the morning was cold and stormy. We traveled thirteen miles and came to No. 34, a spring branch, with feed and willows plenty. We traveled nine miles and camped at No. 35, a spring branch : feed and wood plenty.

            Wednesday, 5th. This morning was cold and stormy. We came eleven miles to No. 36, a spring branch. The feed was short, but wood plenty. We came about three miles and camped in a valley. The feed and wood was plenty, but no water. The storm was very severe, and the last end of the road very bad.

            Thursday, 6th. Last night we experienced the hardest storm we have had since we started. We traveled about eight miles over rough roads to Santa Clara. We came about two miles further and camped near the Santa Clara, where feed was poor, but wood was plenty. It has stormed all day.

            Friday, 7th. The morning was very cold.  We traveled three miles down the Santa Clara, where one of my wagon tires broke. Brother Granger unloaded his wagon and went back with me to Mr. 's camp, about thirty miles. We were gone three days, the weather being very cold.

            Saturday, 8th. The weather was extremely cold, being 12 degrees below zero.

            Sunday, 9th. This morning we arrived at our camp. The wagons had gone ahead. The weather was still cold and feed very poor.

            Monday, 10th. We traveled ten miles down the Santa Clara, the road being very hard. We came a mile and a half and camped at a spring, plenty of wood but feed very poor.

            Tuesday, 11th. The morning was cold, but we traveled about fifteen miles over a very rough road, snow being about one foot deep. We stopped two hours and fed. The feed is very good up to the right of the road in a ravine from where we stopped. We traveled fifteen miles further and camped on the Rio Virgin, plenty of wood, but feed very poor. There is some little bunch grass one mile up the hill.

            Wednesday, 12th. We traveled down the Virgin over a heavy sandy road through the most barren, desolate country I have ever seen. We came about eight miles and camped. Plenty of willows and some salt grass. The Virgin is about two rods wide here.

            Thursday, 13th. The weather was warm and pleasant. We traveled about eighteen miles down the Virgin. The road was sandy and we crossed the river ten times. The fords were good and there was plenty of willows and some little feed, the first we have seen since we started this morning.

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            Friday, 14th. The morning was cloudy with some rain. We traveled about twelve miles down the Virgin River. The road was sandy and we crossed the river four or five times, then turned short to the right and went over a very heavy sandy, crooked road. We came about six miles and found some feed to the left of the road on the side of the mountain.

            Saturday, 15th. It was pleasant weather. Brother J. Bill's team gave out and he left his wagon and put his load in different wagons. We traveled a half mile and camped at the foot of a very steep mountain that we had to cross. We took out part of the loads and doubled teams, and with a rope 250 feet long to the top of the mountain and twenty men to assist the teams we got up. We came five miles and bated, and then came to the Muddy. The feed was good, but wood scarce. Part of the road was very sandy.

            Sunday, 16th. The weather was pleasant, and we remained in camp. We saw a number of Indians in the evening.

            Monday, 17th. About noon today we moved camp up the creek about three miles and came to a river. It is called fifty- five miles to the next water after we leave here. The weather is rainy and the roads are bad.

            Tuesday, 18th. It has rained all night without any ceasing, which makes the roads very bad. We remained in camp today, and it has continued raining nearly all day. Last night the guards fired at what we supposed to be an Indian on the opposite side of the creek. It is with difficulty that we can get our animals to feed, it is so rainy.

            Wednesday, 19th. It was clear, pleasant weather, and we traveled ten miles, finding some feed, we bated. For half this morning we had to help the teams with ropes made fast to the wagons. The road then was gravel and sandy. We came about eight miles, the road being very bad. The animals sank to their knees every step. We found some water in holes and some bunch grass.

            Thursday, 20th. We traveled ten miles and found some feed on the sand bluffs. The road was much better, and we came twenty-five miles. The last three or four miles of the road was very bad. We arrived at the springs at 2 in the morning. Loot and Parks left their wagons, and Brother Granger left his and took Foot's wagon, it being lighter. The feed is scarce, it being buried over with sand. The wood also is scarce and the water is milk warm. There has been five animals and three wagons left since we started.

            Friday, 21st. This day we remained in camp. Mr. Noyle left his wagon and packed. We left our wagons and took his,, it being lighter. The weather is warm and pleasant.

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            Saturday, 22nd. Today we moved camp up the branch about three miles, the road being very bad and steep. There is plenty of feed.

            Sunday, 23rd. We traveled about eighteen miles, part of the road being rough and stony, and camped near a beautiful spring branch. There was plenty of bunch grass on the mountain and plenty of wood. Two of our company were run by some Indians, who were behind.

            Monday, 24th. About 2 o'clock this morning our animals were fired at by a party of Indians, which caused them to scatter. They ran off, but two of our men pursued them so close they got all but three belonging to Mr. Carr, which the Indians killed and quartered. One of the three was shot four times. Here I left the wagons and took Mr. Carr's. We traveled four miles and came to a spring branch, a poor camp, but we went on eight miles to a spring, where there was plenty of feed. We then came about twenty- five miles over a rough road and camped at a spring, the water being bad and a poor camp ground.

            Tuesday, 25th. We started at daylight this morning with the intention of stopping at a spring five miles ahead. After traveling about eight miles we stopped at last and found that the road ran about five miles east of the spring. Some of the company had started without eating their breakfast or taking in water. We came about twenty-five miles and camped at a spring, where the feed was nearly eat off, but the water was good and plenty of wood. We arrived here about half past 4 o'clock in the evening.

            Wednesday, 26th. We remained in camp today. Mr. Carr's horse that was shot by the Indians was left at this place, he being unable to travel.

            Thursday, 27th. The weather was pleasant. We found a man here with an arrow stuck in his side, and saw fresh Indian tracks. One of the guard saw an Indian in the brush just before daylight and fired at him. We started at 3 o'clock this afternoon and came ten miles, part of the road being sandy, and part of it run over a low, wet bottom. We crossed a small stream several times, but the water was not good. At 7.30 we camped at a spring, where the feed and water was good and wood plentiful.

            Friday, 28th. We started at 3 o'clock and came thirteen miles over a bad road and camped at spring No. 48, at the left of the road, where the water was brackish, poor feed and brush for fire. We arrived in camp about 9 o'clock. It rained about three hours this evening.

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            Saturday, 29th. We started at 8 o'clock, and came twelve miles over a sandy road. We stopped to rest, but there was no feed. We came twelve miles more and stopped and got supper. We came twenty-five miles and camped at spring No. 49. There was no feed and the water was brackish, the latter part of the road being good. We arrived here at 4 o'clock in the morning, but some of the company did not arrive until after daylight. We passed a number of cattle today and some wagons that were left.

            Sunday, 30th. We remained in camp today. There was a little coarse bunch grass one-half mile west near the road. We found three wagons with nearly all their loading in. left by some of the company ahead.

            Monday. 31st. We started this afternoon at 4 o'clock, came ten miles and stopped to rest, the road being sandy and uphill. We traveled all night and arrived at the Mohave at 8 o'clock in the morning. We had come forty miles.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1850.

            Tuesday, 1st. We arrived in camp today, part of the company coming up about noon. There is some pretty good feed about a mile across the river. There is good water and plenty- of wood. We have seen several wagons that were left and a number of dead cattle. One of the company found a mule here in pretty good order. Most of our company are short of provisions. We divided with them all we had to spare.

            Wednesday, 2nd. We started at 10 o'clock and came about fourteen miles, crossed the river and came three miles and camped. The first ten or twelve miles the road was sandy and ran a half to a mile from the river. The feed is good and plenty of wood. There was a company camped here last night. Their fires were burning when we arrived. Some of our packers remained in camp, among whom were Parke, Neagle and Fair.

            Thursday, 3rd. We started at daylight this morning and came about seven miles, where we found Captain Davis' company, as they had laid up for the day. I started for the settlement in company with Mr. Loot. We traveled about twelve miles over a sandy road and came to the river, traveled four miles further and stopped for the night. The feed was good and plenty of wood.

            Friday, 4th. We started at daylight and came about fifteen miles and stopped to feed, then we came twenty-five miles to Cahoon Pass. The latter part of the road was very rough. We camped at a spring where the feed was all eaten out, but there was plenty of wood. This afternoon it commenced raining and continued without any cessation all night.

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            Saturday, 5th. We started this morning at 4 o'clock. The water was rushing through the pass about three feet deep. It was with great difficulty that we could get along. Some places the water would roll our horses over. We came fifteen miles and found a wagon and camp there. We stopped to feed, after which we came fourteen miles and stopped at a ranch. It rained nearly all day.

            Sunday, 6th. We camped at William's Ranch. Here I found Brothers Rich and Hunt and some eighteen or twenty of the brethren all well. This is a beautiful valley. The hills look as green as they would in Salt Lake Valley in May.

            Monday, 7th. The weather was pleasant and the brethren were all preparing to start.

            Tuesday, 8th. It is still pleasant weather. Brother Rich is procuring wheat and getting it ground for our company. Brother Stoddard came in the evening and reported the company ten miles from here.

            Wednesday, 9th. The weather is fair. Our company arrived about noon, all well.

            Thursday, 10th. The two ox teams belonging to Brother Rich's company started this afternoon. We spent this day in getting our grinding done. The distance to this settlement is about 769 miles from the Utah Lake.

            Friday, 11th. We commenced our journey again today, and came ten miles and camped with the two ox teams belonging to Brother Rich's company. The feed is much better here than it is at William's Ranch. It commenced raining this evening. We are camped near the stream, where there is plenty of wood.

            Saturday, 12th. We remained in camp today. Brothers Rich and Hunt came up this evening, and we organized. J. Hunt was chosen captain.

            Sunday, 13th. We came ten miles and camped near a stream, where there was feed and wood plenty. The forenoon was rainy, which made the roads bad, but the afternoon was fair.

            Monday, 14th. The weather was pleasant and we came about seven miles and stopped to feed at the intersection of St. Gubrith, which is a most beautiful location. We found plenty of oranges on the trees. The Mission has been partly deserted since the move. Some of the fields are fenced with prickley pears that are planted in straight rows and grow from five to twenty-five feet high. We traveled three miles and camped near a small stream, but there was no wood.

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Prickley Pear or Cactus used for fencing;.

            Tuesday, 15th. We came about four miles and camped near the stream about a mile and a half from the City or Pueblo de Los Angeles.

            Wednesday, 16th. We remained in camp today, and laid in our groceries. Brother Davis and some two or three others arrived from the Tormage Train, and reported them in distress, and they sent in for assistance.

            Thursday, 17th. We came twelve miles and camped near a small stream and a deserted ranch, where there was good feed.

            Friday, 18th. The weather was pleasant this morning, and we killed a heifer. Brothers Rich, Hunt and some others are preparing to pack and go ahead of the wagons. The brethren were called together, who were to remain with the wagons and Howard Egan was elected captain by a unanimous vote of the company. We traveled twelve miles and camped near a spring, whore there was plenty of feed and wood.

            Saturday, 19th. We traveled about twelve miles today and camped near a spring, there being plenty of wood and feed. The roads today have been rough and crooked. Broth-

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ers Rich and Hunt let me have $53.00 this morning for the use of the company. The weather is beautiful for this season of the year.

            Sunday, 20th. We traveled about fourteen miles and camped near a small stream in an oak grove, where the feed was good. The pack company left us today and went ahead. We passed several small streams that would answer for camp grounds. The read was pretty good and the weather was pleasant.

            Monday, 21sst. We traveled about twenty-one miles and camped under the St. Altave. There were four or five ranches in sight, but poor feed, though plenty wood. The head of the river is about one hundred yards wide. We came down one of the steepest mountains today that I ever saw a wagon run over.

            Tuesday, 22nd. Last night we had a heavy rain, but the morning was pleasant. We traveled about six miles and stopped to feed. We then came about three miles and camped. There we inspected the Mission Buenentrance, near a stream within a quarter mile of the sea shore. There was plenty of feed and wood. The road has been good today. Our camp numbered 35 men, 1 woman, 20 horses and mules. 20 head of oxen and 5 wagons.

            Wednesday, 23rd. It was pleasant weather and we traveled about sixteen miles, most of the way down the beach. The roads were rough. We camped near a small stream in a grove where the feed was good. This is a beautiful camping place. About two miles back there is a creek and a good camp ground.

            Thursday, 24th. Last night it commenced raining and continued without any cessation all day today, so we remained in camp.

            Friday, 25th. It rained all night last night, and cleared about o'clock this morning. At 12 o'clock we proceeded on our journey. The roads were bad and we came about six miles and camped near a stream, where wood and feed was plenty. We passed several good camping places.

            Saturday, 26th. It was pleasant weather and we came about five miles and stopped to feed. One mile further we passed St. Abantres and traded one yoke of our cattle that were broke down, paying $10.00 to boot. We came six miles and camped in a grove near a creek, where there was first rate feed. The road has been very hard today.

            Sunday, 27th. It was fine weather and we came between nine and ten miles, the road being very bad. We crossed seven creeks, all of which are good camp grounds, there being plenty of wood and feed. Our camp ground this evening is a

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beautiful place on the seashore, and the best place we have had since we started, and a beautiful grove to camp in.

            Monday, 28th. It was fine weather, and we traveled about eleven miles. The road has not been so wet today, but very hilly. We camped near a spring branch, where there was plenty of feed and wood. We are within a half mile of the sea.

            Tuesday, 29th. We traveled about five miles and turned up a ravine, the road being very rough and rocky. It is about three miles to a ranch. We traveled about eight miles further and camped near a creek.

            Wednesday, 30th. Last evening we killed a beef. The fore part of the night was rainy. This morning five head of our cattle were missing. Most of our camp have been out hunting but could not find them. We got back to the camp about 10 o'clock and learned the cattle were about four miles from the mission.

FEBRUARY, 1850.

            Friday, 1st. We moved down across the River St. Yuness, which is about fifty yards wide. The mission of the same name is about half a mile from the river. The road we passed in the forenoon was very good. We crossed a very steep mountain, and from there to the ranch I rode with the company. About a mile past the ranch there is plenty of good wood and water; feed not so good. We traveled about eighteen miles today.

            Saturday, 2nd. It was pleasant weather. We traveled about sixteen miles and came to a river about six rods wide, came about two miles further and camped near a small stream, where there was plenty of feed, but wood scarce. The last two or three miles of the road was very bad.

            Sunday, 3rd. The weather was pleasant, and w'e came about three miles to a ranch. The road was bad in many places. We traveled twelve miles and camped in a valley near a spring branch, where there was plenty of wood and feed.

            Monday, 4th. It was a dandy morning and we traveled about one and a half miles over a. very hard road and came to St. Luke , a mission and a store. We traveled up the stream about six and a half miles and camped. Most of the road ran through a canyon. This is a beautiful camping place. The feed is very good and plenty of wood. We have traveled about eighteen miles today. All of the company are well except Brother John Bills, who is very sick.

            Tuesday, 5th. The weather is pleasant. We went about two miles up the canyon and crossed over the mountain. The

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road was pretty good and we came about four miles to the old mission. We have had very good weather today and have traveled about twenty miles. Two miles back we crossed the St. Miguel River, which is about fifty reds wide. At a ranch and store we purchased two beeves and paid $25.00 for them.

            Wednesday, 6th. Last night we camped under a white oak tree that measured twenty-two feet in circumference and the boughs measured 495 feet in circumference. The weather was fine and we traveled four and a half miles and came to the St. Miguel Mission, which is deserted. We came eight miles further to a large river about one hundred yards wide, which we crossed and camped, there being plenty of feed and wood.

            Thursday, 7th. The morning was cloudy and we came four miles to a river about fifty yards wide, traveled up the river about eight miles and camped at a deserted ranch. We crossed the river and traveled four miles further up the river, seven miles to a ranch. Las Hoetis, and camped, making twenty-three miles today. The feed is very short here, but plenty of wood. We have been traveling through a very poor country today. Two deer have been killed.

            Friday, 8th. It was fine weather and we came about eight miles and crossed the mountain and traveled down a beautiful valley. There was plenty of grass, but no water. We came ten miles to a deserted ranch, one mile further we came to the river Monterey and camped. We traveled about nineteen miles today, and the roads were first rate, with feed and water in plenty.

            Saturday, 9th. We came three miles to an Indian ranch, and nine miles further to a large river; eight miles to the Mission Soladen. Six miles from there we crossed the River Monterey. By raising our wagon boxes we got over without any difficulty. We traveled about twenty-one miles today, the roads being good, and there was plenty of wood and feed tonight.

            Sunday, 10th. The weather was fine, and we traveled a half mile and came to a ranch. The road leaves the river and runs parallel with it from three to five miles to a ranch to the left. Saw several ducks along the river. We came about twenty miles and camped in a grove, where there was plenty of feed, but water scarce.

            Monday, 11th. We traveled three miles and came to a ranch, then came fourteen miles over a very rough road, and from there on to San Juan Mission. We then came one mile further and camped.

            Tuesday, 12th. Last evening I received a letter that Broth-

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er Rich left at the mission, dated the 10th, one day ahead of us. Brothers Staden, Edward and myself started about 10 o'clock at night and found Brother Rich and company one mile from San Jose, about 8 o'clock this morning. The distance being 1 forty-five miles. We made arrangements to get provisions.

            Wednesday, 13th. We sent Franklin Edwards back to meet the company and stop the ox teams and send the other teams up after the provisions. Brothers Rich, Pratt, Hunt and Rollane started for San Francisco.

            Thursday, 14th. About noon the horse teams arrived, loaded up and started out a mile and camped.

            Friday, 15th. It was fine weather, and we traveled seventeen miles and came to the company. The brethren killed a heifer and several deer.

            Saturday, 16th. We started back about fourteen miles ou the road; where we came to Gillar's ranch. We then turned to the right and came four miles on the road to the Marapars diggins, part of the road being very wet.

            Sunday, 17th. We came six miles to Patgher's ranch. I rode ahead. We traveled ten miles up the Patgher's Pass and camped in a beautiful valley.

            Monday, 18th. The morning \vas cloudy, and we traveled about two miles and came to the foot of the mountain. Here we had to double teams for about two miles. We came about ten miles and camped in the Jousain Valley. The roads have been verv hilly and hard to travel. There is plenty of feed and wood.

            Tuesday, 19th. Last night we had a light rain. This morning Brother John Bills was much worse. The company remained in camp and about 10 o'clock this evening Brother Bills died. We moved camp about five miles.

            Wednesday, 20th. We traveled twenty miles and came to the San Jouaquin River, took our wagons apart and crossed them in a whale boat, for which we had to pay $87.50.

            Thursday, 21st. We traveled about eighteen miles up the Mercelda River and camped in a bend of the river, where the feed was good. The roads were sandy.

            Friday, 22nd. This morning six of our company went ahead to explore. We traveled about twenty miles and crossed the Mercelda River and camped.

            Saturday, 23rd. We traveled about ten miles and stopped to feed. Then sent four of our company out to explore. We traveled about four miles and camped near a spring branch.

            Here this journal or diary breaks off abruptly, except places and distances are given, which is of no interest now.

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            *At this point it may be well to review some of the facts in relation to the early settlement of California wherein Mormons had some hand. The ship Brooklyn sailed from New York with 235 Saints aboard in February, 1846. They stopped at Honolulu on the 20th of June and arrived at Yerba Buena (now San Francisco), California, July 29, and soon commenced agricultural work.

            The Mormon Battalion, that Father had returned from as they left Santa Fe, reached Pueblo de los Angles March 23, 1847, where they were ordered to erect a fort on a hill nearby. They were honorably discharged July 16. A number of them were employed by Capt. John A. Sutter to dig a mill race in September where gold was discovered in January, 1848, which excited the whole country and brought thousands across the plains.

            Upper California, which included Utah, was ceded to the United States by Mexico in February, 1848. In the middle of June, 1849, parties from the east began to arrive in Salt Lake on their way to California gold mines, and the people were much enriched trading with them. Father and others returned in the fall of 1850. Missionaries were sent there at different times and quite a number were sent to make a settlement, which was finally abandoned.