“Away, Away, to the Mountain Dell”

IMPROVEMENT ERA. Vol. X. JULY. 1907. No. 9 "AWAY, AWAY, TO THE MOUNTAIN DELL." During the year 1861, about four thousand Saints crossed the plains, in various companies,and at different periods, from June to September. The fourth company (an independent one) was organ- ized near Florence, Nebraska, June 23, Homer Duncan, captain; H. Talbot, chaplain; Thomas George Odell, secretary. The com- pany comprised two hundred and seventy-four souls, forty-seven wagons, one cart, two hundred and fourteen yoked oxen, eighty- nine loose cattle, and fifteen horses and mules. Thomas George Odell, father of Hon. George T. Odell, was the third recorder of Ogden City, and for years foreman of its — pioneer paper the Ogden Junction. He wrote a striking word- picture of a "Mormon" emigration train and life on the plains, in those days. The following extracts quoted from Edward H. Anderson's manuscript History and Departed Builders oj Weber County, will be interesting to the present generation. Mr. Odell says, writing to his father in England: This company started from near Florence, Nebraska, on the 25th of June, 1861, at eleven o'clock, and camped at Little Papillon at four o'clock. This was but a short distance, and served as a trial journey, giving an opportunity, if any- thing had been forgotten, to procure it before we left the abodes of civilization to

642 IMPROVEMENT ERA. cro33 a desert twelve hundred miles in extent, a journey occupying three months. During the encampment at this place the male portion were called together and addressed by the captain. A. resolution was passed that this company sustain and help each other in case of sickness, distress, accident, attack from Indians or other disaster, till their arrival in Great Salt Lake City. Firearms and other weapons of defense were examined and the company ordered to prepare for an early start in the morning. The duty of the captain was to guide the company across the desert and the rivers, and to find places for camping where wood, water and grass could be easily got. The captains of tens were to overlook those under their charge, and to see them safely through difficult places. The sergeant had to appoint the guard and see that they were at their posts. The guard consisted of two men from each ten, every man in the company taking his turn as his name appeared on the roll. The first guard was from eight p. m. till eleven p. m. ; the next from eleven till two a. m. , and the next from two a. m. till five a. m. He had also to appoint two men from each ten wagons to drive up the cattle in the morning. The chaplain's duty was to call the camp to prayer every night and morning —the secretary's to record the events of the day's journey. * * * I shall content myself with describing one day's journey together with any inter- esting events that occurred on the route. At daybreak on the 26th the camp was astir, fires were lighted, breakfast made, tents struck, and every one was busy, for we had orders for an early start. In this, we were disappointed. The rain which had been falling all night still continued, and the grass being so high that in many places it reached to the waist, made everything wet and comfortless. Some of the cattle which had been fed for some weeks past at farms, a few miles distant, had strayed. After hunting for some time the missing cattle were brought back, and the start was made. The country in this part was very hilly and muddy, and the cattle having been idle for some weeks, were stubborn and awkward, and but few of us being acquainted with driving ox teams, rendered the day's travel very trying to the patience of all concerned. We got through without any accident of consequence, and camped at four o'clock, lighted the camp-fires, made our coffee, and chatted over the events of the day. I do not know any sight more imposing than to see fifty wagons, some with eight, some with six, and others with four oxen attached, and here and there a horse and mule team, forming a line more than a mile in length, journeying across these desert plains; with men, women and children walking by the side, some rid- ing in the wagons, others on horseback, and the loose cattle bringing up the rear. The camp at night is formed by driving the wagons up in a circle, leaving about a yard between each. This answers several purposes — it provides a corral to drive the cattle into in the morning for yoking up, it renders the company more compact in case of an attack, and is more convenient for communication. The letter then gives in daily detail the leading events of the journey. We have only space for a few samples: On the 27th of June the team belonging to the cart stampeded, upsetting it

"AWAY, AWAY, TO THE MOUNTAIN DELL." 643 No damage done, but the owners frightened. A wagon mired in a mudhole. Several extra yoke had to be hitched on to pull it out. On the 30th, we met with a band of Pawnee Indians who were going to fight the Sioux. They were painted over the face, chest and legs, with feathers on their heads, and looked extremely savage. There were several thousands of them camped alongside the Platte River. We gave them some flour and some bread and i few other trifles. July 2nd, we crossed the Platte which is about a quarter of a mile wide. The wagons were gotten over on a kind of raft, the cattle were driven in and had to swim. One heifer was drowned. Auguiit 5th, ransacked many of the wagons, casting away much to lighten the loads. We had now nearly seven hundred miles to go. * * * ****** September 5th, two teams gave out; we had to unload their wagons, and dis- tribute their goods throughout the camp and their wagons were hauled the remain- der of the journey empty. ***** ****** September 8th, camped at the mouth of Echo Canyon; and on the 9th on the Weber, where one of my cows died. September 13th, crossed the Little Mountain and arrived in the public square, 8th ward. Great Salt Lake, at four in the afternoon in good health and spirits. We journeyed along more like a company bent on pleasure than one crossing a desert. * * * After camping, which was mostly beside a stream, fishing parties would be made, and dancing, music and singing formed amusements which served to beguile away the time. Everything was done to render the journey pleasant. * * j Qjjiy heard of two or three who tried to be miserable, and endeavored to make others so. Of the cattle, one heifer was drowned, four oxen died, five cows died and two calves. The sick recovered before the end of the journey. One child died and two children were born. On the arrival of the company in Great Salt Lake City, a great many of the citizens came to see the people, some on foot, some on horseback, and some in carriages. The famous historical artist of Utah, George M. Ottlnger, came to the Valley in 1861. He was born in Springfield Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1833, and was therefore about twenty-seven years of age at the time. He has a very inter- esting collection of sketches taken on the journey, and has per- mitted the Era to reproduce the accompanying cut from his beautiful painting, "Away, Away to the Mountain Dell, " one of the most characteristic productions ever made of a train crossing the plains. There were about six hundred people in the company, with ninety-two wagons and a cart. It was an independent com-

644 IMPROVEMENT ERA. pany, but all were Church people, one half of whom were from England; the remainder were mostly English also, who had been living in the states. One man in the company had ten wagons. Two and three yoke of cattle were attached to each wagon. An incident or two of the journey related by Mr. Ottinger must suffice: I think it was on the 2nd day of August that we first sighted Chimney Rock. On the 3rd we could see the rock all day long. As we rolled into camp that night, itwas between five and six o'clock, Mrs. Silver, wife of Joseph Silver, a baker, in jumping from the train, that being in the days when ladies wore crinoline hoops, her skirts caught on a bolt in the wagon and she was thrown under the wheels. Her leg and her arm were broken, her ear was torn nearly away from her head, and her breast from her body. She was carried off to a tent, as soon as one could be erected, and Mr. Fred Ferris and myself, with some other assistance, managed by working during a terrible rain storm (for it commenced raining that night) to set her leg and arm, to stitch her ear and sew up her wounds the best we could with our limited surgical knowledge and with the crude instruments we had. We camped close to Chimney Rock, it being not more than two or three miles away. We had been up nearly all night attending to Mrs. Silver, but I de- termined to start off in the morning, at daylight, to get a sketch of the Rock. I walked until nearly half past ten o'clock, but the Rock seemed as far off as ever. However, at length I got near enough to the Rock to make a sketch. It seemed to be about the same distance away from me all the time. After painting a sketch of the Rock, I caught up with the train, only after it had gotten into camp that evening. We had marched about seventeen miles that day. The day following we stopped at Chimney Rock Stage Station. Here very fortunately they were in need of a cook, and Mrs. Silver's husband being a baker, they employed him. We left Mrs. Silver and her husband here, the jolting of the wagon being so very painful to her, that they could not continue the journey. They stayed at the station that summer and winter, and came out to Utah the following year. She recovered completely. At Horse Creek, the day after we left Mrs. Silver, and while we were still in sight of the Rock, John Morse died. He was an Englishman. We buried him that night on a little knoll near the camp. He was buried by torch light. It was the most melancholy sight that I had ever witnessed. There was a terrible thun- der storm, with accompanying lightning. The coyotes were barking and howling. The rains and dismal darkness added weirdness to the sad ceremonies. He was a man about fifty or sixty years old, and was alone in camp, without any relatives. One afternoon while we were still near Chimney Rock, I was going along be- hind the train taking sketches. I saw a man some distance away, and goir.g over to him I found him kneeling by a rough grave-board, two girls standing beside him. On the board was the crude record of his brother's death. His brother had started for the valley two or three months before, and he knew nothing of his

"AWAY, AWAY, TO THE MOUNTAIN DELL." 645 fate until he saw his name on the board, which had been hurriedly erected by his companions over his lonely grave. Mr. Otting:er gives the following explanation of the painting here reproduced, which represents his company and their train The figure in white represents the Church. There were quite a few English people, and as a general rule, English girls are great singers —the men, too. At that time concertinas, mandolins, and guitars were great features. The crowd I was in would go ahead of the train in the morning, singing and playing on their instruments. It made the journey lively, but along about the middle of the afternoon, sometimes before dinner time, we were often well played out. To the left of the Church, with a hat on and a hymn book in his hand, is a missionary and his wife. Her sister is on his right, and a sailor lad from South Hampton, who is paying some attention to her, is playing on a concertina. Another young man is also interested, but is left in the background looking over her shoul- der. To the left of the sailor is an old shoemaker from Norwich playing the flute, and his boy is walking beside him whistling. A Norwich man is driving the leading team. To the extreme left are a young boy and a girl. They have found an ox head. It was customary in those days, when a train was passing along, if the company found the head of a buffalo or an ox, to write on it that such and such train passed today, and give the date; all well;' or if anyone had died, that they had buried so and so. Back of the figure representing the Church is an old gentleman and his daughter from Leamington. They are joining in, of course, in all At the right of the picture is the captain of the train, on of this concert. horseback, and walking beside him a widow with her little girl. The captain is pointing to the finders of the ox skull, and asking the widow's son, just back of the umbrella to go learn what is written on this ox skull. To the extreme right is one of the guards with a gun on his shoulder.By the second wagon, we have an old gentleman and his wife from Cambridge. This old couple came along arm in arm so precise were they in the way of etiquette that they would not pay a visit to ; the next wagon without sending in their card. Beyond the foreground is a crowd of people marching along in conversation, not doing anything in particular to note, and yet tramping along with the train. In the background is Chimney Rock so often called the Half-way House. It is a part of the bluffs rising from the plains of the Platte, and there one begins to notice the first indication of the Rocky Mountains. Of all those who crossed the plains during the ox-train times, who does not remember that striking scene Half of the journey was over; the next half would land the pilgrims in the Great Salt Lake Valley — the longed for haven of rest July, 1847; May 1869! The span represents the days of ox- teams for Utah! The Pioneers entered the Valley, July 24, 1847, and the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad was grandly cele- brated May 10, 1869. As soon as the steam whistle echoed

646 iMPROVEMEhil ERA. through the Wasatch range, the knell was sounded of the old method of transportation, and the days of the ox team thereafter were speedily over. For more than twenty years the 'Mormon'' ' emigrant train had been a regular feature of the plains, and a characteristic picture of the overland trail. With feelings of profound gratitude we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the settlement of Utah. With deep thankfulness for the achievements that have been wrought in the past, the heart is delighted to contemplate the glories of the present, and to preview the splendors of the years to come. It is a pleasure to live today. We have a host of substantial blessings to be thankful for — peace, plenty, honorable 'parentage, the faith and valor of the Pioneers, and, nationally, the splendid heroism of the Revolutionary fathers, and the strength and sacrifice of great men and women who have given us liberty under our dear, and beloved flag! How good, after all, under these divine mercies, it is to live in a world like this! In return, we owe respect to these agencies which have so contributed to our comfort and happiness. We can never repay the debt except by becoming good workers and noble citizens of Church, State, and Nation. That is what they demand and expect of the present generation: their best efliorts, energetic work, model citizenship, exemplary, honest, vir- tuous lives, bent upon repaying to others the kindness shown to them. Appreciating as much as you can the gifts and the struggles of the fathers and mothers of ox-team days, young man and sweet maid of the mountains, in your 4th and 24th of July celebrations this month, give thanks to God for the changes that have come, for the bounteous blessings that have resulted, and for the pros- pects and promises in view. Salt Lake City, Utah. BULLYING ONE'S TEMPERAMENT. Men may quite easily be distinguished as thoSe who live with things and those who live with ideas those who love a crowd and those who love solitude those ; ; who are bullied by their temperaments and those who bully their temperaments, which latter class get acquainted with iheir own souls and know the value of ideas.