Captain James Brown
Biographical and Historical Notes
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James Brown Company, 1854
Mitchell, Hezekiah, Journal, 1854 June-Sept.
Tuesday 18th The Dr’s company started a little ahead of us but we kept in sight of them frequently we might have overtaken them but President [James] Brown manafest considerable wisdom in not forcing the cattle, but giving them time to rest at dinner and time to feed and drink. No timber for fire and but little water, traveled 17 miles.
Saturday 22nd Left Camp ground after breakfast, prayers, singing and excellent counsel from Pres. Brown. Fine day and good order in our marching. Saw four wagons and one buggy, they may be apostates from Salt Lake City; kept marching along Little Blue. Some thunder in the evening. Camped after traveling 16 or 17 miles.
Saturday 29th Rolled out at 25 minutes to 7 o’clock in order. My steer still lame, but got along as well as any other considering all things, traveled till about 11 and then set down for dinner. Saw a considerable number of buffalo. Warm misty day. Dr. [Darwin] Richardson’s Company put out before us after dinner, we followed at one o’clock; Saw eight wagons returning from Salt Lake. They were apostates, one family I knew were from Nottingham, England, by the name of Soar. I soon finished up with them. Some little disorder after watering our teams, camped where there was wood plenty of water and grass. Called on the [to] pray by President Brown at our evening meeting. He made some good remarks in the shape of council. Traveled 15 miles.
Sunday 30th On watch from 4 to 6 in the morning. Elder [James] Brown shot a young buffalo and called on us to go and get some. Cleaned out my wagon, washed myself all over. President Brown was kicked by his horse which hurt him considerable, by his request Elder Buckland and myself anointed him with oil and laid hands on that the Lord might bless and relieve him of his pain, he received benefit from the ordinance. Called on by the Chaplin to pray at the opening of our meeting. Agerman Elder addressed us for a short time and then spoke to his brethren in the German language. Elder Buckland and myself also spoke and gave such council as we were led by the Spirit. Good meeting, the Spirit was with us. Sang in Brother Brown’s tent. Very fine day, one or two Californians passed us today with mules. Saw the prairies on fire at a distance.
Monday 31st Moved out from camping place at 7. My steer very lame yet, traveled on till about 12 then set down for dinner; it came very hot at this time. Traveled on as usual saw a considerable number of buffalo. Shortened President Brown’s stirrup to give him more ease in riding. Journeyed about 17 or 18 miles, at our prayer meeting there was manifest a spirit of dissatisfaction yea even rebellion against the order which President Brown had persued. Captain Obery [Obray] appeared at the head of it and wanted reason or reasons to have the made of things altered; Oh! I dislike such spirits.
Tuesday August 1st, 1854 Set out on our journey as before but President Brown and one or two more stayed with Sister Wolerton to assist her because one of her cows was calving. At dinner my steer gave out, I put in his place Sister Wolerton’s cow by permission of President Brown. Traveled well after. Met a company returning from Fort Larimie [Laramie], they had returned in 13 days. Camped near the timber and Platt[e] River, plenty of grass, wood and water. Went to meet my son and Wolerton’s Wagon, some thunder and symptoms of rain, on watch from 4 to 6 in the morning. Through difficulties and trails that we get to the Mountains. Traveled 16 miles.
Wednesday 2nd Rather uncomfortable in traveling because it had rained. A sort of wet day, cloudy with some thunder. President Brown seeing we were putting out [our] lame ox in yoke, he said he would die before we got ten miles, he got me Sister Thorp’s cow in his place, she does not travel as well as some does, traveled some 18 miles, turned off the road a mile and a half where there was grass, wood and water, and with all plenty of misquitos in the bargain.
Friday 4th Moved on at 7. Brother Brown said we should have some flour and he would see if he could let us have a steer, he is a first rate man, has the good of the Saints at heart. Quite unwell today, road all day, fine but cold. When we got near to where we were for camping to our unspeakable joy we met Elders Benson and Snow of the Twelve and O. Spencer, Eldridge and others from the Valley on missions, one to England the others to the States, all well. We had a first rate meeting, Brothers Spencer and Benson addressed us. Traveled 18 miles. Left the Danish camp.
Sunday August 6, 1854 After prayers, etc. we put out on our journey, traveled 12 miles and came to the South Fork of the Platt[e] River. Got a little dinner then crossed it by fording the same, very ruff sandy bottom, not two feet in deepest part of the water, other parts not over the shoe tops, camped just on the river bank. Good meeting and excellent advice from Pres. Brown. Fine day.
Monday 7th Put out as usual after the preliminaries. On guard from 3 to 5. The cattle a little disturbed which made them run right and left. President Brown requested me to go with him and speak with Sister [Mary] Wolerton in reference to her cow because she was not able to travel. She was willing to let her go where she would, therefore I with others unyoked her. No water where we started to get a little dinner. Met after dinner a company of persons returning from Fort Larimie [Laramie] who said there was a company about 3 miles ahead of us. Came to a very steep hill to go down before we got into Ash Hollow, got down without any accident. Some disorder getting over the bottom because of some of the wagons in the Second Company going out of their place and it being a sandy road which made President Brown very cross. Camped near the River, the other camp had moved off before we got there, they must have heard that we were on hand, traveled 18 miles. Brother Fielding’s wagon oversits.
Monday 21st Commenced repairing the wagons, put two new fellows and one new spoke in one wheel that had been broken, put ark on others and heated the tires so that they were tight when cold. In the after part of the day President Brown was taken ill of the Cholera. I administered to him but he appeared no better, he was much cramped in his bowels and legs. He requested us to lay hands on him and I to be mouth, while speaking a flow of Heavenly Light came into me which manafested that he would get better. He felt the same. Carried him into his tent and waited on him for a while. Then he requested me to see about the wagons again. After retiring to bed, President Brown sent Captain Booth to call me up with a few more, when were informed the Indians were coming in the morning to destroy the Trading Post. We did not know but their intentions were to molest us too. In consequence after mature deliberation we deemed it wisdom to fix our wagons as soon as possible, in the night and put out on our journey as soon as it was daylight and avoid them if possible.
Saturday 26 Crossed the Upper Plat[te] by fording it in the shape of a half moon, when we had forded the River, I baptised for the remission of sins my daughter Maria [Mitchell] in the river before the wagon had left the bank. Very ruff road and uneven. Camped near the river. Saw a mineral spring some of the water flowed in the river. At our Meeting President Brown confirmed my daughter, I assisting. Traveled 15 miles.
Friday 8th Rather cloudy with signs of rain. A few cattle shod this morning. After a while we moved out on our route, crossed Sweetwater, passed Captain Buckland’s Company passed a log cabin and in the bottom crossed a sort of creek or slough, then to a circle around and ascended up the hill for 3 or 4 hundred yards, which brought us to a good road. Saw two large hills or mounds on our left. Met a wagon, 3 men and a number of cattle from the Valley going to assist Williams last train. Rained some and very cold. Passed the twin mounds then turned to the North a quarter and found a beautiful camping place, where there is a Mud House, forded the river, fixed our wagons near the river and at the edge of the willows. Cut our 5 shoes and punched 12 for President Brown. My son and Williams and two of Gray’s sons appointed to guard the cattle all night, a mile and a half from camp, all gave out except my son, then I was called to go with my son, but I objected to it because it was not my son reasonable for two to go out of one family (Pres. Brown said that was right)[.] Gray would not let his boys go, coward that he is. President Brown and my son went and staid all night. Brother Brown was very angry and well he might.
Saturday 9th Fine morning, assisted in shoeing cattle all day, punched a few shoes for Pres. Brown after my days labor was called to stand guard all night, which I though[t] was not right, because it was not my turn. A number of laxy [lazy] fellows in camp that will not do a thing if they can avoid it, however, I went and stood guard.
Thursday 14th Traveled one and a half miles this morning, took our cattle out to graze, breakfasted, then got 200 lbs. flour at $10.00 per hundred. They are jobial [jovial] fellows. President Brown let me use one of his cattle with my one which made my team complete. Two wagons here that were left by Capt. Buckland not being able to proceed for lack of team. Went on our way with light hearts. Forded Big Sandy about noon, eat a little, then proceeded on our route. Saw 8 wagons and teams from Salt Lake City with flour and oxen for the trains journeying over the plains, met several of the men on horse back with pleasant countenances and as cheerful as larks, corraled near the Big Sandy, three gentiles wagons on the other side of the Creek. President Brown got two yoke of cattle from the company. At our meeting Brother Adams was appointed Sargent of guard and Marshal of the Company in the place of Brother Mackswell [Maxwell] who gave up his office because of President Brown had told his faults. Also Brother Brown got a yoke of cattle which Sessions had sent for Brother Mackswell[.] he was not to have them except he needed them. Anyhow the Captain of the Company was to have the disposal; it was resorted and carried in court that President Brown do as he sees best with them. On guard.
Sunday 17th Set out about seven, got the road before Dr. Richardson, that camp very sick. Met three wagons from the valley with provisions for the trains. Traveled 22 miles, camped on Hams Fork, good meeting, called on to speak, rejoiced in speaking. President Brown gave some good council to the Sisters. Some eight or ten brethern from the Valley on guard.
Tuesday 19th day of September 1854 Set out at about 8, fine morning, good road, forded Blacks Fork the fourth time, crossed several places but no water in, passed four creeks near the Fort, only water in one. On the other side we crossed two and camped near the main Creek. Very swift current. As soon as Captain Buckland saw us they put out immediately. The Fort is composed of four log houses forming a square with the entrance on the East side and on the North side a square inclosure for horses. Altitude 6665. Old Bridger resides at the fort, I understand with others. There is a branch of the Church about 12 miles from the Fort, south on Smith’s Fork, under the Presidency of Elder Israel Bullock. Captain Brown would have traded for a fat beef if the wants of the company of about covered the weight, but only about 200 lbs were put down. Excellent meeting, good testimonies to the truth. President Brown made some very good remarks on the same subject. I had been conversing with Sister Wood in the course of the day. Pronounced the Benediction. Traveled 15 miles.
Thursday 28th Lost a few of our cattle in the night and could not find them till late in the afternoon, ordered to put out and find a place to camp and as many as were ready to go with me. As soon as I had started, they came with the cattle. Met Brother Brown’s son and nephew. Had hard hauling up Big Mountain got up however, very steep coming down. Saw a portion of the Valley. Camped on Brown’s Creek, on watch.
Friday 29th Put out again and passed the Richardson Camp, the little mountain was hard to get up, having to double teams and as steep to get down. The canyon was hard to get along having to ford the creek so frequently, was very unwell in body which caused me to stay behind my wagon for a while. Did not get into Salt Lake till late in the evening, being week in body and the camp on the north west side of the City near Jordan Bridge. A good Sister gave me and son a very strong invitation to go back to her house if we could not find the camp, says she, “you shall not want for anything to eat or drink, because we have plenty”. First rate place the Valley.
Pratt, Orson, to Brigham Young, 29 June 1854, in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 54, box 41, fd. 2.
