38. John Crook, 1831-1921

Journal entries for 1851 and 1852

Transcription

1851

Jan. 1. We left Old England to come to American In the Ship Ellen they were about 475 Passangers about 25 crew &;Caption making in all about 500 Souls We left River Mersey Liverpool About the 8 of January. Cloudy disagreable day raining &;Blowing in the Evening very dark About 10 O Clock at night a Schooner crossed our track and we colloded with her She caught in our Gibboon broke it swoung round to the side of the "Vessel &;broke the Main Yard Arm &;Fore yard - And we had to put in Cardigan Bay North Wales for repairs We stayed to the 23^rd of Jany (adverse winds the curse) &;then set Sail again. One week in the Irish Channel Head wind all the time The morning of the 31^st when we got up we had fair wind all the sails reefed waves running Mountains High. Going about 9 nots a hour. Had very good weather then untill we got to the West Indias Islands then we were becalmed two or three Days. We Sailed between Jamaco &;San Domingo Islands.

March 13. Came in sight of the Mississippi Could see the line of the river water a long time

---16 A tug Boat took two more Vessells besides ours up to New Orleans

March 18 Started up the River for St Louis We Paid 2 dollars per head Luggage free

---25^th landed in St Louis it was very cold Snow on the ground while there Stayed untill

April 13. Then Started fo[r] Kanesville, or Councill Bluffs City. Fare 5 Dollars per head.

20 days on the road on a sand bar 3 days very cold weather river very low. Had to Back down many a time, Great amount of Snaggs to be seen. Landed all safe

May 2ndThe Saints were fitting to start for S. L. City or Utah Peter Holden Bought a farm from a man named Enderson about 100 acre, 10 acres Plowed the rest wood land. three log cabins on the farm We had a very hot &;wet Summer, every night most clouds would rise in the West, then would rain Thunder &;lightening -- terible to behold

1852 Journal Continued

May In the Spring Father worked about Six Weeks fitting w/i wagons. They said all should go as wanted to go. But when the time came around for going We could not get a chance to go, (no room they said) Me &;my Bro in Law Edmund Kay worked 2 or 3 weeks chopping &;splitting timber for wagons &;we were engaged as teamsters to go with a train of Machinery for working up the Beet into Sugar. In Charge of John Taylor &;Russel But father said we must stay and go altogether next year if we could get a chance

Peter Holden sold is farm to a man named McPherson that same year for less then he give for it and crossed the Plains with Thomas Hickens

1852 Journal Continued

All the talk through the Winter &;spring was to fit up &;prepare to gather in a body to Utah coming summer so everybody that could work turned in &;were organized in Companies some working fitting up wagons &;chassis yokes &Cetra;others in Timber splitting &;preparing the Timbers. About the first of May they commenced Organising Companies &;starting them west.

Apostle Orson Hyde with [Ferimore?] little were in charge of this seasons Emigration.

About 20 Companies I think left for Utah. All that could posibly fit up did so, some youking up Cows &;yearling Sters. I saw several Teams with yearlings yoked in. When Father was told that there was no show for him to get away, He felt very bad over it, After the authorities promising that all that turned in &;worked none should be left behind, In fact he neve[r] seemed to get over it, &;seemed to have no life left for anything. And in the month of July he took the chills &;fever In about 2 weeks he was a Corpse, died broken hearted, He died on the 2^nd of August, on the 3^rd he was Buried, in the Cemetry miles north of Kanesville.

Myself &;Bro-in-Law Edmund Kay had to dig the Grave, none coming around to give an helping had An old man name of Greer living close by took compassion about the last moments &;proffered to haul the corpse &;did so to the cemetry this being all that was present outside of our own family, we filling the grave This seemed very had to bear, Being strangers also in the Counry. Peter Holding having sold his farm we had to look out for another home. Hearing of some improvements to be sold, 1 mile south of Kanesville in what was called Geo. A. Smiths Hollow. We went to examine said places &;bought 2 claims Oppisite each other One of 4 Acres under fence &;Log Cabin on it &;one unfinished, Claim belonging to one Saunders Paying him 5 Dollars for quit Claim deed. And the other oppisite owned by Edward Pay 3 Acers fenced with brush fence &;log Cabin 4 Dollars So we moved right away &;put in some crop. This Hollow was very sickly place, facing the Missouri Swamp Bottoms caused Chills &;fever very much therefore myself &;Sister Alice contracted the disease which stayed with us until next spring. Shaking every Day untill Cold weather set in, The Chills where lighter &;not so often say about every 3 days So we concluded to move out of this sickly Hollow