Bowen, David D. - Journal 2

HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF DAVID D BOWEN

From Birth 1842 I David D. Bowen was born June 6, 1822, at 9 o clock A.M. at Velin

voel near Llanelly in the county of Carmarthen South Weles Great Brittain. I am the

3rd son of John and Ann Bowen. My father was the first son of William and Frances

Bowen. My mother was the daughter of William and Cathrain Davis.

 

My grandfathers family consisted of four sons and 2 daughers, viz, John, Nancy,

Sarah, William, Daniel and David. My fathers family consisted of four sons and four

daughers, viz, William, John, David D, Mary 2 Sarah one died an infant the other was

named Sarah after her, Daniel and Ann.

 

My brother William was born on the 15 day of August 1814. John was born April 9,

1819. Mary was born in August 1824. Sarah was born in March 1827. Daniel died when a

child. Ann was born in January 1831.

 

I was very sickly when a child and when I was eight years old I went to work in the

coal pits, and when ten years old I got the bone of my right arm brock throught an

accident which layed me up for some time. I work very hard from that time in coal

pits in and about Llanely untill the spring of 1839, when I and 2 more boys left our

homes on the 20 of April and got to Merthyr Tidfel the 22. Two days on our journey.

Work in and about Merthyr untill the spring of 1840, when I retern home to my

fathers house in Velin Voel. Work there til the latter part of sumer, when I was

atacted with a very voielent fever and by the middle of Suptember I was wel when I

made up my mined that I would try some other work, and on the 20 day of Suptember

1840, I shiped on board the James Shooner, Simon Samuel Master, and in a few days

after I had shiped on board the James we set sails for Palmough in Cornwall Ingland

and before we were out at sea very far I found myself very sick from the rocking and

piching of the vessil, and in three days we arrived in Palmough safe and sound with

the carco which was coal, and in a few days we were redy to return home again and in

three weeks from the time we started from home we where again. I continued in that

tread intil the sumer of 1842 when I left the James and shiped on board the William

Henry of Llanelly, Capt. Phillip Ball, Master, when was bound for Southampton South

of Igland. Return home and commence in the Irish tread to Cork, Waterford, Belfast,

Ross, Drashady and many other places in Ireland. I continued in the same vefsel and

trade intill the sumer of 1844, when about June 1844 Capt. Ball hauled up his vessel

in concequence of the trade being slack and he disgarge his crew. And I with the

reast of the hands were compeled to seke another place when I shiped on board the

Lord Raid brigg Capt. John Samuel bound for Dundock Ireland. We got ready for sea

and started with fair wind and went as far as Milford Islands when the wind cam from

the Southwest and blewed a herican that we could not whether the islands and had to

be put back for Millford Haven and there we layed wind

 

 

bound for one week, and on a Sunday morning the wind abated. Still from South West

and a fair wind for us if we could only whether the islands. We weighed our anchor

and set sails and away we went and by next morning we where round the point. Up the

Irish or St. George channel we steered with fair winds and plenty of it. By noon

shee came to blow more and more intill we where oblidge to furld all our sails

except the fore sail, when on the morning of the third day out we where compled to

furld even the fore sail the only sail we had set. Then we run from day light to

breakfast under bare poles and the brigg was runing seven and half mile per hour and

the sea runing mountain high. As soon as the breakfast was over the captain give

orders to lighten the carco by throughing it over board. We set to work and comence

throughing the coal (for that was our carco) overboard. When we where all this

engage in lightening the vessel (except the Captain Heim at the helem) the sea

runing faster then the vessel her being under bare poles a wave like a mountain

broke on our stern and struck the vessel lifeless, and the same as if shee was going

to the bottom of the sea instrantly. There shee layed dead for a few moments

hopelefs of recovery. I was in the hold filling the coal when the accedent took

place, the water falling in big streems on my head. I thought surely that shee was

in the bottom of the sea, at the same time trayed my best to get out of the

miserable hole. By the time I got up on deck I cannot describe my feelings. Evry

thing was sweept clean from the deck by the mursyless wave and the Captain was

carryed from the helem and stuck under the waindlass the fore part of the vessel.

When I found him there he was scenceless and on examination I saw that his arm was

brock. The tiler was unshiped then there was nothing to steer the vessel and shee

was turning and going where ever the wind blew her. The mate had some of his ribs

brock. Boat was tore to pieces. The galley carryed over board. The bullworks carryed

away fore and aft. By this time the vessel had recovered & all hands on deck. The

vessel had to go where shee had a mind to no one to steer her. The wind from the

South West glowing a gale and the sea runing mountain high. Shee turned her bow to

the North West. Shee came broadside to the waves and when we where all hands this

thinking of the accident that happen, we shed another wave coming like a high

mountain. All hands thought surely that shee would swallow us up in the sea and that

shee would strike the vessel into thousands pieces. And the Captain lifted up his

hand to heven and exclimed with a loud voice 0 Lord boys what shall we do. All the

boys run up the mast in case the wave would breack on the vessel and carry us all

away, but when the wave was about twenty yards off shee brock and did not reach the

vesses. Then everyone that could do something commence preparing her for the sea. We

hoysted up some of the necessary sails for her to lay too as the sailors calls it.

Then shee swim the waves very comfortable or rather very uncomfortable, for we had

to pump for two days and two nights, because the water was runing continualy to hold

in concequence of the tarpaauling being brock. Nothing to prevent the water to go

in. We where then opposide Holy Head light house North Weles. Here we layed too for

two days and nights, and on the morning of the third day the wind abated a little

but still from the South West. We unfurled our fore sail and hoysted up or tope sail

and away we steered about South East for the harbor of Bewmaris in

 

 

 

Anglesey North Weles where we stayed two weeks repering and other things. Surely our

ship was in a miserable condision and looked as if shee had at sea for twelve

months. The Captain went to Leverpool to get his arm set, and he return in nine

days. During the time we were at Bewmaris I receved a letter from home stateing that

the news was there that the vessel was lost and all hands perish. This was somewhere

about the 27 June 1844. During my stay at Bewmaris I vissited the bouteful Meme

Bridge, which is extended acros the mene straits and conecting the counties of

Carnarvan and Anglesey. It is an excelent workmanship and a bountyful construction.

I vissited Banger and other places. After having everyt hing well repeared we set

sail again for Dundock with fair wind and arrived at our destination in two days.

Stayed there about one week and started for home and got there safe, and our friends

where glad to see us after our hard voyege. When we arrived at Llanelly Capt. Samuel

hauled up his vessel owing to his broken arm. I then shiped on board the brig

Rambler of Llanelly Captain Mitgaff Sunderland man. Bound for London. We where two

weeks on our passedge owing to contrary winds and bad wether. We had to putin to

many places wind bound. We stayed in London five weeks. During my stay in the great

city of London, the great metropolis of the British Empire. I vissited many of the

princebal pieces as St. Pawls, the new London Bridge and the Poutful tunnel under

the Thames, and many other places. Started for home and arrived there about the 20

of Suptember 1844. All hands where paid off and in a few days I shiped on board a

big bark by the name of Superior of Dundee Scotland, Wm. Henryson, bound for

Valbariso, Cjioli, in the South Pacific seas on the west coast of South America. I

went on board of the Superior on the 27 of Suptember 1844 and the next day 28th it

being Sunday, we unmored from the warff and the sterner hariet was made fast in the

bark and towed her out the distance of eighteen mils to the open sea. When I left

the dock I bid farwell to all my friends and reletives for I did not know when I

would return if ever or not, very uncertain. My dear father and my brother John was

on the pier head witnessing my departure from my native land and town with tears in

their eyes, thinking that praps they would never see me no more. On the night of

Suptember 28, 1844 I bid farewell to my native land. During the night we pass Caldy

and Landy islands, and the nex morning 29 the wind being fair on from the North East

we where clear out of sight of land, except Capt Clear and Silly island which left

on the 30`h. We sailed for five or six weeks with good fair winds. We saild by the

peack of Tumeriff, the Canary and the Western island, and on the eleventh day of

November we cross the equator, or the equanocal line, so called. There was only two

men on board that ever crossed the line before and we had a great time of it. About

forty days we sailed from the line, South South West, with a fair winds, for the

Cape Horn. When we where sailing opposit the great river Amason South America about

7 or 8 miles an hour with all the stensails set, on a sedden a very furious storm

came up right ahead of us, and brock the for yard and carried away all the stensails

booms and split many of the sails. The storm did not last but few minutes and over,

but it tooke all hands about a week to make evry thing all right. We sailed along

the Coast of Brazil n extensive country in South America, and the provence of

La-plata, and along the Desert Coast of Beienas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ayres which lays Lat. 34o 35o South and Long. 58o 31 West. Sailed by the straits of

Magelan, passing Falkland Islands and along the coast of Terra-De¬Fuego the Southern

extremity of South America. On the 25 of December 1844 Christmas day we made the

land the Southern point of Terra-Del-Fuego, and on the 26 we sailed through the

straits of La-mere, and had double the cape (as it is called) with the wind from the

east it being fair for us, but when we where at the west end of the straits, the

wind fell to a calm and the currant trifled us back through the straits again and

where very near dash to pices on the rocks which was very high and jagit. All hands

was up all night keeping her away with poles and oars from being dash to pices on

the rocks. By day light a breese sprung up from North North West and carred us out

of the straits. The land of Cape Horn is very high and mountainous covered with snow

all the year round, for we where there in the middle of the summer, for the winter

in Ingland is the summer at Cape Horn, and all places south of the equator. There

was any amount of big birds and courious fishes in that cold climat. The penguyn and

the albecorn is very singelar birds. The Penguyn has a very large body and small

wings about four or five inches long. He cannot rise himself from the ground nor

water. In fact he cannot fly any at all. He is seen very often two or tree hundred

mils from land. He houls like a dog and can walk on the water like a man on land and

can be heard from long distance. The albecorn is a very large bird, very much like

the goose, but a great del larger bird. We cach a very big one, its wings when

stretch out measured eighteen feet from the point of one wing to the point of the

other. After we where out of the straights the wind arose and begin to blow from the

Northwest worst and worst intill at become a whole gale. We had to take in all the

sails to a close rieff mine top sail and the sea begin to rise and become like high

mountains. It continued to blow intill the year eighteen hundred and forty fore went

out.

 

A.D. 1845        This morning, all though the wind blew high and the sea roaring

like a lion, and

Jan. the first    our situation very uncomfortable, we joyfully calebreted the new

years day of 1845. Just as soon as twelve o clock (midnight) came and the watch

called, the captain give orders for all hands to come aft to the cabin to see him.

There had his bottles and glasses reddy and evry man in his turn was invited to help

himself of the best french brand y and plumb cache that was made for the perpose.

And by the done of the day, the cook killed a fine fat hogg and made us a beutyful

and testefull sea pie for diner and there was plenty left for supper. Thes ended the

first day of eighteen hundred and forty five with us. Evry man was well pleased with

the Captain and cook.

 

2nd      The wind continued to blow from the North West. The ship was laying too and

shee was drove back to the South East about two mils an hour. We continued in this

situation intill about he fifteenth of the mounth when the wind fell and became a

dead calm and shifted to the south. By this time we where many degrees to the South

east of the cape which lays lat. 55° 58 S and Long. 67° 26 west. We then set all our

sails and in a few days we where round the cape again. We sailed along the coast of

Terra-del-Fuego, passing the straits of Magellan on the west side

 

which divide Terra-del-Fuego and the land of Chili. Sailing along the shores of

Chili we became to a little warmer climate and more comfortable whether. A little to

the left we passed the island of Juan-Fernando in the South Seas lat. 33° 45' South

and long. 78° 37' west of Greenwich which was rendered famous by Ansons voyage round

the world and from having been the residence of Alexander Selkirk, a scotch mariner,

who continued in this desert island for four years and four months alone, without

any other means of supporting life then by running down goats and killing such other

animals as he could get at. Selkirk was born A.D. 1676 at Largo in the County of

Fife, and being in the year 1703 a sailing master of the ship Cinzueports, Captain

Stardlings, bound for the South Seas, was here put on shore in consequence of a

quarrel with the Captain. From this solitude Selkirk was afterwards relieved and

brought to England by Captain Woods Rogers and his narrative in the hands of Daniel

Defoe was for near a century believed to have given rise to the celebrated romance

of Robinson Crusoe, but that tradition has been disputed on probable grounds. We

sailed along intill the 28 of January 1845, when we arrived inside of Valpariso Bay

and by noon we anchored about a quarter of a mile from the city of Valpariso. We

where four mounths on our passedge from Llanelly South Weles to the City of

Valpariso. After a long tiersome voyedge we landed ones more on land without a

single accedent to any one of the crew. Before we came to an angar while yet good

many miles at sea, several canoes came out to meet us maned with four native in each

canoe, full of water and sweet melons. The Captain bought many for the boys and

greaps in abundans for five cents a string. The natives are a very courious looking

beings, dark red complextion, long black hair and black eyes, half beed indians and

Spanierds. Furious and revengful dispositions, and hard to please in tradeing with

them. They like Inglish far better then the Americans.

 

Doing a little chorse on board in the morning and after diner three of the boys and

myself had orders to man the boat (the gig) and be reddy to take the Captain on

shore. While wating for the Captain to get reddy, the boys colected few dollars

among themselfs to get some brandy. We took the Captain to the town and we stayed on

shore intill dark. We bought few bottles of brandy and brought them on board. That

night some of the boys drunk very freely of the brandy so that they could not get up

nexed morning to breakfast nor to work.

 

After breakfast the first mate went in search of the missing boys. He got doun to

the fore castle thinking that they were yet in their hammocks, feeling evry hammock

as he went along, intill he got as far as the farthest hammock nexed to the side of

the ship. It was so dark in the fore caste that a person going doun there at first

could not see any thing, but a person in theire could see another person coming. So

it was withe the mate. He could not see any thing but going by his feeling, and when

he was at this farthest hammock he felt that there was something or somebody in it.

He imedietly put his shoulder under it (thinking that it was one of the boys) and

upset its contents flat on the flor, and lo and behold to his astonishment and great

serprise what did he discover but a woman, right before

 

 

 

 

 

him, and he said to her, what the divel has brought you her so soon as this. The

mate thinking that shee was brought on board from the town the night before. And

shee answered and said in a crieng voice, its me, Mr. Simpson, that was the mates

name, and who ar you said he to her. Don't you know me, sir. No I don't he replyed.

I am Caroline John from Bristol, said shee. You know me well. Then shee told him

that all about it, that shee left Bristol in the superior and had being in her ever

scince, that shee had come out with Bill, one of the sailors, and he was her

sweethard. This went to the Captains ears and he was very much put out about it. He

went to see the Inglish Councel about her. He told the Captain to put her on shore

like a dog and let her go about her bissiness. So the Captain give orders to the 2nd

mate to take her and put her on shore. He took four men and himself and the woman in

the boat and put her and shore and there we left her. Shee could not walk without

assistance, not walk any for 4 mounth. This afternoon one watch or half the crew

went on shore for 24 hours.

 

st       Working a little on board such as washing the decks and some other chours.

The other watch and I among them went on shore and stayed twenty four hours and come

board befor night.

 

Febr. the 1st Taking in a supply of water and provisions intill the 10 of the

mounth, when we set sail for the coast North for we had to go to the town of Gabica

to unload our coal. We sailed along the coast all a long with the wind from the

South East, in sight of land all the time. It was a beuteful senery to be sure to

any man of fancy. We

arrived at Cabica the Capital of Poleva after a very fine tripp about the end of

February. Polieva is a small independant and repiplican government on the sea cost

between Chilian and Peruvian Governments. About the first of March we comence

unloading our cargo which has coal from Llanelly. While at Gabica one Whensday

morning when all hands was at breakfast, a great and horrable shock was heard in all

the town and in the ships in the bay. All hands run from ther breakfast an looked

towards the town. Could not see anything but a dense cloud of smock and dust. Our

ship allthough out in the bay about one mile from shore shook like a leaf on a tree

or a ship at sea in a gale of wind. The natives of Gabica informed us that about

twelve years ago that they had such a great earthqueck that the water all fled from

the bay and left it dray for mils, but came back to his old place again in a short

time. We stayed at this place all this mounth unloading and other thing, and about

the first of April we set sail for the Ginsee Iland, where we where to load geuava.

This island is oposite Gallio in Peru, which lies about 12 degrees south Lat. And

about 30 degrees west Long. We arrived at Ginsee Island in a few days from Gabica,

and anchored about half a mile from shore. Commence loading our ship with geuaya,

the filthest, nastest, stuff I ever worked at in my life. We had to carry the guava

in boats from the shore four or five tons at a time. This took us a long time to

load our vesel. About the middle of May we where loaded and reddy to start home.

However I will mention some of the many peculiar events that came under my notice at

this place. It is well known by evry one that is acquanted with history that the

inapitance of this county is Roman Cathalics by

 

 

 

 

 

relegion, and the people half Spanish breed, therefore this people receved their

relegion from the Spanish. I happen to be here on good Frayday. It was some time in

April this year. At noon the day before Thursday, all the natives quit working, and

all the place become as silent as the greave and continued so intill nine o clock

nexed morning. When to our astonishment we sa from our ship a high gallos erected on

shore near the sea side and in a few minutes we observe something like a man dressed

in sailors cloths hauled up to the gallos by a rope. It hanged there by the rope for

fiften minute when one of the men present run to him and cut him through with a

sweard untill all his bowels came out. With this such a shouting, singing and

fireing of guns was ashtonishing. All the natives was in their glory by calebreting

good Fraiday. We where strengers to their costum and where all surprise. The natives

continued on their spree intill nexed morning. We inquiered of some of the natives

what did all this meant. The answer was that it was they coustom to calibre good

Fraiday evry year in remembrance to the crucifixtion and death of our Lord and Sevor

Jeses Crist, and the hanged and gibbeted person was the representation of Judas

Isgariot who sold his lord with a kiss. The natives of those countrys are very

peculiar in their feelings about their relegion. Persons had to be very carful how

would they speek about their relegion or his life was not safe. We did not call at

Callio nor Lima the Capital of Peru. However I will relate an old proverbe that is

very common concerning Lima and Callio and the people (that is) that it is heven for

women, purgatory for men and hell for jackasess. The meaning is that the ladies is

very hansome, men so hugly and jackasess so plenty. This is very fine climate and

country, all kinds of fruts. Now we where reddy to start home, or what the sailors

termes it we where homeward bound. We started with a fine breese of fair wind when

opposaite Gabica on our way south. The Captain with our men went ashore in the boat

on Beisness and the ship out at sea about seven mils in a calm. And when they

started to come back to the vessel the sun was down and before they where half way

back to the ship it became a thick fogg that they where oblige to stay in the boat

all night and nothing but the open sky for their shelter. They did not find the

vessel intill about 10 o clock nexed morning. During the night they cacht seven

sharks with their hands and brought them on board. They where extremly glad to find

the vessel for they where geting hungry for want of food. We sailed along the coast

with the wind from the East and a very fine wether for few weeks untill we where

within a hundred mils to Valpariso when the wind shiffted from the South and blew a

hard gale for five days. I mey state here that for a long time our water was done

and we had none to drink nor to make coffee, except what the cook disdilled from

salt water and a little wine that the Captain give us now and then. Our vessel being

loaded with that nasty stuff gewave. Shee was strain very much and leaking water

very fast. Had as much as we could do to keep her dry. We arrived at Valpariso the

20th of June and stayed there intill the last of the mounth, taking in our supply of

water and provisitions. When evry thing was reddy we sat sail for homeward bound. We

took or departure from Valpariso with cheering harts thinking that we would see our

blessed homes in four mounth at farthest, but alas, to our sorrow and disapointment

when we where out from Valpariso four or five

 

 

 

 

 

 

days our ship sprung a leak. All hands was up night and day pumping and keeping her

above water. Most of the time there was a few feet of water in her hold. The Captain

would go ahead, and sailed to the same direction for many days, when all the men

agreed that they would not pump any more inless he would put for shore, and if he

would not, that they would parish with the vessel for verily we wher all

exhausted for want of rest and sleeping. With this he sa that he could not doo

anything him self and cries to the men at the wheel, Hard up Helem, and square

our yards boys. All hands was reddy in an instant to opey the comand. Up with all

our stensails boys was the cries forom the first mate, for we had a good stiff

breese of fair wind from the west and us runing east and in less than an hours time

all the square sails was up and with a good hard breese about half a gale shee was

going through the water like a sea snake and in two days we made the land about one

hundred miles distance ahead of us, and nexed morning we run her ashore in a place

called Tirquana or port Concepcion in Chili near the straits of Magelan. It was on a

Sunday morning. When shee struck the ground, with the breack of day, we where out in

the bay about fifteen mils from the town. Just as soon as shee struckt he ground the

cries was heard from the mate, let go all the haliersess and haul on the down holes,

and in a very short time all the sails was down and snugly furled. We was in a calm

quiet place concequently no harm come to our ship. By the time we had evry thing

fixed, we sa a boat coming of the town, loaded with men, and it was not long before

it came along side. It was a boat loaded with all kind of fruits for sale, with some

black wine or what is called in this country black jack. The captain bought a small

keg of full of wine for the beneffit of the sailors. The boatmen advice the captain

to hauled the ship from there to a deep water. Subsequently we runed fedge anchor

from the stern and took the rope to the windlass and hauled her away. This was done

before breakfast and the men working hard with an empty stomak. Some drink perty

freely of the wine and got very drunk, that few knew what they were doing, officers

not exepted. When any of the officers would give comand some of the sailors would

run to him and knock him down directly. Even one of the sailors knock the captain

down with his cap. With this the Captain run to the cabin for his pistols to shoot

the men, but when he came up the man was not to be found. The Captain then ordred

the 2nd mate to hoist up the signal of distress, that is hoisting the ensign upside

down, that may get some help from the shore, but as it happen no one did come, nor

did any one see his signal. However, few of the boys was able to hoist up the fore

and main topsails and foresail, and before dark we where anchored within few hundred

yards of this town and vessel was allmost half full of water. By this time the boys

was geting sober. Nexed morning, Monday, the Captain when ashore to the town to the

English Council and had a warrant against five of the boys and had them commited to

jail. They where keeped in prison for one day and night and were released. We could

doo nothing to the vessel at this place. We would have to leve her here or take her

to Valpariso. The Captain concluded to run her back to Valpariso if the men where

willing. Evry body agreed to it. And we sat sail and started and we arrived safe in

Valpariso in a few days. When we got there the ship agents come on board to examine

her, and they determine that shee was not

 

 

worthy or safe to go back round the Cape Horn. The we disgarge the cargo and striped

all her sails, yards and topmastsess, and have her down on her side for farther

examination. There shee was condemed and not worthy to go any more so sea at all.

Most of the men left her and shiped in other vessels, but I continued in her intill

the tenth of Augest, then I shiped on board a brigg belonging to Dundee Scotland,

Captain Duff, loaded with copper and silver ores bound for Swansea, South Weles

eleven mils from my native town. That come very good for me. The nexed morning we

set sails for home ones more with the wind from the North West and it continued the

same point intill we double the Cape Horn. When at the Cape the wind blew so strong

that we where oblidge to take in all the sails to a close reff mine topsail and

foresail. While we where taking in the fore topsails a young lad, a scotch boy, fell

down from the fore top sail yard upon the long boat which was on the deck by the

foremast. The cause of him falling was that he could not stay himself on the yard

the whether so cold his hands lost theyr grip and he fell. Evry body thought that

the young lad was killed instantly on the spot, but a luck out of an accedent he

recovered again in a few hours, but he could not any work during the whole passage.

Our brigg was very heavy loaded. Water continualy on deck. However we sailed along

with good sessess intill we got into a warmer whether, east of the continent,

passing along the Falkland island proceed northward by the desert coast of Buenos

Ayres, Lat. 34° 35' south long. 58° 51' west, one of the most considerable towns in

the province of La Plata. We now pass along the coast of Brazils and till lately the

resedance of the royal famiy of Protugal. The wood called brazil, which is brought

from this country, is of great usein dying, and brazil chips are well known as the

principal ingredient for making excellent red ink. Doubling Cape St. Roque or San

Roke and passing the mouth of the vast Rever Amazons, we sailed by the Dutch

settlement of Suriman, now possessed by the English, and thence proceed along the

coast to the Island of Curacoa which was formerly a dutch settlement, but now is in

the hands of the English. Hence we continued our voyage til we arrived opposaite

Carthagana, Lat. 10° 25' North, Long. 75° 29' west and Porto Bele a sea port town of

the Isthmus of Panama in North America, passing Vera Cruz, on the gulf of Mexico, we

leave the city of Mexico on the left Lat. 19° 5' west and continued along intill we

arrived to the Lat. Of New Orleans the Capital of Louissiana, near the mouth of the

Mississipi River in the gulf of Florida. Then we sailed across the Atlantic ocean

intill arrived at the western islands, passing by the peack of Teneriffe, which is

four thousands one hundred an nineteen yards high. The wind being from North to

North East, we had to steer south of East til we came to the Cape De Verd Islands

about twenty in number, then the Canaries or Fortunate Isles and finally the

Maderras, a small cluster about one hundred miles North of the Canaries. While we

where at this islands, we witness a total eclipse of the moon. It was about the

first of November. It was a very interesting sight. It continued about three hours.

We sailed along most of the morning of the 27th of November. After a bad foggy

night, all hands up all night watching for the land, and we where only few hundred

yards when we made breese of fair wind from the North west our vessel was going like

a snake through the water and evry hart full of joy thinking that we where

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

once more on the borders of our native land. By dinner time where passing Landy

island in the Bristol Channel, which was well known by me, for I had passed her many

times before. Leaving evry object far behind us, we where making evry hour count and

by the middle of the afternoon we where opposite the worms head the entrance of

Llanelly harboard. Making all the time we could we arrived at the Mumbles light

house within four miles to Swansen. The pailot came on board and took us right in

too Swansen on the night of the 18th of November 1845 about 9 o'clock in the night

after a voyage of fourteen mounths to the day. It was very dark and raining. It was

very hard to get the sails furled they being so wet. Very near all the boys after

eating their suppers went ashore to the town and got pretty drunk, according to the

custom of sailors after returning home from a long voyage. They all stayed ashore

all night, and eat our breakfast in the public house where we stayed all night. And

according to the rules of ships all hands was payed off or disgarge intill they was

payed. About eleven in the morning I took the coach for Llanelly and arived in town

at 2 P.M. and got into my fathers house alive, well and harty once more. My father

and mother did not hear any thing from me from the day I left intill this very

moment. They where exceedingly glad to see me again after a long seperation. They

thought that they would never see me any more at all. I was not long in the house

before I could notice a great del of deffrence in the apprance of its inmates. I

begin to inquire of the where abouts of this one and the other one, of my friends,

and looking in my dear fathers face I could see that there was something the matter.

What said I is the matter on your face. The answer was that he was burnt in the coal

pit by the fire damp allmost to death. All his skin was burnt from his body. He had

not comence working seince the accedence. He had been three mounths then at home

from his work, and not well yet for work. The nexed news for me was that my sister

Sarah eighteen years of age was dead ever scince last spring, All this sorrows was

very near taking my poor mother to her greave I been abroad, my sister died, and my

father burnt allmost to death was great trials for her. And Mary my Eldest sister

was married to David Phillip about two mounths before I arrived at home. All these

things had produce a good del of change about home during my absent. The third day I

went back to Swansea to be pay by the Captain of the brigg for the tripp from

Valpariso to Swansea. Received my money and return home again. Then I comence

looking after my money that I earned on board the Superior. I may state that when I

left the Superior at Valpariso, that I had an order or a check or note for my pay

from the Captain and the English Councel at Valpariso, so that I could draugh my

money when I arrived in any part of Great Brittain. I sent the draft to the owners

of the vessel, whom was the Eastern Bank of Scotland, through the Bank England, Mr.

Williams, the banker, took an active part in it. Send it that day and in seven days

the draft come back without the money, through some cause that I did not know. Again

the second time we sen the order, but return the same in seven days. Mr. Williams,

the banker advice me to go to some layer, so I started for Mr. Benjamin Jones in the

Layers office. I found him in and told him my busness. He took the draft and look at

it. Then he asked me a few questions concerning my long voyage, and my hardships,

and who my father was and few more questions. I answer him to his

 

 

 

 

satisfaction, then he tap me on my shoulder and said. My young man, you have gone

through many hardships and have earned your wages hard. I say to you, your money is

sure to you. He then send me to bay a stamp to the stationer. I did no and return,

on which he wrote both side and I signed it in three diffrent places. Now said he

your money will be here in seven days. That was the time it took a letter to go to

Scotland and back. I asked him what was his bill for his trouble. Nothing said he. I

will give you that free grattis. I thanked him very much for his kindness to me. I

left his office, and took the draft and the stamp to the bank to Mr. Williams. He

send it immediately and accordingly as Mr. Jones said my money was back in seven

days. I went to the bank at the time and there my money was waiting for me. This was

on Monday morning the 22nd of December 1845.

 

Dec. 25, 1845 It being Chrismas day, I got married to Mary Davis the daugher of

Morgan and Elizabeth Davis of Velinvoel near Llanelly, by Mr. Morris the parson of

the church at Llanelly. We invited many of our friend to the wedding. Our guest

enjoyed themself on our entertainment. Mary my wife was born in Caerlemes two miles

out of the town of Llanelly on the 28th day of January 1825 and moved to Velinvoel

with her perants when a child. We lived neighbours for years before we where

married, and played together when children, and had been courting for years. Her

mothers name before marred was Bowen the daugher of old William Bowen the

Blacksmith, a very good old man. I knew him when I was a boy, Her father, Morgan

Davis was the son of old Thomas (or Tom) Dafyd Collier lived all his days in

Llanelly. Old Thomas Davids family consisted of four sons and two daughers(to wit)

Morgan the oldest, John, Williams, Henry, Nancy and Margret. Morgan Davis, now my

father , family consisted of six girls (to wit) Mary the eldest, Elizabeth, Ann,

Hannah, Ame and Rachel. This is a little of my wifes genealogy. Now, after married

the cares of life comence then we could not live like the beasts of the field, but

had to live like mankind. I rented a house in Velinvoel and furnished it with

furniture. I bought thirty pounds worth of furniture, to ornament my new and first

house, which money I earned on my long sea voyage. I tarried at home with my wife

for a few days, but I could not stay very long, no income but outgoing, preparing

for sea again.

 

Jan the first    I had been home now little over one mounth. I shiped once more on

board my old vessel the William henry, Captain Ball, bound for Ross Ireland. Started

for Ireland had a very bad wether was away from home a month. I made a few more

tripps in her from Llanelly to Ireland and back, intill the middle of April, when I

was coaxed by my wife and my brother John to leve off the sea intirely and become a

landsman once more. I concluded to tray it again, and on the morning of the 20th of

April, I started for the Llwyni in Glanmorganshire the place where my brother John

worked and lived with his family. I arrived at my brothers house that eying, where I

work with my brother in the mining busness for a long time very comfortable and

thoutht of making the Llwyni my future home. My wife came up to Llwyni for a vissit

to see me and stayed there most part of the summer. Shee went back again to Velin

voel and in few weeks I went myself. My wife was then big in the family

 

 

 

way. Seen her in that state I throught that I would

stay at home intill shee would be confine to her bed and see her well again. I got

work with Mr. Gibson, Manager of the Box Callery near Llanelly. Work there but a

short time before my wife give birth to fine boy. Weh on September the 2" 1845, at

seven o clock in the morning the child was born and it was a boy, my first born son

and the first child, and named him Morgan David Bowen after his grandfather, his

mothers father Morgan David.

 

Now I will here give a full genealogy of my progenitors as far as I know, comencing

with my son, therefore, Morgan D. was the son of David D. who was the son of John,

who was the son of William Bowen, who came from the Skitty near Swanen Glanmorgan

shire, as a servant man to a farm house by the name of Glyngwernen near Velinvoel in

the parish of Llanelly and about two miles from the town of Llanelly dew East. When

he was a young or singil man, and in a course of time he got married and begot

Thomas and a big family of sons & daughers, whom is now spread all over that part of

the country. Thomas got married and begot William and other sons and daughers, whom

is also spread through the country. William married Frances Evans (Shee was born at

Llynhendy) and begot five sons and two daughers (to wit) John the oldest born in May

in the year A.D. 1795, Thomas, Ann, Sara, William, Daniel and David. This William,

my grandfather, my fathers father, was killed by falling into a coal pit about the

year A.D. 1825. My father John Bowen married Ann Davis my mother. Shee was about the

same age as my father. Shee was born near Llanan, and was the daugher of William and

Cathraine Davis, Cathrines Maiden name was Hughes. My mother had two brother and one

sister (viz) Esthr, John, and William all married and have rise a large familyh. The

brothers where both buchers. William died thes many years when I was but a child.

Thomas married to Margret Clement and begot large family of sons and daughers, Ann,

married to Thomas Jones lived in Llangenych and had a large family of sons and

daughers. Sara married to Griffydd Lomis lived at Velinvoel, begot a family. William

married to Elizabeth Grippydd and begot sons and daughers. Daniel married Margret

Richard begot two daughers and shee died, and he married the second time to

Elizabeth Grippydd had one son. David married to Sarah Morris and begot sons and

daughers. My fathers family consited of four sons and three daughers (to wit)

William the oldest, John, David D., Mary, Sarah, Daniel and Ann. William was born

Suptember 4 1814 married Chistina Phillip in the year A.D. 1834 and begot three sons

and one daugher, Daniel the company of Colliers in 1841 to Lagewera in the West

Indes and in 1842 he with the company was reterning home, he died John D. was born

April 9th 1819 and married Elizabeth Williams in the year A.D. 1840 and begot four

sons and two daughers, Elizabeth the oldest born A.D. 1841 March 7th William born

Jany 3 1845, David born December 31, 1844 and died when 15 years old, Sarah was born

July 24th 1849. Daniel born October 17, 1852, Franklin John born November 26, 1854.

 

David D. was born June 6, 1822 at Vehinvoel, married Mary Davis December 25th

 

 

1845 and begot one son and one daugher (viz) Morgan and Ann. Morgan was born

Suptember Ind 1846 at Velinvoel near Llanelly. Ann was born October 18, 1848.

 

Mary was born August 4th 1824 married to David Phillip in the fall of 1845 and begot

two daughers and one son, Margret, Ann and William. Sheestill lived at Velinvoel.

Sarah was born 1828 and died in the spring of 1845, age 17 years. Daniel died when 3

years old. A Ann was born in January 1834 and shee is still single with mother.

 

Sept. 1846       I continued to work in Llanelly the remainder of this month. When

the fall came the work got slack and I started again to the Llwyani to work and I

work with my brother John intill the middle of December, when I concluded to move my

wife and furnature to the Llwyeni and started down to Velinvoel after them. I engage

a farmer by the name of John Rees to move us for two pounds from Velinvoel to

Llwyani which was thirty miles. We started early in the morning and the snow very

deep on the ground and got as far as half way between Pont-ryd-y-fen and the Bryn

where the snow was so deep that the horses could not draugh the wagon any farther.

We had to leve the wagon in the snow all night and my wife and babe had to walk

through the snow for many miles to my uncle Thomas Bowen on the Bryn, where we

stayed all night. The nexed morning the teamster and myself started back for the

wagon and furnature and arrived home to Llwyni before night. This ended the eventful

year 1846 with me. Good many changes in life.

Jana 1847 At this time my brother John and I in company with thirteen more men was

suncking a bigg coal pit for the Llwyni Company. I was geting three shillings per

day or one pound one shilling per week for we where paid for Sundays. My brother

John was geting thirty shillings per week. I was very happy in my mind thes times

and lived very comfortable, making money and saving about one half my wages.

Comfortable work and comfortable home. Nothing of importance transpired for several

mounths intill I became some what anxous for being relegous, and in loss to know

where to go and which sect to join. This was a great trouble to my mind, and I could

not join any with clear conscience but the Baptist Church, for I was rised with the

Baptist and was baptise by them when I was very young but left them because I could

not see their doctrine corespond with the doctrine of the beible and yet I could not

see them right. Therefore, I stood aloof from the Baptist and all others intill I

heard of new sect of Relegous people that was in the Country called the Latter days

Saints. I could not see any of them, but I heard plenty about them of all kins of

stores. However in the bigining of June a man by the name of David William and old

aquentance of mine came to the neighbourhood where I lived (spilter work) to work

and to preach. He came to my house to seek for loging, him and me being acquented,

boys together in Llanelly and work together but not seen one another for many years.

I took him into my home to lodge and we soon comence conversations concerning the

new relegion. In a short time I found that they teach and preach like the Apostles

of

 

old and like the New Testament which I believed.

With his strong reasoning and argeuments out of the beible, I was convince that they

where nearer the truth then any of the other sects that I knew of, and I concluded

to joing them let the consequence be what it will. I told him that I would, and June

19th 1847, I was baptise unto the Church of Jeses Christ of Latter day Saints by the

hands of David William in the Llwyni river about 10 o clock A.M. and in one week

after wards the 26th my wife was baptise by the same man and in the same place. The

nexed day the 27th it being Sunday, we were both confirmed unto the Church by the

laying on of hands under the hands of Elder William Morgans from Bridge-end, whom

came there to preach that Sunday. There was not an elder leving in this place in

consequence of a breaking up of a branch here about two years before, the presiding

two men and one woman had apostetise and left the Church and I was the first that

was baptised in the place scince the break up of the other branch. The people was

very bitter to the Saints in consequence of the wicket Pugh and Elder Samuel Davies

was send from Merthir Tidvel, the Headquarters of the Saints, to reorganize a branch

at this place. I comence talking to my brother John about the doctrine of the

Saints. He also beleved and was baptised by Daniel Edwards and was confirmed by

Elder Abel Evans. His wife come out very bitterly against him through the influence

of her friends, but in a short time shee was baptise herself. In the mounth of

Augest I was ordain a teacher and my brother John a Deacon under the hands of Elder

Samuel Davies. About the mounth of Suptember my brother John and I was stoped in the

work, because we where Latter day Saints. About the half the people was stoped.

Something was the matter on the Company. At this time us both were counseled to go

down to the Peyl or Cyfngribwr to work and to preach. John was this time a preacher.

We started to the place and comence working in a very bad place, wet and

disagreeable. I thought I would not stay in such a place as that. I work a few days

and concluded to start back to Liwyni where my family. I with my family moved back

to Llanelly, where I stayed and work intill the end of the year A.D. 1847.

 

Jan. 1st 1848 It was Sunday and a New Years day, A few days previous I was ordained

a priest under the hands of William Hughes, and was for the first time in my life

called on to preach to a large congregation in the Latter day Saints Chapel, which

was William Davies House in the town of Llanelly. I continued to work and to preach

in and about Llanelly intill the bighting of May, when I concluded to abandon the

coal pits for ever and tray the sea again, in concequence of so much hard work and

so little pay, and the opression and tyranny of the mafsters of the works. On the

six day of May I started from home against my wifes will to the decks which was

about two miles from my house to see if I could get a barth aboard of some ship.

Iwent in a strait way to the new dock and abord of a big brig by the name of Jane of

Portsmouth, and as soon as I was on board the mate asked me if I wanted a berth. Yes

was my answer. Turn too then said he. Upon his word my jacket was down and comence

working, which was unlaoding the balast. I work a board of her evry day and walk

home evry night intill shee was reddy to go to sea, and on the 18th of May we

setsail and for Portsmouth, and arrived there in two weeks.

The Captain (his name wa William Stone) thought that he was going back to Llanelly

again, but when we arrived at Portsmouth the oweners had chartred her Archangel in

Russia, in the White Sea, and on the 3`d of June we set sail for Archangel, with

fair wind through the straits of Dover and the Downs. When we where opposite

Yarmouth, the wind shiffted and blew very hard from the North and we where oblige to

put in to North Yarmouth Roads windbound. Layed there two days. The wind shiffted to

North west and we sat sail again for the North Sea, the wind most of the time from

the North west and our course was North North East. Then we had to sail close to the

wind, that we may sail along the coast of Scotland. We did so intill we arrived

opposite Shetland island, then we sailed across the North Sea to the coast of

Norway. We sailed along that coast intill we arrived at the North of Lapland. When

at the cape the wind shiffted from the South East which was our course up the White

Sea. We steered Northward with good stiff breese intill we got in sight of

Greenland, which is about 80 degrees north Lat. Then the wind shifted form the

North, which was fair for us now. We again made the Cape, which leis 71° 30" North

Lat. We sailed along up the White Sea with a fine breese and a delight some weather,

all the time in sight of land, untill we arrived at the mouth of Archangel River,

and there we took a Russian on board as a pailot to take us up the river, which was

forty miles to the city. And after a long and tidious passage of forty two days we

landed safe along side of the warff at Archangel which leis Lat. 64° 34° North.

While we were north of the Arctic circle which leis 66° North the sun was visable

night and day. We sa the sun above the harison for two weeks. It did not set on us

for two weeks. The weather was very hot in Archangel during our stay there all

though Archangel is very far north. During my stay at Archangel the Cholera was

renging very bad. Hundreds where deing dayly. All the people was in great fear and

dred. The Prist of the Greek Chruch, which is the established form of Christianity

in Russia, gathered the people together and held a great meeting on the banks of the

river to pray to the Lord to turn the cholera from the people. Myself with thousands

more attended the meeting. Such a relegous meeting I never sa before. They had a big

stage erected for the occassion on the bank of the river. There was eight Prest on

the stage. Seven of them dressed in white robe or garment, the other one dressed in

black robe. He seemed to be the leading character in the meeting. The congregation

was very enthusiastic in their feelings. All bowing and making all kinds of motions.

Evry few minute when the Prest was preaching, their heads and their hands was in a

continual motion. Evry man in the congregation had their hats off, and because I did

not take my cap off, and doo as they did, they did not like it. I thought I would

leve the meeting and go on board the vessel. In three weeks from the time we arrived

in Archangel we where reddy to start for home. Our cargo was Pich, tar, hemp and

cadela and some lumber. We where taking down the river by the steem boat to the

mouth. We set sail with the wind from the east and our course was North west. We

sailed for many days with fair wind intill we came withing sight of the North Cape,

and at the Cape we had some terribly rough weather for some time. There is what is

called white sqwals about the north cape which is very dangerous to vessels when

their struck by them. They come very

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sudden in an instant and blow sway some ships yards and often the masts overboard.

Lapland is a hard looking country. All the people are dressed in skins the climate

is very cold, its day there for six mounth, dark for six mounth. After this we had a

good weather all the passage intill we arrived at Dovers Reads in the Straits of

Dover.

 

Sept. 26th        This night we anchored inside the Isles of White in the mouth of

Southamton River.

 

27th    This morning we sailed up the river and morred along side the warff of

Southamton south of England. I stayed on board the Jane at Soughamton three weeks

while we where unloading the cargo, thinking of going in her another voyage to

Italy, where shee was bound nexed time, but I meet with an accedent. I strained my

ancle that I was oblige to go home. I left the Jane and went as passinger on board

the Cipsy, Captain Hughes, bound for Llanelly. We had a very disagreeable passege,

the wind against us all the time. However we arrived safe in Llanelly the latter

part of October. Thes I have been from home near six mounths. When I arrived at home

I found that my wife had given birth to a fine daugher a few days before my arrival

and was yet in bed.

 

Oct 18, 1848  Our first daugher and our second child was born. We named her Ann

after my mother. I stayed at home a few days intill my wife was well and harty

again. I now shiped on board the shooner Ann of Newport, Captain Anthony Treegething

of Llanelly, bound for Waterford lerland. I made one voyage in her from Llanelly to

Waterford and back to Bristol. I acted as mate on board the Ann. I left the ann in

Bristol in consequence of her going for a long voyage, and that shee would not be

back in time for me to emigreat with the Saints to the land of America, which was my

intentions in the spring. As soon as I left the Ann, I shiped on board the Emely of

Llanelly, Captain Thomas, a regular Bristol trader from Llanelly to Bristol, carring

goods and merchandise of all kind from Bristol to Llanelly. Stayed in her intill the

year 1848 was out.

 

Jan. 1849        The first day of this year we set sail from Llanelly to Bristol and

arrived at Bristol River the nexed day. We mead several voyages back and fore from

Bristol to Llanelly and back. During winter at this time I fully made up my mid to

go to the land of America. I was preparing all I could for the journey. Saving all

my money, for I had four in family at this time. I continued in the Emely intill the

middle of February. When I left her to get my self and family redy for the journey.

Febr. 18th        This morning after being up all night geting evrything reddy for

starting. I with my wife and two children in company with my father in law Morgan

Davis and good many more of the Saints left Velinvoel and Llanelly for Swansea,

where we arrived that evening. The following is the names of the families that Left

Llanelly with us: Samuel Leick and his family, Daniel Leich and his family, John

Richards and his family, William Davis and his family, Morgan Davis and his family

and David D.

Bowen and his family. We all lodge in Swansea that night in the same public house.

And at about 9 A.M. we went on board the Steemer and was reddy to start in a very

short time. In one half hour about five hundred Saints left Swansea under the

Presedency of Elder Dan Jones on board the Steemer Trubadore for Liverpool, and on

the evening of the 20th we arrived in the dock at Liverpool. All the passengers with

few exceptions was very sick on the passege, by the piching and rocking of the

steemer, and no one on board except Dan Jones and myself could doo any help to the

sick. Evrybody had plenty to take care of them selfs. Dan Jones and myself had been

sailors. However we landed in Liverpool safe and healthy after the sea sickness was

over. Then we were counseled by Elder Orson Pratt one of the twelve Apostles, whom

was standing on the dock watching our arrival, for all the saints to move up town to

the music hall to stay while we where in Liverpool. All the passingers where

marching along the streets of Liverpool in one body like a regiment of soldiers. I

thought it was the bigest sight that the Liverpool people ever seen by the way they

where looking at us. We all lodge in the music hall that night, but nexed morning I

with my family with few more families moved back to the dock and went on board the

ship Buna Vesta, the one we intended to cross the sea in, but through some means or

other, we was told by Dan Jones that we could not go in the Buna Veste but had to

move to another ship by the name of Hartley.

 

Febr. 26th           The ship Buna Vesta sailed from Liverpool with four hundred

Whelch Saints on board under the precedency of Dan Jones. All our friends and

acquantances left in the Buna Vesta with Dan Jones, and we were left among

strangers, to sail in another ship, and our ship was not reddy to sail for good many

day yet, Morgan David and I together.

 

Marth 9th         Our ship the Hartly was hauled out of the deck onto the river and

that afternoon the Saint was organise by appointing Elder William Hume from

Manchester to be the Presedent over the whole Saints, and John Shields and Joseph

Stringer for his counselers, and John McCouugh Clark and Elder John Hughes to

preside after the Welch Saint and myself was appointed cook for all the emigrance or

passengers, because I was a sailor. All the passengers doing their last busness in

Liverpool.

 

10th We where towed out this morning by a steam boat to the open sea and set sail a

little after diner with the wind from the east and fair for us. Very few of the

passengers cared anything about their diners today, for they al with very few

exceptions comence to get a little sea sick and by supper time, for indeed it was

nothing but the time, evryone seem to be satisfied scince their last supper. Instead

of making their suppers they all went to bed. Our ship was runing all night with a

stuff breese of fair wind and rocking very much as all vessels are when runing

before the wind with a strong breese. All the passengers was very sick all night. No

one could take care of themself. I had to be up all night attending and taking care

of the sick. We where running down the St. George or Irish chanel and sailed along

for many days with fair winds, passing by the Caper Clear the southern

extremity of Ireland and the silly isle, with our faces towards the great Atlantic

ocan. In a few days most of the Saints was geting over their sea sickness and begin

to call for somthin to eat. The weather was clear and plesant. The ladies comence

whashing and cleaning themeefl and walking about the decks. My calling now become

brisk and lively for evrybody was calling for their breakfast diners and suppers. I

soon found that I had a very disagreable situation. We sailed along, sometime the

wind was fair and sometime foul, and on the 29t' of April we landed in New Orleans

after a passage of seven weeks and three days. We had one death and 2 births at sea,

no accedent. When we arrived at New Orleans I was expecting my pay for my hard

lebour which was promise to me when Orson Pratt appointed me as a cook for the

Saints. I was promise one shilling from evry passinger, but seffice it to say, that

I never had a single shilling with no one, but seventy five dents with Cidwalinger

Owens and twenty five cents with Dd. Peters. That was all the remuneration I had for

my hard lebour across the sea, when I could when I was in Liverp000l ship on board a

vessel and getting two pound ten shilling per mounth and a good del better

situation, but lissen to the councel of Orson Pratt and Dan Jones I had to work hard

for nothing, for Dan Jones told Pratt about me before he left. William Hume the

Presedent of the Saints was put in jail in New Orleans for traying to smugle some

goods belonging to T. D. Brown, which he had charge of, and John Hughes Presedent of

the Welsh on board was drunk while we stayed in New Orleans. In this way the Saints

was left to themselfs, and my pay neglected. I never seen Hume no more. Our

passengers English, Scotch and seventy one Welsh and a few Irish. We had some of the

meanest people I ever seen. We tarryed at New Orleans two days, and on the first of

May, we went on board the Steemer Mameluck uner the Presidency of Elder L. N. Scovil

for St. Louis, and started for St. ouis May 2"d. While on the river, the cholera

brock out on board the steem boat and made a tremdous havoc among the passengers.

For evry day there was from three to six beried every day, and before we got to

Saint Louis we had beried about sixty of the passingers.

 

May 12th          We landed in St. Louis with many sick on board. My wife was very

sick two or three days before we landed in St. Louis, and was very sick at the time.

On the same morning as we landed in St. Louis my mother-in-law was attacked with the

cholera very severly, that we where oblige to send her to the hospital. I took her

and my wife to the hospital. They would not take my wife into the same hospital as

her mother for shee had not got the cholera. I left my mother-in-law in the Charity

Hospital with her youngest daugher (Rachel). My mother-in-law was unconscious when

shee was put in. After leving her there, I took my wife to the City Hospital about

three miles farther. I left her there with lot of strengers that shee never seen

before and went back to the boat where my chidren was and my father-in-law and his

family was. There I had to nurse my little babe eight mounths old all night without

her mother. We had a very miserable night of it. The nexed morning the 13th and also

Sunday I started for the Charity Hospital to see how my mother-in-law was geting

along. When I arrived there to my astonishment shee was dead and beried before I got

there. I did not see her at all and little girl Rachel

 

 

 

 

was there like a little stranger. I then went to the other hospital where my wife

was. There I found her very weak and feble. She said that she had nothing to take

while shee was in there but water and shee beged on me to take her out from such a

miserable place. I compleyed with her desire. I took her out. I had to carry her on

my back most of the way from the hospital to the boat through the City of St. Louis,

for we had not yet move from the boat. It was on Sunday. By the time I and my wife

reach the boat it was very near nark and there was two of my sisters¬in-law attacted

by the colera. Ann & Rachel was very bad. I spend another miserable night with the

sick and with my own little children, but Monday morning came.

 

May 14th          Monday morning came and my father-in-law went out to the country

to seek for a place to live at. He got to a place called Dry Hill six miles from St.

Louis where there was some coal mines, and a branch of the church of the Latter Day

Saints. Amoung whom was John Gibbs the presiding Elder, also brothers Thomas Green

and William Stone, and good many others They treted him frindly. Green and Stone

brought a team with them to move us out to Dry Hill. We got out to the place before

dark and went in to Green's house that night. We where nine in number and three of

them very sick. The owner of the land by the name of a Mr. Garsaide give orders to

Mr. Green to drive us away from the premess because that he was affraid that we

would bring the cholera to the diggings. However Green did not obey his orders and

there we stayed. Nexed day we bought a little log cabin for fifteen dollar to live

in, and all the family got well except my wife. Shee was geting weaker and weaker

evry day. Father-in-law and I comence working in the coal pits. On the 18' a great

fire Brock out in one of the boats at St. Louis and burnt 36 of the boats and one

third of the city to ashes. I went to St. Louis vexed morning and such a sight I

never before saw. The hansomest part of the city all to ashes. The streets full of

the ruins, a man could only walk through. My wife was geting worst and worst intill

the night of the 22nd when shee seemed to be a little better.

 

23rd   With day light this morning shee was very bad and about 4 o clock shee sat on

the box and leaned her head back on the wall, shee deid in an instant without

uttering a word. Thes shee departed this life on the twenty third day of May, 1849

at 4 o clock in the morning or with the breack of day. Shee was 24 years, 3 months

and 23 days old when shee died on the Dry Hill. Shee was buried in the county greve

yeard near Blue Rige in the State of Missouri, about six miles west of the city of

St. Louis. Shee left behind her two small children a boy and a girl. In a few days I

left the Dry Hill and went to work in a brick yeard in St. Louis with one Mr.

Williams for 20 dollars per mounth and find myself, however, I did not stay there

only two weeks. Went to work to Blue Rige to another Mr. William Williams, a

Welchman. As soon as my wife deid my little daugher was taken sick. Shee got worst

and worst intill the 20 of June when shee deid in the same house as her mother and

was buried in the greave. I stayed on the Blue Rige with Mr. Williams intill fall

when I moved to Gravois to the coal diggings. I left my son Morgon with

 

his grandfather at Dry Hill, but after a while he moved to the Gravois. About

October there was several of my old friends come to the Gravois from Councel Bluffs.

They went up to Councel Bluff in the spring with Capt. Dan Jones. Could not get any

work at the Bluffs. They had come down to St. Louis to get work. Among the crowd was

John Hughes, our President on the ship. Also Rees Price, Morgan Hughes, Nask Jones

and William Lewis and a sew others. I was boarding with one Miss Williams, a widow.

Her husband died in the sumer in the colera and Nask Jones came to board there to.

The other men boarding in other places. I continued to work at the travois all

winter, making good wages. Sometime in the winter I took Morgan Davis to work with

me for I had a good work and I moved to his house to board because my son was with

him. I was paying nine dollars per mounth for our board. I worked very hard all

winter intill the work got very slack. After Chrismas I did not work so hard. I

spent a very agreeable winter in company with my old friends, enjoying the Comforts

of life. After passing through many a hard day. After passing through many sorrows

and hardships a person can with reality enjoy and appresiate the blessings. During

this winter while at the Gravois and St. Louis we very often meet together to enjoy

one anothers company. Many times while were in our enjoyment old friend Rees Price

was telling me of a young woman by the name of Phebe Evans that was at Councel

Bluffs. He said that shee would make me an excelent wife. That I had better go and

marry her, and this ended the eventful year A.D. 1849.

 

Jan. 1850 I am still residing at the Gravois and bording at my father-in-laws house,

enjoying health and strength of body and pace of mind, and the sooiety of my

friends. About this mounth the coal busness got very slack. I spend a good deal of

my time in the city of St. Louis intill I took a notion to go up to Councel Bluffs.

I took a boat the (Salvida) and went as far as St. Joseph in her, could not go any

farther at that time in concequence of low water. We where nine days from St. Louis

to St. Joseph. Thare was John Hughes and his wife, William Lewis and Nask Jones in

company with me. We stayed at St. Joseph three weeks, when I took another boat for

the Bluffs. It was the first boat that went up the Bluffs that season. There was on

board of her several of my old friends. Brother Daniel Edwards whom baptise my

brother John at the Llwyni and his wife, also a Mr. Phillips from near the town of

Carmarthen South Weles. After a pasege of eight days we arrived at Councel Bluffs

safe. On our landing at the bluffs there WAS good many of my Welch friends come on

board the boat to see us. Among the crowd was Phebe Evans and the Treharns girls and

host of others to numerous to mention. We landed at the Bluffs about the 20 of

April. I Carried my things to Rees Prices house thinking of making my home there for

a while. Rees Price had left St. Louis in the dead of winter and traveled all the

way overland from St. Louis to Councel Bluffs in company with William David and his

son Thomas. They had a very hard journey of it being in winter time. I was not long

at the Bluffs before I got acquanted with all the Welsh there. However I was not

long before I comence paying my addresess to Miss Phebe Evans. We begin courting

ernestly intill May the 13th, when by mutual consent, we where united in the bonds

of matrimony by Elder William Morgans, in

 

 

the house of her sister Margret Hughes. Morgan Hughes being still at St. Louis. We

made an exelent supper and invited many of our friends to the wedding. Among our

guest was William Morgan, Bishop William Davis, Rees Jones, Rees Price and wife,

Samuel Leigh, Thomas Jones, William Treharn and daugher Jane, and old father King

and wife and many others. The Bluffs at that time was a very poor country or rather

the people in it was very poor, it being a new settle country. This I spent my time

in the Bluffs intill fall living on what I earned in St. Louis. Here I will give a

breff genealogy of Phebe Evans before we where married, intill the time we were

married in Councel Bluffs. Therefore Phebe Evans was born December 26th in the A.D.

1831 at Merthyr Titvil Glanmorganshire South Weles Great Brittain. She is the third

daugher of David & Phebe Evans. Her perants move from Merthyr to Pont-y-yeats (her

fathers native place) when shee was a child, where shee lived intill shee moved to

America in 1849. She was baptist into the Church of Jeses Christ of Latter Day

Saints in the fall of 1847, and emigrate to the land of America in the spring of

1849. Shee came as servant maid to Mrs. Lewis from Kidwelly as far as Councel

Bluffs. They arrived at the Bluffs about the tenth of May, but through some very

hard usage shee left Mrs. Lewis and went to live with her sister Margret. Then Dan

Jones whom administerated for Mrs. Lewis took Phebes Cloths and sold them all by

action at Councel Bluffs city. This leveing her destetute of all her cloths and left

her at the charity of her sister Margret and others. In a short time after shee was

taking very sick in the fever and agne. This leied her down all that summer and most

of the fall and winter, intill a little before I came up to Councel Bluffs, and on

the 13th day of May 1850 shee married David D. Bowen, thes shee was 18 years 4

mounths and 17 days when shee was married.

 

I bought some land at the Bluffs from old father Draper thinking of making my home

there, but finding that I had not means enough to start farming I sold my land

again. The Councel was at the Bluffs to rebaptise all the new corners, so I was

rebaptised by Elder Rees Price and my wife by Elder William Treharn.

 

June 16th          I receved my patriarchal blefsing under the hands of father Draper.

 

...............      34 lines deleted.

 

August             Sometime this mounth I made up my mind to return to St. Louis,

the Bluffs being at that time so poor, no work except by farmers and that I was not

use to and the wages very small. I took a boat and both me and my wife started for

St. Louis. Paid ten dollars for our passege from the Bluffs to St. Louis where we

arrived in five days. It was very sickly these times about St. Louis. We then

started for the travois my old place of residence. We stayed a few days at Wiliam

Vaugan, and then took a house close by and became a little comfortable. I was

working and doing well the same as before, but I had good many enemies in

concequence of my marring Phebe. Morgan Hughes was my bitterest enemy because I

married his sister-in-law without his consent. So was Morgan David girls very bitter

against Phebe. Sometime in the fall I was attected very severly in the bloody flax

layed me

 

 

up for several weeks. I got to weak to stand on my feet it was very near taking my

life. While I was sick in bed Margret my sister-in-law come down from the Bluffs to

her husband Morgan Hughes whom had been in St. Louis for a whole year, from her and

had not send her one cent of money during that time. About the middle of November I

was geting well again and comence to work in Rusells pits. About this time there

came a great many of the Welch Saints to St. Louis under the Presedency of Elder

John Morris Pemprockshire. Among the numbers was Howell Williams and family, Walter

Roach, William Evans Fredeger and host of others to numerous to mention. I comence

working and made some money again. We moved to a better house and keeped two

boarders, Thomas Howells and George Jones. We took Walter Roach and family into our

house and Walter Roach and myself bought a coal pit on shares and work in it untill

the end of the year 1850.

 

January 1851 During this mounth both Walter Roach and myself was doing well. We had

good many men working for us and we where working hard ourselfs. I was now as strong

as ever I was. We did very well during January, February and March and in April the

wet weather came in so wet that the water brook in to our pit, and with all our

strength and all the help we had, we could not clear the water and at last we

concluded to abandon the pit and loose all our means in it. I rented a farm near the

Gravois thinking of farming this summer, but to poor to get a start at farming. I

abandoned the idea and both Walter Roach and myself and our families moved over to

New Pittsberght in Illinois, eight miles from St. Louis and oppeside it, where we

arrived about the first of May, where I work in the coal mines intill the last of

June, when a big flood came in the Mississipi and covered all the bottoms between

the coal mines and St. T Louis, or the Mississipi bottoms, and Carried away most of

the railroad. It was nothing but a sea of water all Over the Mississipi bottoms and

the only conviance was to St. Louis was only boats. All the work had to stop in

consequence of the flood. About this time there was a new coal mine open in Jackson

county Illinois eighty mils south of St. Louis and wanted men. So I made a boat or

rather a canoe out of a butt of a tree and John Hughes and wife and myself started

for St. Louis with the intention of going to the new coal mines. After much

difficulty we reach St. Louis, John Hughes left his wife in St. Louis and him and me

took a steam boat for the big muddy where the new coal mines was. We arrived there

safe and work There two days when we concluded to go back and move our families down

there to live. It was a good country place and things cheap. I did not feel very

well while we was there, however, we started back for home. We had forty miles to

travel overland and the weather was extremely hot. I was attacted so vioelently with

the billious fevier that I give out and could not scarcely traveled at all. I was so

sock that I just as soon die as live. I had to rest evry few minutes all the way and

by the second night we arrived at Chester on the Mississipi Rever. We had to stay

there a day and night waiting for a boat to go up to St. Louis. I did not get any

sleep nor rest while I stayed at Chester for I was very sick indeed and no one to

take care of me. John Hughes did not give me any assistance whatever. Sometime in

the afternoon a boat came up from New Orleans

 

 

bound for St. Louis and arrived there the nexed morning. Just as I went on board the

boat my desese left me and I was just as well as ever. About the same time John

Hughes was seized with the same decease very sever, which deprived him of all his

senses the whole night. In the morning we arrived at the arsnal, and it was just as

much as I could do to keep the doctors from taking John to the hospital at St.

Louis. I beged on them to let him with me, for they thought that he had cholera. At

last I prevailed and they let him go. I hired a boat to take us over the river and

as far as French village and took an homnibush from there to within 3 miles to our

houses, where I left John in consequence of him being to sick to travel home on

foot. I traveled this three miles along through a very thick lonesome woods, a road

I never traveled before arrived at home by sundown. I soon spread the news through

the neighbours that I had to 1 had to leve John Huges three miles back on the road

and in few minutes about half a dosen of the neighbors started back after him with a

team and got home about midnight. As I entered my house, I soon found that my wife

and son was both sick in the fever and agne and also John Hughes wife. Very near all

the people in this place was down sick with the fever and agne. I had so much

sickness and troubles whiles we was away that we abandoned all ideas of ever

returning back to Bigg Muddy again as we antisepeted in consequence of so much

sicknefs. We stayed here but a few days when we took the notion to remove back to

the Gravois our old home. I hired a wagon and went back to Gravois. Both me my wife

and child was very sick. We had not streng unogh to walk. We had to ride in the

wagen. When we arrived before dark at the Gravois. John Hughes had started for the

Gravois one day before us and his wife and his things with us. I could not rent a

house on the Gravois no where and trayed to get in to John Phillips house the first

night, but he reffust to let us in. Then I went to a little room that John Hughes

had rented for himself the day before and selepet on the flore all night with my

wife and child. The agne commence to get worst on me. I shook evry day and continued

to shake for several weeks intill I was nothing but skin and bone. I was not able to

work any intill fall. We became very poor and had no money to help ourself, but my

credit was good at Alexander Easton store and that was the way we got along intill

the beigining of winter, when I comence to work again. I was working and mending a

little evry day intill I got quit strong again. I got work with a Mr. Baker on the

Gravois and I keep all his accounts intill spring. I worked hard all winter in

company with a man by the name of Richard Whilds, a very good man and a fellow

workman. Sometimes we used to make 25 dollars per week. I was sheken very often in

the agne during the winter. However I made about to hundred dollars clear of

expenses in the winter. Sometime in the winter we got acquented with Thomas Vargo

and inglish man. We were very happy and in good surcumstance about this time.

Sometime this winter my son Morgan was taken very sick. I though that he would have

deid, but he recovered again this ended the year 1851.

 

January 1852 The biging of this year we was making intemate acquentance with Thomas

Vargo and comence making arrangement to emigreate to Salt Lake valley in the spring.

I was working at the Gravois evry day and making maney very well. In the mounth

 

 

of February we bought a team of two yoke of oxen and a wagen or shares for the

perpose of going to Salt Lake valley. I comence hauling coal from the Gravois to St.

Louis and continued intill the first of April when I quit for the perpose of making

reddy for starting towards the great plains of the west. Got our fit out reddy and

on the way.

 

April 6, 1852   We started from the Gravois to St. Louis stayed there most of the

day and went out few mils out of town and camped for the night. Here we meat

together all the wagens that wanted to travel together. We were nine wagens in

company from Gravois. All acquentance. We were five in number in our wagen, Thomas

Vargo and wife myself wife and child. And on the seventh we traveled all day through

a very bad road and raining all day and camp in a big bottom about one mile from St.

Charles on the banks of the Missouri and 25 mires from St. Louis.

 

April 8th           We crofsed the Missouri today and took most part of the day to

crofs in concequence of so many wagens and the wind blowing so hard. Camp a little

off St. Charles. The company travled together through Missouri over a very hard bad

road through rivers and woods intill we arrived at Arrow Rock where we crofs the

Mifsouri to the west side. From there we jurneyed through a bouteful country and

hansome farms along the road intill we arrived at Lexington where we heard of the

sad news of the unfortunate steem boat Salvida. Her boilers had exploded a few days

before and killed 22 of the saints, which was on board on they way to the Great Salt

Lake valley. Among the victims was our old friend William Rowlard and family from

Hirwain. Him and one of his children was blowed over board and never was seen any

more. His wife Rachel Rowland was in bed with two more of the children when a peice

of the deck fell on them and killed the both children at onecs and brock Rechels leg

in two places. She had a very narrow excapt. Good many gentails was also killed at

the same time. Here we crofsed the Mifsouri again to the east side, and here the

company divided. One went one way and the other the other way and Vargo and myself

traveled alone intill we arrived at St. Joseph. Vargo and myself had a slite

misunderstanding on the road a few days before and the best of feeling did not exist

between us, therefore here in St. Joseph we parted by a mutal consent and divided

the team one yoke of oxen and cow and half the wagen to each. I sold my half of the

wagen to Vargo then I had left 2 oxen and on cow. We stayed at St. Joseph but few

days, when a boat came up from St. Louis bound for the Bluffs. I send my wife and

child in her to the Bluffs and I traveled all the ways from St. Joseph to Councel

Bluffs on foot and drove my oxen and cow all the way before me, where I arrived

about the middle of May and found my wife and child well and harty and doing first

reat. I was five days travling from St. Joseph to Councel Bluffs the distance of 150

miles. I had a very good plesant jurney through a rich bouteful country. My wife and

son was staying at old sister Friences. I stayed there also. Soon after I arrived at

the Bluffs I agreed with an old man by the name of Daniel Sherar an old yankee to

haul him and five hundred weight to the valley of the Salt lak for a wagen that he

had. I was to have his wagen for hauling him and his laggage to Salt lake City. I

comence working at the

 

 

 

 

Bluffs, sometimes unloading the Steam boats and other times hauling good to

Franesville with my team. I made good many dollars which was of great help to us to

get the things that we neded for to cross the plains.

 

June 20th         We started from Councel point to meet the company at or near the

Missouri River, with two yoke of cattle 2 cows and old Sherar wagen. Pafsing thought

Fransville we arrived at the camping ground where the we ch Saint was camping a

little before dark. We uncamped with our old friends all night.

 

June 21St         A little after breackfast Abostle Esra T. Benson one of the Twelve

Abostles of the Church of Juses Christ of Letter Day Saints come to our camp to

organise the company. It resented as follows, William Morgans Captain of fifty

Bishop W. R. Davies and Rees Jones Williams his councelers. Abel Evans Captain of

the gard, William Beddo Clark of Camping. Evans, John Rees and Goward was Captains

of tens. In the evening we moved to the bigg hallow near the bigg springs and camp

there for three days.

 

24th     Today our company crofs the Missouri River to the Mormon old winter

quarters and camped about half a mile from the river intill the 28th. Gards and

wagens fixed all in their places.

 

28th    This morning the hue and cray was, evrybody to be reddy for starting to our

long jurney. After breackfast all the men was yoking their cattle and the women

preparing their cooking utensels in their respective wagens, which made our camp all

alive and in two hours evrybody was reddy for a start. The train started with the

Captain on the lead. And Captain David Evans Captain of the first ten was the first

in the train. Evry wagen in their respectaive places and I was the ninth wagen in

the first ten. I had a deal of trouble with my cattle for they was not broken, but

very whiled and young. The day we started from winter quarters was very hot. I

leboured so hard with the cattle and sweet so much that I had the headache that bad

I was all most blind all day. Sometime in the afternoon Bishop Davies run against

another wagen and brook his axed tree, the camp had to stay that day and part of the

nexed. gust as we camped a wagan come to our camp from the west. There was inscribe

on the cover of their wagen Thes Salt Lake Boys. They were mifsonaries from Salt

Lake City for England. They where six in number and Thomas Margets their Captain.

They camped with us that afternoon, and went a little before dark. Weather was very

hot and disagreeable.

 

29th    Bishop Davies wagen was fixed again and the train traveled as far as the Pa

Pa river and camped for the night. Marching along stedly evry day. We crofsed the

Elk Horn and the Loup Fork and many other streems intill we came to Wood River where

William David deid of the Calera and was beried there. In few days afterwards his

son Thomas was attacted by the colera and deid. We traveled along intill we reach

Fort Larime and crofsed the Platt from the north side to the south. The river was

very high. We had a hard times to crofs the Platt. We lost good

 

 

many things by Crossing. We left Fort Larimie to our left side and travled on the

south side the Platt and over the Black hills, arrived at Deer Creeck where we

stayed for good many days. Here I had a quarrels with old Sherar in Consequence of

his wagen which he promise me for hauling him and his luggedge to Salt Lake City. He

said that he did not calculate to give me the wagen. We had to get other men to

settle between us. He promise again to give me the wagen or I was going to leve him

and his wegen there. I listen to his fair promises and haul him along again. The

train was reddy and started once more, traveled evry day. We crossed the last

crossing of the Platt. We left the Platt entirely and traveled intill we struck the

independant rock and the sweetwaters and the Devils gate where good many cattle

deid. John D. Rees lost two big fine oxen. I lost one and good many more deid

belonging to others. About here the company divided into several parties. Our ten

traveled alone and did not join anyother intill we arrived at Salt Lake City. Morgan

Hughes and Thomas Jones meet us at the big mountain. We got to the mouth of

emigration kanyon 23rd of Suptember. Camp there that night and the nexed day. Bishop

Loranso D. Young, Brigham Youngs brother and another Bishop came to us and preach to

us. They prefsed on our minds particulary to mind Nomber one. That was first

princebles in the valley.

 

Sept. 25th Captain David Evans thought that it was better for us to go to the city.

We gathered up all our cattle and started. Arrived in the Great Salt Lake City a

little after noon this day. After a long hard tedious journey of nearly three

mounths. Distance of ten hundred and eleven miles. We meet Margret my sister in law

in the entrance of the City. We stayed that night by William Snow house, he is a

son-in-law to old Sherar. Here again I am in difficulty with old Sherar. He swore

that he would not give me the wagen. I went to old Bishop Hunter the head Bishop of

the Church. I did not receve any satisfaction from his. Told me to go to another man

Bishop Nobles to get the matter settle. I did so, and his decision was that I was to

get one half of the wagen. Then after the decision was given old Sherar would not

sell his share to me neither would he bay my share. There I was not a bit better of

the Bishops decision. At last I sold my share to a man from San Pete county, by the

name of Evrett for twenty dollars in lumbers and get it in San Pete. Our stay in the

city was three days and moved down to Spanish fork with Morgan and Margaret Hughes.

Arrived there October the first. We went to live with Morgan and Margrets house. I

work around there with Morgan Hughes doing some things for him and in three weeks I

started with my team to San Pete after the lumber that I bought for my share of old

Sherars wagen. I was three days on my journey arrived at Hambletons Saw mill in the

north end of San Pete valley, where I was to get the lumber. I got six hundred and

sixty six feet of lumber for my twenty dollars at three dollars per hundred. Stayed

at Hambleton House that night and return home in the morning. Arrived home in

Spanish Fork in three days. About this time good many of the new comers was

rebaptise and Phebe and I was rebaptise by Bishop William Pace. I comence working in

Payson Kanyon digging a mill race for Frank Stewart & Co. for two dollars per day

and board. I work there intill the snow fell to deep that we could not work anymore

& quit. We stayed at

 

 

Morgan Hughes intill Margret begin to be dissatisfied and about the middle of

December shee left him and went to live to Bishop Paces House where she was drawed

by seduction for the perpose of geting her a second wife. Then the friendly feelings

that existed between us and Morgan Hughes was rend forever and did not enjoy much

peace in his house afterwards. I concluded that I would make a place of my own. I

made a dug out in Palmira. This ended the year 1852.

 

January 1853 In the begining of this year I found myself & family living in a dug

out in the anticipeted city of Palmira on the plains of Spranish Fork. We was in

close curcumstances and poor situation. We had to sell a good del of our cloths to

get food during the winter for I could not get any work any where.

 

February         I sold my lumber which I hauled from San Pete to a Mr Jordan for a

wagen which was a good trade for me. The snow was very deep in Utah valley for about

three mounths.

 

March              The weather geting finer. The snow disappear very fast. William

Thomas and myself went to Springville to look for work. We hired ourselfs to Mr.

William D. Huntington to make diches and fences. We work with him all this mounth on

dray bread.

 

April                 The third we finish our job and receved for our labor an order

of fifty seven dollars on Hambletons Saw Mill in San Pete and sixteen dollars in

cash. Went home to Palmira stayed one night.

 

April 4th           This morning I started to Salt Lake city in company with Morgan

Hughes and Thomas Howells. Arrived in the city the sixeth.

 

6th       I attended the confrence and witnefs the laying of the foundation of the

great temple in Great Salt Lake City at 35 minutes past ten in the morning. Some of

the 12 Apostles preach in the meetings. The confrence lasted four days.

 

10th        Today there was good many ordained to be seventies and I among the many

was ordained under the hands of Elder Levi W. Harmon a Presedent of one of the

Quorums of the Seventies, and I was organize unto the 39 Quorums of the Seventies of

which Daniel Meingtesh was senior Presedent.

 

April 11th          Started for home. Arrived in Palmira in three days. Found

everything all right. There was two of my old friends Job Rowland and James James

come up from Cedar City Iron County and bragg very much on the place. I with few

more made up our minds to move to that county and on the sixteenth I settle my

tithing. April the 16th 1855

This may Certify that David D. Bowen has paid nine dollars the full amount of his

property tithing according to vote of conference 1851.

William Pace Bishop

 

 

17th   We started Pack and package for Iron county, nine wagens in all. Bishop

William R. Davies and his family, Thomas Jones, William Thomas, William Evans,

Rachel Rowlands and few others was in the company, pafsing through Payson, Summit

Creek, Nephi City, Fillmore City, the capital of Utah and Parawan City. We arrived

safely in Cedar City the place of our destination the first day of May after a

tourney of fifteen days. We enjoyed our self this evening with some of our old

friends.

 

May 2nd A very hard snow storm came over this valley and drove our cattle back from

whence they came. Their owners hunted many days, evryone found their Cattle exept

William Thomas. His oxen went all the way back to Spanish Fork. I had a good chance

to have a good veiw of the country and the conclusion I came to that it was a god

forsaken country poor land no feed for cattle no good about it exept that fire wood

was plenty. I was very near returning back to Utah county again, but my friends

persweded me to stay. So I did and bought a city lot from a man by the name of Varlo

and Englishman for twelve dollars. According to an act of the Legislature last

winter the road up to Coal Creek Kanyon was to be made to the coal mines for which

there was twenty five hundred dollars appropriated by the Legislature of Utah. The

road was under the Supervision of Bishop Phillip K. Smith and James A. Little. They

where given the road out by contract to suit diffrence parties. William Evans,

William Thomas, Edward Prethro & son and myself took a pice of the road together

worth about six hundred dollars to make. We moved our families to the Kanyons. We

work there intill the road was finished.

 

July 20th we all moved down to the city again. I camped on our lot. I comence

building a house on my lot, had the foundation layed down.

 

24th    The poeple of Cedar City celebrated this day in commemoration of the

entrance of the pioners to the valley of the Great Salt lak. The 24 is celebrated

evry year as a Mormon Holy day and the poeple not satisfied with one holy day, they

where prepering for the 25th also. But (alas) to theyr great astonishment and

disappointment they had to breack up at ones, for a proclamation was send forth

through out all the territory by the Governor, Brigham Young to set it under a

Marchel Law and all the poeple was under military discipline and was compled to

muster twice or three times evry day. Our city was garded and our cattle was hurded

and the poor had to work for the rich for nothing. Evry man Evry man was compled to

hurd and gard wheather he had any property or not and in this way we spent the

reminder of this sumer and a part of nexed winter. There was great excitment all

over the territory. The indans had killed some poeple in Utah county. At the time of

the excitment George A. Smith and William H. Kimball with a passw of men was taking

all the cattle that was not in use from evry settlement to Salt Lake City and from

there to the island in the lake. They took about two hundred & fifty head from Cedar

City. Thes make the people most of them very mad, and few of them rose against the

idea of taking away our cattle and four or

 

 

 

 

 

 

five of the men was put under gard in prison (vis) old man Hunter and his son

George, Varlo and Gregry. They ware talking of sheeting them. All thes men was

unroll in some company. I was in Robert Kays company and was appointed the Flag

bearer of the company. John D. Lee was the Major of our distric that is Iron County.

I build me a house and made my share of the city wall and hurded and garded in my

turn all through the sumer, fall and winter. I helped to move John D. Lee and all

the Harmony poeple int oCedar City. I also helped to move Joel H. Johnson & his

poeple from the Springs to Cedar and all the small settlements round about into the

city for fear of the indans, all for nothing. During the fall and winter all the men

had to work very hard. And by Chrismas the City wall, all and the houses was done

and most of the poeple middling comfortable.

 

Dec. 25th        Chrismas day, When the hard work was completed, all the poeple, big

and small, rich and poor, joined in a dance and enjoyed themselfs in the festiveties

for four days. Thes we ended the year A.D. 1853 in merriment.

 

January 1854 Still under Military law. Hurding and garding as usual. We renewed our

festivities at New Years day and deeped it up for several nights for we had to work

hard evry day at some thing or other. The winter is very sever, good del of frost

and snow.

 

Feb.           The Marchal Law was repealed some time in this mounth and the poeple

was once more a free poeple and could go where they plese and the territory again in

peace and quietness. During this mounth there was a big field surveyed and commenced

fencing in the middle of the snow with Cedar Pickets.

 

March              Hard at work fencing all this mounth. Most of the field was

enclosed. The weather geting finer and more comfortable.

 

April                 I receved a coppy of three patriaichal blessings which we

receved from under the hands of Patraich Elisha h. Groves.

 

......................... 148 lines deleted.

 

This spring I comence farming for the first time in my life. I put in five acers of

wheat and a small spot of petetos. After puting in my little corp, I in partners

with John hoodhouse took a contract to make a mud wall around the city of Parawan of

forteen rods for twenty dollers per rod for Lorango Barton & Calvin C. Pendelton. We

work very hard intill John Woodhouse give out with a sore hand and quit. I went home

to attend my land and stayed intill after harvest. My crop was very smal. After

harvst I went back to parawan to finish my contract. I had to employ John Murer for

John Woodhouse had backed out of the work. John Muer and myself work very hard

intill the frost came when we had to quit and a little portion only of the wall

undone. I did not receved my pay in concequence of not having the wall done. I paid

John Muer his weges before I got my pay from my employrs. This fall good many went

from Cedar City to San Barnadino. Apostetising from

 

the Mormon church. Our old friend David James went among the crowd. I bought him

out. I give him my last yoke of cattle that I had for his land, house and lot and

good many other things expecting of geting some cattle from my work at Parawan. Thes

I was all winter without any oxen.

 

November       Receved of David D. Bowen fifty six cents in full of his territory

tax for the year 1854. C. P. Liston D. P. This is to certify that D. D. Bowen has

paid his Co. tax in full for 1854 in wheat to me.

Cedar City Nov 27 1854             I. C. Height

Per C. J. Arthur

 

December       The bigining of this mounth I receved the following letter from my

brother John, Deted Pyle August 4th 1854.

Dear Brother David,

Lo, I take this oppertunity of writing this few linds to you hoping that thee and

thy family are all well as I and my family are at present. Thank be to God for his

goodness to us. My father receved your letter for the 25th of July and they where

exedingly glad to get it for the plasure of hearing of whereabouts and they where

glad to hear that your are geting along so well in temporal things. And they are

glad to hear concerning little Morgan. They would like to see him. My father feels

like coming there, but that he is to old and at the same time he says that John

Roach is older than him. My father says that he has worked 50 years here and after

all there is nothing waiting him here but the work use at last. They are sending

theyr best respects to you an Phebe thy wife and little Morgan and wish you evry

sesses. David Phillip and Mary are sending thire respects to you as a family and Ann

the same. Grandmother Fany is alive but keeping her bed this mounths. After they

read they letter they send it to me and wish me to write back to you for them. Dear

brother it is a plasure with me to have the privilege of writing to you once more

hoping that I shall have the privilege of speaking to you face to face before longe.

I saw in your letters that you have heard that I was on the road a coming. These I

wish it was true. In answer to the letter to thy letter to your father-in-law I

wrote to you April 25th and I hope you have received it before now. Thow said that

you was thinking of geting us there next spring. Capt. Jones is willing for me to

come. Dear brother if you help me I will be sure pay you back my last letter is

telling a good deal on that subject. Also I have send you a gift by elder George

Bywater. That is Doctrine and Covenant and the Book of Mormon in the Welsh Language

and I hope that you have received them before now. Uncle Thomas Bowen of the bryn is

deid since yesterday & Pegy is deid this 3 years. Uncle Thomas Thomas Caerelms is

deid about a month ago, this breifly from your borther (Translated from the Welch) 

         John Bowen

 

December       Doing all I could for the improvement of the house, lot and farm

intill the weather got to cold, when the people of Cedar comence their feastival as

usal that is balls and dances and keeped it up intill the last of the year.

 

 

 

 

Dec. 25th     Being Chrismas day the Iron Company

got up a big ball & invited good many of the inhabitans to it. I and Phebe amongs

the guest. The ball was conducted by I. C. Hight. This ended the eventful year A.D.

1854

Morgan D. Bowen was babtise unto the Church of Juses Crist of Latter day Saints

Suptember 3rd 1854 by Elder Elieser Edward in Cedar City Iron County Utah territory.

 

January 1855 At home doing nothing except hauling some fire wood all winter. I had

to hire cattle to get my wood home, for I had no oxen at all this winter. Very poor

times, nothing to do.

February        This mounth I receved the following letter from my brother John

after being over a year on the road.

            21 lines deleted.

March            I comence bloughing my land. I was compled to hire a yoke of cattle

from Samuel Jackson to put my crope in. I had all my crop in by the last of this

mounth.

April 1st          Today I started in compny with thirty more men to work on the

California road for Capt. James B. Leigh a goverment contractor. We agreed with him

for two dollars per day in cash and board. We traveled and work as far as the big

muddy two hundred mils from Cedar city and return to it the last of the mounth. When

we return back to Cedar City the country was like winter, all the ground was bear

not a spear of grass while the country south was like summer, green grass in

abundance. I say to the honor of Capt. Leigh he paid evry one sixty four dollars,

four dollar more than our wages.

After returning from the road I receved the following letter from my brother John.

Pyle January 15th 1855

Dear brother David,

            25 lines deleted.

Also, you promis to help me ther the begining of this year. That cause much joy to

my mind, but at presant it looks very dark. I desire much to leave Babilon, because

all the continent of Europe is like a boiling pot. Sound of war is in the ears of

everybody, and the masters of the works in Weles has commence giveing notices for

the purpose of lowering the prises of the workmen, yet the privisions is excedingly

high prises, until everybody is under the greatest oppression and tyranny that cane

be. Bettsy as given birth to a son, is name is Franklin John Bowen. I received a

letter lately from my father & mother. Father could not work any longer owing to

sicknefs and short of breath, and as to live on the Parrish. Poor Father. After

working hard for 50 years and as nothing at last. Your last letter bruised is

beeling very much, if you will receive this send an answer quickly, and if you can

help me to come to you and I do my best to pay you back. These in short from thy

only brother. John Bowen Collier Cynfig Hill near Pyle

Glanmorganshire South Weles Great Britan

 

After erigating my wheat I went to Parawan and hired Thomas Jones to go with me to

finish my wall contract, But when I got ther, Barton & Pentilton would not stand to

their bargain. They would not give me any oxen according to contract. Then I would

not do any more of the wall. We had a good del of contentions and quarrel very bad.

After all I was cheated out of my yoke of cattle which I work very hard for and

could not have any redress what so ever. Thes I will never forgive Loranzo Barton

and Calvin C. Pentleton in this world nor in the world to come, inless they will

make a complet restitution to me and pay me my ones due for my hard ernings, no,

never, never.

 

I then return home again with Thomas Jones empty handed.

 

?th       I had two women sealed to me for time and all eternity, by Elder George A.

Smith one of the 12 Apostles of the Church of Juses Christ of Latter day Saints, in

the tithing office at Cedar City Iron County (to wit) Mary Davies & Phebe Evans.

 

?nd      I consecreted all my property to the trustee in trust of the Church of

Juses Christ of Latter day saints.

This mounth I received the following letter from my mother wrote by my brother John.

 

Velin voel Llanelly

April 28th 1855

Dear Brother David,

Behold, I take this opportunity of writing this few linds to you hoping that you are

well and happy, we now inform you dear brother concerning the death of our dear

father who as departed this life since 26th of this month and is buried today the

28th in Velinvoel. Our feelings has been hurted very much because of loseing him

thou he could not work for many a month he was atacted with shortnefs of breath

about 8 month ago and got worse and worse until his spirit left his body and that is

the reason that I John is here today in the funeral. I send a letter to you before

in January 19th. I hope you have received it. I received your letter January 8th and

I was mighty glad to get it fore the porpose to here of your wher abouts and I am

happy to think that you are thinking of geting us next spring. The Lord may give you

strenth that you may bring about your purposes is the wishes of thy dear brother,

because Babilon is shaking to is foundation and the works are geting worse and worse

continually. The wages is geting less and the privisions is rising, therefore it is

geting very hard here, thou was asking for all the news that was here. Now we here

in Pyle and Cefncecobwn have been striking out for price for 2 mounths and have not

earned a shilling and that because we had to join in with the babilonians. Also our

cossin David Thomas Caerelms in Australia in the gold mines. His mother receved a

letter from him latly with ten souring in it. Good luck to him. Also John Mathias

velinvoel was hanged himself in the big

quarry. He was a week before he was found. Also old Gibson and his son Daniel is

turned out of Mr. Nevel and all the small stwarts has been turned away and evry

tavern keeper has been stoped. There is a great alteration in Mr. Nevels works. All

our relations is sending their best respects to you and Phebe, and little Morgan.

Take Notice, I presiding over the district of Bridge-end or pen-y-bent contining 5

branches. I wish to have a part in thy prayers that I mey have streng to do my duty.

Thes in short from thy mother & brother, Ann & John Bowen.

 

June                Some time in this mounth, an old friend of mine came down to

Cedar City from Fillmore to live being an old acquentance he come to stay by our

house. I bout a yoke of oxen from him for one hundred dollars 45 fushel of what

after harvest and ten dollars in cash I paid him sown. I sold him the house and lot

that I bought from David James last fall for one hundred dollars on the iron works

orders for green was working at the iron works. I work considerable at the iron

works myself this summer.

 

July                 Attending to my crop and working at the iron works untill the

last of the mounth, when I had to torn my attention to harvest my wheat. About the

last of this mounth I receved the following letter from my father-in-law (Evans)

...................... 64 lines deleted.

 

August             Busy at harvest all this mounth for myself & for others and about

the last of this mounth the wheat harvesting over.

 

Sept. 2nd       Morgans ninth birthday. Geting my wheat thrached.

 

20th Phebe started to Salt Lake City with Thomas Jones and his wife on a vissit.

Shee took our yoke of oxen with her to drough some flouer that shee took with her to

trate for some things we needed.

 

21st      I paid Thomas Green 45 bushel of wheat for the cattle that I bought from

him in the summer. After securing my wheat, I started to make adobies and continued

to make for six weeks intill Phebe return from Salt Lake City which was about the

last of October. Shee came home without our cattle, one of them was taken very sick

on the road going to the city and had to leve them both behind in Spanish Fork with

Pace. It caused her a good del of trouble.

 

November        Paid tax ...................

 

December        Some time in this mounth I receved the following letter from my

brother John.

 

Pyle October 28th 1855

Dear Brother David,

In answer to thy letter dated June the 15th behold, I take this opportunity of

writing this few linds to you hoping that thee and thy family are all well as we are

 

 

 

at present. I was glad to receve thy letter to hear from you. Also I was glad to

hear that you was thinking of Speaking to Brigham before the nexed emigration. It

would be very happy with me to come nexed spring, because that is all the preaching

here at present for evry body to prepare themselfs to emigrate, because there is

danger very near. Also it is happy with me that you are reddy to obey evry word that

comes out of the mouths of the servants of God, that is the law of consigertation,

great is the talk of the Babilonians hear, concerning the grafshoppers and that the

Saints are starving in Utah, that what fills the newspapers of our country Inglish

and Walch. Concerning the church here, there is not much babtising in Weles. All

though half Weles beleves the princeples, yet they will not obey and it is not

wonder when we think so much the church has suffered and it Dan Jones had not come

back here there would not be any Saints here. This confrence, that is Western

Glamorgan has suffered much. Lettle from the Presedent, that is, Demi Elfred Jones,

the minister that come from the babtise in Aberddare. He has robbed this confrence

of money in book and the temple money and the emigreting fund money to near one

hundred pounds. And he his now excommunicated from the church. He is now keeping

tavern in Aberdare and his house is half full of prostituts, that is the second time

that this confrence is been robbed, yet the faithful is doing all in thire best

power to get the confrence up again. Captain Jones has being himself a Presedent

over this confrance for 4 months. Now Thomas Harris printer is the President. I hope

that I will get away nex time for I am tiered in Babilon. My family is large and I

have to work hard myself intill I will be old man in the middle of my days. I have

six children alive, That is Betsy, William, David, Sarah, Daniel and Franklin.

William is earning 4 shilling per week. David 3 shilling. Little Betsy has been

three years being in bed, but shee is now whole only shee is lame. They are talking

a del about coming there. I send you a letter before the 28 of April. I hope you

have receved it. I was telling in that one concerning the death of our dear father

after being eight mounths that he could not work. He finish his cerier April 26th

and he was belied in Velin voel the 28. My mother sees it very strange without him.

I send your letter to my mother and shee send it to your father-in-law to the

Bontnewyd. Thes breffly from they only brother.

John Bowen

 

December About the latter end of this mounth Job Rowland came down from Salt lake

City. He brought my oxen with him whom Phebe left at Spanish Fork, the snow was on

the ground, the weather was very bad.

 

January 1856 Enjoying myself as well as I could, nothing to doo. Febr. & Mar. Passed

away without anything of importance.

 

April     This mounth I was busy puting in my crop and my the last of the mounth I

had in all.

 

 

 

May 18th         This day Phebe bought a small indian girl from the indans. The

childs uncle carried her about Cedar City for a whole week traying to sell her to

somebody, but finding no purchaser he was going to kill her, but Bliss Morris heard

about the indan was going to kill the chirld he concluded to give him his gun for

her for he knew that we wanted the chirld, and we payed Elias Morris cloths instead

of the gun. Shee was born as near as we could understand from the indian about the

latter part of October 1855. That would make her about six mounths old when we

bought her. We named her Abish a name out of the Book of Mormon. Phebe took a del of

care and trouble with her. Thes Abish was born in Octoberl855 at or near Cedar City

in Iron County Utah Territory North America, and shee is one of the Paiedee Tribe of

Indans Utah.

 

June 6th           My 34th birthday. Farming all summer got my crop in.

 

Sept. 19           We as a family started to Salt Lak City with my team in company

with many others. We arrived in the city the 5th of October. Attended the confrence

and was reddy to start hom. There was a talk of a great reformation to be all over

the territory to reform the people, their wicketness is so great that they have to

reform or the Lord wa going to distroy them from the face of the earth. We started

home again and got as far as Sumit Creek where William Richard and myself stayed to

work for Benjamin F. Johnson. My waife whent home with John Muer. We work but a few

days when snow and frost covered the ground and we had to quit working and start for

home. We had plenty of snow all the way intill we reached Cedar City. When I arrived

hom I found that the company that my wife was in had only just arrived before me.

They had a very hard journey all the way home. It was sometime in latter part of

October when we got home after a tripp of nearly six hundred miles. I took an old

man with me from Salt Lake City to Cedar City an uncel to William Richard. I hired

him to work for me for few weeks.

 

November       Taxes paid ...........

 

December       Sometime in this mounth I received the following letter from my

father in law. (Evans)

 

..................... 49 lines deleted.

 

During this winter the reformation brock out so hot that evry man had to reform with

or gainst thier will from their wicketness and abominations. Evry person men wormen

and children had to be rebabtise into the church or their where considered out of

the church. A poor disaffected Mormon had but a small chance of his life or to live

among them, however I was very stwff to comply with their request. Teachers vissited

me dayly, wishing me good and desiring very much on me to be rebabtise. At last I

thought it would be better for my safety to go through the ceremonies. Subsequently

I did. In about a week afterwards there came an order from Brigham Young for all the

people to be babtise again for the first one was not

 

 

 

right. Then evry person went to the water again to fulfill there commentment of the

Prophet Brigham. I embrace the first oppertunity this time and all winter there was

nothing but preaching and teaching the Celestial Princibles of Pologamy. And evry

man was counceled to take another woman no matter whether he be a good or bad man,

whether he was a richous or unrichous. In fact any man could get another worman if

he could get one willing. This ended the eventfull year 1856 with her troubles.

 

January 1857 Good many elders came down to Cedar City from Salt Lake City as

Missionaries to preach the reformation, there was some hot preaching by some of

them.

 

Jan. 29th          Today I was called on a mission to the Los Veges lead mines with

eight more men, namely, Eliazas Edwards, James Whittiker Senior, Samuel McMurddy,

John Woodhouse, John Hamilton, John Lee the dummy.

 

30th      I rented my farm to Samuel Jackson for one third of the crop after harves

in the half a bushel, him finding evrything.

 

Febr. 3rd         We all started on our mission taking with us plenty of provisions

for one year and a dosen fat oxen for beef for the church. We had to find our own

provisions and teams and to work for nothing. Brother James Witteger Senior was

appointed our Captain. E. Edwards and myself join teams. We traveled along in the

dead of winter through mudd and snow, a very disagreeable weather for traveling,

intill we arrived about the middle of the Rio-Virgin, where we meet all the

Los-Veges settlers coming from the place to abandon the settlement entirely. And we

return back with them and glad of the chance for we did not like it at first. We

return back another way by Santa-Clara settlement and up the Rio-Virgin River, over

a bad rocky road intill we reach Fort Harmony by dark, would not stay there for the

night we continued our journey all night and got home by morning.

 

28th      At home again and was glad of that, for one of my oxen was very sick for

serval days prevous. He would not eat anything

 

March 4th        My ox deid from the hardships he endured on the road coming back.

Left me with only one ox in the world and no way of geting another one, but I trated

my big line ox for a yoke of three years old steers not broock to work with N. V.

Jones the Captain over the Los-Veges lead mines. For all my trouble I never got

nothing. After I return home I had nothing to doo particularly because I had rented

out my land, I comence emproving a city lot in the new city, for a new city was to

be build and the old one to be abandoned in concequence of large floods that had

vissited the old city and destroyed some of it before. I leboured intill June 30'

when I and Benjamin Rowland started for Salt Lake City and arrived there 20 of July.

July 24th         The Mormon holy day. I was invited with thousands more to go up

the big cottenwood Kanyon to celebrate that hapy and holy day. I took my team with

two

 

 

families up there (to wit) Edward L. Parry and John Lewis the Saddler and their

families. We return to the city again. This time the news came about the sholders.

Augest 2nd     Ben and I took our team (for Ben had one yoke and I had another yoke

and wagen) and started towards Cedar Valley, forty mills from Salt Lake City

thinking of geting a job of Peeling bark, but when we arrived there we found that

the season was to far advance for peeling bark and could not doo anything at it,

then your attentions was drawn to burning chark coal by some men that was at the

busness then. We comence at it, a strange work entirely for both of us, and by a

little directions from those men w burnd two hundred bushel of Charek coal and about

the 17`" I took a load to the city, but on the road a going we sold the coal to the

church there was three others teams beside mine. And we was told to take it to the

mouth of big cotton wood kanyon. About one hundred yards from the place of deposite

my wagen in spite of us all went over a very high bank and capsisd with the load on

and breck one of my hind wheels to pieces. I then had to haul the coal in a small

wagen that I borrowed. And had the coal mesured there it made two hundred and

seventy one bushel for twenty cents per bushel. I lashed a pole under my axle tree

and took it to the city to be mended. I took my wagen to the Piblie works and got

her fixed. My load came to over 50 dollars. I got my pay all in store goods exept

the tithing that of course was taken out. In few days I was reddy to start back to

Cedar Valley to Benjamin Rowland again where he had remained to burned some more

coal. Arrived at the work and burned coal again intill the fifth of October when we

both arrived in the City. I found my wife in E. Parrys house when I got there. Shee

had arrived there from Cedar City the day before. Shee came up from Cedar City with

Elian Morris.

October 6th Phebe and I attended confrence for two days where the confrence adjurned

we started again for Cedar Valley for the remainder of our charck coal. Was back in

the city in five days. Had very old weather all the time took all our coal with us

this time. I went to the west mountain for some fire wood. Made one load and coming

back with the second one of my oxen was took very sick in the bloody muren and deid,

leving me with one ox in Salt Lake City three hundred mils from home.

November 3 This day my wife and I had our endowments with about thirty or forty more

pe4rsons, good many of whom was our old neibours that had just come from Cedar City

for the perpose of receving thire endowments. The ceremonies comence about seven

A.M. and continued till very near night, in washing, anointing and blessing all the

men and women. Men administred to men and women to women.

Nov. 6th          Phebe went down to Spanish Fork. I stayed in the City. All the

talk in the city was            to get men to go out to resist the United States

troops and stop them from coming in or to fight them if they would atempt to come in

.

 

 

 

 

10th I started out to Ecoh Canyon with about fifteen hundred men. I was enrold in

the 13 ward regment, Captain David Doncensons fifty, and Foresiths ten or platoon.

That night the companies arrived at the upper end of emigration Kanyon camped there

all night. It had been snowing all day and this night was one of the bitterest

nights I ever experience in my life. Freesing so hard that many of the men had their

toes frose and the most of the men had to run up and down the kanyon to keep

themseffs warm. When morning came all was glad and many had to return back to the

city, owing to the frosing feet and hands. Many comence grumbling. This was the

morman company against the United States troops, whom was camping at Horns Fork on

Fort Bridger at the time.

 

11th Morning came one more, and a hard days trvel acme with it. Ready and started

with the teams over the little mountain. Evry man had to carry his own gun and shuf

with the teams over the mountain to our middle in the snow. We travied about 4 mils

across the mountain and camp in the big hollow between the big and little mountains

for the night. We spent a more comfortable night.

 

12th All day, the first divisions of the campaign was crossing the big mountain,

while our regment had to stay in the same place all night. In this way our men got

little recruted.

 

13th Early this morning we started up the big mountain for our compny was the first

on the list. All hands at the wagens. Took about twenty yoke of cattle and so many

men to haul one wagen to the summit of the mountain, and by dark all the teams was

over, and camp about one mil in a hollow on the eastside. A bitter cold night again.

Most of the men wish themselfs at home at thire fire sides with their wifes and

children.

 

Nov. 14th         Another morning appeared and all most evry man without exeption

looked with a sorrowful countinance, the tailor from his table, the shoemaker from

his bench, the store clarck from his counter, the prainter from his press, the

painter form his pot & brush, the saddler from his saddle making and the clarck from

his quill and many other kind of tradesman. All had to shoulder their guns and

paddle throught the snow up to their middle. Now and then could hear a deep groan

and a groul. Expressing themselfs (thes) O. this is a hard way to serve the Lord.

Traveling down the kanyon we arrived at east kanyon creeck where every man had to

cross it about 20 times wadeing it evry time up to their middle, again and again. A

person could hear the same deep groans and expressions. 0, this is a hard way to

serve the Lord. By dark we arrived on a small plain about a quarter of a mile from

the last crossing of east kanyon creeck and camp for the night.

 

15th Once more the king of the day appeared above the high mountains and our camp on

the march again, and evry man expecting to meet uncle Sams army evry day. After

another hard days travled we arrived at the crossing of the Weber River. Crossed the

Weber and traveled up the river intill we arrived at the mouth of Ecoh

 

 

 

 

Kanyon, the Depo, randeavanze of all the Mormon forces. Here we camp for the night.

 

16th Early in the morning our officers went to seek a good place to set our tents

and campfor good intill such time that we where called home or to an active service

agains the U.S.s army. They choose a spot by the river side in the middle of the

woods and accordingly we moved to the spot and pich our tents. We comence to erect a

comfortable wig-wam to live in for we had not enuft of tents.

 

17th An order was esued by the comanding officer for evry man to bring all their

crackers to the comasary store for inspection. That was complyed with. All most to a

man. And after the dilevry of the crackers tot he comassary, we never sa any of them

any more. Our good crackers was eating my the officers and the poor men had to cook

some flower the best way they could, without any fat or meat whatever. This was one

of the greater oppretion and tyrany that ever was known in any country. Evry man had

to find himself with gun & amunitions, with bed cloths and clothing and provissions.

And after all their good crackers was taking away forom them and eating by the

officers, and the men was feed on dray flower alone. Daniel H. Wells was the

Comander General and Nathaniel V. Jones the Comassary General. All the officers from

the highest to the lowest was as proud as Lucifer and considering the men or

(Private) as low as dogs or things to low for them to assosiate with. Such brotherly

feeling as that my go to the divel for my art. That is a poor example of Mormon

authority.

 

Nov, 18&19 Evry man besy at working making a comfortable quarters.

 

20th Our company had orders to move from their quarters to about 4 mils up to Echo

Knyon. We accordingly moved and set our tents near Ogden Rigment.

 

  21       Again, we comence building another quarters. In a few days they were all

ready and spent the remainder of the mounth at this place.

 

December       The bigining of this mounth I was taking very sick and confined to my

bed in the tent. Doctor Anderson vissited me twice evry day. He concluded that I

ought to be taking to the city, concequently a team was fixed and two of us

wastaking to the city. A young man by the name of Beatman wa very bad in the

rhumatism with me. Though I was very sick I took care of him. We arrived in the city

in two days from Echo Knyon. I stayed at James James shoes makers house for a few

days intill I got well. I then started towards Spanish Fork on foot. It snowed and

blowed all day and arrived in Lehi and stayed at Abel Evans house for the night. I

was very tired, could arly walk. I was entertained by Abel and his family to the

best of their ability. Nexed morning I continued my journey towards Spanish Fork.

When I got as far as Springville six mils to Spanish Fork, I was so used up that I

could scersly move one leg pass the other. The snow was deep on the ground. I had to

rest evry now and then for I was complely exhausted. And from Springville

 

 

to Spanish Fork the distance of six mils, I had to rest by laying on my back on the

snow about a dozen or more times. It was a very hard times for me. I entred unto

Brother Paces house about 10 P.M. completely exhausted. I could not scersly set nor

lay down any way at all. Here I found Phebe and Abish with her. They had been here

ever scince I went to Echo Knyon. I sleped very comfortable this night in a fine

feather bed. I stayed a week at Pace and return back to the city after my ox and

wagen which I left in Echo Knyon behind me for my friends to being in. I arrived in

the city in two days and found that all my comreades had arrived in Salt Lake City

from Echo Knyon. The nex day after I left for Spanish Fork. I found my ox west of

Jordan and my wagen with Benjamin Rowland in the 15th ward. Then I could not take my

wagen from the city for I had but one ox to haul it, but a man by the name of Evan

Edwards and old mess mate of mine in Echo Knyon had an odd ox and wanted to sell it

for wheat in Cedar City Iron County, for he lived in Washington county. I was to pay

him 30 bushel of wheat when he would call for it. I started down to Spanish Fork

again arrived there in three days. This was some where between Chrismas and New

Years day. Now I close another eventfull year. It has passed and I have not seen any

thing but trouble and anxiety of mind. Farwell.

 

January 1st 1858 This morning both me and my wife was invited by our old friend Mr.

John H. Redd to take dinner with him and family and friends at 2 a clock P.M. When

the time came we went to the house and to our astonishment and satisfaction there

was one of the most exelent tables set out that we ever saw. There was three nigro

two women and one man witing on the table. Evryone was well pleased. I stayed at Mr.

Paces house in Spanish Fork intill the 19th when William Richard and myself started

to go to Iron County a distance of over three hundred mils. The wether was fine and

clear and no snow at Spanish Fork. We stayed tonight at the house of Mr. B. F.

Johnston at Sumit Creek.

 

Jan 20th           There was a good thicknefs of snow on the ground here. After

breackfast we proceeded on our journey and arrived at Salt Creek or (Nephi) by night

and the cattle was tierd out.

 

21st    We stayed at Nephi all day. I saw that my cattle was to weak and poor to go

the whole distance alone. I concluded to trade for a biger pair of cattle or return

back to Spanish Fork with thes. Before night I traded my little cattle for a big

fellows and 15 dollars boot.

 

22nd     We started again for Iron County through the snow and bad wether. Before I

was very far an my days travel I saw that I made a poor trade, for this bog oxen was

straind almost to death. We camped tonight at Chiecken Creek. The wind blowing very

bad.

 

23rd     We traveled along for few days and pased through Filmore City the capitol

of utah territory. We traveled from there to Bever City a distance of 60 mils

without any

 

 

feed or water to the cattle, and the snow was very deep all the way to Bever. And

when we arrived at Bever one of my oxen could harly move. William Richard stayed

here with his daugher Amia and I tarryed here two days and started again alone

twards Cedar City, but before I was 20 mils one of the oxen had given out entirely.

 

30th    And I had a very hard job to get him to red creek. Arrived at John Prethes

house where I stayed all night. By dark my ox very sick.

 

31st     Nexed morning I left my yoke of oxen and wagen in the care of John Prethe

at Reed Creed and I started on foot to Cedar City a distance about 24 mils. Arrived

there early in the afternoon, but when I went to my house I found no body there. I

struck to Thomas Jones house, where I found our Morgan. He had been staying with him

a long time. I found evry thing upside down. Most of my wheat gone and my piggs sold

for little or nothing by Elieser Edwards our lodger. I went to Red Creek to see my

oxen. One was deid. I stayed at Cedar City makeing my home at Thomas Jones intill

about the middle of March. I sold my house and land and traded around intill I got 2

yoke of cattle and 2 young mares and I was reddy to start back to Spanish Fork,

after settling all my busness.

 

March              Some time in the fore part of this mounth I bid adue to Cedar

City for ever I think after a resedence of five years. The following recommend I

receved from the Presedent of the seventies at Cedar City before I left, all though

it was wrote a mounth before.

Cedar City Feb 26 1856

To whom it may concern.

This certifies that David D. Bowen holds the Apostolship of a Seventy and has been a

member of the mafs quarum in this place and in recommend to the Seventies where his

lot my be cast on a good faithful brother.

Esna H. Curtus President

Per G. K. Bowring Clark

 

I started from Cedar in company with some of my old friends William Richard, David

Morgan Morgan and Goerge Monroe who was moving to Bever City. Arrived at Bever in

two days. I stayed there for few days. When I was reddy I started for Spanish Fork,

William Richard our Morgan and myself. After a very plasant journey we arrived at

Spanish Fork the biginin of April. Phebe and Abis was still at Paces house. I was

welcome home and glad to see me and Morgan for Phebe had not seen Morgan for man

mounth. David H. Davies had move unto his own house and wanted us to go to his house

to live for he had no one to keep his house. By a deal of inviting to come, we at

last consented to move to his house. I traded my two mares away to F. Pace for a

yoke of cattle, a sow and five bushel of wheat. A good trade. I traded my two years

old steers off to Margret my sister¬in-law for a cow and a heifer. I had left two

yoke of big oxen and a good wagen. The very nexed day after we arrived at Spanish

Fork we had an awfull storm. The

 

 

 

snow nearly a foot on the level ground, and no feed

for the cattle. As soon as the storm was over, the wether became fine, I was ofred

plenty of work for me and my team. I agreed with my old friend Stephen Markham to go

to San Pete fora load of coal for his blacksmith Thomas Robinson. I was to get one

bushel of wheat for a bushel of coal. I started with three yoke of cattle and I took

my Morgan with me. We arrived in the coal mines in San Pete in three says. We loaded

and got out of the canon before dark. Camp at a small creek in a very loanesone

place tonight. The clouds filled up the skys and a sign of a big storm appeared to

be on hand. We turned out our cattle and went to retired for night. Nexed morning it

was snowing a little. Got the cattle up and started, but the snow came down thicker

and thicker intill it was a good thickness and the cattle had a hard work to draw

the load for I had a very heavy load 30 hundred pounds. After a hard pull for the

cattle and a disagreeable day for us, my Morgan and myself, for it was snowing hard

all day, we arrived on the summit at the head of Salt Creek Knyon. A little before

dark on going down the knyon the cattle was traviling with a good speed, the snow

deep on the ground. I could not see the road and before we was a mile down the

knyon, the first think I knew that the cattle was up to their belleis in a mired

hole and wagen down to the hubs in the mudd. Now it was dark and snowing very hard.

I tryed again and again to haul it out, backward and forward, but all in vain. At

last I concluded to unload the coal. So I did, and haul it backward out of the mud,

but I was to tired to load it again tonight. I then went to overhaul our blankets

and grub and found evrything all wet and our bread all spoild, and our maches all

wet. And with all my exertion I could not make a fire. I was wet to my skin and so

was Morgan. We had to rowl ourselfs up in the wet cloths to rest for the night, but

before I was there half an hour I was all most frees to death with cold. I had to

get up and walk back and fore all night to keep myself from freesing to death, and

evry now and then I had to call on Morgan to see if he was alive. Thes I spent this

night in a very most miserable condision and was glad when morning appeard once

more. Nexed morning as soon as morning came, lm comence loading my coal and got

reddy to start again. It was to cold for Morgan to ride. He had no shoes, only

maginsince. Concequently he had to walk ten mils bare footed up to his knees in

snow. I thought his feet would be frose very bad. We got out of the knyon about

noon. I took Morgan and rold him in the blankets, it was very could. When we arrived

in Juab valley all the snow was gone and left the ground bare and wet, which was

very disagreeable to traveled. And by the junction of San Pete and Lower road, al at

once the wagen went down to the hub and the cattle could not move it one inch, but

by the help of some teams a pafsing we hauled it out. Traveled a mile or two farther

and it went again. Now it was very near dark and no teams pafsing. We concluded to

turn the cattle out and Morgan and me to go to an old house about three mils off and

carry our bed cloths and grub. We arrived there at dusk, nobody there, and no fire,

and it was miserable cold, and Morgan bare footed. I at last manedge to get some

fire out of my gun for I had a gun and powder. We was not there but a short time

when Morgan was taken very sick, vometing very bad and was as cold as ice. I thought

surly that he was going to die. He had not eat any thing for two days, however I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

was able to warm him up and get the blankets hot around him and he fell aslep with

out anything to eat, for we had nothing, our bread was all spoild.

 

Nexed morning we rised early, but nothing for breakfast. I saw a man coming on the

road. I went to meet him, for the house was a little from the road. I found he was a

Danishman and a strenger to me. I asked him if he had any bread. He said he had a

little and he gave me half he had. He went his way and I went back to the old house.

Morgan and I eat the bread and started after the wagen and cattle which was back on

the road about three mils. We had to wait again intill some team came by. Soon after

some team came up to us and they help us out of the hole. We traveled along the road

was awfull bad. We was meeting teams all day. We did not know what was all this

teams that a moving for intill we aske the people and they told us that all the

Mormons was moving south. That was the orders of Brigham Young for the people to go

south away from the United States troops. We traveled along intill we arrived at

Summit Creek. I stayed there for the night and I send Morgan home to Spanish Fork

with Tomy Green. The cattle and myself was kindly entertained at Johnstons house

with Rees Lewelin.

 

Nexed morning I started for home after breackfast, and arrived in Spanish Fork early

in the afternoon, unloaded my coal and found that I had thirty hundred pounds. I

made 30 bushel of wheat in one week. Morgan, myself and cattle was all right in a

week.

 

Now when I arrived at home there was hundreds of people in Spanish Fork that had

move from north of Salt Lake City by the orders of Brigham Young and all the others

settlements was the same. Crowded with strangers in evry directions.

 

All had to move with their herds of cattles and their flocks of sheep, their piggs,

geese, and chickens all they had that could walk, leveing behind them their fine

farms and their exelent houses, to be distroyed by indans or any body els that felt

disbose to doo soo. Thes, the people had to sacrafice thousands of dollars werth of

property to satisfied the foolish ambistion of Brigham Young, one of the most

tyranical, despotical villain on the face of the earth at the presant time. Evry

house was filled with their friends, and Dd. H. Davies took in two families. That

was Owen Robert and his wife and Edward Ashton and his wife and two children. We had

a full house among us all 12 head.

 

After that we did not have much pece and comford in David house, for he wished us

out of his house to give more room to the others. He thought the other parties was

better than us. I concluded to build all though I did not wish to build in Spanish

Fork for I did not like the place, however, I bought two lots for sixty dollars in

tithing orders which I brought with me from Cedar City.

I bought four thousand adobies, and engage William Davis a North Weles man to build

my house.

 

 

Sometime in this mounth I rented five acres of land from Stephen Markham, was to let

him have one third of the crop on the find. I sowed it all with wheat in three days.

The crop seem to come on with good luck. I should have a good crop, but when it was

near ripe the indins horses breck in to it and distroyed it nearly all leving me

after a hard summers work cropless without any wheat for my family, but after I put

in my crop, I went to North Willow Creek for a load of wheat for Rees Jones. I was

to get three fourth of the load for the hauling of it to Spanish Fork. I hauled on

the wagen and two yoke of cattle forty four bushel. I made thirty three bushel of

wheat for my self on the trip. During this times there was a strong talk of killing

evry person that would atempt to leve the territory, or rather express it. In

Brighams own exprestion to the Bishops in a curcular send to al the wards, said he,

give the disafected plenty of work to doo and take care of them the best way you

can. Just as well to orders them to kill the disafected if they could not take care

of them otherwise. This circular was redd to all the people two or three times, so

as to scared them to stay in Utah.

 

But the time rold on and two commissonaries was send from the United States to

sattle the matters (or difficulty) between the United States and the Mormons. The

commissonaries was Governor Powells and Ben McCollock. The difficulty was settle and

the trops came in about the first of July and pick their tents in Cedar Valley 40

mils south of Salt L. City. With the trops, came in the Governor elect of Utah, His

Excellence Governor A. Cummigs. He tarried in Salt Lake City.

 

After the troops had pafs through the city and gone to Cedar Valley, the Governor

send out a proclamation to all the people that had left their homes to return again

in peace and to live in peace. The people in a few days bigin to flock back to their

former homes and rejoying at the news, and good many with thire curses in their

mouths against Brigham Young.

 

July 1st I moved Edward Ashton and Owen Robert and thire families to Salt Lake City

with my team for nearly nothing, for that was the councel to help the people to move

back again.

 

After that I attended my crop and work around intill it was harvest time when my

crop was nearly all eat away by the indans horses. I work in the harvest for other

folks intill it was all over, and about the last of Suptember, a man by the name of

David Evans and myself took a load of butter and eggs and other things to Camp Floyd

to the soldiers. We sold that very well and return for another load, got

home and got another load with two yoke of cattle this time.

 

When I arrived at camp I sold my load immediately. There was a great call for teams

to work at various things. I comence hauling adobies to build up the quarters. I

hauled one day and turn out my cattle for the nigh, but vexed morning I hunted for

my cattle but could not find them. I hunted and hunted high and low, east, west,

north and south, but all in vain. They could not be found anywhere.

 

 

Oct. 8th  I took a wood contract of two hundred and fifty cords for six dollars per

cord to be delivered in the camp, from the Quartermaster Col. Crossman. No limited

time. I took in partners with me in the contract two fellos (namely) Johnna Phillips

and Nathaniel Edmunds. We al three of us started home to Spanish Fork, for we all

lived there, got home in two days. I comence digging petetos, of which I had a good

crop. Got them all home safe and I was nearly reddy to start back to camp Floyd with

my family when on a sudden I was attached very severely in the bloody flax, it made

me so sick that I could not go out of the house, with this I had the sore eyes very

bad. I was brought down so low that my wife and friends thought I should die, but by

the scilfull mind of Doctor Wiseman I was brought around again. When I bigin to

recover I heard of one yoke of my cattle by Jacob Furguson, that they were at Lehi

City 30 mils north of Spanish Fork. I paid Franklin Pace ten dollars for going after

them an on. November 18th I started to Camp Floyd in company with my family and

William Richard. I had the sore eyes so bad that I could scersly see the road before

me. We arrived in Camp Floyd in three days.

 

Nov 15th         I started up to the kanyon where my men was at work and found that

my partners was going the whole hogg, that they were doing evrything, but that was

right.

And at my apearans they wish themselfs out of the way, for they had not work any and

permited the chopers to cheat them as much as they please. And found on measuring

the wood that they had being cheated fifty cords. The measurement in the woods did

not corespond with the measurement in camp. It fell short of fifty cords. By this

means we had to lose the fifty cords at six dollars per cord. That would amount to

three hundred dollars between the three of us. As I had all the control of the

contract, it was win my name, therefore I refuse to pay the chopers and teamsters

according to their measurement in the woods, but I was willing to pay them according

to the Quartermasters measurement, but the men refuse the condition and they went

and suit us for theyr whole pay. The justice of Peace give his judgement. What we

was to loos one half and workmen the other half, and that we was to pay the cost

which was thirty four dollars. I had to give him a vowger of nine hundred dollars

for security. Nexed morning I redeam my vowger and paid him his 34 dollars and I

comence paying of the workmen at the reate of 11 cent discount on the dollar for

that what is came to. It keep me busy all day, for the other two fellows went away

for they could not doo any thing with it. After paying all off, the money was nearly

all spent. Only five dollars and twenty five cents came to thire share, instead of

one hundred, if they had done right while I was sick, but no, they did not doo

right, as the wood fell short of the measurment we had to start again to haul the

ballance to finish the contract. I concluded to disolve the partnership without any

ceremony from the other two men, and evry one to go on their own hook, then we

agreed to haul each one as much as he could of the ballance intill it was finish. So

I could turn too a choped and haulled as much as 8 could and in two weeks I choped

and hauled more myself then the other two put together. I made one hundred and

twenty nine dollars and fifty cents in two weeks. We had no house nor tent to live

in only the open skys for our

 

 

shellter, exposed to the cold and snow. My wife had to cook evry day for good many

men in the cold and snow and by the 251 of December or Chrismas day I had my

contract finish and payed for. All the men joint to have a party for Chrismas and my

wife was to cook it. When Chrismas came, the diner was redy about 3 p.m. but the

disafection between me and the other two men made me feel bad and disagreeable. I

would not eat with them. They all eat of the diner but me. After diner they all

without exeption got beastly drunk while I was being in my bed thinking of the

future.

 

Dec. 27th        I started in hunt of my other yoke of oxen which was lost about

thee mounths ago. I found one in Lehi field and the other in boxs herd. I returned

home and reach our camp in the knyon the evening of New Years day and found

evrything all right and my bigest enemies that is Nathenial Edmunds and William

Richard had left and gone home. This ended the eventful year 1858 after a del of

trouble.

 

Jan. 1, 1859 This evening I return home from hunting my cattle I was lucky enough to

find them without much trouble, but it cost me between ten and fifteen dollars.

About this time provedence seem to smile more upon us and our property that caused

us to feel better in our mind and begin to feel good. We comence geting the things

that we needed, for we where poor of clothing.

 

3rd     I took another contract of three hundred cords for five dollars per cord. I

hired men to chop and teams to haul. We all work very faithful intill the last of

February when I completed the contract. Intill the fifteen of March I haul some wood

to sell to private person who lived in Fairfield on the other side of the creek.

 

March 15th      All the work was about done in camp and I concluded to move back to

Spanish Fork to spent the summer, so we started this morning as a family and a young

man by the name of Mathew Kannely went home with us to spent the sumer. We arrived

home in our own house the third day.

 

17th This evening before dark we arrived at home our friends (or rather those that

pretended to be our friends) when they heard that we made few hundred dollars in

Camp Floyd and that we had evry thing we neded for our use, they all flock to our

house thinking of geting something from me. They came evry day for a few days intill

they were satisfied that they could not get much. This very same people (at least

some of them) had been running us down and allmost curseing us for going to Camp

Floyd to work for the solders, but after I work hard for my money, they could borrow

and spend it, if they could only get it, but no they could not get it.

 

21st  The District Court was in sefsion at Provo City. I went over there to get my

second paper or to be a full citizen of the Unite States, for I had declare my

intention on the Yd day of April 1852 at Saint Louis Mifsouri, seven years ago.

 

22nd I went in to the court to be sworn according to law to be a full citizen of the

 

 

United States. The Judge demanded my first paper. I accordingly handed it over to

him, he looked at it and held it in his hand for a whie, and said, that my paper was

illegal and that it was of no account. He said that the court that giv it to me

which was the criminal court of the City of Saint Loous had no right to give it,

therefore, the Judge, whom was Judge Cradlebaugh refuse to give me my second on

those excuses. Concequently I was compled to take another one out here.

 

................................ 25 lines deleted.

 

That evening I return home to Spanish Fork, I thought I would not farm this sumer

and concluded to work with my team and do the best I could in hauling and c. I

ploughed a good del for other people and took my pay in wheat and other kinds of

produce and down well at it.

 

We all enjoyed ourselfs all this spring had plenty of friends because we had

somethings.

 

July 15th          I went over to Camp Floyd to a Government sale of mules. I bought

six head of mules in the sale. Brought them to Spanish Fork and sold them to good

advantage for cattle.

 

I hauled good many loads of grain from Spanish Fork to Camp Floyd for Steven Markham

to Gilbert & Garrish. About this time Camp Floyd was very lively with plenty of

money.

 

August 1st        I rec'd the following letter from my brother John.

Mountain Ash June 4th 1859

Dear brother David,

In answer to your letter dated April 4th I am in great joy, taking this opportunity

of speaking to you through the midum of paper and ink once more. You wonder that you

have not heard from me scince 1857. Dear brother, I have send to you to Cedar City,

but could not get any answer, therefore I was hopeless about you and had belive that

you had gone the way of all the earth, and belive that I would never heard a word

any more from you. But to my great astonishment on Tuesday morning June 2nd 1859

here is a letter coming to my hand. I looked on the direction. I knew your hand

writing irmnidiately and I said, it is the truth that my brother David is yet alive.

I wish to see him before my death and after I open and read it my hart is bruised.

When thinking that you have not heard the news, the most weighty new I ever send to

you, because I have had an unspecakable troubles.

As far as I understand by your letter, that the last letter that you have received

from me was the one I wrote Jan. 20th 1857. Now dear brother at that time my son

David comence growing sick and March 26 1857 he deid of consumption. He was very

near 13 years old and earning 10 shilling per week. It brusied my feelings

 

 

uncommonly at that time and my dear wife Betsy was big in the family way and very

near confined and April 19th shee gave birth to a dead boy and April 21st 1857, my

dear wife Betsy deid. I beried her in Davids greave in the Chruch yard at Aberdare.

Five children after her (that is) little Betsy Shee is now 18 years old, William,

16, Sarah 10, Daniel 7 and Franklin 5 years old. Now you see I have been a widow

scince 2 years last April 18, 1857.

 

And at the last of 1857, the Mastars give notice to lower the wages 5 shillings to

the pound. We had a strik for nine weeks and the workmen lost the day, and after

starting in the last of January 1858, the aire ways was nearly all closed up and on

Whensday night the 24 of February 1858, 4 of us the timbermen went down to the pit,

which is 300 yards deep. And many of the colliers with us to work and at 3 a clock

in the mornigh the damp cot fire. It was one of the aufullest explosions that ever

occured in Weles. The man on top of the pit and the inginer never thought that there

a living sould in the pit, but to their great ashtonishment a few came up a live.

And thy dear brother was the last that came up of the pit a live, but half dead

after making my best exertion and leaving 19 dead mens bodys and 3 horses,a dead

corps by my side. The pits in the vale of Aberdare is perfectly dry and a good del

of dust and when an explosion takes place it is the dust that smothers them the

most. And on the aforesaid morning after I was awfuly blowed and after I was brought

to my sences, I raped my flannen coat around my head and that was the way I came out

safe, yet I acknowlege the hand of the Lord in preserving my life in such a narrow

escape, yet I am not thankful enough to God for sustaining me. I am not in my place

and in the church ever scince I wrote to you before. Sorrow and vexations has

completly over come me, yet I take the (udgorn) trumpet of Zion, the princeples is

the same. Great trouble is to rise 5 children without a mother, yet I know if I was

as lucky as you as to get a good Mormon for a wife, I would be as good a Mormon as

ever I was. I do not know the reason the best of women and men is out of the church,

but I think that God is going to do some thing in Weles, because the sectarians has

a great reformation amoung them. They jump and shoult worst then in the A.D. 1830

when Joseph Smith received the Gospel. They are auful to hear them.

 

John, Betsys brother and Cite his wife and Shoni or Berllan are sending theyr best

respect to you and your wife.

 

Mother, Ann, David Phillip and Mary and the children where well ast week. I send thy

letter to mother yesterday. Grandmother Fany is still alive. Daniel, son of our

brother William is married and has a child. All the children and myself joing to

send our best respect to you and Phebe, Morgan and Abish. I will go and see David

Evans in a fortnight. I belive you will do your best for us. This in short from thy

dear brother. John Bowen

Collier at the Bruce Arms

Mountain Ash near Aberdare Glanmorganshire South Weles G. Britain.

 

 

 

Translated from the Welch by D. D. Bowen.

 

September 13th I paid my territorial and county tax. Received of David D. Bowen in

full on his territorial and county tax for the year 1859. $1.95

 

..........................

 

September 14th My old friend Proffeor Thomas Job as I was thinking of returning to

Camp Floyd he come and vissit us from Springville, for there he lived at this time.

I wished him to calculate my nativity. He promise to do it for 12 dollars.

Accordingly in a few days he brought me the following diragram and writing in a

pamphlet form. It is called Horary nativitey. Dated Suptember 21St 1859.

 

.............................. 376 lines deleted (Astrology)

 

The foregoing nativity was wrote in this book 3 years and 4 mounths after its date.

I testify that I have realise its truth. D. D. Bowen.

 

Suptember 25th I received the following letter from my dear mother.

...................... 48 lines deleted.

 

October 3rd After being a few days prepering in Spanish Fork, about noon we started

from home towards camp Floyd as a family, in company with Ephrain Rowland whom I

hauled with my team over to camp and his family, also Frankon Pace and his wife was

with us. We arrived at camp the 3rd day.

 

I went up to Gilbert and Gerrishs store and met my old friend Robert Watson. He

introduce me to Mr. Gilbert of the firm of Gilbert and Gerrish. After a long

conversation on many subjects and more espesly on some work, and as there was no

contracts to be given out by the Quarter Master this fall Mr. Gilbert cegested the

idea for me to haule some wood on speculation and cord it on the peaure and he

promise to let me have evrything that I wanted out of the store. I accordingly

prepared myself and my teams to go to the knyons. I heired Ephraim Rowland, David

Evans and William Thomas to cop the wood for my teams and Fredrick Lewis to drive

one of my teams and our Morgan the other team. We settle ourselfs in a knyon about 6

mils direct south from Camp Floyd. Made a road and build a cabin for each family.

David Evans and William Thomas borded with us and Ephram Rowland live with his

family. The comence choping for 2 dollars per cord.

 

Oct. 10th My two teams took the first loads down to camp and we continued evry day

for about six weeks intill the officer of the camp Col. A. P. Smith give orders to

Mr. Gilbert for me to quit hauling. At that time I had hauled 150 cords of wood and

throught it on the ground. We started to cord it up and got done in a few days.

 

 

We had plenty of snow on the ground. It was very disagreeable for man and beast. No

one could doo much. Fred Lewis quit and went to Spanish Fork.

 

We all made up our mind to stay in the knyon all winter. So we made our cabins as

comfortable as we could, our cattle was rutting on the reanche most of the time,

only when we took a load of wood to town to sell to the settlers, which we did once

or twice a week. Very disagreeable weather to be out of doors. In this way we spent

the remainder of this fall and a part of the winter. We spend a good merry time

intill December 25 or Chrismas day, when we had a fine diner, considering the place

we lived in, where nobody come near us. This ended the year 1859 (we had a good year

withal).

 

January 1 1860 Today we find ourselfs in the knyons between Cedar and Rush vallies

in Utah territory, doing nexed thing to nothing.

 

This winter I comence study astrology and recieveda few lessons on astrology from

Profefsor Thomas Job.

 

According to a previous promise, Professor Job send the following diagrm and writing

to my wife called harary nativity.

 

........................ 195 lines deleted (astrology)

 

During January and February we stayed in the knyon. The snow was very deep and

disagreeable for the women and children. We had to melt snow for all the water we

used. We concluded to move to camp Floyd for all the other parties had left long

before.

 

March 18th      We got our cattle up and fixed evrything in the wagen and about noon

we started and got in camp Floyd in about 3 hours and the road was very bad with

snow. We went into Mr. Bessy house (or rather a dugout). They had not children and

was very comfortable. We lived with them very happy. They were very kind to us. I

had nothing to do. Very slack for work. This mounth pafsed away very happy and

comfortable. The weather became fine.

 

April 1st.              Mr. Gilbert sold my wood to the Quartermaster for 6 dollars

per cord and he Gilbert paid me five dollars. Him making one dollar per cord for

nothing. A good prospects of getting another contract from the quarter master

through Mr. Gilbert.

 

11th     Today at eight o clock in the evening we took a little child a boy from his

mother to win. My wife was to be paid for keeping him so much per week, so shee

received pay for few times when his father wished us to take him forever, the mother

had left the father and took a bad step, concequently, Mr. David Wells the Justice

of the peace made out the papers and recorded in the office of the clark of the

probate court of Cedar County Utah Territory The boys name is Charles. He

 

 

 

 

was born May 15th 1859 at half past eight at night in Fairfield Cedar County Utah

Territory.

 

16th Today I comence another contract of wood for the Quarter master through Mr.

Gilbert. I was to get 5 dollars per cord. I gathred all my cattle together and

rapair my wagens and I bought 4 yoke of oxen and a wagon from Mr. Gilbert for the

money that he owed me for the wood. I hired chopers and teamsters and got on a fair

way of working. Evrything seems to work for our good and provedence smail on us in

all thing.

 

 

April 20th         I received the following from my mother-in-law. (Evans)

 

......................... 59 lines deleted.

 

At this time my teams was fairly at work making a trip evry day. I was geting many

and evrything that I wanted out of Gilberts store. Evrything was at a high rest in

his store, flour 7 dollars per hundred weight coffee and sugar 50 center per pound

and evry other thing in the same proportion.

 

April passed away with secess and prosperity. We still stayed at Mr. Besseys house.

Exedingly fine weather this spring.

 

May 10            Good many of the solders left camp Floyd. Some to Sonara, some to

Mexico and some to the States. The 5th infantry and the seventh both thes rigments

left and part of the tents and some dragoons, and left the camp with good many less

solders.

 

18th    Our little boys mother took a notion in head to go back to the states with a

lot of gamblers and desberetos and some of her olafs and shee thought that shee

would have the boy to go with her to the states and shee watch her chance to come

after the child when I was from home. Shee came and demanded him and took him by

force and took him to a house of ill fame where shee stayed. His father felt very

bad about the child.

 

20th     Shee started with the child with her towards the states in William T.

Carrells wagen with many more with her. Carrell was paid for taking them to some

point east of Bridger. May has pafsed away and we keeping at work very hard evry

day.

 

June 6th          This is my 38 birthday. Very good time on me at this time. About

this time we moved up to the knyon to live for the sumer. This mounth was passing

away very fast, but about the last of this mounth two of my men that work for me

comence working against me that is Ephraim Rowland and William Dona with Mr.

Gilbert, trying to get the wood contract from me. They envied my seccess, but they

could not doo it for I was to fast with Gilbert. Yet they prevailed with Captain

Twinley

 

 

the assistant Quartermaster to get some wood to haul and chope independent of me. So

they left me and started on their own hook. They chope and haul it for 4 dollars per

cord when at the same time I was geting five dollars, but not 2 weeks had passed

away before they quarell and all most redy to kill one another, and I had to settle

the matter between them after all and Ephraim Rowland wanted to come back to work

for me again, but I refuse to let him, therefore him and old Bona Bill Bonas father

ad a hard time in their partnership. Old Bona came to me to borrow money to pay

Ephraim off and instead of hurting me as they anticepeded they did me good with Mr.

Gilbert, for afterwards I had all the wood to haul and they hurted themselfs.

 

About this time another fellow W. T. Carrell tryed his best to hinger me with

Gilbert by offing to haul the wood for 4 dollars per cord one doller per cord less

then I was geting. He had return from the read and very near lost his life through

those women that he took out he did not go far.

 

It seemed that nothing nor no body could influence the mind of Mr. Gilbert againsts

me. He had full confidence in me. I continued with great prosperity to work and evry

thing prospered that I did. I had about 50 men of all kind to work for me. I was

rideing on my mule evry day from our camp in the knyon to Camp Floyd about 5 mils.

 

Some time in July I saw the first number of the true latter day saints Herald edited

by Mr. Isaac Sheen at Cincinati Ohio. I was making new acquintances evry day through

my situation and growing in favor of all that I had any dealing with.

 

During this summer my old friend Mr. James W. Bosnell and his friend came to vissit

us good many times on Sundays and we had a joyful times of it.

 

July and Augest pafsed away with good luck and prosperity. And all my enemies was

compeled to pull in their horns for they saw that it was no use to try to hurt me.

 

September about the middle of this mounth we had an awfull storm of rain and

thunder. The water came in large streem right through our tent and nearly carried

evry thing away with it.

 

Oct. 15th          I received the following letter from my brother John.

 

..................... 68 lines deleted.

 

October pafsed away. My cattle was geting poor and thin yet they work faithfuly

intill the fifteenth November.

 

Nov. 15th      We moved down to Fairfield near Camp Floyd to winter. I had rented a

fine house

 

 

house from James Ryan the day before 6 dollars per

mounth. It was well finished inside. We went into it little before sundown. My wife

was quite satisfied with the house. I hauled up all my winter wood and more then we

wanted.

 

17th     This morning earl (after me and Phebe talk the matter over and concluded to

buy the house from James Ryan) I went to his saloon and with a few words I bought

the house for one hundred and fifty dollars, one hundred on Gilbert & Garrishs store

and the other fifty in fire wood. I payed him the hundred dollars right down and the

wood I hauled him in a few days. So that I had a very good house very cheap. At this

time there was thousands of dollars a coming to me from Gilbert & Gerish for my

summers work.

 

Oct. 20th         I comence paying off my teamsters and few chopers that I had not

paid off before, among them was my old friend Samuel Bradshaw. Him and his wife and

children had being staying with us nearly all summer in the knyons. Mrs Bradshaw was

a great help to my wife. I paid her well for it. I give him a bran new chicaigo

wagen in part pay for his work and the ballance on the store. Also D. G. Winn whom

had been working very faithfuly for me all summer. His wife was a very extravgant

woman. Also Jack Lewelin, William Bona, Fred Louis, Charley Rollins, Bill Matison

and Jonathan McKee, John Clinton, Sam Haults and Saml. Maffit and many others to

maney to mention here. Bill Matison concluded to stay and board with us all winter.

Mr. Gilbert turn to me six yoke of cattle in part payment for my money. I let my men

have them all for 65 dollars per yoke. Two yoke I let Jonathan McKee have. One yoke

to Jack Lewelin, one yoke to William Bona, one

yoke to Saml. Haults and one yoke to______ . Two wagens I also had. One I keeped

myself and the other I paid over to Samuel Bradshaw for one hundred dollars. I paid

Jack Lewelin & Fred Lewis a horse a pice for 75 dollars each. Some people envied my

prosperity very much. And others respected me the more. It was a year of prosperity

and secess with me and my family. We could get evrything that our harts could desire

and Mr. Gilbert express himself many times that I was the only man that work more

than I draw from the store. He said that evry body els was in his dept, but said he

here is Mr. Bowen, I am in his dept thousands of dollars, there is so much a coming

to him from me and I am glad of it, said he. After I had paid off all my men I had

due me from Gilbert and Gerrish over three thousand dollars.

 

We comence to feel happy in our new house and some of our friends came to see and

help us to fix thing in the house especily Mr. Bosnell.

 

A few days before the old Quarter Master Captain T. P. Turnley was called to

Washington City to give account of his stewartship to the government, and another

officer Captain Robert E. Cleary came in is place. After I finished Gilberts

contract Captain Cleary wish me to haul him some pine wood for the headquartes and

the officers. So I hauled him 22 cords for 5 dollars per cord. He paid me right down

the one hundred and ten dollars in cash. My friend Robert Watson hauled

 

 

him some too. Captain Cleary seems to be a gentleman and a friend to the poor man.

After this Mr. Watson and myself paid the Captain many vifsits and he was very glad

to see us coming. Mr. Watson went to Salt Lake City for there he lived and stayed

all winter and I vissited the quarter master myself frequently. He is very social

kind of a man full of talk and very inquisative concerning the country, for he was a

streanger in Utah and wanted to know all about it.

 

Nov, 21st          I received the folowing letter from father & mother-in-law.

 

................. 67 lines deleted.

 

22nd    I comence geting in a fiar way to study astrology with proffessor Thomas

Job. Mr. Job had 4 of us in his school studying the astal sceiance namly Mr. James

W. Bosnell, Geo. D. Winn, Thomas Nutt and myself. We study evry day happy and

pleasant time of it. I rented a room myself from David Stevens for the express

purpose of keeping school for two dollars per mounth. We agreed to pay Mr. Job 100

dollars for his service. I agreet to board him gratis.

 

23rd     Prepering for Chrismas thinking of making a party that day.

 

24th    Very early this morning we were roused out of our slumber by sombody

knocking at our door. I got up and how was there but sister Margret and Elias Jones

had come over from Spanish Fork to spend Chrismas with us. I found by my watch that

I was only one o clock in the morning. We all went to bed again and slept til sun

up, when we was pereparing for breackfast, to our great surprice how came in to the

house but a strange woman bringing back to us the child that we had last spring and

his mother took from us by force, after her signing a lawful paper for us to keep

the boy for life. When the woman came in with the child we did not know what to say

nor what to doo for the child was ours by the law and we could not refuse to take

him. I was very much against taking him back, but my wife was more for taking him

that I was against it, therefore we concluded to take him back. He looked a poor

misserable little thing. A great del worst looking then when he went away from us.

He had been misused very much and not taking care of as he ought to be. The boy seem

to be very glad when he saw us, allthough he was only one year and half old and had

been away from us six mounth he felt at home right away. Then this woman who was a

streanger to us brought the boy from the man that had the child who lived at Provo.

They wer tiered of him and wished to get rid of him and beside the childs father had

send to this man for him to take him back to us. He did not come himself, but send

this woman with it. This woman related how this man became with the child. She said,

that this man Mr. Wilkins was coming down Provo Knyon with a load of wood when to

his surprise he saw the childs mother (whom he knew before) on the bank of the river

with the child in her arms. Mr. Wilkins hiled her and asked her what she was doing

there. She answered that she was going to drowned that little divel (meaning the

child). 0 no said Mr. Wilkins to her it's a petty to drown the child. I will take

him rather ten

 

 

have him drouned. Then she swore, by god, she said, if you will take him I will give

him to you and 40 dollars in cash and all his cloths. At the word Mr. Wilkins took

the child and carried him home to his house. Thes, was the means to save the childs

life. Yet him nor his wives (for he had two wives( did not doo right towards the

child, for they let hm set and lay on the flor all the time.

 

The nexed day the childs mother repented of giving her child away and wanted to take

him again, but Mr. Wilkins refused to give her the child again. She went on in an

awful rate cursing and swearing desperately. When Mr. Wilkins had to threaten to

sheet her if she would not go about her bussness. She went away and the last we hear

of her she was some where about Pikes Peack in Nabraska territory.

 

Now, the boys name was Charles but after we took him back the second time, we change

his name to John Charles, instead of Charles only. He is to be called John from this

time for life.

 

Now then, John Charles Bowen is the son of David D. & Phebe Bowen born May 15th 1859

at half pafs eight o clock in the evening in Fairfield near Camp Floyd Utah

territory. My wife had to comence to make new cloths for him because they did not

send his cloethes with him. This surely was a Chrismas gift for us. He is now at the

time I write this February 2 1863 growing to be a fine boy. He is 3 years and nine

mounth old. He is smart and an intelligent child and might doo a great del of good

to us in our old age. No one knows what he will be yet.

 

December 25th It being Chrismas, we had a party or rather a diner at 3 o clock

afternoon. We had invited our firends a few days before and they al arrived in time.

Two of Mr. Gilberts clarck was there Cus. Beck and Bob, Mr. James W. Bosnell and his

wife, G. D. Winn and his wife, sister Margret and Elias Jones, Mr. Job and many

others. We had a marry time of it intill about 7 o clock. We all went to our private

dance which we instituted two or three weeks ago. We danced till midnight and went

home after a good enjoyment through the day and evening every one satisfied.

 

Dec, 26th         I did not study at all in school today, but I wrote a letter to

the old country to my father-in-law containing a check or not for 150 pounds or

seven hundred and twenty seven dollars and fifty cents (727.50) Seventy five pounds

to my brother John and the other seventy five pounds to my father-in-law for the

purpose of assissting them to emigrate to America nexed spring. I posted the letter

at half passed 4 afternoon. This note I received from Mr. Elias Jones on his

brother-in-law, Mr. David Evans Farmers Arms New Cut Swanse on demand. I paid Mr.

Johns the seven hundred and twenty seven dollars and fifty cents at Gilbert and

Garrishs store in Marchandise according to agreement he took it out as he pleased

and in anything that he wanted, beside that, I traded with Mr. Jones in hay, butter

and eggs and other thing to the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars for

marchandise.

 

 

I bought a mule and 4 head of horned animals with

John Sutton for one hundred and ninty fiv dollars in marchandise. I bought and sold

hay al winter. I bought 2 yoke of cattle for 180 dollars.

 

I stuck very close to my study evry dy notwithstanding I had much to doo at other

things. I was called away very often from my study during the day, but the school

did not break up intill eight or nine in the envening.

 

Sister Margret handed me a letter that she recieved from her father and mother few

days before she left Spanish Fork as follows.

 

.................... 53 lines deleted.

 

Dec 27th          Baying and selling hay. No body had any hay for sale in town. I

was about the bigest bug in fairfield at this time. I keeping as close as I could to

my study. Mr. Job was making his home entirely at our house.

 

Dec 28th          Good thinkness of snow on the ground. All my cattle was runing on

the sides of the hills in Cedar valley.

 

29th      Nothing but the common occurances of the day.

 

30th     Sunday. Both me and my wife was invited by Mr. Bosnell to attend his party

tomorrow. I accepted the invitation. Mr. Job also was invited, and good many more

familys beside.

 

31st     At 3 o clock P.M. we all attended the party at Mr. Bosnell, where the table

was set with evrything that could be got in the country. After super we all attended

a general dance where we enjoyed ourselfs intill after midnight and went home quite

satisfied of our recriations.

 

This year 1860 has pafsed over our heads. It is the best year that ever pafsed over

me. I have had health of body and pece of mind and a very presprous year with evry

thing we had. I prepared on evry hand and wanted nothing.

 

January 1st 1861 We live in our comfortable house in Fairfield near camp Floyd

enjoying the comforts of life more so then ever we did before in our lives. We had

evrything we wished to make a person happy. I was evry day studing in school. I

comence to calculate my nativity.

 

............................ 116lines deleted.

 

The mounth of February has passed away and our school come to a close. March 1st   

                    For the first time scince I have any account with Mr. Gilbert we

come to a

 

settlement through the instrumentality little Capt. A jew and found it as follow

March 1st 1861 By ballance due to D. D. Bowen as per bill $4,211.67.

 

2nd      Sometime last night a man by the name of Charles H. Pearson took away my

mule out of Mr. Gilberts stable and started on her towards California. As soon as I

was acquainted with the fact that he had took my mule I immediately send two men

after him viz John Thomas and Stone, they over took him at Ross station. He send me

the following lines.

Rush Valley station March 2nd 1861

Mr. Bowen

Sir I was certainly wrong in taking your mule without informing you of it, but the

one I left in its place I expected you would make use of intill my return as I was

thrown by him and could not ride him, I took yours which I found in the stable. I

will pay you sir your price for the use of the aniamal when I return tomarrow. I

request thes may thoughtlessness has occasioned such a missunderstanding.

Yours truly, Charles H. Pearson.

 

............... 225 lines deleted (letters from Weles - astrology ? incidental

business of D. D. Bowen)

 

Received a letter from Mr. Isaac Sheen Editory of the True Latter Day Staints Harold

dated Cincinati Ohio April 29 1861.

 

Mr. David D. Bowen

 

Dear Brother, your letter of April 3rd came to hand on the 27th and I hasten to

reply. I hope that you received No. 1 of Vol. 2 in a few days after you wrote. It

was mailed to you nearly a mounth before you wrote and is deted for March. No was

mailed about two weeks after. No. 3 will be reddy in a few days. It contains the

minutes of the April conference. We had a glorious conference although the weather

was very wet. I will send you 4 more of No. 23 and 12 of No. 1 Vol. 2 and 12 of No

2, so if you do not get those which I have sent. I hope these will reach you and if

you receved all the packages you can distribute them where they may do good. I was

informed more than a year since by a soldier (Mr. Thatcher) who came form Camp Floyd

that liberty is only enjoying a that place. I expect every day to learn that the

troops will be withdrawn from Utah to be employed in the war against the Sothern

Confedercy. It is reported that they have been withdrawn from Fort Leavenworth. If a

petition could be sent from the people at Camp Floyd to President Lincoln showing

the evil which would follow a withdrawal of the troops, I think that would be

permitted to remain. I believe that the present National administrations would

establish law and order in Utah if the great vexation which now distracts the nation

did not prevent it. I have been expecting that Brigham would become more tyranical,

now he sees the weaknefs of this government. I am fully convinced that if hoes so he

will only precipitate his downfall & hasten the time when the bloody conflict

between the oppresfsed under

 

 

 

him and their opprefsors will be inaugurated as Joseph the Martyr foresaw when he

lived in Kirtland. Orson Pratt, Snow, Bates and others are roaming over this country

teaching the small remnants of Brighamites that the Judgments of God are now come

upon this nation and that in Utah they will find peace and deliverance. If that is

correct reasoning then a few years ago when there arose a mighty famine in that land

"& many would fain have fed on the husks that the swine did eat" then they should

have left that land. The time is near when the remnants will return to their Fathers

house & Zion will soon be redeemed and the peace in heart (not the vile and the

abominable) will build up her waste places. The same Profhet who said "in Mount Zion

& in Jerusalem shall be deliverance" also said "and in the remnant whom the Lord

shall Call" salvation is to be in the remnant in their scattered condition in Utah

the United States and upon all the face of the earth. Nephi said "I beheld the

church of the Lamb of God & its numbers were few, bacause of the wickednefs and

abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters, nevethelefs I beheld that the

Church of the Lamb who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the

earth and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small. I Nephi beheld the

power of the Lamb of God that it descended upon the saints of the Church of the

Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face

of the earth & they were armed with righteousnefs & with the power of God in great

glory. After Joseph death Brigham said that young Joseph would take his fathers

place & that the church needed a guardian untill Joseph should be old enough & I

have been credibly informed that a short time before Joseph did take his place.

Brigham said Joseph would come out right whenever he did come out to stand in his

fathers place, but now he has done so, he says David is the man. When David takes

place as a colaborator with Joseph & "a prince in Israel", if Brigham lives so long

he will no doubt repudiate all he has said concerning him. It was shown unto the

saints at the late conference by the Spirit of God that the prophecy of the first

Joseph concerning his son David shall be fulfilled yea "saith the spirit, he shall

be a prince in Isreal without supplanting his brother as the President of the Church

by an agreement between Mosiah and Alma the former thority over the church and the

presidency over the nation were united together again when Alma the son of Alma

received the form from his father & the latter from King Mosiah. Afterwards Alma

resigned the presidency of the nation into the hands of nephihab who was called the

chief judge. David therefore can be a prince in Isreal without presiding over the

church. Myself and Bro. Joseph have received letters informing us that several

hundred would return from Box Elder & Weber counties this spring to uite with the

New Organization. Also some from S. L. City. It would be a god thing if those who

believe in the New Organization at Camp Floyd would organize a branch there. I

suppose there are elders among them who were ordained in Josephs day. They have an

indisputable right to do so, according to the law in the book of Covenants, 7 they

would be greatly blefsed thereby by an advancement in knowledge & in the joy of the

Holy Ghost. I received these letters from you with two dollars in each and two

dollars from the post master. I should be much pleased to hear from you often and to

receive a variaty of news from you. Send your letters to this city untill otherwise

directed. If the city should be

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bombarded by the south, provisions will no doubt be

made for the delivery of the letters.

You Brother in the New Covenant Isaac Sheen

 

............... 575 lines deleted

(Letters, astrology, incidental business army sale, settled store bill with G & G

10,754.00. Helped move army from Camp Floyd to Fort Crittenden to Fort Bridger by

hiring & managing teamsters.)

 

August 31st       I went to Bridger early this morning and got there about 10 a.m.

and Lo: and behold who did I meet there, but my bro. John and David Evans, Phebe's

brother, walking on the street. I did not recognize my bro. Any more than if he had

been an utter stranger to me. The last time I had seen him was in the winter of 1849

when I and my family emigrated to America. I presented to Nutt and His wife the

horiscope of their daughter and took John my bro. And David Evans to our camp on

Smith's Fork. We arrived their by dark.

 

Sept. 1st          My bro. John, Phebe children and myself went to overtake the

train that our folks were in. We overtok them on the muddy 12 miles from Fort

Bridger and great was our joy to see them after the absence of twelve years. John

had bought one yoke of cattle and two cows with Walter Roach on credit an I paid Mr.

Roach one hundred and twenty dollars in cash for the four animals, the following is

a copy of a note my bro gave Roach as security.

 

Sept. 2nd         My son Morgan D. Bowen's birthday, he being fifteen years of age.

We started from the little creek and got to Bridger about noon and got home a little

before sunset. We then got our supper, and were being merry by our camp fire about

nine o clock `.m. my son Morgan discover'd that one of the wagons was on fire. We

all broke and run to the wagon and I in the excitement caught the covers and tore

them off in the midst of the blaze so I saved the wagon with act and burned my hands

badly and was dreadfully pain'd all night.

 

3rd       My hands were much better this morning but had raised to large blisters.

My mother-in-law doctor'd me. My bro. John David Evans my father-in-law and Thomas

George & myself went to see the hay land. Set four men to mow David & Methusalem

Evans my bros-in-law, W. Baxter and old man Irving. We then returned back to camp

when my brother John presented me with a book called Prognostic Astronomy or Horary

Astrology by Dr. W. I. Simmonite - price five shillings in Weles. Also he gave me

Johnson's dictionary, one of my fathers books. The following was wrote on one of the

blank leaves. John Bowen Senior's book, March 14, 1844, David Bowen's hand March 14,

1844.

 

4th       This morning David Evans left his wife Hannah and took with him all he had

and left his wife and children entirely destitute, which I had to care and provide

for after he left. She wanted me to go after him to get the team and by her desire I

wrote to

 

 

Judge Carter the following note.

...................... 23 lines deleted

 

................. 2,514lines deleted.

(Hauling for G. & G. out of Salt Lake City, Incidental Business, Letters from

friends now scattered; Trouble with G & G over money due D.D.B. Moved to house in

Salt Lake City, D. D. B receives citizenship papers; Lawsuit against Gilbert and

Garrish Co.; Settled with great los to D. D. B.; He received Company's promise to

pay debt when they received pay from government (Debt $4,000.)

 

 

April 24, 1862 I went again to see Mr. Gooding, the O. S. M. agent to know if I

could get some freight. He promis'd me some if I could load within six days. I told

him I would if I could, however, I would do my best.

 

I commenced fixing up my wagons, ready to travel.

 

27th     Sunday, James Galaspy and Methum. My bro in law went to the knyons for

Galaspy's charcoal. They return'd by dark.

 

28th Both James & Methum. Started to Lehi to sell the coal. Morgan and David my

brother in law gathering cattle together.

 

29th Getting my wagons fixed both the carpenter and blacksmith at work. James and

Methum. return early in the afternoon.

 

30th Getting all my men, preparing for the journey some to fixing wagons, others to

hunting cattle.

 

May 1st            Every one of us, preparing to load up the wagons.

 

2nd       I hired Alma Pace to work this morning for $25. Per month.

 

3rd    Brought up some cattle to go to load the wagons, and after dinner we

commenced loading oats at the wharehouse in camp. We loaded six wagons, each of them

with a little over four thousand pounds, amt. In all to (24,070 lbs).

 

We haul'd and canard them in front of James Gallaspy's house. Two of the boys slept

in the wagons over night.

 

4th       Being Sunday, I concluded not to start the wagons today. I sign'd a bill

of looding to Mr. Wallis (Mr. Goading Clerk) for the safe delivery of the freight at

Robert Creek Station. I corral' d all my cattle in John William's corral for fear of

the theifs

 

 

 

stealing them, as they did in July last.

 

5th       Six of teams started for Robert Creek station, being paid one dollar &

twenty five cents per cwt for the frieght for one hundred miles. James Gallaspy went

as Wagonmaster and took his wife along. I made a final settlement with Livingston

Bell & Co. for merchantise, recd. At Camp Floyd. The amt. being ninty one dollars

and seventeen cents having forty one dollars due from the firm in the city, left a

balance to them of fity dollars and seventeen cents for which I received the

following receipt .............................

 

6, 7, & 8 Preparing to start with my family to California.

 

9th       About two or three in the afternoon, we started from Camp Floyd or Faired

towards California and camp'd about five miles on the road. Compell'd to guard our

cattle.

 

May 10th  One of my mules broke loose. Morgan went after it. We camp'd at Foster's

Station. Morgan soon return'd to camp after us having the mule, and an ox we had

fail' d in finding before our departure.

 

11th     Sunday. We had to build a bridge over the creek. The water was all over the

bottoms. We had to go a new road. Morgan and another boy went a hunting some cattle

that some other men had lost while we were building the bridge. We camp'd at Point

look out Station tonight.

 

12th    Morgan came to camp directly after we had breakfasted. He had stayed all

night with the San Pete wagens. We resched Simpson's spring by evening weere we

camp'd. The weather being very cold all night.

 

13th    we left this place about noon and reached River bed Station by 3 p.m. We

rested her half an hour. I bought some water for my stock and then continued our

journey We travelled untill 9 p.m. and camp'd at the foot of the big dug way, turned

our stock all towards the mountains and we retired for the night.

 

14th    I got up at 3 a.m. this morning, roused all hands, then Mr. Bowling and

myself went after the cattle and found them by daybreak. It was day light before we

reached camp. When all return'd we found that two of my mules gone. Morgan and haves

Lyons went a hunting them. They soon return'd without the mules. Then we started

over the big dug way and by hard pulling we got on the summit. We tray el' d on and

camp'd at Fish Spring station.

 

15th    This morning the ground is in an awfull condition owing tothe incessant rain

last night. The mud was knee deep and the wagons were down to the hubs in it. I

Morgan & Hayes afte the mules agian and charg'd them not to return without them, if

possible. They took money & blankets with them. About 4 p.m. we moved part

of our wagons about two miles to the first fish spring. Then went back after the

others. The roads were awfull however we got all the wagons safe to Fish Springs.

Savage's teams camp'd with us.

 

16th      Camping at Fish Springs all day heavy showers.

 

17`h     Still at F.S. Fair weather, but the roads were to bad to travel. Mr.

William Pratt passed by on his way home. I sent the following notes by him.

 

............ 9 lines deleted.

 

There are great many of wagons camp'd at the springs owing tot he impassible

condition of the roads.

 

May 18th           The weather getting more seasonable we moved about four miles ahead.

 

19th We started very early this morning. The road very bad. We arrived at William

Springs by sunset. Both man & beast were very tired. My wife and self were invited

to supper at the station, which we accepted.

 

20th Fair morning. Plenty of good water and grass for the cattle.

 

21st I was very uneasy about Morgan & Hayes Lyons all night. I sent a note to them

with Dan Johnson requesting them to return immediately to camp. I also sent a note

to Mr. William Pratt. We are still at William Springs. Very good camping ground. One

of our party left us here and went ahead with David Savage mule teams. San Pete

train came to us by dark and brought news from Morgan & Hayes. I then concluded to

start the following day.

 

22nd     We moved from the Willow Springs to six mile spring and camp'd.

 

23rd Started very early this morning. The indians herded our cattle all night and

brought them in by sun up. Here Mr. Gooding the mail agent came up to me and handed

me the following note, being from Morgan.

Camp Floyd May 19, 1862

Dear Father,

We came to Simpsons springs the day after we left. We track'd the mules for about 8

miles from the dug way station, then it rain'd so we were unable to track them

further. I've the opinion that them indians that came to our camp at Point look out

have got them for the mules appear'd to go the way the indians went, for the same

Indians had stole that mare and the two colts. Now we have reached camp with our

horses very poor an Mr. Lion's horse has given out on the way, so that we had to

lead him along. I will start over tomorrow or next day and Mr. Lions do not know

what to do, for his horse is to weak to come, and he would like you to give him a

not to authorize him to take the mules wherever he would

 

 

find them, for he thinks to stay here untill his horse gets a little better for his

feet his sore and can not walk. He will get a horse from somebody and hunt them

while he is getting better and for you to write a letter and hand to a station

keeper, direction A. H. Lyon, Camp Floyd way mail and for you to send his clothes

with David

Morgan or Pratt and if he finds them he will come if he can.

Morgan D. Bowen

 

We moved from our camp an travell'd about an hour up the kanyon when Morgan and

Hayes were coming up to us full speed. They had the lost mules with them. We were

all exceedingly glad to see them.

 

.................... 17 lines deleted.

 

We camp this evening at a very fine place called Deep Creek. Very suitable place for

farming.

 

24th We travell'd to the eight mile spring where we camp'd

.................. 8 lines deleted.

 

25th We started from eight mile spring & travell'd all day. The wind blowing evry

hard and very much. We cam'd at antelope spring. The continued to blow very hard all

night.

 

26th      Travel'd all day and camp'd in Spring valley for the night.

 

27th We had a rough road all day and very hard on our cattle. We arrived at shell

creek. We camp'd for the night the indians very troublesome for something to eat. I

gave them hundred pounds of flour.

 

.................. 69 lines deleted. (Travelling, camping & troubles)

 

June 21st         We arrived at the sink of Carson River very late in the evening

after a journey of forty five miles without water.

 

22nd We had to cross a toll bridge at the Sough Ranch. Receipt $80.50 ..............

 23rd We kept on our road and after a tedious journey today we struck camp. 24th

Nothing of importance transpired today.

 

25th     After a long day's travel, we arrived at the old river bed and found the

river very high and were compelled to swim our cattle & wagons over.

20" We camp'd within eight mils of Chinatown (or more properly call'd) Dayton.

 

27th    This morning I.D. Bimco & myself stazrted on ahead of the train to Carson

City to get our pay. We arrived there about one o clock P.M. put up our mules in a

livery stable for two dollars and fifty cts for 24 hours, thinking of returning next

day SO my companion and self took board etc at Banner Hotel. After dinner. we called

at the overland mail compy office, presented our receipts, but did not get our pa`.

We stay'd in town until 1' of July.

 

................... 15 lines deleted.

 

July 1st            This morning I recd my money from the O.L.M. Co. The amt. Being

($1217.00) twelve hundred seventeen dollars in full. Started for the train and met

them six miles from Carson coming along.

 

2nd       Camped about one mile from Carson City by the rock house till the evening

of the 6' when we moved to a house in Carson which I rented at the rate of twenty

six dollars per month.

 

Got all the family comfortably situated in our new house which had four rooms.

           7th         Fixing things up a little, bought a stove for fifty dollars.

193 lines deleted. (Hauling timber & Quartz around Carson City, Virginia City &

Silver City)

 

August 20th      A little before noon seven of my teams started for California for

some freight. I follow them about 3 P.M. We camp that night twenty miles from Carson

City, at Mr. Crossers Ranch.

 

21st     I paid Crofser the owner of the ranch $12.00 for my cattle feed & we

traveled about twenty miles and camped up Carson Canon by the river and over a very

bad rock road.

 

22nd   Very cold this morning being hight in the mountain. Water freezing in the

bucket. Had a deet of trouble to yoke the cattle up this morning. They where mixed

up with Walker cattle, they was camping close by. We started and left the river and

camped at the head of Lake valey at the foot of Kingsberrys old grade.

 

23rd    Some of the cattle was missing this morning. We hunted till noon before we

found them. We struck the main Travel'd Road. I had to pay $10,00 in the toll gate.

Camp without feed.

 

24th     Started very early Cattle all very empty. We campd at noon but no feed for

the cattle and then traveled along till dark and campd about a mile from the

strawbem house. Had to watch the cattle all night.

 

 

 

25th Traveled all day on the county not much grafs.

 

26th Traveled along a crofsed the bridge on the American river and camped about a

mie passed Durnuni mill.

 

27th We arrived at Placerville and I concluded to send the train further on before I

camp'd for the night. I remained here long enough to write a letter to my wife which

was as follows:

 

............... 22 lines deleted.

 

Aug. 28th We arrived at within two miles of Folsom and camp'd at the Overland Pasture.

 

29th I took the bars at Folsom for Sacramento to see about getting some freight

which I got from D. W. Earl to delr at Carson.

 

30th I sent up to Folsom, 303 packages weighing 23,518 lbs. Of freight for Mason,

Huff & Co. at 4 cts per lb and 334 packs 18,040 lbs for Mandlebaum & Klauber for the

same price from D. W. Earl Sacremento. I went back to Folsom same evening.

 

Sept. 18th        Waiting for blacksmiths to make my breaks. We loaded some of the

wagons.

 

2nd       My son Morgan's birthday. We finish'd loading and I sent the following

letter home:

Folsom Sept. 2 1862

My dear wife Phebe,

Once more I send a few words to you to let you know how it is with us. We are all

(that is the boys) well. We came to this place on Friday. I have been waiting here

to get breaks made, but I have had only one as yet. Alma Pace & Henry Gay have left

me and they are trying their best to trouble me, and are plaging me frequently for

their money. Alma has acted as mean as he was ale to here and on the road. Remember

if he comes to Carson before me, don't show him any respect in the world, and don't

give him a cent untill I return home. Alma & Henry are going back to Utah with

Walker. Perhaps the will be in Carson before I will, bacause their loads are not so

heavy as mine. There are plenty of men to be had here. Believe me I plenty of

troubles. At times I do not know what to do. The more I try to get out of trouble,

the more I get into it, at times I do not mind whether I live or die. I have drawn

(600.) On the freight, and I don't believe I wil have enough money in all to come

home. My freight amounts in all to ($1700.) If I can bring it safe to Carson. It is

better for you to agree with Stuart to stay in the house untill I return and that

before hand, as Allen owes me money 'tis better to remain in the house. I like

Carson better than any place that I have seen as vet in California. Everybody gets

the fever and ague in these parts and they all look as if they had newly raised from

the graveyard. I would not live in this part of California for the whole world. Mr.

Brand late of Spanish Fork is here. Edward Williams of the mountain and Jerimiah

Thomas also living here. All are sick of the ague (California for ever) The Bonas

have remained here, and they are al very dissatisfied. Mr Pratt came here yesterday,

extremely dissatisfied. He left his family at (Crisly Flat) with his daughter). It

was nothing like he thought it was. He thinks of bringing a load of freight back to

Carson. I went to Sacramento City on Saturday. Such a hole of a place it is. It is

built in a hole of water one half of the city is under water now. I saw Morris

Jenkins on the road coming here. He is together with his family are all well now. I

do not think it is wisdom to add any more this time. I intend to load up today if I

can.

So much at present from

Your dear spouse

D. D. Bowen

Miss my boy for father. I will come again by & by.

 

.......... 189 lines deleted.

(Travelled back at about 10 miles/day. Trouble with brakes. About 21 tons of freight

between 7 wagons; much trouble with losing cattle at night arrived home at Carson

oct. 3rd)

 

.................... 486 lines deleted.

(Many troubles; Incidental business; letters; much illness since return from trip.)

 

Dec 31st          This being the last of the year, was undoubtedly the most

miserable termination of any year in my past life, as I was continually sick towards

its close and losing my property in all directions.

 

............... 2,028 lines deleted. (Letters; astrology; hauling lumber; placing

claims on quarts mining land; moved to Walker River to ranch land purchased earlier;

much trouble sinking well; built house on ranch; hauling hay from walker ranch to

Carse

 

Nov 21, 1863 I started this morning on my mule after the teams. I passed Dan and

Frank on Mackenzie's grade. I rode along and took my dinner at Johnson's. After

dinner

I

mounted my mule again, but was unable to get her to start. I was in the set of

dismounting to lead her along, passed the house. when my foot hunt to the

and the mule was pulling back, faster than I could keep up, and I fell on my back

and the mule dragging me after her. And she was kicking in a most furious manner,

but as luck would have it, my foot got loose, ere was injured. I was for a long time

before I could catch her again and by the help of other two men I caught her, so I

put her through from there to CradeIhaughs bridge, where I overtook Morgan and Jas

Davis at their supper.

 

22nd Sunday, we went to Carson and arrived there early in the afternoon, and sold my

hay to Barkley hay yard for $65/ton, without weighing it.

 

23rd Buying goods at Driesback to the amount of three hundred dollars, and some dry

goods from Amiraux & Bowie. Morgan and Jas David returned. J. D. For home and M. to

John Williams on Carson River for a load of hay for a man by the name of Cox from

Dayton. I recd the following receipt         

 

I returned to Empire to meet Frank & Dan who soon arrived there after me. I sold

both loads to Jones of Empire for $75. Both loads came to 400$ got the money down.

After we fix' d the cattle all right in a yard I went to my father-in-laws-but as I

was passing my brother John's house, I called in his wife jump on my rough shod and

said thaht I had sump'd their land at Walker River. She made me mad with her

insulting language, so I left. Just as I was going to eat my supper, John's son,

William, came to my father-in-laws house and got to talk about some threats that he

had made to sue me for some work he had done for me at Camp Floyd. He said it was a

dam'd lie, I told him that I could prove it, when he replied that it was one of my

damned lies, the same as I said about him threatening to shoot Phebe, at that word I

struck him slightly on the face, he straighten'd up as if he was going to give me a

fight. I hit him again on the face, very hard, he hollard out for help, but I give

him five blows, quicker than thought. He wanted me to let him go and as soon as I

let him loose he drawed out his pistol and was going to shoot me, but my mother -

in-law tackled him and threw him out of doors in a second. He stayed out on the

street for a short time, a cursing and swearing and threatening to shoot me. I slept

at my father-in-laws.

 

24th As I was going on business to Mr. Riley a constable came and arrested me or

rather summoned me to appear before the Justice of the Peace. Hoover to answer to

the charges sworn against me by my nephew William Bowen. The court adjourned after

few minutes deliberation having find me ten dollars and costs, which was eleven

dollars & 50 cents. There were three witnesses, viz, my mother-in-law, Mary Baxter

and Dan Jones. I paid the money down for which I got the following receipt:  

 

I then went about my business ................

 

 

END VOLUME ONE

None

Immigrants:

Bowen, David D.

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