. . . I worked at Dowlais [GLAMORGANSHIRE, WALES] till I was released [FROM SERVING AS HOME MISSIONARY] to come to the Valley in the year 1855. My father-in-law gave me (English pound sign) 33. to emigrate me and family to Salt Lake Valley. He gave me other money besides this to help us to Liverpool. My first child named Thomas Perkins was born June 9, 1854 at Dowlais, Glamorganshire, Wales.

. . . When we arrived at Liverpool went by coach to Abergavenny and than by train we stayed at a house for a week and sailed on the ship Chimborazo for Philadelphia. Edward Stevenson, president of the Latter-day Saints on board this ship numbering about 700 souls.

We came in sight of land in three weeks, came near the mouth of the river. Our ship was tacked about for two weeks. The pilot was aboard all this time. Finally our captain engaged a steam tug and in three hours we were in Philadelphia. We were out of drinking water before we arrived there. My wife was sick the whole of the voyage. We stayed in Philadelphia two days and two nights then took train to Pittsburgh then steamboat down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Atchison. Started to Mormon Grove seven miles where we camped. This was the starting point for the plains. Edward Stevenson our president across the sea, on the railroad, and on the rivers to Atchison was kind and brotherly all the way. Arrived at the camp in May.

We stayed at Mormon Grove till the last day of July, when we rolled out for the plains. Charles A. Harper, captain of our company. . . . [p.102]

. . . Elder E. [Edward] Stevenson met us here and traveled with us to the valley where we arrived October 31st. [p.104]

BIB: Perkins, Joseph Thomas. Autobiography (Ms 9269), pp. 102, 104. (CHL)
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