. . . We sailed on the ship Golconda with Jacob Gates as president. We were a long time on the water and at one time losing all our top mast. On the whole, it was a prosperous journey.

We now sailed up the Mississippi to New Orleans, soon left and took another boat for St. Louis. This was very pleasant, seeing the negroes and plantations on either side, stayed a few hours at St. Louis, took a boat for Kirtland and Iowa opposite Nauvoo, and here we stayed five weeks, gathering cattle and fitting up wagons.

In May, we started for Council Bluffs, twelve to each wagon. . . . [p.2]

. . . We got down safe and got into the Valley on the tenth of October, 1853.

When we arrived at the public square, President Young and other brethren met us, spoke highly of our president and company, and gave us some advice. . . . [p.4]

BIB: Claridge, Samuel. Autobiography (Ms 2735 fd. 274), pp. 2, 4; Acc. #31928 (CHL)
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