Ship Mexicana, Friday, June 30th

Friday, June 30 [1865] A company of Latter-day Saints for Utah who had crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship Mexicana arrived in Wyoming, Nebraska in charge of Elder Miner G. Atwood. The following incidents connected with Wyoming are called from the private journal of Elder Miner G. Atwood,

Saturday, July 1. We stopped at the church house in Wyoming where all the elders from Zion are making their headquarters.

Sunday, July 2. I met with the Saints this morning at Wyoming and preached for a short time. In the afternoon I met with the Danish Saints and spoke to them. Elder Anders W. Winberg interpreting for me. My remarks seemed to have a good effect upon my hearers. In the evening we met with the English Saints. This was a good day. Much good and timely instructions were given by the elders.

Monday, July 3. I was not well. Elders A. N. Hill and McGraw arrived in Wyoming from Zion on their way to England. They had left about forty elders in Omaha who had been called on missions. I learned that my family were all well when they left the mountains. During the day I visited my company and had prayers with them.

Tuesday, July 4. Sister Noon gave birth to a son last night. I spent the day writing my journal. Brother Hill returned to Omaha.

Wednesday, July 5. I spent the day about the office not being very well. Some six or eight missionaries arrived from Salt Lake City.

Thursday, July 6. I felt some better today. Thundershower during the day. Lightning struck twice doing about two hundred dollars worth of damage to a house but no lives were lost.

Friday, July 7. I spent the day in making ox keys with the brethren. Elder Thomas Taylor arrived from New York and in good health. Brothers Hampton [p.32] and Godbee's brother accompanied him from Nebraska City. We had several showers during the day.

Saturday, July 8. Elder Thomas Taylor called the elders from the valley together and lay before the brethren a condition of the Saints now encamped at Wyoming [Nebraska]. Over four hundred of them could not help themselves to the Valley and he desired to know our feelings in relation of what could be done with them. He would like to know if the brethren were willing to shoulder the responsibility and take them through but none of them felt like doing that. Elders Taylor and Hullman said that they would in case we would sustain them by our faith and works which we all agreed to do. A meeting of all the saints was called at 2 o'clock and the conditions of their going through to the valley this season was laid before them. I baptized Sister William Francom [Francome], John Samuel, Marianne, and James Francom [Francome] while it was raining. I returned and spent the evening with the brethren. A few more missionaries arrived.

Sunday, July 9. I accompanied the elders in taking a bath and attended a meeting of the saints. Elders Thomas Taylor and John Hullman preached some of the outward bound missionaries. In the evening, I attended another meeting at which Bishop Warren preached upon crossing the plains. A shower of rain fell.

Monday, July 10. Elder Hollman left this morning for Omaha to purchase cattle. I, together with the other brethren, administered to the sick. Some rain fell during the day. Some ten or twelve Saints came up the river on the steamboat "Denver" on their way to the Valley.

Tuesday, July 11. Elder Taylor and some of the brethren went to Nebraska City. I was told that a German sister who had been sick for some time was dying. I went to visit her and found her very bad. I told a sister to anoint her all over and then get a number of the elders to administer to her. We pled with the Lord for her to live and she soon began to recover. Three businessmen arrived from the Valley to buy goods in the east. This day, Brother A. [Alonzo] A. Noon was married to Anna Smith by Elder Thomas Taylor.

Wednesday, July 12. I found the German sister much better this morning. Together with some of my brethren I administered to Elder Thomas Taylor who soon recovered. The German sister was taken worse. We administered to her again. Many in the camp are sick.

Thursday, July 13. Administered to the German sister who is very low. Also to Sisters Williams and Rosia Cemmett and a number of other Saints, assisted by W. S. S. Phillips, Bishop Walker, C. B. Taylor, and William Priestley. [p. 33] We felt well in our administrations exercising good faith that all would recover from their sickness. Brother Newsom, to whom I administered a day or two ago, was up and about feeling well in mind. Bishop Warren, Elders Hill and Anderson and Penrose left for Nebraska City on their way to England. Elder Hullman returned from buying cattle, having purchased sixty-five yoke.

Friday, July 14. I helped Brother Pixton to repair his wagon. Elder Hollman went to Nebraska City. I administered to a number of the sick Saints. This evening I went to the stone house together with some of the elders and spoke to the Saints, stopping there. All felt well. Returning to camp, I administered to a young sister. A shower of rain. Visited the camp.

Saturday, July 15. Went with Elder Sorencen [Swenson] and a number of the Danish brethren to Nebraska City to sell some of their bedding and clothing. I walked most of the way down. I bought a pair of boots for which I paid five dollars. Also bought a pair of braces for which I paid one dollar. Returned to the camp with the church team. The German sister died this evening at half past seven. I administered to an old lady, (Sister Morgan), who was lame. The weather is very cold considering the season.

Sunday, July 16. I attended the funeral of the German sister at ten o'clock a.m. Returning from the grave I attended a meeting of the Saints. Met again in the afternoon after which I met with the Danish Saints and preached to them.

Monday, July 17. Elders C. B. Taylor and Fowler went to Nebraska City where Elder Taylor would remain during the week to do business for the church. In the evening I attended a meeting when Elder Simms preached on marriage etc. The weather is very cool.

Tuesday, July 18. I paid Elder Thomas Taylor (£3, 10s) three pounds, ten schillings which is $21.10. Elder William S. S. Willis started this morning for Council Bluffs for cattle. News was received today that Elder Cox was very sick over the river at his brothers. It was a wet day. I was not well but helped to make cow keys.

Wednesday, July 19. I attended the funeral of a little child and spoke for a short time. Some two hundred Saints were notified that they could not go through to the valley this season. Many of them felt very bad at hearing this. Attended a meeting this evening. Elder Taylor left for Council Bluffs in a buggy to purchase cattle. This evening two brethren volunteered to go up to the Platte River's mouth and some to go to Nebraska City for bacon.

Thursday, July 20. I went to Nebraska City with an ox team for a load of bacon. Bought eight yards of checked material for shirts for which I paid [p. 34] five dollars and twenty cents.

Friday, July 21. Sister McCollough died this morning, age 68 years. I attended her funeral and spent the day with the brethren visiting the sick.

Saturday, July 22. About sixty five wagons arrived for the Saints. I administered to a number of the sick. Quite a number died since their arrival in this place.

Sunday, July 23. The brethren worked today in putting up the wagons. Elder Thomas Taylor gave me charge over them. A very warm day. Held meeting in the evening when much good counsel was given in relation to emigration.

Monday, July 24. I worked on the wagons all day. This afternoon I gave out the wagons to the brethren and they fixed them up themselves. Yesterday Elder William S. S. Willis left Wyoming for Omaha for cattle.

Tuesday, July 25. I took charge of the yoking up of the cattle for the Danish Saints, (about fifty yoke). The animals were very wild. A shower of rain fell during the night. During the night Elder Cox returned from visiting his brother. His health has been very poor.

Wednesday, July 26. I received a letter from my wife and daughters stating that the family were very well. Bishop Henson, Walker, and myself commenced moving the Danish camp. Many of the emigrants are sick. Removed about a dozen families. I also visited the Danish camp together with Elder Thomas Taylor and spoke to them for a short time. We then returned and held a meeting and some dancing, etc. We had a very good time.

Thursday, July 27. I accompanied some of the elders to take a bath. Moved the remainder of the camp and fitted up the wagons.

Friday, July 28. I made up five wagons with teams and men to go to Nebraska City for flour. I spent the day about the camp getting ready to move out. This evening Elder Thomas Taylor informed me that I was to be the captain of the Danish company in crossing the plains to great Salt Lake City.

Saturday, July 29. I was busy preparing the plain wagons and breaking in cattle, ready to make a start on Monday.

Sunday, July 30. I was still busy making preparations for the journey. In the evening I went over to the Danish camp where we had a meeting. I spoke a little about the journey before us, all feeling well. [p. 35]

Monday, July 31. Most of the Scandinavian saints left Wyoming [Nebraska] for Utah in a company consisting of 45 ox teams. The following day, August 1st, the camp was organized with the following officers; Miner G. Atwood, captain; Charles B. Taylor, assistant captain; Anders W. Winberg, chaplain and interpreter; John Swenson, commissary and assistant to Elder Winburg; John Gendrup, clerk; Hans C. S. Högsted, captain of the first ten; Hans Henson, captain of the second ten; Christopher J. Kempe [Kemp], captain of the third ten; and John Everett, captain of the fourth ten. Elder Thomas Taylor writes, "At this organization I advised the Saints to be obedient to the requirements of their officers and also to let Miner G. Atwood equalize the strength of their teams. The general instructions to be moderate in driving and in the use of the whip were given and if the saints were united and obedient they would go through safely."

Elder John G. Hullman remarked that the English Saints had been organized by themselves only to separate them that in case of sickness better care and attention could be bestowed by those who understood each others language. He also remarked that the tens were to take their turns in rolling out in order that all should have equal chances of campground etc. [p. 36] and so on. This company arrived in Salt Lake City November 8, 1865, having made the final start on August 2nd from the campground near Wyoming, Nebraska where a few days had been spent repairing wagons, etc." [ACCORDING TO THE 1997-98 CHURCH ALMANAC p. 175, "Miner G. Atwood left Wyoming, Nebraska 31, July with 557 people and 55 wagons, arrived 8-9 Nov. (in Salt Lake City)].

BIB: [Manuscript history of Wyoming, Nebraska, ca. 1920] (Ms 4029, reel 1, bx. 3, fd. 2), Miner G. Atwood, journal excerpts. pp. 32-36. (H
DA).
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