Abraham Owen Journal, 1856-1900

File — Box: 1, Folder: 6

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This small journal contains three separate records dating from 1856 to about 1900. The first item is a diary (April 22-June 6, 1856) of Abraham Owen Smoot's journey to St. Louis, Missouri to purchase supplies for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The diary entries are short, lacking in much description and are written in a very poor hand. Following the diary are records of the Salt Lake City Mayor's Court, over which Abraham Owen Smoot presided, dating from November 1858 to June 1859. The records describe fines levied for public disturbances, drunkenness, and other minor crimes committed in Salt Lake City. The final item in the journal is a record of marriages, births and deaths in the Abraham Owen Smoot's family. Extracts from the journal follow:
"I left My home In Company with Ira Eldridge on the 22d of April 1856 for St. Louis Mo to Purchase Surplies for the Church Stores and Bring them across the Plaines. We met at the mouth of Emagration Kanion with Some of Bethren in Rout for the States mostly mishonaries for Different Partes of the States & England on Mishions... We was there met By President Young & organized for our journey B Y Appointing Myself Captain E. T. Bentson Chaplin & Wm Miller Marshel of Gard...."
"23 rd [April] Left our Incampment at 80cl Crossed the Big mountion successfully & Camped on East Kanion Creek Distance of Day 16 1/2 miles hear Judge Kinney joined our camp"
"26th [April] Sat Afater [sic] Starting My Train in good order finding all right I let [left] it for Ft. Bridger in Companey with G A Smith E. T Bentson E. Snow & T L Haywood with Instructtions to the Train that They Should Camp 9 miles Short of Bridger on Spring Creek which was done I spent the night at the Ft with Louis B _____ [?]"
"30th [April] Wed Traved 22 miles crossed Green Rivar.... & camped on the East Side of Green Rivar...pafsed Davinpart & his Compioney of apofstates at That place in Rout for The States"
"4th [May] Sund Snowed all day wind Blew Like a tornado moved our camp at 4 Ocl PM 3 miles on Sweet-water wher we found good Shelter for our animiles & By Blankiting them & feeding them crackers flour meal & Bread we Saved all But one of the Jedges that Chilled to Death, under heavy Blankets"
"7th [May] Wednesday Fa[i]r weath[er] heavy Snow to Pafs Through from 6 In to 3 ft. Deep about 20 men Traveld in front of the Temes all day Duble file to Brake Rodes..."
"10th [May] Sat Travled 26 miles Pafsed Deviles gate & Indipendence Rock & Incamped on Greeswood Creek Heavy Raines & windes Through the night with Snow & hail Men & Beast suffered from the Severiety of the Storm"
13th [May] Tus. Travled 11 miles crofsed the Plate at Richard Bridge Paid $3.00 Per wagon & incamped 1 mile Below the Ford There was 60 Soldiers quarted ther under the Command of Capt Heath Left Tennent Dudley Accompaned us from their to Larimee"
"19th [May] Mond Travled 4 miles & Lay By to wait for J. F. Kenney Judge of Utah who stoped at Ft. Larrimee on Busniss"
"30 [May] Frid Resumed our Journey 17 miles to Ft Kerney where we abtained our Surplyes for Mo Rivar from the Sutler the Offereces of Government not Being authorrised to Sell us when we could abtain Else where"
"2d [June] Monday Travled Down Litle Blew 14 miles..... Met about 60 Shionni Indians who had Robed 2 Trains of Califonians the Previous Evening of half of their Provisions Groseries & Camp Equppage But done them no Personal Injury we passed them without any Difaculty as we marched By our wagons with our guns on Shoulder Ready for Any amurgency...."
"3rd [June]. Tus Travled 13 miles Crossed Big Blews & Lay ther for the day Ther Right of Br. Erastus Snow 1 wagon & 4 1/2 Tuns of Chruch frait Principley Books left in the Car[e] of Mr ______ [?]"

Dates

1856-1900

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.