"September 18th, Charles Hubbard sent his boy with a wagon and span of horses to my house; our trunks were put into the wagon by some brethren; I went to my bed and shook hands with my wife who was then shaking with a chill, having two children lying sick by her side; I embraced her and my children, and bade them farewell. My only well child was little Heber P., and it was with difficulty he could carry a couple of quarts of water at a time, to assist in quenching their thirst.
"It was with difficulty we got into the wagon, and started down the hill about ten rods; it appeared to me as though my very inmost parts would melt within me at leaving my family in such a condition, as it were almost in the arms of death. I felt as though I could not endure it. I asked the teamster to stop, and said to Brother Brigham, 'This is pretty tough, isn't it; let's rise up and give them a cheer.' We arose, and swinging our hats three times over our heads, shouted: 'Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.' Vilate, hearing the noise, arose from her bed and came to the door. She had a smile on her face. Vilate and Mary Ann Young cried out to us: 'Good bye, God bless you.' We returned the compliment, and then told the driver to go ahead. After this I felt a spirit of joy and gratitude, having had the satisfaction of seeing my wife standing upon her feet, instead of leaving her in bed, knowing well that I should not see them again for two or three years.
"We were without purse or scrip, and were carried across the prairie, about fourteen miles, to a shanty near the railway, where Brother O. M. Duel lived. We were unable to carry our small trunks into the house; Sister Duel seeing our feeble condition, assisted the boy to carry them in.
"Sep. 19th, Brother Duel took us in his wagon to Lima, about twelve miles. When he left us he gave each of us a dollar. Brother Bidwell then carried us in his wagon to John A. Mickesell's, near Quincy, about twenty miles. The fatigue of this day's journey was too much for our feeble health; we were prostrated, and obliged to tarry a few days in Quincy.
"Sep. 25th, we left Quincy about 11 a. m., as we felt considerably better. My sorrow was great, to see so many of our brethren sick and dying, in consequence of being driven, and exposed to hunger and cold. Brother Lyman Wight took us in a one horse wagon and carried us to Brother C. C. Rich's at Burton, where we slept through the night. Brother Wight predicted many things, and left his blessings with us when he bade us farewell.
"Sep. 26th, Brother Rich carried us to Brother Wilber's; while on the road the chills came on me again, and I suffered much pain and fatigue.
"Sep. 27th, Brother Wilber took us in a buggy about twenty-five miles to the house of James Allred, in Pittsfield.
"Sep. 28th, Father Allred carried us to the place where Brother Harlow
Redfield lived. There we preached to a small branch of the Church, on
Sunday, 29th.
"Sep. 30th, Brother Rodgers carried Brother Brigham to Brother Decker's, and myself to Mr. Roswell Murray's; they were living within a few rods of each other, near Winchester in Scott County.
"Here we also found a few brethren in the Church, who had been smitten and robbed of their property in Missouri; who were once more in comfortable circumstances, rejoicing in the Lord.