Allred-Bates (b.1788 - b.1791)

DNA: Yes 

Redden Alexander Allred

Born: 21 Feb 1822, Farmington, Bedford, Tennessee

Marr: 21 Dec 1843, Nauvoo, hancock, Illinois

Died: 9 Jun 1900, Hubbard, Graham, Arizona

DNA: Yes 

Julia Ann Bates

Born: 27 Feb 1829, Henderson, Jefferson, New York

Died: 5 Mar 1892, Thatcher, Graham, Arizona

LDS Mission Database

Great-Great-Great-Grandfather of Keith M. Chandler

Redden Alexander Allred          Julia Ann Bates
1822-1900                                  1829-1892

Reddick Newton Allred and Reddin Alexander Allred

Short Biography of Redden Alexander Allred 1822 - 1900

Redden was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, 21 Feb 1822 to Isaac Allred and Mary Calvert. He was a twin, his identical brother was named Reddick Newton. His mother was the daughter of John Calvert and Mary McCurdy. The Calverts were a fine Southern family who came to Virginia in 1608 and settled in Maryland and Virginia. These Colonists founded the city of Baltimore. Ann Mynne was the wife of George Calvert and the 4th great grandmother of Mary Calvert and Isaac Allred and was a direct descendent of the King of England.

His parents were religiously inclined and belonged to the New School Presbyterian Church and taught their children to love God and walk in his ways. His mother was looked up to by all who knew her and his father was an honest and sober man.

In the year 1831 the Settlement was startled by the announcement that religious services would be held at Al Ives home by a couple of strangers, representing a new Church that believed in a new prophet. They proved to be Hiram Smith, brother of the Prophet and John Murdock on their way to locate the Centre Stake of Zion. These men left an impression at their meeting that never was lost to many of their hearers, but some of course cried false prophet. After some months George M. Minkle and others came and baptized the Allred families and many others, organizing a large branch known as the Salt River Branch in 1832.

In 1835 our family moved into Clay County and located on Fishing River with other families from the Salt River Branch. While they were there the Prophet came with Zion's Camp and stopped and rested a week, organizing his company. James Allred, brother of Isaac, joined them with a company of ten men. This family endured much persecution and were driven from place to place with the rest of the early Saints in Missouri and Illinois.

Redden Alexander Allred married Julia Ann Bates in the Nauvoo temple 21 Dec 1847. He was at the funeral of the prophet Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith and later crossed the plains. He drove Orson Pratt's ox team across the plains. He also helped to hold back Johnson's army in Echo Canyon. Redden, Julia and their family were really pioneers, they suffered terrible persecutions.

Redden went on a mission to Honolulu from 1852 - 1855 leaving his wife to support the family. He died in Arizona in June 1900.

The Diary of Reddick N. Allred

"I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord; I'll do what You want me to do."

Reddick N. Allred, identical twin brother of Reddin Allred (great, great, great grandfather of Keith M. Chandler)

Reddick N. Allred was one of the well known pioneers of Utah active in Church, civil and military affairs. He was born February 21, 1822, in Bedford County, Tennessee, the son of Isaac Allred and Mary Calvert. He was baptized in 1833, and in 1840 moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he remained with the Saints until their expulsion in 1846.

While living in Nauvoo in 1843 he married Lucy Hoyt. After the exodus from Illinois, Reddick enlisted in the famous Mormon Battalion and marched to California and back to Winter Quarters in 1846-1847. He came to Utah in 1849 in charge of a company of seventy-three wagons and located in Salt Lake County.

In 1852-55 Reddick Allred filled a mission to the Sandwich Islands for the Latter-day Saint Church, presiding part of the time over the Maui conference. Upon his return home he removed to Kaysville, Davis County, Utah, where he remained until the move south in 1857 [with the coming of Johnston's army?]. In 1856, Pioneer Allred went out to meet the belated and suffering handcart companies in Wyoming and that same year was ordained a High Priest by Bishop Edward Hunter and set apart to act as a counselor in the Bishopric of Kaysville.

In 1857, Reddick married Amelia J. McPherson and the following year located at Nephi, Juab County, remaining there one year; thence he moved to Sanpete County. From that time on until his death he made his home in Spring City and Chester. He took an active part in the Black Hawk war in Sanpete County and served as a colonel in [p.298] the Nauvoo Legion. In 1861 he married Celestia W. Warrick. In 1867 he was ordained a bishop by President Canute Peterson and set apart to preside over the Chester Ward, which position he held for ten years. He was ordained a Patriarch by Apostle George Teasdale May 15, 1898.

During his lifetime, Pioneer Allred filled many positions of honor and trust besides those mentioned. He served five terms in the Territorial Legislature, was a Justice of the Peace, Postmaster of Spring City, and a member of the first City Council of Spring City. In all his associations Mr. Allred won the respect of his fellowmen among whom he was a natural leader. His integrity to truth, his humility, and his obedience to every call made upon him were characteristic of his nature.

Reddick Allred passed away October 10, 1905, in Chester, leaving a numerous posterity, among whom are seventy grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren all proud of his life record.

Throughout his journal, Pioneer Allred signed his name, Redick but his family and others give the spelling as Reddick. We have chosen to present the journal as written and have only given the correct spelling when the meaning was not clear. It is an outstanding record of a great man who, in his humble way, tells the story of everyday living in pioneer times. Of necessity we have omitted paragraphs in the diary dealing with unimportant events.

THE DIARY

I, Reddick Newton, son of Isaac and Mary Calvert Allred, was a twin. My brother said to be the first born, but doubted by some. His name was Reddin Alexander. His weight was 9 1/2 pounds, mine 8 1/2 pounds. We resembled each other so much that our mother was under the necessity of making our clothing different to prevent us from getting mixed up until we got old enough to know our names. After that we dressed alike as long as we remained at home. We were always a great puzzle to the people. He appeared to be endowed with all the boldness and I with all the bashfulness.

I first learned my letters in an old log school house, and when seven years old removed with my parents to the State of Missouri, on Salt River, Tols County, afterwards Monroe. Father purchased a home on the great highway from east to the west. My parents were members of a school of Presbyterians and brought up their children to reverence a God and were very exemplary in their lives, so that when a new religion was introduced, they naturally looked at it with suspicion, having been taught that Prophets and Apostles were no longer needed, so some cried false Prophet. ln 1831 two men preached in our settlement saying a new Prophet had organized a new church and introduced a new gospel, or rather the old one come again. His name was Joseph Smith. Their names were Hyrum Smith, brother of [p.299] the Prophet, and John Murdock. Other Elders were passing every few months from Kirtland to Jackson County, the gathering place for the Saints, and father opened his house for meetings. George Hinkle and others stopped a few months and baptized the Allred families, Ivies and others, and a large branch was organized in 1832 called the Salt River Branch.

Brother Reddin and I were baptized in the spring of 1833 by John Ivie, local Elder and President of the Branch. In the fall of 1833, the Saints were driven out of Jackson County, Missouri, into Clay where they remained temporarily. The night the Saints were expelled from their homes, the western world was shocked by the stars falling from the heaven that lit up the whole atmosphere.

In 1834, early spring, the Prophet Joseph Smith came, along with a small company of armed men called Zion's Camp, to reinstate the Saints upon their own lands from whence they had been driven by mob violence. Uncle James Allred raised ten men and joined them. They lay by a week completing the organization, reinforcing it.

On his return he stopped and preached in our settlement and told the Saints that they could not get possession of their lands, but to gather up to Clay County. In 1835 father moved up to Clay and located on Fishing River where he raised one crop, and the influx was so great that the old settlers became alarmed and the mob spirit began to raise, which was checked only by a compromise by which [p.300] the old settlers were to buy out the Saints, and we to move into a new county adjoining called Caldwell County.

[In] 1837 Father preempted land on Long Creek where he hoped to be able to build and inhabit, to plant and eat the fruit in peace thereof. This was eight miles from the newly laid out city of Far West. On the 14th of March, 1838, the Prophet and other leading men came in from Kirtland and settled in Far West and the Saints began to gather and spread out so that two counties had to be organized, Caldwell and Davis, where two Stakes of Zion was organized.

April 12, 1838, Oliver Cowdery was cut off from the Church and on the 13th, David Whitmer was cut off for not keeping the Word of Wisdom, and soon after the Johnsons, Boyingtons, and McLellans were cut off. The foundation of a temple was started in Far West and the fame of the Church began to be heard. The few ranchers in Caldwell and Davies counties raised false reports about the lawlessness of the Mormons and at an election in Galiton, Davis County, they forbade any Mormon to vote and surrounded the polls to prevent it, but a fight ensued and the Mormons cleared the way and voted. This was enough to wake up the whole of Jackson, Clay, Ray, and Carlton counties into a howling mob, and they began to make raids upon outside settlements. We had meantime organized a regiment for self-defense, and the Prophet called all the outside settlements into Far West.

In order to be able to stand a siege, a company was sent to Davis County to bring in a horse mill to grind our corn. I was 16 years old, but boy as I was, I went with father's ox team. We were gone two days and three nights and scarcely slept any to prevent a surprise. We returned on October 24, 1838, and I had put up at Father Morley's and finished my supper as Father came in and said a mob was attacking families on Log Creek within a few miles of our place. He told me to go home (8 miles) that night so we could move out next day.

Although I did not know at what moment I might meet the mob, I slept while I walked beside my team, but I got home at 1 o'clock all right and found all well. As I drove across the Public Square in Far West as dark was approaching, I saw Apostle David [W.] Patton on his horse rallying his men to go out to defend the exposed Saints. He found the mob headed by Bogard on Crooked River, and attacked them in their camp at daylight and routed them, himself and P. Olbanian being mortally wounded and Gideon Carter killed. Father heard the gunfire five miles distant.

On the 25th [October, 1838], we moved into Far West and so did all the settlement except at Haun's Mill. The Prophet sent them word to come in, but they thought they could protect themselves, but a mob from Carlton County massacred the most of them.

October 30th, 1838, Governor Boggs' army of 4000 made their appearance against Far West, 3000 more to follow. We had two companies out, leaving only about 150 men and boys in town, being in line, the [p.301] Prophet stepped to the right of the line and said, "Come on boys." We halted at the edge of the town and formed a line. The mob militia commenced to form a line of battle, but when about one Regiment was formed, seeing our two companies charging into town on the east and west, they broke ranks and fled in confusion.

They camped that night in the timber and rallied several times in the night fearing an attack by us and next day had an interview with our Colonel George Hinkle, who agreed to deliver up the Prophet and other leading men and lay down our arms.

October 31st, [1838], the Prophet, his brother, Hyrum, and others were delivered up as prisoners of war and about 800 pieces of arms including guns, pistols, swords, spears, etc., at the word "Ground arms," was laid down while there 4000 men had us cooped up in a hollow square and them outside about 4 deep. That night they held a court martial and passed sentence of death upon the Prophet and those with him to be shot next morning at 8 o'clock. General Doniphan protested and lead his Brigade out of camp which changed the program, so they sent them under a strong guard to Jackson and after to Liberty Jail.

General Lucas then marched our men onto the Public Square and compelled them at the point of the bayonet to sign what he called a Deed of Trust to hold all their property, real and personal, to pay the expenses of the war, which was, however, never fully enforced, but we were permitted to fit up teams as best we could and leave the State in the dead of winter.

The people of Illinois made the Saints welcome and they scattered out wherever they could rent land or get work to supply immediate wants. Father rented a farm of Mr. Stone in Adams County, 20 miles south of Quincy. The Prophet Joseph, Hyrum, Parley Pratt and others were held until far into the next season when it pleased the Lord to deliver them.

IN NAUVOO

The Prophet lost no time in securing a place to gather the Saints on the Mississippi River at a place called Commerce, but the Prophet named it Nauvoo. A general conference was held at Nauvoo in the open air on the 5th and 6th of October, 1833, the Prophet presiding.

I engaged in the mason trade and while the temple was being built in Nauvoo, I worked upon it part of the time. Many of us worked on bread and water part of the time because of extreme poverty after the mobbing and driving from Missouri.

ln 1840 about November, Brother Reddin and I went on a visit to Uncle John N. Calvert's in Marian, Williamson County, Illinois. On the way I was taken with chills and fever, so we had to lay by about [p.302] a month at Brother Harris Alexander's and Thomas Allred, a distant relative. As soon as I was able to travel, we went to Uncle John Calvert's and stayed with him about a month, during which time we preached by the fireside and left a very favorable impression upon his mind in regard to Mormonism. He said it was scriptural and reasonable, but he thought he could get all the salvation he needed where he was by being a strict Presbyterian. In about 3 months we returned on foot to Alton and by steamboat to Nauvoo.

In 1841 at fall conference, the Prophet called out a large number of Elders and sent them into different parts of the U.S. [United States]. I went with Daniel Garn and Jacob Foutz by steamboat. They went on to Pennsylvania and I stopped in Cincinnati as I was sick with chills and fever. In about two weeks I was able to take the field with Father Lamoreaux and later with Andrew Lamoreaux, a noted preacher, but he could not sing, so I done the singing and he the preaching. Together we drew out the people. A large branch of the Church was raised up and organized in the vicinity of Trenton, Indiana, with John Chaplan as President. When Elder Lamoreaux found I did not improve much in public speaking, he sent me alone to fill an appointment in Trenton. Had a full house in attendance. After this I traveled alone most of the time, but occasionally with father David Pettegrew, Willard Snow, and Elder Moss, and finally I was left entirely alone as Elder Lamoreaux had gone home.

REDDICK'S FIRST MARRIAGE

November 26, 1843, I married Lucy Hoyt, daughter of James and Bulay Hoyt, starting out on the sea of life without house or land, money or stock, except one cow. In about a week we went to Patriarch Hyrum Smith and got our patriarchal blessing in which he promised us a long life.

The further organization of Seventies was completed and Reddin and I were enrolled in the 4th Quorum. The Nauvoo Legion was organized and the Prophet was commissioned a Lieutenant-General by the Governor, also Mayor of Nauvoo. When the enemy began to see the greatness of his achievements and the rapid gathering of the Saints and the union of our people under the leadership of the Prophet, mobs began to rage and Governor Boggs sent a demand for him and they sent a posse to kidnap him while he was on a visit to Dickson, but in this they failed as our people were on the lookout.

The mob spirit prevailed so much in Illinois and Missouri that the Mayor declared the city under martial law, and made a last speech to the Legion leaving them to protect the city while he crossed the river having in view the intention to go to the Rocky Mountains to find a location for the Saints where they could dwell in safety, but [p.303] some half-hearted Saints followed him and accused him of cowardice for leaving the Saints at the mercy of the mob. Then the Prophet was killed.

LEAVE NAUVOO, THE BEAUTIFUL

In February, 1846, the Church, being continually in fear of mob violence, began to evacuate Nauvoo, crossing the Missouri River on ice. Father Y. Allen Taylor fitted up a team and I drove it to help out the first company. I went in Bishop George Miller's company as far as Garden Grove and then returned to help our own folks. I was gone about two months, enduring much hardships in the heavy storms of rain falling like a flood. President Young traveled with the main camp, but Bishop Miller kept ahead showing his bullheadedness. I went back to visit President Young's camp and he said to me, "Tell Bishop Miller the nearer the root, the sweeter the grass." The storms were so bad we had to lay by for days at a time and two other men with myself was sent out to trade for the camp with a settler as guide, but they had a jug of whiskey along and drank so freely that I left them the first afternoon and returned to camp.

I found my folks on the Iowa side of the river opposite Nauvoo being unable to move until I returned. We were soon on our way and, as the storms had ceased, we had good roads and plenty of grass. Having a pleasant time, we soon passed the newly formed settlements of Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah and found President Young on the [p.304] Missouri River in the Potawatomi country, but Bishop Miller was still ahead up the river.

JOINS THE MORMON BATTALION

President Young said, "Go and you shall have no fighting to do-you shall go before and behind the Battles." In two or three days five companies were organized and we were mustered into service on the 16th of July, 1846. I was third Sergeant in Company A, Jefferson Hunt, Captain. I left a wife and one child in camp in my father's care, and we marched to Fort Leavenworth where we were armed and equipped for the war. My brother, James Riley, also enlisted in the same company. I was appointed Quarter Master Sergeant to deal out rations for Company A and have charge of the baggage train. This permitted me to have my luggage hauled.

Our first point of destination was Santa Fe where General Kearney had preceded us, but we had only been on the way a few days when our Colonel died and Lieutenant A. J. Smith of the Regular Army took command. We regretted the loss, for Colonel Allen had been very kind to us and had refused to admit any in our ranks that were not of our people, and entered us on the Muster Roll as the Mormon Battalion.

Colonel Smith, as he was called, was more harsh and put us on a forced march, and if any got sick they were not permitted to ride unless they reported to Doctor Sanderson who was quite cruel in his treatment to the sick call and many walked when they were not able, rather than take his calamal [calomel ?], etc.

So many became feeble that Captain James Brown was detailed to stop and winter with them at Pueblo. The rest of us hurried on to Santa Fe, arriving October 12th, [1846], to find the place captured by General Kearney who had moved on to California, leaving Colonel Doniphan in command to hold the country of New Mexico, with orders for Captain P. St. George Cook to take command of the "Mormon Battalion" and follow him on to California. When we marched into the Fort, General Doniphan ordered a salute fired, but when Colonel Price came in with his cavalry two days later, he made no demonstration at all, much to the annoyance of Colonel Price. The cause of this was that while Colonel Price was a mob leader, Colonel Doniphan was our friend. I went with a requisition to get the Colonel's signature and drew sixty days rations to last us to California. We stayed about a week without seeing our future commander, then he sent his orderly with orders to march. We went about eight miles and found his tent by the roadside waiting for us. After tents were pitched, he sent his orderly and invited all the commissioned officers to his tent, and all responded but [p.305] Captain Hunter who had ridden back to Santa Fe. When he returned, the Colonel asked him why he left Camp without leave and took his sword saying, "You can walk in the rear of your company tomorrow," which strict discipline he exercised throughout, especially with the officers, all of which pleased the men for the reverse was the case with Officer Smith. We were soon put upon half rations as a precautionary measure.

We traveled down the Rio Del Norte River several days, then crossed over and traveled west to the Copper Mine Road which runs south into the Spanish country. There guides persuaded the Colonel to go down where we could get plenty to eat, but we would have to fight for it. The Colonel consented and ordered likewise. Levi W. Hancock, remembering the promise of President Young that we should have no fighting to do said to a few of us, "Pray that God will turn him from his course." We had not gone more than a mile until he ordered the halt sounded and said to the guides, "I was ordered to California and take this course," then he turned a square corner. We felt satisfied it was in answer to our prayer.

We approached the summit of the Rocky Mountains on a gradual slope from the east, but to look off west was like the jumping off place. We had to pack everything down on mules and take the wagons down with one span of mules with as many men as could get around them. I had charge of one wagon and got it down without accident, while some others tipped over.

We camped at the base and reloaded wagons. While Timothy Hoyt was eating his dinner Lieutenant Oman called him to help, and because he was slow starting he ordered me to put him under guard, but I told him I was in other business. He, however, got him tied up to a stack of arms. We moved down into a beautiful valley where once stood a Spanish Town which had been broken up by Indians. The country was well stocked with wild bulls, so we lay by next day and got a good supply of fresh meat, as our own supply had been exhausted days before.

The next day, while passing down San Pedro Valley, the bulls made a descent upon our train which resulted in the wounding of two men and the killing of 3 mules and 12 bulls. I stood between the Colonel and staff and the train surrounded by wild beasts, unharmed, and saw the battle.

One day we saw an army drawn up in line of battle across our road, which proved to be friendly Indians ready to join us.

We met a carrier with news from General Kearney that he had formed a junction with Commodore Stockton's Fleet, had fought the decisive battle with Phena Castro who had fled to the mountains with his regular army, and to look out for him, but for us to march direct to San Diego. We crossed the Coast Range and sighted the Pacific [p.306] Ocean on the one hundredth day from Santa Fe, and arrived at San Diego on the one hundred and second day, January 30, 1847.

Commodore Stockton's Fleet was in San Diego Harbor, but sailed away the next day. We stayed there two days then went up the coast 40 miles to San Luis Mission where we remained over a month, kept under strict military drill. Here I was appointed Quarter Master Sergeant of the Battalion which gave me the oversight of the Baggage Train, including men and animals-an extra duty. I attended the drill and was soon set in charge of a squad drill. We was here a month without flour, living entirely on fresh beef, but were allowed 5 pounds per day. General Kearney sent orders to _______, to march at once to Los Angeles with the Mormon Battalion, compel Fremont, who was quartered there with his Battalion of mountaineers assuming the governorship of California, and who refused to submit to General Kearney to give up. I was mounted and stood the trip well, but the men were much fatigued. When Fremont learned we were coming, he made haste to Monterey and surrendered to General Kearney rather than risk a fight with the Mormon Battalion. The General placed him under arrest and took him back to Washington, detailing some of our men as guards, much to the annoyance of Fremont.

For a time fears were entertained that his men would join the Californians and make an attack upon us, so the Colonel ordered earth works thrown up around the camp on the hill overlooking the town. This found employment for the men instead of Drill. I found daily employment riding about to see that the mules were properly taken care of.

Colonel Cook returned home with General Kearney and left Colonel Stevenson in command of the Post. As I had a good chance riding about and getting able to speak Spanish, many of the boys got me to buy animals for them, as we were soon to be discharged. I bought one that proved to be a stray and they thought to get me into trouble, but I protested that I was innocent, yet it bothered me and that night I dreamed that I was to be hung, and that the Prophet Joseph Smith came into court with a big knife in each hand and said, "I appeal this case to the highest court," and I was instantly released.

We were called upon to re-enlist one company at our discharge and Lieutenant Dykes asked me to favor it, but I told him no. He said, "Don't say no, you have influence with the boys and if you don't it will fail." I said, "I enlisted by council and will not again without it." He said, "We can't get it and must act upon our own judgment." I said, "That is what I am going to do and return." The boys sent a man to say if I would enlist they would make me captain. I said no.

About a month before our discharge, a mule fell with me and tore the ligaments of my left wrist which caused such pain I couldn't [p.307] sleep day or night for some time, and I was in the doctor's care until we were mustered out.

On the 16th day of July, 1847, we were mustered out of the service, and before we broke ranks, a sealed letter was opened by Brother Levi Hancock and read, signed by the Apostles, saying, "You will meet the Church in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake on the east side at the foot of the mountains." We moved out a few miles from Los Angeles and camped about a week, organizing for our return trips. Brother Hancock assumed with Father Pettegrew the responsibility and organized us in tens, fifties, and hundreds. William Hyde, Captain [of] 50; Daniel Tyler 2nd and 3rd with Andrew Lytle over all.

July 20th, my company being ready, we moved up 20 miles to General Pico's Ranch. It crossed a spur of mountains to San Francisco where we remained until the 29th waiting for the other two companies to come up, meanwhile we were jerking beef for the journey. We employed a guide to a place called Hot Springs. August 1, 1847, we camped in a beautiful valley where we found the name of Peter Lebeck who was killed by a grizzly bear October 17, 1837. After our guide left us, we missed the Walker Pass and turned down the "Toolary" Valley to Sutter's Fort on the Sacramento River where the city now stands.

JOURNEY TO COUNCIL BLUFFS

We reached there on the 26th August, 1847, 600 miles from Los Angeles without accident. We found a few families of Saints that came on the ship "Brooklyn" from New York expecting to meet the Church in California, until we told them they were settling in Salt Lake Valley. The Burr family was there. We rested a few days and then took the old California Road, crossed the American Fork [River] and found a daughter of widow Murphy, one of the ill-fated Hasting Party. Brother John King and I visited her to find her married to one Johnson.

Henry Pike Hoyt was taken sick. I stopped with him a couple of days, the company going on to Bear Valley; eight men stayed with me. The third day he said he could go, but after we crossed Deep Hollow he got so bad we took him off his horse as he was apparently dying. Twice we administered to him and he revived so much he said he could go, but got so bad again I had to hold him on and finally I had to break his hold of the horn of the saddle. He said, "No, go on ..." his last words, for he was dead in 15 minutes. We wrapped him in his blanket and laid him one half mile from Deep Hollow two rods below the road, having nothing but a hatchet to dig down in the hillside and to build up the lower side. Over the top we put rocks and sticks and marked on a tree, "Henry P. Hoyt died on the 3rd of September, 1847, after nine days illness with jaundice, 80 miles from Sutter's Fort."

We overtook the company in Bear Valley next day and proceeded on our journey on the 5th [September, 1847], and met Sam Brannan with an Epistle from President Young for all that did not intend to go to the Bluffs for their families to stay in California and get work through the winter. This broke up our organization and Andrew Lytle was our Captain. When we passed the summit of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains, we found Hastings' winter camp. At the base of the mountains we struck the Truckee River, then crossed an arm of the Great American Desert to the sink of the Humboldt River, passing the Hot Boiling Springs. From the sink we traveled several days up the river finding plenty of water and grass, then crossed a mountain to the noted spring wells, some of them without bottom apparently. Then crossed the Goose Creek Mountains to Fort Hall on Snake River where we found Captain Grant of the Hudson Bay Fur Company. When we told him where the Church was locating he said it would be a failure if we attempted to colonize there, for we could not raise a bushel of grain in Salt Lake Valley.

Some of the company went to Salt Lake and the rest of us went by Soda Springs and up Bear River over to Fort Bridger. I sent Henry's outfit to his brother, Israel, also my fine mare to my brother, Harvey. We rested here a few days waiting for the rest of the company to come from Salt Lake. We found Joseph Thorn here with his family who joined us.

We left Fort Bridger 33 strong and made Fort Laramie without incident except I had killed a buffalo. The traders at the Post offered to sell us dried meat, telling us if we killed buffalo on the plains it would make the Indians mad. I had a weak mule that an Indian traded me a pony for. The next day we passed a Sioux camp of 300 lodges and, as I had fallen a little behind on the pony, a large Indian caught him by the bridle and held me fast. Thorn called that they had taken me a prisoner. Captain Lytle and Tyler came back, but they soon lead the weak mule up and swapped back and we continued our journey in peace.

However, when we had got well onto the plains and our meat was gone we killed a buffalo, but as soon as we got it into camp the Indians raised a signal smoke on the opposite side of the Platte River. Captain Lytle called a council of war which favored the idea of striking camp and fleeing in the dark, but I opposed it on the ground that our animals were weak and they could easily overtake us and we would have to fight them at a disadvantage in our scattered condition, and I preferred to fight them in camp on the open plain. To this they yielded, but the Indians only showed themselves on the distant hilltops next day and we passed on in peace.

At daylight one morning we found ourselves under a foot of snow and a hundred miles from timber, nothing to burn but wet buffalo chips and without tents. The day before we got to the Loup Fork [p.309] I found the head of Brother Rainey's mule, a company a week ahead of us, had eaten the animal but left the head. I cut out the brains and I got help to eat them. We got to the Loup Fork too late to cross, so we camped, but when we got up in the morning it was snowing hard and the river was full of floating ice and we could not cross. It snowed all day so we lay in camp, divided all the flour and meat we had and ate it up. It was 5 days before the ice block dissolved enough for us to cross, during which time we lived on rawhide.

On the 5th day of our slow journey down the river, one of Captain Lytle's mules got down and I told the boys to lift it up and I would cut its throat and we would eat it, which was done and all partook.

The next morning, the ice being sufficient, we crossed over into the Pawnee Indian cornfield and gleaned enough corn with some we bought from Indians to last us home at one gill a day which we parched, ground and ate in water with a spoon.

After leaving the Loup Fork, my noble mule was attacked with stiffness, so I had to transfer the pack to my riding pony and take it on foot, leaving the mule by the roadside. The snow was from one to two feet deep and when night came we thought of the saying, "Would to God it was morning," (having to sleep on the snow until our bones ached) and in the morning say, "I would to God it was night," anticipating a hard day's tramp through the snow.

December 17th, 1847. We camped on Elk Horn River 30 miles from Winter Quarters. I told Captain Lytle we could go through next day but he said no, it would be too late to find our friends. I told him I had friends that I knew would rather have me come in than to sleep out on the snow another night. Of course, none of us knew of our folks.

December 18th, 1847. When our animals were packed, I said to the boys driving that day that I would lead out afoot, and if they would keep up with me we would make Winter Quarters that night. When the sun was about an hour high we found we were within a mile and a half of town, so Captain Lytle said to one of the boys, "Let the Sergeant ride your horse and go ahead with me." Before entering the town we were met by Doctor Braley, almost an entire stranger, who turned to me and said, "You go home with me." I thanked him and said, "We will see if my folks are here." The next man was Colonel Rockwood who said President Young sent him to tell us to take our animals to the Tithing Yard and we would be distributed out among the people for the night and he turned to me and said, "You go home with me." This I accepted with thanks, but while I was unpacking Sister Henry said, "If Reddick Allred is here, he must go home with me," so I thought three times and out and stayed with her, a good old friend. But when she got a good supper ready and I had only eaten a few bites she asked me to stop, saying you [p.310] have been starving so long it will make you sick. Of course, I stopped, reluctantly however.

Then she fixed me a good bath, gave me clean underclothes, and a good feather bed. In the night I waked her up with my heavy groans, and she said, "Does your supper hurt you?" I laughed and said, "I have had none, but it is this bed that hurts me."


December 19, 1847. I crossed the Missouri River and went eight miles to Little Pigeon, Allred's settlement, where I found my wife and daughter living with father, all well and overjoyed at the safe return of their soldier boy and husband. It was several days before they would allow me to eat what I wanted, and even then I was much distressed with my victuals. Father had kept my wife and child as one of his family and we remained with him all winter. Father was presiding over this Branch of the Church.

After we rested a while, President Young proclaimed a jubilee in the Log Tabernacle at Kanesville and invited the returned soldiers. As Brother William Hyde and I were approaching, President Young said to President Kimball and others (pointing to us), "These men were the salvation of this Church." We all had a free dance and enjoyed it very much.

In the spring of 1848 I moved a mile below into one of Joseph Egbert's rooms, and that season I put in a small crop of corn. I also went down to Missouri and worked for old Bill, man of mob fame, and earned a cow. I went to Fort Leavenworth and drew three months' pay and subsistence by which I was able to clothe myself and family very comfortable, for I had returned quite destitute.

TO THE VALLEY OF THE MOUNTAINS

November 26th, 1848. A son was born unto us, and we called him Redick Reddin. Up to this time I had not been able to do anything towards a fitout [outfit] for the valley, but in the spring of 1849, I drew a land warrant and traded it for two yoke of oxen and a wagon and set about getting ready for the journey. The first week in June we camped on the Missouri Bottom and was organized in tens, fifties and hundreds by Elder George A. Smith thus: Allen Taylor, Captain of Hundred; Enoch Reese, Captain of first, and myself, Captain of second fifty. I had 73 wagons in my company and Captain Taylor traveled in my company, my father and my father-in-law being with us. My team consisted of a yoke of oxen on the wheel and a yoke of cows on the lead, and I drove the lead wagon to the valley. Captain Taylor, having crossed the plains the year before as captain of President Young's company, was of great service.

He advised us to tie our stock by the head outside of the wagons as they were corralled at night, which I strictly observed, but Captain Reese did not, with the result that he had not been out a week until [p.311] his cattle stampeded in the night, smashing down wagons to get out. This so frightened them that they broke up into small companies. Brother Perkins asked me to let him come into my company with 10. I said yes, fall in the rear, which I soon learned was bad policy for their stock, remembering their fright, started to run while moving. As soon as I saw it I gave the word to halt and stand by their teams. In a short time teams were running in all directions except a few at the head, although one team ran the entire length between the two lines. I stood by my team talking kindly to them and they did not move. It was frightful to behold, especially when we gathered up the wounded, three was badly hurt, and one, Sister Hawks, died that night. We had no more trouble on the road, but the journey was long and tedious and as we entered the mountains, we split up into smaller companies for convenience for feed and camping.