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Show Of course, the identity of the authors of all these literary endeavors did not become lost over time, especially since the Mormon settlement and population of the Utah territory coincided with the spread of literacy that characterized nineteenth century, western America. The work of "folk" writers like Livingston Montgomery, a Scottish-born Mormon who immigrated to Utah in 1861 and worked first driving freight wagons and later as a rancher, is typical of much of the nineteenth century verse composed in Utah. According to his granddaughter, Ann Baum, Montgomery "loved poetry, Robert Burns being his favorite, and was constantly writing poems about the people and events surrounding his life." (personal correspondence, 6/84) His poem, entitled "The Uinta Song," chronicles an 1881 freighting expedition from Salt Lake City to eastern Utah's Uinta Basin, and the following excerpts [stanzas 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 16] are from this sixteen stanza poem. On the 20th of September, We started out with freight. And well do I remember, The Season, it was late. The chilly dews of Autumn, and wintry winds did blow, While the Wasatch Range of Mountains, Was coated o'er with snow. We started up the Canyon, And got to Noak's hill, But couldn't go on further, For pulling Steamboat Bill. Old Collie was so balky, She wouldn't pull a pound, Bill ripped and tore And cursed and swore Still his wagon hugged the ground. That night Will Barnes was baking, He was our British cook, And all of his companions Would stand around and puke To see the matted tag locks Of dough among his hair, His fists were in the bacon grease, You bet he got his share. 16 Cowboy Poetry From Utah |
