| Show Our journey commenced during the Civil War We had nothing to fear for as we traveled through the endless miles of water we were protected by American ships The owners of the ship we traveled in even gave us special rates because of the war We settled in Somersville California town about forty miles from San Francisco Father andworked in the coal mines in order to earn enough to make our way to Utah to be united with the saints Many timeshad to work in the mines without my father Asyoung lad of only fifteen was thrown intocompany of those who drank smoked gambled and swore endlessly believed this church was true chose not to fall prey to the temptations around me and did not becomeparticipant During Fatherabsence an epidemic broke out in San Francisco name unknown Most children who caught this disease died within twenty-four hours My brother Charles who was only nine caught the disease and soon died Father had had enough It was time to move on to Utah We left our home because we could neither sell it nor bring it with us By team we went to Los Angeles then San Bernardino and finally to Las Vegas Nevada The rattlesnakes were so bad there that we often had to turn off the roads for them Once in the Muddy Mission Father discoveredmissionary friend from Australia We were invited to move into one of the homes that had been left vacant at the fort It was very difficult to makeliving there but we worked hard in order to survive After three yeas of residing there our boundaries were redrawn by government officials We were suddenly placed into the State of Nevada Officials demanded back taxes but we didnhave the means to pay them When President Young heard of our situation he advised us to move back into Utah 105 |
