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Show B30DU3 fROX ILLINOIS. t 125 saodfice exchanging such property as they could dispose of for animals* wagonst and breadstuffs; and in tjje beginning of February, 1846, a large proportion of the community crossed the Mfesiaupptfrom Naavoo, and formed a rendezvous near Montrose, in Iowa. Here they remained, exposed to intehse. cold and deep snows, until March, when, being, joined by several hundred wagons and fc large number of women and children, they organized'their , company under, the guidance of Brigham Young, president of the church, and puccessor of Joseph Smith their founder and seer. In their progress westward, through the northern part of Mis* souri, they igere again driven from that State,- by violent threats, into the southern borders of Iowia, whence, after much hardship and suffering, they reached, in the course Qf the summer; the banW of * the Missouri, beyond the limits of the States.- Here they enclosed land and planted crops, leaving some of their number to reap the fruits, which were to be applied to the sustenance of other companies, that were to fellow as soon as they should be able to provide the means. They were about crossing the river to pursue their journey westward, when an officer of the United Stales Government presented himself) with * requisition for five hundred men tb^ erve in the war with Mexico. Thid demand, though midden and unexpected, waq promptly and patriotically complied with; but in consequence, the expedition was broken up for the season. Those that remained, being principally old men, women, and* children, prepared to pass . • the winter in the wilds- of ah Indian country, by cutting hay and erecting log and sod huts, and digging as many caves as time allowed and their strength enabled them. During thfe winter* owing to the great privations, incident to such 9 life, and to the want, in many instances,^ of the most common necessaries^ great numbers sickened and died: their cattle, ' too, ? 4re Stolen. by the Indians, or perished by starvation. In the succeeding spring of 1847, the people were again organized for their journey J and on the 8th of April, a pioneer company, consisting of one hundred and forty- three men, seventy- two wagons, and one hundred and seventy- five head of horses,, mnles, and'oxen, with rations for six months, agricultural implements and seed- grain, . manfully set Out in search, of a home beyond the Rocky Mountains. Pursuing their . route up the left bank of the Plattp, crossing at Fort Laramie, and passing over the mountains at the South Pass, the advanced guard a£ length reached the valley 4f the Great Salt Lake, on the 21st of July. On the 24th, the presidency and" the |