EXCERPTS FROM JOURNAL OF ARCHER WALTERS
FROM IOWA CITY TO MISSOURI RIVER
Introduction
The Mormon migrations to Utah
form some of the more colorful chapters of the history of the American
frontier. In their search for a safe place to practice their religion, the
followers of Joseph Smith moved from settlement to settlement in the
Midwest. Finally in 1846 and 1847, Brigham Young led the Mormons to their
new homes in the Salt Lake Valley.
Eight years later (1855),
Brigham Young planned the migration of 1300 Mormon converts through Iowa.
He suggested that they travel between New York City and Iowa City by rail.
From Iowa City to Salt Lake City, they could travel on foot, moving their
families and their goods by pulling handcarts. To the leader of the
Liverpool, England converts, Brigham Young wrote:
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"Fifteen miles a day will
bring them through in 70 days, and, after they get accustomed to it,
they will travel 20, 25, or 30 with all ease, and no danger of giving
out, but will continue to get stronger and stronger; the little ones
and sick, if there are any, can be carried on the carts, but there
will be none sick in a little time after they get started." |
Archer Walters, a 47 year old
carpenter from Sheffield, England, joined the Handcart Expedition at Iowa
City. His wife, Harriet, and five children (Sarah, age 18; Henry, age 16;
Harriet, age 14; Martha, age 12, and Lydia, age 6), accompanied him. He
joined the Mormon faith in 1848. He stated that he would give his
life if he could reach "The Valley of the Mountains in the Land of Zion,
with my family, that they may grow up under the influence of the Gospel of
Christ."
Walters reached Salt Lake City.
His journal ends on September 14, 1856. The first Handcart Expedition
entered "The Valley of the Mountains" twelve days later. However, he died
from dysentery caused by eating cornmeal and molasses two weeks later. His
wife and five children survived the journey.
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Journal
of Archer Walters |
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June 11, 1856 Journeyed 7
miles. Very
dusty. All tired and smothered
with dust and camped in the dust or where the
dust blowed. Was
captain over my ten of 18 in number but they were a
family of
Welsh and our spirits were not united. Had a tent but Bro.
Ellsworth would not let me use it and had to leave my tent poles
behind. |
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June 12 |
Journeyed 12 miles.
Went very fast with our hand carts. Harriet still very ill .... |
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June 15 |
Got up about 4
o'clock to make a coffin for my brother John
Lee's son named William Lee, aged 12 years.
Meetings Sunday
as usual and at the same time had to make another coffin
for
Sister Prator's child. Was tired with repairing handcarts the last
week. Went and buried them by moonlight at Bear Creek. |
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June 16 |
Harriet very ill.
Traveled 19 miles and after pitching tent mended
carts. |
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June 17 |
Traveled about 17
miles; pitched tent. Made a little coffin for Bro.
Job Welling's son and mended a handcart
wheel .... |
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June 21 |
Traveled about 13
miles. Camped at Indian Creek. Bro. Bowers
died about 6 o'clock; from Birmingham Conference.
Went to buy
some wood to make the coffin but the kind farmer gave
me the
wood and nails. It had been a very hot day and I was never more
tired, but God has said as my day my strength shall be. |
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June 22 |
Got up at break of
day and made the coffin for Bro. James
Bowers by 9 o'clock and he was buried at 11
o'clock. Aged 44
years 5 months 2 days. His relatives cried very
much after I lifted
him in the coffin and waited to screw him down. 11 o'clock
washed in the creek and felt very much refreshed. Meeting Sunday 2
o'clock until 7. |
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June 24 |
Traveled about 18
miles. Very hot. Bro. Ellsworth being always
with a family from Birmingham named Brown and
always that tent going first and walking so fast and some fainted by the
way ... |
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June 26 |
Traveled about 1
mile. Very faint from lack of food. We are only
allowed about 3/4 lb. of flour a head each
day and about 3 oz of
sugar each week. About. l/2 of a lb. of bacon
each a week; which
makes those that have no money very weak. Made a
child's coffin
for Sister Sheen, Emma Sheen Aged 2‑1/2 years. |
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June 27 |
Got up before,
sunrise. Cut a tomb stone on wood and bury the
child before starting from camp. |
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June 28 |
Rose soon after 4
o'clock. Started with high wind. Short of water
and I was never more tired. Rested a bit after we
camped then
came on a thunder storm, and rain, blowed our tent down.
Split the canvas and wet our clothes and we had to lay on the wet clothes
and ground .... |
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June 29 |
Rather stiff in
joints when we rose ....Busy all day. My wife and
Sarah mending. Short of provisions. Children
crying for their
dinner. |
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June 30 |
Rose in good health,
except Harriet, and started with our handcarts with but little breakfast ...but never
traveled 17 miles
more easily ....Sleep very well after prayers in tent. |
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July
1, 1856 Rose soon. It looked very cloudy and began to rain.
Traveled about 15 miles. Walked very fast,
nearly 4 miles an
hour. Bro. Brown's family and some young sisters with
Bro.
Ellsworth always going first which causes many of the brothers to
have
hard feelings... children cry with hunger and it grieves me and
makes me
cross." I can live upon green herbs or anything and do
go nearly
all day without any and am strengthened with a morsel.
Repaired
handcarts. |
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July 3 |
Ever to be remembered.
Bro. Card gave me 1/2 dollar for making his daughter's coffin. Start with my cart before the
camp as others had done but was told not to and had to suffer for it.
Went the wrong way; about 30 of the brothers and sisters, and went 101/2 miles
the wrong way. We put our three handcarts together and made beds with
all the clothes we had and laid down about 1/2 past 10 o'clock. 11
o'clock Brother Butler who had charge of the mule teams came with the mules
and wagon to fetch us. Got to camp when they were getting
up. Laid down about an
hour and started with the camp. |
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July 5 |
A deer or elk served
out to camp. Brother Parker brings into camp his little boy (age 6) that had been lost (3
days). Great joy right through the camp. The mother's joy I can not describe. Expect
we are going to rest. Washing, etc., today. Jordan Creek. Made a pair
of sashes for the old farmer. Indian meal; no flour. Slept well. |
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July 6 |
Made 2 doors for ...3 dollars
and boarded with farmer. |
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July 7 |
Harriet better. Lydia poorly.
Traveled about 20 miles. |
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July 8 |
Traveled a round
about road about 20 miles. Crossed the river
Missouri and camped at the city of Florence. Very
tired: glad to rest. Slept well. Lydia better and Harriet. .All in good
spirits. Expect to stop some time
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Explorations in Iowa History Project
Malcolm Price Laboratory School
University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
©COPYRIGHT 2003 University of Northern Iowa
Lynn.Nielsen@uni.edu
Duplication for Instructional purposes only.
Credits: Logo and site design by ITS CET
Documents courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa
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