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dusty plains, footsore and tired, but without stopping, going to the promised land of Utah, as everything was promised upon their arrival. The Morman [sic] church trains camped close by, and I often went to the camp to hear the preacher tell the Morman [sic] gospel; which was interesting. At all times they advocated poligimy[sic,] and was told in such a way that it was made to appear alright. They claimed their religion would give the ladies of this broad earth the protection they so much needed. After the preaching was over, a Morman [sic] would appear with a violin, and after singing, dancing was a part of the performance. The ladies all wore bloomers, which extended to their knees, woolen leggings and calfskin shoes. This way they were comfortably dressed for their long tramp. They looked rather odd,

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however dancing around the campfire. The preacher would swing them as lively as the rest of them, and they certainly enjoyed life on the plains. I wished then that I was my own man, and that I might join the Mormons, as poligimy [sic] appeared alright to me at that time. These church trains consisted of about thirty wagons to the train, fifteen forming a half circle on each side when camped for the evening, which made a large correll [sic]. After breakfast next morning, they drove their cattle into this correll[sic,] and it would be only a matter of a few minutes until they were on their way again. There were also a great many from the east with their own teams and families formed trains that passed through the country to Utah. They were called independent Mormans [sic.] Everyone who went to Utah

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no matter if they were not Mormans [sic,] did not believe in poligimy [sic,] were called Mormans [sic,] when they took up homes there. Brigham Young and Joe Smith made an experiment by finding a bible under a rock at Independence, Mo. As years have gone by I have but one wife, and when things do not go right, she gives me that shoulder drive. I have changed my mind in regard to poligimy [sic,] for if I had three or four wives and if a spell like that came over them at the same time, there would not be a hair left in my head, but nevertheless I sympathize with the fair sex, old and young, and believe they ought to have their rights and protection they need. Kind friends, you may have the impression that I am a lady's man, but I am not; my features and

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face would stop an eight day clock and put it out of commission for most any length of time. A great many ladies are more capable of managing a farm than their husbands, and some women know more in five minutes than their husbands ever knew. My wife says that I have all kinds of sense, but common sense, and that I have not, and never will have. What she says goes with me, and I don't stop until I take it all over the neighborhood. At the close of the Civil war, and Utah was admitted to the Union, the government abolished poligimy [sic.]

In the year 1860 with thousands of buffalos, deer, antilope [sic] and elks roaming the plains together with town after town of prairie dogs and wild turkeys, and with homes being founded, the

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struggles of life on the plains began. The sod was broken and corn was planted and garden patches started. Indians at that time were very numerous, and at first the Indians were friendly but in the year 1862 went on the warpath. We frequently in those days shot deer and buffalo and other game from our cabin door. Every cabin from the mouth of Wood River to Jim Boyd's ranch, which was the last house on the north side of the Platte, and on the cutoff to Old Fort Kearney was decorated with buffalo and antilope [sic] meat drying for future need. We also had a barrel of corn buffalo meat. We were located on the Great Western Stage route, which ran from Omaha to old Fort Kearney. It followed the old Oregon and Morman [sic] and California travel. The stage line running from Plattsmouth to Fort Kearney, was called the Overland

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Stage line. A stage line from Leavenworth, Kans., which struck the Overland trail at Sober Swisky (Dobe Town) and Gamblers' Roost, twelve miles east of old Fort Kearney, now known as Kensaw [Kenesaw,] was called the Smokey hill stage line. A stage line runing from Kansas City, called the Santepee stage line, intersected the Overland west of old Phalon's Bluffs. From Fort Kearney on to Salt Lake, Oregon and California it was called the Overland stage and Pony Express route. These stage lines west, northwest, and southwest were controlled and operated by Ben Holaday. The stages were arranged for the comfort of the traveler with cushion backs and seats, and could carry eight passengers very comfortably. If there were nine, the nineth [sic] would be obliged to take his or

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her seat in front with the driver in his booth. The driver occupied the largest portion of the seat, accompanied by mail sacks under the seat, his tool sack, water pail, buffalo robe, and whip, which occupied the largest portion of the booth. There was also a rear booth on the stage for a trunk, which had a heavy leather curtain, which was buckled down over the trunks to protect them from storms. These stage coaches were not built on steel springs, but were constructed with heavy leather springs, so that in going over any obstruction the coach was not jolted, but would simply rock back and forth, which made it very easy for the traveler.

When we came here in 1860, old George Moody ran from Eagle Island to

[handwritten manuscript ends]