“Wagons ho!” came the cry, and finally, after preparing for three previous trips left untaken, Samuel Mulliner, captain of the First Ten in the First Division of the Warren Foote Emigrating Company, whipped the new leather reins over the oxens’ thick hides, urging them forward.  In mid-June of 1850, leaving Council Bluffs, Iowa in the distance, Samuel and his family joined nearly 500 others in the 1,000 mile trek to the Great Salt Lake Valley to once again settle Zion.

A box in Samuel’s wagon held the treasure of pen, ink and paper which he withdrew nightly to fulfill his designated assignment as the company clerk.  Journaling by firelight at the end of each day’s travel and chores, Samuel faithfully recorded the events of the journey.

Just a few days into the journey, wagon damage, disease and death overtook the First Ten severely slowing their progress.  Pulling away from the company, they were passed by the Second Division.  Samuel recorded the statistics and struggles and after closing up his journal would lay awake as the sounds of illness filled the night.  Rising in the early morning hours, he would discover those who had finally grown quiet in death.

The repeated nights of illness and the mornings of grave digging delayed Samuel’s group so long that Captain Maughan of the Second Division chastised the delinquent travelers.  No sympathy, no compassion; no allowance for the toil, loss and heartache, the critical captain and his tens decided to go ahead annoyed.

Finally able to forge ahead, Samuel and his company regrouped and moved quickly to recover some lost time.  Later, as they crested a hill, they spotted Captain Maughan’s wagons camped in the middle of the day.  Calling out to them, Samuel discovered they pulled up due to broken wagon tongues, dying oxen, and worn and ill travelers.  “Well, so much for ‘Go ahead folks’,” wrote Samuel in his nightly notes.

Copyright 2007 Sue Cowan, All Right Reserved - May not be used or copied without permission.