Lee Cox

Title: 1846 Traveling through Iowa with Warren Foote. Submitted by: LEE COX

I have read over 100 pages of the Warren Foote journals in order to document the life and death of my ancestor Betsey Foote Clement, who was Warren’s sister. Warren was the youngest son of David Foote and the last of his generation to join the Church. His parents died south of Nauvoo and are buried in the Nauvoo cemetery as chronicled in his journal. Had I been pioneering in his footsteps I would have been blessed to have his journal to take with me. The journey through Iowa is chronicled in 7 pages of his journal and the Missouri expedition is 4 of the 7. Most of the wagons in the Company contained Kindred. Father Jacob Myers (his father-in-law) was elected captain. I find few instances where he comments on human failings. He blesses us with his spiritual feelings. I will condense his note of May 28th. “Father Myer resigns...He had went himself and brought up the cattle mornings and it was almost impossible to get a boy to drive or watch cattle or sheep, and their parents knowed it.” Half of the wagons left (including that of Betsey Clement). Most of the days were days where some traveling could be done. From Montrose they traveled in mud 2 days and one day was such that if each wagon did not find fresh sod they would be come mired. They stopped 6 full days and 3 half-days, i.e. 2 for rain, 3 for livestock, and for Sunday. Mt. Pisgah time was in part to help plant and because the Quorum of the 12 hadn’t made the final plans as to where the Saints would winter. The jumping off point from Mt. Pisgah was Grand River IA. I have entered every word from his journal in the trading expedition section. He sees the beauties of nature. I believe that this section is longer than other because he had more time to write and everyday something different happened.

From crossing the Mississippi in the first week of May 1846 the wagon company arrived at “Council Point” July 10, 1846. From Pisgah to Council Point the company lost only one day to lost cattle.'

May 9th Franklin Allen (Warren’s nephew) and I went to Montrose IA. Our company consists of 9 wagons. 10th We resumed our journey. June 3 We camped 3 miles from the camp of the 12. June 4 The 12 have gone on. We have gone up to the camp which they have named Mt. Pisgah.

June 1846 A trading expedition into Missouri I have captured every word written in his journal during the time he crossed into Missouri.

9th We moved our camp on to the west side of the Grand river near Pisgah where we will stop until Franklin finds his steers. Some of us have concluded to send down into Missouri to get breadstuff. It was decided that James Lemmon, Noah Cotton and myself should go. 10th We started this morning with such articles as we can spare to trade for flour. We got in company with Harvey and Josiah Call who were going to Missouri for the same purpose. We traveled east on the road we cam in on 15 miles and camped. 11th We continued on the "Mormon road" as it is called seven miles further, and took a road running directly across it which we took and traveled in a southwest course. After we had about ten miles I began to think that we had taken the wrong road. We soon afterward met two men on horseback, who said that this road went to the Platt and they had traveled three days since they left the settlements. We drove on two miles and came to a cabin. The man living there told us that we were on the wrong road and it was twelve miles to the settlements. He show us a dim trail leading there and said two wagons had gone on as we had done. We followed their tracks and soon came upon them. We crossed the middle fork of Grand River and camped. 12th The prairie here is the most broken that I ever saw, and is unfit for cultivation. We followed the ridge between Grand River and a small creek which emptied into Grand River until we came to the river when we crossed it again and came to another house. There is quite a heavy body of timber but the land is still broken. Two miles from the river we came to the road that we aught to have taken in the first place and two miles further on we came to a Mr. Miller’s place. There I found that we were in Harrison Co. Missouri two and a half miles south of the Iowa and Missouri line. Mr. Miller advised us to go down as so many gone down to Miller's mill that grain was getting very scarce there. So we took our course for Watson's mill on big creek. We crossed the river again. came on to a beautiful rolling prairie. We drove 18 miles and camped. 13th Last night Bro. Cotton's horses ran off and we did not find them till late. We drove eight miles when we came to the settlement were I sold a good feather bed for six dollars cash. It was worth ten. I also sold two chairs for bacon. There we heard terrible stories about the "Mormons." The people told us that the had heard that they were building forts and making all preparations for war. We told them that these reports were false that some of them were plowing and planting corn & etc. but that most of them were going on to Council Bluffs. 14th We traveled sixteen miles yesterday we crossed the prairie the forenoon and came to another settlement. Corn looks small and wheat rather poor. We arrived at Fuller’s mill on Big Creek towards night. The Bros Call engaged their load here. The mill is a small affair and grinds very stout and it took all their grain to load Calls wagon He paid $2 per hundred for flour and 25 cents per bushel for corn meal. 15th This morning Bro Cotton concluded to go fifteen miles up the creek to see if he can trade his horsed for oxen. I took F. Allen’s bed and some other articles to sell and went with him. Bro Ogler also went. We went as far as Dunkerson's settlement but did not meet with any success in trading. 16th I sold a bridle today for 2 bushels of corn. Folklore about Mormons The inhabitants here are very much scared. They are afraid that the "Mormons" will soon be upon them and slay men, women and children. I called into a house to see if I could sell any thing. The man was not at home. As I turned to go out the woman said "You are a Mormon I suppose if it is a fair question" Yes Madam I replied. She said, "There are a great many Indians up there where you are camped." I replied that I had not seen any. Said she, "you have not seen any! why we hear that you are building forts and your women are marrying in with the Indians and that you are combining together and are coming down here to kill us all off." I told her that those stories were false. There are no Indians there and the Mormons are mostly going on to the Rocky Mountains. She then said, There are a great many women here that are almost scared to death, the are just ready to run." Well, said I, if they are not killed until the Mormons kill them they will live a long time. She asked "How many to you suppose there are of the Mormons." I answered, I cannot tell, some thousands I suppose. She said with surprise, "do you not know them all?" O no madam, but a few of them I replied. "You don't” said she, "I thought they all knowed one another." I said that they were like other folks about that. She then asked, "What is the cause of their being drove from Illinois. We heard that they have been burning houses there." I told her that it was false. The people of Illinois burned the Mormon's houses and a great deal of grain and drove them from the state without any just cause. "Well" said she, "If the Mormons would scatter around amongst the white folks they could live in peace." Said I, it contrary to their belief to scatter, they believe in gathering. The lord has commanded His people to gather together and not to scatter. Paul says that in the dispensation of the fullness of times the Lord would gather together all things in one. "Well," said she, "I don't know how that is." I then bade her good day and traveled on. It is quite a curiosity for the inhabitants here to see a "Mormon." The women and children all came running to the doors to look at us as we passed by. The most of their talk is about the "Mormons" coming down and killing them all off. Bro. Cotton sold his saddle. We arrived at Fuller's mill about dark The calls had got their flour ground and started home. J. Lemmons went back with them about a mile to camp with them. He was afraid to stay at the mill alone, as while we were away a crowd had gathered at the mill and had got him to sing and he was foolish enough to sing the "Mobbers of Missouri," a song composed by some one when we were driven out of that state. This made some of them angry and although they all dispersed before night Jim was afraid to stay there alone, thinking that we would not be back. 17th We were advised to go to Gay's mill on the west fork of the Grand River distant twenty miles. We concluded to do so, and when we had got within twelve miles of that mill we were advised to go to Watson's mill which was only eight miles as they did most of the business there so we took the road to Watson's. When we arrived within two miles of the mill we saw a man plowing corn. As we came near he got up on the fence to look at us. There were two boys also with him in the field. We stopped to inquire the road to the mill as the road forked here. He asked if w e "Mormons" we told him we were, He halloed to the boys to com and see some "Mormons. They all cam up to the wagon, although the boys were very shy. After looking at us he said to the boys. "they haven't got any horns have they" "and they look like other folks don't they." This he said laughing as he told us that the boys had thought that the "Mormons" were terrible looking creatures. After conversing with him awhile he advised us not to go to the mill as there were a number there from Adam on-diahman who live there at the time of the mobbing when we were driven out of that country, and were very hostile. They were waiting for grinding and were drinking and gambling constantly. He said that there were two "Mormons" at the mill a day or two ago and it was as much as they could do to keep these fellows from killing them. While he was telling this two men rode up and substantiated what he said. One of them was a doctor who lived at the mill. After talking considerably with the men he agreed to deliver to me tomorrow what flour and meal I wanted. We then drove to a spring near he house and camped.

Daviess Co. Missouri

18th  This morning our man came to us, and said that if we would plow corn for him until our load was ready he would go around and try to sell our articles we had left. J. Lemmon and N Cotton went to ploughing.  The south line of his farm was on the north line of Daviess Co. About 11 o'clock I went down across the line, and into Daviess County. I lifted up my voice in prayer to God and being impressed by the spirit, I asked the Lord to curse the land to all those who had driven the saints therefrom that it might not yield of its strength to them, and that the day may soon come when His judgments shall be poured out upon them until they shall be destroyed from off this goodly land, that the saints may again possess it in peace.  We drove the loaded wagons to a place where a Mr. Bennett lived, to whom I had sold  F. Allen's bed.  He was nearly drunk but was very friendly, and paid me for the feather bed.  His wife seemed to be quite out of humor about his buying it but he swore that if his family was in the situation ours was and the folks wouldn't sell him anything to eat he would feel mighty bad about it, and he would be damned if he wasn't going to pay us for the bed. 19th  We now started for home.  I bought some honey for $.50 per gal. We passed through Bethany the county seat of Harrison Co.  The people through here are very friendly to us.  I bout a few articles in Bethany.  20th It is very cool today we traveled thirty two miles. 21st Sunday. We crossed  Grand River and  traveled thirty miles.

22th We arrived at our camp about one o'clock and found all well.

Back with the wagon train 28th Col. Allen of the US Army came here last week and wanted the "Mormons" to raise 500 men to go to California to fight against Mexico. The United States were now at war with Mexico Father Huntington is presiding there and he sent him on to see the "twelve" There was no one that felt like fighting for a government that would not protect us in our rights. A letter came from B young was read He counseled all to come on that could to the bluffs, and then go down into Missouri and labor, and fit themselves out with provisions and then try to go on as far of the head of grand Island in the Platte river to winter which is about 330 miles from Mt Pisgah. This counsel seemed to meet the minds of all the people here and most of them are now determined to go ahead. I have no team to go on with and feel quite cast down, but I trust in God. 29th I am quite unwell today and cast down both in body and mind. I see a great many starting on, and I have no team to go with. July 1 Our little company has come to the conclusion to start for the Bluffs tomorrow. Father Myers will let me have a yoke of oxen to put on my wagon, for which I feel to thank the Lord, and to acknowledge His goodness to me for I have had a particular aversion to stopping in this place. 4th Ten indians came to our camp which are the first we have seen. 10th Today we arrived at the main camp, twelve miles from what is called Council Point. The land hereabouts is very broken and timper scarce. Many of the Brethern seem to be quite disheartened, -the Indians ahead and the mob behind, and winter approaching, and no stopping place selected yet to prepare for it.

Post script. Nov 1 Isaac Ferguson and Albert Clement has settled on Pigeon creek about seven miles above here. I took my wife and went up to see them today. We found Sister Betsey quite feeble and Albert very sick.... 2nd Albert died. I shaved him and helped to lay him out. 10th Today Isaac Ferguson came and told us that sister Betsey was dead. She died on the 8th ..She told what to do with her things and who she wanted to take her children... 23rd I went up to Isaac Ferguson’s to see about Betsey’s children. I found her daughter Nancy there (the 2nd wife of George A. Smith) She is living in Winter quarters. My sister (Almira Ferguson) wanted me to take Darius, the oldest and Nancy the other two. Nancy wanted to take all of them, to which I very reluctantly consented, so returned home without any of them.

2PS Feb. 1 1847 We staid with Nancy Clement my niece last night. She has a little daughter. George A. Smith and first wife spent the evening with us. Note: There is no mention in Warren’s journal of the deaths of niece Nancy and little grand-niece in March.

3PS Sept 1 1848 Isaac Ferguson and family have gone to the valley. (Taking 3 Clement children.)