Pioneer Stories

Pioneer Accounts

 

Tell My Story, Too

Biographies by Jolene Allphin

This information from her book, "Tell My Story, Too" is shared with her permission.

Jolene S. Allphin

Jolene Spendlove Allphin is the daughter of Clifton and LeOra Isom Spendlove of Hurricane, Utah. She and her husband, Michael, are the parents of 11 children. They have lived in Arizona, California and Utah. Michael currently serves as a Judge in Utah's 2nd District Court.     Jolene is the author of Tell My Story, Too. The book contains 300 biographical sketches and over 400 pictures of pioneers and rescuers of the Willie, Martin, Hodgett and Hunt companies of 1856. Since 1999, in preparation for a Stake Pioneer Trek, Jolene has been researching, writing, and publishing stories of these people who paid such a tremendous price to reach the Zion of their hopes and dreams. Jolene has developed a deep love for these people and considers them as friends.     Jolene served as a historical advisor for the movies Ephraim's Rescue and 17 Miracles by T.C. Christensen. Jolene and T.C. Christensen co-authored the book More Than Miracles, published by Deseret Book in 2012.     Jolene also co-authored an art, story, and history book with Andrew D. Olsen and artist Julie Rogers, published by Deseret Book in 2013. It is titled Follow Me To Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers. A companion volume covering stories from the Martin, Hodgett and Hunt companies is currently being written.

                           Copyright Jolene S. Allphin, Tell My Story Publishing, LLC. 

Following are each individual pioneer’s biography:

Willie Handcart Company

Arrived Salt Lake City November 9, 1856

 

Johan August Ahmanson

 

Niels Anderson

41, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK

 

Millen Atwood

 

John Bailey

51, Died just before reaching SLC; wife, ELIZABETH, died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK

 

Agnes Caldwell

9, Rescuer, William Kimball, made her run alongside wagon

 

Margaret Ann McFall Caldwell

40, Widow; ran a boarding house to save money for trip

 

Thomas Caldwell

14, Collarbone broken by cow

 

Francis Robert Cantwell

15, Narrative from father's own journal; tells of shoveling snow to get through mountain passes into Salt Lake Valley

 

John Chislett

24, Sub-captain, excerpts from his own narrative

 

Eliza Crook

19, With widowed mother

 

Elizabeth Cunningham

12, With parents, two sisters and brother, left for dead, revived

 

George Cunningham

15, Wrote narrative, had dream of rescuers

 

Margaret Dalglish

29, Pushed handcart over edge of mountain

 

Lott Dorney

23, Helped widowed mother and sister, Pony Express rider

 

Joseph B Elder

21, Assisted Captain Willie in finding rescue party

 

Eliza Chapman Gadd

21, Assisted Captain Willie in finding rescue party

 

James Gibb

67, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK

 

Chesterton John Gillman

76, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK

 

Thomas Girdlestone

62, Died, buried at Rock Creek (not in common grave)

 

Richard Godfrey

 

Mary Priscilla Griffiths

25, Single woman, walked all the way

 

William Groves

22, Died, buried at Rock Creek (not in common grave)

 

Charles Martin Herbert

3, With mother, aunt; when grown had large bee apiary

 

Emily Hill

20, With sister, Julia; wrote hymn "As Sisters In Zion" and "Let the Little Children Come"

 

Julia Hill

23, Story tells of sheriff searching Willie Company

 

Elizabeth Humphrys

12, Sister was kidnapped, married rescuer

 

James Hurren

29, Known for cheerfulness and encouragement to others; one of the strongest men; baby born, died in Iowa

 

Mary Hurren

7, Father's faith & miracle saved her feet; rattlesnakes did not harm her and friend, Agnes Caldwell

 

Jane H James

41, With husband (died at ROCK CREEK) and eight children

 

William James

46, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK

 

Michael Jensen

 

Maren Jorgensen

 

Maria Watson Kirby

 

James Kirkwood

11, Carried his 4-yr-old brother to safety at Rock Creek, then collapsed and died; buried common grave ROCK CREEK

 

James Laird

 

Mary Laird

29, Supported family while husband served a mission

 

Rebecca Cula Langman

21, Married Moses Cluff of Martin Company

 

Martine Larsen

5, She and her mother were only survivors in their family

 

John Linford

48, Died; with wife and three sons; Son, George, 17 known for strength; carried others across icy waters on his back

 

Ole Madsen

51, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK

 

Peter Madsen

62, Died, Echo Canyon; kept Danish journal for company

 

Joseph B McKay

57, Collapsed on Rocky Ridge, saved by Andrew Smith

 

Christina McNeil

24, Single, resisted persuasions of officer at Ft. Laramie

 

Archibald McPhail

40, Died from exposure after saving woman

 

Euphemia Mitchell

23, With Smith family; went through five pairs of shoes

 

Bodil Malene Mortensen

9, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK; traveling with Jens Nielsen family

 

Mortensen Family

Inspiring story of all family members

 

Charles Alma Moulton

Baby, Born on ship Thornton, was so frail upon arrival in SLC his body was transparent

 

James Heber Moulton

7, Kindly old lady saved his hand

 

Ella Neilson

22, Died, buried common grave; ROCK CREEK; hair frozen in ice, had to be cut upon death

 

Caroline Newman

7, Came with widowed mother and five siblings; Indians came into her home and frightened children

 

Elsie Rasmussen Nielson

26, Pulled husband in handcart; Husband promised God to spend his days in usefulness; gave all his money to Church so others could come

 

Niels Nielson

5, Died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK with his friend, Bodil Mortensen

 

Rhoda Rebecca Oakey

10, Died Nov 9; Sang Come, Come, Ye Saints for company

 

John Oborn

12, Wrote own narrative, shoveled snow with tin plate

 

Ane Olsen

46, Widow, died, buried in common grave, ROCK CREEK; gave money to needy on ship

 

Daniel Osborne

35, Died 8 days short of Valley, 7-yr-old son and wife also died, his three other children later adopted

 

William Page

17, Rode Pony Express, delivered Lincoln's inaugural address

 

Elizabeth Crook Panting

28, Delivered from murderous husband, angel gave her food

 

Jens O Peterson

36, Family of eight all made it safely. Jens saved another man's life by slapping him and then being chased to camp

 

Rebecca Cula Pilgrim

30, Included picture of coin her mother tossed at her

 

William M Read

63, Died October 1st near Ft. Laramie

 

Caroline Reeder

17, Died after gathering sagebrush for fire

 

Robert Reeder

19, Wrote own narrative; father and sister died

 

James Reid

40, Shot at Florence, Nebraska, over mistaken identity

 

Jemima Brown Rogers

53, Twice widowed; came with 8-yr-old adopted daughter; scalp frozen, lost all her hair

 

Ann Jewell Rowley

48, Widow, brought 9 children; among 600 of United Brethren group baptized by Wilford Woodruff; miracle of multiplied food

 

Levi Savage

36, Returning from mission in Siam; sub-captain to Willie; When Willie Co. reached Florence, he pleaded with them to wait until Spring, but was boted down.  Stalwart leader

 

Harriet and Ellen Louisa Showell

31, 14, Harriet became a GG grandmother to Neal A. Maxwell

 

Andrew Smith

19, Carried many over Rocky Ridge until forced to stop, including his future father-in-law

 

Elizabeth Smith

13, Wrote story for Improvement Era

 

Ann Waddell Stewart

31, Revived her husband awaiting burial at Rock Creek; carried him in handcart rest of way.  Became midwife

 

Jane Ann Stewart

32, Separated from company one night; scared away wolves

 

Susannah Stone

25, Left opposing family and friends in England; aroused from approaching death by voice of Spirit; fiance in company died; sat under handcart and sang; married rescuer

 

Emma Summers

28, Lost all her hair; married rescuer

 

Anna F Tait

31, Died at Sixth Crossing; wrote letter on ship

 

Elizabeth Xavier Tait

25, From India, husband and son emigrated earlier

 

Emily Wall

16, With brother, Joseph; mother sent 15 pairs of shoes each; pulled sick brother in handcart, saved his life; married rescuer; sustained by Apostolic blessing

 

Lars Gudman Wandelin

60, Died, buried common grave, ROCK CREEK; gave watch to Perpetual Emigration Fund

 

Lucy Ward

23, Rescuer, James Cole, saw her in vision; married about a week later; stayed at FT. Bridger for winter

 

Andrew A Watson

23, Pulled wheelbarrow from home to train station; left large box of precious books in Iowa City

 

Ephramine Josephine Wickland

Baby, Her name was miraculously preserved in a house fire for work to be done in 'Second Rescue'

 

James G Willie

42, Returning missionary from England, captain of Company on board the ship and crossing plains; courageous hero

 

William Woodward

23, Subcaptain; told story of missing rawhide shoes made into soup by woman in his company; returning missionary

 

Thomas Young

 

All Willie Handcart Company Pioneers

(Large file:  47 MB, 156 Pages)

 

 

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