Compiled information -- from earliest times -- containing incidents, scenes and events from actual contact with the individuals themselves and reproducing the pioneer experiences in this record. Though simple and unpretentious, it is the desire of the author, Joseph B Walton, at this date, February 4, 1931, that the time spent on this record will not be wasted, and that the reader will accept the same in the spirit in which it is intended. I feel that in no way can I honor my father and mother better than to record their achievements and works as Mormon Pioneers.
JOSEPH WALTON was born 17 September 1829 at Whitbourn, Herefordshire, England, and died 27 November 1916 at American Fork, Utah. He was buried at Alpine, Utah County, Utah, aged 87 years, 2 months and 10 days. He was married to Ann Thompson on October 29, 1854, at Salt Lake City, Utah. He was baptized 13 Nov 1849 by Edward Jones in England. He was rebaptized on March 22, 1857, at Alpine, Utah, by F. Carlisle, and confirmed by M. Phelps.
He left his home for America 4 January 1852. Sailed on the ship Kenebec from Liverpool, England, 10 Jan 1852; landed at New Orleans nine weeks later, 11 Mar 1852. At New Orleans the ship grounded on a sand bar and for nine days it was stuck fast in the sand. There were 333 passengers on board and it became necessary to transfer them to a river steamboat. The Saints were under the direction of Brother John S. Higbee. Joseph Walton worked his passage up the Mississippi to St. Louis and later he drove an ox team across the plains, arriving in Salt Lake City on September 17, 1853.
ANN THOMPSON, my mother, was born at Lichfield, England, 27 February 1821, being the only daughter of Thomas and Mary Thompson, both of whom died when she was very young. The child was then adopted by the William Wright family and was raised as one of their own. She left her native country for America on the giant sailing vessel "The John M. Wood," being one of its 393 passengers sailing from Liverpool 12 Mar 1854, arriving at New Orleans after seven weeks on the water. At New Orleans transferred to a river boat for Keokuk, thence across the Iowa prairies to Council Bluffs by ox team and from this point across the great plains to the Valley, arriving in Salt Lake City 25 September 1854.
During the summer of 1854, Joseph Walton was called upon to drive ox teams in the train loaded with supplies for the Sweetwater and other points and return with a load of emigrants. On the way out they met the Kearns train at Green River and camped with them overnight. Here the two young people met each other at the bonfire camp dance and later in October of that year were married at Mill Creek by Bishop Ruben Miller.
They lived at Mill Creek during the following severe winter in a wagon box with a cover drawn over the bows for shelter, and the following spring they moved to Mountainville, which later was called Alpine. Here Joseph worked 78 days on the Fort wall as a defense against Indian attacks. Here he bought or made arrangements to buy 17 acres of land and a double log house from J.W. Preston, who had moved to American Fork.
The issue of this marriage was four sons, as follows: Joseph Benjamin, born 10 October 1855; John James, born 7 Feb. 1858; Thomas Heber, born 1 November 1860, and Alma, born 1862, having died in infancy. This family has passed through many of the trials of pioneer life in the west; nevertheless, they were very fortunate. Their small farm was inadequate to their needs and many times did not produce enough to provide for their wants in the way of food and clothing. They also had a cow, small flock of sheep and yoke of oxen.
VOYAGE UP THE RIVER After a few days' rest at New Orleans, preparations were made for the trip to Keokuk by steamboat, a distance of 1700 miles. The estimated time to make this river trip was 11 days. The great Mississippi was high, swollen by flood waters from its immense tributaries until it spread in many places beyond its banks and deluged the surrounding country. Houses and barns were lifted from their foundations and floated down the stream. On either side of the river could be seen overhanging forests and climbing vines. The cane plantations of Louisiana, the cotton fields of Mississippi, the corn fields of Illinois, and the thousand varied industries along its course dispels monotony and created interest for the poor tired traveler. Occasionally the silence is broken by the announcement of the Captain of a monument on the shore near Memphis, Tennessee, built to honor the achievements of DeSoto who died here and whose body was interred in the waters of the mighty river which he discovered, or other historical events at other points. After 11 days and nights, the passengers landed safely at Keokuk.
TREK WESTWARD As Keokuk the Saints were organized into companies for the overland trip across the State of Iowa, 300 miles, to Omaha, Nebraska, on the old pioneer vanguard trail, the same as that followed in 1847. Mr. Thomas Kearns was appointed Captain of the company. Miss Thompson made and intimate acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. William Bell, who invited her to make their wagon her headquarters, which she gladly accepted. Her luggage, however, was divided among the wagons, one trunk being put on Mr. Bell's wagon, and the other two trunks on other wagons. It required more than 100 wagons to accommodate the entire company, and more than 400 oxen were required to draw these wagons across the plains. Many of the wagons had come all the way from the Valley to help the emigrants along, and many had been purchased by private individuals. The ox train was now fully organized with camp equipment, drivers, commissary committees, doctors, mechanics, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, wheel-wrights, musicians -- vocal and instrumental. This miniature army, early on the morning of 25 May 1854, after prayer had been said and a hymn or two sung, marched forth into the wilderness, with military precision, but for peace and not for war.
Many a time Miss Thompson related her experiences while crossing the great plains, a distance of nearly 1500 miles, which was completed in exactly 4 months and 10 days. She walked the greater part of the distance, sometimes at the head of the train and sometimes at the rear. They travelled at the rate of about 15 miles a day. Sundays was observed as a day of rest and religious service, and no travel was allowed on this day except in case of emergency. She assisted in caring for the sick and afflicted. She comforted those who mourned the loss of loved ones, and she buoyed up the spirits of those who were disheartened.
She describes the hardships and perils that lurked by the wayside all the way. Savage treachery on the part of the Redmen, whose only thought as to retard civilized advancement by stealing and killing. The howl of the wolves which made the nights hideous and the hoot of the owl marking the solitude of the desert, but the footprints on the parched and dusty road gave courage to those who followed. Faith swells the heart to fullness and banishes all fear. Everyone forecasts a triumph and the soul of the weary traveler in restful visions behold the City.
The city of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, where Ann Thompson was born is an ancient Episcopal city situated on a tributary of the Trent about 16 miles north of Birmingham, having a population of about 10,000. Lichfield is noted for its great Cathedral and is conspicuous for cleanliness, refinement and education. It is also the home town of Johnson, Garrick and Addison. Ann was of Norman descent and was reared under such influences of refinement and education. Here was the community center where she mingled with her friends and associates which all contributed in building a well-disciplined mind. She lived during the entire reigns of George the IV and William the IV, ten and seven years respectively, and sixteen years of the reign of Queen Victoria prior to her emigration to America in 1854.
As was before stated, Ann Thompson's mother died when she was quite young and she was adopted into the home of William or Benjamin Wright, where she lived until 1854, enjoying all the luxuries those liberal, kind and well-to-do people could bestow in the way of a home and all its comforts. Why did she leave all this for a desert shelter?
INCIDENT Sometime during the summer of 1847, some Mormon Elders visited Lichfield and out of curiosity she and a number of associates went to hear them. She says their argument appealed to her from the first. The slogan was Faith, Repentance and Baptism for the remission of sins. She attended the meetings frequently and invited the Elders to her home where they met the Wright family who were kindly disposed. The doctrine as taught by those Elders was attacked by the ministers and violently opposed by all of them. The protested vigorously any sect or form of worship not in full accord with all forms given in the Prayer Book and all customs in the Church of England. The Gospel restored to the earth by angelic proclamation, the organization of the Church with the powers of the Priesthood as in days of old was reasonable and consistent to her mind.
The martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph seemed to furnish argument for the ministers who, at the bare mention of the word prophet, made them furious. They declared him and his doctrines heretical and that he was leading the people to destruction. Those investigating the Gospel were advised by the ministers to shun the doctrine of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Elders, his emissaries. Miss Thompson was not willing to surrender her opinion and on one occasion in a street meeting publicly charged the established church and all dissenters with once doing what they were so quick to condemn others of even thinking about. As time went on the simplicity of the Gospel appealed to her reasoning mind more and more.
The history of persecutions of the Church in America had no terrors for her, neither did the words of the priests against the living testimony of the Elders have any effect upon her. She discovered that she was able to defend herself against all opposition. She was the only one of her associates who started the investigation and the only one in the great city of Lichfield who accepted the Gospel message, who manifested her faith by baptism in to the Gospel which had been preached to her. She now discovered that she was alone in the world (one of a city). She now longed for association of the people of her faith. Her eyes were cast in the direction of the setting sun for consolation. She thought as did Ruth who said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE The circumstances of Miss Thompson's investigation and conversion is a most singular one as viewed from a social standpoint. The Gospel message, like the touch of a fairy's wand, had made a wonderful transformation. All the desires of her soul were gratified by the thought that she had by her humility taken up the cross of Christ and by Him been accepted. Undaunted she declared her intention to leave home, the land of her nativity and friends of her youth. If she would renounce all, luxury and ease should be her dower for life. Her mind was thoroughly mad up as to what she should do so when the last hour arrived for her departure, her three trunks packed to their capacity with gifts from her associates, besides her own belongings, were placed upon the coach together with the lone passenger, almost despondent, but whose soul was fired by visions of futurity, began the undiscovered journey of a NEW LIFE WHERE THE WEST BEGINS.
JOURNEY TO LIVERPOOL The distance from Lichfield to Liverpool is about 80 miles. The first 20 miles was made by coach to the railway station at Stafford without incident, arriving at Stafford on time to connect with the London-Liverpool Passenger and Freight train. Miss Thompson purchased her own ticket for Liverpool, where she arrived safely with her luggage. She was ten years old when the first railroad was constructed between Liverpool and Manchester and that during the next 23 years had scarcely reached London and some other large towns. The telegraph service at this time was 10 years old and did not extend over a very great distance. No one had ever dreamed of the possibility of a cable across the Atlantic Ocean. Miss Thompson had lived before any of these great inventions and had observed with delight these developments. She found the office headquarters at Ilsington Liverpool without difficulty, where she met the official Mission force in charge of immigration. Here she remained while the ship's cargo was being loaded, when after securing her ticket she boarded the great vessel on 12 January 1854. The vessel was drawn to the docks and made secure by huge ropes, while the 450 passengers went aboard. The ship was called the "John M. Wood," with Captain Robert L. Campbell in charge. The crew numbered 25 men, Mormon Emigrants numbered 393, including English, German, Swiss and the Elders in charge returning home from their missions to Utah.
The destination of the ship was New Orleans in latitude 30 north. Liverpool is in latitude 50 north. The route was a diagonal of 20 in a southwesterly direction and the time estimated to make the trip was not less than seven weeks under the most favorable conditions. The ship was a most substantial vessel for that time, fully rigged in every detail with provisions, fuel, water, merchandise and everything necessary to make the voyage. She seemed in herself animated to be loosed from her moorings, and again face the western empire and contend the briny billows of the deep.
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN Have you ever crossed the ocean in a large sailing vessel? If you have not, it is taken for granted that you are not familiar with the prevailing incidents. Many attempts have been made to describe an ocean voyage, but most of them have resulted in failure. Words are dead things and cannot picture the everlasting changing conditions. How many times have I heard my mother relate her experiences in a most intelligently and impressive way. She was well-educated, and knew how to narrate and describe scenes and events in her own way. The ship was exactly 7 weeks and 2 days making the voyage, docking at the pier 2 May 1854. I have listened to her narrative as she described the changing panorama of the sky by night and by day. How the silvery moon casts her beams over the placid waters when no breaking ripple is heard, when the silence is as deep as the grave. The scene is sublime. At another time the sun is crowned in dazzling glory as it rises and sinks as ruler of the day and how the gathering clouds increase in density, a signal of the approaching storm. Safely anchored at the New Orleans pier after a voyage of 7 weeks and 2 days, the load of human freight began marching down the gang plank and soon set foot on the solid earth.
AN EPISODE When the company had traveled about 700 miles, a certain man whose name I wish I could forget complained that his load was too heavy. The Captain investigated and consented to help him lighten his load to the extent of two tin trunks filled with ladies' dresses, shawls, jewelry, etc. No other wagon was willing to increase its weight, so Miss Thompson was consulted and gave her consent to leave her trunks by the roadside. It is a harsh thing to break into a narrative of sentiment and devotion by recording incidents that tend to provoke or harbor a thought that would question a misplaced confidence, but this little history would not be complete if this incident were covered up.
This young woman who had left her home and fireside and had incurred the displeasure of her father, mother and friends for the Gospel's sake, not for wealth, but the shrine of faith had lured her into the wilds. Well, the edict had gone forth that Miss Thompson's two trunks were to be left by the roadside. The trunks containing the few articles of clothing which she needed must not be left in a lonely desert, perchance to be picked up by some succeeding traveler or to decorate some native Indian maiden or the neck and headdress of some proud Chief. But worse than all this, on arriving in the valley and becoming acquainted with the new order of things, associating with each other at the community socials or at the Sacramental service, her own wardrobe reduced and with no money to buy more. I don't know what she thought when she first beheld for a certainty the very dresses and shawls and even little pieces of jewelry ornamenting the forms of wives and daughters of a certain Mr. X. She thought best to say nothing but to leave the matter in the hands of the final Judge whose business it is to judge and execute judgment.
Only those who have crossed the plains in like manner can fully realize what it means and such a journey means more to some people than it does to others. They think more and therefore see more. Now, 700 miles brings them to the western confines of Nebraska. The route lay along the left bank of the Platte and all the country west of this belonged to Mexico. It also extended north to the 42nd parallel and south to the Gila and included the upper and lower California. This vast area was ceded to the United States by Mexico, also the strip south of the Gila was included in what was called the Gadsden Purchase, and was known as the Second Cession. It was organized and called the Provisional Government of the State of Deseret from and after the Cession February 2, 1848, and became known as the Territory of Utah in 1850. I think I can, to some extent, realize the joy that came to this band of pioneers, weary and footsore, when they were now in the eastern border of the new Holy Land of Promise. They now beheld for the first time the towering, white peaks of the Rockies, and they thought of the Lord's House which they were to build, whose fires were a beacon light to the world.
Around the campfire they danced and sang and gave glory to Him whose mercy endureth forever. On the evening of 25 September, 1854, they arrived in Emigration Square at Salt Lake City, the same spot where the City and County building now stands. The term "Great" as in Great Salt Lake City does not apply to the city, but to the lake. The lake was great but the city was only an inland village. The Bowery still remained and afforded a comfortable place in summer months in which to hold meetings. The building itself was nothing but a shed consisting of about 30 posts 12' high and covered with poles and brush. The enclosure had an area of about 100' square. It had been built mainly by Mormon boys of the returning Battalion. The seats were made of split logs or slabs. The site where this historic building once stood is what is now the Southwest corner of the Temple block.
I fancy I can see the emigrants strolling through the city to see the sights. They look around to see what had been done by the pioneers during the seven years previous. Surely there was not much in sight for a young girl who had so recently sacrificed home, luxuries and civilization in return for this alkali desert, the only thing that could be seen was the moving clouds and the smoke of the Indian villages.
AN INCIDENT AT SWEETWATER IN THE ROCKIES About the middle of August, the emigrant train had traveled as far west as South Pass, about 275 miles west of Fort Laramie. Sweetwater is one of the tributaries of the Green River. At this point camp was made for the night. The barometer had indicated the elevation to be 7850' above sea level. This camp was located on the great Rocky Mountain Divide. So plain is this divide that one may stand near a melting snowbank and with a finger mark and conduct the water east or west.
Geographically, this is a most interesting place. The mountains are grand and awe-inspiring. Their summits seem to reach the dome of heaven with their dazzling white against the blue. Granite cliffs on either side, rugged with age, throw their fantastic forms to view so that an imaginative mind can find pleasure for hours watching the moving picture. As there are no newspapers or letters to read, they must supply the vacancy with original devices. There is no established postal service between Omaha and San Francisco, so all the news one gets is what he takes him. Sometimes a note would be seen tacked to a tree with the bark stripped off. Sometimes one company would overtake another, and of course a jubilee would follow. The night of this particular incident of which I speak was just such a night, as two emigrant trains had met at this place. An emigrant supply train of several hundred wagons was on its way to the Missouri River. They carried supplies of various kinds and distributed them to whomever needed them, and reloaded again as emigrant trains and set our as usual, repeating the old story.
Now at South Pass all hands were bent on pleasure and a dance was proposed. The young men soon cleared the ground of sagebrush and everything was in readiness for a good time; the fiddles were already being tuned up. There was the Highland Fling, Introductions, supper (lap lunch) consisting of buffalo barbecue. The blazing bonfire and the songs and jests contributed to the program. Now the venerable leader as floor manager stepped forward and after calling the gathering to order, pronounced prayer. Oh, that simple prayer, it bows the head to reverence and lifts the soul to glory. Devotion has disciplined hundreds, and so the dance begins.
Joseph Walton, a young man of twenty-two years of age, incidentally, was one of the supply train company, and had been called by Bishop Rubin Miller to go on this mission to distribute supplies and to return loaded with west-bound emigrants. Probably his out-going destination was Independence Rock at Fort Laramie. He was one of the party who endorsed all that was said and done. Among the many introductions that were made was one to Miss Ann Thompson, but the introduction included a jest, for William Bell said, "Brother Walton, I take great pleasure in introducing you to Miss Ann Thompson, your future wife." The jest was the was the cause of a laugh and a loud laugh, too. The jest, however, was a prediction in disguise, for on October 29, 1854, the couple were married by Bishop Hunter at Mill Creek Ward and subsequently sealed in the Endowment House for all time and eternity by Brigham Young on 29 October 1861. During the fall and winter of 1854 they resided at Mill Creek where some of the family still reside at 33rd South, Salt Lake City.
In the spring of 1855, Joseph and his wife, Ann, left Mill Creek and settled in Mountainville (now Alpine). Here he bought a farm of 17 acres and a double log house in the Fort. (More elsewhere.)