. . . In the beginning of 1856 I as released to emigrate to Zion, and about one hundred Saints from North Wales came the same time. We embarked from Liverpool, bound for Boston, on the 19 of April, in a vessel called Sanders Curling. Dan Jones being President, David Grant, and John Noakland [Oakley] his counselors. I had a charge of a ward in the vessel, there was about 900 Saints in all, 3 or 4 hundreds of Welsh. My sister Mary & her husband with four daughters, my cousin, John Parry & wife and two sons and two daughters. My distant relation, Edward Parry & wife. Also Sarah Parry and her husband and child, with myself, wife & child, makes 20 of our family, emigrated together. We had a very rough passage. Five weeks on the ocean. Only two or three deaths in all. The captain was very kind to us.

After landing in Boston, we took train on railway to Iowa, via, Buffalo, Chicago, Rock Island, and Iowa City, and camped within 3 miles to the city.[p.54]

Our little boy had the measles (as other little children before we left the vessel) and on our way before we came to Chicago, as he was very sick all the way, we administered to him often, but did not have but little effect on him, and as he was in such pain, I with my wife agreed to ask the Lord, if he was not to recover, for him to take him out of his pain, and in a short time after he died, viz. a few hours. We buried him in Chicago Burial Grounds and Thomas Giles's little girls in the same grave on the [-].

We camped in Iowa for three weeks to wait for wagons and for hand carts. This was the first time for handcarts to be used to go across the Plains. The first company went a few days before us, Edmond Elsworth being captain. Another company started before us a few days, MacArthur [Daniel D. McArthur] being captain.

Thirdly, the Welsh was organized a company, Edward Bunker being head captain, and David Grant, myself, and George Davis, being captains of hundreds. After we traveled the first day and put up our tents, it began thunder lightening, and we had the awfulest storm that I ever witnessed in my life. . . . [p.55]

. . . When near the City [Salt Lake], my Father met us on horseback. Tears of joy filled my eyes when we met him, and we kissed one another.

We arrived in the City of the 3rd of October, and had a glance at President Brigham Young the time we entered the city.

We camped on the Union Square. . . . [p.60]

BIB: Parry, John. Reminiscences and diary, pp. 54-55, 60. (CHL)
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