. . . I heard the gospel under a peculiar circumstance through a man passing (or tracking) the principles, after which I investigated. I was baptized in 1849 and prepared to immigrate for Salt Lake City, Utah. I sailed on board the Zetland and arrived in New Orleans on Christmas Eve the same year after a passage of six weeks and 2 days. I then went up the river to St. Louis on January 1850, where I remained for fifteen weeks before going on to Council Bluffs. I then went to a little place called Springville, three miles from Kineville. I stayed there until spring of 1851 when I moved to Keg Creek upon cropping the same month. Engaged in farming for John Murdock but was soon able to have a farm of my own.

I had my wife Hannah Dean and one son on our arrival and since have had four sons (one died) nineteen grandchildren (two died).

My second marriage to Emma Thomas by which I have five sons and seven daughters. Six grandchildren (one died).

Before I made a outfit for Salt Lake City I moved from Springville to Keg Creek upon cropping I was short of means at the time. Apostle Ezra T. Benson came along and prophesied that all that would try should be able to emigrate to Utah. That season we went to work and cut timber to make wagons, we had very few tools. After we had the wood work done we had no iron, but the Lord opened the way. A man came with the iron. We had no blacksmith, but we did not despair for we had faith in the Lord that he would open the way. We were satisfied that he (the Lord) would not fail us. Soon after a blacksmith came along and took his tools out of his wagon and commenced work and ironed up our wagons.

I acknowledged the hand of the Lord in all that was done for our deliverance. I was the only one that of my father's that embraced the gospel. My father said that he was sorry for me that I should be so deceived. That he would rather bury me that I should go to Salt Lake City. Before I left I bore a faithful testimony to them that I knew the work was true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. [p. 1]

BIB: Briggs, Samuel. Autobiographical Sketch. (Special Collections & Manuscripts, MSS SC 375) p.1. (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah)
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