. . . on July 8, 1862, I, John Penman, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my wife also joined the same year a few months later, I think in the month of November. Then on the following spring we emigrated for Salt Lake City, May 27th, 1863. Myself, wife, and three children bid adieu to dear old Scotland and cast our lot with the Mormons and to make a home with that peculiar people in the desert wilds of North America.

We sailed from Liverpool June 1, 1863 on board the ship [p.28] Cynosure. It was a very large sailing vessel. We were eight weeks on the sea, it was a very rough, long voyage. When approaching near to what is called Newfoundland there was for two or three weeks, we were in the fog and we did not see the sun, moon, or stars during that time. It was a very beautiful sight to see land while approaching near to New York.

When we landed we stayed two days at Castle Garden. There was nine hundred and odds on board ship. We then took train for St. Jo's [Joseph]. While traveling between New York and St. Jo's [Joseph] we were delayed several times. The bridge had been destroyed by the soldiers as the war was raging very strong. Then in 1863 when we arrived at Saint Jo's [Joseph], both boats that was running had just gone up the river, so part of the company had to stop until their return. Myself, wife, and children were amongst that part of the company that had to stop until their return. We stopped there three days, then we took the boat up the Missouri River to a place called Florence in the state of Nebraska.

When we arrived at that place there was a great many teamsters with several hundreds of ox teams waiting on us. So after about a week in getting our luggage weighed and everything right and ready we started on the plains. . . . [p.29]

. . . it was very cold, frosty nights before we arrived in Salt Lake City. This was on the 13th day of October making in all about five months we were on the journey. . . . [p.30]

BIB: Penman, John. Reminiscences, pp. 28-30. (CHL)
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