. . .my parents soon got the spirit of gathering and early in May 1866, they sold out all their earthly possessions and started for North America, to find a home among that much despised people called Latter-day Saints.

We left Pulham Market on the morning of the 21st of May, 1866, and arrived in London at noon. We were met at the station by Elder C. [Charles] W. Penrose, who was then president of the London Conference. We stayed in London three days, and on the 24th of May we left the docks in the good ship American Congress, and sailed away across the great Atlantic. We were on board just seven weeks. We had some rough weather, and lots of contrary wind to contend with. There was but very little sickness, and no deaths occurred on the journey, which was quite remarkable among so many; there being three or four hundred people on board. After a long and tiresome voyage, we arrived in New York Harbor on the morning of July 4th, as that was a holiday we had to remain on board until the next day. We had a splendid view of the fireworks that night from the ship as we lay in the harbor.

The next day towards evening we went ashore and then went aboard one of the large river steamers which took us up the Hudson River to New Haven, where we arrived early in the morning, then took the train to St. Joseph on the Missouri River, where we arrived after about five days and nights on the train and laying around in cattle cars and in railroad sheds. We then went on board a steamboat and steamed up the river to a small place called Wyoming, the outfitting place then of the Church teams. We landed and had our first taste of camp life, also our first taste of real freedom and you maybe sure we boys enjoyed it, and were glad to have the chance to run around again after being on the ship and train for eight weeks.

We remained on the banks of the Missouri for about two weeks, and while there my father bought a cow. [He] appointed me to take charge and driver her across the plains, a task that I succeeded in doing, taking her into Salt Lake City in good condition after traveling over one thousand miles and being milked every day. We left Missouri River on July 24th to cross the plains . . . [p.409]

. . . After many ups and downs and many trials and privations, we arrived in Great Salt Lake city on Sept. 28, 1866, in fair condition, having been traveling just seventy days. All were enjoying pretty good health except mother, who with the care of the family and fatigue of the journey was nearly worn out.

We were all strangers in a strange land, and a hard winter coming on, but through the blessings of the Lord and the kindness of the Saints we did not suffer for the real necessities of life, but comforts were few. . . . [p.410]

BIB: Crane, Henry, [Autobiography], Our Pioneer Heritage, comp. by Kate B. Carter, vol. 19 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1976) pp. 409-10. (CHL)
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