. . . We then took coach to Whitmer; parted with our relatives, which to me was very painful. Feelings of a peculiar nature arose in my bosom, as I separated (from my relatives and brethren and sisters with whom I had formed a acquaintance, whom I respected and loved) perhaps never to see them again.

We then took the railway to Preston Brook, then took boat to Runcorn, then took steamboat to Liverpool. Arrived at my father's house in the afternoon, and were welcomly received.

We staid at my fathers house and visited my friends. Arranging my affairs to sail on the 28th of September for New [p.161] Orleans, the thoughts of which to my parents was more than they could well bear.

Day after day came until the time arrived when we entered on ship board. My father gave me a present of thirty shillings. The vessel began to move out of dock, and what feeling of anguish stole upon my mind as I gazed upon my parents and relatives, perhaps never, never to see them again until we meet in an eternal world.

We had a fair wind which glided us swiftly across the waters. For the first fifteen days, joy, peace, and harmony prevailed to a great which made us very comfortable. The captain was very kind to us for two or three weeks, after [p.162] that time he began to abuse us and insult us in every possible way that he could. Elder Snider and he differed from time to time. The captain swore he would keep us on the ship until we were starved to death. On the 14th of November 1842 we came to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Remained there six days on account of the evil disposition of the captain, who was determined to provoke us as much as possible. When Captain Taylor came on board to examine the log book he found a charge laid against Elder Snider and James Morgan for mutiny. J. Snider and do [UNCLEAR] were sent up to Orleans. Joseph Parkins one of the passengers had a child that was on the point of death, which when [p.163] Captain Taylor saw it he prevailed upon the captain to allow the child to be took to his house a distance of three miles up the river to a village called the Blaize. The next day I went on shore and the child was dead and about to be buried. A colored man made the coffin and dug the grave. The grave was about two feet deep with about one foot of water in it so that we had to stand on the coffin to hold it down while the dirt was thrown upon it. Captain Taylor acted in the most charitable and philanthropic manner a gentleman could act. We returned to the ship in the evening; a dreadful storm arose, so with great difficultly we reached the ship. The captain [p.164] commenced to insult and abuse us in a most shocking manner.

On Saturday 19th Nov. 1842 a steamboat took us in tow and about midnight we arrived in New Orleans, Sunday morning we went ashore to view the place. The market was opened and the fruit and vegetables of all descriptions was laid out in excellent order. There were people of all colors speaking every language under heaven almost. There were a many slaves working on the streets chained together both men and women. The weather was warm like an English summer. We met with Elder Snider &c., and we rejoiced to see each other; spent the day in viewing the place &c. [p.165].

Wednesday 23rd Nov. 1842 we started for St. Louis on the steam boat "Gulnare." We gathered a few branches the first day when the boat stopped to take in wood. We came on very well for several days until we came to the mouth of the Ohio River. The river now began to be full of ice, and the water being very low made it very difficult to get along. We passed through one alarming place, called the graveyard, on account of so many boats being wrecked at there; we passed about twenty wrecks. We struck aground about 200 miles from St. Louis, and lay at an Island called Buffalo about 18 days. We spend the time in shooting. We shot several parrots and quails. I bought a quarter of a good hog [p.166] for a dollar; in English about 41£. On the 14th of December 1842 we arrived in St. Louis and found that we could not get any further on account of the river being froze up. The winter had set in two months sooner than usual. We took houses as well as we could get them, they were very dear; about 5 dollar for a poor house. Brother Brinley and wife, Ralp and Sager and myself agreed to take an house. We obtained one at the rate of 4 dollars per month.

There was a young man by the name of James Ethel who we also took in with us. I took him and fed him on the steamboat as he was destitute and had nothing to eat. He had lived with [p.167] Joseph Billingon coming across the sea, but when his provisions were done, they slighted him. He fell sick and they ceased to administer to him. He was sick when I took him to share with me and my family. We lived together for about 10 weeks; our means began to be exhausted. Edward Robinson very kindly came over and offered me lodgings with him free if I chose to take it. I willingly accepted the invitation. We were strangers to each other when we came on ship board, but I soon found he was a kind open-hearted man, full of philanthropy, and benevolence, always willing to show kindness to the suffering [p.168] and distressed. He administered kindly to my family when they were sick. His wife was of a similar disposition. We lived with Mr. Robinson until the river opened. I stayed in St. Louis until the 21st of April by the council of Elders Pratt, Snow, Richards &c. in order to council the Saints as to the best means of going up the river in order to avoid imposition.

On the 21st of April 1843 I shipped my goods and family on board the steam boat "Maid of Iowa", and on the 23rd my eyes for the first time gazed upon the city of Nauvoo, and I must say I was pleasingly disappointed; instead of small cabins, I [p.169] saw plenty of good brick houses and also good frame ones. I took shelter in a log cabin, it was but an indifferent one. It rained very heavy upon us through the roof and sides of the house, but these things did not move us. I was content, and my wife was content, and we enjoyed good health. We had only one dollar left, and 3/4 of that I paid for a load of wood. . . .[p.170]

BIB: Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and journal (Ms 1831), vol. 3, pp. 161-70. (CHL)
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