The Huge [Hug] Family paid the passage for Carelena Abdholder and Verena [Verna] Fisher and Anna Benz, the Hug Family and Bryners and Maithe [Possibly Mather] paid the 15 pounds for my passage received 16 tickets to go to the Great Salt Lake City and on the 31 of March 1855 we left the dock and went out in the river, and on the first of April 1855, we set sail for Philadelphia. We had a continuous wind and there was considerable seasickness. President Richard appointed W. [William] Gloven President of the ship, and he appointed 12 counselors and divided the ship in 12 wards.

1 Ward N. [Noah] T. Guymon 1

2 Ward William Pitt 2

3 Ward C. [Charles] Smith 3

4 Ward B. [Benjamin] Brown 4

5 Ward Daniel Cavenn [Caveen] 5

6 Ward John Mayer 6

7 Ward S. [Silvester] H. Earl 7

8 Ward James F. Bell 8

9 Ward Charles [A.] Harper 9

10 Ward George Mayer 10

11 Ward (President of Company) William Glover 11

12 Ward Clark P. Lynch 12 [p. 235]

And on the 6th of April we held a conference aboard the ship Juventa consisting of 570 Saints which all landed safe in Philadelphia. The first 4 days on ship I had the seasickness, but soon got better and had a good appetite but was soon taken with a severe attack of the arissiples [UNCLEAR] but on the 25 I received favorable health with such treatment as I could receive on the ship, for I had nothing only the ship allowance President Richards said that if the Saints done right and obeyed counsel that not one soul would die on the ship and their women. One died on the ship, but 3 born. There was several fell down the back hole from the upper deck til the lower floor but when we laid our hands on them they got well.

We had one night a great storm that tore several large sails all to pieces before the cold [-] them. We seen several whales and many smaller [-] black fish and [-]. We arrived in Philadelphia on the 4 of May 1855, a passage of 35 days without a death on the ship. [p.236] Brother John S. Fallmon received us there and we got our baggage on the rail cars for Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania] and when we came in the city of Delever the freight cars ran against the passenger cars and mashed 2 cars that they had to leave them in Delever and [-] us now of the freight car, but the hand of the Lord was with us for there was not a Saint hurt. But one of the hands got his legs considerable mashed. The car that I was in had to be left. I never felt such a jar before, the floor mashed up and raised the seats up. There was a great [-] among the women, but we all landed safe in Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania], and all the passengers of J. fund company went on the "Equinox" Steam Boat and J. Fulman accompanied us to St. Louise. We landed in St. Louise on the May the 13--1855. Brother P. J. Richards had gave me 17 dollars in Liverpool to make me comfortable on my journey home and I bought 33 yards of calico and 34 sheeting and my wife a dress pattern which [-] me $10--11 cents. [p.237]

And on Sunday 21 I went to meeting and Brother Arastes [Erastus] Snow called me to the stand and I gave them a short history of my mission. Brother Snow give his testimony that I had done my duty and my testimony will bring judgment against the nation and condemn them, and that it was necessary that they heard that they might reject the gospel of Jesus Christ that they might be condemned and be destroyed. Brother Snow give a appointment for a German meeting at candle light in the lower story of the meeting house and asked me to attend it. We had a good time of it. Elder G. Rice and [-] and Elder Nelson [were] there. [There] was several Saints from Hambridge that Brother Carn has cut off, [but] they attended [the] meeting. The Swiss Saints were much pleased. The meeting went off in good order. We attained the same [steam] boat "Equinox" to carry us to Atchison for 500 dollars, and on the 20 we arrived at Atchison. There was five deaths of the cholera. I had the dysentery the whole way. [p.238]

After we landed and got our wagons [-] together we moved 5 miles out to Mormon Grove and arranged our tents . The Cholera came in the camp and 22 died in a few days. . . . I began to mend and Brother Bolentine [Richard Ballantine] came to me to lead the 8 company. I told him I was willing to do all I could to build up the kingdom of God and I would try believing that the Lord wold make me able to do it. . . . [p.239]

. . . On the 2 of July we left for Salt Lake City. . . . [p.240]

. . . On the 24 of September we came over the large mountain and camped at the foot of the last mountain. The Brothers [Brass] Band of Music came to accompany us in the city. We had a fine dance that might and the next morning we crossed the little mountain and drove into the city with our flags flying. My flag was a beehive on one side and the motto the bees coming home and on the other side a spread eagle with "Truth and Liberty." The P.[PROBABLY AN ABBREVIATION FOR Presidency AS THE THREE NAMES WHICH FOLLOW WERE MEMBERS OF THE LDS FIRST PRESIDENCY AT THIS TIME]. Brigham [Young] and Kimbel [Heber C. Kimball] and [Jedediah M.] Grant came to visit the camp. When we were camped on the Union Square Brigham took me by the hand, said to me you are welcome home again and seemed much pleased to see the Swiss Saints. [p.248]

BIB: Mayer, George. Reminiscences and diary, pp. 235-240, 248. (CHL)
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