The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-08-10
Lars Christian Peterson,
Pioneer of Hyde Park, One
ofFew Remaining Pioneers
Has an Interesting Journal

how the great companies of poorly
equipped pioneer trains passed the
plains with such great success and
comparatively little loss; while other
trains, those going to California, for
instance, equipped with all that mon
ey could avail suffered often to en-
| tire destruction. Those who have
not been thoroughly acquainted with
the organization Of the Mormon pio-
neer trains find 1t d fficult to under
| stand the two situations. The follow
ing extract taken from Mr.. Peter
| sons journal is similar to what ev-
cry pioneer could tell regarding the
organ cation of these early trains,
and In this we believe is to be found
the explanation of the success of the
Mormon trains, while the other emf
grant trains often suffered so heavi-
ly. He records: Before starting on
our journey 1t was agreed by unani-
nous vote of the company what
amount of load for each yoke of oxen
and not to exceed that amount, and
not to leave anyone on the road who
had conformed to that rule, but to
assist those who might be unfortun-
ate and lose their cattle by death or
otherwise as the plans were danger
Gus both from poisonous weeds and
Indian depredations. After travelling
short distance some of the cattle
began to get tired and worn down,
and cows were yoked up, but they
were not able to draw the heavy
loads, but these gave out too, conse-
quently help was asked for which
they got for while, but also these
cattle gave out and several began to
die which caused i'll feeling, as 1t
was argued that these wagons had
more than was allowed, on account
OF which Captain Neslen called the
people together on Sunday, July 10,
when we were camped at Wood R'v-
er and gave instructions in this par
ticu'ar. 1t was found that s. p.
Guhl and others of the leading men
we're overloaded and was afterward
obliged to unload some of their heavy
articles such as stoves and earthen
| ware which were buried on the bank
of the Platte river for safe keeping
till they returned for them, which
they did after apostatiz'ng on their
arrival in Utah and went back to
make their homes with their own
kind of people,"
SO much of our friends record is
interesting that IL Is difficult for us
to select the most telling quotations.
This Is especially true Of the jour
ney across the plains. One other in
cident seems that we must record
here. or this he writes: ION July
Is as we were about hitching up
our teams misfortune occurred
through the carelessness of parties
! who had hitched their teams to their
wagons and then laid down about
the wagons while others were busy
yoking up unhandy cattle, and when
a Wild cow belonging to my mother
was yoked up she beloved. Five
teams were frightened and run, kill.
ing j. G. Walden and wounding sew
eral others more or less. This caus'
ed considerable confusion in the
camp. s. p. Guhl whom several &C
cused of being the cause of the con
tention by his heavy overlooking
which caused the displeasure Of God
on the people, went, down to the river
Platte to drown himself but sad he
was unable to find water enough and
was sitting on the bank when the
people came in his search. After
burying the dead, dressing the wound
ed we proceeded on our Journey"
: It is generally understood that the
pioneers underwent many hardship!
after arriving here, but nothing car
: make this fact so clear to us al
= to hear a description of the life they
: led from one of the hardy Pioneers
} who endured them. Mr.. Peterson
) says: In the spring OF 1862, com
menced to improve my first and mucl
appreciated home in Plain City, We
: Der county, Utah. My first improve
ments were, however, nothing NOR,
: than cellar commonly called
a dugout about 10 by ~ feet Thii
was our bedroom, parlor and kitchen
r Having no team | was obliged to worl
, for teamwork to pillow my land which
) had to be broke. l therefore had t.
/, start very limited and made some ad
: obes for a living and also raised
Y small crop of grain and vegetables
: In the early fall dug and hauled 81
5 bushels of potatoes to Salt Lake ant
J sold them for a few yards OF Gallo,
= that | was obliged to obtain in ordel