Elnathan Eldredge

January 2, 2009

Dear descendents of Elnathan Eldredge,

What I am about to ask of you may require a fair amount of time and discipline on your part. Needless to say, if I didn’t feel that the potential benefit from asking wasn’t important to all of us, I wouldn’t ask.

Would each of you please take some time to recollect and record any stories or historical facts regarding the lives of our ancestors Elnathan Eldredge Sr., his wife Ruth Baker Underwood Eldredge and their children. I am sure that many of you may have benefited, as did I, from hearing such stories from my grandmother, Ida Eldredge Holmes. These stories are of particular value in that the information that was given to her was shared first-hand by her father, Elnathan Eldredge Jr., who witnessed it. My father and uncles are only one generation removed from the source. I am only two generations removed from the source and therefore feel relatively sure that the information given to me by my grandmother, father and uncles is accurate. Any information that you may have would be most helpful as I continue to amass material for my book on Elnathan, his wife and children.

I recall in my youth sitting at my grandmother Holmes’ knee listening to her share with me the story of a certain shipwreck that Elnathan Eldredge Sr. survived, the details of which are sketchy at best. I have researched various maritime and vessel insurance records of the period on Cape Cod and as of yet have found nothing to substantiate this. My search continues.

I recall the story of Mary Mountain, the orphaned Ute Indian girl who was raised in the Eldredge home after having been brought by Elnathan Eldredge Sr. from the battlefield after the Battle of Battle Creek during the Walker Indian War in the early 1850’s.  Through researching the Nauvoo Legion militia records housed in the Church Archives I have been able to verify this incident.  It was there that Andrew Little’s Battalion of Mounted Rangers was called out to defend the settlers against repeated Indian depredations.  Major Little’s Mounted Rangers was a cavalry unit of the Nauvoo Legion which was still in existence at that time in early frontier Utah Territory.  At the battle Major Little had approximately 84 men under his command, one of whom was Elnathan Eldredge Sr.  The Nauvoo Legion Paymasters’ Roll (LDS Church Archives, SLC, Utah) shows record of our great-great grandfather being paid for 16 days service and having engaged in battle against Ute Indian Chief Wakara (a.k.a.Walker) and his band of warriors which came to be known as the Battle of Battle Creek near what is today’s Pleasant Grove, Utah.  It is also recorded that Elnathan was wounded in the face during the battle by an arrow or spear.  In researching this even further I have found that there were certain men in Major Little’s battalion that rescued indian women and children that had been abandoned from nearby the battlefield and brought them to their homes in Salt Lake City.  It is recorded that most of these women and some of the mature children returned back to live with their people.  However, it is also recorded that many did not return but remained with their adoptive families in Salt Lake City  until adulthood.

I also remember grandmother Holmes telling me of the soap making incident when great-great grandmother Ruth Eldredge had “cross words” with her adopted Indian daughter Mary Mountain. There is also the story of the red clay that was brought back from point-of-the-mountain by Elnathan and given to Ruth which she used as a pigment in her concoction of eggs and water that was used to paint their home. Also, the story of the Ute Indian brave who came to the Eldredge home and tried to make Mary Mountain his wife. Grandmother Holmes told me that her father, Elnathan Jr., told her that the brave took a hot iron off of his mother’s stove and branded himself on the chest in an effort to prove his manhood and convince Mary Mountain to go away with him. She refused. There are many other stories of equal interest and drama.

Your renditions of the above may be slightly different from mine. It is for this reason that I ask you to record what you were told and send it to me. I also ask that you please share any other stories or facts regarding the Eldredge family that our grandmother Holmes or others may have shared with you. The cumulative effect of this will result in an increase in the overall accuracy of the history that will be found in my book.

I am searching specifically for more information on the following subjects:

- Elnathan Jr. and his younger brother Joshua who were called by Brigham Young to settle the Bear River Valley in 1869-1870. (It was there that Elnathan Jr. lost his first wife, Rebecca Knorr Derr, and their child in childbirth.) Together, Elnathan and Joshua, trailed the first herd of hereford cattle into the valley from the then newly constructed railhead near today’s Evanston, Wyoming.

- Elnathan Jr. and his brother who held the first U.S. Mail contract to carry mail from Randolph, Utah Territory to Paris, Idaho.

- Any information regarding involvement in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. (I have found provenance indicating they worked on a grading crew that built the track bed for the Union Pacific Railroad.)

Details are very important to me such as when, where and from whom the information was given to you. Also, under what conditions was the information shared and what prompted the person to do so. It is also important to know the context in which the information was given. The source of the information is of tremendous importance to me. In some cases, quoted sources will be used in the book. Clearly, accuracy is of vital importance. Any information that you can share with me, including that which you may consider to be peripheral to the main story of their lives, will be useful and appreciated.

I have just finished dissecting the 364 page diary of the great Mormon midwife, Patty Sessions, who came across the plains in the same company as Elnathan and his family in June of 1847. In her diary she mentions Elnathan Eldredge, his wife Ruth and their three sons 7 times---most interesting.

I am committed to the completion of this work but with the current demands that are placed upon me with regards to managing the Concord Bishop’s Storehouse and teaching early morning seminary it is difficult to find sufficient time for uninterrupted research and writing.

Your help in this is greatly appreciated. I am sure that it will aid in the result of a book that I hope will benefit all who read it. You may communicate with me by way of email (Brokentongue@comcast.net ) however, my strong preference is that you record whatever information you may have, print it, sign and date it and mail it to me at:

Jim Holmes

5 Stratford Ct.

Danville, Ca 94506

Thanks in advance for your help and have a happy new year,

Cousin Jim Holmes

Added by Elwin C. Nickerson- Full list of Party Members in 1847 Mormon Pioneer lists of some of my Ancestors that were part of the 1847 Expedition West.

Pioneer Date Summary

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06/18/1847 - Crockett

Date: June 18, 1847

On the Oregon Trail, Wyoming: The horse were swam across the river in the morning. William Clayton went fishing at a creek and brought back sixty fish. Thomas Bullock had to spent the morning hunting for two stray cattle. He became very wet and cold wading through the high grass for five or six miles.

More Missouri emigrants arrived and employed the pioneers to to ferry them acrossed. The new ferryboat, named "The Black Hills" was launched. Appleton Harmon wrote: "I worded on the ferryboat and got it launched about 1 p.m. and crossed a loaded wagon on it. It worked well and was built of two dugouts twenty feet long and ties across. They were placed six feet apart and run plank lengthwise."

While the wagons were being ferried over, the captain of the Missouri company invited some of the men for breakfast. Thomas Bullock commented: "Eating a good breakfast from Woman's Cooking is a remembrance of past times & renews the desire for such times to come again."

The ferry ran all afternoon with great success. Brigham Young called together those who were appointed to stay behind and operate the ferry until the second company arrived. They were Thomas Grover, Luke Johnson, John W. Higbee, Francis M. Pumeroy, William Empey, James Davenport, Appleton M. Harmon, Benjamin F. Stewart, and Edmond Ellsworth. In the evening, the Twelve went off a ways from camp and read to these brethren formal written instructions that included:

"You are about to stop at this place for a little season, for the purpose of passing emigrants over the river and assisting the Saints, we have thought fit to appoint Thomas Grover Superintendent of the Ferry, and of your company. If you approve, we want you to agree that you will follow his council implicitly and without gainsaying and we desire that you should be agreed in all your operations, acting in concert, keepint together continually and not scattering to hunt."

"As your leisure, put yourselves up a comfortable room that will afford yourselves and horses protection against the Indians should a war party pass this way. But, first of all, see that your boats are properly secured by fastening raw hides over the tops of the canoes or some better process. Complete the landings, and be careful of lives and property of all you labor for, remembering that you are responsible for all accidents through your carelessness or negligence and that you retain not that which belongs to the traveler."

"For one family wagon, you will charge $1.50, payment in flour and provisions at stated prices or $3.00 in cash. You had better take young stock at a fair valuation instead of cash and a team if you should want the same to remove."

"Should emigration cease before our brethren arrive, cache your effects and return to Laramie and wait their arrival, and come on with them to the place of location. . . . When our emigration companies arrive if the river is fordable, ferry them and let them who are able pay a reasonable price. The council of their camp will decide who are able to pay."

Eric Glines wanted to stay behind even though he had not been appointed. The brethren wanted Brother Glines to continue on with the pioneer company but said he might do as he pleased. Wilford Woodruff wrote: "He did not manifest a good spirit & Br Young reproved him." Brigham Young launched into a sermon. He said that went he gave a man counsel, it should not be rejected, or many arguments should not be presented to alter the counsel. "When a man did it, I will turn on my heal & leave him." [The men appointed to stay behind even voted that they did not want Brother Glines to stay behind. He later repented and would follow after the pioneers, camping alone and with a Missouri company until he rejoined the pioneers on June 26.]

He said that the young Elders were eternally grasping after something ahead of them, which belonged to others instead of seeking to bring up those who were behind them. He said that the way for the young Elders could enlarge their dominions and get power, was to go to the world and preach the gospel, and then they would bring their converts with them to the house of the Lord.

"The Lord is determined to establish his kingdom in the last days & He will have a faithful diligent and obedient people and He chastises the Saints to keep them humble and make them do their duty. If we had not been mobbed and afflicted but always been in prosperity, we should have been lifted up in pride of our hearts and not gathered together and build up Zion as we ought to have done, so that these trials will work together for our good."

The provisions obtained thus far from the Missouri companies were distributed. They had received enough goods for about twenty-three days. They estimated that they had received about $400 worth of goods at Fort Laramie prices. Not bad for a week's work.

Elkhorn River, Nebraska: Eliza Snow attended a meeting at the Beech's wagon. Most of the Parley P. Pratt family was there. She wrote that they had "a refreshing time."

George B. Wallace gave orders for his fifty to move one mile from the river, where they camped for the night. His fifty were part of the Abraham O. Smoot company. The Wallace company consisted of 223 people. The captains of tens were James Smith, Samuel Rolfe, Joseph Mount, John Nebeker, and Samuel Turnbow.

[Included in the first ten led by James Smith were: Margaret Frosgreen, Lafayette Granger, Fales Hancall, Ursula B. Hancall, Peter O. Hanson, Mary Ellen Harris, Harriet Higbee, John Mount Higbee, Judith H. Higbee, Sarah Higbee, Silas Somers Higbee, John Chatfield Leonard, Jane W. Matthews, Susan Noble, John Peacock, Elias Fraser Pearson, Francella E. Pomeroy, Irene U. Pomeroy, Levi Savage, Mathew Savage, James Smithies, Mary Smithies, Nancy Ann Smithies, Robert Smithies, Joshua Terry, George Benjamin Wallace, Mary McMurphy Wallace, Melissa M. King Wallace, and Jacob Weatherby.] [Included in the second ten led Samuel Rolfe were: Ephemia Bouck, John A. Bouck, Elijah Clifford, James J. Davidson, Albert Corning Dewey, Harriet Adams Dewey, John Henry Dewey, Mariah Dewey, Joseph Dunlap, Elnathan Eldredge, Elnathan Eldredge Jr., Frederick Baker Eldredge, Joseph Underwood Eldredge, Ruth Baker Eldredge, Sarah Eldredge, Pliny Fisher, Abigail E. Gibbs, Gideon Hayden Carter Gibbs, Samuel R. Knight, Eliza Lee, Matthew A. Lee, Elizabeth Rolfe, Horace Cowin Rolfe, Mary Ann Elizabeth Rolfe, Samuel Jones Rolfe, Samuel Jones Rolfe Jr., William Jasper Rolfe, John Sinrie, Charlotte Frost Train, Chauncey Turner, Hannah Turner, Harriet M. Turner, Henry Moroni Turner, John Wesley Turner, Julia Turner, Elizabeth Walker, John Wixom, John D. Woolley, John Mills Woolley, and Maria Lucy Dewey Woolley.] [Included in the third ten led Joseph Mount were: Margaret Bryson, Charles Hart, John Hart, Archibald Newell Hill, Dorcas Adelia Moor Kingsbury, Joseph Corroden (Twin) Kingsbury, Louisa Loenra Alcina Pond Kingsbury, James Lawson, David Lewis, Annis L. Moor, Charles H. Moor, Elizabeth M. Moor, George W. Moor, Mahala D. Higby Moor, Mary L. Moor, Thomas Moor, Elizabeth B. Bessad Mount, Joseph Mount, Mary Jane Mount, Almina Pond, Stilman Pond, Urban Van Stewart, -------- Thompson, R. Thompson, Henrietta Keyes Whitney, Samuel Alonzo Whitney, Andrew Wood, Jane Wood, Arin Woodberry, Catherine Woodberry, John Woodberry, Matilda Woodberry, Elizabeth Bartlett Woodbury, Hannah Marie Woodbury, Jeremiah Woodbury, John Stillman Woodbury, and Thomas H. Woodbury.] [Included in the fourth ten led John Nebeker were: Elizabeth Bowen Blackburn, Jehu Blackburn, Julia Ann Jameson Blackburn, Charles O. Chase, Charles S. Chase, Sarah M. Chase, Susan Sterns Chase, Elizabeth Davis, Mariah Davis, Barbara Fitzerald, John Fitzgerald, Mary Ann Cosatt Fitzgerald, Martha Ann Henderson, Elizabeth Klineman, Mariah Lane, William P. Lane, Lemuel W. Merrill, George Murdock, Gideon Allen Murdock, John Murdock, Mary C. Murdock, Sarah Murdock, Aaron Nebeker, Ann Van Wagener Nebeker, Ashton Nebeker, Elizabeth Nebeker, George Nebeker, Henry Nebeker, Ira Nebeker, John Nebeker, Lurena Fitzgerald Nebeker, Mary Ann Nebeker, Peter Nebeker, Rose1la Nebeker, William Henry Nebeker, William Perry Nebeker, Christianna Kull Riser, George Christian Riser, Joseph H. Riser, Mary Ann Riser, Ann Stidham, David Stidham, William Stidham, Daniel D. Wheeler, John J. Wheeler, Joseph S. Wheeler, Lueyann Wheeler, Margaret Wheeler, Martha Willis Wheeler, Thomas J. Wheeler, W. W. Wheeler, Ann Cherry Willis, John H. Willis, Josephine Willis, Joshua Thomas Willis, Margaret Cherry Willis, Margaret Martha Willis, Mary Lucretia Willis, Thomas J. Willis, and William Wesley Willis.] [Included in the fifth ten led Saumel Turnbow were: Andrew Jackson Allen, Delilah Andrews Allen, Margaret M. Allen, Martha E. Allen, Martha Evans Allen, Pumecy F. Allen, William Coleman Allen, John Armstrong, Joseph H. Armstrong, Mary Armstrong, Sarah Benbow, Thomas Benbow, Sarah Carter, William Cavit, Hyrum S. Church, Sarah Ann Arterbury Church, Emily Harris, William Harris, Cynthia Utley Stewart Hill, George Richard Hill, George Washington Hill, James Jackson, Mary Ann Jackson, Ezekeil Keelog, John Miles, Abraham Owen Smoot, Margaret Thompson McMeans Smoot, Delpha Jones Steward, Randolph H. Steward, Akmedia Stewart, Benjamin Franklin Stewart, Caroline Stewart, China Ann Stewart, David Stewart, Eliza Jane Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, George Rufus Stewart, Lawrence Stewart, James Wesley Stewart, John Calvin Stewart, Joseph Virgil Stewart, Joshua Lawrence Stewart, Mary Eveline Stewart, Mary Jane Stewart, Nancy Lorena Stewart, Polly Richardson Stewart, Ruthinda Emma Stewart, William Stewart, William Anderson Stewart, Saphrona Ellen Turnbow, Epsy Adaline Turnbow, John Gillenroy Turnbow, Milton Octabis Turnbow, Robert Franklin Turnbow, Samuel Turnbow, Silvira Caroline Hart Turnbow, and Aphek Woodruff.] Peregrin Sessions also moved his fift out during the afternoon. His fifty (also known as the Parley P. Pratt company) were part of the Daniel Spencer Company. The Sessions company consisted of 75 wagons and 1885 people. The captains of tens were: Elijah F. Sheets, Jon Van Cott, Elijah K. Fuller, William Leffingwell, and Asa Barton. [Included in the first ten led by Elijah F. Sheets were: John Beck, Hannah Jane Brown, Isaac Brown, Isaac F. Brown, Isaac Burnham, George Henry Crosby, Hannah Elida Baldwin Crosby, Jesse W. Crosby, Arthur Richardson, Darwin Charles Richardson, Jane Cyrene Richardson, Olive Tharden Richardson, Solon Darwin Richardson, Carlos Lyon Sessions, David Sessions, Lucina Sessions, Martha Ann Sessions, Mary Sessions, Patty Bartlett Sessions, Peregrine Sessions, Elijah Funk Sheets, Susanna Musser Sheets, Joseph A. Stratton, Mary Ann Stratton, and Thomas Siris Terry.] [Included in the second ten led by Jon Van Cott were: Abigail Abbott, Ann Marsh Abbott, Joseph Abbott, Lewis Abbott, Thomas Marsh Abbott, John Beer, Luther V. Burglow, James Clements, Benjamin Denton, Alma Pratt, Ann Agatha Walker Pratt, Belinda Marden Pratt, Elizabeth Brotherton Pratt, Hannahetta Pratt, Helaman Pratt, Julia Pratt, Martha Pratt, Mary Wood Pratt, Nephi Pratt, Parley Pratt, Parley Parker Pratt, Phoebe E. Sopher Pratt, Sarah Houston Pratt, Franceayna Rogers, Isaac Rogers, Isaac Rogers Jr., Mary Miranda White Rogers, Isaac Thomas, Matilda A. Thomas, John Van Cott, Lovinia Jemima Pratt Van Cott, Lucy Lavinia Sackett Van Cott, Martha Van Cott, and Mary Van Cott.] [Included in the third ten led by Elijah K. Fuller were: James Brinkerhoff, Janette Brinkerhoff, Mary Ann Brinkerhoff, Sally Ann Snyder Brinkerhoff, Caroline Clara Smith Callister, Helen Mar Callister, Helen Mar Clark Callister, Thomas Callister, John Everett, Sarah Ann Everett, Catherine Walker Fuller, Cornelius Fuller, Elijah Fuller, Elijah Knapp Fuller, Revilo Fuller, Willys Darwin Fuller, Alfred Boaz Lambson, Melissa Jane Lambson, Melissa Jane Bigler Lambson, Alexander Abraham Lemon, Ann Elizabeth Lemon, John Knox Lemon, Katherine Mayer Lemon, Margaretta Lemon, Mary Ann Lemon, William McClure Lemon, Eunice Sibley Bliss Moore, Harriet Moore, Samuel Moore, Sophronia Moore, Stephen Bliss Moore, Margaret Sears, William Sears, Agusta B. Cleveland Smith, Clarissa Lyman Smith, Jesse Nathaniel Smith, John Smith, John Lyman Smith, Mary Akins Smith, Silas Sanford Smith, and Tomazin Woodward.] [Included in the fourth ten led by William Leffingwell were: Alfred C. Beach, Cordelia Beach, Laura H. Gibbs Beach, Rufus Beach, Sarah Cole Beach, Caroline Conrad, Amos Gustin, George W. Gustin, Jane Pristine Gustin, Mary Gustin, Mary Peterson Gustin, Nancy Bruster Gustin, Susannah Gustin, Thomas Gustin, Thomas Jefferson Gustin, Elizabeth Holden, William Riley Holden, Warner Johnson, Adam Leffingwell, Caroline M. Leffingwell, Cynthia Leffingwell, Eunice Leffingwell, Joseph Lyman Leffingwell, Mary J. Leffingwell, Roxana Matilda Leffingwell, William Leffingwell, Wm. Leffingwell Jr., Amanda Savage, David Leonard Savage, Mary Abigail White Savage, Mary Theodoria Savage, Margaret Singley, Nicholas Singley, Alva West, Norman S. Williams, and Tabitha York.] [Included in the fifth ten led by Asa Barton were: Asa Barton, Mary Barton, Elizabeth Harris Browett, Harriet Browett, Solomon Chase, Sarah Ann Dewitt, Elizabeth Gates, George Gates, Samuel Newton Henderson, Sarah Holden, Asa B. Hunter, Jesse Hunter, Keziah Hunter, Martha Hunter, Mary B. Hunter, Samuel Hunter, Elizabeth A. Matthews, Elizabeth Jane Matthews, Emma Louise Matthews, Ezekial Cunningham Matthews, John Lynn Matthews, Maria Marcissa Matthews, Nancy Melissa Matthews, Thomas Marion Matthews, William Matthews, James Kemp McClenahan, Nancy McClenahan, Armenus Miller, Silas Miller, Fanny Parish, Joel Parish, Priscilla Parish, Samuel Parish, Clarinda Pollock, James Pollock, Priscilla Pollock, Thomas Pollock, Aaron Dunham Thatcher, Alley Kitchen Thatcher, George Washington Thatcher, Harriet Ann Thatcher, Hezekiah Thatcher, Hyrum Smith Thatcher, John Bethuel Thatcher, Joseph Wykoff Thatcher, Katherine Mary Thatcher, and Moses Thatcher.] Near one of the encampments that night, the dead body of a man was found which had been picked by wolves. They found a letter in his pocket that indicated he was the "bearer of dispatches" for the Indian Agent from St. Louis. It was believed that he had been killed by Indians.

Summer Quarters, Nebraska: