Description of experiences had in crossing the plains and mountains in the spring of 1863, settling in the eastern and unorganized portion of Idaho territory, and experiences had in that country in 1863-4

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: Vault MSS 492

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Walker's party left West Point, Iowa, on 8 April 1863, destined for California. They traveled by steamboat and rail to Atchison, Kansas, and from there "in one of Ben Hollidays stage coaches" to Fremont's Orchard. They encountered about sixty Indians. They arrived safely in Denver. Walker went with a wagon train for some "diggings discovered about five hundred miles north of Salt Lake City." They passed a group of Mormons heading back east who told Walker: "We are Mormons: but we are not devils; we are not Brigham Young Mormons, they are Devils. We are Joseph Smith Mormons." Walker recounts in detail their story of life fifty miles north of Salt Lake City, and recalls from his childhood "in the years 1840 to 1845 when I lived amongst them when all of my neighbors armed, baracaded, nd turned their farm houses into citadels to prevent their being murdered and robbed by the Mormons." Walker's group crossed Idaho and he describes the founding of Virginia City, Montana, in which he took part. He described life in the West in great detail.

Dates

1863-1864, 1904

Creator

Walker, Joseph, 1860-1900 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Description of experiences had in crossing the plains and mountains in the spring of 1863, settling in the eastern and unorganized portion of Idaho territory, and experiences had in that country in 1863-4 must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical / Historical

Walker was a miner, prospector, and an early pioneer of the American West.

Extent

67 leaves

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Appraisal

19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Register of Description of experiences had in crossing the plains and mountains in the spring of 1863, settling in the eastern and unorganized portion of Idaho territory, and experiences had in that country in 1863-4
Author: Leslie Evens
Date: 2011 October 28
Description rules: Appm
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Language of description note: Finding aid written in English in Latin script.