Thomas Bateman was born on Sept. 17, 1808 at Bolton, Lancashire, England to Thomas Bateman Sr. 1778-1845 and Elizabeth Armstrong, 1780-1840.
Thomas was Brickmaker and a bricklayer in good circumstances. He was an expert Sheep man and owned land in England. Thomas Bateman married Mary Street on the August 12, 1829 at Manchester, Lancashire, England. Mary was baptized in the L.D.S. Church in 1838. He lived in Manchester, lancashire, England from 1830 until approx. 1838. Thomas Bateman became a Member of the LDS Church around 1838 when Heber C. Kimball did missionary work in the Manchester area of England. Thomas and Mary sailed with their Family to the United States in approx. 1838 on the ship North America. He and his wife passed throught the persecutions at Nauvoo, Illinois. Thomas and his son Samuel helped build the Nauvoo Temple.

During 1842-1843 Thomas lived in Augusta, Lee, Iowa.
Thomas and Mary moved to Nauvoo, Illinois where her husband, a master brick layer helped build the Nauvoo Temple.
Thomas Bateman's father Thomas Bateman Sr. died in 1845 at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. Thomas Bateman lived during 1846 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois.

Thomas Batman and Mary Street Bateman's children included;
Harriet Batman b. Nov. 4, 1830
Samuel Bateman b. July 1, 1832
Elizabeth Bateman b. Feb. 16, 1834
Thomas Bateman b. Jan. 27, 1836
Joseph Bateman b. Dec. 9, 1837
James Boame Bateman b. Dec. 9, 1837
Mary Bateman b. Feb. 27, 1840
William Lehi Bateman b. Jan. 1, 1844
John Bateman b. Feb. 26, 1846
Martha Ann Bateman b. Sept. 15, 1847
Margaret Bateman b. June 30, 1849


Mary was sealed to Thomas Bateman on the 28th of January 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois by Heber C. Kimball. Mary Street age 40 and Thomas Bateman were Utah pioneers in the James Pace Company of 1850. Thomas Bateman, Mary Street and Family arrived in Salt Lake on Sept. 15, 1850. Thomas Bateman and Mary Street settled in West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah in 1852. Mary Street and Thomas Bateman's children include;
Harriet Bateman
Samuel Bateman
Elizabeth Bateman
Thomas Bateman
Joseph Bateman
Manes Boame Bateman
Mary Bateman
James Morgan Bateman
William Lehi Bateman
John Bateman
Margaret Bateman
Mary's husband Thomas Bateman returned to England to settle some business concerning his property. On the way back to the United States, Thomas drowned accidently in the Atlantic Ocean and was buried on the 29th of November 1852 in the Atlantic Ocean.



THOMAS BATEMAN & MARY STREET

"Thomas Bateman was born Sep. 17, 1808 at Bolton, Lancs., England, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Bateman. His wife, Mary Street, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Schofield) Street, was born May 12, 18 1 0 in Manchester, Lancs., England. They were married 14 Sept. 1829 at Eccles, Lancs., England. Thomas was not quite 21, and Mary Street was 19. (Witnessing their marriage was Eliza Burrows, and a Samuel and Henry Bateman.) For a few years, they made their home in the Manchester area. Thomas worked as a laborer in the family brickmaker trade.

The following year, on Nov. 4, 1830, their first daughter, Harriet, was born and two years later, on Jul. 1, 1832, their first son, Samuel, was born. Soon after, they moved to Pendelton Chapelry in the parish of Eccles, adjoining Manchester, and on Feb. 16, 1834, another daughter, Elizabeth, was born. At this time, the Bateman's decided to attend the New Connection Methodist Church. Their next son, Thomas, born 27 Jan. 1836, was christened there on 24 Apr. 1836. Now, they had two sons and two daughters, then just before Christmas on Dec. 9, 183 7, Mary gave birth to 'twin sons' - "Joseph" and "James Boame". Sadly, just three months later, one of these twins, James Boame, died.

In this year of 1837, the first Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints (LDS-Mormons), appeared in this area of England from America. They could be seen standing on street comers, dressed in suits and high silk hats, bearing witness to this newly revealed religion. Both Thomas and Mary were deeply impressed by the gospel they preached and their sincere testimonies, so they embraced this gospel. On the 17th of March 1839, Thomas was baptized by his maternal grandfather, Joseph Armstrong. Mary was baptized thirteen days later on the 30th of March. Three months later, Mary once again conceived, and on Feb. 27, 1840, they added a daughter, Mary, to their family. Now their home was filled with six active little children under ten years.

At this time the Church was encouraging the English saints to immigrate to America and help strengthen the Church there, so Thomas, (now ordained a 'priest'), and Mary, decided they should do so. Toward the end of 1840, they gathered some of their belongings together and traveled to the Liverpool docks, then boarded the ship Lehigh Philadelphia with the James Rigby Company, to cross the Atlantic Ocean. After several weeks at sea, Thomas, Mary, and their six young children arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana on 2 Jan 1841 and were the first Saints to land at that port. From here they went by boat to St. Louis, then on to Nauvoo.

The Bateman family arrived at a very monumental time, for within a few months the comer stone for the Nauvoo Temple was laid on Apr.6, 1841 and the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke to those present. Thomas' son, Samuel, was to always remember this event, although he was only nine years old. They remained in Nauvoo about four months, then the family moved to Augusta, Iowa; settling on the Skunk River about 20 miles from Nauvoo.

Joseph Bateman, the older brother of Thomas, emigrated from Liverpool on Sept. 22, 1841 on the ship Terrain, with his wife, Margaret, their son James (and his wife, Hannah, (nee: Wilson) who were recently married), and their three younger children William Mary and Margaret. They landed in New Orleans, Louisiana about the middle of November; took a steamer to St. Louis, Missouri, then arrived Warsaw, Illinois about 20 miles from Nauvoo. About two weeks later, Thomas Bateman made the trip from Augusta, Iowa with a wagon to take his brother, Joseph, and his family to Nauvoo. In about two days, Thomas returned to Augusta, Iowa with Robert Pixton, (who had @grated with Joseph Bateman), and James and Thomas Charlesworth. Pixton stayed with Thomas all winter cutting wood. (Pixton later married into the Bateman family.)

The route from Nauvoo to Augusta, as described by Robert Pixton was:
(1) down the Mississippi River,
(2) took a skiff to cross to other side; ice very bad, hard to land after dark so stayed with Mr. Morris;
(3) next day walked about 20 miles to Augusta.)

In November 1841, (two months after Joseph Bateman arrived in America), Thomas' father, Thomas Bateman, a 62 year old widower and brickmaker, decided to join his family in America and sailed on the ship Chaos, leaving his home in Manchester, England where he had been born in 1778.

In the Spring of March, 1842, two important events happened. Another son was born to Thomas Bateman and Mary on Mar. 3rd, who they named "James Morgan", and Thomas baptized Robert Pixton in the Skunk River. He was confirmed by Lyman Wight, one of the twelve apostles. (Lyman Wight was later to marry Thomas and Mary's oldest daughter, Harriet, in 1848 before they crossed the plains.)

Joseph soon operated a brickyard in Augusta. Later in 1843, Thomas had a brickyard of his own and made and sold about 75,000 bricks. In the Spring of that year, Thomas Bateman purchased a farm on the south side of the Skunk River about a mile from town. {On Mar. 23, 1843, possibly Thomas' father, Thomas, was married (by Heber C. Kimball) in Nauvoo, to Elizabeth Ravenscroft, a 23 yr. old "bonnet maker" who had come from Manchester, England in 1840.) The capstone of the Temple was also laid this same year. Thomas and his eldest son, Samuel, now 11 years, worked on the Temple all that winter. When fire broke out in the Temple they assisted in putting it out. On January 1, 1844, another son was born to Thomas and Mary, who they named William Lehi.

In the summer of 1844 there was a lot of trouble with the mob, Everyone had to be on guard. This was to be a year of extremely great sorrow, not only for the Bateman family, but for all LDS saints. There was the tragedy of losing their beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith, and also Thomas Bateman's father, Thomas, now 67, died in Nauvoo.

Joseph Smith, while at the Masonic Hall the day before he died, said to those there, (per Robert Pixton),: "Do not be surprised Brethren if you do not see me again. He rode to the mansion, bid the saints good-by, then left for Carthage Jail with the posse.

Robert Pixton guarded the Temple all night, and when he went home the next morning, June 28, 1844, his wife and neighbors were gathered together mourning the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Hyrum. When the Prophet was assassinated in 1844, the Saints were called to Nauvoo, and Thomas Bateman's family sold the farm, journeying with them. They took only their money and six cows.

On Jan. 28, 1845, Thomas Bateman received his patriarchal blessing in Nauvoo. This year he was appointed by the Twelve to take the Saints' goods from Nauvoo up to Iowa and to sell them. His son, Samuel accompanied him. When they returned to Nauvoo, Thomas and Mary were endowed on Jan. 27, 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple. The following month, on Feb. 21st, their son, John, was born in Nauvoo. This same month, the first presidency began preparing to move west, out of Nauvoo, to avoid all of the dissention in the area. Thomas Bateman with his young family and new baby, returned to Augusta, Iowa. While en route, their last cow was taken from them by the enemy.

The Bateman's moved to the farm of Frederick Lowery for whom Thomas Bateman worked. Because of the persecutions by the enemy, Thomas was forbidden to work for about three months. After a conversation with the leader of the mobocrats in which he said he was merely trying to earn enough money to take him and his family out west, the leader then told him to go to work. During the three months when Thomas could not work, the family would have suffered greatly had it not been for the kindness of Mr. Lowery who furnished flour, meat and milk to the family. Mr. Lowery said that if the mob tried to drive him away, "They will drive me, too".

Later, Thomas Bateman was taken very ill with plague. Their nine month old son, John died on Nov. 29, 1846. The older children - Harriet, Samuel, Thomas and Elizabeth - had to run the brick yard and the farm. The brick turned out fine and the sale of several thousand bricks brought in much needed money to the family. In this they were blessed.

In 1847, several events occurred. Thomas and Mary's seven year old daughter, Mary, died. They decided to move to a farm owned by Almond Crooker, a mile from Mr. Lowery's, and on Sept. 15, 1847, another daughter, Martha Ann, was born. The children were able to attend school there. In the spring of 1849, Thomas Bateman made preparations to leave the farm for the Rocky Mountains. Even some of the previous enemies begged him to remain, but he sold his farm and set out.

It was spring and they stuck in the mud several times. The lightning and thunder was very bad. When they arrived in Council Bluffs, another daughter, Margaret, was born Jun. 3 0, 1849. She was their " 12th" and last child. From here they went to 'Little Pigeon'. Thomas Bateman decided to let George A. Smith take his best yoke of oxen on to the Great Salt Lake Valley, so this meant he now had to save enough money to replace them.

The Bateman's remained in 'Big Pigeon', near Cooley's Mills all that winter of 1849. There, he bought the mills and 'paid considerably' for them, but the agreement was broken, and Thomas was left bankrupt. They had many trials. To make money they transported goods up and down the river. On Dec. 19th, 1849, Thomas, (always willing to assist his brethren), left Kanesville (Council Bluffs) for St. Louis, furnished a horse and agreed to drive the wagon with John Taylor, Erastus Snow, and John Park. They arrived Jan. 26, 1850 at St. Louis, Missouri.

In April 1850, a young man by the name of Philip Margetts and his brother, Henry, arrived in St. Louis. They had just landed in New Orleans on March 8th and traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. He was met by Thomas Bateman, John Taylor, (one of the 'Twelve' under Brigham Young), and several of the 'elders' from Utah who had just arrived there. These men had been attending a business meeting pertaining to the immigration for the season at Council Bluffs, and had come through St. Joseph to St. Louis. Thomas had been assigned to engage some young men to drive teams across the plains to Salt Lake City and these two young men appeared at just the right time. The two Margetts brothers agreed to this, and they proceeded up the River to St. Joseph with Thomas Bateman. When they arrived there a few days later, Philip Margetts met Elizabeth Bateman, (his wife to be), for the first time.

They waited for a few days in St. Joseph for a boat to take them up the River to Council Bluffs, and also for cattle to be driven there. While waiting, Philip Margetts made arrangements to take charge of a grist-[??@H??] engine until the cattle arrived, then he herded them to Council Bluffs. The rest of the party went up the River on the steamboat, 'Robert Campbell', taking supplies waiting at St. Joseph for the journey across the plains.

In Council Bluffs, Thomas and his family once again met with Philip Margetts, and they joined with a company preparing for the journey west. Yokes had to be made, bows prepared, ox chains overhauled, etc. The family wagons had to be attended to. When they were ready to start, they located the women and children, and left "Big Pigeon", which was the late home of Thomas Bateman, and headed to Council Point. Here they camped on the banks of the Missouri River. Thomas had ordered a wagon to be made at Carterville, which was some distance from where they were camped. Finally, when they acquired the wagon, they had the difficult task of hitching up the wild cattle. Philip Margetts described their plight as follows:

"Now my friends, imagine if you can a man with a large family to look after, new wagons, wild cattle and a lot of _____ English boys to handle them, starting out on journey of over a thousand miles. 7his was enough to discourage anyone, but Thomas Bateman had courage and willpower, and so he was equal to the task. "

After a drive of about 50 miles down the stream they encountered no end of trouble. They crossed the Missouri River at Old Fort Kearney" on a flat boat, where they were nearly upset on the river, but finally landed, (after a considerable distance), in what is now known as Nebraska City. The only thing in sight was the old log Fort which had been deserted years before this; then, 'Indian Territory' with game of all description close at hand. Philip Margetts describes this experience as follows:

"Here is where our work of pioneering 'commenced and here is where I commenced to know Brother Bateman as a man of no ordinary ability, but a man I learned to love & ____ his many virtues - namely honesty, uprightness and forbearance, - and his wife as one of the most self-sacrificing, patient, motherly women it was ever my good fortune to become acquainted with. "

Eventually, they arrived at Old Fort Kearney (Corney). John Taylor, and others, had engaged Thomas Bateman to transport and deliver goods to Livingstone and Kinkead, the first successful merchants in the Salt Lake Valley. For this, they promised him'handsomereturns'foralltheresponsibilityanddifficultiesofthejoumey. So, here at the Fort, they began the arduous task of loading up the freight merchandise into eleven commodious wagons for the journey into the wilderness. Next came the extremely dangerous and fatiguing job of branding the ha6f-wild cattle. Little did they realize all of the difficulties they were to encounter as they'd wend their way west into the wilderness.

Philip Margetts relates:

"7his responsibility of taking a train of goods through 'Indian country' and delivering them safely at Salt Lake City, - - with no ox Thomas could 'rely on for assistance or help, - - was a feat few men could have accomplished. "

When they started out the first day, Philip Margetts' letter states

"We had four broken wagon tongues caused by the wild unbroken cattle, bad roads, and [??stupid d-ivories??]".

That night it started to rain, and the next morning it was discovered that two of Thomas' best horses were gone - either strayed away or stolen. They believed Indians had stolen them since they were never seen again.

A few days later, at the Platte River they met a band of about 1500 Pawnee Indians who tried to stop their wagon-train. The Saints were able to avoid a fight, and eventually the Indians allowed them to go on without paying a ransom. They did, however, 'help themselves' to three head of cattle and demanded flour, bacon, sugar, tobacco, etc. from the wagons.

Cholera broke out in the camp, but fortunately no one died. Other companies had more illness and death than this company. They felt they were blessed. They passed many buffalo on the way and also saw a grave opened by the wolves. This was Cheyenne and Sioux territory, and the tribes demanded "toll", so by the time they reached the North Platte River, they were short of provisions.

A man by the name of Feramorz Little had charge of twenty wagons loaded with freight for Livingstone and Kinkead and Thomas Bateman had charge of ten wagons. When trouble occurred with Kinkead, and some of the teamsters, Philip and Henry Margetts, and Edward Williams decided to leave the wagon-train at the upper crossing of the Platte and travel on foot the rest of the journey, about 300 miles, into Salt Lake City. They suffered nineteen difficult days of travel before reaching the Valley on Sept. 1, 1850.

Thomas Bateman, Mary, and their family, eventually arrived in Salt Lake City in the James Pace Company, along with Feramorz Little on Sept. 20th 1850. They delivered their goods at Livingstone and Kinkead's store, now known as the old 'Constitution building'. Unfortunately, the promises made by John Taylor, and 'others', to see that Thomas was 'handsomely paid' for all of his efforts, was not kept!! It was a great disappointment for such an honest man, who had acted in such good faith and endured so many hardships to have reaped 'nothing' for all of his efforts!!

As soon as Thomas arrived in the valley, he began building a home for himself and his family, with adobe he and his boys made. It was located on his brother Joseph's lot, on the southeast comer of West Temple and 2nd South. (Joseph had come west earlier, in 1848.) Then, they hauled wood to prepare for the winter months. Two months later, on Nov. 5, 1850, Thomas' daughter, Elizabeth Bateman married Philip Margetts in this home. This was a very comfortable house, but Thomas was unhappy because he had worked so hard, endured many difficulties coming to the valley, and he felt he had not been treated right by his friends.

The Bateman's continued raising their large family of children. Mary was also a mid-wife, helping deliver many other infants. Although small in stature, she loved to walk six miles from West Jordan to Sandy to care for her patients. One day, Indian troubles arose and many were asked to go to Iron County to assist. Thomas Bateman volunteered to go, but Samuel, only 18, asked to take his fathers' place, knowing of his father's already great sacrifices and disappointments. Thomas had always been a very religious man, so he began to read and study the scriptures.

Philip Margett's tells this of Thomas, his father-in-law:

"He (Thomas) had worked unceasingly for many months from the time he left his home near Council Bluffs, going to St. Joseph, with John Taylor, then down the river to St. Louis, back again to the Bluffs. - - - But, he had not been treated right by his friends.

"Brother Bateman was not only an honest man, but he was a very religious man. He began to read, and study the scriptures until he imag7ned he was someone else and not himse4f He gave way to those thoughts. He pondered over them and these, with other troubles, drove him nearly out of his mind- "

After some months, Samuel returned. In the spring, shortly after his son's arrival home in 1851, Thomas Bateman started on a trip back east to return to England to dispose of some property owned by himself and his brother, Joseph. Supposedly he had some money coming to him. He traveled with Andrew J. Langley and others, and encountered Apostle Orson Hyde on Jul. 22nd at the Platte River, 108 miles from Laramie. Orson was en route from Kanesville (Council Bluffs) to the Salt Lake Valley and sent a message with Thomas which reads, "I have just met Mr. Bateman, from the Valley, and I write you, (by him), a hasty scroll." (When they arrived in Kanesville in August, Thomas was still filled with dissatisfaction and grievances from his previous concerns and disappointments.) He continued on, and boarded a ship for England.

After settling his business in England, he loaded some trunks with things purchased in England, and with some money acquired, he embarked on his return journey from Liverpool on the Packet ship, Tonawanda on Oct. 1852, bound for Philadelphia. He had mailed a letter to his wife, Mary (Street) Bateman, telling her he was "coming home with gold watches for the boys and equally special presents for the girls ".

On this ocean journey, a terrible tragedy occurred. Thomas, at the age of 44, 'was drowned' some distance out at sea The ship's manifest, dated 11 Dec. 1852, states by his name, 'was drowned at sea'. No one really knows what happened. It has been speculated that perhaps he told someone of the money and valuables he was returning with, causing considerable temptation. Philip Margetts' letter says:

'A man who was on board was given the power of attorney, to receive from the Captain of the vessel the things which he, Thomas), was bringing home. Whether he got the effects or not, is not known, but nothing was ever received by the family.

Thomas' wife, Mary (Street) Bateman, was stunned by the tragic news, but she faced the task with courage of rearing her large family.

Thus ended the life of Thomas Bateman, --- a man to be remembered for his [??u,nuswal @ge, and .??] This man had embraced the gospel in it's very early years in England; given up his homeland to sail across the seas, joining the Saints; helped build the temple in Nauvoo and quenched the fire which engulfed it; continually served leaders of the Church, without question or thought of himself, delayed crossing the plains, by unselfishly giving his oxen to help another needful Saint; been blessed with twelve children, although suffering the loss of three; accepted the responsibility, struggled with extreme difficulties in transporting freight wagons to the Valley--then, received no [?? ] as promised, suffered the resulting disillusion and heart-wrenching disappointment of this; then, worked together with his sons to build a home and provide for their large, 'deeply loved', family in the Great Salt Lake Valley.

It would be difficult to find words to describe Thomas Bateman's strength of endurance throughout his life, nor the strength required by his devoted wife, Mary, and their family, especially in dealing with their unexpected sudden tragic loss of Thomas at such an early age. So, this brave, courageous Mary, now 42, somehow gathered strength to meet this challenge.

Mary removed to Brigham City with her unmarried children for awhile, residing with her daughter, Harriet, wife of Lyman Wight, who had moved there. On Aug. 16, 1853, she was encouraged to many Lewis William Wight, father-in-law of her daughter, Harriet. This marriage was not working out and lasted only a short time. (Later, she was granted a temple divorce.)

On Nov. 27, 1854, Mary's oldest son, Samuel had married Marinda Allen, so that winter, Mary and her family went to live with them in a 'dug-out', near Sandy, called "Dry Creek". She then had four sons living with her - Thomas, (age 18), Joseph, (age 17), James Morgan, (age 12), and William Lehi, (age 10) - and two daughters, Martha (age 7), and Margaret, (age 5). They somehow managed to survive that difficult winter and other hardships. A school house was across the Jordan River, and the children had to go across by a boat made by the Bateman's. In the Spring, Mary's unmarried sons, William Lehi and James Morgan, built her a one room log cabin.

In September, 1857, when the Saints heard that Johnson's Army was coming to the Valley, they were told to immediately leave the area. Mary and her family did so until it was safe to return. In Oct 1860, her son, Joseph, married Mary Eliza Allen, and the following year, on Sept. 18th, her son, Thomas, married Mary Lavender.

On 13 Feb. 1865, Mary's daughter, Martha Ann married Samuel Jenkins. Four years later, James married Maria Louisa Watkins, Nov. 1, 1869 and the next year, William married her sister, Sophronia A. Watkins, 26 Dec. 1870. Mary continued living alternately with these sons in a long rambling log house they built to share, in Wight's Fort, West Jordan on the west side of the Jordan River. (Her sons had grown to 'large' men; some out-weighing their father.)

On 27 Feb. 1871, Samuel also married a second wife, Harriett Egbert. He worked in a grist flour all during the week, and on week-ends enjoyed being a 'caller' at the dances. The following year, 2 Oct. 1872, Margaret married Alfred Oxenbold Davis. Now all of Mary's children were married.

Mary Street Bateman was always known for her dependability and law-abiding sense of justice. She also had a favorite place, where she would sit in church, and 'was never late'. Mary was living with her youngest son, William Lehi, when she developed pneumonia. She was sick for only one week, then passed away at the age of 81 years on Mar. 4, 1891, and was buried in West Jordan, Utah. This self-sacrificing, patient, motherly woman, had endured many sacrifices and hardships with her husband, Thomas, and on her own. With courage and determination, she had accepted life's trials and blessings afforded her in the continuing years, enjoying a large posterity.

(The above written and compiled by Marlene Dimond (200 1) - from various sources:)
(1) Diary of Wm. Samuel Bateman - written by Juliatta B. Jensen & James Oliver;.
(2) Diary of Robert Pixton - (immig'd w/ Joseph/Margaret Bateman -22 Sep 1841)
(3) Various collected info' (received from Wilma Beck - relative);
(4) Letter of Philip Margetts; (rec'd from Frank Lavor - relative);
(5) Short Biography of Thomas Bateman; (rec'd from Lila Anderson - relative)
(6) Church & Journal Histories;
(7) Research Sources; (in poss. of Marlene Dimond)
(Including corrected Bateman/Street marr. date & place in Par. Reg of Eccles)
(8) "History of Utah", by Andrew Neff (Editor: L. H. Creer, Apr 1940)


Note: (mcd - Jan 1997-2001)
In the beginning stages of westward movement, the merchant as well as the
individual provided his own conveyances. More and more the carrying trade became a business in itself soon passing into the hand of great freight companies with the facilities and experience to handle the business. Twenty five to twenty six huge canvas covered wagons, holding 3 to 4 tons, driven by 12 oxen formed in a group. There was a wagon-master, assistant, teamsters, and extra men. Later, the average day wage was $1 .00. They would travel 12 to 15 miles per day, with each driver [??w@g??] beside his teams. This would take twelve to fifteen weeks to cross the plains. (per: Andrew Neff's "History of Utah", p.319; (1940;)"