MARY EDNA WOOLLEY EVANS:
HER LIFE STORY IS DEFINED BY ENDURANCE AND
BY HER CHILDREN.
BY CHERYL EVANS FROMM
Mary Edna Woolley was born on the 10th of December 1807 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England. Her parents were John Woolley (1780) and Mary Asterly (1780).
Her husband John Robert Evans was a shoemaker. Her children at a very early age also worked in the making of shoes. While in Louth, Lincolnshire, England she lived 2 door away from her parents-John and Mary Woolley. They at lived on Eastgate. CHILDREN: All Children born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England 1. David Evans (03 April 1831)
2. Jane Evans (19 February 1832-22 February 1832)
3. David Woolley Evans (06 January 1833-05 July 1876)
4. Mary Jane Evans (December 1834-20 November 1849) 5. Stephen Evans (1835-Nov 1849)
6. Fanny Evans (February 1838- 1862)
7. Matilda Evans (November 1839-28 April 1850)
8. Emma E. Evans (26 September 1841-25 October 1905) 9. Annie Evans (01 September 1843-21 January 1910)
10 John Evans (1845)
11. Minerva Evans (1846)
12. Mildred Evans (1848)
13. Arthur James (02 September 1849-26 March 1915)
14. Mary Jane (30 October 1850-08 November 1895)
15. Clara Evans (1852)
She has 15 known biological children plus Amelia "Minnie" Midgley Evans. Legends with in the family suggests: Minnie was left on the doorstep at 3 weeks old in 1858. Mary Edna Woolley Evans was a widow of about a year and 51 years old at the time.
After being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854, she wanted to come to Zion. At the age of 54, Mary Edna and 5 of her children emigrate to the United States on the ship "Manchester". Her little ban of children are: Emma (age 20), Annie (age 18), James (age 12), Mary Jane (age 11) and Amelia Minnie (age 4). The ship "Manchester" was at the Waterloo Dock at Liverpool. Their Captain Trask was busy having the saints get their luggage in at night. One man falls in the water and is rescued by a German Sailor. The Saints had to have their luggage check in and the ship cleaned for the government inspectors. At 3:00 pm on the 6th of May 1862, the ship anchor was raised and a tug pulled the ship out. Within 2 days the seas were rolling and Seasickness had hit. The Saints were lively but sick. A week later the saints were dancing and singing on the deck. They saw whales. They saw 11 icebergs in one day. There was one extremely large iceberg directly in front of the ship. It was a miracle, they missed it. It was 34 day at sea.
They arrives in New York Harbor on 12 June 1862 with the Civil War well under way. It is about one year into the Civil War. The harbor was in the mist of panic. Stonewall Jackson had defeated the North and forced them to retreat across the Potomac River. The Confederates army was 4 miles from Washington. President Lincoln made mandatory enlistments in New York for 300,000 men needed. The city and harbor ships were rushing to defend Washington. The Saints' had to side step the Civil War. They stayed as far north as possible to make their way to Florence, Nebraska.
The travel and story from the New York Harbor to Florence, Nebraska is as interesting of story as crossing the plains. Analysis of New York City to Florence, Nebraska: Google states it is a 1,243.3 mile journey. New York to Florence, Nebraska is actually a straight line. Today on I-80 it is a 19 hour and 10 minute trip. It took the Saints 8 days primarily by railroads, steamers and ferries. In 1862, the group rode on 7 different railroads, 2 steamers and 2 ferries. Remember they had to load and unload their baggage after each change. A must read is
the "Journal of John Daniel Thompson McAllister". He details their travels. (His spelling is left uncorrected)
" Castle Garden-Saturday 14th June: At 5pm we went to the Hudson River Railroad Station & took a train to Albany. We arrived on Sunday morning at 6 o'clock. Crossed the river & found comfortable quarters at the New York Central Railroad Depot. At 3 pm we held a meeting....instructions & rested. Had sleep.
Monday, June 15th. All in good spirits. A nice cool morning. At 12:40 we took on the New York Central Railroad. We traveled on it to the Suspension Bridge (The Suspension bridge hung over the Niagara River just below Niagara Falls) , hung with lines across the river running below. Niagara Falls 303 miles where we arrived Tuesday, 17th at 10 am stayed here 2 hours & a half & took train on the Great Western Railroad CW for Detroit.
Arrived at Windsor at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Waited there until 9 when we crossed the river by Ferry Boat to Detroit. 299 miles, from Suspension Bridge. At 2 pm we took train on the Michigan Central Railroad. 269 miles to Chicago where we arrived Thursday, the 19th at 4 pm. We then took train to Quincy at 5 pm on the Chicago Burtington & Quincy Railroad. Where we arrived after traveling 269 miles at 4 o'clock pm. On Friday the 20th, at half past 5 pm We went on the Steamer "BlackHawk" down the Mississipii 22 miles to Hannibal, Missouri where we arrived at half past 6 o'clock & boarded the cars & stayed all night.
Saturday, June 21st, at 4 am were started on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad to St. Joseph, 207 miles where we arrived at 5pm. Found comfortable quarters in the freight house by the river...A child died of teething and diaherra just as we landed in St. Joseph. Made arrangeent for a coffin. Sunday buried the child...returned to the freight house. The steamer "Omaha" arrived during the night from Florence.
Monday, June 23rd June 24th. We came aboard... in the middle of the afternoon. We started for Florence. Weather very hot.
Thursday 26th--9 o'clock at night we reached Florence. Was met at the landing by hundreds of Saints who greeted us with cheers & warm shake of hands.
Friday 27th--Moved up to camp ground. Very Hot.
July 5th Moved camp 2 miles farther up creek. July 7th- Lightening strike and 2 killed.
Tragedy strikes the group. Mary Edna Woolley Evans dies on the 16th of July 1862 during the waiting period to cross the plains. John Daniel Thompson McAllister Journal reads: "Wednesday 16th July: Raining in camp all day. Sister Evans was very ill; with her during the day. At half past six o'clock p.m. She died of___. ( couldn't read the writing). Thursday July 17th: Wrote a letter to Brother George Q. Cannon. Buried Sister Mary Evans. She was 54 years of age. The Rest of day busy in camp. At night a storm came. It rained all night." Can you imagine the thoughts of the children while huddled in the tent from rain that night?
Emma becomes the Group Leader. So this group of children (4 females and 1 male) take on the challenges of crossing the plains without a mother or an adult. Although Emma is age 20 and Annie is age 18, these leaders have lived their life in an environment of an English manufacturing city society. Not the frontier rugged life. Don't get me wrong. They are rugged and hardy workers just use to a different environment. Can you imagine the challenges they faced? They travel with the Ansil P. Harmon Company (1862) which departs on the 1st of August 1862. They arrive in Salt Lake City on the 5th October 1862. Older brother David Woolley Evans supports the group after their arrival in the Utah Territory. Actually while the group was traveling on the ship "Manchester" for New York, David gets married to Elizabeth Alldridge on the 30th of June 1862. So the newly weds have a challenge. The group of siblings always expressed much thanks to their brother David and his wife Elizabeth.
HER LIFE STORY IS DEFINED BY ENDURANCE AND
BY HER CHILDREN.
BY CHERYL EVANS FROMM
Mary Edna Woolley was born on the 10th of December 1807 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England. Her parents were John Woolley (1780) and Mary Asterly (1780).
Her husband John Robert Evans was a shoemaker. Her children at a very early age also worked in the making of shoes. While in Louth, Lincolnshire, England she lived 2 door away from her parents-John and Mary Woolley. They at lived on Eastgate. CHILDREN: All Children born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England 1. David Evans (03 April 1831)
2. Jane Evans (19 February 1832-22 February 1832)
3. David Woolley Evans (06 January 1833-05 July 1876)
4. Mary Jane Evans (December 1834-20 November 1849) 5. Stephen Evans (1835-Nov 1849)
6. Fanny Evans (February 1838- 1862)
7. Matilda Evans (November 1839-28 April 1850)
8. Emma E. Evans (26 September 1841-25 October 1905) 9. Annie Evans (01 September 1843-21 January 1910)
10 John Evans (1845)
11. Minerva Evans (1846)
12. Mildred Evans (1848)
13. Arthur James (02 September 1849-26 March 1915)
14. Mary Jane (30 October 1850-08 November 1895)
15. Clara Evans (1852)
She has 15 known biological children plus Amelia "Minnie" Midgley Evans. Legends with in the family suggests: Minnie was left on the doorstep at 3 weeks old in 1858. Mary Edna Woolley Evans was a widow of about a year and 51 years old at the time.
After being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854, she wanted to come to Zion. At the age of 54, Mary Edna and 5 of her children emigrate to the United States on the ship "Manchester". Her little ban of children are: Emma (age 20), Annie (age 18), James (age 12), Mary Jane (age 11) and Amelia Minnie (age 4). The ship "Manchester" was at the Waterloo Dock at Liverpool. Their Captain Trask was busy having the saints get their luggage in at night. One man falls in the water and is rescued by a German Sailor. The Saints had to have their luggage check in and the ship cleaned for the government inspectors. At 3:00 pm on the 6th of May 1862, the ship anchor was raised and a tug pulled the ship out. Within 2 days the seas were rolling and Seasickness had hit. The Saints were lively but sick. A week later the saints were dancing and singing on the deck. They saw whales. They saw 11 icebergs in one day. There was one extremely large iceberg directly in front of the ship. It was a miracle, they missed it. It was 34 day at sea.
They arrives in New York Harbor on 12 June 1862 with the Civil War well under way. It is about one year into the Civil War. The harbor was in the mist of panic. Stonewall Jackson had defeated the North and forced them to retreat across the Potomac River. The Confederates army was 4 miles from Washington. President Lincoln made mandatory enlistments in New York for 300,000 men needed. The city and harbor ships were rushing to defend Washington. The Saints' had to side step the Civil War. They stayed as far north as possible to make their way to Florence, Nebraska.
The travel and story from the New York Harbor to Florence, Nebraska is as interesting of story as crossing the plains. Analysis of New York City to Florence, Nebraska: Google states it is a 1,243.3 mile journey. New York to Florence, Nebraska is actually a straight line. Today on I-80 it is a 19 hour and 10 minute trip. It took the Saints 8 days primarily by railroads, steamers and ferries. In 1862, the group rode on 7 different railroads, 2 steamers and 2 ferries. Remember they had to load and unload their baggage after each change. A must read is
the "Journal of John Daniel Thompson McAllister". He details their travels. (His spelling is left uncorrected)
" Castle Garden-Saturday 14th June: At 5pm we went to the Hudson River Railroad Station & took a train to Albany. We arrived on Sunday morning at 6 o'clock. Crossed the river & found comfortable quarters at the New York Central Railroad Depot. At 3 pm we held a meeting....instructions & rested. Had sleep.
Monday, June 15th. All in good spirits. A nice cool morning. At 12:40 we took on the New York Central Railroad. We traveled on it to the Suspension Bridge (The Suspension bridge hung over the Niagara River just below Niagara Falls) , hung with lines across the river running below. Niagara Falls 303 miles where we arrived Tuesday, 17th at 10 am stayed here 2 hours & a half & took train on the Great Western Railroad CW for Detroit.
Arrived at Windsor at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Waited there until 9 when we crossed the river by Ferry Boat to Detroit. 299 miles, from Suspension Bridge. At 2 pm we took train on the Michigan Central Railroad. 269 miles to Chicago where we arrived Thursday, the 19th at 4 pm. We then took train to Quincy at 5 pm on the Chicago Burtington & Quincy Railroad. Where we arrived after traveling 269 miles at 4 o'clock pm. On Friday the 20th, at half past 5 pm We went on the Steamer "BlackHawk" down the Mississipii 22 miles to Hannibal, Missouri where we arrived at half past 6 o'clock & boarded the cars & stayed all night.
Saturday, June 21st, at 4 am were started on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad to St. Joseph, 207 miles where we arrived at 5pm. Found comfortable quarters in the freight house by the river...A child died of teething and diaherra just as we landed in St. Joseph. Made arrangeent for a coffin. Sunday buried the child...returned to the freight house. The steamer "Omaha" arrived during the night from Florence.
Monday, June 23rd June 24th. We came aboard... in the middle of the afternoon. We started for Florence. Weather very hot.
Thursday 26th--9 o'clock at night we reached Florence. Was met at the landing by hundreds of Saints who greeted us with cheers & warm shake of hands.
Friday 27th--Moved up to camp ground. Very Hot.
July 5th Moved camp 2 miles farther up creek. July 7th- Lightening strike and 2 killed.
Tragedy strikes the group. Mary Edna Woolley Evans dies on the 16th of July 1862 during the waiting period to cross the plains. John Daniel Thompson McAllister Journal reads: "Wednesday 16th July: Raining in camp all day. Sister Evans was very ill; with her during the day. At half past six o'clock p.m. She died of___. ( couldn't read the writing). Thursday July 17th: Wrote a letter to Brother George Q. Cannon. Buried Sister Mary Evans. She was 54 years of age. The Rest of day busy in camp. At night a storm came. It rained all night." Can you imagine the thoughts of the children while huddled in the tent from rain that night?
Emma becomes the Group Leader. So this group of children (4 females and 1 male) take on the challenges of crossing the plains without a mother or an adult. Although Emma is age 20 and Annie is age 18, these leaders have lived their life in an environment of an English manufacturing city society. Not the frontier rugged life. Don't get me wrong. They are rugged and hardy workers just use to a different environment. Can you imagine the challenges they faced? They travel with the Ansil P. Harmon Company (1862) which departs on the 1st of August 1862. They arrive in Salt Lake City on the 5th October 1862. Older brother David Woolley Evans supports the group after their arrival in the Utah Territory. Actually while the group was traveling on the ship "Manchester" for New York, David gets married to Elizabeth Alldridge on the 30th of June 1862. So the newly weds have a challenge. The group of siblings always expressed much thanks to their brother David and his wife Elizabeth.
MARY EDNA WOOLLEY EVANS:
HER LIFE STORY IS DEFINED BY ENDURANCE AND
BY HER CHILDREN.
BY CHERYL EVANS FROMM
Mary Edna Woolley was born on the 10th of December 1807 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England. Her parents were John Woolley (1780) and Mary Asterly (1780).
Her husband John Robert Evans was a shoemaker. Her children at a very early age also worked in the making of shoes. While in Louth, Lincolnshire, England she lived 2 door away from her parents-John and Mary Woolley. They at lived on Eastgate. CHILDREN: All Children born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England 1. David Evans (03 April 1831)
2. Jane Evans (19 February 1832-22 February 1832)
3. David Woolley Evans (06 January 1833-05 July 1876)
4. Mary Jane Evans (December 1834-20 November 1849) 5. Stephen Evans (1835-Nov 1849)
6. Fanny Evans (February 1838- 1862)
7. Matilda Evans (November 1839-28 April 1850)
8. Emma E. Evans (26 September 1841-25 October 1905) 9. Annie Evans (01 September 1843-21 January 1910)
10 John Evans (1845)
11. Minerva Evans (1846)
12. Mildred Evans (1848)
13. Arthur James (02 September 1849-26 March 1915)
14. Mary Jane (30 October 1850-08 November 1895)
15. Clara Evans (1852)
She has 15 known biological children plus Amelia "Minnie" Midgley Evans. Legends with in the family suggests: Minnie was left on the doorstep at 3 weeks old in 1858. Mary Edna Woolley Evans was a widow of about a year and 51 years old at the time.
After being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854, she wanted to come to Zion. At the age of 54, Mary Edna and 5 of her children emigrate to the United States on the ship "Manchester". Her little ban of children are: Emma (age 20), Annie (age 18), James (age 12), Mary Jane (age 11) and Amelia Minnie (age 4). The ship "Manchester" was at the Waterloo Dock at Liverpool. Their Captain Trask was busy having the saints get their luggage in at night. One man falls in the water and is rescued by a German Sailor. The Saints had to have their luggage check in and the ship cleaned for the government inspectors. At 3:00 pm on the 6th of May 1862, the ship anchor was raised and a tug pulled the ship out. Within 2 days the seas were rolling and Seasickness had hit. The Saints were lively but sick. A week later the saints were dancing and singing on the deck. They saw whales. They saw 11 icebergs in one day. There was one extremely large iceberg directly in front of the ship. It was a miracle, they missed it. It was 34 day at sea.
They arrives in New York Harbor on 12 June 1862 with the Civil War well under way. It is about one year into the Civil War. The harbor was in the mist of panic. Stonewall Jackson had defeated the North and forced them to retreat across the Potomac River. The Confederates army was 4 miles from Washington. President Lincoln made mandatory enlistments in New York for 300,000 men needed. The city and harbor ships were rushing to defend Washington. The Saints' had to side step the Civil War. They stayed as far north as possible to make their way to Florence, Nebraska.
The travel and story from the New York Harbor to Florence, Nebraska is as interesting of story as crossing the plains. Analysis of New York City to Florence, Nebraska: Google states it is a 1,243.3 mile journey. New York to Florence, Nebraska is actually a straight line. Today on I-80 it is a 19 hour and 10 minute trip. It took the Saints 8 days primarily by railroads, steamers and ferries. In 1862, the group rode on 7 different railroads, 2 steamers and 2 ferries. Remember they had to load and unload their baggage after each change. A must read is
the "Journal of John Daniel Thompson McAllister". He details their travels. (His spelling is left uncorrected)
" Castle Garden-Saturday 14th June: At 5pm we went to the Hudson River Railroad Station & took a train to Albany. We arrived on Sunday morning at 6 o'clock. Crossed the river & found comfortable quarters at the New York Central Railroad Depot. At 3 pm we held a meeting....instructions & rested. Had sleep.
Monday, June 15th. All in good spirits. A nice cool morning. At 12:40 we took on the New York Central Railroad. We traveled on it to the Suspension Bridge (The Suspension bridge hung over the Niagara River just below Niagara Falls) , hung with lines across the river running below. Niagara Falls 303 miles where we arrived Tuesday, 17th at 10 am stayed here 2 hours & a half & took train on the Great Western Railroad CW for Detroit.
Arrived at Windsor at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Waited there until 9 when we crossed the river by Ferry Boat to Detroit. 299 miles, from Suspension Bridge. At 2 pm we took train on the Michigan Central Railroad. 269 miles to Chicago where we arrived Thursday, the 19th at 4 pm. We then took train to Quincy at 5 pm on the Chicago Burtington & Quincy Railroad. Where we arrived after traveling 269 miles at 4 o'clock pm. On Friday the 20th, at half past 5 pm We went on the Steamer "BlackHawk" down the Mississipii 22 miles to Hannibal, Missouri where we arrived at half past 6 o'clock & boarded the cars & stayed all night.
Saturday, June 21st, at 4 am were started on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad to St. Joseph, 207 miles where we arrived at 5pm. Found comfortable quarters in the freight house by the river...A child died of teething and diaherra just as we landed in St. Joseph. Made arrangeent for a coffin. Sunday buried the child...returned to the freight house. The steamer "Omaha" arrived during the night from Florence.
Monday, June 23rd June 24th. We came aboard... in the middle of the afternoon. We started for Florence. Weather very hot.
Thursday 26th--9 o'clock at night we reached Florence. Was met at the landing by hundreds of Saints who greeted us with cheers & warm shake of hands.
Friday 27th--Moved up to camp ground. Very Hot.
July 5th Moved camp 2 miles farther up creek. July 7th- Lightening strike and 2 killed.
Tragedy strikes the group. Mary Edna Woolley Evans dies on the 16th of July 1862 during the waiting period to cross the plains. John Daniel Thompson McAllister Journal reads: "Wednesday 16th July: Raining in camp all day. Sister Evans was very ill; with her during the day. At half past six o'clock p.m. She died of___. ( couldn't read the writing). Thursday July 17th: Wrote a letter to Brother George Q. Cannon. Buried Sister Mary Evans. She was 54 years of age. The Rest of day busy in camp. At night a storm came. It rained all night." Can you imagine the thoughts of the children while huddled in the tent from rain that night?
Emma becomes the Group Leader. So this group of children (4 females and 1 male) take on the challenges of crossing the plains without a mother or an adult. Although Emma is age 20 and Annie is age 18, these leaders have lived their life in an environment of an English manufacturing city society. Not the frontier rugged life. Don't get me wrong. They are rugged and hardy workers just use to a different environment. Can you imagine the challenges they faced? They travel with the Ansil P. Harmon Company (1862) which departs on the 1st of August 1862. They arrive in Salt Lake City on the 5th October 1862. Older brother David Woolley Evans supports the group after their arrival in the Utah Territory. Actually while the group was traveling on the ship "Manchester" for New York, David gets married to Elizabeth Alldridge on the 30th of June 1862. So the newly weds have a challenge. The group of siblings always expressed much thanks to their brother David and his wife Elizabeth.
HER LIFE STORY IS DEFINED BY ENDURANCE AND
BY HER CHILDREN.
BY CHERYL EVANS FROMM
Mary Edna Woolley was born on the 10th of December 1807 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England. Her parents were John Woolley (1780) and Mary Asterly (1780).
Her husband John Robert Evans was a shoemaker. Her children at a very early age also worked in the making of shoes. While in Louth, Lincolnshire, England she lived 2 door away from her parents-John and Mary Woolley. They at lived on Eastgate. CHILDREN: All Children born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England 1. David Evans (03 April 1831)
2. Jane Evans (19 February 1832-22 February 1832)
3. David Woolley Evans (06 January 1833-05 July 1876)
4. Mary Jane Evans (December 1834-20 November 1849) 5. Stephen Evans (1835-Nov 1849)
6. Fanny Evans (February 1838- 1862)
7. Matilda Evans (November 1839-28 April 1850)
8. Emma E. Evans (26 September 1841-25 October 1905) 9. Annie Evans (01 September 1843-21 January 1910)
10 John Evans (1845)
11. Minerva Evans (1846)
12. Mildred Evans (1848)
13. Arthur James (02 September 1849-26 March 1915)
14. Mary Jane (30 October 1850-08 November 1895)
15. Clara Evans (1852)
She has 15 known biological children plus Amelia "Minnie" Midgley Evans. Legends with in the family suggests: Minnie was left on the doorstep at 3 weeks old in 1858. Mary Edna Woolley Evans was a widow of about a year and 51 years old at the time.
After being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854, she wanted to come to Zion. At the age of 54, Mary Edna and 5 of her children emigrate to the United States on the ship "Manchester". Her little ban of children are: Emma (age 20), Annie (age 18), James (age 12), Mary Jane (age 11) and Amelia Minnie (age 4). The ship "Manchester" was at the Waterloo Dock at Liverpool. Their Captain Trask was busy having the saints get their luggage in at night. One man falls in the water and is rescued by a German Sailor. The Saints had to have their luggage check in and the ship cleaned for the government inspectors. At 3:00 pm on the 6th of May 1862, the ship anchor was raised and a tug pulled the ship out. Within 2 days the seas were rolling and Seasickness had hit. The Saints were lively but sick. A week later the saints were dancing and singing on the deck. They saw whales. They saw 11 icebergs in one day. There was one extremely large iceberg directly in front of the ship. It was a miracle, they missed it. It was 34 day at sea.
They arrives in New York Harbor on 12 June 1862 with the Civil War well under way. It is about one year into the Civil War. The harbor was in the mist of panic. Stonewall Jackson had defeated the North and forced them to retreat across the Potomac River. The Confederates army was 4 miles from Washington. President Lincoln made mandatory enlistments in New York for 300,000 men needed. The city and harbor ships were rushing to defend Washington. The Saints' had to side step the Civil War. They stayed as far north as possible to make their way to Florence, Nebraska.
The travel and story from the New York Harbor to Florence, Nebraska is as interesting of story as crossing the plains. Analysis of New York City to Florence, Nebraska: Google states it is a 1,243.3 mile journey. New York to Florence, Nebraska is actually a straight line. Today on I-80 it is a 19 hour and 10 minute trip. It took the Saints 8 days primarily by railroads, steamers and ferries. In 1862, the group rode on 7 different railroads, 2 steamers and 2 ferries. Remember they had to load and unload their baggage after each change. A must read is
the "Journal of John Daniel Thompson McAllister". He details their travels. (His spelling is left uncorrected)
" Castle Garden-Saturday 14th June: At 5pm we went to the Hudson River Railroad Station & took a train to Albany. We arrived on Sunday morning at 6 o'clock. Crossed the river & found comfortable quarters at the New York Central Railroad Depot. At 3 pm we held a meeting....instructions & rested. Had sleep.
Monday, June 15th. All in good spirits. A nice cool morning. At 12:40 we took on the New York Central Railroad. We traveled on it to the Suspension Bridge (The Suspension bridge hung over the Niagara River just below Niagara Falls) , hung with lines across the river running below. Niagara Falls 303 miles where we arrived Tuesday, 17th at 10 am stayed here 2 hours & a half & took train on the Great Western Railroad CW for Detroit.
Arrived at Windsor at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Waited there until 9 when we crossed the river by Ferry Boat to Detroit. 299 miles, from Suspension Bridge. At 2 pm we took train on the Michigan Central Railroad. 269 miles to Chicago where we arrived Thursday, the 19th at 4 pm. We then took train to Quincy at 5 pm on the Chicago Burtington & Quincy Railroad. Where we arrived after traveling 269 miles at 4 o'clock pm. On Friday the 20th, at half past 5 pm We went on the Steamer "BlackHawk" down the Mississipii 22 miles to Hannibal, Missouri where we arrived at half past 6 o'clock & boarded the cars & stayed all night.
Saturday, June 21st, at 4 am were started on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad to St. Joseph, 207 miles where we arrived at 5pm. Found comfortable quarters in the freight house by the river...A child died of teething and diaherra just as we landed in St. Joseph. Made arrangeent for a coffin. Sunday buried the child...returned to the freight house. The steamer "Omaha" arrived during the night from Florence.
Monday, June 23rd June 24th. We came aboard... in the middle of the afternoon. We started for Florence. Weather very hot.
Thursday 26th--9 o'clock at night we reached Florence. Was met at the landing by hundreds of Saints who greeted us with cheers & warm shake of hands.
Friday 27th--Moved up to camp ground. Very Hot.
July 5th Moved camp 2 miles farther up creek. July 7th- Lightening strike and 2 killed.
Tragedy strikes the group. Mary Edna Woolley Evans dies on the 16th of July 1862 during the waiting period to cross the plains. John Daniel Thompson McAllister Journal reads: "Wednesday 16th July: Raining in camp all day. Sister Evans was very ill; with her during the day. At half past six o'clock p.m. She died of___. ( couldn't read the writing). Thursday July 17th: Wrote a letter to Brother George Q. Cannon. Buried Sister Mary Evans. She was 54 years of age. The Rest of day busy in camp. At night a storm came. It rained all night." Can you imagine the thoughts of the children while huddled in the tent from rain that night?
Emma becomes the Group Leader. So this group of children (4 females and 1 male) take on the challenges of crossing the plains without a mother or an adult. Although Emma is age 20 and Annie is age 18, these leaders have lived their life in an environment of an English manufacturing city society. Not the frontier rugged life. Don't get me wrong. They are rugged and hardy workers just use to a different environment. Can you imagine the challenges they faced? They travel with the Ansil P. Harmon Company (1862) which departs on the 1st of August 1862. They arrive in Salt Lake City on the 5th October 1862. Older brother David Woolley Evans supports the group after their arrival in the Utah Territory. Actually while the group was traveling on the ship "Manchester" for New York, David gets married to Elizabeth Alldridge on the 30th of June 1862. So the newly weds have a challenge. The group of siblings always expressed much thanks to their brother David and his wife Elizabeth.
Gravesite Details
"July 16th at half past six o'clock p.m. She died at a camp near Florence, Douglas , Nebraska."
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