Among the many interesting accounts of the journey down to Dixie during the 1860s,is that of Elizabeth Walker. In her diary she said:“that when they reached the south end of the Great Salt Lake Valley,the Captain of the company went through all the wagons and threw out everything that he thought the people could get along without,in order to lighten the loads,as the roads to Dixie were much harder to travel than those into the Salt Lake Valley back in 1847. But,as soon at the Captain’s back was turned they went and gathered most of their possessions up again as they knew that they would need everything they could possibly carry along.”
Quite a number of Swiss emigrants,who were without wagons,were sent on to Dixie upon their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley.
In order to transport them to their destination,they would be met by wagons from one town and taken to the next,where they were transferred again. On arriving at St. George,most of the other families had lived in their wagon boxes until they could build homes,but since these people had no wagon boxes,they were forced to build wigwams of willows.
“Real troubles began,”wrote one daughter,“when the persistent rains set in and the willows were of no avail. Uncle John had built a shelter of posts and willows which he plastered inside and out with mud,and he invited us to stay with him until the rain stopped. We were very crowded but at least we could keep dry.”
The wife of Zadack Judd wrote concerning their travel to Dixie said:“One night there was so much snow we couldn’t start a fire. We had a heavy hill to get up with our weak team. Brother Judd drove the cows up first to break the trail and then came back and drove the team up the hill while I blocked the wagon wheels so they could stop and rest. The wind blew as we neared the top of the hill so that we could hardly see. It was a great relief when we started down the grade on the south side toward Santa Clara. An Indian appeared at our camp and we gave him a note to Jacob Hamblin telling him to come to our assistance with two yoke of cattle.”
She went on to say,“At one place several Indians appeared and followed us for a time. Mr. Judd urged on the cows and I urged on the team,keeping close to him. The Indians began to drop off one by one. When we came to a bad hill we had to carry up part of our provisions. The Indians assisted by carrying sacks of flour. I must say I was surprised to get the flour back again. On the other side we met Hamblin coming to our assistance.”
These experiences of a few of these Dixie bound wayfarers are typical of the many who crossed the trails south from Salt Lake. It should be said that only the toughest of pioneers came to Southern Utah,and the toughest of the tough stayed.
In other words weak men wait for opportunities;strong men make them.
