JOSEPH HANCOCK

Joseph is a son of Thomas Hancock and Amy Ward. He was born in Old Springfield, Hampden, Mass. March 17, 1800. When he was very young, his parents moved to Rutland, Vermont. The stay was brief and then moved to Ontario County New York to the towns of Bristol, Pitts Town, Bloomfield, Wolcott, and Manchester. In 1819 they moved to Chagrin, Cayahoga County Ohio.

The parents, devout Christians, made the study of the Bible a regular occurrence and helped to explain it to their children, being taught at a young age. They attended the Methodist Church.

The family was very talented as most could play musical instruments, sing and write songs or poetry. They were taught the need for respect to their God and to be quiet and listen to the minister. They had prayer each night.

Joseph worked with his father on the farm helping to produce from the soil food and clothing for their family. He learned responsibility by need and example. He had very little schooling but learned the lessons nature did provide him in the wilds of Vermont and New York. He fished from the streams and hunted for animals which they ate for food and raiment. He was a student of human nature through the contact they had with their fellow man and from Christian principles.

At age 23 Joseph left the family and built a family foundation of his own like that of his parents. He married a girl in the neighboring town of Farmington. His first wife's name was Betsy Johnson, daughter of John Johnson and Rhoda Burgey, which were members in the same church. They begot five children, Namely:

(1) Solomon - - Md. Eliza Jane Thompson. He was baptized when young but did not gather with the Church. Died in Iowa and left three children; Solomon Hancock, Wilson Hancock, Mavimia Hancock.

(2) Joseph; (3) Eli Hancock; (4) Clarissa Hancock; (5) Cordelia Hancock.

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored by Joseph Smith Jr the entire Hancock family were converted and baptized into it within the year it was organized, 1830. Both Joseph and Betsy were baptized in Mayfield, Ohio by Daniel Stanton and he received a Certificate of Membership from the Clerk, Newell K. Whitney. The certificate stated that the church was organized according to law and that Joseph Hancock was a member. He carried the certificate the rest of his life in all his wandering and journeys.

Thomas Hancock and Joseph Smith Sr. were good friends in Vermont and in New York. Both were good farmers and good Christian people. Joseph too was a good friend of Joseph Smith Jr. and was looked up to as an older ideal in hunting and fishing, also the sports of youth and playing on Manchester Hill (Hill Cumorah).

Betsy died only a short few months after they had joined the new church, so was spared many trials and suffering for their new religion. She died on the farm in Ohio. Her young children ranged from 3 years to six with little Cordelia preceding her in death. Eli was taken care of by his grandmother Amy Ward Hancock. When Joseph moved to Kirtland, his sister Clarissa Alger cared for them as her own.

In May of 1833 Joseph Smith Jr. received a revelation of the Lord "to build a Temple there" and on July 23, the foundation for the Temple was laid. Joseph Hancock gave of his time freely to haul stone to help complete this sacred edifice. Joseph was a brick maker and engaged in this occupation till he was called to join Zion’s Camp.

While the Kirtland Temple construction was going on, many of the saints gathered to Missouri at Jackson County having been designated to be the Church Center by Joseph Smith and had built several cities and purchased many acres of land.

Many of the old settlers of Missouri were of the lawless element, shiftless, and lazy, of the ignorant class. All those Missourians who were under General Kearney of the Army of the West couldn't write their name. Some had come west to the edge of civilization to escape punishment of the law because of crimes and should an officer come after them, it was a simple matter to cross the border of the U.S. to safety. They were most upholders of slavery and because the Mormon people never believed in slavery it once again was an item of contention. They also became concerned because of the numbers of Mormons to appear on the scene and buying land. They became openly antagonistic about their politics and voting power. Consequently the Mormon people were bullied and mobbed, some were whipped with bull whips or cat o'nine tails and driven from their homes, homes too were pulled down or burned, animals and crops were destroyed.

Lyman Wight and Parley P. Pratt came as messengers from Missouri to Kirtland, Ohio to find out what they should do? Upon their report the Prophet burst into tears expressing, "my brethren, my brethren, would that I had been with you to share your fate. Almighty God, what shall we do in a trial such as this"? The answer came that the men needed to be organized and march to the relief of the Missouri Saints. Thus the call was made for Zion’s Camp.

Joseph Hancock was one of the first to volunteer, for many of Joseph's relatives had gathered to Missouri. Alvah and his sister Sarah Crandall, and Solomon and families were there. His desire was to help them. From Kirtland to Missouri was a thousand miles and not an easy journey. It broke his heart to leave his little ones so soon after burying their mother. He left them in the care of his sister Clarissa and left on the errand of the Lord and the devotion to his kin.

Those volunteers to go to Missouri were to meet at New Portage, about sixty miles from Kirtland. They met and left May 8, 1834 with near 150 men. They organized under military command with the Prophet himself their leader. As they marched through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois they were joined by more men and by the time they reached the borders of Missouri, there were over 200 men. The wagons were laden heavily with relief for the Missouri Saints.

The march was not a picnic for the roads were poor in the spring of the year. There was a great deal of mud to go through. Tents were pitched each night and prayers were said and instruction given. On Sundays the camp rested and spiritual meetings were held.

They were often annoyed by their enemies but they were protected. In Middlebury, the people tried to court them but the Lord multiplied their number and the people always counted more than there actually were.

After they had crossed the Wabash River and marched to the next camp, it was a very dry area and the camp was a dry camp, even the canteens were empty for they had marched all that day without water. When the tents were pitched for the night, the Prophet asked for a spade and dug into the sand and the hole filled with water immediately and all were refreshed. Joseph Hancock came back by this same way and saw the dry empty hole in the ground.

The 14^th of June, Joseph and a companion were chased most of that day by four men on horseback with guns but they went into the thicket and heavy brush where the horses couldn't go and made their escape.

After the camp crossed the Mississippi River they rested in a little Mormon Settlement named Allred near Salt River, Missouri. Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt were sent from here to Jefferson City to request help from Governor Duncan. The Governor acknowledged their claims but would do nothing for them and further advised them to give up their land and leave the country.

When the Governors report reached the Prophet he said, "like Abraham’s possession in Canaan, we shall hold our possession in Jackson County and if we fail, it will be good burial ground for our bones". He then called upon God of our fathers, to witness justice of our cause and the sincerity of our vows which we engaged to fulfill, whether in this life or the life to come. For as God lives, truth, justice, and innocence shall triumph and iniquity shall not reign. The Camp once more moved with inspiration and renewed determination.

19 June the Camp passed through Richmond and they expected to reach Clay County that night. They were so greatly hindered by an accident that they camped on the hill for the night between the two forks of Fishing River in Ray County. This stream normally measures six inches in depth in each of its branches at the road crossing. Just as the tents were pitched, there arose such a storm seldom witnessed on this earth. The wind blew and the lightening flashed and the thunder roared with terrific sound. The earth then seemed to tremble and the rains and the floods descended witnessed by the 200 men. Great hail stones destroyed corn in the fields and the leaves of the trees. The tents were blown down or away and some of the men were in six to eight inches of water before they realized it and took shelter in a nearby meetinghouse.

The river rose to forty foot in depth and was impossible to cross. The mob which had been following the movements of Zion’s Camp scattered in the storm and confusion. The Lord had preserved his people from these enemies, thus in modern Israel the Lord went before Zion’s Camp and just as the Lord delivered Israel in the days of Moses and the Red Sea, dividing the waters so they could cross and then closing the waters about their pursuers so they drowned, so were they delivered by waters piling up in the Fishing River to a height of forty feet in one night and many of their pursuers were drowned also.

A group of men from Jackson County assembled in Liberty, Missouri with about fifteen from Independence to arouse the people to take up arms and assemble a large enough group to destroy "Joe Smith" and his company. One of their leaders named James Campbell said with an oath, "The eagles and turkey buzzards shall eat my flesh, if I do not fix Joe Smith and his army so their skins will not hold shucks (corn) before two days are passed". As he and his companions were crossing the river that night, their boat sunk and seven of them drowned. One of them was James Campbell and his body was discovered three weeks later lodged in a pile of driftwood and his flesh had been eaten off his bones by eagles and turkey buzzards.

Near this time amid trials and hardship, hearts became troubled and murmuring began, with fault finding and insubordination being exhibited. The Prophet and Leader begged them to cease this evil practice and prophesied that if they didn't a scourge would come upon them. A short time later Cholera fell among the camp fulfilling Joseph's prophecy. The innocent suffered with the disobedient. 15 or 20 became afflicted and 14 died. When the disease first appeared, John S. Carter took steps to rebuke the disease and he was seized upon and died becoming the first victim of the Camp.

Joseph Hancock also contracted the disease about the 21^st of June and was administered to by Joseph Smith and in his blessing the promise was given of him, "to live to be an old man or as long as he cared to live on the earth. That his name should be Nimrod and would be a mighty hunter for the Saints of God". It literally came true; Joseph lived to be past 93 years and the day he died he said, "I feel tired and have lived long enough. He retired to his room and laid down and went to a happy peaceful sleep for when they went in to him, there was a slight grin on his lips.

Joseph was nursed by his brother, Levi Ward Hancock and later by another brother, Solomon Hancock, which was living in Missouri at the time. Levi's journal; I was left alone with my brother Joseph and such a time I never thought to endure or thought I could endure it. It was one continual call for me day or night. I want this, I want that, am I going to die? I must die Levi. No you shan't die and I would administer to him and rebuke the destroyer. Darkness would sometimes come over me like smoke. I could get no rest or sleep and when I reached a point where I thought I could endure no more, Brother David Evans came to me. He was taking care of Thomas Hayes.

He proposed that we work together so he and I could get some rest. I did really feel to rejoice and we tended them in this manner for some time. I would shoot squirrels and make a broth f or them and it would go right through like quicksilver. I was astonished when my brother came and took Joseph off my hands.

Erastus Harper Rudd was one who died of Cholera 26 June 1834 about 6:30 in the afternoon. He had a large family which would mourn his loss. He was buried by Jesse Smith and George A. Smith about a half mile from camp and as they buried him Jesse Smith was attacked by the disease. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "God has decreed that sickness should come upon the camp and if you do not repent and humble yourselves before God, you shall die like sheep with the rot. I am sorry but I cannot help it. The Scourge must come, repentance and humility may mitigate the chastisement but it cannot altogether avert it. Some of you would not give any heed to my word".

It was impossible to obtain coffins so the dead were buried in their blankets and carried on a horse drawn sled a mile away and buried after dark on the bank of a small stream which emptied into Rush Creek. So great was the tears of their fellow men that Heber C. Kimball said the dead might have been washed with their tears. Ten had died and the Prophet was so touched that he stepped forward to rebuke the destroyer and was immediately seized and it was with great difficulty that he walked to his bed.

At this time, Heber C. Kimball walked into the woods to pray and while praying, he too was stricken and was struck blind. The Camp unitedly covenanted to keep the commandments of God and prayed for the disease to be lifted from them. While in the attitude of prayer, one of the members was seized and passed away, but not another case appeared. The enemy was still rampaging about and all that held them in check was this disease even so, while digging the graves someone stood guard as a sentry with a fire arm.

The Prophet received a revelation to disband the camp, that it wasn't Gods desire to have them fight, for they must wait for a time before Zion should be redeemed. Had its members not murmured or the Governor to have rendered aid, the story of Zion's Camp might be very different. "Like Abraham of old, their offering had been accepted. They had been sifted and from these ranks of the Camp, God's choicest servants were later to be chosen as the first Apostles in this dispensation.

Joseph returned home to his motherless children and later in the year, he married Erastus Harper Rudd's widow. Joseph Hancock and Experience (Wheeler) (Rudd) were married in Kirtland. Experience Wheeler was born in 1792 at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, the daughter of Randall Wheeler and Experience Alden. She had married 28 November 1816 to Erastus in Pennsylvania.

Experience (Wheeler) Rudd was left with a large family, eleven in number, (1) Erastus H. Rudd, Born 22 Sep. 1816 in Springfield, Erie Co. Penn. and Died 28 May 1863 in Farmington, Davis Co. Utah and Md. Eliza Hancock, daughter of Solomon Hancock, 20 May 1838. (2) Fanny Maria Rudd, Born 9 Feb. 1819 in Springfield, Erie Co. Penn and Died 28 May 1863 in Placerville, El Dorado, Calif. Md. Lorenzo Spencer. (3) Celina Maria Rudd, Born 20 Oct 1820 and Died 20 Nov. 1820 at Springfield, Erie, Penn. (4) Ozro Wheeler Rudd born 20 Nov. 1821 at Springfield, Erie, Penn. and Died 4 Aug. 1851 in Liberty, Clay Co. Missouri. Married Jane Spencer 26 July 1840 in Liberty, Missouri. (5) Amander Franklin Rudd born 6 Dec. 1824 in Pa. and Died 29 Oct. 1900 in Dow City, Crawford, Iowa. Md. Elvira Louisa Chandler 12 Aug. 1846 in Council Bluff, Pott. Iowa. (6)[TWIN] - Evalene Rudd born 16 Jan. 1824 at Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire and Died in 1903. Md. (?) Hogsboam. (7) [TWIN] - Lorenzo Dow Rudd born 16 Jan 1824. Died 20 March 1911 (living in Salt Lake in 1851) Md. Julia K. Felshaw 19 June 1853. (8) [TWIN] – Orlando Francisco Rudd born 2 May 1826 in Chesterfield, N.H. Died 23 Jan. 1908 in Oroville, Butte, Ca. Md. (?). (9) [TWIN} – Alma Sophia Rudd born 2 May 1826. Died in 1900. Md. (?) Gillon. (10) Palulas Emilius A. Rudd born in 1828 at Chesterfield, Pa. and died 1862 (no other info). (11) [TWIN] – Eliza Amanda Melvina Rudd born 6 Dec. 1829 in Springfield, Erie, Pa. Died in 1895. Md. Craig (?). (12)[TWIN] - John Randall Rudd born 6 Dec. 1829 and Died in Dow City, Iowa. Md. Seralda Jordan 18 April 1853 at Gallands Grove, Iowa. (13) [TWIN] - Sidney Rigdon Rudd born 22 June 1832 at Springfield, Erie, Pa. Died 6 Aug. 1910 Village Niobrara, Knox, Neb. Md. Mary Feather in 1864. (14) [TWIN] - Mortimer Wilson Rudd born 22 June 1832 at Springfield. Md. (?) Thornton. (15) Cicelia Amantha Rudd born 1834 at Springfield, Erie, Pa. (no other info).

An important meeting was called for all members of Zion's Camp to be in attendance, Saturday 14 February 1835 and from this group the twelve Apostles were chosen and two weeks later Joseph was Ordained a Seventy by Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon. It was to the First Quorum of Seventies and he was directed to preach the gospel under the direction of the Twelve Apostles to all the world.

Joseph and Experience were married in Kirtland and gathered with the Saints and their kin to Clay County Missouri in 1835. There were 13 in number and Amy Hancock was born 12 May 1835. She was the only child they begot and was born in Liberty. She was named for her mother and Joseph's mother, "Amy Experience".

They were received kindly in Clay County and for a time were unmolested, but the Missourians again became prejudiced toward them and were forced by mobs to Caldwell County. Joseph purchased eighty acres next to Solomon’s land on Shoal Creek, not far from Hauns Mill. Joseph received title to it and the Deed read: West Half of the Southwest Quarter of Section No. 5 - Township No. 56 - North of the Base line and West of the Fifth Principle Meridian. Range 29 containing eighty acres to be the same, more or less. County of Caldwell, State of Missouri.

In the Missouri War starting at Par West in 1838, they were driven from their home and land and stated they suffered a loss of $4200.00 financially. Joseph with Ozro Rudd and Lorenzo Spencer trekked 200 miles in a northerly direction through a trackless prairie to Iowa at a place called Montrose and there selected a home site.

In Montrose he once again enjoyed comfort and contentment, brought by hard labor. He enjoyed the Saints across the river at Nauvoo and once again the Prophet of God, Joseph Smith Jr. The Church grew in numbers and blessings. They were building another Temple and Joseph and Experience were able to enjoy the Sacred Blessings of the Temple 2 February 1846.

The dark clouds of evil again gathered and rumblings of prejudice were heard. Also internal strife was becoming a major factor. Like a mighty deluge the Church was caught and enveloped in darkness and apostasy, the mighty torrents of persecution fell upon the Saints. The apostates became the bitterest enemy of the Saints. Joseph became like the "Master of Old", he knew not whom to trust or call friend.

On the night of June 22, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum crossed the river, fleeing from enemies to trusted friends, to the home of Joseph Hancock. They began pulling their plan to go West together, to go forth into the wilderness to find a place of safety for the Saints. Joseph Hancock had been chosen by the Prophet Joseph Smith JR to go with him as a hunter, into the "Wilderness". Joseph Hancock had been named "Nimrod" in the blessing by Joseph Smith Jr. in Missouri. Joseph Smith trusted Joseph as a friend and knew of his ability in the wilderness both as a hunter and fisherman and as a frontiersman.

Joseph Smith had made a prophecy in 1842, "The Saints will suffer much persecution and affliction and will flee to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people". Heber C. Kimball had also said, "The Saints will not long remain in this place".

Three men came looking for Joseph Smith and upon finding him entreated Joseph and Hyrum to return and said, you are leaving the sheep to the wolves. A discussion ensued and Hyrum wished to return to face the charges and Joseph knew they wanted him, tried to get Hyrum to go on with the group, but Hyrum said, I'll go with you. Ultimately Joseph said, "I must go back - - If my life is of no value to my friends, it is of no value to me. I go like a lamb to the slaughter but with a conscience void of offense toward all men".

Experience hurriedly made biscuits for the Prophet and his friends. It was a sad farewell. Joseph accompanied them to the boat at the river and they departed. Joseph stood on the bank watching their progress toward Nauvoo with a heart throbbing, head bowed in sorrow and a silent prayer. He saw them alive no more but wept as a child with grief as he viewed their lifeless bodies in death.

The two brothers were murdered 27 June 1844 by a mob who rushed the jail with faces blackened. Joseph and Hyrum had been promised protection by Governor Ford of Illinois, yet he left for Nauvoo and disbanded the troops and was returning when the deed was carried out. The mob then ran in fear of being pursued by the Mormons in retribution, but no one came. John Taylor said, "We will suffer wrong rather than do wrong". The Saints came to realize that they became "Martyrs" sealing their testimony with their blood to the truthfulness of the works he had brought forth by the direction of the "Living God".

Brigham Young saw that it was useless to try and live in peace in Illinois, but the Temple had to be completed and he set to work with a determination to see this project Joseph Smith Jr. had felt so strongly to do. The Temple was to perform Earthly Ordinances for Spiritual realities, a place where God could lay his head. It was dedicated as each part became finished and could be used by the Saints. The building was dedicated the evening of April 30th and again the next day.

Part of the Saints started to leave the previous February and another group April 1^st and most of the spring. On Sept. 12 those which remained were driven out of Nauvoo, most crossed the Mississippi River. This latter was the poor, elderly, and large families and were dispossessed with few necessities, creating a destitute village of camps on the west side of the river. Through their faith and prayers, thousands of quail came to their camps and in their tents and even into their beds which they were able to catch and eat for food. In the Church of Jesus Christ this is known as, "the miracle of the quail".

It had been decided to select 3000 men and families to go west during the winter of 1845. Joseph Hancock was one of the first selected. All winter preparations were made to go West. The move began 4 February and the exodus was likened to the children of Israel when they fled from the oppression of Egypt. They were also going into the wilderness to the promised land and when Brigham said, "To your tents o' Israel", they knew they had another Moses to lead them.

Joseph and Experience and part of their children were willing followers enduring the cold, snow, rain, and mud across the plains of Iowa. On the 24^th of April they reached a place they called Garden Grove which had fertile land. They built fences around it and sowed it to grain and built a few cabins and left someone in charge and then continued on. Joseph and Experience went to Mount Pisgah farther along the trail and again established another camp and planted acres and a few cabins with someone left in charge. These were being established for the Saints who were to follow, they might get food, rest and make the necessary repairs before continuing on to Council Point.

In July of 1846 their journey was interrupted by an army courier. He was Captain James Allen and had a requisition of 500 men to become Army recruits to fight against Mexico. He was given a letter of introduction and instructed to go to Council Point on the Missouri River where Brigham Young was. The need was met and by so doing, procured permission to remain on Indian Lands till the return of their men. They set to work to make it a more habitable place through the winter and make a ferry across the river. The place became known as Winter Quarters.

He was in Brigham Young's pioneer party, that made the first long trek to the mountains and the great unknown, the west of 1847. Preparations were made to blaze the trail for the other Saints to follow 17 April 1847. It was to be in Military Order with Brigham Young as Lieutenant General; Steven Markham as Colonel; John Pack and Shadrach Roundy as Majors; Thomas Bullock was the camp Clerk. Thomas Tanner was the Captain. There were 13 tens with a similar rank over each ten. Joseph Hancock was in the 12^th ten, Norton Jacobs was their Captain.

There were 144 in the company, but Ellis Eames returned after two days out. The train was made up of 138 men, 3 women, 2 children, 72 wagons, 93 horses, 52 mules, 66 oxen, 19 cows, 17 dogs, and a few chickens. On the 25^th of April, Brigham Young gave additional instructions and again it was decided that part of the hunters should ride the eight horses not being used in the teams and hunt buffalo and other game. To ride were Thomas (?Wilkey), Thomas Brown, John Brown, Porter Rockwell, John Higbee, Joseph Mathews, and two others. Eleven were to hunt on foot; John Pack, Phineas Young, Tarlton Lewis, Joseph Hancock, Edmund Ellsworth, Roswell Stevens, Edson Whipple, Barnabas L. Adams, B.F. Stewart, Jackson Reading, and Eric Oliver.

Joseph's task of the journey was of Scout and Hunter of that party. On May 2^nd it was very cold freezing ice in the camp near a half-inch thick and Joseph never came in. There was great anxiety about his welfare, however he came into camp with the report he had killed a buffalo about sundown and there were many wolves in the area and I elected to remain with the Buffalo. It was four miles from camp and a number of men took a wagon and went and got the animal. He was almost always ahead of them and furnished them with about 25,000 pounds of meat from deer, elk, antelope, buffalo and etc.

Their supplies were exhausted and he left camp early one morning, climbing to the top of a ridge and continued to the top of the mountain. He was resting and surveying his surroundings in the clear mountain air. He saw part of the Salt Lake Valley. Toward evening on top of the ridge he had climbed was a nice elk and was able to kill it. He proceeded to clean it and removed its legs and head to make it lighter and with a great deal of effort pulled it down the hill and then he got it on his back and proceeded to carry it as he struggled wearily along. He came to a creek that he could not wade through and so he paralleled it for a ways and came to a beaver dam which he attempted to cross and as he was a little past half way it gave out from under him and he lit a straddle of a log. The elk also slipped from his shoulders and was being supported by the logs. He leaned his head back on the elk and was almost instantly asleep.

When daylight came, he hadn't quite wakened when he heard the crowing of the camp roosters just a short distance below him. He struggled to get his balance and pulled the elk on across the beaver dam and signaled the camp he was coming in with game. The camp had passed by during the day and they had not seen one another. Joseph felt he had been detained by the kind hand of providence instead of making fruitless exertions. Some of the early risers of the camp came and helped prepare the elk for cooking. He killed another elk above the present Ensign

Peak a few days later and pulled it down to the creek and dressed it and stayed there till the group came the next morning to the valley.

After the arrival of the pioneers, Joseph Hancock and Lewis Barney was assigned to go into the mountains and look at the timber. The 26th they did this and found there was an abundance of good timber, principally pine, balsam, fir, and cottonwood, however it would be hard to get out. While exploring along the Jordan River, Joseph became captured by Indians but he was released without harm.

There was land being designated to various members near the selected Temple Site and Joseph was given a site there as an inheritance. In the fall of the year, 1847, many were planning to return to his home in the East at Winter Quarters. Joseph anticipating the long walk home traded a gun to an Indian for a horse, but no ammunition. A few days later the Indian brought the gun back and demanded the horseback. Many of the Mormon Battalion boys

having been discharged had arrived in the Valley and they too were preparing to return to Winter Quarters. Our group to return consisted of Norton Jacobs, John Wheeler, John W. Horton, Joseph Hancock, Lewis Barney, Thomas Brown and five from the Mormon Battalion.

A letter of instruction from Brigham Young was dated August 11, 1847 and in part follows; Select Norton Jacobs your leader and follow council implicitly. Be prudent, patient, and prayerful. Listen to Council and obey it. If you do these things, you will be blessed and we will again be with you. As soon as you arrive at good hunting country, stay and hunt to supply the ox team company that will follow you in a few days and then you won't be detained by hunting, but pursue your journey speedily to the buffalo country on the Platte River. - Brigham Young.

The company soon departed and the distance to their loved ones diminished. On Sept. 9 they arrived at Deer Creek and killed an elk and on the 24^th they killed a buffalo which was fortunate for their supply was getting short. Joseph had many hardships and hunger too on the return to Winter Quarters. Experience had gone to visit her family and had not yet returned when Joseph got there, but was not well when she returned. This, coupled with poor circumstances, they were unable to go West right away.

In 1848 he moved his family to Big Grove, Iowa and in 1851 they emigrated to Utah to his Temple Site but during the interim, it had been claimed by another. Greatly disappointed they continued on to Provo. His wife, Experience immediately took ill and died and was buried at Provo, October 1851.

Being a hunter and a scout, he went to Oregon in 1852 and when he came back, he went to California at San Bernadino and lived with his two sons by his first wife for 10 years. Joseph then returned to Payson, Utah and to Iowa and then returned where his daughter Amy was. She was now the wife of George W. Hancock and lived with her for 11 years. He passed away July 5th, 1893 at 93 years, 3 mo. 19 days.