Mary Sabin Powell's Story ... continued

page 16

When we arrived in Immigration Canyon we were met by Pres. Young and several members of the quorum, of the twelve apostles. They arrived in wagons drawn by oxen and mules. We halted, they served us melons. Pres. Young told us to eat moderately of the melon, to eat the pink, not to eat the green. Father said he was quite sensible.

My little sister, Annie, age four, had been promised a big piece of bread and butter when she should reach the valley. Just as we were lined up to hear a few words from Bro. Brigham Young, a lady held up a large piece of bread. Annie ran toward her. "That's my piece of bread and butter!" she cried joyously. At the sight of this Pres. Young wept. "God bless the child," said he. There were tears in the eyes of the people from the valley but there were only dry eyes among us who had just arrived. Pres. Young said he could defer his remarks until a little later.

That afternoon we went down into Salt Lake Valley. We camped on the square in the sixteenth ward, remaining there from Friday night until Monday morning. Bro. Brigham Young came and spoke to us. He told us that we had fulfilled a prophecy. He also said that although we had endured privations and hunger on the plains we should never again feel the pangs of starvation if we would do right and live right.

On Monday morning a man came to the camp grounds. Said he, "I've a little one room log house down in the Fifteenth Ward. I was going to move it away for a stable but if you wish to use it you may."
"What will be the rent?" asked Father.
"One dollar and a half a month," said he.
We moved into this place. Bro. Nelson Empey loaned us three chairs. Bro. Thomas loaned us a chair and a table. Bro. Grenic loaned us a bedstead.

I did not remain at home. I went to work for some people from London, situated between the Gardo House and the Theater. The man was know as Clive the Tailor. I worked for these people for five weeks. They did not pay me one cent. On pretext of being afraid food might harm me, (due to my scanty living on the plains,) they did not let me have half enough to eat.

Father took his tools and put in a day's work on the Temple. Thus the promise made to him by L.D.S. Elders in Wales, that he should go to Utah and work on the Temple, was fulfilled.

Exactly two weeks after our arrival in Salt Lake City, Father died. I had been home to see him but once during these two weeks. He died Friday afternoon and was buried about noon Saturday.

From The Church News June 13, 1970.
June 9, 1856, Iowa City, Iowa -
The first handcart company to move west from Iowa City was the English Company commanded by Capt. Edmund Ellsworth. Two days later the Scotch group directed by Capt. Daniel McArthur left ...

Sept.26, Salt Lake City -
The first two companies of handcart pioneers entered Salt Lake City after completing their journey from Iowa City Iowa, in 77 days. The two companies were under the direction of Capt. Edmund Ellsworth and Daniel D. McArthur and consisted of 497 people with 100 handcarts, five wagons, 24 oxen, four mules, and 25 tents.
They were greeted here by the First Presidency, a brass band, a company of lancers, and a large group of citizens.

John Powell's eldest son William was sixteen years old when the family crossed the plains. Years later, it was said that William was so excited when he saw the Salt Lake Valley that he ran ahead, pulling his handcart, and so was the first person from that company to enter Salt Lake City.
This was the first handcart company and William pulled the first handcart into the valley.

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