Archives West Finding Aid

The diary begins on page 5 (pages 1-4 are missing in the original), dated 22 July 1846 at Council Bluffs. The first entry describes the problems of tent living in the wind and storms of the day. Mary records the hardships of camp life--people living in tents and wagons, pouring rains that keep the bedding and clothing wet, and sickness and death. She describes nursing the sick and discusses letters and presents sent by her husband. Also mentioned are household tasks such as knitting, washing, baking, cooking, sewing, and straw braiding for hats and baskets. She tells of washing a floor "which was the first one I have washed since the first of April." This probably dates the approximate time of the departure of Mary and her family from Nauvoo. Mary lived in a tent from 19 May 1846 to 1 May 1847. Upon moving into a house she writes: "The weather windy. Washed and scoured all the tin ware, knives, etc, also the shirts boxes, shelves and the floor...got all things fixed in order. I put on a clean dress and sat down, and our little house seemed to me almost like a palace. I rejoiced to think that after passing through such a dreary winter living in a tent, and wandering from house to house to keep from perishing with the cold, suffering almost every inconvenience and often very unpleasant feelings I had once more a place I could call my home." The diary ends on 14 May 1848 with her record of a speech by Brigham Young. Persons referred to in the diary include Ezra Taft Benson, Joseph Cain, Edward Hunter, Orson Hyde, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Franklin D. Richards, Levi Richards, Rhoda Richards, Samuel Whitney Richards, Willard Richards, George A. Smith, Daniel Spencer, John Taylor, John VanCott, Wilford Woodruff, Brigham Young, Joseph Young, and William Young.