ABRIDGED
HISTORY
OF
THE SALMON RIVER MISSION
By
David Moore
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| Fort Limhi in 1900 |
April Conference of the Year 1855 - There was called 27 Elders of the Church,
commonly known as the Mormon Church, to go North as far as the Flathead Country
if the missionaries thought it wisdom to do so, they were left to use their
best judgement (sic) in regard to location, the object of said mission was to
endeavor (sic) to get the Indians to cease their wars with each other and
killing the white emigrants passing through their Country and to turn their
minds and time to agriculture instead of hunting and fishing and also to teach
them the principles of Gospel of Salvation.
The missionaries all got to Bear River ferry on the l9th day of May
about 10 a.m. (Saturday).
John Simpson owned the ferry and gave
us the use of his boat free to ferry over our wagons and ourselves, our Cattle
had (to) swim over the River, this took most of the day. We camped at night a few rods above the
ferry, during the early evening Enoch Reese's 60 for Carson's Valley came up
& camped near by.
Sunday Morning, May 20, 1855
- The Company of missionaries were organized (sic) by,
1. Thos S. Smith, the President of the Mission,
as follows:
2. Francillo Durfey of Weber County, U.T. - Capt
3. William Burgess, S.L. County - Lieut
4. David Moore, W. County - Clerk &
historian
5. Benj. F. Cummings, W. County - Sergt of the
Guard
The following is from S.L. County:
6. Thomas Butterfield
7. William S. Brundge
8. William H. Batchelor
9. Ira Ames Jr.
10. Iaac (sic) Shepherd
From Davis County:
11. Ezra J. Barnard
12. Israel J. Clark
13. Charles Dalton
14. G.R. Grant
From
Weber County:
15. T.G. Taylor
16. Geo W. Hill
17. Gilbert Belnap
18. Joseph Parry
19. Nathaniel Leavitt
20. J.W. Browning
21. John Galliher
22. William Burch
23. Charles McGary
24. David H. Stephens
25. Baldwin H. Watts
Box Elder County:
26. Abraham Zundel
27. Everett Lish
1855, Thursday, May 24, 9 a.m.
- Left our camp ground, travelled ten miles and camped for night near the old
fort of Bear River, from here we travelled up the Malad Valley and over a small
divide and camped in a little round Valley.
25th - Rain early in the
Morning 8 a.m. Commenced snowing very
fast - continued to storm most all day.
Snow fell about 8 inches deep.
26 - Left camp ground and
passed over the West Mountain by a new route North of the old road, then down a
Crooked Creek to near Bannock Creek.
From here we continued on to Fortneuf Bridge. Arriving there at 10 a.m. for that day.
28th
- Several of the Missionaries wrote letters to their families. Some of the company visited fort Hall, an old
Indian trading post built by the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Fort Hall is built of adobies (sic) on a
square. The doors of the several doors
of the dwellings facing in on the open square.
The fort was kept very clean by the direction of Mr. Sinclair the clerk
of the company. Fort Hall is situated on the south bank of Snake River, about 6
or 7 miles below Blackfoot Butte.
May 29, 1855 - Travelled from Fortneuf Bridge to Snake River. Obtained the use
of a large flat boat from McArthur & Hugo to ferry ourselves and wagon,
over the Snake River by repairing said boat, found the boat very Much out of
repair. Had to get tools from fort Hall
to repair it.
May 30
- Two Banock Indians and a Squaw Came to our Camp today again. They have camped near us for 3 nights. Geo. W. Hill talked to them in the Shoshone tongue,
which they understood, and about 6 o'clock p.m., G.W. Hill baptised the two
Indians & Squaw. Their names are
Warrahoop, Jochick (males) & Chumi female.
They were confirmed by B.F. Cummings, I.J. Clark, and Nathaniel
Leavitt. After the Confirmation the
infant son of Warrahoop was blessed by the said 3 brethren.
Hugo and another mountaineer came up from Fort
Hall and talked to the Indians and wanted them to leave but they would
not. All the mountaineers was anxious to
find out our business.
Friday, June 1st 1855- Commenced to ferry over our wagon over Snake
River. We have 11 wagons, 46 oxen, 21
Cows, 7 horses & 3 dogs. Swam our
cattle. Indians Swiming (sic) their
horses and guiding the cattle. After the
stock was all over, one cow swam back over the river again. Warrahoop seeing the cows go back, swam his
horse over again and soon had the cow back in the herd. This act was of great asstance (sic) to us.
All now being over Snake River safe, some yoked
up the oxen while others made a raft.
Took the ferry boat, Indians & raft back to the East side of Snak(e)
river and came up Snake River a short distance and camped for the night.
2-8
- Commenced our journey up Snake River and arrived at the big bend on Snake
River & passed North of Market Lake to Medicine lodge or Camach Creek. There is no road to guide us today, all rock
and sand and sagebrush. Passed on to
Muddy Lake about l0 miles farther and camped again.
Started early in the Morning, D. Moore &
B.F. Cummings rode ahead of the train.
All sagebrush and no trail - hard on man and beast, no water for 20
miles. They arived (sic) at a large
creek which we named Spring Creek about 1 p.m.
June 8th, 55 - The train did not arrive at the creek until 5 o'clock p.m. (this
creek heads near the divide of Salmon River).
All the teamsters and teams were sorely in need of water. During this day Wm Burgess and G.R. Grant
were sick from the heat and thirst. Some
of the first to arrive (sic) took water from the Creek to the teamsters.
Sat, June 9 - Travelled up
Spring Creek some 12 miles. G.W. Hill
killed an antilope (sic) today. Our
cattle lame from yesterday's labour. An
Indian camped near us at night but would talk but little on any subject. Our course up this creek is about North. We continued our course over divide and
camped in the upper valley of the East branch of the Salmon River.
Tuesday 12 - On June l2th the Bannock Chief, Rock e Ka, met us today and seemed
much pleased to see us, and made us welcome to any place on Salmon River we had
any desire to settle. G.W. Hill killed a
deer yesterday about 10 miles from camp.
Had to send out two horsemen to help get it to camp.
June 13th, 1855 - Came to a halt (sic) for the purpose of
exploring farther down the Salmon River.
Pine timber on West Mountain. On
the south and east also is pine in groves.
At evening, Pres. Smith selected Francillo Durfey, B.F. Cumming, D.
Moore, and N. Leavitt to go with him down the river on the morrow in search of
a suitable location to settle. We made
our preperation (sic) for an early start on the expedition and early on the
14th, left camp and travelled down Salmon River about 30 Miles.
The old Banock chief and wife went down the
river with us. Just before we went into
camp for the night, we saw some natives down the river. Old Rock e Va. was much alarmed. He thought it was Blackfeet Indians, and when
we took the lead he followed after. It
proved to be Squaws, insted of Blackfeet Indians.
Friday 15 - In the Morning we continued our journey down the river, found our
best place to locate, and returned up the river to camp again on Saturday.
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| Southeastern idaho map shows Fort Lemhi highlighted |
Sunday Morning 17th - Left Camp Ground and began our Journey down
to our selected location where we arived (sic) on the 18th, about 4 o’clock
p.m. During our first trip in looking up
our location, we had two or the showers that wet us considerable.
Met with a few natives, all seemed pleased to
have come to settle among them. Found
some wild gooseberries, red raspberries, stra(w)berries & wild onions on
the river bottoms. The onions were in
every respect, except size, equal to cultivated onions. The valley of the Salmon River is narrow and long,
there is cottonwood, and Quaken (sic) asp, and Tag alder on the river bottoms,
also willow.
19 -
Ezra J. Barnard is quite unwell today.
Moved our wagons near where our corral is to be and commenced our
labours. First on hand to do is the
building of a blacksmith shop and of burning coal. (We are fortunate in having two blacksmiths in
our company) we also are at work on our corral for our stock. Some of the Nezperces with their Cheif (sic)
are camped near by. All the natives
appear very friendly. The place selected
for our fort is a small level bench, just below ta high bench on the East. This low bench is about 15 feet above the
bottom land on the West. The location is
not as commanding as we would desire but is the best we could find.
Sunday 24 - Had meeting at 11 a.m., which continued until nearly 2 o’clock
p.m. Quite a number of the missionaries
spoke their feelings in regard to the labours before us during the week we had
visits from Nezperces and Bannocks & Shoshones, all are friendly and much
interested in our labours.
Mon 25
- Finished our corral today. The
mosketoes (sic) is very thick and torment us a good deal. D. Moore is well again. E.J. Barnard is quite sick. Suffering a good deal from pain in his foot,
which is much swollen.
26
- We have got our plows stocked and plowed and put in quite ammount (sic) of
Garden. Damed (sic) up the river and
prepaired (sic) our ditches for irrigation - appearance of rain.
27
- D. Moore and Mess met with quite a loss by Indian dogs carrying off all of
our meat last night. D. Moore was taken very sick today, pain in head, breast,
and back, and high fever. E J Barnard
continues very sick. Quite a rainstorm
this forenoon.
28 -
Sick little if any better.
29
- Pleasant. Work Continued, plowing, planting etc.
30
- Blackfoot Indians stole several horses from Nezperces last night. The natives are ranging over the hills and
mountains in search of the Blackfeet trail but don’t appear to find it.
Sunday, July 1, 1855 - Had meeting at 11 a.m. Several of the
missionaries spoke, giving their views on the duties before us. After meeting, some of the company crossed
over to West side of the river, found some quite good land. The sick continues about the same.
2
- The salmon are beginning to run up the river.
3
- Days are pleasant - nights quite cool.
This evening, Pres. T.S. Smith is taken quite sick.
4
- E.J. Barnard is considerable better today, his foot having gathered and
broke.
5
- Pres. Smith & D. Moore are quite well today.
Friday 6 - Wm L. Brundage and Geo N. Hill was
appointed last evening to act as teachers - Visited all the camp this morning
and found no feeling of hardness among the missionaries except with Isaac
Shepherd and Geo R. Grant. Some old
affair between them.
Sat 7
- A council of six was selected to settle the difficulty between Shepherd &
Grant - viz B.F. Cummings, F. Durfey, Wm Burgess, N. Leavitt, G. Belnap, &
T.G. Taylor. B.F. Cummings selected to
preside. Shepherd being sick, the
council adjourned until 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.
July 8
- All the brethren were rebaptised this morning except C. McGary, J.W. Browning
& Isaac Shepherd. 3 o'clk (sic)
p.m., had meeting and the sacrament was administered.
Monday 9
- Commenced cutting and hauling house logs to build our houses. Laid off the ground of our fort which is to
be 16 rods square - We are getting quite an amt of salmon from the Indians,
there is quite a no. of Indians camped up the river catching salmon while
others are leaving for the buffalo hunt. The Nezperces are much interested with
our mode of doing work, and during their stay with us, desired to witness a
dance so some of our men danced. They
were much up the dance. Their (chief)
had a smoke with Pres. Smith. He is a fine
looking man of about fifty years of age. He is of a religious turn of mind and a Roman
Catholic. The camp consisted of about 22
lodges and they had about 500 head of horses with them mostly all good stock
10
- The Blacksmiths had to set quite a number of wagon(s) here today. E.J. Barnard continues very unwell, suffers
very much with pain in his foot. Some of
the Indians had the bandage taken off and pored cold water on his foot.
July 11, 1855 - Weather very fine. Pres.
Smith & mess has got the body of his house up. Others of the missionares (sic) have
commenced building their houses. Isaac
Shepherd is getting over his sickness, and E.J. Barnard is some better. The Bannocks visit us a good deal but have
not stolen any thing from us yet.
Thursday 12 - Weather dry & warm.
Our corn, beans, etc. is up and look well. Our work is very hard & tiresom(e) but
progressing. Pres. Smith cut his leg
with a broad axe while hewing down the walls of his house today.
Friday 13 - The Bannocks are leaving in small bands for their annual buffalo
hunt in the Crow Country.
Sat 14
- Washing day for many of the company.
Pres. Smith is quite lame today.
Sunday 15 - Indians mostly all gone - 11 A.M. had meeting. Everett Lish was called to answer for
breaking the rules by trading a gun to an Indian - After some deliberation he
was given until next Sunday to make satisfaction or be dealt with for breaking
the rules.
Mon, July 16, 1855 - Continued to build our houses and attend to
other work. E.J. Barnard’s foot is yet
very painful.
l7, l8, l9 - Nothing of note has transpired. Col. Smith and Mess have
completed their house and moved in.
Friday 20 - Four or 5 lodges of Shoshones came from down the Salmon River and
camped near the fort today.
Sat 21
- Four more houses are nearly finished and will soon be occupied.
Sun 22
- Pleasant morning - Great excitement among the Shoshones. They say the
Blackfeet Indians have stolen som(e) 10 or 15 head of ponies from them last
night. E.J. Barnard's horse was stolen out of our corral last night - Had Meeting
at 2 p.m. today when Everet Lish's case was brot (sic) up. He made a humble
confession and was unanimously forgiven - D. Moore, B.F. Cummings, Jos Parry,
& B.H. Watts moved into their house this evening. Francillo Durfey & James McGary also
moved into their house this evening.
Mon 23
- All hands at work again, some on their houses and some on the fort walls.
24-25
- Work continues on houses, wall, and fences.
All kinds of labour is pushed as fast as possible.
Thurs, July 26, 1855 - Nearly all of the several shares of fence is
completed, except Isaac Shepherds. He
has poor health - Many of (us) are at work on our share of fort wall. It is being built of 12 feet cottonwood
timbers set 3 feet in the ground. Some
parts of the ditch is extremely hard to dig, it being gravel firmly cemented
with a white cement. A man has a hard
job to dig 2 rods per day.
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| Fort Limhi pasture and walls, c. 1918 Photo from LDS Church Archives |
Friday 27 - Labour continued as usual.
E.J. Barnard is able to be up considerable.
Sat 28
- Work is pushed with much energy - We have to guard our stock at night to keep
from being stolen by the natives.
Sunday 29 - The grasshoppers or locusts are upon us in vast number and are
eating all our garden to the Ground.
Held meeting in the President's house.
Several spoke on the principles of the Kingdom of God, after which, on
motion of F. Durfey, that this fort and surrounding be called fort Limhi. This motion was sustained by the whole
mission.
30 & 31- Our labour is again pushed ahead, the locusts are also on the move
to the Northwest of late.
 |
| Fort Limhi. Photo from LDS Church archives |
Wednesday, August 1 - Much of our fort wall is completed. The missionaries are all begining (sic) to
feel anxious to hear from their families in Utah.
Thurs 2
- Found 12 head of our horses which strayed off yesterday.
Sat 4
- T.G. Taylor, B.F. Cummings, D. Moore and others of the brethren took a trip
down to the forks of the Salmon River but foun(d) no place so well adapted to
our mission as where we are located.
Sunday 5
- Isaac Shepherd was rebaptised today by Geo W. Hill. Had meeting as usual at which the following
Brn viz, F. Durfey, E.J. Barnard, Wm Brundage, J.I. (sic) Clark, Gilbert
Belnap, & G.R. Grant were selected to return to Utah with teams for more
supplies.
Mon 6
- Fort walls about completed. B.F.
Cumming and D. Moore commenced to make the large gates today.
7-11
- Nothing worthy of note transpired.
Fort Completed.
 |
| Fort Limhi circa 1900 |
Monday, August 13 - This morning about 5 o'clock, the mail left
with 3 horses. Two for riding and one
packed. About 7 o'clock, the ox teams
left all for home in Utah, taking with 3 horses & 2 colts. Joseph Parry, Wm
Brundage & G.W. Hill also took a team and went down to the forks of the
river for the purpose of trading with the natives for fish - the fort appears
very lonesome today.
Tuesday 14 - T.G. Taylor, N. Leavitt, D. Moore, G.W. Browning and E. Lish left
about half past l2 p.m. with the horses.
Travelled up the river some 25 miles and camped for the night, near by
where the ox train camped the night before.
Wednesday 15 - Travelled about 50 or 55 miles, found by the road a note from
B.F. Cummings & J. Galleher on atilope (sic) Creek - Aug 14, 6 a.m., all
well 50 miles from Limhi. And on the
back - Aug 14 - Passed here at 3 p.m., all well. F. Durfey.
Antilope Creek is at the headwaters of Salmon River
Thursday 16 - Had some trouble this morning in finding all of our horses, after
which we commd (sic) our way down the creek to the mouth of the kanyon (sic),
where we left a sick pony of N. Leavitts.
12 o'clock (p).m., overtook the ox teams on the
road from Spring Creek to Muddy Lake. We
arrived at the lake about 3 o'clock p.m., but the teams did not get in camp
until dark. Found good grass but waters
muddy and bad.
Fri 17
- All left together and travelled some 10 miles to Camash Creek and all camped
together again. Capt. Durfey & D.
Moore killed some young ducks which was prepared for a general mess in the
morning. We here found a note from the
mail carriers stating that they had camped there on the 15th at about 3
p.m. Tired and sore from riding. Left there on the morning of the 16 at 5 a.m.
On
the Suggestion of D. Moore., Capt. Durfey thought it best to explore the route
up the Forneuf and appointed D. Moore & E. Lish to make a trip through that
route.
Sat 18
- Camp all left our night camp ground and travelled over for Snake River. The horse men arrived at the big bend of
Snake River at 12 (p).m after resting some time. D. Moore & E. Lish left the horse co. and
passed on down the river. Had a strong
wind to face all the afternoon (account ends here).
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