We reached Provo about ten o'clock a.m. after a walk of 130 miles over a rugged country in about three days. Just as we were making inquiries respecting the whereabouts of Brother Cook's family we met Brother Thomas, who was then on his way to the city. Following his directions we found them camped by the city wall, West. There we received a hearty welcome by all of the family. After resting for a while we took a refreshing bath.

I feel thankful that we have got home once more. I realize that the hand of the Lord has been over us for good all the time we have been away.

Since that time we have put up a bowery, etc., working making a Spanish fence, made wall for Dr. Duncan, etc.

June 24th. Since that time we have been working around home here, trying to make ourselves comfortable. Brother Thomas, Clem and I have built an adobe room, also a Cooper shop, thatched the whole with cane. We have experienced some very heavy rain all last week.

There has been considerable talk about peace lately, in fact, after the commissioners (who have been sent on for that purpose) had met in council with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve in Salt Lake City, they came here last Wednesday, June 16th, and General Powell addressed us. I was never more disgusted in my life; said he, "When you hear the drums of that gallant army, do not fear." Stated that he was well acquainted with General Harney, that he was a gentleman and a soldier. Went to some length teaching (or trying) us the laws of the Constitution. I have not got patience to write more. Suffice it to say it appeared to me to be full of the devil. Nobody made any reply to what had been said.

We suffered considerably from the rain. Our bedding got wet and kept so all the week till Saturday night. Then it cleared up and has been fine ever since.

Miss Aurelia Hawkins paid us a visit, and stayed till Monday morning. She is to all appearances a very amiable young lady.

On Tuesday and Wednesday four of us went to Springville with the idea of working splitting stones, but after waiting two or three days we climbed the high mountains and descended the lowest depths. I certainly never traveled over rougher country. Brother Boyle and I ascended those high mountains at the back of Springville [just south of Provo, Utah]. We had a splendid view of both Utah Lake and Salt Lake. We have concluded to work on the road till Provo Canyon is opened.

I forgot to state that previous to this that in connection with some of my old fellow laborers on the Sandwich Islands, I was called on the stand to speak my feeling. I did so with great freedom. The first Presidency were there and most of the twelve. I must confess I felt mighty small when called on. S. Malen, E. Bell, George Spiers are the names of the brethren just returned from the Islands.

Monday, June 28th. Thomas went to work on the road. I got a small job to work in a garden hoeing, etc. Tuesday, Brother Cook and I started at daylight up Pole Canyon. We got our load and started back. Owing to there being so many flies the oxen were nearly mad, in fact unmanageable. They broke the wagon. We cut a pole and spliced on. Took off near half the load and went on about half a mile and capsized the wagon. Loaded up again and proceeded about one mile farther and then turned the wagon. Finally after loading, fixing and refixing we reached home about midnight. Was tired to death and suffered dreadfully for want of water.

Up to this time I had entirely forgot that I paid my tithing while at both Parowan and Beaver. While at Parowan, January 28th, I paid $3.37 1/2. Again at Beaver I paid a tenth of all I possessed even to what I had on. The bishop valued me at ten dollars, or rather what I stood up in. Valued my revolver at $35.00, and all I owned at about the same rate. The following is a certificate of receipt from the Bishop: "Beaver City Tithing Office, 20 February, 1858. This certifies that Frederick William Hurst has paid his property tithing in full up to 1858. Philo T. Farnsworth, Bishop." Besides paying my tithing I worked most of the time I was in Beaver for the Church.

Well to return, on Friday, July 2nd, Brothers Cook and Thomas and I went up Pole Canyon. Succeeded in getting back without accident.

I was 25 years of age last Wednesday. We kept Clement's, Thomas's and my birthday anniversaries on Saturday, July 3rd. We had quite a social party in the evening. There were present, Brother H. G. Boyle, Miss M. E. Green, Miss Lucy Young, Miss Lucy Spencer, Mrs. H. Clausen, Miss S. Brown. We had quite a merry time.

On Sunday Brother Boyle and I went up Provo Canyon to work on the road at $2.00 per day. We worked from one quarter to half past four o'clock in the morning till eight o'clock in the evening. It was worse than slavery. It seemed to us as if the day would never come to an end. Brother Boyle was sick most of the time. I worked for seven days and the job was finished and we returned to Provo.

Monday, July 12th. Thomas was going to the city with a load of things. On the following Thursday, July 14th, Sister Cook and Lilly, Clement and I started with one load of things, and the cow and calf. Brother John R. Young kindly offered Ma and Lilly a ride to the city as we were very heavily loaded. We camped at Dry Creek all night. Had considerable difficulty with the cow and the calf all day, however, on Friday the 15th about noon, we reached the City. Thomas had engaged the Grebble house.

Saturday evening Sister Cook and I paid Mrs. J. Hyde a visit, also her sister, Miss A. Hawkins, after which I attended a private meeting in the Seventh Ward Schoolhouse. Charles M. ________ was cut off from the Church for perjury, unchristian conduct. It is counseled for every man, woman and child to have at least 11 bushels of wheat on hand. One for seed wheat. The price of flour $10.00 per hundred lbs. and wheat $3.00.

Next morning Thomas and I went to Provo. Brother Besan Lewis kindly let us ride all the way. He offered to give me a situation herding stock on shares. We tried to get a job digging a mill race but, owing to the lethargy of the people, President Young is not going to build just now.

Brother Maybe gave me a job on Monday and Tuesday after which the same evening after eating a hearty supper at Brother Baybe's we started on foot. Walked nearly to the point of the mountain, then laid down till day dawned in company with Seymour and Grant Young, who kindly brought our things from Provo. While at Provo these last two days we earned $2.00 in cash, and fifty lbs. of flour. We reached Great Salt Lake City about half past 10 a.m. We traveled 100 miles, worked two days, and were back in the city in less than 3 1/2 days, from the time we left that is. We started for Provo on Sunday and got back on Wednesday morning.

The following Monday Morning Brother Cook and I took to work at mowing (two bushels of wheat per day). Worked three and three-fourths days. It's the first time I ever entered a field armed with a scythe. I got along remarkably well. Brother Van Cott said I was rather green at it but I was willing. It is heavier work in water up to the knees cutting tall heavy cane.

On Sunday, Brother Creighton Hawkins and I went up Spring Hollow to get serviceberries. Sister Hawkins, Riego and others came after us in a wagon, however, we could not find anything worth fetching home. I spent the rest of the day at Sister Hawkins.

This last week I have spent making hay for ourselves, digging up a piece of ground to plant turnips. Clement and Brother Sherman went to the point of the mountain last Monday to work digging a cellar. Times are pretty lively considering there are no meetings. We are generally out visiting almost every evening.

Saturday, August 7th. We made up a serviceberry party consisting of the following persons: Mrs. Woodmansee, her sister Miss A. Hawkins, Lilly and Thomas, Howard and George, Miss Lucy Spencer and Myself. We hired Brother G. F. Hendry's horses. Brother H. Spencer took his own team. We went up Parley's Canyon, we passed the sugar works, called at the penitentiary. The Keeper's wife very kindly showed us around. When we got to the toll gate an old woman said we should not pass unless we paid 40¢. I told her we had no change, however, an old man came out and let us pass, but told us it was no use going up this canyon for there were no berries. Before night we proved that he had told us the truth. We did not succeed in getting any. We then turned back and went up Red Butte Canyon. Stayed all night and returned the next morning about noon without securing a single serviceberry.

On Monday I worked for Brother Goddard assisting them to move. Tuesday, August 10th, I accompanied quite a number of young people on a pleasure trip up City Creek canyon. Spent the day very agreeably. I worked at mowing and haymaking with Pa today for Brother Frost.

Friday and Saturday Thomas and I hauled hay for ourselves. The first load the rack broke and overturned the hay in the street about three blocks from the house. We borrowed another rack from Brother Henery Hanson, took it down and while Thomas (he being driver) was turning the wagon around the tongue broke short off. However, we spliced it on and succeeded in getting the load home.

Sunday went to see Brother Staner's gardens. Spent the week mowing and hauling hay. The heat is very oppressing. Had a splendid rain Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21. Monday and Tuesday mowed and hauled hay for Sister Hawkins. Wednesday evening I rode with Brother Branehn to Farmington. Thursday, August 26th, worked at the thrashing machine all day. In the evening walked home 10 miles. Had a warm bath, etc.

Friday, August 27th, got a job to work on the road up City Creek for $2.00 a day and board. We are to start up on Sunday, up to October 14th. At noon we got through with the job. I have made 38 and 3/4 days work at $1.50 per day. Made $58.00, $12.50 coming to me.

It grieves me to have to state that Brother William Cook was shot while on duty in the right thigh. If he ever recovers he will at least be laid up all winter. I heard this from Thomas. At his request I stayed up all Thursday night to cut poles. I camped with Brother Aaron Thatcher, my old Colleague in California.

Friday, October 15th. Thomas came up with a team. I assisted him to load up the firewood and then returned home with him. Found Pa in a very precarious state. He suffered dreadfully from the effects of his wound. I copy from the Deseret News of October 13th, 1858:


"Last night about 8 o'clock, Mr. William Cook, while on duty as policeman at the lockup, was shot through the thigh by a ruffian named McDonald, alias Cunningham, a teamster recently arrived by Hall's train. It appears that McDonald and two men named Foster and Ingram went to the guard house for the purpose of forcibly releasing two prisoners there. They had declared in another part of the city that they would go there and liberate the men. Foster had lately been confined there but during that time had examined the lock and key of the sleeping apartment, and stated to the prisoners that they were fools for remaining there under such locks. They had, however, been treated kindly by the several policemen who had charge of them and showed no inclination to consider his insinuations. The three men gained access to the prisoners through professions of kindliness. And while there Foster offered another key for the lock to the prisoners. He refused it when it was forced into the pocket of his pants. In the meantime, while coming in an apparently friendly manner, McDonald jumped up, drew his pistol, cocks it and presents it to the breast of one of the prisoners, cursing at him, and telling him to run or he would shoot. Here the man hesitated and as the other persisted in his threats, Mr. Cooke told him firmly that he must desist. He then discharged his revolver at Mr. Cooke, the Policeman, and shot him in the right high, severely fracturing the bone, the ball reaching near the skin on the opposite side from which it has been extracted completely flattened to about an inch in diameter. The three intruders then escaped. Ingram has been arrested, but the others have escaped as yet the search of the officers. The foregoing are the facts so far as we have learned. Much sympathy has been excited in behalf of Mr. William Cooke, who is a gentleman in every respect. And some little excitement prevails as circumstances such as this have hitherto been unknown in the Territory."

* footnote 11:
On June 7, the peace commission reached Salt Lake City. They were amazed to find such a large city empty of citizens, for all the Saints had fled south.

On June 26 the army passed through Salt Lake City and camped on the Jordan River. Three days later they marched southward and established a permanent base, Camp Floyd, in Cedar Valley. The army base remained staffed until the outbreak of the Civil War.

See Part 40: Historical Background for more details.

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