The Minor Family of Somerset

From this place on April 7, 1847, the Pioneer company left for t
he Rocky Mountains. The train consisted of 143 men, 3 Women, 2 C
hildren, 72 Wagons, 93 HOrses, 66 Oxen, 52 Mules, 19 Cows and 1
7 Dogs. Seventeen additional members ofthe Crow and Therlkill f
amilies, with three wagons, who had wintered at the site of mode
rn Pueblo, Colorado, were added at Fort Laramie, and six member
sof the Mormon Battalion joined them at the crossing of the Gre
en River, making in all a total of 171 souls who came into Grea
t Salt lake Valley, July 22-24, 1847.
Fort Laramie was reached June 1, South Pass, June 27, and Fort B
ridger July 7, on July 13, Orson Pratt was directed to take 23 W
agons and 42 Men and proceed aHead to determine where the Reed-D
onner Trail crossed the mountains. Two Days later, Orson Pratt'
s company discovered the trail which ransouthWest for fiteen mi
les from the present site of Henefer, Utah, and then turned wes
t over the mountains. Following this route Orson Pratt and Joh
n Brown ascended Big Mountain, and from its summit, on July 19
, saw for the firsttime the Great Salt Lake.
Two Days later Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow proceeded from the f
oot of Little Mountain, four and one-half miles down Emigratio
n Canyon, ascened a hill near the entrance of the valley, and i
n the words ofOrson Pratt "Beheld in a moment such an extensiv
e scenery open before us (that) we could not refrain from a shou
t of joy which almost involuntarily escaped from our lips the mo
ment this glad and lovely scenery was within our view.Althoug
h we had only one horse between us, we traversed a circuit of ab
outtwelve miles."
On the morning of July 22, a party of nine horsemen, Headed byO
rson Pratt and George A. Smith, rode into the valley for the pur
pose of locating a place to plant crops. On the same Day, Willar
d Richards led a trainof sixty wagons into the valley. Temporar
y encampment was made seven and one-half miles southWest from th
e mouth of the canyon. Early next morning permanent encampment w
as made two miles North on the banks of the south fork of city c
reek. On the same Day the waters of city creek were turned upo
n the hardbaked soil, thus inauguratig the system of modern, sc
ientific irrigation inAmerica.
Meanwhile, Brigham Young, who had been seriously ill with mounta
infever, entered the valley on July 24 with the remaining fifte
en wagons. Of this historic occasion, Wilford Woodruff, in whos
e carriage President Young rode, says "When we came out of the c
anyon in full view of the valley, I turnedthe side of my carria
ge around, open to the West, and President Young arose from hi
s bed and took a survey of the country, while gazing on the scen
e hewas enwrapped in vision for several minutes. When the viso
n had passed he said, "This is the right place, drive on!"
The figures on the West face of the monument (top) are Brigham Y
oung (center), great mormon leader, President of the Quorum of t
he twelve apostels, second president of the Church of Jesus Chri
st of Latter-Day saints (1847-1877), First Governor of the terri
tory of Utah (1850-1857). Heber C. Kimball (North on President Y
oung's right). Prophet,great religious leader, firend and advis
or of Brigham Young, first cousnelorto Brigham YOung, (1847-186
8), Wilford Woodruff (South on President Young's left). Great re
ligious leader, apostle, fourth president of the Church of jesu
s Christ ofLatter-Day saints (1889-1898).
The lower group: Orson Pratt (on horse), apostle scientist, math
ematician, explorer, journalist); Erastus snow(standing), Apost
le, explorer, colonizer; The Two wagon trains:(North wing) firs
t wagon train (july 22) led by Willard Richards (on second horse
), notedphysicia, apostle, religious leader, second counselor t
o Brigham Young (1847-1854). Secretary of the provisional stat
e of deseret; Second wagon train (july 24) Brigham Young, sittin
g in carriage, Wilf