TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER BY MARY MCFALL

TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER BY MARY MCFALL

TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER BY MARY MCFALL

FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO HER DAUGHTER

MARY & FRIENDS IN SAINT LOUIS

Great Salt Lake City 27 Novr 1853

Beloved Daughter & Friends

I am happy to inform you

that I have arrived safely in the Great Salt

lake City but not without coming through

a good many difficulties the people that I

came along with lost 15 dollars worth of boots &

shoes and the pork that was intended to do them

to Kanesville and got their stove all broken

to pieces their things were all put into a

store at Keokuk and it seems they did not

get them all out again and they did not miss

them till they were on the way I had to

walk all the way and many a day with an

empty stomack and I give my advice to any

person who wishes to come to the valley as for

them to provide their own provisions and

not trust to any other person to do it or

they will run the risk of being half starved

all the way the same as Elisabeth Hardie

and I have been Elisabeth Hardie got

married a few days after she came here to

a very nice young man from Edinburgh

Thomas Russell has got married again and is

living about ten miles out the city when the

names of captain Glawson’s company were read

out in the tabernacle Thomas Russell thought

that it was Mary that was coming and he ex-

pected that she would bring the things from the

old country that he had sent for from St Louis

but I told him that as he was going back

on a mission he would get them then

for it is very expensive getting luggage

hauled across the plains beside the chance

of getting them lost Muliner lost three of

their cattle on the plains they died at the sal

eratus springs they bought another and had only

two to come into the valley with they had to give

out their luggage to be hauled in other wagons

and mine was put into two different wagons

some I got and some I will never get I

came in along with the company but Mulner

came in a day behind it I assure you I felt

very lonely without a friend to bid me welcome

but next day after I came Mrs Watson the

woman that Jeanie crossed the plains with

came and tooke me to her house where I have

been living ever since she is a kind good

hearted sister she has a large family and I

have been sewing for her ever since I come

dear sister Cameron I often thought on you when

I was crossing the plains and what you used to

tell me about the treatment your step mother

gave you for I saw plenty of a step mother

every day and it always put me in mind of you

the Lord strengthened on my journey and blessed

me with health all the way and I thank him

that I have arrived here to dwell amongst

his people Dear Brother & Sister Cameron

I wish you was here I want Brother Cameron

to save me for I think the most of the

folks here have enough to do already in

regard to the plurality of wives it is much

the same here as it is in St. Louis some

are in favour of it and some are not when

Mary comes that is if she is prepared to come tell

her to take care who she comes with and what

kind of a bargain she makes her best plan would

be to get her luggage insured and send it

up the river if she should come by land her

self cows giving milk are very useful both

on the plains and after you get here be sure

and bring one or two if you can flour was

10 $ dollars per Hundred when I came here but

it is only six now it is seldom any higher

potatoes are selling from 6 bits to a dollar per

bushel I will mention the prices of some

things that are very dear here that you may know

what to bring tea is 2$ per pound sugar 40 cents

dried apples 40 currants 40 and coffee 40 cents per pound

soap is 50 cents per bar common prints 25 cents

per yard flannel 1$ per yard gingham 60 cents

lindey 75 cents factory 20 cents. 25 dollars for one

dozen of cup and saucer every body drinks tea &

coffee here that can get it I have got tea twice

a day ever since I come Thomas Russell is coming

through on a mission next spring please

give my love to Brother & Sister Brown

and Brother & Sister Percy and Brother

James Dow & wife and Sister Chirsty

Barr & to all enquiring Friends when

you write to Scotland let my friends know

that I am in the valley and be sure & write

to me yourself as soon as you can and let

me know how you all are and when you

intend coming on.

I remain your Sister in

The Gospel Mary McFall

P.S. when you write address your letter to

Mrs Mary McFall

Great Salt Lake City

Utah