1863 Emigration

All 12 companies were Church sponsored and followed the MPNHT going out and coming back, except to and from Echo Canyon. Two companies were primarily freight trains, but allowed immigrants with their own wagons and animals to join with. Two other freight companies were private ventures. Specific names along the Golden Pass variant can be found in accounts of only 4 of the 12 companies, but some captains followed the Golden Pass variant the previous year or travelled in tandem with others, who for sure followed that route. Out and back teamsters from Utah Valley and South used Provo Canyon to get to Echo Canyon.

Upon arriving in New York, immigrants had to be inspected and pass through Castle Garden, which was described by one female immigrant as being a dirty place. There was a dead cat and dog in the middle of the street and filth and dirt everywhere.\

From here, they travelled by rail near the Hudson River to Albany. They changed cars in Albany and travelled on to Niagra, into Canada, to Detroit, Chicago, Quincey, cross the River to Hannibal, to Palmyra, and on to St. Joseph. Passenger cars had all been preempted or burned so immigrants travelled in cattle cars most, if not all the way, some with benches (no backboards) and others with only straw or nothing on the floor. In Missouri Confederate soldiers tried to derail the train by putting big logs on the tracks. They were locked in cattle cars until arriving at St. Joseph Here they travelled up the Missouri River to Florence. The journey from New York to Omaha took about two weeks.

Hans Peter Lund (age 42), led a group of returning missionaries and immigrants (657 persons) on the ship, “Kimball.” Arriving in New York, June 15, he stayed in a hotel for $1 a day. After making necessary preparations, he travelled by train to New York, Dunkirk, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and arrived in Davenport where he obtained wagons and supplies. An account of his expenditures for supplies is included. Here he joined with others to travel to Council Bluffs. Those mentioned are: H.P. Olsen, H. Nielsen, H.P. Lund, N.C. Poulsen, Knud Svendsen, Ole Knudsen, N. Edler, A.P. Omand, L. Gjorensen, A. Andersen, C.A. Madsen, N. Nielsen, P. Johansen, and Graekersen. After reaching Council Bluffs, he decided to journey on to Omaha. Here he became engaged to Karen Marie Petersen.