West Branch of LaBonte 65 miles West of Larimee
May 16th 1856
My Dear wives and cildren [children]
as we expect soon to meet the mail I catch the present moment to write a few lines while the camp is waiting to devise means of crossing this stream which in summer time is generaly [generally] dry but now swimming. It will be by my date shown that we have been 25 days out and have performed but little more than one third of our Journey. We started a little ahead of the feed and we found the grass only just beginning to start all the way to the Platt [Platte] River. The result was that our animals became weak and could travel but little for want of feed. and we also encountered several severe storms which greatly injured our animals and were not very comfortable for ourselves. We'd had the first snow storm on Bear River. But it all disappeared next day, but our next which we encountered on the sweet water [Sweetwater] hills. May 3rd continued with great intensity for 56 hours during which time we sought refuge in the willows in a deep hollow on the sweet water [Sweetwater] and covered our animals with our Beding [bedding] and fed them our flour & crackers by which we saved all but two which perished in the storm. one belonging to Judge Kinney and the other to a Brother [John ?] Taylor. We had heavy snow to travel in the two following days and have had some more snow and cold rain storms since that time but now the weather is good & grass abundant and ourselves and Animals are doing well but we shall not get through before the middle of June. We saw no Indians after we passed Green River untill [until] we reached the Platt [Platte] Bridge. There we found a band of Soux [Sioux] encamped and a company of U.S. Troops under command of Capt. Heath. He informed us that General Harvey had concluded a peace with the Soux [Sioux] and that we would not be likely to meet with any interuption [interruption] from them.
We passed a small party of families on Green River who were on their way back to the States with ox teams among them where Mother Russell and Bro. Davenport & family. William Kimballs fatherinlaw [father-in-law] With that crowd was Sister Polydore She left them and Joined our company and is now with us. Journeying with Mr & Mrs. Gard.Mr. [Mrs. ?] G is sister to Joseph Coolidge first wife. We have Also Judge Kinney & family and Benbow and family with us.
Our party numbers about forty men and over 70 Animals. My health has been very good considering the cold stormy weather we have encountered. I have had colds and a little Rheumatism etc. but feel quite well at present with the exception of a sprain in my hip joint ocassioned [occasioned by a fall from my mule yesterday which I trust will wear off in a few days. I shall expect by the June mail to receive some half a Doz. [dozen] letters from you all and to hear that Elisabeth is the proudest mother about the diggins [diggings] and no doubt Minerva intends to beat her all out hollow and Artimesia [Artimesia Beman (Snow) 1819-1882] thinks she will eclipse them both. Well: may it be unto each of you according to your faith and as your little responsibilities increase in number, may your wisdom, grace & patience be multiplied proportionately. As for you Julia you can assure them that you are only saving your strength for the chase another day.
I shall wish to hear from Bro. Shurtliff, how he gets along fencing the pasture, & how the grass & crops looks. Also how your wheat on the city lot appears and the Grafted fruit trees etc. What you have done with the sheep? have you heard of Mahonri's mare? Has Bro. Zera [Zerubbabel Snow] started on his mission? How does Mary bear her widowhood? What for a school have you this summer for the chidren [children]? If my winters correspondence comes rooling [rolling] in upon you this Spring I wish Artimesia to examine and determine if anything be found in the letters which is expedient for me to know, remail them to me or write the items necessary to me to receive.
I wish each of you to write to me often. likewise Sarah.
I remain effectionately [affectionately] yours, Erastus Snow [Elder Erastus Snow 1818-1888]