Charles Rampton's Family History: Henry Rampton, part 3

Henry's ship, the John W. Wood landed in New Orleans on 2 May 1854. Sadly, he missed Mardi Gras by 2 months. By his account, they did not stay in New Orleans long. Rather they transferred all their belongings onto a steamboat by the name of "Josiah Lawrence" for the trip up to St. Louis where the church actually had an established stake for immigrants on their way to Utah. When the Josiah Lawrence reached St. Louis 12 days later, the passengers were quarantined on Arsenal Island. The following is from the account of Daniel, Antoinette and James (Jacques) Bertoch, converts from Italy who had been on the same ship as Henry Rampton from England to New Orleans and New Orleans to St. Louis:

"On May 2, 1854 the vessel reached New Orleans. From there the converts boarded the steamboat Josiah Lawrence which transported them up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. On May 14, shortly before arriving in St. Louis, most of the church members were quarantined on Arsenal Island, an area where immigrants were examined for cholera. That same morning, Marguerite Bertoch died of cholera in the arms of the Cardon sisters. 11 other converts died within a few hours and were buried on the island, with Marguerite." (I believe Grandma Crockett is related to this Cardon family)

Apparently, Henry only had to stay in quarantine for a day and was then allowed to go to St. Louis to look for work. Many of the Saints who traveled with Henry kept on up the Mississippi River to Florence, Neb. where they made plans to go west. Those were the ones who had funds to do so. Henry Rampton did not have the funds, so he stayed in St. Louis to work and save. Here his journal begins again:

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We was 12 days coming to St. Louis from Orleans. We were detained at quarantine 5 days, but we reached quarantine on Sunday, and on Monday I went by permission of the doctor to St. Louis to seek for employment with another Brother by the name of Kempin. We succeeded, and in also getting a room. We returned the same night, but too late to cross the river. We had to sleep by a heap of rocks until the next morning. On the Thursday evening, the ferry boat came for us and we took our luggage from the Lava to the room. So we left the saints. I went to work in Gratroit (Gratiot?) Street on the Saturday, and on the Monday in the Mississippi Foundry. There I stayed two weeks. Then I left and went to work on the Monday as I left on the Saturday night before, so we had the room up over the shop. We had not been there past six weeks before my dear wife was taken sick. The heat was too great for her strength and the state of her body. She continued sick about three weeks. I took her to a more healthy part of the city to a Mr. Patterson in Biddle Street. I took her there on the first day of August and she died on the 2nd of Aug. 1854. Her body lies interred in the Wesleyan Cemetery which is 2 . miles out of St. Louis. Her loss I thought I could not endure, but God in His goodness and mercy, has found me another partner which came in the same ship as ourselves. After the death of my dear wife, I used to frequently go to see Frances Dinwoodey and I spent the greater part of my leisure time at her house for I found in her company was joy to me, and my heart began to feel after her and we mutually agreed to be married and at the expiration of five months or on the 25th of December, we were married by Elder Milo Andrus, resident of the St. Louis stake of Zion, at a tea party in the church, being Christmas day, and I now thank God that He has so ordered that my dear Frances and me are come together. We live with her father and mother on Washington Avenue.

Nothing of importance transpired for several months. We both enjoyed good health up to the conference when we had a good time of it for three days beginning 6th day of April. In the month of April, I received a letter from Eli Whitear from Salt Lake Valley. All well and prosperous. In the month of June, my wife’s parents emigrated to Salt Lake Valley. Arrived there quite safe, as they informed us by letter. I, myself, during my stay in St. Louis, held several responsible offices, such as counselor to the President of the Priest quorum, afterward called to the office of an Elder, ordained under the hands of

Bishop Chas. Chard on the 25th of June 1855, and acted as his second counselor. I afterward was called to be first counselor to Bishop Lowe, and then the same for President Lees and the same for Bishop Turner. Nothing of importance transpired until my wife bore unto me a son which I am thankful to God for. He was born Nov. 4, 1855. His name is Henry James Rampton. May the Lord God Omnipotent preserve his life long upon the earth to do good. He was blessed by Elder James H. Hart, the President of the St. Louis stake of Zion on the 9th of December, 1855.

Nothing transpired up to this date which is the 5th of May 1856. The little lad is growing fast, and we are striving to pursue our journey across the plains. According to our desires, we endeavored to make a start of the plains and thence the Salt Lake City. We started on the steamboat on the 2nd of June, 1856. Arrived at Florence on the 14th of the same month and laid there until the 6th of July, and then started across the plains, and after traveling some three months, arrived in Salt Lake City 5th of October 1856. All well and glad to see the place after so long and tedious a journey. We attended the conference on the 6th and on the 8th I went and got work at Sessions Settlement for a man by the name of Udy. I worked for him about three months. At the expiration of that time, Henry Dinwoodey, my wife’s brother, bought a set of tools and rented them to me at $95 a year. I bought a dobie house and a lot of Evan Smith for $240 in Sessions settlement and started a shop for myself. We felt it pretty hard. Had to live principally upon bread. Our spirits became dull, but I hope the Lord will forgive us. Our dear little one still grows and is healthy. All goes well and prosperous and the blessing of God attends us.

Nothing more transpired until January 17th 1858, when my wife was delivered of another fine son. I named him William as he was born on my own father’s birthday, January 17. I still live in Sessions Settlement or Bountiful. In February, 1858, Charles Stoddard received a vision which was good. He related it in the school house.

On this, the 20th day of February, 1859, I resume my journal. The Lord continues to help us in my business. I, by degrees, obtained tools of my own and by this date have had a good set of tools of my own. I gave up the first tools to my wife’s brother and paid him for the use of them in the fall of 1859.

The President of the United States sent an army of several thousand men to Utah without apprising Brigham Young, the Governor of Utah Territory. Therefore, he refused their admittance and ordered out some several thousand residents of the Territory in order to dispute the passes into the Territory. Accordingly they took their stand in Echo Canyon and built fortifications there. As for myself, I had to stay at home to shoe cattle and horses for the conveyance of provisions to men in the mountains. The United States Army had to stay at Fort Bridger all winter until three men, commissioners from Congress, could come and make negotiations with the officers of this Territory. The President of the United States sent a proclamation of peace and forgiveness, as he termed it. Then the soldiers entered the Territory and made a military post in Cedar Valley where they are to this date, February 20, 1859. They seem very peaceable. Our prophet is still in our midst, that is to say, he does not preach to the people now so we are left to ourselves, but I pray that we may always have the Spirit of God with us to instruct us in the ways of truth and righteousness. But before the soldiers entered the territory, our

prophet ordered every man, woman and child to go south, with the exception of a few men as guards for each settlement. The year 1858, accordingly, we all packed up and went. The people in our ward went down on Provo Bottoms about 50 miles from Salt Lake City. We stayed there in wagons and shanties for about seven weeks, and then we all had word to return home, which we did. All things are well with us, so I will stop for the present. I built a small addition to my house in the fall of 1859.

Nothing of importance transpired during the summer of 1859. Rather bad crops through the spring opening so late. The winter commenced rather early. It began in November. I received a letter from my father the last of November. We are all well. I thank God at this time being the 5th of December, 1859. The general instruction is for all families that cannot sustain themselves here or at any of the settled wards, to go to Cache Valley. This also in the fall of 1859. The paper called the ‘Mountaineer’ started during the summer of the same year, and Captain Hooper was sent as delegate to Congress the same year for the first time in the place of Doctor Bernhisel.

My son, Charles Hyrum, was born March 30th, 1860, 15 minutes past 10 o’clock in the morning. This same year, we received our endowments in the House of the Lord. Nothing of importance transpired during the year, but threats of war in the States. In 1861, the war with the North and the South, as the Prophet Joseph Smith predicted years before, broke out. Abraham Lincoln, President of the Federal Government; Jeff Davis, President of the Confederate States. The work of death is going on very freely there and their enmity is great, one against the other.

The telegraph was completed this year and a daily mail established. During 1860 and part of 1861, the Pony Express run through here and the theatre was commenced and went up briskly. The same year, an apostate by the name of Morris led off some kindred spirits up to Weber. In 1862 we held a convention throughout the Territory, or rather, we held meetings to appoint delegates to hold a convention and got up a form of State Government, and petitioned Congress for a State Government. Omitted from 1861 was the death of my father, William Rampton, who died March 29, 1861 on Good Friday,

and left me three hundred pounds to be received at my stepmother’s death. I have received several letters from Sarah, William, and Charles. I feel thankful to God for his blessings toward me and my family for God, my Eternal Father has blessed me, and us all up to this time, being the 29th of January, 1862. In the same year on March 29th, 1862, I took Eliza Stratford to wife, a young woman from England, who was born in Malden Essex 20th of January 1838, came to Utah in the fall of 1861. We were married 13 months and on Saturday evening, April 25, 1863, at half past eight o’clock Eliza died in childbed and her baby also, a fine little boy. He was buried with his mother in the same coffin in his mother’s arms, and on the following Friday, May 1st, my dear little James died of inflammation on the lungs (11 months of age, according to Henry’s daughter Catherine in a brief history of her life) and was buried by the side of Eliza and her baby. Brother Henry Lee blessed little James April 30, 1863.

Time seems to roll along bringing its events. Gold fever raging in the North. New discoveries of the precious metal, panic striking many, even our brethren. Some of them are disposed to dig a bit, consequently leave for that purpose, while in the States, even at this time, the war is raging with the North and the South. Many are leaving there for the gold mines for fear of being pushed into the field of blood and carnage. Even today, this 15th day of May, 1864, the two great armies of the Potomac are contending in a deadly struggle. This same year seems to be memorable for the settlement of a valley called Bear River Lake. A few farmers have gone from here. Grain looks well here, but a rather dry time. Poor prospect for a peach crop. I bought the adjoining lot and-half to mine of William Jackson for one hundred and fifty dollars this spring. This same spring brings also an addition to my family, a little boy which we have named Arthur. He was born March 12, 1864, about 9 o’clock (Saturday) in the morning. May God’s blessings rest upon him that he may live and be a good useful man in the Kingdom of God. I have not received any news from home since I received the parcel last October. I sent my sheep to Bear River Lake with George Davis on shares. Half the wool and half the increase, 12 head.

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Called to go on a mission to England on the 29th of November, 1878. To start in one month. I leave Henry to take charge of the shop and to preside over my family in my absence. Charles to help him what he needs and take charge of team and farm. Started January 5, 1879. I labored in the South Coast 10 months, then removed to the Mansfield district, in the Nottingham Conference. Returned in 1880. Enjoyed good health during my mission and had a good time with my relatives.

I have labored in East Bountiful as a Ward Teacher over twenty-five years.

I acted as School trustee several years.

I was ordained Seventy in the 29 Quorum of Seventies, Augustus Farnham, President. Afterwards ordained High Priest and set apart as alternate in the High council of Davis Stake December 11, 1881(2), by Joseph F. Smith, mouth.