The first entry is from Patty Session's diary of 1846, which documents her journey from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah. The second group of entries was written in 1848, the first year of her residence in Salt Lake City.
Monday, April 6, 1846, the Church is sixteen years old today. It rains hard. Brother Rockwood came to our wagon, told us the word was to get out of this mud as soon as possible. We move before breakfast, go three miles, cross the creek on new bridges that our men had made; had to double-team all the way. Brother Brigham came up with his company driving his teams in the rain and mud to his knees, was happy as a king. Here we camped. The men went, some to browsing the cattle, some to cutting the wood and burning coal. We got supper and went to bed. It soon began to thunder and lightning and the rain came faster than ever. About six o'clock in the morning I was called for to go back two miles. It then snowed. I rode behind the man through mud and water, some of the way belly deep to the horse. I found the sister that I was called to see in an old log cabin. Her child was born before I got there. She rode thirteen miles after she was in travail, and crossed the creek on a log after dark. Her husband carried over such things as was necessary. He left his wagon and teams on the other side, as the water had carried off the bridges. On Tuesday the 7th, the ground was froze some. I got on to the horse on a man's saddle, rode home to our wagon. The creek is high. Creek rose six feet. Had to continue on foot. Got home safe.
Monday, July 17, 1848, Mr. Sessions has come home (from their farm outside of Salt Lake City). I have worked hard all the week to take care of the cows, calves, and garden. Sat., 8, I bought a mare of a Spaniard; gave him $5 dollars cash and 12 lb. flour, 25 cents per pound; also bought a buffalo robe; gave 8 lb. flour and an old tin basin. Called the robe $2.50. Sunday, I did not go to meeting (of the Mormon church). Mr. Sessions is going back again (to their farm). Monday, 10, We washed. Tuesday, 11, cut and made me some collars, [which she later "flowered"]. Wed., 12, put Sister Eliza to bed with a son...then helped to get a bean out of Joseph Scofield's nose...Sunday, 23, did not go to meeting (of the Mormon church); have to watch the garden. Monday, 24, I worked so hard I could not sleep.
Claire Noall, "Mormon Midwives" Utah Historical quarterly, vol. 10, 1942. pps 87-88
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