David Cannon 1861 Pioneer Company

1861 Wagon train in Echo Canyon

David Cannon 1861 Pioneer Company was the first of 12 Mormon Pioneer Wagon Trains to departed from Florence (now Omaha, Nebraska for Salt Lake City in 1861. At one point it has over 68 wagons and 265+ passengers and some cattle. Departed on May 29th and arrived on Aug 16th.

Company History

It was a large Company, starting out with 225 people and 57 wagons, but having swelled to 300 people and 72 wagons along the way. Their leader, Elder David Henry Cannon (1838-1924), was a 23 year old missionary, returning home from England.

Sometime after reaching Laramie, the Company split into two. Some figured they could travel faster, and make it into Salt Lake as much as two days earlier. In practice, not only did it not work because the slow Company was only ½ mile behind the fast one, but people and animals were getting sick and some of them were dying, because of traveling too fast, even some of the slow Company.

After much talk among those in authority, the Company decided to reunite. Before they actually got around to doing it, some of the slow Company were making good-natured jokes. Their leader Willy Thomas said, “We will ketch the fast ones if they don’t be careful.” A little woman said, “I think the fast ones is afraid we would ketch them anyhow, and they will [reunite] to keep us from overtaking them in their fast traveling ahead.” “Yes,” said a young man, “they hain’t got very good night herders with them, and they want their stock taken care of while they sleep themselves.” Etc.

When they got to Big Sandy, Elijah Thomas from the Mormon Battalion was walking with them. He told stories about the fight against Johnson's Army only two years earlier and showed them the burn marks on the ground right there where the army wagons were torched. Some of the young men heard it too, and that night around the campfire, some of them wanted to know more.

The David H. Cannon Company straggled in to Salt Lake City for six days, from 11-16 Aug 1861.

Reference Sources

• Almira Jane Reid Autobiography - Pg 46-49
• Bartlett Tripp Journal - Good day-to-day log of journey.
• Down and Back Wagon Trains - History of the 12 trains of 1861. Includes connection to famous write Mark Twain.
• Biography of Wm Wood Hall - FamilySearch
• Cannon, David H., [Reminiscences], in Our Pioneer Heritage, 20 vols. [1958-77], 5:32.

List of Passengers

1. Allen, Samuel Unknown Unknown Unknown
2. Allred, Alice (1854-1928) (7) - child of John J
3. Allred, Amy (1829-1898) (31) - Wife of Greene W.
4. Allred, Andrew Jackson (1860-1861) - Infant child of Green W - died on the trail, Aug 6. (just before arrival in Utah.
5. Allred, Charles Albert (1861-1861) (Infant) - died 16 Sept 1861, just after arrival.
6. Allred, David Harden (1825-1908) (35) - Family leader
7. Allred, Elizabeth Aurora Brown (1826-1866) (32) - Wife of David H
8. Allred, Greene W (1824-1897) (37) - Family Leader - brother of David H
9. Allred, Isaac Newton (1830-1917) (31) - Family Leader - brother of David H
10. Allred, James P (1850-1927) (10) - Son of David H
11. Allred, James R (1858-1880) (3) - child of Greene W
12. Allred, John H (1856-1896) (5) - child of Greene W
13. Allred, John Jones (1821-1897) (39) - Family Leader - brother of David H
14. Allred, John Newton (1856-1925) (4) - child of John J
15. Allred, John Warren (1855-1918) (5) - child of Isaac
16. Allred, John Wesley (1852-1921) (9) - Son of David H
17. Allred, Julia Ann Brown (1833-1898) (27) - Wife of Isaac, Sister of Elizabeth A Brown Allred
18. Allred, Martha Louise (1858-) (3) - child of Isaac
19. Allred, Mary Ann (1856-1937) (4) - child of Isaac
20. Allred, Mary E (1853-1943) (7) - daughter of David H
21. Allred, Mary YB (1837-1918) (24) - wife of John J
22. Allred, Perry B (1855-1912) (5) - son of David H
23. Allred, Rebecca Jane (1849-1899) (11)- child of John J
24. Allred, Sarah Ann (1856-1934) (5) - daughter of David H
25. Allred, Sarah O (1852-1880) (10) - child of Greene W
26. Allred, Sarah Eliza (1848-1925) (13) - child of John J
27. Allred, Serilda Jane (1852-1936) (7) - child of Isaac
28. Allred, Stephen A. (1859-1861) (1) - son of David H, died soon after arrival in SLC.
29. Allred, William H (1849-1908) (11) - Son of David H
30. Allred, William P (1854-1898) (7) - child of Greene W
31. Bailey, Martha 62 About 1799 unknown
32. Bailey, William 15 ca. 1846 unknown
33. Barlow, Sophronia (1842-1870) (18) - sister of Almira Jane Hall, Sophie traveled with another family wagon.
34. Barzee, Charles W. 1 18 Mar. 1860 28 Oct. 1940
35. Barzee, Clark 32 20 August 1828 27 February 1908
36. Barzee, Francis Sylvester 10 18 Oct. 1850 14 Apr. 1938
37. Barzee, Mary Stewart 28 20 December 1832 30 December 1904
38. Barzee, Samantha Amanda 4 14 Sep. 1856 11 Dec. 1903
39. Barzee, William Stewart 9 9 February 1852 25 February 1939
40. Bosworth, James Bunting 17 28 April 1844 29 July 1923
41. Bosworth, John 40 1 October 1820 4 December 1899
42. Bosworth, Sarah Ann Bunting 39 6 March 1822 3 February 1899
43. Burgoyne, Edward 26 22 February 1835 20 March 1902
44. Burgoyne, Edward Lorenzo Infant 22 August 1861 19 January 1916
45. Burgoyne, Mary Ann Eynon 24 16 February 1837 21 November 1922
46. Canboy, Phoebe A. Unknown Unknown Unknown
47. Cannon, David H. (1838-1924) - Company Leader
48. Cheney, Elihu (1852-1929) (9) - child of Milton
49. Cheney, Emerillis (1856-1876) (4) - child of Milton
50. Cheney, Ella (1858-1934) (2) - child of Milton
51. Cheney, Gilbert (1854-1936) (7) - child of Milton
52. Cheney, Heard (1791-1861) (70) - died on trek at Sweetwater River Crossing (12 Aug). Father of Milton and also Malinda Higley (below)
53. Cheney, Horace (1849-1934) (12) - child of Milton
54. Cheney, Lucinda M. (1827-1880) (34) - wife of Milton
55. Cheney, Milton (1825-1904) (38) - Family Leader, son of Hurd
56. Cheney, Nelson (1848-1922) (13) -child of Milton
57. Cheney, Susan (1846-1872) (15) - child of Milton
58. Cornwell, Josephus D. 31 1830 1894
59. Cornwell, Lemuel J. 67 1794 About 1880
60. Cornwell, Susan Emeline Darling 65 13 July 1795 28 April 1876
61. Crawford, William Robinson 18 29 September 1842 29 October 1913
62. Cummings, Charity Jane Barzee 30 6 September 1830 19 October 1901
63. Cummings, Emily Calista 9 6 September 1851 About 1874
64. Cummings, George 7 1854 Unknown
65. Cummings, Gilbert H. 33 12 July 1827 19 October 1901
66. Cummings, Viola May 2 3 Jan. 1859 5 Aug. 1953
67. Cummings, Volney Jay 2 3 January 1859 Unknown
68. Davis, Hylan Unknown unknown unknown - young sibling of Mary Davis.
69. Davis, Mary (1849-1911) 10-year old Welsh girl traveling with Hall family. Later married to John Llewelyn.
70. Dean, Susan 17 17 November 1843 5 February 1922
71. Denton, Elizabeth Broadhead 29 25 March 1832 15 August 1905
72. Denton, Harriet Elizabeth 6 20 June 1854 2 March 1908
73. Denton, John Title 33 3 May 1828 1879
74. Denton, Sarah Elizabeth 6 20 June 1854 14 February 1932
75. Despain, Amanda Caroline 7 6 Dec. 1853 20 June 1925
76. Despain, Ella Eugenia 2 27 August 1858 8 January 1936
77. Despain, Henry Waters 13 28 September 1847 6 December 1925
78. Despain, Hyrum Smith 15 7 May 1846 17 April 1905
79. Despain, Orson Augustus 10 8 March 1851 11 November 1927
80. Despain, Ruth Amelia Newell 38 21 September 1822 21 August 1901
81. Despain, Solomon Joseph 37 23 December 1823 17 February 1895
82. Despain, William Joseph 18 9 April 1843 21 April 1918
83. Desumer, Emily 33 ca. 1828 unknown
84. Desumer, Levi 20 About 1841 Unknown
85. Desumer, Rachel 15 About 1846 Unknown
86. Desumer, William 38 About 1823 Unknown
87. Eggleston, Emiline Allen 20 28 Mar. 1841 28 Feb. 1914
88. Eggleston, Orson Hyde 19 3 October 1841 9 February 1917
89. Eggleston, Reuben B. 6 About 1855 unknown
90. Eggleston, Reuben Burgess 29 24 July 1831 12 March 1890
91. Eldridge, Charlotte 7 7 May 1854 31 August 1935
92. Eldridge, Charlotte Kettle 29 3 February 1832 7 March 1912
93. Eldridge, Eliza 2 22 September 1858 22 March 1896
94. Eldridge, Mary 4 13 July 1856 27 November 1913
95. Eldridge, Thomas 30 19 April 1831 30 September 1889 - shared wagon with Hall's
96. Ellison, Crandle 46 6 October 1814 24 December 1890
97. Fisher, Elizabeth Ann Brereton 29 10 August 1831 13 December 1924
98. Fisher, Lorenzo 5 8 July 1855 3 October 1910
99. Fisher, Robert 2 1 April 1859 17 February 1942
100. Fisher, Robert 31 16 March 1830 11 December 1893
101. Ford, Elizabeth Chandler 48 18 June 1812 9 March 1878
102. Ford, Esther 12 13 June 1848 25 Feb. 1877
103. Ford, Joseph 15 8 July 1845 20 February 1915
104. Ford, Thomas 18 20 January 1843 17 January 1873
105. George, Hyrum 9 About 1852 Unknown
106. George, John 10 About 1851 Unknown
107. George, Thomas 5 About 1856 Unknown
108. George, Thomas 36 About 1825 Unknown
109. Gladwin, Walter 20 About 1841 unknown
110. Green, Cynthia Ann Mikesell 19 12 August 1841 3 January 1917
111. Green, Margaret Florenza 2 24 May 1859 30 July 1951
112. Green, William 28 1833 17 Aug. 1861
113. Greenfield, A. J. Unknown unknown unknown
114. Halford, Charles 23 9 September 1837 7 December 1913
115. Halford, Elizabeth Bradford 49 11 September 1811 9 December 1880
116. Halford, John 19 8 Aug. 1841 26 Oct. 1913
117. Halford, Robert 50 9 February 1811 24 December 1880
118. Hall, Almira Jane (1840-1912) (21) - Left large autobiography of the 1861 Cannon Company, wife of William
119. Hall, William Wood (1832-1891) (29) - Non-member immigrant from England. His family shared a wagon with the Eldridges for part of the trip. Switched wagons at Ft Laramie.
120. Hansen, Amy 8 14 September 1852 23 April 1889
121. Hansen, Hannah Jane 2 10 June 1858 10 December 1903
122. Hansen, Julia Elzina 1 28 Jan. 1860 12 Aug. 1935
123. Hansen, Lafayette 7 6 February 1854 11 August 1862
124. Hansen, Marilla Terry Crawford 37 2 July 1823 17 Oct. 1894
125. Hansen, Sarah Elizabeth 4 11 July 1856 4 Feb. 1933
126. Hanson, [Mr.] Unknown unknown unknown
127. Harrison, Elisha Hyrum 20 3 April 1841 11 July 1861
128. Harrison, Isaac 45 2 November 1815 2 March 1894
129. Henson, Martha 20 28 May 1841 9 April 1902
130. Higley, Ann L (1858-1925) (2) - child of Truman
131. Higley, Clark (1813-1900) (47) - Family Leader
132. Higley, Clark Harvey (1860-1885) (1) - infant child of Truman
133. Higley, Daniel (1850-1879) (11) - child of Truman
134. Higley, Daniel Lee (1850-1919) (10) - child of Clark
135. Higley, Freeman Dewey (1843-1927) (17) - son of Clark
136. Higley, George W (1845-1925) (16) - child of Clark
137. Higley, Harriet Maria (1853-1935) (8)- child of Clark
138. Higley, Justitia Unknown unknown unknown
139. Higley, Lucretia (1781-1865) (79) - Clark's mother
140. Higley, Lucretia Jane (1848-1913) (12) - child of Clark
141. Higley, Malinda Cheney (1822-1900) (39) - wife of Clark, daughter of Hurd Cheney and sister of Milton Cheney above.
142. Higley, Rebecca Jane (1845-1906) (15) - child of Truman
143. Higley, Sarah Ann (1817-1882) (29) - wife of Truman
144. Higley, Truman (1817-1882) (43) - Family Leader, brother of Clark
145. Huddleston, Josephus (1855-1934) (5) - Stepson of William Hall (above)
146. Hutchings, William Willard 38 3 April 1823 15 September 1904
147. Jolley, Pelique Berry 26 16 May 1835 12 Nov. 1862
148. Jolley, Washington Lafayette 30 14 May 1831 8 November 1889
149. Jones, Emily Miller 21 15 March 1840 22 May 1885
150. Jones, Thomas Jefferson 22 6 Sep. 1838 18 July 1914
151. Joseph, Ann Thomas 79 1782 7 December 1872
152. Joseph, John Thomas 2 23 July 1858 21 Aug. 1939
153. Joseph, Joseph Henry 30 17 November 1830 17 December 1907
154. Joseph, Lorenzo Don Infant 21 November 1860 4 January 1910
155. Joseph, Mary Ann Richards 23 1 October 1837 1 July 1907
156. Joseph, William Henry 5 11 May 1856 12 January 1926
157. Kingston, Frederic 32 1 March 1829 24 February 1895
158. Koyle, John Hyrum 19 28 September 1841 14 June 1873
159. Leggett, Susan 22 25 August 1838 4 November 1902
160. Lyons, Harvey 23 27 June 1837 28 February 1907
161. Matthews, Abel 48 19 April 1813 24 March 1891
162. Matthews, William 13 18 Mar. 1848 16 July 1917
163. McClintock, Alice 2 11 December 1858 29 December 1872
164. McClintock, Charles Infant 15 December 1860 22 December 1909
165. McClintock, James Samuel 23 4 November 1837 3 September 1864
166. McClintock, Lucy Lovisa Higley 20 14 March 1841 10 May 1919
167. McCurdy, James Unknown unknown unknown
168. McEwan, John 37 24 Feb. 1824 27 Feb. 1878
169. McGuir, John Unknown unknown unknown
170. Merryweather, Frederick Unknown Unknown Unknown
171. Miller, William 24 21 August 1837 28 January 1928
172. Mills, Mary 25 5 April 1836 22 September 1898
173. Morris, Emma 21 14 January 1840 6 January 1894
174. Morris, Robert 17 13 September 1843 25 April 1913
175. Nichols, Racheal L. E. Unknown Unknown Unknown
176. Orton, William Unknown Unknown Unknown
177. Overbay, Phebe Angeline 16 19 Dec. 1844 11 Feb. 1887
178. Oxborrow, Jennet Potter 44 21 October 1816 19 May 1885
179. Oxborrow, Joseph 41 3 Oct. 1819 14 June 1895
180. Paul, James Patten 43 17 July 1817 3 April 1891
181. Paul, Jane Hazel 16 1845 3 October 1906
182. Paul, Logan 12 June 1848 15 January 1932
183. Paul, Margaret Hannah 8 31 January 1853 5 July 1869
184. Paul, Sarah Wilson 47 4 May 1814 Unknown
185. Pearsley, Jane 24 24 July 1836 13 Feb. 1866
186. Richards, Reese 17 2 April 1844 18 April 1914
187. Roscoe, Martha Britland 52 22 April 1809 22 July 1890
188. Royle, John Unknown unknown unknown
189. Sanderson, John 55 31 January 1806 11 March 1869
190. Sanderson, Rebecca Wood 46 19 September 1814 15 September 1865
191. Sanderson, Rhoda 14 15 December 1846 21 October 1932
192. Sanderson, Sarah Ann 16 28 December 1844 19 September 1921
193. Sant, John, Jr. 22 30 November 1838 25 February 1919
194. Sant, Martha Ellen Roscoe 17 12 May 1844 22 November 1893
195. Smith, Alice 13 6 April 1848 5 October 1927
196. Smith, John Plain 18 14 May 1843 13 October 1927
197. Smith, Joseph Plain Infant 4 June 1860 15 April 1937
198. Smith, Marion Crookston 44 29 November 1817 11 January 1880
199. Smith, Ralph 42 7 February 1819 4 February 1899
200. Smith, Thomas Plain 5 11 August 1855 30 July 1932
201. Sperry, Elam Russell 39 1822 March 1884
202. Sperry, Martha Jane 3 3 June 1857 Unknown
203. Sperry, Mary Elizabeth Sharp 24 10 March 1837 5 October 1909
204. Thomas, Ann Selina 9 12 Dec. 1851 22 Feb. 1939
205. Thomas, Catherine Lewis 51 22 June 1809 20 August 1891
206. Thomas, Elijah (1815-1906) (46) - Veteran of the Mormon Battalion
207. Thomas, J. W. Unknown unknown unknown
208. Thomas, Robert 59 6 March 1802 31 March 1892
209. Thomas, Sarah
210. Thomas, Wiley Unknown unknown unknown
211. Thorpe, Hannah Williams 27 9 March 1834 17 October 1909
212. Thorpe, John 28 8 November 1832 15 May 1916
213. Thorpe, Lorenzo Williams 4 21 October 1856 23 February 1928
214. Thorpe, Thomas Williams Infant 27 March 1861 29 December 1940
215. Tripp, Bartlett 21 15 July 1839 8 December 1911
216. Turner, Amelia Nicholas 43 15 May 1818 29 May 1878
217. Turner, William Augustus 42 28 August 1818 5 July 1910
218. Walker, E. Rufus 15 15 May 1846 Unknown
219. Ward, Ann Slater Bunting 23 6 June 1837 25 January 1875
220. Ward, Emma Ellen 3 27 Sep. 1857 24 Dec. 1934
221. Ward, Samuel 31 4 September 1829 20 April 1894
222. Wilcox, Adam 14 11 February 1847 17 January 1917
223. Wilcox, Aseneth Viola 16 1 April 1845 27 August 1927
224. Wilcox, Boyd Extine 1 2 Sep. 1859 3 Nov. 1895
225. Wilcox, John Dingman 18 23 April 1843 19 June 1922
226. Wilcox, Joseph 9 30 Nov. 1851 22 Oct. 1936
227. Wilcox, Martha Parker 41 23 January 1820 23 January 1912
228. Wilcox, Phoebe Rosalitha 4 21 Mar. 1857 26 May 1925
229. Wilcox, Samuel Allen 11 9 March 1850 29 October 1908
230. Wilcox, Samuel Allen 42 22 March 1819 7 April 1898
231. Wilcox, Silas McCaslin 7 10 January 1854 21 June 1917
232. Williamson, Charles 16 About 1845 Unknown
233. Williamson, Charlotte Loretta Hewitt 40 10 July 1820 August 1896
234. Williamson, Christopher Columbus 17 8 Sep. 1843 12 Jan. 1907
235. Williamson, Lewis 47 12 September 1813 21 June 1890
236. Williamson, Susan Emeline 2 8 November 1858 8 August 1926
237. Wilson, Elizabeth Unknown unknown unknown
238. Wooldridge, Sarah J. 16 About 1845 unknown
239. Wootton, Charles Robert 13 4 July 1847 29 January 1925
240. Wootton, Frederick 16 14 July 1844 6 June 1918
241. Wootton, William 53 14 April 1808 11 March 1891
242. Yeaman, Charles Henry 2 Nov. 1858 9 Nov. 1930
243. Yeaman, Cynthia Stephens 49 10 October 1811 20 January 1892
244. Yeaman, David Michael Infant 15 Apr. 1861 24 Jan. 1936
245. Yeaman, John William 2 6 January 1859 4 July 1938
246. Yeaman, Martha Ann Moore 19 10 Apr. 1842 17 July 1913
247. Yeaman, Mary Ann Street 21 About 1840 1863
248. Yeaman, Michael 53 29 Dec. 1807 26 June 1865
249. Yeaman, Michael David 14 26 September 1846 15 February 1935
250. Yeaman, Richard Washington 4 1 September 1856 5 December 1923
251. Yeaman, Sarah Ann 17 26 June 1843 14 March 1906
252. Yeaman, Thomas 24 11 September 1836 23 March 1923
253. Yeaman, William 28 26 June 1832 1880