Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us Together The next day they traveled until the Lacorn River was reached. A bad rainstorm came making the roads very muddy and hard to pull the carts. After it dried up, traveling was fairly good. When Wood River was reached, they were fortunate to have buffalo meat. After many days travel, they arrived at Chimney Rock in Nebraska. It was known as one of nature's signposts which helped guide pioneer saints along the trail. It is near Bayard, Nebraska, and a most striking work of nature which can be seen for many miles. Leaving Chimney Rock, traveling through sand two or three inches deep made pulling the carts very difficult. Travel was fairly good after getting out of the sand, and finally the Platte River was reached. They saw a great many buffalo, deer, and antelope. They had to wade all of the creeks after that until they arrived at Fort Laramie. Here they bought com meal to help out with the provisions. Later on as they were traveling, they came upon many grasshoppers as large as a person's thumb. Finally they arrived at South Pass where the water ran both ways. This is the highest point on the continent. They traveled another fifty miles and reached Green River and were ferried over. The next day they passed Devil's Gate, Wyoming, and came to Fort Bridger. Here they camped for the night. The Handcart song would be sung to cheer them up. Men from Salt Lake arrived and helped them over the Bear River and down through Echo Canyon until they reached Henefer, Utah. They camped there one day. Brother Henefer gave them some new potatoes which were much enjoyed by the weary travelers. The next day they traveled up the divide to Canyon Creek and camped for the night. The following morning they commenced to ascend "Big Mountain." After the descent, a camp was made at the bottom of the mountain. To help them climb the mountain, a man who was living on top sent an Indian down with seven fames Henefer, who helped to feed many of the pioneers who became Imoonfood after crossing the plains. yoke of oxen and pulled the carts up. The next morning they commenced to ascend "Little Mountain," and reached the bottom the next day. They arrived in Salt Lake on August 27,1860, all well and only one child was buried during the entire journey. It was one of the last of the companies, and one of the most successful in its journey. The family of William Hemming lived with Colonel Jesse C. Little's family in Salt Lake for one year, then moved to Morgan County where they lived on Colonel Jesse C. Little's farm for two years. A daughter, Mary Ann, was born February 1, 1862. They moved to Richville or Monday Town as it was called then. Monday Town was so named because it was Monday when the first settlers moved there. They lived in Monday Town for about three years. Mary Ann died on November 5,1863 and was buried there. They then came to South Morgan where they lived the remainder of their lives. Four children were born after they moved to South Morgan: Fredrick William, bom April 23,1864; Sara Jane, bom September 5,1866; Alfred John, born January 1, 1869; and Charlotte Matilda, born March 18,1872. William Hemming bought a farm and by hard work became a successful farmer and gardener. He always had a fine garden, raising his own watermelon and tomato plants. He and his wife were lovers of flowers, and always had flower plants indoors and in the yard. Before a grist mill was built in Morgan, he would walk over the mountains at a place called the "Hog's Back," carrying a sack of grain on his shoulder and bring flour back. He also worked at painting, masonry and carpenter work. William Hemming held the office of city councilman for two terms. He was a diligent church worker. William Hemming died January 10,1916, at the age of eighty-nine, and is buried in the Morgan City Cemetery. William and Emma Hemming endured many hardships for their religion. The walk across the plains must have taken a great deal of courage and faith, and then establishing a home after arriving, without much to do with. Emma Hemming died July 2,1918, at the age of eight-eight years, and was buried beside her husband in the Morgan City Cemetery. ©19-