Morgan Pioneer History B Lives of Conrad Smith and Eliza Robison Smith Conrad Sin Conrad Smith was born August 1, 1832, at Quincy, Franklin, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Conrad Smith and Ann Elizabeth Geeseman Smith. Very little is known about his early life. He had five brothers and five sisters. Eliza Robison was born October 27, 1835, at Quincy, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Alexander Robison and Nancy Ellen Wagaman Robison. She had six sisters and four brothers. A story told about Eliza was that she had to cross a large field to get to a store. One day a herd of cattle was grazing there, and when they saw her, they started to stampede, coming straight toward her. She ran as fast as she could to save her life. Eliza suddenly thought of the apron she was wearing. She tore it off and threw it on the ground. The cattle ran for the apron, and Eliza ran to safety. She later said, "I did not care for the apron, but I really liked one of the patches on it." My father said his grandparents were called "the Pennsylvania Dutch," although they were mostly German (some Swiss). The people desired to leave this area, because of the intolerance shown their religions and because their lands were repeatedly the scene of battles as nations and peoples fought one another. Conrad and Eliza were married July 28,1854, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. After hearing the humble testimony of Angus M. Cannon, a Mormon missionary from Utah, Conrad and Eliza were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a few months before their marriage. Conrad and Eliza resided in Franklin County until May 7, 1860, where preparations were made for their journey westward. They were looking for a place that would be free from religious opposition. They had two young daughters at this time. Conrad, Eliza and their two children left their home in Pennsylvania and traveled six days on the train and four days crossing the water. On May 16, 1860, they arrived in Florence, Nebraska, a distance of about two thousand miles from Pennsylvania. The day they arrived, Eliza gave birth to a baby boy, Thomas Goldman. The baby lived only six days and was buried in the Florence, Nebraska churchyard. They remained in Florence until the seventh of June. Here the Charles C. Rich Handcart Company was organized with 240 persons, forty-three handcarts, ten tents, six wagons, and thirty-eight oxen. Eliza's brother, Daniel Robison, was appointed Captain of this Ninth Handcart company In the company was a man called a "Grumbler." All disputes which arose among the travelers were settled by him. The party that could talk the longest and the loudest usually won the decision of the Grumbler. Six teams and wagons were put in the lead, the carts in the rear. They were two wheeled carts and two persons could stand on either side of the tongue, leaning their bodies against the crosspiece. They called this "pushing," instead of "pulling." The carts had to be greased three times a week. There were about four or five persons to one cart, and each person was allowed about twenty pounds of bedding, clothing and utensils. Some of these carts were painted beautifully, which may reflect another characteristic of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Instead of wearing bright colors, they decorated their household good, barns, fences, wagons and weather vanes. This company was scheduled to leave just three weeks after the birth and death of Conrad and Eliza's baby boy. When they were scarcely a half mile on their journey, they saw an ominous black cloud rising in the sky. Orders were given for them to return to camp. The fierce windstorm broke suddenly without a chance to make very many preparations. It blew all the tents down except two that were held up by a few men. Conrad took his two children, Annie and Harriet, and put them in the handcart. He tied the canvas down and fastened the cart to the ground with wooden stakes so that the wind could not upset it. Then he went to help his neighbors with their tents and carts. Eliza, who was in her brother's tent, became worried about her children. She left the tent and went to the handcart. Eliza lifted them out of the cart and started back to her brother's tent. The wind and rain were so terrific that she was unable to reach the tent and sank down