HANDCART-L Archives

From: Eldon Jensen <>
Subject: Handcart -- story
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 14:26:17 -0600

Searching through my cd for some information for list members, I stumbled
upon this story. I enjoyed reading it so much I thought I would pass it
along. I do know that there is at least one member on the list related to
the Allred family. Let me know if this ties in with anybody, please. =20

Terri Jensen
--------------------------

A Child and a Toy
Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 1, p.222
In the ill-fated Edward Martin Handcart Company of 1856 trudged
forty-eight year old Ann Allred Williamson and her six children, Ellen,
Ann, Mary, William, John and Betsy. Time after time Captain Martin felt
obliged to make an inspection of the carts belonging to these weary,
foot-sore, destitute travelers, discarding everything he felt the owners
could do without in order to lighten their loads.
At the Williamson cart, among other precious possessions, he threw out a
little solid iron lion, a toy very dear to the heart of Mary. She pleaded
to keep it but even that was extra weight and must go. The little girl
watched closely where the articles were disposed of and that night slipped
quietly out of bed and hurried to the spot. Carefully going through the
pile she at last sighted her precious toy. She tied a string to it and wore
it around her neck with the little lion resting on her back underneath her
clothing all the rest of the way to Utah. The weight of the object against
her tender skin for so long a period of time left an imprint on her back
which was plainly visible all during her life. She was eighty four years
old when she passed away. Her daughter, Mrs. Amy Prothero of Paragonah now
has her mother's, Mary Williamson Barton's cherished toy and it is her most
prized keepsake. =97Nora Lund

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• Handcart -- story by Eldon Jensen <>