Description

All they Asked Was Breakfast

Jane Thomson McKenzie was born 27 February 1838, in Edinburgh, Scotland. When she was 14 years old, she and a girlfriend listened to Latter-day Saint missionaries preaching in the streets. Both girls believed the message and were baptized. For their choice, each girl was disowned by her family. With nowhere else to turn, the two girls emigrated to the United States. 

In June 1859 they joined up with the George M. Rowley handcart company. Jennie, as she was known, left the following account of their journey: 

“We walked many miles in the heat of the day, footsore, weary and tired, but hailed with delight the end of each day, when we might camp on a cool riverside, or sit beneath the shade of a prairie tree. Early and late we traveled, pulling and pushing our handcarts. Day by day we gathered buffalo chips, carrying them in our aprons, to use for fires by which we prepared our food. When night came and supper over, we would gather around the campfire and sing the songs we loved the best, until far into the night, when we retired.

One time, when we were camped by Chimney Rock, a herd of buffalo came in sight. Nearly every man in camp started after the herd with some kind of weapon to slay a buffalo. The herd started to run and the tired men were compelled to give up the chase, without killing a single animal. There were Indians close by who watched and laughed at them and told them to stay in camp, and they would kill the buffalo. The next morning they surprised us by bringing into camp two fine fat buffalo and gave them to the captain to distribute among the company. All the Indians asked in return were their breakfast which we willingly gave to them.”

I share this humorous story to illustrate what life was really like for the handcart pioneers. 

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KWNX-9KF