William Clayton (Mormon) - Migration To The West

Migration To The West

Early in February 1846, Clayton left Nauvoo with the first Latter Day Saint group in their exodus to the West. He spent the winter of 1846-47 at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. The following year, Clayton was a member of the initial vanguard company that crossed the plains to select a western site for Mormon colonization. He acted as recording scribe for Brigham Young, President of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, during the journey. The group traveled along the Platte River, into present day Wyoming territory and crossed the continental divide, ultimately reaching the Great Salt Lake Valley in modern Utah.

Clayton's pioneer journal, later published, is the most well-known account of the expedition. He noted that land in the Salt Lake valley would be easy to clear as it had limited timber, and expressed concern over the apparent scarcity of rainfall. He later prepared and published The Latter-day Saints' Emigrants' Guide, a meticulous description of the route from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City, with suggestions for camping places. Using his odometer (see below), the guide had the most accurate distances of the day. It was a valuable guide for Mormon migrants, but was also used by pioneers bound for the Oregon and California territories.