William Clayton's Journal. William Clayton Clayton
he arrived he went on about eight miles farther. The band went to work splitting rails for corn and made before dark, about 1:30. In the evening Dr. Elbert and some others came to hear the band play. Kay sang some songs which pleased them.
Sunday, March 8
Waited for orders from headquarters. Many of the citizens came to hear the band play and gave us a very pressing invitation to go to Keosaugua and give a concert. About noon word came that we should follow on to the camp. We immediately struck tents and started and we arrived at the main camp about five o'clock. Some of the citizens from Keosaugua followed us waiting for an answer whether we would give a concert as soon as we arrived at the camp. I asked the President whether the band should go to Keosaugua to give a concert. He advised us to go and I immediately sent out the appointment and then we pitched our tents forming a line on the road opposite to the President's company.
Monday, March 9
Spent the day chiefly preparing for the concert and attending on my family.
Tuesday, March 10
The weather still continues fine. Spent the morning preparing for the concert and about one o'clock p.m. started in company with the brass band for Keosaugua. I rode in Elder Kimball's wagon with William Kimball, J. Smithies and Wm. Pitt. The distance from the camp to Keosaugua is about ten miles, the camp being at a place called Richardson's point. We arrived at Keosaugua about three o'clock and being requested we went through the town and played some. One of the grocery keepers invited us to play him a tune which we did. He then invited us in and offered to treat us to anything he had. We each took a little and then the next grocery keeper sent an invitation for us to play him a tune. We did so and he also gave us anything he had. A beer keeper next sent word that he did not want us to slight him and we went and played him a tune and then took some of his cake and beer. We then marched up to the Des Moines hotel near the court-house where we had ordered supper and after eating we went to the courthouse to prepare for the concert. At seven o'clock the house was crowded and we commenced, playing and singing till about 9:30. The audience seemed highly pleased and gave loud applause. About the close one of the citizens got up and said it was the wish of many that we should repeat the concert the following evening and he took a vote of all who wished us to go again. The vote was unanimous. We made nearly $25.00 clear of all expenses. We started back for the camp soon after ten and arrived about one o'clock all well and pleased.
Wednesday, March 11
In the morning I reported to President Young our success and the request of the citizens of Keosaugua and he advised us to go again. We accordingly started about eleven o'clock. I again rode with William Kimball, Horace Whitney and James Smithies. When we arrived we were welcomed again with the same kind feelings as yesterday. Pitt had a severe chill all the way and when we got there it commenced raining and made it very unpleasant. The house was again filled but we only made $20.00 besides all expenses. We learned that there is a party of socialists there and they and the priests are much opposed to each other. We also learned that a man named McCully was in jail close by under sentence to be hung on the 4th of April for murdering a man and a child. I did not feel so well at the concert as on the night previous on several accounts. We started back between eleven and twelve and got to the camp about three o'clock.
Thursday, March 12
The band moved to better ground about one quarter of a mile farther. The heavy rains had made it very muddy and unpleasant, all our bedding and things being wet.
Friday, March 13
Went hunting.
Saturday, March 14
Wrote a letter to Diantha.
Sunday, March 15
In camp all day.
Monday, March 16
Some of the citizens of Keosaugua came again to request us to give another concert. We agreed to go tomorrow evening.
Tuesday, March 17
Started for Keosaugua with Pitt, Hutchinson, Kay, Smithies and Egan. I took my music box and china to try and sell them. We arrived in good season and soon learned that the priests had been hard at work preventing the sectarians from coming to the concert, saying that it was an infidel move consequently there were not many present. We had far the best concert which lasted till nine o'clock. We then went over to the hotel, took supper and played for a private party till about three o'clock. We only cleared from both, about $7.00 over expenses but were well treated.
Wednesday, March 18
It rained last night and this morning again and we almost concluded to go to Fairfield, but finally determined to return to camp. We visited with a Mr. Bridgman who treated us very kindly. Bought about eight bushels of beans and some articles for President Young and then returned to camp. It rained some again today. We got back about five o'clock. After dark Dr. Elbert came to see my china and said if I would take it over tomorrow he would buy it.
Thursday, March 19
Went to ask council whether I should go to sell my china. Saw Heber who advised me to go. A few of us started and soon met President Young who said we had better go back and go with the camp who were then starting on their way. We accordingly turned back our horses and struck tents in a hurry. At twelve o'clock we started on our journey. After traveling about six or seven miles we had to go up a very bad bluff which took us till five o'clock. President Young's company went ahead of us and camped three miles from the bluff. Some of our teams gave out and we only went about a mile from the bluff and camped in a little point of timber a little from the road. Our teams were very tired.
Saturday, March 21