A day or two after the Fourth I went with Mr. Grant to his farm to help him put up his hay. It was wild hay, and we were about a week at the job. Mr. Grant told me that during the previous winter hay reached a price of $150.00 per ton.

We are now all in Carson City, and as soon as we can dispose of what remains of our cargo and our outfits, we are to start for home. In the bargain we received four mules with harness and wagon and 25 Spanish Mares. The balance we paid in money. About the first of August we started to roundup our stock that we had sold, to deliver them. After about a week at task we found ourselves ready to start home. At Ragtown the “cook” problem showed up again, and Mr. Haight finally asked me to do it, and if I would I would be free from any other camp duty, so I became the cook.

When we left Carson City, the telegraph line from the West coast was operating and the construction crew was working east of Carson City. We followed their lines as far as Ragtown the first day and camped. Here we were rejoined by the Indian who had deserted us when we came down. His advent was as much without ceremony now as his departure had been, but he wanted to return to Utah with us, so we let him travel with us.

From Ragtown we took an entirely different route home. It was known as the Simpson Mail Route; the coaches of the Overland followed this route, and the telegraph company was following this line also. We were out of Ragtown about a day’s travel when we reached the end of construction at this time. It was at this time that the Pony Express was being run from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, to see how quick this fete could be performed. They too were following the Simpson Mail Route. The second night out on this route as we were making camp, the Pony Express rider rode into camp and to my surprise it was the little Mexican cook we had with us on our trip to Independence, Missouri. This was the first time I had seen him since our company was divided at Fort Laramie on our return trip. He was pleased to see me, but in a few minutes he was on his way again. I have not seen him since.

Our party now consisted of seven white men and the Indian. Two of our original party remained at Carson City, expecting to go on to California. We picked up a man in Carson City to take to Utah

The wagon we had received from Mr. Grant was a very small and frail outfit, but we really did not expect to have any trouble reaching home, but it was too light for the load and the roads and as we were going down Egan Canyon the end of the right rear axle broke off. We were many miles from help, had but an axe ourselves, and pinion pine on the hillside. The situation seemed quite serious and after exchanging ideas for a spell, someone set out to get a piece of pie, while the others removed the broken end from the wagon’s skein. Then cutting the axle and the new timber to fit we were ready for the holes. I do not know who suggested it, but it was I who did the shooting. I took my pistol and got a short distance from the work and succeeded in shooting a hole through the timber. We finished the job by heating the bolt and burning the hole clear.

We put the wagon back together, but the best we hoped for was to get to some blacksmith shop and have the work done as it should have been done, but we built better than we knew, for without any other labor we reached home in fine shape.

Near the boundary line between Utah and Nevada we encountered a large marsh, at best it was 16 miles out of our way to go around it, and as this was the time of the year when the waters were pretty well drained from the soil, we decided to try for a crossing. We drove our loose stock into the swamp and they crossed nicely. We then ventured with our wagon and reached the other side in safety, about four hundred yards away.

Our first day’s travel then was over a long dry stretch of country, and we suffered considerable, and our stock even more, for water. Sometime in the late afternoon we reached water, some distance from the road and at the foot of the mountain. We had to climb the mountainside to reach the spring for water for the camp, then we drive the stock there and we forgot our troubles as far as water was concerned. Between here and Salt Lake City we camped but once, near the southern end of the lake. It was here our Indian friend left us, and I have never heard of him since.

The next day we reached Haight’s home about four or five miles northwest of Farmington. His home was known as Haight’s Grove throughout the district. I spent the night there and the next day I was given the special privilege of riding one of his race horses home, after a promise that I would not run her, and return her at a convenient time, well cared for. After three days at home I returned the animal, and took one of Father's to ride back.

After a few days rest after the cares of the trip, I took one of my brother David's yoke of oxen and started to gather wood for my use during the winter. After hauling three or four loads of wood I was taken quite ill with Typhoid fever. I remained in bed for six weeks. For the first time in my life, a doctor had been in my home. Mother was always our family doctor, and we thought she was a good one, too, but this was something new to her so they decided to send for a good old-fashioned doctor. Mc Entire of Ogden. After a visit from him and a round or two of his medicine, I began to improve. The disease settled in my right leg below the knee and resulted in varicose veins, which bothered me considerably in my future life. I was over in Ogden one day and asked the doctor how much I owed him and he said about two and one half bushels of wheat.

I was unable to do much the remainder of the season, and indeed during most of the winter, but the spring found me in a fair physical condition, and I made application to Mr. Judson Stoddard for work. He told me he had work for me as long as he hired men and I could go to work as soon as I wanted to. Mr. Stoddard owned a sawmill about three miles up Farmington Canyon and had contracted to supply lumber and shingles for a meeting house in Kaysville, and to individuals in Farmington. The mill itself was inefficient and did not pay well, but it was the purpose of Mr. Stoddard to fill these contracts.

Mr. Stoddard pointed out a house I could move my family into and furnished me a yoke of cattle to make the move with. This move was not entirely for the work I was to get, but to clear an atmosphere of ill content that sometimes surrounds relatives living in a huddle. I don not wish it understood that any unpleasantness existed between my parents and my family. We always got along without misunderstandings, sharing in fortunes and misfortunes as they were encountered which had blended our lives together beautifully with a mutual understanding. I was really very sorry to make this move, but it seemed to me to be the proper thing to do. Jane had entered my Mother's life as if she were her own daughter. She had always waited on mother and cared for her and worked for her as she might need, washing, scrubbing, etc., and this brought her near to Mother and at the same time promoted some jealousy on the part of the other in-laws. I had no sisters at home, nor where they could care for Mother. To clear the slate, I made the move to Farmington about May 1st. As soon we were comfortably settled I went to work. The following Monday I went up in the canyon with my wagon and oxen with supplies for a week. Saturday night I was to come home for the weekend. There were three other men there with me, George Chase, Dick Welsch, and Ed Pierce. Welsch was the sawyer, Pierce and Chase felled the trees and logged them and it was my work to get them to the mill.

By July 1st we had the work pretty well caught up. Mr. Stoddard sent me down to Farmington to prepare for cutting hay. I was joined here by John Sheridan, and as soon as we could prepare we started out on what proved to be a long job of haying. Our implements were the improved ones of this time, our arms were weak at first but gradually gained in strength. We moved with a "scythe" and "Snath," the scientific name for "Armstrong Mower."

At this time I was making good use of my violin and gathered in many a dollar with its use. In 1865 I taught school in Smithfield, with Mr. Charles Wright, and helped to organize an orchestra of four pieces. In 1870 I taught in Providence, in 1871 in Logan until December when I entered the employ of Mr. M.D. Hammond to care for an implement house in Logan. From Logan I went to Salt Lake City for Mr. George A. Lowe and in 1876 I was sent to Manti to represent Mr. Lowe there. I was successful there until I tried to rush matters. I had my job and bought in a general merchandise store. I advertised well and was in the best way, when D.&R.G. Railroad advertised for bids on some grading in Castle Valley. I took 12 miles of it, bought my implements from Mr. Lowed, and my provisions and horse feed wherever it was convenient. I completed the grade, or nearly so when winter set in and the company did not come to receive any of it, and I found out they had selected another route and did not intend to receive my work. I tried to force them and a few months later received less than half of my outlay and more obligations than you could shake a stick at. I thought I had some very good friends in Manti, and I did have some, but I had started down and everyone wanted a share. I sold my equipment on time and I guess the time isn't up yet. Everybody bought, and promised but never paid a cent.

I closed my books with Mr. Lowe and paid him all I could, including my home. I had become interested in the Snake River Valley country in Idaho through my friends and relatives, and in the spring of 1883, I mad a trip there and on my way home in May I stopped at Oxford and filed on the land. I left Manti with my household goods July 6, 1883 and reached my home in Idaho on the 31st of August of that year. I found myself on the frontier again and I had no solution for my financial affairs. I had seen the Valley from the west when I was with the expedition to the Lemhi but never thought I'd ever help to subdue its wonderful resources. I moved from Menan to the New Sweden District and spent the winter of 1887 in Idaho Falls, then Eagle Rock, and in the spring of 1888 I signed a contract to purchase a tract of 640 acres of land on Willow Creek which I completed, and I lived there until I retired from active life.

Much has been said of me and my operations on this piece of land, but I know that if I had the few thousands of dollars it cost me to square my obligations in Manti, which I made on the farm, I'd still hold my property.

(Robert Lee Bybee died of pneumonia in the L.D.S. Hospital at Idaho Falls Oct. 4, 1929, was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Idaho Falls, Idaho)

Comments by Elsie Geneva (Cook) Pace

I wish to thank Mrs. Juanita B. Summers, granddaughter of Robert Lee Bybee for sending me this outstanding story of the life of Robert Lee Bybee Sr., written by himself. He is the son of Byram Bybee and Betsy Ann Lane.

This story acquaints us better with grandfather Byram Bybee than anything I have had the pleasure of reading. It depicts in detail the pioneer life. Their move to Nauvoo. Their Journey to the West across the plains, which shows they were the highest type of people in or through the trials they passed through. They were creative and I learned to survive by making the necessary things they needed.

To think of all the work attached to get their bread, butter and clothing, is beautifully told by him. In 1857 he quoted the price of a few things: "Brown sugar was $1.00 a pound and flour at Camp Floyd was $25.00 per sack and other groceries in proportion. In 1860 hay had reached the price of $150.00 per ton in Carson City. Robert Lee Bybee when helping Mr. Grant in 1861 put up his hay, Mr. Grant quoted the above price of hay for the year 1860.

Can you imagine the price of necessary things, so when we read this "Masterpiece" of his, may we appreciate our heritage more than ever before. When I read of how he loved and appreciated the first little book he ever owned, even memorized the entire book, he was a student indeed. Robert Lee Bybee was always on the frontier, continually helping to subdue the wonderful resources of the golden west.

In the entire story of struggle and courage to keep going he never mentions his Church positions so I will quote some I found in the Book: "Pioneers And Prominent Men Of Utah" page 788.

"Robert Lee Bybee, born 4 May 1838, Clay Co. Indiana. M. Jane Miller. Mail carrier between Salt Lake City and Independence, Mo. Went with Y. X. Ccompany 1857. Missionary Salmon River 1858. Went south during general move. Bishop of Manti south ward four years; president of Menan (Idaho) stake four years; president of Bannock stake two years; moved to Bingham county, Idaho, where he was first counselor to President J.E. Steele 13 years and superintendent Iona ward Sunday school for four years. Senator in Idaho legislature 1901. Ordained patriarch 1908."

I think we could shed a little tear at the closing of his life story. One thing if the time comes bringing destruction we can learn many valuable lessons of how to create and survive from his detailed story of their Pioneer life for he was a gifted writer. . . to cause one to feel what they passed through.

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