Mary Rockwood Powers -Part 2

As we discovered in that last part, Mary Powers' husband, Americus, was a doctor unable to adapt to life on the trail.  His incompatibility with the other men in the wagon party was noted by Mary in her journal: "the company went on and left us to get on as best we could."  A very unusual course of action for a wagon company to take under any circumstance.  Mary says only that "a dissatisfaction among the company separated us.  I forebear giving the details."

Mary did write more to her mother that their horses could not carry them and their possession and were giving out.  She wrote that "the doctor told the other men it was his business.  He would not ask for help, nor would he buy a team of oxen.  I am in the hands of a maniac. Myself and my little ones at the mercy of a mad man." 

Somehow they reached Salt Lake City.  While there two men from the wagon company rode back to find them and talk with Mary.  The men made commitments to Mary and the children, not to her husband. 

In another letter to her mother, Mary says "for some days the doctor had been falling into his old sullen mood again, out of humor with everyone.  Mr. Curtis offered to take me and the children into their wagon and divide up the luggage.  But despite all their urging, the doctor would not give up his horses but hitched them up and drove off like he was Lord of all surveyed."

The next day Mr. Curtis and the other men came back and demanded to know if Americus was a "mad man or a confounded fool."  Seems Americus found public ridicule too much and bought some oxen and the family once again joined the wagon train. 

Before they left, Mary cooked the last of her dried strawberries, poured them over fresh made dumplings, and give them to Mr. Curtis and his friend who had tried to help her.  Did the doctor get any?  I hope not...

We'll conclude this story next time...

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Today in Pioneer History: On March 13, 1836, after less than a week after the disastrous defeat of Texas rebels at the Alamo, the newly commissioned Texan General Sam Houston begins a series of strategic retreats to buy time to train his ill-prepared army.