Thomas Grover

As the saints came west and crossed the state of Iowa, they located on the west side of the Missouri River where Florence now stands. A number of the men wen tdown into Missouri and bought pork for use of the camp. Thomas was appointed camp butcher. Thomas was amont the first 143 men to get ready to go with President Brigham Young to find a route to go to the west.
He left his family with enough provisions to last them two years. The company traveled up the north side of the Platte River to the Black Hills, where it became necessary to build a boat to cross the Platte. President Young called the camp together to ascertain the best plan. He gave his plan, but Thomas said: “It will not work.”
President Young said: “I think it will.”
Thomas again said tit would not work in that kind of stream and then went to bed. Stephen Markham was Thomas’ bunk mate. When he came to bed, a man folowed him to see what he had to say. Thomas said: “I have forgotten more about water than President Young will every know.”
The man immediately wen to President Young and told all that he had heard. The next mornign President Young called Thomas to task and asked if he had made that remark. He said: “Of course I did. I was raised on the water and don’t know anything else.”
When President Young got his boat into the water, Brother Kimball said: “It runs nice.” Thomas said: “Yes, but when it strikes the current, it will go under.” He had barely spoken when it struck the current and disappeared.
President Young turned to Thomas and said: “My plan has failes; what is yours?” Thomas said: “I shall take six men and go to the grove of timber yonder and get two trees and have them cut canoes fashion and lash them together and by daylight tomorrow, we will have aboat to carry us across.” President Young said: “Get your men and be off.”
The men were chosen, and when they arrived at the timber there were two trees that would fill the bill. In going to the trees, it was discovered that they were surrounded by rattle snakes. After killing snakes for two hours, the men succeeded in getting the trees. They worked all night, and by daylight the boat was in the river.
In the meantime, a number of emigrants on their way to Oregon had come up and were waiting for the Mormons to build the boat. When it was reayd, Thomas said, “Bring the heaviest wagon you have here.” President Young said: “Hadn’t we better run a ligth wagon first?” Thomas said, “No, bring the heaviest.”
They brought a schooner with 6000 pounds on it, and it went across. They then ferried the companies across.
President Young appointed Thomas and others to remain and run the ferry u ntil the water went down. This they did. When the water had receded, the rest of the people had not arrived, Thomas and the men with him were out of supplies so they went back and all they had to eat in three days was one skunk. They wen tot an Indian fvillage and to the chief and made their wants known. The chief had two wives, and they had a large kettle of buffalo meat cooking. They placed it before the men and they ate with relish. Thomas said he thought it was the best meal he had ever eated. The companies came up, and they all went on to the valley of the Salt Lake.