”Along The Platte“

24 X 18 Oil

David has a refreshing ability to capture children in seemingly spontaneous poses. Neither contrived nor stiff, his paintings never “freeze” his subjects. Instead, they seem to pause just long enough for the lucky viewer to fully appreciate the emotion of the moment. “In Along the Platte, a pair of young girls catch a rare, quick ride on the back of the family wagon. Riding was a luxury; walking the norm. Except for the very sick, almost every step of the 1300 miles from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley would be made one step at a time. The saints generally traveled along the north side of the Platte river
hoping to avoid unfriendly encounters with other emigrants. This way, quarrels over grazing lands for their livestock could be avoided. In addition, the Latter-day Saints believed the north side of the river to be healthier. Along the Platte river, cholera was a constant threat.

I will now tell you about the water. The Platte water being muddy, there had been wells dug all along the Platte bottom to get clear water. The wells were about six feet deep with steps dug to get to the water. The council (sic) was this, to not go near those wells for water but get their water out of the river and drink none without boiling and to fill their churns, teakettles, and everything that they had that would hold water with boiled water to use while traveling.

Samuel K. Gifford

Private Collection

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