”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