In February of 1846, the first of the Saints left Nauvoo crossing the prov­identially frozen Mississippi and settled into their first encampment at Sugar Creek. Eliza R. Snow reported that nine babies were born at that first encampment. William Clayton re­ceived joyous news that his wife, Diantha Farr Clayton, had successfully delivered a healt­hy baby boy, named William Adriel Clayton. In celebration of that news on April 15, 1846, William wrote "All is Well" (Come, Come Ye Saints).

Much of what we have on the Farr family's trek to Winter Quarters and on to the Salt Lake Valley comes from Brother Clayton's journal. He writes much of Diantha and incidentally mentions other Farr family members, including Lorin and Nancy Bailey Farr. William records that he sent Diantha's chest on to Mt. Pisgah where she was with her brother, Lorin.

By May of 1846, over 12,000 Saints had left Nauvoo and were in various stages of progress across Iowa, headed to Winter Quarters in Nebraska. This location was just near Council Bluffs across the Missouri River. It was as far west as the Saints got in 1846.

By the time they arrived at Council Bluffs, the community of Saints had grown to 15,000 Saints, 3,000 wagons, 30,000 cattle and a great number of mules, horses and sheep. Lorin Farr had been se­lected by Brigham Young to remain with the main body of Saints to negotiate settlement of property and church business back in Illinois. Because of this assignment, Lorin did not go with the Mormon Battalion when Colonel Stephen Kearney came to seek Mormon­ assis­tance in the war with Mexico. Nancy was extremely joyful when she found out Lorin would remain with her on the west­ern trek.

From the journals of William Clayton and Hosea Stout we learn of many incidents on the trail and at Winter Quarters. Many died that winter of 1846 from what the Saints called "black canker" or "black­leg." This sickness was due to a lack of fruit and vegetables and was similar to scurvy. It caused limbs to swell up and become black. Some 600 Saints died that harsh winter. Finally, vegetables pur­chased from the Missourians helped to stop the illness that affected so many. Winter Quar­ters was divided into 22 wards with a bishopric over each with responsibility for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the mem­bers.

William Clayton told of a social held in January of 1847 where he played in a band from 6:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. He said that Presidents Young and Kimball "danced considerable and all seemed to feel well." Amidst all their labors, the Saints did seem to enjoy relief through socials, dances, feasts and music.

On January 16, 1847 Elder Richards read "The Mind and the Will of the Lord" (D&C 136), received as revelation by Pres­ident Young two days earlier. Winslow Farr said it reminded him of the first reading of the Book of Mormon; he was per­fectly satisfied that it was from the Lord.

There was much planning in January for the coming trek to the Salt Lake Valley plann­ed for the Spring of 1847. There was much discussion about the building of wagons, laying aside provisions and other preparations for this historic trek. Captains of hun­dreds, fifties and tens were organized. Each family mak­ing the trek had to show that they could take 300 pounds of food for each person making the journey. Aaron Farr and William Clayton were chosen to accompany this first band of pioneers. William Clayton recorded many interesting and exciting adventures on the trail. He wrote of mea­suring the dis­tances by the odometer, hunting buffalo, and dealing with Indians, bad weather and other difficulties.

At the crossing of the Green River, after the initial pioneers had left, Brigham Young appointed Aaron Farr and five others to go back and pilot the next train of Saints through the Black Hills. Aaron Farr and the others met Daniel Spencer and his group some two hundred miles below Fort Laramie. There Aaron met his brother Lorin, Lorin's wife Nancy, as well as his sister Olive Farr Walker. William Walker, Olive's husband, was in com­pany with Aaron, so they must have had a joyous reunion. Lorin Farr was driv­ing a large wagon filled with implements, furniture, seeds, bedding and other household goods. Nancy drove a specially equipp­ed spring buggy that could be made rain proof and had good sleeping facilities. At the evening campfires they danced, ate, and told stories. William gave Lorin some maps of the trail and a plot map of Salt Lake City. The Farr family arrived in Salt Lake on September 20, 1847.

Meanwhile Winslow Farr, his wife Olive, Winslow Jr., and Diantha Farr Clayton remained in Winter Quarters planning to come to Salt Lake Valley when they could.