William C Beller, Brother-in-Law of George W Baker

 

 

And at the same time and place came, William C. Beller, to me, personally well known, and who after being duly sworn according to law to testify and the wish to speak in regard to the matters in the caption of these depositions mentioned; upon his oath deposed as follows:

 

I was well acquainted with George W. Baker, and when George W. Baker left for California, I was living about two miles from him. I was well acquainted with himself and family and also with his property and I was present when he started to move to California in April 1857, and saw his cattle and outfit for the trip. I think that George W. Baker had, when he started from here, one hundred and fifty or sixty head of cattle, in which was included about eight yoke of work oxen. I think the cattle without the oxen were well worth in cash, in this market, fifteen dollars per head and I think the work oxen were worth fifty five dollars per yoke. Now if the amount of cattle the said George W. Baker started with, was one hundred and sixty head and then out of that number the 8 yoke of oxen are taken, this would leave one hundred and fifty four head of stock cattle which at $15.00 per head would amount to the sum of $2160.00:

• 8 yoke of oxen @ $55.00 per yoke $ 440.00

• 3 horses, or mares 3 years old, and worth in cash in this market, $125.00 each $ 375.00

• 2 ox wagons worth in cash & the cost him here $ 260.00

• About $400.00 in cash $ 400.00

• Beds, bedding, clothing for himself, & family, provisions $ 500.00

• 1 shot gun, worth $ 30.00

• 1 rifle, worth (cost him $45.00) $ 30.00

I have made the above estimate from my own personal knowledge of the property and its value in this market, and I believe that the above is a low cash estimate of the property owned and carried off with him when he left here in April 1857; He was moving to California, and had his wife, 4 children, Melissa Ann Beller, D. W. Beller, and 2 hired hands with him and was well supplied with provisions and clothing for the trip. I have no doubt but what George W. and all his family who started with him were all killed at "Mountain Meadows" except three of his children, who have been brought back to this county. All of who I could pick out of the crowd of children when they were brought back here. I know they are the children of George W. Baker, and from all I can learn from said children and other and sources of information, I am fully satisfied that all were killed except children, who were in the train at Mountain Meadows and further this deponent saith not, so help me God.

 

Wm C. Beller

 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of October, A.D. 1860

John Bunch, J.P.