Wooden chest with metal edges and rings on sides and top 20 ½“ x 12” at bottom x 10 ¾” at center made for Joseph Compton for his handcart for the pioneer trek west. About 1855. Each handcart traveler was allowed 17 pounds of possessions. He saved and preserved his entire handcart and in my childhood it was displayed on the side of a log cabin at Temple Square.
*The family legend was wrong! The wooden chest came from England with him, but the date is wrong. There is a Book of Mormon on the library shelf with Joseph Compton engraved on the front cover and “Presented to Jos. Compton by the Saints of the Notingha Branch, England 1870” (over writ 1869). This is likely his departure time and therefore he came on the train and not with a handcart. Still, not bad for a man who had been born in a work house with no listed father.
I’d just love to know what ya’ll keep in there!