Crossing The Sandridge

When newly married Robert and Annie Brighton Thornley traveled from their home in northern Utah in 1859 to pick up supplies, one of their oxen gave out in an area called the Sandridge. They continued on for 20 miles (32 km) with Robert sharing the yoke with the healthy ox. When they arrived at Maughan’s Fort, the only food available was sugar beets, which the Thornleys then lived on during the winter.