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The 1848 Mormon Westward Migration Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive All Theses and Dissertations 2017-03-01 The 1848 orM mon Westward Migration Jeff aD vis Smedley Brigham Young University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Religion Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Smedley, Jeff aD vis, "The 1848 orM mon Westward Migration" (2017). All Theses and Dissertations. 6277. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6277 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The 1848 Mormon Westward Migration Jeff Davis Smedley A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Richard E. Bennett, Chair Craig J. Ostler Andrew C. Reed Department of Religious Education Brigham Young University Copyright © 2017 Jeff Davis Smedley All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT The 1848 Mormon Westward Migration Jeff Davis Smedley Department of Religious Education, BYU Master of Arts From the Pioneer Company of 1847 to the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, approximately 60,000 Mormon pioneers made the journey from Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley. Although some years have received more attention, every footprint placed on the prairie is part of the epic pioneer story. This thesis examines the major challenges and characteristics of the 1848 Mormon pioneers crossing of the plains. The sacrifices and contributions of the 1848 pioneers are as significant to the legacy of the Mormon westward migration as any other year. In order to explore, develop, and explain the thesis statement, this work includes five chapters. Chapter I: Introduction provides the historical setting of the 1848 Mormon pioneers. Chapter II: The L.D.S migration of 1848 in historical context. Chapter III: The general characteristics of the 1848 Mormon migration. Chapter IV: Relief efforts. Chapter V: Conclusion. The primary evidence for this thesis comes from journals of the 1848 Mormon pioneers. This research has discovered that the 1848 pioneers had the largest company in Mormon pioneer history. It is also the only year that each member of the First Presidency led a pioneer company across the plains. The companies' immense size coupled with insufficient provisions and an unusually dry spring required sacrifice and cooperation. Topics researched include: route and distances traveled, role of women, expressions of devotion, livestock issues, Indian relations, sickness, injury, and death. The 1848 pioneers received significant relief from 1847 migrants, who returned to the trail to assist. Keywords: 1848, Mormon pioneer, Brigham Young, Winter Quarters, Salt Lake Valley TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ................................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES..........................................................................................................................v The 1848 Mormon Westward Migration ........................................................................................ 1 I-Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 II-The General Characteristics of the 1848 Mormon Migration ............................................... 14 Size .....................................................................................................................................25 Departure Dates and Organization .....................................................................................33 Route and Distance Traveled .............................................................................................38 Role of Women ..................................................................................................................47 Expressions of Devotion ....................................................................................................56 III. The Main Challenges of the 1848 Mormon Migration ....................................................... 62 The Poor and Insufficient Supplies and Provisions ...........................................................63 Poor Feed and Other Livestock Issues ...............................................................................75 Relationships with Indians .................................................................................................91 Sickness, Injury and Mortality .........................................................................................104 Injury ................................................................................................................................107 Mortality ..........................................................................................................................110 iii IV. The Relief Efforts of 1848 ................................................................................................ 118 Relief from the Valley .....................................................................................................122 Back to Winter Quarters ..................................................................................................127 V. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 132 Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................................. 139 Appendix 2 .................................................................................................................................. 142 Appendix 3 .................................................................................................................................. 145 Appendix 4 .................................................................................................................................. 146 Appendix 5 .................................................................................................................................. 149 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 151 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Oregon Emigrants.......................................................................................................... 15 Figure 2: Brigham Young Company of 1848 ............................................................................... 30 Figure 3: Heber C. Kimball Company of 1848............................................................................. 31 Figure 4: Willard Richards Company of 1848 ............................................................................. 32 Figure 5: Brigham Young Company of 1848 Migration .............................................................. 46 Figure 6: 1848 Mormon Pioneer Deaths ..................................................................................... 117 v The 1848 Mormon Westward Migration I-Introduction The Mormon migration to the Salt Lake Valley began in February 4, 1846 with the exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois.1 Many of the Saints crossed Iowa and spent the winter of 1846-47 in a temporary station they called “Winter Quarters” near present day Omaha, Nebraska. On April 14, 1847, Brigham Young left Winter Quarters and led the Pioneer Company to the Salt Lake Valley (hereafter referred to as the “Valley”) and declared it the new home for the Latter-day Saints.2 John Pulsipher, an 1848 pioneer, wrote his feelings of this plight of the Mormons, while camped at Chimney Rock on July 17, 1848—his 21st birthday. Twenty and one long years have past To grief and sorrow given And now to crown my woes at last We’re to the mountains driven. ’Tis not for crimes that we have done That by our foes we’re driven But to the world we are unknown And our reward’s in heaven. What trouble oceans may yet encure To strew our paths with sorrow ’tis not for us to know its true For we know not of tomorrow. One thing is sure, this life at best Is like the troubled ocean We almost wish ourselves at rest From all its dire commotion. But let its troubled bosom heave It surges best around me 1 The official, preferred name of the “Mormons” is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout this thesis, members of the church will be referred to as “Mormons”, “Saints”, “Israel”, and “pioneers”. 2 In most 1848 journals, the word “pioneer,” is lower case when referring to the pioneers of 1848. When “Pioneer” is capitalized, it is a reference to the vanguard company. This same principle will apply throughout this thesis. 1 To truth eternal truth I’ll cleave It’s waves can never drown me.3 From the Pioneer Company of 1847 to the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, approximately 60,000 Mormon pioneers made the journey from Winter Quarters to the Valley.4 Within this twenty-two year span, there has been significant academic work on the Pioneer Company of 1847, and
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