MA and PA PIONEER TREK HANDBOOK
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2 Lindon Utah Stake Trek 2014 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Table of Contents:
The Spirit of Trek ...... 4 President Thomas S. Monson ...... 4 President Gordon B. Hinckley ...... 4 Purpose of a Handcart Trek ...... 5 Core Gospel Principles Taught on Trek ...... 5 Trek Theme and Objectives ...... 6
Introduction ...... 7 The Role of a Ma and Pa ...... 7
Logistics ...... 10 Organization ...... 10 Pre-Trek Events ...... 10 Daily Itinerary for Trek ...... 10 Maps ...... 11 Rules & Duties ...... 14 Health & First Aid ...... 14
Possessions ...... 17 Personal Equipment ...... 17 Possibles Bag ...... 18 Bucket ...... 18 Clothing ...... 19
Ma and Pa Equipment List ...... 19
Handcarts ...... 20
Gap/Time Fillers ...... 20
The Experiences of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies ...... 21 Context ...... 21 Overview: They Came by Handcart, Paul H Peterson, Ensign, August 1997 ...... 23 Timeline of the Last Eight Weeks ...... 28
Family Discussions and Stories ...... 35 Instructions for Discussions ...... 35 Stories You Can Share ...... 40
Stake Vignettes ...... 49
Helpful Resources ...... 56 3 The Spirit of Trek
President Thomas S. Monson “Let us for a moment join Captain Edward Martin and the handcart company he led. While we will not feel the pangs of hunger which they felt or experience the bitter cold that penetrated their weary bodies, we will emerge from our visit with a better appreciation of hardship borne, courage demonstrated, and faith fulfilled. ... Our service to others may not be so dramatic, but we can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts, and lift to new heights precious souls.” (“My Brother’s Keeper”, General Conference, April 1990)
President Gordon B. Hinckley
“It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early plans, so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for us all, for each of us is a pioneer in his own life, often in his own family, and many of us pioneer daily in trying to establish a gospel foothold in distant parts of the world.” (“The Faith of the Pioneers”, Ensign, July 1984)
“I wish to remind everyone within my hearing that the comforts we have, the peace we have, and, most important, the faith and knowledge of the things of God that we have, were bought with a terrible price by those who have gone before us. Sacrifice has always been a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The crowning element of our faith is our conviction of our living God, the Father of us all, and of His Beloved Son, the Redeemer of the world.” (“Our Mission of Saving”, General Conference, October 1991)
The Gordon B. Hinckley Monument is situated at the beginning of the Handcart Trail that leads to Martin’s Cove. Every trekker should pause and read its inscription.
“We hope that a spirit of peace and reverence and sacred remembrance will hover over this whole area as a beneficent cloud on a hot summer day, and that those who here perished will not have died in vain.
I make a plea, go in a spirit of reverence and respect, and know that you are walking on hallowed ground.” - Gordon B. Hinckley, May 3, 1997
4 President Hinckley stated at the dedication of the Martin’s Cove Visitors’ Center on May 3, 1997,
“May the tale of the great migration of the Mormon people be here remembered and spoken of with love. May all who come here be filled with a spirit of reverence as they recall the experiences of their forbearers. May a spirit of solemnity rest upon them.”
(Mormon Handcart Historic Sites in Wyoming: Handbook for Trek Leaders)
Purpose of a Handcart Trek
The purpose of a youth pioneer trek is to provide spiritual opportunities, under the leadership of the priesthood, where youth can gain a deeper appreciation of the principles of faith, obedience, and sacrifice.
From 1856 to 1860, handcarts were a means of helping poor Latter-day Saints gather in the West. These handcart pioneers faced many trials and hardships which required a great amount of faith,obedience, and sacrifice. Participation in a handcart trek should help our youth to begin to grasp the spirit of faith, obedience, and sacrifice that these saints demonstrated. Some youth pull handcarts over the original trail; others reenact treks on land in their areas. The trek should help the youth appreciate some of the hardships of the early Church pioneers, particularly those of the handcart companies. During a trek, youth are able to feel the pioneers’ testimonies and their love for and faith in their Savior, Jesus Christ, as they heeded the call of their prophet to “Gather to Zion”.
Core Gospel Principles Taught on Trek
Faith: Faith in Jesus Christ and in His restored gospel was the motivation that sustained and succored Latter-day Saints as they entered the waters of baptism, journeyed to America, endured adversities, and contributed to building Zion. This same faith, if possessed by today’s youth, can enable them to withstand adversity, make sacred covenants, and contribute to the “building up of the Kingdom”.
Obedience: “No obstacles are insurmountable when God commands.” (Heber J. Grant, Teachings of President of the Church: Heber J. Grant). Motivated by their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to be obedient to a prophet of God, Latter-day Saint converts gathered together in the American West where they could make temple covenants and help establish Zion. If the youth of the Church are to triumph over evil and obtain eternal life, they too must learn obedience to God’s commands.
Sacrifice: Latter-day Saint immigrants left behind homelands, families, and friends. They shared resources, endured the rigors of ocean and overland travel, and sometimes suffered illness, extreme hardship, and death in order to gather to Zion. When tragedy struck in 1856, the Church, under the direction of Brigham Young, mounted a heroic and dangerous effort to rescue the emigrants, deliver them safely to the Salt Lake Valley, and to provide care and comfort. By following the example of the early Saints and applying the principle of sacrifice in their lives, the youth can obtain blessings from Heaven and acquire the “faith necessary unto life and salvation” (Joseph Smith). As the youth of the church participate in treks, they can learn of the 5 faith, obedience, and sacrifice exhibited by the handcart pioneers. Treks provide teachable moments in which the Spirit of the Lord can touch the hearts of the youth and instill within them principles which can guide them on their trek through life’s wilderness.
Trek Theme and Objectives
“Yea, Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.” Moroni 10:32
1. Help the youth of our stake learn how to Come Unto Christ, have courage and firmness of mind to act on the feelings and promptings they receive from the Holy Ghost and share their experiences with others. 2. Help the youth of our stake turn their hearts to their fathers, receive spiritual protection and draw closer to their Savior through family history. 3. Help each young man and young woman feel needed, included and loved. 4. Have fun. We will accomplish these objectives by having each youth participate in trek in remembrance of a pioneer who was in the tragic companies of 1856, and in honor of an ancestor who exemplified the pioneer spirit.
6 Introduction
Welcome aboard! We are happy to have you with us and we hope that this manual will help you better understand your role as a Ma or Pa. This manual covers some of the basic aspects of the program, hopefully addressing most of your concerns and questions along the way. Please become familiar with it; when you are less worried about the logistics of the conference you can focus more on inviting the Spirit into your pioneer trek family.
Although the pioneer trek is designed to provide a pioneer experience, it also entails other significant purposes. Specifically, it places the youth in a situation where they learn through experience to appreciate what they have, who they are, and who they can become. The importance of the family unit is emphasized along with many other eternally significant principles.
Ideally, pioneer trek provides an individualized experience--each youth learns lessons that apply to his or her life. We don't attempt to teach specific concepts; rather, the youth are allowed to derive their own lessons from the events they experience.
As a Pa or Ma of a pioneer trek family, you will have the opportunity to help the youth in your family to:
● Gain stronger testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, ● Learn to appreciate their pioneer heritage, ● Increase in self-esteem, ● Learn to appreciate their own families more, ● Learn to love their trek "family" and gain new friends. Your most important responsibility will be to love the youth. This love will be your greatest resource. In addition, your spiritual preparation (personal prayer, scripture study, temple work, etc.) is of utmost importance and will help you be in tune with the Spirit such that you may receive the help and guidance you need. The success of the program depends on you, to a great extent. The youth in your family will watch and emulate you throughout the week and, more importantly, after the trek is over.
Some of the information contained in this packet may not yet be clear. Please avoid being critical of any aspect of the trek as negativity is contagious and will degrade the experience of all in its path (remember that another name for negativity is murmuring). Sustain your leaders. Seek the Spirit in understanding the purpose of these activities. If you do have concerns, consult with the appropriate leaders.
The Role of a Ma and Pa
You have been called to this assignment because you have talents and abilities that will help the youth of our stake. More importantly, the Lord wants you here.
You will be responsible for approximately eight youth, and you will spend the entire four days with them. These youth will vary in age and background, however, they will all dress similarly and have the same possessions. You will have a handcart in which you will place your
7 belongings, and those of your family. As a family you will pull and push the handcart together, and have your own individual camping area at the base camp. As a Ma or Pa you will not be pulling the handcart; as this will allow the youth a greater opportunity to understand the physical aspects of the journey. Your goal should be to model with the youth an ideal family be engaging together in activities such as prayer, scripture study, conversation, and most other normal family activities. Through these activities, your trek family will build a feeling of unity and love. Love each of the youth as you love every member of your own family; each one is unique and your responsibility will be to look for the positive and give the love and support each individual needs.
When challenges arise in your family, it will be your responsibility to resolve them in a positive way through the guidance of the Spirit. Every incident, problem, challenge, and idle moment can be turned into something positive and meaningful for the youth and for yourself. These can be times to emphasize the blessings of the priesthood, temples, faith, repentance, and forgiveness.
The trek theme is Coming unto Christ, and you will teach your family about this theme in many ways. Your example of Christlike love and charity as a couple will be your most powerful way of teaching your family. This is especially important to remember during the most difficult times of trek. Your family will remember what they saw and felt long after any lesson or message you have prepared for them.
During these few days of trek, you are responsible for your family. You'll find that your family will love and respect you more when you are firm with them. Make your expectations clear. If need be, remind them to adhere to the trek rules, including dress, language, littering, etc. Let them know that you need to know where they are at all times. They should ask you for permission before they leave the family for any reason.
To the family you are a resource, not a servant. Your job is to help the youth by teaching them to help themselves. They should, under your direction, set up and clean the camp, etc. You should never be working alone. Help your family to be responsible.
Let the youth be creative, as they will often find a new, better method to accomplish their goals. Remember that family unity is the central goal. When looking back on the trek, your families should remember the entire family unit rather than just the Ma or Pa.
You are responsible for your family. The other Ma's and Pa's are responsible for theirs. If you see a youth acting inappropriately it is probably best to let his/her Ma and Pa handle it.
Work to establish and maintain love and unity between your fellow Ma's and Pa's, trek committee heads, and stake leaders. We all have very challenging responsibilities that may seem confusing at times, so please consult with them when you are not sure what to do.
Try to keep your family on schedule. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for an hour while one family finishes a particular activity. That doesn’t mean you need to “live by the clock” or lead by “chapter and verse” of this manual. Become familiar with the order of events, the general concepts, and your responsibilities indicated in this manual and by your leaders. Once you get to the conference, your focus should be on the youth and your relationship with them. Take advantage of the opportunity to relax and enjoy each other. The key to a smooth running
8 conference is preparation and flexibility.
Being a Ma or a Pa is a tremendous responsibility. Be in tune with the Spirit. Allow the Lord to bless and teach you so you can bless and teach your families. During this trek we ask that you not talk to the youth about drugs, violence or any of Satan’s temptations. We ask that you speak only about the pioneer experiences.
Ma’s and Pa’s are asked to keep a journal of their experiences during the planning and training before the handcart trek, as well as their experiences with their families on the handcart trek. We encourage you to record your impressions and thoughts as you physically and spiritually prepare for this great experience.
The events that occur throughout this youth conference will unite the Lindon Stake and bless the lives of many. It will be a blessing to have these events documented so spiritual experiences can be shared with others and never forgotten by those who experienced them. Your Company leader will collect your history after the handcart trek.
Along with the youth, you have the opportunity to trek for a member of the Martin, Willie, Hodgett, or Hunt pioneer companies, and also in honor of a pioneer ancestor (not necessarily one who crossed the plains). Be prepared to share how their faith and example has influenced your life.
This is a great opportunity. You will have one of the best experiences of your life if you will prepare yourself, physically, mentally, and spiritually. You have been called for a reason and our Heavenly Father desires to bless your life. As you dedicate yourself to Him and utilize the talents and blessings that He has given you, the blessings of Heaven will fill your heart and mind. May the Lord bless you as you endeavor to accomplish this challenging, though rewarding, call you have been given.
9 Logistics
Organization
Our trek will be divided into four companies. All Ma’s and Pa’s will report directly to their assigned company leader. This is how we will keep track of everyone, gather reports, request help, etc. There will be approximately 10 people in each family (1 ma, 1 pa, and 8 youth). One young man will be designated as big brother and one young woman as big sister in each trek family. Each company leader will report directly to the Trek Master.
Red Company Yellow Company Blue Company Green Company
Company Leader Company Leader Company Leader Company Leader Ma & Pa Ma & Pa Ma & Pa Ma & Pa
9 Trek Families 9 Trek Families 9 Trek Families 9 Trek Families
10 people per family 10 people per family 10 people per family 10 people per family
Pre-Trek Events
March 16: Trek Fireside and Kick Off. 6:00PM at the Stake Center Chapel March 27: Ma & Pa Training #2. 7:00PM at the Stake Center Chapel April TBD: Individual Ward Trek Meetings June 28: Trek Temple Session, 6:15PM at the Mount Timpanogos Temple July 12: Check in gear & equipment, 10AM-12PM at the Stake Center July 15: Trek Departure, 4AM at the Stake Center July 18: Trek Return, evening at the Stake Center
Daily Itinerary for Trek
Tues., July 15: Afternoon: Arrive to Martin’s Cove, orientation, family assignments, load handcarts Trek to Cherry Creek campground (3 miles) Dinner & Square dancing. Trek family time Camp at Cherry Creek
Wed., July 16: Morning: Break camp, load handcarts and have breakfast at Cherry Creek Trek to Dan Jones’ Cove (devotional) (2 miles) Reverent 90 minute walk through Martin’s Cove Lunch near Martin’s Cove Afternoon: Sweetwater crossing and women’s pull (3 miles) National Historic Trail training (NHT)--one parent attends Travel by bus to Sage Campground 10 Dinner at Sage Campground Trek family time Camp at Sage Creek
Thurs., July 17: Break camp, load handcarts and have breakfast at Sage Creek Trek over Rocky Ridge to Rock Creek Hollow (13 miles)--vignettes given Lunch on the trail Camp at Rock Creek Hollow Return handcarts Dinner Trek family testimony meeting and parting words
Fri., July 18: Break camp and have breakfast at Rock Creek Hollow Pony Express (by Ward) Morningside testimony meeting at amphitheatre Load buses Arrive at Stake Center in early evening
Maps
Our reenactment route will be close to the original trail, but we will not be following the trail exactly. Martin’s Cove is actually directly on the trail followed by the handcart pioneers, as is our cross over Rocky Ridge. To avoid crowding, at places such as the Sweetwater Crossing, we will split into groups and take different routes or follow the trail in different sequences.
Map 1 Bus route from Utah
11 Map 2 Martin’s Cove Tuesday, July 15: We will trek 3 miles on the Mormon / Oregon Trail from the Trek Center to Cherry Creek Campground, which is West of this map.
Wednesday, July 16: We will backtrack 2 miles with our handcarts to visit Martin’s Cove. We will be following trails 1 and 2 on this map, and then cross the Sweetwater on trail 3.
Historical Note: After taking refuge at the abandoned Devil’s Gate Fort (near the Visitors Center), the Martin handcart company and first party of rescuers moved to a cove in the hill for better protection from the weather. They stayed five nights. After the Hunt and Hodgetts wagon companies arrived, they decided to leave wagons and equipment which could not be hauled due to the death of the animals. Dan Jones and 19 other men (3 rescuers and 17 emigrants) stayed until the next April to guard the equipment. Though they ate only animal hides and old leather for six weeks, none died due to the kindness of the Indians. (Sacred Places, LaMar C. Bennett, p. 62-63)
12 Map 3 Rocky Ridge Thursday, July 17: We will trek 13 miles from Sage Creek to Rock Creek Hollow. This will require that we cross Rocky Ridge. The pioneers followed this route to avoid the Sweetwater Canyon to the South. The hill rises 541 feet in 2 miles to an elevation of 7,221 feet. In 3 miles the elevation becomes 7,300 feet. This was the highest elevation of the trail to that point, and the 13th highest of the entire trail. A very cold wind usually blew on Rocky Ridge, and snow was present even late in the summer. Most pioneers who crossed Rocky Ridge wore overcoats for that portion of the journey. (Sacred Places, LaMar C. Bennett, p. 94)
Historical Note: The Willie handcart company completed their crossing of Rocky Ridge on October 23. This grueling journey was completed in terrible conditions, and the last members of the company did not arrive in camp until 5AM on October 24 when dawn was breaking. Strawberry Creek was 40 feet wide, and some reported that their clothing froze to their bodies. They changed to dry clothes as soon as they could after crossing. The Captains who left camp to assist the stragglers returned with the corpses of the dead. (Sacred Places, LaMar C. Bennett, p. 97)
The Martin handcart company crossed Rocky Ridge three weeks later on November 16. It was bitterly cold and snowing, but none of the members had to pull handcarts because of the wagons of the Hunt and Hogetts companies, plus the Grant rescue party. While crossing the ridge, the the pioneers met the Call rescue party with 10 supply wagons. Anson Call, recorded “we found them starving and freezing and dying, and the most suffering that I ever saw among human beings.” (The Price We Paid, Andrew Olsen, p. 391-392)
13 Rules and Duties Trek Trails & Campgrounds Rules: ● Stay on the trail. ● Absolutely no climbing on the Sand Hill at Martins Cove. ● Take your time, walk quietly, use common sense, feel the Spirit. ● Treat handcarts with care; pull or push them by hand. Load handcarts from the rear (balance your load). You are responsible for all handcarts you checked out; your unit may be charged for repair due to carelessness; advise Handcart Station of any problems. ● Follow instructions of the Missionary Trek Assistant and Campground Host. ● Only start fires in the rings provided; do not move them; do not put trash in them. ● Do not take benches from other areas. ● Do not wash hair, hands, dishes, teeth, etc., around the water pump. Keep at least 20 feet away so you do not contaminate the drinking water. ● Do not climb on the fences; leave all gates as you find them. ● Quiet time is from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ● Any benches which are moved must be returned to their original places. ● Watch for snakes and go around them; advise an adult leader or missionary. ● Do not feed the wildlife; they need to be kept wild.
Sleeping Arrangements ● Each Company leader will provide tents for their company for use as a place to change clothing. ● We will be using the “burrito” system for our sleeping shelter. It will be a large piece of plastic that you will wrap around your sleeping bag to keep it dry. ● The boys in each family will sleep close to the Pa, and the girls near the Ma. ● Each evening during personal time all members of your family should be in their assigned areas. ● We are not the only group camping in the campgrounds and are asked to quiet things down by 10 pm. ● It will be your responsibility to wake your trek family, and to keep them on time and ready for the day’s events.
Cleaning responsibilities are as follows: ● You are responsible for keeping your campground clean during your stay. Paper and plastic items can easily be blown away by the wind. Leave all areas better than you found them. ● You are responsible for removal of your own trash. Remember, “Pack It In and Pack It Out”. Leave your area clean, including no trash in the fire rings (i.e. orange peels, apple cores, pop cans, etc.). We do not have trash service. During a fire ban (even a partial ban) there is no burning of trash in the fire ring. ● Use only your assigned restrooms. It is your group’s responsibility to keep all restroom facilities clean. Clean restrooms with provided supplies. Do not throw any debris in the toilet as it will clog the cleaning hose of the vacuum truck. Your assigned restrooms must be cleaned prior to your leaving camp. Health and First Aid
Ma’s and Pa’s are the eyes and ears of the medical team. It is impossible for us to be in direct contact with all the kids, but the medical team will do our best to be readily available to help. We do not expect you to have extensive medical knowledge, but we think it is in everyone’s best 14 interest for you to know how to solve common problems before they grow, and what to watch out for. Most common problems are due to working hard in the hot sun and hiking long distances on rocky surfaces.
Blisters Each trekker will hopefully have shoes that are comfortable, and have been worn for a few months. Shoes should give protection from the sand and the rocky ground. Lightweight hiking shoes would be the best choice, but good running shoes are also fine. Hikers should avoid poorly constructed tennis shoes and sandals. Blisters form because repeated rubbing of skin against the shoe’s surface. Once the blister is formed the damage is done and your youth will have to suffer the rest of the trek with a sore foot, so prevention is the key and it is also simple. On each break please make sure the youth do not have “hot spots” on their feet. Ask them if there are any warm spots or painful areas on their feet. Hot spots are pre-blister areas that feel different than the rest of the foot. They may be red and give a burning sensation to touch. Educate your youth to be aware of these symptoms and fix the problem before blisters form. Each person on trek will have their own first aid kit supplied with blister care items. Make sure they are easily accessible in the hand cart. When the hot spot forms, put a piece of moleskin, tape, or blist-o-ban dressing on the hot spot. Doing so will prevent further blister formation. If a blister forms, leave it intact unless it is causing severe discomfort. If the blister ruptures, then a dressing should be placed over the affected area. Call us if the blister is large so that we can address it.
Dehydration This is a serious problem and you will see it. It is simple to prevent, and as long as the youth are not overly dehydrated it is simple to treat. Make sure each youth is drinking 3 to 4 liters of water a day. Some youth will drink well and others need flavoring added to their water to make it more palatable. Sugar drinks will worsen dehydration unless they are very dilute. Half strength Gatorade or Powerade is a good example of replacement fluids. Soda pop will worsen the dehydration. Keep track of how much each youth drinks. This can be difficult, so it is easier to worry less about fluids going in instead focus on urination frequency. Our goal would be for each person to urinate three to four times a day--once a day means the person is dehydrated. Amber colored urine is a sign of poor hydration--light yellow is the proper color. Once dehydration sets in, the youth may become nauseated and unwilling to drink. At that point aggressive rehydration is necessary; they must drink and you should push them hard to do so. Please contact your medical person for assistance in these situations.
Heat exhaustion The trek can be hot plus most of these youth are not used to working in the heat. Their body may not be able to cool like they need. This leads to heat exhaustion, which is a dangerous problem. A heat exhausted person can look flushed in the face, have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, report a lack of energy and have profuse sweating. In heat exhaustion they’re mental status is normal and they remain oriented. These people have overwhelmed their ability to cool themselves and need immediate help. Have the person stop walking sit or lay in the shade. Shade can be made by using an umbrella or other means. Each trekking family should have one umbrella for their family as well as a spray bottle to spray misted water. Once the person is 15 in the shade, wet their hair, neck, armpits, shirt, face, arms, and legs. Drenching is not necessary, as just being damp will help with the cooling process. Have them drink large amounts of water, not just sips. Contact your medical advisor for assistance. Do not induce shivering with ice cold water on the skin, as this will worsen their overheating. If heat exhaustion continues, it may advance into heat stroke which is a medical emergency. Any change in mental status, such as signs of confusion or disorientation, is a sign of serious life threatening trouble. Contact your medical people immediately and begin cooling this person as described above.
Sunburn Prevention is key. Neck, face, arms and legs seem to be the most common areas. Help them use sunscreen and reapply every few hours. Once the skin is burned, it is best to cover the area with sunscreen, aloe, and then with clothing. Avoid direct sunlight. A bad sunburn is miserable so help them stay healthy.
Chafing Chafing can be a real issue. Some kids will be shy about this so Ma’s should talk with the girls and Pa’s with the guys. Be sensitive to their privacy. If they are walking with a different gate suspect this problem and encourage application of ointment. Apply to the affected area runners or vaseline as needed. Spandex or lycra or other well fitting under clothing may help prevent this.
The Daily Interview Some time during the day and every evening you should ask each kid the following questions: Have you urinated today? How many times? Is your urine clear? Any nausea, vomiting diarrhea, or abdominal pain? Any sore spots on your feet, or sore skin from sunburn or chafing? Have you taken your medications today? Do you feel good? If not, what is wrong?
Daily interviews will help keep your kids healthy and happy. Please be discrete and aware that only in a private setting will they answer the questions. Whispering is always appreciated. Ma’s should interview the girls and Pa’s the boys, so that it is easier for the kids to answer personal questions.
Please contact your medical adviser for any problems or concerns, and we will deal with them. We are there for you and your family, so please use us.
Ma and Pa First Aid Kit ● Tylenol: 5 tablets of 500 mg each ● Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil): 5 tablets of 200 mg each ● Your personal medications (inhalers, nasal sprays, contacts, diabetic supplies, etc.) ● Two safety pins, 2 inches or larger ● 10 pins for sliver removal and blisters ● Tweezers for slivers ● Fingernail clipper ● Athletic tape: 1 roll, 2 inches wide ● Moleskin (the thin stuff 1/16 inch) or a box of blist-o-ban (for blisters)
16 ● Band-aids: bring 5 or 6 of different sizes ● Runners lube, bodyglide, or vaseline in a small tube for chafing ● Sunscreen ● Chap-stick ● Scissors ● Umbrella for cooling ● Spray bottle for cooling ● One 28 to 30 inch square cotton cloth for a cooling scarf. It needs to be big enough for shade, or to get wet and put around the neck for cooling. ● Hydrocortisone cream ● Bug repellant ● Sunglasses All items except the umbrella, spray bottle & scarf should fit in one ziplock sandwich bag.
Individual First Aid Kit ● Tylenol: 5 tablets of 500 mg each ● Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil): 5 tablets of 200 mg each ● Your personal medications (inhalers, nasal sprays, contacts, diabetic supplies, etc.) ● Two safety pins, 2 inches or larger ● Athletic tape: 1 roll, 2 inches wide ● Moleskin (the thin stuff 1/16 inch) or a box of blist-o-ban (for blisters) ● Band-aids: bring 5 or 6 of different sizes ● Runners lube, bodyglide, or vaseline in a small tube for chafing ● Hand sanitizer ● Sunscreen ● Chap-stick ● One 28 to 30 inch square cotton cloth for a cooling scarf. It needs to be big enough for shade, or to get wet and put around the neck for cooling. ● Hydrocortisone cream ● Bug repellant ● Sunglasses Possessions Personal Equipment While emigrating to Utah, the handcart pioneers were limited to 17 pounds of personal supplies per person. All other personal possessions had to be left behind. Leaving behind comforts, tools, keepsakes, heirlooms, and other personal treasures was a huge sacrifice. On our trek, we only need to leave our possessions for a few days, but we will still have comforts such as pillows, coats, and sleeping bags.
You will need all of the items listed here, but please do not bring anything else as there will not be room in the handcarts.
You will need:
17 ● A big sack lunch to be eaten on the bus the first day--put it in possibles bag. ● Possibilities bag. Ward leaders will provide a pattern. ● One 5 gallon bucket with a lid. A 3 gallon bucket is too small, a 7 gallon bucket is too big. ● 1 warm sleeping bag as it can get very cold at night. ● 1 old blanket. ● 1 heavy and warm coat. Pack it in your pillow or bed roll. ● Pillow. You may take it on the bus or pack it in your bed roll. The Stake will provide each person with a large piece of plastic to make a “burrito” for a bed roll.
You may want to consider bringing a tarp for extra protection if it rains.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT ALLOWED. They will be confiscated and returned to the owner following the Trek.
Possibles Bag
This bag will function as your “backpack” for the trek. We ask you to use it to store frequently used items such as a water bottle, personal first aid items, sack lunch for the bus, hygiene products, etc. It will not be packed in your bucket, but carried with you, or placed on the handcart while trekking. Make sure it has your name written on the inside. Carry in your possibles bag:
● 1 water bottle with your name on it ● Personal first aid kit (see the section on Health and First Aid) ● 1 pen (make sure it works)
Bucket Pack in your bucket:
● 1 set of pioneer clothing ● 1 pair of work gloves ● 1 rain poncho (cheap one from Walmart) ● 1 pair of shoes to hike in. A light hiking boot or a good pair of running. Do not buy new shoes a few days before the trek, as they will give you blisters. ● 1 pair of shoes to cross the river in (can not be flip flops--they must strap on) ● 5 or more pairs of socks--as needed ● Warm sleepwear ● 3 or more sets of underwear ● 1 flashlight & extra batteries ● 1 small hand towel & 1 dish towel (to dry yourself & your dishes) ● 1 comb or brush & hair bands or clips as needed ● Toothbrush and toothpaste ● Deodorant and other personal products as needed--there are no shower facilities ● Scriptures ● 1 pen (make sure it works) ● Heavy-duty plastic garbage bag ● Zip-loc bags to pack all small items
18 Optional items:
● Camera and film (place in a protective case). Phones are not allowed. ● Ear plugs ● Small whisk broom. ● Tarp, approximately 6’x8’ Please clearly label your bucket, sleeping bag (bed roll) and all other items with your name and ward. Your bucket and bed roll will be checked at your youth activity the week before trek, and you will bring it to the Stake Center on July 12th. On July 15th you will bring your sack lunch & water bottle in your possibles bag and your pillow (with your coat inside) with you on the bus.
Clothing
Men should bring: ● 2 Pair of long pants (No Denim) ● 2 Long sleeved button down shirts ● 1 Western style hat (no baseball or army hats allowed) ● Suspenders, vest, belt (optional) Women should bring: ● 2 Mid-calf length or longer skirts/dresses ● 2 Button up shirts if bringing skirts ● 1 Bonnet ● 1 apron ● Feminine hygiene supplies as needed ● NOTE: bloomers are optional, but help protect legs from chaffing It is recommended that you buy as much clothing as possible at second-hand stores like Deseret Industries. Remember that t-shirts, shorts, or other inappropriate clothing will not be allowed. Do not wear clothing that you would not want to subject to heavy use. Do not bring valuables you don’t want to lose or break, including jewelry and watches.
Glasses should be worn instead of contacts in most cases. It is very difficult to care for contacts in a wilderness setting.
PLEASE ARRIVE DRESSED IN PIONEER CLOTHING
For resources & ideas on pioneer clothing see http://lindonpioneertrekclothing.blogspot.com/ Ma and Pa Equipment List
● 4 oz (1/2 cup) flour in ziploc bag to represent rations ● 1 Large Cooler (40 to 70 qt) ● Large bottle of hand sanitizer ● 1 Battery powered lantern/extra batteries ● Spray bottle (to help keep family cool) ● Duct tape ● 1 bucket lid lifter ● 1 medium plastic bin or “tote”
19 ● Shovel ● 1 tarp (approx. 6’ X 8’) and bungee cords, rope, or a spider web to tie down Please remember to label all your items with your name and ward. If you have any questions about anything on this list, please contact Brian & Sharla Graf at [email protected] Handcarts
The handcarts used by the pioneers were approximately 3 feet wide by 5 feet long by 9 inches deep. In 1856, three companies consisting of 750 saints had already left with handcarts, so the handcarts used by the Martin and Willie companies were hastily assembled and built with green wood without iron rims on the wheels or axle grease. They were very hard to pull, and townsfolk could hear them coming from the loud squeaking. These carts broke down a lot.
There were 5 people assigned to each cart, and each person had up to 17 pounds of personal belongings. The total weight was 160 pounds of possessions plus 100 pounds of flour to be eaten along the way. There was also one supply wagon for every 100 people with tents and additional food.
Our handcarts are constructed much better, and our supply wagons have engines. The dimensions of our carts are 46-3/8”x12-1/4”x46-3/8”.
Items to be placed in handcarts:
● 10 – 5 Gallon Buckets ● 1 - Large Cooler for lunches and snacks ● 1 - 5 Gallon Water Cooler with spout ● Shovel ● First aid supplies ● Garbage bag Gap/Time Fillers
Each Ma and Pa team will be provided with a list of group games for you and your trek family to play as time allows. Many of these are modifications of the games kids play at youth activities, EFYs, and family reunions. Examples are: The Human Knot (untangle clasped hands) and Upset the Fruit Basket. We will also provide some authentic pioneer-period suggestions. In addition to using the ones we provide, you might want to be prepared with some of your family's favorites.
We will also provide some pioneer-themed riddles, songs, and activities to use as you're walking. Again, you might want to have your own unique material with you.
If you have activity suggestions that we should be sharing with the whole group, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your ideas to [email protected].
20 The Experiences of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies
Context
The stories we usually tell about the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies are exciting, dramatic, tragic, and sometimes exaggerated. These pioneers had powerful experiences and the sacrifices they made are exceptional. We have a lot to learn from their sense of purpose, their endurance in the face of great trials, and their willingness to give up everything to build God's kingdom. Though most of us live ordinary lives, and most of life is unexciting, we can learn from these mighty examples and apply the lessons to build lives of extraordinary faith.
This contextual information should help you to assist the youth in relating their experiences during the reenactment to those of the 19th century pioneers. We also include an Ensign article which provides a useful overview of the story of the Willie and Martin handcart companies.
● Of the 70,000 pioneers who travelled to Utah before the arrival of the railroad in 1869, greater than 95% arrived safely. (Besides the Willie and Martin companies, most deaths were during the initial exodus from Nauvoo where 400 of the 3500 people died.) In fact, many reported that it was safer to travel west as a Mormon pioneer than as part of other immigrant groups during the great westward migration of European Americans in the mid 1800's. The initial journey to the Salt Lake Valley was often easier than the first few years of pioneer settlement in the remote regions of the Mountain West. For a great discussion, read how Susan Easton Black estimates trail deaths in “I Have a Question”, Ensign, July 1998. ● By the time an emigrant arrived at the staging area to prepare to cross the North American plains, he or she had already had a difficult journey involving traveling to a seaport, crossing the Atlantic by sail, riding cattle-class in a train (literally with the cattle), and travel by canal boat and ferry. This part of the journey was expensive, uncomfortable, tiresome, and likely to produce illness. While at the staging area to organize companies and prepare equipment, most slept outdoors. ● A bad harvest in both 1854 and 1855 led to food rationing in the Utah territory. Recent settlers were unable to pay back the loans they had received from the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Yet missionary efforts in Europe had been very successful and thousands of Saints wanted to come to Zion. This led Brigham Young to put into action a plan he had been forming for poor Saints to migrate by handcart instead of the traditional ox and wagon. ● Each handcart company would be accompanied by a few wagons to carry most of the food and heavy items. The Church maintained supply stations along the trail to Utah to assist the pioneer companies with needed supplies. ● Because handcart pioneers didn’t need to worry about feeding, training, and protecting teams of animals and heavy wagons, they travelled faster and were generally healthier than those who came by ox and wagon. They initially covered 15 miles a day, and at some points reached 30 miles in a day. They usually completed the journey in 90 days. ● As Andrew Olsen points out in The Price We Paid, today's trek reenactments usually take several months and a dozen committees to prepare, even though most of them
21 have far fewer participants, last only three days, use handcarts that are already built, travel a total of 12 to 25 miles, and have the convenience of refrigerated trucks and motor homes nearby. Historical handcart companies required a lot of preparation with limited communication, and succeeded at moving thousands of people over a thousand miles during an unpredictable travel season. It is amazing there weren’t more tragedies. ● There were 10 handcart companies between 1856 and 1860, consisting of almost 3000 people. All succeeded except for the Willie and Martin companies who were the last to travel during the first year of migration by handcart. A large majority of the deaths suffered by handcart pioneers were suffered by members of the Willie and Martin companies. ● The Willie and Martin companies were the largest handcart companies. The Willie company started on the trail two weeks before the Martin company and finished nearly a month ahead. They suffered 67 deaths out of their 500 people. The Martin company suffered almost 150 deaths out of the 576 members. The Willie and Martin companies were accompanied by the Hunt and Hodgetts wagon companies (30 deaths out of a combined 460 people) who assisted them and shared in their trials. ● Over 20% of the members of the companies dropped out of the trek before circumstances got tragic. Due to how late in the season they were starting on the trail, both companies considered stopping for the winter before reaching the mountains. But they felt like there was no place with food and employment sufficient for such a large group, and any long term camp would require difficult negotiations with settlers or native tribes. ● There were over 300 members of the rescue parties who helped the pioneers make it to the Salt Lake Valley. The supplies brought by the rescuers, and those furnished to the emigrants upon their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, were gathered through the sacrifice of poor and starving settlers in Utah Territory who had suffered three bad harvests in a row. ● There were many icy river crossings that required heroic efforts to pass, but there is a specific story told about three teenagers in the rescue party carrying everyone across the Sweetwater and later dying of the effects. This story is not historically accurate. There were at least 5 rescuers, ranging in age from 15-25, who carried those that could not cross alone or be carried in a wagon. All five lived active lives for decades after the event.
22 Overview: They Came by Handcart, Paul H. Peterson, Ensign, August 1997
The year 1997 marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of President Brigham Young’s advance, exploratory company into the Salt Lake Valley. Large companies with ox-drawn teams soon followed, and in 1856 the first handcart company began the trek west. Those resolute early Saints followed a route that has become known as the Mormon Trail. Why is it called the Mormon Trail? After all, for the most part, Latter-day Saints were not trailblazers; they followed established routes. The Mormon Trail is named after our people for at least two reasons.
First, it was because Church members followed the trail in such large numbers for such an extended period—at least 70,000 Saints traversed it for some 23 years. It was for these members their pathway to the promised land.
Second, it was because of what trail historian Stanley Kimball called the high drama of the exodus. This was hardly a typical group of western-bound emigrants seeking fortune, or land, or adventure in the fertile valleys of Oregon or Washington, or later in an earthly paradise called California. This was, for the most part, a migration of families hoping to find refuge from religious persecution in an isolated portion of the Great Basin. Here they came by the thousands, often at great sacrifice, to live gospel teachings and to build the kingdom of God.
For many 19th-century Saints, the trail was a schoolhouse of faith and learning. Somehow, as they trekked across the lowlands of Iowa or eastern Nebraska or wound through the middle Rockies, they sharpened their religious focus. They gained greater faith and grew closer to God. And for later generations the story of the pioneer trek serves as a connective link to a storied past and a glorious future.
Symbols of the pioneer trail emerge easily and naturally from our minds. We think of sturdy men yoking ox teams, of determined women giving birth under the protective white canopies of covered wagons, or of circled congregations praying in the early morning for a safe day’s journey ahead. We think of those lighthearted occasions when youth played tag as their families moved westward along the Platte or Sweetwater Rivers. We think of solemn times, when loved ones buried loved ones in scattered graves along the trail. We think of long, irregular trains of handcarts. We think of determined men and women and children pulling and tugging at those carts, sometimes under happy but arduous conditions and sometimes in situations that strained the human spirit to the utmost as they endeavored to reach Zion.
Gathering to Zion One cannot understand 19th-century Latter-day Saint history without understanding the concept of gathering to a central location. It was, simply, part and parcel of the conversion package. If, for example, a family embraced the gospel in England, as soon as their affairs were in order and as soon as they could obtain necessary funds, they left their homeland and journeyed to Zion. It was the actual physical gathering of covenant Israel to a designated location where they would build a temple and establish Zion.
But it was not easy to gather to Zion. Willing and even anxious converts didn’t necessarily translate into financially able ones. Most members, whether located on the banks of the Missouri River or in urban Liverpool, England, were poor. 23 To facilitate the gathering of distant members to Zion, President Young and the Brethren created the Perpetual Emigrating Fund (PEF) in the fall of 1849. Essentially the PEF was a revolving fund. Latter-day Saints with means would donate funds, which were quickly funneled to converts waiting to gather. Then, upon arrival, the gathering converts would work on public work projects, repay their loan in cash, commodities, or labor, and thereby replenish the fund. By 1852 PEF monies, initially used to bring in Church members from the middle and eastern United States, were made available to thousands of European Saints.
But with all the successes of the PEF (and they were notable), funding the emigration remained a challenge. There was simply not enough money to go around. By the early 1850s, nearly everyone in the United States who wanted to gather had received the opportunity, yet there were thousands of converts waiting in Great Britain and Scandinavia. “We should hardly judge that there were a hundred families among the Saints in Great Britain who are able to go direct from this to the Salt Lake basin,” wrote European Mission president Orson Pratt in 1849. “We are in hopes that the time will soon come when there will be capital sufficient to enable the Saints to pass on to the place of their destination without any delay.”
The Origins of Handcart Travel The handcart plan was born of this concern and hope—concern about the plight of thousands of European converts and hope that a method could be devised to enable them to gather. “I have been thinking how we should operate another year,” President Young wrote in 1855 to Elder Franklin D. Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who was then president of the European Mission. “We cannot afford to purchase wagons and teams as in times past, [and] I am consequently thrown back upon my old plan—to make hand-carts and let the emigration foot it, and draw upon them the necessary supplies, having a cow or two for every ten [handcarts].” President Young went on to indicate that handcart travel would likely be quicker and cheaper and ultimately would “become the favourite mode of crossing the plains.” Later in the year, President Young brought the plan to fruition. He instructed gathering Latter-day Saints in Europe to sail from Liverpool to New York, take the train from New York to Iowa City, and “walk and draw their luggage” overland to Utah.
Handcarts across the plains? “And would we actually pull them across turbulent rivers, up mountain passes, and drag them down ravines?” some Church members must have inquired. For many, the word handcarts probably conjured up images of the large carts used by porters and street sweepers in large eastern cities. Clearly it was a novel and intriguing idea to use such vehicles to transport thousands of people 1,300 miles across terrain that was sometimes less than hospitable.
The handcarts, with wheels as far apart as normal wagon wheels, were constructed of wood, usually Iowa oak or hickory. There were regular carts and slightly larger family carts. The larger family cart often had axles of iron rather than of hickory. Ideally, at least two people pulled them; by journey’s end sometimes it was but one. Not surprisingly, supply rationing was severe. Adults were allowed only 17 pounds of baggage, largely clothing and bedding; children were allowed 10. Larger carts sometimes were loaded down with as much as 400 to 500 pounds of food, bedding, clothing, and cooking utensils.
24 The captains of handcart companies were as rugged as they were faithful. All had considerable trail experience. Each company had accompanying ox-drawn baggage and commissary wagons—about one wagon for every 20 handcarts. Handcart groups also took along public tents, each tent sheltering about 20 people.
The Era of Handcarts The actual period of handcart migration was brief—from 1856 to 1860. That beginning year of 1856, five companies were organized to make the trek. The benefits of President Young’s plan were apparent with the arrival of the first two groups, consisting of just under 500 emigrants. Led by Captains Edmund L. Ellsworth and Daniel D. McArthur, they arrived in Salt Lake City on 26 September 1856. It had been a strenuous but safe journey. Along the way they had occasionally struck up a chorus of the well-known “Handcart Song”; they had also quietly tolerated random harassment from amused onlookers and had endured a fair bit of privation and fatigue. Sometimes they even had occasion to resolve petty quarrels among themselves. But these were relatively minor interludes. For the most part, they had never lost sight of their ultimate goal. “We waded streams, crossed high mountains and pulled through heavy sand,” wrote participant Mary Ann Jones, “leaving comfortable homes, father, mother, brother and sister to be where we would hear a prophet’s voice and live with the Saints of Zion.”
Understandably, the day of arrival, 26 September 1856, was viewed as a day of triumph—a day for both solemn reflection and gala celebration. The First Presidency met the dusty and bedraggled but fulfilled pioneers at the mouth of Emigration Canyon with a band and a military escort. The Deseret News reported that men, women, and children gathered from everywhere to greet their fellow members, “the numbers rapidly increas[ing] until the living tide lined and thronged South Temple Street.” For many it was a poignant moment in time. “I shall never forget the feeling that ran through my whole system,” noted one observer, “as I caught the first sight of them.”
Within one week, a third group of some 300 Welsh Saints arrived, led by Captain Edward Bunker. And as had the first two groups, they completed the journey without undue hardship. Altogether, the first three companies had completed the journey from Iowa City to Salt Lake City in less time and with equal or possibly fewer casualties than the typical wagon train. It would seem the “most remarkable travel experiment in the history of western America” was a success.
But the triumph soon turned to tragedy. On 4 October President Young received heart-stopping news from Elder Franklin D. Richards who had just arrived in town. There were yet two other groups—the James G. Willie and Edward Martin Companies, consisting of around 1,000 persons—on the plains. Elder Richards, handcart company organizer, traveling by horseback and light carriages with a group of returning missionaries, passed the two companies on the trail in early September.
President Young was stunned. He had thought the last two companies would winter somewhere in the Winter Quarters, Nebraska, area. IIndeed, the last resupply wagons that were regularly dispatched to meet incoming emigrants had returned to the valley. Thus, some 1,000 Saints were traveling somewhere in Nebraska or Wyoming with winter fast approaching.
25 How could this have happened? With the advantage of historical hindsight it is relatively easy to pinpoint problems along the way. The emigrants had difficulty procuring boats in Liverpool, thus postponing their Atlantic voyage. Agents in Iowa City and Florence were not ready for such a large group, and there were not sufficient stockpiles of carts and tents. Nearly all the eager emigrants, despite the delays and disappointments, clamored to get to Zion that very year. And finally, some well-intentioned but inexperienced leaders encouraged them to move ahead. One subcaptain of the Martin Company, Levi Savage, thought otherwise, and advised the emigrants to “not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people, women, and little children, so late in the season.” When Brother Savage was outvoted, he said, “Brethren and sisters, what I have said I know to be true; but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with you. May God in his mercy bless and preserve us.”
Preservation of the Willie-Martin emigrants became President Young’s top priority. Concerned about early storms, he immediately dispatched relief teams. The first group, led by George D. Grant, left on 7 October with the first 16 of what eventually amounted to 200 wagons and teams. Several of the rescue party were missionaries who had just arrived with Elder Richards days before. Since they knew many of the emigrants, they were understandably anxious about their condition. Other rescuers were drawn from various city militias. As a group, they can only be described as daring and courageous.
Rescuers reached the Willie Company on 21 October and the Martin Company on 28 October. What they found melted the stoutest heart. Severe winter weather had overtaken the companies. There had been untold suffering, agony, and death. Nearly all were starving, many were frozen, and several were unable to walk. Eighteen-year-old Sarah James reported being “cold all the time.” Mary Hurren Wight had eaten her daily three ounces of flour, but it had hardly sufficed. In an effort to thwart hunger pains, she and her sister and brother had chewed on pieces of rawhide stripped from the wheels of their handcart. The Martin Company, with some 576 people, many of them elderly, was in an especially pitiful condition, some of them seemingly having lost all verve and direction.
There was a certain gallantry, however, that attended the unspeakable horror. There were accounts of strong men who quietly sliced up portions of their rations to give to their children. Some Church members, mostly husbands and fathers, pulled carts up to the very day they died. And the women, as more than one writer has noted, were magnificent. Without their quiet resourcefulness, their meticulous efficiency, their steadfastness and dutifulness under inhumane conditions, it is difficult to fathom how any could have survived.
Weeks later, the weary, hungry handcart pioneers straggled into the valley. The Willie Company arrived on 9 November. Of an original group of about 500, 67 had died. The Martin Company arrived three weeks later on 30 November. Of the 576 members, at least 145 had died. Upon arriving they were immediately taken into the homes of various families and friends who caringly administered to their varied needs.
To assist Martin Company emigrants, President Young canceled afternoon worship on 30 November. “Prayer is good,” he told the Saints at morning worship service, “but when baked
26 potatoes and pudding and milk are needed, prayer will not supply their place on this occasion; give every duty its proper time and place.” For the next several days, outlying villages sent donations of food, clothing, and blankets. In actuality, residents in Salt Lake City and nearby villages had little to give. The drought of 1855–56 had left them with scanty supplies. But this was Zion, and it was expected that everyone would give all they could.
Indeed, regarding the Willie-Martin experience, heroic status should be attached to at least three different clusters of people. First, of course, we must look to the handcart pioneers themselves. A noted historian praised their “human kindness and helpfulness and brotherly love in the midst of raw horror.” By and large, those who died, died with dignity and faith. Second, we must recognize the rescue parties who risked life and limb to save their fellow Saints. Their contribution cannot be overestimated; without rescue parties there would probably have been no survivors. Handcart pioneers for the rest of their days talked and wrote gratefully of these stalwart, intrepid Saints who came to their rescue. Third, we must honor the resident Saints in the valley who cared for the emigrants, sharing liberally of their modest (and in some cases, almost depleted) stores of food and supplies.
Handcart Travel, an Evaluation Yet the Willie-Martin tragedy did not stop handcart travel. A missionary company going east in 1857 traveled using handcarts, and between 1857 and 1860 five additional emigrant companies took carts west across the plains. Their success demonstrated that President Young’s handcart plan, while demanding, was an effective way to move large groups at minimal cost over long distances. Altogether, nearly 3,000 people reached Zion using handcarts. About 250 of that number died along the way; and about 210 of those pioneers were in the Willie and Martin Companies.
Certainly there was an element of risk to handcart travel. There is little doubt that if the Saints in the late 1850s had had sufficient resources, handcart travel would probably not have been the transportation mode of choice. But clearly Latter-day Saints in 1856 did not have the means. And were it not for the inexperience of immigration officials, coupled with a capricious climate (the storms were unseasonably early in 1856), the entire venture would have been counted an unmarred success.
It is interesting to note that the Willie-Martin survivors chose not to dwell on the suffering and death; very few expressed bitterness. While sometimes it is said that no one in the Martin Company ever apostatized or left the Church, this statement requires qualification. Almost all retained a vibrant faith in the gospel, and for some the ordeal resulted in their gaining “the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.”
In retrospect, it is clear that many Saints in 1856 were determined to come to Zion at almost any cost. Those who have been in the Church for some years may recall that in a 1970 general conference address, President Gordon B. Hinckley movingly recounted the experience of his wife’s grandmother, Mary Ann Goble Pay, who at age 13 left England with her family and ultimately joined up with the Martin Handcart Company. Before journey’s end, she lost two brothers, a sister, and finally her mother, who died just before they reached the valley. Years later, in her personal history Sister Pay reflected on the spirit that prompted her family to
27 become handcart pioneers: “I have thought often of my mother’s words before we left England. ‘Polly, I want to go to Zion while my children are small, so they can be raised in the Gospel of Christ, for I know this is the true church.’”
Mary Ann Goble Pay, of course, made it to the valley. Others did not. Blessed be the names of all of them. Those who came to the West by handcart and those who sacrificed their all found the joy and peace promised to Saints who endure suffering for the Savior’s sake. The story of their tragedies and triumphs and their legacy of courage and conviction will never die.
Timeline of the Last Eight Weeks
Tuesday, September 31, 1856 The Willie Company reached Fort Laramie and was not able to purchase the flour that was much needed to sustain them. This was devastating news to add to an earlier loss three weeks earlier when they lost their oxen that pulled their supply wagons in a stampede. They had no choice but to yoke up their beef and milk cattle. Now they not only had they lost their milk and beef they had very little flour to sustain them and they still were six weeks out of Salt Lake City. Normally supply wagons would meet handcart companies at Deer Creek. They learned from a group of missionaries that there were no wagons waiting for them and no wagons coming. The supply wagons assumed that as the 3rd handcart company passed there were no more companies coming that season and turned back for Salt Lake City.
At Fort Laramie all that Captain Willie managed to purchase was 400 lbs of hard biscuits, a small amount of sugar and a sack of dried apples. Rations were then cut, with each adult working man receiving twelve ounces of flour per day, the women and children’s rations were reduced similarly by one fourth.
Saturday, October 4 Elder Franklin D. Richards returned home from his mission in Europe and reported to President Brigham Young that there were two handcart companies of European Saints still out on the plains. As it was, the Martin and Willie Companies were still at least five hundred miles from Salt Lake City.
Sunday, October 5 Brigham Young sent out a “call to action” during General Conference. The response was remarkable. By Tuesday morning, just sixty hours after the arrival of Franklin D. Richards, the first wagons were headed east. Each wagon could carry close to two thousand pounds of goods which meant that twenty-two tons of supplies were on their way within that short period of time. Ten thousand pounds of that was flour. Six men leaving with the first rescue party had just arrived in Salt Lake after being gone from their wives and families after serving two to four year missions.
Friday, October 10 The Willie Company reached the river crossing at the North Platte. During the spring runoff in June & July the North Platte swelled tremendously, making crossing very dangerous. Even in low water the main channel was four or five feet deep in places. In 1847, Brigham Young had a ferry built to cross this river. It became known as the Mormon Ferry and soon became a 28 mainstay on the upper North Platte. Each season Brigham would send a crew out to run it throughout the high water season. In 1851, a fur trader named John Baptiste Richard built a bridge up river which was easier, safer and faster than the ferry to cross the river. Sometimes wagons would end up waiting three or four days for their turn to ferry across. The bridge was eight hundred and thirty five feet long from one end to the other. It was wide enough to allow two wagons to pass each other. The bridge was built ten feet above the high water mark. The price for crossing the “Platte Bridge” in high water months was $5.00 per wagon and $4.00 per hundred head of stock. The bridge became so popular that it eventually shut down the Mormon Ferry.
The Willie Handcart Company arrived at the Platte Bridge not to cross the bridge – they had no money and they had nothing to trade for the toll. They had to ford the river upstream about 5 miles. The immigrants had to cross this river which was four or five feet deep in some places and the current was still strong. Once across this flesh numbing water, soaking wet from the chest down, they stepped out into the cold wind which instantly began to freeze their clothing.
Monday, October 13 Captain Grant’s rescue party was just north of Fort Bridger. There was still no sign of either the Martin or Willie Handcart Companies. The decision was made to send out an “express” rescue party to go forward as swiftly as possible. They were not able to carry more than their own gear which would do nothing to relieve the conditions of the emigrants if they were found, but what they would carry with them is hope that the end to their suffering was near. Joseph A. Young (Brigham Young’s son), Stephen Taylor (future son-in-law of Brigham Young), William H. Kimball (Heber C. Kimball’s son) and Abel Garr (not a member of the church) were sent.
The flour ration for the Willie Company was further reduced, men to ten and a half ounces, women and older children nine ounces, younger children six ounces and infants three ounces.
Tuesday, October 14 The Willie Company was camped near Independence Rock where they reduced their rations even further. They were down to no more than a week’s supply of food and it began to snow. Some decided to cook the tatters of their shoes and make soup of them. While others roasted hides scorching the hair off, cut it in small pieces and ate it. They ate this food with thankful hearts. They asked God to bless and strengthen their bodies day by day so that they could perform their duties. Many testified that Heavenly Father heard and answered their prayers. They were blessed with health and strength to endure the severe trials they had to pass through before they got to Salt Lake. It was a miracle that any survived these conditions. They knew that if God had not been with them their strength would have failed them. They put their trust in God and He heard and answered their prayers.
Friday, October 17 When the Martin Handcart Company reached Deer Creek campground they made a critical decision to reduce their luggage. They did not see any other alternatives. Their company was wearing down and their progress slowed considerably. They were still four hundred miles from Salt Lake and were in hopes that they would meet the supply wagons at South Pass. Each person eight and older was limited to ten pounds of luggage; each child under eight was limited
29 to five pounds. They threw out their family treasures, personal items, and extra clothing and all that was near and dear to their hearts. Their priorities were now simple as they gave up all of their worldly possessions for that which was important, for what they hoped would sustain them and get them to Zion.
At the rate the Martin Handcart Company were traveling they would not reach the supply wagons that were thought to be at South Pass until at least a week after their supplies had run out. A decision was also made to further reduce their rations, eight ounces for adults and four ounces for children. With this meager amount they would stir in enough water to make a thin gruel, bring it to a near boil over the fire so it would thicken, then either put it on the griddle and fry it into thin cakes or eat it straight from the kettle.
Saturday, October 18 The Martin handcart company, the fifth and last company, reached Fort Laramie nine days behind the Willie Company. The Fort had no flour to sell this beleaguered company.
Sunday, October 19 Captain George D. Grant of the rescue party made a decision to push on with all possible speed. He left behind some of the food where they were camped which enabled them to travel faster and have more room for those in need of help. A few were left behind to butcher and dress the beef so that when the immigrants arrived they would have food.
The last of the flour bags were rationed out to the Willie Company. With nothing left except for the four hundred pounds of hard biscuits purchased at Ft Laramie, the few pounds of sugar, a partial bag of dried apples and a quarter of a sack of rice. The flour they had in their hands had to last them until the rescue wagons reached them. Sometime before noon the first snowstorm of the season descended upon the company. Before they moved out for the day the “express” rescue team found the Willie Company. What the rescuers brought with them was much needed hope that their suffering may soon be over. They still had to travel ten miles that day to reach the Sixth Crossing which was their camping place for the night. The storm soon turned into a blizzard and the depth of snow on the ground was eight to ten inches and the wind was blowing fiercely. By the time they reached their camp they were near the end of their endurance.
This storm hit the Willie Company at Ice Springs just west of the fifth crossing of the Sweetwater. It caught the rescue party twenty-five miles west of the Willie Company. It caught the Martin Company at the last crossing of the North Platte just as they were fording the river.
The rescue party led by George D. Grant had no choice but to stop and get some shelter from the storm. They decided to take shelter close to three miles off the trail down in some willows.
The Martin Company reached the Platte Bridge. Just as with the Willie Company there was no money to pay the expensive toll; nor any food for them to purchase at the fort. They crossed the river five miles upstream. The river was about twenty-five yards across and was 4’ to 5’ deep in some places. The images of these saints crossing this river this late in October when they could have crossed over the bridge is a thought that is difficult to imagine. The images only get worse as you picture men who had lost their courage to go on, falling on their knees and sobbing uncontrollably, the women in their long dresses, carrying their children on their backs through
30 the chest-deep water. In this weakened physical and mental state, they crossed the river putting their complete faith and trust in God. As they began crossing, the snow began to fall. The storm hit when they were already soaking wet and chilled to the bone. As if walking through the bone chilling water wasn’t enough, once across stepping out of the water in the bitter cold of the snow storm, their clothing instantly began to freeze. Because of the decision to lighten their load just two days before they had little or no dry clothing to put on. By the time they reached their camp that evening it was too late to go for wood and water. The ground was frozen so hard they were unable to drive any tent pins in and tents were wet and partially frozen. They stretched their tents open as the best they could and got in under them until morning. The fact that any of them made it through that night is hard to imagine but the fact that most of them made it through the night is miraculous. In spite of this desperate situation a cheerful spirit pervaded the camp and the Songs of Zion were frequently heard at this time. Though the company was in the very depth of privation and bodies of the people were worn down they were remarkably still in good spirits even with the knowledge that until the supply wagons from Salt Lake were found their rations would be reduced to four ounces of flour per day for adults and two ounces for smaller children.
Monday, October 20 The temperature was well below freezing, the snow was eight to ten inches deep and still snowing. Captain Willie made the decision that the company could go no further, he ordered the remaining provisions to be distributed which consisted of the dried biscuits, barely one pound per person. He ordered two cattle to be butchered and the meat distributed. Captain Willie and Brother Joseph Elder set out to find the rescue wagons.
With the storm showing no signs of letting up Captain George D. Grant under the circumstances felt it would not be wise to travel in such terrible conditions and ordered his men to a halt. The drifts so deep the teams would have to buck their way through the snow. Later on that evening a member of the rescue party named Harvey Cluff felt a strong impression to make a sign to post on the trail to notify the “express” rescue team where they were camped down in the willows. He was worried that they would cross paths and would not know if they had found the handcart companies and where they were located. Harvey followed his impressions and made the sign. He then hiked out to the trail in snow drifts almost up to his waist to post the sign.
After traveling for fifteen hours non-stop with no food Captain Willie and Joseph Elder found the rescue party because of the sign that was posted shortly before. Had Harvey Cluff not posted that sign Captain Willie and Joseph Elder would not have found the rescue party.
Tuesday, October 21 Sixth Crossing was the sight of the rescue of the Willie Company. Pen could not adequately describe the conditions that the emigrants were found in. John Chislett wrote of the conditions “Before we renewed our journey, the camp became so offensive and filthy that words would fail to describe its condition and even common decency forbids the attempt. Suffice it to say that all the disgusting scenes which the reader might imagine would certainly not equal the terrible reality. It was enough to make the heavens weep. Such craving hunger I never saw before, and may God in his mercy spare me the sight again”. The rescue party did the best they could to distribute the food and clothing to somewhat ease their suffering. The emigrants were soon told
31 that in order to avoid further disaster they had to travel twenty-five miles further where wagons would be waiting for them at South Pass. This meant they had to cross Rocky Ridge, one of the most difficult stretches of the trail. Rocky Ridge was not a single ridge that had to be crossed but a series of rolling hills, steep gullies and rocky escarpments that stretched on for about five miles.
Wednesday, October 22 Captain Grant took part of the rescue team with him in search of the Martin Company.
Thursday, October 23 In the Willie Company the food that was left with them from the rescuers was quickly being depleted. There was only food for one more day which made it imperative that they begin moving to meet the rescue wagons at South Pass. They traveled for ten miles before reaching the base of Rocky Ridge. During this time when these emigrants were pushed further than their endurance would hold, the strong northerly winds began to blow. At an elevation of 7,300 ft. this must have brought the temperature, at, to be excruciatingly cold. It was only through their faith that their strength was sustained. Many testified that they had help from beyond to pull their handcarts over those ridges. Close to midnight while most had finally reached the camp, Brother Chislett arrived alone and nearly frozen to death to tell of the plight of forty people in their company still at Strawberry Creek. Many were sent back to bring them into camp. It was twenty hours before the last of the company made it into camp.
Friday, October 24 In the Willie Company, early that morning, work began digging a grave just east of the creek where thirteen bodies were buried. Two more died helping bury the dead. There were so many dead and dieing that it was decided not to travel that day.
Saturday, October 25 The Willie Company began traveling again to reach Rock Creek. The Martin Handcart Company now traveling with the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies was one hundred and forty miles to the east of the Willie Company. In seven days they had only traveled ten miles from the last crossing. They were now at Red Buttes where they were approaching a state of collapse. The snow was now almost a foot deep. Captain Martin made the decision that they were too weak to go on.
Sunday, October 26 It had been twenty days since the rescue party had left Salt Lake City and their progress had slowed significantly. Where they had been making twenty-five to thirty miles a day before; now they were averaging fifteen miles a day. Captain Grants rescue team had finally met back up with the “express” team who was stopped at Devil’s Gate as they were ordered to do. There was still no sign of the Martin Company.
Monday, October 27 Captain Grant sent out an “express” rescue team which consisted of Abel Garr, Joseph A. Young and Daniel W. Jones who left early in the morning to search for the Martin Company.
The Martin Company began their day burying their dead. They had been held up, waiting for the
32 storm to clear for several days. The ground was too frozen to dig a grave so the fourteen who were dead were laid in a pile and covered with snow. It was decided that they would move camp two or three miles because the campsite offered more shelter from the wind, better grass for their animals and more fuel for the fires.
Tuesday, October 28 It was late in the afternoon when the “express” rescue team found the Martin Company. It was reported to the rescuers that fifty or more of their company had died. It was also reported that there were approximately five hundred remaining in the Martin Company, one hundred and eighty in the Hodgett Wagon Company a little over two hundred in the Hunt Wagon Company. They were immediately put back on full rations and were told to kill any remaining cattle. They were also notified that they would have to begin moving forward in the morning and travel twenty-five miles to reach the rescue wagons.
Thursday, October 30 Joseph A. Young, Abel Garr and Dan Jones of the “express” rescue team returned to Captain Grant to report that they had found the Martin Company and the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies. They notified Captain Grant of the terrible conditions that they were found in.
Friday, October 31 Captain Grant’s rescue wagons finally reached Captain Martin’s Company at Greasewood Creek. These poor emigrants were living for several days on only four ounces of flour per day and they were in deplorable conditions.
Saturday, November 1 The Martin Company was now on full rations and had a varied diet of onions, fattened beef, sugar, rice, dried fruit, and potatoes and also had far more adequate clothing. This made a significant difference in their ability to travel. They made it as far as Sweetwater Crossing near Independence Rock and set up camp. It was bitterly cold. Even with all of the help from the rescuers, with so few men it was difficult to set up tents. They didn’t have enough shovels and had to use their frying pans and tin plates to scrape away the snow.
Sunday, November 2 The Willie Company reached Fort Bridger, the last major stopping point before they reached the valley. They met Ephraim Hanks, a lone rescuer, who was prompted in a dream to go out immediately to help in the rescue efforts.
As the Martin Company arrived at Devil’s Gate the rescuers had fires going and dinner prepared. There was not enough room around the fires for everyone to warm themselves. Captain Grant asked all to be patient; that he would get them enough wood for their own fires. Captain Grant walked over to one of the deserted cabins and began knocking down a wall to get enough wood for the emigrants. The temperatures plunged to eleven degrees below zero. Snow piled in some places to eighteen inches.
Tuesday, November 4 It was decided that the Martin Company would move to a hollow in the Granite Mountains located a few miles from where they were camped to better protect themselves from the harsh
33 elements as the temperature had plummeted to six degrees below zero. Many were too ill to walk on their own and had to be transported in the wagons. The strongest were left to pull their handcarts and the rest had to walk on their own. About two miles from Devil’s Gate they had to cross the Sweetwater River. The river was about two feet deep and ninety to one hundred and twenty feet across. The river was choked with chunks of ice. Many lost courage with the thought of having to cross that river. Again, the thoughts of these poor saints both physically and mentally exhausted and having to cross this river is almost too much to imagine. Four members of the rescue party C. Allen Huntington, George W. Grant, David P. Kimball and Stephen W. Taylor spent their day in the freezing water carrying people and hauling carts across which probably spared many of the emigrants’ lives.
Sunday, November 9 The Willie Company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
For five days the Martin Company lingered in the cove waiting for the weather to clear and for help from the valley. It was decided that the company would leave the cove the next morning. Their food supplies were running dangerously low once again. During their five day stay in the cove fifty-six people died and were buried.
Ephraim Hanks (the lone rescuer who in a dream was prompted to immediately go out and help with the rescue efforts) continued searching for the Martin Company. On the evening of November 9, after having a thought how nice it would be to have a buffalo robe to cover him with, he looked up and there was a buffalo almost right in his camp which he quickly shot. Ephraim cleaned the buffalo, cut the meat into quarters and slept very comfortably under the buffalo robe.
Monday, November 10 As Ephraim Hanks was crossing Ice Springs he came across another buffalo. It was up on a ridge not too far from him. After being shot once the buffalo rolled down the hill right to where Ephraim was. Later on that evening he found the Martin Company at Cottonwood Creek. Immediately upon his arrival he distributed the three hundred pounds of buffalo meat. The condition that he found the emigrants in was desperate. Many saints were terribly affected by frostbite. They had frozen limbs that endangered their lives. Ephraim removed toes, fingers, hands and also feet. Before amputating, Ephraim powerfully exercised his priesthood by offering blessings asking that they would not feel any pain. Following the amputation, many with tears in their eyes said that they had not felt a thing. Ephraim also through powerfully exercising his priesthood raised a man from the dead.
Wednesday, November 12 Two more days of travel brought the Martin Company to the much delayed wagon teams and later even more reinforcements.
Sunday, November 30 Three weeks after the Willie Company had arrived; the Martin Company finally entered the Salt Lake Valley one full month after being found by Captain Grant at Greasewood Creek. The Martin Company suffered more than double the deaths as did the Willie Company. Between both companies some two hundred people lay dead along the trail. 34 Family Discussions and Stories
Instructions for Discussions
In your discussions as a family, you will be sharing the pioneer experiences of the Martin, Willey, Hodgetts, and Hunt companies, and helping the youth to learn spiritual principles from these stories and their own experiences. We suggest that you prepare as a couple to share these stories in your own words. Write down promptings and impressions you may receive in your study. When you share, share your testimony. Your family members may not recall the details of the discussions, but they will remember how they felt as the Spirit testified to them of the truthfulness of what you were relating.
It is important to teach in the Savior’s way:
“Every worthy Latter-day Saint can teach the gospel in the Savior’s way. As you follow His example, the Holy Ghost will help you know what to do. Your own testimony will grow, your conversion will be deepened, and you will be strengthened to meet the challenges of life.” (Come Follow Me Curriculum Training)
The Church provides important instructions on how to teach in the way the Savior taught at:
lds.org > Resources > Family > Youth > Come, Follow Me > Teaching the Gospel in the Savior’s Way
We STRONGLY suggest that you study this and use it as your teaching model.
Here are a few highlights from the “Come Follow Me” curriculum training:
● Teaching youth means more than just imparting information. Christlike teaching involves mentoring and encouraging the youth in their personal efforts to live the gospel in daily life ● The Spirit is the real teacher in all gospel teaching. If you seek His guidance, He will touch your heart and inspire those you teach. One of the best ways to invite the Spirit is to engage the youth in discussing the scriptures and the most recent teachings from living prophets. ● The youth will have their own spiritual experiences and insights to share. When they share their testimonies with each other, the Spirit bears witness, and all are edified.
Remember that opportunities for sharing, discussing, and teaching can arise unexpectedly, and not necessarily when you had planned or scheduled for the teaching moment to occur.
● Try to love the youth as Heavenly Father loves them. He sees the best in them; He has patience as they grow. He encourages them even when they struggle to do what is right, and He never gives up. ● The Lord commanded, “First seek to obtain my word” (D&C 11:21). Part of preparing spiritually is studying for yourself the doctrine you will teach. The Spirit will guide you to that which will be most relevant and helpful to the youth. Then, as you strive to live what
35 you teach, you will be able to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel from your own experience.
Learning and applying the teaching principles found in the “Come, Follow Me” program will assist you in teaching in the Savior’s way while on trek.
Trek is a perfect time for the youth in your trek family to connect an experience they are having with their real life challenges. Your responsibility along the trek is to facilitate learning so that the youth will come to know the experience of the handcart pioneers, to ask questions causing them to think and feel deeply, to invite them to share and testify, then to challenge them to act. Sharing, testifying and acting drives the message deep into their hearts and minds resulting in a deeper conversion. The Spirit with be your guide as you seize these teaching moments along the trail and in camp.
To help you have meaningful discussions, we included a section of discussion questions near the end of this handbook.
With this in mind, there will be a few times that seem conducive to group discussions as a Trek family.
1. Over Breakfast 2. Mealtime Discussion of Food Rations 3. Along the trail 4. Evening Family Discussions There are a few stories that the Stake trek leadership will share along the trail. Please avoid sharing these stories during your discussions, in order to keep them new for the youth. These stories listed in the section “Stake Trek Vignettes”.
Most importantly remember that the spirit will guide you as Ma’s and Pa’s and also touch the hearts of your youth. The most important testimonies may be shared any place along the trail.
Over Breakfast In the Logistics section of this handbook you will find a daily itinerary with maps and a brief description of the relevant pioneer experiences at the major locations. Breakfast is a good time to review with your family the plans for the day, the historical significance of the sites, and answer any questions they might have. If you do not give the youth context, they will not appreciate how the walking during trek is any different from other hiking trips.
Be aware that there are sections of the trail, such as in Martin’s Cove, where talking will not be allowed. The youth need the proper understanding before they arrive for that to be a meaningful event.
Mealtime Discussions of Food Rations A key part of the suffering endured by these pioneer companies was due to their lack of food. During various meals, we encourage you to share the information in this section so that the youth begin to appreciate how hard that experience must have been. You may want to show the youth the bag of flour you brought to illustrate how little they had to eat at the worst parts of the 36 journey.
Each handcart company traveling across the plains was assigned five wagons to carry additional supplies and about fifty beef cattle that they could butcher for meat as they traveled. Each group of one hundred handcarts was allotted a milk cow, enough to have a little butter and some milk for the smaller children. The pioneers took advantage of hunting opportunities along the trail. But the staple food was flour.
The normal allowance of flour for an adult was sixteen ounces per day. Children received two- thirds that amount. One pound of flour per day provided about 1600 calories. We consider a modern, sedentary diet to consist of 2000 calories per day, but pulling a handcart likely burned 4,000 calories per day. So the plan for a successful handcart trek included having the participants lose weight over the course of the journey. The goal was to travel fast and light, and take as little as possible. Even with these minimal supplies, it required a lot of food to travel such a long distance.
The Willie Handcart Company alone consisted of about 500 people. That calculates to about 500 pounds of flour per day. From Iowa City, Iowa where they began their handcart trek to Florence, Nebraska it would take fifteen thousand pounds or eight tons of flour. Travel from Florence to Salt Lake on average took seventy days, which would mean they would need thirty- five thousand pounds of flour, or seventeen to eighteen tons. Each of the five wagons assigned to their company would need to carry a heavy average load of seven thousand pounds. The wagons could not carry that kind of a load, so once in Florence they would need to purchase more flour. In addition the handcarts were then loaded with a one hundred-pound sack to carry. With a hundred and twenty handcarts, that was about six tons of the total; the wagons took another five tons. That still left them seven or eight tons short.
The First Presidency knew from the beginning that handcarts could not carry enough food for the whole distance. That is why they sent out re-supply wagons from Salt Lake. The handcart companies were to meet the supply wagons somewhere between Fort Laramie and the last crossing of the North Platte. Once at the North Platte they were loaded up with enough flour to get to Fort Bridger where another group of supply wagons would be waiting.
Unfortunately, the Willie and Martin companies had a series of problems that made their food situation even worse. Their handcarts broke down, slowing them on the trail. They lost their cattle, and so had to leave some food wagons behind. Some of the resupply stations were running short from all the companies who had already passed by earlier in the season. And then winter arrived early forcing them to use more calories to stay warm, and delaying the resupply wagons.
The Willie company first had to cut rations while crossing Iowa until they could resupply in Florence. Their rations were only 10 ounces a day. To put this in perspective, when the Saints in Utah had to go on “starvation rations” after the winter of 1854, they were allotted 8 ounces of breadstuffs a day. The Willie and Martin companies had to maintain such rations for weeks at a time while still pulling handcarts through poor weather. At the worst part of the journey, each adult was only allowed four ounces flour a day, and only two ounces a day for children.
37 Personal Stories of the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies (Excerpts from “Tragedy and Triumph” by Howard K. Bangerter and Cory W. Bangerter)
Mid September: Hunger stalked the trail with the handcart companies, their pound of flour ration a day inadequate to fill gnawing stomachs. Dysentery added to the ache and weakness. The longer they stayed on the plains, the more their energy flagged and the hungrier they grew. Patience Loader said, “You felt as if you could almost eat a rusty nail or gnaw a file. You were ten times as hungry as a hunter, yea, as ten hunters, all the long day, and every time you woke up in the night. Eating was a grand passion of the pedestrian on the plains, an insatiable passion, for he never got enough to eat.” Ann Rowley noted, “It hurt me to see my children go hungry. I watched as they cut the loose rawhide from the cart wheels, roasted off the hair, and chewed the hide.”
Late September: James Loader could pull no more. His daughter, Patience, wrote “One evening when we got to camp, he had walked seventeen miles with mother helping him. He said, ‘My dear girls, I am not able to get any wood to make you a fire and I feel badly about it.’…We laid him down on some quilts until we could get the tent up, then he was unable to raise himself and had to be carried into the tent.” The next day, realizing that he was dying, Patience’s mother, three sister, and brother gathered around James, who was now too weak to utter but one sentence. Patience wrote, “He looked at us all with tears in his eyes, then he said to mother with great difficulty, ‘You know I love my children.’ Then he closed his eyes. These were the last words he ever said.”
Rations Reduced Again at Independence Rock: At Independence Rock, the Willie Co. received word that they would not receive any aid until at least South Pass, 93 rugged miles away. John Chislett wrote, “Our only alternative was to still further reduce our bill of fare”—this time so that working men received twelve ounces of flour, women and old men nine ounces, and children from four to eight ounces, depending on their size. The distribution was left to the sub-captains, a thankless job when all were clamoring with hunger. Their paltry portion of flour was usually made into a gruel that hardly stalled the ravenous pains of hunger.
Ann Rowley noted, “There came a time, when there seemed to be no food at all…I asked God’s help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering two hard biscuits that were still in my trunk. They had been left over from the sea voyage, they were not large, and were so hard, they couldn’t be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed eight people, but five loaves and two fishes were not enough to feed 5,000 people either, but through a miracle. Jesus had done it. So, with God’s help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God’s blessing, then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food.”
Sweetwater: “Death was not long confined in its revenges to the old and infirm, but the young and naturally strong were among its victims. Men who were, so to speak, as strong as lions when we started on our journey, and who had been our best supports, were compelled to succumb to the grim monster. These men were worn down by hunger, scarcity of clothing and bedding, and too much labor in helping their families.” John Chislett, who was single, continued “It was surprising to an unmarried man to witness the devotion of men to their families and to
38 their faith, under these trying circumstances. Many a father pulled his card, with his little children on it, until the day preceding his death. I have seen some pull their carts in the morning, give out during the day, and die before next morning.” While the Donner party, in a similar hour of desperation had turned to cannibalism, John Chislette said, “These people died with the calm faith and fortitude of martyrs. Their greatest regret seemed to be leaving their families behind them, and their bodies on the plains or mountains instead of being laid in the consecrated ground of Zion. The sorrow and mourning of the bereaved, as they saw their husbands and fathers rudely interred, were affecting in the extreme.”
Along the Trail Along the trail the Stake trek leadership will share a few vignettes from the experiences of these handcart pioneers. But there will be lots of time for you and the youth to share your own stories.
Each youth should have become familiar with the life of a member of the Martin, Willie, Hunt, or Hodgetts companies for whom he or she is trekking. Please encourage each member of the family to share what they learned about this person.
Each youth should also have chosen their own ancestor to honor by their trek. This may or may not be one that actually crossed the plains, nonetheless he or she exemplified the pioneer spirit and the youth related personally with them. Please initiate conversations along the trail to give each family member an opportunity to tell about their own ancestor.
Along with these stories, be prepared to casually tell any story that you have personally studied (for suggestions, see the section in this handbook “Helpful Resources”) or perhaps any that you were not able to mention during your evening family discussion studies. If you succeed at bringing the Spirit into these conversations, it will make the trek an incredible experience.
Evening Family Discussions There will be three evening discussions as a family. During the first two evening discussions, we invite you to teach about the handcart companies, and share a favorite story of their experiences. We have some listed in this handbook, but you may also find your own.
The evening discussion on the third day will be your last evening together as a trek family, and we encourage you to use that opportunity as a family to bear testimony together of what you have experienced and felt, and share any parting thoughts. It will be easier for the youth to participate in this small group than during the larger testimony meeting on the last day, and will prepare them for the larger testimony meeting.
39 Stories You Can Share
Ann Jewel Rowley Born: 1807 England Age:48 Willie Handcart Company
The nine children in the Rowley family were brought to Zion by their courageous, 48-year-old widowed mother, Ann Jewel Rowley. Her husband, William, had died in 1848 from the effects of persecution after he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ann’s children were Louisa (18), Elizabeth (16), John (14), Samuel (12), Richard (11), Thomas (10), and Jane (7). She was also the stepmother of Eliza (28) and Jane Rowley (26), who came with her. The family all made it to Zion with the exception of Eliza, who died on the Sweetwater on October 19, 1856. This was the day the winter storms began and the Willie Company, severely weakened, and out of provisions, had come to a grinding halt to await a rescue. Eliza was spared the tortuous trek over Rocky Ridge that the rest of her family had to face only three days after her death. The following excerpt from Ann’s biography tells of their faith and reasons for leaving their home in England: “We had a beautiful home…in the Parish of Buckley, Worchestershire, England. We were members of a religious body called the “United Brethren”. Before our first child was born, we were privileged to hear a man named Wilford Woodruff proclaim a new gospel message. We really went to hear this man because we were curious and because we had heard that the Church of England had sent a constable to arrest him, but this man had converted him instead. Then the church sent two spies who were commissioned to sit in on the meetings and report back. They too were converted, so the church dared not send anyone else. We all wanted to hear this astonishing man. We had only to hear him once and William and I knew with all our hearts that he was offering us a priceless treasure. We accepted his offer and were baptized into the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” All but one of the 600 members of the United Brethren were converted and baptized at the time. We dreamed of going to Zion, where we could be with the main body of the Saints, but money was the problem here too.”
William was never to see Zion…he died February 14, 1848 when Jane was 6 months old. “I was left a widow with 7 children under 12 years of age, and the stepchildren of William’s first marriage. I was very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the comfort it gave me. I knew that our parting was only temporary and that viewed from the eternities, this was but a fleeting moment. I also knew that no matter how fleeting a moment it was, I had to make the best of it. I had a very real job to do. The children had to be clothed, but the big task and the one I must accomplish, to get us all to Zion. I must be among the people of my faith and I must get the Temple work done for us. Each person that could earn money at all was required to work.”
Ann’s son, Thomas, later wrote of their trek: “There came a time when there seemed to be no food at all. Some of the men left to hunt buffalo. Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. Mother asked God’s help as she always did. Our family got on their knees and remembered two hard sea rolls left over from the sea voyage. They were not large, but were so hard they couldn’t be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed this large family. But 5 loaves 40 and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5,000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it. So, with God’s help, nothing is impossible. Mother found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God’s blessing. Then she put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When she took off the lid a little later, she found the pan filled with food. We kneeled as a family and thanked God for his goodness.” The Rowley’s believed and acted on the promise found in Philippians 4:13, that they could “…do all things through Christ which strengtheneth…”
Thomas also wrote of their forced march across Rocky Ridge and on to Rock Creek: “In traveling at night in the frost of that altitude, my right hand froze while I was pushing on the back of the cart and when we stopped at night and my hand got warm, it swelled up, as my brother Samuel said, “like a toad”. I could finally go no farther and I laid beside the trail, waiting for the sick wagon. By the time I was picked up, my body was frozen in two places. That night 12 people died and the next morning 3 more joined them. I always thought, I shall be the happiest person, if I could reach Zion alive. However, the Lord had not deserted us and I was ashamed for thinking for a moment that he had.”
Emily Cowley Fowler Recollection November 1856 Martin Company
Stories that thrill are told of the kindness and brotherly love that existed among these ill-fated pioneers. One of them mentioned in the different diaries gives an account of two men, the father and grandfather of Dr. George Middleton, who were in charge of the provision wagon of the Martin Company, picking up the children who are walking. They would tenderly take some of the babes from their mothers’ arms and place them in the wagons. If one became discouraged because of physical pain, an hour’s ride with the Middletons ofttimes brought courage back.
Emily Wall, and her brother Joseph started out for Utah well prepared to make the journey on foot, as their mother had purchased fifteen pairs of sturdy shoes for each of them. Emily was only fifteen years of age and her brother three years her senior, but they had been promised that they would both reach Salt Lake City. When the point was reached that their company could not carry so much, these two-discarded part of their clothing, giving it to those who were not as fortunate as they. Part way across the plains the brother took ill and the company thought it best that he be left behind, telling the sister he could come on when he was better. However, Emily had been promised their safe arrival in the valley and she promised to pull her brother on her cart if he would only be permitted to come. Consent was given and with the aid of a small girl she pulled Joseph for three days. When she reached Devil’s Gate where the company of rescuers met the party, one of the boys, William M. Cowley, who was a very young printer, came to her aid. In conversation with her he asked if some day she would marry him. Emily said she didn’t know and told him he would have to write England and get permission from her mother. Time went on and the youth was not seen again for three years, as he had been called to San Bernardino to set up a printing press. Upon his return he found the young lady at the home of President Young and asked her if she remembered his proposal. She had, but wanted to know if he had written to her mother. After being informed that a letter had been written to her mother and that an answer had come saying it was all right for them to be married provided he 41 was a good man, Emily consented and the young couple were married. Twelve children were born to them and she remained his only sweetheart.
Margaret Pucell Journal November 1856 Martin Company
Samuel and Margaret Pucell and their two daughters were in the Martin Company. On the way Margaret became ill, so had to ride in the handcart part of the way. Her husband grew so weary and weakened from the lack of food that this additional burden caused him to slip and fall one day as he crossed a river. Having to travel in the cold, wintry weather with wet clothing he, too, became ill and died from hunger and exposure. His wife died five days later, leaving ten-year- old Ellen and fourteen-year-old Maggie orphans…. Many died and many others suffered from frozen feet and limbs, among them the Pucell girls, both having badly frozen feet and legs…. When shoes and stockings were removed from the girls’ feet the skin came off. Although Maggie’s legs were frozen, she would not allow them to do more than scrape the flesh off the bones, but Ellen’s were so bad they had to be amputated just below the knees. The girls stayed in Salt Lake waiting for their wounds to heal. Later they lived in Parowan for awhile, then in Cedar City, where both married and reared families, although Ellen Pucell (Unthank) went on her knee stubs all her life.
Elizabeth Sermon Recollections November 1856 Martin Company
My husband’s health began to fail and his heart almost broken to see me falling in shafts. Myself and children hungry, almost naked, footsore and himself nearly done for. Many trials came after this. My oldest boy had the mountain fever, we had to haul him in the cart, and there was not room in the wagon. One day we started him out before the carts in the morning to walk with the aged and sick, but we had not gone far on our journey before we found him lying by the roadside, unable to go any farther. I picked him up and put him on my back and drew my cart as well, but could not manage far, so put him in the cart, which made three children and my luggage. My husband failing more each day, the Captain put a young man to help me for a short time. My other son Henry walked at 7 years old, 1300 miles with the exception of a few miles….
I will here state there was no time crossing the rivers to stop and take off clothing, but had to wade through and draw our carts at the same time with our clothes dripping wet, had to dry in the sun and dust as merrily on our way we go until we reach the valley, oh, like a herd of stock or something worse….
Many cruel and painful things happening, the dying and dear ones all around us, poor souls, would sit down by the roadside and would never move again until carried into camp on handcarts by someone. It is a wonder any of us live through it. My husband’s health still fading, a young woman by the name of Caroline Marchant assisted me with the cart…. Not far from here [Devil’s Gate] the Captain called us together to tell us we must lay our bodies down. Were we willing to do so for the Gospel’s sake? Many poor half-starved men shout with what 42 remaining strength they had, “Aye.” But mothers could not say that and were quiet. We went back to our tents; food would have suited us then. My faith was in my Heavenly Father. I never lost faith in Him. It is as sweet today to trust and my prayer is, may I always trust Him. He is a friend that has never failed.
My husband’s sufferings have always pained me and I can never forget them. Poor Rob’s [age 5] feet began to freeze. I cannot remember the place; it was after wading a very deep river the freezing commenced. We had no wood but sagebrush. I went out and cut the sage to keep the fire all night. Covered them up with their feet to the fire and cut some more and kept the fire as well as I could. My clothes froze stiff. Well, we got through that night. Your father would not walk now. He would get into wagon after wagon, only to be turned out. The cattle were giving out and everyone had their friends, but the friend death, would soon end his sufferings. John [age 9] and Rob had to ride, Henry [age 7] walked, your father would take my arm and walk a little distance, fall on his knees with weakness. We moved from Devil’s Gate. I believe it was brother David Kimball who carried us over the river [Sweetwater] and a great many more besides us. My poor husband blessed him for so doing.
After our food had given out as I said before, we went to our tents to die. I always thought I could get through to Salt Lake City and I tried to encourage my husband, but he was starving. He had always lived good at home. There was a shout in camp. Brother Joseph A. Young had come on packed mules with Brother Little. Brought flour, meat and onions. I got 1 pound of flour and some meat and 2 onions. I chopped the fat off the meat real fine and made some dumplings. We made a good meal and blessed Brother Little and Joseph from the bottom of our hearts…. We had 70 miles to get to the wagons that had been sent from Salt Lake City with food and clothing and some clothing had come for us. Your father after having some food and clothes, seemed to revive. He called you to him and told you to be good children and to do all you could for me, and he said to me, “God bless you Eli,” that being the name he called me. “You have saved my life this time.” I said, “We must hold out now and get to the wagons,” but we had to go back to the ¼ lb of flour and he sank under it. I think he would not have died if he had got food, but he was spared the trial ahead. We went to bed about 3:00. He put his arm around me and said, “I am done,” and breathed his last. I called brother John Oley. We sewed him up in a quilt with his clothes on, except his boots, which I put on my feet and wore them into Salt Lake City. A coat I put on John to keep him warm, which afterward went to Ft. Bridge. Some friend tried to get it for me but we did not succeed. Father was buried in the morning with 2 more in the grave. I stood like a statue bewildered, not a tear: the cold chills, even now as I write, creep over my body, for I feel I can still see the wolves waiting for their bodies as they would come down to camp before we left.
Well, I went again to the cart as all that could had to walk to get to the wagons. Poor Rob had to ride from this time and sometimes John, Henry, and Marian [age 3] were with me. When I got into camp I would clear the snow away with a tin plate, gather my wood, get my bed clothes from the wagon…. I was too weak to haul much…. Get my allowance of flour and carry the children to the fire, make their beds on the ground, the tent was frozen and ground so hard we could not set it up. We went to bed without supper in order to get a little better breakfast. I found it some help to toast the rawhide on the coals and chew it; it helped to keep the hunger away, for I was feeling it rather keenly now. I had to take a portion of poor Robert’s feet off which 43 pierced my very soul. I had to sever the leaders with a pair of scissors. Little did I think when I bought them in England that they would be used for such a purpose. Every day some portion was decaying until the poor boy’s feet were all gone. Then John’s began to freeze; then afterwards my own. We kept meeting teams from Salt Lake City now, which rendered all the assistance they could. I remember asking one of the drivers if he cold give me a cob of corn to eat. He looked so pitiful and said, “Oh, sister, I hate to refuse you but my horses haven’t enough to eat now, and I do not know how we will get back to Salt Lake.” I said, “I ought not to have asked you, but myself and children are so hungry.” He said, “Keep up your faith sister.” A loaf of bread would have given me great faith and satisfied a hungry stomach as well, but the bread was not many miles off. We got it and it was the sweetest bread we ever ate. One instance occurred. Poor Brother Blair, a very tall thin man; he was starving and eating a piece of it. He said, “I cannot do it, I want it myself.” Poor fellow, he died in the night and so one after another passed away. Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and friends, many honest souls laid in mother earth. The brothers kept meeting us and some times we had a good cheery fire built for us when we got into camp. I was terribly put to for clothes to wrap my poor boy’s legs in, his feet all gone. I got all I could from the camp, then I used my underclothing until I had but 2 skirts left upon my body, and as such I finished my journey for my wardrobe would not be replenished where I was.
At last the old handcart was laid by without a regret; we got to the wagons, were taken in and some days we rode all day and got a little more food. A severe storm came up. I think it was on the Sweetwater, but I was so troubled I forget all about the names of places. My eldest John’s feet decaying, my boys both of them losing their limbs, their father dead, my own feet very painful, I thought, “Why can’t I die?” My first thought of death. Brother Patton took us in his wagon, blessed me for my integrity and blessed us with tea and bread and so with what food was so kindly sent out to us from the people in Salt Lake, our lives were spared.
John Jaques Journal Wednesday, November 5, 1856 Martin’s Cove Martin Company
The handcart company rested in Martin’s Ravine. Though under the shelter of the northern mountains, it was a cold place. One night the gusty wind blew over a number of tents, and it was with difficulty some of the emigrants could keep from freezing to death. One afternoon Captain Martin and 2 or 3 other men started to go from the camp to Devil’s Gate, but a snowstorm came on and they mistook their bearings and lost their way. After wandering about for several hours, they came near perishing. In their emergency they endeavored to make a fire to warm themselves. They gathered some cedar twigs and struck match after match and the aid of portions of their body linen they succeeded in starting a fire. This was seen from the handcart camp, from which, after all their anxious and weary wanderings, they were only about half a mile distant. Help soon came to the benighted wanderers and the “boys” carried Captain Martin, who was nearly exhausted, back to camp.
Langley Allgood Bailey Journal November 1856
44 Vicinity of Martin’s Cove Martin Company
On leaving this morning my brother John saw the wolves devouring the bodies he had helped to bury the day before. He tried to drive them away [but] he had to run for his life. That morning in starting I was placed in a wagon on top of frozen tents…. Made about 4 miles. When the company stopped that evening mother came around the wagons calling lamely. I could hear her calling but she could not hear me answer. When she found me, [and] lifted me out of the wagon, my legs and arms were stiff like a frozen shirt. An ox was about to die. He was killed and mother got some of the meat, boiled it, and gave me some of the broth. It ran though me like going through a funnel.
Harvey H. Cluff Age 20 Main Rescue Party
Harvey Cluff was one of the so-called “Valley Boys” who were the beloved rescuers of the stranded handcart companies of 1856. He is noted for carrying the weak and dying Saints across frozen rivers, and otherwise coming to their aid. Most notably, however, is that he followed the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. The rescue group he was with was stranded by the same snowstorm that stranded the Willie Company twenty-seven miles to the east. They each knew the other was out there somewhere, but did not know where. The decision had been made to camp off the main road where there was a good campground. Harvey felt impressed to return to the road and place a sign, pointing the way to their camp-just in case. Only a very short time after he placed the sign there, Captain Willie and Joseph Elder came by and were able to locate them because of the sign, and speed relief back to their stranded company. Following are some journal entries by Harvey about the rescue:
“When they [the relief party] crossed the Continental Divide at South Pass, a storm met them head-on. From that time on they encountered increasingly cold days and bitter nights. When an animal was killed to take to the immigrants, there was no need to salt the beef-it froze during quartering and stayed frozen. It now seemed necessary to leave more teams behind so that they might be able to assist when the immigrant parties came through. Therefore, Redick Allred was stationed on the Sweetwater River with flour, cattle, eleven guards, and four wagons. He would soon be joined from the west by three additional wagons and six men. Had anyone in the relief party foreseen the condition of either handcart companies, they would have gathered all the stores and teams at Fort Bridger, Green River, and South Pass and traveled day and night until their animals broke. It was just as well they did not know, for the relief effort would already require more strength and supplies than they carried. Their pace would already stretch every man to the breaking point. Captain Burton had seen rigorous action in Tooele County while chasing Indian marauders; his company had been caught in summer with no water and in winter with no tents, bedding, or warm coats. But of the present campaign he would later state, ‘This was the hardest trip of my life.’
The relief party proceeded eastward as rapidly as possible and in due time passed over the South Pass, the backbone of the continent, being the divide point of the waters flowing into the
45 Atlantic Ocean east and the Pacific Ocean west. Nine miles brought us down to the Sweetwater River where we camped for the night. On arising in the following morning, snow was several inches deep. During the two following days, the storm raged with increasing fury until it attained the capacity of a northern blizzard.
“For protection of ourselves and animals, the company moved down the river to where the willows were dense enough to make a good protection against the raging storm from the north. The express team, which had been dispatched, went ahead as rapidly as possible to reach and give encouragement to the faltering emigrants, by letting them know that help was near at hand. Quietly resting in the seclusion of the willow copse, three miles from the road, I volunteered to take a signboard and place it at a conspicuous place at the main road. This was designed to direct the express party who was expected to return about this time. So they would not miss us. In facing the northern blast up hill I found it quite difficult to keep from freezing. I had only been back to camp a short time when two men rode up from Willie’s handcart company. The signboard had done the work of salvation. The sign read, “CAPTAIN GRANT’S COMPANY,” with an arrow below it. Had Captain Willie and his fellow traveler [Joseph Elder], from his company, continued on the road they certainly would have perished, as they would have reached the Sweetwater where the storm first struck us. The handcart company was then 25 miles from our camp, and as they [Willie and Elder] had traveled that distance without food for themselves or horses and no bedding, they might have perished. I have always regarded this act of mine as the means of their salvation. And why not? An act of that importance is worthy of record and hence I give a place here.”
“Preparations were made and early in the morning of the following day we were on the road pushing our way for Captain Willie’s Camp. The depth of snow made traveling extremely difficult and the whole day was spent before we reached the camp. It was about sunset when we came in sight of the camp; which greatly resembled an Eskimo Village fully one mile away. The snow being a foot deep and paths having been made from tent to tent gave the camp that appearance…we reached an eminence overlooking the camp, which was located on a sagebrush plain near the river a mile away. When the people of the camp sighted us approaching, they set up such a shout as to echo through the hills. Arriving within the confines of this emigrant camp a most thrilling and touching scene was enacted, melting to tears the stoutest hearts. Young maidens and feeble old ladies threw off all the restraint and freely embraced their deliverers, expressing in a flow of kisses, the gratitude which their tongues failed to utter. This was certainly the most timely arrival a relief party recorded in history.”
William James Born: Probably 1810 (Buried in the common grave at Rock Creek) Age: 46 Willie Handcart Company
William married Jane Haynes in Pinvin, England, in June 1835. They became the parents of eight children. Twenty years later, they decided to immigrate to Zion. Jane and William and their children, Sarah (19), Emma Jane (16), Reuben (13 or 14), Mary Ann (11), Martha (9), George (6), John Parley (3 or 5), and Jane (8 months), sailed to America and joined the Willie Handcart Company in 1856. They lost their baby girl, Jane, while crossing the ocean. Little Jane was 46 buried at sea.
William was a farm laborer, but was not robust, and suffered from rheumatism. He and his son, Reuben, were assigned to help bury the dead on the morning of October 24, just before the ascent of Rocky Ridge. After a short graveside service, William, Jane and Reuben hurried to catch up with the other children. William collapsed in the snow. He tried two or three times to get up, with Jane’s help, then finally asked her to go on. He told her that when he felt rested, he would catch up with them. She left Reuben with him and hurried on to help the other children.
John Chislett, one of the rescuers, tells of William’s experience after crossing Rocky Ridge. “One old man named James (a farm laborer from Gloucestershire) who had a large family, and who had worked very hard all the way, I found sitting by the roadside unable to pull his cart any farther. I could not get him into the wagon, as it was already overcrowded. He had a shotgun which he had brought from England, and which had been a great blessing to him and his family, for he was a good shot and often had a mess of sage hens or rabbits for his family. I took the gun from the cart, put a small bundle on the end of it, placed it on his shoulder, and started him out with his little boy, twelve years old. His wife and two daughters older than the boy took the cart along finely after reaching the summit. (Chislett helped some others and then went on ahead to inform the captain of their dilemma.)
I had not gone far when I saw someone sitting by the roadside. I stopped to see who it was and discovered the old man James and his little boy. The old man was quite worn out. I got him to his feet and had him lean on me, and he walked a little distance, not far. I partly dragged, partly carried him a short distance farther, but he was quite helpless, and my strength had failed me. Being obliged to leave him to go forward on my own errand, I put down a quilt I had wrapped around me, rolled him in it, and told the little boy to walk up and down by his father, and on no account to sit down, or he would be frozen to death. I told him to watch for teams that would come back, and to hail them when they came.
“…Finally, about 11 p.m., I reached the camp almost exhausted…I reported to Captain Willie and Kimball the situation of the folks behind. They immediately got up some horses, and the boys from the Valley started back about midnight to help the ox teams in…I told my companions about the old man James and his little boy. They found the little fellow keeping faithful watch over his father, who lay sleeping just as I left him. They lifted him into a wagon, still alive, but in a sort of stupor. He died before morning. His last words were an enquiry as to the safety of his shotgun.”
William’s 19 year-old daughter, Sarah, records: “…Toward morning, some of the captains who had gone out to gather up the stragglers came into camp bearing the dead body of my Father, and the badly frozen body of my brother Reuben…When morning came, Father’s body, along with others who had died during the night, were buried in a deep hole. I can see my Mother’s face as she sat looking at the partly conscious Reuben. Her eyes looked so dead that I was afraid. She didn’t sit long, however, for my Mother was never one to cry. When it was time to move out, Mother had her family ready to go. She put her invalid son in the cart with her baby and we joined the train. Our Mother was a strong woman, and she would see us through anything.”
47 History of "Come, Come Ye Saints" Although it is generally believed that William Clayton wrote "Come, Come, Ye Saints" on the journey between Winter Quarters and Salt Lake City, the hymn was really written, while Brigham Young's Company was traveling from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters.
President Young, feeling great anxiety because there were murmurings in the camp of Israel, called Elder William Clayton aside and said, "Brother Clayton, I want you to write a hymn that the people can sing at their campfires in the evening; something that will give them succor and support, and help them to fight the many troubles and trials of the journey. Elder Clayton withdrew from the camp and in two hours returned with the hymn familiarly known as "Come, Come, Ye Saints." His personal testimony is to the effect that it was written under the favor and inspiration of the Lord."
The song, indeed, seems to have been written under the Lord's inspiration, for He has used it often to uplift His Saints. Oscar Winters, President Heber J. Grant's father-in law, relates the following story:
One night, as we were making camp, we noticed one of our brethren had not arrived and a volunteer party was immediately organized to return and see if anything had happened to him. Just as we were about to start, we saw the missing brother coming in the distance. When he arrived, he said he had been quite sick, - so some of us unyoked his oxen and attended to his part of the camp duties. After supper, he sat down before the campfire on a large rock and sang in a very faint, but plaintive and sweet voice, the hymn "Come, Come, Ye Saints.‖ It was a rule of the camp that whenever anybody started this hymn, all in the camp should join, but for some reason this evening nobody joined him. He sang the hymn alone. When he had finished, I doubt if there was a single dry eye in the camp. The next morning, we noticed that he was not yoking up his cattle. We went to his wagon and found that he had died during the night. We dug a shallow grave and after we had covered the body with the earth, we rolled the large stone to the head of the grave to mark it--the stone on which he had been sitting the night before when he sang, "And should we die before our journeys through--Happy day! Al1 is well ".
Truly, "Come, Come, Ye Saints" is worthy to be placed among the great hymns of Christian literature. With it, Clayton catches the spirit and sentiment of an oppressed people and crystallizes them into simple verse that arouses the interest of the multitude.
When the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir was in Europe in 1955, they sang an arrangement of "Come, Come, Ye Saints," in every concert. Notwithstanding the difficulties caused by the various languages, it was encored every time it was performed. The repetitive phrase "all is well" seemed to be understood in each country and even by the refugees in Berlin where the people before whom the choir sang were without home, work, food, and even citizenship. Nothing was "well" with them, yet they encored the grand old hymn.
"Come, Come, Ye Saints" has served the purpose named in President Young's request: it was sung at every camp-fire, it gave succor and support to the saints, and it has helped pioneers, both of yesterday and today, to lay aside useless cares and to "fight the many troubles and trials of the journey."
48 Stake Vignettes
We ask you to refrain from sharing the following stories with your trek family because the Stake trek leaders will be telling these sacred stories at specific points along the trail.
Bodil Mortenson Born: 1844, Denmark Died: October 24, 1856 (buried in the common grave at Rock Creek) Age: 7 Willie Handcart Company
My name is Bodil Mortensen. My family was too poor to make the journey to Zion together, so Mother and Father and my other siblings stayed in Denmark, and sent me ahead with their friends, Jens and Elsie Nielson. I planned to live with my sister, Margaret, who had crossed the plains to Utah the year before.
It was late in the season when the Nielson family and I finally set out on our trek west with the Willie Handcart Company. Heavy winter storms began a month earlier than usual, and slowed our travel. The cold was terrible and our supplies were all but gone. Brother Nielson got frozen feet and was unable to walk so sister Neilson put him in the handcart, and w2ith sheer willpower pulled him along.
Still ahead of us was the treacherous climb up Rocky Ridge and then the trek on to the camp at Rock Creek Hollow. The distance was about 15 miles, including a two-mile stretch where the trail rose more than 700 feet in elevation. The snow was already more than a foot deep, and a blizzard was raging. The temperature was far below freezing as I climbed with several other younger children, shivering and hungry up the snow-covered slope. We had to keep moving or we would freeze to death. Although I was exhausted and weak, I struggled on my way.
When I finally got to Rock Creek, in the wee hours of October 24, I tried to fulfill my responsibility of going out and collecting firewood. All I could find was sagebrush, as everything on the ground was covered with snow. The next morning I was found leaning up against the wheel of a handcart frozen to death – my arms still holding the sagebrush which I had gathered.
I was buried in a common grave with twelve others who also died that night, one of whom was the Nielson’s little boy Niels, who was just five days short of his sixth birthday. Before our grave was covered, Brother James Hurren held his eight-year-old daughter, Mary, one of my playmates, up over the grave so she could see me one last time.
The rest of my family later left Denmark and traveled to Utah, but they did not find out about my death until they arrived. When my poor mother learned of my death, she became despondent and soon died also. Our family sacrificed much to come to Zion.
49 Eliza Chapman Gadd Born: 1816 England Age: 42 Willie Handcart Company
My name is Eliza Chapman Gadd. I did not belong to the Church when I joined the Willie Handcart Company with my husband and eight children. But I wanted my family to remain together, so I followed my husband, Samuel’s counsel when he decided to emigrate to America. Our first family loss was just a few days after the company reached Ft. Laramie, when one of my little one-year-old twins, Daniel, died. Five days later, just before we crossed the Platte River for the last time, my husband died leaving me to bring the family on alone.
Just a little over a week later, and early, violent winter descended and the last of our rations were distributed. We were overtaken by a freezing blizzard. The snow fell several inches deep and the shrill wind blew through us as we traveled along. We dared not stop for we had to get to where we could obtain wood and water. The storms continued to beat down upon us until we finally came to a halt at the sixth crossing of the Sweetwater on October 20. we were surrounded by deep snow, dying people and cattle, and the stark reality of no provisions.
Captain Willie and Joseph Elder left to try to find the rescue party that they felt confident was coming. Indeed, they found them and brought back as many supplies as they could.
As the days went by, it became increasingly urgent for the company to move on, as hungry, cold and destitute as we were. The most difficult part of our journey to Zion, the formidable Rocky Ridge was still ahead. I gathered my children together and pushed on through a blizzard. We camped the night of October 22 at the base of Rocky Ridge. The wind blew bleak and cold and firewood was very scarce. We had to spread our light bedding on the snow, and try to get a little rest.
The next morning we buried our dead and commenced our climb up the ridge. All day and night we trudged on, and just before daylight, on October 24, the last of our company reached our camp at Rock Creek. My little ten-year-old son, Samuel, joined his father and baby brother in death and was buried in a common grave w2ith others who died that day.
During the blizzard I had become snowblind and was blind for three days. Even in that condition, I had to press forward with my family. My seven-year-old daughter, mary Ann, was the one I trusted to lead me while I pulled the handcart mile after freezing mile.
After several more weeks of travel, having lost my husband and two sons along the way, and having endured all the suffering of this tremendous ordeal, we finally made it to Zion! By then I felt differently about my husband’s religion. I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints one week after my arrival in Salt Lake.
50 Mary Hurren Born: 1848, Suffolk, England Age: 7 Willie Handcart Company
My name is Mary Hurren, and I am the daughter of James Hurren and Eliza Reeder. I am the oldest of their eleven children. I went to school for only a short time, where I learned letters and how to do a little sewing. When I was about 7 years of age, my family left our beloved Suffolk, never to return again.
In 1856 we left England for Utah. In June, after seven weeks at sea, we arrived in New York, where we caught a train to Iowa. There, we stayed for a few weeks while they made handcarts and tents, and then traveled on to Winter Quarters in Nebraska.
We belonged to the Willie handcart company. On the day we started out, my mother gave birth to a baby girl, who died two weeks later. The company started out with a fairly good supply of food, a few wagons, some horses, mules, and hand carts. As time went on, the Indians stole some of our animals which made the loads too heavy to carry. People made piles of their precious supplies and burned them. When food became scarce, we bought a little buffalo meat from soldiers who they met along the way, and ate the red berries that we found growing on wild rose bushes.
One day I became lost with three other children. It took one night and half the next day before we were found. We had huddled closely together and had listened to hungry wolves that growled in the night. Our parents were so thankful were when we were found; they had never expected to see us alive again.
After a while it got very cold and there wasn’t much food. One day my father went out to gather sage brush to make a fire and he found some pieces of rawhide. He brought them back to camp, made a fire, cleaned and scraped the old hide and boiled it. We thought that rawhide “soup” tasted so good, and that softened the leather enough for us to chew on it
As it got colder, “Captain Willie went ahead through the snow to meet the relief wagons and get them to hurry as we were freezing and starving to death. If help had not come when it did there would have been no one lift to tell the tale. As a small girl, I could hear the squeaking of the wagons as they came through the snow before I was able to see them. Tears streamed down the cheeks of the men and the children dances for joy.
When we climbed Rocky Ridge, there were eighteen inches of snow on the ground. It was very cold and the wind was blowing hard. I climbed with my best friend Bodil Mortensen. After we got to camp, my friend Bodil died, and was buried in a common grave with the other people who had died that day. My father lifted me up so I could see her one last time before they covered the grave.
The weather grew colder each day, and my feet eventually froze. When we finally arrived in the valley, a doctor looked at me feet and he said they would have to amputate my legs or I would die. My father objected to this and said that his “little girl had not walked for a thousand miles 51 across the plains to have her legs cut off. If she dies, she will die with her legs on.” We moved to Brigham City, and there an elderly lady named Mrs. Snider told my mother what to do to treat my dying legs. It was very painful, and after about 3 years I could walk again even though my feet hurt me all my life.
John Chislett Born: 1832, England Age: 24 Willie Handcart Company
My name is John Chislett. I was twenty-four years old when I was appointed one of the sub- captains of a hundred in the Willie Handcart Company. Shortly after the first rescuers had reached our camp, we encountered one of the most trying ordeals of our journey
The weather grew colder each day, and many got their feet so badly frozen that they could not walk, and had to be lifted from place to place. Some got their fingers frozen; others their ears; and one woman lost her sight by the frost. These severities of the weather also increased our number of deaths, so that we buried several each day.
A few days of bright freezing weather were succeeded by another snow storm. The day we crossed the Rocky Ridge it was snowing a little – the wind hard from the northwest and blowing so keenly that it almost pierced us through. We had to wrap ourselves closely in blankets, quilts or whatever else we could get, to keep from freezing. Captain Willie still attended to the details of the company’s traveling, and this day he appointed me to bring up the rear. My duty was to stay behind everything and [see] that nobody was left along the road. I had to bury a man who had died in my hundred, and I finished doing so after the company had started. In about half an hour, I set out on foot along to do my duty as rear-guard to the camp. The ascent of the ridge commenced soon after leaving camp, and I had not gone far up it before I overtook a cart that the folks could not pull through the snow, here about knee-deep. I helped them along, and we soon overtook another. By all hands getting to one cart we could travel; so we moved one of the carts a few rods, and then went back and brought up the other. After moving in this way for a while, we overtook other carts at different points of the hill, until be had six carts, not one of which could be moved by the parties owning it. I put our collective strength to their carts at a time, took them a short distance, and then brought up the other three. Thus by traveling over the hill three times – twice forward and once back – I succeeded after hours of toil in bringing my little company to the summit …
We traveled along with the ox-team and overtook others, all so laden with the sick and helpless that they moved very slowly. The oxen had almost given out… We struggled along in this weary way until after dark, and by this time our ‘rear’ numbered 3 wagons, 8 handcarts, and nearly 40 persons. …
“We finally came to a stream of water which was frozen over. We could not see where the company had crossed …. We started one team to cross, but the oxen broke through the ice and would not go over. No amount of shouting and whipping could induce them to stir and inch. We were afraid to try the other teams, for even should they cross we could not leave the one in the
52 creek and go on. There was no wood in the vicinity, so we could make no fire, and were uncertain what to do. We did not know the distance to the camp, but supposed it to be three or four miles. After consulting about it, we resolved that someone should go on foot to the camp to inform the captain of our situation. I was selected to perform the duty, and I set out with all my speed. In crossing the creek I slipped through the ice and got my feet wet, my boots being nearly worn out…
“… I set out for the camp running nearly all the way and frequently falling down, for there were many obstructions and holes in the road. My boots were frozen stiff, so that I had not the free use of my feet, and it was only by rapid motion that I kept them from being badly frozen. As it was, both were nipped.
“After some time, I came in sight of the camp fires, which encouraged me. As I neared the camp I frequently overtook stragglers on foot, all pressing forward, slowly. I stopped to speak to each one, cautioning them all against resting, as they would surely freeze to death. Finally, about 11 pm I reached the camp almost exhausted. I had exerted myself very much during the day in bring the rear carts up the ridge and had not eaten anything since breakfast. I reported to Captains Willie and Kimball the situation of the folks behind. They immediately got up some horses, and the boys from the Valley started back about midnight to help the ox teams in. The night was very severe and many of the emigrants were frozen. It was 5 am before the last team reached the camp…
“There were so many dead and dying that it was decided to lie by for the day. In the forenoon I was appointed to go round the camp and collect the dead. I took with me two young men to assist me in the sad task, and we collected together, of all ages and both sexes, thirteen corpses, all stiffly frozen. We had a large square hole dug in which we buried these thirteen people, three or four abreast and three deep…. We covered them with willows and then with the earth …. Two others died during the day, and we buried them in one grave, making fifteen in all buried on that camp ground…”
Nevertheless, our company pressed onward to Salt Lake, and just two weeks after arriving in the Valley, I was able to receive my endowment in the Endowment House. My fiancé, Mary Ann Stockdale (who was also a member of our company), and I had postponed our marriage until we were able to be sealed together for all eternity – which blessing we finally obtained.”
James Kirkwood Born: 1845 Scotland (Died October 24, 1856, buried in the common grave at Rock Creek) Age: 11 Willlie Handcart Company
James and his family came from Scotland. They had to save for a long time to be able to come to America. His father died after they got there, but his mother was determined to go on to the Salt Lake Valley to be with the Saints. James had three brothers. Thomas, who was 19, was crippled and had to ride in the handcart. Robert was 21, and helped their mother pull the cart. James was responsible for his younger brother, Joseph, who was four years old.
On October 20, the Willie Company was camping by the Sweetwater River, not far from the 53 base of Rocky Ridge. They had hardly had anything to eat for several days. Everyone was very weak. Ahead of them lay a long, steep climb in the snow. It was very cold. The wind was blowing the snow in their faces and through their clothes. It was hard to see where they were going. They hiked all day and all night.
Young Joseph’s shoes had worn out and his feet were numb. He fell down and started to cry. James tried to encourage him and tried to get him to climb the ridge. James had to move very slowly, carrying Joseph first over his shoulders, then in his arms, then over his shoulders again. They fell behind the main group, but James never gave up. Sometimes, Joseph would start to slip because James’ fingers were frozen and he couldn’t hold on very well. But he would just set Joseph down and then pick him up again.
After more than 27 hours, they finally saw a fire burning up ahead. They had made it to camp! James had been quiet for a long time and Joseph couldn’t get him to talk. James dragged his little brother to the camp and set him down gently. James then collapsed, never to get up again. He never said anything. Having given all he could, he just laid down and died.
It was written of James by an unknown author, “Having so faithfully carried out his task, he collapsed and died from exposure and over-exertion.”
Jens Nielson Born: 1820, Denmark Age: 36 Willie Handcart Company
Upon arriving at the end of the railroad in Iowa, Jens Nielson obtained a victory which to most of us is the most difficult of all, that of parting with money and security. He had the money from the sale of his farm, and non boastfully stated in a letter to his son that he, Jens, had let all of his money go to the Church except enough to buy a handcart, and to stock it with 15 pounds of belongings per person. Thus, he could have obtained wagons, horses, stacks of food and other supplies and traveled west in style and comfort, and early enough to beat the winter. He gained the great victory over selfishness by parting with his life's savings and demonstrated his unyielding faith in God by obeying His every command. This in order that those Saints who had nothing might at least have a handcart. Jens quoted: “Obedience is better than sacrifice.”
Jens, Elsie, their 7 year old son, and young Bodil Mortensen, a girl for whom they assumed responsibility to bring to Utah, were left with a handcart, poorly constructed of green lumber, and unfit for the journey. Jens was placed in a camp with four other men with their families who spoke a strange language, English, which Jens could not understand. Jens was made captain of his camp in the Willie handcart company. The company was late starting, and delayed by repeated breakdowns of the poorly constructed handcarts. When finally reaching Wyoming's wind-swept plains, they were caught in a very early and severe winter, with two feet of snow, temperatures to eleven degrees below zero and howling blizzard winds. After consuming their last pound of flour days before, it was here that Jens and Elsie gained a victory over almost certain death through their great physical strength, indomitable courage and unconquerable spirits. Their strength had carried them beyond the endurance of the other four men in their
54 camp who had succumbed to the snow, cold, starvation and exhaustion, and had been buried in shallow graves under the snow. Also buried were Jens' and Elsie's son, and the Mortensen girl.
The end appeared to be near and certain for Jens. His feet became so frozen he could not walk another step, which caused his right foot to be at right angles the rest of his life. At this point Jens said to Elsie, “Leave me by the trail in the snow to die, and you go ahead and try to keep up with the company and save your life.”
If you believe men have a monopoly on strength and courage, then pay heed to Elsie's immortal words when she said, “Get in the cart and ride, I can't leave you, I can pull the cart.” Jens had to suffer the humiliation of riding while Elsie pulled like an ox.
(It is not known how far Elsie pulled the cart that day, but in other sources it says the total distance traveled between camps was sixteen miles with some steep slopes! She made it to the next campsite, which turned out to be where the help from Salt Lake reached the Willie Company. For the record, Jens was about 6’ 2” and 230 pounds, though likely a little lighter at the time. Elsie was 4’ 11’ and under a hundred pounds!!! This is a good example of the need to marry a woman so good she can drag your sorry butt to the Celestial Kingdom!!)
55 Helpful Resources
Lindon Stake Web Resources
● Trek Website: www.lindontrek2014.com ● Trek Facebook Page: www.fb.com/lindontrek ● Trek Clothing & Misc. Info: www.lindonpioneertrekclothing.blogspot.com/
Historical Web Resources
● Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel: http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/home A thorough database of all the primary sources for each emigrant company, produced by the Historical Department of the LDS Church. ● The Travels of the Martin and Willie Handcart Company: http://handcart.byu.edu/ A great interface for searching the journals based on location, or date. Includes great maps.
Films
● Sweetwater Rescue, The Willie and Martin Handcart Story Available online at BYUtv.org.
Books
● The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers, Andrew D. Olsen, Deseret Book Company (2006) A modern, readable, and well researched account of the handcart tragedies. ● Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers, Andrew D. Olsen, Jolene S. Allphin, Julie Rogers, Deseret Book Company (2013) Illustrated recounting of 20 stories from the Martin Handcart company. ● I Walked to Zion, Susan Arrington Madsen, Deseret Book (1994) Accounts of crossing the plains by those who were children or youth at the time of the journey. ● Sacred Places, Volume 6: Wyoming and Utah, LaMar C. Berrett, A. Gary Anderson, Deseret Book Company (2007) A detailed guidebook to sites on the Mormon Trail in Wyoming and Utah. ● The Willie Handcart Company: Their Day-by-Day Experiences, Including Trail Maps and Driving Directions, Paul D. Lyman, BYU Studies (2006) A detailed and useful trail guide. ● Tragedy and Triumph: Your Guide to the Rescue of the 1856 Willie and Martin Handcart Companies, Howard K. Bangerter and Cory W. Bangerter A spiral bound trail-book that summarizes a lot of helpful information about the tragic handcart companies.
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