Wyoming Mormon Historical Sites

1856 Wyoming Mormon Trail

This past week the senior missionary couples were given a special treat: two instructors from the Church Education System took us to Mormon Historical Sites in Wyoming, explained their significance in Church history and their relationship to the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies. Though there were a total of ten handcart companies that made the trek from Iowa City to the Great Salt Lake basin, the Willie and Martin Handcart companies stand out in American history because more people died in these two groups than in any other overland group. But, this significance goes well beyond the sheer number of deaths. The travails of these two groups of pioneers serve as a symbol of how physical challenges and hardships can serve as a sanctifying experience. As missionaries we are often asked why these pioneers willingly suffered what they suffered. The answer is clearly their faith in God, their faith in latter-day prophets, their faith in temple ordinances, and their faith in promises that families can live together eternally. Briefly, their journeys were as follows:

Traveling separately, the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies crossed Iowa to arrive in Florence, Nebraska where they re-provisioned with a 60-day supply of flour. This was to be enough food to last them 522 miles, where they were to once again re-provision at Fort Laramie. After Fort Laramie, there were no reliable sources of supplies until they reached Fort Bridger, another 400 miles away. Arriving at Fort Laramie they found very little supplies available for purchase. With reduced rations the companies pressed onward.

Reshaw Bridge over the Sweetwater River

At this point, they were traveling on less than three-fourths a pound of flour per person per day. The people tried to supplement their starvation diets with anything they could scavenge: roots, bark, cactus, leaves, cowhide. Arriving at the last crossing of the Platte River near present day Casper, Wyoming the two groups continued westward following the Sweetwater River. By this time the companies were two weeks apart and both were worn down by hunger and fatigue. Plus, crossing the Platte River had sapped what little strength these pioneers had left. Their death rate began to increase daily. As their journey continued, the nights grew colder. On October 19, 1856 the companies encountered an early snowstorm. A few days later, the Martin Company arrived at Bessemer Bend where they sought shelter from the continuing storm, while the Willie Company was similarly stalled at the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater River.

Bessemer Bend

Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater River

After meeting the Express Riders sent from Salt Lake, both companies received hope necessary to continue westward even though they had little or no food. The Martin Company passed Willow Spring, Greasewood Creek, Independence Rock, and Devil's Gate before reaching Martin's Cove. Meanwhile, the Willie Company was traveling up an over Rocky Ridge, crossing Strawberry Creek before they arrived at Rock Creek Hollow.

Willow Spring

Greasewood Creek

Martin's Cove

Unable to move forward, the Martin Company spent five days in the Cove waiting for the weather to improve. During this time the weather was very severe. The biting cold was relentless. The thermometer read 11 degrees below zero. Flour rations were cut to less than four ounces. The people began to freeze on account of inactivity. It has been estimated that as many as 50 people died during these days.

Ascending Rocky Ridge

Rock Creek Hallow

Meanwhile, the Willie Company spent several days camped at Rock Creek Hollow suffering the same weather conditions as the Martin Company. While camped there, fifteen people died and were buried in a common shallow grave.

Eventually, with the arrival of more supply wagons, both groups were able to reach Salt Lake where they were taken into people's homes. There these pioneers were nursed back to health, although many suffered from the effects of their ordeal the rest of their lives. Francis Webster, decades later said, “Was I sorry I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor one moment of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.” To visit many of the historic sites where these faithful pioneers stayed and wrote about in their journals are considered sacred, hallowed ground is truly amazing. At each of these locations there is a special spirit of which touches one's soul.

May we each enjoy and appreciate the blessings in our lives,
Elder and Sister Bowden