Temporary camps were set up across Iowa to increase the chances of survival for these homeless thousands. Camps of Israel, such as Garden Grove, Mt. Pisgah and Winter Quarters, were established along the trail where crops were planted and temporary shelters were built to give more time to prepare for the arduous journey into the wilderness. Everyone in these temporary camps were destitute and their living conditions were extremely desperate as the winter of 1846/47 set in. Weare's brother, Jeremiah II, died on the trail in Iowa in 1846. It is reported that 346 deaths occurred in Winter Quarters alone between September 1846 and May 1847.Weare's sister, Betsey Leavitt Adams, is reported to have died at Winter Quarters the following year in 1848.
Phoebe's situation, a widow with three children and few resources, was especially desperate. It was finally determined that George, now a teenager, should leave the family and try and find work in Missouri to pay for the supplies they would need to continue their journey to the Rocky Mountains. It was very challenging for George to leave his mother and two little sisters to the care of others during these desperate times in Winter Quarters. George had no choice and valiantly went, along with a few companions, to St. Joseph, Missouri, to earn what money he could for their trip west. George returned to Winter Quarters in the spring of 1847 with the meager resources he had managed to obtain.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa
As the Leavitt families made their way west, their next big stop was Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. The area of the "Mormon" encampment spread some 21 miles along the east side of the river. Some crossed the Missouri River and camped at the church's Winter Quarters, now Omaha. From extreme fatigue, lack of proper diet, and poor living conditions, many died during their stay. Jeremiah and Sarah Shannon Leavitt's daughter, Betsey Adams, granddaughter (via Jeremiah), Lydia Snow, and their great-grand daughter, Orliva Farlin, all died at Council Point; and their grandson, Weare, and their great-grand daughter, Isora Louisa Jones, both died at Trader's Point. Their granddaughter, Louisa Jones, died while with her husband in St. Joseph, Missouri.
It is interesting that the Prophet Joseph Smith, as early as 1842, had envisioned the church's migration to the Rocky Mountains. This would mean moving beyond the western boundary of the United States into the Great Basin area which was then claimed by Mexico. The martyrdom of Joseph Smith left the organization and leadership of this migration in the capable hands of his successor, Brigham Young. Brigham Young was shown, in a dream, the mountain valley where the saints would eventually dwell.
Brigham Young was determined to leave Winter Quarters early in the spring of 1847 in order to reach that valley as early in the year as possible. He organized a strong vanguard company of men, equipment, and animals to blaze the trail to this mountain valley knowing other companies must soon follow. They left Winter Quarters on April 16,1847. They followed the Platte River traveling on the north side to give them better access to feed and fuel and to keep them separated from other travelers who generally traveled on the south side of the river. They traveled to Fort Kearny, then followed the North Platt River past Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff to Fort Laramie. From there they crossed the Continental Divide through Emigrant Gap past independence Rock and followed the Sweet Water River on to Fort Bridger.
While at Fort Bridger Brigham, Young questioned Jim Bridger who had already explored the Great Salt Lake valley. From his description, Brigham felt that this was the valley that he had seen in his own vision. They left Fort Bridger and continued on through Emigration Canyon towards the valley of the Great Salt Lake. As part of an advanced party, two members of this vanguard company, Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow, saw the valley for the first time on July 21, 1847 and shouted for joy at the extensive valley and grand view that was displayed before them. The next two days were spent in exploring this valley and making preparations for the arrival of the main company. Brigham Young had been ill with Mountain Fever and was being cared for in the back of a wagon. As his wagon reached the mouth of Emigration Canyon he looked out over the valley for the first time and confirmed for the company, "This is the right place, drive on!"
They entered the valley on July 24, 1847. This first company consisted of 143 men, 3 women, and 2 children. They set about immediately to plant and prepare for the hundreds and thousands who would soon follow. On August 14, 1847 the new city to be built was named, "The City of the Great Salt Lake, Great Basin, North America." The city was officially incorporated on March 6, 1851 as "Great Salt Lake City." By 1850, more than 11,000 people lived in the valley. Prior to construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, more than 80,000 Mormon Pioneers in wagon trains and handcarts had made this same momentous trek.
In 1847, however, more than 7,000 saints lived in destitute conditions in temporary camps across Iowa and into Nebraska. Phoebe, now fifty years old, along with her children, George, now eighteen, Emeline, now fourteen, and Louisa, now eleven years old, started across the plains from Winter Quarters, Nebraska in the first year of the great Mormon migration to the Rocky Mountains. They traveled in company with Simon Baker and his wife, Charlotte Leavitt, and their nine children. Simon Baker's history records that Phoebe and her children were very destitute of clothing, having neither hats nor shoes for the journey. I am sure that Simon and Charlotte stretched their Meager supplies to help Phoebe's family as well. Their company left Florence, Nebraska, on May 1, 1847. They went out to the Elk Horn River, where the Saints met in camp to organize into companies to cross the plains.
Their company was the third hundred wagons of emigrating saints. Their organization consisted of Amos Neff, Captain of ten; Joseph B. Noble, Captain of fifty, and Jedediah M. Grant, Captain of hundred, who was over the other Captains. When their organization was completed, the company started on their march through the wilderness to the Rocky Mountains. As they journeyed on they found that their wagon teams were too heavily loaded, so they yoked up their cows, their steers and anything that could pull. A review of the Journal History of this company, with particular comments by Eliza R. Snow, a member of Capt. Noble's company, provides interesting insights into the Leavitt family's experiences during this pioneer trek:
- Thursday, June 17, 1847: At a meeting held at the encampment on the Elkhorn River it was moved by Apostle Parley P. Pratt that the camps move to the banks of the Platte River, and that they move in hundreds (100 wagons) and camp about half a mile apart. It was moved that Jedediah M. Grant's company be called the Third Hundred. Thursday, June 24: Apostle John Taylor complained the Bros. Jedediah M. Grant and John Young had refused to obey orders and were out of their place in the line of travel and that the 3rd hundred had got before his, which was the 2nd hundred. Later in the day the officers and men of the whole camp were called together. Bro. Taylor entered his complaint against Bros. Grant and Young and after a great deal said by the brethren, Apostle Parley P. Pratt spoke and reproved Bros. Young and Grant and said they should ask forgiveness, which they did and all was made right Wednesday, July 15: "This morning a fearful circumstance occurred. Someone was shaking a buffalo robe at the back of a wagon from which some of the cattle in the corral took fright and started on the run; this frightened others; they commenced bellowing, and all in a huddle, ran for the gateway of the enclosure, which being altogether too narrow for the egress of the rushing multitude that thronged into the passage, they piled one on the top of another until the top ones were above the tops of the adjacent wagons, moving them from their stations while the inmates at this early hour, being so suddenly and unceremoniously aroused from their morning sleep, and not knowing the cause of the terrible uproar and confusion, were some of them almost paralyzed with fear. At length those that could broke from the enclosure, the bellowing subsided and quiet was restored, but the sad effect of the fright caused much suffering to some who's nerves were not sufficient for the trying scene. In the encounter two wagon wheels were crushed, only one cow was killed and several oxen had horns knocked off." Eliza R. Snow Wednesday, August 4: "Death made occasional inroads among us. Nursing the sick in tents and wagons was a laborious task, but the patient faithfulness with which it was performed was no doubt registered in the achieves above, and an unfailing monument of brotherly and sisterly love. The burial of the dead by the wayside was a sad office. For husbands, wives and children to consign the cherished remains of loved ones to a lone grave was enough to try the firmest heart stings." Eliza R. Snow Thursday, August 19: Sister Love was killed by a wagon loaded with 1600 lbs. One wheel ran over her breast. Wednesday, September 8: "The road went over a slough, the bridge over which was so much out of repair that it was thought impossible for wagons to cross, and a halt was called to repair the crossing. The slough was at the foot of a long, gentle slope and the teams two and three abreast, were standing from the top nearly down to the place where the men were commencing to fix the bridge. At this time many of the teamsters were lounging at ease. Two of our young men, riding at full speed with blankets flying and whips in hand, rode up, and in passing the teams in the rear, so frightened them that they started down the hill, and as they went they started others, until almost in a moment nearly all were in motion, increasing their rapidity until the scene was fearfully alarming. Many of them crossed the slough in different directions and where the best of teamsters would not dare to drive, not one team crossing on the bridge. Many lives were exposed, but through great blessing of our Heavenly Father, no one was much hurt." Eliza R. Snow Thursday, September 9: In the morning it was discovered that between forty and fifty horses and mules had been stolen by Indians during the night. At 10 a.m. Colonel Markham and about 20 other brothern started out in pursuit. In the afternoon two of the men returned with two of the horses which had been found about thirty miles distant. In the evening two or three men came in with three other horses which had been found near the same place as the other two; they were probably left by the Indians in the hurry of the flight. Friday, October 1: "Today we traveled through brush and timber, but what was still worse, through black dust, with which we were all so densely covered that our identities might be questioned. When up the mountain we met Bro. John Taylor, who having reached the Valley was returning to meet that portion of his company now in the rear. Riding on horseback, through the interminable dust his f ace was covered with a black mask, and in his happy, jocular way, lest I should compliment him he hastened to ask me if I had lately seen my own face! Our appearances was truly ludicrous. It mattered little to us as we went slash, mash, down the mount, over stumps, trees, ruts, etc., where no one dared to ride who could walk." Eliza R. Snow Saturday, October 2, 1847: Part of this company arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley. Among the members being Sister Eliza R. Snow, Charles Decker, Edmund Ellsworth, John R. and Franklin w. Young, Levi Riter, the Dilworth family, and of course the Leavitt family.
Weare's family was the first of the Leavitt families to arrive in the Great Salt Lake Valley. Other Leavitt family members arrived in the valley in later years as their individual circumstances permitted. The Horace Fish family and most members of Jeremiah II's family, as well as Nathaniel's older children arrived in the valley in 1850. James and Betsey Leavitt Adams, family arrived in 1852. After the death of their parents many of the children of John and Lucy Rowell Leavitt's family completed their preparations and finally arrived in 1860. Others would follow and they all helped pioneer this western frontier.
No comments:
Post a Comment