Heritage Gateways
Official Sesquicentennial K-12 Education Project
sponsored by the Utah State Board of Education, the BYU-Public School Partnership and the Utah Education Network
Pioneer 1848-1868 Companies
1848-68, Mormon Emigrants (General Information)
While this historic resource study stresses the work of the pioneers of 1846-1847 it should be remembered that up to 70,000 [latest estimates: 60,000]other Mormons made much the same trek through the time of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. This study of trail documents reveals that the basic experience (as described above) of all immigrating Mormons was similar. A brief account of the post-1847 Mormon immigration follows.
This subsequent period of immigration can be conveniently divided into four groups and time periods, with two minor sub-topics.
- Wagon emigrants: 1848-1860 (canal, lake, and riverboats)
- Handcart emigrants: 1856-1860 (The Brigham Young Express Company, 1856-1857)
- Church ox team emigrants: 1860-1868
- "Rail and trail" emigrants: 1856-1868
PIONEER EMIGRATION TO UTAH
Andrew Jenson's Tabulation of Mormon Emigration,1847-1869
(Numbers are not exact, but best estimate)
| - - - - - - - - - - COMPANIES - - - - - - - - | ||||||
| Year | Total | Wagon | Handcart | Freight | PEF | Last Arrival |
| 1847 | 2,000 | 9 | 2 Oct | |||
| 1848 | 4,000 | 3 | (divisions of single company) | 19 Oct | ||
| 1849 | 3,000 | 6 | 28 Oct | |||
| 1850 | 5,000 | 10 | 1 | 14 Oct | ||
| 1851 | 5,000 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 5 Oct | |
| 1852 | 10,000 | 23 | 1 | 16 Oct | ||
| 1853 | 2,603 | 12 | 1 | 17 Oct | ||
| 1854 | 3,167 | 8 | 24 Oct | |||
| 1855 | 4,684 | 8 | (1) | 2 | 29 Oct | |
| 1856(1) | 3,756 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 15 Dec |
| 1857(2) | 1,994 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 26 Sep |
| 1858 | 179 | 3 | 6 Oct | |||
| 1859 | 809 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 Sep |
| 1860(3) | 1,409 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 Oct |
| 1861(4) | 1,959 | 13 | (5 Church) | many | 27 Sep | |
| 1862(5) | 3,599 | 13 | (7 Church) | many | 29 Oct | |
| 1863 | 3,646 | 12 | (10 Church) | many | 15 Oct | |
| 1864(6) | 2,697 | 9 | (6 Church) | (1) | 2 Nov | |
| 1865 | 1,301 | 3 | 29 Nov | |||
| 1866 | 3,333 | 10 | 22 Oct | |||
| 1867 | 660 | 1 | (Terminus: N. Platte, Neb.) | 5 Oct | ||
| 1868 | 3,232 | 10 | (Term: Laramie-5, Benton-5) | 25 Sep | ||
| Total: | 68,028 | |||||
(1) Dan Jones aptained the later-known Hunt Co. and wintered with
the cached freight at Devil's Gate. Willie arrived 9 Nov, Martin,
30 Nov.
(2) Russel, Majors, and Waddell had 6,250 specially-built wagons
that could haul 5-7,000 pounds of freight, 75,000 oxen, and 5,000
employees. They lost $5 million from US Gov't. supplying Johnston's
army and later funded the Pony Express at a $500,000 loss.
(3) Pony Express (3 Apr 1860 - Oct 1861) used Mormon Trail over
Big Mountain. 120 riders rode 650,000 miles. Only one was killed
by Indians. Oct 24: Telegraph completed.
(4) Civil War (1961-4). Returning Army wagons used the Golden Pass
(Parley's Canyon) route.
(5) A toll road was built down Silver Fork Canyon (Kimball Junction
to Wanship), shortening the distance and became the main road (except
for poor emigrants) until 1869. The Overland Stage (Ben "Doc" Holladay,
made a fortune, but lost it in the panic of 1873) and most traffic
now followed the Overland Route from Ft. Bridger to Laramie (closer
to I-80).
(6) About 400 persons came in this late independent train. Terminus
this year shifted from Florence to Wyoming, Neb., 40 miles south.
All teams from now on are "Church."
Note: (1) in the freight column means that an emigrant and freight company were combined. Andrew tried to count those that came other directions or other means or with non-church organized groups. An exact count has never been made nor could it. It is estimated that about 70,000 pioneers emigrated to Utah before the railroad came.
Source: Historic Resource Study - Mormon Pioneer National By Stanley B. Kimball, Ph.D., May 1991. (The study focuses on the history of the trail from its official beginning in Nauvoo, Illinois, to its terminus in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the period 1846-1869. During that time, thousands of Mormon emigrants used many trails and trail variants to reach Utah. This study emphasizes the "Pioneer Route" or "Brigham Young Route" of 1846-1847. The sections on Mormon beliefs and motivations for going west have been omitted. Interested persons can find ample sources for that information. The footnotes, bibliography, maps, pictures, pioneer companies by name and dates for the 22-year period, and historic sites - about 2/3 of the book - have also been left out for space considerations. Thanks to Dr. Kimball and the National Park Service for the availability of this information.)