Heritage Gateways

Pioneer Date Summary

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04/12/1847 - Crockett

Location: Fremont, Nebraska - Location: 41:26:00N 96:29:52W Elevation: 1195 feet

Date: April 12, 1847

Elkhorn River, Nebraska:
The pioneer camp traveled fourteen miles up the north bank of the Platte River. The men were impressed by the width of the Platte River. It was wider than they had expected. [At some points the river is a mile wide.] After the camp was established, a meeting was held in the evening. It was decided that Thomas Grover, Henry G. Sherwood, and Stephen Markham should lead the pioneer company until the Twelve returned. Brother Markham gave some instructions regarding guarding the camp. James Case and Jackson Redden were appointed to scout ahead on the following day. The meeting was closed with prayers and then the pioneers enjoyed some music and dancing. After the guard was established for the evening, Brother Markham asked the men to have prayers together in their meal groups (messes). [This camp was about three miles southeast of present-day Fremont, Nebraska. It was later named the "Liberty Pole Camp" by the Second Company of pioneers on July 4, 1847. It was about one-quarter mile from the Platte River, and west of US 77.]

Brigham Young, the other members of the Twelve, Erastus Snow, John Brown, Norton Jacob, and Bishop Newel K. Whitney crossed back over the Elkhorn and traveled back to Winter Quarters, hoping to meet with John Taylor the following day. Norton Jacob made the return trip to fetch his rifle and cow. The Only wagons that remained at the Elk Horn were those belonging to George A. Smith and John Brown. Part of the company traveled by horseback on an Indian trail which saved 15 miles of traveling. The wagons had to travel thirty-five miles along the established roads.

Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
William Clayton spent the day at home. Thomas and James, members of his family, were cutting wood and preparing to go to Summer Quarters. The High Council decided to levy another tax to continue to fund a police guard.

In the evening, after all arriving at the city, the Twelve held a Council meeting. They discussed what to do with the tithing money that Parley P. Pratt had collected in England. Various individual were mentioned who needed assistance. Brigham Young was appointed by the Council to distribute the funds. A letter was written to Orson Spencer in England asking him to release Franklin or Samuel Richards, Lucius N. Scovill and others who could be spared. "But if not in accordance with the spirit of time, let them wait in patience, and they shall have their rewards." They shared with Orson Spencer the most recent news: "The Council, Parley P. Pratt excepted, left 69 pioneer wagons and teams on the west side of the Elk Horn this morning, prosecuting their journey for the Great Basin, in search for a location for a stake of Zion. We expect to overtake them in two or three days, and point the site as the Spirit directs, and return in the fall, and in the spring following take out our families."

The Council approved the call of Lyman Littlefield to serve a mission in the British Isles. Thomas Bullock was asked to keep the official journal of the Pioneer journey. The meeting concluded at midnight. George A. Smith wrote: "I went to bed feeling much tired and bruised by riding horseback thirty-five miles on a rought going nag."

Summer Quarters, Nebraska:
John D. Lee was busy working on his cabin. He also cleared off some of the land for a garden, but had to spend one quarter of the day pulling cattle out of a mire. James Leavens and Brother Markham arrived on their way to the cattle herd further up the Missouri River. The river was very full of water, nearly level with its banks.

Mormon Battalion, at Los Angeles, California:
Company C marched toward Cajon Pass under the leadership of Lt. George W. Rosecrans. Lt. James Pace hated to see the battalion divided up into so many groups. He recalled the counsel from Brigham Young to never divide the battalion. Colonel Mason visited the battalion left at Los Angeles and praised them. He said that they were "the best volunteers of any he had ever seen in the manual of arms."

Company B, Mormon Battalion, at San Diego, California:
Thomas Dunn wrote about a little bit of trouble in town. A sailor, Mr. Russell and a Spaniard argued over a debt of $1.50. "Some conversation ensued after which Russell fired a pistol at the Spaniard, but did not hit him. He then caught a stone and threw at Russell but did not hit him. He [the Mexican] then caught a stone and threw at Russell but missed him. He next threw a cow's foot which knocked Russell from his horse. The citizenry gathered round the two. They were immediately arrested, Russell was put in irons."

Cincinnati, Ohio:
Luman Shurtliff packed up all the goods he had collected in the city for the Saints at Garden Grove, and hired a man to haul the things to a boat which would leave the following day, bound for St. Louis.

Sources:
Watson, ed., Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 547
Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:147
Kelly, ed., Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-1847 and 1859, 149
Charles Harper Diary, 15
Diary of Howard Egan, Pioneering the West, 22
Luman Shurtliff Autobiography, typescript, BYU-S, p.73
Autobiography of John Brown, 73
William Clayton's Journal, 74
"Excerpts from the hitherto unpublished Journal of Horace K. Whitney," Improvement Era, 50:203
Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 8, p.243
Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.190
Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers Along the Mormon and Other Great Western Trails, 48
Erastus Snow Journal Excerpts, Improvement Era 14:633
Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1:247
Nibley, Exodus To Greatness, 358-59
Private Journal of Thomas Dunn, typescript, 23
Yurtinus, A Ram in the Thicket, 568
The Journal of Nathaniel V. Jones, Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:15

Source: 150 Years Ago Today ©These materials have been created by David R. Crockett. Copies of these materials may be reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit must be given to David R. Crockett. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of Mr. Crockett, Tucson Az, crockett@goodnet.com.