Life on the Trail
1856-60, Handcarts: Construction Plans (Steve Pratt)
Stephen Pratt builds handcarts for a living in Cove Fort, Utah. This is his set of copyrighted instructions on how to construct a handcart.
Amusements: Games and Activities
Activities along a pioneer trek were not much different than what people today might do on a trip.
Amusements: Toys
Toys were simple, usually home made. Immagination enhanced the value of any toy.
Bacteria/diarrhea
Most of the diseases along emigration trails was caused by bacteria. Here are the types that caused diarrhea - which frequently ended in death.
Buffalo Chips and Pioneers
An important by-product of the buffalo...chips.
Buffalo and the Pioneers
Buffalo roamed the plains in great numbers.
Come, Come Ye Saints - Composed
Music helped inspire and unite the pioneers.
Communication
Pioneer companies cared about those companies that would follow. They left 'bone mail' and messages tucked in posts.
Dentistry, 1864, "Do it yourself!" (Duckworth Grimshaw, age 22)
He took one tooth out with a hammer and spike. The other was had a cavity. He filled it with gun powder and blew it out. See more details about Grimshaw, who immigrated from Wales in 1862, in another article.
Draft animals
Draft animals included horses, mules, and oxen.
Food: Rules for Eating in Early Days
Freighting within Utah, 1858
Freighting for Johnston's Army became big business for Utah. Richard John Moxey Bee was involved between Ft. Ephraim and Camp Floyd.
Hair Wreaths
Hair wreaths were created as decorative and/or sentimental objects. Includes directions on how to make a wreath
Indian Relations/Events
Mormons generally treated the Native Americans they met along the trail and in their settlements with respect because one of the Mormon sacred texts dealt with Indian ancestry.
Little Emigrants, Children
Many of the Pioneer travelers were children who faced the same dangers as the adults.
Mormons and Trail-Side Services
Pioneers had many skills and trades that came in handy when preparing to travel along the trail.
Mormons and the Environment
Mormon pioneers were careful of the environment because they know other members of their faith would follow along the same trail.
Music and Dance the Pioneer Companies
Pioneers used music to lift their spirits.
Oxen
Oxen were the most common draft animal used by the emigrants. What kind of animal was this?
Photographs and Images of the Trail
Images from Life in Zion: An Intimate Look at the Latter-day Saints 1820-1995 by William W.Slaughter
Pioneer Cemeteries (3) - Salt Lake City
How corpses were handled in a new community. The first burial ground was east of the fort. The Kimball-Whitney and Brigham Young private cemeteries are included.
Problems of Illness, Stress, Privacy, and Traveling
Pioneers faced many dangers and hardships each day.
Reading, Interpreting, and Protecting Trail Ruts
Studying the ruts still along the old Mormon Trail helps the student better understand the migration history.
Routine, Rules Discipline, Constitutions
Description of a typical day on the trail.
Stories from the Trail
Stories from the trail
Toys
Amusements were always part of the trail experience. Toys and dolls were small and simple.
Trail Preservation and Marking
In 1930, the historic value of the trail was officially recognized.
Wagons
Various wagons were used but the predominant wagon for Mormons was the "Chicago" type, which was smaller, cheaper, and travelled better over rough terrain.
Reading Level Key: -Easy
-Intermediate
-Advanced