Historical Introduction

After nearly three months of pushing and pulling their carts along the Mormon Trail from Florence, Nebraska Territory, the pioneers of the Eighth Handcart Company arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on September 4, 1859. For most of the European emigrants, this was added to the additional month that had passed since they had left their homes and loved ones in Scandinavia, the British Isles, or continental Europe to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to America. “Regardless of the time it took to reach Utah by sail, rail, or trail, the moment these emigrant converts reached Salt Lake City, it appears to have been the high point for most of them, the culmination of their journey,” notes emigration historian Fred E. Woods. “Having left the boundaries of Babylon and now reached the borders of Zion, these foreign converts frequently felt a flood of emotions caused by the impact of arrival and the challenge of assimilation.”[1]

In his 1859 trail guidebook to Utah, Obridge Allen describes the contemporary scene that greeted these handcart pioneers: “In the valley of the Great Salt Lake, four miles square, extending east from the banks of Jordan River ten miles above its mouth, along the base of a spur, from the Wahsatch [sic] Mountains” was the Latter-day Saint Zion, “laid out in squares with the temple block in the centre, streets 132 feet wide, lots 132 by 264 feet, capitol of Utah Territory, and contain[ing] 8 or 9000 inhabitants, a council house, tithing store house, and bowery, a place of worship, founded in 1846 [sic], by the presidency of the Latter Day Saints.”[2]

When these Latter-day Saint overlanders arrived, Woods continues, they “were often met immediately by Church leaders, family, and fellow members at various locations where immigrants congregated. Although the lodging was varied and improved as the decades rolled on, whether the Saints traveled by rail or trail, there was a steady flow of caring and accommodation that persisted throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century. Most immigrants assimilated quickly into the City and scattered communities where they found employment.”[3]

Two years had passed since September 1857, when the Seventh Handcart Company had rolled down Emigration Canyon and been greeted by their fellow Latter-day Saints.[4] After such a long gap, it was not surprising that the Eighth Handcart Company’s notable entrance into Zion was highlighted in all three of the city’s pioneer newspapers. But the newspapers showed mixed reactions. As historian Sherilyn Cox Bennion notes, “journalistic battle lines between Utah’s Mormons and non-Mormons were drawn early.”[5] The Church-owned Deseret News, in circulation since 1850, celebrated the handcart immigrants and lauded their overland achievement. In contrast, the non–Latter-day Saint editors of the Utah Territory’s second newspaper, Valley Tan, which began in 1858, were more critical of the pioneers’ appearances and questioned their heroic efforts. The Latter-day Saint writers of the Mountaineer, founded weeks before the handcarts arrived in September 1859, were more congratulatory, similar to the like-minded Deseret News. Weeks later the Daily Alta California, published in San Francisco, featured two articles from their Salt Lake City correspondents on the handcart pioneers, echoing the criticisms noted in the Valley Tan. All five newspaper articles highlighting the arrival of the Eighth Handcart Company are reproduced below.

The sixth, and final, news article featured below is a Deseret News report of a meeting held on November 8, 1859, two months after the Eighth Handcart Company arrived in Utah. The purpose of the gathering was to investigate the leadership conduct of George Rowley, the company’s captain. Church emigration leaders Joseph W. Young and Robert F. Neslen, who had also crossed the plains that summer, were appointed to lead the meeting and hear complaints by company members against Rowley, given that “many reports were in circulation” in Salt Lake City. After three hours of critical discussion, including testimony by Rowley himself, the meeting adjourned, and the pacified pioneers moved on with their new lives in Utah.

Source Note

“Arrived from the Plains,” Deseret News (Great Salt Lake City), September 7, 1859, 4.

Document Transcript

The Church [wagon] train, so called, arrived on Thursday last [September 1], one day sooner than expected at the date of our last issues; Capt. H[orton]. D. Haight and Bishop [Frederick] Kesler, who had charge of the train, brought it through safely and it arrived in good condition, no accident worthy of note occurring during the trip, though they lost about sixty head of cattle, principally or wholly from disease, out of four hundred and forty eight, with which they left Florence. There were not many families with this train, as the wagons were freighted with merchandize, machinery, &c., for Presidents B[righam]. Young, H[eber]. C. Kimball[6] & D[aniel]. H. Wells,[7] the Public Works, Prof. [Albert] Carrington,[8] H[enry]. Moon[9] and others, some eight of them being loaded with paper, type, ink and other materials for the Deseret News Office,[10] all of which was received in good condition.

On Friday evening [September 2], Mr. J[ohn]. Harvey[11] arrived from [Fort] Bridger with the intelligence that Capt. [George] Rowley, with the Handcart company, would arrive near the city, Saturday evening [September 3], but would not come in till Monday morning [September 5].—About 2 p.m. on Sunday [September 4], a messenger arrived from Elder [Ezra] Benson, who went out to their camp in the morning, announcing that the company were so anxious to come in that Capt. [George] Rowley had resolved to accede to their wishes and they would arrive at five o’clock. Immediately every horse and vehicle in the city was seemingly in motion, conveying those who were anxious to witness the egress of the company from the kanyon, in that direction.—Within a few minutes of the designated time, the company arrived, escorted by two or three bands of music and a vast concourse of citizens of all grades and professions, and passing through the streets lined with anxious spectators, went to Union Square, accompanied by the thousands that joined the escort as they passed along. It was certainly a stirring scene, and such an one as has not been witnessed for some time past by this community, calling forth many expressions from the beholders, mostly of joy, but some of detestation that human beings would endure so much, leave their houses in foreign lands, traverse the seas and cross the desert plains with handcarts, all for their religion. The expressions of derision and scorn from some of those who came here to make a raise out of the ‘Mormon difficulties,’ came with an ill grace, for where would they, poor souls, have been now had it not been for Mormonism?

Arriving at the Square, the company was addressed by Elder Benson, but we were not near enough to hear much of his short speech; however, one expression saluted our ears distinctly and that was ‘Live your religion,’ which, if they do, they will never regret their wearisome journey across the plains, nor any sacrifice, so called, that they have made or ever will make for the cause of truth.

The liberality of the Saints was abundantly manifested on the occasion by the amount and variety of the provisions that were provided through the bishops of the several Wards for the way-worn emigrants composing the company, who were thus made welcome to these once, and will be again ere long, peaceful vales; for surely Mormonism, so called, is not dead, as some have supposed, and truth, seemingly crushed to earth, will rise again, altho’ it has not, in these days, been overcome.

Source Note

“Local Intelligence. Arrival of a Hand-Cart Train of Converts––Great Turn-Out of Citizens to Witness the Entree,” Valley Tan (Great Salt Lake City), September 7, 1859, 3.

Document Transcript

Early on Sabbath morning [September 4], it became rumored throughout town that the long-looked for Hand-Cart Train was approaching near the home of the particularly favored of heaven––viz, Salt Lake City––where the missionaries had caused them to believe, most probably, that they would find profits for the body, as well as prophets for the soul; and they have our sincerest wishes that they may be consoled with the former, if they are duped in regard to the existence of the latter.

After the conclusion of the afternoon services at the tabernacle, a heterogeneous mass of pedestrians, equestrians, and Jehus[12] generally, thronged the road between the city and the mouth of Emigration Kanyon, all on the qui vive[13] to get a glimpse at the coming object of curiosity. At about 4 p.m. the [handcart] train emerged from the mountains onto the plateau overlooking the city, where it was welcomed by several cheering airs from a brass band, and met by a few kindhearted team-owners, who took the most wearied female members of the company into their wagons, where there were an abundance of gal-lant young men who harnessed themselves into the carts thus vacated. A sort of systematic procession was formed just out of the city, by placing the wagons containing the baggage and bedding of the hand-carters in the van, the music next, and then the persevering, bold-spirited cart-drawers themselves, the whole followed and surrounded by hundreds of men, women and children, on foot, on horseback, in wagons, carriages, &c. In this order, and under these circumstances, the procession passed through the city to the Public Square, where, we understand, they were supplied with all manner of desirable refreshments.

Source Note

“Local News. Arrival of the Hand-Cart Train,” Mountaineer (Great Salt Lake City), September 10, 1859, 3.

Document Transcript

We have witnessed the arrival of the first and last hand-cart trains in this city, yet never before have we been present on an occasion like that of Sunday evening last [September 4]. It was probably noon when we heard that the hand-carts were coming; and we, like thousands of others, turned out to see what was to be seen. After waiting with patience for some hours, we saw approaching a mixed multitude of men, women and children, some on horseback, others in carriages and wagons, while many were on foot, all of whom were preceded by Capt. [Dominico] Ballo’s Brass Band,[14] followed by Capt. [Dimick] Huntington’s Martial Band;[15] in the midst of which we discovered Capt. [George] Rowley’s company of hand-carts, surrounded by thousands, some of whom were led by curiosity, while others were seeking to find perchance a friend or dear relative, that like themselves had sought an asylum in the fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains, attended with the privilege of drawing a hand-cart after them. We looked on and beheld the passing scene, which filled the street for nearly a mile, until the company reached the Public Square, where the last encampment of the weary pilgrims was made for the night.

Source Note

“Our Salt Lake Correspondence. Courts and Crimes––Arrival of a Hand-Cart Train––Cotton Factory––Money at Camp Floyd––Another Government Sale––An English Nobleman at Salt Lake,” Daily Alta California (San Francisco), September 22, 1859, 1.

Document Transcript

G[reat]. S[alt]. L[ake] City,

Sept. 7th, 1859.

…. On Sunday last [September 4], I was led by the inviting weather and curiosity to witness the arrival of a hand-cart train. I mounted a mule, and in company with a friend or two, hastened to the mouth of Emigration Can[y]on, where we met some of the advance parties, yet learning that the train was several miles up the can[y]on, we rode on, occasionally meeting a wagon with good-looking, but of course dirty women, and a cart tied behind. Just below the base of the Little Mountain we met the main body of the train, numbering about forty carts, and three or four persons to each cart. Such a sight we never beheld, nor do we wish to again. We saw old men and women meanly dressed, even for the plains, and bare to the knees, with a thong around their shoulders and hitched to the carts like brutes, whilst an able conductor or two rode beside the train directing them. We saw the halt and the lame, whilst the young and healthy of the female portion had been eagerly caught up in wagons by the many saints who had gone thus far to meet them. We could but ask ourselves if such a service, such a pilgrimage, so outfitted, little to eat and less to wear, were expected of us by our maker! After passing the party we came upon a whiskey ranch, where we found one of “the twelve,” doubtless refreshing and inspiring himself, for we learn he addressed the emigrants that evening. As we passed, we heard a party who seemed pretty well sprung, say, “What’s the use quarreling? wait till they get in before you pick out your wives.” After crossing the mountain and getting some dinner, we returned to “the City of the Saints,” having learned another lesson in Mormonism. The emigrants were met after their exodus from the can[y]on, by delegations and music, and escorted into Zion. . . .

Source Note

“Our Salt Lake Correspondence. Immigration––Indian Troubles––Criminal Affairs––Prospecting for Silver––Coal Found––Money Plenty––Aurora Borealis,” Daily Alta California (San Francisco), September 22, 1859, 3.

Document Transcript

Great Salt Lake City, U.T.,

September 7, 1859.

The immigrant trains arrive slowly, and are mostly taking the mail route. The Mormon immigrants are mostly in. Including the hand-cart train, and those on the road, their number is at least 3000 persons.[16] It is certainly a very singular sight, to see hand-carts moving along the road, dragged by women. There are ordinarily six persons to every cart, and often all of the six will be young women. In the carts are their clothing and provisions; the latter, however, often times get very much reduced. In previous years they have come in very late, and great suffering has existed;[17] this year, however, they have been more fortunate, although some little distress has been experienced from want of provisions. A large proportion of the immigration now in, are, I judge from Europe; their personal appearance denote [sic] a long and wearisome journey, and they express much satisfaction at reaching their resting place. On arriving in the city they march to a large open square and encamp, when provisions are sent to them, and they are visited by their friends or relations and taken to their homes. Those who have no friends are provided with homes by the Bishops of the different wards. An unmarried female finds but little difficulty to obtain shelter, and more particularly if good looking. . . .

On Sunday afternoon [September 4], at the Tabernacle,[18] Heber C. Kimball informed the Bishops of the different wards, that the hand-cart train would arrive in this city at 5 p.m., and instructed them to prepare provisions, &c. for them upon Union Square. At the appointed hour the train was seen descending the bench lands, which form the eastern section of the city. They entered preceded by a mountain escort of some fifty men, followed by two bands of music playing martial airs. Then came the train of handcarts in single file. Each cart was covered with a ticking[19] cover, some drawn by men, and others by women and children. They numbered forty-two. Next came thirteen wagons with men, women and children. The rear was brought up by a multitude of lookers-on—some in wagons, others on foot. The train went through the northern part of the city, passed the residence of Brigham Young, to the square, where a large table was set for them well filled with provisions of all kinds. The streets through which they passed were lined with spectators, and some thousands were upon the camping ground awaiting their arrival.

They seemed travel worn and fatigued, and were surprised at the reception they met with. After supper, the performances of the day closed with preaching and prayer. The train contained three hundred and forty-one persons.[20] . . .

Source Note

Joseph W. Young and Robert F. Neslin [Neslen], “Meeting of Capt. Rowley’s Hand-cart Company,” Deseret News (Great Salt Lake City), November 16, 1859, 5.

Document Transcript

G[reat]. S[alt]. L[ake]. City, Nov. 12, 1859.

Editor Deseret News:

SIR—You will oblige the undersigned and confer a favor upon many other individuals by inserting the following note in the News.

It will be remembered that, on Sabbath, [November] the 6th, a notice was read in the Tabernacle, that a meeting of the Hand-cart company which crossed the Plains under the direction of Capt. Geo[rge]. Rowley, would be held on [November] the 8th inst. (Tuesday) at early candlelight, in the 13th Ward School house,[21] for the purpose of inquiring into certain grievances said to exist in the company, against Capt. Rowley.

Accordingly, at the appointed time, the meeting convened, Elders Joseph W. Young and Robert F. Neslin [Neslen], by appointment, presiding, and, after singing and prayer, the brethren and sisters had full liberty granted them to speak their minds freely; and it was impressed upon them that, inasmuch as many reports were in circulation throughout this city, derogatory to the character and management of Capt. Rowley, while crossing the plains, if they knew of anything worthy of blame, they should there and then tell of it.

They were told that, if Capt. Rowley had been known to sell or otherwise dispose of provisions belonging to the company, to be at any time drunk and thereby neglect his duties, to have taken their luggage from the carts into the company wagons and charged freight thereon, appropriating the proceeds thereof to his individual use, it was due the Hand-cart company that these things should be known in the right place, and be properly and severely dealt with.

The Saints occupied about three hours in speaking of the journey and the conduct of Capt. Rowley towards them, and the unanimous testimony of every one present was, that br. Rowley had done his duty as captain of the company, to the best of his ability.

There seemed to be some little dissatisfaction in regard to the supplies of bacon, sugar and tea, but, after some explanations from those who served out the provisions and from br. Neslin [Neslen] in regard to the amount furnished at Florence, all seemed satisfied.

Br. Rowley spoke of the reports that were in general circulation; he acknowledged that he had been somewhat remiss in keeping his accounts and stated that he had never had experience in such matters, especially where so many parties were concerned.

He said his greatest fault had been in not being strict enough with the company; to all of which those present bore testimony.

At the close of the meeting, a unanimous vote of the company expressed the following sentiments—“That this company hereby acknowledge its entire satisfaction in regard to the conduct of Capt. Geo. Rowley, while crossing the plains, and we wish the sense of this meeting published in the Deseret News.”

Your brethren in the Gospel,

JOS. W. YOUNG,

ROBT. F. NESLIN [NESLEN]

Notes

[1] Woods, “Arrival of Nineteenth-Century Mormon Emigrants,” 204.

[2] Allen, Guide Book, 67–68.

[3] Woods, “Arrival,” 223–24.

[4] Jenson, Church Chronology, 59.

[5] Bennion, “Journalism in Utah,” in Utah History Encyclopedia, 288–90. For more on the Deseret News, see Alter, Early Utah Journalism, 280–307; for the Valley Tan, see Alter, 379–84; and for the Mountaineer, see Alter, 324–27.

[6] Heber Chase Kimball (1801–1868), FamilySearch–KWNP-GNM, was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1835 and a member of the First Presidency in 1847. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:34–37.

[7] Daniel Hanmer Wells (1814–1891), FamilySearch–KWNR-6S1, was ordained an Apostle and a member of the First Presidency in 1857. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:62–66.

[8] Albert Carrington (1813–1889), FamilySearch–KWJR-TCL, was editor of the Deseret News from 1854 until 1859. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:126–27.

[9] Henry Moon (1819–1894), FamilySearch–KWZD-3X9, was a farmer and an advocate for education in Utah. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4:509.

[10] By 1859, the Deseret News was being published out of the Council House (or State House, as it was often called), which was located on the southwest corner of Main Street and South Temple Street in Salt Lake City. “Deseret News Office,” Deseret News, April 27, 1859.

[11] John Harvey (1816–1887), FamilySearch–KWJC-L9V, helped settle several pioneer outposts in Wyoming and Utah. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 3:399–400.

[12] A driver of a wagon or coach.

[13] This French phrase means “on the alert” or “watchful.”

[14] Sicilian-born Latter-day Saint convert Dominico Ballo (1805–1861), FamilySearch–M93J-BGP, formed a band in St. Louis, Missouri. Starting in 1852, he began leading the band in public performances in Salt Lake City, including leading the orchestra in the Salt Lake Bowery. “Death of Captain Ballo,” Deseret News, June 12, 1861, 8.

[15] Dimick Baker Huntington (1808–1879), FamilySearch–KWVQ-NTM, drum major in the Nauvoo Legion (Illinois) band, helped reconstitute the Nauvoo Brass Band (later known as “Dimick’s Band”) in pioneer Utah. Whitney, “Nauvoo Brass Band,” 134–37. See Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4:748–49.

[16] Actually, only about 1,650 Latter-day Saints in total crossed the American plains for Utah by wagon and handcart in the summer of 1859. See Pioneer Database, 1847–1868.

[17] Three years earlier, in the summer of 1856, members of the Fourth and Fifth Handcart Companies, led by James G. Willie and Edward Martin respectively, departed late in the emigration season from Florence, Nebraska Territory and had to be rescued from snowstorms and hunger by Latter-day Saints from Great Salt Lake City that October. About 220 handcart pioneers perished as a result, making it the greatest suffering and loss of life experienced on the Mormon Trail. Hafen and Hafen, Handcarts to Zion, 91–141.

[18] The Old Tabernacle, Temple Square’s first substantial building, was constructed between 1851 and 1852 in its southwest corner, where later sat the Assembly Hall. Designed by architect Truman O. Angell, the adobe-walled structure could hold 2,500 people for religious gatherings. It was later replaced by the much larger, tortoise-shaped Salt Lake Tabernacle. Paul L. Anderson, “Tabernacle, Salt Lake City,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4:1433–34.

[19] A durable cotton or linen fabric, generally striped, which the pioneers used to protect their belongings.

[20] In actuality, the Eighth Handcart Company started with about 260 overlanders, but several had died or abandoned the group en route to Utah. See McIntyre, diary, June 9, 1859, herein.

[21] The Salt Lake City 13th Ward meetinghouse was an adobe structure built in downtown Salt Lake City in 1852. It was built on 200 South Street, between State Street and 200 East Street. In addition to its use as a meetinghouse, the building also functioned as a schoolhouse until 1860, when it was replaced by a brick chapel. Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church, 749.