Journal of the Handcart Pioneers 1856-1860

by History of the Saints

Handcarts 1856-1860 by History of the Saints. Edited by Glenn Rawson and Dennis Lyman| An engaging and compelling record of the Mormon Handcart Pioneers from 1856-1860.

285 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Van Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this book because, among other things, my great-great grandmother crossed the plains as 16 year-old in the first handcart company. The book consists of journal entries of those who came in handcarts or rescued them in the case of the Martin and Willie companies. Most of the entries do center on those fated handcart companies and their rescuers, but there are many entries from others to give a fairly good idea of what it was like to push or pull a handcart over 1000 miles of untamed land. The interesting thing to me is that even the companies that were not led by Martin or Willie had a hard time of it. For example, my great-great grandma's father was one of seven people in the Ellsworth Company who died before making it to the valley. This was referred to in one of the entries when a man talked of trying to encourage an Italian man and his daughter in Echo Canyon during the night, but being hindered by language. The Italian man passed away and was brought to camp the following day. I think these were my relatives. Also, everyone had more or less of a difficult time, but nobody regretted coming by handcart, and the saints in the Salt Lake valley were so welcoming as each company arrived.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to "gird up your loins" when you read this book. It narrates the journey of the handcart pioneers from the "jumping off" places in the East to the Salt Lake Valley, organizing by locations along the journey. Except for the identification of each location (with accompanying maps) and a brief description of what occurred in each location, the story is told totally with excerpts from journals of those who lived the journey. The accounts are detailed, especially the accounts of the ill fated Willie and Martin handcart companies, which accounts for the warning: the book isn't easy to read, with accounts of hardship and suffering that cannot fail to wring the hearts of readers, in the words of those who suffered and participated.

[Susan Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such stirring accounts given of their trials, challenges, unity, support, and faith. I don't think I could have endured all they went through. But I am so grateful for their endurance and faith. Thank you blessed, honored pioneers which include my ancestors. Everyone should read with a prayer and a desire to see if any of their family were included. Praise them and thank them for our beliefs!