Return Trip to Handcart Park in Iowa City, Iowa

 I returned to the Handcart Park in Iowa the last time I drove through.  As part of the Martin Handcart Company, the question I had in my mind is Langley Bailey talks of swimming, treading water in a pond.  He says someone didn't realize he was treading and walking into the water, and because he didn't swim Langley had to save him.  The Iowa river runs close by, and there are some streams going through the Handcart Park.  It is hard to see them as they keep you on the trail above the can

This picture shows some water

yons.

Memorial Program of Shirley Mae Pohlsander, Sheri's Mother

 

West Branch Rest Area Talks of the Mormon Handcarts and Iowa City

 There is an informational bulletin that talks of the handcarts; and the back side talks of Iowa City as the territorial capital.

It is a bit hard to see, so here is the transcript: Mormon Handcart Trail 1856.  In 1856, some 1300 Mormon converts from Europe, many of them wards of the Perpetual Emigration Fund COmpany, reached the railroad "End-of-Track" in Iowa City.  Their money exhausted, Brigham Young declared: "Let them come on foot, with hand-carts or wheel-barrows, let them gird up their loins, and walk through and nothing shall hinder them."
The Mormons encamped at what is now Coralville while awaiting the completion of their handcarts.  The first company of 226 Mormons set out bravely from Coralville on June 7, pushing or pulling their carts through Homestead, Marengo, Newton, Des Moines, Adel, and historic Dalmanutha.  It joined the Mormon Trail of 1846 at Lewis and crossed the Missouri River north of Council Bluffs.  The Mormon Bridge at North Omaha stands as a symbol to their trek across Iowa.
Meanwhile, the other companies followed close on the heels of the first Handcart expedition, all three reaching Salt Lake CIty safely before cold weather set in.  The fourth and fifth Handcart companies suffered untold hardships and death before they reached their Zion in present-day Utah.

The back side of the plaque tells of Iowa City as the territorial capital from 1839-1857.  There is a historic capital building in Iowa City.   

Memorial for Shirley Haws Pohlsander in Stockton Missouri

  We traveled to Stockton Missouri for the memorial for Sheri's mother Shirley Haws Pohlsander.  I took many pictures of family figuring Sheri would  e talking too much to get good pictures.  Miranda, Charity and Riley and Sheri and I and Tony where there.  Two of sheri's siblings have passed away

Sheri, Sheri's sister and brothers

The entire group still present after the lunch

Family prayer before the memorial

Lunch after the memorial

Family Pictures From Cove, Utah 2015

Bringing Caleb home from his mission we spent a day with Connie in Cove.  When we first arrived in Logan we met Grandpa Scoresby for breakfast at Angie's Restaurant.  We then visited my mother at her rest home.  Sara was there as well.  We then headed to Connie's to get situated, and my mom came out with Sara for family dinner.  It was a bit hard as my mother wasn't remembering things very well.  She couldn't remember which of us were her kids.  She also ha a very hard time discovering that Sara has cancer, although I am sure she has been told before.
However dinner was very lovely, and we had a sit by the fire pit after, and the kids tried the burro.

Kids and my mom

Kids and Grandpa Scoresby

Mom and I; we had a good talk

Caleb and Grandpa Scoresby

Natalia, Kayla, Sara

Mom ant I Sara Connie

Grandkids and mom, Caleb, Natalia and Mirand 

Nauvoo Pavilion and Family Names

 There is a pioneer memorial at the end of The Trail of Hope where Water and Parleys meet.  It is called Pioneer Memorial and Exodus to Greatness.  In this memorial is a list of all those who died during the journey.  I am not sure how accurate it is, or how complete.  It does not have death dates or places.  I know Osmond Broad Shaw and Elizabeth Wilding lost two children in the St Louis area of typhoid while they were traveling from England to Utah.  They are not included.  However many Ashtons are, more than passed away in my family.  Elizabeth passed away in Boston Harbor, Mother Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton died in childbirth at Cutler's Park. her new baby Sarah Anne Ashton died a couple weeks later.  Betsy Ashton died some place between Red Buttes and Martin's Cove.

Joseph and Brigham Young making plans for the journey west