Iowa City: Marching Off Point for Mormon Pioneers 1856-57

There are times when what we imaging in our heads has nothing to do with how it really was.  At the time when the end of the rail line was at Iowa City (1856-1857) the outfitting point was actually two to three miles outside of town.  This necessitated a good walk to get there.  These year of course coincide with the first two years of handcart companies.  Today it is part of the University of Iowa Campus and is within a mile of the Iowa City Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This is where Caleb's mission would meet for transfers every six weeks, as it is considered a central location for the mission.
I always imagined Iowa as being fields at the time, cultivated, and the vegetation pretty much being similar to that in Wyoming or western Nebraska.  However in visiting the place, I now realize how wrong I was.  I should have remember Iowa is a humid place, which much more rain fall that Wyoming or Nebraska.  Consequently the grass would have been very high, and there would have been woods not yet cleared, and a three mile hike would have been a formidable task.  Another formidable task would be to maneuver handcarts which such thick vegetation.
I went there to find where Langley Bailey had talked about swimming, in the Iowa River, close to the outfitting point.  I could not find the river, although I know it is not too far distant.  There were river beds, which made me wonder if the route of the river could have changed in the last 150 years.
At any rate, I was totally taken back by the presentation of the environment.  It was not anything like what I had in my head.  The humidity and the heat would have been difficulty.  This type of environment would have also been prime ground for bugs, including mosquitoes.  It also was a prime environment for wild flowers.  There where many trees, which would have provided shade.  However, it would have been difficulty to find a place for the tents.  When Isaac was there there were 2000 other pioneers making ready to cross the plains.  They would have been spread out, but also crowded trying to find a place for that many people.

Lots of greenery to deal with

lots of grass

Looking down at old river bed

That be us

Mary Dixon Wardle: Death Record

This is the death record for Mary Dixon Wardle, the wife of James Wardle making her the sister-in-law of Isaac Wardle and the daughter-in-law of John and Mary Wardle.  This record gives her parents as James Dixon and Mary Farrel both of Scotland.  Her dob is 3 November 1850, born in Scotland and her death date is 18 March 1943 in Salt Lake City.  The witness to the death is A.C. Wardle.  The cause of death is cardiac arrest due to senility.  She was 92 years old.

Quick Trip to South Jordan Cemetery

I looked at the directory of the cemetery as we were leaving, and there are many more Wardle names, perhaps 100, all related some how.  However these are the names I found quickly with Natalia's help.

Great great great Grandparents John and Mary Wardle.  They crossed the plains in the Robinson Handcart Company of 1860.

Isaac's brother and his wife, Mary Dickson. James also crossed the plains with the Robinson Company.

 

Isaac's second wife Mary Ann Ashton Wardle.  Crossed the plains in the Martin handcart Company

Aunt Lula Wardle Beesley: Obituary

Aunt Lula Theo Beesley is my father's older sister.  She passed away 14 February, 1992 in Salt Lake City and was buried in Rexburg Cemetery.  Her husband John Thayne Beesley preceded her in death.

Osmond Weilding Shaw: Death Record

"Idaho, Southeast Counties Obituaries, 1864-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-43299-30237-23?cc=1876879 : accessed 9 August 2015),  > image 1 of 1; Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center, Idaho Falls.

Osmond Weilding Shaw is the father of my grandmother Melissa Ann Shaw Wardle.  His parents Osmond B. Shaw and Eliza Weilding immigrated in 1849 from England and en route both of their babies died.  Osmond was the first born after they came to Salt Lake City.  The family home is where the Department of Social Services is located on North Temple.  His middle name, which he takes form his mother is spelled both ways; Weilding and Wielding.  He was married to Melissa Ann Atwood.

Obituary: Vernal Haston Wardle

Idaho Southern County Obituaries: 1943-2013 #2918

Vernal Haston Wardle is the son of William Haston Wardle and Annie Serena Sorenson Wardle.  He passed away 12 March 1982 and his funeral was 15 March 1982.

Death Record: James Wilford Wardle Sr.

"Idaho, Southeast Counties Obituaries, 1864-2007," image 1 of 1; Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center, Idaho Falls.

From this record we learn James Wilford Wardle died Sept. 23, 1972 F;35 a.m.  He was born South Jordan Utah Nov. 2, 1981 to William Haston Wardle who was born in South Jordan and Annie Serena Sorenson born in Little Cottonwood, Utah.  His widow is Melissa Ann Shaw and the family home is 126 So. 1st st. Rigby, Idaho.  He was buried in Mountain view Cemetery, Pocatello, Id and the funeral was Sept. 26, 1972.

Obituary: Melissa Ann Shaw Wardle

Idaho Souther County Obituaries 1943-2013 #796

This is the obituary for my Grandmother who passed away while I was serving a mission.  

She passed away 12 December 1977.

Obituary: Anna Sorenson

Obituary for Ann Sorenson,  my great-great grandmother on my father's side.  Her daughter married William Haston Wardle.  This is attached to her record in family search.  https://familysearch.org

Salt Lake Telegram 4/14/1931

Mrs. Anna Sorenson, 86, widow of Jens Sorenson and a native of Denmark, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J.M. Fowlks, 6568 Jefferson Lane.  She had lived in Salt Lake County since 1879.  She was born in Denmark January 3, 1845.

Mrs. SOrenson is survived by four daughters, Mrs Fowlks and Miss Birdie Sorenson of Murray, Mrs. J.M. Peterson of Salt Lake and Mrs. William H. Wardle of Rockland, Idaho: 23 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grand children.