Thursday, October 23, 2025

John and Shirley Pohlsander Family Reunion: Buffalo River, Arkansas August 02, 2022

 My views of the Pohlsander reunion in July which also turned out to be a memorial for Grandpa Pohlsander.  Reunion was at Buffalo River.

Grandma Shirley, Sheri and Mike


Hayley



Tony, Shot gun shooting

Sheri




The Halls

 

Thursday, October 16, 2025

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.


Monday, October 13, 2025

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.   


Sunday, October 5, 2025

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