Historical Vignette: Traveling West from Wyoming, Nebraska
Wyoming, Nebraska:
The town of Wyoming, Otoe County, Nebraska (map) no longer exists. It was located six (6) miles north of Nebraska City. Little remains of the town, except for an unmarked Mormon cemetery.
This small town is described by by Candy Moulton, in her book Ox-Bow Trail; an alternative trail for Mormons, 1997-04-13.
"One of the primary provisioning points for Mormons was the town of Wyoming, Neb., which in 1855 had a newspaper, two attorneys, two wagon repair and manufacturing shops, a lumber mill, a couple of blacksmiths, a doctor, and a saloon, which offered oysters for lunch. During a three-year period starting in 1864, Mormon church leaders sent wagons in "Church Trains" from Salt Lake City to Nebraska. Wagons loaded with goods raised or produced in Zion were driven from Utah in April. On their way east, the teamsters stockpiled food at various way stations, selling the excess goods they carried when they reached the Missouri River country. Then they loaded emigrants and other provisions and returned to Utah, arriving back in Salt Lake by about October.
"From 1864-67 about 6,500 Mormons started their journey west with assistance from the emigrant agent at Wyoming, Neb. In 1867 Mormons started using the partially completed Union Pacific Railroad for transportation, abandoning wagon travel for faster rail services. The Ox-Bow Trail itself eventually succumbed to travel on a more direct route west from Nebraska City to Fort Kearny, known as the Fort Kearny Cutoff."
An Alternate Trailhead on the Mormon Trail:
The following map shows various routes the Mormon pioneers took in their journey West. The trail the Saints took in 1864 from Wyoming, Nebraska is called the Wyoming variant as was used by Mormon pioneers from 1864 to 1867.
Source: Mormon Trails Association
Life on the Trail in 1864:
Although this account is not from relatives who made this trek, the experience described pertains to their time of immigration.
"When the H. N. Hansen family arrived, everyone was busy building a camp in the brush--brush piled on poles and called huts. A brush hut protected the people from sun, but in the rain, it was worthless. They were not long encamped when disease struck a good many persons. The exposure to the weather affected all ages. Although some called it cholera, Hansen believed it was a combination of exhaustion, exposure and poor nutrition. Jane Goody claimed that as they went by steamer from St. Joseph to Wyoming, all drinking water was taken from the river and many became sick.
"Hansen (who traveled with the Canfield Company) mentioned the cost of $60/person to cross the plains and the documents that persons who could not read English were asked to sign so that money would be repaid with interest to the PEF. He also seemed to resent Joseph W. Young instructing them that they must be obedient to the priesthood as if they were oxen and "Gees and Haws" were to be their command. Death was a frequent occurrence and burials were unceremonious. [Note: Joseph W. Young was the most experienced agent with over a decade of experience.]
"The Sioux Indians had become troublesome, and at one time, a company of six wagons were destroyed; all the men killed; one woman taken prisoner; and teams killed. By order of the military, travel was suspended for two weeks at Fort Kearney. When they were permitted to travel again, hundreds of wagons had gathered. (William Adams, Warren Co.)
"Charles Fletcher, an out-and-back teamster mentioned how he and 25 other wagons going east followed the Oregon Trail from Ft. Laramie to the South Platte River. After a difficult crossing of the flooded stream, they saw another Mormon company on the other side of the river was going on the same purpose and so Fletcher's company traveled fast to get there first and get started back. They arrived a day ahead of the other train but the Church Emigration Agent said because the other train had to travel farther they would loaded first. Fletcher's group waited six weeks and time passed slowly.
Source: Mormon Trails Association
A Long Road West:
Source: Kate B. Carter, "Scandinavian Immigration-1864", from Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 8, pp.23-31; as found cited online.
Note:
The complete chapter is not cited here. Only
those sections that relate to the history of the Hintze family's immigration are included. Although the Hintze family is not mentioned the
account of those named herein help paint the picture of their travails.
...
It was in July, 1864, when the Saints gathered together and, under the leadership of Captain John Smith, began the long tortuous trip. The train was called the Independent Train and consisted of ox teams, the only horses belonging to the scouts and officers of the train. The first stretch of country was the easy rolling plains of Nebraska which were covered with a verdant growth of buffalo grass. The road was crude-just a rutty, dusty, winding, seemingly endless pair of ruts through which those before had labored. They hoped the road would be better further west, but when they reached the Platte River they found the prospects of fording this river appalling. Little consolation as it was, those who went first usually had the chance to dry their clothes properly, and the agony of fear was not so long-lived.
In the first ford there was one entire wagon and the oxen lost, the driver barely escaping with his life. This experience was enough to try the hardiest of men, but was infinitely worse for a woman and a sixteen-year-old girl, neither of whom were accustomed to anything of the kind. Often, the last wagon to cross would have to continue along with the train, allowing the owners no time to properly dry their clothing. But this was nothing new-sudden rain storms often fell on the weary travelers, drenching them and turning the road into a sea of mud that was as sticky as glue.
After leaving the Platte River the country became more broken. While the road bed was more firm and usually not so dusty, in some places it merged into fine heavy sand, and it was gruelling work to get through. Every morning the travelers rose early, women to prepare breakfast, wash dishes, pack up for the march, etc., while the men loaded the wagons, and yoked the oxen. Christiane was one of the women who walked practically the entire distance and waded through nearly all the streams. Every spiral of smoke away from camp, every sound, every cloud of dust meant a potential enemy-the Indian, or a possible buffalo stampede. At night, after the day's arduous labor was done and they were a few more miles further westward, they gathered around the campfires for thanksgiving services and songs before climbing wearily into their makeshift beds. One of their favorite songs was "Come, Come Ye Saints," and this was Christiane's favorite hymn throughout her life. No doubt it revived many memories.
One morning Fred Schade complained of being ill. The next day he had a raging fever, which was pronounced mountain fever. Thus the two women took turns driving the oxen. A few days later Lona also came down with the fever. It was then that the strength of Christiane was indeed tried. At night, after her hard day's drive, she did the washing, mending, cooking, baking, as well as nursing her sister and brother-in-law. Patriarch John Smith talked with her often, assuring her that her loved ones would recover, and they did.
On reaching Salt Lake City, they rested a few days and attended their first conference, which inspired them, as did the city and the beautiful temple that was slowly rising in the desert.
