Near South Pass City in Fremont County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Willie’s Handcart Company

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 24, 2014

1. Willie’s Handcart Company Marker

Inscription. Captain James G. Willie’s Handcart Company of Mormon emigrants on the way to Utah, greatly exhausted by the deep snow of an early winter and suffering form lack of food and clothing, had assembled here for reorganization by relief parties from Utah, about the end of October, 1856. Thirteen persons were frozen to death during a single night and were buried here in one grave, Two others died the next day and were buried nearby. Of the company of 404 persons 77 perished before help arrived. The survivors reached Salt Lake City November 9, 1856.

Erected 1933 by Utah Pioneer Trails & Landmarks Association & Members of Lyman Stake. (Marker Number 27.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1856.

Location. 42° 26.324′ N, 108° 37.393′ W. Marker is near South Pass City, Wyoming, in Fremont County. Marker can be reached from Lewiston Road near Oregon Trail, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lander WY 82520, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker

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, measured as the crow flies. Atlantic City: Surviving the Bust (approx. 6.8 miles away); Miner’s Delight (approx. 7.1 miles away); Local Colour (approx. 7.2 miles away); Miners Delight: The Boom’s Broken Promises (approx. 7½ miles away); Fort Stambaugh, 1870-1878 (approx. 7.9 miles away); Gold Flakes to Yellowcake Historic Mine Trail (approx. 9.1 miles away); The Atlantic City Project (approx. 9.1 miles away); Esther Hobart Morris (approx. 9.2 miles away).

More about this marker. The cemetery and maker are a short walk south of the parking area.

Also see . . . Mormon handcart pioneers - Wikipedia. Motivated to join their fellow Church members in Utah but lacking funds for full ox or horse teams, nearly 3,000 Mormon pioneers from England, Wales, Scotland and Scandinavia made the journey from Iowa or Nebraska to Utah in ten handcart companies. The trek was disastrous for two of the companies, which started their journey dangerously late and were caught by heavy snow and severe temperatures in central Wyoming. (Submitted on January 7, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. Mormons

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 24, 2014

2. Willie’s Handcart Company Marker

Willie’s Handcart Company Memorial Stone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 24, 2014

3. Willie’s Handcart Company Memorial Stone

In memory of those members of the Willie Handcart Co. whose journey started too late and ended too early and were buried here in a circular grave October 24 & 25, 1856.

William James, 46 • Elizabeth Bailey, 52 • James Kirkwood, 11 • Samuel Gadd, 10 • Lars Wendin, 60 • Anne Olsen, 46 • Ella Nilson, 22 • Jens Nilson, 6 • Bodil Mortinsen, 9 • Nils Anderson, 41 • James Gibb, 67 • Chesterton Gilman, 66 • Thomas Gurldstone, 62 • William Groves, 22

Replica Mormon Handcarts image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 24, 2014

4. Replica Mormon Handcarts

During the summer months, Mormon youths re-enact the handcart journey as a learning experience so that they may better appreciate what their ancestors went through.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 24, 2014

5. Replica Mormon Handcarts

Caught in the storm image. Click for full size.

Photographed By T.B. Stenhouse

6. Caught in the storm

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,046 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 7, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.