More Pioneer History

Council Bluffs (Kanesville Tabernacle) – We watched a movie about the Mormon Battalion that the kids really enjoyed, especially the parts that had to do with the Battalion members working at Sutter’s Mill when gold was discovered. I am admittedly far from a church history buff and thus learned quite a few things. I did not know that the reason that the Mormons were able to buy the land here (Kanesville/Council Bluffs) was because of a deal made with the US government that 500 men would join the Battalion. I also did not know that they moved across the river from Winter Quarters to Kanesville because they had made an agreement with the Indians not to stay more than two years. (at that time the Missouri River marked the western edge of the US).

Winter Quarters (just across the river over Mormon Bridge) was really interesting.  The new temple there is beautiful.  It is on the same grounds as the cemetery where all of the pioneers that died at Winter Quarters are buried – unusual.  The visitor’s center also had a movie and lots of interactive displays (pioneer dress-ups, handcarts to pull, mini wagons to load etc..) so it was a bit hit.  They kept talking about Amy Porter (the one pioneer whose grave is marked in the cemetery).  After the third time we were asked, I just started telling people that yes, we thought that we were related to her.  This led to a family genealogical discussion as to whether the pioneer traits of health and industry have actually been passed down genetically – in other words, is there anything to that whole “I come from good pioneer stock” boast?  Mason thinks that it is a bunch of malarky (not his words).

I guess I never realized that the city of Omaha was basically founded by the pioneers at Winter Quarters.  After spending a few hours in Omaha (trying to find FedEx and eating dinner, and almost ramming a low bridge), we think that maybe the church doesn’t advertise this association for a reason.  We are on our third day of no reliable internet – we are having a hard time even finding RV parks that can accommodate our 65 foot rig on these church history tour country roads.  It would have been so much easier if the pioneers had just followed I-80.