Beginning in the year 1846, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began establishing communities along the Missouri River in both Iowa and Nebraska.
Approximately 90 settlements were created within seven years, the most well-known being Winter Quarters. The Church headquarters was located in this area for a time, and, though important in LDS Church History, the Iowa era is often lost between Nauvoo and Salt Lake City. The Church as a whole actually lingered in Iowa longer than it did in Nauvoo.
Winter Quarters, located where the city of Florence, Nebraska is today, served for a time as the headquarters for the LDS Church.
Though it was the name of one of the largest and most elaborately organized settlements in the area, the term "Winter Quarters" is commonly used to refer to the general area of the Middle Missouri River Valley where the 90 Mormon settlements were located.
This is due to the fact that these settlements along the Missouri River literally served as the "Winter Quarters" for thousands of Latter-day Saints who were making their way to the West.
Winter conditions in the Midwest made for less than satisfactory travel, so it was necessary to find a place to spend the winter before continuing the journey in the spring.
Many Saints stayed in the area for several years so that they could grow food and gather supplies to prepare themselves for the westward trek. By the mid-1850s, most of the Latter-day Saints had left the area and set up new homes in what would eventually become the state of Utah.
The story of this era in LDS Church history does not begin at the Missouri River, however.
By 1844,the Mormon town of Nauvoo, Illinois had become one of the largest cities in the state, with approximately 11,000 residents. After the martyrdom of the Latter-day Saint prophet Joseph Smith, the city continued to grow as converts streamed in from the British Isles and other foreign countries. Mob violence eventually forced a massive exodus from Nauvoo. Under the direction of Brigham Young, the Saints left their homes and crossed the frozen Mississippi River into Iowa in February 1846.
As stated in the Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "This tale of courage amid suffering began on 4 February 1846 when the first wagon . . . left Nauvoo and thus started the fabled exodus of the Mormon pioneers."
The trek across Iowa was arduous as the spring rains made travel by covered wagon almost impossible in the deep mud. However, the Saints pressed on until they reached the Missouri River on the border between Nebraska and Iowa. Here they stayed for the Winter of 1846-47, resting their wearied bodies and animals, and preparing themselves to head west to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Though Winter Quarters served as a refuge for the Saints, sickness and the elements took their toll on the tired travelers. Death was an unwelcome yet frequent visitor to the pioneer settlements.
Over 300 faithful Saints are buried at Winter Quarters, with countless others resting in obscure cemeteries along the banks of the Missouri River. Many lie in unmarked graves. These valiant Pioneers gave their lives in pursuit of finding a place where they and their families could live and worship in peace. Many of those who died at Winter Quarters left faithful posterity who pressed on to the Salt Lake Valley and accomplished the realization of the hopes of those who had died before their journey was through. Others among those buried at Winter Quarters include young children whose small bodies could not withstand the biting winter cold. The graves of both old and young serve as a solemn reminder of the high price that has been paid for religious freedom.
The tragedy and the triumph of Winter Quarters serve as an inspiration to generations of descendants, both literal and spiritual, of these courageous pioneer Saints.
". . . [The Saints] were forced to leave their homes with less than two weeks of provisions and flee into the middle of a winter which froze the mile-wide Mississippi River . . . . Yet in spite of their tremendous afflictions, [they] generally remained objective and even retained a cautious optimism. Though they suffered, they lived; hence they had reason to thank their Creator and Sustainer of Life" (Dr. Susan Easton Black, "Suffering and Death on the Plains of Iowa," BYU Studies, 1981).
"These Saints were not cowards, trembling with fear from the rigors of the arduous trek or the unknown dangers lurking in the western wilderness. They drew upon inner strength to persevere. Courage marked their every footstep as they pressed on to the Rockies. We can learn from their example" (Dr. Susan Easton Black, "Courage - The Unfailing Beacon," Ensign, March 1997).
"It has been referred to as the tragedy of Winter Quarters, but there was no tragedy here, for tragedy spells defeat and disaster. This was the victory of Winter Quarters, for here was faith and hope and charity raised to their loftiest pinnacles, while greed and selfishness were brought low. There are times and places in the life of every nation when great spiritual heights are reached, when courage become a living thing, when faith in God stands as the granite mountain wall firm and immovable, while hardships, want, hunger, sickness, sorrow and death beat down to crush. Winter Quarters was such a time and place for the Mormon people" (President Heber J. Grant, September 20, 1936, dedication of the Winter Quaters Monument).
Take some time to explore this virtual re-creation of the pioneer settlements along the Missouri River. The Settlements page allows you to view histories of the Latter-day Saint communities as well as lists of those who resided there. The Pioneer Biographies page allows you to search for information about a specific person. The Deaths page links you to a map of the Winter Quarters cemetery, as well as a compilation of information about the causes of death at Winter Quarters.
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