Celebrating Days of '47 – Early Mormon Pioneer Monuments
Visiting local Pioneer Monuments can enhance your celebration of the Day's of '47.
July 18, 2012
LeRoy W. Hooton, Jr.
Preface
This paper focuses on six monuments that describe the events relating to the pioneers entering and settling the Salt Lake valley between July 22 – 26, 1847.
In 1846 Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Pioneers, led by Brigham Young, were forced to leave Nauvoo, Illinois and move westward to the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin. Their journey was made in two segments. The first segment was around 265 miles long, ending on the Missouri River in the vicinity of present-day Omaha, Nebraska where Winter Quarters were established. The second segment was undertaken during the spring on April 5, 1847, when an advance company led by Brigham Young set off from Winter Quarters on over a 1,000 mile trek across the country to the Salt Lake valley – officially arriving on July 24 when Brigham Young entered the valley.
The company consisted of 72 wagons with 143 men, three women, and two children; livestock included 93 horses, 66 oxen and 52 mules. They crossed the Great Plains, following the Platte and North Platte Rivers. When they reached Fort Laramie, they took the Oregon Trail route. Across present day Wyoming they followed the Sweet Water River until they crossed the Continental Divide at the South Pass. After reaching Fort Bridger on July 7, the pioneers left the Oregon Trail and followed Hasting’s Cutoff, established by Lansford W. Hastings. The Reed party and others had taken this route.
Near the Bear River, Brigham Young became ill with mountain fever, which delayed his travel. On July 13, he formed an exploratory party led by Orson Pratt, consisting of twenty-three wagons and forty-two men, to go ahead and locate the Donner-Reed Trail. The company's remaining 60 wagons proceeded under the direction of Willard Richardson. Brigham Young accompanied by a small party followed later.
On July 19, the exploratory party reached the summit of Big Mountain. Two days later, on July 21 Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow, sharing a horse, scouted the Salt Lake valley traveling about 12 miles before returning to the camp on Big Mountain. Looking westward from the mouth of Emigration Canyon, they viewed for the first time the Great Salt Lake and were inspired “to swing their hats about and shout Hosanna to God and the Lamb,” as an expression of their joy in reaching their final destination.
The following six Pioneer Monuments denote historic events that occurred in the settling of the Salt Lake valley beginning on July 22:
No.1 First Encampment in the Salt Lake Valley Monument (500 East 1700 South)
On July 22, 1847, Orson Pratt's exploratory party on horseback and the main company of wagons led by Willard Richardson rendezvous on the banks of Parley's Creek to decide where to establish the final encampment and begin planting crops. This site was the Pioneer’s First Encampment.
Early in the morning of July 22, Orson Pratt and others on horseback conducted a survey of the Salt Lake Valley to determine the best location for planting crops. Orson Pratt was accompanied by George A. Smith, John Brown, Joseph Mathews, John Pack, Orrin Porter Rockwell, and J. C. Little.
Concurrently, Willard Richardson led the wagon train from Little Mountain towards the mouth of Emigration Canyon. Since the route over Donner Hill was too rough, the pioneers spent four hours cutting a new road around the north end of Donner Hill to rejoin the Donner tracks on the high ground south of present Hogle Zoo. Shortly after noon, they followed the Donner tracks on the south bank of Emigration Creek in a southwesterly direction into the valley until they reached Parley's Creek where it joins Emigration Creek. A temporary (first) encampment was established near this site.
Later in the day, Orson Pratt and his exploratory party arrived at the encampment site. The two groups counseled and decided on a permanent encampment site suitable for planting crops about two miles north of their campsite. Sponsor: The First Encampment in the Salt Lake Valley, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, No. 509. 1997.
No. 2 Pioneer Camping Grounds Monument (Washington Square)
July 23, 1847 Orson Pratt leads the wagons to their final destination on what is now known as Washington Square near the banks of the south fork of City Creek. (When the pioneers first arrived in the valley, City Creek divided into two forks, one fork flowing westward along North Temple Street to the Jordan River, and another fork flowing southward near Washington Square, then westward to the Jordan River at approximately 800 South Street.)
About 2 hours after their arrival at 12 noon, William Carter, George W. Brown and Shadrach Roundy began plowing the soil in preparation for planting crops. Two hours later others commenced to build a dam across City Creek in order to convey the stream onto the land to soften the earth to aid the pioneers in their plowing.
During the afternoon of July 24, they began planting potatoes and again irrigated them.
The monument marker reads: “Pioneer Camping Grounds. This ten-acre block served as camping grounds for immigrant trains. The vanguard of the first band of pioneers pitched their tent here July 23, 1847, at which time their leaders Orson Pratt dedicated the land. Later it became the focal point for semi-annual cattle drives: was used for a hay market, baseball grounds, carnivals, medicine shows, skating rink and circus performances. In pioneer days it was called Washington Square and Emigration Square. Later it was known as the Eight Ward Square.” Sponsor: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, No. 102, Erected 1947.
No. 3 Modern Irrigation Monument located at 135 East 300 South Street
Led by Brigham Young, the Mormon Pioneers are credited as the first of the Anglo-Saxon race to successfully use artificial irrigation in America. When City Creek was first diverted to soften the soil for plowing on July 23, it initiated a movement that would open up vast areas west of the 100th meridian for human habitation on reclaimed lands through the practice of irrigation.
The Monument marker reads: Commemorating the Beginning in America Modern Irrigation, In the vicinity on July 23 and 24, 1847 by the Mormon Pioneers - “Encamped near the bank of a beautiful creek (City Creek) of pure, cold water. ** In about two hours after our arrival we began to plow. And the same afternoon built a dam to irrigate the soil”
July 24.** This forenoon commenced planting our potatoes after which we turned the water upon them and gave the ground quite a soaking.” Orson Pratt thus recorded compliance with the instructions of Brigham Young. Who with the main company arrived about the time the irrigating began.”
“This tablet is within the half-acre of ground first plowed, as identified by William Carter who held the plow. Placed by the Utah State Conference Daughters of the American Revolution. June 23, 1931”
“The wilderness and the solitary desert shall rejoice and blossom as the Rose.” Isaiah, 35:1
No. 4 This is the Place Monument at the Mouth of Emigration Canyon
On July 24, Brigham Young traveling in Wilford Woodruff's carriage arrived in the Salt Lake valley with the remaining wagons.
[When] “...he emerged from the mouth of Emigration Canyon he lifted himself up in his bed and peered out of his wagon which overlooked the valley... President Young said "that this was the place he had seen long since in vision; it was here he had seen the tent settling down from heaven and resting, and a voice said unto him, Here is the place where my people Israel shall pitch their tents." (Erastus Snow discourse delivered July 25, 1880)
Brigham Young was taken to the Washington Square encampment where there was much rejoicing by the pioneers when he arrived.
No. 5 Ensign Peak Monument
On July 26 Brigham Young and party climb to Ensign Peak to survey the Salt Lake valley
The Monument marker reads:
“On July 26, two days after the pioneers entered the valley, Brigham Young and party climbed to Ensign Peak and with the aid of field glasses made a careful survey of the mountain canyons and streams. In the group were Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Willard Richardson, Albert Carrington and William Clayton. Wilford Woodruff, first to ascend the peak, suggested it as a fitting place to “set up an ensign” (Isaiah 11:12), it was then named Ensign Peak. Subsequently the Stars and Stripes were raised here.” Sponsor: No. 43, July 26, 1934 Ensign Stake Mutual Improvement Association and Utah Pioneer Trail and Landmarks Association.
No. 6 Utah's First Fort Monument
Within a week of the pioneers settling in the Salt Lake valley, a fort was erected on land of the present-day Pioneer Park. It was the site of the first structure built by the pioneers.
The Monument marker reads:
“On this ten acre square during the years 1847- 1849 stood the first fort. Historic Mormon Bastion, sometimes called the “Plymouth rock of the west. Homes were erected of logs or adobe side by side, with the rear walls forming a protective barrier, enclosed by a nine foot mud wall. By Dec. 1847, over 2000 people were living in the fort which was extended 1 block north and 1 block south. First school convened here in Oct. 1847. A Bowery, built in the center, served as a meeting place. Within its walls Anglo-Saxon civilization was first brought to the Great Basin and the Ensign of our Republic raised over this domain, then Mexican Territory. Here on Dec. 9 1848 the first petition to establish self government in the Rocky Mountain west was signed. It became a public park July 24, 1898.” Sponsor: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, No. 295, 1964, Days of '47 Inc.
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