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The Handcart Pioneer Monument, by Torleif S. Knaphus, located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Willie and Martin handcart companies were two companies of LDS handcart pioneers that were participating in the migration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to Salt Lake City, Utah and used handcarts to transport their belongings. [1]
The trek was disastrous for two of the companies, the Willie and Martin companies. [2] Both started their journey dangerously late in 1856 and were caught by heavy snow and severe temperatures in central Wyoming. Despite a dramatic rescue effort, more than 210 of the 980 pioneers in these two companies died along the way.
One of the first on the scene during the rescue of the 1856 Martin handcart company, Hanks provided buffalo meat to the starving party. As the company moved from day to day, Ephraim Hanks killed many buffalo: "The most remarkable thing about it was that I had traveled that road more than fifty times, and never before saw so many buffaloes in that part of the country.
This barren and rocky section lasted almost 12 miles (19 km), and was considered a major obstacle in the trail. The same storm in November 1856 that debilitated the Martin Handcart Company also stranded the Willie Handcart Company on the eastern side of the ridge. Before rescuers could arrive, 21 people died in freezing temperatures.
Edward was then assigned to be the captain of the fifth handcart company, [1] [5] [6] [10] [12] which officially was known as the Martin Handcart Company. [1] [2] [5] The company contained 575 individuals, 145 handcarts, 8 wagons, 30 oxen, and 50 livestock including some cows.
Taking charge of 13 teams and drivers in October–November 1856, Call heroically responded to President Young's urgent call to go rescue the stranded Martin-Willie handcart companies, [18] en route to Salt Lake, that had become trapped in early snows somewhere on the Sweetwater River.
The family lived in temporary housing for the first few years, while Anson was called to various missions throughout the west, including the rescue of the Martin-Willie handcart company where he met two English immigrants who later became his wives.
The Willie and Martin handcart companies of 1857 became trapped in the winter snows and approximately 200 of the 1,075 in the companies died, but others were saved by Utah rescue parties. [6] In 1877, members settled the Star Valley area, and in 1878, Brigham Young Jr. dedicated the spot as a gathering place for the members. [7]