John Tanner and his family

Page 141

130 John Tanner and His Family a picked group But the idea of at least some of the Saints that under top leadership year was not pushing on to the mountains given up until fairly late in the season. - - Sunday, June 14, 1846, President Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, George Miller, and Parley P. Pratt with their companies reached the Missouri River. They had been four months coming On C. about one-fourth of the way to their final destination, and the rest of the emigrants were behind them. By June 22, five hundred wagons had arrived at the Missouri River. short while men were assigned the task of building a ferry and some of the Saints crossed the river to the west side. But it was 2 not until September 11 that a site was selected for Winter Quarters. In a The location decided upon ence, six miles north of was at a point now known as Flor­ Omaha, Nebraska. This would be the Head­ quarters of the church until the spring of 1848 when Brigham Young would lead most of the Saints from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City. At this time it would be largely abandoned by the Mormons, and Kanesville on the east side would become their on the Missouri River. principal settlement During the fall of 1846, Winter Quarters became a city of con­ proportion. As one would expect there was order and discipline, and work was found for all. A census taken December 20, 1846, furnishes the following facts: siderable Winter Quarters consisted of 538 log houses, and 8-3 sod houses, inhabitited by 3,483 souls, of whom 334 were sick, and 75 were widows. There were 814 wagons, 29 mules, 388Y2 yoke of oxen and 462 cows. The place was divided into 22 wards, each presided over by a bishop. The ward on the east side of the river contained 210 souls." There are a number of script" concerning September 6, 1846: interesting items in the "Nebraska Manu­ John Tanner and other members of his family. voted that all the cattle be sent to the herd except the milch and teams in use. John Tanner was appointed to take the over­ sight of the cattle on the range. Arrangements were made to notify the respective divisions for the removal of all the cattle simultane­ It was cows ously.'