Smithsonians: Winter Quarters

David and Mandy made us delicious waffles for breakfast. Their little boy loves his waffles just like Stockton. With chocolate syrup! Actually he goes one step farther than Stockton. He mixes his chocolate syrup up with whipped cream. Preston loved that. He would dip his raspberries in them.

We were all able to shower this morning. It was SO nice of David and Mandy to take such good care of us and let us use their home. We left in time to get to 9:00 church. After church we drove to Pioneer Courage Park in downtown Omaha. I remember seeing these statues from the tour bus with my dad several years ago. I always wanted to go back and walk around them. Well, I was able to go back, but we couldn't find a place for the motorhome to park. Drat! Mike drove around the block a couple of times so we could get a good view of some of them. David, Mandy and Jordyn will have to check this out and tell me how it is.

After circling the statue block a few times we made our way to Winter Quarters. Mike teased me saying, "Look, we could have just come straight here!" This statue isn't as big as the others though.

Mike, Maysen, Jorja, Stockton, Preston

We watched a movie about Winter Quarters. I never realized that they were only allowed to stay here for two years, and they were granted that because so many people left with the Mormon Battalion.

Stockton getting comfy

Preston loves to be like Stockton

Jorja looks creepy

Preston pushing a handcart

We had relatives die here on both sides of the family. My several great grandparents had a little baby die at 13 days old. Mike's several great grandpa, Stillman Pond, had several children die here. President Faust talked about Stillman Pond in his February 2006 First Presidency Message. This is what he wrote, "For some, the suffering is extraordinary. In the early days of the Church Stillman Pond was a member of the second quorum of the seventy in Nauvoo. He was an early convert to the Church, having come from Hubbardston, Massachusetts. Like others, he and his wife, Maria, and their children were harassed and driven out of Nauvoo. In September 1846 they became part of the great western migration. The early winter that year brought extreme hardships, including malaria, cholera, and consumption. The family was visited by all three of these diseases.

Maria contracted consumption, and all of the children were stricken with malaria. Three of the children died while moving through the early snows. Stillman buried them on the plains. Maria's condition worsened because of the grief, pain, and the fever of malaria. She could no longer walk. Weakened and sickly, she gave birth to twins. They were named Joseph and Hyrum, and both died within a few days.

The Stillman Pond family arrived at Winter Quarters, and like many other families, they suffered bitterly while living in a tent. The death of five children coming across the plains to Winter Quarters was but a beginning.

The journal of Horace K. and Helen Mar Whitney verifies the following regarding four more of the children of Stillman Pond who perished:

"On Wednesday, the 2nd of December 1846, Laura Jane Pond, age 14 years, ...died of chills and fever." Two days later on "Friday, the 4th of December 1846, Harriet M. Pond, age 11 years, ... died with chills." Three days later, "Monday, the 7th of December, 1846, Abigail A. Pond, age 18 years, ... died with chills." Just five weeks later, "Friday, the 15th of January, 1847, Lyman Pond, age 6 years, ... died with chills and fever."

Four months later, on May 17, 1847, his wife, Maria Davis Pond, also died. Crossing the plains, Stillman Pond lost nine children and a wife. He became an outstanding colonizer in Utah and later became a leader in the quorums of the seventy. Having lost these nice children and his wife in crossing the plains, Stillman Pond did not lose his faith. He did not quit. He went forward. He paid the price, as have many others before and since, to become acquainted with God."

Pretty crazy stuff. I am so glad my trials are not the same as the pioneers. We found the names on the monument in the graveyard. Stockton is pointing to William Lovell, the baby that died on my side of the family. Jorja is pointing to the Pond family.

Stockton & Jorja pointing to their ancestors names

Pond Children

Baby William Lovell

We were given a map where you could find the different places people are buried. It is still a bit confusing. We did our best, but we might not be completely perfect.

Maysen Abigail Pond is buried

Stephanie close to where Baby Lovell is buried

We walked around the Winter Quarters Temple for just a bit. Temples sure are beautiful! I laughed as I put these next few pictures in. I kept hearing a Sesame Street voice saying, "Near.....Far....Near....Far...."

Maysen, Mike, Stockton, Jorja, Preston

Stephanie, Maysen, Jorja, Stockton, Preston

Mike

Preston took my camera once we were back in the motorhome. He took A LOT of pictures of Jorja. She had no idea for most of them. Here are just a few.

Jorja

Stephanie & Jorja

We left Nebraska and crossed into Iowa. We crossed across this weird bridge, but I can't remember exactly where.

Our next stop was the Kanesville Tabernacle. I knew that this is where Brigham Young was officially sustained as the prophet. He had been acting as the prophet for three years before this. I didn't realize what a large community this was at the time. The saints stayed here for 6 years. This is where the Mormon Battalion left from. I didn't realize what an important part the Mormon Battalion played in the Gold Rush. Crazy!

Mike, Preston, Jorja

The rest of the day was spent driving to Minnesota. Mike cooked dinner in a little crockpot on the way. It was nice to have the food all done so we could eat right when we arrived. Plus, it was pretty good.