Mormon Pioneer

The story of the Mormon Trail and the migration of Mormons to their new settlement at Salt Lake City.

Joseph Holbrook, Mormon pioneer, spent the winter of 1846-1847 with his family and a group of 400 other Mormon refugees stranded on the Nebraska prairie until they were invited to winter with the Ponca Indians. This is a little known aspect of the Mormon Exodus west and while it is only one of the events recorded in his journal, it is indicative of the value of the insights of Holbrooks first-hand account of his life. During the Ponca period, Joseph Holbrook and two other men also explored a northern route west along the Niobrara River. They made it nearly to Fort Laramie before they determined the route was unsuitable and returned. After reporting their findings to Brigham Young, Young chose a southern route along the Platte. The Indian Winter and exploration trip are only two of the interesting accounts recorded by Joseph Holbrook in his journal. The authors insights add to the account of her ancestor, Joseph Holbrook to make a fascinating glimpse of an interesting period in American history.

Read about the settlement of Utah through the words of Mormon Pioneer, Joseph Holbrook, as written in his journal. Also included are stories and commentary on The Next Generation who went into Star Valley, Wyoming, to settle when outlaws infested that region. Among the most interesting of these was Butch Cassidy. Fresh insights into Cassidys life and why he became an outlaw are revealed side by side with the life sketches of Anson Vasco Call II, the first mayor of Afton, Wyoming, and other stories of the settlement of the area. Shown here is the LDS tabernacle in Bountiful, Utah, (top) that Joseph Holbrook helped build and the LDS tabernacle in Star Valley, Wyoming, (bottom) that his grandson, Anson Vasco Call II. helped erect. Joseph Holbrooks legacy is far-reaching and extensive and includes the accomplishments of his many descendants.

A study report on the Mormon Trail.