Susan Easton Black, ed. The Iowa Mormon Trail. 0965557200
With a good introduction, the book consists of essays by academics who researched the departure of the Latter Day Saints from Hancock County, Illinois, across the Mississippi River to Lee County, Iowa. They then proceeded through the southmost reaches of Iowa westward to unorganized territory. There are also short chapters for those following the Mormon Trail through Iowa to use today.
I note that they often worked in return for cash or supplies while waiting for the time of their departure, as did the Mormon Battalion before departing California when their enlistments were up. They had acquited themselves well as part of General Kearney's motley force. And Iowa entered the Union in 1846, their constitution being consulted when Californians wrote their Constitution of 1849 in Colton Hall.
While not of general interest and I only glanced at it, this book is sure to find an interested reader within a day when I leave it in the lobby of the VA Hospital.
Maps, some drawings, and a good index.
With a good introduction, the book consists of essays by academics who researched the departure of the Latter Day Saints from Hancock County, Illinois, across the Mississippi River to Lee County, Iowa. They then proceeded through the southmost reaches of Iowa westward to unorganized territory. There are also short chapters for those following the Mormon Trail through Iowa to use today.
I note that they often worked in return for cash or supplies while waiting for the time of their departure, as did the Mormon Battalion before departing California when their enlistments were up. They had acquited themselves well as part of General Kearney's motley force. And Iowa entered the Union in 1846, their constitution being consulted when Californians wrote their Constitution of 1849 in Colton Hall.
While not of general interest and I only glanced at it, this book is sure to find an interested reader within a day when I leave it in the lobby of the VA Hospital.
Maps, some drawings, and a good index.
