Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/291

 MORMON SETTLEMENTS IN MISSOURI VALLEY. 283 Quarters. Schools were instituted, churches established, and the whole mechanism so rudely shattered at Nauvoo, was once more running as smoothly and powerfully as ever. Eight thousand dollars were spent for machinery and stones for the water flouring mill Young was constructing. Several loads of willow baskets were made by the women. The winter was passed in endeavoring to keep alive, and in preparation for resuming the march in the spring, by those who were strong and had provisions for a year and a half ; others made ready to plant and gather the crops of the coming summer. Thous- ands of cattle were driven across the Missouri and up into Harrison and Monona counties, in Iowa, to winter on the 1 * rush bottoms, ' ' where a now extinct species of rush formerly grew in profusion, and remained green all winter, though covered by snow and ice. Polygamy was practiced to a limited extent. Young, for instance, confesses to meeting, one afternoon, sixty-six of his family, including his adopted children. In the octagon council house, "resembling a New England potato heap in time of frost," and which called for a load of fuel a day, the scheme of organization and exploration was perfected, and Young published most minute directions as to the manner of march, pursuant to a revelation made January 14, 1847. In response to a call for volunteers, what was called the pioneer company, moved out from Winter Quarters April 14, 1847, to the rendezvous on the Elkhorn and organ- ized the 16th under Brigham Young, with a force of 143 persons, including three women. Seventy-three wagons were taken, loaded with provisions and farm machinery. About this time the camp on the Niobrara returned to the Missouri River settlements. The pioneers followed the north side of the Platte to Fort Laramie, crossing the Loup April 24th, in a leather boat, ' * The Revenue Cutter," made for this purpose. They reached the Ancient Bluff ruins May 22d, and Fort Laramie, June 1st, halting while the animals rested and ferry boats were built. Captain Grover was left behind to ferry other companies