Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/293

 MORMON SETTLEMENTS IN MISSOURI VALLEY. 285 little heifer. Each man marched with a loaded, but uncapped musket, and so perfect was their discipline and organization that frequently hostile Indians passed by small bodies of Mormons to attack much stronger bands of other immigrants. During the year 1847, the Indians on the west side of the river complained that the Mormons were killing too much game and cutting too much timber, and the Saints were there- upon ordered to leave. They obtained permission to occupy the Pottawattamie lands for five years, and accordingly the main body moved to the east side of the Missouri. Bishop Miller had settled in the valley of Indian Creek in the center of the old part of the present city of Council Bluffs, a little earlier. After the complaint had been made by the Indians, the great part of the Mormons settled around the old govern- ment block house there. " Miller's Hollow" became Kanes- ville, in honor of the Gentile friend of the Mormons, Colonel Thomas L. Kane, who was a brother of Elisha Kent Kane, the explorer. The headquarters of the church were transferred to a huge log tabernacle on the flats. A postoffice was established in Kanesville that year, but mails were received very irreg- ularly until the great influx of Gentiles in 1852-3. Orson Hyde, the apostle and lawyer, became editor as well, and published "The Frontier Guardian" three years, commenc- ing in February, 1849. The population of Pottawattamie County at that time was about 4,000, mainly of the Mormon faith. The crops of 1847 were bountiful, and a series of strong immigrant trains were organized at the Elkhorn rendezvous. The three men composing the Quorum of the presidency of the church left for Salt Lake early in the summer, at the head of strong bands; Brigham Young in May, with 397 wagons and 1,229 persons, Heber C. Kimball in July, with 226 wagons and 662 persons, and Willard Richards soon after with 169 wagons and 526 persons, 2,417 immigrants in all, with 892 wagons. Richards' departure left Winter Quarters quite deserted.