Our Pioneer Heritage
It's been a whole week since I started looking for our Willie Handcart Company ancestor. Last week I found out that the rumors we had heard over the years were true. We DID have an ancestor who was a member of the Willie Handcart Company. His name was Joseph McKay. My last post explained how I found him and what ship he immigrated to America on - - the Thornton. I mentioned a book that Shiloh had with stories about the pioneers of 1856. On Monday morning I called Shiloh and told her that I had found Joseph McKay and she was pretty excited! She'd heard those stories, too. I wanted to remind her to bring that book with her when she came over later that morning so that I could take a look at it and see if there was something important to our family in it like I felt the Spirit had indicated. While I was telling her about Joseph McKay, she looked in the index to see if he was listed...and he was!!
The book's title is Tell My Story, Too by Jolene S. Allphin...A collection of biographical sketches of pioneers and rescuers of the Willie, Martin, Hodgett, Hunt Companies 1856.
Here's what was written about Joseph McKay:
Joseph McKay
Born: 1799 Ireland
Age: 57
Willie Handcart Company
Joseph McKay was born in Ireland on Feb. 12, 1799. He was married to Martha Blair. He worked as a blacksmith and agricultural laborer. When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened a branch in his town in 1848, Joseph and all of his family joined. For the next 8 years their dream and plan was to go to American and join with the Saints in Utah. When enough money was saved Joseph left his family and traveled to America to prepare for them all to follow. He sailed on the ship Thornton and the passage to New York took 41 days.
They traveled by rail to Iowa City, and there picked up their handcarts. The miles across Iowa proved to be agony for it was 277 miles of wet and muddy roads. It was also very hot. Handcart wheels sank deep into ruts and progress was difficult and slow. The handcarts had been constructed hurriedly of unseasoned wood, and this proved to be disastrous. It was August 19 before the company could leave Florence, Nebraska, and a distance of more than 1,000 miles stretched ahead.
Heavy frost in September made the nights cold, and then winter came suddenly in October. Many people were improperly clothed and their food supply was inadequate. When the severe storms came and rations ran out, Joseph struggled to survive. The company had a severe trial in crossing Rocky Ridge. Joseph collapsed and was left for dead. A young man named Andrew Smith (age 19) lifted him and carried him over the summit of Rocky Ridge. Andrew kept returning for others until he was finally forced to stop. Andrew later married Joseph's daughter, Jane McKay.
Joseph went to work preparing for his family to join him in Utah. In 1859, his wife, four unmarried daughters and one married daughter with her husband and children sailed on the William Tapscott and made it safely to Zion. In 1860, the same ship brought Jane and Joseph to America. Their 21-year-old brother, James, apparently had second thoughts after he boarded the ship. The William Tapscott list of passengers shows by James' name, the following: "not going." Family records show James as "drowned at sea" with no date. One record shows a death date of 1890 with no other information. It is not known at this time what really happened to James McKay.
Joseph's family settled in Salt Lake City, Heber City, and Wellsville, Utah and in Malad, Idaho.
*A note of interest:
There was another McKay family aboard the Thornton who traveled with the Willie Company as far as Florence and decided to winter there. This was William and Helen Oman McKay and their children, including David, who became the father of David O. McKay, beloved LDS Church President. Not relationship has been established with Joseph McKay.
I was so excited when I read this!! I had wondered why Joseph came alone on the ship to America and had thought that he was probably coming over first and then sending for the rest of his family when he could save up some money for their trip. So it was great to find out that's probably what happened.
I wanted to find out more about the Willie Handcart Company and some of the trials they endured, and I found a lot of information online through the BYU Library.
Organization of James G. Willie Handcart Company
Saturday [July] 12th I was busy thro; the day. In the evening I attended meeting. Good instruction was given by Elders Spencer & Ferguson. The 4th “Handcart” Company was organized—James G. Willie was appointed Captain of the whole company. Millen Atwood was appointed capt. of the 1st Hundred; L. Savage capt. of the 2nd Hundred; myself, capt. of the 3rd Hundred; John Chislett, Capt. of the 4th Hundred; A. H. Ahmanson, capt. of the 5th Hundred.
Edward Martin, was appointed Capt. of the 5th “Handcart” company; Daniel Tyler was appointed to assist Bro. Martin. Jesse Haven was appointed Capt. of the 6th “Handcart” company, These Captains of companies, had captains of Hundreds appointed. Dan Jones, was appointed Capt. of the wagon company; John A. Hunt was appointed Capt. Of the 1st 50 wagons; W. B. Hodgetts capt. of the 2nd 50 wagons.
To aid in clarifying the above entry of July 12th, we quote from a letter William wrote in his later years pertaining to the handcart companies:
Two more Hand Cart companies were in process of organization 5th & 6th under Edward Martin & Daniel Tyler but were merged into one; and two wagon companies, John A. Hunt’s & B. W. Hodgett’s.
Beginning the Journey
July 1856, Sunday, 13th The day was fine. Meetings were held. I attended. A good feeling prevailed. A meeting was held in the evening in the 4th “Hand-cart” companies’ camp. Bros. Willie, Atwood, & Savage addressed the meeting.
Monday, 14th Busy preparing to start.
Teusday 15th I drove the mule team to town in the afternoon.
The 4th “Hand-cart” company pulled up stakes & encamped in a fresh place.
Wednesday 16th Our Hand-cart company made a start & rolled about 3 miles. I had much difficulty in driving the mule team, assisted by others. Bros. James Oliver, & Alexander Burt, were to take charge of the mule team under my charge.
With each Hundred persons were 5 tents, 5 covered Handcarts & 15 Hand-carts not covered.
I went back from camp & assisted in driving Bro. Chislett’s team, which moved along with great difficulty.
William’s List of the 4th Handcart Company
In William’s diary which follows This one, he has listed the names and ages of each member of the hundred people in the company under his direction. They are listed according to the tents to which they are assigned. Since this is of some interest, and pertains to the preceding entry, it is herewith inserted:
(Here is the list that included Joseph McKay. He was in the 4th Handcart Company (Willie Handcart Company), the 3rd Hundred group and he was in Tent No. 3 with 18 other people.)
4th “Hand-cart” Company
3rd Hundred
| | | |
| | Tent No. 3 | |
| 1 | | Andrew Smith | 19 |
| 2 | | Margaret Kirkwood | 46 |
| 3 | | Robert “ | 21 |
| 4 | | Thomas “ | 19 |
| 5 | | James “ | 11 |
| 6 | | Joseph “ | 5 |
| 7 | | Elizabeth Kirkpatrick | 32 |
| 8 | | Barbara Kelley | 29 |
| 9 | | Alexander Kirkpatrick | 5 |
| 10 | | Margaret Douglish | 28 |
| 11 | | Ann Tait | 31 |
| 12 | | Margaret A. Caldwell | 40 |
| 13 | | Robert “ | 17 |
| 14 | | Thomas “ | 14 |
| 15 | | Elizabeth “ | 12 |
| 16 | | Agnes “ | 9 |
| 17 | | Joseph McKay | 57 |
| 18 | | John McCulley | |
| 19 | | Christine McNiel | 24 |
I continued to search for information - - any stories or journals that I could find - - about this handcart company. I wanted to know what Joseph had gone through on his journey. I knew he had made it to SLC alive because he was buried there when he was 77, twenty years later. So he wasn't one of the Saints who died on the trail. But I wanted to understand more of what he endured.
I found the Willie Handcart Company Journal online here:
http://handcart.byu.edu/default.aspx?day=1&month=1
It gives day-by-day journal entries of their journey and makes it very clear how incredibly difficult it was! They had traveled 3 months when they hit a huge snowstorm. Brigham Young had heard of their plight and had sent teams with provisions to rescue them and help them to the Valley, but the snowstorm slowed them down. This was the critical storm that almost killed Joseph McKay. The Captain of his Company, John Chislett, wrote about it:
John Chislett's First Hand Account - October 20, 1856
“In the morning the snow was over a foot deep. Our cattle strayed widely during the storm, and some of them died. But what was worse to us than all this was the fact that five persons of both sexes lay in the cold embrace of death. The pitiless storm and the extra march of the previous day had been too much for their wasted energies, and they had passed through the dark valley to the bright world beyond. We buried these five people in one grave, wrapped only in the clothing and bedding in which they died. We had no materials with which to make coffins, and even if we had, we could not have spared time to make them, for it required all the efforts of the healthy few who remained to perform the ordinary camp duties and to look after the sick—the number of whom increased daily on our hands, notwithstanding so many were dying.
“The morning before the storm, or, rather, the morning of the day on which it came, we issued the last ration of flour. On this fatal morning, therefore, we had none to issue. We had, however, a barrel or two of hard bread which Captain Willie had procured at Fort Laramie in view of our destitution. This was equally and fairly divided among all the company. Two of our poor broken-down cattle were killed and their carcasses issued for beef. With this we were informed that we would have to subsist until the coming supplies reached us. All that now remained in our commissary were a few pounds each of sugar and dried apples, about a quarter of a sack of rice and a small quantity (possibly 20 or 25 lbs.) of hard bread. The brother who had been our commissary all the way from Liverpool had not latterly acted in a way to merit the confidence of the company; but it is hard to handle provisions and suffer hunger at the same time, so I will not write a word of condemnation. These few scanty supplies were on this memorable morning turned over to me by Captain Willie, with strict injunctions to distribute them only to the sick and to mothers for their hungry children, and even to them in as sparing a manner as possible. It was an unenviable place to occupy, a hard duty to perform; but I acted to the best of my ability, using all the discretion I could.
‘Being surrounded by snow a foot deep, out of provisions, many of our people sick, and our cattle dying, it was decided that we should remain in our present camp until the supply-train reached us. It was also resolved in council that Captain Willie with one man should go in search of the supply-train and apprise its leader of our condition, and hasten him to our help. When this was done we settled down and made our camp as comfortable as we could. As Captain Willie and his companion left for the West, many a heart was lifted in prayer for their success and speedy return. They were absent three days—three days which I shall never forget. The scanty allowance of hard bread and poor beef, distributed as described, was mostly consumed the first day by the hungry, ravenous, famished souls.
“We killed more cattle and issued the meat; but, eating it without bread, did not satisfy hunger, and to those who were suffering from dysentery it did more harm than good. This terrible disease increased rapidly amongst us during these three days, and several died from exhaustion. Before we renewed our journey the camp became so offensive and filthy that words would fail to describe its condition, and even common decency forbids the attempt. Suffice it to say that all the disgusting scenes which the reader might imagine would certainly not equal the terrible reality. It was enough to make the heavens weep. The recollection of it unmans me even now—those three days! During that time I visited the sick, the widows whose husbands died in serving them, and the aged who could not help themselves, to know for myself where to dispense the few articles that had been placed in my charge for distribution. Such craving hunger I never saw before, and may God in his mercy spare me the sight again.
“As I was seen giving these things to the most needy, crowds of famished men and women surrounded me and begged for bread! Men whom I had known all the way from Liverpool, who had been true as steel in every stage of our journey, who in their homes in England and Scotland had never known want; men who by honest labour had sustained themselves and their families, and saved enough to cross the Atlantic and traverse the United States, whose hearts were cast in too great a mould to descend to a mean act or brook dishonour; such men as these came to me and begged bread. I felt humbled to the dust for my race and nation, and I hardly know which feeling was strongest at that time, pity for our condition, or malediction on the fates that so humbled the proud Anglo-Saxon nature. But duty might not be set aside by feeling, however natural, so I positively refused these men bread! But while I did so, I explained to them the painful position in which I was placed, and most of them acknowledged that I was right. Not a few of them afterwards spoke approvingly of my stern performance of duty. It is difficult, however, to reason with a hungry man; but these noble fellows, when they comprehended my position, had faith in my honour. Some of them are in Utah to-day, and when we meet, the strong grip of friendship overcomes, for the moment at least, all differences of opinion which we may entertain on any subject. May the Heavens ever be kind to them, whatever their faith, for they are good men and true. And the sisters who suffered with us—may the loving angels ever be near them to guard them from the ills of life.”
From: John Chislett, “Mr. Chislett’s Narrative,” in The Rocky Mountain Saints, T. B. H. Stenhouse (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1873), 323–25.
It continued to snow and on October 22, 1856, the Company camped at the base of Rocky Ridge. Even though the rescue teams had found them a few days earlier, they still had to get to their destination, and so many of them were so weak and ill that they were unable to make it. The snow storm and freezing temperatures just weakened them further as they prepared to cross Rocky Ridge.
October 23, 1856 (from the Journals):
In “severe” weather the Saints crossed
Rocky Ridge and went to Rock Creek Hollow. This day turned out to be the most tragic day of their entire journey.
Levi Savage’s record drew a more detailed picture. It was a “severe” day. The climb up “the Rocky Ridge” was long. The wind was blowing snow in their faces. It was steep and snow-covered. People became exhausted from the strain of the hike and the weather. Two of the wagons, full of the sick and children, were so loaded down that they did not arrive until dawn on the 24th. At 10 or 11 p.m., the teams pulling these two wagons refused to cross a stream, Strawberry Creek, due to the ice and cold. Levi Savage was with those wagons when the animals balked, and as a result he walked four miles to the camp at Rock Creek for help. At the campsite, he found the exhausted Saints with few tents pitched. The people were spent and were huddling around small fires. Many hours later the two wagons carrying the sick and the children pulled into camp. These latecomers came to camp in the dark, since moonrise was at 2:25 a.m., with only a quarter of the moon visible.
The trail from the Sweetwater River to the top of Rocky Ridge is just over three miles long and has a rise in elevation of more than 750 feet for roughly a 5 percent grade. However, it is not a consistently rising grade. Instead, it has several steep portions and one portion where it actually drops in elevation for some distance before turning uphill again. It is hard to find a day that the wind does not blow on Rocky Ridge. The wind was blowing snow down the hill and into their faces as the Saints trudged up toward the ridge top and then onward for miles. Wind chill was a real factor fighting against them. The actual temperature on the 23rd is not known, but it was certainly below 32 degrees. One clue as to how cold it was on the 23rd comes from the record of the Abraham O. Smoot wagon train, which arrived at Fort Bridger on the 23rd. It reads in part, “...it snowed hard on 19th, 20th, all day & it was very cold, thermometer down to zero part of the time, left our camp at 11 a.m. on Thursday 23rd & reached Fort Bridger,...”3
If the temperature during the trek were 30 degrees Fahrenheit, with a 30-mile-per-hour wind, then it would have felt like 15 degrees. However, if the temperature were 10 degrees, with a 30-mile-per-hour wind, then it would have felt like minus 12 degrees. At this lower temperature and wind speed, frostbite could occur in a little more than 30 minutes. Many of the people were on the trail for hours, with a few coming in well after dark. It is easy to imagine that the temperature was below 10 degrees by the time everyone arrived at camp.
One of the greatest personal sacrifices that day came from James Kirkwood, age 11. James’s mother and older brother had to pull their handcart carrying James’s disabled brother over Rocky Ridge. James was left in charge of his younger brother, Joseph, age 4. The two young boys faced the long climb up and over Rocky Ridge and on into the Rock Creek camp together. Their shoes were worn and they were definitely cold. Although no one will ever know with certainty what happened, James likely carried his brother for many of the miles. When James arrived in camp, James set his brother down and died of exhaustion.4
1. Clayton, Emigrants’ Guide, 16; “Journal of the First Rescue Party,” in Journal History of the Church, 30 November 1856, 225.
2. Joseph Benson Elder’s Journal, 1856–57, Church Archives, 22.
3. “Untitled Record of the Abraham O. Smoot Church Train,” in Journal History of the Church, November 9, 1856, Church Archives, 3.
4. James E. Faust, “A Priceless Heritage,” Ensign (November 1992): 84.
This day, October 23, 1856, was the day that Joseph McKay almost died - - and would have if Andrew Smith hadn't lifted him and carried him to the summit of Rocky Ridge. If not for Andrew, Joseph would have been buried with 13 others who died during the night:
Thirteen saints were buried in a common grave. Deaths: William James, age 46; Elizabeth Bailey, age 52; James Kirkwood, age 11; Samuel Gadd, age 10; Lars Wendin, age 60; Anne Olsen, age 46; Ella Nilson, age 22; Jens Nilson, age 6; Bodil Mortensen, age 9; Nils Anderson, age 41; Ole Madsen, age 41
The more I read about Andrew Smith, the more I wanted to know about him. He was mentioned in the book that I had gotten from Shiloh and it said that he later married Joseph's daughter, Jane. He was also in Tent No. 3 with Joseph, so they spent a lot of time together. I looked at the Thornton passenger list document and Andrew Smith was listed just a bit above Joseph's name. I decided to look in Shiloh's book and see if there was anything more I could learn about Andrew. I'll share what it said tomorrow.
U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
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