Not everyone may be aware that July 24th is Pioneer Day, a day for remembrance of all the brave men, women and children who left their homes in the east and traveled across the North American Continent.  Many lost their lives but more survived, showing great strength and the American Determination to accomplish what we set out to do.  Having recently moved from Utah, this day is on my mind because it is a Utah State Holiday.

In addition, this subject is near and dear to my heart because my ancestors crossed the plains pulling a handcart similar to the one in the photo. My great Grandfather, Daniel D. McArthur, led the second handcart company across the plains, a group of 227. Daniel D. would cross the plains five more times assisting other groups to the Salt Lake Valley. The handcarts were only six to seven feet long and five people shared one with a loaded handcart carried four to five hundred pounds. Each adult was allowed seventeen pounds and a child ten pounds, that included bedding, clothes, cooking utensils and personal belongings. (I can’t imagine having to limit myself like that, my book collection alone weighs several hundred pounds.)

The groups crossing the plains dealt with blistering heat, freezing blizzards, drought, dehydration and starvation, not to mention attacks by wild animals, Native Americans, and outlaws.  The trek from Iowa City to Salt Lake City was thirteen hundred miles and each handcart company could only travel an average of eight and half miles per day.

The courage exhibited by these men and women have captured the imagination and hearts of generations of readers. Walk into any bookstore and you will find books set during this pivotal time in our history. It was rough, harsh, and deadly, yet it seemed to bring out the best of people.  Groups pulled together to ensure the survival of all, they would gather to assist in the building of homes and to socialize.

It seems incredible to me as I sit in my air conditioned house writing this that people had the courage to leave everything they knew to travel across untold dangers to a place they had never seen to live a new life.  As the 24th approaches I just wanted to take a second to remember the great men and women who had the courage to tame this large land and pave the way for the life we get to live.

More information can be found at American West and The Fur Trapper.