Early Latter-day Saints

Introduction
A History of the Making of the Early Latter-day Saint Database

This database is the combination of efforts of the Land and Records Office in the Illinois Nauvoo Mission and the Pioneer Research Group in Winter Quarters. The Land and Records Office started working on the database in 1987 and have been collecting and adding information since then. A missionary couple (Don and Diane Snow) had the assignment in the Illinois Nauvoo Mission of preparing the PAF file for posting on the Internet. The original emphasis of the Land and Records Office was on the Nauvoo period (1839-1846), but it now includes Latter-day Saints from 1829 up to the Utah period (1868).

The Pioneer Research Group based in the Winter Quarters (Omaha, Nebraska) and Kanesville (Council Bluffs, Iowa) are gathering the names of pioneers who lived in the more than 90 settlements of Latter-day Saints who were in the Middle Missouri Valley and across the state of Iowa during the years of 1846 – 1868. Their emphasis began with the gathering of names of members of the Iowa Branches, Winter Quarters Wards and those buried in the Winter Quarters Cemetery but not limited to that specific time period or area.

The names in the database are mostly early Latter-day Saints. Where their parents’ information was available it is included. Families are linked together as well. We know it isn't complete and we will continue to correct and add to it. We also know, realistically, that absolute completeness and accuracy is impossible in a project of this magnitude. Still, we feel this is a major help to historians and family historians.

The usual custom we have followed for old LDS locations is to show the old name with the current name in parentheses, e.g. Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA, and Zenos (Mesa), Maricopa, Arizona, USA. The counties we have listed are usually the current counties, but we have also mentioned variant locations and spellings in the notes. We have felt that where the place is actually located and where the records might be found override other considerations. Besides the places, we have also made uniform some of the names since spelling wasn't emphasized in those years and different spellings were sometimes used for the same person. The Next Generation software that is used to form the web pages for this data has a Soundex search that may help in finding people with variant surname spellings. If you can't find your ancestor and you think he should be here, you might want to try variant spellings yourself. The Next Generation software program also allows wild card searches, e.g. John* picks up Johnson, Johnston, Johnsen, and other variants.

We have converted most of the sources that were stored in the notes into real genealogical source citations with the intention of eventually having notes only for items of biographical, research, and general interest. At the present time we have left the sources in the notes, even though we have extracted most of them into real source citations. We have also developed a way to include active Internet links in sources and notes. In order for you to obtain source documents, we have tried to list a repository for each source, e.g. the Family History Library, but many can be found in multiple locations.

Corrections, Additions, etc.

We appreciate your help in improving the database. For corrections and additions, please send us a GEDCOM file with the correct data and that cites the primary sources, i.e. original sources, so that it can be checked and added to the database. If you have journals, photographs, etc. electronic versions would be helpful. Send these items to earlyldscomments@gmail.com

Tips On Searching

The Searching capabilities are very extensive. Click on the down arrow next to the item you are interested on searching. The options for most names and places are: Contains, Equals, Starts with, Ends with, Soundex of and Metaphone of. The options for dates are: equals, +/- 2 years from, +/- 10 years from, less than, greater than, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to.

The Soundex search may help in finding people with variant surname spellings. If you can't find your ancestor and you think they should be here, you might want to try variant spellings yourself. You might try entering a portion of the surname. Last name “Starts with” searches, e.g. John picks up Johnson, Johnston, Johnsen, and other variants.

By searching birth, death and burial places the program can be used to find families and ancestors of early Latter-day Saints and to give fairly accurate answers to such questions as: "Who was born in Nauvoo?", "Who is buried in the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds?", and even "Who was killed in the Haun's Mill Massacre?"

Click on the “Click to display” box under Other Events to see additional events that can be searched. If an ancestor lived in a certain settlement search the Residence event place to see the people who lived in that settlement.

Understanding Charts and Tables Used in This Database

Ancestors Chart

The ancestors chart shows a graphical representation of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents etc. for any individual along with photos if available.

The default the chart begins with 4 generation, this can be increased but the page will become wider and you will need to scroll to see the entire page.

Wherever you see the icon, you can click to show the ancestors of the individual. Moving the mouse over the down icon will display further information and immediate descendents.

When you see this icon the generation to the right will be shown from this individual if you click on it.

Click on the image above to see an example.

Ascendants Table

The Ascendants Table (also known as Ahnentafel) lists all the generations in tabular form, complete with all children and birth, marriage & death information if applicable or known.

Ahnentafel charts can show a great deal of information in a compact form. Study the structure of these charts and you will come to understand how generation fall and the relationships between individuals. Learning the numbering system is the key to understanding this type of document.

The example image above here shows 8 generations! Click on the image to see.

Pioneer Journals, Histories and Photos

Journals and histories is a very useful for displaying both lines of parentage for any individual in a family unit and will list grandparents for as far back as is known; subsequently clicking on the individual displays all the photos and histories.

Note the icons for Photo and for history when available for an individual.

For an example click on the image above.

Descendents Table

The Descendents Table lists all generations in either a 'compact' or 'register' form for the individual selected. The Descendents Chart can be linked to from this page.

The main difference between the two page types is the level of information listed keep in mind the descendents chart below can only be linked from an individual in the 'compact' table. To see an example click on the image above.

Descendents Chart

The Descendents chart (with photos) displays all family members (including brothers & sisters) starting as far back as the family tree goes up to the individual selected.

How to you find the descendents chart?

    1. First display the descendents table for an individual
        such as the one in the section below (Descendents
        Table).
    2. Click on the descendency icon to display the chart
         up to this person.

Or for a quick idea of what you would see click on the image above.

Relationship

The relationship chart, is a great way of understanding how individuals are related to one another.

Click on the above image to see an example; and try finding new individuals to change the chart.

Timeline

The timeline compares individuals to Church history, and can be populated in two ways.

1. Each time you look at an individual then click timeline, this individual will be saved in memory so that next time you look at another individual and click timeline, both individual timelines will be compared, and so on.

2. Populate the timeline by finding individuals manually.

Resources for Pioneer Research

	Census Records:
	Territorial Census Nebraska 1854, 1855, 1856 Lee County, Iowa 1840
	Indexes:
	Master Index of Books in the Pioneer Research Library at the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters Alphabetical Listing: A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| XYZ The following books are found in the index: 111 Days to Zion by Hal Knight and Dr. Stanley B. Kimball, MT GEN 1 A Mormon Chronicle Vol.1 The Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876 Edited by Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks, LDS PH 33 A Mormon Chronicle Vol.II The Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876 Edited by Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks, LDS PH 33 A Sculptor's Testimony in Bronze & Stone By Eugene F. Fairbanks, LDS PH 6 and 7 A Womans View Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences Of Early Church History- Edited By Jenny Broberg Holzapphel&Richard Neitzel Holzaphel, PW 8 An Intimate Chronicle Edited By George D. Smith, MT GEN 22 Bishop Jonathan H. Hale of Nauvoo History Life & Ministry by Heber Q. Hale, LDS PH 14 Brigham Young, His Wives and Family, LDS PH 35 C.C.A. Christensen By Richard L. Jensen and Richard G. Oman, LDS PH 25 Charlotte Elizabeth By JoAnn Mellor Felix, PW 6 Chronicles of Faith by David T. Kenison, MT GEN 14 Compilation of Pioneer Histories A.-G., LDS PH 26 Compilation of Pioneer Histories H-Z, LDS PH 27 Cultural Conflict: Mormons and Indians in Nebraska By Lawrence G. Coates, MT GEN 27 Daniel Allen, Pioneer Tanner By Kenneth R. Allen, LDS PH 29 Day By Day with the Utah Pioneers 1847 By Andrew Jenson, MT GEN 31 Emigrating Journals of The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and The Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Trains By Lynne Slater Turner, MT HCH 5 Finalizing Plans for the Trek West: Deliberations at Winter Quarters, 1846-1847 By Richard E. Bennett, MT GEN 27 Fort Bridger Island in the Wilderness by Gowans and Campbell, MT GEN 28 From The Green Hills Of England To The Red Hills Of Dixie By Reid L. Neilson, MT GEN 45 Great Basin Kingdom By Leonard J. Arrington, MT GEN 17 Guide to Mormon Diaries & Autobiographies by Davis Bitton, LDS PH 36 Handcarts To Zion--By LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W.Hafen, MT HCH 6 Heroines Of The Restoration-- By Barbara B. Smith And Blythe Darlyn Thatcher, PW 14 Historic Sites and Markers Along The Mormon and Other Great Western Trails By Stanley B. Kimball, MT GEN 48 History of Utah Pioneers--By Daughters of Utah Pioneers, LDS PH 20 Homeward To Zion By William Mulder, MT Gen 44 How Large Was The Population of Nauvoo? By Susan Easton Black, MT Gen 21 In Their Own Words-Women and The Story of Nauvoo By Carol Cornwall Madsen, PW 10 John Spiers Life as a Mormon Pioneer By Duane E. Spiers, Ph. D., LDS PH 20 John Vance Journal 1846-1850 Forward by LaDell W. Vance, LDS PH 12 Joseph, Exploring the Life and Ministry of the Prophet edited by Susan Easton Black and Andrew Skinner, LDS REF 52 Journal of Jacob Miller by Joseph Royal Miller & Elna Miller, LDS PH 11 Journey to Zion By Carol Cornwall Madsen, PDS PH 9 Latter Day Voyages on the S.S. Wyoming 1871-1890, LDS ESH 1 Mary Fielding Smith by Don C. Corbett, PW 4 Mormon Midwife the 1846-1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions Edited by Donna Toland Smart, PW 12 Mormon Redress Petitions By Clark V. Johnson, MT GEN 25 Mormon Trail Network In Nebraska, 1846-1868: A New Look By Stanley Kimball, MT GEN 27 Mormons at the Missouri, 1846-1852 By Richard E. Bennett, MT GEN 8 My Best For The Kingdom--History and Autobiography of John Lowe Butler--By William G. Hartley, LDS PH 34 Nauvoo the Beautiful By E. Cecil McGavin, Nauvoo HIST 3 Nauvoo, the City Of Joseph by David E. Miller & Della S. Miller, Nauvoo HIST 4 Officers and Arms: The 1843 General Return of the Nauvoo Legion’s Second Cohort By Richard L. Saunders, MT GEN 21 Old Mormon Nauvoo & Southeastern Iowa By Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and T. Jeffery Cottle, Nauvoo HIST 2 On This Day In The Church By Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Alexander L. Baugh, Robert C. Freeman, Andrew H. Hedges, MT GEN 35 Orpha Florialla Knight 1844-1847, LDS PH 2 Orson Hyde The Olive Branch Of Israel--By Myrtle Stevens Hyde, LDS PH 28 Our Pioneer Heritage By Kate B. Carter, MT GEN 33 Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881 Edited by Elayne Stoker, LDS PH 15 Parley P. Pratt In Winter Quarters And The Trail West by Stephen F. Pratt, MT GEN 27 Patty Sessions Journal 1846-1866-1880 By Edyth J. Romney, PW 1 Pioneer Legacies By Doyle R. Anderson, EdD., LDS PH 30 Quilts & Women of Mormon Migrations By Mary Bywater Cross, PW 2 Remembering Winter Quarters/Council Bluffs By Karen M & Paul D Larsen, LDS PH 31 Rescue of the 1856 Handcart Companies--By Rebecca Bartholomew and Leonard J. Arrington, MT HCH 2 Sacred Places-New York & Pennsylvania By LaMar C. Berrett, Gen. Editor, and Larry C. Porter, MT GEN 39 Sacred Places-Ohio & Illinois By LaMar C. Berrett, Gen. Editor, and Keith W. Perkins, Donald Q. Cannon, MT GEN 40 Sail and Rail Pioneers Before 1869 By Stanley B. Kimball, MT GEN 21 Saints Find The Place by David R. Crockett, MT GEN 6 Saints In Exile by David R. Crockett, MT 4 Saints in the Wilderness by David R. Crockett, MT GEN 5 Ships, Saints and Mariners--By Conway B. Sonne, LDS ESH 2 Sun-Bonnet Sisters By Leonard J. Arrington and Susan Arrington Madsen, PW 3 Taylor Family History By Donna H. & James C. Taylor, LDS PH 19 Taylor Family History-Families & Posterity of Saints who attended the Nauvoo Temple 1845-1846 by Donna H.Taylor & J. C. Taylor, LDS PH 18 Tell My Story, Too By Jolene S. Allphin - see Table of Contents, MT HCH 7 The Cluff Family Journal (Rearranged) 1995 By Viva Cluff Whetten, LDS PH 5 The Eastwood Family Record By Edith C. Smith, LDS PH 17 The Faith of Phebe--By Beverly Thompson, PW 15 The Gathering of Zion The Story of the Morman Trail by Wallace Stegner, MT GEN 32 The Great Florence Fitout of 1861 By William G. Hartley, MT GEN 27 The Houtz Family Report and Eastwood Memories By Edna C. Smith, LDS PH 16 The Iowa Journal of Lorenzo Snow Edited by Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, MT GEN 27 The Legacy of David Bancroft and His Family by Lois Fackrell Worlton and William Jack Worlton, LDS PH 14 The Iowa Mormon Trail by Susan Easton Black and William G. Hartley, MT GEN 16 The Latter Day Saints by William E. Berrett, MT GEN 51 The Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide By W. Clayton, MT GEN 15 The Legacy of William Warner Player 1793-1993 by Madelyn Player, LDS PH 4 The Martyrdom Remembered by Davis Bitton, Nauvoo HIST 6 The Master Builders By E. Orlean Miller Koehle, LDS PH24 The Mormon Experience By Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitten, MT GEN 46 The Mormon Pioneers From A to Z Along the Mormon Trail By Bill Alexander, MT GEN 36 The Mormon Trail Yesterday and Today By William E. Hill, MT GEN 20 The Myers Family, LDS PH 32 The Pioneer Camp of the Saints Edited By Will Bagley, MT GEN 26 The Return of Oliver Cowdery By Scott H. Faulring, LDS PH 22 The Sonnarslov Family By Bengt Berglund & Sara Berglund, LDS PH 8 The Story Of The Latter-day Saints By James B. Allen And Glen M. Leonard, MT GEN 12 The Year of Decision 1846 By Bernard DeVoto, MT GEN 10 Their Faces Toward Zion by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, MT GEN29 Thomas Bullock and Orson Pratt, LDS PH 23 Trail Of Hope by William Slaughter and Michael Landon, MT GEN 7 Trailing the Pioneers By Peter H. DeLafosse, MT GEN 19 Two Mormon Pioneers History by Emma Nielsen Mortensen, LDS PH 10 We'll Find The Place By Richard E. Bennett, MT GEN 53 West From Fort Bridger Edited by Roderic Korns and Dale L. Morgan, MT GEN 49 William Clayton’s Journal By The Clayton Family Association, MT GEN 9 Winter Quarters The 1846-1848 Life Writings of Mary Haskins Parker Richards Edited by Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, PW 13 Witness To The Martyrdom Edited By Mark H, Taylor, NAUVOO HIST 8 Women Of Covenant--By Jill Mulvay Derr, John Russell Cannon , Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, PW 5 Women Of Nauvoo--By Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, PW 9 Women's Diaries Of The Westward Journey--By Lillian Schlissel, PW 11 Women’s Voices An Untold History Of Latter Day Saints--By Kenneth W. Godfrey, Audrey M. Godfrey, Jill Mulvay Derr, PW 7
	Links to Other Research Sites:
	Cemeteries Iowa Cemetery Records County Douglas County Article Mormons began trek in Douglas County County Douglas County NEGenWeb County Harrison County Iowa Genealogy - IAGenWeb Project County Mills County IA Genealogy Index County Pottawattamie County [Council Bluffs] Iowa Genealogy Resources For Family History Research County Pottawattamie County Cemetery Index County Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society County Pottawattamie County Historical and Genealogical Research County Pottawattamie County, the History of Vol 1 1907 County Pottawattamie IAGenWeb Pottawattamie County Genealogy Family History In Wisdom and in Order LDS Church Publications 6 (HTML) Genealogy Love That Transcends Time LDS Church Publications 5 (HTML) History Article The LDS Legacy in South Western Iowa by Gail Holmes History BLOG Mormon Wasp History Research Cyndi's List - History of the LDS Church links History Walk thru NE History Children's Educational Resource Journal Mary Mathieson McQuarrie Bunker Journal William MILAM Journals of Early Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Map Councill Bluffs, 1846 Map and Listing of Settlements Mormon Battalion - The U.S. Mormon Battalion, Inc. Pioneers Pratt's Pioneer Resources Pioneers Tracing Mormon Pioneers Pioneers Tracing Mormon Pioneers-Verify the Name Against a Roster Resource List Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Settlement Genoa Settlement Histories of Harris Grove 1851-1861 Settlement Winter Quarters - Florence Settlement Winter Quarters Article by Richard E. Bennett Church Publications (HTML) State Iowa Resource Early LDS Church Sites In Southwest Iowa State Iowa Resource United States Resources Iowa State Nebraska History & Record of Pioneer Days, Vol I, TOC Stake Nebraska, Omaha, NE profile - Omaha, Neb. - Omaha, Nebraska - Hotels, festivals, genealogy, news State Nebraska Resource Ancestry List of Nebraska Genealogy - Nebraska Birth Records. Marriage, Death, Nebrask State Nebraska Resource Online Book Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Douglas Co. State Nebraska Resource ROOTS-L Nebraska Trail Resource Cyndi's List - Mormon Trail links Trail Resource Handcart Companies Trail Resource Handcart RootsWeb Genealogy Mailing Lists HANDCART Trail Resource Mormon Pioneer NHT Historic Resource Study (Table of Contents) Trail Resource THE MORMON PIONEER TRAIL Trail Resource Trails of Hope Search Trail Resource Trails to Utah and the Pacific (American Memory, Library of Congress) Winter Quarters Project at BYU