This past summer (July 1997), I was privileged to visit "Devils Gate," Wyoming. I spent some time there at the monument that is placed on the hill overlooking the "Martin's Cove" where the terrible tragedy occurred with Martin Handcart Company of 1856.
As I quietly sat there, many thoughts went through my mind as I remembered the stories that had been told to me as well as the histories I had read. A little later I walked to "Devils Gate," and again these stories came flooding back through my mind.
Lars and Bodil Madsen lived in Svinnenge, Osherred, Denmark, in the old family homestead with surrounding cultivated fields along with their seven children, five sons and two daughters.
Lars was born April 19, 1795. His wife, Bodil Nielson, was born January 14, 1808. They were devout Lutherans, walking nearly two miles each Sunday to attend church in Asmindrup. Then the Mormon missionaries called on them and became regular visitors, teaching and converting the whole family to the LDS church in 1854.
In 1855, the family decided to sell the farm, put some money in the Perpetual Immigration Fund, and emigrated to the United States and Utah. The farm was to be paid for in three yearly payments, so only part of the family could come each year.
On November 23,1855, five of their children left Copenhagen for the long journey. They were Neils Peter, 23, Andrew, Margrathe, Jacobine, and young Neils, just 12.
Lars and Bodil's courage and faith must have been very strong to watch their young family depart. Some months later, Lars, Bodil, and Christian, their youngest child, left for America, leaving their oldest son, Mads Madsen, to finish with the selling of their farm and to join them in Utah as soon as possible.
They arrived in Philadelphia, then took the train to Iowa City, Iowa, where they remained for six weeks preparing the necessary items to cross the plains. In July, they joined a large ox-team company under the command of Captain William B. Hodgett, and started the long arduous trip to the west.
They were camping along the Platte River getting ready to ford the river when the Martin Handcart Company arrived. Filled with compassion, Captain Hodgett's Company took many of them into their wagons, knowing the extra load would be a heavy burden for their own people and exhausted oxen.
Towards the end of October, as they neared the Red Buttes, both companies became snowbound. A relief company sent from Salt Lake City also became snowbound near Devils Gate, Wyoming. A small group from the relief party finally reached the emigrant company, finding them suffering from the effects of the bitter cold weather and insufficient food.
The Martin handcart company, Hodgett company, and a small relief party, made their way on, passing Independence Rock. Knowing Devils Gate was near, they hoped to find refuge and protection behind the rocky ledges. The temperature had fallen to eleven degrees below zero, and food rations were almost gone.
Starved and weary, Lars, sixty-one years of age, became ill and a few days later died. He was laid away as well as could be under the circumstances by his fellow travelers at Devils Gate, near the head of the Sweetwater River and Martin's Ravine. Bodil and young Christian did all they could to help the others who were suffering even though their loss was great as well. Each one gave strength and faith to help another. As relief wagons arrived, the emigrants were quickly given places to ride. Bodil and young Christian boarded one of the relief wagons, November 9, 1856, leaving husband, father, and most of their belongings behind, and continued their journey to Utah.
The two young men driving the relief wagon preferred to go down the Weber River and left the Main Company. They had to cross the Weber River many times. At places the ice was broken and the horses could not pull the load up the bank, so they had to unload and reload the wagon several times. Bodil reached East Weber on December 21, 1856, ten days later than the rest of the Company. Learning of their arrival, Neils Peter, who was living in Kaysville, drove an ox-team to Weber to meet his mother and brother. They returned to his home (a dugout and a wagon bed) to recuperate for the winter.
In the spring, the family moved to Sanpete County, among the first to settle here, making their home in Mt. Pleasant. Though Bodil had lost a husband and all her belongings, she rejoiced at being reunited with her children once again. In March 1857, the oldest son, Mads, left Denmark, joining his family in September 1857.
Once again my thoughts return to the plaque in Martin's Cove Visitor's Center with the name of Lars Madsen highlighted to remind us that he gave his life here seeking the freedom of his religion for all his family. Source: Family Histories Madsens of Mt. Pleasant, Utah
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