USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -To save money and time, church leaders in 1856 urged emigrants use handcarts. The carts were far cheaper than wagons and ox teams, and people pulling handcarts could move more quickly when they didn’t have to wait daily for their livestock to graze.

Detailed explanation-2: -Of the more than 250 organized Latter-day Saint companies that came to Utah during the pioneer era, only 10 companies, consisting of about 3, 000 people total, were handcart companies. Five handcart companies came in 1856, two in 1857, one in 1859, and two in 1860.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Willie and Martin handcart companies were two companies of Mormon handcart pioneers that were participating in the migration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to Salt Lake City, Utah and used handcarts to transport their belongings.

Detailed explanation-4: -Only 10 of the more than 350 Latter-day Saint emigrating companies traveled by handcart. Most handcart companies made the journey without major incident. The two companies led by James G. Willie and Edward Martin, however, are remembered among Latter-day Saints for their tragic late-season journey.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used two-wheeled handcarts to transport their belongings. The movement began in 1856 and continued until 1860.