When The Saints Came Marching In

In 1856 the first handcart company departed Iowa City heading west to Utah. This last part of the journey for many European Saints had to start in Iowa because it was the end of the line for the railroad. Just off of Mormon Trek Boulevard, on property owned by the University of Iowa, sits the Mormon Handcart Park. It is a short trail with plaques describing the history and trials of the handcart pioneers. Handcart emigrants crossed the Iowa River and went to the staging area three miles west of Iowa City at a small settlement known as Clark's Mill, now called Coralville. Here, European converts set up a camp where they prepared for their trip to Salt Lake.

Hans Ulrich Bryner, Jr. left as a member of the Dan Jones/ John Hunt Company in 1856. This group had about 300 people and 56 wagons. The pioneer companies left Clark's Mill and traveled through the neighboring Amana Colonies that were settled by German emigrants in 1854. They continued across Iowa through Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs where they prepared for the remainder of the journey. In Wyoming they were caught in an early snow storm. The snow became so deep that they could not follow the trail. Brigham Young sent Casper Bryner with a company of men to assist them. Unfortunately, too many of the oxen had died and the Bryners were forced to leave their wagons behind. When Hans Ulrich, Jr. finally arrived in Salt Lake City on December 24th, 1856, his feet were completely frozen. Brigham Young and other elders gave a blessing which directed Hans Ulrich to use wild sage mixed with snow as a dressing for his feet. He recovered with no ill effects. Initially his family was called to St. George, Utah. Then, in 1884, Brigham Young sent them to help settle Price.

Hans Ulrich Bryner, Sr. and his wife, Verena Wintsch Bryner, left Iowa one year after Hans Ulrich Jr.