Kirtland Camp

[jkwilliams]

I was out on my daily walk and took a different route than normal, and discovered this marker about 2 miles from my house:

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=97244

Mormon Migration, Kirtland Camp
On July 28, 1838, the first and largest company of Mormon pioneers to migrate west camped along the Mad River near this site. Known as Kirtland Camp, the 515 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) appeared as a train of 59 covered wagons and 189 head of livestock stretching a distance of 9 miles. They were heading to Missouri from Kirtland, Ohio. The migrants fled religious persecution and sought new homes and religious freedom. They sought respite here during the journey. To earn money, the Saints accepted various jobs. These included building dykes and levees, and half-mile section of Springfield-Dayton Turnpike. The Saints resumed their trek on August 29, 1838.

Facts About Kirtland Camp
The Kirtland Camp was the first organized migration of more than 500 people in one group by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
•The Camp's 870-mile trek began on July 6, 1838 in Kirtland, Ohio and ended October 4, 1838 in Far West, Missouri.
•The exodus from Kirtland in one large company inaugurated the Mormon migration westward.
•Kirtland Camp covenanted to live by a Camp constitution that provided guidelines for the administering of the Camp and set a code of conduct for its members.
•The bodies of 5 children who died during the encampment on the Mad River are buried here, demonstrating the sacrifices and tragedies faced by Saints in pursuit of religious freedom
 
Erected 2012 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 25- 29.)

I guess it had never occurred to me that the Saints would have come through the Dayton area on their way to Missouri. I wouldn't be surprised if there had been Williams ancestors among their group. Kind of a cool find for me. 

[Buckeye]

Very cool. I never knew you were Ohio. I’ll ping you next time I’m visiting. The sign is of the same type at the Kirkland temple near where I used to live. 
 

On a somewhat related note, I took my high school son to visit the University of Iowa this summer. He’s a long distance runner so we checked out their course. Turns out it’s right next to a Mormon handcart pioneer memorial. Apparently Iowa City was the end of the train line so that’s where the handcart groups started from. I’d always assumed they started in nauvoo. 
 

If you want a real adventure, try finding the marker for Hauns Mill. 

[jkwilliams]

8 minutes ago, Buckeye said:

Very cool. I never knew you were Ohio. I’ll ping you next time I’m visiting. The sign is of the same type at the Kirkland temple near where I used to live. 
 

On a somewhat related note, I took my high school son to visit the University of Iowa this summer. He’s a long distance runner so we checked out their course. Turns out it’s right next to a Mormon handcart pioneer memorial. Apparently Iowa City was the end of the train line so that’s where the handcart groups started from. I’d always assumed they started in nauvoo. 
 

If you want a real adventure, try finding the marker for Hauns Mill. 

Let me know if you ever get over this way. I’ve met quite a few posters from this board. 

[The Nehor]

16 hours ago, Buckeye said:

If you want a real adventure, try finding the marker for Hauns Mill. 

I saw that. It is a bit off the beaten track but wasn’t that bad. Or is there another marker?

[Buckeye]

Just one marker I know of. Granted I tried to find it during a rainstorm with five kids in a minivan. Nearly got stuck in the mud and has our own hauns mill experience. 

[JLHPROF]

17 minutes ago, Buckeye said:

Just one marker I know of. Granted I tried to find it during a rainstorm with five kids in a minivan. Nearly got stuck in the mud and has our own hauns mill experience. 

Sounds familiar.  I've done the Church History circuit 4 times, only made that trek once.

Adam Ondi Ahman is still my favorite.  (And Nauvoo.)

[The Nehor]

5 hours ago, Buckeye said:

Just one marker I know of. Granted I tried to find it during a rainstorm with five kids in a minivan. Nearly got stuck in the mud and has our own hauns mill experience. 

Sounds like it. I had to carry one of the smaller kids to the site because he kept slipping in the mud.

[Kenngo1969]

7 hours ago, Buckeye said:

Just one marker I know of. Granted I tried to find it during a rainstorm with five kids in a minivan. Nearly got stuck in the mud and has our own hauns mill experience. 

Sounds, uhhhh ... fun.    

Glad you all made it out and lived to tell about it.