--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Ray, Charles L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 24 number: 9 published: 1921-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Ray, Charles L., "Historic Pioneer Grounds," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 9 (July 1921): 832–833.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2409unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2409unse start_page: 832 end_page: 833 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2409unse publication_year: 1921 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Historic Pioneer Grounds Historic Pioneer Grounds By Charles L. Ray Just out from the present city of Omaha, going north along the west bank of the Missouri river, lies the quiet little city of Florence, as it is known today. Those familiar with Church his- tory would recognize it by its one-time name of Winter Quar- ters. Here it was that the Saints, who crossed the plans in an early day, outfitted for Utah, and began the long journey of a thousand miles to the valleys of the mountains. The place is of great historical interest, and is visited annually by a num- ber of tourists. President Grant and Presiding Patriarch Hy- rum G. Smith have been among the distinguished visitors of the past year. Tradition has it that the large tree (shown in picture) was planted by President Young. Today it is one of the historic Left; A picture of the "Great Tree" planted by President Brigham Young. It isone of the historic trees of Nebraska. Right: A view of the Missouri river at or near where the "Mormons" crossed to begin their journey westward. - **-'^KjM|bSCi 31 BE V 1 £?t ^%i 1 * '*' -'i$ i <4 picture of "Winter Quarters" cemetery as it is today. Upwards o] five-hundred Latter-daty Saints are buried here in unidentified graves. trees of the State of Nebraska, and it seems to have incorporated all the strength of character of that great empire-builder, for it requires threepersons with outstretched arms to reach around the mammoth trunk, and the foliage of the giant Cottonwood reaches out over an area a hundred feet in diameter. A house built by President Young is situated a short dis- tance westward. Its unusual but stable framework is a quaint reminder of its history. Immediately west of the house and tree, a bluff rises with gentle slope, and on the top is the cemetery where upwards of five hundred faithful Saints are buried, who succumbed to the hardships of the journey westward. As one contemplates the trials of the early Saints, in the solitudes of this the last resting place for so many, the words of the song comes to mind touchingly and forcefully: When first the glorious light of truth In this last age burst forth, How few there were, with heart and soul Could feel its real worth! Yet of those few how many Have passed from earth away, And in their graves are sleeping, Till the resurrection day! The cemetery today is in abject ruin, but with a little im- provement could be made into a nice park. Most of the graves are unidentified as the crude tombstones have long since de- cayed, or become impossible of deciphering. The picture shows