Chico Stake Trek 2009
Edward and Betty Gledhill once again traveled the pioneer trail to the Salt Lake Valley. Their first trip was in 1868 when they left their home in Lancashire, Engla
nd with a desire to join the saints in Zion. The second trip was 141 years later in July of 2009. However, this time they were represented by a Ma and Pa, also known as Brad and Teri Ogden, and 7 youth of the Chico California Stake. I am the Pa or father of this family and therefore had the opportunity of choosing the pioneer family we were to represent. I chose Edward and Betty Gledhill for reasons I will explain later, but it could have been Ramsay, or Johnson, or Ogden, or the Niels Anderson family or even the Ola and Anna Anderson family. But on this trek, at least for three days, we were to be Gledhill’s and we had a great experience. 
Edward and Betty left England in May of 1868 and traveled on the ship Emerald Isle, arriving in New York on Aug 11, 1868. They then booked passage on a train, traveling in cattle and box cars to the end of line at Fort Benton Iowa. There they were met by Edward Mumford and his mule teams that would take them the final 3 weeks to the Salt Lake Valley. I suppose we tweaked historical facts a bit to suit our situation. We skipped the part about travel by ship and train, and went right to the part about the wagons. But a mule train can be somewhat difficult to handle for a novice, so we opted for handcarts, which was the only thing w
e had anyway.
Actually the original handcart era was from 1856 and 1860 so we were even a little out of sync there, but the Gledhill’s had six children with them and we had seven, so score one for close family size at least. We did have an auntie Kay, and they must have forgotten theirs. And we had blisters, which I’m sure they did also, and our nights were every bit as cold as theirs.
When we stopped along the trail we had a chance to talk about what it would be like to be a stone mason in England, how the family lived, and the closeness they must have had for each other. We discussed the dream of coming to America to live in Zion, and joining the other
family members who had left 3 years earlier. We learned what the Perpetual Emigration Fund was and how that creative concept helped many to immigrate. Also we discussed the dream that Betty had of 2 young men with briefcases that would come to their door with a message, and how when it happened three months later, it changed their lives forever.
Overall we agreed that being part of a Trek re-enactment was a great experience. It helped each of us better appreciate the history of the great western migration of the Latter-day Saints. We had fun be we also had many, many, learning and teaching opportunities. It strengthened faith and testimonies and even built a little character. We even made a few new friends.
Ma and Pa Gledhill 1868
aka Brad a
nd Teri Ogden 2009
nd with a desire to join the saints in Zion. The second trip was 141 years later in July of 2009. However, this time they were represented by a Ma and Pa, also known as Brad and Teri Ogden, and 7 youth of the Chico California Stake. I am the Pa or father of this family and therefore had the opportunity of choosing the pioneer family we were to represent. I chose Edward and Betty Gledhill for reasons I will explain later, but it could have been Ramsay, or Johnson, or Ogden, or the Niels Anderson family or even the Ola and Anna Anderson family. But on this trek, at least for three days, we were to be Gledhill’s and we had a great experience. 
Edward and Betty left England in May of 1868 and traveled on the ship Emerald Isle, arriving in New York on Aug 11, 1868. They then booked passage on a train, traveling in cattle and box cars to the end of line at Fort Benton Iowa. There they were met by Edward Mumford and his mule teams that would take them the final 3 weeks to the Salt Lake Valley. I suppose we tweaked historical facts a bit to suit our situation. We skipped the part about travel by ship and train, and went right to the part about the wagons. But a mule train can be somewhat difficult to handle for a novice, so we opted for handcarts, which was the only thing w
e had anyway.
Actually the original handcart era was from 1856 and 1860 so we were even a little out of sync there, but the Gledhill’s had six children with them and we had seven, so score one for close family size at least. We did have an auntie Kay, and they must have forgotten theirs. And we had blisters, which I’m sure they did also, and our nights were every bit as cold as theirs.
When we stopped along the trail we had a chance to talk about what it would be like to be a stone mason in England, how the family lived, and the closeness they must have had for each other. We discussed the dream of coming to America to live in Zion, and joining the other
family members who had left 3 years earlier. We learned what the Perpetual Emigration Fund was and how that creative concept helped many to immigrate. Also we discussed the dream that Betty had of 2 young men with briefcases that would come to their door with a message, and how when it happened three months later, it changed their lives forever.Overall we agreed that being part of a Trek re-enactment was a great experience. It helped each of us better appreciate the history of the great western migration of the Latter-day Saints. We had fun be we also had many, many, learning and teaching opportunities. It strengthened faith and testimonies and even built a little character. We even made a few new friends.
Ma and Pa Gledhill 1868
aka Brad a
nd Teri Ogden 2009
