Group brings the Mormon Trail to life

By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer

ELDON — Reading a history book about the hazards of the Mormon Trail is a lot different from chasing an out-of-control covered wagon across the Wapello County Fairgrounds.

Wagon Master Danny Van Fleet, 58, has raised and trained horses most of his life. He and around 60 riders pulled into Eldon on Friday along River Road. Covered wagons, jitneys and other horse-drawn wagons made a 12 mile trek from Douds. It’s part of their overall, 30-day “trek” from Nauvoo, Ill., 341 miles to Winter Quarters, Neb.

Next year, they’ll start in Nebraska and continue eastward for another 30 days. Doing it that way, said Van Fleet, it will take about four years to get to Salt Lake City.

“This group of people will form friendships. We’ll keep in touch the rest of our lives.”

For example, Van Fleet met Bloomfield resident Leon Wilkinson on his last wagon train of the Mormon Trail, and said when Wilkinson isn’t around to handle logistics, Van Fleet feels overwhelmed.

“I enjoy meeting different people, and you do [that] with horses,” said Gary Blaylock of North English.

Love of horses and of people is part of Van Fleet’s motivation, too.

“[I like] watching the people who have never done this feeling the spirit of the trail,” said Van Fleet.

He and another group, some of whom were with him Friday, have previously made the entire 1,300 mile trek.

“Nobody’s done [that] since we rode 10 years ago,” he claimed. “It was the greatest thing I’ve done in my life.”

History, horses and people drew him to the trek, not religion, he said.

“Ten years ago, I was Catholic. When I started [the trip], it was not to change religions. That was the furthest thing from my mind. Right after the trek, I was baptized [into the church of] the Latter Day Saints. They have good family ties. It was a good fit for me.”

“It’s a nice and fun, relaxing vacation,” said Kristen Brenneman, one of about 20 people on the ride from Spanish Fork, Utah.

The Utah youngsters in her wagon shouted her down, laughing and saying it’s relaxing for her only because she doesn’t have to drive a team, hitch up wagons or harness the horses.

She admits she’s more of a passenger.

“Well then,” she amended, “I’ll say it’s a neat experience. And you can spend time with family and friends.”

As far as the negative parts of the trip, the Utah teens listed the ticks, the rain storms at night, the heat, “beetle things,” the mud and the humidity.

“I liked seeing the Amish, and it’s very green. I like that, [but] I miss the mountains,” said Holly Christensen, 16, also of Spanish Fork, Utah.

“I think I’m learning how hard it must have been for the pioneers,” Brenneman said.

“But what we’re doing,” countered Holly “is not nearly as hard as what the pioneers did.”

Of course, said the wagon master, “anytime you bring together horses and people and dogs together” there’s bound to be some sort of trouble.

Fifteen minutes after circling up for the night at the Wapello County Fairgrounds, a team of draft horses spooked.

Eva Bradford, who grabbed a harness and dug her heels into the ground, could not restrain her frightened team, which dragged her straight toward the wagon 50 feet in front of it, finally throwing her to the ground. The horses, still pulling the Bradford’s covered wagon, then fled at a full gallop across the grounds behind the grandstand entrance.

“Get out of their way, get out of their way!” someone shouted.

When they reached a tree, the two frightened horses galloped by it, one on either side. The wagon they were pulling slammed into the tree, smashing the front of it, and, after a momentary pause, freeing the horses.

A few of the more experienced horse people in the area — including two children — moved near the sides of the still running horses and spoke soothingly to them or held out their arms to guide them. The horses slowed, and then stopped.

“Instinct tells you to try your best to hang on,” said Bradford, who, aside from blood blisters on her hands, was not injured.

Larry England, of Ottumwa, and others were already working to get the wagon back in running condition.

“I’m not scared to get back on them,” Bradford said.

Since no one was hurt and no real damage was done, Van Fleet said the emergency “makes for a pretty good journal entry. This was the first incident we’ve had. As much rain as we’ve had, the weather has broken for us every time we set out; we haven’t felt a drop of rain.”

Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.