Joseph Holbrook, Mormon Pioneer, a Journal

With Commentary on the Winter He Spent with the Ponca Indians

Joseph Holbrook, Mormon pioneer, spent the winter of 1846-1847 with his family and a group of 400 other Mormon refugees stranded on the Nebraska prairie until they were invited to winter with the Ponca Indians. This is a little known aspect of the Mormon Exodus west and while it is only one of the events recorded in his journal, it is indicative of the value of the insights of Holbrooks first-hand account of his life. During the Ponca period, Joseph Holbrook and two other men also explored a northern route west along the Niobrara River. They made it nearly to Fort Laramie before they determined the route was unsuitable and returned. After reporting their findings to Brigham Young, Young chose a southern route along the Platte. The Indian Winter and exploration trip are only two of the interesting accounts recorded by Joseph Holbrook in his journal. The authors insights add to the account of her ancestor, Joseph Holbrook to make a fascinating glimpse of an interesting period in American history.