The Mormon Trail (Cooke County)

Subject: The Mormon Trail (Cooke County) Thu 01 Nov 2007, 11:19 pm

A trail forged in 1846 by a group of migrating Mormons -- under the leadership of Lyman Wight -- proceeded westward through the northern portion of Cooke County -- where it made a sharp dip to the south in the vicinity of present-day Muenster .... evidently taking the party toward Austin. Once in the area, the group -- with some support of Sam Houston -- went on to establish several short-lived settlements in the Hill County.

I am wondering whether this trail, as it extended though Cooke County, continued to be utilized by other pioneers and settlers during subsequent decades. Might anyone know?
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The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: The Mormon Trail (Cooke County) Fri 09 Nov 2007, 9:47 pm

Thanks so much for passing along these routes, M C. The map that I was drawing from, of course, was the general one which once appeared in the Wise County Messenger (akin to the illustrated one which was done for Denton County during the Texas Centennial (I believe).

Are there traces of any of these old roads still to be senn in Cooke County? I had heard of old roadbeds still being present, from local residents, but never was clear on which route(s) these might have belonged to or exactly where they were located.

It also would be good to have a visual representation of how these trails are believed to have run through the county. I will search the Web to see what I can find in this regard, but would appreciate any direction which you might be able to provide.

Thanks again,

Holly

PS. I do know that the old 'Sophia Porter' cut-off ran through the Girl-Scout Camp Rocky Point!
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: The Mormon Trail (Cooke County) Mon 19 Nov 2007, 8:32 pm

Well, today was the day for this group, folks .... at least for their arrival in Grayson County:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/daybyday/11-19-001.html

Of equal or even more abundant consequence was an act which likewise was undertaken on November 19, but in the year of 1854:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/daybyday/11-19-003.html

... in joyous fulfillment of Mrs. Margaret Houston's extended and fervent prayers, and with potentially dire consequences for the fish of Little Rocky Creek, according to a prophesy of the General.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves