Mt. Pisgah Cemetery State Preserve near Thayer in Union County, Iowa.

Mt. Pisgah was a way-station for Mormons on the Mormon Pioneer Trail from Nauvoo, Il to Salt Lake City, UT from 1846 to 1952. At times up to 2000 people lived here, and around 300 to 800 people perished and were buried here. The headstones are gone by now, but this monument, which was erected in 1888, still stands. After the Mormons left, the site was briefly called Petersville (after the farmer that bought the land).

Chief Pied Riche from the Pottawattamie Indians (who were driven from their homelands in what is now Michigan), visited and told them ‘We must help one another, and the great spirit will help us both. Because one suffers and does not deserve it is no reason he shall suffer always. We may live to see it right yet. If we do not our children will.’  Sadly he was mistaken.

Nowadays it’s totally peaceful, secluded and only a 4-mile dirt road leads to it. On the day I discovered Mt. Pisgah (which was totally by chance), there was nothing to be heard apart from the crickets making their usual loud racket and a few birds, although there’s a farm immediately adjacent to it. It was wonderful and a great place to relax and let your mind wander far back in time.

Reconstructed log cabin

The view from Mt. Pisgah. I wonder how that view must have looked like during the time Mt. Pisgah existed with regards to the vegetation, and when there were no farm buildings and gravel roads to be seen.