George Romrell

Newspaper, census and genealogical sources prove George crossed the plains in 1861. Although tradition says he traveled with a Harper Company, there was no Harper Company in 1861. (The only Mormon Pioneer Company to cross the plains under a Captain Harper did so in 1855; if George was in this company he should appear in the 1856 Utah Territorial census--he does not.) However, he does appear in the 1860 United States census in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Patience Swingwood, who married George 28 September 1861 at Bingham Fort (Ogden), Utah, told a granddaughter that en route across the plains she sometimes rode in George's wagon.George's surname is variously spelled in contemporary documents. On the passenger list of the ship Olympus (1851) it is spelled Rumryl. In the 1860 Iowa Census it is spelled Romriel. In his obituary and death certificate it is spelled Romrell.