Editing Mountain Meadows Massacre (section)

===Baker–Fancher party===
{{main|Baker–Fancher party}}
In early 1857, the [[Baker–Fancher party]] was formed from several groups mainly from [[Marion County, Arkansas|Marion]], [[Crawford County, Arkansas|Crawford]], [[Carroll County, Arkansas|Carroll]] and [[Johnson County, Arkansas|Johnson]] counties in northwestern [[Arkansas]]. They assembled into a [[wagon train]] at Beller's Stand, south of [[Harrison, Arkansas|Harrison]], to emigrate to southern [[California]]. The group was initially referred to as both the Baker train and the Perkins train, but later referred to as the Baker–Fancher train (or party). It was named after "Colonel" Alexander Fancher who, having already made the journey to California twice before, had become its main leader.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia| last = Finck| first = James| entry = Mountain Meadows Massacre| date=9 August 2024| encyclopedia = [[Encyclopedia of Arkansas]]|publisher=[[Central Arkansas Library System]]| location = Little Rock, Arkansas| entry-url = http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=129}}</ref> By contemporary standards the Baker–Fancher party was prosperous, carefully organized and well-equipped for the journey.<ref>{{harvp|Bancroft|1889|p=545}}; {{harvp|Linn|1902|loc=Chap. XVI, 4th full paragraph}}.</ref> They were joined along the way by families and individuals from other states, including [[Missouri]].<ref>{{harvp|Bancroft|1889|p=544}}; {{harvp|Gibbs|1910|p=12}}.</ref> The group was relatively wealthy, and planned to restock its supplies in [[Salt Lake City]], as did most wagon trains at the time.