Agnes Jenkins

Agnes Jenkins is twelfth of 13 children born to James Hardie Jenkins and Janet Laird Jenkins, both of Scotland. In 1863, the Jenkins family with eight of their children crossed the Atlantic on the ship “Cynoshure” to America. Onboard, there was very little food and a measles outbreak.

When they arrived in America, they traveled to Florence, Nebraska and joined the Thomas Ricks Company. With other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the company left Nebraska on August 10, 1863 bound for the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. About two weeks into the journey, 10-month-old Agnes died of malnutrition. She is buried near Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. out on the Mormon Trail for a little more than 2 weeks, when Agnes passed away.