Agnes Neil

Agnes Neil is the first of seven children born to William R. Neil and Marion Garner Robertson, both from Scotland. The family immigrated to America sailing on the ship “Arkwright.”

Upon arriving in America, they traveled to Nebraska and joined the Daniel Thompson Company bound for the Great Salt Lake Valley. With other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the company began their trek on July 24, 1866.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. After just a couple of weeks of travel, 1-year-old Agnes suffered heatstroke caused by excessive exposure to the sun. She passed away and is buried in Wyoming along the Mormon Trail.

William dug a small grave. Marion dressed Agnes in her best dress and placed a sunbonnet over her curly hair. Marion took her best paisley shawl and wrapped Agnes in it before placing her in the grave. Marion picked wildflowers and put them over her daughter’s face and filled the grave with dirt. They built a fire over the grave, hoping wolves would not disturb the resting spot.