Augusta Wilhelmina Albertina Peterson

Augusta Wilhelmina Albertina Peterson was the first and only child born to Johan August Peterson and Signe Cathrine Kofoed, both of Denmark. The Peterson family immigrated to America with Johan's parents and other family members on the ship “Kenilworth.” After arriving in America, they traveled on to Florence, Nebraska where they and other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined the Andrew H. Scott Company. On August 8, 1866, the company left to cross the plains to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

After a week of travel, many members of the company suffered from mountain fever. Among them were Augusta and her mother, Signe. On August 14, 8-month-old Augusta passed away in her grandmother’s arms. Her mother died the following day, never realizing that her little girl had preceded her in death. They are buried along the Mormon Trail in Nebraska.

Johan Peterson wrote: “The plains were covered with tall green grass. My baby died August 14, 1866, while in my mother's arms. A grave was dug and the sisters gathered flowers and filled the grave to a depth of about six inches. They wrapped a sheet around her and laid her tenderly on the bed of flowers.

A sister of Johan Peterson wrote: “When we had traveled a week by the 14 of August, little Augusta died in mother’s arms at 11 o’clock forenoon. I washed and prepared the little body for burial. I was then going on 14. The sisters kindly ran about gathering flowers and filled the grave half deep with flowers thus softening her little bed. It was impossible to get coffins. We had to prepare the bodies of our loved ones as best we could with what we had at hand, wrap them in a sheet, place them in a grave, throw dirt on them, and then the graves were dedicated.”