Catherine Deseret Dean

Catherine Deseret Deam is the third of five children born to Joseph Dean and Catherine Knott, both born in England. Joseph and Catherine joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1856. In March 1860, they boarded the ship “Underwriter” to immigrate to America with other Saints.

After arriving in America, they traveled west to Nebraska and joined the Warren Walling Company. The company departed Nebraska on 30 May 1860 for the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Cholera, a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water, infected many of the travelers. Shortley after beginning the journey west, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Catherine Deseret.

Just prior to entering the Salt Lake Valley, Catherine Deseret died of chronic diarrhea. She is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.