Clara Hannah Evans

Clara Evans is the daughter and second child of John Evans from Wales and Elizabeth Hardcastle, both from England. Elizabeth's parents met in Utica, New York when John approached Elizabeth’s family seeking farm work. Not long after, they were married. Eventually, the family decided to journey to the Salt Lake Valley with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They joined the Ansil P. Harmon Company and departed August 1.

On August 28, Clara's 2-month-old passed away from the August harsh heat. He was buried in Nebraska along the trail west. Twelve days later, little Clara Hannah passed away from “swelling of the body and inflammation.” She shared her resting place with another woman, Sister Rogers.

From the diary of diary of William Ajax it is recorded: “Wednesday, 10th (Sep 1862). Sister Rogers was buried about 7 a.m. near the road, and about 6 miles eastward of Dear Creek. Two Scotch brethren dug her grave, assisted by bros J. D. G. MacAllister and Hawkins, and bro. Todd and I, and the said brethren buried her. All the sisters from our tent, and some from the adjoining tents, followed her to the grave to pay her their last token of respect. The grave was dug about 4 feet or 5 deep, and ledges were left all around it about a foot from the bottom to support planks that had been prepared to be placed between the body and the loose earth. She was buried in her own blanket, and Clara Hanna Evans, the daughter of bro. John Evans, formerly of Pembrokeshire, was burried by her side. The planks were placed over them, a layer of grass on them, and then the loose earth was shoveled in. It was an excellent grave, and the respect paid to their remains was as much as any person could have expected under the circumstance. I went to the river and cut a thick pole about 4 feet long, on which was nailed the board that contained the account of her death, and which was driven down about 3 feet into the grave, at its head, leaving about 14 inches of it exposed with their names and dates on it.”

Another journal entry states: “Wednesday 10th we buried Victoria Rogers (died yesterday of Diaorhoea & Consumption, also Clara Hannah Evans, Daughter of John & Elizabeth, of Swelling of the body & inflamation) in the same grave on the right of the road about 6 miles East of Deer Creek[.]”