Cyrus' Story
Birth: June 1st, 1848 | unknown | in Elkhorn, Douglas, Nebraska
Death: June 1st, 1848 | Infant | in Elkhorn, Douglas, Nebraska
Memorial: Stone 17
Cyrus Van Fleet is the son of Lawson Alanson Vanfleet and Sylvia Chase, both born in New York, USA. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lawson and Sylvia were living in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1839. They lived there until 1846 when they and other Saints were driven out of the city.
Sylvia was expecting a child when they joined the Brigham Young Company with plans to journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley on June 5, 1848.
While waiting to begin the trek west, Sylvia gave birth to twin boys, Cyrus and Cyrenus. The babies died just hours following birth.
Thomas Bullock recorded: “….at 8 a.m. Sylvia Van Fleet was safely delivered of Twins named Cyranus [Syrenus] & Cyrus [Syrus] by Phoebe Angel[l]. at 9 a.m. Cyranus [Syrenus] died, & was buried near the Liberty Pole. West Bank of the Elk Horn same day.”
A family history states that “Cyrenus died and Cyrus, a brother, died a few hours later.” They were buried together on the banks of the Elkhorn River.