Elisha John Luker

Elisha John Luker is the second of four children born to Caleb Luker from Ohio and Catherine A. Hand from Ireland. After immigrating to America, the Luker family traveled to Nebraska to join the Ansil P. Harmon Company to journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Company left Nebraska on August 1, 1862.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Two weeks into the journey, baby Elisha suffered from dysentery and passed away. He is buried one-half mile west of Wood River, north side of the Wagon Road, along the Mormon Trail.

From the journal of John Daniel Thompson: “Tuesday 12th started out quarter to 7.o. Clock & traveled 14 Miles & nooned near where the road leaves the Platt[e] for wood river [.] at 3.o. Clock we started out & traveled 8 Miles crossed Wood River & camped at dark about a Mile from the crossing. during the night a child of Caleb Luker died of Diarrhoea & Brain fever."

"Wednesday 13th buried George Thomas Smith Son of Henry & Matilda, also Elisha John Luker, aged 9 months & twenty days old. Son of Caleb & Catherine. we buried these close to the road on the North Side nearly ¾ of a Mile west of the crossing."

From the journal of William Priest: “13 We berred 2 children this morning then forward to Wood river Center 15 miles 189, Wood Short. We took in flour here.”