Eliza Ann Jost

Eliza Ann Jost is the second of ten children born to John Alexander Jost and Mary Ann Zwicker, both of Canada. Eliza and her sister, Alice, immigrated to America before their parents. With a desire to journey to Zion located in the Great Salt Lake Valley, they joined the James Willie Handcart Company composed of other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. This company was especially challenged, leaving late in the Season. Just five days after the Saints began their journey, courageous 17-year-old Eliza Ann was inflicted with cholera, a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water. She died on June 20, 1855, and is buried on the west side of Deep Creek in Kansas.

From the journal of William W. Wright: “I was accompanied by two young sister[s] Eliza and Alice Joist [Jost], they are cooking for a mess for their passage to Salt Lake City.”

From the journal of Edward Wallace East: “Brother Jerry Sangford and wife both died during the night and the four were buried at this camp, on the hill some two hundred yards from the Creek on the West side of the road. On the next day Eliza Jost, Mary York, Susan Greer, Martha Allison, Sarah Jones, James Jones, and Elisabeth Langford died and were buried at the same place.”

From the journal of Edward Stevenson: “On the following day 20th the Co. Moved on as early as possible and during this day Eliza Josh [Jost], Mary York & Susan Greer died”

From the journal of Sylvester H. Earl: “Sister Eliza Poast [Jost] died this forenoon in the wagon. We buried her the same hour and did not stop the train.”