Elizabeth's Story
Birth: April 22nd, 1852 | female | in Kensworth, Hertfordshire, England
Death: July 27th, 1866 | 14 years old | in Nebraska
Memorial: Stone 14 | right column
Elizabeth Garner was born to Willliam Garner, Jr. and her mother is Sarah Ann Cheshire of England. The Garner Family immigrated to America on the ship “Caroline.” After arriving they traveled to Nebraska and joined the William Henry Chipman Company. With other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the company left Nebraska on July 12, 1866 bound for the Utah Territory.
Disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. When the company had been out just two weeks, 14-year-old Elizabeth passed away of undocumented causes. She is buried on the plains of the Mormon Trail in Nebraska.
A company journal states: “July 25—Yesterday was the Anniversary of our people that entered the valley. We traveled about half the day, then we had singing and dancing, and all enjoyed ourselves. We are journeying by the Platte River. A young Deaf and dumb girl died in our camp.” (The record didn’t indicate a name of the deceased child.)