Elizabeth's Story
Birth: February 15th, 1864 | female | in Wales
Death: August ??, 1868 | 4 years old | Somewhere near Laramie, Wyoming
Memorial: Stone 16
Elizabeth Thomas is the last of four children born to parents Hugh William Thomas of Wales and Mary Ann Sparrey of England. Hugh and Mary Ann were married in 1857 in Wales.
Hugh and his family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wales, and desired to be with other Saints gathered in Utah. They boarded the ship “Minnesota” and sailed to America. After arriving, they traveled by train to Laramie, Wyoming. There they joined the William S. Seeley Company which began its journey from the outfitting post in Laramie, Wyoming, departing August 1, 1868.
Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Along the way, 4-year-old Elizabeth contracted measles and passed away. She is buried on the trail somewhere near Laramie, Wyoming.
The company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 29 August 1868.