Emily Miranda Johnson

Emily Miranda Johnson is the seventh of seven children born to Lorenzo Johnson and Mary Ann Lyman, both from Connecticut. Emily was born in Iowa as the family waiting with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to join the William West Lane Company trek west to the Salt Lake Valley.

Disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Just days after the company left Iowa, cholera (a bacterial disease caused by contaminated water) infested the camp. Just five days after leaving Iowa, 2-year-old Emily passed away and is buried by Loup Fork, Nebraska.

Recorded in family records: “They lost their youngest child (a girl named Emily) to Cholera, she was just 2 1/2. Lorenzo had rescued a plank from the river, her mother felt that the Lord had provided it for the very purpose for which it was used. The plank was used to make a casket for the dear little child.”

Benjamin Gardner's notes of the journey: “June 30 Emaly [Emily] Marinda Jo[h]nson died the 29[th] aged 2 years,] 9 months”