Ephraim's Story
Birth: August 21st, 1851 | unknown | in Burnley, Lancashire, England
Death: August 10th, 1856 | 4 years old | in Nebraska, East of
Memorial: Stone 7 | left column | 3rd name
Florence Outpost. Remembered at the Pioneer Children’s Memorial, This is the Place Heritage Park; Stone 7 (left side).
Ephraim Robert Normington is the eighth of ten children born to Thomas Normington and Maria Jackson, both born in England. When Ephraim was 4-years-old, the family immigrated from England to America on ship “Horizon.” After arriving in Boston, Massachusetts they traveled further west to join the Edward Martin Company of 1856 to journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. While crossing the plains in Iowa, Ephraim passed away of undocumented causes. His younger brother Daniel died the same day. They are buried in Nebraska, east of Florence Outpost.
The Company left late in the season. As a result, the Saints were met with severe cold and weather. Many perished, including Ephraim’s father. He is buried with others who perished from starvation and cold.