Esther Parkinson

Esther's Story

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The Story

Esther's Story

researched by Penny Magnusson Hannum

Birth:  April 9th, 1854   |   female   |   in Preston, Lancashire, England

Death:  July 25th, 1856   |   2 years old   |   in Iowa

Memorial:   Stone 7   |   right column

Esther Parkinson is the son of John Parkinson and Ellen Smalley, both from England.

The family of nine immigrated to America. All were healthy when they joined the Edward Martin Handcart Company of 1856 to travel to the 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. Cholera (a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water) and other diseases invaded the company. Esther, 2-years-old was among the victims. She is buried in Iowa near the beginning of their journey. Her sister, Mary, died the same day. Her parents and three other siblings died before they could reach the Valley.

submitted by The Daughters of Utah Pioneers and Days of ‘47