George Thomas Smith

George’s parents are Henry Smith and Matilda Watts, both from England. They met and were married in New Jersey, moved to Delaware where they had their second child, a son, George Thomas.

They went to Nebraska and joined the Ansil P Harmon Company to come to the Salt Lake Valley. The company left August 1 from Nebraska to begin their journey. The company had been traveling for almost 2 weeks when George came down with the measles along with other children.

John Daniel Thompson's journal of the journey, in part:

“Tuesday (August) 12th (1862) Started out quarter to 7.o. Clock & traveled 14 Miles & nooned near where the road leaves the Platt[e] for wood river <a child of Henry Smith died of measles>[.] at 3.o. Clock we started out & traveled 8 Miles crossed Wood River & camped at dark about a Mile from the crossing. during the night a child of Caleb Luker died of Diarrhoea & Brain fever.

Wednesday (August) 13th (1862) buried George Thomas Smith <aged 2 years & 10 months> Son of Henry & Matilda, also Elisha John Luker, aged 9 months & twenty days old. Son of Caleb & Catherine. we buried these close to the road on the North Side nearly ¾ of a Mile west of the crossing.”