Harriet Paulina Dart

Harriet Paulina Dart was the third child born to John Dart and Lucy Ann Roberts, both from Connecticut. Harriet’s parents were married in 1831 in Connecticut.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and with a desire to trek west to the Great Salt Lake Valley, the Dart family joined the Warren Foote Company in 1850.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. During the journey, cholera (a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water) and other illnesses invaded the company. Among those who fell victim to cholera were 14-year-old Harriet Paulina, her brother George William, and mother Lucy Ann. George was the first to pass away. Twelve hours later Harriet died on June 30, and their mother Lucy Ann died on July 6. Harriet Paulina is buried “on a small rise” along the trail.

A Dart family history records: “The night rain descended in torrents and while traveling the next morning the wagon became stuck in the mud. In trying to get it unstuck, the wagon tongue broke, they stopped to make repairs. While they stopped, Lucy Ann and two of the children, Harriet Paulina and George William, were taken ill with cholera. George passed away, they traveled on to where the company was camped, a grave was dug, George William Dart, age eight years, was buried June 29th at dark.

“About four o'clock in the morning, my sister left us to keep company with our departed brother. In the morning we buried her on a small rise of ground away from human habitation, among the howling bea[s]ts of the plains. They died about twelve hours apart.”