Jakob Winkler

Jakob Winkler is the second of nine children born to Hans Ulrich Winkler and Anna Maria Thalmann, from Switzerland.

The Winkler family immigrated to America, sailing on the ship “Hudson.” After arriving in America, they traveled to Nebraska and joined the William Hyde Company. With other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Company left Nebraska for the Salt Lake Valley on August 9, 1864.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. While in Wyoming, Nebraska, 1-year-old Jakob suffered from scarlet fever and passed away. He is buried along the Mormon Trail in Wyoming, Nebraska.

From the history of Jakob's mother: “For a time all went well; then the little boy became very sick with what seemed to be scarlet fever. Everything was done for him that faith could do but he grew worse. One evening they reached a farm house where they begged the people to let them come in, but the folks no doubt knew the nature of the disease and refused, but gave them a piece of candle. The dear little boy's spirit took its flight just a moment or two before the candle went out.”