James Marion Young *

James (Frances) Marion Young is the ninth of 12 children born to William Alma Young , Sr. and Leah Holland Smith, both from Tennessee. William and Lea were married in 1826 in Tennessee.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family joined the Samuel Gully / Orson Spencer Company to journey to the Great Salt Lake and left for the Salt Lake Valley. Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. On August 29, 1849, young James fell from the wagon and died from his injuries. He is buried along the Mormon Trail.

From the journal of Reuben Miller: “Wednesday Morning 29th This is a cold and stormy Morning having Rained and Snowed most of the night. Snows fast this morning. The tops of the mountains on the right and Left capped with snow. The earth covered. On account of the scattered condition of the herd the camp did not Start till 1 O.C P.M. It having cleared off and is a fine warm afternoon about 7 miles from our place of encampment. A child [James Marion Young] about 3 years old belonging to Bro [William] Young While in the act of taking it out of the waggon, was let fall and both wagon wheels passed over its boddy [body]. It died in about eight hours. Camp arrived at the ford of the Sweet watter No 5 before ten O.C P.M The first in the rear. Captain Hyde and the other two tens also

Thursday Morning 30th Camp Started at 1/2 past 12 O.C P.M and traveled till 1/4 before six O.C P.M and camped for the night on the S[weet] Watter Bottom w[h]ere the road Leaves the river[.] Distance from W[inter]. Quarters 769 1/2 Miles. The child which was killed was buiried at this place.”