Jane Barton

Jane Barton is the oldest of six children born to John A. Barton and Elizabeth Ann Walley, both from England. The family immigrated to America by sailing on the ship “Cinashore.” While on the ship, measles invaded the families. Some passed away from the disease. When the Barton family arrived in America, they traveled to Nebraska and joined an unknown wagon company to journey 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. In addition, children continued to suffered from afflictions acquired while on the ship. When the company got to Council Bluffs, there were so many of the company who were sick, that the company decided to camp for a few days to try to recover.

On an August night, 3-year-old Jane passed away. She is buried in Florence, Nebraska on a hillside.

According to her mother’s history, written by a daughter: “Father went to the store and got a box, Mother tore up one of her sheets, lined the box and put Jane inside, then Father and one of the brothers took her up in the bluffs and buried her. After a few days the company continued their journey.”