Jemima Elizabeth Chappell

Jemima Elizabeth Chappell, was the youngest of nine children born to Edward Chappell and Agnes Boardman, both from England.

The family immigrated to America, sailing on the ship “Hudson.” After arriving in America, they traveled to Nebraska and joined the William S. Warren Company. Along with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the company left on July 21, 1864 to journey to the Salt Lake Valley.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Before reaching the Platte River in Nebraska, the Chappell family became severely ill with Rocky Mountain spotted fever (a serious bacterial infection transmitted by ticks), and dysentery.

Jemima, 9-months-old, became ill from the fever and passed away. She is buried along the Platte River in Nebraska.

In the weeks that followed, Jemima’s mother, father, and two sisters, Angelina and Jemina, died from sickness while on the journey. Four other Chappell children, who had also been ill, survived and were taken in by other families.