Kate Fowler

Kate Folwer is the fifth of six children born to parents are Henry Charles Fowler and Martha Holland of England. Henry was on a mission for Thue Church of Jesus Christ of Latte-day Saints in England. While there, his brother, William, was going to America and offered to take Martha and their three children with him.

After arriving in America, the family members joined the Daniel McArthur Company to journey to the Salt Lake Valley to be with other Saints. The Company left August 6, 1863. Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. They had only been on the Mormon Trail for two weeks when Kate became ill and passed away. She is buried by Wood River, Nebraska.

From her uncle’s (William) biography: “Martha's little babe, about 15-months-old, got sick with teething and dysentery, and died on the plains as many others did on that toilsome journey. The company halted while the men scooped out a shallow grave. The babe was wrapped up in a clean sheet and laid in. Dirt was hastily thrown over it, and they were ready to march forward. While the burying was being done, both families of children raced around gathering wild flowers to strew over the little grave."

From the journal of Elijan Larkin: “18th Started at 7 A.M. Bro. Sloan Sick & I was appointed to fill his place & march ahead of the people. Camped at Wood River Centre[.] the Grass was almost burned up with the Sun. we Travelled two Hours after Sun Set & Camped by a Slough near the Platte for the night. A Child of Bro. Hen[r]y Fowler & another of Bro. Kings died at 7. A.M. & were Buried near the Camping place this evening.”