Lily's Story
Birth: November 5th, 1865 | female | in St. John, St. Louis, Missouri
Death: August 25th, 1866 | Infant | in Wyoming
Memorial: Stone 14 | right column
Lily Jane Lambourne is the daughter of William Lambourne Jr., and Martha Wernham, both of England. In 1853, the family immigrated to America from England and settled in Missouri where most of their children were born. Later, they joined the John D. Holliday Company with a quest to reach the Salt Lake Valley. The Company departed on July 16, 1866.
One month into the journey and after a 10-day illness, 9-month-old Lily Jane passed away. She is buried on the plains of Wyoming. Her father wrote this poem in her memory:
But cruel death had done its work
So died our Lilly Jane
As I kissed away her parting breath
And thought of her dear name
I knew that she was blessed
Our dearest Lilly Jane
We buried her by the wayside
On Laramie’s wild plain
And strewed her grave with flowers
Our darling Lilly Jane