Lydia Ann Porter

Lydia Ann Porter is the daughter of James Buchanan Porter and Elizabeth Sloughterback Porter of Pennsylvania.

In 1848 at 16-years-old, Lydia married John Burns, 20-years-old, in Missouri. As year later in September, they had a child whom they named James Christopher Burns.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the couple joined an “Unknown Company” in 1850. (In a history of Lydia Burns, it mentioned they joined the Slaughter and Cavett Company) to go to California to the gold fields.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Cholera, a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water, infected many of the travelers. While traveling through Wyoming, both Lydia and John suffered from cholera and passed away. Lydia and John are buried at Sweetwater River Three Crossings Cemetery in Fremont, Wyoming.

Their child, James, was taken to the Utah Territory by Milton Dailey and his wife, Sara Jane Wilson Dailey. The Dailey’s were the only couple in the company of miners, who providentially brought along a milk cow. They were able to care for the baby until they reached the home of his maternal grandparents, James Buchanan Porter and Elizabeth Slaughterback Porter in Lehi, Utah. He was raised by his grandparents and their family.