Mary Ann Thornock

Mary Ann Thornock was one of nine children born to Ann Bott and John Thornock. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they had a desire to trek west to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Mary Ann, 4-years-old, died during their journey across the plains. There was nothing to make a box in which to bury her, so Ann took the clothes out of the only box she had and tied them in bundles. The box was not long enough so Mary Ann’s body had to be lain crosswise, from corner to corner, in order to make room.

Ann left her little girl there on the plains, leaving her heart there as well, and trudged on with worn out shoes, bleeding feet, and the help of the Lord.