Mary's Story
Birth: December 20th, 1861 | female | in Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Death: August 23rd, 1863 | 1 year old | West of Skunk Creek in Nebraska
Memorial: Stone 13 | right column
Mary Elizabeth Tullidge is the second of four children born to Mary Jane Mathews and John Elliott Tullidge, Jr., both of England.
The family immigrated to America, sailing on the ship “Cynosure.” After arriving in America, they journeyed to Nebraska and joined the John W. Woolley Company. Along with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Company left for the Salt Lake Valley on August 9, 1863.
Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. After traveling for about two weeks, 2-year-old Mary Elizabeth passed away. She is buried in Nebraska along the Mormon Trail, just west of Skunk Creek.
From the journal of William McLachlan: “Saturday 22nd August. Rolled out this morning at 5 a.m. and camped between 8 & 9 o'clock a.m. for breakfast, where we could get water for the cattle and for cooking. Started again at 1 p.m. and camped in the evening about 6 p.m. on the north side of the Platte. Sunday 23rd August. Died in camp this morning a little girl 2 years old belonging to Bro. Tullidge. Very cold towards the evening. Camped at the junction of the roads."