Nancy East

Nancy East is the fourth of 11 children born to Edward Wallace East of Virginia and Willmirth Matilda Greer of Georgia. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family joined the Seth M. Blair / Edward Stevenson Company of 1855 to trek to the great Salt Lake Valley.

Disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Cholera (a bacterial disease caused by contaminated water) threatened many of the company, including several children of the East family, including Nancy, her brother William, and sister Mary. On July 4, 7-year-old Nancy passed away.

Edward’s journal records: “Our daughter Nancy, who had been speechless for several days died on the 4th of July at the second camp on the Little Blue or Sweet Water and was buried after two hours, being about seven years old.”