Rhoda Rebecca Oakey

Rhoda Rebecca Oakey was one of 10 children born to Thomas Oakey and Ann Collett in in Eldersfield, England. Rhoda had two siblings who died shortly after birth.

The family was taught by Wilford Woodruff, who was serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her parents were impressed with what they heard and were among the first group of converts baptized by Elder Woodruff. Rhoda was baptized by her father on May 6, 1854.

With a desire to join other Saints, Rhoda and her family left Liverpool, England on May 4, 1856, and boarded the ship “Thornton.” They landed at Castle Garden, New York in June, then went by train to Iowa City. There they joined the James G. Willie Handcart Company and headed for the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 15, 1856.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Rhoda walked the entire distance without proper food and with scant clothing. The night before they were to enter the Salt Lake Valley, Rhoda’s father became very ill. Her mother stayed up most of the night taking care of him. The next morning when her mother went to wake the children, she found that Rhoda had died during the night. She wrapped Rhoda’s body in a blanket and was permitted to bring her to Salt Lake for burial.