Samuel William Cooley

Samuel William Cooley is the second of six children born to John William Cooley of New York and Susan Jane Hunt of Tennessee. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family joined the Daniel A. Miller / John W. Cooley Company to journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Along the journey, 11-month-old Samuel became ill and died. He was buried two days later near Shepherd’s Creek.

According to company records: “Samuel William Cooley was buried two days after his death on July 11 at a ridge a few rods west of Shepherd's creek and about 336 miles from old Winter Quarters.”

From Elijah Mayhew's diary: “Saturday July 9th, Mended Wagon[.] Started late[.] Came 16 Miles [.] Camped on Shepherd’s Creek [.] Bro. Cooleys Child who had been Sick for Some days—died this evening about 10 O’clock.”

In the history of Samuel's father: “During the night of July 9, 1853, while camped at Shepherd’s Creek, Grandfather and Aunt Jane’s baby died.”

From Elder Linforth’s journal: “The poor mother’s grief was very effecting. What can be more distressing than to see a poor infant struggling with death, and be utterly unable to render assistance. We buried the child and commenced our journey at twelve o’clock. A board was placed at the head of the grave with the following inscription: S.W. Cooley, age 11 months, son of J.W. Cooley.”