Selena Hurren

Selena Hurren was the fifth of eleven children born to James Hurren and Eliza Reeder. both from England. Four Hurren children left England with James and Eliza for America. When they arrived, Eliza was expecting. The family joined the James Willie Company with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to journey west to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Eliza gave birth to Selena who lived for two weeks. She is buried on the Mormon rail near Cherry Creek, Iowa.

According to Levi Savage Jr. of the Handcart company: “July 15, 1856, Tuesday, Camp of the Saints, near Iowa City. Today Sister Hurren was delivered of a fine daughter. She is very feeble. It was thought the child would die soon after it was born, but I administered to it and it soon revived. A few in the camp are suffering from diarrhea. We spent the day in preparing for our journey. July 30, 1856, Wednesday, Camp of the Saints, Skunk River, Iowa, about eleven o’clock last evening Brother Hurren’s daughter, aged two weeks, departed this life. Her death was caused by the canker. This morning we buried her, then started and traveled to Fort DeMoine twenty miles. Many of the Saints were nearly overdone by the long march. We did not get into camp until after dark.”

In the journal of Selena's father, he wrote: “1856 July 29-30th Eliza was weak from childbirth and in spite of her attention given, little Selena died and was buried in a little grave by the wayside.”