Tunis Harriet Rich

Tunis Harriet Rich was the third of ten children born to Charles Coulson Rich of Kentucky and Harriett Sargent of Indiana. Charles was sent to San Bernardino to help colonize members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When Brigham Young called for all Saints to return to Utah, their family joined the Amasa M. Lyman / Charles C. Rich Company for the journey.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Cholera, a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water, infected many of the travelers. Along the way, 2-year-old Tunis grew ill and passed away. She is buried in Pinto, Washington County, Utah.

From the company journal: “Thursday May 21st Left camp at 8 O clock[.] halted at noon[.] camped at 6 O clock on the mountain meadows[.] Distance traveled 14 mile. This evening at 6¼ O clock Brother Cha[rle]s Rich's little Daughter Tunis died, after an illness. of about six hours. Friday May 22 Some of the brethren were busy all the morning making a coffin for the child”