Valentina Elizabeth Dyer

Valentina Elizabeth Dyer is the daughter of William Collins Dyer and Ann Husbands, both of Wales. Valentina was named because she was born on Valentine's Day. The Dyers immigrated too America on the ship “Manhattan.” After their arrival, they traveled to Nebraska and joined an “unknown company” to trek west to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Along with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the company left Nebraska sometime near the end of July, 1867.

Disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. In August, somewhere west of Council Bluffs, Nebraska, 1-year-old Valentina passed away. She is buried along the Mormon Trail.

From her brother’s history: “recalls the sight of his mother weeping alongside a new grave in which rocks had been thrown to protect the body of his sister Valentina. She died when about one and one-half years of age and was buried west of Council Bluffs.”