Description

Buried by the Wayside

In the summer of 1864, Jesse Nathaniel Smith was returning from a mission in Denmark to his family. At the Missouri River in Nebraska, he joined with a company of emigrants, mostly women and children, bound for Zion in what were called then “Down and Back Wagon Trains.” It was a particularly difficult year for the emigrants with much death and disease along the trail—too much cholera. Jesse wrote the following,

“One sultry noon, as soon as the halt was made the word went around that a young sister had died during the morning drive, and would be buried immediately. The preparations for the solemnity were of the simplest character. While the men dug the grave a short distance away upon a low bench or plateaus, the women wrapped the form of the deceased in many folds of blankets. There was no bier, and the body was somewhat rudely, though tenderly borne to the place of sepulcher by friendly hands. And what had been her history, we eagerly enquired. The short story of her life was soon told. She had been for years a member of the church in England, and for a considerable time betrothed to a young missionary who could not well be spared to emigrate. They had agreed that they would not get married until he should be released, and then they would make the journey together. They were married on board the ship, but a few short weeks had passed, and now her dream of married life and earthly happiness was over. The young husband was too ill to follow the burial party without assistance. His grief was very touching.

Green boughs and young willows and a profusion of wildflowers formed the only substitute for a coffin. As we looked down into the grave, it seemed hard to leave her there alone, amid that sea of waving grass, in that unmarked spot—but our reflections were abruptly interrupted by the captain’s hoarse voice calling to the guard to drive in the cattle.”

Once again, it is good to occasionally be reminded of how far we have come and on whose shoulders we stand.

Source:

https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/sources/39729307348073711210-eng/j-n-s-jesse-n-smith-buried-by-the-wayside-juvenile-instructor-17-jan-1874-14?firstName=Jesse%20Nathaniel&surname=Smith

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWCX-4KH