Honoring Pioneer Children

A beautiful new memorial opened in Salt Lake City this week to honor the children who crossed the plains with their pioneer parents. There is a touching section of large rocks engraved with the names of the children who died along the way. There are three names that are significant to the descendants of  John Harris Greer:

1850 Emma Eliza Camp age 6

Little Emma was Catherine Ellen Camp Greer's baby sister. She travelled with her family and their large herd of cattle in the Shadrach Roundy Pioneer Company. Less than a week out, Emma died. The company records do not give a cause of death, but Grandmother Greer later wrote her memories of crossing the plains and mentions a little girl who got trapped in a stampede and died. Presumably that was her little sister Emma.

1855 Ira Abner Greer age 15; John Irvine Greer age 11 [he is incorrectly listed as age 15]

Within a week of setting out from Kansas, cholera broke out in the Seth Blair Pioneer Company claiming the lives of nearly one-third of their number. Within twenty-four hours, John Harris' grandmother Nancy lost not only these two sons but her husband as well. Seth Blair wrote the following to Brigham Young:

        Nancy Ann Terry Roberts Greer was now a widow, heartbroken with the loss of a husband and sons besides many other loved ones who now lay buried along “Pioneer Trail,” but realizing she must assume new and difficult responsibilities, that faith, courage and determination were needed. She knew she was one among many who likewise must sacrifice much for the Gospel; and that only with the help of Him who never fails, could she carry on and face the future undaunted.

        As soon as the sick were ready to travel, with the help of her loyal sons, they began the onward trek to Salt Lake City. Their long train of heavily laden wagons with three yoke of oxen to each wagon and hundreds of fine horse and cattle being driven, must have attracted much attention when they arrived in Salt Lake City….


On this Pioneer Day, may we remember the huge price the members of the Greer family paid for the Gospel.