Rebecca Winters
Posted by: Hokyboys
N 41° 50.612 W 103° 37.041
13T E 614789 N 4633328
This is the grave of Rbecca Winters. She was a Mormon pioneer who died of cholera 15 August 1852. A friend of the family put up a marker for her. The Burlington Railroad changed their right-of-way to protect her grave which is now only feet from the railroad traks.
Waymark Code: WM8P8
Location: Nebraska, United States
Date Posted: 03/10/2006
Views: 40
REBECCA WINTERS
Rebecca Winters, daughter of Gideon Burdick, a drummer boy in
Washington's army, was born in New York State in 1802. She was a
pioneer in the Church of the Latter Day Saints, being baptized
with her husband Hiram in June 1833.
Membership in the Church brought persecution in Ohio, Illinois
and Iowa. In June 1852 the family joined others of their faith
in the great journey to Utah. It was a pleasant trip across Iowa
through June, but in the Platte Valley the dread cholera struck.
Rebecca saw many of her friends taken by the illness, and on
August 15 she was another of its victims. She was buried on the
prairie near here with a simple ceremony.
A close friend of the family, William Reynolds, chiseled the
words, "Rebecca Winters, Age 50" on an iron wagon tire to mark
the grave. The family continued on with the wagon train and
settled in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Burlington Railroad surveyors found the crude marker and changed
the right-of-way to save and protect the grave. In 1902 a
monument was erected by Rebecca's descendants. Rebecca Winters
is a symbol of the pioneer mother who endured great hardships in
the westward movement.
Scottsbluff Chamber of Commerce
Historical Land Mark Council
US 26, east of Scottsbluff
Scotts Bluff County
Marker 21
First Name: Rebecca
Last Name: Winters
Born: 01/16/1799
Died: 08/15/1852
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