UNCATEGORIZED

Future Of Pioneer Grave Along Mormon Trail In Nebraska Now In Question

Jul 9, 2019, 7:54 PM | Updated: 7:57 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –  A downtown monument commemorates Brigham Young welcoming Mormon pioneers to Utah, but not all of the pioneers reached their destination.

“I am her fourth great grandson,” said Jacob Oscarson, who knows one of his ancestors never made it.

Rebecca Winters died of cholera along the trail in Nebraska, in 1852.

“A member of the wagon train carved her name into an old metal wagon tire and buried it with her,” he said.

The grave was largely forgotten, until the early 1900’s when the railroad came through.  The train tracks were laid, just six feet from her resting place.  In 1996, her grave was moved away from the tracks, to a safer location, about 900 feet away, but still along the original Mormon Trail.

“Her story I think is very worthy of being remembered and told and it is done so  much better, right there where she died,” Oscarson added.

But in recent years, a lack of maintenance prompted local Latter-day Saints to improve the gravesite, only to learn the property was owned by Scott Bluffs county, and officials there have shown little interest in preserving the site.

“The county can’t force us to move the grave, it’s something that the family is choosing to do, just because the county does have the authority to say ‘no maintenance’ or just say ‘we’re going to fence it off,’” he said.

It is believed that Rebecca Winters likely has more than 1000 living descendants,  many of them in Utah, so Oscarson is hoping to get a consensus on what they believe should happen with her grave.

Options include moving Winter’s remains to a cemetery or a nearby museum, along the Oregon Trail.

“She did not travel the Oregon Trail, she traveled the Mormon Trail, so my personal preference would be to try to work with the county and some of the local people and see if we can come up with some sort of agreement where we can keep her grave right there along the trail,” he said.

Oscarson has created a website, www.rebeccawinters.org, in hopes that other descendants of Winters will get involved and provide direction and even financial support.    An effort to preserve her final resting place and more importantly, her history, for future generations.

“There are very few places where you can go and actually see a grave that’s been marked and you can say ‘we know the story of the person who’s here’ and for that reason I think it’s very important that her grave is maintained.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Uncategorized

Anna Thorley

April 3 – TONIGHT

2 days ago

Anna Thorley

April 3 – WEDNESDAY

2 days ago

The University of Utah Science and Engineering Fair picked up again in March after not being fully ...

Mary Culbertson

U of U holds first fully in-person Science and Engineering Fair since 2019

The University of Utah held its first Science and Engineering Fair fully in-person since 2019, and recently announced the winners.

16 days ago

Police maintain a presence after responding to false threats of shots fired at Ogden High School in...

Daniel Woodruff

Schools hope new Utah law will deter ‘swatting’ calls

Schools are reacting to a new law taking aim at people who falsely report school shootings.

16 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Future Of Pioneer Grave Along Mormon Trail In Nebraska Now In Question