Women of the Mormon Battalion

Women of the Mormon Battalion. . , [Marker located on Front of Base:], Mormon women were anxious to reach the glorious West and any means offered seemed an answer to prayer to help them on their way. When it was learned four laundresses would be allowed each of the five companies, the wives of the soldiers made application and twenty were chosen. Men who could meet the expenses were permitted to take their families. Hence nearly eighty women and children accompanied the Battalion. They endured the hardships of the journey knowing hunger and thirst. Four wives, Susan M. Davis, Lydia Hunter, Phoebe D. B. Brown, and Melissa B. Coray traveled the entire distance arriving in San Diego 29 January 1847. Mrs. Hunter gave birth to a son April 20, 1847, the first L.D.S. child born in San Diego. She died two weeks later., [Marker located on Back of Base:], THEY ACCOMPANIED THE MORMON BATTALION. , Mary Brown, One Child. Eunice Brown, Five Children. Mary Button, Four Children. Celia Hunt, Six Children. Sarah Higgins, Five Children. Fanny Huntington, Four Children. Malinda Kelly, One Child. Sarah Kelly, One Child. Martha Sharp, One Child. Elizabeth Shelton, Five Children , Catherine Steele, One Child , Albina Williams, Three Children. , Column 1 , Ruth Abbott, Susan Adams, Aliza Allred, Elzadie Allred, Jane Boscoe, Harriet Brown, Agnes Brown, Phoebe Brown, Jane Hanks, Emeline Hess, Column 2 , Mary Ann Hirons, Phoebe Merrill, Ellen Nease, Caroline Sargent, Rebecca Smith, Caroline Sessions, Sarah Shure, Sophia Tubbs, Isabella Wilkin