Nellie Unthank
Encyclopedia
Ellen Pucell "Nellie" Unthank (November 6, 1846 – July 21, 1915) was a Mormon pioneer
, Utah settler, and amputee, remembered as a symbol of pioneer endurance.
Unthank was born in Tintwistle
, Cheshire
, England
. She immigrated to Utah
from England
with her family as a young girl, traveling with the Martin Handcart Company
. During the journey her parents died, and she had to finish without them, walking most of the way without shoes. Because of the bitter cold and snow, she suffered frostbite
. When she arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
, her legs were amputated, using no anesthetic, below the knee. Because of the imprecise amputation, her stumps never healed and were bloody for the rest of her life. She became a symbol for courage and nobility because she did not ask for pity despite her handicap. She did laundry on her knees to help raise six children.
On April 22, 1871, she married William Unthank. She died in Cedar City, Utah
at the age of 69. Jerry Anderson created a statue of her with feet that is located on the Southern Utah University
campus at the former location of her home.
Mormon Pioneer
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Latter-day Saints, who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah...
, Utah settler, and amputee, remembered as a symbol of pioneer endurance.
Unthank was born in Tintwistle
Tintwistle
Tintwistle is a village and civil parish in the High Peak district of the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,401. The village is just north of Glossop at the lower end of Longdendale Valley...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She immigrated to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with her family as a young girl, traveling with the Martin Handcart Company
Mormon handcart pioneers
The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transport their belongings...
. During the journey her parents died, and she had to finish without them, walking most of the way without shoes. Because of the bitter cold and snow, she suffered frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas...
. When she arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
, her legs were amputated, using no anesthetic, below the knee. Because of the imprecise amputation, her stumps never healed and were bloody for the rest of her life. She became a symbol for courage and nobility because she did not ask for pity despite her handicap. She did laundry on her knees to help raise six children.
On April 22, 1871, she married William Unthank. She died in Cedar City, Utah
Cedar City, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,527 people, 6,486 households, and 4,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.8 people per square mile . There were 7,109 housing units at an average density of 353.9 per square mile...
at the age of 69. Jerry Anderson created a statue of her with feet that is located on the Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
campus at the former location of her home.
External links
- Nellie Unthank at suu.edu