Rebecca Winters (pioneer)
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Burdick Winters was a Mormon pioneer
who with her family left the eastern United States to emigrate to Utah
with other Latter-day Saints. In August 1852, en route to Utah, she died of cholera near present day Scottsbluff, Nebraska
. Her grave, located in the Rebecca Winters Memorial Park, has become a popular landmark along the Mormon Trail
and is a Nebraska State Landmark.
. In 1806, Catharina died; Rebecca was only seven years old at this time. Rebecca's father, Gideon, then married Jane Ripley Brown, and when Rebecca was 18 the family relocated to Athens County, Ohio
. Here she met Hiram Winters and they were married in 1824. Eventually the two were introduced to Mormonism
and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They moved their family to Kirtland, Ohio
to gather with other Church members, who are called Latter-day Saints.
When living in Kirtland, Rebecca and Hiram were caretakers of the Kirtland Temple
.
before leaving, to Utah
, on the Mormon Trail
with the James C. Snow Wagon Company in June 1852. On August 13 of that year, while near Chimney Rock
, Rebecca became sick with cholera, and the illness continued to get worse until August 15 when she died. Following her death, William Reynolds, a family friend, carved her name and age into a iron wagon tire and buried it to mark the grave's location.
, Mormon pioneers stopped traveling by foot and Rebecca's grave was all but forgotten. Farmers in the Scottsbluff area knew about the grave, but it was not until the end of the 20th Century that Rebecca's grave became a tourist attraction. It was during this time that the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad was running a railroad line through the Platte Valley, and after discovering the marked grave, they rerouted the tracks from their original plan to avoid disturbing it. For almost 100 years, thousands visited the grave site, so in 1995 the Burlington Northern Railroad
decided to relocate the grave for the safety of visitors (due to its proximity to the railroad tracks). In September 1995, her body was exhumed and relocated a little further east and north of the original location. In June 1996, hundreds of Rebecca's descendants gathered for the dedication of the Rebecca Winters Memorial Park. Rebecca's grave remains of the few marked graves along the Mormon Trail.
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...
who with her family left the eastern United States to emigrate 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...
with other Latter-day Saints. In August 1852, en route to Utah, she died of cholera near present day Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
. Her grave, located in the Rebecca Winters Memorial Park, has become a popular landmark along the Mormon Trail
Mormon Trail
The Mormon Trail or Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile route that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled from 1846 to 1868...
and is a Nebraska State Landmark.
Origins
Rebecca Burdick was born January 16, 1799, to parents Gideon Burdick and Catharina Schmidt, in Canajoharie, New YorkCanajoharie, New York
Canajoharie, New York may refer to:* Canajoharie , New York* Canajoharie , New York...
. In 1806, Catharina died; Rebecca was only seven years old at this time. Rebecca's father, Gideon, then married Jane Ripley Brown, and when Rebecca was 18 the family relocated to Athens County, Ohio
Athens County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,223 people, 22,501 households, and 12,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 24,901 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
. Here she met Hiram Winters and they were married in 1824. Eventually the two were introduced to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They moved their family to Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
to gather with other Church members, who are called Latter-day Saints.
When living in Kirtland, Rebecca and Hiram were caretakers of the Kirtland Temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
.
The Trek West
After leaving Kirtland, the Winters family briefly stayed in Nauvoo, IllinoisNauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
before leaving, 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...
, on the Mormon Trail
Mormon Trail
The Mormon Trail or Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile route that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled from 1846 to 1868...
with the James C. Snow Wagon Company in June 1852. On August 13 of that year, while near Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock is a prominent geological rock formation in Morrill County in western Nebraska. Rising nearly 300 feet above the surrounding North Platte River valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is above sea level. During the middle 19th century it served as a landmark along the Oregon Trail, the...
, Rebecca became sick with cholera, and the illness continued to get worse until August 15 when she died. Following her death, William Reynolds, a family friend, carved her name and age into a iron wagon tire and buried it to mark the grave's location.
Grave site and relocation
After the completion of the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, Mormon pioneers stopped traveling by foot and Rebecca's grave was all but forgotten. Farmers in the Scottsbluff area knew about the grave, but it was not until the end of the 20th Century that Rebecca's grave became a tourist attraction. It was during this time that the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad was running a railroad line through the Platte Valley, and after discovering the marked grave, they rerouted the tracks from their original plan to avoid disturbing it. For almost 100 years, thousands visited the grave site, so in 1995 the Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
decided to relocate the grave for the safety of visitors (due to its proximity to the railroad tracks). In September 1995, her body was exhumed and relocated a little further east and north of the original location. In June 1996, hundreds of Rebecca's descendants gathered for the dedication of the Rebecca Winters Memorial Park. Rebecca's grave remains of the few marked graves along the Mormon Trail.