[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, Elzari Allred, Jane Boscoe, Harriet Brown, Agnes Brown, Phoebe Brown, Jane Hanks, [……] Hess

[Column 2]

Mary Ann Hiaons, Phoebe Merrill, Ellen Nease, Caroline Sargent, Rebecca Smith, Caroline Sessions, Sarah Shure, Sophia Tubbs, Isabelle Wilkis

Marker can be reached from Presidio Drive.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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