Davidson Family Grave on Mormon Mesa

Davidson Family Grave, Mormon Mesa,, Mesquite Lincoln County Nevada ghost town abandoned graves along wagon road

Outside of Mesquite, Nevada, on the top of Mormon Mesa, flies a lone Scottish flag topping a white cross. A rock-covered grave is at the memorial’s base; the headstone reads “Davidson.” Why were the father, mother and son buried alongside the wagon road, miles from any settlement? Today, the site is only miles off the busy I-15. In 1869, it was over thirty miles from the nearest town.

The Church of Latter-day Saints in Scotland

While living in Canada, Scottish natives Alexander Wright and Samuel Mulliner converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In 1839, they returned to their homeland as missionaries, converting their families and spreading the religion in Scotland.

Additional missionaries joined, and by 1853, the church had over 3,000 members and 70 branches in Scotland. In the mid-1800s, some members were persecuted for their religious beliefs. The church encouraged members to emigrate to the United States and settle in Utah. Within the next twenty years, over 3,000 members moved across the Atlantic.

Mormon wagon train 1882
(Photo credit: Utah)

The Davidsons

James Davidson was born in 1805 in Scotland. He married Maria Armstrong, born in 1808, on November 24, 1828. The couple had eight children, three boys and five girls, between 1829 and 1856. Their last child, Joseph, was born on December 15, 1856, when James was 51 and Maria 48.

James and Maria Davidson
(Photo credit: Family Search)

The Davidsons converted to LDS and emigrated to the United States around 1866. James was a machinist. He helped fit machinery at LDS President Young’s cotton and wool factory in Salt Lake City. The family then headed to Washington, outside of St. George, to install machinery and work as the overseer at the Washington Cotton Factory. James was described as a good man but “rather feeble.”

Washington Cotton Factory
(Photo credit: Washington County Historical Society)

An unfortunate series of events

It is now known why the Davidson family traveled 80 miles from Washington to St. Thomas, Nevada. Some speculate James may have been encouraging settlers to grow more cotton for the church and factory.

St, Thomas Nevada ghost town — St. Thomas
(Photo credit: Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs)

The Davidson left St. Thomas on June 9 to connect with President Erastus Snow and Elder Joseph W. Young at St. Joseph. Due to a broken wagon wheel, they were delayed and were unable to connect with the travel party. Unaware that the Davidsons were a day behind, the wagon train departed for St. George.

St. Joseph Nevada Ghost Town Moapa Overton Clark County — St. Joseph

A tragic decision

Unfamiliar with the new road but not wanting to wait, the Davidsons headed out alone. The Virgin River Route had adequate water but presented difficult water crossings and areas of quicksand. Instead, they took the new route across Mormon Mesa. The road was shorter and had firmer ground, but there was no water for 30 miles.

The Davidsons progressed twenty-eight miles from St. Thomas before their wagon again broke. In the 120-degree summer sun, they quickly ran out of water. Only 5 miles from a water stop at Quoquah (Coquap) Wash, they sent Joseph to the well with a canteen and keg for water. Not finding the well, Joseph continued to Beaver Dam, eighteen miles farther. Joseph made it within a mile of the well at Beaver Dam before falling off his horse in exhaustion and dehydration.

At Beaver Dam, two men were cleaning out the well. A horse wandered to the well, nearly dead. The men didn’t think much about it until two days later, when they took their mules to feed. Finding Joseph’s body, they buried him where he died.