Susan was born on February 9, 1819. In 1860, she and her husband, Isaac left Illinois with their family, bound for California. Susan was pregnant with her eighth child.
Tragically, Susan died from complications following the birth. Her niece, who was present, later recounted her belief that Susan should have survived. But the men were eager to press on. In an attempt to stop the bleeding, they wrapped her in wet blankets — a decision that led to pneumonia.
Miraculously, their newborn son, Robert, survived and continued the journey to California with his father.
(Photo credit: University of California)
Along the trail, most who died were buried with little more than a wooden cross. Susan’s grave is rare because the party was traveling with Frank Dunn, a stonecutter. The night she died, Dunn stayed up carving her a headstone from local stone.
Today, Susan’s headstone is one of the few original emigrant markers still standing along the California Trail. Its exact location was lost for over 70 years until descendants rediscovered it. The family later placed a newer marker below the original.
Susan’s grave has been on my radar for several years. I knew it was a long, remote drive along the old emigrant trail — a real commitment. So it stayed in the back of my mind. Monday, we headed out to the Antelope Springs Graves to document two men killed while transporting freight between the Humboldt County mines and California. I was stunned to find Susan’s grave right there beside them.
What really happened?
I was able to talk with a physician who loves history. I asked about the wet sheet and pneumonia. He had never heard of using a wet sheet to stop bleeding (but said it could have been a treatment used at the time). But this would not cause pneumonia, and death from pneumonia would not happen in 2 days.
He thought that what made more sense was that Susan developed a post-partum infection. Puerperal or Childbed fever and sepsis were sadly all too common and resulted in maternal death. The wet sheet was likely a treatment for fever. This fits with their treatment and her death 2 days following the birth.
Susan’s niece would have been young and witnessed a traumatic event. Her understanding of the events would have been based on her limited knowledge of what was happening.
Follow me on social media:
Anonymous says
1
Tony says
Great story very interesting and such hard decision to keep going fill so sorry for Susan so sad but thank you very much live your website always interested in looking forward to you photos and stories thank you 😊
Tami says
It was a hard life, with tough people.
Thanks you, I’m so glad you enjoy my site!
Linda Thomas says
Wow! Giving birth while enroute from Illinois to California on the trail!!?? Such a sad story. But it makes me wonder what they fed the newborn Robert while traveling? Maybe they were able to get animal milk along the way? And curious why they wrapped poor Susan in wet blankets? Did they believe this would staunch the bleeding? Were they trying to keep a fever at bay?
Great story! Thanks!
Tami says
I wonder if another woman acted as a nurse maid? If not, it would have been animal milk.
I asked a Dr. what he thought. He said wrapping her in a wet blanket and developing pneumonia didn’t make sense. He suspects she developed a fever and they used the wet blankets to try and bring down her temperature.
John Wrobel says
Interesting story, thank you for making the long drive to get there.
Looking forward to reading the stories in the two books I recently purchased from you.
Maybe even making the trip east from the coast to visit some of the locations you have highlighted.
Might be fun to do a book on your travels and discoveries along the immigrant trail.
Tami says
I hope you enjoy them. Beyond Bodie went to editing a few weeks ago. That will have more in depth information about sites within 25 miles of Bodie.
A book on the emigrant trails is an idea. Trails West has a great series but it is a different format.
Alan Drew says
Tami: Nice job finding the grave -thanks for sharing – keep up the good work!
Tami says
Thank you!
Chuck says
Is there a map showing the approximate location of the emigrant trail? I’m no longer physically able to get out and enjoy the off-road experience, I still enjoy following with my mind…
Tami says
There are a number of references. Are you a member of Trails West? They have great guides and information on the markers they place. Each book covers a different section. They host their annual conference at Carson Valley in June. I will be helping guide a trip, but they also do presentations.
Emigrant Trails: The Long Road to California is also a great book.
Paul Eversman says
Hi Tami,
Fascinating story and find. Is this site also be known as the Majuba Mountain Cemetery?
Tami says
It is. But, the details on Find a Grave seem odd.