Pioneer Story 21, Emily Wall (Willie Company)

Emily WALL Born: February 7,1840 in England Age: 16 Willie Handcart Company Sarah Emily (or Emily, as she was called) was the second oldest child in a family of nine. The family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. They wanted to emigrate to America, but they could not afford to send the whole family at once, so they sent the two oldest children first. This was a fairly common practice at the time.

Emily and her brother, Joseph (17), traveled to America on the ship “Thornton.” Apostle Orson Hyde gave Emily and Joseph a blessing before they left England, promising them that if they were true and faithful ‘and obeyed the counsel of those in authority over them, they would arrive in Zion in safety. They started out for Utah well prepared to make the journey on foot, as their mother had purchased 15 pairs of shoes for each of them. When the point was reached that the company could not carry so much, Joseph and Emily discarded part of their clothing, giving to those who were not as fortunate as they.

A few days after leaving Winter Quarters, Nebraska, Joseph became ill. Emily pulled him in the handcart, but he grew worse each day. Finally the company stopped for a time to allow him to recover, but he didn’t. Those in authority said they would have to leave him behind to be picked up or buried by the next company. Emily said that she would not go on without her brother, and she would stay behind as well. The company moved on, but after traveling three miles out, one of the captains decided to go back for them. Emily promised to pull her brother on her cart if he would be permitted to come. Consent was given, and with the aid of a young girl, Emily pushed and pulled her brother in the handcart for many days.

Later, after being stranded and subsequently rescued, Emily became acquainted with one of her rescuers, a young printer by the name of William M. Cowley. In conversation with her, he asked if some day she would marry him. Emily said she didn’t know and told him he would have to write to England and get permission from her mother. After being informed that a letter had been written to her mother and that an answer had come saying it was all right for them to be married, provided he was a good man, Emily consented and they were married in 1860. They became the parents of 12 children.

The journey across the plains was a difficult test for all of the people in the handcart companies. As they were promised by Apostle Hyde, Emily and Joseph made it to the Salt Lake Valley. Joseph regained his health after their arrival. Emily endured the extreme hardship of pulling her brother in a handcart, but was sustained by her great faith in the Apostolic blessing received before leaving England.