Not actually buried in Provo City Cemetery


A COMMEMORATIVE HEADSTONE

This commemorative headstone was placed here in Provo City Cemetery because Eliza's husband, Ira Nathaniel Hinckley was buried in this same cemetery. Family history shows that Eliza's actual burial place was near Sweetwater, Missouri on the south side of the Platte River as they made their way westward with other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Father: David J. Evans
Mother: Mary Beck Evans

Spouse: Ira Nathaniel Hinckley
Married: 17 August 1848
Nodaway County, Missouri

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Bio:

Eliza Jane, the first child of Mary Beck and David Evans, was born at Hanover, Columbiana County, Ohio, April 16, 1827.

She moved with her parents to Richmond County, Ohio, Caldwell County, Missouri and on to Adams County, Illinois. It was here she was called to accept life without her mother, who died June 20, 1841, in Adams County, Illinois. She had lost two sisters before this when they were just babies: Margaret Evans who died August 27, 1836, at the age of one year seven months and twenty-four days; and Araminta
died October 1, 1838, age five weeks and six days.

She had endured many hardships with her parents as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There were times when she was cold and hungry as they moved from place to place with the Saints.

After her mother's death the Evans family moved to Nauvoo. Eliza Jane was 14 years of age, Israel 13, Henry 11, Mary Ann 9, and Emma 1 year 9 months. Eliza Jane, the eldest child of this young family, had many responsibilities placed upon her in caring for her father, brothers and sisters. .On November 23, 1841, her father married Barbara Ann Ewell from whom with her brothers and sisters received the love and help of a mother.

Her father was set apart by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon as a member of the First Council of Seventy on 29 April 1835. He was appointed to be in charge of a group of Saints, most of whom he had baptized, and bring them to the Rocky Mountains,

Eliza Jane was married to Ira Nathaniel Hinckley in August of 1848. Ira was of fair complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. He was about six feet tall and weighed one hundred and seventy-five pounds.

Her stepmother, Barbara Ann, wrote of the hardships telling of the winters of 1846-7 which had been so rough on them:

"We lived in houses without doors, windows and floors. The food mostly of cornbread and roots. Meat from the animals that froze."

The Evans Family along with the Saints left Nodaway County, Missouri. May 15. 1850. They started westward on June 15. 1850.

Eliza Jane and Ira had become the parents of a baby girl, Eliza Jane, born July 16. 1849 who later became Mrs. Eugene L. Robertson, September 15. 1879.

They had only gone a short distance on their westward journey when Cholera broke out in the camp and Eliza Jane Evans Hinckley took the disease and died June 27. 1850, leaving her young husband and baby. Ira took care of her with the help of others and she was buried near the Platt River. It was in deep sorrow her young husband with his motherless babe had to leave the lonely grave of his beloved wife, Eliza Jane, and move onward with the Saints.

Ira reached the Valley in September 22, 1850, a week later than the Evans Company.

On December 11, 1853, Ira N. Hinckley married Adelaide Cameron Noble giving little Eliza Jane a mother and a home where other children joined the family circle.

Years later (1869), her brother. Israel. visited her grave which he expresses in verse as follows:

The Plains, the western plains hath one
Who now lies buried deep,
By many she was beloved, yet none
O'r her low grave now weep.

She sleeps where hostile tribes infest
And scour the extended plain,
Yes, calmly sleeps in quiet rest.
Free from a world of pain.

And as I passed her grave, I thought
Some gentle spirit whispered low
In heavenly tones, "For me weep not,
But brother onward go."

My feeling then calm and mild
Gave way in flowing tears.
Remembering well, when but a child
I loved my sister dear.

But parted we are now, who strayed
Beneath the same shade tree.
Whose voices mingled as we played
Around one parent's knee.

And I with joy will labor here
And drive this grief away.
For well I know, my sister dear
Will greet me in a better way.

∼Buried: Alda Precinct 10N - 10W. about 35 Miles East of Fort Kearny

Husband: Ira Nathaniel Hinckley (22); dau: Eliza Jane Hinckley (11 Mo.).