Rebecca Hughes and her Brother Cross the Plains

"When Rebecca [Hughes] was sixteen and living in Dublin, Ireland, she and her family heard and accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There was a strong urge in the hearts of all the saints in England, Ireland, and the European countries to go to America, to the land of Zion, where all could worship as they pleased. John Hughes was not prepared to take his whole family to America, so he and his wife decided to send their younger son Johnny aged 15, and Rebecca, aged 17, with their Uncle Thomas, his wife's brother."

"Rebecca's father insisted on her having the very best clothes money could buy to make this trip. They bought her silk dresses, lovely underthings, and five pairs of fine kid shoes. They didin't dream they were sending her to a country where she would have to walk, pushing a hand cart, two thousand miles over desert sand, over mountains, and through rivers."

"On May 21, 1864 as they took their children down to the docks to board the sailing vessel to cross the ocean, little did they realize the hazardous journey that was before their two children. Their faith in God was such that they never feared for their safety. They were going to Zion by the Lord's command and He would see them safely there."

"The sailing vessel they boarded was on the ocean nine weeks. They were dangerous, trying weeks. The storms they encountered were terrible. Finally they arrived at the Gulf of Mexico and up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where all the passengers disembarked.

"Uncle Thomas then bought a wagon and yoke of oxen and provisions for the long journey. The company was delayed for several days, during which time Uncle Thomas went about the city of St. Louis gambling away most of the five hundred dollars, which was entrusted to his care for Rebecca and Johnny."

"When they finally reached Salt Lake Valley, they took stock to see what was left of the five hundred dollars, but alas, it was all gone. It was then that Rebecca and Johnny had to find a new home. Rebecca talked to some of the authorities and they found a way for her to go to Nephi and live with Brother and Sister A. W. McCune. Rebecca quickly adapted herself to this Latter-Day Saint family and did her work so well that she was loved and taken into their hearts at once. As Rebecca had been raised in an immaculate home, she applied her training to her work here and Brother and Sister McCune were very pleased to have her with them." (The Children of Samuel Claridge, pgs. 18-19)