Elizabeth McKay

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Birth: Feb. 14, 1822, Scotland

Death: Nov. 13, 1887 Saint Charles Bear Lake County Idaho, USA

Elizabeth, daughter of Donald McKay and Mary McLean, was born 14 February 1822 at Roseneath, Dumbartonshire, Scotland. When Elizabeth joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eighteen, her parents objected. The resulting estrangement forced her to seek refuge with other converts until she could arrange passage to America. She set sail in February of 1844. During the two-month-long journey, she celebrated her twenty-second birthday and met Jonathan Pugmire, Jr. Three weeks after their arrival in Nauvoo, Illinois, Elizabeth and Jonathan were married (13 April 1844) and began preparations for the move to the west.

That journey began three weeks after Elizabeth had given birth to their first child. The day after they arrived in Winter Quarters (Nebraska), Jonathan left with the Mormon Battalion. In his absence, Elizabeth suffered many hardships. After Jonathan's return they continued their trek and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September of 1848. Elizabeth gave birth to their second child along the way and had seven more during the years they lived in Salt Lake City.

In 1864, the Pugmires responded to a call to help settle Bear Lake Valley. Those first years were very difficult. It took some time to establish suitable living conditions. Five years after their arrival, a store was built on their property. Elizabeth helped in the store as Jonathan managed it. After his death, she assumed the management of the store.

Jonathan had three wives living in St. Charles. After his death, they all wanted to live together, so the children built a 14 room house for them to share. Elizabeth was active in church work. While on a trip to Soda Springs in behalf of the Primary organization, she became very ill. She died a few days later (13 November 1887) at age fifty-eight. Her family said of her, "No hardships she was required to endure ever made her regret her acceptance of the Gospel. Her faith was deep and abiding and her spiritual and mental integrity were supreme."

Family links:

Spouse:

• Jonathan Pugmire (1823 - 1880)

Children:

*George McKay Pugmire (1846 - 1910)*

• Jonathan McKay Pugmire (1848 - 1866)*
• Vincent McKay Pugmire (1850 - 1888)*
• Elizabeth McKay Pugmire Rich Aulguire (1854 - 1911)*
• James McKay Pugmire (1854 - 1910)*
• Robert McKay Pugmire (1856 - 1886)*
• Charlotte McKay Pugmire (1859 - 1870)*
• Edward McKay Pugmire (1861 - 1943)*
• Mary Mckay Pugmire (1867 - 1867)*

Burial: Saint Charles Cemetery Saint Charles Bear Lake County Idaho, USA