Elizabeth Paul

Elizabeth Mortimore Paul was born in Indiana in 1829, the oldest daughter and second child of Thomas Plymworth Mortimore and Martha (Patsy) Alice Mortimore (née Deshil). Early in the 1830s the Mortimore family moved from Indiana to Wapello County, Iowa, where they eventually became acquainted with the family of Joseph and Mary Paul, Virginians who had moved to Indiana about 1830 and then to Iowa in 1845. Their son Thomas was had been born in Monroe County, Va., now West Virginia, in 1828. (https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/grave-elizabeth-paul)

Elizabeth Mortimore Paul, the wife of Thomas Paul, headed west with her family from Fremont, Iowa in 1862. Pregnant, Mrs. Paul had a difficult journey and died in this beautiful mountain setting on July 27 while giving birth to a daughter. She was 32 at the time of her death. The little girl, also named Elizabeth, lived for only a week.

A traveling companion, Hamilton Scott, recorded her death: "We remained in camp all day. Thomas Paul’s wife died about 9 o’clock this morning … She has been poorly for some time. We buried her this evening under a large pine tree and put a post and paling fence around her grave."

The beautiful old lodge pole pine continues to mark her grave. An Oregon-California Trails Association marker has also been placed on the site. Several of Mrs. Paul’s descendants, including her great-granddaughter, attended the dedication.

Ownership Public (U.S. Forest Service). Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Directions Lincoln County, Wyoming. T29N/R116W

Located in a remote area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Visitors are advised to obtain directions and a map from one of the Forest Service offices located in Afton, Kemmerer or Big Piney. The best route to the grave is from Big Piney, 30 miles west from the edge of town, following the Lander Trail. Several other graves can be visited en route.

Additional Information Jane A. Gould, 28 Jul 1862: "Came past a camp of thirty-six wagons who had been camped some time here in the mountains…. There was a woman died in their train yesterday, she left six children and one of them only two days old, poor little thing, it had better died with its mother, they made a good picket fence around the grave."

H. M. Judson, 29 Jul 1862: "We pass this afternoon a beautiful grave made in an opening in the forest and directly beneath a fine fir tree – Twas made on the 27st inst (only 2 days ago) and was enclosed in a picket yard of hewn timber – a board set into a notch sawed into the tree informed us that the grave contained the remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Paul – aged 32 years – beneath some kind friend had pinned a paper on which were written 3 beautiful & appropriate verses & which I regret very much I had not time to copy."

The verses were apparently written by James S. McClung, a member of the Paul party who records them as follows: Friends and physicians could not save This mortal lovely body from the grave Nor can the grave contain it here When God commands it to appear For though it was her lot to die Hear among the mountains high Yet when Gabriel's trump shall sound Among the blessed she will be found And while she rests beneath this tree May holy angels watch and see That naught disturbs her peaceful clay Until the dawning of the day

Julius Merrill, 15 Aug 1864: "Passed a grave enclosed by a picket fence, painted white. A lovelier spot I never saw. There was an opening of perhaps, half an acre, with one large shady pine near the center. Under this lone tree was the grave. The beauty of the place and the care bestowed upon the remains of the woman caused us all to look at it."