Women of Faith and Fortitude - Vol III - International Society of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers

Birthdate: 14 Aug 1807, How, Thurso Parrish, Caithness, Scotland

Death: 12 Dec 1887 Pleasant Grove, Utah

Parents: David Oman, Isabella Sutherland

Pioneer: 29 Aug 1859 James S. Brown Wagon Company

Spouse: William McKay

Married 12 Jan 1839, Giese, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland

Death SP: 3 Jun 1893, Ogden, Weber, Utah

Children: Isaac, 2 Nov 1839, Isabella, 26 Aug 1842, David, 3 May 1844, Barbara, 30 Oct 1846, Williamena, 30 Oct 1846, John George Sinclair, 18 Nov 1848, Catherine, 4 May 1850

They were anxious to join with the Saints in Zion and made arrangements to sail on the ship, "Thorton", to cross the ocean. They arrived in Castle Garden, New York on June 12, 1856. Because they had been defrauded of most of their money, they were forced to stay in New York for two years. They then went to Iowa City, Iowa, where they stayed another year gathering goods for the trip west. If it had not been for this forced delay, they would have crossed the plains with the ill-fated Willie Handcart Company. They joined James S. Brown wagon train at Council Bluffs. Their captain approached them and told them of a lame widow and her daughter who was stranded. Ellen offered to let the woman take her place on the wagon, so she and her family walked across the plains. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on August 29, 1859.

The family settled in Ogden permanently and also helped to settle Huntsville. Ellen was adept in spinning, coloring and making cloth. Her husband made her a loom for her and hired a weaver so she could make linsey for dresses, jeans for pants, blanket covers, and lids for beds.

She was the grandmother of David O. McKay, Prophet and President of the LDS Church. She died in Pleasant Grove, Utah on 12 Dec 1887 at the age of eighty.