Samuel James Lees

Samuel, his wife Abigail and a one year old daughter named Ophelia crossed the Atlantic on the ship Ellen in 1851.  Ophelia died before they reached the United States.  Abigail's obituary says she crossed the plains in 1856.  Samuel served as "reporter"  at a church conference in St. Louis in April of this year and at the same conference he was released "to go to Zion."  Church ordinance records prove that Samuel was in Salt Lake City by late November 1856.  Additional research is needed to identify the name of the pioneer company with which they crossed the plains,