The Curious Case of Sarah Thomas' Tombstone

All that is recorded about Sarah Thomas is her date of death and her age at that time. These details were only preserved due to an inscription on her headstone, which reads: “SARAH A.THOMAS D. JUN 29 /54 AG. 22.” Fortunately, the curious narrative of the grave markers associated with Sarah Thomas found resolution when Randy Wise, the curator at the Lander Pioneer Museum, unearthed the original headstone from storage. Upon examination, it was confirmed that the inscriptions on the replica markers were an exact match to those on the original grave marker, which was inscribed and placed over Sarah Thomas's grave on June 29, 1854.

The Oregon-California Trails Association is the pre-eminent guardian and promoter of the inspirational story of the 19th century westward migration, which is unique in world history. Our mission is to protect the Historic Emigrant Trails legacy by promoting research, education, preservation activities and public awareness of the trails, and to work with others to promote these causes.

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