Daughter of Abraham Hunsaker and Eliza Collins

Married Robert Trimmer, 1 Jun 1856, Utah

Children - Frances Ellen Trimmer, Emma Moriah Trimmer, Mary Jane Trimmer, Harriet Merrietta Trimmer, Josephine Lillian Trimmer, Anna N. Trimmer, Sarah Elizabeth Trimmer, Etta Morilda Trimmer, Robert Allen Trimmer, Henrietta Collins Trimmer, Ivy Rozell Trimmer, Eliza Anna Trimmer, Thomas Edward Trimmer

History - Sarah, the sixth child of Eliza Collins and Abraham Hunsaker, was born on 31 August 1842, in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. Sarah was a little over five years old when her parents crossed the plains to Utah in
1848. Along with the other children in this family she endured many hardships and learned to accept responsibility very early in life.

Sarah was nearly 14 years old when her parents were called to settle Carson Valley, Nevada. When they returned to Utah in 1857, Sarah remained there and at the age of 15, became the wife of Robert Trimmer. The newly married couple remained in Nevada for some time where they were ranchers, and then went over the Sierra Nevada Mountains in a covered wagon to Sacramento, California.

Robert and Sarah made five trips across the plains to Missouri. Two children were born in Missouri, one in Kansas, and one in Salt Lake City, Utah while making these trips. On their first trip, the Indians came at them warwhooping in a very hostile fashion. Robert stood up in his wagon and swung his arms so energetically the Indians left him alone and afterwards protected him against other Indians.

Robert Trimmer was greatly respected by the Indians. Friendly Indians would often scout his trails to protect him against unfriendly tribes. He and Sarah fed the Indians, which was the advice given the Pioneers by Church Authorities, even if it meant giving them their last food.

On one of these trips Robert and Sarah were eating only very little in order to conserve their food supplies while passing through an area where no natural food was to be found. They were approached by Indians, who gave them the sign of friendship. Sarah, with her heart sinking, cooked the last of their food for these hungry Indians. That night the family went to bed hungry, with the parents sad because they could not provide food for their children. Early the next morning the Indians came again to their wagon, but this time they brought gifts and sufficient food to last the Trimmers until they came to a place where food was available.

The story is told how Sarah saved her family and home from a prairie fire while living in Woodfords, Diamond Valley, Alpine County, California, by starting a backfire. Robert was in town and when he returned home had to race as fast as he could through the fire, singeing his clothes and skin, and fully expecting to find his family burned to
death. His joy knew no bounds when he saw his family and home safe.

Sarah died on 11 August 1928 at Santa Barbara, California, where she had gone to live, and where she had been visited by her parents despite the long and arduous journey it was in the early days.

Written by Vera McDowell