Dennis George Winn

Dennis was born August 6, 1832, in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, England. He was the eldest child of John Winn and Jane Broughton. When the missionaries came to the area in 1847, the Winn family enthusiastically embraced the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. John was the first to be baptized on September 18. He then baptized his son, Dennis, now age fifteen, on October 11, and his wife, Jane, on November 30. Immediately upon joining the Church, John and Jane began dreaming and planning to make the long journey to Zion. Their two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, were baptized as they came of age by Dennis; Elizabeth on December 16, 1851 followed by Mary Ann on May 15, 1852. 
Like most British converts, the Winn family was without ready means to buy passage to America, so it was not until age 21 that Dennis was able to leave England for the promised land where he hoped to make preparations for the remainder of the family to follow. On February 15, 1853 he bid farewell to his beloved family and boarded the ship “Elvira Owen” with a company of Perpetual Immigration Saints presided over by John W. Young. They sailed from Liverpool to New Orleans arriving on March 31, 1853. From there he traveled by steamer up the Mississippi River to Keokuk, Iowa, near Nauvoo. From Keokuk he trekked the long fifteen hundred miles across the plains with the Cyrus Wheellock Pioneer Company. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 6, 1853, nearly eight months after leaving England.
On January 4, 1854, only three months after Dennis’ arrival in the Utah Territory, his father suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in England at age of 45. What a staggering blow this must have been to Dennis’ dear mother and sweet little sisters who now must face the long and difficult journey across the ocean and plains without the assistance and encouragement of their husband and father.

Then, sometime between 1854 and 1856, the eldest of the two sisters, Elizabeth, also passed away, leaving Jane and Mary Ann to make the long journey with each other and only their faith and courage to sustain them.
On May 25, 1856 Jane and Mary Ann joined with a large company of 635 eager saints bound for Zion. The group, presided over by Elder Edward Martin, then returning from his mission to Great Britain, sailed aboard the ship “Horizon” from Liverpool to Boston. From there, they traveled by rail car to Iowa City, arriving July 8. It took 3 long weeks to outfit the large company with handcarts and supplies. The Martin Handcart Company embarked on their fateful journey July 28, 1856. 
According to the handcart record, Jane, age 58, died on the plains of Eastern Wyoming leaving Mary Ann orphaned and alone. Starving and freezing, Mary Ann struggled to survive. At the same time, President Brigham Young called for volunteers to rescue the Saints on the plains. Dennis was one of the first to step forward on October 5. He may not have known that his little sister, Mary Ann, was in that company, but you can imagine the relief they both felt when they saw each other; the last remaining members of their family.