"She emigrated to America with her husband and daughter Susannah on 12 February 1853 (other family members traveling with them is currently unknown). Within a few months of their arrival, they were on the Mormon trail, heading to Utah, leaving in June 1853 with the Cyrus H. Wheelock Company, which was comprised of 400 individuals in 52 wagons. The company began its journey in Keokuk, Iowa at an outfitting post. The company included a California company. They crossed the Missouri River on 11 July 1853. Here is an account, author unknown, passed down through the family of her emigration from England to Utah. "On account of stormy weather it took them three months to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The trip from Missouri to Utah was strenuous and many times Elizabeth, along with the others went hungry. As they neared the mountains in Utah it was difficult for her to make the pace that others did and she often lagged behind. One such time this experience occurred: At the foot of a steep hill her spirits were very low and she stopped to rest for a time. She was on the verge of despair and thought she could never reach the top. The party was well in advance before she was missed. Members returned in search of her. They found her just as she reached the summit, with two elderly men with white beards. One had a hold of each arm, helping her. Just as she arrived at the top, the two men said, "it was easier going up than it was to go down." Later in camp, it was decided that the two men were two of the three Nephites." Arriving in the valley of Salt Lake City finally, they made their home on the corner of Fourth North and Fifth West, across the street from their son, John Lees, Jr. (our ancestor). Elizabeth was the mother of eight children."
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