Patty Sessions, 1847 Mormon Trail Doll

Patty is named after the most famous lady on the first Mormon wagon train to cross Iowa. She wrote many journals while crossing Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and into Salt Lake Territory in 1846 and 1847. Along the way, she helped deliver babies and helped many sick or injured people. She even delivered the first (recorded) black baby born in southwest Iowa at Macedonia in 1846.

Patty is an 18 inch Engel doll with a soft body.  She comes wearing a prairie dress, pinafore with date and logo that says, “Faith in Every Footstep”, the wagon train’s motto. Patty’s clothing is all handmade in Griswold, Iowa (fabric of dress may vary slightly).  Her Bible is tucked into her pocket, and she wears a friendship bead that Ira’s dog, Bones, dug up.  Patty comes carrying a bear which was hurt so she bandaged it.

Patty has been commemorated in Utah by having the “Blue Sessions Plum” variety named after her.  A replica of this doll is on display at the McCurdy Historical Doll Museum in Provo, Utah