Thomas Rhoades (Rhoads) and others left Iowa as an exploring group with permission of Mormon authorities and traveled with the Donner Reed Party from Missouri to Hastings Cut-off. Rhoades, his wife, and 14 children arrived in the Sacramento Valley in Oct. 1846 as the first Mormon family to come overland, then settled near the Cosumnes River. Two sons, John and Daniel, were in the first Donner rescue group. His wife Elizabeth died in 1847 and was buried near Benicia. In 1849 Thomas and 4 children returned to Utah. The family contributed greatly to Western U.S. history, and about 200 descendants and friends are buried here. The cemetery was deeded to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers by Percy Westerberg.