Zimri was born February 14, 1807 in Vasselboro, Kennebec, Maine. He was the son of William Baxter and Rebecca Priest. William enlisted in the United States army in 1814 in the War of 1812 against England. In 1815 William contracted typhoid fever and died. Two years after William died, his wife, Rebecca, with five children moved back to Maine. They had moved to Gnore, Synga, New York, just before William joined the army. Zimri, the oldest, went in 1817 to live with his Uncle John Robertson until he was of age, and then he married Eunice Seavey (born March 1, 1811 in Cornish, York, Maine) on May 2, 1832 in Milton, York, Maine. The first three children were born in Milton: Benson Edgley, June 3, 1833; William Franklin, September 6, 1834; and Henry Priest, February 19, 1836.
In August of 1836 Zimri and Eunice moved to Lucas, Richland, Ohio, where Zimri worked as a carpenter and joiner. Henry died on December 12, 1836, and William died on December 19, 1836. Zimri and Eunice had another child, John, on July 10, 1837, who died the same day. All four children were dead by July 20, 1837.
Zimri and Eunice moved to Maumee, Lucas, Ohio in the spring of 1838, and they had another child, Laura St. Clair on May 11, 1837. In the spring of 1840 they moved to Dayton, Illinois. Emily Abigail was born on February 20 1841 and Alma was born on December 3, 1842. In 1843 they moved to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, and in August 1843 Alma died. Zimri Seavey was born on August 27, 1844. Sometime in 1845 Laura St. Clair died, on April 6, 1845 Zimri Seavey died, and on April 10, 1845 Emily Abigail died. In 1846 they moved back to Dayton, Illinois, where Eunice Seavey was born on April 7, 1846. In the spring of 1847 they moved back to Nauvoo, Illinois and Joseph was born to them. Joseph died the same year. They had to move so much because of the persecution of the Saints.
Zimri was presented as an Elder on May 19, 1844, and was ordained on May 21, 1844 by Wilford Wudruff, George A. Smith, and Ezra Thayer. Zimri was selected as a carpenter to build the Nauvoo temple. He worked on the temple until it was finished. Zimri and Eunice received their endowments and sealed in the Nauvoo temple. Zimri also married two other women while there, but they became dissatisfied and left Zimri. Zimri and his family were in nearly all the troubles and trials of Nauvoo. They had to leave their homes, land, and belongings and got across the river before the people were driven out by the mob. They moved to Council Bluffs and crossed the plains with Ezra T. Bensons' 5th company. During the journey to Utah at Independence Rock, on the Sweet Water, Eunice gave birth to twins - Charles Albert and Clarissa Adelaide. Charles died the same day. They stopped one day and then continued the journey. They owned two yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows.
They arrived in Salt Lake in good condition, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, built a little home and set out some apple trees, some of which still stand and bear fruit. While there, Zimri built a grist mill and woolen mill for Brigham Young. In 1851 Brigham Young called Zimri to move to Salt Creek (later named Nephi), where he built small log homes and a grist mill. Zimri and Eunice had a child, Rozilla, in 1854, who died the same year. About that time Zimri married Ann Jackson. Ann had a boy, Joseph William, and then Ann left Zimri. Eunice had a boy named Zimri Harford Baxter on September 1, 1857. Eunice and Zimri had 14 children, only three of which lived to maturity - Eunice Seavey, Clarissa Adelaide, and Zimri Harford.
In 1871 Zimri married Alice Ashworth, and three children were born to them: Eliza Jane, August 3, 1872; Philander, November 19, 1873; and Alice Rebecca, October 5, 1875. Alice died March 28, 1877. In 1874 Zimri joined the United Order, which broke up in the second year. Zimri also was the overseer and architect of the building of the Juab Stake Tabernacle and did much of the carpenter work on it. While working on the tabernacle in 1877 Zimri fell from the rafters, injuring his head, from which he never completely recovered. Zimri died on December 8, 1887, and Eunice died on March 10, 1900. They were both buried in Aurora.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Martha Matilda McGill Nelson
Martha was born on November 19, 1824, in Middleton, Inversask, Scotland, to Edward and Catherine Banks Nelson as the 7th of 9 children. She married William Morgan on April 23, 1841 in Hallbath, Scotland. They lived in Hallbath where their first two children were born: Catherine Banks Morgan (Mary 27, 1842) and Daniel Morgan (July 16, 1844). Their next child, Agnes Beveridge Morgan (August 20, 1846), was born in Chapple, Hawkshire, Scotland. Jane Nelson Morgan (January 15, 1849) was born in Ockley Duferline, Fife, Scotland.
In 1846 the Morgans heard of the Mormons, and William was baptized January 1, 1847. Martha had a harder time accepting all of the teachings and wasn't baptized until June 7, 1847. Mormons weren't popular in Scotland, so their friends were chosen from among the new religion. At the time members were encouraged to gather to Utah by using the Perpetual Emigration Fund. William and Martha and their children (Catherine, Daniel, Agnes and Jane) sailed across the ocean and landed in New Orleans in 1852. They took the boat up the Mississippi River to Kanesville, Iowa, and crossed the plains. Their fifth child, Mary Ann Elisabeth Morgan was born in Nephi, Juab, Utah, on September 30, 1853, and died in September 1854.
William and Martha and their family were sent to settle Parowan and Cedar City, where their next two children were born. William T Morgan was born on March 2, 1856 and died on September 30, 1856, and Edward Nelson Morgan was born October 1, 1857. John Athos Morgan was born on January 22, 1860 in Beaver. The next child, Martha E. Morgan, was born on August 24, 1862 in Chicken Creek.
William died on November 23, 1876 at the age of 59 and was buried in the Levan City Cemetery. Martha died December 26, 1906, and was also buried in the Levan Cemetery.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Daniel Morgan and Clarissa Adelaide Baxter
Daniel Morgan was born July 16, 1844 in Hallbath, Fifeshire, Scotland. His father's name was William Morgan, born on June 23, 1817, also in Fifeshire, Scotland, and his mother's name was Matilda McGill Nelson, born on November 19, 1924 in Middelton, Inverask, Scotland. Daniel left Scotland to come to America in 1852. /he and his family came from Missouri across the plains and landed in Salt Lake Valley about July 1, 1852. His folks were always in quite poor circumstances and for this reason he never had the privilege of going to school more than three months.They lived in Nephi soon after arriving, which is where his sister Mary A.E. was born. She died in Nephi a year later. The family moved to Cedar City, where William T was born and died six months later. Edward Nelson was born the next year in Cedar City. John A was born at Beaver, and then they moved to Chicken Creek, Juab County, where Martha E, James Nelson and Ira Roy were born.
In 1862 (he was 18 years old) Daniel was called to go to Missouri after immigrants - he was in the Thomas Ricks Company. Daniel told how those in his company were captured by the Indians and were held by them when some spies from another company crept up close and shot their guns, frightening the Indians away. Daniel went across the plains twice after immigrants. The second trip was made in 1863. On one of these trips he was disguised as Captain Bridger.
Daniel married Clarissa A Baxter on November 1867. Clarissa Adelaide Baxter was born on August 22, 1849. Clarissa and her twin brother, Charles, were born at Independence Rock, Nebraska, on the Sweetwater River while the family was coming to Utah. The twins were number 10 and 11 in a family of 14 children born to Zimri Harford and Eunice Abigail Seavey Baxter. Charles Albert died right after birth. Clarissa, a sister Eunice Seavey, and their baby brother Zimri Harford were the only three of the 14 children to live to maturity.
The Baxters had experienced much hardship and persecution from the mobs in Illinois. They were driven with the rest of the Saints across the Mississippi River into Iowa where preparations were made to cross the plains to the Rocky Mountains. Records say that the Baxter family arrived in the valley in December of 1849. The Baxters settled in Big Cottonwood where Zimri built a flour mill on the Cottonwood stream and farmed there. When Clarissa was not quite two years old, they moved to Nephi. When Clarissa was 18, she married Daniel Morgan on November 9, 1867 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. The journey north to the big city was in a covered wagon and was quite a pleasant adventure and a nice honeymoon trip.
Daniel and Clarissa's first child, Daniel S, was born in 1870 at Levan, Juab County. They lived at Levan until about 1878, and had three more children born there - William H, Eunice A (who only lived a few months), and Martha M. Daniel fell down the well he had dug and crippled his left leg. The doctor cut into the bone and around it and in some way his leg was made about two inches shorter than the right leg. The operation was done without any pain medication. He was crippled for the rest of his life.
Daniel and Clarissa moved to Aurora, Sevier County, Utah and had five children here - Zimoriah H, John A (died early in life), Edward Nelson, Joseph A, and James O. The family moved to Castleton, Carbon County, where Ira Roy was born. Clarissa was never well after Roy was born, and she died in 1890 at the age of 41 and was buried in the Price Cemetery. Clarissa was gifted in needlework, crocheting, and quilt making. She was diligent in Church activities, especially in Relief Society. Martha, being the only girl left at home, was responsible for the seven children for 10 years. Daniel died in Wellington on October 6, 1902.
Daniel was always very faithful and obedient to his parents and those in authority. They had to go without shoes all year round. He was a self-educated man, and he was a well-educated man both in civil affairs and in the gospel. He was always very industrious and an active church worker.
In 1862 (he was 18 years old) Daniel was called to go to Missouri after immigrants - he was in the Thomas Ricks Company. Daniel told how those in his company were captured by the Indians and were held by them when some spies from another company crept up close and shot their guns, frightening the Indians away. Daniel went across the plains twice after immigrants. The second trip was made in 1863. On one of these trips he was disguised as Captain Bridger.
Daniel married Clarissa A Baxter on November 1867. Clarissa Adelaide Baxter was born on August 22, 1849. Clarissa and her twin brother, Charles, were born at Independence Rock, Nebraska, on the Sweetwater River while the family was coming to Utah. The twins were number 10 and 11 in a family of 14 children born to Zimri Harford and Eunice Abigail Seavey Baxter. Charles Albert died right after birth. Clarissa, a sister Eunice Seavey, and their baby brother Zimri Harford were the only three of the 14 children to live to maturity.
The Baxters had experienced much hardship and persecution from the mobs in Illinois. They were driven with the rest of the Saints across the Mississippi River into Iowa where preparations were made to cross the plains to the Rocky Mountains. Records say that the Baxter family arrived in the valley in December of 1849. The Baxters settled in Big Cottonwood where Zimri built a flour mill on the Cottonwood stream and farmed there. When Clarissa was not quite two years old, they moved to Nephi. When Clarissa was 18, she married Daniel Morgan on November 9, 1867 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. The journey north to the big city was in a covered wagon and was quite a pleasant adventure and a nice honeymoon trip.
Daniel and Clarissa's first child, Daniel S, was born in 1870 at Levan, Juab County. They lived at Levan until about 1878, and had three more children born there - William H, Eunice A (who only lived a few months), and Martha M. Daniel fell down the well he had dug and crippled his left leg. The doctor cut into the bone and around it and in some way his leg was made about two inches shorter than the right leg. The operation was done without any pain medication. He was crippled for the rest of his life.
Daniel and Clarissa moved to Aurora, Sevier County, Utah and had five children here - Zimoriah H, John A (died early in life), Edward Nelson, Joseph A, and James O. The family moved to Castleton, Carbon County, where Ira Roy was born. Clarissa was never well after Roy was born, and she died in 1890 at the age of 41 and was buried in the Price Cemetery. Clarissa was gifted in needlework, crocheting, and quilt making. She was diligent in Church activities, especially in Relief Society. Martha, being the only girl left at home, was responsible for the seven children for 10 years. Daniel died in Wellington on October 6, 1902.
Daniel was always very faithful and obedient to his parents and those in authority. They had to go without shoes all year round. He was a self-educated man, and he was a well-educated man both in civil affairs and in the gospel. He was always very industrious and an active church worker.
Martha Harriet Dean Patterson
Martha Harriet Dean was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England on September 15, 1857, the daughter of John Dean and Martha Holdsworth. When Martha was five years old she went to work in the factories where she learned to knit. When Martha was seven years old, she emigrated to America. Most of the family was married, namely William, James, Ellen, Eliza, and Joseph. Those still at home were Heber, Jedediah, and Martha. They lived in upstate New York for 15 months to get money for their trip to Utah. They sailed from Riften Glen, New York, to New Haven, Conneticut, then took the train to St. Joseph, Missouri, took another boat to Florence, Nebraska, and then came to Utah by ox team under Joseph Rawlins. They arrived on September 28, 1865. They lived in Kaysville until 1869, then lived in Sugar House until June of 1870, when they moved to Beaver.
They settled in Beaver because there were so many English people from the same area of England that they came from. When Martha was 14 she went to work at the Beaver Woolen Mills where she worked for five years with her brothers William, Joseph, Heber, and Jedediah.
Martha married Edward Nelson Patterson on February 7, 1878 in the St. George temple. They had 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls: John Edward, Thomas Morgan, Lettie Mabel, Martha Jane, Heber (who died at 4 months old), Edgar Roy, Alice Maud (who died at 4 years old), Wilford Elmer (who died when he was five), Dean (who died when he was six), Edna Darle, and William Chester. The morning before she had Martha Jane, Martha cooked breakfast for 40 thrashers. Martha Jane was born at 8 a.m.
When Martha was about 36 she fell across the front doorstep and broke her arm. Edward set it and bandaged it in wet sage brush and tea cloths with splints on it. In three weeks it was well. When she was 39 years old a cow hooked her and broke her nose, which remained crooked. When she was 70 years old she was operated on for gall stones. Her incision drained for five years and then healed up. In 1936 she was healthier than she had been for years.
Martha walked across the plains, rode behind and ox team and a mule team, rode horses, rode in autos, and flew in an airplane. She used to sing in public and was a pretty good singer. Her favorite popular song was "The Gypsy's Warning."
They settled in Beaver because there were so many English people from the same area of England that they came from. When Martha was 14 she went to work at the Beaver Woolen Mills where she worked for five years with her brothers William, Joseph, Heber, and Jedediah.
Martha married Edward Nelson Patterson on February 7, 1878 in the St. George temple. They had 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls: John Edward, Thomas Morgan, Lettie Mabel, Martha Jane, Heber (who died at 4 months old), Edgar Roy, Alice Maud (who died at 4 years old), Wilford Elmer (who died when he was five), Dean (who died when he was six), Edna Darle, and William Chester. The morning before she had Martha Jane, Martha cooked breakfast for 40 thrashers. Martha Jane was born at 8 a.m.
When Martha was about 36 she fell across the front doorstep and broke her arm. Edward set it and bandaged it in wet sage brush and tea cloths with splints on it. In three weeks it was well. When she was 39 years old a cow hooked her and broke her nose, which remained crooked. When she was 70 years old she was operated on for gall stones. Her incision drained for five years and then healed up. In 1936 she was healthier than she had been for years.
Martha walked across the plains, rode behind and ox team and a mule team, rode horses, rode in autos, and flew in an airplane. She used to sing in public and was a pretty good singer. Her favorite popular song was "The Gypsy's Warning."
John Dean and Martha Holdsworth
John Dean was born on 28th of February in Burnley, Lancashire, England. He went to work in the mills at an early age to help support his mother, a sister, and a brother. John married Martha Holdsworth is 1832. Martha was born June 11, 1814 in Pendle, England, as the daughter of James and Sarah Lund Holdsworth. She was the fourth child in a family of eight children. John and Martha had ten children, six sons and four daughters: William, Mary Ann, Eliza, Ellen, James, Joseph ,Hyrum, Heber, Jedediah, and Martha Harriett.
Their home in England was a two-story house built of stone. The living room was on the ground floor that included a fireplace and a reservoir. The floor was of flagstone, and after it was scrubbed, fine white sand was put on to keep it clean longer. The bedrooms were on the second floor. Martha took care of the home and the family while John worked in the mills. The children also worked in the mills as soon as they were old enough (which was very early at the time).
John and Martha joined the church in 1840, and when the other mill workers learned of their baptism, they made life so unpleasant for John that he moved his family to Harlington, a town 11 miles from Burnley. They lived there for several years, then moved back to Burnley.
Once John and Mary were baptized, they began to save money to emigrate to America. By 1855, they had saved enough to pay the fare for two on the boat to New York. They decided to send their oldest son, William, and their second daughter, Ellen, with their aunt, Harriet Hyde, her family, and other saints who were emigrating. William was then 19 years old and Ellen was 15 years old. William and Ellen worked in the mills in upper New York State. In 1861, Ellen returned to England because of ill health.
In 1859, their son James enlisted in the English Army. He served for two years and the family had to pay quite a sum to obtain his release, which delayed their emigration.
John and their third son, Joseph, emigrated in 1864. They joined William, who had married, in working in the mills in New York. In 1865, Martha, Eliza, Heber, Jedediah, and Martha Harriet joined them. They remained in New York until July 1866, earning money for their trip, then came to Utah. They traveled by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri, and then on to Florence, Nebraska, by boat on the Missouri River. They crossed the plains with ox teams in Joseph L. Rawlins Company, arriving in Salt Lake City on October 1, 1866. They spent the winter in Kaysville, where they worked on farms, in brickyards, and herded sheep. In the spring the men and eldest daughter, Eliza, found work in the Brigham Young Mills in Salt Lake City at the Sugarhouse Ward. John and Martha were endowed in the Endowment House in 1868.
In 1870, the Beaver Woolen Mills were erected and the Dean family were asked to locate there - which they did, with the exception of Joseph, who moved to Ogden. John worked in the mills in Beaver for two years. He died of pneumonia in July 1872 at the age of 61. He was very industrious, religious, and kind to his family. He was also honest and congenial with his friends and neighbors. Shortly after the last of her children were married, Martha scalded her foot and was an invalid for the rest of her life. She was a very devout Latter-day Saint, a good mother and homemaker. She died 30 December 1890 at the age of 76, and was buried in the Mountain View cemetery at Beaver, Utah.
Their home in England was a two-story house built of stone. The living room was on the ground floor that included a fireplace and a reservoir. The floor was of flagstone, and after it was scrubbed, fine white sand was put on to keep it clean longer. The bedrooms were on the second floor. Martha took care of the home and the family while John worked in the mills. The children also worked in the mills as soon as they were old enough (which was very early at the time).
John and Martha joined the church in 1840, and when the other mill workers learned of their baptism, they made life so unpleasant for John that he moved his family to Harlington, a town 11 miles from Burnley. They lived there for several years, then moved back to Burnley.
Once John and Mary were baptized, they began to save money to emigrate to America. By 1855, they had saved enough to pay the fare for two on the boat to New York. They decided to send their oldest son, William, and their second daughter, Ellen, with their aunt, Harriet Hyde, her family, and other saints who were emigrating. William was then 19 years old and Ellen was 15 years old. William and Ellen worked in the mills in upper New York State. In 1861, Ellen returned to England because of ill health.
In 1859, their son James enlisted in the English Army. He served for two years and the family had to pay quite a sum to obtain his release, which delayed their emigration.
John and their third son, Joseph, emigrated in 1864. They joined William, who had married, in working in the mills in New York. In 1865, Martha, Eliza, Heber, Jedediah, and Martha Harriet joined them. They remained in New York until July 1866, earning money for their trip, then came to Utah. They traveled by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri, and then on to Florence, Nebraska, by boat on the Missouri River. They crossed the plains with ox teams in Joseph L. Rawlins Company, arriving in Salt Lake City on October 1, 1866. They spent the winter in Kaysville, where they worked on farms, in brickyards, and herded sheep. In the spring the men and eldest daughter, Eliza, found work in the Brigham Young Mills in Salt Lake City at the Sugarhouse Ward. John and Martha were endowed in the Endowment House in 1868.
In 1870, the Beaver Woolen Mills were erected and the Dean family were asked to locate there - which they did, with the exception of Joseph, who moved to Ogden. John worked in the mills in Beaver for two years. He died of pneumonia in July 1872 at the age of 61. He was very industrious, religious, and kind to his family. He was also honest and congenial with his friends and neighbors. Shortly after the last of her children were married, Martha scalded her foot and was an invalid for the rest of her life. She was a very devout Latter-day Saint, a good mother and homemaker. She died 30 December 1890 at the age of 76, and was buried in the Mountain View cemetery at Beaver, Utah.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Andrew Patterson and Margaret Fife/Jane Nelson Morgan
Andrew Patterson was born on October 25, 1815, to Robert and Mary Drysdale Patterson, at Newton, Scotland. Margaret Fife was born on October 3, 1814 to John and Margaret Hunter Fife, at Devon Clackmannon, Scotland. They married on November 18, 1837, when Andrew was 22 and Margaret 23. They had four children: Margaret, born on December 1, 1838; Robert, born on November 25, 1840; and twin daughters Agnes Ann and Mary Roy, born on April 10, 1844. Sometime between 1838 and 1848 Andrew and Margaret came in contact with the Mormon missionaries, were baptized (on October 25, 1847), and emigrated to America with their children in February or March of 1848. They traveled to New Orleans on either the Carnatic or the Sailor Prince. They then took a smaller boat up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to St. Louis, Missouri. They arrived in St. Louis in April or May of 1848. Some of Andrew's brothers also came to America about the same time. One brother, Alexander, settled in the Ogden area. In the summer of 1848 a cholera epidemic swept through St. Louis, killing many, including Margaret. She died on August 5, 1848, and was buried in a common grave. At the time Margaret was almost 10, Robert was 8, and Agnes Ann and Mary Roy were 4 years old.
For two years Andrew worked at the mines to earn money for their journey. While there he met Jane Nelson Morgan, a widow of 36, and they were married in 1851. Jane Nelson was married to Thomas Morgan but we assume that they had not been married long before Thomas died. Jane was baptized on June 1, 1847. Jane and Thomas were sealed in the temple, as were Andrew and Margaret. Andrew and Jane traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Andrew and Jane had a son born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in May of 1852, named Edward Nelson. He only weighted 2 1/2 pounds. The family stopped in Council Bluffs for ten days and then traveled on. Edward was too small to be dressed, so Jane wrapped him in a blanket and carried him on a pillow in her apron across the plains. Andrew wasn't dressed until they arrived in Salt Lake Valley. Robert said that Edward cried clear across the plains. The family arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in the late summer or fall of 1852, then settled in the Ogden area and started to build an adobe house. In 1854 Andrew and his family moved to Cedar City, where Andrew worked in the mines. They built their first log cabin, but times were hard and provisions few. Their crops were a failure, water was scarce, and the land was rocky and not very productive. In 1855 Andrew was born and in 1856 another child was born, but in 1856 both babies died of starvation. They moved to Beaver Valley and lived in a dugout, then built a log cabin and had a son named Thomas Morgan on July 1, 1857. They began to prosper, and three years later they built a five-room brick home. In 1859 John Nelson was born, and on August 7, 1864, just six months before Jane was 50 years old Martha Jane was born.
Andrew freighted with mule teams, and built the first canal south of Beaver to water the land in the south west fields. He also helped build Cove Fort. Jane was the first woman doctor to hold an M.D. in the state of Utah. She delivered 500 babies in the Beaver Valley and doctored the residents. When Edward was 8 he broke his leg in two places and Jane set the leg and it healed well.
Margaret married John X Smith on July 24, 1855, when she was 17. Margaret and John X moved from Cedar City to Beaver in 1857 or 1858. John X had joined the church as a young man in England and came to America soon after. He was the only member of his family to join the church. He came to New Orleans and then up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to St. Louis. He came to Salt Lake City and later to Cedar City, where he married Margaret. After moving to Beaver they built a home and raised 14 children and spent the rest of their lives in Beaver.
1. John Andrew Smith married Charlotte Swindlehurst
2. Joseph Anthony smith married Amelia Swindlehurst
3. Margaret Smith married John Ashworth
4. Robert Hyrum Smith (twin) married Caroline Carlow
5. Sarah Smith (twin) married Ebenezar Gillies
6. Mary Anne Smith married James Wesley Farrer
7. Richard Haley Smith died as a child
8. Susan Jane Smith married John Molen Murdock
9. Thomas Eken Smith died as a child.
10. Emma Elizabeth Smith married Willford Robinson
11. William Edward Smith married Elsie Ann Eyre
12. Kathern Patterson Smith married Thomas Bennett
13. Jeanette Smith married John Stoney
14. Clara Ellen Smith married Fergus Wilden
Robert married Sophia Bohn when he was 25 and she was 15. Sophia's father had joined the church in Denmark, came to Salt Lake City, then to Cedar City to work in the iron mines, then to Beaver. Robert and Sophia had 11 children.
1. Andrew Patterson married Mary Jane Morgan (died in childbirth) and Annie Newby
2. Margaret Patterson married Horace Skinner
3. Joseph Adolph Patterson married Lea Ann Ross and Jane Jund
4. Robert Patterson died as a child
5. Thomas Oscar Patterson married Margaret Davis
6. Adam Sharp Patterson married LaVern Williams
7. Albert Patterson married Jessie Myrtle White
8. Lewis Patterson married Sarah Ann Baldwin
9. Wiliam Patterson (Billie) never married (crippled from childhood and couldn't walk or talk. Robert and Sophia took care of him until he died at 34.)
10. James Patterson married Ruby White
11. Horace Patterson married Daisy Merlin Evans
Agnes Ann married Philo Taylor Farnsworth when she was 14 as his third wife. She raised her own children and helped care for Philo's second wife's children, since their mother died when they were quite small. Agnes Ann made butter and sold butter and milk to the grocery store for needed groceries. When her children were small, she would bathe them on Saturday nights and put them to bed, then wash and iron their only clothes so they would be fresh for Sunday. Philo died in 1887, so she raised her children on her own. She died on May 1, 1909. She had 10 children.
1. Andrew Stephen Farnsworth died as a child
2. Robert John Farnsworth married Irene Lucilla Gay
3. Lewis Edwin Farnsworth married Amelia Abigain White
4. Mary Ann Farnsworth died as a child
5. Albert Steven Farnsworth married Mary Alice Anderson
6. Edward Farnsworth married Elizabeth Ferguson Munson
7. Charles Farnsworth married Mayne Jessie Zobel
8. Margaret Ann Farnsworth died as a child
9. Martha Jane Farnsworth married Robert Dyer Green
10. Samuel Dennis Farnsworth married Elizabeth Watson
Mary Roy married Samuel Moffat when she was 17, on January 7, 1861 in Logan, Utah. Samuel was from Dalkeith Edinburgh Scotland, and was not a member of the church. Mary Roy and Samuel separated in their later years. Mary Roy died in Tetonia, Teton, Idaho, and Samuel died in LeGrand Union, Oregon. They had 8 children.
1. Samuel Patterson Moffat married Sarah Elnora Jane Barney
2. Elizabeth Moffat married George Albert Bradhsaw
3. Mary Ann Moffat married Joseph Gale
4. Margaret Japp Moffat married Angus Gillies
5. Joseph Moffat married Rhoda Wareing
6. Andrew Moffat married Eliza Celia Swanner
7. John Peter Moffat married Florence Caroline Ramsay
8. Isabella Moffat married Daniel Parley Latham
Edward Patterson married Martha Harriet Dean on February 6, 1878.
1. John Edward Patterson married Rosella Olsen
2. Thomas Morgan Patterson married Adlade Barton
3. Lettie Matle patterson married Charles Bowden
4. Martha Jane Patterson married Edward Morgan
5. Heber Patterson died as a child
6. Edgar Patterson married Sara Jane Morris
7. Alice Maud Patterson died as a child
8. Wilford Elmer Patterson died as a child
9. Dean Patterson died as a child
10. Edna Darle Patterson married Albert T. Smith
11. Viola A Patterson married Gilbert Smith
12. William Chester Patterson never married
Catherine Banks Patterson married Thomas Jefferson Sly on Mary 8, 1880, when Catherine was 25 years old. They had five children.
1. Dale Sly married Hilma Johanna Rosenberg
2. Katy Jean McGill Sly married John H Twitchell
3. Ray James Sly married Ethel mandena Dally
4. Dee Thomas Sly married Eurice Rosina Puffer
5. Susanna Banks Sly married Thomas Waters
Thomas married Adolphine Bohn, a sister to Sophia Bohn. They had five children:
1. Catherine Banks Patterson married John Calvert Bowman
2. Martha Jane Patterson married Joseph L. Hanson
3. Archie Patterson never married
4. Leonia Patterson married Arthur Smith
5. Geneva Patterson married John Elliott Idol
Martha Jane Patterson married Edward Morgan on December 15, 1881. They had six children, four of whom died as young children.
1. Myrtle Evelyn Morgan married Charles Waters
2. Jane Patterson Morgan married John Hofheins
For two years Andrew worked at the mines to earn money for their journey. While there he met Jane Nelson Morgan, a widow of 36, and they were married in 1851. Jane Nelson was married to Thomas Morgan but we assume that they had not been married long before Thomas died. Jane was baptized on June 1, 1847. Jane and Thomas were sealed in the temple, as were Andrew and Margaret. Andrew and Jane traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Andrew and Jane had a son born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in May of 1852, named Edward Nelson. He only weighted 2 1/2 pounds. The family stopped in Council Bluffs for ten days and then traveled on. Edward was too small to be dressed, so Jane wrapped him in a blanket and carried him on a pillow in her apron across the plains. Andrew wasn't dressed until they arrived in Salt Lake Valley. Robert said that Edward cried clear across the plains. The family arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in the late summer or fall of 1852, then settled in the Ogden area and started to build an adobe house. In 1854 Andrew and his family moved to Cedar City, where Andrew worked in the mines. They built their first log cabin, but times were hard and provisions few. Their crops were a failure, water was scarce, and the land was rocky and not very productive. In 1855 Andrew was born and in 1856 another child was born, but in 1856 both babies died of starvation. They moved to Beaver Valley and lived in a dugout, then built a log cabin and had a son named Thomas Morgan on July 1, 1857. They began to prosper, and three years later they built a five-room brick home. In 1859 John Nelson was born, and on August 7, 1864, just six months before Jane was 50 years old Martha Jane was born.
Andrew freighted with mule teams, and built the first canal south of Beaver to water the land in the south west fields. He also helped build Cove Fort. Jane was the first woman doctor to hold an M.D. in the state of Utah. She delivered 500 babies in the Beaver Valley and doctored the residents. When Edward was 8 he broke his leg in two places and Jane set the leg and it healed well.
Margaret married John X Smith on July 24, 1855, when she was 17. Margaret and John X moved from Cedar City to Beaver in 1857 or 1858. John X had joined the church as a young man in England and came to America soon after. He was the only member of his family to join the church. He came to New Orleans and then up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to St. Louis. He came to Salt Lake City and later to Cedar City, where he married Margaret. After moving to Beaver they built a home and raised 14 children and spent the rest of their lives in Beaver.
1. John Andrew Smith married Charlotte Swindlehurst
2. Joseph Anthony smith married Amelia Swindlehurst
3. Margaret Smith married John Ashworth
4. Robert Hyrum Smith (twin) married Caroline Carlow
5. Sarah Smith (twin) married Ebenezar Gillies
6. Mary Anne Smith married James Wesley Farrer
7. Richard Haley Smith died as a child
8. Susan Jane Smith married John Molen Murdock
9. Thomas Eken Smith died as a child.
10. Emma Elizabeth Smith married Willford Robinson
11. William Edward Smith married Elsie Ann Eyre
12. Kathern Patterson Smith married Thomas Bennett
13. Jeanette Smith married John Stoney
14. Clara Ellen Smith married Fergus Wilden
Robert married Sophia Bohn when he was 25 and she was 15. Sophia's father had joined the church in Denmark, came to Salt Lake City, then to Cedar City to work in the iron mines, then to Beaver. Robert and Sophia had 11 children.
1. Andrew Patterson married Mary Jane Morgan (died in childbirth) and Annie Newby
2. Margaret Patterson married Horace Skinner
3. Joseph Adolph Patterson married Lea Ann Ross and Jane Jund
4. Robert Patterson died as a child
5. Thomas Oscar Patterson married Margaret Davis
6. Adam Sharp Patterson married LaVern Williams
7. Albert Patterson married Jessie Myrtle White
8. Lewis Patterson married Sarah Ann Baldwin
9. Wiliam Patterson (Billie) never married (crippled from childhood and couldn't walk or talk. Robert and Sophia took care of him until he died at 34.)
10. James Patterson married Ruby White
11. Horace Patterson married Daisy Merlin Evans
Agnes Ann married Philo Taylor Farnsworth when she was 14 as his third wife. She raised her own children and helped care for Philo's second wife's children, since their mother died when they were quite small. Agnes Ann made butter and sold butter and milk to the grocery store for needed groceries. When her children were small, she would bathe them on Saturday nights and put them to bed, then wash and iron their only clothes so they would be fresh for Sunday. Philo died in 1887, so she raised her children on her own. She died on May 1, 1909. She had 10 children.
1. Andrew Stephen Farnsworth died as a child
2. Robert John Farnsworth married Irene Lucilla Gay
3. Lewis Edwin Farnsworth married Amelia Abigain White
4. Mary Ann Farnsworth died as a child
5. Albert Steven Farnsworth married Mary Alice Anderson
6. Edward Farnsworth married Elizabeth Ferguson Munson
7. Charles Farnsworth married Mayne Jessie Zobel
8. Margaret Ann Farnsworth died as a child
9. Martha Jane Farnsworth married Robert Dyer Green
10. Samuel Dennis Farnsworth married Elizabeth Watson
Mary Roy married Samuel Moffat when she was 17, on January 7, 1861 in Logan, Utah. Samuel was from Dalkeith Edinburgh Scotland, and was not a member of the church. Mary Roy and Samuel separated in their later years. Mary Roy died in Tetonia, Teton, Idaho, and Samuel died in LeGrand Union, Oregon. They had 8 children.
1. Samuel Patterson Moffat married Sarah Elnora Jane Barney
2. Elizabeth Moffat married George Albert Bradhsaw
3. Mary Ann Moffat married Joseph Gale
4. Margaret Japp Moffat married Angus Gillies
5. Joseph Moffat married Rhoda Wareing
6. Andrew Moffat married Eliza Celia Swanner
7. John Peter Moffat married Florence Caroline Ramsay
8. Isabella Moffat married Daniel Parley Latham
Edward Patterson married Martha Harriet Dean on February 6, 1878.
1. John Edward Patterson married Rosella Olsen
2. Thomas Morgan Patterson married Adlade Barton
3. Lettie Matle patterson married Charles Bowden
4. Martha Jane Patterson married Edward Morgan
5. Heber Patterson died as a child
6. Edgar Patterson married Sara Jane Morris
7. Alice Maud Patterson died as a child
8. Wilford Elmer Patterson died as a child
9. Dean Patterson died as a child
10. Edna Darle Patterson married Albert T. Smith
11. Viola A Patterson married Gilbert Smith
12. William Chester Patterson never married
Catherine Banks Patterson married Thomas Jefferson Sly on Mary 8, 1880, when Catherine was 25 years old. They had five children.
1. Dale Sly married Hilma Johanna Rosenberg
2. Katy Jean McGill Sly married John H Twitchell
3. Ray James Sly married Ethel mandena Dally
4. Dee Thomas Sly married Eurice Rosina Puffer
5. Susanna Banks Sly married Thomas Waters
Thomas married Adolphine Bohn, a sister to Sophia Bohn. They had five children:
1. Catherine Banks Patterson married John Calvert Bowman
2. Martha Jane Patterson married Joseph L. Hanson
3. Archie Patterson never married
4. Leonia Patterson married Arthur Smith
5. Geneva Patterson married John Elliott Idol
Martha Jane Patterson married Edward Morgan on December 15, 1881. They had six children, four of whom died as young children.
1. Myrtle Evelyn Morgan married Charles Waters
2. Jane Patterson Morgan married John Hofheins
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Edward Nelson Morgan
Edward Nelson Morgan was born to Daniel Morgan and Clarissa Adelaide Baxter on June 29th, 1882, at Aurora, Sevier County, Utah. Daniel owned a large tract of land which they owned until about 1889. On October 12th, 1889, Edward's youngest brother, Roy, was born. On January 10, 1890 Clarissa died, having never recovered from her illness at the birth of Roy. The family moved to Wellington, where they lived until Daniel died on October 6, 1902. During much of this time Edward herded sheep for a living. Martha Jane Patterson (Jen) was teaching school at Levan and living with Edward's grandmother Morgan and his uncle, James Morgan. Jen and Edward married on June 5, 1907. Throughout his life, Edward had many jobs and worked wherever he could. He also had many positions in the church and was faithful throughout his life. He was ordained a High Priest on November 30, 1924 by Joseph Fielding Smith.
One summer a hail storm came up and in 15 minutes destroyed their entire crop of wheat. The next year they lost about a tenth of their crop to hail. After their crop was destroyed they bought pigs and fattened them in the field, killed the pigs and hauled them to Carbon County and sold them for 10 cents a pound.
In July 1936 Edward's nephew, Dan, was killed in an auto accident in Nevada. They lived in St. George, so the family went down to the funeral. As they were returning home the car turned over and Jen was seriously injured. She died two days later, on the 17th of July. The car was driven by Evan, Edward's brother Bert and his wife, Darle and Irene, and Jen were all in the car.
Edward married Harriet Irinda Sorensen in the Salt Lake temple on June 10, 1942. They took Frieda Sorensen, Nora Burnham, and Jessie Foresgren to the Manti, St. George, and Mesa temples on their honeymoon trip.
One summer a hail storm came up and in 15 minutes destroyed their entire crop of wheat. The next year they lost about a tenth of their crop to hail. After their crop was destroyed they bought pigs and fattened them in the field, killed the pigs and hauled them to Carbon County and sold them for 10 cents a pound.
In July 1936 Edward's nephew, Dan, was killed in an auto accident in Nevada. They lived in St. George, so the family went down to the funeral. As they were returning home the car turned over and Jen was seriously injured. She died two days later, on the 17th of July. The car was driven by Evan, Edward's brother Bert and his wife, Darle and Irene, and Jen were all in the car.
Edward married Harriet Irinda Sorensen in the Salt Lake temple on June 10, 1942. They took Frieda Sorensen, Nora Burnham, and Jessie Foresgren to the Manti, St. George, and Mesa temples on their honeymoon trip.
Martha Althora Morgan Childs
Martha was born on February 22, 1914, in a little mining town called Kenilworth, Carbon, Utah. Her parents were Edward Nelson Morgan and Martha Jane Patterson, called Jen. Martha was the third child in the family. Edward Evan and Viola were older, then Darle, James, Jean, and Irene were younger. Martha's father did many things, including farming, garage work, vulcanizing, mining, traveling salesman, and a shoe repairman. While farming, they lost 60 acres of wheat to hail so Martha's parents bought pigs and fattened them in the wheat fields. James died when Martha was ten years old. He had been two, but was such a sweet child and they missed him.
Edward had many jobs, and he'd take the kids with him if he was able, so he could spend time alone with them. One time when Martha was with him, he rented a large truck to help move a family. They were going down a mountain road when the front wheel fell off the truck. They had a good laugh when they saw it running down the road ahead of them.
One spring day when Edward was away, Jen was ill. She told Vi and Martha to plant the garden and gave them the seeds to plant. They dd it as fast as they could so they could go play. When the garden came up, it was like a lawn. Everything was so thick, and they hadn't put markers up, so they didn't know where anything was planted. It was a total disaster.
In the spring they bought crepe paper and made lots of paper flowers to put on the graves. They made roses and sweet peas. None of them liked that job. Jen even said she hoped no one would ever put paper flowers on her grave. They didn't like cutting and sewing rag rugs, either. They would tear up all of their old clothes into 2" strips, them sew them together and the neighbor would make rugs out of them. When they got tired of doing that, Jen would take out her false teeth and make faces so they'd laugh and be happy again. Sometimes Jen would give the kids an egg to take to the store to buy candy. When Martha was about 13, they rode a school bus to a small town called Spring Glen to school. One day a few of them decided to sluff school. They walked across a hill to get to the town of Price. When they arrived in Price a truant officer was waiting to take them back to school. They were all expelled for a week. After returning to school a teacher asked Martha what her parents said about her sluffing school. Martha told the teacher that Jen wasn't mad since she'd done worse things than that when she was young. Evan was called on a mission to England, and in order to support him Edward went to work in the mines.
Martha married Howard Childs on February 15th, 1933 in the Manti Temple. When Martha had her first child, LeRoy, she had a hard labor and was required to stay in bed for three weeks. During this time Jean, aged 14, got very sick with appendicitis. Edward and Jen took Jean to the hospital, but the hospital wouldn't take her in without the money in advance. Edward didn't have that much money, so they had to take Jean home. It was a Friday night and the banks were closed. Edward raised the money by Monday morning, but by then Jean's appendix had ruptured and she died. Martha wasn't told because the doctor thought it would make her sicker. Martha was at her parents' place, but because there weren't mortuaries to keep the body in, Jean's body was kept at home until the funeral. The doctor moved Martha to Howard's parents' place, still without Martha knowing why.
Jen was killed in a car accident on July 19, 1936. After her death, Edward was very lonely. He spent a lot of time in Manti doing temple work. On June 10, 1942 Edward married Harriet Irenda Sorensen. They had two children, Ora and Lynn.
Martha and Howard moved with their family to Dillon, Montana, to ranch. In 1961 Martha thought she could help out with finances so she went to work in the school cafeteria. She started out as a dishwasher and worked her way up until she was the manager of the program. She did all the shopping, creating menus, and cooking. She worked there for 10 1/2 years. On January 2, 1973 Martha was on the way to work and had a car accident. She drove her car off the end of an unfinished freeway. She didn't think she was hurt so she started walking. She walked for two miles before finding anyone to help her. The men working on the road were reluctant to help her, and it took a long time to convince them to get her to a hospital or a doctor. The doctors weren't sure if she would live or in which order to try to fix her. The first operation was on her jaw, knees, and the broken bones in her elbow. The next operation was for internal bleeding. The doctors found that all the lining in her stomach had been torn to shreds. Martha was in the hospital for two to three weeks. After she got out of the hospital she had her jaws wired shut for many months. The cuts and scars had changed her lips and chin, and she was very self-conscious. An artificial elbow was put in her arm, but it was terribly painful ad she couldn't get it to work. Martha went to several doctors but they all said that she was allergic to the artificial elbow and that it had to come out. Martha finally agreed, and they removed the elbow entirely. Her right arm became 2" shorter than the left, and with limited use. It had to be picked up to be raised and didn't turn properly. The fingers were stiff and didn't bend easily, but Martha never complained. She always wore long sleeves to cover the elbow. All of her clothes have the right sleeve 2" shorter.
After Howard died, Martha moved to a condo near the River Jordan temple and worked as a receptionist for several years. Then she moved to live with her daughter Jean in Bigfork, Montana, where she died in 2004.
Edward had many jobs, and he'd take the kids with him if he was able, so he could spend time alone with them. One time when Martha was with him, he rented a large truck to help move a family. They were going down a mountain road when the front wheel fell off the truck. They had a good laugh when they saw it running down the road ahead of them.
One spring day when Edward was away, Jen was ill. She told Vi and Martha to plant the garden and gave them the seeds to plant. They dd it as fast as they could so they could go play. When the garden came up, it was like a lawn. Everything was so thick, and they hadn't put markers up, so they didn't know where anything was planted. It was a total disaster.
In the spring they bought crepe paper and made lots of paper flowers to put on the graves. They made roses and sweet peas. None of them liked that job. Jen even said she hoped no one would ever put paper flowers on her grave. They didn't like cutting and sewing rag rugs, either. They would tear up all of their old clothes into 2" strips, them sew them together and the neighbor would make rugs out of them. When they got tired of doing that, Jen would take out her false teeth and make faces so they'd laugh and be happy again. Sometimes Jen would give the kids an egg to take to the store to buy candy. When Martha was about 13, they rode a school bus to a small town called Spring Glen to school. One day a few of them decided to sluff school. They walked across a hill to get to the town of Price. When they arrived in Price a truant officer was waiting to take them back to school. They were all expelled for a week. After returning to school a teacher asked Martha what her parents said about her sluffing school. Martha told the teacher that Jen wasn't mad since she'd done worse things than that when she was young. Evan was called on a mission to England, and in order to support him Edward went to work in the mines.
Martha married Howard Childs on February 15th, 1933 in the Manti Temple. When Martha had her first child, LeRoy, she had a hard labor and was required to stay in bed for three weeks. During this time Jean, aged 14, got very sick with appendicitis. Edward and Jen took Jean to the hospital, but the hospital wouldn't take her in without the money in advance. Edward didn't have that much money, so they had to take Jean home. It was a Friday night and the banks were closed. Edward raised the money by Monday morning, but by then Jean's appendix had ruptured and she died. Martha wasn't told because the doctor thought it would make her sicker. Martha was at her parents' place, but because there weren't mortuaries to keep the body in, Jean's body was kept at home until the funeral. The doctor moved Martha to Howard's parents' place, still without Martha knowing why.
Jen was killed in a car accident on July 19, 1936. After her death, Edward was very lonely. He spent a lot of time in Manti doing temple work. On June 10, 1942 Edward married Harriet Irenda Sorensen. They had two children, Ora and Lynn.
Martha and Howard moved with their family to Dillon, Montana, to ranch. In 1961 Martha thought she could help out with finances so she went to work in the school cafeteria. She started out as a dishwasher and worked her way up until she was the manager of the program. She did all the shopping, creating menus, and cooking. She worked there for 10 1/2 years. On January 2, 1973 Martha was on the way to work and had a car accident. She drove her car off the end of an unfinished freeway. She didn't think she was hurt so she started walking. She walked for two miles before finding anyone to help her. The men working on the road were reluctant to help her, and it took a long time to convince them to get her to a hospital or a doctor. The doctors weren't sure if she would live or in which order to try to fix her. The first operation was on her jaw, knees, and the broken bones in her elbow. The next operation was for internal bleeding. The doctors found that all the lining in her stomach had been torn to shreds. Martha was in the hospital for two to three weeks. After she got out of the hospital she had her jaws wired shut for many months. The cuts and scars had changed her lips and chin, and she was very self-conscious. An artificial elbow was put in her arm, but it was terribly painful ad she couldn't get it to work. Martha went to several doctors but they all said that she was allergic to the artificial elbow and that it had to come out. Martha finally agreed, and they removed the elbow entirely. Her right arm became 2" shorter than the left, and with limited use. It had to be picked up to be raised and didn't turn properly. The fingers were stiff and didn't bend easily, but Martha never complained. She always wore long sleeves to cover the elbow. All of her clothes have the right sleeve 2" shorter.
After Howard died, Martha moved to a condo near the River Jordan temple and worked as a receptionist for several years. Then she moved to live with her daughter Jean in Bigfork, Montana, where she died in 2004.
Mary Ann Knighton Childs
Mary Ann Knighton was born in Minorsville, Skull, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1856. Her parents, John Knighton and Mary Marsden joined the church in England and immigrated to America. They first settled in Pennsylvania, then moving to Illinois, where more children were born. In 1862, the family began their journey west with ox teams in Brother Wareham's Company. The journey was made without accident or trouble with the Indians. Mary Ann, then a girl of six, remembered finding beads and trinkets at Indian camp grounds. She also remembered crossing rivers and streams of water. They arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1862, settling in Bountiful.
In 1864 the family moved to Fort Alma, later called Monroe. During the Black Hawk days their cattle were stolen many times and always their lives were in danger. Finally Fort Alma was abandoned and the Knightons come to Fort Gunnison for protection on April 20th, 1867. As the oldest, Mary Ann was very busy helping her mother with the household work. As a young girl Mary Ann did the family spinning, making yarn for stockings, mittens and cloth used to dress the family. She made four and sometimes five skeins of yarn a day, which necessitated her walking all day using a large spinning wheel. The family of six lived in the fort in one log room having a rock floor. In the spring of 1868, the Indians stole the Knighton team and they had to give up farming. John Knighton took up shoe making as a trade instead. Mary Ann's mother, Mary, owned the first sewing machine in the fort and with the help of Mary Ann made shirts and overalls that were sold in the co-op store, managed by John Knighton.
Mary Ann married William David on November 20, 1876. They moved to Centerfield on her 21st birthday (July 1, 1877), where she lived for 60 years. In 1881 Mary Ann and one other woman cooked for 60 men who were building a railroad at Green River. That same year she and Will and two children went to to St. George to the temple to be sealed as a family. In 1890 they again went to build railroads, this time between Gunnison and Salina. This time she was the mother of eight children and did the cooking for 20 men. Mary Ann had 11 children, four of which died. Will died on September 30, 1927. Mary Ann died on April 2, 1938.
In 1864 the family moved to Fort Alma, later called Monroe. During the Black Hawk days their cattle were stolen many times and always their lives were in danger. Finally Fort Alma was abandoned and the Knightons come to Fort Gunnison for protection on April 20th, 1867. As the oldest, Mary Ann was very busy helping her mother with the household work. As a young girl Mary Ann did the family spinning, making yarn for stockings, mittens and cloth used to dress the family. She made four and sometimes five skeins of yarn a day, which necessitated her walking all day using a large spinning wheel. The family of six lived in the fort in one log room having a rock floor. In the spring of 1868, the Indians stole the Knighton team and they had to give up farming. John Knighton took up shoe making as a trade instead. Mary Ann's mother, Mary, owned the first sewing machine in the fort and with the help of Mary Ann made shirts and overalls that were sold in the co-op store, managed by John Knighton.
Mary Ann married William David on November 20, 1876. They moved to Centerfield on her 21st birthday (July 1, 1877), where she lived for 60 years. In 1881 Mary Ann and one other woman cooked for 60 men who were building a railroad at Green River. That same year she and Will and two children went to to St. George to the temple to be sealed as a family. In 1890 they again went to build railroads, this time between Gunnison and Salina. This time she was the mother of eight children and did the cooking for 20 men. Mary Ann had 11 children, four of which died. Will died on September 30, 1927. Mary Ann died on April 2, 1938.
William and Mary Childs
William David Childs was born in Salt Lake City on April 22, 1853. His parents were William and Mary Howard Childs. Both of his parents crossed the plains with the pioneers. William Childs lived in Nauvoo and knew the prophet Joseph Smith. William's first wife and two children died in Nauvoo. Mary Howard's husband died while crossing the plains in 1852. She came on to Utah with her two little girls Mary and Lavine. Later she met and married William Childs in Salt Lake City. Mary and William had five sons, of which William David was the oldest. Moroni, Parley, Lorenzo, and Edward were his brothers.
The family was called to settle the Gunnison valley in 1861, and they had to build roads as they went. It took two weeks to make the trip from Springville to Gunnison. The children were scantily clad. The only clothes they owned were the ones they wore, so their mother would spread a quilt on the floor by the fire place and cover the children with another quilt while she washed and mended their clothes. Mary made all the cloth for their clothes and they were patched until they were threadbare. Once Mary made the boys some trousers out of seamless sacks with the stripes on the outside of the leg, and Ed said they were as proud of them as boys are of their finest broadcloth suits. In the early 1860s the Childs family was called to help settle Salina. In 1865 the Indians went on the warpath, and hostilities with the Indians continued until 1870. It was known as the Black Hawk war. The whole family had many experiences with trying to stay safe from the Indians. After living in Salina for some time the Indians became so hostile that they had to move back to Gunnison and build a fort for protection. The fort inclosed four city blocks. The houses were the walls of the fort. There was always a lot of work to be done because everything was made themselves, and by hand. However, they were happy and had fun together.
When the Childs family moved out of the fort they built a cellar and two room house. William died here on August 19, 1879. Mary died at the home of Lovina on February 5, 1897.
In November 1876, Will married Mary Ann Knighton. He took up a homestead two miles south of Gunnison, which is now called Centerfield. They had 11 children.
The family was called to settle the Gunnison valley in 1861, and they had to build roads as they went. It took two weeks to make the trip from Springville to Gunnison. The children were scantily clad. The only clothes they owned were the ones they wore, so their mother would spread a quilt on the floor by the fire place and cover the children with another quilt while she washed and mended their clothes. Mary made all the cloth for their clothes and they were patched until they were threadbare. Once Mary made the boys some trousers out of seamless sacks with the stripes on the outside of the leg, and Ed said they were as proud of them as boys are of their finest broadcloth suits. In the early 1860s the Childs family was called to help settle Salina. In 1865 the Indians went on the warpath, and hostilities with the Indians continued until 1870. It was known as the Black Hawk war. The whole family had many experiences with trying to stay safe from the Indians. After living in Salina for some time the Indians became so hostile that they had to move back to Gunnison and build a fort for protection. The fort inclosed four city blocks. The houses were the walls of the fort. There was always a lot of work to be done because everything was made themselves, and by hand. However, they were happy and had fun together.
When the Childs family moved out of the fort they built a cellar and two room house. William died here on August 19, 1879. Mary died at the home of Lovina on February 5, 1897.
In November 1876, Will married Mary Ann Knighton. He took up a homestead two miles south of Gunnison, which is now called Centerfield. They had 11 children.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Jens and Marie Jensen (mom's great-grandparents)
Jens Jensen was born in a small country town in Denmark called Horsens, on Sept 21, 1848. His parents, Jens Samuelsen and his wife Karen, made their living doing farm work. Jens was the 7th child in a family of 11 children. Obedience, honesty, and reverence for God was taught. When he was seven years old, he was hired out to herd geese. At that time people were not hired out for a day, week, or month, but by six months or a year at a time. Jens continued to work for this family until he was 22, when he was called into the Kings service in training for a soldier. After two years of service, he came back to work for the same people.
About this time Jens met Marie, who as born on February11th, 1853, in Sulsted, Denmark, as the oldest child in a family of six. Her parents were Jens Rasmussen and Jensine Christiane, and Marie had been raised in poor circumstances. Marie would be hired out during the summer and then come home in the winter to take care of her sick mother. Jensine finally died, leaving a baby nine months old. The children were sent out to relatives and Marie was again hired out. Jens remarried and the children were gathered back together again, but met and married Jens Jensen. Marie was trained in tailoring and dress making. She bought a sewing machine and became very efficient in sewing.
Jens and Marie were married on June 5th, 1876. They stayed in the country for a short time, but soon decided they could live better if they moved to the city of Aalborg, which they did about 1877. Marie went to work in a laundry to help get bedding and furnishings for the new apartment in the city, while Jens worked as a mason for the same contractor for eighteen years. He was a very efficient brick layer and cement worker and became foreman of the men working for the contractor. Marie lost her first three babies due to overwork, so she quit work to care for her next baby and six more children were born to them during the 1880s and early 1890s.
About 1891, Andrew Jensen, a missionary from America came to their home. This was Jens's childhood neighbor from Horsins who had embraced the gospel and emigrated to Utah, then came back to serve a mission in Denmark. He vowed that as soon as he came to Denmark he would find Jens and Marie and share the gospel with them, which he did. Marie knew right away that it was true. Many afternoons were spent discussing the gospel principles and when Jens came home the discussions continued long into the night. The gospel was a great comfort to them because their 4-year-old girl had died in 1888. Her death had given them much sorrow because they didn't know if they would ever see her again. On June 26th, 1892, Jens and Marie were baptized. They lost all of their friends and most of their relatives when they joined the church. About this time, a niece and nephew of Marie's came from Russia where their parents were working and had sent their children to Denmark for schooling. Since Jens and Marie were Mormons, the niece and nephew were sent to a different relative in the city. The relative didn't send the children to school, so later they came to live with Jens and Marie. These children also learned of the gospel and later when their parents returned from Russia, all were baptized into the church.
Now the spirit of the gathering to Zion came to Jens and Marie, but they didn't have enough money for a family of seven to travel to Zion. When Andrew Jensen was released to come home, he offered to bring the oldest child, a girl of 13 (Kate) and give her a home until Jens and Marie could come. So Kate was sent 7,000 miles away. This was a great trial and test of faith on their part. Kate left with Andrew Jensen on April 26th, 1893, and Marie was very lonesome for her. On July 24th, 1893, Christine was born to them. A missionary from Brigham City, L.F. Johnson, said when he came home that he would send for James, their next oldest, now 11 years old. On August 11th, 1893, James was sent with strangers to Zion. This was hard for Jens and Marie, but their faith kept them going. They worked hard. Besides Jens's usual work in the day time, he was janitor in evenings for a large club house, and firing the furnace in a church. He also had such jobs as white washing to make more money so the time could come soon when the rest of the family could come to join the children already in Zion. Their daughter, Johanna, remembered sitting on a chair in the meeting house to be named, since the sprinkling of infants, such as she had, wasn't correct. How they prayed to the Lord to help them come to Utah! Johanna was baptized on May 21st, 1894, at nearly midnight in the Linafjord. Someone walked over the railroad bridge crossing the fjord and everyone was quiet at the waters edge underneath the bridge so they wouldn't get caught.
On July 24th, 1895, the family left Denmark to come to Utah. It took nearly a month. The family was very seasick on the voyage. They sailed from Aalborg to Copenhagen, then crossed the North Sea, then spent five days in Glasgow waiting for the steamer to take them across the Atlantic. They spent 12 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean, landing in New York Harbor in the afternoon. Jens was very sick and all their belongings had been taken from the ship and placed in a large warehouse where all the trunks were opened and the custom agent searched them for anything that wasn't allowed. Marie discovered that their bedding with the other sacks were missing, so she hunted through the warehouse until she found it. With two large rolls and sacks and with the baby on one arm, dragging bedding with the other, she finally got them to the rest of their luggage where Jens sat in terrible pain. Mary and Johanna sat with Jens, not daring to leave him for fear they would be lost. They traveled eight days by train to Utah. They ate food that they had brought from Aalborg. The family arrived in Manti on August 18th and in Centerfield on August 22, 1895, where they went to the home of Andrew Jensen. Kate had gone to live in Sterling with Bishop C.N. Christensen, whose wife was in and needed help (Kate had been there for two years). People were good to the family, but Johanna remembered being mercilessly teased by the other children for her clothing and accent.
Life was very different to their way of living in Denmark, but their testimony and love of the gospel made them feel it was a better way. Work was scarce, and no one had money to pay for hired help. Jens took whatever jobs he could get to support his family, but it was hard to get food and clothes. They were blessed of the Lord and conditions became better. They added to their house and planted trees and a garden. James came home from Brigham City, but later went back here and married. The girls married in Centerfield. Jens and Marie were worn out. They went to live with Johanna, where Jens died on July 14th, 1918. Marie lived with Johanna for another five years, then went back to the home that Jens had built for her. Her sons-in-law built Marie a home next to Johanna's, so Marie went to live there. She died on November 15th, 1933. Her last deed while conscious was to pay her tithing. She tried to be perfect in every way. Kindness and honesty were her watchwords and motto.
About this time Jens met Marie, who as born on February11th, 1853, in Sulsted, Denmark, as the oldest child in a family of six. Her parents were Jens Rasmussen and Jensine Christiane, and Marie had been raised in poor circumstances. Marie would be hired out during the summer and then come home in the winter to take care of her sick mother. Jensine finally died, leaving a baby nine months old. The children were sent out to relatives and Marie was again hired out. Jens remarried and the children were gathered back together again, but met and married Jens Jensen. Marie was trained in tailoring and dress making. She bought a sewing machine and became very efficient in sewing.
Jens and Marie were married on June 5th, 1876. They stayed in the country for a short time, but soon decided they could live better if they moved to the city of Aalborg, which they did about 1877. Marie went to work in a laundry to help get bedding and furnishings for the new apartment in the city, while Jens worked as a mason for the same contractor for eighteen years. He was a very efficient brick layer and cement worker and became foreman of the men working for the contractor. Marie lost her first three babies due to overwork, so she quit work to care for her next baby and six more children were born to them during the 1880s and early 1890s.
About 1891, Andrew Jensen, a missionary from America came to their home. This was Jens's childhood neighbor from Horsins who had embraced the gospel and emigrated to Utah, then came back to serve a mission in Denmark. He vowed that as soon as he came to Denmark he would find Jens and Marie and share the gospel with them, which he did. Marie knew right away that it was true. Many afternoons were spent discussing the gospel principles and when Jens came home the discussions continued long into the night. The gospel was a great comfort to them because their 4-year-old girl had died in 1888. Her death had given them much sorrow because they didn't know if they would ever see her again. On June 26th, 1892, Jens and Marie were baptized. They lost all of their friends and most of their relatives when they joined the church. About this time, a niece and nephew of Marie's came from Russia where their parents were working and had sent their children to Denmark for schooling. Since Jens and Marie were Mormons, the niece and nephew were sent to a different relative in the city. The relative didn't send the children to school, so later they came to live with Jens and Marie. These children also learned of the gospel and later when their parents returned from Russia, all were baptized into the church.
Now the spirit of the gathering to Zion came to Jens and Marie, but they didn't have enough money for a family of seven to travel to Zion. When Andrew Jensen was released to come home, he offered to bring the oldest child, a girl of 13 (Kate) and give her a home until Jens and Marie could come. So Kate was sent 7,000 miles away. This was a great trial and test of faith on their part. Kate left with Andrew Jensen on April 26th, 1893, and Marie was very lonesome for her. On July 24th, 1893, Christine was born to them. A missionary from Brigham City, L.F. Johnson, said when he came home that he would send for James, their next oldest, now 11 years old. On August 11th, 1893, James was sent with strangers to Zion. This was hard for Jens and Marie, but their faith kept them going. They worked hard. Besides Jens's usual work in the day time, he was janitor in evenings for a large club house, and firing the furnace in a church. He also had such jobs as white washing to make more money so the time could come soon when the rest of the family could come to join the children already in Zion. Their daughter, Johanna, remembered sitting on a chair in the meeting house to be named, since the sprinkling of infants, such as she had, wasn't correct. How they prayed to the Lord to help them come to Utah! Johanna was baptized on May 21st, 1894, at nearly midnight in the Linafjord. Someone walked over the railroad bridge crossing the fjord and everyone was quiet at the waters edge underneath the bridge so they wouldn't get caught.
On July 24th, 1895, the family left Denmark to come to Utah. It took nearly a month. The family was very seasick on the voyage. They sailed from Aalborg to Copenhagen, then crossed the North Sea, then spent five days in Glasgow waiting for the steamer to take them across the Atlantic. They spent 12 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean, landing in New York Harbor in the afternoon. Jens was very sick and all their belongings had been taken from the ship and placed in a large warehouse where all the trunks were opened and the custom agent searched them for anything that wasn't allowed. Marie discovered that their bedding with the other sacks were missing, so she hunted through the warehouse until she found it. With two large rolls and sacks and with the baby on one arm, dragging bedding with the other, she finally got them to the rest of their luggage where Jens sat in terrible pain. Mary and Johanna sat with Jens, not daring to leave him for fear they would be lost. They traveled eight days by train to Utah. They ate food that they had brought from Aalborg. The family arrived in Manti on August 18th and in Centerfield on August 22, 1895, where they went to the home of Andrew Jensen. Kate had gone to live in Sterling with Bishop C.N. Christensen, whose wife was in and needed help (Kate had been there for two years). People were good to the family, but Johanna remembered being mercilessly teased by the other children for her clothing and accent.
Life was very different to their way of living in Denmark, but their testimony and love of the gospel made them feel it was a better way. Work was scarce, and no one had money to pay for hired help. Jens took whatever jobs he could get to support his family, but it was hard to get food and clothes. They were blessed of the Lord and conditions became better. They added to their house and planted trees and a garden. James came home from Brigham City, but later went back here and married. The girls married in Centerfield. Jens and Marie were worn out. They went to live with Johanna, where Jens died on July 14th, 1918. Marie lived with Johanna for another five years, then went back to the home that Jens had built for her. Her sons-in-law built Marie a home next to Johanna's, so Marie went to live there. She died on November 15th, 1933. Her last deed while conscious was to pay her tithing. She tried to be perfect in every way. Kindness and honesty were her watchwords and motto.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Sorry: a conversation with Mom
Tell me about going to catch the wild horses and getting Sorry.
We went to get our mares one day, and the mares weren't in the pasture. We searched and searched for them. We knew there were wild horses up in the Sweetwater mountains, and figured that they had taken our mares. There was a wild black stallion that had stolen all the horses. He was so quick that it was hard to see him, but we found that our horses were in this pack. When they were running, the stallion would lead the pack, but when they came to a fence, he would go to the middle of the pack and the mares would break through the fence. We went up to the mountains again, and there was a corral that was up there. We went up (Les, DeVon, Errol, Grandpa, me), riding horses and driving the pickup to try to head them off and get them into the corral. It was sagebrush country, and it was a wild ride with lots of adrenaline. We got some of the horses from the wild band, but not all, and not the stallion because he was so wild and quick. We got our mares and a few others - seven or eight. One mare had a sorrel colt (later named Sorry), and we took the colt and our mares and turned the others loose.
Why did you take Sorry? Because he was no one's horse. He was just a colt that belonged to no one.
Why did you name him Sorry? Errol named him because he was a sorrel and sometimes he felt sorry that he had taken him into captivity - that Sorry couldn't run wild anymore. A few years later we found that the stallion had been shot. When Grandpa left the ranch, he took Snip and Sorry.
Who was Snip? One day, up in the mountains, there were about 200 wild horses. Someone in the area captured all these horses and brought them into the fairgrounds and had a wild horse sale. Grandpa bought Snip, a wild black stallion. He had a little white marking on his nose, and he was really spirited. Grandpa loved him because of that, so he kept Snip and Sorry when he sold the ranch, and took them to Utah with him. One winter Grandpa took the horses down to DeVon in Cedar City and DeVon was supposed to be caring for them. Snip died, and Grandpa thought that DeVon hadn't taken care of him well enough. When Grandpa died, DeVon still had property in Cedar City to keep Sorry on, but Mom got him instead.
Why did you get Sorry when Grandpa died? I rode Sorry. Sorry became my horse when all the brothers had left home. If Snip was available, he was ridden by someone else, not me, but I rode Sorry all the time. When Grandpa died, DeVon and I were the only ones that had property to keep Sorry on. Because he was my horse, I got Sorry when Grandpa died.
How did Sorry die? How old was he? When Sorry died, he was over 30. Sorry died from a heart attack while we were in Salt Lake during spring break. I wanted to keep the hide with the brand, but that part of the hide had decayed by the time we got back from Salt Lake. We buried Sorry in the pasture and tacked up some of the hide on the outhouse.
We went to get our mares one day, and the mares weren't in the pasture. We searched and searched for them. We knew there were wild horses up in the Sweetwater mountains, and figured that they had taken our mares. There was a wild black stallion that had stolen all the horses. He was so quick that it was hard to see him, but we found that our horses were in this pack. When they were running, the stallion would lead the pack, but when they came to a fence, he would go to the middle of the pack and the mares would break through the fence. We went up to the mountains again, and there was a corral that was up there. We went up (Les, DeVon, Errol, Grandpa, me), riding horses and driving the pickup to try to head them off and get them into the corral. It was sagebrush country, and it was a wild ride with lots of adrenaline. We got some of the horses from the wild band, but not all, and not the stallion because he was so wild and quick. We got our mares and a few others - seven or eight. One mare had a sorrel colt (later named Sorry), and we took the colt and our mares and turned the others loose.
Why did you take Sorry? Because he was no one's horse. He was just a colt that belonged to no one.
Why did you name him Sorry? Errol named him because he was a sorrel and sometimes he felt sorry that he had taken him into captivity - that Sorry couldn't run wild anymore. A few years later we found that the stallion had been shot. When Grandpa left the ranch, he took Snip and Sorry.
Who was Snip? One day, up in the mountains, there were about 200 wild horses. Someone in the area captured all these horses and brought them into the fairgrounds and had a wild horse sale. Grandpa bought Snip, a wild black stallion. He had a little white marking on his nose, and he was really spirited. Grandpa loved him because of that, so he kept Snip and Sorry when he sold the ranch, and took them to Utah with him. One winter Grandpa took the horses down to DeVon in Cedar City and DeVon was supposed to be caring for them. Snip died, and Grandpa thought that DeVon hadn't taken care of him well enough. When Grandpa died, DeVon still had property in Cedar City to keep Sorry on, but Mom got him instead.
Why did you get Sorry when Grandpa died? I rode Sorry. Sorry became my horse when all the brothers had left home. If Snip was available, he was ridden by someone else, not me, but I rode Sorry all the time. When Grandpa died, DeVon and I were the only ones that had property to keep Sorry on. Because he was my horse, I got Sorry when Grandpa died.
How did Sorry die? How old was he? When Sorry died, he was over 30. Sorry died from a heart attack while we were in Salt Lake during spring break. I wanted to keep the hide with the brand, but that part of the hide had decayed by the time we got back from Salt Lake. We buried Sorry in the pasture and tacked up some of the hide on the outhouse.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Howard William Childs (Grandpa)
Howard went to school in Centerfield in a little rock building. Much of his time he didn't go to school because he had to work. When he was in 2nd or 3rd grade the family moved to Winkleman so his dad could work in the mines. There was no school there so the two years they lived there the children did not go to school. While at Winkleman they lived in tents. One tent was the bedroom, which had no heart, and the other tent was the living quarters, which had wooden slats for a floor. One time a skunk came in the tent and went under the bed. Quite a stink before the skunk was put in its place. The children enjoyed their time in Winkle man, as they would spend their time in adventure and play. An old engine was a favorite place to play. The winters were cold and the snow was very deep. Howard's father was working in the mine at Big Rock Candy Mountain. Howard graduated from 8th grade but he would only attend high school during the winter months or when he did not have work.
Howard and Martha had been ranching in Nevada and loving it. They were paid well, but decided to go to a copper mine 50 miles from Ely on a get rich quick scheme. Howard was to work in the mine and Martha was to cook for 4 or 5 men. They spent all their savings on food and drove their Plymouth out to the tiny little shack. After a time the boss said he would go into Ely for more food. He didn't come back. Once they realized they were abandoned they loaded up their car with the family and the extra men and had to siphon gas out of an ore truck to get back to town. They drove into Ely penniless. Howard had a cousin in Ely, Beth and Bob Larsen, who took them in. Howard and Martha and children lived upstairs. They stayed with Bob and Beth until they had earned enough money to buy a lot and even build a home on it. Their time in Ely was a fun time with friends.
During WWII Howard worked his father's farm of 40 acres with horses. The watering was done in furrows and sometimes when there wasn't an abundance of water only one or two rows could be watered at a time so Howard would turn the water into those rows and then walk to the bottom of those rows and lay down and sleep and when the water reached him it would wake him and he would then turn the water into the next rows and do it again. Howard drove milk truck hauling milk to Monroe. He picked up milk from the dairies in10-gallon milk cans. Howard could pick up a 10-gallon milk can with each hand and lift them onto the bed of the truck all day long.
After the family had moved to Dillon, the summer range for the cattle was in the Sweetwater mountains east of Dillon. Up on the upper pasture in the Sweetwater some horses came up missing. Howard went looking for them and discovered them with a big red wild stallion and his band. It took many trips and much adventure before finally being able to corral the mares, but the stallion was never surrounded. He would lead the herd all over those mountains. DeVon, Errol, and Howard were able to get the mares back and also there was a 6-month-old sorrel cold that they caught and brought home and named Sorry. Snip was a black stallion that was purchased at a wild horse auction in Dillon. He was a spirited animal but respectful. Was quick to learn but was fast as a flash. There were other horses that Howard worked with that he raised or purchased. He trained many horses over the years. Snip was his favorite, however, and then Sorry. These horses he brought with him to Utah when he sold out. We have a picture of me on Sorry when I was a kid. After Howard died, Sorry came to Mom, and he lived with us for many years.
One Sunday when Howard and Martha were living in Dillon, Howard had a terrible accident. The family had left for church and Howard went to elevate the grain from the truck into the barn. He had the tractor running with the power take-off engaged to elevate the grain. The power take-off had a nail in it and Howard somehow got his coat snagged and caught. He was wrapped around and around and his clothes bound tighter and tighter. He was knocked unconscious and when he came to, the tractor was turned off. He would have been killed had the tractor not been stopped. Standing by the tractor was Howard's grandfather and grandmother, William David and Mary Ann Knighton Childs. Howard made his way to the house and called Martha at church and she came home and took him to the hospital. His lungs were badly damaged and they collapsed several times and his skin and body were terribly ripped up. It was a pretty scary time because of his extensive injuries. It took him months and months to recover.
When Howard's kids were old enough to get a job they didn't have any trouble because Howard had taught them how to work and hopefully they had some common sense, too. Howard would give the kids lambs, steers, and foals. Many of these animals were taken to the fair and sold. The kids were blessed in other ways too because they learned to do almost anything from mechanics to building. Some of the values that Howard lived by were work, work, and work. Be thrifty, take care of what you have, don't be wasteful, and don't be a saucerhead. If life is hard, don't pout or cry. Get back to work and get on with life.
Howard and Martha had been ranching in Nevada and loving it. They were paid well, but decided to go to a copper mine 50 miles from Ely on a get rich quick scheme. Howard was to work in the mine and Martha was to cook for 4 or 5 men. They spent all their savings on food and drove their Plymouth out to the tiny little shack. After a time the boss said he would go into Ely for more food. He didn't come back. Once they realized they were abandoned they loaded up their car with the family and the extra men and had to siphon gas out of an ore truck to get back to town. They drove into Ely penniless. Howard had a cousin in Ely, Beth and Bob Larsen, who took them in. Howard and Martha and children lived upstairs. They stayed with Bob and Beth until they had earned enough money to buy a lot and even build a home on it. Their time in Ely was a fun time with friends.
After the family had moved to Dillon, the summer range for the cattle was in the Sweetwater mountains east of Dillon. Up on the upper pasture in the Sweetwater some horses came up missing. Howard went looking for them and discovered them with a big red wild stallion and his band. It took many trips and much adventure before finally being able to corral the mares, but the stallion was never surrounded. He would lead the herd all over those mountains. DeVon, Errol, and Howard were able to get the mares back and also there was a 6-month-old sorrel cold that they caught and brought home and named Sorry. Snip was a black stallion that was purchased at a wild horse auction in Dillon. He was a spirited animal but respectful. Was quick to learn but was fast as a flash. There were other horses that Howard worked with that he raised or purchased. He trained many horses over the years. Snip was his favorite, however, and then Sorry. These horses he brought with him to Utah when he sold out. We have a picture of me on Sorry when I was a kid. After Howard died, Sorry came to Mom, and he lived with us for many years.
One Sunday when Howard and Martha were living in Dillon, Howard had a terrible accident. The family had left for church and Howard went to elevate the grain from the truck into the barn. He had the tractor running with the power take-off engaged to elevate the grain. The power take-off had a nail in it and Howard somehow got his coat snagged and caught. He was wrapped around and around and his clothes bound tighter and tighter. He was knocked unconscious and when he came to, the tractor was turned off. He would have been killed had the tractor not been stopped. Standing by the tractor was Howard's grandfather and grandmother, William David and Mary Ann Knighton Childs. Howard made his way to the house and called Martha at church and she came home and took him to the hospital. His lungs were badly damaged and they collapsed several times and his skin and body were terribly ripped up. It was a pretty scary time because of his extensive injuries. It took him months and months to recover.
When Howard's kids were old enough to get a job they didn't have any trouble because Howard had taught them how to work and hopefully they had some common sense, too. Howard would give the kids lambs, steers, and foals. Many of these animals were taken to the fair and sold. The kids were blessed in other ways too because they learned to do almost anything from mechanics to building. Some of the values that Howard lived by were work, work, and work. Be thrifty, take care of what you have, don't be wasteful, and don't be a saucerhead. If life is hard, don't pout or cry. Get back to work and get on with life.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
the Vanderbies (a long post)
I've looked at Garrit Vanderbie (Van der bie; Vander Bie; VanderBie) before. We have tons of information on his children and even his wife because they were very involved in their town of Greenleafton, Minnesota, and they are faithfully recorded in every census. For which I'm grateful. But, you see, Garrit immigrated from Holland, and he's the end of the line that I can find. However, in preparation for a trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake, I started going through all the dead ends I have listed, just to make sure they're still dead ends. Garrit Vanderbie was the first on the list.
So. I started searching for Garrit Vanderbie, and Ancestry.com brought up a family line that showed not only Garrit's parents, but his grandparents and great-grandparents! That was pretty exciting. So, as I was looking through the information, it showed Garrit's father died at sea...the same year that the family immigrated to Holland. A link was provided for the ship's embarking list. Garrit's father was on that boat to New York. He never got off. (Well, he did, just not the way that he or his family probably thought when they planned their future in the New World.) So there was Garrit's mother, Aaltje, a widow at 27. I wondered if there were other children, or just Garrit. So I found the passenger list in New York, and yep, there were siblings. Jaantje, aged 4, Garrit, aged 2 1/2, and Taani Peter, aged 1 1/2. A brand-new widow at 27 with three children aged 4 and under, on the boat to a country with a foreign language and foreign culture and how was she going to provide?
I searched census records for Aaltje, Jaantje, and Taani Peter. I expected Aaltje would remarry, so she would be hard to find, but the kids, especially Taani Peter, whose name wouldn't change, should have been findable. Nothing. I couldn't even find Garrit before he was married, and he never had his siblings or mother living with him. I searched Ancestry.com for all of them, and found another family line giving death dates for Jaantje, Gerrit, and Taani. But no references. According to this family line, Jaantje died when she was 25. I also found that Garrit served in the Civil War (on the Union side - it was specified on the registration slip) and withdrew Civil War pension in 1884.
And then, miracle of miracles, I found Garrit's obituary in the Preston, Minnesota Times. Here it is:
Gerret Vanderbie was born in Holland, July 21, 1845. Died December 13th, 1925, aged 80 years, 4 months and 22 days.
Did you catch the interesting parts? I hope so, since I bolded and italicized them. Can you imagine dying in the pew at church? Traumatic for the whole congregation! But I suppose for a good God-fearing Protestant, there probably isn't a better place to die.
So his mother married Abram Loomans. I searched Abram Loomans, and he did marry an Aaltje Ellen Vanderbie in 1850 (She arrived in 1848, so I don't know if I'd call that "later years" like the obit, but whatever.) The census records in 1850 show Abraham (maybe his name was changed like the original Abram) and Ellen with a plethora of children. One is Jane, which I can see as being Jaantje, and Gerrit is there as well. But Taani Peter isn't. What happened to Taani Peter? The Ancestry.com family line that said that Jaantje died at age 25 had Taani Peter living until he was 66. Did Abram have several children of his own? Was he a widower himself? Abram, incidentally, was from Holland as well. He immigrated in 1844. I haven't had time to explore the Loomans much except to realize that they were very prolific. I was tired and hungry and that was the last straw.
Abram and Ellen/Aaltje continue to appear in census records until Ellen died in 1908 and Abram lived with one of his children. In one of the later censuses, there is some interesting information. Aaltje is listed as having three children, with only two living. That makes sense if Jaantje did die at 25, and if Aaltje didn't have any further children with Abram - which I think she did. But what happened to Taani Peter?
Now there's still the Vanderbies to sort out, and they were only the first on the list. Sometimes I think I'm going to do some family history to tie up loose ends, and it's more like opening a can of worms instead.
So. I started searching for Garrit Vanderbie, and Ancestry.com brought up a family line that showed not only Garrit's parents, but his grandparents and great-grandparents! That was pretty exciting. So, as I was looking through the information, it showed Garrit's father died at sea...the same year that the family immigrated to Holland. A link was provided for the ship's embarking list. Garrit's father was on that boat to New York. He never got off. (Well, he did, just not the way that he or his family probably thought when they planned their future in the New World.) So there was Garrit's mother, Aaltje, a widow at 27. I wondered if there were other children, or just Garrit. So I found the passenger list in New York, and yep, there were siblings. Jaantje, aged 4, Garrit, aged 2 1/2, and Taani Peter, aged 1 1/2. A brand-new widow at 27 with three children aged 4 and under, on the boat to a country with a foreign language and foreign culture and how was she going to provide?
I searched census records for Aaltje, Jaantje, and Taani Peter. I expected Aaltje would remarry, so she would be hard to find, but the kids, especially Taani Peter, whose name wouldn't change, should have been findable. Nothing. I couldn't even find Garrit before he was married, and he never had his siblings or mother living with him. I searched Ancestry.com for all of them, and found another family line giving death dates for Jaantje, Gerrit, and Taani. But no references. According to this family line, Jaantje died when she was 25. I also found that Garrit served in the Civil War (on the Union side - it was specified on the registration slip) and withdrew Civil War pension in 1884.
And then, miracle of miracles, I found Garrit's obituary in the Preston, Minnesota Times. Here it is:
Gerret Vanderbie was born in Holland, July 21, 1845. Died December 13th, 1925, aged 80 years, 4 months and 22 days.
At the age of three, he, with his parent, one sister, and one brother, emigrated to America. His father died on board ship.
After landing in New York, the mother with her three small children came to Alto, Wisconsin, where in later years she married Abram Loomans. There the subject of this biography grew to manhood.
On August 12th, 1862, when but 17 years of age, he enlisted as a volunteer in the 32nd reigment, Wisconsin infantry, and was in Sherman's army in their march thru the south and to the sea, witnessing the surrender of Johnson to Sherman in April, 1865. On June 12th, 1865, he was discharged from military service and came back to Alto where he took up the trade of carpenter.
On Nov. 29th, 1870, he was united in marriage to Jane Pool and the following year moved to Minnesota. To this union nine children were born, three dying in infancy. The surviving children are: Mrs. H.L. Boland of Orange City, Iowa; Mrs. Wm. Elfrink, Charles, and Mrs. D.E. Nagel of Greenleafton; Frank of Minneapolis; and Roy of Lime Springs, Iowa.
On Oct 15th, 1923, his wife preceded him to the Great Beyond. Since that time he has been living with his children. On Nov. 20th, he went to Orange City, Ia., where he expected to spend the winter with his daughter, Mrs. Boland. There on Sunday evening, Dec. 13th, while sitting in his pew in church, he passed quietly and suddenly away.
Beside his six children, he leaves to mourn his departure, 11 grand children and one half-brother besides a host of other relatives and friends.
Mr. Vanderbie's life was one of activity, always ready and alert toward any forward movement which might prove a benefit to the community, politically, socially or religiously. He served two terms as county commissioner, several terms on the town board, was assessor and school officer.
Thruout his life he was one of the pillars of the Greenleafton Reformed Church, serving several years as one of its elders as well as Sunday School Supt. and teacher. He was also a member of the Underwood Post, G.A.R., No. 122, or Preston.
Funeral services were held at the Greenleafton church Wednesday afternoon and interment was made in the cemetery nearby.
Preston Times Dec 24, 1925 p. 11, column 2
Did you catch the interesting parts? I hope so, since I bolded and italicized them. Can you imagine dying in the pew at church? Traumatic for the whole congregation! But I suppose for a good God-fearing Protestant, there probably isn't a better place to die.
So his mother married Abram Loomans. I searched Abram Loomans, and he did marry an Aaltje Ellen Vanderbie in 1850 (She arrived in 1848, so I don't know if I'd call that "later years" like the obit, but whatever.) The census records in 1850 show Abraham (maybe his name was changed like the original Abram) and Ellen with a plethora of children. One is Jane, which I can see as being Jaantje, and Gerrit is there as well. But Taani Peter isn't. What happened to Taani Peter? The Ancestry.com family line that said that Jaantje died at age 25 had Taani Peter living until he was 66. Did Abram have several children of his own? Was he a widower himself? Abram, incidentally, was from Holland as well. He immigrated in 1844. I haven't had time to explore the Loomans much except to realize that they were very prolific. I was tired and hungry and that was the last straw.
Abram and Ellen/Aaltje continue to appear in census records until Ellen died in 1908 and Abram lived with one of his children. In one of the later censuses, there is some interesting information. Aaltje is listed as having three children, with only two living. That makes sense if Jaantje did die at 25, and if Aaltje didn't have any further children with Abram - which I think she did. But what happened to Taani Peter?
Now there's still the Vanderbies to sort out, and they were only the first on the list. Sometimes I think I'm going to do some family history to tie up loose ends, and it's more like opening a can of worms instead.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
turn of events
I wonder what the conversation was like. Robert James' mother and father (Agnes and Robert Allen) had already died. I don't know about James Shanks, but Isabella Dickson was still alive. Had the two families corresponded over the years? Did James and Isabella say one day, "Well, Jennie hasn't found anyone in Scotland to marry, and she's not getting any younger. She's already 30. Why doesn't she marry your cousin Robert, in America? He's not getting any younger either, and he's 49 if he's a day. Our Jennie will be a great catch for him"? So they wrote to Robert and he wrote back and he traveled to Scotland to meet his bride-to-be, aka his cousin's old-maid daughter. And they got married and he brought her back to William's bachelor pad. How romantic is that?
Another family connection (aka more about Jennie Shanks)
I've been trying to find William Dickson's information. His daughter, Agnes Dickson, immigrated to the US and married Robert Allen Love, so she is well-documented. But William, his wife, and other children have almost no information. So I went to the Family History Library in Salt Lake and did some research there. They are from Scotland, and since they weren't part of the national church, there aren't any records (either they aren't there or they aren't available). So I'm stymied. But I've been thinking about Agnes. Why did she immigrate by herself? Did she immigrate by herself?
So I got back on the computer this evening to look again at the family. Remember Jean (Jennie) Shanks? She is Agnes Dickson's daughter-in-law. Remember how Jennie Shanks named her daughter after Agnes without having met her? Remember how Agnes' son, Robert James Love, went to Scotland to marry Jennie? I wonder why he went to Scotland to find a wife. Anyway, so I was thinking of all these mysteries, and looking at the tree spreadsheet, and was digging into Jennie Shank's side of the family. Well, Jennie Shank's father was James Shanks, and her mother Isabella Dickson.
I thought, Dickson must be a really common name in Scotland. Isabella's mother's name was also Isabella, and her father's name was John Dickson, born in 1806. Well, that sounded familiar. You see, at the Family History Library, I tried to find information on William Dickson's oldest son, John Dickson, who was born in 1806. Do you think the John Dicksons could be the same man? That would make Jennie Shank's grandfather and Robert James Love's mother siblings. So Jennie and Robert were first cousins once removed. Which might explain why Robert James would go back to Scotland and marry Jennie.
Later: When I went back into family search to see if there was more information on Jennie's grandpa John than on William's son John, I found out that they are the same person. Crazy! So there definitely is a family connection!
So I got back on the computer this evening to look again at the family. Remember Jean (Jennie) Shanks? She is Agnes Dickson's daughter-in-law. Remember how Jennie Shanks named her daughter after Agnes without having met her? Remember how Agnes' son, Robert James Love, went to Scotland to marry Jennie? I wonder why he went to Scotland to find a wife. Anyway, so I was thinking of all these mysteries, and looking at the tree spreadsheet, and was digging into Jennie Shank's side of the family. Well, Jennie Shank's father was James Shanks, and her mother Isabella Dickson.
I thought, Dickson must be a really common name in Scotland. Isabella's mother's name was also Isabella, and her father's name was John Dickson, born in 1806. Well, that sounded familiar. You see, at the Family History Library, I tried to find information on William Dickson's oldest son, John Dickson, who was born in 1806. Do you think the John Dicksons could be the same man? That would make Jennie Shank's grandfather and Robert James Love's mother siblings. So Jennie and Robert were first cousins once removed. Which might explain why Robert James would go back to Scotland and marry Jennie.
Later: When I went back into family search to see if there was more information on Jennie's grandpa John than on William's son John, I found out that they are the same person. Crazy! So there definitely is a family connection!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
cousins?
I was doing research on Tracy Mulder's husband, Gerrit John Buyert, who was the 5th of 6 children, and whose parents emigrated from the Netherlands to America the same year Gerrit was born. I searched on Ancestry.com, and found that the Buyert family had already submitted Gerrit's pedigree chart. So I started copying down the information. Garrit's parents, Aart Buyert and Lubertha Buijert, were born and married in Kampen, Overijssel, Netherlands, and emigrated to Iowa. So I continued on Aart's side: his father was Klass Buyert, and his mother Henrietta von Schellen. Klaas's father was Gerrit Buyert, and his mother was M. G. Ruitenberg. That was all the information on Aart's side. So I started on Lubertha's side. I noticed the similarities of surnames, and thought: pretty cool that she didn't have to change her name. It must be a common name in the Netherlands. I wrote down Lubertha's father and mother: Hendrik Buijert and C. Longevoort. I then wrote down Hendrik's father and mother: Gerrit Buijert and M.G. Ruitenberg. Wait. Didn't I write that down before? Yep. Sure did. So, unless there's a typo in the pedigree chart, Gerrit John Buyert's paternal grandfather and maternal grandfather were brothers. That means that Gerrit John Buyert's mother and father were cousins. Crazy! I told my roommate, and she said that things like that were more common back then. Maybe so. Still. Maybe it's a typo after all. Unfortunately, because all the records are held in Holland, it would be difficult to find out if it was a typo or if it is accurate.
Gerrit Buyert
M.G. Ruitenberg
Klaas Buyert
H. V. Schellen
Aart Buyert
Gerrit John Buyert
Lubertha Buijert
Hendrik Buijert
C. Longevoort
Gerrit Buijert
M.G. Ruitenberg
Gerrit Buyert
M.G. Ruitenberg
Klaas Buyert
H. V. Schellen
Aart Buyert
Gerrit John Buyert
Lubertha Buijert
Hendrik Buijert
C. Longevoort
Gerrit Buijert
M.G. Ruitenberg
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Martha Richards and William Love, Jean Shanks and Robert Love
Martha was born the fourth of six children to Joseph and Elizabeth Ann Vincent Richards. Joseph and Elizabeth had immigrated from Cornwall, England (Elizabeth in 1853 at 25 years old, Joseph in 1847 at 19 years old). Joseph and Elizabeth married in New York, and then settled down in York, Fillmore, Minnesota. Martha was born on June 27th, 1868, and on the 20th of November, 1890, she married William Charles Love, a farmer of the nearby Love family. Martha was 22, William was 37. Within 5 1/2 months, Martha died. William didn't remarry for the next 30 years, and his next younger brother, Robert, lived with him.
The Loves were Scottish. William's parents had each immigrated from Scotland and married in Illinois. Robert was a teacher, and he didn't marry until he was 49 (born in 1855) - he married a Scottish lass named Jean Shanks (called Jennie) in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1904. Jean was 30 at the time (born in 1874). They had three children: Robert William Love, Agnes Dickson Love, (named after William's mother, Agnes Dickson, whom Jean had never known) and a little boy who only lived two days, left unnamed. Then, after 15 years of marriage, Robert died. Robert William was 14 years old, and Agnes was 11. William had been living in Robert's home, and a little over a year later, William and Jean married, when William was 67 and Jean 46 years old. They had no children that I am aware of. William died on January 12, 1925, not quite five years after William and Jean had married.
I am descended through George Allen Love, William's and Robert's oldest brother. George is my grandmother's grandfather. William and Robert are my grandmother's great-uncles, and Martha and Jean my grandmother's great-aunts by marriage. Robert William and Agnes Dickson are my grandmother's cousins-once-removed.
The Loves were Scottish. William's parents had each immigrated from Scotland and married in Illinois. Robert was a teacher, and he didn't marry until he was 49 (born in 1855) - he married a Scottish lass named Jean Shanks (called Jennie) in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1904. Jean was 30 at the time (born in 1874). They had three children: Robert William Love, Agnes Dickson Love, (named after William's mother, Agnes Dickson, whom Jean had never known) and a little boy who only lived two days, left unnamed. Then, after 15 years of marriage, Robert died. Robert William was 14 years old, and Agnes was 11. William had been living in Robert's home, and a little over a year later, William and Jean married, when William was 67 and Jean 46 years old. They had no children that I am aware of. William died on January 12, 1925, not quite five years after William and Jean had married.
I am descended through George Allen Love, William's and Robert's oldest brother. George is my grandmother's grandfather. William and Robert are my grandmother's great-uncles, and Martha and Jean my grandmother's great-aunts by marriage. Robert William and Agnes Dickson are my grandmother's cousins-once-removed.
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