Mary Jones Evans

Verland Edith Evans Smith's Paternal Great Grandmother


Mary Jones Evans 1827-1895

Mary Jones Evans was born August 1, 1827, at Carmarthenshire, South Wales. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the year 1849 in her native land and emigrated to America in 1850, and while on the way became acquainted with Abel Evans, to whom she was married on their arrival in America. She lived in Council Bluffs two years and in the spring of 1852 started to Utah. Their team consisted of one yoke of cattle, one cow and a two-year old heifer. They arrived in Lehi in the fall of the same year.

Mrs. Evans went through all the hardships pertaining to pioneer life. She was left a widow in 1866, her husband having died on a mission to Wales, leaving a family of six children, three boys and three girls, the oldest twelve years old. Although she had the care of raising her family, she was never known to complain and was always cheerful. She was known for her hospitality. She died April 3, 1895.

Abel Evans

Verland Edith Evans Smith's Paternal Great Grandfather

Abel Evans

Abel Evans, one of the Latter-day Saint Elders who died while filling a foreign mission, was born June 24, 1813, at Carmarthenshire, South Wales. His boyhood and early life were spent in the coalmines of his native land, and he never joined any of the religious
denominations, although he always lived an honest, moral and upright life. Becoming a convert to “Mormonism,” he was baptized Feb. 10, 1844 by William Henshaw and is believed to be the second person baptized by divine authority in Wales. Soon afterwards
he was ordained to the Priesthood, traveling as a successful missionary and opening up branches which subsequently grew into conferences. He devoted about six years to the ministry, traveling in South and North Wales and labored with great success. Under the hands of Orson Pratt and Dan Jones he was ordained a High Priest Feb 7, 1849. He was a man of strong faith, the Lord working many miracles through his instrumentality, many being healed of their maladies through his faith and prayers, among other several cases of cancer and cholera. He emigrated to America in 1850, and while crossing the ocean he
became acquainted with Mary Jones, whom he married after landing in America. The
next two years were spent in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he was chosen as a High
Councilor. In 1852 he and his wife crossed the plains with ox teams in Captain Morgan’s company and soon after his arrival in the Valley he located in Lehi, Utah County, where he was chosen captain of militia, marshal of the city, deputy sheriff of the county, etc., and also acted as a counselor to Bishop David Evans. Thus he continued very active as a local officer until the April conference, 1865, when he was called on a mission to his native country. He arrived in Liverpool July 28, 1865, and after laboring as a traveling Elder in Wales he was appointed president of the Welsh District, where he labored unceasing diligence as long as the powers of life were continued to him. He became ill with a cough while assisting some Saints to embark on the ship “John Bright” at Liverpool in May, 1866, and while attending a conference in Birmingham the following September, he slept in a damp bed, which renewed the cold and coughing upon him. Although his condition was serious, he continued his preaching, both indoors and out,
Being exposed from time to time, until he became so week that he could not stand and until the day of his death, which occurred at Merther Tydfil, Wales, Nov. 30,1866, he
did not seem to realize his condition. Bro. Evans was the husband of three wives, namely, Mary Jones, Martha Morgan, and Jane Davis. He was the father of sixteen children, nine of whom reached maturity, namely, Abel John, William, Samuel, Mary,
Sarah, Catherine, Hyrum Edward, Martha and Jane. Abel Evans was a man of considerable ability and was especially endowed with the gift of healing and discernment of spirits.



Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, by Andrew Jenson, 1920, volume 3

Elisha Hildebrand Davis

Verland Edith Evan's Maternal Great Grandmother

To My Posterity:

During a life of nearly 82 years, 59 years of which time having been spent in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I can testify to the happiness of a life of moral honesty and religious devotion. Experience has taught me the high value of moral purity and religious sentiment, as reaching far above earthly pleasures and the gratification of appetite and passion, which cannot produce lasting joy.

My success in life has come through my not borrowing money and mortgaging my home, but through my always living within my means, and sustaining myself and family by the sweat of my face.

When I owned little, I lived on little and was satisfied. My married life of 46 years has been a happy one; my wife was always true, gentle, faithful, kind, and wise, a helpmate in very deed to me. During our entire married life of 46 years, we never had a hard feeling, or cross word, but lived in love together, always adopting the rule of speaking gently and kindly to and of each other; and now at the advanced age of 82 years, standing as it were on the verge of eternity, my great desire and advice to all of you is to be faithful and true to our holy religion, to never depart from the faith and turn against God.

Every day that I live, I rejoice more and more in the great work of the Lord, and in the hope of eternal life.

Your loving father and grandfather
Elisha Hildebrand Davis
1897

Elisha Hildebrand Davis

Elisha Hildebrand Davis 1815-1898
(Verland Edith Evans Smith's Maternal Great Grandfather)

Elisha Hildebrand Davis was the son of Isaac Davis and Edith Richards Davis, born Oct. 22nd 1815, West Township, Colombiana County, Ohio. He received the Gospel and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Edwin D. Wooley, August 19, 1838 in Sandy Creek on his father’s farm.

He was ordained an Elder January 8, 1839 by Lorenzo D. Barnes, H. Sagers, and Edwin D. Wooley in his father’s home, the house where he was born. He was the oldest of ten children through a line of American ancestry of Welsh and English decent, coming to America with the Pilgrim Fathers about 1630 to 1650 or earlier. Many of his ancestors served in the Colonial and American Revolutionary Wars and at least nine of his ancestors were Signers of the great Magna Carta of England. The great progenitor of the race, John Davis of Wales, was of the Singing Quaker faith, a very devout and sincere man. He (John Davis) and his four sons assisted in establishing the Friends Meeting at Piles Grove, Salem County, New Jersey about 1705, known as Fenwick Colony. The said John Davis married Dorthea Gotherson, daughter of Major Daniel Gotherson of Cromwell’s army, on Long Island in 1680. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters all born on Long Island, removing to New Jersey in 1705. He lived to the extreme age of 100 years. He was a consistent and devoted member of the Society of Friends, to whose religious faith most of his numerous decendants belonged.

Two of his sons, John and David, were delegates to a convention in Philadelphia where they worked and voted against slavery.
(Reference to Davis History: History Cumberland County, New Jersey, by Thomas Cushing M.C. and Charles E. Shepard – Page 702; J.N. Colonial Documents, County of Wills, page 135; Davis Family, Fenwick Colony, Page 75; History of Camden County, New Jersey by George P. Powell.)

Thomas Wilkins Davis, many years a director in the National State Bank of Camden is a lineal descendant in the fifth generation of John Davis who emigrated from Wales and first Settled on Long Island.

Falk Davis had a grant of land October 1642 in Southampton; he was one of eleven men who first left Mass., near Lynn and came to Long Island and is claimed as relative of John Davis of Wales, perhaps father or uncle.

Elisha Hildebrand Davis, the subject of this sketch before receiving the Gospel was of the Quaker Faith handed down to him for six generations. When he heard the Gospel as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith it brought joy and peace to his soul. Ever after his life was spent working faithfully in his labor of love.

He started on his first mission east of the Alleghany Mountains, January 9, 1839 on foot, traveling more than 300 miles in mid-winter wearing a pair of thin calfskin boots, and a suit of homemade clothes. His mother and sisters clipping the wool from the sheep’s backs, washing, cleaning, carding, spinning into yarn, weaving a cloth and making the clothes he wore.

He assisted in raising up branches of the Church in Chester and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania, also in New Jersey and Delaware. When in need of clothes he would go into the farmers field and cradle their grain or with scythe mow their hay for little money to buy them with and while there would preach the Gospel. He brought into the Church such men as Bishop Edward Hunter – Bishop Jacob Weiler --Bishop Elijah Sheets -- Bishop John Neff, the Bushman and Rodeback families and many others. In the Old State House in Philadelphia in search of his Genealogy he traced back on a straight line to John Davis born on Long Island New York who married Elinor Brick.

1. John Davis born abt. 1689 Long Island, New York Md. Elinor Brick
2. Thomas Davis born 13 Nov 1719 Pilesgrove Salem, N.J. Md. Eliz. Bassett (first cousin)
3. Isaac Davis Sr. born abt. 1753 Pilesgrove Salem, N.J. Md. Hannah Hildebrand
4. Isaac Davis Jr. born 20 Feb 1783 Pilesgrove, Salem, N.J. Md. Edith Richards
5. Elisha Hildebrand Davis Sr. born Oct. 22 1815 Colombiana Co. Ohio, Md. Mary Ann Mitchell

In the fall of 1840 Elisha went to Nauvoo, Ill., with a family he had baptized. Was also present April 6, 1841 when the corner stone of the Temple was laid. Left Nauvoo, Ill. again for the mission field arriving April 27th 1841 at Lancaster Co. PA. He held a debate with Dr. Orr in the month of August on the subject of the Book of Mormon, preached in that region until 1843 when he left for New Haven, Conn. There built up several branches of the Church, was with Apostle Orson Hyde in New York at the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. He was called by President Brigham Young on a Mission from there to England, arriving at Liverpool Aug 19, 1844 and was sent to preside over the London Conference and did so until Christmas Day 1846, when he married his wife Mary Mitchell in London Dec. 25th and started in company with John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, Joseph Cain and others for the United States, landing at New Orleans the 7 of March 1847 after a perilous voyage of nine days in the English Channel alone.

His father and his sister Sabina died at Winter Quarters a few days before he arrived about May 25, 1847.

Elisha was ordained a Seventy by Apostle Wilford Woodruff and joined the Second Quorum of Seventies, remained in it until 1854 when he was made President of the 36th Quorum of Seventy.

Elisha was a miller by trade, and opened the first Grist Mill in Nebraska built by John Neff, remained about one year, recrossed the river to Iowa, built a house on the ground where the Liberty Pole stood and where the Mormon Battalion was rallied, lived there two years, his daughter Mary Ann and Son Elisha were born there, removed 10 miles east to Keg Creek where Sarah Agness was born, remained a year then emigrated to Utah in the summer of 1852, operated Gardner’s Mill on Millcreek the first winter, in the spring of 1853 moved to Lehi farmed that summer and removed to Davis County at Bountiful in the spring of 1854, operated Heber C. Kimball’s mill at Bountiful more than a year, was ordained a President over the 36th Quorum of Seventy, by President Joseph Young in the summer of that year, and remained in that position until he was ordained a High Priest May 1, 1891.

He with his wife were endowed March 24, 1854 in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, and sealed as husband and wife March 31, 1854. In the fall of 1855 moved to Weber County, and settled at Bingham Fort near Ogden City. He bought a place and farmed for two years there. In the spring of 1857 removed to Bountiful, Davis Co. reaming and farming there that summer. That same fall went to Echo Canyon and Fort Bridger with the volunteers to prevent the United States Army from coming into the valley, at the time of the general move in 1858, he removed to American Fork, Utah Co. after returning to Bountiful, then returned to Lehi. Utah Co. He operated Samuel Mulliners Mill until 1869, when he moved in to the city of Lehi, and bought a house and two lots and other property. May 1, 1891, he was ordained a High Priest by Bishop Thomas R. Cutler and was set apart by Albert Jones to Preside over the High Priest Quorum of Lehi, June 27, 1890 over which Quorum continued to preside until his death 31st of July, 1898 at his home in Lehi, Utah at the age of 82 years and 10 months and 22 days.

He also filled a mission in Iowa and Illinois during the fall and winter of 1869 and 1870. Was also a home Missionary in Utah county for two years.
Later search by Archibald F. Bennet, Sec. Genealogical Society, and Salt Lake City places John Davis who married, Dorthea Gotherson as being born on Long Island, New York instead of Wales and the son of John Davis Sr. of Oyster Bay, Long Island and grand son of Folk Davis.
Elisha H. Davis Jr.
Lehi, Utah
Age 84

Supplement to Biography of Elisha H Davis Sr

That part of the biography referring to the U.S. Army not being permitted to enter the Salt Lake Valley during the winter of 1857 and 1858.
To those not acquainted with conditions and facts existing at this time it might appear that the people were not loyal, when in fact this could not be true; for instance not withstanding the mobbing and pillaging of innocent people in Missouri and Illinois, with their much suffering and hardships, being driven out into the wilderness and their faces turned toward the setting sun, where could any more patriotism be shown than the volunteering of 500 of her best and bravest men in 1846 to aid the United States in her War with Mexico these men comprising the Mormon Battalion endured more suffering and hardships and made the longest and most difficult march in the history of the World.
Again in 1847 that loyalty was shown when Brigham Young with that noble band of Pioneers though sick and weary from hardships and fatigue endured that long and perilous March of more than 1,000 miles. Ascended Ensign Peak (north of Salt Lake city) and planted on then Mexican soil the flag of American Liberty.
Now as to what was known as Johnson’s Army coming to Utah in the fall of 1857, rumor was plentiful that it was to be a war of extermination for the Mormons. It was therefore thought wise to let them cool off in the Mountains during the winter, and they would be likely more reasonable when spring and warmer weather should come, so volunteers for this purpose were raised.
My Father Elisha Hildebrand Davis being one of the number. In the spring of 1848 satisfactory arrangements were made for them to enter the valley passing through Salt Lake City and locating at Camp Floyd Cedar Valley more than forty miles South West of Salt Lake City where they remained until the beginning of the Civil War when they were called back for service in the Union.
However General Johnson, Floyd and others whose sympathy was with the South, joined the Confederate forces, and died in the service of the South. The coming of the Army to Utah instead of proving a calamity turned out to be one of the greatest of blessings that could come to the people, before its arrival, many began to be destitute for clothing other necessities of life, as all articles of merchandise had to be freighted from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City by ox teams, more than 1,000 miles. The flower of the American Army coming to Utah not only brought with them the goods and necessities of life, but also the money to buy them with which they would part with freely for any thing the people might have to dispose of.
Elisha H. Davis Jr.
Lehi, Utah
Age 84 (written July 1934)

Prime Coleman & Sarah Thornton

Emory Clarence Smith's Paternal Great Grandfather

History of Prime Coleman, and his wife, Sarah Thornton
Written, 1935 by Mrs. E. J. T. Roberts, a granddaughter.

In Arlsey, Bedfordshire, England was one George Coleman born 1765, who married, 25th September 1786 at Barrington, Cambridge, England, a beautiful girl, Sarah Prime, who was born 1761 at Orwell, Cambridge, England.
Family traditions says this couple had a family of 21 or 22 children, but I find christening records of only 17. Some may have been premature or have died without having been christened.
Be that as it may, I find in this family, born between the years of 1778 and 1803, two pairs of twins and a set of triplets. Ten of these children died before reaching the age of one year. One pair of twins, Elizabeth and James Coleman born 1796, lived to womanhood and manhood. They were six years old when the 17th child was born. He was given his mother’s name, Prime, as a given name, and it has been carried as a given name down through four generations.
The triplets and three other babies had been born and had died since the above Elizabeth and James were born, and so we know the joy that must have entered the heart of the parents when this last child seemed strong and continued to grow. Prime was born 20 January 1802. He grew to manhood in Arlsey and the surrounding country.
He met and fell in love with an orphan girl, Sarah Thornton, who with her sister Jane, had been placed in a boarding school at the death, 23 August 1816, of their mother Elizabeth Christian.
Sarah Thornton, daughter of William Thornton and Elizabeth Christian was born 11 June 1806, at Little Paxton, Huntingdonshire, England. She and her sister Jane were left motherless at the age of 10 and 11. The father placed the two girls in a boarding school and afterward married Susanna Webb. She died 1822 and Mr. Thornton died 27th June 1826.
Rules and regulations of the school were so strict that the students had no childhood or girlhood pleasures. Whipping was not allowed but some of the punishments were going without food, undressing and going to bed in the daytime, isolation from the other students, etc.
The most cruel punishment was that given the children when found sleeping with the knees drawn up. They were expected to recline in bed perfectly straight, and should they draw their knees up in their sleep, the teachers and nurses roughly jerked the leg down, suddenly waking the child.
Sarah Thornton decided, then and there, that should she ever have children they should never acquire their education at a boarding school. However, she remained at this school then years when she met, and after a courtship of six weeks, married Prime Coleman, son of George Coleman and Sarah Prime. He was born January 1802 at Arlsey, Bedfordshire, England, and was a prosperous farmer and cattleman.
When the father became aware that his son was contemplating marriage with Sarah Thornton he told him he was making the mistake of his life by choosing a girl who had spent her life at school, and could not be a helpmate to a cattleman and farmer.
But as the old saying is – “love goes where it is sent,” – the young man decided he knew best and so Prime Coleman and Sarah Thornton were married 16th August 1826.
They owned and lived on a large, well-equipped farm at Thorncot, Bedfordshire, England. The house was large two-story, one splendidly furnished. Here seven children were born to them – George, Sarah, Prime Thornton, Ann, Elizabeth, William and Rebecca; and later one more in Nauvoo, Illinois named Martha Jane.
There was always plenty of hired help in the house and on the farm, so the mother’s only work was to look after her children and to manage the household affairs.
It took only a few years to convert the father-in-law (George Coleman) that he was mistaken in his opinion as to what an educated girl could and could not do, for Mr. Coleman finally came and acknowledged to his son and daughter-in-law that she was making a wonderful wife, mother and helpmate.
There being no washboards or washing machines in those days, the family washing had to be done by rubbing the clothes between the hands. This family’s washing was done every six weeks, and the task was not finished in less than three days.
One day as Mrs. Coleman approached her home she met a man with a beautiful feather day. He asked her to buy it. She thought it looked very much like her bed, but paid the man for it. On taking it upstairs to a bedroom, she discovered that her feather bed was missing, and upon examination, found she had really bought her own feather bed from a “would-be-robber.”
One of the girls, who lived years with the Coleman family at Thorncott, was Luch Brown whose father had died, her mother had married again and she had to go out to service. She also joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and came to America with the Coleman family. After arriving in Nauvoo, Ill., she went to live with the John Taylor family at $1.00 per week. There she met, and married Elias Smith. They came to Utah September 1851. The Coleman and Smith families have been close friends ever since “Aunt Luch” as we have always called her lived so long with the Prime C and Sarah Coleman family at Thorncot, England.
Mrs. Coleman was much more inclined toward religion than
was her husband, and often said that while she attended church, he enjoyed more to rest at home reading and smoking his cigar.
When the Elders found them, the Coleman family was not long in making their decision to join the church, and come to the new world. So, with their four children who were over eight years of age, they were baptized in 1841, and 42 and on the 1st of Jan. 1843 left their home at Thorncot in large baggage wagons and began the journey to America.
Christopher Layton, (for whom the City of Layton, Davis Co. Utah, was afterward named) had been one of the hired men on the Coleman farm in England. He too, was baptized and came with the family. He and the oldest son (George Coleman, about 16 years of age) drive the baggage in a very cumbersome wagon with three strong horses tandem. Listen to their story of a part of their trip with this baggage wagon. “It was against the laws of England for teamsters to ride, and while both of us were riding, a policeman saw us and gave chase. We whipped up the horses and after going about three miles, we out-ran him and slowed down again to a peaceable jog.”
Leaving the horses and wagon at Wolverhampton they went by train to Liverpool, where they joined other Saints, and were enrolled on the ship – Swanton- (Captain Davenport) as the 19th company of Latter-day Saint emigrants, with Lorenzo Snow as company’s Captain.
They had to stay in Liverpool two weeks waiting for repairs on the ship but made the vessel their home, doing the cooking and sleeping on board.
Brother Layton acted as cook for the Coleman family. One incident in their history says – “One day Brother Coleman said to Layton, ‘Chris ain’t you going to peel some potatoes and make us a pie?’ So Chris made the meat and potato pie, and when it was baked all the others wanted to share it, and asked for the receipt for ‘Chris Pie’ as they called it.”
On Jan 16, 1843 they set sail from Liverpool, the company numbering 212 souls.
After sailing for seven weeks and three days they arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, and were transferred to the ship “Amaranth” in which they sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis.
Lorenzo Snow tells of a healing on board the ship Swanton, when coming from Liverpool to New Orleans, March 1843, - “The Stewart of vessel was so injured by a blow from one of the crew, that his life was despaired of; and I stood over him for sometime, and thought that his life was gone. The Captain administered to him all that he could think of in the way of medicine, but to no effect; and after they gave up all hopes of his recovery, at twelve o’clock at night he sent for me. After being anointed with oil and the laying on of hands, in the Name of the Lord, he was then and there raised up and perfectly healed. For this token of the divine favor we will praise the God of Israel.” (Ref. History of the Church, Period I, Vol. V, Page 309)
They landed at Nauvoo, Ill. April 12th, 1843, three months and twelve days after leaving their home at Thorncot, England. Choice feather beds and other valuable baggage had been left behind, or thrown overboard, enroute to decrease the weight of the ships, as the journey was a long tedious one.
“Wednesday, Mar. 29th the Amaranth, a river boat, landed at St. Louis on the way up the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The ice in the river prevented going any further for two weeks. Came in sight of the Temple about noon, Apr. 12th and landed at the wharf opposite the old post-office, the first boat up that season.”
“A two day conference of Elders was just about to close, and the Prophet Joseph, with a large company of brethren and sisters were present to greet the arrival of the Saints from England, who were notified to meet at the Temple the next day at 10 am to receive instructions.” (Ref. History of the Church Period I, Vol. V, Page 319 and 353)
The Prime Coleman family went to live on the farm belonging to the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, one and one-half mile east of the Nauvoo Temple, as Brother Coleman and been an experienced farmer in his native country.
Here they suffered privation and hardships not known before by this prosperous family, and the mother gave birth to her eighth child, Martha Jane, 15th September 1843, five months after their arrival in Nauvoo.
A little over one year of this new life of sacrifice and hardship, and typhoid fever broke out in Nauvoo. Some of the Coleman family was ill. A cat had broken the window. Rather than allow the mother to get out of the bed, Brother Coleman insisted on fixing something to stop the wind from the sick room. While in the act of doing so, he took a chill and said, “I’m a dead man.” Typhoid fever developed and he lived only a short time. The oldest daughter, Sarah, aged 15, died May 1844 and then the father, Prime Coleman died 11 June 1844.
This left Sister Coleman with seven children to raise, lacking the comforts of “olden day in England’ and almost destitute of the necessities of life.
The same month, June 1844 the Prophet and Patriarch were martyred, bringing the Saints and almost unbearable sorrow.
One of Sister Coleman’s daughters, Elizabeth, about ten years old, was staying at the home of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith at the time. She often related the scene of grief and sorrow in the house when the bodies of the brethren were brought home to their wives and children.
The widow, Sarah Thornton Coleman, with her family moved from the Smith farm into the eleventh ward of Nauvoo. Here she met David Evans, who was Bishop of that ward, and when the Saints were driven from one county or state to another, she with her children, shared the trails and persecutions of the exodus from Nauvoo and of crossing the Plains.
Being driven further west from State to State, they spent between four and five years on the journey to Utah, stopping at times for the men to work and purchases teams, wagons and provisions to continue the long trek over mountains and bridgeless streams. One stop lasted about three years in Nodaway County, Missouri, where they built log huts. Babies were born in these huts with no doors, windows, chimneys or floors.
Food consisted mostly of corn bread and bran for coffee. The corn had to be ground on a hand mill. Here the men had plenty of work, and completed a good outfit for the trip across the Plains.
Companies were organized for the move, and the Coleman family was placed in Bishop David Evans’ company. They made the final start June 15th, 1850; arrived in Salt Lake Valley the following September, spent the fall and most of the winter here, and in February 1851 President Brigham Young sent David Evans out to preside over the colony already located in Dry Creek.
Sarah Thornton Coleman and her seven children, three sons and four daughters, came with the Evans family and remained to help build up what is now Lehi City, Utah County, Utah.
Her sons built a two-room house for her, which was among the first adobe homes built here. It still stands (1936) one block west and half a block north of the Relief Society Hall.
Sister Coleman was chosen president of the first Relief Society organized in Lehi, October 27, 1868, and served eleven years, resigning Oct. 20th 1879. She was blessed with the gift of tongues and used that gift many, many times.
The Coleman family was among the first to employ a genealogist in England to search out their ancestors, and have done temple work for hundreds by the surname of “Coleman”, “Thornton, Prime and Christian” from England, also the Coleman’s of America. Sister Coleman and her oldest son, George, with his wife Jane Smith, began work in the St. George Temple soon after it was opened for ordinance work for the dead, and as soon as the Manti and Logan Temples were finished, all of her family joined in this work for the dead. Then not able to do the work personally, they furnished the cash to hire it done.
Sarah Thornton Coleman raised a highly respected, and very prosperous family; all of them became active in the church work in the cities where they have lived.
She lived an exemplary life, passing on at the ripe age of 86 years and 9 months with full faith in the Gospel for which she had sacrificed so much. She died March 1st, 1892 in Lehi, Utah.

George Coleman

George Coleman 1765-1811
(Emory Clarence Smith's Paternal Great Great Grandfather)



George Coleman’s maternal grandfather was Edward Prime; christened 13 Oct. 1703 died before 1800, of Barrington, son of Thomas Prime born about 1661 and Elizabeth Betany (or Batang) both of Barrington, Cambridgeshire, England. Earlier progenitors are not known to the writer at this time.

Neither are the details of much of George Coleman’s life and experiences preserved for us. We do know that his father died when he was 15 years old. When he was about twenty-one he married Sarah Prime on the 25th of September 1786. Her birth date was Jan 4, 1761 and she died June 1824.

George Coleman and his wife became the parents of eighteen children though only six reared to maturity. Two sets of twins, and a set of triplets arrived at their farm home in Arlsey in Bedfordshire England between the years of 1785 and 1802.

The eighteenth child was Prime Coleman born 20 Jan 1802

George Coleman 1765-1811 left a will, which indicated he was a prosperous farmer for the time and place in which he lived. The will was proved Jan. 13, 1813 and a microfilm copy is on file at the Salt Lake Genealogical Library.


The historical records of the Coleman family place their known origin in England. The research which has been completed list our oldest known Coleman ancestor as John Coleman, 1671-1734, of Ardesden, Essex, England, married to Elizabeth Simmonds. Their son John Coleman (1700-1786), and grandson John Coleman (1731-1780); and great-grandson George Coleman (1765-1811) all lived and died in England. The Prime families are also prominent in the Coleman lineage, showing up in two ways. The wife of John Coleman (1731-1780) was Ann Prime (1732-1780) whose father was Edward Prime (1703-1800) and grandfather was Thomas Prime (1661- ); all residing at Barrington Cambridgeshire, England. The other Prime lineage comes from the wife of George Coleman (1765-1811) who was Elizabeth Sarah Prime (1761-1824) whose father was Mathew Prime (1718- ), and grandfather was William Prime, also from England. As we look at the descendents of George Coleman (1765-1811), we find that he had seventeen children (three sets of twins, one set of triplets, and eight single births) but only six survived to maturity. In reviewing the records of the grandchildren of George Coleman, we find that at least eight of them joined the Mormon Church in England and immigrated to the United States and crossed the plain to Utah as pioneers. However, in this brief historical summary, we are only interested in our own line, consisting of George's son Prime Coleman (1803-1844) and grandson George Coleman (1827-1909) and his great-grandson George Smith Coleman (1866-1922). Prime Coleman (1803-1844) married Sarah Thornton (daughter of William Thornton and Elizabeth Christian) and they lived on a large, well-managed and prosperous farm. They and their children were converted to the Mormon Church and were baptized in1841. In 1843, they sold their property, went by team and wagon to Liverpool, boarded the ship "Swanton" and sailed for America. At New Orleans they transferred to the ship "Amaranth" and proceeded up the Mississippi River, necessitating a delay at St. Louis due to ice on the river, and finally arrived at Nauvoo on April 12, 1843, which was three months, and twelve days after they had left their home in Thomcot, Old Warden Parish, in Bedfordshire, England. At Nauvoo the Prime Coleman family lived on the farm belonging to Hyrum Smith. It was a hard life. Their oldest daughter (Sarah) died, and the youngest child (Martha) was born. Prime died of typhoid fever in 1844, and was hastily buried in an abandoned well, of which the exact location is not known. The same month Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed, and for the next six years Sarah Thornton and her seven children shared the trial and persecutions of the exodus from Nauvoo, and the moving or being driven from one county or state to another. It was June 15, 1850, when she and her children were placed in the company supervised by Bishop David Evans, and headed for Utah, arriving there in September. Sarah Thornton and her children settled in Lehi, Utah. She served ad Relief Society President for eleven years. Her children were all active in the church, and were among the first to employ a genealogist in England to search out their ancestors for the church records. George Coleman (1827-1909) son of Prime Coleman and Sarah Thornton, married Jane Smith (1838-1924). George drove a team from St. Joseph, Missouri to Fort Hall, Idaho, and then went on to California where he worked for a while and then traveled back to Lehi to join his mother and brothers and sisters. He fulfilled two missions, one in the Salmon River area of Idaho, and another in Arizona. He and Jane Smith were married in 1859 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They lived in Lehi, then in 1863, moved to Smithfield, in Cache County, and in 1877 moved to Escalante, Utah. Later they moved to Teasdale, Wayne County, where he was Bishop of the Teasdale Ward, and later was Patriarch of the Wayne Stake. George Coleman took a second wife, Maria Thalseth, in June, 1865, thus practicing polygamy. There were nine children born to Jane, of which seven lived to maturity. Maria had three children, of which two lived to maturity. It might be appropriate here to point out some background to Jane Smith Coleman (1838-1924). Her parents were Alexander Smith (1813-1850) and Mary McEwan, both from Scotland. The grandparents on both sides were also from Scotland. Jane was a very active person, was the first school teacher in Wayne County (then Rabbit Valley), teaching at Loa in 1882-1883. She also taught school at Teasdale. She was the first president of the Relief Society, second president of the Primary, and third postmaster of Teasdale. She operated a hot house and had many beautiful flowers and also operated a store in Teasdale. She was active in the genealogy work and did much to assist in obtaining the genealogical information on both her family and that of the Coleman family. George Smith Coleman (1866-1922), son of George Coleman and Jane Smith was born in Smithfield, Utah. He married Angeline Hunt in 1886 in the Manti Temple. Their early married life was spent at Gunlock, Washington County, Utah; being the area where the Hunt family were residing at this time. George filled a mission in New Zealand, leaving his wife and five children to manage their farm at Hebron. After he returned from his mission, he moved his family to Teasdale, where he provided a large and well managed home for his family and was made Bishop of the Teasdale Ward. He and Angeline had eight children, of which seven were raised to maturity. George was active in farming and stock raising, having many cattle and horses, and he enjoyed the work and effort which was required to make it a success. He and Angeline were successful in carrying on the Coleman and Hunt tradition of being active in the church, the community and contributing toward a successful and healthy livestock and farming business in the area. The home environment was on which encouraged religious consciousness, cultural growth, wholesome social life, and a desire to improve one's own ability as well as assist and encourage others. George was killed at the age of 56 from injuries received in a fall offhis horse while riding across an ice covered meadow.

Jane Fields Carlisle

Emory Clarence's Smith Great Great Grandmother

Jane Fields Carlisle

Jane Fields, daughter of Matthew and Dinah Fish Fields, Jr., was christened November 20, 1795, at Willingham, Lincolnshire, England, which is a small parish with 158 people in it. She was the seventh child and third daughter of eight children – three girls and five boys, all born in Willingham. They were in order of birth: Ann, christened February 20, 1780; John, christened December 15, 1781; Matthew, christened February 11, 1784; Joseph, christened May 21, 1786 and was buried May 14, 1790; Alice, christened November 25,1792; Jane, christened November 20, 1795; and Benjamin, May 5, 1799.
Nothing is known about her early life until she met and fell in love with a young man, somewhat her junior. It was love at first sight, and Richard Carlisle, as this young man was called, asked her to marry him, but as she was older then he, he asked her if she would wait five years for him. She loved him too, for she answered, “Why certainly I will wait, and not only five but ten years, Richard, if you wish it.” They were married June 27, 1822, at Willingham, Lincolnshire, England. There was no happier couple in the world than they.
To them were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, among them a set of triplets. Two of the triplets died at four months old and the other at five years old. Triplets being somewhat unusual, they received many beautiful presents. The Queen of England sent them quite an amount of money. Their names in order of birth were: Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823, Stew, Lincolnshire, England; Mary, September 10, 1824, Sturton, Lincolnshire; Joseph, July 21, 1826, Sherwood, Nottinghamshire; Benjamin, May 10, 1828 died, May 17 1828, Sturton, Lincolnshire; Matthew, Richard and Jane (Triplets) born June 3, 1829, at Sturton, Lincolnshire; Martha, March 6, 1831, at Sturton,and died April 8, 1836, age five; John, February 9, 1833, at Swinton, Nottinghamshire; Alice, October 9, 1835; and Richard Matthew, June 21, 1840, at Kenby, Lincolnshire, England.
Jane found herself very busy trying to care for the large family, however five of them died as infants and small children. This must have been a very hard ordeal to go through.
Her husband worked in the Lace Mills of Nottingham for a few years, but as his boys grew older, he could see that this was not place for them. Returning to Lincolnshire, he was employed as a farmer and gamekeeper for a very wealthy English Lord, a brother to Sir Robert Peal of the English Parliament. This gave Richard and Jane a much better chance to give the children a little schooling, which was very hard to obtain at that time.
Jane was a very refined and noble character. She always loved those things in life that would make her a better person, so when Elder Joseph Edward Taylor preached the gospel to them, they readily accepted it and were baptized by him. Richard was baptized July 30, 1849 and Jane on August 11, 1849.
A branch of the Church was organized and her husband was appointed Presiding Elder. They kept an open house for the Elders who came that way. Jane was a good cook and always made the elders welcome.
They had a great desire to save their money and emigrate to Zion. In January 1851, she, Richard, and five of their remaining children left for America, the oldest boy, Thomas was married and did not come with them then.
Their oldest daughter, Mary, had been working as a cook for a lady not of their faith, but a very fine woman, who thought a great deal of her. Not long after Mary had joined the Church, this lady died and in her will she left Mary a year’s wages in advance. Mary had been deserted by her former lover when she joined the Church. She was thinking she was soon to wed and saved a years wages for her trousseau, which proved to be a great blessing to the family, for with the little amount Richard could save and these two years wages, the family was able to come to America.
Perhaps that day as she said goodbye to loved ones and left her home, she was somewhat confused, happy with the thought of going to Zion, where they could worship as they so desired, and yet sad with the thought of leaving her home and all her ties there.
The Millennial Star listed the family as: Richard Carlisle, age fifty-two; Jane (Jenny) Carlisle, age fifty-five; Joseph, son, age twenty-four; John, son, age seventeen; Mary, daughter, age twenty-six; Alice, daughter, age fourteen; Richard, son, age ten.
They sailed on the ship “Ellen”, from Liverpool, Monday, January 6, 1851, having on board a company of Saints consisting of 466 souls, who were under the presidential care of Elder J. W. Cummings, Crandall Dunnard, and William Mose. The ship remained anchored in the river opposite Liverpool, waiting for favorable winds, until Wednesday, January 8, about 11:00 A.M., when anchor was weighed and the Saints were soon under way with a fair wind. These two days in the harbor, must have been trying ones as they were so anxious to be on their way. The ship ran at a rate of seven miles an hour until 11:00 p.m. when it struck a schooner in the fog and was compelled to stop for repairs.
The following day the captain put into Cardigan Bay, North Wales for repair. In a few days the ship was ready to sail again. On the very day the big vessel put into port, the wind changed and they were forced to stay there for three weeks. They were very grateful for this, as outside the port was a bad storm which wrecked many vessels and many lost their lives.
Finally the captain became impatient, and although the wind continued unfavorable, the “Ellen” again weighed anchor on January 23, and put to sail, but the wind was blowing the wrong direction so they made very little progress for several days. Finally on February 1, the wind changed and the passengers soon lost sight of the Irish coast. From that time they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds. On the night of March 4, they anchored in the Mississippi River off New Orleans, making the passage from Liverpool, in about seven weeks.
The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the dock and nearly every child on board had them, besides some of the adults.
During the voyage, six marriages were solemnized and one birth took place. When they left the port, the presidency divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting twelve births to each division and appointed a president over each. Then those twelve divisions were divided in two and a president appointed in the steerage with a president over the whole steerage.
The second-class cabin was organized in like manner. The Priesthood was also organized. A president was appointed over them to see that they attended their duties. This complete organization helped a great deal in preserving peace and good will, order and comfort to the Saints on board. Men were appointed to visit every family twice a day and administer to the sick and report any troubles.
At New Orleans they boarded the steamer, “Alexander Scott”, to St. Louis, which was chartered by the company. They paid $2.50 a head for adults and half fare for children with all luggage was included. The company left New Orleans on the morning of the March 19, 1851 and landed in St. Louis March 26, after a good trip.
While in St. Louis, Jane did a washing for a friend who had cholera and came home that night, took sick, and died, leaving the family without a mother. She passed away on June 24, 1851, age fifty-five years, and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Richard and the children were greatly grieved at the loss of their wife and mother. They stayed in St. Louis a year to work then came on to Salt Lake with Henry Bryant’sand Maning Jolly’s Seventh Company, arriving in Salt Lake City on September 15, 1852. He first settled in Mill Creek.

Richard Carlisle

Emory Clarence's Smith Great Great Grandfather

Richard Carlisle

Richard Carlisle was born in the town of Riseholm, Lincolnshire, England, April 16, 1798, of goodly parents. He was the son of Thomas Jr. and Elizabeth Taylor Carlisle. Thomas Jr. was born in Millingham, Lincolnshire, England, November 19, 1754, and Elizabeth Taylor at Messingham, Lincolnshire, England on November 10, 1759. His paternal grandparents were Thomas Sr. and Mary Hollingworth Carlisle.
Riseholm, a St. Mary’s Parish, in the wapentake of Lawress, parts of Lindsey Union, and County of Lincolnshire. It is two and one half miles north by east from Lincoln; containing the extra-parochial district of Grainge de Ligne, sixty-two inhabitants.
How he spent his early life is not known, nor do we know how he and Jane Fields chanced to meet. But we do know that it was love at first sight with them both. Jane being a few years his senior, made it rather difficult for them to marry just at the time of his proposal, so he asked her if she would wait five years for him. She said, “Why certainly I will wait, and not only five but ten years, Richard, if you wish it.”
They were married June 27, 1822, at Willingham when he was twenty-four years old and she was twenty-seven. Jane was the daughter of Matthew Fields and Dinah Fish and was born at Millingham, Lincolnshire, England.
To them were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, among them a set of triplets. Triplets being somewhat unusual, they received many beautiful presents. The Queen of England sent them quite an amount of money. The children’s names in order of birth Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823; Mary, September 10, 1824; Joseph, July 21, 1826; Benjamin, May 10, 1828; Matthew, Richard and Jane (Triplets) born June 3, 1829; Martha, March 6, 1831; John, February 9, 1833; Alice, October 9, 1835; and Richard Matthew, June 21, 1840. This was a large family to support and care for, but five of them were called back as infants or young children. Benjamin was only a few months old when he died. Two of the triplets, Matthew and Jane, died at four months old, and Richard died at five years old. Martha was also five years old when she died. This was indeed a great sorrow to them, but they were certainly grateful for the six left in their care.
Richard worked in the Lace Mills of Nottingham for a few years, but as his boys grew older, he could see that this was not place for them. Returning to Lincolnshire, he was employed as a farmer and gamekeeper for a very wealthy English Lord, a brother to Sir Robert Peal of the English Parliament. This gave him a much better chance to give the children a little schooling, which was very hard to obtain at that time.
Richard and Jane were very refined and noble characters, so when in 1849, they heard the Gospel preached by Joseph Edward Taylor, they found a plan of life, which they had been looking for. They readily accepted the truth and were baptized, Richard on July 30, and she on August 11, 1849. Their son Thomas was baptized on July 30, 1849, with his father. Joseph, September 16, 1849; John November 5,1849; Alice November 16, 1849, and Mary, was baptized 26 Apr 1850. Richard Matthew was baptized in the Church, but no date was given.
A branch of the Church was organized and he was appointed presiding Elder. He kept an open house for the Elders who came that way.
Since joining the Church, they had a great desire to emigrate to Zion in America, and started to save for that purpose. This opportunity came much sooner then they had ever hoped for. With the help of two years wages donated by their eldest daughter, Mary, they were soon to start. Mary had been working as a cook for a lady not of their faith, but a very fine woman, who thought a great deal of Mary. Not long after Mary had joined the Church, this lady died and in her will she left Mary a year’s wages in advance. Then Mary, who had planning to get married, had saved a year’s wages, but when she joined the Church, the man she was to marry deserted her. She now felt that this was the most important step to take, to help her parents get the family to America.
They came across the ocean on the good ship “Ellen”, which sailed from Liverpool Monday, January 6, 1851, with J. W. Cummings as leader, and with 466 souls aboard. All the children came but Thomas Fields, the oldest son, who must have come later. This trip was a long and eventful one. The ship remained anchored for two days in the river opposite Liverpool awaiting favorable winds. Then on Wednesday it sailed for about twelve hours at a rate of seven miles an hour and at 11:00 p.m. struck a schooner during a fog. It was compelled to stop for repairs at Cardigan Bay, Wales. In few days the ship was ready to sail, but the very three weeks because unfavorable winds. Even though this seemed long, they were very grateful they were not out at sea and shipwrecked as so many were, losing their lives.
The captain became very impatient and finally started out again on January 23, 1851, but the winds were blowing the wrong direction, so the progress was very slow.
On February 1, the winds changed and they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds the rest of the journey. They anchored in the Mississippi River off New Orleans, making the voyage from Cardigan Bay, which is a twelve-hour sail from Liverpool, in about eight weeks, (fifty seven days).
The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the docks and nearly every child on board had them as well as some of the adults. Measles, at best, at home with our modern conveniences, are bad, and so it must have been terrible out on that sailing vessel that depended on favorable winds to reach their destination, and also while fighting sea sickness.
When they left the port, the presidency, James W. Cummings, Crandall Dunard, and William Mose, divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting twelve births to each division and appointed a president over each. Then those twelve divisions were divided in two and a president appointed in the steerage with a president over the whole steerage.
The second-class cabin was organized like manner. The Priesthood was also organized. A president was appointed over them to see that they attended their duties. This was a great help in preserving peace and good will, and help and comfort to the saints. During the voyage, six marriages were solemnized and one birth took place.
They rode the steamer, “Alexander Scott”, to St. Louis, paying $2.50 a piece for adults and half fare for children with all luggage included. They left New Orleans on the morning of the March 19, 1851 and landed in St. Louis March 26, after a good trip.
While in St. Louis, his wife Jane died. She did a washing for a friend who had cholera and came home that night, took sick, and died, leaving the family without a mother. This was a great sorrow to the family and such a shock to Richard who loved her so dearly. They had made such plans together, when they should reach Utah with the rest of the saints. Now he must face the journey without her to help with the rest of the family.
They stayed in St. Louis a year and worked. Then leaving Mary, who had married in St. Louis, they came to Salt Lake with the Henry Bryant and Manning Jolley, Seventh Company. Arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 15, 1852. Richard was then fifty-three years old, Joseph twenty-five, John eighteen, Alice fifteen, and Richard Jr. eleven. Mary, age twenty-seven, came on to Utah soon after.
Richard first settled in Mill Creek or Cotton Wood, as it was then called. A short time after, his son Richard Jr., in visiting in the ward, met Mrs. Marie Crook Dunsdon, widow of Thomas Dunsdon, who had also died of cholera at Council Bluffs while immigrating to Zion. On returning home Richard Jr. told his father he believed she would make a good wife. Richard immediately went to see her. They talked things over and he proposed to her. She wished a little time, saying she would go up to Salt Lake and get the advice of Brigham Young. Later Maria Dunsdon consented to be his wife, but told him she wanted to be sealed to her husband, Thomas Dunsdon. Richard said he admired her much more for being loyal to her dead husband.
In 1869, they went through the Endowment House and had their endowments and the sealing done for their dead companions. They continued to do temple work for their kindred dead. Maria proved to be a very loyal, true wife to him, and the children loved her dearly. She was a very good mid wife and spent many hours caring for the sick.
A few years later they moved to Alpine, where they lived the remainder of their lives. This was a small community surrounded by high mountains on the north and east and low foothills on the west. This town was knows as Mountainville when it was first settled in 1850, and was six miles north of American Fork, in Utah County. It was a beautiful place and on a clear day one could see the beautiful Utah Lake eight miles to the south of them.
Richard opened the first store in Alpine. He had been working on the construction of the railroad and saved money, realizing the advantages of a store, as Alpine was six miles north of the railroad, and everything had to be transported here. He took the front room of the June home and used that for his store. It was located where the church park is today, on the south end on the roadway, the house or store facing south.
Richard was stricken with rheumatism and Bright’s disease, causing him to be a great sufferer for many years. Before being crippled so badly, he took great comfort in gardening. He would make leather pads for his knees and go on his knees to free his garden of weeds, but finally had to give up work entirely.
He held many important positions in the Church. He was a great Bible reader, not being able to work. He was always pleasant and happy and passed many pleasant hours in conversing with his friends who were so very kind and thoughtful of him, calling on him at his home.
Richard Carlisle was a wonderful man and loved by all who knew him. He told his granddaughter, Martha, who lived with him for some time taking care of him while his wife Maria went out nursing, that he did not want any costly monument, a good honest life was what he wanted to be remembered by. He died April 10, 1879, in Alpine, at the age of eighty-one. He had gone to join his Jane once again. May his beautiful life be a beacon of light for all of his children. He was survived by widow, Maria, and the following children: Thomas Fields, Mary Carlisle (Healey), Joseph, John, and Richard Matthew. His daughter Alice Wilkin Freestone preceded him in death in 1868. Thomas Fields married Fanny Hocquard; Mary married John James and later James Healey; Joseph married Isabella Sharp and Sarah Ann Lord; John married Elizabeth Hocquard: Alice married David Wilkin and George Freestone; Richard Matthew married Mary Hannah Wright.

Elizabeth Healey and Jacob Beck

Elizabeth Healey and Jacob Beck (Emory's Grandparents)

Elizabeth Healey, second child of James and Mary Carlisle Healey, was born August 15, 1858 at Alpine, Utah County, Utah. Her birthplace, where she also spent her childhood was a log cabin with a dirt roof, located on a corner one block north of the church.

As one of the oldest children in a large family, Elizabeth faced heavy responsibilities early in life. While she was yet a young child she worked at milking and herding cows and tending chickens for a neighbor, Kitty Nash, in order to assist her family.

She had little opportunity for schooling, but she learned to read and enjoyed it throughout her life. She possessed a naturally sweet singing voice, which was a delight to all who knew her. A small woman, she was blessed with excellent health. She had a quiet and patient disposition.

When she was in her teens she went to Salt Lake City to work for a polygamous family. When she returned to Alpine, about the age of twenty, she was hired by Mrs. Nash, but this time as a cook in a sawmill in American Fork Canyon. Here she met Jacob Beck who was hauling ore from the mines there.

Jacob Stephenson Beck, son of Stephen Jensen and Kerstine Jacobson Beck, was born in Thorup, Denmark, July 20, 1848, the eldest son in a family of five. He and his parents were baptized in to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the same day, February 26, 1857, when Jacob was nine years old. They had walked four miles in deep snow. Ice had to be cut so they could be immersed in the water.

Five years later they sailed as steerage passengers on the ship “Franklin” with six hundred others. It took six weeks to reach America. They traveled by train to Florence, Nebraska, where they fitted out for their trek across the plains. They left July 14, 1862, under Captain Christian A. Madsen and the Ole N. Lillenquist Company. They arrived in the Salt Lake valley September 23, 1862, Jacob having covered the entire distance on foot.

They lived two years in Lehi, Utah County, then moved north to Alpine. There was great need in the family. The boys hired out, often making only food and lodging in return for their work.
Jacob went to work in Brigham City. For a full summer’s labor he was paid one old sheep, a shotgun, and five gallons of molasses. Half the molasses went to pay his transportation back to Lehi.

After the family moved to Alpine, Jacob made his home with Bishop McCullough, who had no children of his own, until he was about nineteen. Then he was the stage keeper between Salt Lake City and Wyoming for two years. He purchased his own team and wagon and began hauling ore.

Elizabeth and Jacob were married October 2, 1878. They went to live in a two-room adobe home, which had been built for them by Jacob’s father, a carpenter, and his Uncle Frederick, a mason. This home and an adobe granary are still standing, so well were they constructed.

This home was where their fifteen children were to be born. It was located on a 160-acre homestead on what was then known as American Fork Bench (now Highland).
As soon as the newlyweds arrived on the homestead they began to clear the sagebrush for what was to become literally an empire. Other buildings were added to house their livestock. More and more crops and animals were added until the Beck Ranch became one of those selected for study by students from the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan. They would arrive by train to study the latest methods. Mr. Beck was the biggest cattle raiser in Utah County at one time, and his ranch furnished a ready market for all the feed that could be grown in the area. He invested in the Chipman Mercantile Company and other intuitions of the area, and was acclaimed by many of the farmers to have saved many of them from financial failure.

With fifteen children eventually arriving to bless their home, and as the ranch enlarged and many hired hands needed to be boarded, the home was enlarged to include ten rooms and two cellars. Several fine orchards grew about the home as young trees were planted.

Some years after crops had been put in there would not be a harvest for lack of water, and the father would then work in the mining camps in Nevada, Bingham, and Park City. Elizabeth would care for the stock and milk the cows, having everything ready for shipment when Jacob arrived home in the spring. Later another eighty acres were added to the homestead, making two hundred forty in all. More water rights were purchased and additional grazing rights were acquired in the Wasatch Mountains. They had a winter ranch at Goshen, south of Utah Lake, and they later extended their beef cattle business into the Gunnison valley.

Two homes were built on the original homestead for married sons who were assisting with the work. A corporation know as the Beck Land and Livestock Company was formed with Jacob and his four sons, Reed, Floyd, Stephen F., and Vern. This operated successfully until the father’s death, when a depression hit the industry forcing the brothers to sell their interests and dissolve the corporation.

In 1912 Elizabeth and Jacob retired from the ranch and purchased a home on Main Street in American Fork. Here the father continued to assist the sons with planning, selling, and buying. He had taken an active part in church affairs, and when Elizabeth was tied at home with the many children, it was he who took them to church in Alpine. He had been a stake missionary and was a member of the high priest quorum at the time of his death.

Elizabeth, relieved now of the heavy work of caring for the farm and the helper, as well as her family, now busied herself with entertaining all who came to visit. She had always worked hand in hand with her husband and often did things beyond her strength rather than have “Jake” wait upon her. In her new home she had a little leisure, which she spent in doing many types of needlework, crocheting and knitting. She pieced many quilts and was generous with the things she made. She had always found pleasure in her work as seamstress for the family. She enjoyed good books and did all she could to study and learn of the finer things. She loved church work and at one time was a member of the Alpine Ward choir.

Although prosperity followed the hard work of Elizabeth and Jacob through the years, they were not without sadness, for six of their children were to die without reaching maturity. Their third child and first son, Joseph Raymond, lived only one year, dying of brain fever. Their tenth child, Martha Irene, lived only three weeks. Alice Maud and Vera Eliza died within a few days of each other of diphtheria. This was an especially trying time for the parents, as they were not allowed to even hold funeral services for them, so great was the epidemic. The town constable buried them and all the family had left were memories.

For a while after those things seemed to go well as the children totaled to fourteen. Then the baby, Daniel Lyman, died when less than four months old, and two years later they lost Cora Rowena, they’re thirteenth, at the age of five years of typhoid. The long, constant nursing by the mother had been of no avail as the child wasted away.

At first the Alpine cemetery, where the children were buried, was just a hill of dust and weeds, but in later years the family built a retaining wall around the little graves, and markers were placed there, largely due to the efforts of their brother, Stephen F.

Elizabeth was forty-five when her last child, Golda, was born. After they had moved to American Fork, Elizabeth and Jacob went to the Salt Lake Temple and were sealed with their children in 1915. In 1921 Elizabeth was saddened by the death of her husband. Lonesome after the almost furious years of activity on the ranch, she continued with her life of service as she visited her children’s families, doing all she could to assist them. She was on a visit to Amanda in Oakley, Idaho, when she was stricken with pneumonia and died November 19, 1926, at the age of sixty-eight. She was buried beside her husband in the American Fork cemetery.

Although Elizabeth was saddened deeply each time death took one of her children, she never complained, nor did she lose faith. After the death of Cora, just before Christmas in 1894, she told the other children, “You must enjoy your Christmas, for the Lord will take care of our little Cora.” This was typical of her consideration of others which she practiced even to the extent of scraping the supper dishes with a piece of bread so she would not disturb her sleeping tired husband. She always encouraged the family in faith and good works, although it was many years that ties at home prevented her from attending meetings with them.

Jacob and Elizabeth encouraged each of their children to obtain a good education. They bought the first piano in the area and furnished them with all the advantages and luxuries they had missed in their own youths.

They were the parents of the following children: Miriam Josephine, Mary Blanche, Jacob Raymond, Alice Maude, Elizabeth Amanda, James Vern, Stephen Feramorz, Vera Eliza, Laura Winifred, Martha Irene, Floyd Richard, Reed Fields, Cora Rowena, Daniel Lyman, and Golda Lyman.

Stephen Jensen Beck & Inger Kirstine Jacobsen Beck

Stephen Jensen (Jacobsen) Beck & Inger Kirstine Jacobsen (Emory's Great Grandparents)

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, …the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted among the hills, and all nations shall flow into it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of this ways, and we will walk in his paths…”
Isaiah 2:2-3

The oldest of fifteen children, Stephan Jensen (Jacobsen) Beck was born November 16, 1818 at Saltum, Proestegaard Hjarring, Denmark, to Dorthe Marie Christiansen and Jacob Stephansen Beck, a schoolteacher and Lutheran parish clerk.

We know little of Stephan’s early life. As he matured he became a “large, strong,” man, generous and industrious. On the 9th of April 1848, when he was thirty, he married Inger Kirstine Jacobsen. Born in Alstrup, Aalborg, Denmark, on the 15th of February 1827, Kirstine was one of three children born to Kirsten Marie Jensdatter (Jensen) and Peder Jacobsen. Stephan, a very fine carpenter and cabinet maker, was from a tradesman’s family and she was not – though a beautiful and intelligent girl – and Stephan was criticized for marrying out of his “social stratum.” Stephan’s father was well to do. Each Christmas he invited his married children and their families to come to his large home for a “whole month of feasting and rejoicing.”

Within ten years of the Beck’s marriage, a series of events began that were to emphatically (and eternally) change not only their lives but also those of their descendants for many generations.

Sent by President Brigham Young from Salt Lake City, Utah, “Apostle Erastus Snow of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his associates established themselves permanently as the founders of the Scandinavian Mission; the first branch of the mission was organized in Copenhagen in September of 1850 and then attention was paid to the city of Aalborg… The missionaries there met with considerable opposition in the beginning and in 1851 the Saints were subject to much persecution and mobbing. On one occasion their meeting hall was almost destroyed and many were ill treated by the mob. Nearly all the windows in the private dwellings of the Saints were broken.” In spite of this resistance, however, the Aalborg branch was organized in November of 1850 and “was for many years one of the most flourishing in Europe.”

The following November the Aalborg Conference of the Scandinavian Mission, containing the “Aalborg, Bronderslev, Frederikshavn and Hjorring branches,” came into being. The city of Aalborg, “had about 20,000 inhabitants in 1850” The population has grown significantly. Land and methods and industries have improved and today, a century and a half later, “Danish fields and villages are laid out in geometric patterns in the Tutland region along the North Sea Coast. The intensely cultivated fields radiate out from cozy villages. The rest of Scandinavia does not have Denmark’s fertile soils, but all Scandinavian countries share the Danish tradition of painstakingly frugal employment of the land to raise quality livestock and dairy cattle, grains and vegetables.”

With the organization of the Aalborg Conference and the translation of the Book of Mormon in to the Danish language (also in 1851) the stage for the Beck drama was set and many changes of scenery were to follow. Kirsten listened attentively to the missionaries. A diligent student of the Bible, she was the first to be converted and urged her husband and sons to accept the new faith. On February 26, 1857, Stephan, Kirstine, and their eldest sons, Jacob and Peter who were 9 and 7 at the time, walked “four miles in the cold and snow” to a place where ice was broken for their baptisms.

Stephan “did well in his carpenter trade” in Denmark but had a strong desire to be with other members of the Church in the United States. With money he had saved and sums he borrowed from the Perpetual Emigrating fund and from his brother Christian, Stephen, Kirstine and their family joined a starting company of 210 Saints headed by a Jens Christian Anderson Weibye and because of our present knowledge of the subsequent ocean voyage and overland trek is much greater than it otherwise would be.

Jens kept the records, handled the money, and kept everyone informed of the preparations. He also cut out canvas for tents, leather for suitcases and material for sleeping bag covers and bags, which the emigrants could then sew together. He helped obtain water casks and tin ware for eating purposes. They did not intend to leave Denmark unprepared.

“More emigrants left Scandinavia for Zion in 1862 than in any other year, a total of 1,556.” It is also interesting to note from the complete list of ships carrying emigrants from Europe during April and May of 1862 that a total of 3,589 Latter-day Saints sailed from Hamburg, Liverpool and Le Havre – all landing in New York Harbor. Most of the survivors of these groups joined with emigrants from other areas to make a total of 5,536 Saints to leave Florence, Nebraska, that summer in anticipation of reaching the Salt Lake Valley before the winter began.

The steamer “Albion” sailed from Aalborg on April 6, 1862, with (the Beck’s and) over 400 Saints…(Were they celebrating the organization of the Church exactly 32 years before?)” The ship reached Kiel in Holstein on the eve of the 7th… The journey was then continued April 8th to Altona (port) and Hamburg… In the evening the emigrants went on board the “Franklin” which was anchored in the Elbe River waiting for them and other passengers.

Jens gives the following account:
“We went on board the ‘Franklin’ in the evening of Tuesday (April 8th) and I was appointed to locate the emigrants in their bunks below deck. These
bunks, 160 in number, were so wide that three persons could easily have room in one of them side by side. After getting our baggage in order, we received our rations of provisions. These consisted of beef, pork, peas, beans, potatoes, pearl
barley, rice, prunes, syrup, vinegar, pepper, coffee, tea, sugar, butter, rye bread, sea biscuits, water, flour, salted herring, salt, and oil (for the lamps). We lighted 11 lanterns every night, 6 of which belonged to the ship and 5 to the emigrants. We hired an extra cook in Hamburg for 90 rigsdaler (dollars), and besides him two of our brethren served as assistant cooks. We thus had our dinners nicely cooked in about the following routine, viz.,
Sunday we had sweet soup
Monday, pea soup
Tuesday and Wednesday, rice
Thursday, pea soup
Friday, barley mush
Saturday, herring and potatoes”
The “Franklin” was a large American sailing vessel operated by Captain Robert Murray. The ship set sail on April 15, 1862, from Hamburg with 413 emigrating Saints. They were under the charge of Christian August Madsen, an Elder returning home. On board the ship the company was organized into eight districts. Jens F. Mortensen was appointed baggage master; Anthon H. Lund, interpreter; and Christian Anderson, captain of the guard.

Jens continues:
“Some of the emigrants carried the measles with them from home and the disease soon spread to all parts of the ship so that no less than 40 persons, mostly children, were attacked at once. Many of the emigrants were also suffering with diarrhea, which caused very much weakness of body. We lost the appetite for sea biscuits but learned to soak them in water or tea from 8 to 12 hours, which softened them so that they could become more palatable. The sick were served twice a day with porridge made from barley, rice or sago, and almost every day pancakes could be had by the hundreds for the sick who could not eat the ‘hard tack’ (sea biscuits). Wheat bread was also baked for some of the old people.”
“We held a council meeting every night and the sanitary conditions of the ships apartments were attended with great care. Three times a week the decks were washed and twice a week the ship was thoroughly fumigated by burning tar. A spirit of peace prevailed and very few difficulties occurred. The captain and crew were good-natured and obliging, and so were the cooks who even served the sick when they were not on duty.”
“We held at times meetings of worship on the upper or lower decks and every morning at 5 o’clock the signal for rising was given by the clarinet, or accordion. At 7 am and 9 pm a similar signal was sounded calling the Saints to assemble in their several districts for prayer. Most every day we amused ourselves a short time by dancing on the deck to music played by some of our brethren or members of the crew. We could thus have had an enjoyable time had it not been for the sorrow occasioned by the many sick and dying among us on account of the measles.”
“Up to this date (May 27th) 3 adults and 43 children under eight have died, nearly all from the measles. During the last few days the chicken pox has also broken out among us and four cases have already developed.”

The bodies of those who died were wrapped in canvas or burlap, weighted and dropped overboard – an agonizing experience. On of Stephan’s sons, Peter, later said: “I was a young, inexperienced and homesick boy. And the impression upon my mind caused by this gruesome sight will never be erased from my memory.”

Jens reports further:
“We have had head winds most of the time; otherwise we could have been in New York before now for the ‘Franklin’ is a first-class ship. We have been very little troubled with sea sickness.”
“On Thursday, May 29th, in the forenoon, the ‘Franklin’ arrived at New York. The emigrants were placed on a transport steamer to be landed at Castle Garden, but on arriving at the wharf they were not permitted to go ashore because of some cases of measles yet existing among them. After 18 of the sick had been taken to the hospital, the rest were returned to the ‘Franklin” and there remained on board two more nights and a day. Finally, on May 31st, they were landed at Castle Garden where they were met by Elders Charles C. Rich (of the Council of the Twelve), John Van Cott and other Brethren.

The Beck’s were listed in the “Franklin” Roster as:
Name Age Actual names and ages
Steffen Jensen Beck 35 Stephan Jensen Beck 44
Inger Kirstene Beck 32 Inger Kirstine 35
Jacob Seffensen Beck 11 Jacob Stephansen 13
Peder Jacobsen Beck 9 Peter Jacobsen 11
Christen Jacobsen Beck 4 Christian Mathias 6 Theodor Jacobsen Beck infant Theodore 2
Steffen Jacobsen Beck 3 Stephen 5

So Stephan and Kirstine had started out with five sons. Kirstine, though tired and worn, presented him with yet another during the voyage. Jens recorded the birth thus:
“Tuesday, the 22 (of May) at 6 o’clock in the morning Brother Steffen Jensen Beck’s wife of Aalborg Conference gave birth to a son after one hour’s sickness who was named Christian August Baek. It took place
very quietly.”
(There is a discrepancy as to the date of August’s birth. The family group sheet lists is as May 24.)

There was also another entry in Jens’ diary:
“June 13: Steffen Jensen’s Beck’s of Aalborg, Chr. August 1/6 year old ‘svaekkelse’ (a weakening or wasting away)”
(This Weibye record indicates August’s death after the ocean voyage. Beck’s, SFB, alludes to an ocean burial and the Family Group Sheet lists death while “Crossing Atlantic.)

Among the 48 persons who died in the ‘Franklin’ company during the voyage was Brother Jens Andersen from Veddum, Aalborg Conference, who, with his own means had assisted 60 or 70 poor saints to emigrate. He died on the North Sea on April 25th soon after the ship had left Cuxhaven…In all 62 of the company died between Hamburg and Salt Lake City.

“Then they set out on foot through the streets of New York for the train station past jeering observers. Jens noted the children who pointed at them and hooted, ‘Jews! Jews! Jews!’ Many immigrants of the time were received less warmly than they might have expected on America’s shores”

They left “New York, May 31st at 9 pm by extra railway train to Albany where they arrived the next morning. (June 1st). From there the journey was continued by train via Syracuse, Rochester, Niagara, Windsor, Detroit, and Chicago to Quincy, Illinois, and thence by steamboat across the Mississippi river to Hannibal, Missouri, and again by train to St. Joseph, Missouri, where they arrive June 6th. The following day they boarded the steamboat, ‘Westwind’ and left St. Joseph at 10 pm… The company arrived at Florence, Nebraska, on Monday, June 9th at 10 pm.” “Enroute they marveled at the Missouri (River), casually sweeping trees and other objects downstream.”

On Tuesday, June 10th the emigrants pitched their tents a short distance north of Florence, and again marveled at a display of thunder, lightening and rain: “We Danes have never seen such a storm, for the sky was almost like an ocean of fire.” Here orderly arrangements were made for wagons, oxen, food, and other necessities. Jens helped emigration agent Joseph W. Young record the provisions each person received – not only such expected items as flour, dried apples, and axle grease, but also glasses to protect the eyes from the dust on the trail, something undoubtedly welcome a month later when the trail was so dusty that one could not see the third wagon ahead or behind.

The Beck’s left Florence with The Christian August Madsen Company “composed of 264 persons, 40 wagons, 14 horses, 174 oxen, 99 cows, 37 heifers, 7 calves, 6 dogs, and 10 chickens, and brought along 22 tents, 32 cooking stoves, 5 revolvers and 37 rifles. Hans C. Hansen was captain of the guard and Jens C. A. Weibye secretary for the company, which was divided into six divisions with the following brethren as captains: Soren Larsen, Jens C. A. Weibye, Niels Mortensen (Lynge), Thomas Lund, Lauritz Larsen and Chr H. Cron. They joined another company in charge of Elder Ola N. Liljenquist, and Elder John Van Cott was placed as general leader of both companies, which broke camp at Florence July 14, 1862. The Liljenquist company counted about 40 wagons with it quota of persons, animals, etc… The first few days some difficulty was experience as the oxen, who were not used to Scandinavian orders and management, would often follow their own inclination to leave the road and run away with the wagons, but after some practice on the part of their inexperienced teamsters, the difficulty somewhat disappeared. The journey from Florence was via Elkhorn River, Loup Fork, Wood River, Willow Lake, Rattlesnake Creek, Fort Laramie, Upper Platte Bridge, Devils Gate, South Pass, Green River, etc.

“Capt. Chr. A. Madsen advised us to take along several needful articles, which we did, and we were well organized when we began the journey from Florence. To begin with, we traveled only a few miles each day, which was a good thing for us, who were unaccustomed to drive oxen. We generally had good campgrounds and only occasionally we had to camp where we could not obtain water. As a rule there was an abundance of grass for the oxen, and at times also sufficient fuel to be found, but a great part of the way the sisters had to content themselves with cooking over fires made from sunflower stems and buffalo chips. Nearly all able-bodied men and women had to walk most of the way; some of the rode in the wagons only across the larger rivers, while they would wade across the smaller streams like the men. Sometimes the women and children were carried across the streams by the men when it was feared the oxen could not pull the wagons with their heavy loads. We did exactly what our leaders told us to do, and consequently everything went well for us, for we could not read in books how and what to do, either on the voyage across the ocean (which took 51 days) or on the journey across the plains. (which lasted 71 days). On the journey across the Plains, the weather was generally fair and a good spirit prevailed among us. The health of the company was also good as a rule and only one death occurred on the Plains. We always kept up a guard and lost but a few head of cattle.”

“Fair” Beck records that the Beck’s “had walked the long distance to Utah. No one rode in the wagons that was able and big enough to walk. The boys had walked the entire distance barefooted and often their feet were very sore.

While most of the groups of wagons rotated positions during the trek, Jen’s ten were to remain near the front so that he could have time to write in his journal in the evenings. Captain Christian A. Madsen felt it important that a good record be kept of the journey. That observant journal is detailed without being tedious. Jens described the events of the trip, the scenery, and their campsites. He even recorded the hour and minute they arrived at landmarks and drew simple sketches of them. He described the unruliness of new oxen, the immigrants gift-giving and trading with friendly Indians, and a rather mild grasshopper infestation. (Here there are about 5 grasshoppers so every four square feet). Rather than crossing over to the south side of the Platte River at Fort Laramie, as the Pioneer company of 1847 had done, and then crossing it again at present day Casper, this company continued on the north side of that river, according to Jen’s diary.

Only one person died between Florence and Salt Lake City, and the trip came to a happy end when Danish Saints met the company in Parley’s Canyon with greetings and fruit from Zion. As they reached the City September 23, 1862 many of their acquaintances welcomed them.
What a trip!
But their joys – and their suffering – were not yet over.

The Beck’s remained only a short time in Salt Lake City. They were sent on to Lehi by the Church authorities with others of the same where they lived in a small adobe house with a dirt roof located in the southern part of the town. Want and weariness continued to follow them. They were homesick and often hungry. They were lonely, not being able to speak the English language well enough to communicate their needs. There was little work for even a good carpenter and Stephan found it hard to feed his family. Too proud to ask for food they often walked to Utah Lake to catch fish. Cutting willow branches from which they wove baskets, they went from door to door in an effort to sell them but the townspeople rarely had money with which to buy – even those who wanted to help – even their Bishop. At one time they gleaned in one of the fields of a farmer hoping to get enough wheat to grind for bread but the owner came along, put it on his load and hauled it away.

But their blessings continued. In January of 1865 the Beck’s welcomed another son named John. That year, again answering a call to help build up a new territory, they moved to Alpine which was about seven miles up the Lehi Creek bed. Here, on the north side of the creek and near a bridge, which crossed into the town, Stephan commenced building a home. As they watched him work, it did not take the townspeople long to recognize his skill and he was called upon to assist building many of their homes and barns, a number of which may still be seen today.

Kirstine was an excellent seamstress. She made clothing for her family and sewed for the neighbors, even making suits for men. She raised canaries and sold them. She was a lover of good books and obviously happy when she could find the time to read. Kirstine subsequently became embittered toward members of the church in Alpine. Though her name was never taken from the records, she began walking a distance of six miles to attend services in the American Fork Presbyterian Church.

Stephan was made happy when, in 1866, a sister, Lucy, and two brothers came from Denmark. Lucy became a resident of Sanpete County abut the brothers remained in Alpine and made their homes there. Frederic was a mason and Christian a farmer. The three Beck brothers soon came to be known as “Carpenter Beck, Mason Beck and Farmer Beck.” They were the main builders of the first meetinghouse and many other structures.

Finally, Stephan was able to build himself one of the most beautiful homes in Alpine. A long house with a lean-to the full length of the back and a porch the full length of the front, it was an ideal family home. In the upstairs he included a carpenter shop. Here he built cupboards, tables, chairs and other furniture. There were no stores from which to purchase furniture at that time so Carpenter Beck was kept busy. He also built coffins for many he had known and some he had not known, building well but charging little. His house, still standing but probably soon to be razed to make room for a commercial building since it now is in a business area, was of distinctive architecture, the idea for which he probably brought from Denmark.

Stephan planted his ten acres with fruit trees, grain and a garden. Almost everything the family ate was grown on their land. He had a painted carriage with two seats back-to-back. His horse was white – and so was the little dog that rode with him on the front seat.

Stephan held a number of public jobs and carried the mail from American Fork to Alpine. Rain or shine, people congregated on the front porch of the “Post Office” (some say this was part of the old Co-Op Store) and watched for “Brother Beck” to come around the corner at the end of Main Street with the mail. He was so dependable and punctual one could set his watch, almost by arrival and departure times.

Good times continued and in 1868 Stephan and Kirstine were blessed with their last son, Daniel; and then, in 1871, at last! a daughter, Laura. By this time they were able to afford schooling and music lessons. They delighted in providing a piano and violins; and later, talented violinists for programs and dances in Alpine and numerous other towns. They were obviously happy when their two youngest could attend Brigham Young Academy study under Dr. Karl G. Maeser, often referred to as the “Father of Utah Education.”

Does Dame Fortune hand out hardships and near-breaking struggles to folks she wants to succeed? The Beck’s did not give one so capricious the credit but thanked, each day, a Higher Power.

Years went by. They worked and they worshipped – but sometimes they mourned. Sadness also must be experienced. After launching out in the field of education (he had been the County Superintendent of Schools in Beaver, Utah) and while he was postmaster, Daniel, their youngest son, died in that city in November of 1897. Stephan and Kirstine were comforted by his worthwhile achievements and in the continued association and accomplishments of their seven remaining children. Laura was to teach school for fifty-three years, being well trained in a profession her parents had hardly known.

Stephan attended Church regularly. In his last years, because he was hard of hearing, he sat near the pulpit in an old fashioned armchair called a “congress chair.”

Stephen was rather strict. Still, boys will be boys… At one time two of his sons with their friends built a dugout under the creek bridge. Here they had a roughly put-together table and chairs – and played cards. Stephan caught them. He could work up a good Danish temper when angry and this time he was angry all over. After his discovery of this “evil” he stormed in to Kirstine and said: “You wait. I’ll fix that!” Spring came and also the high water under the bridge. The boys were not pleased when Stephan dumped everything in their hideaway, cards included into the rushing stream. And that was that.

In the last years, he lived, “Stebbin” – as Kirstine affectionately called him – built a casket for himself. It was beautiful, probably the best of his carpentering career. When it was finished he laid himself in it to make sure it fit. It was waiting, then, on October 13, 1903. Having been feeble for some time and unable to leave the house, he sat in his armchair and ate the breakfast Kirstine had prepared for him. Then, he was putting on his shoes. One fell to the floor…Within six weeks he would have been eighty-five.
His grandson, Stephen Feramorz Beck, used this quotation in tribute to him:
“Men are of two kinds. And he
Was of the kind I’d like to be.
Some preach their virtues, and a few
Express their lives by what they do.
That sort was he.”

Kirstine lived in American Fork with her son John, and his family after Stephan’s death. She died on May 11, 1911, at the age of eighty-four.

We look back – and up! – to these stalwarts with a profound admiration and gratitude not elicited through inheritance or bloodlines but through their own talents, drive and ambition. The common denominators of their lives and their accomplishments were perseverance, faith, and trust in the Almighty. Those qualities helped mightily in the building up of Zion.

“In living our lives let us not forget that the deed of our fathers and mothers are theirs, not ours; that their works cannot be counted to our glory; that we claim no excellence and no place because of what they did; that we must rise by our own labor, and that labor failing we shall fall.
“We have no honor, no reward, no respect, nor special position or recognition, no credit because of what our fathers were or what they wrought. We stand upon our own feet in our own shoes.
“There is no aristocracy of birth in this Church; it belongs equally to the highest and the lowliest.”
- J. Reuben Clark, Jr. (Apostle)

Mary Ann Davis (Aunt Ba)

Mary Ann Davis (Aunt Ba)

Sidney Kay Smith Creer's Great Great Aunt

Arranged by her niece, Pearl Davis Broomhead

Mary Ann Minerva Davis, the daughter of Elisha Hildebrand Davis and Mary Ann Mitchell Davis was born October 31, 1848, in Mt. Pisgah, Iowa. At the age of four years she crossed the plains with her parents, arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, in October 1852. She came to Lehi in 1858 (when ten years old) having previously lived in West Jordan, Bountiful, and Ogden where her father was engaged as a miller in each of these places.

Mary Ann was the eldest of eight children. She was less fortunate than her brothers and sisters by having lost her hearing and speech through sickness when a small child. She was unable to attend school during her life except for a short period of time when she attended a deaf and dumb school in Salt Lake City where she learned to read and write to a small degree. Her communication with others has been through her hands, and she has been very adept in making others understand her. The deprivation of her hearing and speech did not lessen her mentality, but all through her life she was blessed with quickness of forethought and a love and desire for beauty. No idleness entered her life. She was always active and busy.

As a young girl she was very fond of sports and pleasures, which she could share with her brothers and sisters. For ten years her home was at the Grist Mill located on the millpond south and east of Lehi where her father was engaged as a miller. During this time Mary Ann learned to row a boat and was an expert at fishing, a pastime of which she was very fond. Her nature was to give entertainment and pleasure to others. Many times their home has been filled with friends and neighbors while Mary Ann would entertain them with lantern slides and show pictures on the wall, etc. using one of her mother’s sheets while she was behind it with it a lighted candle exhibiting all kinds of dolls, animals, etc. performing stunts. She was also very fond of and hard to beat at playing checkers.

She learned while young to be useful in making different kinds of handwork. She had the art of making wool flowers, hair flowers, and ornaments; as watch chains mounted with gold etc. Many will remember the classes she used to teach of this work of art. Some of the finest of her work was a lion made of fine wool, perfect in form, standing on a pedestal; also a mother hen and baby chicks all life size made from natural feathers and down. She, with her mother, used to braid straw and make and sell straw hats; she was also a good seamstress and was always busy making lace, rugs, quilts, etc. Even in the last years of her life she could be seen making dainty rugs or quilt blocks just to be useful and busy.

Mary Ann was taught the Gospel by her parents, and was able too understand and love it. She was able to comprehend the meaning of a life hereafter and expects to meet her loved ones there. She sets a wonderful example of faith for others to follow. From the time of her childhood, she was constant attendant of Sacrament Meeting; her familiar figure could be seen in the accustomed place. Though not able to hear a word, she felt the spirit of the Lord. She had faith in prayer and was able to impart that sustaining faith to others and to show them the necessity of kneeling in supplication to the Lord. She has been through the House of the Lord, having done work for herself as well as acting proxy for others. She has been to the Logan, Manti, and Salt Lake Temples. She had her own endowments in the Manti Temple.

We must now speak of her as “Aunt Ba,” by which name she was lovingly known through her mature years. Aunt Ba loved to attend Relief Society meetings and could always be seen at their quiltings, sewings, etc. giving a helping hand. She was also a teacher in the handwork department in Primary. She had a smile for her friends and a very charming manner in which she greeted them. She showed great affection for the children of her brothers and sisters.

Never having any children of her own, the beautiful instinct of motherhood, which she possessed, was bestowed upon her Niece, Edith. No one could love a daughter more than Aunt Ba loved Edith; and no daughter could be more deserving of that love, for Edith has been a real daughter to her. Much credit and praise is due Edith and Vess and their family for the love, care and protection, which they have given her the past thirty years.

Aunt Ba has been confined to her bed the last three years, due to illness incident to old age. Had she lived until October 31st, she would have been 91 years of age.

She passed from this life on Saturday, September 2, 1939, preceded in death by her father, mother and all of her brothers, and sisters.

God grant that her rest may be sweet.

Lehi, Utah
September 8, 1939