Elizabeth Lamb Lea

History of Elizabeth Lamb Lea
Born 15 March 1857 Married 26 Feb 1877 Sealed to Husband 23 May 1878

Died 24 April 1912

Elizabeth Lamb Lea was born 15 March 1857 at Salford, Lancashire, England to John Darbyshire Lea and Elizabeth Lamb. When she was six years old, her family came to America. Her brothers and sisters ranged in age from 13 years down to 23 months. Only William Abraham was born in America and he was born at Richville, Morgan, Utah. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in October 1963 and were members of the John Needham Company. The family lived at Emigration Square for thirteen days then in Farmington, Mendon, and Wellsville, Utah.
She learned the value of hard work and responsibility when she was young. She worked for a dairy taking care of milk and milking as high as twenty cows’ night and morning. She had no formal education and signed her name with an “X” throughout her life, however, through her persistent effort and her desire to learn, she studied on her own and learned to read.

Elizabeth met her future husband, Thomas William Lloyd, while visiting Thomas’s sister, Sarah, at the Lloyd home on New Year’s. Their courtship was short and they married about seven weeks later on 25 February 1877 in Farmington, Utah. Elizabeth had dark hair parted in the middle, fair skin, piercing grey eyes, and stood five feet five inches tall. Thomas had light brown hair, kindly blue eyes and stood six feet tall.
Their first home was a log cabin where they all slept in the hay loft. An ox’s team, wagon, pair of strong hands, and a sparsely furnished house were their only possessions. Their humble home contained a wood stove, table, three chairs, bed and a few dishes. The dishes were washed and placed on the dirt floor with a cloth over them because they did not have a cupboard. This log cabin was located just west and south of the Wellsville Stake Center.
Thomas bought land and the family moved to Mt. Sterling. Their home, like many other pioneer homes, was not well built and Elizabeth did not feel secure in it. When a storm would come with a stiff wind she would gather her small family and take them to their neighbor’s home for fear the wind would destroy their home. She loved people and especially the people of the Sterling ward. After the family moved to Wellsville, Thomas would harness “Pet,” her favorite horse, and she would drive the black-top buggy to Sterling to church.

They named their first son after Thomas, only they reversed his name so that he would be called “Will”. Their second son was named John Lea after her father. Son number three was named Charles after her husband’s brother Charles and Alfred after her Grandfather, Alfred Lamb. Their fourth son was named Norman and their fifth son. Parley, was named after Parley P. Pratt. Their sixth son was named Archie, their seventh, Ellis, their eighth son, Lyman and their last son, Lionel1tLinnie1t. A great tragedy came into their lives when Lyman was scalded to death at the age of three. This accident also claimed the life of Lionel Linnie who was born pre-mature because of the great shock to Elizabeth. She was never well after this time.

She really enjoyed a special experience that she had when her husband worked for a logging camp. For many years her husband, in the early spring worked in the forest near Aspen, Wyoming, as a supervisor for a group of men. These men would cut down the large pine and drag them to the saw mills with teams of oxen. This Spring, she took her two older sons to her mother’s and took her small son and went to join her husband in the logging camp. She loved the mountains, the smell of the pines, and
the cool mountain air.

Although all pioneer women had to watch their money closely, she was especially gifted in stretching their limited income. She was a fine seamstress and made all her own clothes. She was always beautifully dressed. She became an expert in making boys clothes. She taught all of her seven boisterous sons to do household chores, even the cooking, and these sons became good cooks. She was very industrious. She would often stay up late at night to finish household chores or to sew. She was particular about her home and kept it clean. Her sons tell of how, on every Saturday, they would take turns scrubbing the floor with water and lye. They would scrub the boards until they were white. Norman said that sometimes his hands were so “Lily-white” that he would pick up a handful of dirt and rub it into his hands as he walked to school so that the kids would not call him “Sissy”.

Thomas was called to serve a mission in the spring of 1899 and labored with Joseph Fielding Smith (who later became the tenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1970 at the age of 93) but had to be called home because of Elizabeth’s poor health. Elizabeth suffered from diabetes but there was no insulin to help her. Her condition had been complicated by the birth of nine sons, all over ten pounds. (Charles weighed sixteen pounds if the doctor’s scales were right). They did not know that large babies are often the early symptoms of diabetes.

Their first home was in Wellsville, Cache, Utah. Then they moved to Mt. Sterling, Cache, Utah. Their next home was in St. Anthony, Idaho. Their home here was only about four rods from the Snake River. Will and John took over this farm. They next purchased Thomas’s brother Dan’s farm in Central, Caribou, Idaho and this farm was sold to John in 1903. Their Logan home was at 27 South 1st East.
This home in Logan was a beautiful home and the family moved here so that Elizabeth could be near a doctor. Over the years their living conditions had improved greatly as

Thomas was very industrious and a good provider. She now had beautiful things and she took good care of them. They had beautiful brass beds and she would caution her daughters-in-law to take off their rings when they made these beds so they would not scratch them. Each day the bath tub was cleaned with a cloth dipped in Kerosene. The linoleum and stove were cleaned and polished every day. She kept a china tea pot filled with dimes and nickels on her dresser in her bedroom. This was the money she received from the sale of milk to the neighbors. She used it to buy birthday gifts. Her Sunday dress was very nice. The hat she wore with it was a large sailor with ribbon bows and a bird on top. She especially cherished a collection of beautiful dishes which were displayed in a lovely china cabinet. Years after her death this collection was kept intact and all who saw it talked about its beauty. She was an outstanding cook. Annie Beatrice Jones Lloyd told of a Thanksgiving family dinner she attended where they were served a large roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, baked chicken with wonderful sage dressing and an English plum pudding that just melted in your mouth. There were Idaho potatoes, homemade pickles, root beer, jellies, jam, etc. She did this even though she had diabetes.

They spent a number of winters in California thinking that the sunshine would help and always she would return with more China dishes to add to her collection and sea shells for her grandchildren. When she died the family felt a deep sense of loss.
She was a proud woman. Her seven sons are all honorable and fine men and a credit to her name.

Material for this history gathered from; Hortense Lloyd Yost, Rosary Lloyd Kirby, Isaac Joseph Lloyd, Anna Lea Spencer, Annie Beatrice Jones Lloyd

Compiled by Lillis Earl Lloyd and Ella Lechtenberg Lloyd I

Elvira Annie Cowles

ELVIRA ANNIE COWLES
The Life of Elvira Annie Cowles
Utah Pioneer of 1847

The young prophet Nephi prefaced his record with the declaration, “I was born of goodly parents.” David successfully overcame the giant, Goliath, and the people asked in astonishment, “Whose son is he?’ indicating that a worthy parentage is necessary or important.

In the spirit of these great men as I write a story of my grandmother, I will tell something of her progenitors, that we may better know her and appreciate the things she did. For this information I am indebted to the printed record, “The Cowles Family in America”, owned by the Genealogical Society of Utah in Salt Lake City, and our own family record and tradition.

A brief study reveals that as early as 1633-1635 John Cowles came to America from England, probably Gloucester, England because the Cowles’ name was very much more numerous there than at any other place in England at that time.

We hear of John Cowles first at Hartford, Connecticut. The general character and standing of the early founders of Hartford may be learned by considering the religious, social and official positions of the landholders who first settled there. In a list of thirty-seven of these first landowners or first colonists, five became colonial governors, one colonial secretary, one colonial treasurer, a number were commissioners, deputies, constables and deacons and men of substance. John Cowles’ name appears upon this list; and his descendants, ever since that time, have been prominently identified with the leaders of the towns where they lived.
He helped colonize Farmington, Connecticut in Hartford County, and was constable there in 1647-1654; a deputy for the town to general Court six sessions, 1653-1654; and, one of the seven pillars of the Congregational Church organized the 13th of October, 1652. He held many other positions in both church and civil capacity.

This was a devoutly religious family, and willing to make sacrifice for their convictions. They held strongly to the great hope that their house might always be a house of prayer. All of the children of John and Hannah Cowles married into some of the most prominent families in New England. Unfortunately the maiden name of his wife, Hannah, is not known. To them were born two sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to maturity.
Of the two sons, Samuel and John, Samuel, the elder, became the fifth great grandfather of Elvira Annie Cowles, the subject of this sketch. Samuel Cowles was born probably at Hartford, Connecticut in 1639 and died the 17th of April, 1691 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. On the 22nd of June, 1665, John Cowles (first) received an allotment of land at Hadley or Hartwell, Massachusetts. A part of that property remained in the hands or title of some of the male line of the John Cowles family until 1898 when it was sold, after some 235 years of continuous family ownership.

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Biography of Elvira Annie Cowles by Eliza Roxie Welling Taylor, typescript, N, Grammar has been standardized.

Samuel Cowles, mentioned above, was married on the 14th day of June, 1660 to Miss Abigail Stanley, a daughter of Timothy Stanley, kinsman of [page 2] Thomas Stanley, first Earl of Derby. Everything recorded indicates that Timothy Stanley was a man of energy and enterprise, dignity and substance and piety, worthy of the sincere respect of his numerous descendants. He was one of the wealthiest men of Hartford according to the family history. His brother, Thomas Stanley, was ancestor to Grover Cleveland, President of the United States. Samuel Cowles was a large landowner, a man of high ideals and energy and a leading citizen. Eleven children were born
to Samuel and Abigail Stanley Cowles. Their son, Nathaniel Cowles, married Phebe Woodruff on the 11th of February, 1672-1673. Their nine children included Timothy Cowles born the 20th of August, 1704, who married Content Johnson on June 29, 1730.

This couple, in contrast to the large families preceding them, had only two children, Margaret, who died in infancy, and Asa Cowles, born the 7th of March, 1732. Asa and his first wife, Sarah, had only one child, Timothy, born the 16th of May, 1754.

Timothy Cowles married Abigail Woodworth on May 25, 1775. He migrated to Brookfield, Vermont, previous to the organization of that town in 1785, and was chosen clerk of the first town meeting. He was appointed justice of the peace in and for Orange County, Vermont, in 1785, and was elected representative from Brookfield to the legislature in 1787. It is probable that he moved to New York, as some of his children settled in that state.

In line with previous family tradition, Timothy and Abigail Woodworth Cowles had eleven children; one girl died in infancy, one daughter grew to maturity, seven sons became ministers of the gospel, and two sons who did not follow that profession. Ninth and next to the youngest son in this large family was Austin Cowles, the father of Elvira Annie Cowles, our pioneer, the subject of this sketch.

Austin Cowles was born May 3, 1792 at Brookfield, Vermont, at a time when the country was new, free schools were almost unknown, and it was difficult to earn a living. An education was almost out of the question. His great energy and determined spirit helped him overcome difficulties which were greater because of having lost the sight of one eye very early in life. This was caused by an arrow accidently shot by one of his brothers.

Austin became a teacher and a minister of the gospel at the age of about twenty-one years. He taught the first winter term in a new school building in 1820-1821 at Boliva, New York. He became a regularly ordained Methodist Episcopal Minister and conducted the first religious service in Bolia, New York, meeting in a barn for lack of a church building. He was inspector of common schools and town clerk in 1825. He was also a wheelwright and small farmer.

Austin Cowles married Phebe Wilbur the 14th of January, 1812 a young lady from a large and prominent family who possessed many excellent personal qualifications. We have briefly and hurriedly spoken of the generations of the Cowles families from John Cowles, the immigrant, through a direct descent to Elvira, namely, John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Timothy, Ma, Timothy, Austin, and Elvira. We have found that they were substantial home owners, religious and sincere, and prominent in their church affiliations. They were honest and respected citizens and held positions of trust and prominence in civil affairs. Many of them were teachers, and the titles, Lieutenant, is not uncommon showing that they made contributions in military activities as well.

Austin and Phebe Wilbur Cowles were the parents of three daughters who grew to womanhood, married and raised families. They were unfortunate in losing two sons in infancy.

Elvira Annie was born November 23, 1813, at Unadella, Otsego county, New York. Louisa W. was born the 19th of March, 1817, and Mary Ann, the youngest, married Rosel Hyde. This Hyde family lived on their farm home just south of Kaysville, Davis County, Utah, and were prominent in the affairs of their community. It was Mary Ann Cowles Hyde’s family and home that took the place of “Grandmother’s House” at Thanksgiving and Christmas times in the lives of Elvira Annie’s grandchildren. Our own grandmother lived in Farmington, Davis County, just south of Kaysville, but died many years earlier than did her younger sister, Mary Ann. We still remember the proud old gobbler strutting his feathers in the farm yard and also the other gobbler presented in grand style on the long dining table, having been roasted to a perfect brown, and accompanied by all the delicious things that make up an old-fashioned Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Also the row of polished red apples on the mantel above the hospitable fire place. Aunt Mary Ann and her family will long be remembered and loved for these pleasant occasions.

Elvira Annie was about thirteen years old when her mother died, in 1826, leaving her three daughters. After one year her father, Austin Cowles, married Irena Hix Elliott, a very estimable lady who was a devoted wife and companion to him. She taught their children that it is better to suffer wrong than to do a wrong. Of their six children the youngest daughter, Martha Marie Cowles, records that she “looks back to the happy days spent with these noble parents and thanks her Creator for their noble precepts and example.’ She has furnished much of the Cowles family history.

Soon after the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, April 6, 1830, Austin Cowles and his family heard of it, investigated its teachings and devoutly believed them. They emigrated to Kirtland and later to Nauvoo, the headquarters of the Church. ‘After being baptized a member of the Church, he was advanced in the Priesthood and became a Seventy and a councilor to the president, (to the president of the Seventy’s quorum, most likely). He always held to the first principles of the gospel and lived them sincerely, but
never was converted to the principle of plurality of wives. He opposed this law and preached against it in the quorum and in public, and on that account he withdrew from the Church. This sad turn in his life was most unfortunate. He moved about from place to place but never found complete contentment although he kept his family around him.

His daughter records her own feelings toward him in this manner, “After spending a long life in making the world better, an example to all who knew him, with charity for all and malice toward none, his tall form was laid to rest in the old homestead (probably at Pleasanton, Decauter County, Illinois). His wife, lrena, laid by his side. Two simple slabs mark their resting place. These lines are cut in the slab at his head: “He chose virtue as his sweetest guide; lived as a Christian and as a Christian died.”

Elvira Annie Cowles, having always lived in the environment of a teaching, preaching family and home, also became a teacher early in her life. She was spiritually prepared to accept the Gospel in its fullness as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates. She was baptized a member of the church on the 19th of October, 1835, when she was twenty-two years of age. The first outstanding record of her activity in the church was when the Woman’s Relief Society was organized on the 17th of March, 1842.

The Prophet, John Taylor and Willard Richards were in attendance, also eighteen women and one child. The Prophet made this statement to the women who were assembled: ‘I now turn the key to you in the Name of God. Knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time. This is the beginning of better days for you.” The women present at that meeting became the charter members of the great Relief Society which has been in continuous organization since that day. The officers chosen that day were Emma Smith, The Prophet’s wife, first General President, Eliza Roxey Snow, first general secretary, Elvira Annie Cowles, first general Treasurer. The members were Mrs. Sarah Cleveland, Phebe Ann Hawks, Elizabeth Jones, Sophia Packard, Phillinda Merrick, Phoebe M. Wheeler, Margaret A. Cook, Sarah M. Kimball, Sophia Robinson, Leanora C. Taylor, and Sophia R. Marks.

As first general Treasurer, Elvira’s duties became definite from the first. Joseph Smith contributed five ($5.00) dollars. John Taylor and Willard Richards each gave two and one half ($2.50) dollars. Thus was begun the first organization of the Relief Society, and the Prophet’s blessings and promise have been richly realized through the century.

Elvira accepted all of the principles of the Gospel, including the principle of Polygamy, and she became the wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith and was sealed to him for time and eternity. Her experiences were very sacred and wonderful. After his martyrdom on June 4, 1844, she suffered with his family and with the church his great loss. She then married Jonathan Harriman Holmes on the 1st of December, 1844, a true and trusted friend and bodyguard of the Prophet. (This marriage date is found in the printed record of the Cowles families in America BE16, owned by the Genealogical Society of Utah.) Mr. Holmes had previously lost his first wife, Marietta Carter, in death. Their little girl, Sarah Elizabeth Holmes, was tenderly raised by his wife, Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes. An item of record showing that she was held in high regard by the Prophet Joseph and his friends, I quote: “Gustin Brooks in writing a personal letter to the Prophet at Kjrtland, Ohio, the 7th of November, 1842, asked to be especially remembered to Sister Elvira Cowles.”

In the great exodus from Nauvoo in 1846 the Holmes family joined and endured the hardships and privations the saints were compelled to endure at that time. Like others, they gathered up their moveable possessions. These they packed into a cart drawn by a team consisting of an ox and a cow. Thus they arrived at Council Bluffs in the middle of July, 1846. On the 16th day of that month, Johathan Harriman Holmes answered the call to enlist in the Mormon Battalion. The United States was at war with Mexico.

Although the government had refused all aid to the people of the church in the previous drivings and mobbings, even in the murder of the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the president now called for five hundred able bodied men. Brigham Young answered the call, upholding the statement that as a people “we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law.” Jonathan Harriman Holmes left his wife and little girl with the other exiled saints while he served his country in the Mormon Battalion.

These saints spent the winter of 1846-1847 on the west bank of the bleak Missouri River where they endured unbelievable hardships. Elvira’s little log room had no windows nor doors except with blankets hung to break the cold and storms. In the following spring the journey was resumed and she drove her own ox-cow team across the plains. She was a member of the Jedediah M. Grant Company, the first group to follow President Brigham Young’s company which had started a few months earlier.

They camped on the banks of the Elk Horn River the 17th of June, 1847, and decided to call their company ‘The First Three Hundred.’ They arrived at the Plan River, June 19, 1847, and in Salt Lake Valley October 2, 1847. This journey had taken one hundred and seven days. Other women in this company included Eliza Roxey Snow and some of the family of Brigham Young. In this pilgrimage of pioneers Elvira had walked almost all the way driving her own team, while little Sarah Elizabeth, then about nine years old, toddled at her side or rode in the loaded cart or wagon - too young to realize the seriousness of the situation or to join her “mother” in the great hope of a refuge where they might build a home, live in peace and worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.

In the journey across the plains one day her cow lost one of her shoes. Elvira reported the loss to the captain of the company who advised her to go back a distance of about ten miles to a company who had stayed behind to recruit. There she might find a blacksmith whom she might persuade to come on and fit the shoe to her cow’s foot. We must recall here that five hundred picked men had gone to the Battalion, and women were obliged to do hard and dangerous things for themselves. Elvira walked that long distance alone with faith that the Lord would protect her. The blacksmith did return with her and fitted the shoe. This done she gratefully resumed the trip with the company. We wonder about her own dear feet having to make such a long extra trip in that long, long trek over rough unbroken roads. He husband was a shoemaker by trade and we hope her shoes were sturdy and comfortable.

At another time they met a herd of buffalo and she was quite miraculously preserved from them. As they rushed along, she drew little Sarah close to her, spoke firmly and assuring to her team, and waved her hand to the wild beasts who passed by, thus answering her fervent prayer.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake Valley the 2nd of October 1847, she lived in the “Old Fort”, now Pioneer Park in the west part of Salt Lake City. She taught one of the first schools there, taking thistle roots and sego bulbs and wolf meat as her pay. They had a scant supple of bran for bread. These scanty supplies she often shared with others who were less fortunate than herself.

The Mormon Battalion arrived on the West Coast January 1, 1847, after leaving Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in July 1846. Jonathan Harriman Holmes served until his term of enlistment expired in the following July, 1847. After being discharged, he immediately started east, taking with him a mule and sidearms generously furnished by the United States Government to honorably [page 6] discharged men. For this year of service he had received $120.00 in advance. The cash so earned, no doubt, made the trip across the plains possible for his wife and child. He joined them in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1848.

The first child of Johathan H. and Elvira Annie C. Holmes, named Lucy Elvira, died the first of June, 1847 of exposure, at Winter Quarters before the long hard trip and separation began. Their second daughter, Marietta, was born at the Old Fort - Pioneer Park - Salt Lake City, 17th of July 1849 Soon after Marietta’s birth, the family moved to Farmington, Davis County, Utah. There they worked hard together to build their home, a small two-story rock building surrounded by a small farm. Here they made butter and cheese which they sold to provide other necessities. They also spun wool and flax of their own raising and wove the same into cloth from which their clothing, blankets and sheets were made. Jonathan H. was a farmer and a shoemaker.

In this humble but happy home three other girls were born, Josephine Octavia died in early childhood, Phoebe Louisa, born the 5th of February, 1851, and Emma Lucinda, born February 1st, 1856, grew to womanhood along with Sarah and Marietta. They had no sons but adopted and raised a boy, John Hendrics, who kept his own name. He married Emily Jarvis. This family made their home in Ogden. Utah, and became prominent in legal and educational work in that city. John Hendrics, Jr., is a practicing attorney, and Nellie, his sister, is a supervisor of primary education in Ogden schools at the time of this writing, 1944. Veda Hendrics is a business woman in Ogden.

The eldest daughter of Jonathan H. Holmes and his first wife, Marietta Carter, married Miles Weaver who had another wife also named Sarah. These two women were playfully called “White Sarah” and “Black Sarah.” Miles Weaver died, and as was a custom at that time, President Brigham Young advised his brother Franklin Weaver to marry the two widows and take care of them for his brother.

Franklin had promised his wife Rachel that he would not ask her to live the law of polygamy and so he answered Brigham Young that he must have time to consider the matter before answering him. Franklin did not mention the matter to his wife but prayed to know and be directed in his duty. He was called to go to Cache Valley to help settle that part of the country. The district was new and Rachel would be lonely. One day as she worked at making her preparations to go, her husband came into the room and found her in tears. Thinking, of course, that she was crying because she disliked to leave her home, he tried to console her, but it might be hard to guess her feelings when she said to him, “I will go to Cache Valley with you if you will marry those girls and take them too.”

Thus he was shown the only way to keep his promise to his dear wife, Rachel, and keep the council of his superiors and fill his mission of colonization. The plan worked successfully in the lives of these fine people.

Aunt Sarah Elizabeth Homes Weaver and her family lived in Millville, Cache County, Utah, and were useful citizens of their community. How we did love to visit them there: Aunt Sarah was a beautiful woman who always remembered many of her childish experiences in the Prophet’s home, and later as she joined her mother in that famous trek through canyons, over mountain and plain, with the pioneers of 1847; thus becoming herself a pioneer of 1847. She marched in the jubilee parade of the 50th anniversary of that occasion.

The three younger daughters of Jonathan and Elvira in their young womanhood went to school, helped in the home and on the farm. They herded sheep and helped shear them. They learned carding, spinning, weaving and sewing, and they were happy, devoted daughters. Phoebe and Emma became teachers.

Job Welling, a young English convert to the church and an immigrant to America, lived in Farmington. His young English wife, Frances E. Yeoman Welling, had died, leaving two children, Willard Key and Annie Meriah Welling. He was energetic, good looking, popular, a good speaker and singer, a tailor by trade, and needed a good wife.

Marietta readily recognized these fine qualities and her heart went out to him and his little children. Details are not available, but they were happily married the 12th of May, 1866. Phoebe and Emma thought Job was just right for Marietta but they had no interest in marriage at that time. They kept on at school whenever possible, and each became a teacher as their mother had been. Marietta was a natural teacher and manager, which was a very great asset to her in after life. She has sometimes been compared to Mary the Mother of Jesus, serene, even natured, efficient, and well poised. She was an excellent home keeper and in her quiet, efficient way was almost mother to all of us. Everyone who came under her care and discipline was better for the experience. She became the mother of eight children.

Job Welling and his wife Marietta Holmes were very devoted to her parents, Jonathan H. Holmes and Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes, and were thoroughly converted to the principles she lived. They counseled together understandingly and were united in purpose. Who, they thought, could be so desirable and worthy and easy to live with as her own sisters? When their oldest child, Franklin David, was one year old, Phoebe Louisa Holmes became more interested in matrimony.

Phoebe Louisa was a popular young teacher in the Farmington school which was headed by the genial Jacob Miller as principal. She taught in various other localities, including a term in Cache Valley where her older sister, Sarah E. Weaver, lived. Job Welling made sure that no other young man should win her if he could be lucky enough to do so himself. Accordingly, leaving out more intimate details, they were married in the old Endowment House on 21st December, 1868. They had driven his team from Farmington to Salt Lake City a long way at that time, and were married by Daniel H. Wells, returning to Farmington in time to attend a dancing party. As the surprising news leaked out they became the special guests, or at least claimed special attention and congratulations.
Phoebe Louisa was naturally a witty, playful, disposition and nature, which enhanced by her intelligent dignity, remained with her all her life, and helped to smooth out many rough places. She became the mother of eight children and lived for past eighty years showing a rugged physical nature.

Emma Lucinda Holmes, the youngest sister, was tall and slender with lovely eyes and hair. She was happy in her teaching and independent in her nature. She planned to go farther in her education, but they all needed her and wanted her to make that Welling Family complete.
Tradition has it that her sisters used loving persuasion to encourage her to accept the proposal of marriage to Job Welling. At that time this order of marriage was in accord with the church principle and practice, and Emma Lucinda gave up her ambition for teaching and turned her interest to matrimony.

They were attending a conference in Salt Lake when they heard the name of Job Welling with others read off. He was called to fill a mission to Great Britain. They were married before he left and these three sisters carried on. Perfect understanding, equality, confidence and love assured the success of that large family. In going to Great Britain, he left three wives and seven children, which was not uncommon in the church at that time. His letters addressed to, “My own dear M. P. E.,” Marietta, Phoebe, Emma, are suggestive of the unity he sought always to preserve among them.

Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes died at the age of fifty-eight years on the 10th of March 1871 at Farmington, Davis County, Utah. During her last sickness her husband Jonathan H. Holmes, in humility and sorrow at thought of her passing, asked her what reports she would give to the Prophet Joseph. She replied, “Only the very best report. You have always been a kind and devoted husband and father.” Her life was not a long one but we feel that she accomplished more for her worthy progenitors than anyone before her had done for she embraced the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and through its principles her ancestors have received the privileges of temple ordinances. This they could not do for themselves for lack of opportunity. She upheld their high ideals of religious leadership by becoming the first general Relief Society Treasurer, and by becoming the wife of the great Latter Day Prophet. All of her children including her foster daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Holmes Weaver, were true church workers.

Their grandchildren have performed many church missions in the United States, and three to Great Britain. Among the church callings these people have become Stake Presidents, bishops, high councilmen, bishops’ councilors, etc. Among her grandsons have been a Representative to the United States Congress from Utah, a Secretary of Registration, a Secretary of State, member of Juvenile Court, County Sheriff, County Clerk, and Deputy County Clerk, School Board President, Clerk and Member of Davis County school board. Many teachers in public school and high schools, also a Mission President, etc.

And now her great grand children and in-laws are carrying on a service in the army, navy and air services somewhere all over the world in World War II.
This incomplete story of her life and people has made us love her more because of knowing her better, and we appreciate the fine heritage she brought to us. We must try hard to be worthy of our Pioneer heritage.
This brief account establishes for us five Utah pioneers: Grandmother Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes, Grandfather Jonathan Harrison Holmes of 1847-1848, and their son-in-law, my father, Job Welling, a pioneer of 1856, (also Sarah E. Holmes Weaver before mentioned) and his wife Frances Elizabeth.
To those who read this story, if there are mistakes please bring forth corrections. To those who do the typewriting, the finishing, please accept my sincere thanks.
{Signed) Eliza Roxie Welling Taylor

Cowles History

Cowles History

John and Sarah Cowles

The Cowles Family, John and Hannah Cowles, came from Gloucester, England, in 1635.This was soon after the Pilgrims, who landed in 1620. New England colonies
were all very young and John Cowles with his two sons, Samuel and John, were active in all of the affairs of colonization. He helped colonize Farmington, Connecticut, and was constable there in 1647—1654; a deputy for that town to general Court six sessions, l653-54; and, one of the seven pillars of the Congregational Church organized the 13th of October, 1652. He held many other positions in both Church and civil capacity. This was a devoutly religious family, and willing to make a sacrifice for their convictions. They held strongly to the great hope that their house might always be a house of Prayer. All of the children of John and Hannah Cowles married into some of the most prominent families in New England....
Roxy N. Taylor

Samuel Cowles –Abigail Stanley

Samuel Cowles was born probably at Hartford Connecticut in 1639 and died the 17th of April 1691 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. He was a son of John and Hannah Cowles. He married the 14th day of June 1660 Miss Abigail Stanley, a daughter of Timothy Stanley, kinsman of Thomas Stanley, the first Earl of Derby. Everything recorded indicates that Timothy Stanley was a man of energy and enterprise, dignity and substance and piety, worthy of the sincere respect of his numerous descendents. He was one of the wealthiest men of Hartford according to the family history. His brother, Thomas Stanley, was ancestor to Grover Cleveland, President of the United States. Samuel Cowles was a large landowner, a man of high ideals and energy and. a leading citizen. Eleven children were born to Samuel and Abigail Stanley Cowles.
Boxy W. Taylor

Nathaniel Cowles – Phebe Woodruff

Nathaniel was a son of Samuel Cowles. He married Phebe Woodruff the 11th of February, l672—l673. Their nine children included Timothy Cowles.

Timothy Cowles – Content Johnson

This couple, in contrast to the large families preceeding them, had only two children, Margaret, who died in infancy, and Asa Cowles, born the 7th of March 1732.

Asa Cowles-- Sarah
This couple had only one child, Timothy, born the 16th of Nay, 1775.

Timothy Cowles—Abigail Woodruff

Timothy Cowles married Abigail Woodruff on Flay 25, 1775. He migrated to Brookfield, Vermont previous to the organization of that town in 1785, and was chosen clerk of the first town meeting. He was appointed justice of the peace in and for Orange County, Vermont in 1785, and was elected representative from Brookfield to the legislature in l787. It is probable that he moved to New York, as some of his children settled in that state. They had eleven children. One girl died in infancy, one daughter grew to maturity, seven sons became ministers and two sons did not follow that profession. Ninth and next to the youngest son was Austin Cowles.

Austin Cowles – Phebe Wilbur

Austin Cowles was born May 3, 1792 at Brookfield, Vermont, at a time when the country was new, free schools were almost unknown, and it was difficult to earn a living. An education was almost out of the question. His great energy and determined spirit helped him overcome the difficulties which were greater because of having lost the sight of one eye at a very early age. This was caused by an arrow accidently shot by his brothers.
Austin became a teacher and a minister of the gospel at the age of about twenty one years. He taught the first winter term in a new school building in 1820-1821 at Bolivia, New York. He became a regularly ordained Methodist Episcopal Minister and conducted the first religious service in Bolivia, New York, meeting in a barn for lack of a church building. He was an inspector of common schools and town clerk in1825. He was also a wheelwright and small farmer.
Austin Cowles married Phebe Wilbur the 14^th of January, 1813, a young lady from a large prominent family who possessed many excellent personal qualifications. They were the parents of three daughters who grew to womanhood, married and Elvira Anne Cowles was their daughter.

Material taken from history written by Roxy W. Taylor

Soon after the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
was organized, Austin Cowles and his family heard of it, investigated it’s teachings and devoutly believed them. They emigrated to Kirtland and later to Nauvoo the
headquarters of the Church. “After being baptized a member of the Church he was
advanced in the Priesthood and became a Seventy and a councilor to the President .”
He always held to the first principles of the gospel and lived them sincerely, but
never was converted to the principles of plurality of wives. He opposed this law
and preached against it in quorum and in public, and on that account he withdrew from the Church.

This sad turn in his life was most unfortunate. He moved about from place to place but never found complete contentment although he kept his family around him.

Taken from a different history also written by
Boxy V. Taylor

Joseph Richardson Dover

A Brief History of Joseph Richardson Dover
(Compiled by Hortense Lloyd Yost - 1968)

Joseph R. Dover, the son of John Dover and Hannah Nixon, was born in Deswick, Cumberland, England on Oct. 11, 1823. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1847 at Newcastle, England. Elder Francis Laidiaw officated. In 1850 he went to Australia where he remained until 1871. He then came to Utah and arrived here on July 19.

His first work in Zion was on the Salt Lake Temple, where he remained until its completion. He sometimes acted as foreman, during the absence of J. Moyle. The engraving above the East doors of the Temple which reads as follows: Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord, Built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Commenced, April 6, 1853 Completed April 6, 1893. This is just a small portion of his work which he put on the temple.

He built the first gas works in Utah under the direction of President Young. He then built the paper mill in Big Cottonwood, and later the marble works in City Creek under the direction of President John Taylor. He then went to Oregon where he superintended the building of the Cascades Locks under Col. Willard Young. He remained there for a period of seven years.

He died, July 7, 1904, in Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving a wife and eight children, ten Grandchildren, and four great-grand-children.
He died as he had lived, a faithful Latter-day Saint.

England had a policy to send people that they felt were undesirable to
Australia. They sent their criminals. They also felt that Mormons were
in the same class of people and sent them to Australia. That is why Joseph
Richardson Dover and his wife spent time in Australia. (Post script by Lyman Lloyd)

Thomas William Lloyd

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THOMAS WILLIAM LLOYD
(Written for the Family Reunion — 1960)
By Hortense Parke Lloyd, Daughter-in-law

Thomas William Lloyd was born September 27, 1857, at Farmington, Davis County, Utah. He was the son of Thomas Lloyd and Susanah Stone Lloyd, and was the eldest of fourteen children.

He was raised as any child in those early pioneer days. His father was a harness maker by trade, and the son, Thomas, worked as soon as he was old enough to do anything.
Young Thomas met his wife at his father’s home. She was Elizabeth Lea, a friend of Thomas’ sister, Sarah. It was love at first sight, and their courtship was short. They were married about six weeks later, February 25, 1877.

An ox team, wagon, pair of strong hands, and a sparsely furnished house were their possessions at the beginning of their married life. Their humble home contained a wood stove, table, three chairs, bed, and a few dishes. The dishes were washed and placed on the floor with a cloth over them because they had no cupboard.
Thomas worked for a day’s wage, hauling bailed hay and grain, and going to the canyons for wood to sell. He also worked in the hay fields.

As each of his nine sons grew large enough, they would go with him to drive the team and help in any way they could. He taught his sons early to work, inside the home as well as outside. There were no girls in the family to help their mother, and the boys had to take turns doing the housework.
He had injured his back and could not stand the jarring motion of the wagon. As soon as possible he replaced the oxen and wagon with horses and a buggy, which provided comparative comfort. Mt. Sterling was the site of the first land he purchased. He started to farm there, buying more land as he was financially able. The land kept the boys busy while Thomas bought and sold cattle, which was profitable to him. The large family grew out of the old home and a larger house was built.
Father Lloyd had a strong testimony of the Gospel, and taught his family the principles of the Gospel. In the spring of 1899 he was called to fill a mission to England. He accepted the call and labored with Joseph Fielding Smith for six months. Hs was called home because of his wife’s ill health. She was under the care of a doctor for sometime, suffering from diabetes.

In the early spring, he visited his brothers who lived in Rexburg, Idaho.
While there he bought a place at St. Anthony, Idaho. He sold this land to his sons,
Will and John. In the fall of 1903 he visited his brother Dan, who lived at Central,
Idaho. Dan wanted to sell his home there and move back to Utah. Thomas then
visited his sons at St. Anthony, and while there he sold John the “Dan Place” at
Central for John’s interest at St. Anthony.
The next spring, after school was out, the family moved to St. Anthony, where he went into the cattle business and farming for five years. While there they met with many drawbacks. The crickets came, and they had to fight them the hard way, as there were no sprays in those days to kill them. They had to dig trenches, drive them into the trenches, and then bury them.

The work on the farm was hard, and Mother Lloyd could not stand the hard work because of her ill health. Thomas sold the farm and cattle to his brother, Charles, and moved back to Logan so that Mother Lloyd could be under the doctor’s care. He tried in every way he could to make her happy and to obtain medical care for her. He took her to California for the winter, thinking the sunshine would help her, but there was not much that could be done to ease her suffering. She passed away on April 25, 1912, at Logan,

After the sting of death had passed, Father Lloyd decided to rent the home in Logan and visit with his children. By this time all his family but one had homes in Central. That summer he bought some 500 acres of land at Central and stayed to farm it until fall. When the work was done he returned to Logan for the winter.
During that winter he met Elizabeth Shooter, who was living with his sister, Mary Hendrickson. Miss Shooter came from England and had not been in America long. She was not acquainted with American ways, but was quick to learn and was not afraid of work.

In April of 1913, Father Lloyd and Miss Shooter were married and came to Central to make their home and to farm. On one of the pieces of land he built a very nice home just across the street from his son, Charles’, home. They lived there about five years, going to Logan for the winters.

The fall of 1917, he sold his farm and home in Central and moved back to Logan. He retired from farm work at this time and turned his attention to doing temple work. He had many business interests and invested large sums of money, some of which he did not get back. He held positions in different companies. He was a director of the Cache Valley Banking Company until his health failed.
He lived to see some great changes. From an ox team to an automobile, was one. He bought his first car in 1917 and received a lot of enjoyment from it.
His wife, Elizabeth, was interested in everything he did, and worked steadily by his side in everything he undertook.

Father Lloyd took his mother into his home and helped care for her in her declining years. She passed away January 25, 1920, in Logan, Utah. In the fall of 1927, a granddaughter, Lois, daughter of his son, Parley, came to live in his home to go to school. She became ill with spinal meningitis. This illness spread to Lizzie, who was helping care for her. Lizzie died from it April 26, 1928. Lois’ mother, Nettle, who had come to Logan to care for Lois, took the meningitis, and she passed away a week after

Previous to that time, Father Lloyd and Lizzie also took care of his son John’s and Hortense’s son Alton, who was ill with a nervous disorder later diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. His son, Archie, and boys lived with him one winter too.
He was always ready to help those in need, and was a wonderful father to his family.
He had three wonderful wives who stood by his side and helped him.
Father Lloyd lived with Lizzie for fifteen years and was very happy. They had no children.

In August of the same year that Lizzie passed away, he married her cousin, Harriet Cooper. She had three Sons, whom Father raised as his own until they were old enough to go for themselves. When the boys were out of school he always found work for

Aunt Harriet still survives. She was a blessing and a comfort to him in his declining years, the last five of which he was stricken with a stroke and was confined to his chair. She was always at his side to aid him. He passed away December 6, 1946, at Logan, Utah. Burial was in Wellsville, Utah.

Four of his nine sons have passed away. March 1895. Will passed away September 1956, Lyman and Linnie both died in March 1895 and Archie died March 18, 1960.

Living sons are: John, Bancroft, Idaho; Charles, Kaysville, Utah; Norman, El Cerrito, California; Parley, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Ellis, Logan, Utah. Grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren amount to a posterity of 229.

John Hess

The History of John Hess

In 1832 my Father, mother and three eldest sisters and myself were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ; previous to this we lived in peace with our neighbors, but soon after we were baptized our neighbors began to speak evil of, and persecute us in various ways.
About May 1, 1836, my father and his family moved to the State of Missouri and settled in Ray County of that State, near Pomerroy’s or Richmond Landing, until the expulsion of the Saints from Caldwell County, when with them we moved to the State of Illinois and settled In Hancock County. Here my Father settled on a piece of wild land and in our extreme poverty we began to open a farm. After much privation and toll we succeeded in getting a comfortable home. The many years of labor and hardships that my father has passed through caused his health to fail and I was the only boy in the family, therefore, the greater part of the labor devolved upon me.

In the meantime I had bought forty acres of land for myself and had made some improvements during the fall of 1884 and during the spring and summer of 1845 I was putting up a hewed log house, while the mobs were burning the, Saint’s possessions in Morley’s Settlement, near Lima, in Hancock County, but I continued to labor with my might until the violence of the mob was so great that we did not feel safe in remaining on our farm longer; so we moved to the City of Nauvoo and occupied a part of the house belonging to Bishop Foutz, my Mother’s brother. We had left most of our supplies on the farm at Bear Creek, and before we had time to get them away, they were destroyed by the mob, and we were again left almost destitute.
In November, 1845, my Father was stricken down with a shock of paralysis and lost the use of one side, which rendered him entirely helpless.
In the meantime I married Emeline Bigler, who was born in Harrison County, Virginia August 20, 1824. At this time word went forth among the people that we were to leave Nauvoo in the spring. One may well imagine the situation we were in, to start on such a journey, when we had been robbed of nearly all of our substance, and my poor father lying helpless in bed, but it being the only alternative to get away from the fury the mob, I began to gather up what I had and commenced to get together an outfit. The best I could do was to rig up two old wagons and two yoke of oxen, one of which was my personal property. I arranged one of these wagons with a bed of cord for my Father to lie upon, as he could not sit up. It took one entire wagon for his convenience, and then it was poor enough. This left one wagon to be drawn by one yoke of oxen to carry the outfit for the entire family - eight in number - while all the family had to walk every step of the way, rain or shine, But notwithstanding all these difficulties we fixed it up the best we could and on the 3rd, day of April, 1846, we started, crossed the Mississippi River and camped on the Iowa side the first night, in a drenching rain.
April 4th, we started on the wearisome journey, but with our heavy loads and the incessant rain that continued to fall, our progress was very slow,the best we could do was to travel from five to eight miles per day. As my father occupied one of the wagons, the rest of the family had no shelter only what they could get by crawling under the wagons, and much of the time we were obligated to cut brush to lay on the ground to keep our beds out of the water. Women and children walked through the mud and water and wet grass and waded many of the streams so that their clothes were never dry on them for weeks and months until we reached the place called Mount Pisgah, in the western part of Iowa;, here the advance companies of the Pioneers had planted corn and vegetables for the benefit of those who should come afterwards. We concluded to stop at this place for a time as our limited supplies were about exhausted and my father was so much worse that it was impossible to move him any further, so we constructed a temporary shelter of bark which we peeled off from elm trees that grew in the vicinity; this was about the 15th of June, 1846.

Word had gone out that President Young would fit out a company to go to the Rocky Mountains that season to locate a settlement and put in grain for the next season for the benefit of themselves and those that would come the following season.

Seeing that I could do nothing where I was, I concluded to take my own team and what I had, and go to Council Bluffs, 130 miles distance, where the Church Authorities were stopping. So I made my Father’s family as comfortable as I could with my limited facilities, and taking my wife and my own team and little outfit, bade the rest of the family goodbye and started traveling in Henry W. Miller’s Company.

We were overtaken one evening about dark by Captain Allen, who was accompanied by a guard of five dragoons, of the regular United States Army, all of whom camped with us for the night. The object of their visit soon became apparent. They were sent to see if the “Mormon” people could and would respond to a call for five hundred men to help fight the battles of the United States against Mexico. This was indeed unexpected news, while the people of the State of Illinois had driven us out, and while we were scattered on the prairie of western Iowa with nothing, in many instances, but the canopy of heaven for a covering, to be called on under these circumstances for 500 of the strength of the camps of Israel, seemed cruel and unjust, but such was the case, notwithstanding.
We arrived at Council Bluff about the tenth day of July and found that four companies had been enlisted and organized. I was advised by George A. Smith and other to enlist, and after considering the matter, I concluded to do so, and was enlisted in Company “E’” Captain Daniel C. Davis. My wife, Emeline, also enlisted, as the Government had provided for four women to each company of 200 men to go as laundresses.

I left my team and wagon and little outfit with my brother-in-law, D.A.Miller, to be brought on next year, as the Government had provided two six mule-teams to each company. I was solicited to drive one team, and for the comfort and convenience of my wife I consented to do so, and many times I was thankful that I had done so, as these teams had to haul the camp equipment which consisted of tents, tent-poles, camp kettles, etc. which filled the wagons up to the bows, and the women would have to crawl in as best they could manage and lie in that position until we stopped for camp, and as I had the management of the loading, I could make the situation and comfort of my wife much better. For this and other reasons that will not mention, I was glad that I was a teamster.

About the 2oth day of July, we took on the line of march for Fort Leavenworth. About this time I heard of my Father’s death, which took place on the 22nd day of June, 1846, at the place I had left him and inasmuch as he could not recover, I was thankful to God that He had relieved him of his sufferings, although it was a dark hour for my poor mother to be in - left in such a desolate and sickly place without her natural protector; and with four small children and nothing to live on.

In due time we arrived in Fort Leavenworth, where we received our outfit of clothing, provisions, arms and ammunition. We remained here about two weeks, after which we started on our march to Santa Fe, a distance of one thousand miles; a very tedious march, to be performed on foot, much of the distance with very little water or grass, with dry buffalo chips for fuel. We passed over one desert eighty miles across; the only means of carrying water was in canteens holding two quarts each, one of which was carried by each man. A great many men gave out and had to be helped by the others. The stronger men carrying water back to their comrades.

Finally we reached Santa Fe, but during this time General Kearney was fighting the Mexicans in Upper California and was about to be overpowered by them, so he sent an express to Santa Fe to have the men of the Battalion inspected by the doctor, and all the able—bodied men fitted out and put on a forced march to go to his relief, and all the sick and disabled and all the women to be sent back.

Then came one of the greatest tests of my life; it happened in this wise:
I had been a teamster all the way and had proved that I could take good care of a team and was a careful driver, and as Captain Davis had his family with him, and also his own private team, he wanted me to drive it for him, but the intention was to send my wife back with the detachment of sick men; this I could not consent to and retain my manhood. I remonstrated with Captain Davis, but to no purpose. I could not make any impression on him. I told him I would gladly go and drive the team if he would let my wife go along, but he said there was no room in the wagon. Then I told him that I would not go and leave my wife— I would die first. This was a bold assertion for a Private to make to his Captain, but the emergency seem to demand it. There were many others in the command who were in the same situation that I was, who had their wives with them and wanted to go back with them but had not the courage to make a fuss about it.

By this time I had done all that I could with the officers of the Battalion but they either could not or would not do anything for me, so I resolved to go and see General Doniphan, the Commander of the Post. I asked John Steel to go with me being in the same situations as myself. We went to the Colonel’s Quarters, found the Orderly at the door, asked permission to see the colonel; and with our hats under our arms we entered the Colonel’s Quartets and called his attention to our business, he informed us in a very stern manner that it was reported to him that the men who had women there wanted to go on and let their women go back, and in accordance therewith, provisions had been drawn for the Battalion and for the Detachment, and there could be no change made. I told him that we had not been consulted in the matter; he told us to leave the Quarters, gruffly remarking that he had left his wife. I thought I would venture one more remark, which was, “Colonel! I suppose you left your wife with her friends; while we are required to leave ours in an enemy’s country in care of a lot of sick, demoralized men.” This seemed to touch a sympathetic cord; he called very sharply, “Orderly! Orderly! Go up to the command and bring Adjutant George P. Dikes.” I whispered to Steel, “The spell is broken; let’s go.”

In a short time Adjutant Dikes returned to the Command and climbed upon the top of the hind wheel of the wagon, shouting at the top of his voice: “Oh! Oh All you men who have wives here can go back with them I have seen men going about crying enough to melt the heart of a crocodile, so I went to the Colonel and had it arranged.” I said, “You hypocritical liar; you will take the credit that belongs to others.” This remark he did not hear, but, however, the object was’ accomplished, and in a short time the Battalion was on the move west, and the Detachment on the move east by north—east.

The Detachment was composed of all the men who had become disabled though the long march which they had performed on foot. Their outfit of teams was composed of given—out broken—down oxen that had been used in freighting supplies of, the Government across the plains and were not fit for any kind of efficient service, so they compared very well with the majority of the men. Our rations or provisions were very good in quality, but very short as to the quantity, the Post at Santa Fe being very short of provisions at this time. Also after we had gotten the move, we found we had only three—fourths rations of flour, and everything else in proportion, such as beans, sugar coffee pork and rice, with the difficulties mentioned above, together with the fact that we were only allotted the time to reach Fort Bent that a lot of able—bodied men would be allowed to make the same journey in. Our slow traveling soon put us on half—rations as eight miles per day was the best we could do. We had a lot of beef cattle, but they compared favorably with the rest of the outfit, so poor that many of them gave out by the way. Great economy had to be used by killing the poorest first; the reader can imagine that the quantity of the beef was limited.

As usual, on the march I had charge of a team, but instead of a six—mull team it was a team of four yoke of poor oxen quite a contrast ; our progress being so slow that we were put on quarter—rations in order to make them hold out until we should reach Fort Bent. It seemed as if we had gone about as far as we could go when one morning, after the guard had driven the oxen into camp, it was found that there were thirty head of stray oxen in the herd, all of them in good condition. Captain Brown gave orders to distribute them in the teams of the Detachment, and with such an addition of strength to our teams, we got along fine. About noon, however, there came to our camp two men on horseback inquiring for the stray oxen. Captain Brown told them that if they had any cattle in his company, they could take them out. They replied that each teamster only knew his own team. After examining our teams they claimed and took but four of the thirty stray oxen. This still left us with thirteen yoke of fresh cattle, which we considered a divine interposition of the kind hand of God in our behalf, as it seemed about the only chance for deliverance from starvation.

In due time we reached Fort Bent and exchanged our dilapidated outfit for a new one, with a full supply of rations for the winter, which seemed to put an end to all our troubles. We moved up the Arkansas River seventy-five miles to a place then called Pueblo, where we put up houses for the winter. These houses were constructed of cottonwood logs split in halves and the pieces all joined together in the form of stockade. Here we passed the winter in drilling and hunting and having a good time generally.

It was then about seven months since we had received any pay, so Captain Brown concluded to go to Santa Fe with the pay roll of the Detachment and draw our wages. He took a guard of ten men, of which I was one, with him. We started about the last day of February, and had a high range of mountains to cross, called the Ratton Range. We encountered a great deal of snow, at times we had to tramp the snow for miles so our pack animals could walk over it, but in due time we arrived at Santa Fe. The money was drawn, and we started on our return trip, got back to our quarters at Pueblo about, the first of April, and found spring weather. We began at once to prepare for our march.

About the 15th of April, 1847, we started due north for Fort Laramine, three hundred miles distant, on the California road, at which place we expected to find or hear of the Pioneer Company that was expected to fit out and go to find a location for the Saints but on our way we were met by Amasa Lyman and others who had come from the Pioneers’ Camp. This was a happy meeting, and to get news of our loved ones greatly relieved our anxieties, as we then learned that the Camp was ahead of us, led by President Brigham. Young, and he led by revelation. So we pushed on with fresh courage and finally struck their trail about two weeks ahead of us. We followed their trail, but did not overtake them as we expected to. The pioneers reached Salt Lake Valley July 24th and the Detachment on the 28th of July, 1847, and on the same day we were discharged from the service of the United States, and I became a free man once more.

(The next part of this history has been condensed)
I went in partners with Jim Bevin and put up a whip-pit, and began to turn out lumber, and as there was none except what we sawed by hand, I found ready sale for as many as we could put out. In this way we were able to recruit our circumstances and we got along all right during the winter but then we planted what seed-grain we had which cut our food supply. Then began our want of food. Through the winter we had dug what we called “Thistle Roots” but by this time they had began to leaf out, which spoiled the roots. The leaves we gathered and cooked in salt water and this and some buttermilk which I had to carry one and one-half miles was all we had to eat for two months. During this time the crickets made their appearance and attacked our grain crops and we were grateful for the seagulls which saved our crops.

On the 9th of September I started back to bring my mother and her family to the West. It was a journey of one hundred and thirty miles and I found them all well. We arrived back in the Salt Lake Valley the 27th of July. I found my wife well and our first child in her arms. This child was born while I was away.

I located my family in Farmington and bought land as opportunity would afford. I was made a Bishop ordained by President Brigham Young and set apart to preside
over the Farmington Ward and I was a Bishop here for twenty-seven years.

In 1876, I was re-elected to the Utah Legislature. I was called on a mission
to the Lamanites located at Washakie, in the northern part of Box Elder. I was set apart on March 4, 1894 to preside as the President of the Davis Stake of Zion, with Joseph Hyrum Grant as my first Counselor.
(John W. Hess was married to seven wives and had a total of 63 children.)

A MANIFESTION THAT I, JOHN W. HESS, SAW AND HEARD
About September 15, 1900, during my late illness, on Sunday morning about nine o’clock, while lying upon my bed, and my brethren of the Priesthood were out among the people performing their various duties, I was thinking over my helpless condition not being able to be with them in the performance of my duties; I began to pour out my whole soul in prayer. My prayer finally resolved itself into a lamentation, asking the Lord what I had done or what I had not done that I should be so seriously afflicted, that I should be deprived of the privilege of going forth with the rest of my brethren and performing my duties.
I was told that it was not for any great sin of commission or omission that I was thus afflicted, but it was because of my long and faithful labor and the many hardships that I had passed through during my long life that had weakened my faculties and brought me to my present condition. I was told that the Lord accepted of my labors and that my career on earth, in the near future, would be brought to a close.
About this time I saw, sitting on a box at the foot of my bed, a personage that looked familiar to me, in the full bloom and vigor of life; I gazed upon it with great earnestness and finally came to the conclusion that it was my own visage in every form and feature except the age.
About this time I heard a voice saying, and pointing directly at this visage, “This is the body of your spirit, you see that it is in the exact image and form of your temporal body.” He repeated again with great earnestness, “This is the body of your spirit,” and then remarked, “Now, let this suffice for the present.”
Now, I do declare in all soberness, and in the fear of God while writing that the above statement is true, and shall be a testimony to all who read it.
John W. Hess
Farmington, Davis County, Utah
January 13, 1902