15 November 2010

Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY


My line is Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY - Joseph Brenchley OBRAY - Hilary Olsen OBRAY - Verda Bradley OBRAY (my grandmother).

I found this resource by Ryan Pedersen on Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY today. This PDF file includes pictures and an interesting time line (I have not verified any of the sources). http://pedersenplanet.com/stories/Thomas%20Lorenzo%20Obray.pdf

1821 July 23rd: Birth - Pembroke, Pembroksire Wales. He was the 7th of 10 children.
1823 Jan 8th: Christening
1844 September 25th: LDS Baptism
1852-1853: President of the Malta Mission. He labored as a missionary
in England in the Kent Conference, presiding over that conference part of the
time, and was called to fill a mission in Malta, November 1, 1851. After being ordained a High Priest, Elder Obray landed in Malta in May, 1852, having been sent by Apostle Lorenzo Snow to preside over the Malta Mission.
He went back to England on account of his health, arriving there April 23, 1853, but returned to Malta, June 19, 1853. While he was absent James F. Bell acted as president of the Malta Mission. Elder Obray raised up a branch of the Church in Malta, was released in November, 1853, and left Liverpool, England, March 22,1854, bound for Utah.
1854 June 24th: Married to Louise Shelton
1854 Oct. 17th: Married to Martha Shelton
1856: After his arrival in Utah he settled in Wellsville, Cache Co., in 1856, being one of the first settlers in that place.
1857 Aug. 2nd: Married to Caroline Brenchley
1864 April 30th: Married to Ruth N. Bradshaw
1881-1882: He filled a mission to England.


*Church Chronology - page 185
Arrested for Polygamy : In first District Court, at Ogden, Thomas L Obray, of Paradise, Cache Co., was sentenced by Judge Henderson to three months imprisonment, for U.C.
* Church Chronology - page 187 `1890
1890 Saturday May 24: In first District Court, at Ogden, Thomas L Obray, of Paradise, Cache Co., was sentenced by Judge Henderson to three months imprisonment, for U.C.
* Church Chronology - page 187
1890 Saturday Aug 9th: Thomas L Obray of Paradise, Cache Co., was discharged from the Penitentiary.
* CENSUS: 1880
Census Place: Paradise, Cache, Utah
* Source: FHL Film 1255335 National
Archives Film T9-1335 Page 172C
1892 April 25th:

NEWSPAPER: The following
warranty deeds were filed for record on Saturday: Thomas L. Obray Sr., and
wife to P.O. Hansen, 81.35 acres, Paradise farm realty, $3,000. Logan 1892
May 2nd:

NEWSPAPER: The Standard --- Logan Utah 3 May 1892 edition
The following transfers were filed for record on Saturday: Townsite deed from Cache
county to Thos. L.Obray for lots 4 and 5, block 28, plat A, Paradise survey.
Logan

1899 Oct 21st: Thomas died on Oct 21 1899 in Paradise,Cache,Utah, United States; he was 78.
1899 Oct 24th: Burial Paradise Cemetery, Paradise, Cache County, Utah. Thomas is buried next to his wife Martha Shelton Obray.


Thomas, 32, married other wife Louisa enroute on 24 June 1854 (the same day she was baptized) with the James Brown Company. She died 4 days later (10 days after leaving Missouri) on the 28 of June. Sister puts death three weeks later. From measles/cholera.

Written by Louisa’s sister Eliza: . . . “when we got to St. Louis we bought our teams and wagons, cows, provisions and all our outfit for traveling on the plains, Charles and his family occupied one wagon and us girls and brother Albert the other, my sister Martha [Shelton], Louisa [Shelton Obray,] Emily [Shelton], and I were baptized at fort Leavenworth by Alonzo [Alondus D. Lafayette] Buckland on the 24th of June 1854 [4 June 1854] with some others, Louisa was married to Thomas Obray the same day, by the same man, Thomas was returning from a Mission from Malta coming to Utah, with his brother Sam[uel Obray] and family, we got the measles, all of our family except Charles & Sam, they were the only ones that had already had them[.] we suffered very much, Rebbecca [Shelton], (my brothers wife) had the Cholera morbus, suffered dreadfully till death came to her relief, my sister Louisa first had the measles. she was commencing to get better with them when she took a backset[.] Cholera set in and she worse off after being a bride just 3 weeks, Thomas [Obray] took this pretty hard, also my brother Charles was worn out with waiting on the sick and his children died one after another till 5 were layd away all but his oldest son Alfred, it is hard to imagine that mans feelings, I dont know how the poor man stood it, a great number of our company died, and us girls continued very weak and poorly[.] not much appetite and Diareah [diarrhea] all the way to the Valley, we traveled on under trials and difficulties till we arrived in Salt Lake City 29. Sep. 1854, pretty well worn out, and also our teams, nevertheless was much rejoiced to view a city after our long march full of hope for the future, for now we were to the end of our journey and among the saints of God,” (Keeler, Eliza Shelton, Autobiography and journal, [ca. 1886-1898], 10-12.)

Brother Charles, who also buried 5 children and his wife in that same period, writes that Thomas was sealed to Louisa’s sister Martha when they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

Here is a link to Thomas', Martha's, and Caroline's headstones from a previous post on this blog: http://tams-hickman.blogspot.com/2007/08/thomas-lorenzo-obray-caroline-brenchley.html.

Some additional history: http://www.obrays.com/tlobray.htm

Joseph Brenchley OBRAY





Joseph Brenchley OBRAY was born 15 April 1867 in Paradise, Cache, Utah. He is the son of Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY and his 3rd wife (2nd polygamous wife) Caroline BRENCHLEY. He married Elizabeth Christine OLSEN on 7 December 1887. He died on 14 February 1940 in Paradise, Cache, Utah. He is buried in the Paradise Cemetery.

I love it when I stumble upon bits of family history through others on similar searches. Today I found this article by Bruce Crow: http://amateurmormonhistorian.blogspot.com/2010/11/louisa-obray-pioneer-midwife.html .

When looking back on her life, Louisa Obray had a great deal of which to be proud. In 1890, at the age of 35, she attended the Columbia Hospital for training as a nurse. She had already trained in Utah as a midwife under Dr. Ellis Reynolds Shipp. During Louisa's career she delivered an estimated 800 babies. She charged just $3.00 for her services which included bathing both mother and child and nine days of post-natal care.

Her biography tells a story of how she handled herself under pressure. “She came home one day to find Joseph Obray waiting to tell her not to unhitch the horse as his wife was in labor with her first child. She had already been in attendance on other mothers for twenty-four hours. Just then her daughter, Boston, ran out of the house begging her not to leave as she was about to give birth to her first child. Louisa looked at her daughter and said, “be at ease—you will be all right.”She was
described as "dignified and queenly in her bearing." And many of the people in
Paradise sought out her wise counsel "for help with their personal problems."

The article is about Louisa Obray (Gibbs) [1855-1927] acting as a midwife in Paradise, Utah. My family history is rich in this little community of Paradise and the family lines mingle and intermingle. Louisa's half-brother (and my great-great grandfather), Joseph Brenchley Obray (1867 - 1940) might be the Joseph referred to in this story. Joseph's wife Margaret Oldham Tams (1869 - 1958) gave birth to a daughter, Melba Elizabeth Obray on 15 June 1903. Louisa's daughter Boston gave birth to her oldest son Orson Donald Miles on 17 Jun 1903 just two days later. If, in fact, Joseph is the same, Louisa still may have made it to deliver her grandson.

Interestingly, my line does not continue through Margaret. Joseph was also married to Elizabeth Christina Olsen (1868 - 1899). My great-grandfather Hilary Olsen Obray was their son. Just to throw in a twist, Elizabeth & Joseph's son (Hilary)'s daughter Verda Bradley Obray (1911 - 1994) married Joseph's other wife (Margaret)'s younger brother (Josiah Oldham Tams, 1971 - 1941)'s son, Neil Richman Tams, (1908 - 1997). Neil and Verda are my grandparents, from Paradise, whom I know and love.
Related Links:

12 November 2010

George Washington HICKMAN & Lucy Ann HAWES


I drove to Benjamin today while trying to recharge a car battery. I couldn't stop at the cemetery but wondered if George or Lucy were buried there. Since arriving home, I've looked up their information and found that they were buried in Payson, Utah.


An interesting note from Lucy's obituary: After George died, she built a brick house at 691 North University Ave, Provo, UT. Also (from the hickmanfamily site below): her sister's diary uses the spelling HAWS instead of HAWES.


Sources:
Fantastic information, biographies and other information about George and Lucy Ann:
http://hickmansfamily.homestead.com/GWHickman.html

George's Headstone:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hickman&GSiman=1&GScid=77381&GRid=22329753&

Lucy Ann's Headstone:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hickman&GSiman=1&GScid=77381&GRid=22329718&