In the onward flow of years, all that is not recorded is lost. We know of the past only what the written page reveals; the romance, the tragedy, the joy, the sorrow, the struggles and achievements of a people. Silent the tongue that told the tales, faded the pictures aroused by the narrative, clipping from memory are the courage and heroism. Shall we let the stories die and be buried in the annals of the past? While there is yet time, it would be rescued and retold:
And so it is expected that the posterity of Joshua Coombs and Sarah Lane Huggins should wish to preserve a record of their pioneer heritage. So in this event, I will relate the following historical events of my gracious pioneer mother's life:
She, Sarah Lane Huggins, youngest child of William Huggins and Emeline Acker, was born July 2, 1850, in Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey and lived there the first three years of her life. Then, together with her parents she came to Utah from New Jersey in 1853 - traveling by ox team in Captain Anthony W. Ivan's Company. The family arrived in Springville, Utah, August 10, 1853, and lived there for awhile and from Springville they moved to Fayette, Utah, to help colonise (sic) there. Then in the fall of 1862, they came to Fountain Green, where she lived the remaining years of her life. The family was living in the Fort at Fountain Green at the time of the Black Hawk War.
At the age of seventeen, she met and married a Mr. John Reedhead as a second wife. As he had another wife, their family life was not too happy and so they were divorced. They had two children, a boy William Levi Reedhead, born February 24, 1868, and died at the age of two years, and a girl, still-born.
Two years later she married my father, Joshua Coombs, July 22 1872, at the Salt Lake Endowment House. They made the trip to the Endowment House by ox team. They both had a lot in common as they had both been married before, but they knew that marriage was ordained of God and that marriage was the mother of the world. It preserves kingdoms and fills cities and churches and heaven itself.
Her first home here in Fountain Green as a bride was a very small 10 x 10 foot one room house built by father in 1865 and in that home my brother, Joshua, was born. Seven children were born to add to their posterity and to bless their marriage. They were all born in Fountain Green. Joshua David, born March 7, 1874 and married Maria Barentson. Harriet Emeline, born May 16, 1876 and married Andrew F. Morgan. Hannah Amelia, born October 30, 1878, and married William T. Mathis. Elisabeth Flarilla, born June 4, 1881, and married David Abraham Robertson. George Ephraim, born April 10, 1884, and married Agnes Matilda Anderson. Edward Alonzo, born October 24, 1886 and married Lula Amelia Bryan. Wilford Henry, born April 13, 1889 and married Ellen Janet Crowther.
Her second home was a one-room log house, 17 1/2 x 13 feet (both the first and second houses are still standing on Brother Wilford's lot). Five of their children were born in their second log house and as she had pledged to be father's companion and helpmeet she worked very hard during the years of privation and hardships in rearing her family. They had a few sheep and would save some wool for family use. I remember her washing it, spinning it into yarn, coloring it and knitting socks and stockings, gloves and mittens and carding it into batts for quilts. I remember, also, that occasionally in the fall father would kill a beef for the family use and I remember helping mother make candles from the tallow that was not suitable for food. After rendering the tallow I would hold the twisted candle wick into the center of the molds as she would pour in the rendered grease. These candles furnished much of our light at night. We had a large fireplace in the south end of our room that also gave us lots of light as well as heat. Father would place a long log on the fire that kept burning far into the night. In member I can still see those bright embers glowing and they seemed to stand as sentinels, watching o'er us while we slept.
Mother used to gather the long new rye straws, soak them in water to soften them and braid them in long strands and then fashion it into hats. She would buy a little ribbon and made or buy a few flowers and put them on, sew and elastic to put under our chins and thus our Easter bonnets were fashioned. She sewed all our clothing from undergarments to Sunday-best dresses, coats, capes, hoods, etc. Father's farm produced most of our food and her labors in that capacity were equally as hard as in the previous one in preparing and storing it for winter's use. Mother used to go in the fields and assist him with his planting and harvesting.
Father was a singer and played a cornet in the Fountain Green Brass Band.
In spit of mother's busy life, she always found time to visit her elderly mother. She lived in Fountain Green, too, but in the extreme north end of town and mother lived in the south, a distance of one mile. We had a very gentle riding pony and mother would mount the horse, put the baby in front of her and sister Elizabeth at the back and go to her mother's for a few hours. At times when mother was there visiting she would have Elizabeth play at the south end of the house and listen for father's cornet call. If he returned home before mother did he gave her a signal on his cornet. Sarah, my pretty Sarah. She would immediately return home and prepare he evening meal while father did the chores. Then they would spend their evenings out in the yard singing together and father playing his cornet. In fancy, I can still see and hear them singing and playing beautiful moonlight, a favorite song of theirs.
They would go into the hills and gather service berries, sometimes camping overnight which was always a joy to the children in the company, sleeping out under the blue heaven and beautiful stars. She would dry the berries and use them for pie and puddings during the winter. They also used to dry red currants to use the same way. Ground cherries were also gathered from the fields and made into preserves, as we used to call it. Father was very fond of them and so mother never thought her winter storage of food quite complete without it. She also dried corn as a winter vegetable and had corn-meal made for bread and cereal. Whe the cows would be at their highest production of milk, she made several cheeses. Many times I've watched her put them in her press at the south side of the house. These were also added to her winter feed supply.
Mother was a counselor in the M.I.A. about the year 1878. I remember her helping the other officers cook and prepare a dinner for the old people of the ward. Her dear life was devoted to the real and human things in life. She was a favorite in her family among the children and when any of them were ill they always sent for Aunt Sada, as they lovingly called her. She would go to them all hours of the day or night and her mode of travel was either walking or riding on a horse in back of the one that came for her. Her love and tender care to t hem smoothed many a rugged road. I remember two different times when she had a contagious disease in her own family that she partitioned her one room off with wire stretched tight near the ceiling and hung quilts on it to keep the sick ones separated from the rest of her family. Mother taught her children that material things perish, wealth vanishes away, but an untarnished soul is God's greatest handiwork.
With soft-spoken words mother spoke of happiness, of faith and love for one another. The world around her little home was drab enough, but when a great soul is lighted by endless eternal fires, it glorifies all about. She lived and toiled in those little log homes until about 1889 when they moved in to the brick home now owned by brother Wilford, in which he was born. She lived in that home the remaining part of her life. This home was much better than her former ones had been.
A short life well lived was filled with her untiring love and service to her husband, her family and friends. With her beautiful voice she sang the songs of praise and devotion to our Heavenly Father. At the age of forty-nine, and still true to her covenants as a helpmeet, she passed to the Great Beyond, to a better home above. This was on August 5, 1899.
She was the mother of nine children, seven survived her, also her husband and two grandchildren, Melvin Morgan and LaVern Mathis. All this to bless and cherish her loving memory. The memory of my pioneer mother is a sweet and hallowed one to me and will never, never die. So in death, as in life, she stands beside her loved ones, beckoning them on to even higher achievements, to lives of service and devotion.
Her posterity up to date in 1955 is one hundred ninety three, most of them living. her two children by her former marriage preceded her in death and 4 of her children by her second marriage have followed her, and also eleven of her grandchildren. Four of her children still are living and sixty-nine of her grandchildren, also many great-grandchildren.
Five of her grandsons served their country during World War II. One, Virgil Coombs, son of Wilford, gave his life in the campaign of Italy. Evan and Don Coombs, sons of Alonzo. Two of her great-grandsons, Vern and Bern Chapman, grandsons of Hannah also served during World War II. Since the end of the war, Ken Coombs, brother of Virgil, is serving in the Korean War. Dean Coombs, son of Alonzo and Grant Fahrni, grandson of George have also entered the service of our country. Another great-grandson, Jay Dee Coombs, a grandson of Joshua, is filling a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is at present in South Dakota, which is in the West Central States Mission. Bessie Coombs has filled a mission in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will be released May 25, 1957. A great grandson, Garn Coombs, is on a mission in Springfield, Vermont, in the New England States.
Her children were the jewels on earth and will be her stars in her crown of eternal life.
Tams-Hickman Genealogy
Genealogy of Tams, Hickman, Coombs and Romm lines
20 July 2015
12 August 2013
Ruby & Ernest Johnson
We attended a family reunion on Saturday. I'll add some stories and notes later. Susan Baugh has created a webpage with family resources. The link is here: http://www.johnsonfamreunion.com/
29 July 2013
George Darling Watt
George Darling Watt is my great-great Grandfather. He was the first convert baptized in England in 1837 in the early years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He won the right to that privilege by winning a foot race (a fact that we often cite when a member of our family shows a running talent). He became Brigham Young's personal secretary and recorded many of the sermons of the early church. He also developed the Deseret Alphabet.
There is a ton of information about George Darling Watt. I'm going to list links and sources below as I find this information:
Videos about George Darling Watt
Deciphering Shorthand
Webpages about George Darling Watt
http://www.lds.org/friend/1985/07/the-deseret-alphabet?lang=eng
http://history.lds.org/article/lost-sermons-editorial-method?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1978/03/discovery/can-you-read-deseret?lang=eng
Books about George Darling Watt
England's First "Mormon" Convert
The Mormon Passage of George Darling Watt
Magazine Articles about George Darling Watt
Lost Sermons - https://history.lds.org/article/lost-sermons-editorial-method?lang=eng
The Deseret Alphabet - http://www.lds.org/friend/1985/07/the-deseret-alphabet?lang=eng
Can You Read Deseret? - http://www.lds.org/ensign/1978/03/discovery/can-you-read-deseret?lang=eng
Other information about George Darling Watt
Pioneer Database (Journal enteries and companies traveled with): https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/pioneerDetail?lang=eng&pioneerId=7941
22 July 2012
Lois Jane WATT
Lois Jane WATT
Born: 22 October 1911 in Thatcher, Box Elder, Utah.
Christened: 4 February 1912
Parents: Richard Golightly WATT & Mary Ann HARRIS
Married: Harold Ross COOMBS on 24 October 1935 in the Salt Lake City Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mother to five children: Don, Harold, Eileen, Gae and Boyce.
Died: 5 May 1995 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah
Buried: 9 May 1995 in the Honeyville Cemetery, Honeyville, Box Elder, Utah
This is my grandmother. We lived only a 15 minute drive from her, so I knew her well. I knew she loved me. During her last few years of life, she lived in my childhood home with my parents. I knew she was the youngest in a family of many children. She loved and stayed in contact with her sisters. I personally knew Grace, Verna and Hattie.
I remember her baking (blueberry pancakes in shapes for breakfast when we slept over; homemade bread; fudge; pecan rolls; fruit leather; etc.). I remember that she talked to my mother on the phone almost every day. I remember her large garden, cherry trees, and walnut tree that was fabulous to climb. I remember her standing on the porch and yelling, "here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty" calling the cat to eat scraps from the kitchen. My mom talks about Grandma feeding the "hobos" that came in on the train which ran right behind their house. I remember her having her big picture window painted with Christmas scenes for Christmas and then my mother doing the same at our home. I remember her hugs that were soft and warm and enveloped you in love. I remember watching Lawrence Welk, her entry way that was hardly ever used (everyone came in the through the side door), and the laundry room that always had mice (according to my mom). I remember cereal sorted into plastic containers, spoons full of protein powder and her dishwasher that hooked up to the sink.
Her Headstone:
http://tams-hickman.blogspot.com/2007/08/harold-ross-coombs-lois-jane-watt.html
Cause of Death: Lois Jane WATT - Pulmonary embolism due to chronic renal failure due to high blood pressure.
Her Obituary:
Link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/419395/DEATH--LOIS-WATT-COOMBS.html?pg=all
Lois Jane Watt Coombs passed away in
Brigham City Community Hospital on Friday, May 5, 1995, after a short
illness. She was 83 years old.
Lois was born on October
22, 1911, in Thatcher, Utah, to Richard Golightly Watt and Mary Ann
Harris Watt. She graduated from Bear River High School and married
Harold Ross Coombs on October 24, 1935, in the Salt Lake LDS
Temple.Though Lois was awarded blue ribbons and highest honors at county
and state fairs for her baking and candy making, she dedicated herself
to being a homemaker and found her biggest reward in her children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
All of her sons served LDS
missions and each one of her children was married in the temple and is a
college graduate. Lois also worked faithfully in the LDS Church,
including service as secretary under three different Relief Society
presidents, and was involved in various compassionate service projects
in the community. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Lois was preceded in death
by her husband Ross, who passed away on December 20, 1978, and by her
parents and 11 brothers and sisters.
She is survived by three
sons and two daughters, Don W. Coombs of Seattle, Wash.; Harold Ross
Coombs of South Jordan, Utah; Boyce W. Coombs of Vernal, Utah; Mrs. John
H. (Eileen) Sorensen of Omaha, Neb.; and Mrs. Bruce O. (Gae) Tams of
Perry, Utah; 24 grandchildren (one currently serving an LDS mission),
and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be
held on Tuesday, May 9, at 11 a.m. in the Honeyville Ward Chapel, 2620
West 6980 North. A viewing will be held at the Olsen-Myers Mortuary, 205
South 100 East, Brigham City, Monday from 7-9 p.m. and Tuesday from
9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Honeyville ward church building.
Interment, Honeyville Cemetery.
03 June 2012
Leonidas Marion HICKMAN
Leonidas Marion HICKMAN
Born 10 September 1891 in Wilford, Bingham, Idaho
Died 8 January 1956 Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States
Buried 12 January 1956 Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States Plot: J-11-31-6W
Son of Josiah Edwin Hickman and Martha Augusta Lawisch
Married Winifred Whitehead on 3 September 1914 in St. George, Washington, Utah, United States
Leonidas Marion HICKMAN
Death Certificate - Link
School Teacher
Died - Age 64 (myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic coronary turustrosis due to diabetes meletus)
Born 10 September 1891 in Wilford, Bingham, Idaho
Died 8 January 1956 Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States
Buried 12 January 1956 Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States Plot: J-11-31-6W
Son of Josiah Edwin Hickman and Martha Augusta Lawisch
Married Winifred Whitehead on 3 September 1914 in St. George, Washington, Utah, United States
Leonidas Marion HICKMAN
Death Certificate - Link
School Teacher
Died - Age 64 (myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic coronary turustrosis due to diabetes meletus)
Ellen GARNER
Ellen GARNER
Source: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/none/the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno/page-23-the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno.shtml
"Ellen Garner was born 15 January 1885, in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of Phillip and Mary Ann Garner. She lived all her young life in Ogden. Her first job was with the W. H. Wright and Sons Department Store where she had some very fine experiences.
After Ellen and Norman were married they lived in Ogden a little more than a year then in the spring and summer of 1910, they built a home in Riverdale just west of Norman's mother and spent many happy days there and the children enjoyed being close to their Grandma Bingham.
They spent most of their married life in Riverdale and Ogden where Norman followed several lines of occupation other than farming, such as: Telephone Company employee, teller at Ogden State Bank, buying, feeding and selling cattle, buying and selling horses for the Army during World War I, Treasurer of Weber County School Board for six years, some Real Estate business, worked for the Government at Utah General Depot in Ogden in the Auditing Department and as agent for the Beneficial Life Insurance Co., which business he followed so long as he was able to work.
He worked in all the auxiliary organizations of the church, serving diligently and faithfully as Sunday School teacher, Stake Religion Class Board Member, and Home Missionary in Riverdale, Weber Stake. He also served as counselor to Bishop Murray K. Jacobs in the Riverdale Ward, Ward Teacher, Counselor in the Presidency of the High Priest Group and two years as President of the High Priest Group. His last assignment was Chairman of the Genealogical Committee of the 23rd Ward in the Mount Ogden Stake.
His wife, Ellen, also served faithfully in the different auxiliaries of the church. She was a wonderful companion to her husband and a devoted mother to her children. Norman and Ellen were real sweet-hearts all their married lives and stood faithfully together side by side through all the joys and sorrows of their married life. They just lacked one day of having been married 56 years when Norman passed away of a heart ailment on 19 January 1965, after a month's illness.
At this writing (June 1966) Ellen still lives at their home at 1063 28th Street, Ogden, Utah."
Source: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/none/the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno/page-23-the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno.shtml
"Ellen Garner was born 15 January 1885, in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of Phillip and Mary Ann Garner. She lived all her young life in Ogden. Her first job was with the W. H. Wright and Sons Department Store where she had some very fine experiences.
After Ellen and Norman were married they lived in Ogden a little more than a year then in the spring and summer of 1910, they built a home in Riverdale just west of Norman's mother and spent many happy days there and the children enjoyed being close to their Grandma Bingham.
They spent most of their married life in Riverdale and Ogden where Norman followed several lines of occupation other than farming, such as: Telephone Company employee, teller at Ogden State Bank, buying, feeding and selling cattle, buying and selling horses for the Army during World War I, Treasurer of Weber County School Board for six years, some Real Estate business, worked for the Government at Utah General Depot in Ogden in the Auditing Department and as agent for the Beneficial Life Insurance Co., which business he followed so long as he was able to work.
He worked in all the auxiliary organizations of the church, serving diligently and faithfully as Sunday School teacher, Stake Religion Class Board Member, and Home Missionary in Riverdale, Weber Stake. He also served as counselor to Bishop Murray K. Jacobs in the Riverdale Ward, Ward Teacher, Counselor in the Presidency of the High Priest Group and two years as President of the High Priest Group. His last assignment was Chairman of the Genealogical Committee of the 23rd Ward in the Mount Ogden Stake.
His wife, Ellen, also served faithfully in the different auxiliaries of the church. She was a wonderful companion to her husband and a devoted mother to her children. Norman and Ellen were real sweet-hearts all their married lives and stood faithfully together side by side through all the joys and sorrows of their married life. They just lacked one day of having been married 56 years when Norman passed away of a heart ailment on 19 January 1965, after a month's illness.
At this writing (June 1966) Ellen still lives at their home at 1063 28th Street, Ogden, Utah."
Norman Fife BINGHAM
Norman Fife BINGHAM
(Trent's GGrandfather - Father of Verla Bingham Hickman)
Born on 18 September 1886 in Riverdale, Weber, Utah, United States
Died 19 January 1965 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States
Buried in Ogden City Cemetery, Weber County, Utah, USA; Plot: E-6-6-1E
Married Ellen GARNER 20 January of 1909
Son of Sanford BINGHAM and Agnes Ann FIFE
Father of 6 children (Ralph, Melvin, Walter, Ellis, Lorna and Verla)
From ebook The Descendants of Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/none/the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno/page-23-the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno.shtml
Speaking of Norman . . . "He lived all his youth in Riverdale, going to school, attending to his church duties and in general living a good wholesome life. He was a good-natured, happy fellow and loved by all who knew him. He served in the Deacon's Quorum Presidency and when he was ordained a Teacher he served as a Ward Teacher. At the age of 16, he was called to serve as a Sunday School teacher.
After finishing elementary school, he attended the Weber Stake Academy. David O. McKay was President of the institution at this time and Norman said "I am very grateful for his leadership through those wonderful school years. " A highlight in his life was that President McKay was his teacher of the New Testament and what an inspiration he was.
In October 1906, he left to fill a mission to the Eastern States returning in 1908.
On 20 January 1909, he married Ellen Gamer in the Salt Lake Temple and to this union were born six children, 4 sons and 2 daughters."
(continuing the entry on Ellen in the same book)
"After Ellen and Norman were married they lived in Ogden a little more than a year then in the spring and summer of 1910, they built a home in Riverdale just west of Norman's mother and spent many happy days there and the children enjoyed being close to their Grandma Bingham.
They spent most of their married life in Riverdale and Ogden where Norman followed several lines of occupation other than farming, such as: Telephone Company employee, teller at Ogden State Bank, buying, feeding and selling cattle, buying and selling horses for the Army during World War I, Treasurer of Weber County School Board for six years, some Real Estate business, worked for the Government at Utah General Depot in Ogden in the Auditing Department and as agent for the Beneficial Life Insurance Co., which business he followed so long as he was able to work.
He worked in all the auxiliary organizations of the church, serving diligently and faithfully as Sunday School teacher, Stake Religion Class Board Member, and Home Missionary in Riverdale, Weber Stake. He also served as counselor to Bishop Murray K. Jacobs in the Riverdale Ward, Ward Teacher, Counselor in the Presidency of the High Priest Group and two years as President of the High Priest Group. His last assignment was Chairman of the Genealogical Committee of the 23rd Ward in the Mount Ogden Stake.
His wife, Ellen, also served faithfully in the different auxiliaries of the church. She was a wonderful companion to her husband and a devoted mother to her children. Norman and Ellen were real sweethearts all their married lives and stood faithfully together side by side through all the joys and sorrows of their married life. They just lacked one day of having been married 56 years when Norman passed away of a heart ailment on 19 January 1965, after a month's illness."
Additional information from his sister, Maria Louisa Bingham Campbell can be found here:
http://www.wk77.net/wiki/images/6/69/Maria_Louisa_Bingham_Campbell.pdf
(Trent's GGrandfather - Father of Verla Bingham Hickman)
Born on 18 September 1886 in Riverdale, Weber, Utah, United States
Died 19 January 1965 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States
Buried in Ogden City Cemetery, Weber County, Utah, USA; Plot: E-6-6-1E
Married Ellen GARNER 20 January of 1909
Son of Sanford BINGHAM and Agnes Ann FIFE
Father of 6 children (Ralph, Melvin, Walter, Ellis, Lorna and Verla)
From ebook The Descendants of Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/none/the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno/page-23-the-descendants-of-erastus-bingham-and-lucinda-gates-eno.shtml
Speaking of Norman . . . "He lived all his youth in Riverdale, going to school, attending to his church duties and in general living a good wholesome life. He was a good-natured, happy fellow and loved by all who knew him. He served in the Deacon's Quorum Presidency and when he was ordained a Teacher he served as a Ward Teacher. At the age of 16, he was called to serve as a Sunday School teacher.
After finishing elementary school, he attended the Weber Stake Academy. David O. McKay was President of the institution at this time and Norman said "I am very grateful for his leadership through those wonderful school years. " A highlight in his life was that President McKay was his teacher of the New Testament and what an inspiration he was.
In October 1906, he left to fill a mission to the Eastern States returning in 1908.
On 20 January 1909, he married Ellen Gamer in the Salt Lake Temple and to this union were born six children, 4 sons and 2 daughters."
(continuing the entry on Ellen in the same book)
"After Ellen and Norman were married they lived in Ogden a little more than a year then in the spring and summer of 1910, they built a home in Riverdale just west of Norman's mother and spent many happy days there and the children enjoyed being close to their Grandma Bingham.
They spent most of their married life in Riverdale and Ogden where Norman followed several lines of occupation other than farming, such as: Telephone Company employee, teller at Ogden State Bank, buying, feeding and selling cattle, buying and selling horses for the Army during World War I, Treasurer of Weber County School Board for six years, some Real Estate business, worked for the Government at Utah General Depot in Ogden in the Auditing Department and as agent for the Beneficial Life Insurance Co., which business he followed so long as he was able to work.
He worked in all the auxiliary organizations of the church, serving diligently and faithfully as Sunday School teacher, Stake Religion Class Board Member, and Home Missionary in Riverdale, Weber Stake. He also served as counselor to Bishop Murray K. Jacobs in the Riverdale Ward, Ward Teacher, Counselor in the Presidency of the High Priest Group and two years as President of the High Priest Group. His last assignment was Chairman of the Genealogical Committee of the 23rd Ward in the Mount Ogden Stake.
His wife, Ellen, also served faithfully in the different auxiliaries of the church. She was a wonderful companion to her husband and a devoted mother to her children. Norman and Ellen were real sweethearts all their married lives and stood faithfully together side by side through all the joys and sorrows of their married life. They just lacked one day of having been married 56 years when Norman passed away of a heart ailment on 19 January 1965, after a month's illness."
Source: Find A Grave - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26392867
Additional information from his sister, Maria Louisa Bingham Campbell can be found here:
http://www.wk77.net/wiki/images/6/69/Maria_Louisa_Bingham_Campbell.pdf
01 June 2012
Stephen Robert WELLS
(Written by Anita Cramer Wells)
Stephen was raised and well-educated
in England, the second of seven children and twin to sister Isabella,
who died as a child. He had roots in the servant class, his father was a
stonemason, and his maternal ancestry connects back with Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon.
His mother used to say, “Study hard so you’ll grow up to be as smart as
Uncle Isaac!” Even further back, his genealogy line connects in with
the Merovingian dynasty in France and King Clovis. Stephen was always a
fine English gentleman.
Stephen embraced the gospel in
London, along with his mother and siblings. He is listed as a salesman
in the Paddington Branch emigration records. However, only he left, of
his family, to gather with the Saints. Stephen married fellow British
convert Mary Ann (Lowe) en route, and they settled first in Big Cottonwood and
then Spanish Fork in 1853, where their three children were born. During
this time he married Mary Ann’s cousin Annie (Thorn),
also a British convert, as a plural wife. Stephen served as a bishop in
Spanish Fork. Interestingly, Mary had no more children after Stephen
took a second wife, although that could be due to advanced maternal age.
Stephen was an excellent
blacksmith, and he could make nearly perfect wagon wheel rims. After he
fashioned the hub and wooden spokes, he would pound out the circular
metal rim and fit it over the wheel while it was still very hot, then
immerse the wheel in water. The sudden cooling of the hot metal caused
it to shrink around the wheel. The family was called in 1861 to settle
Dixie and raise cotton. Soon after arriving, Stephen donated thirty
dollars to build the Tabernacle, even though he did not yet have a roof
over his own head.
Stephen farmed in St. George,
and built a two-story adobe home at 1st South and 3rd West. After
Stephen came to Utah, he continued to write letters home to England, but
there may have been a rift in the family (Elder Robert E. Wells
speculated due to polygamy), because when the Wellses did temple work in
St. George for others, they neglected to do it for their English family
members. Instead, they were sealed into the family of Erastus Snow.
Stephen served as the first
counselor in the St. George 2nd Ward. He was a popular entertainer
(doing what?). His son Samuel became quite prominent, and his daughter
Ann Eliza became the plural wife of J.D.T. McAllister and accompanied
him as president of the Manti Temple. Stephen and Annie worked together
in the St. George Temple and were remembered as being always faithful
and efficient.
Stephen wrote a letter to his teenage son Saint George,
“When I think of the many duties of life that there is to do, I find
that the boy or girl who begins the soonest makes the best man or woman.
Therefore mix up with play and work some reading, spelling, writing,
and then some music which will make your company always agreeable go
where you may. You must labour with your hands and heads, sometimes with
one at the time and sometimes with both at the same time.” His letter
is interesting as it was “cross-written”: to conserve space, after he
wrote one page, he turned the paper ninety degrees and continued to
write across the other direction.
As the result of a buggy
accident while driving home from Cedar City, Stephen was injured and
died in the arms of his son Saint George. He is our earliest patrilineal
(direct male line) ancestor to join the Church and has a number of
namesake descendants.
Source - Anita Cramer Wells: http://www.familytreerings.org/2011/12/happy-189th-birthday-stephen-robert.html
This same source also makes the following comments about this line:
"Our same ancestor Sarah Newton Wells who is related to Isaac Newton is also related to Sir Francis Bacon, through her mother Sarah Bacon Newton. Both of these men died without heirs, leaving only distant relatives to remember them."
"Shout out today to Wells relative
Isaac Newton. He was actually born on Christmas day 1642, but with
calendrical changes the date became January 4, 1643. Sir Isaac
was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural
philosopher, alchemist, and theologian who is considered by many to be
one of the most influential scientists in history.
He died childless and I don't
know if he'd claim us as relatives, but Gawain’s great-grandfather
Stephen Robert Wells and his siblings were frequently told by their
mother, Sarah Newton Wells (Isaac Newton’s
great-something-grand-niece)—“Study hard so you can grow up to be as
smart as Uncle Isaac!”"
Personal note: I found this information as I worked on my husband's family line. Richard Golightly (who is my GGG Grandfather) married Jane Thorne as his 4th wife. Jane's illegitimate daughter, Annie Thorn was the 2nd wife of Trent's GGG Grandfather, Stephen Robert Wells. Trent's line comes through Mary Ann Lowe, the 1st wife of Stephen Robert Wells. But interesting anyway as I see our lines converge.
Personal note: I found this information as I worked on my husband's family line. Richard Golightly (who is my GGG Grandfather) married Jane Thorne as his 4th wife. Jane's illegitimate daughter, Annie Thorn was the 2nd wife of Trent's GGG Grandfather, Stephen Robert Wells. Trent's line comes through Mary Ann Lowe, the 1st wife of Stephen Robert Wells. But interesting anyway as I see our lines converge.
Adolphus Rennie WHITEHEAD
Clara C. Whitehead Kimball (sister), Adolphus Rennie Whitehead Sr., Elizabeth Jane Jarrold (mother).
On crossing the plains:
Elizabeth Jane Jarrold Whitehead, 45, brough her 4 children across the plains with the Milo Andrus Company in 1855. Son Adolphus was 13. For some reason husband, Francis stayed in England, but died in 1862 – this date must be a mistake because she is listed as a “widow with four children” on the Milo Andrus Company records.
Mary Ann LOWE
This photo is labeled as Stephen Robert Wells family. One source indicates that Annie Thorne is on the left and Mary Ann Lowe is on the right. Saint George is the child in front and Ann Eliza in back. Some sources have Mary Ann on the left.
Mary Ann LOWE [or Annie THORNE??]
(These pictures come from this site: http://www.familytreerings.org/2011/10/happy-182nd-birthday-annie-thorne-wells.html as well as from Peggy Proctor - bottom)
(These pictures come from this site: http://www.familytreerings.org/2011/10/happy-182nd-birthday-annie-thorne-wells.html as well as from Peggy Proctor - bottom)
Annie's family identifies both pictures as Annie, but I'm not sure. I think that the top photo could be Mary Ann. The eyes are different. What do you think?
Winston Hickman
Winifred Whitehead
Mary Ester Wells
Mary Ann Lowe
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