Eliza Roxcy Snow, Purified Like Gold

Eliza Roxcy Snow

Eliza R. Snow was “an icon of faith (and) one of the best known of all Mormon pioneer women.  We hear her name often as an example of strength and devotion.”

(Davidson and Derr, Eliza, the Life and Faith of Eliza R. Snow, c. 2013, p. vii) 

There are six themes I think about when I consider Eliza's faithful life: her hymns, her poems, her journals, her leadership, her love of Holy temples, and her travels.

Her Hymns

Ten of Eliza R. Snow’s hymns are in the current LDS Hymnal (1985).  I remember the time my own mother sat me down and we talked about verse three of “O My Father”.  I was probably about ten years old.  It was the first time I learned that we had a Mother in heaven.

17-Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake!

77-Great Is the Lord (in the first LDS hymnbook of 1835)

122-Though Deepening Trials

186-Again We Meet Around the Board

191-Behold the Great Redeemer Die

195-How Great the Wisdom and the Love

266-The Time is Far Spent

273-Truth Reflects upon Our Senses

292-O My Father

307-In Our Lovely Deseret

Her poems

Eliza was known as “Zion’s Poetess”.  She wrote over 500 poems, and many are funeral tributes to her close friends.  One poem expressed a few of Eliza’s feelings toward the practice of plural marriage.  It was given to Phebe Ogden Chase on the occasion of Isaac Chase taking a second and third wife  in Jan. 1846 while living in Nauvoo. Below is one stanza. 

Therefore, let your spirit rest

God will order all things well;

And ere long you will be blest

More than hymn speech can talk.

(Isaac Chase by William V. Sanders, 2000, p. 56)

Another poem was written for Phebe Ogden Chase shortly before Phebe’s death in 1872.  Phebe was confined to her bed in the spring of 1872 and her good friend Eliza R. Snow often visited her.   Just a few days before Phebe’s death, Eliza wrote this poem.

At the time of Mother Chase’s Last Illness

What is this that steals upon my frame?

  Is it death?

Which soon shall quench the vital frame

Is it death?

If this be death, I soon shall be,

From every pain and sorrow free.

I shall the King of glory see,

All is well.

I now am stepping on the shore,

All is well.

My sufferings here are nearly over,

All is well.

My hope is full, my title clear,

And best of all, my Savior’s here.

My soul is free from every fear,

All is well.

Cease, cease, my friends to weep for me.

All is well.

My sins are pardoned, I am free.

All is well.

The monster death has lost its sting,

My happy soul is on the wing.

The sweat of death is on my brow,

All is well.

There’s not a cloud that does arise,

To hide my Jesus from my eyes.

I soon shall mount the upper skies,

All is well.

Tune, tune your harps, ye Saints of glory,

All is well.

And I’ll rehearse the pleasing story,

All is well.

Bright angels are from Glory come,

They’re round my bed, they’re in my room.

They wait to bear my spirit home,

All is well.

Hark, hark my Lord my Master calls me,

All is well.

I soon shall see his face in glory,

All is well.

Farwell, farewell my friends adieu,

I can no longer stay with you.

My glittering crown appears in view,

All is well.

(Isaac Chase by William V. Sanders, 2000, p. 64)

Her Journals

Eliza kept a diary while crossing the plains in 1847 in the “Big Company” under the direction of the Jedediah M Grant  Company (third hundred).  The Isaac Chase Family had Joseph B. Noble as their Captain and Isaac was a Captain of Ten.  They departed June 19, 1847 and arrived in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake on October 2, 1847.

Eliza actually submitted her diary to assist “in making up the history of the Camp from W. Quarters.”  (Davidson, Derr, Ibid., p. 76) It is from Eliza’s writings that we have notes of the Isaac and Phebe Chase family as they made their journey from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake Valley.

Phebe Ogden Chase

171 individuals were in the Joseph B. Noble company when it began its journey from the outfitting post on the Elkhorn River about 27 miles west of Winter Quarters, Nebraska.  Among them were:

Chase, George Ogden	age 15	11 March 1832	5 May 1896
Chase, Harriet Louisa	age 13	28 April 1834	3 August 1907
Chase, Isaac	age 55	12 December 1791	26 May 1861
Chase, Phebe Ogden	age 52	7 December 1794	10 July 1872

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Desdemona Gleason, daughter of Phebe Ogden Chase, traveled with the Isaac Chase family from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake Valley in 1847. 

 Phoebe Chase and Isaac Chase are mentioned in these Eliza R. Snow journal excerpts.  Their overland travels were recorded by Eliza and are found here: https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&pioneerId=1400&sourceId=5211

 Snow, Eliza Roxey, Journals, 1846-1849, vol. 2

Tu. 15^th. The brethren call a meeting around a Liberty pole which was erected yesterday, for the purpose of organizing the camp—judg'd to be more than 300 wagons cross'd over at noon this day—This afternoon several of the sis. met in a little circle on the prairie in front of our wagons. Br. Pierce met with us—fath[er] Smith stay'd until sent for on business—we had a good time, altho' the prairie wind was somewhat annoying. Sis. Sess., Chase & E. present. Rec.[eived] a letter from S. M. Kimball.

Su. 20^th This mor. heard the painful news of a combat between Jacob Weatherbie & another br. & three Indians. Br. W. was shot by one of the Indians thro' the body, while endeavoring to prevent them robbing his wagon. Those 2 brethren had been sent back to Winter Quarters on business, & were at the time of the encounter about 7½ ms. on the other side the Horn. My health ill today, not able to attend the general meeting, but sis. [Phoebe Ogden] Chase, Sessions, &c, met with us at br. [Robert] Peirce's wagons, & we had a rejoicing time.

Wed 30. The day cool—Capt. P's ten take the lead of J[edediah]. G[rant].'s hnd [hundred]—soon after we start P.'s & the other com.'s come in sight—J. T. is moving on in front—we are on an extensive prairie with little shrubbery & the camp can be view'd at once, which presents a very imposing sight—had the pleasure of seeing a herd of antelopes running in every direction. Stop'd about one o'clock by the side of a stream & near its mouth. P. rides forward—thinks best to cross the Platte.

Sis. Chase, [Hannah Harvey] Peirce, Hendricks, &c, call into br. [Joseph Bates] Noble's with me—sis. [Mary Adeline Beman] N[oble] receives the gift of tongues—sis. Hunter call'd at the carriage—had a good time—she said had been better since sis. Sess. & I call'd on her. Trav. 8 ms.

Tu. 27^th Start 10 min. past 7. at 10 arrive opposite Ash hollow, where we halt for the purpose of getting timber to repair wagons in case of accident. Ate our bread up for supper & have no wood, expecting to find it last night, but thro' the kindness of Moth. [Phoebe Ogden] Chase, we are supplied with the addition of b. chips & we have a good breakfast This is the 3rd time I have done so much cooking as to bake the pan—cakes since we started—The Ind. that annoy'd us last night, pass us & strike their tents & travel with us till near night, when they fall in our rear & we encamp near them—a large com. on the other side the river. It commenced raining just as we stopped—no time to cook supper—I am quite sick this aft.—glad to crawl to bed. Trav. 12 ms.

Fr. 30^th Bro. Woodard came to Capt. N this mor.—told him he should leave the 50 unless he could either be paid for the work he had done or have his tools carried. We start ten min. past 7—the 2nd 50 in sight in our rear & 2 or more comp. in front. Move rapidly on with the same tranquility as yest., except Fath. [Isaac] Chase stopping a few min. to arrange his oxen. Capt. P. drove past him. The bluffs truly present views wildly magnificent. We arrive nearly opposite the peak, which we saw yest. mor., & encamp. The sun has been scorching thro' the day, tho' the nights are like Oct. I went to see sis. [Esther Shaffer] Ewing at noon, who has been very sick for some time. Br. [James] Hendricks' oxen which almost gave out yest. still travel on. Our people saw a man across the way—found him to be from California. Trav. 22 ms.

Fr 6th

Moth. Chase & I have a treat in the eve. Jacob Cloward baptiz'd, &c My health much better. A Spaniard supp'd with us. Taylor enc[amped] on the other side the Island.

Mo. 9^th Move on—leave the 2nd 50 doing their blacksmith work with coal that father Chase burnt for us, &c We are now among the much celebrated "black hills"—pass Hunter & find that P. P. has gone on—we stop by the river where we find a patch of grass, currants & buffalo berries—the country here is rugged enough—A scene fil'd with scrubby pine, hemlock, cottonwood, &c, very thinly scattered, with bluffs presenting the appearance of well fortified castles, the inhabitants of which exclude themselves from our view, altho' 2 grizzly bears have been seen. Last night had a fine shower.

Mo. 16^th A motion is made to start—when the cattle are brought up, 16 are not to be found—do not find them thro' the day. William is out on foot & alone for his ox which is gone with the rest—we feel very anxious for him on account of the large wolves & Indians. I go to Moth. Chase's—hear that Pioneers [Pres. Brigham Young's company] have arrived at the upper camps—that the City [Salt Lake City] is laid out &c sis. H. calls while we are having a rich treat from on high. Call on sis. Meeks. find her better—sup at home on a rabbit pot-pie.  

Fr. 27^th. Start in good season—the road is very smooth insomuch that Capt. P. wishes me to record the circumstance of fath. Chase riding up hill for the first time. We pass sev. saltpeter springs & the carcasses of 10 or 11 cattle. We encamp in an environ with majestic bluffs—a slue [slough]—creek & a cold spring. The country is very mountainous & rocky. Large piles of rock lying strew'd about the barren surface, & ornamented with a red moss—Trav. 20 ms.

Th. 9^th Last night all guard was neglected & about 20 horses & mules stolen. An arm'd com. was put on the track—late this eve. 2 horses are brought in by one of the com. The forepart of the day very cold—I spent it with moth. Chase. Had a spiritual treat wherein both rec'd great blessings. She said certain intelligence should come to me thro' the proper channel, &c We then enjoy'd a treat of tea & pancakes.

Wed. 22^nd The cattle cannot be found till too late & the majority move to stop till morning—the day spent trafficking—the 2nd 50 come up. Last night Br. Vance arrived—speaks of a frost there that injur'd the crops. I am quite sick in the forenoon—much better in the eve. Moth. Chase & I have a rich treat in the carriage—with a promise of new int. if diligent & submissive—Br. Love, lost an ox—Capt. P. buys a pair & a cow & calf.

Her Leadership

Eliza was sometimes called the “Presidentess” among the early LDS pioneer women.

Eliza was secretary and taking minutes of the first meeting of the Relief Society in Nauvoo on March 17, 1842.   (You can see the actual RS minute book at http://josephsmithpapers.org/person/eliza-roxcy-snow.)

Phebe Chase was not in the congregation that first day, but she was a charter member of the LDS Relief Society as were her daughters, Sylvia Vanfleet and Desdemona Gleason.  (Isaac Chase by William V. Sanders, 2000, p. 26)

In April 1868, Eliza R. Snow began re-establishing the Ward Relief Societies throughout the Utah Territory.  She served as the General Relief Society President from 1880 until her death in 1887.  Of course, being a plural wife of Joseph Smith and then of Brigham Young placed her in immediate circles of the general church leadership.

Salt Lake Endowment House

Her Love for Holy Temples

She loved the temple and presided over women’s ordinance work in the Salt Lake Endowment House beginning in May 1855.  She came to Logan, Utah in 1884 for the dedication of the Logan Temple. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the day the Logan Temple began receiving patrons, Eliza was there working. She was 80 years of age.

Historic Logan Temple

Her Travels

Eliza traveled all over the Utah Territory to build up the Ward Relief Societies, the Young Ladies Retrenchment Society (later known as Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association) and the Primary Association.  She went on a nine month tour of Europe and Palestine with her brother, Lorenzo Snow, and others when she was 68 years of age.   Having personally made the trip to Israel in 2014, I thought of Eliza often and especially when I visited the Mount of Olives.  (See  Davidson, Derr, Ibid,  pp. 128-129)

Eliza is the first given name of one of my granddaughters.  I hope my granddaughter Eliza will look to her namesake with the same respect and admiration I have come to feel for Eliza R. Snow.  Eliza was, like gold, purified.

 “Change is the key word to this dispensation. The righteous, like gold, must be seven times purified.”        --Letter from Eliza R. Snow to Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightener

Eliza Roxcy Snow

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For more information, see  http://josephsmithpapers.org/person/eliza-roxcy-snow 

Margaret Talbot Jones

Margaret Talbot Jones is buried in the Provo City Cemetery

Margaret Talbot Jones was the first wife of Elisha Jones.  Below is what we know about her from the find a grave website (http://www.findagrave.com), thanks to Bonnie Huish.

More information can be found on the post about her husband, Elisha Jones.  She seemed to have "fits" and died an unusual death in March of 1862.  Margaret's "sister wife", Sallie (Sarah Ann Cummings Jones), became mother for all three families!  "Aunt Sallie" cared for a family of 18 when their other sister wife Carolin (Annie Poulson?) died in December of 1879 leaving a baby seven days old.  

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Birth:	Mar. 15, 1815 Morgan County Ohio, USA
Death:	Mar. 4, 1862 Fairview Sanpete County Utah, USA
Not very much is known about Margaret except through Elisha's diary. There is no known photograph of her. Margaret was born March 15, 1815 in Wellsville, Ohio to Absalom and Elizabeth Meholin (Mullholland) Talbott. Her parents died when she was only thirteen months old. Her grandparents, Richard and Achsah Wells Talbott, raised her. She married Elisha Jones on September 3, 1831 in Smithfield, Ohio. They had 14 children together during their marriage: nine boys and five girls. They arrived in Winter Quarters in July 1847. It was here that Margaret took sick with a fever, which last three months. It was also about this time that Elisha broke a blood vessel in his breast, which prevented him from standing. They lost all of their property. In the spring of 1850, the family started for Salt Lake Valley. They arrived September 7, 1850. On November 21, 1858 Margaret had a fit and put her foot in the fireplace, which burned the toes and the entire top of her foot to a crisp. "On January 21, 1859 Margaret's foot bled until it was only through the blessing of the Lord that she is alive", stated Elisha's diary. On February 6, 1859 Doctor John Briggs treated Margaret and took two bones of her toes off. March 4, 1862 Margaret had another fit, falling on a feather bed and smothered herself to death. She was laid to rest on March 9, 1862 in the Provo City Cemetery.  (bio by: Bonnie Huish) Family links:  Parents:   Absalom Talbot (1779 - 1816)   Elizabeth Mehoin Talbot (1787 - 1816)  Spouse:   Elisha Jones (1813 - 1880)  Children:   Martha Jones Mecham (1832 - 1903)*   Thomas Jones (1834 - 1846)*   Richard Jones (1836 - 1895)*   John Jones (1837 - 1855)*   Mary Jones Duke (1840 - 1927)*   Sarah Jones Cummings (1842 - 1897)*   Elizabeth Jones Knight (1844 - 1866)*   William Jones (1846 - 1847)*   James Jones (1848 - 1948)*   Elisha Warren Jones (1849 - 1918)*   Jacob Absalom Jones (1851 - 1864)*   Margaret Ellen Jones (1853 - 1853)*   Joseph Jones (1854 - 1944)*   Hyrum Jones (1857 - 1923)* *Calculated relationship
Burial: Provo City Cemetery Plot: Block 1 Lot 115

Elisha Jones, Blacksmith, Shoemaker, and Dentist

Provo City Cemetery is the final resting place of two of our pioneer ancestors, Elisha Jones and his first wife, Margaret Talbot.  (See southwest corner of Main and Center-  Plot: Block 1 Lot 115.)

Elisha Jones died August 18, 1880. His favorite song was "Oh, Ye Mountains High."

He was the husband of three wives and the father of 28 children. He was also a blacksmith, shoemaker, and dentist who pulled teeth for everyone.

He first heard about the church from his brother in 1842 and later joined in March of 1847.    He moved to Winter Quarters in  July of 1847 with his wife and 4 children.  He moved in the spring of 1848 to Panesville (Kanesville) and worked as a blacksmith.

For two years he saved money and left in the spring of 1850 for Salt Lake City.  He arrived on September 7, 1850, settling first in Little Cottonwood Canyon and then moving to Provo.  He also lived in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

Elisha had three wives:  Margaret Talbot (md. 3 Sept 1831), Sarah Ann Cummings (Sallie md. 18 Dec. 1856) and Annie Poulson (md. 16 January 1857).

Margaret Talbot's father's mother was an Irish woman.  (That's our only Irish connection on the  Moulton side that I have found.)

Elisha was 51 years old when his first wife, Margaret, died.  Seven months later he left Provo, Utah and moved to Heber City, Utah.  While in Provo, he served as constable, sheriff, and high councilman.

He died on August 18, 1880, at the age of 67.

Below I have included some of his diary entries.

Elisha Jones

Birth:	Jun. 11, 1813 Adena Jefferson County Ohio, USA
Death:	Aug. 18, 1880 Heber City Wasatch County Utah, USA
Portions of Elisha Jones' Diary I was born in Ohio State, Jefferson County, town of Wain on the 11th day of June 1813. My parents had but four children: James, the oldest, myself, Jacob, and Elizabeth Ann. My father and mother were from the State of Maryland, Baltimore County. Moved to Ohio about two years before I was born. Followed farming and were industrious, hard working folks. I never knew my father to try to speculate or beat his fellowmen in his life. Never united with any of the religion of the day to my knowledge but believed the Baptist persuasion. My mother was raised a Quaker until my father married her when she was turned out for marrying out of the church. They raised us to hard work and taught us good morals. Never suffered us to keep bad company. My father's name was Thomas Jones, born November 3, 1787, at Baltimore, Maryland. His father's name was Jacob Jones, born November 3, 1731. His wife's name was Elizabeth Gale. They had twelve children. Jacob Jones' father was Richard Jones and his wife was Elizabeth Clark. My mother's name was Mary Naylor, born 1787, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her father's name was John Naylor; her mother, Mary Griffith. My grandfather Naylor was a Quaker. He died with a cancer when I was about twelve years old. His wife died soon after. Grandfather Jones died not long after. His wife lived until 1849-50. 1825: In the Spring my father moved to Wells Township where I met the girl I married, Margaret Talbott. We were married September 3, 1831. Her parents both died when she was about thirteen months old. She lived with her grandfather when I married her. Her father's name was Absalom. He was from the State of Maryland. Her father's mother was an Irish woman. They were as honorable folks as ever lived. In early life I felt concerned about religion but at forty I became greatly concerned and sought the Lord in prayer and joined the Reform Methodist and was baptized by _________. In about two weeks I was elected class leader and placed over the branch of about one hundred and thirty members in Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio. About 1842 there came a man into the neighborhood that told of a people called Mormons. His name was James Dunn. My brother James believed the work and left immediately for Illinois. I read their books and believed them, especially the voice of warning. My wife dissatisfied with my reading so I laid them by for a while. My brother James went to Illinois and joined the Church and was gone four years. At this time Joseph Smith and Hyram Smith were murdered on the 27th day of June 1844. The Church was driven from Illinois to Winter Quarters. My brother James came back to Ohio to my fathers and stayed all winter. Thomas departed this life April 10, 1846. As soon as my brother came I was anxious to know about the work of the Lord. So William departed this life March 9, 1847, after a sickness of 19 days. My brother James N. Jones baptized me and my wife in the nighttime, because of persecution, about the 3rd of March, 1847. I immediately began to get ready to start for Winter Quarters with my family that was left: Martha, Richard, John, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth. The mob spirit raged and enemies would have mobbed me if they had known I was going. We arrived in Winter Quarters on July 27, 1847. Heard Orson Hyde preach. My wife took sick with the fever and lay three months. About this time I was building a log house and broke a blood vessel in my breast. I lost so much blood I could not stand. I lay five months and lost all of my property. James born January 10, 1848. At this time I let Chancy Whitting have a mare for which I was to receive an ox. He returned the horse stifeled. She died and he refused to pay. Moved back across the river to Fanesville in the spring of 1848. James died July 30, 1848. I bought some tools and began blacksmithing. Elisha Warren born June 7, 1849. Martha married February 4, 1849. I was ordained an Elder by President Samuel Spaugue and others and received a license of an Elder. About this time of the first presiding of the Twelve and about five hundred others started for Salt Lake Valley. In the spring of 1850 I started for Salt Lake Valley and arrived September 7, 1850. Before I left Panesville, I was recommended by Jacob Hamblind. Was ordained into the Quorum of the Seventies and recommended to preach. Margaret Ellen was born April 30, 1853. She died of whopping cough May 29, 1853. About this time there was considerable difficulty with the Indians and we were counseled to Fort up. I helped to lay off the fort on Little Cotton. Sold out and moved to Provo and bought lots on which I build a house of four rooms. I served as constable, acted as deputy sheriff three years; was elected one of the City Council and one of the High Council. Joseph born May 18, 1854. Richard married Mary Cummings November 11, 1855. John married Elizabeth Young November 26, 1855 and died 27 November 1855. Sealed to me Sarah Ann Cummings by J. Morely December 13, 1856 and also Annie Polson by President Brigham Young January 16, 1857. Hyram was born May 19, 1857. His mother lay sick a good while but only the mercy of God revived her. Samuel Jones born to Sarah Ann 12 July 1858 at quarter past ten in the morning. In the summer of 1867 the United States Government sent their officers with a force of two thousand men to Utah to make the Mormons submit to the U.S. Government. We stopped them in the mountains all winter. They make arrangement with President Young to go to Deer Valley. They stayed until 1860 when most of them were ordered to Mexico. Those left are out fighting Indians. On August 8, 1858 my brother James and his family are in the Church and are living in Provo two blocks from me. My mother died in September 1855. My father lives in Ohio, also my brother Jacob. Elizabeth Ann married James C. W. Evans and lives in Iowa. August 29, 1858 Samuel blessed by Bishop J. O. Duke and myself. November 21, 1858 my wife Margaret had a fit and put her foot in the fireplace and burned the toes and all of the top to a crisp. January 21, 1859 Margaret's foot bled until it is only through the blessing of the Lord that she is alive. January 30, 1859 George A. Smith preached on the preface of the D. & C. February 6, Doctor John Briggs took two bones of the toes of my wife's foot off. It is eleven weeks today since it was burned. March 26, 1859 I went to the canyon. Went to get a drink when a great stone came down and caught me against a rock and burst my leg open nine and one half inches, breaking my leg in two places below the knee and split the bone five inches, crushed the knee bone. In three weeks I went on crutches into the garden and worked from then on. About the 9th of November I moved into Sanpete County to Mount Pleasant. Wife's foot no better. Commenced working at North Bend and built a cabin. January 4, 1860 at a meeting I was appointed to oversee the east side of the fort we are building. January 6, 1860 my brother James was Bishop of North Bend and I was appointed clerk for him. January 8, 1860 went to North Bend to work. January 12, 1860 commenced to quarry rock for the fort walls. January 14, 1860 went to Mount Pleasant. Family all well. January 29 rock all quarried and hauled for east side that I have charge of. March 8, 1860 moved from Mount Pleasant to North Bend. We now have from twenty to twenty-five houses and I am keeping record of this place. March 12, 1860 lay up James N. Jones place. March 15, 1860 commenced building the fort wall with only about thirty men. April 1, 1860 for fort wall is up, seven feet high with gates to close. June 1 took a tramp in the mountains looking for timber and surveying the road. June 2 this day at home making bellows so I can do some ironwork. July 1 I was appointed to take charge of making the road in Burch Creek Canyon. Commenced on the 3rd with 33 hands. October 13 finished the harvesting, cut thirty acres and got it in the stock. October 14 I shaved and dressed a dead man of Brother Wadds. Do not know his name. October 25 Lucy, child of James M. Jones, took fire causing her death on the 26th of October. November 12 went for a load of weed and cut my foot where the great toe joins the foot. November 22 the Superintendent of the common schools came to organize our district No. 5 and I was elected trusted No. 1. November 25 at meeting called on the people to build a schoolhouse the next week. January 8, 1861 Rachel Ann, daughter of Elisha and Sarah Ann Jones born. February 1 commenced smithing. February 10 Rachel Ann blessed by father, Isaac Morley, Bishop James N. Jones, John Cox, J. Y. Vance and Elisha Jones. April 12, 1861 gave into the poor fund one yoke of oxen to go back to Missouri for the Saints. April 28 today received by the Deseret News information that the North and South had been fighting according to Joseph Predictions. June 6 blessed Sarah's Isaac. July 12 thrown from a wagon, splitting the bones of my arm and injuring me so I won't be able to work for months. January 1, 1862 at meeting today word from the President for the Saints to pray three times a day for the government. February 18 meet in mass to send two delegates to Moroni to a convention to nominate nominees for the coming election, the first to be held under the Constitution of the State of Deseret. I was nominated as a delegate. March 3 the first election in the new state for governor. March 4, 1862 my wife took a fit this morning and fell on a feather bed and smothered to death. March 5 started to Provo to bury her. Sent word to Provo to Richard, Mary and Sarah but road washed out and snow deep and they could not come and meet me. March 6 got to Nole Guyman's and stayed all night. Went to Provo and stayed there until the 9th then buried her and started home. March 12 at home looking over things and giving the girls some presents. August 19 hired Adella Cox to teach summer school. August 24 gave people terms of the school and encouraged them to send their children. March 25 visited the school and gave instructions to the teachers and scholars. May 25 my son Joseph baptized, recorded 18 baptism and confirmations and 7 blessings. March 3 Richard started to Provo for his family. March 13 Richard came to my home. His wife being dissatisfied returned on February 23, 1863. Mary Malinda, daughter, born. Blessed April 19 by J. Morley Sr. May 15 received letter from my sister in Ohio. May 19 started to Provo Valley with my wife and five youngest children to visit. September 14 and 15 went to Provo. At 3 o'clock a message came to me that my boy Elisha had been hurt on his head by a falling, rupturing a blood vessel in his breast. September 29 Elisha W. Jones was ordained an Elder under the hands of James N. Jones and myself. October 12 Elisha remained helpless. Cannot move his left arm or leg yet. Face and eyes very much deformed. January 23, 1864 Elisha is yet helpless. March 1 I was appointed one of the building committee of the new meetinghouse. June 24 Elder Orson Hyde was here and accepted the resignation of my brother James as Bishop. I have tended duties to the meetinghouse and it is to the square. September 20, 1864 offered my resignation as trustee of the Meetinghouse and A. S. Cora took my place. Sold out my place at Fairview to James Knight and am going to Provo Valley by the help of the Lord. October 1864 moved to Heber City, Wasatch County. Was soon elected School Trustee. February 1, 1865 engaged in farming and blacksmithing. August 1865 appointed to take charge of the hands on the bridge across the river between this town and Salt Lake City. August 14 news of the death of brother James at Fairview, Sanpete County. I was elected Justice of the Peach of Heber on the second Monday in August. November went to Sanpete, took my son Elisha with me. November 25 Black Hawk had made a raid today on Circle Valley and killed two men and a boy. Drove off the principle part of their stock. November 27 started home with my sheep. Went to Fountain Green. Got Elam Cheney's the 28th and Provo the 29th. December 1 started up Provo Canyon but it rained and snowed all day. Got to Father Dicker's and left my sheep and went home. December 5 went back to Dicker's and got my sheep. December 20, 1865 born John C. Jones, this evening at 5 o'clock. March 1, 1866 blessed John C. Jones. July 1 heard complaint of B. A. Norris. His house was broken into and ten dollars stolen. November went to Sanpete and brought Caroline home with me and returned to Payson to meet my son Elisha with the stock. December 12 went to Salt Lake City to take some cattle and get a stove for the schoolhouse. Gone five days. December 15, 1866 took my wife Sarah Ann and Caroline through the Endowment House, where brother Woodruff sealed Sarah Ann to me for time and all Eternity and my first wife Margaret was sealed to me. Sarah Ann being proxy. Also Caroline was sealed to me for time and to my brother James for Eternity. She had five children: Mary, Isaac, Lovina, James H., and Lucy. January 25, 1868 Harriet Lenora Jones born and blessed March 1, by J. W. Witt. March 15, received letter from Elizabeth Knight. All eaten by grasshoppers. March 26, 1868 Nancy Jane born. Blessed April 26 by Thomas H. Giles. January 3, 1869 at meeting out to Echo Valley. March 25 went to Salt Lake City for the 20 per cent coming to my company for railroad work but it was not paid in. April 4 at meeting today teams called to haul lime for the Tithing Office. Stephen Bon's child blessed. June 5 received a letter from James C. W. Evans giving the death of my father, Thomas Jones. I believe he was over 83 years old. September 15 Harriet Lenora, daughter of Elisha and Caroline D. Jones died. March 7 I homesteaded on fourth, S 25, T. 3, N 4 E. May 1, 1870 at meeting Nymphas Murdock gave an account of his mission east. The grasshoppers have commenced on our wheat. May 27 went to Salt Lake to draw money my father left me. June 28 Eliza A., daughter of Elisha and Caroline D. Jones, born. Blessed August 7 by J. B. Murdock. September 9 Harmon C, son of Elisha and Sarah Ann, born. September 25 received money from my father's estate. August 16, 1871 Harmon Jones died this morning. Age 11 months and 7 days. I have been trying all fall and winter to get off to the city to be baptized for the dead. Have put down one hundred names. March 6, 1872 I married my son Elisha W. Jones to Jane Ann Pierce. December 30, 1872 born to Elisha and Caroline Jones, Simeon. January 8, 1873 born to Elisha and Sarah Ann, Susan. June 6, 1874 Heber A. Jones born and blessed July 4, by Elisha Jones and Thomas Rasband. August 4, 1875 was elected Justice of the Peace. August 28 visit of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and George Q. Cannon. February 20, 1876 Louisa born. Blessed March 11 by Elisha Jones. November 8, 1877 Edward A. Jones born. In November and December took cancer out of my arm. I put salve on it and it was 69 days coming out. September 16 Orson Hicken's boy killed.
September 19, 1878 was at tannery and bought some shoe leather. December 22, 1879 born Caroline D. Jones. December 19 Caroline D. Jones, the mother, died leaving my second wife, Sarah Ann (Sallie), with a family of eighteen to cook and wash for. (End of Diary Report) ------------------------------------------------------- Burial: Provo City Cemetery Provo Utah County Utah, USA Family links:  Parents:   Thomas Jones (1787 - 1869)   Mary Naylor Jones (1789 - 1855)  Spouses:   Caroline Delight Allen Jones (1838 - 1879)   Sarah Ann Cummings Jones (1839 - 1909)*   Margaret Talbott Jones (1815 - 1862)*  Children:   Martha Jones Mecham (1832 - 1903)*   Thomas Jones (1834 - 1846)*   Richard Jones (1836 - 1895)*   John Jones (1837 - 1855)*   Mary Jones Duke (1840 - 1927)*   Sarah Jones Cummings (1842 - 1897)*   Elizabeth Jones Knight (1844 - 1866)*   William Jones (1846 - 1847)*   James Jones (1848 - 1948)*   Elisha Warren Jones (1849 - 1918)*   Jacob Absalom Jones (1851 - 1864)*   Margaret Ellen Jones (1853 - 1853)*   Joseph Jones (1854 - 1944)*   Hyrum Jones (1857 - 1923)*   Samuel Jones (1858 - 1935)*   Rachel Ann Jones Lee (1861 - 1940)*   Mary Melinda Jones McDonald (1863 - 1936)*   John C. Jones (1865 - 1943)*   Nancy Jane Jones Mahoney (1868 - 1944)*   Harriett Lenora Jones (1868 - 1868)*   Harmon C. Jones (1870 - 1871)*   Eliza Allen Jones Moulton (1870 - 1959)*   Simeon Allen Jones (1872 - 1944)*   Susan Jones Mitchell (1873 - 1952)*   Heber Allen Jones (1875 - 1897)*   Louisa C Jones Morris (1876 - 1962)*   Edward Allen Jones (1877 - 1960)*   Caroline Allen Jones Lewis (1879 - 1926)*  Siblings:   James Naylor Jones (1810 - 1865)*   Elisha Jones (1813 - 1880)   Jacob Jones (1817 - 1890)*   Elizabeth Ann Jones Evans (1823 - 1882)* *Calculated relationship

Margaret Talbot Jones is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

Historic Moulton Barn in Grand Teton National Park

Did you know that the historic Moulton barn in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park is one of the most photographed barns in America?  

 It was built by Thomas Alma Moulton 

 (10 May 1883 – 9 November 1966)

who is a grandson of Thomas Moulton, (our common ancestor), through a great great-uncle, Charles Alma Moulton.

The weathered barn’s rich brown tones and the way the roofline “gently mimics the awesome jagged spires of the Teton Range rising sharply behind it” is what makes Thomas Alma Moulton’s barn so famous.  (See article by Ken Wysocky, Country Extra, May 1994).

You can read about the history and see some of the famous photos and paintings here:

http://www.themoultonbarn.com/blog-posts/

In 2013 the Thomas Alma Moulton Barn turned 100 years old

You can watch the video of the speech given by his grandson here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/moulton237

TA Moulton claimed a homestead in 1907 when he was 24 years old.  He built the barn between 1928 and added on to it in the 1930’s.  In the 1960’s the TA Moulton family sold all but one acre to the Park Service.

The Park Service doesn’t have the funds to maintain it, so the little preservation that has been done has been done by the Moulton family.

The website with all the information is found here:

http://www.themoultonbarn.com/wyoming-lifestyle-magazine-article/

In January, 2014  Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine wrote a great article about Mormon Row and The Moulton barns  (p. 30).

 

So next time you go to Wyoming and drive through the Grand Teton National Park, check out the old barn built by your relatives and see what’s left of the old “Mormon Row”.

Family Vacation Time!

Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula are among our favorite places to vacation.

Currently Mark and I are vacationing on at Port Townsend, Washington State.  It has been a great seven days celebrating 40 years of marriage to my wonderful husband.  Now it is time to return to “real life”.  I thought I would make an entry about all our "getaways" through the years.

Putting finishing touches on the Trimaran "PT Eagle".  

One happy memory is of our boys making homemade sailboats from driftwood to launch before leaving our condo at Kala Point.  Mark certainly outdid himself in making the biggest and best trimaran ever to sail from the shores of Kala Point!

The historic sites included the Heber J. Grant Library at BYU.

I was thinking about our family vacations when I was growing up.  I pulled up some pictures of our family trips and remembered how these were times when our family bonded.  Somehow we fit up to 11 of us into our station wagon and survived the trip. One time we took a trip all the way to Indiana to visit relatives there.  We also went to historic locations, including the BYU Heber J. Grant Library to see where Mom and Dad first met.

The car broke down on our way through Yellowstone (1963?).  No problem, we got to stay a day longer while the car was repaired!

Having the small, packed 13 foot trailer made it easy on a Friday night to just hop in and head to the Oregon Coast after Dad's last patient at Willamette View Chiropractic Center. Stopping at the Astoria Column to drop our shoes from the top of the platform (164 steps up!) was a great memory. 

Likely 1969 outside of Willamette View Chiropractic Center

1963-Uncle Albert's House in Indiana.

1963 trip to Indiana

Mt. Rushmore was one stop on the 1963 trip.

Visiting the Lincoln, Nebraska Cemetery where my Grandfather and other family members are buried. 1963.

I also remember the vacations we took as a family with our own children.  It is actually a pretty amazing thing that we actually took as many “vacations” as we did.  Every April when public schools scheduled “spring break” we would head out camping, rain or shine.  Many times it was for Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast.  One year the Portnoy's joined us and we roasted around the biggest driftwood fire ever built near the Peter Iredale shipwreck.   Sometimes we went north to Skagit County and enjoyed the tulip fields as we made our way north.  With eleven of us, it was always a challenge to get packed and out of town.  Daddy would usually drive up to join us midweek in a separate car. 

We were experiencing an April downpour in the 1980's and Mark decided it was time to buy a pop-up tent trailer.  Our $1200 Rockwood trailer slept 8-13 (depending on the age and size of children) served us well for about 15 years.  In fact, we eventually tore off the leaking canvas top and used the framework as a utility trailer for many years.

I'll never forget when we set up our tent-trailer at Sequim Bay State Park #80 overlooking the Bay from our plastic "picture window".  It was an amazing camping spot and the baseball field through the tunnel under the highway added to the adventure.  Trips to the big game animal farm in Sequim and Dungeness Spit kept us busy when it rained.  Bayview State Park and Deception Pass State Park also had campsites with gorgeous views on the Puget Sound.

Owen Family Reunions every other summer “forced” us to take vacation time off.  It did begin to feel like we always drove to Utah and that the Utahans didn’t seem to come to the Northwest much!  We drove a 1989 blue Chevy Suburban that didn’t have air conditioning.  We would take water bottles and “mist” ourselves to make the trip bearable.   Great family gatherings with cousins were memory makers for our children.  (See “Reunions” post from July 9, 2014.)

XXX  (Suburban-loaded with all the bicycles on the aluminum frame.)

One exceptional trip was in 1996 when we joined with two of my sister’s families and did a cross country historical journey seeing LDS Church history sites and US history sites.  We gutted a 1974 GMC motorhome and rebuilt it.  We planned to put a new engine in it in Colorado, and headed out to join the others in Nauvoo, Illinois.  Of course, we were delayed and had engine problems all along the way, but Mark was blessed with amazing patience and we babied the old motorhome along and created tons of memories for our family.  Surprisingly, the KOA campground swimming pool became the best motivator to get our camp set up so that all the cousins could splash around together before dinner was served.

XX (yellow bananamobile)

In 2002 we went back to Nauvoo for the Open House for the Nauvoo Temple.  It was a wonderful to spend more time in Nauvoo enjoying the sites were didn’t have time for in 1996 when we were there.
Mark and I had amazing “vacations” as we went to pick up our missionary sons and daughters at the conclusion of their LDS missions.  We were able to see where our children served, meet those who meant so much to them, and usually take with us another child.  These trips took us to Chile, Brazil, California, Taiwan, Ecuador, Germany, and Argentina.  I have notebooks full of memories from these wonderful vacations.

Looking out toward the Puget Sound from the deck at Kala Point.

Kala Point Village hasn't changed much in the past 20 years.

Throughout the years, Kala Point Village  near Port Townsend, WA has been one of our favorite places to stay.  The Weiss Company owned the condo and we would come across the Washington State Ferry on our assigned week to Unit #23 twice a year.  We learned all the great places to hang out and watched as the skate park was built and other changes came to the area.

Mark and I would frequently take a weekend to go to the Oregon Coast.  Having clam chowder at Mo's restaurant was always part of the trip to the Cannon Beach.  Flying kites and walking around town and just enjoying sitting at the waves edge and rehydrating. 

XXX
Mo's selfie

The most amazing vacation ever was our trip in Spring of 2015 to the Holy Land with Craig and Sandy Ostler and many Weiss and Owen family members.  We had a glorious experience that has impacted my daily scripture reading.  As someone else pointed out, now I can almost see in “Technicolor” the locations where ancient historical events took place where before I saw only “black and white”.

XXX
Pic. from Israel.


While a vacation is supposed to be a stress free time, it can become stressful, as pointed out in this article:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765676841/How-to-keep-your-dream-vacation-from-becoming-a-nightmare.html
James Fang, M.D., is a cardiologist with University of Utah Health Care. Fang’s best advice for vacations?
“Take more of them,” he said. “Vacations relieve stress. They’re good for relationships, and that is good for the heart.
They’re also great for everyone’s mental health. We could all use more vacations. You just have to be careful about overindulging, overeating and overdoing it physically.”

And so our lovely vacation to the Northwest ends.  I am thankful for our little Coleman tent trailer that sits beside our house reminding us to take another break and go camping up Logan Canyon!

XXX  Lil Bull