Character Traits of 12 More Ancestors

Character Traits of 12 more Ancestors

Because I am on a roll, here are 12 additional character trails of 12 more ancestors.  Details about these family members can be found in other blog entries as well.

Service-John Griffiths
For fifteen years John Griffiths walked all over Lancashire County, England spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was the President of the Rose Park Branch for 15 years.  Then the PEF (Perpetual Emigration) Funds became available and they moved with many in the branch to become part of the Martin Handcart Company.  He lost his two sons on the trek and died the day after arriving in Salt Lake Valley.  His two daughters survived him, both faithful to the end. 

Education-Max Leslie Weiss
Max grew up in a home where education was important.  He did well in high school and went to college first at Princeton, graduating in Math Science.  He obtained his Master's Degree at Cornell. He did further graduate work at Reed College in Portland, Oregon and then received his Doctorate at the University of Washington.  He worked at the University of California at Santa Barbara for many years as an outstanding math professor and as Provost. 

Activism-Ralph Eugene Owen
Alcoholism had destroyed the family of Walter Bruce Owen. Ralph had to protect his mother from his alcoholic father.  His mother eventually divorced her abusive husband in 1909 because of "the bottle."  As a direct result of observing his father's addiction, Ralph joined the Anti-Saloon League and went around the country trying to teach about the evils of alcoholism.  


Sacrifice-Reva Maxine Moulton Owen Webb
She instantly became a "nurse" when her 31 year old husband had polio. Maxine would travel by bus to the Veterans Hospital to feed her husband while he was in an iron lung.   She worked to help him through Chiropractic School in Portland.  She later became the office manager and insurance biller during the days at Willamette View Chiropractic Center.  She was the legal transcript composer and always supported her husband in his "freedom fight".  She was the unofficial general contractor of building a home in Leeds, Utah.  She returned to her role of nurse and ran the dialysis machine in Leeds.  She acted as an editor to help her second husband publish his writings.  She brought into the world nine children who honor her for her many sacrifices during her 93 years on earth.  

Hope-Marilyn Ballegooie Weiss
Marilyn was clinging to "hope" for many years.  She raised her family with good values.  She supported her husband as he grew his business.  After 40 years of marriage, her divorce caused her to look to her own spiritual growth.  She prepared to receive her endowments in the Portland Temple.  She served faithfully in the Relief Society.  She always hoped for greater happiness and contentment. 

Teaching-James A. Owen
Jim frequently found himself as "the teacher".  He taught in the Army Radio school during WWII.  He taught seminary for 3 1/2 years in Burley, Idaho.  He taught as a Stake missionary in two different stakes.   Frequently he was called to teach the Gospel Doctrine classes.  He loved to teach the nine children in his family and besides regular Family Home Evenings, he held special "Ask Gospel Questions" sessions with his children on Sunday afternoons.

Desire to Learn-Clarissa Dean Chase Weiss
Claire was married at 18 years of age.  She was always a great student and extremely well read in the classics.  She loved discussing philosophy and took great pride in her ancestry, especially being related to one of the Mayflower Pilgrims (John Alden) and the early LDS pioneers of 1847 (Isaac & Phebe Chase).  She encouraged her three children in their pursuits:  her daughter who became a school teacher, her first son who became an inventor and businessman, and her youngest son in his academic pursuits.  

Hard Work-Ida Ellen Fish Owen
Ida was left as a widow in 1938 after being married to her husband, Ralph, for 19 years.  She started a boarding house for students and later worked as a cook at the Weslyan University to support her family.  She moved from Nebraska to Oregon to be closer to her two children. 


Cheerfulness-David Simon Weiss
Dave was a great salesman because people liked being around him.  His native cheerfulness made people happy.   He enjoyed playing with his grandchildren.  He enjoyed sailing, flying, and restoring his 1941 Packard.  His playful personality endeared many to him and he was well respected in the RV Industry and among those he worked with the in the Boy Scouts of America.  
 
Spiritual-Annie Wahrhaftig Weiss
Hannah (Annie) was a devout Jew.  As an Orthodox Jew, she found it difficult to live on the frontier away from a synagogue.  When she came to America, she was uncomfortable until she lived in the City of the Great Salt Lake and could attend the newly built Montefiore synagogue during the High Holy Days. Her husband worked in Vernal and commuted by train to his home in Salt Lake City. 

Being a Helpmeet-Hannah Eastman Clegg
Hannah was the mother of two sons.  In faith she crossed the ocean with her husband, Henry Clegg and anticipated the joyful day when she would gather with the Saints in Utah.  Unfortunately, her journey ended near Mormon Grove in Kansas where she died of cholera.  Her young son was buried in her arms. 


Devotion to God-Phebe Owen Fish
Phebe was one of the founding members in the Liberty Church in Norman, Indiana.
She loved singing from the old Methodist hymnal and did until her death.  She was a gardener and kept a lovely garden. She was loved and respected by her neighbors and family.

12 Characteristics of 12 Impressive Ancestors

I thought I would share some of the outstanding characteristics of our ancestors.  Most of these individuals have more complete stories elsewhere on this blog. These are characteristics that have impressed me and are worthy of emulation by their descendants. 

Perseverance-Jensine Marie Jensen Moulton
Mary was one of three plural wives who moved to Old Mexico to try to keep the Joseph Moulton family together.  Things didn't work out when the law against polygamy caused her husband to live with his first wife and "Mary" did her best to provide for her family.  First as a seamstress, then a store owner.  She ran boarding houses in Utah and California and cared for many years for her invalid daughter. 

Overcoming Obstacles-Emma Amelia Croft Chase
Emma Amelia Croft would settle for nothing less than a temple marriage in the Logan Temple. Amelia wrote letters to her fiance's Centerville Bishop to help Frank get his temple recommend.  Twenty-five years into their marriage, her husband deserted their family of nine children.  She did the best she could to carry on as a single mom.  She passed away in 1933 in the home of her daughter, Clairissa Chase Weiss, before knowing whatever happened to her husband.  

Taking Risks-George Ogden Chase
George Ogden was unafraid to try.  He fearlessly headed west with his family in 1847 as a young boy of 15.  One risk he took was marrying Emily Hyde, the Apostle Orson Hyde's daughter.  Emily had a home in Farmington and was mother to six of George's children.  She felt George was away from home to much and eventually asked to be divorced and moved to California.  George was obedient to the Prophet Brigham Young when Brigham suggested he take the young school teacher, Josephine Streeper, as a plural wife.  Fifteen children were born to that union.  George helped build the mill at Liberty Park and another mill in Farmington.  He discovered natural gas in Ogden and built the first bicycle track and lakeside resort on the shores of the Great Salt Lake.  He was a farmer and respected in Chase Park, north of Centerville, UT.  He was unafraid to take risks.

Creativity-John Croft
John was a branch president in England.  He was a counselor in the Presidency on the boat as they crossed the ocean. He married into a respected family and brought his new wife with him to America in 1860.  He did carpentry work on the Lion House, the Bountiful Temple and many of the fine homes in Salt Lake.  He helped plan and build the canals in Enterprise/Peterson area.  He helped his son in law, Frank Leslie chase, build the farmhouse that still stands in Centerville, UT.  John Croft's Enterprise farmhouse and outbuildings were among the finest in Utah.  He was an inventor and was among the first to use a power pump to irrigate his fields.

Hospitality-Phoebe Chase & Chase Family
Christmas was quite a production at Chase Park in Centerville, UT.  The tradition of hosting all the extended family continued until Kate Chase's death in 1937.  Kate learned from her mother, Josephine and her grandmother, Phebe.  Phebe regularly hosted her son-in-law, Brigham Young, and his good friend, Heber C. Kimball, at their Liberty Park home.  The Salt Lake Chase home was known a favorite "out of town" spot and the site of numerous dances, parties, and sleigh rides.

Generosity-Simon S. Weiss
Simon S. Weiss was a Jewish man with a very generous streak.  When his wife's father disappeared, he was quick to take the family in and support them during difficult financial times.  His mother-in-law, Amelia Chase, was cared for in his home until her death. 

Devotion to Family-Hyrum Chase Moulton
Chase would lower the kitchen counters to make them easier for his eleven children to help their mother.  He was continually remodeling and enlarging his Heber City home.  His Ford Garage was "through the block" and water filled inner tubes brought fun to all the neighborhood kids in summer. He left his business in Heber and worked as a plumber in Wyoming and in Salt Lake to provide for his large family during the depression. His children all learned to thread pipes and dig ditches after school to help him in his work. 

Developing a Talent-Margaret Lillian Moulton
Lilly played the organ for church functions from the time she was eight years old.   For many years she accompanied soloists and played the hymns for funerals all over Wasatch County.  Lilly could have been a concert pianist or a tabernacle organist according to her professor at Brigham Young Academy.   Instead, she became a mother of eleven very musical children, helping them each develop their own musical talents.  

Work-Henry Clegg, Jr. 
Henry Clegg, Jr. was a beloved Conference President in England for many years before leaving to come to America.  With help from the Perpetual Emigration Fund, he planned to bring his wife, Hannah Eastman, and his two sons, to Zion.  In Kansas his wife became ill and died from cholera. A few days later his infant son passed away as well and was carried back to be buried in his mother's arms.  Henry came to Utah and married two more wives.  He worked hard to provide for his large family in Salt Lake, then Springville, and was an early settler in Heber Valley.  He was always teaching his 25 sons how to work to provide for their families.  He was a cobbler, kept cattle and sheep, worked a farm, made shingles, ran a grocery store and made time to become a beloved Bishop in Wasatch Stake, Heber City 2nd Ward.

Sisterhood-Ann Lewis and Margaret Griffiths-Plural Wives
Ann Lewis and Margaret Griffiths were sealed to their husband the same day by Brigham Young.  They learned how to work well together and even sang and performed with their husband all over Provo/Springville.  They sang in the choirs and worked with their husband to build up his new businesses.  They supported him while he was Bishop in Heber.  These sister wives respected each other and learned to work well together.

True Conversion-Isaac Chase  
This good Quaker recognized restored truth and joined the LDS Church in 1840.  As one member of the family wrote:  "He left his wealth in New York and Nauvoo.  He left his tools at Liberty Park but he always kept his testimony."  "Father Chase" once spoke in General Conference.  When asked to leave his mill at Liberty Park and move to Centerville, he did.  We don't have all the details of his business dealings with Brigham Young, but we know he died faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he loved.  Some family members felt Brigham had cheated Isaac in taking over the Liberty Park Mill property.  Isaac said, "Land o' mercy, don't look at the faults and shortcomings of the people for your guidance.  Look well to the principles of your Church!"


Testimony-Emma Amelia Mitchell Croft
Emma Amelia wrote a letter to her missionary son encouraging him to be patient with those who persecuted him.  This letter to her son was read by a member of a mob in Arkansas who was about to tar and feather Frank.  The ruffian's heart softened as he read of the missionary's mother counsel and Frank was allowed to leave unharmed.  Emma Amelia was known for her powerful prayers.

Buffalo Bill and John Croft

Buffalo Bill Cody

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was one of the most well-known figures of the Old West. He visited Salt Lake City and Temple Square on Dec. 7, 1892.  It turns out that Mark Weiss is related to Buffalo Bill.  They are 14th cousins through a common ancestor, Jan Arundel.  (See BYU's Relative Finder.)

According to MadeinWyoming.net, 35 years prior to his visit to Temple Square, "he joined Johnston’s Army as an unofficial member of the scouts assigned to guide the Army to Utah to put down a falsely-reported rebellion by the Mormon population of Salt Lake City."

Buffalo Bill was also a friend of John Croft (July 16, 1836-October 9, 1909). Cody quite likely furnished buffalo meat to the Croft Boarding Train in Kansas.  John was likely a major factor in action taken by Colonel Cody to relinquish his water rights in the Shoshone River to the Mormon settlers against the vigorous opposition of his partner.  Cody had just started the settlement of the Town of Cody, Wyoming (1900) and had started the construction of his "Irma Hotel", named for his daughter, and was anxious to have the Morons as neightbors.  The Irma Hotel is still operating in Cody.       

When John’s grandson, Alfred Russell Croft (b.1896) was 10 years old, John said to him, “Russell, Buffalo Bill’s circus is in Ogden and I want you to take this silver dollar and go to see his 'Wild West Show'.   If I were well enough I’d go to Ogden with you and call on him in his tent.  I’m sure he would give me the best reserved seats in the show.” 

Russell wrote:
"This impressed me immensely to know that my Granddad was such a close friend of the famous Colonel William F. Cody.  years later I was to learn that Colonel Cody probably furnished buffalo meat to John Croft's Rock Island Railroad boarding train in Kansas and Colorado in the 1880s. "
 John Croft and Amelia Mitchell Croft-Pioneers of 1860, p. 27 

Playbill for the Wild West Show.

Alfred Russell Croft wrote in 1973:  "This happened about September 1904 standing at the back gate of the Croft ranch house in Enterprise, Morgan County, Utah... This is the most vivid recollection I have of grandfather John Croft.”

Alfred Russell Croft was born on July 29, 1896 in Ogden, Utah and wrote a self-published autobiography entitled OUT OF OUR PAST A Brief History of Alfred Russell Croft Sr. and Irene Hutchings Croft. (c. 1973).  Mark Weiss has one copy of the book that previously belonged to Claire Chase Weiss.  (This book might be available online as the LDS Family History Library has been creating PDF files of similar personal history books.)

Dana Palmer has compiled a wonderful short biography of John Croft with many photos found at http://dvrbs.com/people/CamdenPeople-JohnCroft.htm.

Turns out that Mark Weiss is related to Buffalo Bill.  They are 14th cousins through a common ancestor, Jan Arundel.