Simeon Adams Dunn and Adeline Rawson (Harriet Atwood Silver as well)

Simeon Adams Dunn was born on August 7, 1803 in Groveland, Livingston County, New York to Simeon Dunn and Sarah Sally Bath.  When Simeon was just eight, his mother died.  His father had left home to join the War of 1812 and was killed during that war.  His children were taken into the homes of friends and neighbors to be cared for.  Simeon lived with a family by the name of Skinner for a number of years.  Then he left New York and settled in Michigan.  It was there that he met a family by the name of Rawson in Rawsonville, Michigan. He married Adeline Rawson on July 3, 1828.  Simeon and Adeline lived in Belville, Van Buren, Wayne County, Michigan in a fine farm home.  They had animals, barns, and orchards full of fruit trees.  Simeon was a hard worker and a good farmer and they enjoyed a prosperous life.  Their daughter Adeline was born on June 19, 1830 followed by a son, Francis on December 5, 1831 and then another daughter, Mary on November 2, 1833.  Little Francis passed away in 1835 at age three.  On March 3, 1835 Maria was born but died in April.  Those were heart breaking years for the Dunn family, but soon after Maria died, Simeon heard about the "Mormons" and became interested.  Impressed by the Book of Mormon and its people, he named his son, born on February 19, 1837 Mosiah.  Mosiah was a twin and his brother was named Amariah, but he died a few hours after birth.  Mosiah lived until June 7, 1837 and then he died also.  Once again there was tremendous heartbreak.  On March 22, 1838 a daughter, Betsy, was born and thankfully, she was a healthy child who grew to maturity.

About this same time, James Dunn, the brother of Simeon, came to his brother's home, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the third Monday in April 1839 Simeon is baptized by Elder James Dunn in the town of Van Buren, Wayne County, Michigan.   He was baptized in the Huron River.  He states, "I was the first man that was ever baptized in that river by authority from heaven and he, James Dunn, the first elder that I ever saw."  His wife, Adeline was baptized a week later, the second person to be baptized in the Huron.

It became very important to Simeon to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith, so in June of 1840 he left on foot for Nauvoo, Illinois walking some 500 miles.  In his words, "On June 20, 1840, I arrived in Nauvoo and, for the firrst time in this life, mine eyes beheld and acknowledged the prophet of God.  On June 22, 1840, I visited the first patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, Senior.  He blessed me with a father's blessing and explained to me the history of Abraham from the scripture.  On July 10, 1840, I started and returned to my home in Michigan, bearing my testimony of the everlasting gospel, going and coming with much rejoicing.  On June 20, 1841, I set off with my family, consisting of my wife and three children, to gather with the Saints.  We arrived in Nauvoo on August 5, 1841."

The Prophet Joseph was there to meet them and shook all of their hands.  Simeon purchased land from the Prophet on which to build their home.  It was located near the Mansion House on Hyde and Parley Street and the children of the two families often played together.  On October 22, 1841 the children's mother, Adeline, died leaving three young girls to the care of their father.  He was always tender and loving to his children which endeared him to them forever.  On June 19, 1842 Simeon married Margaret Snyder. Once again there was a mother and a time of relative peace for the family.  On May 8, 1843, a daughter, Susannah was born to the couple.  A son, Simeon, was born on February 9, 1846 while the Saints were leaving Nauvoo under much turmoil.  He died on February 21 and his mother, Margaret never fully recovered from the birth and died on May 5, 1846.  

Simeon stayed in Nauvoo after the main body had departed.  On May 1, 1846 the Nauvoo Temple was formally dedicated in the presence of 500 Saints.  Soon afterward on May 18,  Simeon and his four girls left Nauvoo to follow the Saints westward.  They had two wagons, one yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows.  Mary drove one team and Simeon drove the other. During this time period, Simeon married a widow with children.  They pooled their belongings and became a family.  Sometime during this period, Jane Caldwell Waite's supposedly dead husband, Eli B. Kelsey, returned home from a mission and came looking for her and the marriage to Simeon was ended.  Their short marriage produced a son, Joseph Moroni Waite born on February 12, 1847 at Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Later in Joseph's life he found his father and was welcomed with open arms.

Simeon helped with the layout of Winter Quarters and as in Nauvoo, was a guard and policeman.  While in Winter Quarters he met Harriet Atwood Silver.  She had become converted when Mormon Elders came to Lowell, Massachusetts where she was living.  Her three friends booked passage on the "Brooklyn" with Samuel Brannen to San Francisco.  They later came to Utah.  Harriet left her home alone and traveled to Nauvoo where she shared in the persecutions of the Saints and left in February 1846 and eventually settled in Winter Quarters.  On January 3, 1847 Simeon and Harriet were married by Brigham Young.

On May 16, 1848 Simeon and Harriet left Winter Quarters with Simeon's girls. At Fort Bridger they camped a short distance from the main camp.  That night they saw some Indians coming and wondered what they could be coming for.  One young buck left the rest and solemnly handed Mary a lovely shawl and told her to go with him and be his wife.  Mary was a very pretty girl.  Simeon stepped right up and told the Indian that she would have to refuse.  The Indian proudly walked away without his shawl.  Mary would become my great, great, grandmother.  They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 15, 1848.  They worked hard for many months and soon had a comfortable home.

Harriet Atwood Silver Dunn with her and Simeon's children.  Mary sits to her left, Betsey rests on Mary's arm, and Susannah is on Harriet's right.  The three younger children were born to Harriet.  Mary and Betsy were born to Adeline and Susannah was born to Margaret.

Harriet gave birth to Sarah Sophia on July 8, 1849.  Simeon was called on a mission to the South Sea Islands on September 28, 1850.  President Brigham Young promised him that if he would go the Lord would bless him with health and that his family would not want or suffer during his absence.  He soon left for Tahiti.  After his departure, a second child, Simeon Adams was born to Harriet on January 13, 1851.  Later, Harriet, also took a little orphan boy to raise.  She now had seven children to care for and support during her husband's absence.

Mary herded cows where Fort Douglas is now located and down across the Jordan River.  She was very diligent at her job and her cows were always the first herd out and the last one in at night.  She did this for two years.  It was in 1851 that she met Martin Luther Ensign.  He thought that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and eventually they were married on January 8 1853 but that is a story for another post.  While Simeon was gone, Adeline, his oldest daughter and married to Alpheus P. Haws, died on January 11, 1852.  Her younger sister, Betsy then married Alpheus P. Haws in 1853.  Simon returned home in 1852 and found the rest of his family well and saw his first surviving son, Simeon Adams for the first time.

In May of 1853, Simeon was called to help settle Brigham City.  On September 12, 1853 Harriet gave birth to twin girls, Evaline Silver and Emmeline Silver.  Charles Oscar was born October 13, 1855.  In 1857 the family moved to a new home on 1st North and 2nd East in Brigham City.

This is a later picture of the Brigham City home of Simeon and Harriet Dunn.  One can see the additional rock addition on the side of the home behind the tree trunk.  It is thought that it might be Mary Dunn Ensign as the adult in the picture. The home was left to her and Martin Luther Ensign upon the death of Simeon Dunn.  They sold the house in 1893.

Soon one more room was added as well as a cook stove.  Harriet enjoyed cooking on a stove instead of in the fireplace, but then a caravan of Mormon immigrants came to Brigham City and Harriet brought a family into their home and gave them the new room as it was the largest but it also contained the stove.  Harriet went back to cooking in the fireplace until that family found another home.

On December 1, 1857, Harriet and Simeon journeyed into Salt Lake City to be sealed for time and al eternity in the Endowment House.  It was an exciting event for them, but the trip was long and tiring and Harriet was in the last month of pregnancy.  Soon after their return home, Harriet gave birth to another set of twins on December 31, 1857.  Harriet Silver died at birth and Henry Silver lived just three months.  The midwife and neighbors did all they could for Harriet but two days later, Simeon could see that Harriet was dying.  He woke his children and took them one at a time to their mother's bedside.  She kissed each one and asked her oldest, Sophia to help with the others and new baby Henry.

Simeon buried her in a crude homemade casket with their tiny daughter in her arms.  Twice before Simeon had been called upon to lay away a devoted wife and companion but his time his heart was broken with grief.  Sophia, at eight, was the oldest child left at home.  Mary had married Martin Luther Ensign, Susannah had married Allen Hunsaker, and Betsy was now married to Alpehus P. Haws.  The three sisters came nearly every day to help Sophia with the babies.

Three months later in April 10 1858, the call came for the Saints to leave their homes and journey southward in order to elude Johnston's Army.  Simeon loaded a few provisions and household effects into his covered wagon, assisted his motherless children on to the wagon box, and commenced his journey.  He also provided a wagon for Mary and her three little girls as Martin was away on a mission. As they proceeded on their way, baby Henry became ill.  They camped at Kay's Creek (now Kaysville) and there he died.  Sophia had held him all the way and her heart was broken.  Simeon made his family as comfortable as possible in a temporary camp and with a heavy heart made his way back to Harriet's and baby Harriet's lonely grave in the Brigham City Cemetery.  He dug a small grave near it and laid the remains of his baby son in it.  After resting near his oxen during the night he returned to join his family.  They continued on their way south until they reached Payson.  They camped and remained their until the government issued a manifesto offering amnesty to all the "Disloyal Mormons."  The Saints were counseled by church leaders to return to their homes.  The Dunn family found their house empty and all their possessions gone.

Simeon went on to marry other wives with two additional children born to him and Elizabeth Wickham, making 20 children in all.  In October 1871, he departed on a mission to the Eastern States.  He returned in July 1875 and from November 1877 until January of 1878 he did Temple Work in the St. George Temple.

He died on February 22, 1883 in Brigham City, Utah and was buried in the Brigham City Cemetery next to the grave site of his wife Harriet and their two babies.

Simeon had been a farmer, missionary, guard and policeman, construction worker on the Nauvoo Temple, pioneer, electioneer, Senior President of the 15th Quorum of the Seventies in Nauvoo, President of the Seventies Quorum in Brigham City, and a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was a faithful husband and a loving and tender father.

Mary Dunn Ensign's mother, Adeline Rawson Dunn, is buried in the Old Nauvoo Burying Ground. She died shortly after arriving in Nauvoo in 1841.

I took this picture of the Dunn home in Nauvoo in 2001.

Simeon's home in Nauvoo on the corner of Parley and Hyde Streets has been restored and stands today as a silent memorial and lasting tribute to a remarkable pioneer.

After researching and sharing this story I am so grateful for modern medicine which prevents so many deaths of new babies and their mothers.

Poems my mother told me

 

I was a lucky little girl because I had a mother who read to me.  Every night before bed, she would gather her little brood on the sofa and read aloud to us.  She did this even though she was tired for her day began often before dawn as she helped with the farm chores before her children were up.  There were eggs to clean and milk to place in cans before deliveries could be made.  I remember her dozing off in the middle of the page and we would gently nudge her awake so she could finish the story.  She didn't just read picture books.  We also were introduced to Black Beauty and Robinson Caruso and other big books.  A love of reading was a special gift she gave us.

She also had a repertoire of memorized poems which she would share as we worked together.  I've been thinking about that lately and so I found the two I remember most to share.

 Little Orphant Annie

by James Whitcomb Riley

Little Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,
An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,
An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ d ust the hearth, an’ sweep,
An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’earn her board-an’-keep;
An’ all us other children, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!
        
Onc’t they was a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,--
So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wasn’t there at all!
An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby-hole, an’ press,
An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was thist his pants an’ roundabout--
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!
        
An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,
An’ make fun of ever’one, an’ all her blood an’ kin;
An’ onc’t, when they was “company," an’ ole folks was there,
She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care!
An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,
An’snatched her through the ceilin’fore she knowed what she's about!
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!
        
An’ little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue,
An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo!
An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray,
An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
You better mind yer parents, an’ yer teachers fond an’ dear,
An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,
An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns’ll git you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!

I Love You, Mother

“I love you, Mother,” said little John,
Then forgetting his work, his cap went on
And off to the garden he went to the swing,
Forgetting the coal and wood to bring.
“I love you, Mother,” said little Nell,
“I love you better than tongue can tell.”
Then she teased and pouted full half the day
So her mother rejoiced when she went out to play.
“I love you, Mother,” said little Fan,
“Today I’ll help you all I can;
How glad I am that school doesn’t keep,”
And she rocked the baby ’til it fell asleep.
Then stepping softly she took the broom,
And swept the floor and dusted the room.
Happy and busy all day was she,
As helpful and busy as a child could be.
“I love you, Mother,” again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that mother guessed
Which one of them really loved her best?
                                        (Author Unknown)

Daniel L. Roberts and Winnifred (Gwen) Lloyd

This is a picture of a strong and determined woman.   We almost share a birthday.  Winnifred, who was called Gwen (Gywn in Wales), was born on November 13, 1822 to John Lloyd and Catherine Griffith who were tenant farmers on a big estate in Llanfrothen, County of Merioneth, North Wales.  She was their second daughter.

Daniel L. Roberts was born November 12, 1819 (another close birthday) to Robert Roberts and Elizabeth Edwards in Bryn-y-Sgybor (Hill with a barn) in Llanfrothen Parish.  He was the next to last of eight children.  Daniel and Gwen were married on January 28, 1843.  Daniel worked in a slate quarry near his home.  Every Saturday he would bring his wages home to Gwen except for a shilling or two for the pub.  Four children were born to this couple;  Catherine, Elizabeth, William, and John Lloyd.

In 1846 Daniel's older brother David asked a family friend who was single, Robert Evans, to journey to Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire where the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for Wales was located.  He wanted Robert to investigate and bring back more information.  Robert was taught by Captain Dan Jones and returned with a testimony that it was the restored gospel which he then taught to David.  David was baptized and soon so were several others of his family including Gwen and Daniel.  Gwen was determined to emigrate to Utah so they were the first to leave traveling with their four children to Liverpool where they embarked on a sailing ship, the "Joseph Badger" on Thursday, October 17, 1850.  The cheapest passage was on empty ships returning to New Orleans after delivering cotton to England.  There were 335 passengers of which 227 were converts to the church mostly of Welsh decent.  It was the fifty-first company with John Morris as President and 'Captain' David Rees Evans and Owel Williams as councilors.  Remember 'Captain Evans' because he has a big part later in this story.

After a remarkably short passage, the 'Joseph Badger' arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River on November 20, 1850.  Their uneventful voyage lasted just over a month.  The ship was towed up the Mississippi River and landed at New Orleans on November 22, 1850. After being in New Orleans for two to three days, they took passage on a Mississippi River boat, the El Pasa, for the journey up the river to St. Louis.  During this time there was an epidemic of Asiatic Cholera.  This became Gwen's worst nightmare as her son William, just three, sickened and died.  The same night her husband, Daniel, became ill and passed away before morning just hours after William.  Father and son were buried side by side on the banks of the Mississippi at a place called Worthings Landing in the state of Kentucky their names being carved on a tree trunk.

Gwen carried on to St. Louis not speaking or understanding English arriving on December 1, 1850.  It was here that she spent the winter during a very sad and trying time in a strange land surrounded by strangers.  Her two little girls, Catherine age 8 and Eliza or Elizabeth age 6, and her now only son, John Lloyd age eleven months old were all she had. Fortunately there was a man who had also been on the El Pasa who spoke Welsh as well as English who helped her.  Her parents sent a letter offering to pay their passage back to Wales which she refused.  Another man was quite smitten with her baby boy (my great, great grandfather) and offered to take him.  Once again she refused.

As Spring approached, she traveled on to Council Bluffs, Iowa hoping to continue on the trek westward. She arrived with her little family in May 1851.  She would remain here battling for the existence of herself and family until about July 1852.  She sold her husband's clothing and with these slender funds she purchased a cow and joined with another emigrant, Mr. Wheeler, traveling alone.  He was a tall gray headed man who was partially blind and Eliza would sit on his shoulders to help guide him.  Mr. Wheeler owned an ox and had a wagon so the two animals were harnessed to the wagon and the journey began. Gwen walked all the way.  John Lloyd, now three, frequently rode in the wagon but was often carried by his mother.  Eliza was quite frail so if not on Mr. Wheeler's shoulders would also sometimes ride in the wagon.

It was eleven hundred miles to Utah.  The caravan arrived in Salt Lake on September 29, 1852.  When they neared the entrance to the valley, they were met by an old Welsh acquaintance, Tom Jones, who gave Gwen some flour, melons and other supplies.  Tom Jones also asked Gwen to marry him.  When Gwen refused his proposal, Tom demanded pay for the provisions.  During that first winter, Gwen and her children lived in an earthen floor one room adobe house.  They made a bit of money working in the homes of the well to do.

Interesting side note:  Gwen's brother-in-laws David and John emigrated with their families in 1856 and came to Salt Lake in the Edward Bunker handcart company which traveled the same summer as the Willie and Martin companies.  They, however, left earlier and arrived in Salt Lake in early October although they did experience snow in the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota,  This was an arduous journey and neither brother lived long.  John died soon after arriving in Salt Lake and David died in 1858.

Gwen was very lonely in Salt Lake and was anxious to go to Brigham City where so many of her Welsh friends had located.  When Lorenzo Snow was called by President Brigham Young to take a group of Saints to colonize Box Elder County, Gwen volunteered to go.  She moved to the little settlement southeast of Brigham City called the Welch Fields which made entirely of Welsh people.  They enjoyed their own church services conducted in the Welch language.

This man would now enter Gwen and her children's lives.  David Rees Evans was born on August 13,1818 at Fishguard, Pembrokshire, South Wales.  His family were seafarers.  He was a sailor who made frequent voyages between Liverpool, England and Portland, Maine.  His brother was harbormaster in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  His father and four brothers had supposedly died in the same shipwreck.  The 'Captain' nickname apparently came when his captain became incapacitated and he took over guiding the ship.  He and his wife, Elizabeth Matthews, were married in 1843 and joined the church in 1849.  They had children who all died at a young age.  They sailed, with the Roberts family, on the 'Joseph Badger' in 1850. David and Elizabeth were two of the few Saints who ventured to Utah in 1851 traveling in a non-Mormon wagon train.  Elizabeth died in 1853 along with her new born son at Welch Fields.

Upon Gwen's arrival she renewed her acquaintance with Captain Evans and they were married on July 8, 1853 in Brigham City.  Gwen and her three small children moved into David's home and helped him with his farm.  Five sons were born to them and David was also particularly kind to Gwen's three children as well.  Gwen was once questioned about which husband she loved the most.  She answered that her first love was the greatest, but she loved David Rees Evans the most because he was so kind to her and her children.

Unfortunately, David quietly died in his sleep on January 3, 1861 at forty-two years of age.  Three months later his youngest son was born.  Three years later, the youngest two boys Frank, age 5, and Samuel, now three, died on the same day and were buried near their father in the Brigham City Cemetery. Gwen and her now six children continued to reside on David's farm until April of 1871.

 

 

Gwen Lloyd Roberts Evans

Pictured with her granddaughter , Emily Evans Foss 

Craner, whom she raised after Emily’s

mother died in childbirth. Emily is the daughter of 

David Lloyd Evans, Gwen’s son.

She knew that her boys were growing up and that they would need more land.  She sent her sons out looking for suitable locations and they ended up in Malad, Idaho where there was land which could be homesteaded four miles north of Malad village.She received enough money from the sale of her farm to buy seed and livestock for the farm as well as had some to use to further her sons' education.  Gwen also bought a large lot in Malad and her sons built her a log home where she remained for the remainder of her life.  This house was located on North Main Street.

All of her children led good and successful lives and took active parts in their community and church.  Gwen was considered a very fine looking woman and was tall and well built.  Her eyes were dark and her naturally curly hair was black with a touch of gray.  She was a very practical person and had her grave, grave marker, and burial clothes all paid for and available for use when she died on May 2, 1909 at age 87.  Her sons chartered a special train to take her and all who wished to go to Brigham City, where she was buried in the city cemetery by the side of her husband and two little boys.

Pictures of her children who lived to be adults.  My great, great grandfather is John Lloyd Roberts who came from Wales as a baby.

This is a picture of her father, John Lloyd, and her sister, Catherine.  Later in life she and her father corresponded and sent photographs to one another. 

Gwen has a special insignia on her marker showing that she was a pioneer.

The Evans family maker.

The final resting place of her youngest sons.

Farmer's Wife catching up

Set 7 of the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Revival blocks has been completed, but not before Set 8 was put up on Craftsy.  I'm going to forget that Set 8 is available for a couple of weeks.

If you have counted the blocks you will have noticed that there are 11 not 10 completed blocks.  The above three blocks have a story to tell about robbing Peter to pay Paul or something like it.  I cut out all the pieces for all the blocks before I sew.  I have a numbering system to keep myself organized.  Well, this time my method didn't work because I skipped a block in the directions and tried to make the pink and blue block from the pieces which were supposed to make the block which now has roses in the corners.  Of course I was frustrated and not understanding how my cutting could be off so much, but I was determined to made it work.

Finally, I decided something was wrong and went back and matched each completed block to the corresponding book block page.  Surprise, surprise I found that the pieces had been for a block which I had skipped.  Why does that skipped block now have roses?  Because I changed it up by using the pieces leftover from making the wrong block which included two pink squares (not enough pink to cut more squares), added the new blue, and fussy cut four roses on cream.  I like it.  The pink and blue block was supposed to be made from the red and checked fabric, so I sewed it up, too.  Now I'll have a back up if I come upon a block I really don't like or want to mess with.  So, now I have a stack of 71 blocks and I have always planned to make all 111. There is some synchronicity in those numbers.

Thomas Edwin Ricks and Ellen Maria Yallop

Thomas Edwin Ricks is my great-great grandfather.  He also lived a pretty exciting and impressive life.  My grandma, Georgianna Ricks, was one of his 231 grandchildren.  I'm sure that got your attention.  Yes, he was a polygamist like many of my Mormon ancestors which I can't be too upset about because Georgianna's father, Alfred Ricks, was the second son of his fifth wife and thus I am.

Thomas was the oldest child of Joel Ricks and Eleanor Martin and was born on July 21, 1828 in Trigg County (now Christian) Kentucky.  When two years of age, his family moved to Madison County, Illinois.  Traveling Mormon elders taught the family about the Mormon faith and Thomas was baptized a member on February 14, 1845.  His family sold their farm in Madison County and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in September 1845 where they purchased a home near the temple then under construction and a farm outside of town.  Thomas was ordained an Elder in October 1845 at the age of 17.  He worked on the Nauvoo Temple from the time he arrived until work was stopped and preparations commenced to move west.  He crossed the Mississippi River heading west on February 8, 1846 with the Charles C. Rich family and acted as their teamster as far as Council Bluffs where he reunited with his family until April 28, 1848.  At that time he continued westward in the Heber C. Kimball company.

When the company neared the Elkhorn River, Indians stole four of their oxen and Thomas along with three other young men were sent in pursuit.  They came upon the Indians about six miles from camp. The Indians immediately commenced firing and three balls entered the body of Thomas which he carried until his death.  Thinking he was dead, they left him lying on the ground and went for help.  On return, he was found to be alive and was carefully taken back to camp. He was bedridden for months. 

 

Years later speaking at a family reunion he told of a spiritual experience he had while laying in his own blood on the ground;

"While I lay there weltering in blood, I thought of the condition of my father and family and how badly they needed my assistance in crossing the plains and making a home in a new land and wondered if I was going to die.  While thus engaged in thought, I heard a voice say audibly and clearly, 'You will not die; you will go to the valley of the mountains and there you will do a great work in your day and generation."

Thomas indeed went on to do many good works.  He went on exploring expeditions, returned many times to help others across the plains, helped in the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart companies, served two missions, contracted to help build the railroad north through Idaho and Montana, served in church leadership positions and community leadership positions, settled the Snake River Valley in Idaho, and founded an educational academy eventually named Ricks College and now BYU Idaho.

 Picture cropped from Missionary Chart

Age 57

Missionary Chart of those serving in the British Isles October 1885

Thomas Edwin Ricks is in the top left hand corner

This was his second mission, his first being to 

Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois in 1869 

My grandmother, Georgianna, was born in Salem, Idaho in 1904 so never met her grandfather in this life as he passed away in 1901 in Rexburg, Idaho.

It was said of him;

"Bold, intrepid, daring, fertile in plans and resources, with magnificent physical proportions and forceful magnetism which compelled the willing cooperation of others, he stands one of the notable figures of the pioneer days, being ever at the front whenever danger presented itself in the shape of wily foemen, ready to face death to protect his people from hostile attacks or the perils of starvation, when battling with the forces of nature on the bleak plains of the western wilds." -Thomas E. Bassett

A more courageous man never lived, for fear to him was unknown.  While at times he appeared a little rough and stern in his manner, beneath that sternness there always beat a kindly and forgiving heart.  It is a cherished memory in his family that the morning he was stricken with his last fatal illness, his team of beautiful black horses stood ready at the gate to take him to Marysville to a conference, and he would not hear to having them taken back to the barn until afternoon when paralysis set in.  He lingered for a time and passed away on September 28, 1901.

Ricks Academy in 1910

Thomas Ricks Company 1866

Now a bit of information about my great, great grandmother, Ellen Maria Yallop.  She first met Thomas when he looked like the picture at the beginning of this post.  He had been sent back to Nebraska to bring a company of wagons to the Salt Lake Valley in 1866.  He had a picture taken of himself in Nebraska.  It is the earliest known photograph of Thomas and he is 37 years old.  At this point in his life, he has married four women who live with their children in the Cache Valley in northern Utah.

Ellen Maria Yallop had emigrated from England and is heading west in the Thomas Ricks Company.  She was the youngest of 14 children, six who reached adulthood, born to Ephraim Yallop and Mary Ann West on April 8, 1848 in Great Yarmouth, England.  Her mother died at 45 years of age and shortly after the birth of Ellen.  Six years after the death of her mother, her fathered married a widow who had three daughters who were displeased with their mother and the marriage and hated Ellen and her father.  Ellen's life became one of misery.  Twice a year a woman would be hired to come into the home for a general wash day.  One day Ellen overheard the hired woman sing a few lines of the hymn, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet."  She was a cheerful woman who loved to sing as she worked.  These lines in the song touched Ellen's heart:

"When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us and threaten our peace to destroy, there is hope smiling brightly before us, and we know that deliverance is nigh."

The words greatly impressed Ellen and she repeated them over and over.  She was about 17 years old at the time.  The woman approached Ellen about her religion but her "new" sisters highly objected and decided to hire someone else but being unable to find anyone sent for her again.  This time she directed Ellen to a place of meeting and Ellen was baptized some days later.  Her step mother considered this a disgrace and told her husband to choose between her and Ellen.  Ellen left and found employment in Hull where she worked for one year to earn the funds to pay for emigration. Just prior to her leaving England, her stepmother had a change of heart and invited her to return home where she liberally fitted Ellen out for her journey.  For this Ellen was thankful and she stressed that her father was always kind and good to her.

She left England at 19 years of age on the ship "John Bright" in the company of other Mormon girls and was at sea for six weeks.  She then went by train to Nebraska where she joined the Ricks Company.  She met Thomas Edwin Ricks on this journey and she would sometimes tease the dignified and rather stern Captain by taking off on his favorite riding horse causing him to follow.  They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 4, 1866 and were married on November 29, 1866.

She joined him in the Cache Valley where she had nine children, four boys and five girls.  She left Cache Valley with Thomas in October 1884 to help settle the Snake River Valley.  Her last child was born in Rexburg.  It was said of her:

"She had been given the advantages of education that those days afforded and was given training in industry and careful management of the home, characteristics which remained with her and which she taught to her family, as she was always known as the wonderful homemaker and manager."

In 1891 she was made president of the YLMIA of the Bannock Stake which comprised Bingham, Pocatello, Bannock, Fremont, Rigby, Yellowstone, and Teton Stakes, which were all organized out of the Bannock Stake.  For several years she presided over this organization in a very large territory.  Ways of travel were very difficult, sometimes they traveled in wagons and sometimes in buggies. She would leave her home for two to three weeks at a time for the benefit of the young women in this scattered land leaving a gentle peace loving influence.

After the death of her husband she moved to Salem, Idaho to live for three years with her son, Alfred.  Alfred then built a large home for his family in Sugar City where she lived for nearly 20 years.  During those years she worked on her family history and had temple work performed for nearly one thousand people.  She considered that her greatest source of joy.  She enjoyed good health until being confined to bed the last week of her life.  She passed away peacefully on a Saturday morning on July 19, 1924.  She was 76 years of age.

Artistic biographies

I have always been charmed by the work of Beatrix Potter.  Each little book, each adorable character, and the cadence of each story has been a delight.

 I found this biography published in 2007 in the Provo Library.  Beatrix Potter, A Life in Nature is written by Linda Lear.  It is a very comprehensive biography which takes the reader through Beatrix Potter's life year by year.

Beatrix was born on July 28, 1866 to wealth and parents who lived in London but who take a summer holiday each year to the country side.  It is on those holidays that Beatrix is happiest for she loves nature and animals.

Her father is artistic and a photographer who encourages Beatrix in her sketching and painting.  She has only one sibling, Bertram, who also has artistic sensibilities.

Her mother, Helen, is an opinionated and society driven woman who makes life difficult for those around her.  Beatrix is educated by governesses and spends most of her time in London on the third floor of her home on Bolton Place.  She longs to escape from the confines of her parents' plans and desires for her.

Her brother, at one point, secretly marries and goes for years without telling his parents.  In 1902, A Tale of Peter Rabbit is published by Warne Publishing.  During the process of working with Warne Publishing to deliver two books a year, Beatrix becomes acquainted with the Warne family and in particular the youngest of three brothers, Norman.

They become engaged but Beatrix's parents ask them to keep it a secret as Norman is not of the class they wished for in a son-in-law.  Beatrix rebels, accepts a ring, goes on holiday with her parents per their desire, and soon learns that Norman is ill.  He continues to decline and dies within a month on August 25, 1905 from leukemia much to Beatrix's despair.

 

 That same year, Beatrix had purchased her own home with book royalties in the Lake District of northern England.  She had first been introduced to the area while on summer holidays with her parents.  She finally felt like she had a bit of the independence she so desired.  William Heelis, a solicitor, had helped her with her purchase of Hill Top Farm as well as neighboring farms as they became available.  Five years later they were married and spent over thirty years as a couple.

Beatrix loved the Hill Top farm house.  It is where she would go to paint and to write in her own created and decorated space.  She and William lived in another home called Castle Cottage across the meadow from Hill Top.

Over the years, Beatrix and William worked to secure properties and to improve their farms raising Herdwick sheep and cattle.  These were working farms which upon their deaths would revert to The National Trust to be cared for in perpetuity.

In later life, she didn't write nor paint much citing her failing vision.  She was also very busy with the farming aspects of her life which she very much enjoyed.  Upon her father's death, her mother moved to the Lake District and made life harder for Beatrix who was the ever dutiful daughter even though her mother made things harder and was most selfish.  Her father had left millions of dollars to his wife and Beatrix tried to talk her into donating to the National Trust but she would not nor to any other causes.  She lived into her nineties which Beatrix thought to be somewhat unfair considering her demanding and selfish life style.
 

Beatrix was elected as President of the Sheep Association in her area, the first woman to be so honored.  Unfortunately she passed away shortly after in 1943 after having undergone several surgeries.  She was 77 years of age.  William was devastated and followed 18 months later in 1945.  Today one can view their properties now under the auspices of The National Trust.  Beatrix, shortly before her death, arranged Hill Top to be exactly like she wanted it to be for all who would follow.

Beatrix Potter's book period was most active between 1902 and 1922.  Her books are still widely sold as well as the figurines and toys designed from her illustrations.

 Here is a map of the Lake District which I would love to visit some day.

Linda Lear is a botanist and her book leans heavily on Beatrix as a naturalist.  She discovered, studied, and drew as well as painted fungi she found in the wild.  Her drawings of nature are highly prized today.  She also studied small animals and their anatomy as well as kept many as pets.  This knowledge helped in the illustrating of her books.

As I was reading the book, I remember that a movie had come out some years ago about Beatrix Potter.  I found that the library had a copy which I put on hold.  I also watched it this week and while events are somewhat rearranged, I still enjoyed it very much.

As I finished the book last night, I remembered A Fine Romance by Susan Branch about her travels through England including the Lake District.  I blogged about it here.

I reread those pages this morning.  Yes, I really would like to travel to the Lake District.  Susan Branch and her husband, Joe, visit many National Trust properties while on their trip through England.

Before picking up the Potter biography, I had just finished Six Wars at a Time which I had purchased in the gift shop at Mt. Rushmore.  As I began writing this blog about Beatrix Potter, I realized that here was another artist of the same time period.  Gutzon Borglum was born to Danish Mormon immigrants in Idaho in 1867.  His family left the Mormons and his father went to medical school in St. Louis.  It was a polygamous family and the father had married sisters.  Gutzon's mother, the second wife, left the family including her two sons.  This made Gutzon's childhood difficult and he struck out on his own while a teenager.  This was partly due to his over controlling father.

His full brother, Solon, was also a sculptor and an artist and some times they found themselves in competition for projects.

Gutzon wanted to do big things that would have a big impact.  His first larger than life project was Stone Mountain in Atlanta, Georgia.  Conflicts would cause him to leave that project behind but not before he had begun planning and working on Mt. Rushmore.  Work began in 1927 and ended in 1941.  Gutzon Borglum died in March of 1941 and his son, Lincoln, continued on until October 1941 having worked with his father previously.

Borglum liked to do many things in a big way.  Many of his sculpted memorials dot the world including this one of boy soldiers during the Civil War in North Carolina.  He also served on park boards in New York City, planned a road system in Texas, and lectured across the country sharing his strong political views.  While working on Rushmore, he bought a working cattle ranch south of the Black Hills in South Dakota on which he also labored.

It was interesting for me to compare two lives of almost the exact same time period but in very different environments although they both experienced the same world events such as World War I and part of World War II.  Both were artists, one who worked small and the other large, but they were both driven to leave a physical gift for their countrymen.

I hoped to buy copies of this book for my granddaughters to take home as a souvenir for their families but it was not available at any of the gift shops at Mt. Rushmore.  While a librarian I ordered a copy for the elementary school library where I worked.  It is a great book with outstanding illustrations and a very complete but easily read story of the creation of Mt. Rushmore.  I highly recommend it.