OUR LEGACY OF LOVE: OUR HERITAGE - A LEGACY OF LOVE AND STRENGTH

OUR REMARKABLE HERITAGE

A LEGACY OF LOVE AND STRENGTH

"A good heredity from clean, upright ancestry is more to be desired than all the titles, honors, and wealth that the earth can bestow. Those who do not treasure up the memory of their ancestors do not deserve to be remembered by their posterity.''

.......Edmund Burke

All the posterity of Guy and Ann Giles have a remarkably rich and precious heritage, a noble birthright. Our ancestors inspire us to face a world that is overshadowed with challenges and contradictions. They inspire us to be seekers of truth and pioneers in our day, to bring hope to the hopeless, to lift up the heavy hearts and to strengthen the feeble knees.

Most of our ancestors believed the message of the Latter Day Saint missionaries when they came preaching this new American religion in their country. They sold everything they had so they could gather to the new Zion in America and worship the Lord Jesus Christ in a land that was supposed to be free from hate and intolerance.

They came with thousands of other converts, crossing oceans, plains, and mountains, all seeking a better life in a better place. On their incredible journey they suffered persecution, sickness and death, but they kept walking with faith in every footstep so their children and grandchildren could worship God in this new faith. Their challenge was to gather to Zion and our challenge is to live righteously and to prepare Zion for the millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a promised land "for unto the righteous this land shall be blessed forever." "There shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord...and if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which He hath given them, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity."

2 Nephi 1: 6

We come from good and believing blood, from strong ancestors who gave everything so we could have the blessings we have today. Read their histories and you will be amazed at the strong people you come from!

ANCESTORS WHO LIVED IN NAUVOO

JOHN WILKINS AND NANCY ADELINE KENNEDY WILKINS (SHE WAS SCOTTISH)

THEY WERE FRIENDS OF THE PROPHET, TWO DAYS AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER 5^TH CHILD AN ANGRY MOB STORMED THEIR HOUSE AND BURNED THEM OUT. SHE WAS CARRIED OUT WITH HER NEW BORN BABE ON A BED. THE PROPHET WAS SO SAD TO SEE THEIR SUFFERING HE GAVE T HEIR TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, SUSAN JANE, A BIG RED APPLE. HE LOVED CHILDREN! THEY RECEIVED THEIR ENDOWMENTS IN THE NAUVOO TEMPLE BEFORE THEY CROSSED THE PLAINS. WE COME OUT OF THIS DAUGHTER, SUSAN JANE.

HALMAGH JOHANNE VAN WAGONER AND MARY VAN HOUTEN VAN WAGONER (DUTCH )

THEY WERE CONVERTED IN NEW JERSEY. THEY WERE FRIENDS OF JOSEPH AND EMMA. THEY WERE ENDOWED IN THE NAUVOO TEMPLE BEFORE THEY CROSSED THE PLAINS. THEY BOTH DIED AT WINTER QUARTERS FROM CHOLERA, AT AGE 56. THEY WERE AMONG 600 SAINTS WHO DIED THERE. THEIR SONS MADE COFFINS OUT OF WAGONS AND BURIED THEM THERE AT WINTER QUARTERS. WE COME OUT OF THEIR SON, JOHN AND HIS WIFE CLARISSA, WHO WERE ALSO FRIENDS OF JOSEPH AND EMMA. THEY TRAVELED ON TO UTAH WITH THE REST OF THEIIR FAMILY AND SETTLED IN PROVO, THEN MIDWAY. WE HAVE THE ROCKING CHAIR THAT WAS CARRIED ACROSS THE PLAINS IN THEIR WAGON.

JESSE MOLEN AND LAURANY HUFFAKER MOLEN (FROM VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY)

AFTER THEY JOINED THE CHURCH IN 1843 THEY EXPERIENCED MUCH PERSECUTION SO THEY MOVED TO NAUVOO TO BE WITH THE SAINTS. THEY BOUGHT AN 80 ACRE FARM TEN MILES EAST OF NAUVOO. AFTER THE PROPHET WAS MURDERED THERE WERE MANY ACTS OF VIOLANCE COMMITITED ON THE SMALL HAMLETS OUTSIDE THE CITY. LAURANY BRAVELY STOOD UP TO THE MOB WHEN THEY TRIED TO SCATTER HER CATTLE. JESSE WAS ONE OF THE LAST SAINTS WHO DEFENDED NAUVOO FROM THE MOBS. THEY THREATENED TO HANG HIM SO HE HID IN A WAGON WHEN THEY WERE FORCED OUT OF NAUVOO. THEY SOLD THEIR FARM FOR ONE WAGON AND TWO YOKES OF OXEN. THEY TRIED TO CATCH UP WITH THE SAINTS AT WINTER QUARTERS, BUT SHE GAVE BIRTH IN THE WAGON TO TWINS, MARY AND MARTHA, JUST OUTSIDE OF WINTER QUARTERS. THIS MADE 13 CHIILDREN. WHEN THEY MOVED SOME OF THE CHILDREN TO ANOTHER WAGON SO THE NEW MOTHER COULD REST, 4 YEAR OLD NANCY JANE SLIPPED FROM THEIR ARMS AND WAS CRUSHED BENEATH THE WHEELS OF A WAGON. THEY REMOVED A FEED BOX AND BUILT A CASKET FOR LITTLE NANCY. AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING THEY DUG A GRAVE AND A BRIEF CEREMONY WAS CARRIED OUT AT KEG CREEK. HOW THEIR HEARTS ACHED AS THE WAGON ROLLED ON LEAVING THE LITTLE GRAVE OF THEIR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER. WE COME OUT OF THEIR DAUGHTER, HANNAH ELIZABETH.

ERASTUS LAMB AND ABAGAIL JACKSON LAMB (FROM NEW YORK)

THEY JOINED THE CHURCH IN NEW YORK AND MOVED TO NAUVOO IN 1842. THEY HELPED BUILD THE NAUVOO TEMPLE AND THEIR SON, SUEL, WAS A WATER BOY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. WHEN HE WAS GATHERING HAZEL NUTS HE WAS BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE AND ALMOST DIED. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE NAUVOO TEMPLE WHERE HE WAS BAPTIZED. THEY BELIEVED THIS SAVED HIS LIFE. THEY KNEW THE PROPHET AND HEARD HIM PREACH MANY TIMES. THEY WERE AT THE MEETING WHEN THE MANTEL OF JOSEPH FELL ON BROTHER BRIGHAM AND HIS VOICE SOUNDED LIKE JOSEPH’S. AFTER THEY WERE FORCED OUT OF NAUVOO THEY WENT TO GARDEN GROVE. THEY STARTED FOR UTAH IN 1852 WITH THEIR FOUR CHILDREN. ERASTUS DIED ALONG THE WAY AND WAS BURIED ON THE PLAINS. ABAGAIL CONTINUED ON TO UTAH AND SETTLED IN LEHI. SHE WAS BURIED IN LEHI. WE COME OUT OF THEIR SON, SUEL.

BRIEF HISTORIES OF OUR

GREAT GRANDMOTHERS

NANCY BITHIA SHELTON GILES

Nancy Bithia was born in 1860. When she was eight years old she walked two miles barefoot to be baptized and then walked back home in her baptismal dress. She was ten years old before she had her first pair of shoes. She had red hair like her mother. She grew up to be an admired woman, pretty and positive and very strong willed. She married Lorenzo Giles when she was 17 years old and they settled in Heber. She was the mother of 7 children. After 18 years of marriage she became a widow when her husband was killed when a tree fell on him when he was chopping logs for winter fuel. She supported her children as a seamstress and a midwife in Heber City.

CLARISSA VAN WAGONER PROVOST

Clarissa was born in 1858. She married David Provost when she was 18 and settled in Midway, Utah. She raised a large family of her 9 children plus 3 orphaned granddaughters. She endured much sickness and the sudden deaths of 6 of her children. Clarissa was a spotless housekeeper and a good cook. She was always cleaning something. She was pleasant to be with and always had faith in the Lord that everything would work out alright.

MARY ELLEN HOLT FARMER

Mary Ellen was born in 1867. Her parents helped colonize South Jordan, and she was baptized there in the Beckstead ditch. She married Erastus Farmer when she was 19 years old and they moved to Clifton, Idaho. She was the mother of 9 children. Her first child died at 15 months of age. She was a very hard worker, a real helpmate and faithful wife, but no silent partner in her marriage. She raised many beautiful flowers, and vegetables and fruits and sold them. She also raised chickens and sold eggs and she wove rugs which she sold. She was always doing something to help make ends meet. She was a loving mother and took much delight in her children and grandchildren. She was always feeding or helping someone besides her family. In her later years she suffered from shaking palsy. My mother adored this sweet grandma!

JULIA ANN LAMB ROPER

Julia Ann was born in 1857 in Lehi. She attended school in a log school house only three months of the year. She married Joseph Roper when she was 19 years old. They settled in Preston, Idaho near her 6 sisters who all worked together raising their families. They quilted and sewed together and bottled fruit and vegetables. She was the mother of 10 children, 3 of her sons died in childhood. She also raised a motherless child to womanhood. She served for 19 years as Relief Society President traveling around Preston with her horse and buggy. She had a stroke and was in a wheel chair for many years. She lost 4 of her sisters and a daughter in a few short years.

ELIZABETH SUSANNA MOORE GILES

Elizabeth was born in 1812 in England. She helped her father support the family working in factories. She married Thomas Giles when she was 33 years old and he adopted her 8 year old daughter. They had 5 sons, but 2 passed away in infancy. She joined the church when she was 37 years old along with her husband. They immigrated to America and crossed the plains in 1856. They moved to Fort Heber with other family members. She was a courageous pioneer woman and a loving mother.

SUSAN JANE WILKINS SHELTON

Susan Jane was born in 1840 and moved with her parents to Nauvoo when she was two years old. They were victims of mobbing and persecution and were burned out of their home. The Prophet Joseph Smith brought her a big red apple when he heard of their suffering. Her parents were endowed in the Nauvoo Temple. They crossed the plains when Susan was 11 years old and she carried her baby brother much of the way. Susan had red hair which the Indians admired very much but she was not afraid. She married Charles Shelton when she was 16 years old and they settled in the Heber Valley. The town was named Charleston after her husband. She was the mother of 5 children. She lost 2 sons in childhood. She was left a widow at the age of 46. One of her outstanding features was working with the sick. She was devoted to her parents and took care of them.

JULIA ANN WHEELER PROVOST

Julia Ann was born in New Jersey in 1815 of French descent. She married Luke Provost when she was 17 years old. They had 10 children, 5 who died in childhood in New Jersey. They joined the church in 1840 and crossed the plains in 1856 following the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. The winter was very severe and they plowed through three feet of snow. They were rescued by the relief teams sent by Brigham Young and finally arrived in the valley on December 18. They settled in Provo, Utah. They returned to New Jersey in 1862 and her husband died on the plains on their return trip, leaving her a widow at 47 years old. She moved with her children to Fort Midway and lived in a log cabin built by her sons, who eventually built her a home in Midway. She kept up her courage and faith in the gospel until the end of her life. She was loved and respected by all who knew her.

CLARISSA TAPPEN VAN WAGONER

Clarissa was born in New Jersey in 1824 of Dutch descent. She married John Van Wagoner when she was 17 years old. He had two young children and she gave birth to 10 more. They joined the church in 1842 and moved to Nauvoo, where they were friends of the Prophet Joseph and his wife Emma. They crossed the plains to Winter Quarters in 1846 where they buried John’s parents and their one year old daughter. They finished their journey in 1852 and moved into Fort Midway when the Indians became hostile. Clarissa had many mouths to feed, cooking meals on a griddle bake oven and hanging kettles over the fireplace. She sewed and worked by candle light. She never complained but was happy and jovial. John took three more wives who had seven children. Clarissa had a strong testimony and she taught her children and grandchildren the gospel. She was kind and charitable, a loving mother and neighbor, and she enjoyed life. She lived to be 90 years old with hardly a wrinkle on her face. Acie loved this Grandma very much!

ELIZABETH ELEANOR WRIGHT FARMER

Elizabeth was born in 1841 in England. Her parents were among the early converts in England and she was baptized when she was 11 years old. She came to America when she was 17 years old and married a widower, John Edward Farmer, who had a young daughter. She was the mother of 7 more children, but 2 died in early childhood. She gave birth to a son in a covered wagon as they crossed the plains in 1861. They settled in Fort Harriman. She was a courageous pioneer woman who went through many trials, attacks by Indians and fighting grasshoppers and crickets.

EMMA BILLINGS HOLT

Emma was born in 1849 in England. Her parents died when she was 2 years old. She was raised by her grandmother who joined the church in 1862. She was 14 years old when she crossed the plains with her 64 year old grandmother. When they arrived in the valley she became the second wife of Edward Holt, of South Jordan. She bore him 14 children. She was left a widow at age 50, with two young sons. She was a hard worker and an excellent cook and seamstress, expert dressmaker and did lovely handwork.

HANNAH ELIZABETH MOLEN ROPER

Hannah was born in 1840 in Illinois. She crossed the plains with her parents and 12 brothers and sisters when she was 7 years old. They settled in Lehi. She married Joseph Roper when she was 17 years old. Of her 13 children, 9 lived to adulthood. They moved to Hyde Park and later to Gunnison, Utah.

ELIZABETH ZIMMERMAN LAMB

Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania in 1831 of German descent. Her parents joined the church in West Virginian and she was baptized in 1847. They cut a hole in the ice to baptize her. They went to Nauvoo to prepare to cross the plains. She was 19 years old when she crossed the plains with her family. It was a great adventure for her! They settled in Lehi. She married Suel Lamb when she was 23 years old. In 1865 they moved to Hyde Park where he took 2 more wives. They all lived in the same house and worked together. They had cows and made butter and cheese. She was a courageous pioneer woman spinning, weaving and knitting for her family. She was the mother of 10 children. Three of her adult daughters died in tragic circumstances leaving 21 motherless children. She had 75 grandchildren.

SARAH HUSKINSON GILES

Sarah was born in 1800 in England. She married William Giles when she was 20 years old. She was the mother of 10 children. They joined the church in the late 1840’s and came to America in 1854. They crossed the plains in 1856 and moved to Provo. She died only three years later at the age of 57, a long way from her home in England. William settled in the Heber valley with his children.

NANCY ADELINE KENNEDY WILKINS

Nancy was born in New York in 1811 of Scottish descent. She married John Wilkins and they had 7 children, two died in childhood. They joined the church in 1837 and moved west with the Saints. They moved to Nauvoo and built their home. They were well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith. They received their endowments in the Nauvoo temple. In 1846, just after the birth of their 5^th child, a mob came in their home where she lay in bed with her two day old babe, drove them out and set fire to their home. They were driven out of Nauvoo and went to Iowa with the saints. They crossed the plains in 1850 with their young children and settled in Provo.

MARY VAN HOUTEN VAN WAGONER

Mary was born in New Jersey in 1788 of Dutch descent. She married Halmagh Van Wagoner when she was 22 years old. They were baptized in 1842 along with their 5 children then moved to Nauvoo.. They took out their endowments in the Nauvoo temple in 1846 before they were driven out of Nauvoo. In 1846 they moved to Winter Quarters with the Saints. At Winter Quarters they both died of cholera. They were only 58 years old. Their children buried them and went on to Utah and settled in the Heber valley.

ELIZABETH MORRIS FARMER

Elizabeth was born in 1788 in England. She married Richard Farmer when she was 23 years old. She was the mother of 9 children. 4 of her children died in England and her husband died after being dragged by a team of horses. He was 35 years old. In 1842 Elizabeth and her children were baptized and eager to gather to Zion. In 1856 they left Liverpool for America. She was very sick and feared that she would die and be buried at sea. Her life was spared until she arrived in America but she never made it to Utah. She was buried on the plains along with her grandchild, a baby boy. She was 70 years old.

ELIZABETH BAILEY WRIGHT

Elizabeth was born in 1799 in England. She married John Wright when she was 23 years old. She was a midwife in England. She was the mother of 12 children but only 5 lived beyond infancy. She was baptized in 1848 and they left England in 1861 on a ship sailing to America. She was 61 years old when she crossed the plains with her family. They settled in Harriman where she was a midwife. She was left a widow 6 years later after her husband was gored by a bull and died.

MARY ANN TOMS HOLT

Mary Ann was born in 1799 in England. She married Robert Holt when she was 26 years old. She was the mother of 7 children, one died in infancy. They joined the church in 1849. In 1863 they went to London and set sail with the Saints and crossed the Atlantic in 7 weeks. They took a train to Missouri, then a Missouri River steamer to Nebraska, where they purchased a wagon and oxen to cross the plains. In 1863 after a 6000 mile trip from their homeland they arrived in the Salt Lake valley where two of their sons welcomed them. Mary Ann was 64 years old. She lived only a few months and died the next Spring. Her family settled in South Jordan.

EMILY CHESSON BILLINGS

Emily was born in 1826 in England. She married William Billings when she was 19 years old. She was the mother of 4 children, 3 who died in childhood. She died at age 26 along with her husband. Their daughter Emma was the only member of the family to survive and was raised by her grandmother.

SUSANNA BEHUNIN SMITH ROPER

Susanna was born in 1804 in England. She married John Roper when she was 27 years old. She was the mother of 5 children, 2 died in infancy. Her husband left her with 3 small children to support and raise. She was self employed which was unusual for her time. She joined the church in 1845 and left for America with her 3 children in January of 1848. Because she was a Mormon with no husband to protect her she and her children were “rebaptized” with a bucket of slop by other passengers. She boarded a steamer which sailed up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, Iowa. She left Council Bluffs with Heber C. Kimball in 1848 following Brigham Young’s company. They arrived in the valley 4 months later, a long way from their home in England. She moved to Provo and then Lehi where she died at the age of 59.

LAURANY HUFFAKER MOLEN

Laurany was born in Virginia in 1809 of Swiss German and Irish descent. She married Jesse Molen in 1828 when she was 19 years old and they moved to Illinois. In 1843 they heard the missionaries and were baptized. They were persecuted along with other Saints in the area. She was the mother of 13 children. They bought an 80 acre farm 10 miles East of Nauvoo, but they suffered much persecution from angry mobs and were finally forced to let it go for one wagon and two yokes of oxen. They were among the last Saints to leave Nauvoo after Jesse and a few rugged souls tried to defend their city. They crossed the river and tried to catch up with the Saints at Winter Quarters but twin daughters were born to Laurany in her wagon at Blue Creek, Iowa. The following day their little daughter age 4 slipped under the wagon wheel and was crushed. They buried her in the morning in a casket made from a feed box with a brief ceremony and were on their way again. Laurany faced the worst sorrow of her life leaving that little grave, to recede from her sight but not from her heart. They arrived in Winter Quarters in time to leave in Jedediah Grant’s company. After 5 tedious months they reached the valley in 1847. They suffered along with the early Saints who nearly starved that winter, witnessing the miracle of the crickets and the seagulls. They moved out of the fort to a city lot that he had drawn. He was a member of the Quorum of Seventy He left to serve a mission in 1850 but returned home sick and died in 1852. Laurany died 2 years later at only 45 years of age, leaving 12 orphans. She was a strong and courageous pioneer and a loving mother, beloved of all who knew her.

ABiGAIL MINDWELL JACKSON LAMB

Abigail was born in 1804 in Connecticut. She married Erastus Lamb when she was 25 years old. She was the mother of 5 children, one an infant son who died. They were baptized in New York in the early 1830’s and moved to Nauvoo by 1842. Her son was a water boy for the construction workers of the Nauvoo temple. Her husband passed away at the age of 48 while crossing the plains in 1852. He was buried on the plains. Abagail continued on with her 4 children. She settled in Lehi and is buried there.

JULIANNA HOKE ZIMMERMAN

Julianna was born in 1798 in Germany but was educated in America having come at the age of 6 years. She married George Zimmerman, also from Germany, when she was 17 years old. She was the mother of 12 children, raising 7 to maturity. They were baptized in Pennsylvania in 1843 when persecutions were rampant. They went to Garden Grove where they lived in wagons and tents until they were ready to cross the plains in 1851. They arrived in the valley in 1851 and moved to Lehi. Julianna died in 1864 at the age of 66 and George died 2 years later. They are buried in Lehi. Julianna’s father was a devoted man of the scriptures and wished he lived in the time of Christ. The Lord made known to him that the true church was not on the earth but would soon be restored and his posterity would be saved. He told this to Julianna on his deathbed, he would not be a part of it but she would. He died in 1835 not hearing of the restoration. Through his daughter, Julianna, the prophecy has been fulfilled. She was the only member of her parents family to join the church.

MARY TOKELOVE CHESSON

Mary was born in 1800 in England. She married John Chesson when she was 21 years old. She was the mother of 8 children, 2 died in childhood. She was separated from her husband and raising 2 of her orphaned grandchildren when she joined the church in 1860. Her children were very bitter and tried to stop her from going to America with her grandchildren. It was a miracle when she left England in 1864 and sailed to America with William age 14 and Emma age 15. She was 64 years old when she started across the plains, a noble woman with great courage and strength, she paid for her own oxen. When convinced of the gospel, nothing daunted her!

Mary Chesson became very sick but continued her journey after a Priesthood blessing from Parley P. Pratt and Elder Neslin. Along the journey two of her oxen got lame. She went a distance and prayed for assistance from her troubles. The next morning a cow and an ox were standing near the spot where she prayed. The animals were taken as part of her team and the company moved on. The milk saved the life of a child recently born and many weary people were comforted. When they reached Green River a man claimed the cow and the ox as government property and took them. But her crippled oxen were now healed and ready to take their place.

She arrived in the valley in October of 1864. She camped on the square where the City and County building now stand. That night 5 inches of snow fell on the little family. She found work at a mill mending sacks and her granddaughter, Emma, went to work for Edward Holt whom she married soon after. Mary and her grandson moved to Lake Point where she bought a farm and built a dugout and later a house. She died 18 years after arriving in Utah.

BEAUTIFUL LIFE SIZED STATUES

IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA

DEDICATED TO THE PIONEERS

WHO PASSED THROUGH WINTER QUARTERS.