Jacob Heathcote Langston (1863-1930)

Apparently written by Myrtle Kezia Langston, Jacob's fifth child, though this is unconfirmed.

Jacob H. Langstonw as the young man chosen by Alice Maude Hall to be her mate -- "to love, honor, and cherish him throughout all time and eternity."

He was born in Rockville, Washington County, Utah, on January 20, 1863, and was the first white child born in Rockville after the settlers made their homes there. His parents were John Langston and Clearinda Phillips, who, with the William Crawford and Marills Terry Hanson families, were the first settlers in the Dixie area, now the present site of Rockville.

Father was baptized in the Virgin River at the age of eight and was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His childhood was spent among pioneers of the Dixie country, so his experiences were of pioneer type -- rugged but always happy. The first experience of which he remembered, however, was not so pleasant. When his mother took away his little green dress, which he thought was the best ever made, and put him in pants, proved to be a very sad day in his life.

His schooling was very limited, having spent but a few weeks all total in the class room, but he learned to read very well and became an exceptional speller. Through his great interest in the news papers, history, and church books, and other reading materials which was available, he gained a fair knowledge. His personal endeavor to learn helped him in all his life activities, which were varied and interesting.

During his sixth year, father remembered of a very thrilling yet frightening experience. At the time there was a big flood in the Virgin River, and it was a very interesting sight to all in the near vicinity. Men, women, and children from the community were lined along the river bank, high above the water line, watching the roaring flood. One of father's young playmates, thinking it would be a great joke, pushed him off the bank into the swirling,muddy river.

He was quickly swept out of sight with the debris in the flood, as the horrified onlookers stood helplessly on the river bank. Fortunately, father's older brotehr, Frank, was some distance below where he was pushed into the stream, pulling driftwood out of the river, which was to be used for fuel. Several people shouted to Frank and told him to get Jake out as he was swept along with the current. So Uncle Frank waded out into the swift water and tried to catch every floating object, with the hope of finding father. While Uncle Frank was scanning every inch of the surface of the water as it passed by him, an object lodged against his legs. He reached down and caught what proved to be father's hair and pulled him out of the water. He looked more like a mud hen than a little boy and seemed dead. After an hour of trying to revive father by rolling him on the ground, he regained consciousness. That night he broke out with the measles and was a very sick boy because of his weakened condition due to the near drowning. The proper medical care could not be secured; consequently there seemed no hope for father. In his own little heart, however he felt that if his mother would only anoint him with consecrated oil and pray for him, he would get well. He was too weak to even speak and tell her, but his mother felt impressed of the same thing, so she followed the dictates of her heart. After doing so, father rested and began his recovery.

When nine years old, father remembered of having malaria fever for nine months. During the long siege he became very weakened. One night he seemed to be possessed with a power over which he had no control and he told his parents that the devil was after him. He held his hand over the lamp and burned himself badly, and did other similarly foolish things. Finally his father, sensing a seriousness to the situation, asked Uncle Alfred Stout to assist him in administering to father. After the administration, father laid calm and relieved of the affliction and went to sleep.

Father enjoyed many and varied sports during his youth, such as, pugilistic encounters with the young Indians who lived in the vicinity, group contests of mud fights, apple (green) fights, wrestling, ball games called "rounders", horse racing, and swimming in the Virgin River.

At the age of seventeen, father was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by Charles N. Smith on Feburary 19, 1881. This ordination to the office of Priest seemed to make a real change in his life, for he felt the necessity of being exemplar and of living a more religious life. HE always had a great deal of faith in prayer and his Heavenly Father, but was never asked to pray, nor did he remember of ever having prayed aloud until after this particular time in his life. The children were not asked to do much public service during his youth, and did not receive the advantages and benefits that the young people of today receive. From the following incident one can see the handicaps those pioneers labored under once they did begin to participate in their church and community. It was father's first experience in acting as a Ward Teacher. The first home he and his companion went to visit, father led the way but was so frightened that he entered the house without knocking. He quickly apologized, but he felt very keenly his situation.

Three years later, father was ordained an Elder on March 11, 1884 by Brother Charles N. Smith. Soon after this occasion he went to the temple in St. George and received his endowments. Six months later, on October 1, 1884, he was married in the St. George Temple to Alice Maude Hall, a very high-minded, noble young girl. President David H. Cannon performed the marriage of the young and eager couple. To them during their sojourn on this earth were born nine children, two sons and seven daughters, namely: Maude (Bishop), J. Alma Langston, Ella (Mecham), Sarah L. (White), Myrtle K. (Wright), Charles John Langston, Carrie (Theobald), Tressa (Terry), and Enola (Shalts).

From the many experiences which he had in rearing his family, we desire to record a few faith promoting and interesting episodes for those of his children who read this short personal history.

In 1892, father and Uncle John Stout rented a saw mill in Mt. Trumbull mountain in northern Arizona from David Stout, and moved their families there for the summer. At the close of the season he loaded his wagon with some lumber and house-hold belongings and moved back to Rockville. On the way they came to a very sandy area, and all the family who were able climbed off the wagon and walked in order to lighten the load. Alma, who was just five years old, climbed up on the seat in the front of the wagon. The seat consisted of a barrel with a tub turned upside down over it. Then the wagon suddenly lurched as it passed over a large rock when they were going down a rocky incline. Alma slipped off the seat and fell behind the horses hoofs and the wagon wheel passed directly over his head. When father picked him up his little head was rolled out to half its normal thickness, with one eye bulging, almost broken loose from the head and resting on the upper cheek.

Father called to mother, who was behind with Julia Stout, and the two women hurried to the scene. Mother promptly took his little head in her hands and gradually and firmly shaped it in a round shape again, placed the eye back in position. She quickly bandaged Alma's head, and, getting the consecrated oil, asked father to administer to him. After the administration, the group hurried as fast as a slow team of horses could take them to Rockville, about twelve miles away.

There were no doctors available to the pioneers in those days, therefore the injured had to rely on the knowledge of a self-trained nurse and the loving care of a mother. Mother faithfully nursed Alma for a few days, although father said they never expected him to live, and his injury seemed to heal all right. He suffered no apparent ill effects except that the pupil of the injured eye never would dilate properly.

On another occasion while father was moving alfalfa at his farm at Crank, which is located on the road between Rockville and Springdale, Alma was running here and there pulling green onions that had gone to seed. The alfalfa had grown thick in an old garden spot. Father did not know whether Alma had run in front of the mower knife or not. Before he could get the horses stopped, Alma had been cut in the instep of his foot by the knife. On examination, father found that an artery had been cut and quickly gave first aid with handkerchief and shirt, and then took him home as fast as he could.

Two nights later Alma awakened father by saying, "My foot is all wet." When the lamp was lighted father found that the artery had opened up again, and Alma's face was absolutely colorless from the loss of blood. He had barely sufficient strength to awaken the folks. He was made well by the Lord, who answered the prayers of faith. The family always found solace and comfort through prayer in time of need. The Lord blessed father and his family in that He healed those who were ill or injured.

The family lived in Rockville until March 1895 when they felt the necessity of moving to a more favorable location that better schooling could be had for the children, so at that time father moved his family to Hinckley. He purchased forty acres of land from Bishop Willim H. Pratt and started life anew in a new home.

Mother's health was never good after she started raising a family, which was a real hardship to both father and mother. They reared a large family, but never once did they complain. They were ever willing to struggle along, side by side, always faithful and true to each other. Mother finally passed away after six months of serious illness from paralysis and heart trouble, which had kept father almost constantly by her side. She died on July 18, 1922.

Father's son, Alma, had lost his wife and companion, Jennie (Camp), just exactly two months prior to mother's death, so father and son decided to cast their lot together. Father's youngest child, Enola, who was yet unmarried, took care of Alma's five children, youngest of whom was Keith, eight months old. Thus they lived until Alma married the second time -- to Edith Reeves. Even after the children had moved away father never ceased to act as "mother" to them. The children loved their grandfather dearly. One of his neighbors remarked, "I never saw a grandpa so loved." Father loved all children about him -- as was evidenced by the children at his death. They did not think of him as being dead, but just asleep, and would crowd into the room to see him by the dozens.

Father married again two years after mother's death to Mrs. Sarah A. Talbot, who was a kind, loving companion to him during his reclining years.

Father always felt that one could not live fully without giving service to family, friends, those in need, the church, and the state; and he always tried to do all he could. He served as Superintendent of the Sunday School in Rockville, and as president of the Young Men's M.I.A. while living in Hinckley. He served as the first bishop of Lynndyl for two years, then the family moved back to Hinckley. He served as a high counselor for many years in the Deseret Stake when he was released from this position to become president of the high priests quorum in the stake.

He was always interested in political affairs. He was an ardent believer in the Republican principles and was elected by his party to the State Legislature where he served during 1911.

He was very interested in dramatics and as a young man often took part in home dramatics. He was such a fun loving sort, so he was usually given the comic parts. He told of being given a serious part at one time. During the presentation of the play, at the very moment he was doing his utmost with the serious, dramatic part, he received a burst of loud laughter instead of the supposed tears and concern. The occasion decided, once and for all, that he was definitely out of his element in such a part.

He was desirous to give his family the best education possible with the limited means in his possession, so some of the family were sent to the B.Y.U. at Provo, Utah for a number of years and later to the Millard Academy at Hinckley. Ella went to Murdock Academy at Beaver for one year, too. Five of the children graduated from high school and three finished three years in high school. Two sons filled foreign missions -- Alma to Germany and Hungary, and Charles to Tonga in the south seas. The youngest son, Charles, died while on his mission, of influenza. His death brought great sorrow to father and mother, but they were always grateful in the thought that their son had died while working for the salvation of mankind, the greatest of all missions. He died on November 26, 1916, and his body arrived home on December 15, 1916. He was the first missionary sent from the Lynndyl Ward.

For the two years prior to this writing, June 12, 1930, father has been having some heart attacks which has made for him to perform the necessary labors as he would like. At this time, father has the following living relatives and descendents: wife, seven daughters, one son, one adopted son, thirty-four grand children and one great grand son, who was born on father's sixty-sixth birthday.

Father died just four days after this personal story was read to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, who were met at his home in his honor. He died of a heart attck on June 16, 1930. His passing was exactly as he had wished it to be, with no suffering, merely a step from the activities and associations of this mortal life to the other life and its associations there, especially that of mother, whose companionship was so perfect and dear to him.

I am sure we all felt in such a beautiful passing that it was the "End of a Perfect Day." Sweet are our memories of him.

(Ordained a Seventy on June 17, 1891 by Augustus Dodge; a High Priest on September 10, 1892 by Apostle Francis M. Lyman.)

Alice Maude Hall Langston (1864-1922)

Apparently written by Myrtle Kezia Langston, Alice's fifth child, though this is unconfirmed.

Alice Maude Hall was the fourth child born to John and Kezia Hall, and because the two babies born prior to her coming had died, Alice Maude brought great joy to the hearts of her parents. She was born on April 5, 1864, just about three years after her parents had arrived in Rockville, Washington County, Utah. Her parents had been quite well and established in Salt Lake City and her father was planning to go into business with his brother, Thomas, and manufacture the "Hall's Canker Medicine." Then in response to an urgent call for volunteers to develop and build in Dixie, her parents moved "bag and baggage," thus permitting Alice Maude to be born and reared in a rural community.

Her childhood was a normal, carefree period, although she remembered of sharing the work in the fields with her brothers and sisters. She used to watch enthralled while her mother would spin and weave material from which their clothes were made. All wearable pieces cut from old clothes brought from England were saved and used as trimming on the home-made clothes she and her brothers and sisters wore. To have a dress, even one of dark blue or green, with a bit of lace or ruffle trim was the nicest thing which could happen to a young girl, except for a birthday party.

When she was eight years of age, she was baptized a member of the Church. To her, that occasion was the first important stop in her life. Now she felt she was beginning to grow up. She, like all little girls, went through the stage of "paper dolls" and "make believe." For a young girl to pass through her childhood without tasting of the pleasure of making dolls from the corn cobs and corn silk and the pine cones was a shame. Alice whiled away the pleasant summer hours in the shade of a giant tree, or the cold winter days before the fire by activities typical of those pioneer times, which oft times was quite different from the recreation and play of the children of this modern day.

Although her school days were short in number, Alice Maude was very studious and always took advantage of the time she was in school. She had three teachers who were remembered in later years -- Jacob Terry, Henrietta Cox Stout, and Mary Stocks. The latter two teachers taught in Hinckley for a while. Through the guidance of such teachers, who performed their duties to the best of their abilities under the prevailing circumstances, Alice received a fair beginning to her education. She advanced in knowledge through her own initiative to the extent that she taught school in Duncan's Retreat, which at that time was a new but very progressive community. She roomed and boarded in the homes of Sister Mary Ann Wright and Emma Reeves during the time she was teaching.

Alice Maude was one of the fortunate ones who received musical training from her father on the organ, which graced their humble home. She progressed quite rapidly and served as ward organist for many years under the leadership of Hosea Stout. He praised her highly and said, "No one could be found who was more loyal and faithful to her duty and those whom she served." When her own family came, she taught four of the children what musical information she could, and they in turn served very competently as organists in their respective wards.

Some time prior to her marriage, she took a course of study in obstetrics and nursing under the tutorship of a mid-wife, Mrs. Norton, who lived in Washington, Utah. Her own mother was gifted with an understanding of nursing and doctoring, acquired through necessity. So Alice Maude often went out among the sick with her mother and also did some nursing alone, but never did it as a profession.

The religious training she received at home from her parents struck a chord within her and she had a great desire to serve whenever the call came to her. After the St. George Temple was completed, she frequently went there to work with her parents. She also received her own endowments during this time of her life, so it was natural enough to go through the temple when she was married.

When she was but a young woman, she was asked to be president of the Y.W.M.I.A. in Rockville. Her duties in this capacity and as organist in the ward kept her very busy, nevertheless, love found its way into her heart. She had had a number of opportunities of becoming a plural wife, but her love was bequeathed to another -- Jacob H. Langston. After a short courtship, she and Jacob were married in the St. George Temple on October 1, 1884, when she was but twenty years of age. It was a happy, beautiful day for her, and now she had passed another extremely important stage in her life.

There seemed only one thing to mar the gladness of that day. During the time she had studied obstetrics, she had been told that she would never be able to bear children because of a deformity. Naturally, this information was an avenue of concern and worry to her, especially now that she was married. She never became completely discouraged and often thought to herself that God would bless her with children if she had the faith and through righteous living. Later her graet desire was culminated when she, through fasting and prayer, became a mother to nine five sons and daughters. She fulfilled her destiny and privilege as a mother with never a thought of such things as birth control, even though much of her life was spent as an invalid. Her only regret was that she was not able to accomplish other work which she had wanted to do.

She and her husband later moved to Hinckley where several of their children were born. She was a helpful wife and good mother regardless of her being in ill health. She was always anxious for her family to work in the church, more so because of her own inability to do the work she had desire to do. She did her part by excusing the members of her family from household duties and tasks which she felt were less important at home in order that they might perform their work in the church organizations.

When two sons were called on missions -- Alma to Germany and Hungary and Charles to Tonga in the south seas -- her joy and happiness seemed complete. Even though they were not financially able to send two sons on missions, both boys were able to go through much sacrifice and effort from the rest of the family. Alice always felt that the Lord blessed their efforts to the extent that means were provided to fulfill their part of the mission calls even when it seemed quite impossible. Sorrow came to the family even in the midst of this happiness, when word was received that Charles had passed away during an influenza epidemic. He had left his earthly mission seemingly incomplete and gone on to a greater calling.

Through her church work and her family, she was able to still the aching emptiness in her for her son. She was secretary in the Relief Society under the presidency of Sister C.A. Allred. She served as a Relief Society teacher, a Primary teacher, and later served on the Relief Society Stake Board with Sister Mary C. Lyman in the Millard and Deseret Stakes for a number of years. Her work in these respective positions kept her busy but very happy. She was a woman of high ideals; she disliked anything cheap and vulgar. She enjoyed good humor, but if ever an offensive story or joke was told in her presence, a look of disgust was immediately expressed on her face. One of her closest friends said of her, "She was as pure in mind as any woman I ever met."

She was always honest and faithful in her associations with her neighbors and friends. She was greatly respected by all who knew her and worked with her. Alice Maude was a good and kind mother to her children, always imparting patience and love with her advice and teaching. Even in ill health, she had born nine fine sons and daughters, and had strived to be a faithful wife and companion to her husband.

When Alice's health began to get worse, she went to Salt Lake City where she could constantly be under the care of the doctor. She was not confined to her bed so she was able to spend most of her time working in the temple. After she returned to her home, she went to Dixie to visit some of her family. Because they consistently urged her, Alice Maude finally consented to have two major operations in an effort to regain her health. She spent the next few years in quite good health.

Then in the year 1922, Alice was stricken with partial paralysis and was very ill for about six months. Just a month before her death, President A.A. Hinckley gave Alice and her husband a recommend to get their second anointings in the Manti Temple. To Alice, this was a wonderful privilege. To her family after she had passed away, it seemed a fitting benediction to her noble life. Whenever Alice spoke or thought of that glorious visit to the temple, she seemed overjoyed and well satisfied.

One week after she and her husband had returned from Manti, Alice passed on to a greater life. On that day, July 18, 1922, her children and husband felt keenly the absence of a fine woman -- mother and wife, and the friends of the family paid homage to a woman with kindness of heart and generosity for all her acquaintance. Those who remain behind this day will long remember Alice Maude for her fine qualities which easily overshadowed the faults and failings she may have had.

Gladden Records from St. Mary's Parish 1819-1835

The following is research that I myself did. I was looking for the ancestors of Edward Mansfield Gladden, only knowing his birthdate, apparent place of birth, and his (first) wife's name, and was led to the Bishops records of St. Mary's Parish in Reading, England. From looking at these records, I have constructed the following, which is my estimation of the family's circumstances between the years of 1819 and 1835. Throughout, "birth" means "christening" and "death" means "burial", but is used for convenience.

1819-06-02 - Gladden, James - Marriage Record to Charlotte Stedman
This first record is of somebody named James Gladden, whose relationship I do not know with respect to Edward. Judging by one of the later records (dated 1823-12-07, below) which shows his death at the age of 27 years, I assume that James was born in 1796, which would make him roughly 23 at the time of this marriage. Knowing that Edward was born around 1816, it's possible that James was either his older brother or perhaps his uncle. The witnesses to the wedding are unfamiliar names, so no direct family connection is confirmed. Nevertheless, it seems evident they are related somehow. Further records of James's family follow.

1821-01-15 - Gladden, James - Birth Record to James Gladden
This appears to be James's and Charlotte's first child, born 1 1/2 years into their marriage. The record shows that James was a painter and their place of residence is what I believe to be Coley Terrace.

1821-01-26 - Gladden, James - Death Record of Son of James Gladden (age 11 days)
This is the death record for James Gladden, son of James and Charlotte Gladden. The baby survived only 11 days.

1821-11-26 - Gladden, Emma - Birth Record to James Gladden
Just ten months after the birth and subsequent death of their first child, James and Charlotte welcomed another child to their family. In this record, James is listed as being a "Painter & Glazier", with a place of residence still listed as Coley Terrace. A "glazier" is one who colors the glass in stained-glass windows.

1823-05-26 - Gladden, Mary - Death Record (age 51 years)
A year and a half after Emma was born, there is a death record for a Mary Gladden, listed as being 51 years old at the time of death. Doing the math, she would have been born around 1772, and could have been the mother of James Gladden and possibly even Edward Mansfield Gladden. The record shows she resided in "Salem Yard".

1823-12-07 - Gladden, James - Death Record (age 27 years)
The end of 1823 brought the death of James Gladden, listed as being 27 years old at the time of death. He left behind his wife Charlotte, and 2-year-old Emma.

1825-03-20 - Gladden, Emma - Death Record of Daughter of Edward Gladden (age 3 years 3 months)
A year and a half after her father's death, Emma Gladden also died, leaving her mother a childless widow.

1825-10-17 - Richardson, James - Marriage Record to Charlotte Gladden (maiden name Stedman)
Seven months later, however, Charlotte Gladden, now childless and a widow, remarried to a James Richardson. At this point, she no longer appears in the records at St. Mary's through 1835, so it can be surmised that she moved with her new husband to some other locale.

1829-12-27 - Langstaff, Mary - Death Record (age 87 years)
At the end of 1829, there was a death record for a Mary Langstaff, who died at the old age of 87 years. This record is only of immediate interest because it is known that Edward Mansfield Gladden named one of his children William Langstaff Gladden. It is possible that this Mary was a maternal grandmother or great-grandmother to Edward Mansfield Gladden, who would have been around 13 or 14 at the time of her death, or to his future wife who would have been about 17 years old at the time of her death. Her residence was listed as "Bank Place".

1830-10-10 - Gladden, Edward - Marriage Record to Henrietta Robson
The first record of Edward Mansfield Gladden is listed in 1830 in a marriage record on October 10th of that year. He was married to a Henrietta Robson, with a witness listed as Richard Robson. It can be surmised that Richard was Henrietta's father or brother, but shows up nowhere else in this set of records. The other witness was Mary Simmons (last named perhaps mis-spelled), who has no known connection to the family. This was the first time seeing the actual marriage date for Edward and Henrietta!

1831-05-29 - Gladden, Edward John - Birth Record to Edward Gladden
Just shy of 8 months later, Edward and Henrietta welcomed a baby to their family. This clearly suggests that Henrietta was pregnant at the time of the wedding as it seems evident that Edward John was healthy at the time of birth and lived to adulthood (he's found in later English censuses), so was likely carried to full-term. Further evidence of this lies with the fact that it is estimated that Edward was only about 15 or 16 at the time of the wedding (whereas Henrietta was about 20 years old). Here, Edward Mansfield is listed as having a vocation of "Painter", which implies a stronger connection with James Gladden from above. Further, the place of residence also appears to be Coley Terrace.

1832-03-27 - Gladden, John - Death Record (age 61 years)
A year later, there was a death record for a John Gladden. At the time, Edward Mansfield Gladden would have been about 16 years old, which would have put John Gladden at 45 years old at the time of Edward's birth. This could be Edward's father ... or uncle ... or grandfather.

1832-10-21 - Gladden, Henrietta - Birth Record to Edward Gladden
Not quite a year and a half after Edward John Gladden was born, Edward and Henrietta welcomed a daughter to their family, whom they also named Henrietta. Again, Edward Mansfield Gladden is listed as being a "painter". Here, though, their place of residence is listed as "Castle Hill Place". This daughter was previously unknown to me.

1835-05-24 - Gladden, Richard - Birth Record to Edward Gladden
Again, another year and a half later, Edward and Charlotte had another baby boy, whom they named Richard. Other known records show a middle initial "M.", but no evidence is on the birth record to support this. Profession and residence remain unchanged.

1835-06-20 - Gladden, Henrietta - Death Record of Daughter of Edward Gladden (age 2 years 9 months)
The final record discovered herein through 1835 was the death record for Henrietta, who was not quite 3 at the time of her death. This would explain why there was no record of her beforehand. Interestingly, though, the residence is here listed as Coley Terrace.