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.

Emma Hinton Wright (1868-1932)

This history was compiled by RaNae L. Christensen from the writings of Genevieve W. Christensen and Mina W. Crosby and from a conversation with Ruth Wright Christensen Blake.

Emma was born May 27, 1868 in Mountain Dell, Utah; to John Nock and Emma Spendlove Hinton. Mountain Dell was a small town in Washington County near Virgin City. Emma was very young when her parents moved to a home in Virgin City. She attended school in Virgin.

School was just held during the winter months. She learned to read and to write, which seemed to be of the most importance.

In 1874 President Brigham Young organized the United Order in Virgin. Emma's parents joined the United Order; they turned in their animals and other property. When it was over they had nothing left but some land and a team, so they made a new start.

The Wrights lived across the Virgin River in a town called Duncan's Retreat. The young people in these parts visited each other and had dances and parties together. This is how John Moroni Wright met Emma Hinton.

On June 16, 1885; Emma married John Moroni Wright in the St. George Temple. They lived in Duncan's Retreat for several years. Flood water took the Wright's garden and orchard. When the high water got close to their home, John put his furniture and family in his wagon and started north. At this time, they had one child, Wallace. About the time of the flood, the farmers along the Sevier River were putting dams in the river and sending the water on the farms (in Millard County).

There had been a road built from Salt Lake City to California and the Wrights traveled on this road until they came to Millard County. All of South Millard County was known as Deseret at that time. Later when enough people moved into that part of the country, they named the land south of the river Deseret and the land north of the river was called Hinckley.

John and Emma went north into Hinckley and located west of the California Highway. They chose a nice sandy spot. It was the spring of 1887.

That summer they lived in a tent made by stretching the wagon cover over a pole. Their food that summer consisted of bread and Dixie molasses. They had to get their drinking water from a well owned by William H. Pratt. John became ill that summer and when Mr. Pratt saw how sick he was, he took John and his family into his home and he and his wife took care of them until John was well.

In the fall of 1886 the Wrights moved into a two-room building owned by B. W. Scott. In November of 1887 their son, Joseph Moroni, was born. That winter they lived in this two room building. In the spring 1888, they got the title for the land from the government under the Homestead Act. During the summer, they built a one-room house of adobes that John’s brother, Frank, had made for them. The roof was made of logs and the boards were covered with mud. A few years later, they added another room. The older children were born in this home. The old home was down in the field quite a way (it was 1/4 mile from the highway) and we had to go down a lane to get there. We did have many happy times in the old two room home. They were large rooms and Mother had two beds in the front room and a couch in the kitchen that was opened up into a bed at night. The rest of us slept on the floor. They would make the beds on the floor at night and take them up in the morning. It was a lot of extra work. In the summer the boys slept in a covered wagon box.

When Ianthus was born, there was something wrong with his legs so he couldn’t straighten them out. Emma prayed about this because there were no doctors in Hinckley. One night she dreamed that she was walking up town. She met Bishop Pratt and they stopped and talked. He asked her about her family and she told him about Ianthus. He said, “Sister Wright take him to the Salt Lake Temple and have him blessed there and he will be healed.” A few days after this dream, she went up town and she did meet Bishop Pratt. They stopped to chat and he asked her about her family and she told him about Ianthus. He told her to do just what she had dreamed about. They took him to Salt Lake to the temple and he was healed.

One morning when Ianthus and Mina were quite small, they went with Mother in the one horse buggy to take the milk to the creamery. The horse ran away and tipped Mother and Ianthus out of the buggy. Mina was sitting in the middle so she wouldn't fall out. She wanted to sit on the outside but Ianthus wouldn't let her. Ianthus didn't get hurt but mother did and a short time later a baby boy was born. He was ill at the time of his birth and only lived six days. They named him Bernard.

In the spring of 1902 they had saved a little over $300. They had planned to build them more room but that spring John was called to go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He went to the Northern States Mission. He was assigned to labor in Council Bluffs, Iowa; with an Elder Joshua Terry. During the time John was on his mission, Emma took care of the family and raised a garden. At night she would put the children to bed, then she would do sewing for the neighbors who needed it done. With the money she earned, she bought clothing and other necessities the family needed.

On May 20, 1904 John received an honorable release and returned home. Soon after he returned from his mission, John raised a good crop of alfalfa seed and received a good price for it. With this money, they built a nice two story home close to the highway. Joseph Moroni Wright built the home for his parents and their family after he returned from his mission to Australia.

When Laurence was ten years of age, the cousins from Salt Lake left a sheep camp and a dog at our place while they went home for Christmas. Between Christmas and New Years, Laurence took the cows to the field. This morning when he came back down the lane the dog ran out and barked at the horse. The horse not being used to dogs shyed and Laurence fell off. It hurt him internally and he lived until the middle of February. The sisters of the ward offered to prepare Laurence for burial, but Emma wanted to do that and make his clothes. That year the flu was so bad the funeral was held outside on the front porch.

Emma served in the Presidency of the Young Ladies Mutual Organization for several years. She helped make burial clothing and prepare the dead for burial also.

When the church built the Millard Academy in Hinckley, the Wrights opened their home to teachers and students. The Wright home was clean and well organized so the students could enjoy boarding there. Emma cooked the meals and her daughters helped with the cleaning and did the dishes. Camilla Eyring (wife of President Spencer W. Kimball) boarded at the Wright home when she taught at the Millard Academy. She taught Genevieve and probably her sisters how to do cutwork.

There were two teachers staying there at different times who taught at the grade school. They lived near Provo and had both been student body presidents of the Brigham Young University. These teachers were A. J Tippets and G. Edward Johnson.

The students were from all over Millard County. Those from Deseret, Oasis, and Abraham came Sunday evening and went home after school on Friday. The students from other towns like Holden, Meadow, Lynndyl, Leamington, Oak City, and Fillmore just went home for holidays.

For several years, the Millard Academy was a LDS Church School, then the Church decided to turn the school to the State because they could not afford to support so many. As Delta was more central, the new school was built there.

With all her years of hard work and toil, Emma developed a weak heart and her health began to fail. She died April 24, 1931; at the age of 63 at Hinckley and was buried in the Hinckley Cemetery. She outlived her father by nearly three years and her mother by nearly two years.

Emma Hinton was admired by many for her organization, her self-sufficiency, and her love of family. She was rather reserved and she spent her time doing for her family. Emma bore John fourteen children: Wallace Hinton, Joseph Moroni, Mary Ann, John William, Spencer Hinton, Genevieve, Zina, Mina, Ianthus N., Bernard B., Vernell, Chester Eugene, Laurence Leon, and Glade Merwin. Bernard died in infancy and Laurence was about ten years old when he died. Zina was a young mother of three when she died of a bad heart condition. The others lived to adulthood.

Ena Wright Gladden (1919-1986)

This is a personal history as written by Myrtle Langston, Ena's mother. This was written and included in Myrtle's book of remembrance. I have not corrected any spelling but I did add paragraph breaks for convenience. Ena is my paternal grandmother and I remember her from when I was young. She was a good woman.

Ena was born in the hom[e] 1/2 block straight west of the Millard Stake Academy in Hinckley Millard Co. Utah 16 Aug. 1919. The family moved from the farm 23 July 1919 where we had moved to escape the Flu, as 1918 was the first bad year of the flu (the year my bro. Charley died with flu while on a mission in Tongan Islands) An incident happened before Ena's birth I desire to relate. Ena was due to be born Aug. 10 - on a Sun. when she didn't arrive, Joe & I took a ride with "old Snip" hitched to our buggy (one seat) & rode by Sister a widow Mary E. Lee's home - (She nursed me & brot all 4 of our children. Wallace Joe's Dr. brother helped with Ruth, after Sis. Lee had done 1/2 of delivery) We ask her if there was a possibility the baby would wait till Joe returned from a Drainage meeting in S.L. on the following week. She said, "Well, you've waited this long, why can't you wait till he does return." Joe returned Thurs. nite & Ena was born 10 a.m., on Friday. We were still living in the 2 rooms that Norda was born.

Ena has always been a healthy child - for which we were thankful. She was sweet, lovable, & pretty - my mother thot her adorable. Shirley Langston & all neighbors children came & played with our children acting out shows for pins. Ena loved to swim in the Langston's (my Fathers) swimming home at the corner of his lot. It was one of the Town's favorite swimming places - an irrigation ditch. Our home was one in which we taught the children to pray, & attend Primary S.S. Sacrament Meeting & church functions. We were poor in worldly goods or money but we were very happy & tried to help in the Lord's work. Her teachers loved Ena & so far as I know she gave them no trouble.

Both in District and High S. she took parts in plays operettas & operas. She always was obedient to help in home. But now she says Norda tried to "boss" her, & it went against her spirit to be "bossed." Norda was trying to get the tasks done her mother left for the 2 girls to do. I think 5-6 girls made up her crowd of girls as she grew into her "teens." There were only a few boys near her age in Hinckley, so this group went with boys from other towns. This, her parents felt badly about, but couldn't correct it. Hence it was a constant worry to us, her parents.

Ena was a first class dancer, & loved shows, was always happy & laughing. All who have known Ena, all her life, have loved her. Tragedy struck in our home when she married at 17 to a boy from Kentucky, who worked in "CC" Gov't work west of Hinckley, James David Wood. Of course it wasn't L.D.S. temple marriage as he was not L.D.S They stayed in Hinckley for a while then went to Caliente & lived in part of Norda's home. After a year's time she went to Cedar Hospital where Iris was born. J.D. has never seen Iris nor Ena since he saw her in the hospital in Cedar City. Her second marriage came during 2nd world war, as she married Eskel D. Carlson & they had two children, David & Ann. They were divorced & her 3rd marriage was to Everett Gladden of Virginia. He came to Tooele Ordinance Depot where she was living & supporting her 3 children. They seem happy today 18 Feb. 1953. They hope to go to temple soon as possible. They seem not to have children - but are happy with their three.

They are wanting a new home in Tooele & hope they get one soon. Their new De Soto requires $107.00 monthly - & can't save. E.&E. have had trips every summer to fish, hunt, & see Everett's folks in Durango Colorado. It's hard for E&E to save money - living costs are so high, rent, car payments. They both earn fair wages, & are happy in their home. Both are active in the church for which Joe & I are thankful. They have the blessing on the food but not Family prayer. They pay some tithing, I don't know how much. So they have much to do to get a temple recommend. I'll quit writing today 18 Feb. '53 & let Ena fill in the rest as she desires. Everett has quit smoking & is putting on lbs. of weight.

The following vital information was also included with this history:

-- Father's name: Joseph Moroni Wright
-- Mother's maiden name: Myrtle Kezia Langston
-- Born: 16 August 1919 in Hinckley Millard Co. Utah
-- Blessed: 24 August 1919 by her father
-- Baptized: 16 Aug 1927 in canal by the gust mill - west, by her father, Joseph Moroni Wright
-- Confirmed: 16 Aug 1927 by her father
-- Married to: Everett Gladden on 9 April 1948 in her Sister Norda's home in Tod Park by Presiding Elder of Tod Branch by the name of Charles F. Adams
-- Patriarchal blessing: by Willis E. Robison on 16 August 1935

Joseph Wright (1818-1873)

This is a biography which was compiled by RaNae L. Christensen from two other biographies that were written by unknown authors. It is titled "Joseph Wright: Son of Grace Shepherd and John Wright".

Joseph Wright, son of Grace Shepherd and John Wright was born 25 Dec 1817 at Bubwith, Yorkshire, England. He was a butcher by trade in England. He moved from Bubwith to Tadcaster, Yorkshire, where he joined the church in England March 14, 1848. His Wife, Hannah Mariah (Marie) Watson, had joined the church July 27, 1837, before her marriage to John. (Four children were born to them in England and they were Eliza Anne, William, Emily, and George). George and Emily passed away in 1846 in England.

After joining the church he served as a leader of the Tadcaster Branch until his departure for Zion in January 1849, aboard the ship “Zetland.” Joseph, Hannah, and their two children, Eliza Ann and William, made the voyage. After nine weeks on the ocean, they arrived in New Orleans and proceeded to St. Louis via steamboat. Here Hannah gave birth to a baby girl. They named her Martha. She passed away April 15, 1848. After a short residency in Kanesville, they obtained teams and wagons for the westward journey.

They arrived in [the] Salt Lake Valley September 28, 1849, and after a short residency in Salt Lake City, they bought some land in the Millcreek area at what is now 200 West and Central Avenue (4000 South). Here they erected a two story house and settled down to farming, stock raising, and the rearing of a family.

While crossing the ocean, Joseph and his family had become well-acquainted with the William Fryer family and on January 4, 1857, Brigham Young married (and sealed) Joseph Wright to William Fryer's daughter, Mary Ann, in his new office in the Beehive House. Joseph took his new bride to his home in Millcreek, where she and Hannah continued with their responsibilities together.

In July 1857, Joseph was called [to] assist the Home Guard in resisting the advance of Johnston's Army. During his service in Echo Canyon, his wives and children moved to Spanish Fork until peace was established and they could happily return to their home in Millcreek.

On February 16, 1857, he was ordained a Seventy in the 22nd Quorum of Seventies. In the October Conference of 1862, Joseph was called out of the congregation on a five year mission to help settle Utah's Dixie. He accepted the call and on November 11, 1862, left Millcreek with two wagons loaded with provisions, some horses, oxen, other livestock, his wife, Mary Ann; her 18 month old son, John Moroni; and his two older sons from Hannah, William and Joseph Alma. Joseph drove one wagon (loaded with grain) pulled by two yoke of oxen, Mary Ann drove the second wagon pulled by two teams of horses and little John Moroni was tucked safely inside the wagon. The two older boys rode some other horses and herded the remainder of the livestock. Hannah Mariah remained at their home in Millcreek along with her three daughters, Eliza Ann, Mary Hannah and Elizabeth Jane. They had a fine home and a prosperous farm in Millcreek and it must have been a sad parting for the whole family.

After three weeks of traveling, the group arrived at the small community of Virgin, where they remained until they could locate some land with feed for his livestock. He turned them out on the range at [a] place called Goulds, south of Virgin City. Shortly after arriving in Virgin, they were able to purchase some property from Appleton Harmon at Duncan's Retreat, a few miles from Virgin. This property was located on the banks of the Virgin River.

The family began farming, raising livestock, and operating a freight line between Dixie and Salt Lake Valley. Joseph was very liberal with his means in helping those that were in need; he furnished many a family that was poor with supplies, food, etc. He also loaned grain to a great many people and a large amount of it was never paid back. He furnished the money to finish the log school house at Duncan's Retreat so that meetings, schools, etc. could be held in it.

He helped establish the following enterprises: The Virgin City Co-op store, Touquerville Store, Washington Factory, Kanara sheep herd, Kolob Ranch, Canana Ranch, and etc. He bought the first threshing machine that was used there, that both threshed and separated grain. It was hauled all the way from California by teams at a very great expense.

The Indians stole thirty head of his valuable horses and two mules. These horses and mules were worth about five thousand dollars. He furnished horses and supplies for expeditions against the Indians. He was also appointed to the home guard. The Indians were very troublesome and had to be watched. They would often make raids on the towns and kill some of the settlers and steal their horses, cattle, and etc.

He was always ready when called upon by those in authority to perform any duty or go wherever he was called.

Severe flooding along the Virgin River washed away much of the farm established by Joseph and his family, even threatening the home. In January 1893 his faithful wife, Mary Ann, and her children were forced to move. They moved to Hinckley where two of her sons had settled a few years previous.

Joseph was the father of fourteen children. Hannah bore him eight children and Mary Ann Fryer bore him six children.

Mary Ann Fryer Wright (1838-1931)

The following is an autobiography of Mary Ann Fryer Wright, entitled "Life of Mary Ann Fryer (Wright)". The autobiography indicated that it was collected by dictation and written by her granddaughter Carrie Wright Probet.

At the request of my children, I shall try to give my history as near as I remember it. I was born September 8, 1839; at Stroxton, Lincolnshire, England. My father, William Fryer, son of John and Elizabeth Smith Fryer, was born March 9, 1813. My mother was Ann Colton Fryer, daughter of Francis and Mary Colton, born at Corby, Lincolnshire, England, on May 5, 1810.

When I was about six years of age my father moved to a place called Spittle Gate, near Grantham. In the fall of 1846, my father, being at Grantham, met up with two men, William and Charles Palmar, from Australia. These two men were looking for a place to board, so father allowed them to come and stay with us. One of these men proved to be a Latter-Day Saint. He explained the principles of Mormonism to my parents and they believed and were baptized in January of 1847.

At this time there were no Mormons in the place where we lived. After Father was baptized, he was ordained the Presiding Elder and he, together with local Elders sent from a nearby Branch of the Church, began preaching the Gospel. They held meetings at our home and also on the street corners. Before long a number of people were converted and a Branch of the Church was established. The First Mission President that came to our place was Simeon Carter from America. (We always took care of the visiting brothers when they were in that neighborhood.) The people were very bitter towards the converts and did many things to persecute them. My father did most of the baptizing and was called “John the Baptist” by the people. I was baptized by my father when I was eight years old.

As time went on more people were converted and a building was rented for the use of the Saints. It was at this place that my father gave his farewell address to the Saints before leaving for America. They all thought a great deal of him, and were deeply touched when they listened to his farewell speech.

We left our home in England in January 1849 and sailed from Liverpool on the ship Zetland. Orson Spencer was President and there were 358 souls aboard. We landed in New Orleans. It was here that my father contracted the disease and on May 5, just three weeks after we arrived, he died. My mother was left with eight children, and the baby, which had been born on the ship, died that summer. I was the only girl in the family.

After Father died we didn't have the means to come to Utah but it was my mother's desire that we should gather there as soon as possible. In 1853 we were living six miles from St. Louis when the following incident happened. Two of my girl friends wanted me to come and spend an evening with them, so they sent some boys to ask me to come. I asked Mother if she was willing for me to go. At first she felt that she would rather not have me go because it was so dark, but she asked me if I would like to go and when I said I would she consented. As soon as the boys heard this they ran back to tell the girls I was coming. When I got ready to go Mother told me to take a light because it was terribly dark and the many deep open coal pits in the area would make the way very dangerous. I took my light and started out. I hadn't gone very far when the light went out and I was left to find my way in the dark. I finally saw a light over to one of the neighbors and thought I knew just where to go. I started on what I thought was the right path; coming to a slight raise, I remember thinking I had never been that way before and then I knew no more. When I came to I was in the bottom of one of the coal pits, laying my hand on my arm.

When I didn't reach the girls’ home they went to my place to see what the matter was. When Mother found that they knew nothing about me she was very much alarmed and immediately began to search for me. My brother, William, went to the neighbors and they told him they had heard a voice in the direction of the coal pit. He ran to the pit and heard me calling. He came to the opening and called, “Oh, my sister, my sister!” Then a crowd came and they let a man down to bring me up. He asked me if I was hurt and I told him I didn't know. He put a rope around me and they drew me up. When I got nearly to the top the man leaned over the pit for fear that contact with the air might cause me to faint again.

It was surely an exciting time, one woman fainted and another went into hysterics. My mother was almost wild because she didn't know how I would be. I had no broken bones, but was badly bruised. The next day some of the men measured the pit and it was fifty-five feet deep.

I will record here two other accidents which happened to me in later life. The first of these occurred while we were on the move south. I was driving one of my husband's teams, following just behind a neighbor (Bro. Helm), when we came to a bad place in the road. He didn't have time to warn me before I came to it. The wagon was heavily loaded with flour and I had nothing to hold to when the wagon went over the bad spot. I fell out and one of the wheels ran over me.

The second accident happened when I was coming from Dixie to Hinckley on a visit. We decided that by driving a little after night we would be able to even up each day’s journey. As we were doing this we came to a washout in the road. I was sitting close to the side of the wagon and the jolt threw me heavily to the ground, hurting my head and shoulders; however, I was not seriously injured and soon recovered.

While we were at St. Louis, Horace S. Eldredge came there on business along with Alonzo Buckland, a returned missionary. These brothers came often to visit us at our home and there was a branch of the church there. When they saw how anxious Mother was that we should gather in Zion, Brother Buckland offered to take my younger brother and me with him. He had a team and wagon all fitted out. He was also going to take a sister whose husband had emigrated the year before and was then residing at Salt Lake. This lady, he said, would be company for me. Mother asked counsel of Brother Eldredge, and he advised her to let us go. It was then decided that two other brothers should go, so that I would have one of the older brothers with me.

We boarded a steamboat with Brother Eldredge and Brother Buckland on the 4th of June, 1854, Brother Eldredge being in charge of the Church Train. We went to Fort Leavenworth and then went to the camp ground where Saints were camping. We traveled together for some time and were divided into companies with a captain over each company.

When we were organized into companies, my younger brother and myself were in one company while my two older brothers were left behind to come in the Church Train. I didn't see them again until some time after we reached Utah. Just before we started on our journey, Brother Buckland took sick and died. His sister and her husband and a younger brother by the name of James were in the company, so the brother took charge of the teams. There was danger with the Indians that year as the prior emigrants had had trouble with them.

The journey was long and tiresome. We used to start out and walk ahead of the train as it was too hot to ride in a covered wagon.

On our journey we met Orson Spencer and Ezra T. Benson, who were going back to St. Louis on business. I made myself known to Brother Spencer and asked him to go and see my mother when he reached St. Louis and tell her where he had met us. Brother Spencer promised to do this and said, “So you have left your mother and are going to Utah alone?”

He blessed me and asked me to go and visit his family when we reached Salt Lake and tell them where I had seen him. He told us about the roads and journey ahead of us. I must mention here that Brother Spencer did not live to return home; he died while away and his body was afterwards brought home for burial.

On one occasion on the road, we met an independent company known as the “Land Company,” named this because they were traveling all the way from St. Louis by land. There was a man named Thomas Harry with them, whom I knew in England. (He later settled in Provo and his daughter married William Farrar of Provo.) We stopped and talked to them for a while and then our company decided to move on as it was advised the trains be some distance apart.

There was a camp of Indians just back of us, across the creek. While the men were hitching up, another girl and myself started out ahead. We went for some distance. It didn't seem so far to us but when we listened we could not hear the wagons coming. Finally we started back but still could not see or hear anything of them. We kept going until we reached the “Land Company” which had camped for the night; still our company was no where in sight. We stayed with them; they made us a bed on the ground. Just after we had gone to bed a Brother and two Sisters from our company came and asked the people if they had seen two strange Sisters who had turned off some distance from the main road and had missed their camp. They mentioned they had looked everywhere to find them but to no avail. We then arose and went back with them.

As we traveled along we could often tell just how far ahead another company was by the remains of their camp fires. Sometimes they would put the skull of an animal with the name of the Captain of the company written on it.

We arrived in Salt Lake, September 21, 1854. I made my home for awhile with Brother Buckland's family in what was then called Session Settlement (now Bountiful) and then with Horace S. Eldredge's family in the 13th Ward.

In the spring of 1855, I was rebaptized in City Creek, east of Eagle Gate by Brother Horace S. Eldredge. I then made my home for awhile with Zina D. Young, who lived east of the Eagle Gate and a little south of the log row. I was living there when the Beehive House was being built. In those days a girl was glad to have a place to call home without receiving wages.

In 1855 came the grasshopper famine. In 1857 I was married to Joseph Wright of Mill Creek who had crossed from England on the same vessel with us. He had arrived in Salt Lake in the fall of 1849. We were married (and sealed) by President Brigham Young in his office at the Beehive House.

My husband was in President Young's company celebrating the 24th of July at Big Cottonwood Canyon when the news came that Johnston's Army was coming. He afterwards was called to Echo Canyon to help keep the army from entering the Valley. While he was there we were busy preparing to move, if necessary.

We moved with most of them from Mill Creek to Spanish Fork. We went prepared for whatever might happen but we didn't know what it would be. We took all the provisions possible. President Young advised us to grate our potatoes and make starch of them which we could keep and which would be equal to arrow root. A treaty was made with Johnston's Army and we were very glad when word came that we go back our homes.

In March, 1861, I received my endowments in the Endowment House. My mother emigrated in 1859. I was then living at Mill Creek. My brother William came from Salt Lake City and told me that the company my mother was with would arrive the next morning. I went to Emigration Square, where a company was camped and was told the company would not arrive until afternoon. After dinner we were sitting in the wagon watching the company pass. I couldn't sit there so I got out and started down the street looking in each wagon as it passed. Finally I caught sight of mother walking behind one of the wagons. I rushed into her arms and called out, “Oh, my mother, my mother!” It was indeed a happy meeting.

During this occurrence a girl was standing by the fence watching us. When she saw the meeting she said, “Do stop and talk to me.” I stopped and talked to her and found that she, like myself, had left her mother as I had done. She had been very touched by the meeting between me and my mother.

Many girls had made this sacrifice in those days and it was indeed a sacrifice. My mother died August 13, 1867 and was buried in the Salt Lake Cemetery. In the fall of 1862 at the October Conference my husband was called from the stand in the Old Tabernacle to go on a five year mission to help settle Dixie. On the 11th of November we left Mill Creek to go to Dixie. We were three weeks on the journey. We stayed awhile in Virgin City and finally moved to a place called Duncan's Retreat.

On account of the Black Hawk War in 1866, we were compelled to move from Duncan's Retreat, which was a branch of the Virgin City Ward, to the fort at Virgin City for protection. During the war my husband was a home guard and used to fit the men out with horses. During this time of the Indian troubles, a band of horses were stolen by them from my husband. Most of those horses were made up to the people after the trouble was over, but we never received any recompense for the loss of our horses. My husband helped in building the Washington Factory in Dixie and the store in Virgin City. My husband died June 12, 1873 at Duncan's Retreat, leaving me with six children, four boys and two girls. I lived in the United Order in 1874 and 1875. I was set apart as second counselor in the Duncan Relief Society by William Haslam on May 4th, 1884. In the year of 1887 two of my sons moved to Hinckley on account of the high water washing so much land away. The water began washing away my orchard and vineyard. It came so close to my house that I was compelled to move. This we did, arriving in Hinckley January 9, 1893.

On January 12, 1896 my youngest daughter died, leaving two children, the younger being only 12 days old. After her death, I cared for the children. At the age of 10 years the girl was taken home by her father. I kept the boy until he was married. In December 21, 1900 my youngest son Edwin died of pneumonia, leaving a wife and three children, two boys and a girl.

On January 4, 1894 I was set apart as a teacher in the Hinckley Relief Society by Bishop William P. Pratt. On February 7, 1904, I was set apart as treasurer of the Hinckley Relief Society by Bishop William P. Pratt.

I have twenty-seven living grandchildren, seventeen boys and ten girls. Five of my grandchildren are dead: four boys and one girl. I have at present twenty-three great grandchildren.

Six of my grandsons were in the late World War [I], three were in France and three in the United States.