Nabby Howe Young: Getting to know Brigham’s mother (comment by Brigham)

Nabby Howe Young: Getting to know Brigham’s mother
By Susan Evans McCloud
Deseret News/Thursday July 14, 2011
 On June 11, 1815, Nabby Howe Young died of consumption, the disease which had been torturing her flesh and her spirit for many years. Ten days before, her ninth child and fourth son, Brigham, observed his 14th birthday.
 Abigail “Nabby’ Howe was one of five sisters, all pretty, vivacious girls, all possessing sweet, kindly personalities and musical talent, often performing duets of the simple folk songs enjoyed so much in that day. According to the description left by Brigham’s daughter Susa, Abigail “Nabby” Howe “had blue eyes, with yellowish brown hair, folded in natural waves and ringlets across her shapely brow.”
 Nabby married John Young when she was only 19 years old—on All-Hallows Eve, Oct. 31, 1785. He was a handsome, promising Revolutionary soldier, and times were hopeful, with the colonies having just won their independence, land available for farming and the commercial center of Boston nearby. Nabby entered marriage with a devout religious nature and a delightful sense of humor, which balance helped her to endure the many trials of her shortened life.
  By 1799, John and Nabby had lived in Hopkinton for more than 10 years, and now had 8 children to feed, clothe and raise. Why did John Young pick up and leave in the middle of the winter of 1800-1801, taking his pregnant wife and his children through the bitter New England weather to settle in Whitingham, Vt.?
 Here, as summer greened and the weather softened, Brigham was born on the first day of June 1801. Because of Nabby’s physical weakness, the daughters took the little one under their wing, and Fanny, not quite 14, carried him around on her hip while she did her household chores.
 Life was harsh, but there were love and unity in the Young home. Brigham learned to cooperate, he learned to obey his strict Methodist father: “It was a word and a blow with my father, but the blow came first,” he later expressed. But, it was remarkable that Nabby quietly went forward being herself, realizing the importance of her influence in the home. As Susa said, “Her sympathies were so broad, her vision so clear, her grasp of human values so perfect that friends would come for her when their children were married and take her in a wagon or sleigh to spend a few days in counsel and assistance to young couples who were starting out life.”
 After only three years in Whitingham, John moved his family to Sherburne, N.Y. again, with high hopes and hard labor, clearing land for a farm. Here, 14 year old Nabby, a daughter who was named for her mother, died of consumption.
 In this household Brigham learned the beauty of suffering with faith, dignity and even humor. He learned the power of example. He learned the importance of godliness. His brother, Lorenzo, described their mother in the following vivid words:
 “She was a praying, fervent woman. She frequently called me to her bedside and counseled me to be a good man that the Lord might bless my life. On one occasion she told me that if I would not neglect to pray to my Heavenly Father, he would send a guardian angel to protect me in the danger to which I might be exposed.”
 Nabby softened her husband’s strict ways, and from her Brigham learned how to be a tender, nurturing parent, as the shape of his character began to be formed. His daughter Susa wrote; “The Lion House was the loved home of as healthy and happy a family…..as ever dwelt beneath a roof. Of this I speak with knowledge in this intimate revelation of Brigham Young’s home life, for I was the first child born under its unique roof…In all my life in that beloved home I never heard my father speak an unkind or irritable word to one of his wives.”
 Brigham, following the teachings of the Prophet Joseph, instructed men that women should be treated with deference and respect. “The man who treats a woman disrespectfully,” he taught, “does not know that his mother and sisters were women.”
 Brigham held women in the highest, most tender regard, and labored to promote their well-being, and secure opportunities for them. He believed in women and their God-given capacity to lift, support and inspire men. He paid a reverent tribute to his mother:
 “Of my mother—she that bore me—I can say, no better woman ever lived in the world than she was…my mother taught her children all the time to honor the name of the Father and the Son, and to reverence the Holy Book. She said, “Read it, observe its precepts and apply them to your lives as far as you can. Do everything that is good; do nothing that is evil; and if you see any persons in distress, administer to their wants; never suffer anger to arise in your bosoms, for if you do, you may be over-come by evil.”
 These were the great truths Brigham lived by, picking up the threads of his mother’s sacred faith and weaving them into his life—acting “the part of a father to all,” and bringing the children of Israel safely home to the valleys of Deseret.
 It is the light of the mother that shines in the souls of her children. All of Abigail’s family joined the LDS Church and lived lives of faithful, devoted service, blessing others, as their mother had taught them to do.
 This, of course, was the consummate tribute to a woman who took what little life gave her without complaint—magnifying her gifts, magnifying the truth she cherished—raising up a son to become a Prophet of God.

Abigail Howe (1765-1815)

Abigail Howe (1765-1815)
[The following history was written by Susa Young Gates and published in The Juvenile Instructor, January 1924]
Abigail Howe was born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on the 3rd of May, 1766...She was but nineteen years of age when she married a Revolutionary soldier named John Young.
There were five Howe sisters, and all were said by pioneers who knew them to be pretty girls, vivacious, musical and very popular in their pioneer communities. Theodosia Kimball Young, wife of Brigham Young's oldest brother, John, and Maria Haven Burton, wife of Bishop Robert T. Burton, who lived in the same village and knew them well, bore testimony to the gentle vivacious, and attractive characters of those Howe girls. They were all singers and many social affairs were brightened by the duets and simple folk songs essayed by the Howe sisters. All were very devout and deeply concerned with Puritan religious life.
Abigail herself, though not as tall as some of her sisters, was a little above medium height. She had blue eyes, with yellowish brown hair, folded in natural waves and ringlets across her shapely brow. She was exceedingly methodical and orderly in her temperament. Neatness, as the old term was used, belonged to her as of inherited right. Not robust in her constitution, she burned up her fires of youth in impetuous toil while constantly on the move with her pioneering husband. She was the mother of eleven children. She died 11th of January, 1815.
She was brought up in Shrewsbury, which is not far from Hopkinton. Those little New England towns fairly joined each other through their outstretched farms. Sleighing parties, quilting bees, picnics and religious revivals drew the young people together from contiguous settlements. Abigail, or Nabby, as she was nicknamed, was skilled in housewifely arts, knitting, hemstitching, a little embroidering, and a great deal of spinning and weaving, baking, scrubbing and household adjustment occupying her busy hours. She had unquestionably good schooling, such as was possible for prosperous farmers in those colonial days, and she helped her children over their primary pitfalls. She was intensely humorous in her tendencies and that sense of humor formed a balance which carried her over the frequent pilgrimages of her husband to settle up new countries, leaving her with the difficult burdens of childbearing under such circumstances, child-rearing and homemaking.
The family lived sixteen years in Hopkinton, Mass. Here the most of the children were born. Moving in January, 1801, in the violently cold season of New England weather, she accompanied her husband, John Young, into the remote hills of Vermont, settling in the little village of Whitingham, Windham County, living there long enough for Brigham Young to be born, June 1st, 1801, in a log cabin at the edge of the village. Then the family removed to Sherburn, Chenango County, New York, but did not remain there very long. In 1807 they removed to Smyrna, Chenango County, New York, where her younger son, Lorenzo was born. Moving again to Genoa County, New York, the mother died there the 11th of June, 1815. The mother's health was poor for a long time, and it was a family tradition that Fanny, the elder sister, "raised" Brigham. It is a remarkable thing that all but one of Abigail Howe's children, six daughters and five sons grew up, married and all joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with their families, all remaining faithful to the end...
Abigail Howe Young was a born reformer, so we are told. She was an invalid the last few years of her life, troubled with the frequent New England complaint of consumption, but she kept an active finger on the pulse of the neighborhood. Her sympathies were so broad, her vision was so clear, her grasp of human values so perfect that friends would come for her when their children married and take her in wagon or sleigh to spend a few days in counsel and assistance to young couples who were starting out in life. She was greatly beloved by her associates. Her children are her noblest monument.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ChildrenNancy Young (1786-1860
Fanny Young (1787-1859)
Rhoda Young (1789-1841)
John Young (1792-1870)
Nabby Young (1793-1807)
Susannah Young (1795-1852)
Joseph Young (1797-1881)
Phinehas Howe Young (1799-1879)
Brigham Young (1801-1877)
Louisa Young (1804-1833)
Lorenzo Dow Young (1807-1895)

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ckph/youngj.html

History of Peninnah(Pennina) Jane Smith and McCaslin Frost

As a gentle reminder, I find these histories and journals on the internet and try to use them as life stories.  The details and facts may not be 100% accurate, so please be wise in using these stories. KWP

History of Peninnah(Pennina) Jane Smith and McCaslin Frost
Recreated by John Shaw September 1998
Credit goes to those who have previously written these histories. One family that I know deserves credit is Sylvia and Meshach Adams Terney. Also Julie Rawlins and the Rawlins family organization has done and continues to do a lot...Thanks.... Also note: This history will be written again in the future, hopefully with more documentation...
McCaslin Frost
McCaslin Frost was the son of James and Isabella Van Dyke Frost. He was born on December 10, 1785 in Richland, Rockingham County, North Carolina. He was the forth child in a family of nine children - seven boys and two girls. Jonas, John, Samuel, James, Ezekiel, Nickles, McCaslin, Rachel and Sarah.
Little is known of the early life of McCaslin Frost. He was born just a few years after the Revolutionary War and most of his life was spent under pioneer conditions in five state of the union where he resided - North Carolina, Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois and Utah.
McCaslin was medium build, tall and slender, blue eyes and light complexion. He was humorous, kind and sympathetic and of a jovial disposition. Judging from the childhood experiences related to his grandchildren when they were small, McCaslin's father must have owned some Black slaves. The Black slaves called him "Massa" and went to him with their troubles, sure of sympathy and understanding. But he couldn't always resist the opportunity of playing some harmless prank on them when the occasion presented itself.
The Frosts belonged to the Methodist Church and according to tradition McCaslin's father was of English descent and his wife was Dutch. The family was all musical and sang many old folk songs, some of which are known to have been old English Folk songs. McCaslin's father made a violin and promised it to the first one of his boys who learned to play it. McCaslin won the violin and many years later he gave it to one of his grandsons, who played it at many pioneer dances and entertainments (after they came to Utah). All the family could sing, dance and play. McCaslin's oldest son, Samuel B. Frost could "fiddle", step dance and sing, all at the same time and still not be short of breath.
Pennina Smith
Pennina Smith was born on February 1, 1794, the daughter of John Smith and Margaret Brown, in Wayne County, North Carolina. There were five children in the Smith family, three girls and two boys. Pennina was the fourth child. The other children were: Nancy, Stephen, Jesse and Fereba.
After the death of her mother, Pennina lived with an aunt. When the aunt died, she made her home with James and Isabel Frost, who were probably old friends of her parents. She remained in the Frost home until she was almost sixteen years of age.
During this time she must of become fond of their son McCaslin because on November 28, 1809, when McCaslin Frost was 23 years old he married Pennina Smith who was not quite 16 years of age. They were married in Johnson County, North Carolina.
Together
Pennina and McCaslin Frost made their home in Knox County Tennessee near Knoxville, the main city in the eastern part of the state. This is a mountainous region and had been settled only a short time when they were married. They lived on a river or possibly a creek at the foot of the hill below their house there was a wonderful cold spring. They built a room over this spring and used it not only for drinking water and culinary purposes but also for refrigeration of their dairy products. Their crocks of milk, butter and cheese were kept in excellent condition.
Here in Knox County all of their eight children were born with the exception of the first two, Samuel and Nancy, who were born in Wake County, North Carolina before they moved from that state.
Times were hard in the1830s, so their oldest son Sam went north for a winter and secured work. While he was away he met some L.D.S. missionaries who converted him to Mormonism. When he returned home for a visit he explained the principles of the gospel to his father's family and they were all converted as well as many of their neighbors. This was probably about the winter of 1840-41. After becoming interested in the Mormon church, McCaslin was eager to join the saints in Illinois. John Bright was one of the neighbors that was converted to the church. He kept a diary of their journey up the Mississippi River. It isn't known just when McCaslin and his family left their home in Knox County and began their journey. They first went to Memphis where McCaslin worked for a short time before beginning their journey to Iowa and Illinois. After their arrival in Jefferson County, Iowa McCaslin and Pennina Frost were baptized by their son Samuel B. Frost. They had waited to joint the church until their son could perform the ceremony. They were baptized on August 31, 1841. Samuel had also baptized other members of the family. He had gone to Bear Creek Branch, Illinois and baptized his sister Martha and several others in February 1841 in the Bear Creek. The stream was frozen over and they had to cut a hole in the ice before the baptisms could be performed.
To retrace some history of McCaslin and Pennina's children, on August 7, 1834 Samuel B. Frost was married to Rebecca Foreman in Hancock County, Illinois when 24 years of age. In 1842 he did missionary work in Jefferson County, Iowa and in May 1844 he was called on a mission to the state of Kentucky. He was ordained an Elder in Nauvoo in November 1844. McCaslin and Pennina's other son, James William died in October 1834. Also five years before he died, his sister Mary Ann had died when she was ten years old. Isabelle was married about 1834 to Wiley Jones, who was also a native of Tennessee. Nancy was married to Archibald Kerr of Knoxville May 1833. Fereba was married in Fairfield, Iowa to William Harrison Barger about 1837. He was a native of Indiana. Martha was the sixth child and was married in Jefferson County, Iowa in 1840. Of the Six of the McCaslin & Pennina children to grow to adulthood, all were married and five of them came west and made their home sometime during the westward migration. Four joined the Mormon Church.
At the time of the Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith the Patriarch on June 27, 1844, the Frost family was living about five miles
from Cathage jail. When word reached the people of the ruthless murder of their beloved Prophet and his brother, they could hardly believe it and sent messengers to investigate.
It was a crushing blow to the Saints and almost more than they could endure. But they listened to those in authority, although they could have called out the Nauvoo Legion to avenge the deaths of their leaders, they allowed their enemies to go in peace and waited for the law to punish the assassins. The Frost family could see from the doorway of their home the smoke from other Mormon villages which were being burned by mobs. McCaslin and Peninna moved their family from this home soon after this time. Many of the saints helped to complete the temple in Nauvoo. Peninna and her daughter are on the rolls of the first Relief Society in Nauvoo. Finally on January 5, 1846, McCaslin and Pennina were able to go the temple for their endowments and we assume to be sealed. What an awesome occasion that must have been.
As mob violence increased and temple sealings done, it was time to move west, so in May 1846 they left their homes and started west to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In the fall of 1846 they went down river about sixty miles to a place called Nishnabotna. His son Samuel bought a place and everyone lived there.
In May 1848, they started their trek to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. They were assigned to the third division. Willard Richard's was the leader. Their company was organized with James Blake captain of 100, Barney Adams, captain of 50 and Andrew Cunningham captain of 10. Within a few days there was so much dissatisfaction that the company was divided into three companies. They were in the Andrew Cunningham company. They traveled so much faster that in a few days they passed the other two.
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 12, 1848. McCaslin was 63 years old and Peninna was 54. They spent time living with their children. They spent time in Spring City, Utah with their son Samuel. Also they lived with their youngest daughter Margaret in Richmond, Utah.
In 1869, while living with their daughter Margaret in Richmond, Utah, Peninna Smith Frost became very sick. She died on September 8, 1869. She was 75 years sold. McCaslin lived with them also until he died on May 12, 1874. He was 89 years old when he died. They were buried in the Richmond Cemetery.
What a great example. Thank you McCaslin and Peninna Frost.

McCaslin Frost Patriarchal Blessing
Patriarchal Blessing for McCaslin Frost given March 16, 1857 Brother McCaslin I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and place upon you a father's blessing. Thou art of the seed of Abraham and came down through the lineage of Ephriam therefore thou art a legal heir to the priesthood which has come down through the lineage of the fathers even unto thee. Thou art also entitled to the good things of the earth and the fruits thereof. Thy posterity shall become numerous and thou shall live to see thy children's children. Thou shalt have seen many days of toil and affliction but thy evil days are drawing to a close and thy latter days shall be better than thy former. Thy days shall be lengthened out until thou art satisfied with life. The power of the highest shall rest upon you to comfort and console you in your declining years and the desires of thy heart shall be given you. Rejoice therefore in your God for he is nigh unto all who seek him diligently. Fear not, but keep the commandments of God and all these blessings shall be made sure unto you together with all former blessings and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood I seal this a
father's blessings upon your head and in the name of Jesus Christ. I seal you up unto eternal lives, even so, Amen.
(Source: http://www.bibbs.com/john52shaw/Smith5p/History.htm as of 24 August 2000. Currently, this URL appears to be invalid.)

Margaret Elzira Frost Rawlins

[From Biography for Daughters of Utah Pioneers]

Margaret Elzira Frost Rawlins
by Janice Last Castleton

• BIRTH DATE; Born 28 April 1830 Place: Knox, Tennessee
• DIED ; 4 April 1920 at Lewiston, Cache County, Utah
• PARENT'S FULL NAMES
  

  • Father: McCaslin Frost
  • Mother: Penina Smith Frost
• PIONEER; Arrived in Salt Lake City on 12, Oct. 1848 Came in Cover Wagon with the Andrew Cunningham Company.
• SPOUSE: Harvey Mccalyard Rawlins
• MARRIED 3 Dec. 1846
• MARRIAGE PLACE: Nishnabothna, Atchison, Missouri
• SPOUSE DIED 9 Sept. 1913
• PLACE DIED: Lewiston, Cache County, Utah

THEIR CHILDREN Name Date of Birth

• Margaret Elzirah 30 April 1848
• James Mccaslin 3 July 1850 Died 8 Feb. 1851
• Harvey McGalyard 13 Dec. 1851
• Samuel Lafayett 17 July 1854
• Franklin Archibald 22 Jan. 1857
• Pennina Jane 6 April 1859
• Mary Eveline 19 Nov. 1861
• Joseph William 4 March 1864
• Alma Frost 23 Oct. 1866
• Elva Arminta 14 May 1869
• Jasper Alfonzo 1 Feb. 1872
• Nancy Ellen 1 Aug. 1874

Marrgaret Elzira Frost was baptized by her brother Samuel B. Frost in 1842, after he returned from a mission. She was confirmed by Henry Miller at the water's edge. The family was living in Illinois. They had moved there after joining the church and moving from Tennessee. Her brother Samuel returned to Tennessee to serve his mission among their relatives.

Margaret was working out to a place helping a family in 1846 The mother of this family was sick. One day the father tore a large hole in his coat in going through the brush, as they lived a way out in the woods. Margaret offered to mend the hole. She did such a nice job that other neighbors brought work for her to do.

It was at this time that she married Harvey M. Rawlins. He was a brother-in law to her sister Mary Frost Rawlins.

Margaret writes in her own words, "I was married very young and when our first baby was about three weeks old my husband and I left our parents and families and our home in Nauvoo and started west with the Andrew Cunningham Company of ten. I rode in the wagon which carried our supplies. It was pulled by four oxen. A pig pen was built on the back of the wagon and there was a chicken coop built on top of it. At night they chained the pigs to the wagon wheel and the chickens were turned out to pick around. Then they would hop back in their coop to roost. The old hens laid their eggs every day and they were seldom ever broken from the shaking of the wagon.

Our bed was a homemade one. It stood in the back end of the wagon. I made my bed every day and tided up my corner of the wagon. I had a little rocking chair which sat in the front corner of the wagon. I sat and held the baby most of the time because she was very cross and cried a lot. My husband walked most of the time and drove the oxen and cattle. We milked our cow every day and strained the cream into the churn which stood in the other corner of the wagon. The jaring of the wagon churned it to butter, We had butter all the way across the plains which was quite a luxury for us.

We were never troubled by the Indians nor did we ever have a stampede. to bother us. There was one baby born on the Platt River, he was called Platt Lyman." They arrived in Salt Lake City, 12 Oct. 1848. The first night they stayed at the fort.

Many of their family members came into the Valley at this time and they moved to Big Cottonwood and then on to Draper. In 1865 many of them moved to Richmond, Cache County, Utah. In 1871 Margaret and their family moved to Lewiston, Cache County, Utah,

Margaret and Harvey attended the dedication of the Logan Temple on May 17, 1884. Quoting from her journal again, "At the April conference 1893, the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated and I and my husband was at this glorious gathering." On Jan. 6, 1876 the Relief Society was organized in Lewiston, Utah and Margaret Elzirah Frost Rawlins was called to be its first president. There were 23 members at the beginning. She served as president for 26 years. On her 30th birthday the Relief Society sisters had a surprise party for her. While she was the president of the Relief Society she helped to bury about 125 bodies, and cared for the sick and homeless. She took care of her father and mother until they died, and nearly always had some of her own family living with she and her husband at all times. Her oldest daughter married at the age of 15. Her first baby died in just a few weeks. At 17 this daughter had her second baby and 2 weeks later this young mother died. This was the beginning of many sad sicknesses and deaths with the Frost and Rawlins family. At one time she writes in her journal, "I just live with the dreads."

Margaret and Harvey lived together for 67 years until his death. He was blind for the last 13 years of his life. Margaret's history doesn't mention that she was a member of the DUP, but she states, "The 24th of June 1910 the Daughters of the Pioneers came and held their meeting with us. They served lunch after."

Margaret had her own home until she became sick, a few months before she died, She lived to be 90 years old. Always a very great example of a true Pioneer who's faith never waivered.

Harvey McGalyard Rawlins Jr.

Harvey M. Rawlins, Jr., deceased, was a public-spirited citizen of Utah whose loyalty to the general welfare was manifest in active cooperation in many plans and measures for the public good.

For a long period he made his home at Lewiston but was born at Big Cottonwood, Utah, December 13, 1851, his parents being Harvey M. and Margaret (Frost) Rawlins. The father was born in Greene county, Illinois, February 14, 1825, and was a son of James Rawlins, who served in the War of 1812 and who in turn was a son of Charles Rawlins, one of the Revolutionary war heroes. The family came originally from North Carolina and Harvey M. Rawlins was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Utah. The mother, Margaret (Frost) Rawlins, was born in Fremont county, Iowa, April 28, 1830.

Ruth Arnold line

Ruth Arnold was born July 31, 1768 at East Haddam, Connecticut a daughter of Daniel and Ruth Arnold. Daniel, 1; Gideon, 2; John, 3; Joseph, 4; John Arnold, 5 (1585) in England, came to America and was made a free man at Cambridge, Mass., 1635).

 

Daniel Arnold was born 1731, son of Gideon Arnold and Abigail Brainard. His wife was Ruth Arnold [DBM: Hale]. They were parents of ten children; seven girls and three boys. He united with the Church, February 14, 1762; died May 27, 1774, aged 43 years. He was elected Deacon November 27, 1771, First Congregational Church of Haddam. His wife was appointed guardian of their children. (Ref; Probate Court records of Middlesex County, Connecticut, vol. 4, [DH: page 66, vol. 3 page 66.])

 

Gideon Arnold was born at East Haddam, Connecticut., about 1702. He married Abigail Brainard, May 14, 1724. She was born June 18, 1702. He died before June 3, 1772 [DBM: 10 Feb 1772]. His father was John Arnold. (Ref: the two hundredth anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, October 14-17, 1900, History Catalog of Members of the Church, No. 18). He was a deacon from 1740 to 1772. The Arnold Family by Homer W. Brainard. Transcript, Brochure in the Library of the Connecticut Historical Society. Abigail Brainard was daughter of Elijah Brainard and Mary Bushnell. They were parents of eleven children.

 

John Arnold, father of Gideon, was son of Joseph Arnold and Elizabeth Wakeman. He was born 1664, at East Haddam. We have not been able to determine if his wife was Mercy Hulburt or Hannah Meakin.

 

Joseph Arnold was born 1625 in England. He died October 22, 1691. He was the son of John and  Susanna Arnold. He was one of the original settlers of East Haddam. Two men in 1662 bought a strip of land from the Indians on both sides of the Connecticut river. This was taken over by twenty-eight settlers, of which he was one. Daniel Brainard was another. The land on the west side was called Haddam, that on the east side was called East Haddam. (Ref: “Haddam and East Haddam” by D.D. Fields, and Connecticut Genealogy, vol. 3, page 1439.)

Here the Arnolds raised their families and they inter-married with the Brainards.  John Arnold was born 1585 in England. He came to America and was made a free man at Cambridge, Massachusetts 1635. He then moved to Hartford, Connecticut and was one of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1639. (Ref: Second Church of Hartford, page 24). He acted on a Church committee, and (page 28 [DH: 48]), Susanna, his wife, was reported in full fellowship. (Connecticut Genealogy, vol. 3, page 1359 [DH: 1349])

GEORGE WASHINGTON PRICE 1815-1892

THIS IS THE LIFE STORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON PRICE
UTAH PIONEER -1852 (got off of Ancestry.com)

For hundreds of years the forebears of George Washington Price had claimed the right to choose to worship God according to the desires of their hearts. According to legend they fled to Ireland during the reign of Bloody Mary. They were driven from the Emerald Isle because they would not accept Catholicism. Their next home was Holland and then Germany. From there they came to Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
Part of the family were Quakers.
George Washington Price, the first of his family to accept and become a disciple of the restored Gospel as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith Junior, was the only boy of his family to marry and have posterity.

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON PRICE
As written by Sarah Amanda Ferguson Price (Family Historian)
With additional notes by George Lesile Price
With additional notes by his GGgrandsons
Document retyped by his GGgrandson
This is the life story of George Washington Price who was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, on October 27 1815.
His father, George Price was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1792. His mother was Mary Ann Biddle. She was born in Philadelphia on November 18, 1795. They Married on July 2, 1812 in Philadelphia and later moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There George Price died October 1, 1821 of consumption. George Washington Price was at this time but six years of age and three years later he was made an orphan when his mother died.
A last will of George Price, dated September 12, 1821, a  states that George W. was to receive 9 months of schooling. His sisters, Amanda and Caroline were to receive 3 months of schooling each year. George W. also received his dad's silver watch. John Beam of Conestoge (spelling uncertain) was to be the "township guardian" of his three children.
A news paper death entry, found, 1990 states: "Died this city on Monday [1 October] Mr. George Price, Editor of the Free Press, Aged 29".
Before the mother died she requested that her children be bound to strangers, (not blood kin). George W. who was now nine years of age, was given three months of school every winter and when he reached the age of fourteen years he was to be bound to some reliable person to learn a trade. This later indenture was to last seven years, or until he was twenty-one, at which time he would be considered capable of taking care of himself. So, in keeping with these terms George W. was apprenticed to a Quaker carpenter-builder where he learned the carpenter and joiners trade.
He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March 1840, at Philadelphia. He was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood at Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844.
It is not known who brought the gospel to him in Philadelphia. After accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught be the Prophet Joseph Smith Junior and his disciples, he traveled through the Southern States working at his trade. While there he heard the call of the Prophet for all available skilled tradesmen to assist with the completion of the Nauvoo Temple. He answered the call and took passage on a river boat up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, Illinois. He arrived shortly after the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum. He worked on the Nauvoo Temple and when it was completed sufficiently for ordinance work, he with other had their endowments in December, 1844.
On the morning of the fifth of February, 1845, just a few days after the thaw has set in, George W. was going to his work on the Temple. He left his lodging place early, calculating on getting to the Temple before daylight. A rush was on to complete the assembly room for dedication. He had some molding to make that were to be used that day. When he turned a corned to take a short-cut across a vacated lot, he was attacked by two masked ruffians who knocked him down. He was gagged and bound with the assistance of two more of the mob, and then taken down to the Mississippi River. On the river's edge there were about twenty other members of the mob who were getting breakfast. George W. was placed with seven other prisoners who were under guard. A husk veteran of violence was their leader. He spoke with an Irish brogue.
He ordered that the prisoners be stripped of their clothing with the injunction that they were to leave this section of the country and if they came back to Nauvoo again they would be shot. So saying, the prisoners were pummeled and jostled down to the river's edge. One of the ruffians grabbed a burning faggot from the fire and wiped it across the back of some of the men.
"Good", shouted the leader, "Brand them all. Then we can tell if any of them ever come back." After these words the men were pushed into the river and told to swim or drown. But they didn't drown, for their Lord was watching over them/ An old raft came floating along by the shore. The men got on it and safely reached the other side where friends cared for them at Sugar Creek Camp.
Shortly after this experience George Washington Price returned to Nauvoo to continue his labor at the Temple. He also had another important cause for returning. This cause was a desire to continue his courting of a Quaker maid by the name of Emeline Hutton. She also was working to beautify the Temple of her God. She was an expert knitter and lace maker back in her home town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, so she had been assigned to make coverings for the temple alters. She also assisted in making of the drapes. Her father also worked on the Temple as a ornamental plasterer.
George W. was older that Emeline--he was nearly thirty and she was twenty-two. They were betrothed and met often in the course of their religious activities. Both desired to be married the "Mormon" way and made plans to be married the coming December.
George and Emeline both lived at the foot of Martin's Hill. George had lodgings at the home of one of the saints, a few rods distant from the Hutton home. The thought of having a home of his own made the world very bright of George after being a orphan for so many years. He heart was glad that Emeline was a girl accustomed to his way of life--a devout member of the restored gospel church. But all of this brightness became dimmed when Emeline became ill at Thanksgiving time. The illness lingered on and the wedding date was postponed until January.
Christmas day found her still confined to her bed, slowly wasting away. In her weakened condition she contracted pneumonia and died. She was buried on the very day that had been planned for her marriage.
George was broken hearted when his sweetheart was gone, for the light of his life had gone out. His only consolation was "The Lord hath need of thee". The gospel had taught him that he would meet her again-how soon he did not know.
George helped to make the coffin for his Emeline. He had made many during his apprenticeship as that was a part of the trade, but the making of this coffin was different. Death was very real and it was cruel. He heart ached and his head was bowed is sorrow as he labored. He also made the headboard for the grave.
After the funeral he went back to his lodgings. He was sick at heart to the extent that he could not even eat. He was indifferent to what went on around him. He couldn't bear to go near the Temple to be reminded of the one whose life had been snuffed out.
There were many others in Nauvoo, also, at this time who were not at peace with the world. There was much agitation as the opposition to the people of the Church grew. Brigham Young had warned the Saints to be ready to evacuate their beautiful city by spring time. Many were making preparations even more hurriedly than they expected to, because the opposition wanted them to leave immediately. The weather was very cold, the skies were dark and heavy winds blew. These were days of uncertainty, days of privation , sickness and suffering for many.
George Washington Price was among those who evacuated Nauvoo with the Saints in this February of 1846. He was known to have crossed over the ice of the frozen Mississippi River with Brother Brigham and other exiled Saints. When he joined the group he had his trusty saw, a square, and an ax wrapped in his bed role. He had never gone back to the Temple to get his "pride and joy" tools that had been there for a long time and had used with much gladness.
As he walked along he was joined by one of his temple working companions who had two children with him. The mother of the family was driving a wagon. George took hold of the hand of the nine year old boy and walked beside the wagon. Suddenly George turned to his companions and said, "We will build a city more beautiful than Nauvoo--out in the Rocky Mountains.
It had been the talk of the town that someday the Saints would build an empire in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains were an impossible distance away in those dark days of the Church, But this fact made little difference to George. He was alone in the world and had no place to go and so long as he was with the people of the Church and especially Brother Brigham Young he cared not how far away they were going, or how long it would take to get them there.
The first night away from Nauvoo when camp was made, George was given a gun and assigned to first watch guard duty. This was his first experience as a soldier, but it was not to be his last.
Daniel H Wells came to camp recruiting defenders for the City of Nauvoo. George W. Price responded with hesitancy. He had been raised a Quaker and in accordance with this society was against violence in any form. He sought to follow the teachings of his youth, "Thou shalt not kill". This belief was overfilled by the thought that to be mustered into the army of God's defenders of His Holy Temple and people was a great honor. He reasoned that there was no better way to seal his testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ than to give his life, if necessary, in defense of those principles. So he joined the army and was assigned to Cutler's Division. During the battle of September 11 to 13, he was in the ill fated group that was captured.
The prisoners were rowed across the Mississippi River and landed in a copse of dense growth just below Fort Madison. Fortunately, George made an escape from his enemies and was able to reach a camp of the Saints. There he was pressed into the service of moving the unfortunate Saints westward over the rolling hills of Iowa. The first step was to get them by wagon train to the Des Moines River. George assisted in establishing the ferry service that enabled them to get across the river and head them for Winter Quarters, Nebraska.
While engaged in the ferrying operation, George developed a severe cold that brought on fever and ague. He was relieved of his duties and escorted to St. Louis Missouri.
The next five years of George's life were spent in St. Louis Missouri. He went to work on river boat construction on the banks of the Mississippi River. Where he lived during this period, or what his other activities we do not know.
Living in St. Louis at this time was a staunch Scotch convert and her two daughters. Sister Sarah McDonald Ferguson joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Glasgow. She buried her husband in that city. She and her husband had pledged themselves to migrate to the body of Saints in America as soon as they could make enough money to make the journey. After his death, she with their two daughters sailed on a cotton packet to New Orleans, Louisiana. They were desirous of affiliating themselves with the Saints in Nauvoo. They arrived in St. Louis about the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum. In consequence of this they were advised to remain in St. Louis until a more favorable time came for them to complete their journey.
It is supposed that George W. Price met these people at some of the meetings of the Saints in St. Louis. Nothing has been found that would throw any light on the meeting and courtship of George and Elizabeth Ferguson, one of the daughters. In the later part of the year of 1849 their courtship ripened into marriage. The date of this union was December 30, 1849. After marriage George went to live with the Ferguson family.
How the economic affairs of this family group were handled makes and interesting story. Mother Ferguson was the general manager and banker. Besides caring for the home she did housework for others and took in washing. Elizabeth and Isabel, the other daughter, worked as tailoress, making men's clothing. George continued his work as a carpenter. These four workers pooled their resources, Sarah Ferguson as the keeper of their funds. She placed the money in a sour-dough jar which was concealed in a secret compartment, high up on a shelf that George had built.
When once this money was in their bank it was almost impossible to get any of out for any purpose, save it was essential to getting an outfit to cross the plains. George often in later years said, "Granny could hold on to a dollar longer than anyone he ever met". Nevertheless, there was no dissension to the plan of management for they all had a great desire to migrate to the city of Great Salt Lake in Deseret.

On October 8, 1850, George and Elizabeth were blessed with the birth of their first child. She was named Sarah Amanda Ferguson Price.
Two years later the next important event of their lives took place. It was their move to the west. The family purchased their outfit in St. Louis in the winter of 1852. On April 19, of that same year they left the city for Winter Quarters. The group consisted of George Washington Price, his wife Elizabeth, their daughter Sarah Amanda, his mother-in-law Sarah McDonald Ferguson and her unmarried daughters Isabel.
The George Washington Outfit traveled west in an independent company of ten wagons. The company joined with a larger group while passing through a section infested with Indians. They then fell out into their original company again for the rest of the journey. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 11. 1852, and went directly to the Tithing Yard. After checking in, a tithe of one tenth of all they possessed was paid. George's heart was full of gratitude to his God that he and his family were again associated with the members of the church of their choice. They spend their first week in the valley in the old Fort.
The family then moved to their first residence in the valley. This house was on the northeast corner of Third West and Second South Streets.
They had not been in this home long before they were making plans for the building of a home that would be their own. They selected and purchased a lot, 10 rods in front by 20 rods deep, on Fifth West Street between South Temple and First South Streets. This was the Welch district of the old Fifteenth Ward. On this lot George built one room and moved the family into it by Christmas of 1853. This lot was dedicated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
George found work on the public works. This was a plan provided by the Church for the benefit of the immigrants to help them to help themselves through their first winter. The workers were paid for their labor in stock and produce collected from the people the Church as tithing. These tithes were in kind--on tenth of whatever the Lord had blessed the people with.
March 1, 1853, was a day of rejoicing in the Price household. Another daughter, Elizabeth Emeline, was born. she was the first child to be born in the valley of the mountains and she proved to be a blessing in their time of tribulation.
Grandma Ferguson was with the Price family and continued to live there until her death. She managed the family finances for many years, as she did in St. Louis. She was a devoted mother and faithful Later-day Saint, and contribute much to the welfare of her family. With the other members of the family nearly all of their lot was cultivated during their first year in their new home. They raised most of their vegetables. Old Mulie, the cow that they had brought across the plains with them, provided milk for the family. The next year they added a few sheep to their possessions. Grandmother Ferguson spun wool on a little spinning wheel that had been brought with them. The yarn was woven into cloth and the cloth was made into clothes for the members of the group.
George Washington Price was a very busy man in these early years of life in the valley. He continued to earn the livelihood of his family by working as a carpenter. He was employed on building some of the finest structures in the city as well as on the humblest homes of the Saints. He had a shop at the rear of his home where he did custom work. At times his regular work was interrupted by call to serve his Church and community. One such call came in the winter of 1856. At this time he was employed by a very good friend, Bishop Robert T. Durton.
A call came for volunteers to go out and rescue the stranded handcart companies, so George left his work and went out to give aid to them. He later told his son about some of his experiences on this rescue mission. He told of how he packed the children's frozen feet in snow to draw out the frost; of putting a boy's head in snow pack because his ears were frozen; of wrapping his buffalo robe around and elderly woman; of how he had assisted in administering to this woman before they had loaded her into his wagon; and how he prayed along the road that she might live until he reached the valley.
At time of this incident George Washington Price's only son was less than a year of age. George Ferguson Price was born in Salt Lake City on February 19, 1855. He was the only son of George W. and Elizabeth Price. At the age of fourteen years he became an apprentice in this father's carpenter shop and made this his life's trade.
During the period of the late Fifties (1850) the Price family suffered the deprivations and hardships common to the people of the valley. Church history refers to this period as the "Hard Times". The people were put on rations so that all would have equal chance of survival. All the members of the Price Family held up well under the conditions except the child Elizabeth. She was growing fast and never seemed to have enough food to satisfy her hunger. She would go to her mother and say, "When will the harvest be, Mother?" But as hard pressed as this family was for food, George Washington Price shared his flour with those who needed it and were worse off that he. He bore testimony many times that their flour bin was never empty though he shared the contents of it liberally with the widows and orphans and his neighbors. And never was the Price family brought to bran bread like many of the others.
In the year 1858 another event of great import took place in Deseret. There was a great move on the inhabitants of Salt Lake Valley to the South. This was provoked by the expected arrival of an army sent by President Buchanan of the United States. The army was to quell a so called Mormon Rebellion. The move was instigated by the Congress of the United States and by others who wanted to cause trouble.
Naturally the people in Deseret were going to defend themselves so they evacuated and moved the families to the south of Salt Lake City. Many men were detailed in the defense plan. George Washington Price was assigned to the group that were to build bonfires along the ridges of Echo Canyon when the army came. There was a direct purpose in this assignment as will be revealed later in this story.
Early in April of 1858 an advance contingent, consisting of Colonel Kane, Governor Cummings and escort, made the trip from Camp Scott to Salt Lake City. They passed /through Echo Canyon at night. At many points in the canyon the Utah Militia had great bonfires burning and met the governor and his party at three encampments in military order.

As the party neared Salt Lake City they saw many groups with their earthly possessions traveling South. The evacuation was in full force. Daily the streets of Salt Lake City were crowded with stock and wagons as the families moved South in obedience to this order of President Brigham Young. His Declaration of Policy was to remove all the grain and provisions, the women and children with their personal belongings to a safe place and then burn the city to the ground.
At a special meeting held in the Tabernacle on March 21, 1858, the people unanimously agreed to abandon the city to the enemies and leave them the ruins of a burning city which the people themselves had burned.
Governor Cummings saw and heard enough to convince him of the determination of the Mormons to carry out their "Scorched Earth" program if General Johnson made an attempt to take the city.
Amid all of this uncertainty George Washington Price had a special troubles of his own. Dry straw and shavings from his shop had been placed in the attic, ready to set fire and burn his home at a moment's notice. Part of the family had been moved to the Riley home is Spanish Fork. Grandma Ferguson had taken the three children, Sarah Amanda, Elizabeth Emeline and George Ferguson., and most of their essential requirements. But George's beloved wife was still in the home unable to be moved because of the expected confinement which would bring into the family their fourth child. The baby girl, Mary Ann Ferguson Price was born on March 26, 1858, while her farther was still on guard duty. As soon as possible the mother and child were taken to the rest of the family. Elizabeth married Stephen Richard Horne, Mary Ann married Thomas Cott Griggs and George married Emily Charlotte Beers.
Now to go on with the story of the "war". General Johnson's soldiers were allowed to pass through the city on their was to camp Floyd (Near Fairfield, Utah). The camp furnished work for many of the people and payment for services was made from the surplus supplies of the camp. These consisted of bacon, flour, clothing, an bedding. George W. Price was among those who received of these supplies. He secured for his family a number of things that they would need for their comfort when they returned to their home again.
The date of the return of the family to their home in Salt Lake city at 51 South Fifth West Street is not known. The row of Lombardy Poplars was undisturbed; the garden was in need of attention, and; George W's workshop was as he had left it. Grandmother Ferguson said that was their reward for obeying the teachings of the gospel and following the instructions of those who were in authority as God's servants.
In the year of 1861, George W. was again asked to leave his family. This time it was in response to a request of the Presidency of the Church for two hundred outfits to rescue the stranded immigrants and to gather in the poor Saints and bring them to Zion. This was to be a special mission--no pay was offered and none was expected. Son on April 26, 1861, George W. with his own outfit which included two yoke of oxen, left with others on their mission.
Two of the oxen that George W. had were the original oxen that brought them to the valley. Nig was a two year old and Bolly was the three year old, when they made their first trip to Salt Lake City from St. Louis in 1852.
Nig lived to make the trip across the plains again the years of 1862, 1863, and 1864. This made nine times in all that he crossed the plains. Bolly died before the time to leave in the spring of 1863, so another ox was bought to take his place.
In 1862 George W. Price worked his outfit hauling granite blocks from the Little Cottonwood quarry to the Temple block. In the winter time he worked on church sponsored projects. He worked on the Salt Lake Theater in 1862. He worked on the Salt Lake Temple several times. He was employed on the Tabernacle roof as a timber framer. The Assembly Hall holds some of his work, both on the inside and outside. Here he helped with the construction of the inside furnishings. He made the steps of the winding stair on the north side of the hall in his own shop. He also made moldings used in the construction of the original Tabernacle organ.
In 1868 he worked on the Z.C.M.I. store building. He took stock as part pay for his labor. At this time he had given up freighting and made much of his living by work in his own shop back of the home on Fifth West Street. He was a good craftsman, and his work was to be seen in many of the humble homes of the Saints as well as in some of the most elaborate dwellings.

He made many contributions in labor for the construction of houses of worship. In the first chapel of the Fifteenth Ward there were donated days of work done by George W. This same is true of buildings that housed the Fifteenth Ward co-op and the first Relief Society hall that was built. He walked from his home on Fifth West to the Tenth Ward meeting house to fulfill a pledge he had made to donate so many days labor in its construction.
George Washington Price was a great admirer of Daniel H Wells who directed the defense of Nauvoo where George was captured and later escaped after crossing the Mississippi River. Bishop Robert T. Burton and Elias Morris were also his close friends and they favored him with much work. At one time he was approached by Henry Dinwoody about becoming a partner in his business of building furniture and outfitting home for the people.
Besides laboring at his craft George W. had other activities that should be mentioned. He was custodian of the Fifteenth Ward worthy poor funds and supplies. For these supplies he made a cellar in the lot back of his home. This had a cool compartment for storage, a root compartment or pit for vegetables and an upstairs or ground-floor part for the storage of grains. This upper part also had a swinging shelf where small amounts of flour, germade, and other cereals were kept. The room contained a home-made meat block with cleaver, knives, a saw, and other things nearby. An old stellyard balance was used to weigh the provisions. These were used by George W. as he served the poor. He was a just administrator of all that was allotted to his care and kept a strict account of his receipts and disbursements.
The welfare of his family was a vital concern as well as his work for others. During the early years in the valley sweets were hard to get, as sugar was brought 1500 miles by ox team which made it cost too much of the people to have sufficient for their needs. To alleviate this need George W. built a beet press. After extracting the juice it was put into a vat that was also homemade. The juice boiled to a heavy molasses which the family used. He didn't know how to clarify it and it was "crude". Yes, but he was a carpenter and not a chemist, and certainly his intentions were of the best.
George W. was a progressive gardener along this his other accomplishments. He tried out the introduction of wild fruits in his garden such as mountain currants, strawberries, Potawatomi plumbs, peaches and Australian cherries. The peaches were an inferior variety and for five years after they started to bloom they were killed by frost. He afterward raised as fine peaches as anyone in the valley. He was also successful with three varieties of apples, plumbs, apricots, pears cherries and as variety of berries. He garden of vegetables and potatoes provides plenty for the family use.
George W. took pride in his home and when a real estate boom took place in the city he was offered a chance to see it. The Church Authorities had advised the people not to sell their property and so he told all who came that his property was not for sale.
The character of George Washington Price is worthy of emulation. He was a faithful and willing church worker, a full tithe payer and honest in all of his dealings with his fellow men. Other characteristics were extolled at his funeral.
George Washington Price died February 2, 1892 at his home at 51 South Fifty West Street in Salt Lake City. He was seventy-seven years of age. His funeral was conducted in the Fifteenth Ward Chapel under the direction of Bishop Joseph Pollard. The speakers were Bishop Robert T. Burton and Bishop Pollard. Bishop Burton said, "He was too honest to be come rich." Bishop Pollard said, "His word was his bond. He had no desire for public acclaim and would rather be a keeper in the kingdom of his Lord, than to be chosen to sit on the Right Hand of his Master." He was buried in the Salt Lake City cemetery.
A last and most fitting tribute was paid to him by a neighbor and close friend who said of him what he was still a Quaker, honest, meek, humble, industrious, tolerant, and a faithful servant.
These were his sterling qualities. His desires were to do good to all men and evil to none. He lived as he believed.