Mary Bathsheba Gillions Wagstaff

Mary Bathsheba Gillions Wagstaff was born October 13 1788, at Caldecote, Bedfordshire, England, the daughter of William Gillions and Bathsheba Lee.

She married Isaac Wagstaff on July 12, 1808. The following children were born to this union:
1. William Wagstaff, born 13 Jul 1909.
2. Mary Wagstaff, born 25 February 1811.
3. Elizabeth Wagstaff, born 31 December 1812.
4. Jane Wagstaff, born 8 October 1814.
5. John Wagstaff, born 25 April 1816.
6. James Wagstaff, born 11 May 1818.
7. Samuel Wagstaff, born 20 October 1820.
8. Martha Wagstaff, born 11 December 1822.
9. Sarah Wagstaff, born 2 September 1824.
10. Ann Wagstaff, born 23 March 1826.
11. Rachel Eleanor Wagstaff, born 20 May 1829.

Isaac died March 1, 1844, but his widow and her youngest daughter, Rachel, were permitted to continue living on the Harvey Estate where he had been employed.
When over sixty years of age, Mary Bathsheba trekked across the western plains in America where six of her married children in time made new homes as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She arrived here September 22, 1853. She lived the remainder of her life as a faithful member of the same church and died at the age of 68 at Lehi, where she was buried October 29, 1856. Her son William wrote that she was a devout Christian and insisted upon her children’s attendance at Sunday School no matter what the weather, which may account for their sincere religious convictions standing throughout their lives. Family tradition says she was a remarkably strong, healthy woman, full of energy and ambition, and is reported to have walked from Lehi to Salt Lake City to visit her children, and back again, even when carrying a basket of fruits to Salt Lake City and another basket of store groceries back to Lehi.

Her eleven children were also noted for their excellent health. All living and growing to maturity in a world that knew nothing of sanitation and very little concerning favorable health habits. Only one child of her eleven, Martha, died as young as 44. Three died in their 70's and tow reached 80. One, the oldest, living to be 88 lacking 2 months.

She was noted for her sincere outlook on life and her stimulating influence. No one of her household could be lazy or neglectful, and wrong doing of any kind was impossible in her presence.

Her children mourned her loss in death sincerely, and tried to glorify her memory by living sterling principles of integrity and righteousness which she had instilled into them far back in their childhood days.

Mary Ann Wagstaff Bullock

[The following was taken from histories deposited at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.]
Born 20 Oct 1838 Cambridge, England
Death 31 Mar 1914 Warren, Weber, Utah
Parents Frederick Wagstaff & Mary Ann Stewart
Spouse Thomas Henry Bullock
Married 25 Jun 1864
Seath Sp. 23 May 1906 Warren, Weber, Utah

Children
Lillian Cora 2 Aug 1865
Maud Mary 16 Jul 1867
Henrietta Jane 9 Aug 1870
Thomas Frederick 2 Aug 1871
Walter William 8 Jun 1874
Henri Stewart 20 Aug 1876 (died infant)
Pamela 18 Oct 1878
Pearl Lida 23 Apr 1882

Year arrived in Utah 3 Oct 1863
Company of Daniel McArthur Handcart
Submitted by: June Ellen Wayment Orton
525 E 2850 N
Ogden, Ut 84414-2015

At 23 years of age, Mary Ann boarded the ship Amazon to come to America. She traveled alone but her sister Elizabeth Wagstaff Shupe and her aunt Elizabeth Stewart Marriott had come to America six months earlier.

She started walking across the plains with a handcart company, but a young teamster, rather liking her company, asked her to ride in his wagon, using the excuse for having her there, that she was mending his clothing and sewing on buttons etc.

She said in later years that it made the trip a lot easier for her but it gave her a guilty feeling because there were women much older than myself than had to walk all the way.

One day after arriving in Utah, that young teamster named Thomas Henry Bullock, announced to Mary that he was going to marry. When she exclaimed “who” he calmly answered “No”. Assuring her she would not live in polygamy because he did not want to either, she accepted. They were married in the Temple and went to Salt Creek to live. Their home was a one room cabin with a quilt hung over the opening for a door.

When Mary Ann was in labor with one of her babies, a tribe of Indians were passing by moving to new territory. As they came up even with the doorway,each Indian would put his head in the doorway and look around, curious to see what the Indian ahead of him had seen.

Thomas Henry explained the situation to the chief who then came to stand in front of the doorway untiall all the tribe had passed by.

Mary Ann did later accept polygamy as Thomas Henry was called to take a second wife. She was Jane McBride, an immigrant girl from Scotland.

The story passed down to the family was that when one of the babies died, pressure was put on Mary Ann to sustain Thomas to take a second wife, with the assumption that because she was dragging her fee in this respect was why the baby died

Jane McBride had hired as a household helper. It was she that was taken as his 2nd wife. When Thomas Henry bought a length of material for one wife a dress, he always bought enough of the same material for the other, Mary Ann always put her material aside and did not use it until Jane had made hers and worn it out.

Jane, much younger than Mary had the youngest family, so Thomas lived with them. Stories passed down from Jane's family were that she would get upset when Thomas would visit Mary Ann and one time threw the family Bible down the hole of that little house out back with the half moon cut in its door. Some one retrieved it. It was cleaned and restored and kept by the family.

Mary Ann was a thorough house keeper, a woman with a strong sense of fairness, and a warm heart. When her daughter Maud Mary died leaving a family of seven children, she cared for them as best she could, and took the baby Vern and raised him for a number of years. When Thomas was old and ill and wished to live out his last years with Mary Ann, she gladly took him in and cared for him until he died.

Mary Ann Wagstaff was born 20 Oct 1839, a daughter of Frederick Wagstaff and Mary Ann Stewart. She was born in Cambridge, England, and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while still living in England, Feb 1863. The ship Amazon lists her as 23 as she registered to sail to America. She crossed the plains as part of the Dixie Company led by Captain McArthur as this company crossed the plains in 1863. Thomas Henry Bullock had traveled east to become a teamster for this company.

I am indebted to Luretta C. Simpson for the following:

My mother Pearl Lida Bullock Cole, told me stories from the life of her mother, Mary Ann Wagstaff. Mary Ann Came to America alone. However, some family members were already here. She started walking across the plains with a company, but a young teamster, rather liking her company, asked her to ride in his wagon, and used tan excuse for having her there that she was mending his clothing and sewing on buttons, etc.

She said in later years that it made the trip a lot easier for her, but he gave her a rather guilty feeling as there were women much older than herself that had to walk all the way.

Mary Ann was a very well trained seamstress when she lived in England. There is still evidence of her neat hand sewing in a dress which I have that she made entirely by hand stitching.

The young teamster who asked her to ride with him and sew buttons on his shirts was Thomas Henry Bullock.

One day, sometime after they had arrived in Utah, Thomas Henry said to Mary Ann. “Well, Mary Ann, I'm going to get married.” To this Mary Ann exclaimed, “Really, who are you going to marry?” Calmly he relied, “I'm going to marry you.”

Mary Ann had already had several proposals of marriage to be plural wife to men who were of great respect in the church, but she had not wanted t be a plural wife. She let Thomas Henry know she'd had these proposals, and he assured her that if she married him she would not live in polygamy, as he also did not want to live in polygamy.

I imagine she thought it over carefully. Perhaps she had already done so. Judging from the exactness of her sewing, she would be that way about life in general. At any rate, she accepted Thomas Henry's proposal and on the 25 Jun 1864 they were married in Salt Lake City, Salt, Utah. They both received their endowments and were sealed for time and all eternity the 26 June 1876 in the Endowment House. After becoming his wife, they moved to Salt Creek, later called Warren, Utah, where they resided the remainder of their lives.

Mary Ann had an Aunt Elizabeth Stewart (Marriott), an Uncle William Stewart, and a sister Elizabeth Wagstaff (Shupe) who had come to America and to Utah six months earlier, so she was not without family when she arrived.

After their marriage, Thomas Henry and Mary Ann were living in a one-room cabin. It did not have a door, just a quilt or blanket hung over the doorway to give privacy. Mary Ann was in labor with one of her babies. At this time a tribe of Indians were passing by, moving to new territory. As they came up even with their doorway, each Indian would put his head in the doorway and look around, curious to see what the Indian ahead of hi m had seen.

You can imagine how disconcerting this must have been to Mary Ann or any others who might have been in the household to help. Thomas Henry knew something had to be done. He went to the chief of the tribe and explained the situation to. The chief came and stood in front of the doorway until all of the tribe had passed by.

I picture him standing straight a d tall with his back to the doorway, his arms folded across his chest and a stern look of authority on his face. At any rate none of the Indians tried to look in the doorway with him there.

Mary Ann did later accept polygamy as Thomas Henry was called to take a second wife. His wife was Jane McBride, an immigrant girl from Scotland.

Mary Ann was the mother of eight children, to of whom died in infancy. I have heard from a different source, not from my mother, that when one of her babies died in infancy probably Walter William Bullock born 8 Jun 1874 and died 3 May 1876, that pressure was put on Mary Ann to Sustain Thomas Henry to take a second wife, with the assumption that because she was dragging her feet in this respect was why the little boy died.

Jane McBride had been hired as a household helper when Mary Ann's child was born. I assume that the child Henri Stewart who was born 20 Aug 1876. It was 13 Oct 1876 that Thomas Henry took her for his second wife.

Mary Ann had a pine floor in the kitchen of her home. Mother said, every evening when the children were all in bed, Mary Ann would scrub her floor with hot lye water, thereby always keeping her floor white. One of her favorite sayings in regard to housekeeping was, “If you keep the corners clean, the center will take care of itself.”

In looking at Mary Ann's picture and the dresses she wore and also the sewing she had done, I picture in my mind as a medium to small women, very neat and orderly, perhaps even prim, but with a strong sense of fairness and a high self-esteem.

Mother told me when Thomas Henry would buy a length of dress material for one wife, he always bought another length of material just exactly the same for the other wife, But Mary Ann would put hers away and not make it up until Jane and made hers and worn it out. That is not unlike we women today, we do not like to dress exactly like other women. We are different and like to dress differently. This was probably to Jane's liking as well.

Jane, of course, was much younger that Mary Ann and her children were small while most of Mary Ann's were grown. As result, Thomas Henry lived with Jane and the younger children.

Then finally the day came when Thomas Henry was old and ill. Mother thought he probably had sugar diabetes a so many of his children have had, but it wasn't known in those days. At this time Thomas Henry came to Mary Ann and asked if he could come home to her to spend the rest of his life. Mary Ann told him he most assuredly could, and she took care of him until he died 23 May 1906 at 67 years of age.

I hope you get as much joy from reading this short history as I have received from writing it. We have so much t be grateful I having ancestors who braved the frontier and other dangers for the love of the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we always cherish their memory and love and live the gospel as they tried to do. …

Lureta C. Simpson

Mary Ann lived in a little home in Warren alone. I have heard stories from members of Jane's family that Jane would really get upset when Thomas Henry would go over to visit Mary Ann. One time Jane Threw the family Bible down the little house with the half moon out back. Someone retrieved it, and it was cleaned and restored. A member of Jane's posterity still has the Bible.

My Father, Chester T. Wayment, tells me of his mother who was Mary Ann's daughter, Maud Mary Bullock Wayment, becoming ill and dying from Typhoid pneumonia just a year after her husband, William T. Wayment, returned from a mission, leaving her little family of seven children, one of them just a new baby. Mary Ann, the grandmother, must have looked after this little family as best she could. She and her daughter, Pearl, took Uncle Vern, the baby., nursed him and raised him for a number of years. My father was four years old and he tells how he loved to go to his grandmother's home and play with Vern. The oldest one of these children was fifteen years old.

Their father William T. Wayment, married Elsie Wade, and they moved to Ogden to live. Leaving this young family to care for themselves.

Mary Ann passed away 30 Mar 1914, and is buried in the Warren, Weber County, Utah, Cemetery.

Ogden Standard …... Bullock

The funeral of Mrs. Mary Ann Bullock was held yesterday afternoon in the Warren Ward Meeting house. Bishop William Wayment presided and the speakers were F. F. Barrow, Joseph Wayment, Joseph Skeen, Patriarch George W. Larkin and Bishop Wayment.

Special music was furnished by the choir, Jesse Wayment and Herbert East. The internment was made in the Warren Cemetery.

Their children are:
Lillian Cora 2 Aug 1865
Maud Mary 16 Jul 1867
Henrietta Jane 9 Aug 1870
Thomas Frederick 2 Aug 1871
Walter William 8 Jun 1874
Henri Stewart 20 Aug 1876
Pamela 18 Oct 1878
Pearl Lida 23 Apr 1882

Sarah Wagstaff Sears

Daughter of Isaac Wagstaff and Mary Bathsheba Guillians.

 Sarah Wagstaff was born at Caldicote, Northill Parish, Bedfordshire, England, 2 September 1824. She died at Salt Lake City, Utah, 18 November 1902. In the year 1842 she married John Sears, and eleven children were born to them. The part played by the wife and mother was not one which occupied the center of the stage, nor was she ever in the lime-light. Yet her life was full of that quiet heroism which usually goes unsung. A wonderful helpmate, a devoted mother and a loyal friend. Patient in trial, uncomplaining in adversity and conscientious in all things. Her disposition was sunny and her love for the wild birds and flowers of England amounted almost to devotion. This feeling never left her and her hobby in later life was to have the finest flower garden in the neighborhood. The care of flowers sweetened her life and lengthened her life. All kinds of flowers and shrubs seemed to thrive and grow under her magic touch.


The schools of rural England at the time of her girlhood were hardly worthy of the name, but she was endowed with a native intelligence, keen intellect, and quick perception. As she grew in stature and developed in mind there came a comeliness, grace, and beauty which caused many a swain to sigh and John thought himself fortunate when he led to the altar. Sarah came from stock that was as solid as the rock. The Wagstaffs were conservative, thorough going, and thrifty. Not brilliant, but honest, dependable people. Their name was a symbol of honor. With such ancestry and a reasonably favorable home environment, Sarah had the foundation for the part in life she played so well as wife and mother.

Heber J. Sears
by Drucilla Sears Howard

My recollections of my grandfather and grandmother Sears dates back to my earliest childhood. They lived next door to my mother’s home until I was about sixteen years old. As a small child I used to carry a pail of milk to them from our cow each evening, climbing over the stile in the fence which separated our back yards. I remember grandmother’s lovely flowers, and how much she loved them, also that she often used to give me a piece of hard candy or homemade currant cake. (I wish I had a piece of it right now). Also there was a long boardwalk which led from the house to their barn and a grapevine trellis which arched over the walk. When the grapes were ripe we children used to like to walk down the boardwalk just to see fi the grapes tasted as good as they looked (they did). It was grandfather Sears who selected the verse which was painted in our old beloved 11th Ward Meeting House and which read, "Ye shall keep My Sabbaths and Reverence my Sanctuary - I am the Lord".

John Sears

husband of Sarah Wagstaff Sears

John Sears, eldest son of Joseph Sears and Elizabeth Cutler, was born at Southill Parish, Bedfordshire, England, Oct 18, 1822 and died in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 1, 1902.


He married Sarah Wagstaff of Caldicote, Bedfordshire, England December 26, 1842. They had eleven children, Septimius W., Isaac, Maria, Nathan, Maria Ann, David, John, Mary, Sarah Elizabeth, Daniel John, Mary and Sarah Elizabeth died in infancy.


John grew to manhood in Bedfordshire following the occupation of a farmer. When married he lived in a little thatched cottage in Upper Caldicote. Here the young couple began housekeeping in three rooms; one upstairs and two down. In the south room, the largest, John taught school in the evening, for he enjoyed the distinction of being the best educated man in the family and perhaps in the neighborhood. His brother David has told of how clever John was in writing short-hand he gained the great speed of 60 to 70 words per minute. He was also a great reader and at times met clergymen in debates. David told of how John once held a four hour debate with a minister and still had plenty of argument left over.


It is said that John "set the pace" in reaping, mowing, or any kind of farm work. In those days all grain was cut with a scythe with cradle. At the house in Upper Caldicote, seven of the first eight children were born and the family struggled against adversity so common in those days and in that section of the country. As soon as the children were all taught to plait or braid straws for making hats, and this was their occupation until they were large enough to heavier work. The mother and children would plait every spare moment of the day and often well into the night.


In 1849 the whole family joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and here began a new epoch in their history. On June 3, 1864, John Sears with his wife and four children, Nathan, maria Ann, Heber and anna left England on a sailing vessel called the "Hudson". The Captain was Israel Pratt. It took them six weeks and six days to cross the Atlantic. There were about eleven hundred passengers on the boat. One thousand of them being Mormon emigrants. Needless to say that in the intimate companionship formed on this long sea voyage friendships were established which lasted throughout life.


They danced, they sang, played and held diving service on shipboard. The ship pulled into New York harbor on July 20, 1864. On the evening of July 21 they boarded a magnificent steamer, the first steamboat they ever saw, and went up the Hudson River, arriving at Albany, New York the next day. At Albany they took train for Buffalo. The trip from Buffalo was made in cattle cars.


The landed in Chicago on Sunday July 24 and as at that time no trains left Chicago on Sunday, they remained until next morning, when they went to Quincy, Illinois. But as there were no hotel accommodations they were compelled to stand up all night in a shed at the railway station. From Quincy they took a train fir St Joseph, Missouri. This was also a train of cattle cars, with no seats and with manure in some places a foot deep. The cinders from the engine poured in on them and one car took fire. The passengers all got out but the car was burned up. The train left in three sections and some accident befell each section. Two sections rolled down an embankment but no one was hurt. the railroad men said it didn’t matter much if some of them were killed as they were only Mormons. This was during the Civil War and travel was dangerous on account of many bridges having been burned by rebel soldiers. At St Joseph, Missouri, they were permitted to go on a steamer, on August 1, up the river to Florence. Here they were camped and ready for their journey across the plains with ox teams, which began on August 12th. These ox team companies were in charge of captains. There would be one captain over fifty people, and these fifty were again divided into tens, with a captain over each ten. The captain of the company in this special case was William Hyde, from Hyde Park, Cache Valley, Utah. John Sears drove one of the ox teams but his wife and children were in another wagon driven by Daniel Wolstinholme. The wagon was loaded with merchandise to the top of the double bed, with eight passengers besides the teamster in the bows. In this particular wagon was Sarah Sears with her children: Nathan, Sarah Ann, Heber and Anna R. Besides three other women. There were about thirty-five wagons in the train. some forty or fifty of the immigrants died on the way owning to change of food, cholera and hardships. The Indians were very hostile that year. Eleven men killed by them in a company of freighters just ahead of this emigrant train, but this company was not disturbed by the Indians. They had plenty of provisions and although buffalo were scarce at this time, the antelope were plentiful. One of the children, Heber, was sick all the way. He had measles when o the ship and did not fully recover from them. As they journeyed westward across the plains he grew gradually worse and on the day he was three years old they expected to have to bury him on the plains. However he served and lived to a greater age than any of his brothers or sisters.


They arrived in Salt Lake City, October 26, 1864, making their journey across the plains in fifteen weeks and one day. After being entertained for a few weeks by the wife’s brother William Wagstaff, who lived just opposite, west of what is now the City and County Building, (1933) the family moved to Morgan, Utah, but the winter was so severe that they left there and moved to Kaysville, Utah, where they found a friend in one Charles Layton, who divided his one room house by a partition and made them as comfortable as he could and for a year permitted them to farm part of his land on shares. The following fall they rented a neighboring farm belonging to Mr. Horton Haight and stayed there for two years. although he though the grasshoppers were a great pest, these years were prosperous ones.


The building of a rail-way down Weber Canyon created a demand for improved farm products and the financial condition of the family was much improved. live stock accumulated, corps were good and wild game was plentiful. At the end of two years they were persuaded to move to Pleasant Grove, to which place they went Oct. 1868. Here there last son John Joseph was born. This move was unfortunate as the land was poor and returns small. At the end of the year they decided to move to Salt Lake City and for a year or two the did a little farming on the bench south of the city.


In the year 1871, John Sears began to work for Zions Co-Operative Mercantile Institution. For a number of years he was manager of the produce department and stayed at the institution until 1888, when he resigned and retired from active business. During all this time the family ;moved in the 11th Ward and most of the time at what is now known as 746 East 2nd South St., while living there their last three children were reared so that number is known as the old estate of Sears family.


In 1888 John Sears made a visit to England which lasted tow months. The object of this trip was to visit again the haunts of his boyhood and to gather the family genealogy.


In the year 1890 Salt lake City had a real estate boom and the old home on 2nd south with had been occupied for more than twenty years was sold for a good price. With part of the proceeds they built a cottage in a southern suburb of the city on 5th east just below 17th south, and here they spent the remainder of their days. John Sears was a man of sterling integrity. One who rose from obscurity to a sphere of usefulness. From illiterate youth to a well-read man. From poverty to comfort. He rose above any of his brothers and sister in material, intellectual and spiritual attainments. He was a worthy citizen, a good neighbor and a devout Latter-day Saint. It is certain that the faith he espoused in his native land, fired him with enthusiasm, gave purpose to his life, and brought him to the land of opportunity. He lived to be 80 years old.

A Pioneer Home that Grew

by Drucilla Sears Howard

Isaac Sears, a Utah Pioneer of 1864, was born in Caldicote, Bedfordshire, England, 2 December 1845. His parents were John and Sarah Wagstaff Sears. He being the second born of their eleven children. At the age of twenty-two he married Sarah Jane Gailey in the Old Endowment House in Salt lake City and proceeded to Kaysville where these young people lived until there were two children. Returning to Salt Lake City he became an organizer and a part of the business firm of "Sears and Jeremy", dealers in hay, grain and seeds. This venture proved successful and as his life’s employment, enabled him to support his large and growing family to the end of this days.


The memorable trip from Kaysville to Salt Lake City was made in a wagon drawn by a horse and a mule and loaded with all kinds of accumulated possessions as well as the young family. Their precious cow was tied to the back of the wagon and so the twenty-five mile journey must have taken a whole day at least. Little Mary Ann, still only two years of age, kept asking her patient father to get out and milk the cow as she was so thirsty, which took additional time. However, they arrived and located in the Eleventh Ward where they pitched a tent to live in while building the first section of their pioneer home at 756 East Second South Street. This was built of adobe, two rooms, one above the other, but before it was finished their baby son died and this sad event was followed by further misfortune. While they were absent for their new home, all the furniture was stolen. But, they had pioneer courage and undismayed they plodded on together and in this small bedroom upstairs, four children were born: William G., Sarah Drucilla, Etta May and Jessie. the following were born later: Ira, Harold Ernest, Albert Eugene, Wilton Henry, Ethel Irene and Afton.


A summer kitchen or shanty was built at this time on the back of the first two rooms into which the kitchen stove was moved during hot July and August days. I remember standing in that uncomfortable spot washing dishes. Also we had a long metal bath tub with a hinged lid that we used fora a table when it was not in other use. Later on this tub was converted into a drinking trough in the barnyard for the horses and cows.


As our lot extended half way through the block, Father planted a number of fruit trees including plum, cherry, peach, apricots and apple trees, which flourished and gave us much happiness. The irrigation ditch was between the sidewalk and the street and provided water for the surrounding gardens. How we loved that ditch. There was no dearth of activity as long as we could make dams, tiny irrigation systems, waterfalls, water wheels and day dreams with the interesting and fascinating liquid treasure.


As the years passed by and children kept coming the house became too small ans so was enlarged by the addition of a two-story adobe part built in 1879, which contained four more rooms, two upstairs, and two downstairs with a commodious cellar and a fireplace in the parlor. One of the first telephones to be installed in the residential district was in this home and for a number of years the room in which it was placed became known as the "telephone room". In emergencies neighbors and friends from blocks around came to use our phone. I remember one local belle who came frequently to talk with her beau, and if mother was not close by so that she could reprimand us, we curious children listened in.


In 1886 still another addition was built back of the original two rooms. This new part was of brick and included a dining room, up to date kitchen pantry and bathroom. It did not show from the front of the house and so cannot be seen in the old photograph. By this time we had running water in the house with a kitchen sink, a larger water boiler attached to the range, and bathroom conveniences. How modern we felt. However, we still had kerosene lamps to fill and clean daily. When we went upstairs to bed we would carry lighted candles amusing ourselves with dropping tallow "warts" upon our hands.


Once a year, in the spring, we would clean house. All of the carpets must be taken up, carried downstairs and out of doors where they would be beaten and swept. Our heavy beds and ticks were similarly treated. After all walls, woodwork and glass were made spotlessly shining, aired and ready, new straw was spread upon the floors under the carpets and new straw also placed in the bed ticks. In the winter we frequently had fires burning continuously in four or five rooms, for which all of the fuel had to be carried into the house from the outside coalshed and when reduced to ashes and refuse, carried out again. Truly, the essential work in keeping up these early loved poems provided plenty of physical exercise.


Among the outdoor interests we were especially proud of our carriage steps. At first they were placed in front of the house near the street but later moved to the outside lane which led to the barnyard. The trick was to drive close enough for passengers to step easily into or from the vehicle, but, we children, when driving, had a way of hitting steps with the wheels and occasionally bringing upon ourselves ridicule and embarrassment.


Father built a large adobe barn in which were the harness room, the buggy room, and a large loft where several loads of hay could be stored. Along the south side of this barn were the stalls for the horses and good old family cow. We used to give neighborhood plays in the place where the buggy was kept, using the harness room for costume needs. Besides the barn there were wooden sheds for baled hay and straw and to house the sheep to be fattened for market.


Mother always canned and dried an abundance of fruit and in the winter made a barrel full of mince meat. There were ample stores of fruits in the cellar and a year’s supply of flour. The bins in the kitchen were enormous and were also kept full. Apples, molasses and cider, of which there was plenty, helped with informal entertaining, parties and general hospitality.


About the time when I was nearly grown "Block Meetings" were being held in some of the large-enough poems. Often they came to our home and such good times we had. After the formal meetings we pushed the big old dining table against the wall and danced to father’s accordion music, or one of the boy’s mouth organs. Quilting bees were also delightful occasions. Friends and neighbors would come and chat while they worked. We children learned many new strange things from just listening in while we threaded the needles.


One of the most popular home entertainments was the surprise party, at one time this was what was called "the rage" and it seemed as though everyone of any importance was being "surprised".


We had many good times in the old home but perhaps those at Conference times were the most memorable. All of our relatives would come from distant parts. Beds were made in almost every room of the house and the table and pantry were laden with favorite foods.

Mother was an excellent cook and father was most hospitable and generous. We had music, dancing, visiting, sermonettes, testimonies and family love which have left a golden treasury of memories which include all of life spent in the dear old home that grew.

RACHEL ELEANOR WAGSTAFF HAYES

DUP Book, "Women of Faith & Fortitude"

Birth: 20 May 1829, Old Caldicote, Bedford, England


Death: 31 Oct 1884, Pleasant Grove, Utah, Utah


Parents: Isaac Wagstaff & Mary Bathsheba Gillions


Spouse: John J. Hayes


Marriage: 23 Feb 1853, on board ship "Elvira Owen"


Spouse Death: 7 Dec 1897, Pleasant Grove, Utah, Utah


Children:
     John Joseph, 6 Aug 1854
     Hadahiah, 27 Jul 1855
     Eleanor Jane, 14 Jul 1856
     Elizabeth, 29 Dec 1858
     Isaac John, 19 Nov 1860
     George Samuel, 23 Oct 1862
     William Lehi, 19 Jan 1865
     Henry Nephi, 28 Jan 1867
     Sarah Emma, 5 Nov 1871


Rachel was the youngest in a family of eleven, four boys and seven girls. They lived and worked on the estate of Esquire Harvey. Her father died when she was eight years old. On account of her father’s years of faithful service, the landlord gave the family the privilege of living in their home rent free as long as her mother lived.


Rachel attended the village school and also learned to braid straw hats. At the age of seventeen she took a severe cold which resulted in a serious illness. She was bedfast till she was twenty years old.


While sick, her brother, John, never failed to visit her on Sunday. Once when he came he said, "Rachel there are some strangers in the neighboring village who claim to heal the sick by the laying on of hands, they claim to teach the true and everlasting gospel."


Rachel was very interested and wanted to hear more about them. She began pleading with her mother to let these men visit their home, but her mother was a faithful member of the Church of England.


As Rachel lay upon her bed thinking and pondering she saw a scroll let down upon the wall of the room and as it unrolled she could read it. It was a quotation from the Bible, James 5:3-17. Rachel could no longer doubt and would not give her mother any peace until she consented to let the elders come and administer to her, which they did. Soon after, Rachel decided to be baptized and was carried to the water and baptized and was immediately healed from her sickness and she walked up out of the water and was entirely well. After this great manifestation of healing power, her mother could doubt no longer and was baptized into the Church.
Soon after joining the Church they began preparation for emigrating to Utah. Rachel became acquainted with the Latter-day Saints missionaries, among whom was John J. Hayes to whom she became engaged and he started with them to Utah.


In the Spring of 1856, when Rachel and John went to Salt Lake City to receive their endowments, Sister Eliza R. Snow, general president of the Relief Society, gave Rachel a special blessing in which she said she should have a daughter who would live to be a blessing to them in their old age. Some weeks later Eleanor Jane was born and was the only daughter that lived to maturity.


Rachel did her best in helping to make a home and good living condition in every way she could. Her special work was millinery, not only braiding straw and making hats but she made beautiful artificial flowers from straw and trimming. She also taught braiding school for girls.


Rachel labored as a teacher in the Relief Society for many years and taught her children to be true Latter-day Saints. She was a very tender gentle woman, religious, very jolly and hospitable, and a devoted wife and mother.

MARY WAGSTAFF BONE (1811 - 1875)

BIRTHDATE: 25 February 1811, Upper Caldecote, Bedford, England


DEATH: 20 October 1875, Lehi, Utah, Utah.


PARENTS: Isaac Wagstaff & Mary Bathsheba. Guillions


PIONEER: 12 Sep 1861, Milo Andrus Company Wagon Train


SPOUSE: William Bone, died 2 October 1802


MARRIAGE: 5 December 1833, Northill, Bedford, England


CHILDREN:
   Jane, 28 May 1835
   William, 1837 (died as an infant)
   John, 2 Sep 1839
   William, 6 Nov 1841
   Mary, 1843 (died an infant)
   Mary Ann, 5 Oct 1845
   Elizabeth, 24 Sep 1850


Mary’s father was head gardener for Esquire Harvy, who furnished a cottage for the Wagstaff family on his estate where he also gave them space for a garden and beehives.


Mary met William Bone who lived in a nearby village and they were married and had seven children. After being converted to the LDS Church, William and Mary were baptized in 1854.


On April 23, 1861, William, Mary, and their children sailed on the "Underwriter", from Liverpool, England and arrived in New York on May 21, 1861. They took the train to Florence, Nebraska, and crossed the Plains by ox team with the Milo Andrus Wagon Company.


Soon after their arrival, they moved to Lehi, Utah, to join their son, John, who had emigrated earlier. Barely two months after the Bone family arrived in Lehi, their daughter, Jane, died leaving four children ranging in age from six years to eight months.


William and Mary provided a loving home for these children. Mary also cared for her widowed mother who lived with them. About seven years later, their daughter, Mary Ann died, leaving three children under four years of age. Two years following that their daughter Elizabeth died leaving one child. What a tremendous sadness for William and Mary, to lose their three daughters, all young mothers and children.


Mary made potato yeast for some of her neighbors and exchanged it for flour so she could make bread for the family. She always kept a clean, neat house and was resourceful with what she had. She and William were united and active in civic and church affairs. She supported him in his efforts to build the town of Lehi and in his calling as general watermaster for several years.


She was religious and talented. She wrote a poem. "Farewell All Earthly Honors" that was later set to music by William R. Bradbury. This song was published in the LDS Hymnbook and was sung at many funerals. She suffered greatly during her dying months with cancer, but remained patient and cheerful.

William Wagstaff (1807-1897)

An Autobiography

I was born in Hatch, Northill Parish, Bedfordshire, England, on the 13th day of July 1807. My father’s name was Isaac Wagstaff and my mother’s maiden name was Meary Bathshebe Gillions. They had a family of eleven children. I, being the oldest, was not able to have much of an education. Both of my parents were very hard working, industrious people and I was obliged to help earn a living. Thanks to my Heavenly Father, I had the privilege of going to Sunday School although it was almost a mile and a half away. I was compelled to go in all kinds of weather, and I used to think it a great blessing. I can well remember all I learned there and could repeat it if necessary. I grew up with a very merry, lively disposition and sickness and sorrow were entirely unknown to me.

My occupation was farming and gardening in which I took a very great interest. [In fact he and his brothers John and Samuel, all three were gardeners and contributed much to the beauty and gardening to make the desert "blossom as a rose".]

On my 24th birthday I was married to Mary Rock. We had four children by that marriage: Isaac, Mary, James and John (twins). One of the twins died on the 21st of January. My first wife died on the 17th day of February 1839.

About the following December, after the death of my first wife, I married Mary Gilby, my second wife. We had five children by that marriage: Newman, Jacob, Daniel, Rachel and Susannah. We embraced the everlasting Gospel on February 18th, 1847 and were both baptized by James H. Glanigan, assisted by Thomas Smith. As soon as we were baptized we wanted to gather to America with the Saints. England was no place for us. We could not feel at home there anymore, although I had a great many inducements to stay. The gentleman that I rented my place from offered to rent it to me at about half the former price that I had been paying, but we were destined to go with the Saints. So I had my family, which consisted of my seven children and my brother-in-law and his family of six children and his wife, left England sometime in October 1850. We sailed on the ship called the "James Pennel". When we went on board someone had left one of the hatchways open and on going on board it was kind of cark. My little daughter, Mary, walked into the hole and fell down. She was badly hurt but we got her out and administered to her and she soon got better. We had some terrible storms and it looked for awhile as if we were all going to the bottom. We lost our meat and quite a lot of our supplies. When we got over there the pilot came to take us to New Orleans, and going up the river in the boat we lost our little girl Rachel. She died at a place called the Arkansas Bend, Nov 28, 1850, on the Mississippi River. We buried her in the wood yard where they take in wood.

When we reached St Louis it was very cold and we could not get a place suitable to stay in. The place we finally got was an old meeting house and was worse than a barn.

My wife seemed to be chilled thru and she died Dec 12, 1850 at St Louis, Missouri. At that time if a stranger happened to die and their people were too poor to bury them, the officers would come around and inquire into the circumstances and then send a coffin dnd cart to take the corpse to the burying ground. So they sent a coffin and conveyance by a big Irishman. He brought the coffin in the house and set it down. We stood and looked at him for a minute and he swore and said: "Are you gong to put this woman in the coffin? If you do not I will go off and leave her here." Now you can imagine the feelings of myself and her brother. The Irishman had one of those music boxes and he set it on the coffin and it played all the way to the grave, and he never seemed to take a bit of notice or have any feelings at all.
I now had to have a mother for my children and I prayed that the Lord would send someone to take care of them. There was a widow woman who came across the sea when we did and I married her in January and she died June 25, 1851 of cholera. Her maiden name was Martha Pack and her first husband’s name was James Perkins. He was not in the church. After I married Martha, my third wife, we went to live on a farm about six miles north of St Louis; myself and my family, and my brother-in-law, Matt Gilby and his wife and family.

We lost our families with the cholera. Matt Gilby died and five of his children. His wife and one child were left. My children died as follows: Rachel - 28 Nov 1850, Daniel - 2 Jul 1851, Jacob - 14 Dec 1850, Isaac - 7 Oct 1850, James - 1 Nov 1851, Susannah - 1 Feb 1851, Mary - 22 Feb 1852; all in St Louis, Missouri. I had to beg the lumber and nails and make the boxes and bury them myself, but after awhile when the neighbors found out the situation they came in to help us.

There was one man, especially, by the name of Redman, who came in his spring wagon to take some of the bodies to the burying ground. He brought wood for us when he thought there was no danger of catching the cholera. Then also, there was brother Christopher Layton who paid our rent for several months. He brought a man by the name of Wilson to us who gave us money to buy food with. I think it was about seven dollars. He told Redman not to give us too much at a time as we were so sick it would kill us. So every day he brought food. When we got our strength back Brother Layton took us away from that place and hired a house for us in the mountains and paid a months rent in advance. While there I met Brother Thomas Smith, the man who baptized me and he wrote a letter home to England to my Friends and told them that before that letter I would be dead. I told him I wished he had not written that because I intended to live and go to the valley. He said it was impossible because I could never get well. They took me to the hospital where my little boy James had died. After I had been there about a month I felt a great deal better and about six weeks later I was like a new man, and got leave to go from the hospital. It was a great comfort to me once more to breath the sweet air.

After that I went to live with a man by the name of William Fenn. He lived on Green Street, St Louis, Missouri. He had a farm out west at a place called Rock Springs, and I went out there to tend his garden for ten dollars a month.

My mother, my sister Rachel and her husband, Brother Hays, came to America from England, and whey they arrived they did not have money enough to get their luggage off the boat. Brother Hayes found out where I lived and he came and told me. I advanced the money to him and was very glad I had it. Then, of course, we all wanted to come to the valley of Salt Lake. What to do I did not know. I knew I had not enough money and I knew they had none. Finally there was a family came by the name of Western. William Western and his wife, Martha and their niece Martha. There was a man and his wife along with them. His name was George Gills. The Gills family backed out when they got to St Louis, so the Westerns wanted me to drive them across the plains. I told them it was a job I had never been used to but I would do it. Brother Western was very sick at the time and trusted me to buy everything, as they knew nothing about American money. We came in Claudius Spiers company across the plains and nothing particular occurred. Brother Western was very sick and I tried to do everything I could for his comfort. Sister Western was taken very sick with diarrhea. We got every thing we thought we needed to do her good, nothing seemed to help her. At last I got some thickened milk and I think that this checked too suddenly for she died very sudden. The day before that it had rained off and on all day and when we camped at night everything was so wet that we could not make a fire and in the night as she lay in the wagon it seemed she was so very thirsty. She said, "Will some one get up and give the dying a drink of water. I had not thought that she was dying but she was, and in the morning we had to bury her.

There had been so much rain the day before and all that night that the road was so slippery I was afraid that my two yoke of oxen would not be able to get up the hill. I asked Brother William Jeffs and Charles Boan if they would lend me one yoke just to get up. They said no, and I got up without any help. I think our Captain said the place was Spring Town. When we buried Sister Western, Brother Spencer could see Brother Western would not live very long and he asked him what was to be done with the property when he died, if he would not give it to the church. He said, "No, his niece was to have half of it and me the other half. If she and I got married when we got to the valley it all belonged to us. When we had buried Sister Western all the company had passed and we had to follow. We drove about five miles that night. Just before we got to where we camped for the night Brother Jeffs and Charley Boan were behind all the rest of the camp, they got stuck in a mud hole and their oxen could not move the wagon. Brother Hayes said, "Let them stick. If I were you I would not move to help them out. They would not help you this morning." "No, I would take the oxen", and as soon as he saw I was determined to help, he took the oxen and helped them and it was a good thing he did for Uncle Western died that night. They helped to dig the grave and bury him. I never saw two men more humble than they were after that. They did everything I asked them to do. Nothing worse than that occurred of any note as I can remember.

We arrived in the valley, if I remember right, about Sept 22, 1853. As soon as we arrived Doctor Willard Richards inquired if there was one in that company could tend his garden. Brother Isaac Right told him I was a gardener. The next day he sent Brother Joseph Cane to fetch me and as soon as I got to see him he said he wanted me to tend his garden and asked how much my wages would be. I told him I did not know. He might try me and if I did not suit him he might turn me away and if I did not like him I could leave. He thought that was alright.

The next thing to be done was to get a place to live in. I had a wagon but thought I should like to have a house. He said he had a little house he had built for his chickens. I though that would be plenty big for my wife and I. I had married her as soon as we got to the valley. Her name was Martha Chitty. She was my fourth wife. We were married in the Endowment House by President Heber C. Kimball. We had one child by that marriage by the name of Isaac William and the doctor furnished us all the provisions we wanted. I stayed with him until he died some little after that. He died March 11, 1854, and I tended the garden some little time after his death. I cannot remember how long; I think it was the last day of May or the beginning of June. I cannot exactly remember the date.

I married my fifth wife, a widow, named Maria Stubbs. We had by that marriage five children: Mary, Moroni, Hyrum, Lucille, and Nephi. We were married in the Council House and a few weeks after this we were sealed in the Endowment House. Maria had one boy by her first husband. His name was William Wiseman. After Doctor Willard Richards died I went to live in the Third ward, Salt Lake City.

In 1856 I took my sixth wife. Her maiden name was Matilda Emily lim. By that marriage we had nine children: Willard, Martha, Joseph, Alma, Matilda, Susannah, Lorena, Effie, & Rachel. We were married in the Endowment House Feb. 29, 1856, by Brother Heber C. Kimball.

In 1858, Johnston’s army came in. According to council we moved south to Fillmore and we expected everything we had would be burned, house and everything. We left plenty of straw int he cellar. We were glad to move away and quite glad to come back. It was in August and I tell you our friends and neighbors were glad to see us come back.

In the month of May, 1866, I married my seventh wife in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City by President Wilford Woodruff. By that marriage we had seven children: Emily, Alexander, maria, Freddie, Isabel, Abraham, LeRoy, and Sarah Smith. My seventh wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth Wheeler.

On the third day of March 1870, we went to live in Sugar House, having changed property with Truman O. Angel, and lived in that place until the year 1877. We sold our place and bought a place from Isaac Green near the school house in Sugar House Ward.

Nothing particular occurred until 1885. Then, having exchanged property with Willard Richards, I moved to Mendon, Cache county, March 1885 and lived there ever since.

While living at Mendon I was taken with a stroke, July 1895. October 20, 1895, I moved back to Sugar House Ward owing to my inability. I stayed with my son, Joseph, until April when I moved to the home of my daughter Mary Clark.

Note: William Wagstaff died 26 May 1897.

William Wagstaff’s Rules of living

Never speak evil of any one.
Be just, before you are generous.
Keep yourself innocent if you would be happy.
Save when you are young to spend when you are old.
Never say one word behind a person’s back that you would be ashamed to say to his face.
Keep your life as an even spool of thread.
Keep good company or none.
Never be idle. If your hands cannot be usefully employed, attend to the cultivation of your mind.
Always tell the truth.
Make few promises.
Live up to your engagements.
Keep your own secrets if you have any.
When you speak to a person, look him in the face.
Good company and conversation are the very linens of vesture.
A good character is above all things else.
Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts.
If any speak evil of you, let your life be so that none will believe him.
Drink no intoxicating liquors.
Ever live faithful to your covenants.
When you retire to bed think over what you have been doing during the day.
Make no haste to get rich.
Small and steady gains give competence with a tranquil mind.
Never play at any game of chance; avoid temptation.
Earn money before you spend it.
Do not marry until you are able to support a wife.

THE PLUMB PUDDING

by Annie C. Kimball

Story in the SUP Pioneer Magazine Winter 2001 issue

William Wagstaff was a successful gardener in his Bedfordshire home, where he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and set out with his wife and seven children to unite with the main body of the Church in the promising new land of America.

The vessel "James Pennell" docked at New Orleans in the autumn of 1850, and the immigrants proceeded up the Mississippi by steamboat to St. Louis. Little two and a half year old Rachel died on the way and was buried at a refueling depot on the river shore. The rest of the family reached St Louis near the end of November.

About two weeks after their arrival their mother, Mary Gilby Wagstaff, died of pneumonia, and William found himself in unanticipated trouble. Isaac and James were in their teens, but the only girl, Mary was merely 11; nevertheless, she tried to do the cooking, cleaning, and mending the best she could. It was December, the children’s month. Even in bereavement and sorrow, the thoughts of approaching Christmas stirred remembrances of former happiness, and anticipation expressed itself in the eager questioning of childhood.]

"We can’t do very much for Christmas", William, feeling alone and helpless, replied to the anxious requests.

"Maybe we can have a plum pudding" suggested 13 yr old James.

"I’ll try to make it", said Mary.

"Who remembers how Mother used to do it? their father asked.

Then each offered suggesting. Isaac, the oldest, knew it contained suet because he was the one trusted to chop it with the large, sharp knife. Six year old Jacob remembered raisins and how his mother had slipped one to him occasionally when she was cleaning them. Father suggested tiny dried store currants and peel. Mary knew about flour and about boiling the pudding, all tied up in a piece of clean, white cloth.

William felt that the project was a real undertaking and, as ingredients were anything but cheap, he must move with caution. When the momentous day arrived, he decided that he himself must perform the important feat. So, with all eyes upon him and everyone helping who was large enough, he made the pudding. Then all sat down to a Christmas day feast. poured over the treasure was a tiny measure of brandy that burned with a glowing blue flame when the lighted match was applied. What a thrilling fairyland sight! What a wonderful pudding! Only the soul-sick, lonely man knew that it did not taste like those of the past - children are so easily pleased and satisfied.

Before another Christmas came, his sorrows were incomparably greater, as cholera had ravaged the little family. One by one, the children hd followed their mother and little Rachel to crude and hurried graves in the new land of America. Mary lived to see 1852, but only until February. A kind and gentle soul, Martha Pack, a lonely widow whom William had met on the ocean voyage, tried to help him in his sorrow and distress. They were married, but shortly afterward, she also succumbed - a victim of the merciless plague. William himself was stricken and was ill in a hospital for many months. While ill, he obtained work upon a farm where e recuperated and was able, wifeless and childless at the age of 44, to resume his journey westward in 1853.

When he was in his late 80s, he reviewed this tragic period of his life. At the conclusion of his narrative, as he brushed aside a tear, he added almost as if a sacred prayer. "I have been so thankful about the plum pudding."

The Adobe Homes

by Annie Clark Kimball

quoted in "Our Pioneer Heritage" vol 1, page 135

My pioneer grandfather. William Wagstaff, built an adobe house. He arrived here in the Claudius Spencer Company in the autumn of 1853, only four days after the Cyrus Wheelock Company. William who was a trained and experienced gardener in the old country, went to work for President Willard Richards the day he arrived and lived on the Richards premises as caretaker until the demise of President Richards in 1854. His next step was to have built for himself a two-story adobe house at Sixth South and State Street where he made and developed a profitable and successful nursery and also reared a large family. The adobe home had four square rooms with a stairs going between and a large kitchen living room lean-to in the rear. It stood there many years and saw much family living. There were two congenial wives, Maria and Emily, whose children were also harmonious and loving. William’s mother and sister Rachel came to Utah with him in 1853. The remaining five brothers and sisters came in the 1860s and visited with him in this home until they found their own desirable locations in Utah. All of them praised his generous welcome and guidance. His "Going" nursery with its rows of young evergreens, walnut trees, black locusts, poplars, snowballs, lilacs, hawthorns, Altheas (then called Rose-of-Sharon) and desirable fruits, impressed them so deeply that one of these is reported to have written to the old home, "William is as rich as a Jew." He was noted for being good natured, friendly, and peace-loving. His friends and friends of the family, were so many that we can easily recognize his as another happy adobe home.

William Wagstaff

biography from "Pioneers & Prominent Men of Utah", pg 1225

William Wagstaff (son of Isaac Wagstaff and Mary Gillions of Caldicote, Bedfordshire, England). Born 13 July 1809, at Caldicote. Came to Utah Sept. 1853, in the Claudius V. Spencer Company.

Married Mary Rock July 13, 1933, in England (daughter of John and Hannah Rock of Eng.) She was born May 18, 1815. Their children: Isaac died age 17, James died age 14, John died, infant, Mary died age 13, Family home in Caldicote, England.

Married Mary Gilby Nov. 1839, at Caldicote (dau. of Joseph and Mary Gilby of Eaton, Eng.). She was born Dec 31, 1916. Their children: Newman and Jacob died infants, Daniel died age 4, Rachel died age 2, Susannah died age 1 year.

Married Martha Pack Jan. 1851, St Louis, Missouri. She was born May 6, 1808 and died June 1851.
Married Martha Chitty 1853, Salt Lake City (her parents resided at Chertsey, Surrey, Eng.). Their child: Isaac died infant.

Married Maria Stubbs May 1854, Salt Lake City. (dau of Thomas Stubbs and Elizabeth Hall of Warwickshire, Eng.). She was born Jan. 31, 1825. Their children: Mary Rachel md Lorenzo S. Clark, Moroni W. md. Rebecca Ann Rance, Hyrum md Eliza Jane Fowler, Lucilla M. md William B. Kelley, Nephi md Margaret J. Bates.
Married Matilda Emily Limb Jan. 20, 1857, Salt Lake City, (dau of William Limb and Sarah Wilkinson of Markpool, Derbyshire, Eng.). She was born 20 Oct 1831. Their children: Willard R. died age 6, Martha Ellen died age 4, Joseph A. md Matilda Jane Staker, alma W. md Lucina Smoot then Esther Hunsaker, Matilda E. md Nathan H. Staker, Susannah M. md James McGee, Lorena M. md Abraham S. Sorenson, Sally E. md Leander N. Butler, Rachel md Ole H. Sonne. Family home in Salt Lake City.

Married Elizabeth Wheeler, May 25, 1866, Salt Lake City (dau of Thomas wheeler of Humberstone, Worcestershire, Eng.). She was born May 12, 1847. Their children: Emily E. md John E. Crow, Maria died infant, Alexander md Annie M. Salzner, Fredrick md Lucy J. Seaman then Mary Worley, Isabella died infant, William H. md Anna W. Jonas, Abraham died infant, Leroy A. md Margaret W. Stewart, Sarah S. md Clarence Mabey. Family home in Salt Lake City.

Member Salt Lake Quorum Seventies, counselor to Bishop Weiler a number of years, High Priest. Nurseryman and Seedsman.

Died 24 May 1897.

Eight Graves along the Way

by Annie C. Kimball

Bound for Zion with hopes high and hearts rejoicing, the William Wagstaff family left their home in Hatch, Bedfordshire, England in September 1850.

After a varied and exciting journey across the Atlantic on the good ship "James Pennell", America was entered at New Orleans, followed by a steamboat journey up the Mississippi River to St Louis. The family consisted of Father and Mother, William and Mary Gilby Wagstaff, with their four children, Jacob, Daniel, Rachel and Susannah; also three children of a former wife, Mary Rock Wagstaff (deceased); these three were Isaac, James and Mary. Little Susannah died suddenly on the river steamboat and was buried at Arkansas Bend, a woodyard where the boat stopped to refuel. After arriving in St Louis, disease and death overtook the little party taking first the mother, Mary, with pneumonia, then suddenly cholera taking all six of the children one by one.
A kind soul, Martha Pack Parkins, whom the family had known on the ocean voyage, entered the motherless home and nursed the afflicted ones with the solicitude and the tenderness of an angel. A hasty marriage ceremony followed but could not stay the icy hand of the inevitable. Martha followed the children in death leaving the grief stricken William alone and himself so ill that his death was expected momentarily.

While the epidemic was at its worst William found it impossible to obtain help in burying his dead; so he had to make the burial caskets, carry his dead children to the burial spot, dig the graves and do all that was done for them.

After all were gone, and being destitute, William was placed in a hospital where slow recovery began. Later, he obtained an outdoor job on a farm where he remained until the spring of 1853 when he found himself strong enough o continue his journey westward to Zion. This he did arriving without wife or child, in the autumn of the same year at the age of 43 years.

William Wagstaff, nurseryman and seedsman

by Annie C. Kimball, 1940

DUP, "Heart Throbs of the West" by Kate B. Carter, pg 10

The Wagstaff Walnut tree. Perhaps no more beautiful and majestic pioneer tree remains with us than the Wagstaff Walnut at 1151 Michigan Ave, the home of Doctor and Mrs D. W. Henderson. According to our official records the great tree planter, Brigham Young, acquired the property where this tree stands on Aug 9, 1957. At that time William Wagstaff, nurseryman and seedsman, owned and lived on the property facing east on State Street between sixth and seventh south Streets. From his nursery there, he supplied trees for much of the early planting; and because of a close friendship with Willard Richards, many of the General officials of the Church knew him personally and obtained their trees and shrubs from him. He planted this walnut tree with a number of other trees from his nursery for Brigham Young in the spring of 1858. In June 1861, Truman O. Angell became the owner of the land and Willard Timmins at 747 Green Street, Salt Lake City, now in his 80's tells how he and the Angell boys, Edgar and Osborne, enjoyed walnuts from the tree while they played in its pleasant shade. In 1869, Brigham Young requested Brother Wagstaff to trade his State Street home for the Angell property, as it would be more convenient to have the architect of the temple near him. The trade was made and the nursery stock was moved to the new home in the autumn of 1869 and the early spring of 1870. The property transfer was officially recorded in February 4, 1870. With this trade William Wagstaff again became the possessor of the tree which he had raised from seed a number of years before and his own children played under its shade. The few of them who are still living drive past it occasionally, loving its majestic splendor which to them is glorified by delicious childhood memories.

My Mother’s Album

by Annie C. Kimball

"Our Pioneer Heritage", vol 1 pg 135

Mother’s old red plush photograph album is with me still, the clasp is loose, and there are little torn spots on some of the pages where pictures have been removed. (She then describes the pictures of Lucian and Emily Noble, intimate neighbors.)

The next two pages are filled with pictures of my father, and mother, Lorenzo C. Clark and wife, Mary Rachel Wagstaff, taken in the late 1880s, while he was a missionary in Alabama. He had a long, beautiful beard which grew while he was away and which he removed after returning home. When I look at this picture of Mother with her "crimped" hair done high, her white dress trimmed with a black lace bertha held in place with a mother-of-pearl feather-shaped pin, and a half blown rose at her throat, I have to realize that she was really and truly beautiful.

The next page are pictures of two babies, the first being Cyrus Noble, our tiniest brother, who was with us only a year and a half. Scarlet fever took him away and no other was ever sent to fill the tragic vacancy. (She then tells of the Johnston children, then continues).

The opposite group is a wedding picture of my Uncle Nephi Wagstaff and his wife, Aunt Janie, from Tooele. true to form, he sits in a chair with his hand over the edge of a small table, while she stands solemnly beside him. They were married in March 1885. Her velvet basque and draped and pleated silk skirt over smallish hoops proclaim the fashions of the day.

You now turn the page, and there are my sisters, Mattie and Nellie Clark, when two little girls about eight and ten years of age.

Then we have another bridal pair, Uncle Moroni Wagstaff and Aunt Annie, married March 2, 1885. He wears a flower in his buttonhole and a sweet, happy expression. The bride wears orange blossoms in her mass of curly hair and orange blossoms at the neck line of her white lace trimmed dress. Hew new wedding dress shows plainly below the fingerless lace mitts which cover her hands. Opposite is a photograph of the same Aunt, taken in 1880, when she was a young girl of 15. Her name, then, was Rebecca Annie Rance. Her hair is in ringlets, she has white riching at her neck and she wears a very lovely gold chain with a locket.

Two opposite pages are filled with darling babies, one uncle, LeRoy Wagstaff, is in the semi-nude, displaying fat little legs and chubby toes; while the others are elaborately gowned in fine fabrics with embroideries, tucks and laces.

On another page is my mother when she was Mary Wagstaff, the 14 year old sister with her little brother Nephi, and sisters Lucy and Tillie standing by her side. As she sits where holding the baby, Susannah, in her arms, with her drop earrings, plain, middleparted hair done in a knot and bob at the back, and a dress so long that it rests on the floor, she really looks as though she might be the mother of the other four.

Then there is the polygamy picture of Grandfather William Wagstaff, standing behind his two wives, maria and Matilda, who are dressed and groomed alike and seated side by side. The first wife is on the right side of the husband, because family tradition says she wanted the position nearest his heart.

There is an intimate thought or memory with every picture, and I still love to renew acquaintance with my mother’s friends and loved ones of the olden days, as I scan each precious page.

Eva May Butler Israelsen

granddaughter of William Wagstaff

Pioneer Women of Today

Eva May Butler Israelsen was born 5 October 1894 at Butlerville, Salt Lake County, Utah, to Leander Butler and Effie Wagstaff. She celebrated her 103rd birthday on 5 October 1997 at her home in North Logan, Utah. She became a member of the Ralph Smith Camp, Cache North Company on 21 May 1962. She still attends monthly meetings and takes an active role in the organization and always wants to do her part.

Father Leander Butler and three of his five brothers settled what became know as Butlerville, Salt Lake Valley bench land near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, later organized as the Butler Ward. they were interested in the timber business, built water-powered sawmills in Big Cottonwood Canyon and furnished lumber for many of the early homes in Salt Lake County.

The first botanical nursery in Utah was established by Eva’s grandfather William Wagstaff. He supplied trees, shrubs, and seeds for President Brigham Young and for general planting by all others who desired them. Most of the pioneer-vintage trees now standing had their beginning in the Wagstaff nursery. He did budding and grafting and sent to England for cuttings and seeds of new kinds of trees and shrubs. He brought the Lombardy Poplar and Hawthorn trees from England.

Throughout her long life Eva has hungered for education. Her schooling began in approximately 1900 in a three-room school in the southeast hillside area of the Salt Lake Valley. She attended Jordan High School at Sandy, Utah and studied two years at Utah State Agricultural College at Logan, Utah. In 1917 at age 23, Eva married Victor E. Israelsen, and has resided in Cache Valley since that time. She has given birth to eleven children. Interspersed with her rearing of these children she enrolled in educational courses and LDS Institute classes as often as family life permitted. Her enthusiasm for learning and self improvement has never diminished.

As a centenarian, Eva has a marvelous overview of events and developments in every aspect of living. Always active in nurturing her body and her mind she enjoys good health sufficient to enable her to still live alone and to maintain her own home. Her many friends and family members continue to be enriched by her positive and pleasant disposition and the wisdom she has acquired through her voracity for learning.

This genial lady has, no doubt, practiced - and thereby impressed others with the wisdom of her Grandfather, William Wagstaff as penned in his " Account Book" entitled "William Wagstaff’s Rules of Living". [found elsewhere in this document]

DUP Legacy Newsletter, Vol XIX #1 Spring 1998

John Wagstaff (1816-1901)

by

Bert W. Wagstaff

"Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." That is the blessing Christ gave to such as John Wagstaff. John was born in Bedfordshire, England in the year 1816, the son of Isaac Wagstaff and Mary Bathsheba Gillions. His father died while the family was still rather young. There were eleven children. John married Sarah Humberstone, and earned his living by farming, dairying, and running a small grocery store; all on a small scale.


Before making their own home, John, William, and Samuel were gardeners by trade and left home to find work. "Good works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform". For it was while away from home working, that the boys met the Mormon Missionaries. Upon the return of the boys, the Wagstaff family began to hear the wonders of the new religion. The widowed mother had scant patience with these tales, but the boys persisted, and each time they returned home they brought more stories of the Mormon wonders. There was a sick child in that home. One who had been in bed with Tuberculosis for over a year. She listened to her brother’s stories and announced the fact that she wanted to be baptized when the Missionaries came. Overriding all objections, she was carried to the creek. As she came from the water, they stooped to again lift her. But, she said, "No, I can walk." From that day forth, she lead a normal life. Needless to say, this incident was impressive, and the mother made room in her heart and home for the Mormon Missionaries.


Three boys and four girls, and their mother embraced the Gospel, and a few found their way to the United States. One sister remained with her husband in New York. One sister and one brother were left in England, but the brother finally came to Canada.


On May 12, 1862, John, with his wife and three children, left England on the "William Tapscott". The trip across lasted seven weeks. All were sick, but John, who had to stay on his feet to act as nurse-maid. In New York, the family visited with John’s sister Ann, then came on West in Isaac Canfield’s Company. The trip across the plains took eleven weeks. The hardships were trying. Quoting from the son’s diary, we read: "Father was a good marksman, so we had some game. One night when we camped on the Platte River, he caught a fish that weighted 16 pounds, which was enough fish for the whole camp. We saw Indians. I will never forget the night we camped at Chimney Rock, Wyoming. It was in September, and it surely was a fierce night, but we had to go on through. The snow and cold killed on of the oxen."


"When we came to Kimball’s Ranch at the head of parley’s Canyon, we camped, and surely had a feast. They gave us bread and butter and nice sweet milk."


The valley was entered on October 16, 1862, and that night was spent camping on the square, where now stands our City and County Building. John’s brother, William, came next day and took the family to his home for a week.


In the fall of 1862, the family moved to Lehi, and John hired out as a farm hand. The next winter he took military training, and the family cares fell upon his wife, who was far from strong.


The last child, Albert, was born in 1865. While in Lehi, John buried his mother. In 1866, John returned to Salt Lake and went to the fort, where now is Pioneer Park. He worked for A. O. Smoot until he was able to buy his own land and build his own small house which still stands just east of the county hospital on 21st South.


John Wagstaff was a short, heavy-set-man, standing about five foot six inches, and weighing over 200 pounds. He was thrifty to the point of frugality. Proud of his independence. Never did he ask for charity. Always active in problems of the times, both religious and civil. There was his military training; and in the Church, he was a Counselor to the Bishop of Farmer’s Ward; and at his death held the office of patriarch. John died in Salt Lake City in 1901, at the age of 85. Truly could he say, with Jesus, "I have glorified thee on earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do".

Oh Susannah

To counter the widely held belief that "it has all been done" I present here a mystery. Susannah Wagstaff was born 28 June 1866 in American Fork, Utah to Samuel Wagstaff (1820-1897) and Ann McLachlan (1824 -1884). Her mother Ann married John Carlin in Inverness, Scotland on 16 Mar 1846. They moved around Scotland some but much of the time they were in the Glasgow area where he worked as a calker in the shipyards. They had 10 children of whom 5 died in Scotland. They joined the LDS church and emigrated to the United States in 1864 with 4 children. One child died on the trail on 10 Sep 1864 perhaps near the present site of Casper, Wyoming. Two child are unaccounted for. Then on 29 Sep 1864 John Carlin died while the wagon train was camped at the crossing of the Bear River south of present-day Evanston, Wyoming. There was no time to bury him in the morning so they carried the body 10 miles to Yellow Creek near the present Utah state line where they buried him during the lunch break. Their oldest daughter, Ann, married Andrew Young Smith and did temple work for some family members who had died.


The following year in 1865 Ann McLachlan was sealed to John Carlin with Samuel Wagstaff acting as proxy. Samuel married Ann McLachlan 29 Jul 1865 in polygamy. Margaret Carlin, daughter of John Carlin and Ann McLaclan, lived with her mother in American Fork. Ann and her youngest children Margaret and Susannah appear in the 1870 and 1880 census living northwest of American Fork between Isaac Wagstaff and George Jacklin. Perhaps they lived in a house that has long since disappeared on the farm where I grew up near the site of the Wagstaff molasses mill. Margaret never married or had children and is buried beside her mother in the American Fork Cemetery.


Susannah was baptized 15 Aug 1875 in the American Fork Ward. At age 17 on 13 Dec 1883 she married Jacob Israel Ovard of American Fork in the Endowment House. That is the last record that has been found of her. There are some indications that she divorced Ovard. Samuel kept a journal and mentioned all of his family members except the 3 polygamous families he had.


Susannah is not in the American Fork Sexton’s records nor is there a monument for her in either the Samuel Wagstaff plot or in any Ovard plot of that cemetery. New FamilySearch (NFS) has 3 LDS Church Membership records for her under different spellings of her given name. I have not found the sources for these 3 records. None of these 3 records in NFS state whether she had children and do not say when and where she died and was buried. Jacob Israel Ovard appears in the 1914 LDS Census of the American Fork First Ward as widowed. There is a note on the census index card that there is no record probably meaning that the ward had no membership record for him. We can not be sure that it was Susannah who died or whether he had another wife. He has not been found in the 1900 or 1910 federal census. In the 1920 census he is listed as divorced but in the 1930 census it says single. Neither Jacob Ovard or Susannah are listed in either the 1891 or the 1904-05 Directory for American Fork although other people known to be there at the time also were not listed. On the Temple Index Bureau (TIB) card of Jacob Israel Ovard in a very faint typescript is recorded that he married Parle. It is uncertain whether this is a given name, surname, or something else. Jacob was buried in an unmarked paupers grave in the American Fork Cemetery just a few years before my birth. It is possible that Jacob and Susannah moved from American Fork and that she died and was buried elsewhere and that he later returned to American Fork.


Any information about Susannah Wagstaff would be appreciated.

Samuel Wagstaff 1820

In this posting I will concentrate on my immigrant ancestor, Samuel Wagstaff, his wife Lucy Mariah Webb and their children who came from the village of Upper Caldecot in the parish of Northill, Bedfordshire in 1862. They settled in American Fork, Utah where they homesteaded the farm where I was reared. Samuel as a devout Mormon married three additional wives in polygamy. As an aging homely man of no great position in society, he did not get to marry the pretty young maidens. Instead he married two widows with children and a middle aged blind woman. Lucy, his first wife, seemed to be supportive of the arrangement but the law took a different view. He served time in the Utah State Prison for polygamy. Samuel wrote a journal the original of which is housed in Special Collections at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. There are plans to put a scanned copy and typed transcript here in this blog if anyone indicates they are interested. No mention is made in his journal of any member of his three polygamous families. It has been assumed he was trying to hide evidence of polygamy.

Samuel Wagstaff was born 20 Oct 1820 in the village of Upper Caldicote, Bedfordshire, England and christened 19 Nov 1820 at the Northill Parish Church about an hour’s walk through the rich farmland. At present, rose farms are on land formerly used to grow potatoes, onions and other produce for the London Market. They shipped vegetables on the southbound train at the Biggleswade Station. The northbound train brought back horse manure.

His father was Isaac Wagstaff and his mother was Mary Bathsheba Gillions. She was christened Mary and probably assumed the middle name from her mother Bathsheba Lee. The Gillions had lived in Northill for generations while Samuel’s grandfather John Wagstaff had moved to Northill from the nearby parish of Potton in the latter 1700s.

Although they were commoners and agricultural laborers, the Wagstaffs seemed to be better off than seasonal farm workers, the so-called agricultural laborers, who worked in farm gangs for part of the year and then were thrown onto the hated parish relief. There are some indications that Isaac and perhaps other Wagstaffs lived in tied housing on the Harvey Manor in Northill. Some Bedfordshire landed gentry and enlightened nobility such as the Duke of Bedford treated their workers with some degree of respect. Herber in his book Ancestral Trails mentions Bedfordshire several times although it seems doubtful that his ancestors lived in the same parishes with the Wagstaffs.