Wives and Children

Captain James Brown's Wives and Children

1st Wife - Martha STEPHENS
2nd Wife - Susan FOUTZ
3rd Wife - Ester JONES ROPER, Widow
4th Wife - Sarah STEADWELL WOOD, Divorced
5th Wife - Abigail SMITH ABBOTT, Widow
6th Wife - Mary McREE BLACK, Widow
7th Wife - Phoebe Abigail ABBOTT
8th Wife - Cecelia Henrietta CORNU ROBELLAZ, Widow
9th Wife - Mary WOOLERTON
10th Wife - Darthula Catherine SHUPE
11th Wife - Lovina MITCHELL
12th Wife - Harriet WOOD
13th Wife - Maria MITCHELL

His Wives and Children

Captain James Brown's Wives and Children, Erold C. Wiscombe, The Brown Family, Daniel and Elizabeth Brown and Their Descendents, 1986, pages 19-23.  See Wiscombe's CJ Brown Wives.

James Brown, Captain, Conquerors of the West, Stalwart Mormon Pioneers, Vol. I., Moyle, Belva, Salt Lake City, Utah: pages 382-386.  See Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives. 

 

Wiscombe's CJ Brown's Wives

Captain James Brown’s Wives and Children

By Erold C. Wiscombe

Martha Stephens, (first wife) was born 12 October 1806, in Davidson County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Alexander Stephens and Mary (Polly) Dailey or Daley. She died 28 September 1840, at Kingston, Adams County Illinois. She was a sister to Daniel Brown’s wife, Elizabeth Stephens.

Children:

1. John Martin Brown, born 29 June 1824, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He married four wives: Ann Foutz, Lovina Wilson, Louisa Wilson, and Almeda Daley Wilson. He died 13 Oct. 1888.
2. Alexander Brown, born 3 March 1826, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He married Amanda McMurty. He died 22 April 1910.
3. Jesse Stowell Brown, born 26 March 1829, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He married Caroline Stewart. He died 29 January 1905.
4. Nancy Brown, born 27 December 1830, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. She married Eleazer Davis.
5. Daniel Brown, born 7 December 1832, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He died 1864, unmarried.
6. James Moorhead Brown, born 17 November 1834, at Versailles, Brown County, Illinois. He married Adelaid Exervid. He died 26 December 1924.
7. William Brown, born 21 August 1836, at Beverly, Adams County, Illinois. He married Mary Elizabeth Bybee. He died 19 October 1904.
8. Benjamin Franklin Brown, born 9 May 1838, at Beverly, Adams County, Illinois. He married Susan A. Wright. He died 24 December 1863.
9. Moroni Brown, born 25 September 1840, at Beverly, Adams County, Illinois. He married Evaline C. Conover and Frances Mariah Porter. He died 14 August 1916.

Susan Foutz, (second wife), was born 14 February 1823, at Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She was the eldest child of Jacob Foutz (1800) and Margaret Mann (1801). She died 18 August 1842. She married James Brown, 25 January 1841, in Adams County, Illinois, by Ezekiel Roberts.

Children:

1. Alma Brown, born July 1842. He died 18 August 1842 at the age of three weeks. His mother died the same time.

Esther Jones [Roper, widow] (third wife), born 17 January 1811, at Surry County, North Carolina. The Nauvoo Area marriage records lists her as Esther Raper. She was the widow of Robert Roper. She married James Brown 20 November 1842, at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. They were married by Stephen Abbott.  She is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery, in Ogden, Utah.

Children:

1. Augustus Brown, born 1843, a twin.
2. Augusta Brown, born 1843, a twin.
3. Amasa Lyman Brown, born
4. Esther Ellen Brown, born ____________. She married 2 October 1866, James Leech Dee, a son of Thomas Hill Dee and Elizabeth Reese.
5. Martha Alice Brown, born ___________. She died at the age of 16 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah.

Sarah Stedwell [Wood, divorced] (wife #4), born 31 March 1814, at Chester, Cayuga County, New York. She died 18 March 1893, at Trenton, Cache County, Utah. She married James Brown 1845. She was married also to: (1) Samuel Woods who left her in Sandusky, Ohio, (2) James Brown, (3) Ithamar Sprague, (4) Alonzo LeBaron.

Children:

1. James Harvey Brown, born 8 October 1846, at Winter Quarters, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He married 14 Feb. 1870, Elizabeth Leah Williams.

Abigail Smith [Abbott, widow] (5^th wife), born 11 September 1806, at Williamson, Ontario County, New York, a daughter of James Smith and Lydia Lucinda Harding. She was married first to Stephen Joseph Abbott (1804).   [After he died in 1843,] she married James Brown 8 February 1846, at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. After Capt. James Brown married her daughter, Phoebe Abigail Abbott [in 1850], this wife divorced him. She died 23 July 1889, at Willard, Box Elder County, Utah. No children from this union. Capt. Brown helped take care of Stephen Abbott’s children.

Mary McRae [McRee Black, widow] (6^th wife), was born 28 October 1829, at Copiah County, Mississippi. She was married (1) George Black, and had one son. She married Capt. James Brown 16 July 1846, at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, on the day he was inducted into the Mormon Battalion. She accompanied the Battalion as far as Santa Fe, then returned with her husband by way of Pueblo, Colorado. She was the daughter of Dr. Charles William McRae and Mary Corkins. She died 1 November 1907, at Ogden, Weber County, Utah, and is buried on the lot with her husband, Capt. Brown in the Ogden City Cemetery.

Children:

1. Mary Eliza Brown, born 8 November 1847, at Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the third white child born in the Salt Lake Valley. She married 9 December 1862, William Fuller Critchlow. She died 20 March 1903.
2. Margaret Brown, born 17 December 1849, at Ogden, Weber County, Utah.
3. Polly Ann Brown, born 5 May 1852, at Ogden, Weber, Utah. She married (1) Edward Edwards.
4. Joseph Smith Brown, born 4 January 1853, at Ogden, Weber, Utah. He married 8 March 1876, Sarah Wealthy Patten. He died 22 March 1903.
5. Josephine Vilate Brown, born 8 January 1858, at Ogden, Weber, Utah. She married Henry James Norman.

Phebe Abigail Abbott (7^th wife), born 18 May 1831, at Hornellsville, Steuben County, New York, [the third child and] daughter of Stephen Joseph Abbott and Abigail Smith. [After her father’s death in 1843,] her mother married Captain Brown [in 1846, becoming his] 5^th wife, but Abigail Smith [repudiated her relationship with] James Brown when he married this daughter [in 1850 over Abigail’s protest]. [Phoebe married James Brown 17 October 1850, when she was 19 years old.] He died September 30, 1863, when she was 32 years old.] Phoebe married (2) 9 October 1866, William Nicol Fife, her younger sister’s husband. Phoebe died 9 January 1914, at Thatcher, Graham County, Arizona.

Children [of Captain James Brown]: (All born at Ogden, Weber County, Utah)

1. Stephen Abbott Brown, born, 22 August 1851. He died 22 December 1853.
2. Phoebe Adelaide Brown, born 24 October 1855. She married Henry Theodore Snyder. She died 11 June 1930.
3. Orson Pratt Brown, born 22 May 1863. He married (1) 10 Oct. 1887, Martha [Dianna] Romney; (2) [?], Jane [Bodily Galbraith]; (3) 15 January 1901, Elizabeth Graham MacDonald; (4) [2 September 1902,] Eliza Skousen; (5) 18 March 1919, Angela Gabaldon. [He died 10 March 1946, in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico.]

Cecelia Henrietta Cornue [Robellaz, widow] (8^th wife), was born 17 May 1825, at Corcellas Nechatel, Switzerland. She was a daughter of David Francois Cornue and Henrietta Egalite Baulard. She married (1) Charles Francois Robellas. He died crossing the plains. She married (2) Capt. James Brown, 26 December 1854, at Salt Lake City, Utah by President Brigham Young in his office. After the death of Capt. Brown, she gave her two children to one of his other wives, and returned to Switzerland to care for her ailing parents. She never returned to America. She died 14 September 1882, at Neuchatel, Switzerland. She was sealed to her first husband 27 March 1857 in the Salt Lake Endowment House.

Children: (All born at Ogden, Weber County, Utah)

1. Charles David Brown, born 23 January 1856. He married Sarah Ellen Dixon. He died 23 August 1926.
2. James Fredrick Brown, born 2 July 1859. He married 27 March 1884, Esther Amelia Marriott. He died April 1923.

Mary Woolerton (9^th wife), born 30 March 1814, at Stock port, Cheshire, England. She sailed for America 12 March 1854 for the port of New Orleans, Louisiana, on the ship, "John M. Wood". She was probably in one of the companies that Capt. Brown led to Zion from New Orleans. They married 7 February 1855, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The marriage was performed by Heber C. Kimball. She was the daughter of John and Mary Wollerton. They had no children.

Darthula Catherine Shupe (10^th wife), born 27 December 1834, at Wythe County, Virginia. She was the eldest daughter of Andrew Jackson Shupe and Elizabeth Creager. She married Capt. Brown, 17 February 1856, at Salt Lake City, Utah. She gave her birthdate at 1838 when she was sealed to James Brown. Shupe family records indicates it was 1834. She died 3 March 1911. No children from this union.

Lovina Mitchell (11^th wife), born 22 July 1837, at Sheffield, York, England, a daughter of Hezekiah Mitchell and Sarah Mallinson. She married Capt. Brown, 7 September 1856, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were later sealed in the Endowment House, 27 March 1857, by Heber C. Kimball. She married (2) 20 January 1865, John Horrocks. She died 16 March 1905. She was baptized 4 July 1847.

Children:

1. Sarah Brown,
2. Augustus Hesikiah Brown,

Harriet Wood (12^th wife), born 21 December 1834, at Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel Wood (1800) and Mary Snider (1803). She married James Brown, 17 September 1859. She was sealed to him in the Endowment House, 19 September 1861, by Daniel H. Wells, Brigham Young was a witness. She was married previously 22 November 1853, to Hiram John Yancey, born 31 December 1832, a son of Hiram John Yancey and Elizabeht Pratt. She married (3) 9 January 1871, David Lewis. No children of this union. She died 22 December 1873, at Bountiful Davis County, Utah.

Maria Mitchell (13^th wife), born 14 April 1843, at Sheffield, York, England, a daughter of Hezekiah Mitch and (1) Sarah Mallinson. She was a sister to Lovina Mitchell, wife number 11. She married Capt. James Brown, 19 September 1861, in the Salt Lake Endowment House. The sealing was performed by Daniel H. Wells, with Brigham Young as a witness. She married (2) Edward Gregory Horrocks, 4 June 1864, after the death of Capt. Brown. She died 19 February 1923. No children. Her family records indicate that she was born at Liverpool, Lancashire, England, and not at Sheffield, York, as her sister was born at Sheffield.

*A granddaughter of George David Black gives us this insight into the life of this step-son of Capt. James Brown. Lillian Felt of Brigham City, Utah, tells us that Mary McRee lost her husband and a number of children from an epidemic while living at Nauvoo. She was left with only one child, George David Black. She took this child to Brigham Young and told him that this was the only child she had left and she did not want to lose him. Their family history stated that Brigham Young took the little boy down to the Mississippi River and baptized him, then sealed him up against all sickness and disease. He came on to Utah with Capt. James Brown and lived in Ogden, Utah. He was later asked to help colonize the area of Oxford, Idaho. He married and had thirteen children, but never had a sick day in his life. In later life, he was killed in an accident.

_____________________________________________________________

Notes:         [Bracket] notations for clarification.  Minor spelling corrections made. Page numbers left hand aligned-not centered.
Sources:      Wiscombe, Erold C., The Brown Family, Descendants of Daniel Brown and
                   Elizabeth Stephens. 1986, pages 19-23.
Copyright:   Used by permission.
Level:         A (document verified and proofed by a person other than transcriber or typist).
Certificate:  Donor: Erold Wiscombe, June 5, 2000. Transcribed: Maria and Lisa Klein,
                  June 2-5, 2000. Verified/Proofed: Maria and Lisa Klein, June 25, 2000. See Donors.

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Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives

[Picture of Captain James Brown]
[Data on Captain James Brown]

Married 1^st: Martha Stephens
Date: 2 Mar 1823, Rowan, No. Carolina [Age 16 years]
Born: 12 Oct. 1806
Died: 28 Sep 1840

Married 2^nd: Susan Foutz
Date: 26 Jan 1841, Adams Co., Illinois [Age 17 years]
Born: 14 Feb 1823
Died: 18 Aug 1842

Married 3^rd: Esther Jones [Raper, widow]
Date: 20 Nov 1842, Nauvoo, Illinois [Age _____] 

Married 4^th: Sarah Steadwell [Wood] (Div)
Date: 10 Jan 1845, Nauvoo, Illinois [Age 30 years]
Born: 31 March 1814
Died: 18 Mar 1893

Married 5^th: Abigail Smith [Abbott, widow] -- [No Children]
Date: 8 Feb 1846, Nauvoo, Illinois [Age 39 years]
Born: 11 Sep 1806
Died: 23 July 1889

Married 6^th: Mary McRee Black, widow
Date: 16 Jul 1846, _______________ [Age 26 years]
Born: 17 Oct 1819
Died: 2 Nov 1906

Married 7^th: Phoebe Abigail Abbott
Date: 17 Oct 1850, [Ogden, Weber, Utah]  [Age 19 years]
Born: 18 May 1831
Died: 9 Jan 1914

Married 8^th: Cecelia Henrietta Cornu [Robellaz, widow]
Date: 26 Dec 1854 [Age 29 years]
Born: 17 May 1825
Died: 14 Sep 1882

Married 9^th: Mary Woolerton
Date: 7 Feb 1855 [Age ______]
Died: 16 Jan 1877, Ogden, Utah

Married 10^th: Darthula Catherine Shupe -- No children
Date: 17 Feb 1856 [Age ______]

Married 11^th: Lavina Mitchell -- No children
Date: 7 Sep 1856 [Age ______]

Married 12^th: Harriet Wood -- No children
Date: 17 Sep 1859 [Age ______]

Married 13^th: Maria Mitchell -- No children
Date: 22 Sep 1861 [Age 18 years]
Born: 14 Apr 1843
Died: 19 Feb 1923

[text about Captain James Brown]

Children of 1^st wife [Martha Stephens]:

JOHN MARTIN, b. 29 Jun 1824, No. Carolina.
ALEXANDER, b 3 Mar 1826, No. Carolina.
JESSE STOWELL, b 26 Mar 1828, No. Carolina.
NANCY, b. 27 Dec 1830, No. Carolina.
DANIEL, b. 7 Dec 1832, No. Carolina.
JAMES MOORHEAD, b 17 Nov 1834, Illinois.
WILLIAM, b 21 Aug 1836, Illinois.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, b. 9 May 1838, Illinois.
MORONI, b. 25 Sep 1840, Illinois.

Children of 2^nd wife [Susan Foutz]:

ALMA, b. 1842. Lived 3 weeks.

Children of 3^rd wife [Esther Jones Raper, widow]:

ESTHER ELLEN, b. 18 Mar 1849. Md. James Leech Dee. D. 26 Oct 1893.
ALICE, D. age 16 in Ogden.
AUGUST (twin), b. 1843. Lived one day.
AUGUSTA (twin), b. 1843. Lived one day.
AMASA LYMAN, lived two months.

Children of 4^th wife [Sarah Steadwell (Div)]:

JAMES HARVEY, b. 8 Oct 1846/7. D. 7 Oct 1912.

Children of 6^th wife [Mary McRee Black, widow]:

MARY ELIZA, b. 8 Nov 1847, Utah. Md. William F. Critchlow. D. 20 Mar 1903.
MARGARET, b. 17 Dec 1849. D. 6 Feb 1855-age 5 years.
MARY ANN, b. 5 May 1852. Md. Edward Edwards.
JOSEPH SMITH, b. 4 Jan 1856. Md. Sarah Wealthy Patten. D. 22 Mar 1903.
JOSEPHINE VILATE, b. 8 Jan 1858. Md. 25 Oct 1875, Henry James Newman. D. 4 Apr 1917.

Children of 7^th wife ([Phoebe Abigail Abbott ] daughter of 1^st husband of 5^th wife, Abigail Smith.):

STEPHEN ABBOTT, b. 22 Aug 1851. D. 22 Dec 1853. Child.
PHOEBE ADELAIDE, b. 24 Oct 1855. Md. Henry Theodore Snyder. D. 11 Jun 1930.
ORSON PRATT, b. 22 May 1863. Md. Martha Dianna Romney. D. 11 Jun 1930.

Children of 8^th wife [Cecelia Henrietta Cornu Robellaz, widow]:

CHARLES DAVID, b. 23 Jan 1856. Md. 26 Jun 1879, Sarah Ellen Dixon D. 23 Aug 1926.
JAMES FREDRICK, b. 2 Jul 1859. Md. 27 Mar 1884, Esther Amelia Marriott. D. 19 Apr 1923.

Submitted By: Belva Moyle

__________________________________________________________

Notes:          [Bracket] notes for clarification and explanation.  Bold added.
Sources:       Moyle, Belva, Conquerors of the West, Stalwart Mormon Pioneers, Vol. I., Salt
                    Lake City, Utah: pages 382-386.
Copyright:    Public Document.
Level:           A (document verified and proofed by a person other than transcriber or typist).
Certificate:    Document Donor: Jim Klein, June 2, 2000. Transcribed: Maria Klein, June 2,
                    2000. Verified/Proofed: Karen Klein, June 5, 2000. See Donors.

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1st Wife - Martha STEPHENS

Martha Stephens in Wiscombe's Book.

See also Wiscombe's CJ Brown Wives and Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives.

Page 19

Martha Stephens, (first wife) was born 12 October 1806, in Davidson County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Alexander Stephens and Mary (Polly) Dailey or Daley. She died 28 September 1840, at Kingston, Adams County Illinois. She was a sister to Daniel Brown’s wife, Elizabeth Stephens.

Children:

1. John Martin Brown, born 29 June 1824, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He married four wives: Ann Foutz, Lovina Wilson, Louisa Wilson, and Almeda Daley Wilson. He died 13 Oct. 1888.
2. Alexander Brown, born 3 March 1826, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He married Amanda McMurty. He died 22 April 1910.
3. Jesse Stowell Brown, born 26 March 1829, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He married Caroline Stewart. He died 29 January 1905.
4. Nancy Brown, born 27 December 1830, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. She married Eleazer Davis.
5. Daniel Brown, born 7 December 1832, at Flat Creek Swamp, Davidson County, North Carolina. He died 1864, unmarried.
6. James Moorhead Brown, born 17 November 1834, at Versailles, Brown County, Illinois. He married Adelaid Exervid. He died 26 December 1924.
7. William Brown, born 21 August 1836, at Beverly, Adams County, Illinois. He married Mary Elizabeth Bybee. He died 19 October 1904.
8. Benjamin Franklin Brown, born 9 May 1838, at Beverly, Adams County, Illinois. He married Susan A. Wright. He died 24 December 1863.
9. Moroni Brown, born 25 September 1840, at Beverly, Adams County, Illinois. He married Evaline C. Conover and Frances Mariah Porter. He died 14 August 1916.

See also the Stephens’ Ancestry.

_______________________________________________________________

Notes:         Minor spelling corrections made.  Page numbers left hand aligned-not centered.
Sources:      Wiscombe, Erold C., The Brown Family, Descendants of Daniel Brown and
                   Elizabeth Stephens. 1986, page 19.
Copyright:   Used by permission.
Level:         A (document verified and proofed by a person other than transcriber or typist).
Certificate:  Donor: Erold Wiscombe, June 5, 2000. Transcribed: Maria and Lisa Klein,
                  June 2-5, 2000. Verified/Proofed: Maria and Lisa Klein, June 25, 2000. See Donors.

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2nd Wife - Susan FOUTZ

See Wiscombe's CJ Brown Wives and Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives.

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3rd Wife - Ester JONES RAPER, Widow

Ester Jones Roper [Raper] Brown, Maynes, Shirley N. Five Hundred Wagons Stood Still — Mormon Battalion Wives.U.S.A 1999: pages 71-74.

See also Wiscombe's CJ Brown Wives and Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives.

Page 71

Esther Jones was born on January 7, 1814 in Lyman, Sportanburg County, North Carolina. Esther was the widow of Robert Roper [Raper]. After her husband’s death she married James Brown on November 20, 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois. Perhaps they were acquainted with each other in North Carolina, the birthplace of James and Esther.

The Browns became parents of five children: August and Augusta; twins, born in 1843 and had died soon after their birth; Amasa born in 1844 and died in 1844 and Alice Brown born in 1846. All were born in Nauvoo, Illinois. The fifth child was born in Salt Lake City in 1849. Before the Browns left Nauvoo, they received their endowments in the temple on December 22, 1845.

James brought all of his families to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1846. He had three wives at the time: Esther, Sarah and Abigail and their children. He also brought the children from his first wife, Martha Stephens Brown, who had died from complications of childbirth when her ninth child was born.

At Council Bluffs, James enlisted in the Mormon Battalion as Captain of Company "C". Before he left, on July 16, 1846, he married Mary McCree Black, a widow with a small son. Mary became one of the laundresses for the Battalion and took her son with her. Esther was left behind with her daughter, Alice. She had become despondent over the deaths of her children and over the fact that James had left her on the prairie. In a letter written on August 6, 1847 to one of his wives, Abigail Smith Abbott Brown, James asks her to visit and care for Esther. He admonishes her to lift Esther’s spirit, for he relates: "She has surely been afflicted since I have left."

On June 17, 1847, Esther joined the Isaac Haight Company who left for the Salt Lake Valley. The journey across the plains took about three months before she arrived in the Valley on September 19, 1847. She remained in Salt Lake living in the "Old Fort" until James came back from California in November of 1847. Mary Black Brown left the Battalion and wintered in Pueblo. She came to the valley on July 29, 1847 and was also living in the "Old Fort" when she gave birth to a daughter in the same year.

Upon his arrival in Salt Lake, James Brown purchased, from Miles Goodyear, a large tract of land for the sum of $3,000.00. Of this amount, $1,950.00 was money from the pay of the men from the Mormon Battalion. One of the reasons James Brown had gone to California was that he was authorized by the men to collect their pay that they had earned

while they were at Pueblo, Colorado. The purchase of the Goodyear Ranch was made upon the advice from the authorities of the Church. President Young had a definite plan for the colonization of Utah.

President Young sent scouts out to explore the surrounding area. John Brown was one of these scouts as he had accompanied Captain Brown west on his journey to California. John carried a report of Goodyear’s Fort on the Weber River, back to the Church authorities. Brigham Young gave instructions for Goodyear to be bought out. Not until Captain Brown returned with the battalion’s pay was there enough money in the colony to pay for the purchase of this land.

Before James Brown could purchase the Goodyear Fort, a treaty with Mexico had to be resolved. Edward Tullidge, an early Utah historian writes: "Miles Goodyear claimed a tract of land, which was a Mexican grant to him in 1841; commencing at the mouth of Weber Canyon and following the base of the mountain north to the Utah Hot Springs, thence west to the Salt Lake and thence east to the place of beginning. Goodyear had built a fort and few log cabins on the spot now occupied by the Union Pacific Freight Depot. This land was then Mexican Territory and was ceded to the United States by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February 1848. This treaty having been executed, was of supreme importance to the Mormon Colonists as it was the only remaining Spanish title in this territory."

Eventually, Esther and her daughter, Alice, accompanied James to Weber Valley. This area was first called "Buenaventura" but was changed to "Brown’s Fort" and then later to "Brownsville." In 1861 it became "Ogden" named for Peter Skene Ogden. There were three other families who helped to colonize the area besides James Brown: Henry C. Shelton, Louis B. Myers, and George W. Thurnkill. Two of James’ sons from his first marriage, Alexander and Jesse, came with James to help settle the area. They had joined the Mormon Battalion and were with him on the long march to California.

Esther became involved in caring for a large household. The first year in the Brown’s Fort, the men planted acres of wheat, corn, turnips, cabbage, potatoes and a few watermelons from seeds that James had brought with him from California. Included in the land purchase were seventy-five cattle, seventy-five goats, twelve sheep and six horses.

During 1848, there was very little food left in the Salt Lake Valley due mainly to the cricket infestation. Until crops could be harvested, James Brown sent his son, Alexander, and others to Fort Hall to purchase flour for his family. The party brought back six hundred pounds. James kept two hundred-pounds for his family and sent four hundred pounds to Salt Lake for the starving Saints. The family milked twenty-five cows each day and from this supply

of milk the women made cheese and butter. Much of the dairy products were sent to Salt Lake. In fact, the Brown family supplied the Saints with breadstuff, beef and dairy products that had come from the Brown’s Fort as the cricket infestation wasn’t nearly as bad in Orgen as it was further south. On March 18, 1849, Esther gave birth to a daughter she named Esther Ellen. Her daughter, Alice who had been born in Nauvoo, died in 1865 at age nineteen.

Before leaving for his mission, James was in the process of building a new twelve-room house. The house was a two story adobe with a long veranda running across the front of the house. When the house was completed his wives and family lived in it. It was located across from the Ogden Tabernacle.

James Dunn gives this description of life in a large extended family household: "James Brown was not only a polygamist, but everything around him was built on a polygamist plan. His barn was divided into separate apartments where each family could take care of their own cows. His yard were so arranged that each wife could have her own pigs and chickens to themselves., if they wished; or they could let them run together and divide up according to their own needs and wants, which was indeed the case in his family. His house was formed and designed to have each family in a separate part where they could live and be as independent of each other, if they wished to, as any single family could be. And all the improvements that he made, either indoors or out, were made after this plan. All shared alike in the supply of provisions according to the number in the family. A sack of sugar was divided into three parts and each got their quarta. A beef was killed with the same object in view. If a dress was bought for one wife, the others got the same. Besides, he gave each family a weekly allowance to buy the hundred and one nic-nacks that are needed in every house; all were treated alike as far as measures and weights could divide—and that was abundant as far as his limited means could go."

It is unknown when Esther Jones died or where she is buried.

Children of James Brown and Esther Jones Roper [Raper] Brown:
August Brown born 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois – twin - died in 1843
Augusta Brown born 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois – twin - died in 1843
Amasa Brown born 1844 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois - died in 1844
Alice Brown born in 1846 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois - died in 1865
Esther Ellen Brown Born March 18, 1849 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, Utah

Information obtained from a history written on James Brown by Gladys Brown White – found at the Utah Historical Society – 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City, Utah
Letter sent to Abigail Abbott Brown from James Brown – August 6, 1847 – in possession of Lois E. Jones and Myron A. Abbott, Jr. – James requesting Abigail to care for Esther Jones Brown – Historical Records Survey at Ogden, Utah
Heart Throbs of the West – Daughters of Utah Pioneers Publication – Daughters of Utah Pioneers Headquarters – Salt Lake City – Esther crossing the Plains – Vol. 8 p. 420
A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War by Sgt. Daniel Tyler – Roster of Company C pp. 121-122 – James Brown Traveling to California After His Arrival to Salt Lake on July 29, 1847 pp. 311-316
Edward Tullidge – Utah Historian – "The Purchase of the Miles Goodyear Fort by Captain James Brown" – Utah Historical Society – 300 Rio Grande – Salt Lake City, Utah
Weber County – Beehive History 14 – p32 – Utah Historical Society – 300 Rio Grande – Salt Lake City, Utah
Deseret – 1776-1976 – A Bicentennial Illustrated History of Utah by the Deseret News – "Brigham Young’s View on Colonization and the Settlement of Ogden" pp. 70-71
Janet Dixon – The Plural Wife by James Dunn – Tooele, Utah – "Living in a Polygamist Household" – p. 9
Family Group Sheet – L.D.S. Family History Library – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Notes:          Information notes listed by Shirley N. Maynes. Page numbers left aligned and
                    underlined. Bold and underline added.
Sources:      Maynes, Shirley N. Five Hundred Wagons Stood Still — Mormon Battalion Wives. U.S.A 1999: pages 71-74.
Copyright:   Used by permission.
Level:          A (document verified and proofed by a person other than transcriber or typist).
Certificate:   Document Donor: Jim Klein, June 26, 2000. Transcribed: Maria Klein, June 22,
                   2000. Verified/Proofed: 1. Maria Klein 2. Jim Klein, June 26, 2000. See Donors.

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4th Wife - Sarah STEADWELL WOOD, Divorced from Samuel Wood

Sarah Studwell, 1814 – 1894, Randy J. Thompson.

Sarah Steadwell Wood , Maynes, Shirley N. Five Hundred Wagons Stood Still — Mormon Battalion Wives.U.S.A 1999: pages 74-76.

See also Wiscombe's CJ Brown Wives and Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives.

SARAH STUDWELL or STEADWELL WOOD was born March 31, 1814 at Chester or Genoa, Cayuga County, New York. Her father, Abram or Abraham Studwell or Steadwell, was a native of Fairfield, Connecticut, but moved to New York with his father, Gabriel Studwell, and his two brothers, William and Peter Studwell in 1798, and later took up land in Rye, New York. Emigrant Thomas Studwell of Massachusetts came from Kent, England to Connecticut and New York. His mother, Rebecca Sheffield, was a native of New York. Abram (Abraham) and Rebecca had ten children as follows:

Harvey Studwell (Stedwell), born about 1810 in Genoa or Chester, Cayuga, New York.
Selah or Seeley Studwell, born about 1812, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.
Sarah and Olive Studwell (twins) born 31 March 1814, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York
Mary Studwell, born 1816, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.
Ann Studwell, born 1818, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.
Rebecca Studwell, born 1819, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.
John Studwell, born 1820, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.
Jonathon Studwell, born 1822, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.
Abram Studwell, born 1826, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York.

They moved to Berlin, Huron County, (now Erie County) Ohio, about 1829 and later moved to LaHarpe, Hancock County, Illinois.

Samuel Wood, was born in 1807, in Auburn, New York, married Sarah Studwell, on 15 July 1832 in Berlin, Huron County, Ohio. They had six children but three died in infancy, as follows:

Warren Wood, born in 1833, Berlin, Huron, Ohio.
Sylvester and Emma Wood (twins), born 1835, Huron County, Ohio. Both died young.
Charles Wood, born 9 June 1837, Berlin, Huron, Ohio.
George Wood, born in 1839, Berlin, Huron, Ohio. He died young.
Joseph Wood, born 19 April 1841, LeHarpe, Hancock, Illinois.

Samuel and Sarah joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and started towards Nauvoo, but Samuel became discouraged and taking their eldest son, Warren, said he was going back home. They separated at Sandusky, Ohio. Sarah and her two sons, Charles and Joseph, continued on their way to Nauvoo, Illinois, determined to be with the Saints. They endured all the hardships of pioneer life, and the opposition of those who did not believe in this new religion. It took faith and courage to go on, but Sarah had both and did her part to help the cause along.

On January 10, 1846, Sarah married James Brown, as his first polygamous wife, in Nauvoo, Illinois. He was born 30 September 1801, in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died 30 September 1863, in Ogden, Weber, Utah, as a result of an accident. He joined the Mormon Battalion, was elected Captain of Company "C", and left in July 1846, for the long trek to help win California from Mexico. He took Mary McRee Black, one of his four wives at the time, with him, and Sarah was left to shift for herself, along with the other Saints preparing to travel west.

These were troublesome times. Persecution was so great that the Mormons were forced to abandon their homes and were driven out of their beautiful city of Nauvoo, which was built on the banks of the Mississippi River. Their temple was burned and they had to flee for their lives across the river. They traveled on to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, on the west bank of the Missouri River, and suffered from cold and privations. Many lost their lives. Six hundred were buried in the little cemetery there. Sarah and James Brown’s only child, James Harvey Brown, was born at Winter Quarters on October 8, 1846. Her bedroom was a wagon box set on the ground, but being of sturdy stock and having faith in the Gospel, Sarah survived the ordeal. History tells us that the early pioneers suffered more hardships, sickness, and death while traveling from Nauvoo, Illinois to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, than during and other part of their journey.

Brigham Young was very concerned about his people, especially the widows, wives, and families of the men who went with the Mormon Battalion. It is said that, ". . . he slept with one eye open, and one foot out of bed. Everyone helped each other when they were in need and their rations were low. He was a fine carpenter as well as a capable leader, and whenever they stopped along the way, he had the men build cabins and bridges, as well as plant crops and gardens, which were often left for those who followed. They set up blacksmith shops and made wagons, and other things necessary for their trip westward."

Although men, women, and children were dying off by the hundreds, due to swampy lands, unhealthy conditions, malnutrition and hardships, the saints kept up their spirits by singing Gospel hymns and dancing around the camp fires when the day’s work was done. It was at this time, April 15, 1846, when the people were so discouraged that William Clayton wrote the song, "Come, Come Ye Saints", which was sung by hundreds of weary pioneers, and is still a favorite Mormon hymn.

It was during these strenuous times that my grandmother, Sarah Studwell Wood Brown lived, with her three sons, Charles Wood, about ten years, Joseph Wood, about eight years, and baby James Harvey Brown. We have no history of her life, but elder members of the family say she was a very intelligent woman, who did her own thinking and was a good manager. Her husband, Captain James Brown, sent her money to buy a wagon and two span of oxen for the journey to Utah. They came in 1848 with the Brigham Young Company, with Heber C Kimball in charge of ten wagons. My father, Charles, only eleven years of age, helped to drive the oxen. There were no lines, but they were guided by "Gees" and "Haws". After a long hard journey, they arrived in Ogden, Utah. They lived in Brownsville on the former Goodyear property which Captain Brown had purchased with money earned from service in the Mormon Battalion. Several other families lived there to. The fort consisted of some log cabins and corrals, a small garden and a large tract of fertile land, lying between the Weber and Ogden Rivers. There were 75 cattle, 75 goats, 12 sheep, 6 horses and a cat. During the spring of 1848 they plowed a large tract, planting it to wheat and other things. They also made large amounts of cheese and butter, which was plenty of work for all. In Salt Lake Valley the frost, drought and crickets ravaged the crops, so they were glad to get food from Captain Brown.

Sarah was not too happy living in polygamy, so after a few years she left Captain James Brown and later married Ithamar Sprague, an older man. The Indians were very troublesome and it was necessary to give them food to keep them from stealing and to maintain peace. One day the Indians came begging for food. They had stolen an Indian girl from another tribe, but they pushed her back and would not let her get anything to eat. Grandmother saw that her hair was all matted and she was thin and undernourished, so she persuaded them to leave the girl with her. She cut off her hair, being unable to comb it, fed her and made her a bed on a straw tick, and finally brought her back to health. They called her "Fanny", but she had another Indian name. Every time the Indians came, Grandmother had to hide Fanny so they wouldn’t kill her. She taught the family many words which helped them to speak and understand the Indian language. Later my father, Charles Wood, went on a mission to the Indians and taught them the Book of Mormon. He also served as an interpreter for the immigrants. The Indians taught Grandmother how to make gloves and moccasins from deer skins. These she sold to the travelers who were passing through Utah. It became necessary to send Fanny away to live with other relatives to protect her from the Indians.

Ithamar Sprague was a blacksmith and there was plenty of work in his line in those days. Sarah, being a good manager and thrifty, was able to help make a home in this new country and raise her large family in the land of the free. Their children were:

Margaret Sprague, born in 1849, Ogden, Utah
Itamar Sprague, born in 1854, Ogden, Utah
Sarah Sprague, born in 1856, Ogden, Utah
Rebecca Sprague, born in 1858, Ogden, Utah
Solomon Sprague, born in 1860, Ogden, Utah

Years later, after the death of her husband, Sarah married Mr. Lew and lived in Soda Springs, Idaho. Here she had a small shop where she sold candy, books, pencils, trinkets and etc., and had a good business. After her husband’s death, she kept her business and made good money, but finally sold out and spent her last days with her son, Joseph Wood and his family in Trenton, Cache County, Utah. She passed away March 31, 1894, and was buried at Cornish, Cache County, Utah. Many fine descendants honor her name.

Copied from family history of Laura Wood McCarty.

October, 1960         Laura Wood McCarty, granddaughter of Charles and Sarah Studwell Wood.

August 24, 1968      Copy made by Barbara Wood Olsen, a great-granddaughter of Joseph Wood and Elizabeth Ellen Slater Wood.

April 17, 1972         Recopied by Barbara Wood Olsen, a great-granddaughter of Joseph Wood and Elizabeth Ellen Slater Wood.

April 17, 2000         Retyped with minor corrections for spelling and punctuation by Randy J. Thompson, great-great grandson of Sarah Studwell Wood Brown Sprague LeBaron Kelly Reed Lewis and Captain James Brown Jr.

_____________________________________________________

Notes: Notes as stated in the document. Minor punctuation changes.
Sources: Thompson, Randy J., Sarah Studwell, 1814 – 1894.
Copyright: Used by permission.
Level: B (document verified and proofed by the transcriber or typist).
Certificate: Document Donor: Randy J. Thompson, June 4, 2000. Transcribed: Randy J. Thompson, June 4, 2000. Verified/Proofed: Randy J. Thompson, June 4, 2000. See Donors.

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Sarah Steadwell was born March 31, 1814 in Chester, Orange County, New York to Abram Steadwell and Rebecca Sheffield. She was married on July 15, 1832 in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio to Samuel Wood and became the mother of six children. Sarah divorced Samuel and married James Brown January 10, 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois.

James had filled three short missions for the Church. The last one was in North Carolina. After his return and marriage to Sarah, he began operating a sawmill and gristmill. Upon looking at a map, these mills were located either in Nauvoo or Augusta, Iowa. Augusta was located just across the Mississippi River but not far from Illinois. James mentions in his history that he had business in Augusta.

In 1846, after the expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo, James took his wives, Esther, Sarah and Abigail and their families along with his family from his first wife, Martha Stephens, who had died in childbirth, and these families journeyed to Iowa. While at Council Bluffs,

James Brown enlisted in the Mormon Battalion and became Captain of Company "C". He left from there on July 20, 1846. Before leaving he situated his families at various places in Iowa. Abigail, for a while, was a Mt. Pisgah and Esther and Sarah were near the banks of Council Bluffs. On October 8, 1846, Sarah gave birth to a son she named Harvey. At the time of his birth she was living in a wagon box with three of her children from Samuel Wood. Three of the children had died previously.

James Brown wrote to Abigail, one of his wives, dating the letter August 6, 1847 Salt Lake Valley. At the time he had just bought the three detachments and some of the Mississippi Saints from Pueblo, Colorado. He was about to depart for California to collect pay from the United States government for these three detachments of the Battalion. Before he left for California, he was concerned about his families and wrote to Abigail Smith Abbott Brown.

In his letter, he mentions that he had heard from both his daughter Nancy and from his wife, Sarah. Both of these women wrote saying "they planned on coming to the Salt Lake Valley as soon as James could provide them with wagons and teams." The letter mentions that Heber C. Kimball had been in contact with the Brown families and he reported that Sarah had not been well.

In Abigail’s history it tells that James sent the necessary wagons and she, Abigail, made arrangements to send the Brown families remaining in Iowa to the Salt Lake Valley. Sarah and children came in the Brigham Young Company leaving June 1, 1848 and arriving in the Valley on September 20 - 24, 1848.

After Sarah and her family came into the Valley, she eventually moved to the Ogden area. It is not certain if she lived in Brown’s Fort, but if not, it was nearby. While there, she met Mr. Arthurmer or Ardemis Thomas Sprague, who was a blacksmith and had worked for James Brown. Sarah divorced James and in 1849, she married Mr. Sprague. Sarah became a mother of five children. The family remained in Ogden for many years. She then divorced Mr. Sprague and married Alonzo Le Baron.

Sarah died March 18, 1893 in Trenton, Cache County, Utah. She is buried in the Cornish City Cemetery, Cache County, Utah. She died just before her seventy-ninth birthday on March 31.

Children of Samuel Wood and Sarah Steadwell Wood:
Warren Wood born in 1833 in Berlin, Huron County, Ohio
Sylvester Wood born in 1835 in Berlin, Huron County, Ohio — twin — died young
Emma Wood born in 1835 in Berlin, Huron County, Ohio — twin — died young
Charles Wood born June 9, 1837 in Berlin, Huron County, Ohio
George Wood born in 1839 in Berlin, Huron County, Ohio — died young
Joseph Wood born April 19, 1841 in La Harpe, Hancock County, Illinois

Children of James Brown and Sarah Steadwell Wood Brown:
Harvey Brown born October 8, 1846 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Children of Arthurmer Thomas Sprague and Sarah Steadwell Wood Brown Sprague:
Margaret Sprague born in 1849 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah
Ithamer Smith Sprague born December 10, 1852 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah
Sarah Sprague born December 15, 1853 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah
Rebecca (Betsey) Sprague born November 28, 1855 in Ogden, Weber county, Utah
Solomon Abraham born August 10, 1860 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah

__________________________________________________

Notes:          Information notes listed by Shirley N. Maynes. Page numbers left aligned and
                    underlined. Bold and underline added.
Sources:      Maynes, Shirley N. Five Hundred Wagons Stood Still — Mormon Battalion Wives. U.S.A 1999: pages 74-76.
Copyright:   Used by permission.
Level:          A (document verified and proofed by a person other than transcriber or typist).
Certificate:   Document Donor: Jim Klein, June 26, 2000. Transcribed: Maria Klein, June 22,
                   2000. Verified/Proofed: 1. Maria Klein 2. Jim Klein, June 26, 2000. See Donors.

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5th Wife - Abigail SMITH ABBOTT, Widow

Abigail Smith Abbott Brown in The Story of My Life - William E. Abbott, Erwin and Colleen Waite, pages 1-10.

Abigail Smith Abbott Brown in George Abbott and His Discendants, Lois E. Jones, copied on October 16, 1936 by Virginia Lee of the Historical Records Survey at Ogden, Utah.

Abigail Smith Abbott Brown, Maynes, Shirley N. Five Hundred Wagons Stood Still — Mormon Battalion Wives.U.S.A 1999: pages 66-70.

See also Wiscombe's CJ Brown Wives and Moyle's CJ Brown's Wives.

This book was written in Grandpa Abbott’s own handwriting and because he was a modest man, many of his accomplishments are not found here. However, those who had the opportunity to know him realize his greatness. The proof of his greatness can be found in his posterity.

Within the pages of this book a void is found - more information on the life of Mary Jane Leavitt Abbott, the noble wife of William E. Abbott. She raised their large family, was a loving, kind, dedicated wife and mother. She suffered many trials and tribulations while her husband was away from home. She not only raised her own family but, as a mid-wife, brought over one hundred babies into this world, staying with mother and child for weeks after the birth. She always had a helping hand for everyone, was always cheerful and was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor which everyone enjoyed. Truly, she was a choice daughter of our Father in Heaven and all who knew her loved her.

This couple had a great influence for good on this earth and certainly have merited a grand reward in our Father’s Kingdom.

A special thanks to Elmer and Emily Abbott Hughes for their closeness and devoted attention to this couple. Emily has been instrumental in having this book published spending much time and effort in its behalf. In later years, they remained close to their parents and after the death of Grandpa Abbott, Grandma Abbott lived in their home. My, what great blessings and experiences.

We appreciate our knowledge of this grand couple and our close association with them and, with many others, desire to again be with them.

We hope that the members of the family will find this book an inspiration and an enriched realization of their fine heritage and an influence to live up to that heritage.

This is a brief sketch of the life of William Elias Abbott, who was born October 16, 1869, at Ogden City, Weber County, Utah; who was the son of Myron Abbott who was born December 1, 1827, at Perry, Pike County, Illinois; who was the son of Stephen Abbott who was born August 16, 1804, at Providence, Pennsylvania; who was the son of James Abbott who was born March 9, 1753; who was the son of Abial Abbott, who was born March 3, 1726; who was the son of Philip Abbott who was born April 3, 1699; who was the son of George Abbott of Andover, Massachusetts, born May 22, 1615. His wife’s name was Hannah Chandler. My mother was Laura Josephine Allen, the daughter of Orval Allen. She was born April 4, 1846, at Hancock County, Illinois. My parents were married April 25, 1861.

My father, Myron Abbott, died at Mesquite, Nevada, September 3, 1907. My mother died at Bunkerville, Nevada, January 22, 1924. My parents followed the humble pursuits of life. They were pioneers and both crossed the plains with the early pioneers.

My grandfather, Stephen Abbott, died in Nauvoo, Illinois, October 19, 1843, leaving a widow and eight small children to struggle for an existence at a perilous time just prior to the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois.

Like Nephi, the son of Lehi, who left Jerusalem six hundred years before the coming of our Savior I feel that I, too, was born of goodly parents and I have always been thankful that I was permitted to come forth in this wonderful day and time, at a time when God has again condescended to speak to the children of men and that my parents and grandparents knew the voice of the True Shepherd and obeyed the Gospel message, and that I have had the privilege of participating in the ordinances of the Gospel from my youth up.

George Abbott was born in Yorkshire, England, about 1615, and immigrated to America in 1640. He was one of the first settlers of Andover, Massachusetts. In 1647 he married Hannah Chandler. They raised a large family. He died December 24, 1681, age 66 years. She died June 11, 1711, age 82 years.

About two hundred years afterward a monument was erected in the old burial place in Andover to their memory, by popular subscription of their many descendants. Theirs is indeed a numerous tribe. Their descendants have been traced and names recorded in the family register for six and seven generations.

It has been said of Abraham that he was of pure stock, that the man in himself was so strong that his characteristics have marked all his race

through a thousand generations. The same seems to be true of George Abbott. Although they have inter-married with all the old families of New England, in later generations with English, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, German, Scandinavian, and Italian stock, yet they exhibit the traits of character of their ancestors of two hundred fifty years ago. First of all, a deep religious sentiment that inclines them to contact themselves with some organized form of worship. Perhaps all of the prominent church organizations contain names of members of this family. They are modest and unassuming, content to live humbly if need be, yet when entrusted with public affairs, discharge their trust with fidelity and honor. They love education and liberty, both religious and civil, and resent oppression in any form. They are firm in their convictions and have frequently made great sacrifices for conscience sake. They are generally studious and sober, many are graduates of institutions of higher learning. Though generally industrious, few have accumulated great wealth. Many are poor, but would disdain to eat the bread of charity.

They follow all vocations but a large percentage are farmers and home builders - a hardy, thrifty, frugal race, prolific also, and the name of Abbott is likely to endure as long as surnames are recorded. Few have become stars of the first magnitude, yet, generally speaking, they are people who exert an influence for the best things wherever they are, which is in accord with Christianity and the forces that impelled George Abbott to leave his native land and settle in the new world. A gentleman speaking of the Abbotts to Elder William E. Abbott in the California mission said, "I have met men of your name in many sections of the United States and in England and they have generally been above the average in intelligence."

The name appears to be derived from an office or occupation. Abbo, Abbi, and Abbe, are from the Gothic tongue. In olden times the office of Abbott, in point of dignity, was next to Bishop.

George and Hannah Chandler had thirteen children of whom William was the sixth son. William married Elizabeth Geary and they had twelve children of whom Philip was the ninth child. Philip married Abigail Birchford and they had eight children of whom Abiel was the second son. Abiel married Abigail Fenton. They had five children of whom James was the second son. James married Phoebe Howe Coray. They had five children of whom Stephen Joseph Abbott was the fourth son and married Abbigail Smith and they had the following children: Emily, Charilla, Phoebe, Lydia Lucina, Abiel, Myron, Cynthia and Abigail of whom the eldest daughter, Emily (who married Edward Bunker), was the mother of Elethra Calista Bunker (who married Joseph I. Earl).

Stephen Joseph Abbott was born August 16, 1804, in Providence, Pennsylvania. On December 11, 1825, he married Abigail Smith in Dansville, Stueben County, New York. Stephen was full six feet in height, strongly built, with black hair, brown eyes. He was alert and honest, a good business man, loved by his relatives and respected by all. He learned the trade of

furniture making and painting. He was rather indifferent to religion until after his marriage, when he and his wife attached themselves to a sect called Universalists, who seemed to hold much broader views than the Methodists or Presbyterians, the dominant creeds of that section. Besides his cabinet making business, he and his nephew, a son of his half-brother, Elijah, owned and operated a cording and fulling machine at Arkport, New York.

About 1838 there was a great tide of emigration pouring into the Mississippi Valley. Stephen’s two brothers Austin and Eleazer were already living in Michigan, so he concluded to go to the Mississippi Valley, and make a permanent home for himself, where he could settle his family. He went by boat down the Allegheny River and in five weeks arrived in Pike County, Illinois. He bought a quarter section of farm land and forty acres of timber land. He then went to Michigan to visit his brothers which was the last time they ever met. He went on to New York where he was warmly greeted by many friends all anxious to learn something of the new country in the Great Valley. He settled up his business affairs, and after visiting with this wife’s family at Palmyra, New York, he said farewell to his friends and relatives and took his wife and children, by boat, down the Allegheny River, leaving April 14, 1837. They landed at Naples on the Illinois River in Pike County, Illinois, in the latter part of May, 1837. They at once began to cultivate their land and build a home. His wife, Abigail Smith Abbott, writing of this period says, "On the first day of December of that year our son Myron was born, a promising child. My daughters went out in the garden and found a beautiful rose, altho the season for that flower was long past, I took it as an omen of promise and rejoiced. There is nothing unusual or strange in this for a mother, but after many years, when it was known that through him alone, descended his father’s name, the incident may be worthy of preservation."

In 1838 Stephen’s elder brother James and family and their mother, Phoebe Howe Coray Abbott, came to Illinois and settled near them and again they were surrounded by friends. Their mother died here about 1840. In 1839, Stephen Joseph Abbott and his wife, Abigail, came in contact with the Mormon people who, on being driven out of Missouri, were settling in Nauvoo, Illinois. They investigated the new religion long and carefully and they and their children became members of the church. Stephen was baptized in March, 1839, by Joseph Wood and confirmed by him and William Brenton. At the April conference of the Church held in Nauvoo in 1840, he was ordained an elder. In 1842 he was ordained a seventy. The same year, they moved to Nauvoo and bought a home and some land. In company with George Miller, Lyman Wight, and James Brown, Stephen was called on a temporal mission to gather funds to build the Nauvoo temple. He was afterwards called on a mission to Wisconsin. When he left Pike County he placed a quantity of wheat in the mill. This he depended on to feed his family in his absence. Through false pretense, one Brier Griffin, a distant relative, obtained four barrels of flour and a Mr. Jaques also obtained a considerable quantity. This loss was a great disappointment to him, so to make provision

for his family, he in company with E. Thompson, a cousin who was to accompany him on this mission, began to get some cord wood down the Mississippi from an island. This entailed much wet and exposure. On October 16, he was taken ill, and on the nineteenth of October, 1843, he died, age 38 years. Yet a young man, just coming into the prime of manhood, just beginning a life that held much promise of honor and usefulness, he was much loved and sincerely mourned by his family, a young wife and eight children, six girls and two boys. His struggle was over, theirs was not [about] to commence, and will be related in as much detail as the ravages of time has permitted to be preserved.

The work he commenced was destined to be continued by his wife, the faith that he exposed, and practically gave his life for, is professed by all his children unto this day, and almost without exception by their children also. He sleeps in an unmarked grave on the hillside overlooking the Great Father of Waters.

His wife was stunned, heartbroken, and almost overwhelmed by the terrible and unexpected blow. Winter was almost upon them, she had eight children, the oldest sixteen years. Provisions were hard to obtain, the country being new. The people with whom she had cast her lot nearly all were poor, mostly refugees, having been robbed, scourged, and mobbed out of Missouri. Her husband, who was public spirited, had put a large portion of his property into the building of the Nauvoo Temple and other public buildings. Public opinion was inflamed against the whole community. In just a few months they saw their leaders, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, murdered. Emily, the eldest daughter, speaking of this sad time, says she was wrapped up in her father, loved him dearly and grieved bitterly when he died, but she says her sorrow was nothing compared with their grief when Joseph, the Prophet of God was murdered. She felt their home was spoiled when their father was taken, whereas, at the death of the prophet, she felt the whole world was spoiled. Such was the gloom among the people of Nauvoo.

Abigail Smith Abbott was alone with few relatives, nobody to rely upon except God and her own efforts. It is probable that her father may have given her some help. He lived in Michigan at the time and had partially accepted the doctrines of the Mormons, but, according to his own statement, at that time he was wavering. She did not complain to him or ever tell him of her destitution nor did she ever waver in her faith. It became her guiding star. She never lost sight of it day or night, in sorrow and adversity, in sickness or in health, it was ever pointing to the West and thither she followed across the great rivers, across the undulating prairies, across the giant mountains into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, there to find solace and rest, not entirely free from toil, for her hands were ever busy; not entirely free from care, for her sympathies were broad and the welfare of her family was ever uppermost in her mind, but free from the terrible strain she was under for several years after her husband’s death. She has said, "I had no means to erect a monument

or even a slab to mark my loved one’s grave, but I planted some morning glories on the grave and left him there to sleep and rest."

Abigail Smith, the daughter of James Smith, a soldier of the War of 1812, and Lydia Lucina Harding, was born at Williamson, near Palmyra, Ontario County, New York, September 11, 1806 and died at Willard, Box Elder County, Utah, July 23, 1889, age 83 years. I visited her grave there with my second cousin, Marie Zundell, in 1903. A fine headstone marks the grave and on one face it has the record of her birth and death and on the opposite side the record of her husband. She was the youngest of several children, all of whom died young. Her own mother died when she was six weeks old and she was nursed through infancy by her aunt, Mrs. Polly Harding, and later by her step-mother, Mehetable Adams. At the age of fifteen years she had a sick spell of many months duration in which her life was despaired of. Her father was a farmer and a teacher of music. Myron Alma Abbott records he had in his possession several letters written by James Smith in a beautiful hand, the grammar being excellent, the diction good, showing that he was a man of education and refinement. Of her mother little is known but her family was good. One member, the Honorable Stephen S. Harding, was appointed Governor of the Territory of Utah in 1863 by President Lincoln.

Lydia Lucina Harding Smith was born July 31, 1781 and died October, 1806 at Williamson, Ontario County, New York. Her husband, James Smith, was a native of Norwalk, Connecticut, born January 14, 1777, and died at Bedord, Michigan, August 26, 1857. At the age of sixteen, Abigail Smith went to Homellsville, New York, to visit relatives of her mother. Here she lived in the family of James Abbott for some time and a warm attachment between her and his son, Stephen Joseph, sprang up. Her father came to take her home but instead, by mutual consent of both families, the young couple were married December 11, 1825. Much of her life from then on has been related in connection with that of her husband. About 1836 her father moved to Michigan. Although she kept in touch with him by correspondence, she never again met any of her family. Many of their letters have been preserved, most of which are kind and affectionate to her personally, but some are full of vindictive denunciations of her religious views and of the Mormon people. Some of her people were at one time attached to the Mormon faith, but the movement west left them behind. At her husband’s death she was left with a home, some land, cows and a few sheep. They had always been independent and the thought of dependence upon strangers was bitter indeed. She taught a private school in her home and obtained both food and clothing. She says, "I trusted in God and improved every opportunity to help myself, but the necessity of becoming servants to our fellow men was almost more than I could bear". Some of her older children did hire out to neighbors and, besides relieving her of their keep, earned a little recompense.

In the spring of 1844 she fenced a small tract of land near the Mississippi River. As she was teaching school, much of the work was done

of evenings in the moonlight. She planted one and one-half acres to garden truck and cultivated it. As the ground was low and swampy, she and the children were stricken with fever and ague. Lyman Wight, then an apostle, lived in an upper room of her house and was also ill. The week after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, he was visited by Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Amasa Lyman and Wilford Woodruff and several ladies. When they went to leave she asked them to administer to each of her sick children, which they did. Heber C. Kimball manifested his charity by giving her a half-dollar. When Brigham Young got to the door he turned and, in the name of the Lord, promised them that all should recover. At times after doing all they could to help themselves, they were compelled to ask charity. This was a great grief to Abigail Smith Abbott for never before in her life has she needed to ask for anything she could not pay for. Many friends showed them favors and assisted in what ways they could. Some other husband’s relatives from Pike County, Mrs. James Abbott, Lyman Wight, John Higbee, and Capt. James Brown and others, are held in grateful remembrance for their kindness. She was able to collect some debts owing to her husband and their wants were relieved. She continued to correspond with her father and her sisters, but she never complained to them. A letter which came down to her grandchildren from her father received while she was in the wilderness of Iowa says, "We received your letter in which you have no complaints to make, etc." One from her sister, Anna Crane, after berating her for her religious views and affiliations tells her if she is getting along so well, a present would be acceptable.

In May, 1846, she was offered $10.00 for her house and lot and twenty acres of land, all fenced. To her remonstrances at the price, he explained, "The Mormons have got to go. That amount will ferry you across the river and it is better than nothing." She accepted it. He also demanded that the furniture be left in the house for he truly explained, "You cannot carry it with you."

On February 9, 1846, the eldest daughter, Emily married Edward Bunker, who was a young man of sterling worth, intelligent, pure, and ambitious. He was ever a friend of the family. History relates their cruel expulsion from Nauvoo and when they were forced to flee, Edward Bunker assisted the family across the river and from the west bank of the Mississippi River they witnessed the Battle of Nauvoo. Abigail felt fortunate indeed to get away with her children before this awful occurrence. Here she remained until November, 1846. Edward Bunker and wife, with three of the eldest daughters of Abigail Smith Abbott went on to Garden Grove where he built a cabin and the family, thus scattered, were not reunited for fifteen months. When Mrs. Abbott arrived at Garden Grove she found Edward Bunker had enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, called out to assist in the war with Mexico and had already gone, leaving his young wife in a delicate condition. They fixed the cabin up the best they could and lived there eleven months, planted a crop and harvested it. During the winter of 1846-1847 Abigail taught school and thus helped to support her family.

On February 1, 1847, her eldest daughter, Mrs. Edward Bunker, gave birth to a fine son. They called him Edward Bunker, Jr. This date also came near being a fatal one for Abigail’s little son Myron, then nine years of age. He was sent out early in the morning to hunt for wood and encountered a large, hungry wolf. Thinking it to be a dog he threw chips at it. It stood growling and ready to attack the lad when the attention of a neighbor was attracted and the wolf was frightened away. This winter proved to be a hard one for Abigail. Beside the regular care of her household, she taught school and one of her elder daughters was ill for eleven weeks with fever and Mrs. Bunker was ill nine weeks at the time of her confinement. Water for the home had to be carried a quarter of a mile, firewood had to be gathered and cut, enough to keep a fire all the time, for the cabin had no floor and was very cold and it took a warm fire to make it comfortable with illness in the family for such a long time. During the winter Abigail received $22.50 from Captain James Brown, sent to her from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Edward Bunker sent his wife some money. Both were serving in the Mormon Battalion. In October, 1847, they moved on to Mosquito Creek, a point farther west near Council Bluff, Iowa. On the morning of December 18, 1847, they heard a group of Battalion men had arrived in town the evening before, so Emily prepared to go and inquire if they knew anything of Edward. Just before she was to leave the house a knock was heard at the door. It proved to be Edward himself. He thought they were still in Garden Grove where he left them, but someone told him they had moved since he left. He was almost frozen and starved. It was necessary for him to remain in bed for several weeks and he was fed gruel every few hours, just a few spoonsful at a time at first. He had endured terrible privation on the return journey and had completed one of the most difficult marches on record. Abigail’s son, Abiel, came to her from Council Bluffs, where he had gone fifteen months before. Once more she had her family all together again. She says, "I thanked God and praised Him and took new courage, for my burdens seemed much lighter."

Before leaving Nauvoo, Abigail Smith Abbott had married for a time as a plural wife to Captain James Brown. Mr. Brown had been a friend of her husband in Nauvoo. He was a man of broad views, great energy and a natural leader of men, but he had a great train of relatives dependent upon him. The relation gave him more the right of protector than husband and that was practically the relation sustained between them. Myron A. Abbott in writing of her life, says he has several letters that passed between them in 1849-1850 in which she reminds him of his covenants with her in relation to the dead (meaning her husband) and telling him that whatever he wished her to do she would do excepting she would do nothing unrighteous. However, her religion taught her polygamy. She accepted and believed in this principle and probably did at one time sustain the relation of wife to him, but she insisted that it be the relation of wife and not concubine. After they were living in Ogden he married her daughter, Phoebe, over her protest. Thereupon she repudiated the relationship and ever afterward lived apart from him.

James Brown went into the Mexican War in 1846. He sent her money

from Santa Fe. He had helped her a little in Nauvoo. He followed the pioneers into Salt Lake Valley on July 28, 1847, just four days after Brigham Young’s party. He must have regarded Abigail as a woman of ability to act and accomplish as a letter written to her soon after his arrival abundantly indicates. Possibly this is one of the first letters written and sent from Utah. A copy of this letter follows:

Camp of Israel, Salt Lake Valley, August 6, A.D. 1847

My dear Abigail: It is with pleasure I sit down this morning and address you a few lines to let you know where I am, and what my engagements are, and also to let you know that I have not forgotten you and your family. I also wish to give you some instruction in relation to your movements, and in relation to your family. I would keep them all together , as much as you can, so that you can control the whole matter yourself, until I can see you, which I hope will be soon. With regard to your moving to this beautiful valley, I wish you to come with the first company next spring. I haven’t been able to assist you but very little since I enlisted. I was detached last October at Santa Fe and sent to Pueblo in command of 107 men. Since that time Lieut. Willis and Capt. Higgins have reported to me with their detachments, making 170 men. My expense has been high and not being able to draw my pay in time to assist you come last spring, you must wait with patience and I will assist you all in my power for I am anxious to see and hear from you. I sent you $25.00 by Brother John D. Lee last October from Santa Fe. I haven’t heard from you since only that you were at Mt. Pisgah and know not whether you have got it or not, if you haven’t received it, it is in the hand of the Bishop at Winter quarters, near Council Bluffs, I hope you will be able to get it. I have sent you one wagon and harness and four mules by the hands of A.J. Shupe and also by the hands of Franklin Allen, one ox team and four yoke of oxen to assist you on your journey next spring, which I hope you will receive and receipt the brethren for the same. I have also sent you by the hand of Brother Allen $30.00 in cash which is all I could sent at this time. I want you to bring all the means for making bread in your power, also flour and meal, as I may want to help you eat it when you come. I hope these lines and the teams will find you at Council Bluffs. So you can come out next spring in the first company. I received a letter from my daughter, Nancy, and one from Sarah, they calculated on coming this summer in Israel Birche’s company. I am looking for them every day. Brother Kimball says he thinks they will be along this summer. He says that Sister Brown’s health is poor, yet she may recover so as to come this season. I hope she will come. If she does not, I want her to come with you. I sent the teams to you, not knowing but what Esther was on her way. If Nancy and Sarah use all the teams and wagons they have to bring them I want Esther to have room in one of the wagons I sent you. I want her to be made comfortable and to come with you. I hope she will be spared until I see her again. I want you to see her and to comfort her drooping spirit, for she has surely been afflicted since I left her.

I shall write to her on this subject, not knowing whether she is coming or not. My dear Abigail, the time seems long, when I look back, since I last saw you. You may think I have forgotten you, but never, the ties and covenants that bind and united us together are stronger than death and the powers of Satan. I hope I shall ever feel that affection for you and your father’s house that will enable me to do all I can for you and them, but by the help of my Heavenly Father and my brethren, I hope to carry out the principles of salvation and exaltation in all things. My being called into the Army of the United States is no reason why I should cease to serve the Lord. I hope I shall ever remember my covenants and live up to them. I arrived here with my command on the 28^th day of July, one week after the twelve. I was also on their heels and had communication with them from time to time after we got to Fort Johns. I have quartered my company in this beautiful valley, where there is salt water and Sweet water, cold and hot water, in abundance and it looks very much like the one the Lord speaks of in Scripture, where the Lord’s people was to be built in the tops of the mountains and I hope I shall see you with the rest of our friends flowing to it."

"I should have returned this fall with the Twelve if it had been council, to assist you on your journey, but I am counciled to take eight men and report myself at San Francisco, Bay, on the Pacific Ocean and meet the Battalion that is near that post. It is eleven hundred miles from this place. I want to return this fall or in early spring. Brother Samuel Brannon, from near the Bay is here, and is going to pilot me through. There my business will be to get a discharge for my men and draw their pay and transact other business of importance for the good of the Church. I shall omit saying anything about my sufferings since I enlisted in the army of the United States. Those things will do to talk about and think about, when we have nothing else to employ our minds. Read this to my brother Daniel, and my sisters, and that will save me from writing to them. Give Moroni a sweet kiss for me, and save the rest for me when we meet. I haven’t heard anything special from Brother Bunker or A. Stephens since they left Santa Fe, only they arrived safe at the Ocean and all was well in February last."

There the letter ends. The last page has been lost. I have copied it in full for its historical data and the light it throws on the situation at that time and how the emigration of the saints was accomplished. The wagons and teams were duly received and in 1848 Abigail fitted them up and sent all of Mr. Brown’s family that remained, on to the valley. She remained until the next year, raised a crop, but before it was harvested, sold it, and came on to the valley. She left Mosquito Creek August 6, 1849, and was just sixteen weeks on the way. She brought all her children except Mrs. Bunker, who came two years later, and she never lost one dollar’s worth of property on the trip, which speaks volumes for her care and management. Soon after arriving in Salt Lake City, she went to Ogden.

The city then contained six families. Captain Brown had purchased nine square miles of territory (the center of which is now Ogden City) from Miles Goodyear, who owned the land through a grant from the Mexican government and offered it for sale to Captain Brown when he went through there on the way to San Francisco in charge of a squad of cavalry men from Company C Mormon Battalion. The price paid for this tract of land was $3000.00 from money he and his sons, Alex and Jesse, received for wages from the U.S. Government for services in the army and some gold they brought from California where they were when gold was discovered there in 1849. A city was laid out and settlers welcomed. The first winter was spent in a fort.

Abigail Abbott received a tract of land in the southern part of the city facing what is now Washington Avenue. Here a home was built and she dwelled with her family for several years until the children were grown and married and gone to homes of their own. Charilla Abbott was the first school teacher in Ogden City. Preferring not to live alone, Abigail sold her home and lived with her children, visiting them all as a ministering angel, greatly beloved and respected by them and their children. She was active and had good health, traveled much, was happy, pleasant, cheerful and benevolent and was like a ray of sunshine wherever she went. During one of her visits to her children, Myron Abbott and Emily Bunker, living in Bunkerville, Nevada, I still remember seeing her as I saw her sitting in an easy chair near the east window in my grandmother’s living room, crocheting. She wore a lace cap on her head and a white apron and was a short, fleshy woman. Agnes Viola Earl relates that at Christmas time Grandmother Abbott, then near eighty years of age, gathered a group of young people to her home of evening and taught them Christmas carols and on Christmas evening procured a wagon and accompanied the young carolers as they sang their carols at the homes of the community, an act which brought much joy to the young people and endeared her to them.

The final summons came while she was visiting with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Abigail Zundell at Willard City, Box Elder County, Utah, July 23, 1889. At her death, she was possessed of a little property which by consent of the heirs was devoted to the erection of a modest monument to her and her husband, Stephen Joseph Abbott, who she left buried in Nauvoo.

Abigail Smith Abbott was a heroic woman, pure, chaste and noble in purpose, and the aims and objects of her life were as successful as could be expected in human life. Honor be to her memory.

______________________________________________

Notes: Transcribed only the first ten pages of the Book. Included page numbers in transcribed text. Bracket notation added.
Sources: Waite, Erwin and Colleen, The Story of My Life- William E. Abbott, pages 1-10.
Copyright: Used by permission.
Level: A (document verified and proofed by a person other than transcriber or typist).
Certificate: Document Donor: Jim Klein, June 13, 2000. Transcribed: Maria Klein, June 12, 2000. Verified/Proofed: Jim Klein, June 13, 2000. See Donors.

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George Abbott and His Descendants

George Abbott was born in Yorkshire, England, about 1615, and emigrated to America in 1640. He was one of the first settlers of Andover, Massachusetts. In 1647 he married Hannah Chandler. They raised a large Family. He died December 24, 1681, age 66 years. She died June 11, 1711, age 82 years.

About 200 years afterward a monument was erected in the old burial place in Andover, to the memory, by a popular subscription of their many descendants. Theirs is indeed a numerous tribe. Their descendants have been traced and names accorded in the family register for six and seven generations.

It has been said of Abraham that he was of pure stock, that the man in himself was so strong that his characteristics have marked all his race through a thousand generation. The same seems to be true of George Abbott. Although they have intermarried with all the old families of New England, in later generations with English, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, German, Scandinavian, and Italian stock yet they exhibit the traits of character of their ancestors of 250 years ago. First of all a deep religious sentiment that inclines them to contact themselves with some organized form of worship, perhaps all of the prominent church organization contain names of members of this family. They are modest and unassuming, content to live humbly if need be, yet when intrusted with public affairs discharge their trust with fidelity and honor. They love education and liberty both religious and civil and resent oppression in any form. They are firm in their convictions and have frequently made great sacrifices for consciences sake. They are generally studious and sober, many are graduates of institutions of higher learning. Though generally industrious few have accumulated great wealth. Many are poor, but would disdain to eat the bread of charity.

They follow all vocations but a large percentage are farmers and homebuilders, a hardy thrifty, frugal race, frolific [prolific ?] also and the name of Abbott is likely to endure as long as surnames are recorded. Few have become stars of the first magnitude, yet generally speaking they are people who exert and influence for the best things where ever they are, which is in accord with Christianity and the faith (? that impelled George Abbott to leave his native land and settle in the new world. A gentleman speaking of the Abbotts to Elder William E. Abbott in the California Mission said: "I have met of your name in many section of the United States and in England and they have generally been above the average in intelligence." The name appears to be derived from an office or occupation Abbo, Abbi, and Abbe, are from the Gothic tongue. In olden times the office of Abbott in point of Dignity was next to Bishop.

George and Hannah Chandler had 13 children of whom William was sixth son, William Married Elizabeth Genry and they had 12 children of whom Phillip was the ninth child. Philip married Abigail Birchford and they had eight children of whom Abiel was second son. Abiel married Abigail Fenton, they had five children of whom James was the second son. James married Phoebe Howe Coray. They had five children of whom Stephen Joseph Abbott was the fourth son, he married Abigail Smith, and they had the following children: Emily, Charilla, Phoebe, Lydia Lucina, Abiel, Myron, Cynthia, and Abigail of whom the eldest daughter Emily (who married Edward Bunker) was the mother of Elethrn Calista Bunker (who married Joseph I. Earl and were my, Lois E. Jones, parents).

Stephen Joseph Abbott was born August 16, 1804, in Providence, Pennsylvania, on December 11, 1825. He married Abigail Smith in Danaville, Stephen County, New York. Stephen was full six feet in height, strongly built, with black hair, brown eyes. He was alert and honest, a good businessman, loved by his relatives and respected by all. He learned the trade of furniture making and painting he was rather indifferent to religion until after his marriage, when he and his wife attached themselves to a sect called Universalists, who seemed to hold much broader views than the Methodist or Presbyterians, the dominant creeds of the section. Besides his cabinet making business, he and his nephew, a son of his half brother Elijah, owned and operated [a] cording and fulling machine at Arkport N. Y. about 1838, their was a great tide of emigration pouring into the Mississippi valley. Stephen’s two brothers Austin and Eleazer were already living in Michigan, so he concluded to go to the Mississippi Valley, and make a permanent home for himself where he could settle his family. He went by boat down the Allegheny River and in five weeks arrived in Pike County, Illinois. He bought a quarter section of farm land and 40 acres of timber land. He then went to Michigan to visit his brothers which was the last time they ever met. He went on to New York where he was warmly greeted by many friends all anxious to learn something of the new country in the Great Valley. He settled up his business affairs and after visiting with his wife’s family at Palmyra, New York, he said farewell to friends and relatives and took his wife and children by boat down the Allegheny River leaving April 14, 1837. They landed at Naples on the Illinois River in Pike County, Illinois, in the latter part of May, 1837. They at once began to cultivate their land and build a home. His wife Abigail Smith Abbott writing of this period says, "On the first day of December of that year our son Myron was born, a promising child. My daughters went out in the garden and found a beautiful rose, although the season for that flower was long past, I took it as an omen of promise and rejoiced. There is nothing unusual or strange in this for a mother, but after many years when it was known that through him alone his descended his fathers name, the incident may be worthy of preservation."

In 1838 Stephen’s elder brother James and family, and their mother Phoebe Howe Coray Abbott came to Illinois and settled near them and again they were surrounded by friends. Their mother died here about 1840. In 1839 Stephen Joseph Abbott and his wife Abigail came in contact with the Mormon people, who on being driven out of Missouri were settling in Nauvoo, Illinois. They investigated the new religion long and carefully and they and their children became members of the church. Stephen was baptized in March, 1839, by Joseph Wood and confirmed by him and William Brenton. At the April conference of the Church held in Nauvoo in 1840 he was ordained an Elder. In 1842 he was ordained a Seventy, the same year they moved to Nauvoo and bought a home and some land. In company with George Miller, Lyman Wight and James Brown, Stephen was called on a temporal mission to gather funds to build the Nauvoo temple. He was afterwards called on a mission to Wisconsin. When he left Rike County, he placed a quantity of wheat in the mill. This he depended on to feed his family in his absence. By false pretense, one Brian Griffin, a distant relative obtained four barrels of flour and a Mr. Jaques also obtained a considerable quantity. This loss was a great disappointment to him, to make provision for his family, he in company with E. Thompson, a cousin, who was to accompany him on this mission began to get some cord wood down the Mississippi from an island, this entailed much wet and exposure on October 16, he was taken ill and on the 19^th of October 1843, he died, age 38 years. Yet a young man just coming into the prime of manhood, just beginning a life that held much promise of humor and usefulness, he was much loved, and sincerely mourned, by his family, a young wife and eight children, six girls and two boys. His struggle was over, theirs was now to commence and will be related in as much detail as the ravages of time has permitted to be preserved.

The work he commenced was destined to be continued by his wife. The faith that he exposed, [espoused ?] and practically gave his life for, is professed by his children also. He sleeps in a unmarked grave on the hillside overlooking the Great Father of Waters.

His wife was stunned, heart broken, and almost over-whelmed by the terrible and unexpected blow. Winter was almost upon them, she had eight children, the oldest 16 years. Provisions were hard to obtain, the country being new. The people with whom she had cast her lot nearly all were poor, mostly refugees, having been robbed, scourged and mobbed out of Missouri, her husband, who was public spirited, had put a large portion of his property into the building of the Nauvoo temple and other public buildings. Public opinion was inflamed against the whole community. In just a few months they saw their leaders, Joseph and Hyrum murdered. Emily, the eldest daughter speaking of this sad time says she was wrapped up in her father, loved him dearly, and grieved bitterly when he died, but says her sorrow was nothing compared with their grief when Joseph the Prophet was murdered. She felt their home was spoiled, when their father was taken where at the death of the prophet, she felt the whole world was spoiled, such was the gloom among the people of Nauvoo.

Abigail Smith Abbott was alone with few relatives nobody to rely upon except God and her own efforts. It is probable that her father may have given her some help, he lived in Michigan at the time and had partially accepted the doctrines of the Mormons but according to his own statement at that time he was wavering. She did not complain to him or even tell him of her destitution, nor did she ever waver in her faith. It became her guiding star, she never lost sight of it day or night in a row in adversity in sickness or in health, it was ever pointing to the west and thither she followed across the great rivers, across the undulating prairies, across the giant mountains into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, there to find a place and rest, not entirely free from toil for her hands were ever busy, not entirely free from care, for her sympathies were broad and the welfare of her family was ever uppermost in her mind, but free from the terrible strain, she was under for several years after her husband’s death. She has said–I had no means to erect a monument, or even a slab to mark my beloved one’s grave, but I planted some morning glories on the grave and left him there to sleep and rest.

Abigail Smith was the daughter of James Smith, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Lydia Harding . [She, Abigail] was born at Williamson, near Palmyra, Ontario County, New York, September 11, 1806, and died at Willard, Box Elder County, Utah, July 23, 1889, age 83 years. I visited her grave there with my second cousin, Maria Zundell in 1902, a fine headstone marks the grave and on one face it has the record of her birth and death and on the opposite side the record of her husband.

She was the youngest of several children, all of whom died young, her own mother died when she was six weeks old and she was nursed through infancy by her aunt Mrs. Polly Harding and later by her step-mother Mehetable Adams. At the age of 15 years she had a sick spell of many months duration in which her life was despaired of. Her father was a farmer and a teacher of music. Myron Alma Abbott records he has in his possession several letters written by James Smith, in a beautiful hand, the grammar being excellent, the diction good, showing that he was a man of education and refinement. Of her mother little is known, but her family was good. One member, the Honorable Stephen S. Harding, was appointed Governor of the Territory of Utah in 1863 by President Lincoln.

Lydia Lucina Harding Smith was born July 31, 1781 and died October, 1806 at Williamson, Ontario County, New York. Her Husband James Smith was a native of Norwalk, Connecticut, born January 14, 1777, and died at Bedford, Michigan, August 26, 1857. at the age of 16 Abigail Smith went to Hornellsville, New York to visit Relatives of hers and here she lived in the family of James Abbott for sometime and a warm attachment between her and his son Stephen Joseph sprang up. Her Father came to take her home, but instead by mutual consent of both families the young couple were married, December 11, 1825, much of her life from then on has been related in connection with that of her husband. About 1836 her father moved to Michigan although she kept in touch with him by correspondence she never again met any of her Family. Many of their letters have been preserved, most of which are kind and affectionate to her personally, but some are full of vindictive denounciation of her religious views and of the Mormon people. Some of her people were at one time attached to the Mormon faith, but the movement west left them behind. At her husband’s death she was left with a home, some land, cows, and a few sheep, They had always been independent and the thought of dependence upon strangers was bitter indeed. She taught a private school in her home and obtained both food and clothing. She says, I trusted in God and improved every opportunity to help myself, the necessity of becoming servants to our fellow men was almost more than I could bear. Some of our older children did hire out to neighbors and besides relieving her of their keep earned a little.

In the spring of 1844, she fenced a small tract of land near the Mississippi River, as she was teaching school much of the work was done in evenings in the moonlight, she planted one and one-half acres to garden truck [?] and cultivated it, as the ground was low and swampy, and the children were stricken with fever and ague. Lyman Wight then an apostle, lived in an upper room of her house and was very ill. The week after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, he was visited by Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Willard Richards, Amasa Lyman and Wilford Woodruff and several ladies. When they went to leave she asked them to administer to each of her sick children, which they did. Heber C Kimball manifested his charity by giving her a half a dollar when Brigham Young got to the door he turned and in the name of the Lord promised them they should all recover. At times after doing all they could to help themselves they were compelled to ask for charity this was a great grief to Abigail Smith Abbot, for never before in her life had she needed to ask for anything she couldn’t pay for. Many friends showered them favors and assisted in what ways they could. Some other husbands relatives from Pile County, Mrs. James Abbott, Lyman Wight, John Higbee, and Captain James Brown and others are held in grateful remembrance for their Kindness. She was able to collect some debts owed to her husband and their wants were relieved. She continued to correspond with her father and her sisters, but she never complained to them. A letter came down to her grandchildren from her father received while she was in the wilderness of Iowa says, "We received your letter in which you have no complaints to make, etc." Also one from her sister Anna Crane after berating her for her religious views and affiliations tells her is she getting along so well a present would be acceptable. [?].

In May, 1846, she was offered $10.00 for her house and lot and 20 acres of land all fenced. In her remonstrances at the price he explained, the Mormons have got to go, that amount will ferry you across the river and it is better than nothing. She accepted it, he also demanded that the furniture be left in the house for he truly explained you cannot carry it with you.

On February 9, 1846, the eldest daughter Emily married Edward Bunker, who was a young man of sterling worth, intelligent, pure and ambitious, he was ever a friend to the family. History relates their cruel expulsion from Nauvoo, and when they were forced to flee, Edward Bunker assisted the family across the river and from the west bank of the Mississippi River they witnessed the Battle of Nauvoo. Abigail felt fortunate indeed to get away with her children before this awful occurrence. Here she remained until November, 1846. Edward Bunker and wife, the three of the elder daughters of Abigail Smith Abbott went on to Garden Grove where he Built a cabin and the family thus scattered were not reunited for 15 months. When Mrs. Abbott arrived at Garden Grove she found Edward Bunker had enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, called out to assist in the war with Mexico and had already gone leaving his young wife in a delicate condition. They fixed the cabin up the best they could and lived there 11 months. Planted a crop and harvested it. During the winter of 1846-7 Abigail taught school and thus helped to support her family. On February 1, 1847, her eldest daughter, Mrs. Edward Bunker Gave Birth to a fine son, and they called him Edward Bunker Jr. This date also came near being a fatal one for Abigail’s little son Myron, then nine years of age. He was sent out early in the morning to hunt for wood and encountered a large hungry wolf, thinking it to be a dog he thru chips at it. It stood growling and ready to attack the lad when the attention of a neighbor was attracted and the wolf was frightened away. This winter proved to be a hard one for Abigail. Besides the regular care of her household, she taught school. One of her eldest daughters was ill, for eleven weeks with a fever, and Mrs. Bunker was ill nine weeks at the time of her confinement. Water for the home had to be carried a quarter of a mile, firewood had to be gathered and cut enough to keep a fire all the time for the cabin had no floor and was very cold and it took a warm fire to make it comfortable with illness in the family for such a long time. During the winter Abigail received $22.50 from Captain James Brown, sent to her from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Edward Bunker sent his wife some money. Both were serving in the Mormon Battalion. In October, 1847, they moved on to Mosquito Creek, a point farther west near Council Bluffs, Iowa. On the morning of December the 18^th, 1847, they heard a group of Battalion men had arrived in town the evening before; so Emily prepared to go and inquire if they knew anything of Edward. Just before she was to leave the house, a knock was heard at the door. It proved to be Edward himself, he thought they were still in Garden Grove where he left them, but someone told him they had moved since he left. He was almost frozen and starved. It was necessary for him to remain in bed for several weeks and he was fed gruel every few hours just a few spoonfuls at a time at first. He had endured terrible privation on the return journey and had completed one of the most difficult marches on record. Abigail’s son, Abiel came to her from Council Bluffs, where he had gone 15 months before. Once more she had her family all together again. She says, "I thanked God and praised him and took courage for my burdens seemed much lightened."

Before leaving Nauvoo, Abigail Smith Abbott had been married for sometime, as a plural wife to Captain James Brown. Mr. Brown had been a friend of her husbands in Nauvoo, he was a man of broad views, great energy and a natural leader of men, but he had a great train of relatives dependent upon him. The relation gave him more the right of protector than husband and that was practically the relation sustained between them. Myron A. Abbott, in writing of her life, says he has several letters that passed between them. In 1849-50 in which she reminds him of his covenants with her in relation to the dead (meaning her husband) and telling him of his, that whatever he wished her to do she would do; except she would do nothing unrighteous however her religion taught her polygamy. She accepted and believed in this principle and probably did at one time sustain the relation of wife and not concubine. After they were living in Ogden, he married her daughter, Phoebe over her protest then after she repudiated the relationship and ever afterwards lived apart from him. Captain James Brown went into the Mexican War in 1846, he sent her money from Santa Fe; he had helped her a little in Nauvoo, he followed the Pioneers into Salt Lake Valley on July 28, 1847, just 4 days after Brigham Young’s party. He must have regarded her as a woman of ability to act and accomplish a letter written to her soon after his arrival abundantly indicates. Possibly this is one of the first letters written and sent from Utah. A copy of this letter follows:---

Camp of Israel Salt Lake Valley Aug. 6, A. D. 1847

My Dear Abigail:

It is with pleasure I sit down this morning and address you a few lines to let you know where I am and what my engagements are and also to let you know that