Living

HENRY married EDNA BEACH on 22 Feb 1910 in PRICE, CARBON, UT. EDNA was born on 23 Jan 1892 in MOLEN, EMERY, UT; died on 17 Aug 1925 in STORRS, CARBON, UT; was buried on 19 Aug 1925 in PRICE, CARBON, UT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!ORDAINED HIGH PRIEST NOV 15, 1915 BY RICHARD R. LYMAN !DEATH CERT STATE OF UTAH NOV 25, 1939
!CENSUS- 1860, 1870, 1880, AND 1900 STATE OF UTAH

!JAMES HENRY WILCOX--PATRIARICAL BLESSING 138:71.
BORN 10 NOV 1855, NORTH ODGEN,UTAH.
SON OF JOHN HENRY WILCOX AND MARY YOUNG.
RECD 9 APR 1903 AT MT PLEASANT, UTAH
TRIBE: EPHRAIM
PATRIARCH: EDWARD CLIFF
FILM NO 392,696 ODGEN FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY







HISTORY OF JAMES HENRY WILCOX
BY GRACE CANDLAND JACOBSEN


JAMES HENRY WAS BORN NOVEMBER 10, 1855, AT NORTH OGDEN, UTAH. HE WAS THE SON OF JOHN HENRY OWEN AND MARY (YOUNG) WILCOX. WHEN HE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD HE CAME WITH HIS PARENTS TO MT. PLEASANT, WHERE HE GREW TO YOUNG MANHOOD. MEANWHILE, HELPING HIS FATHER ON THE FARM AND ASSISTING IN THE WORK OF THE NEW SETTLEMENT, WHICH WAS THEN BUT ONE YEAR OLD.
AS A LAD, JAMES HENRY WAS STRONG AND ALERT AND CAPABLE OF STRENUOUS LABOR WHICH REQUIRED SKILL AND FORESIGHT. HE WAS A MERE BOY WHEN THE BLACK HAWK INDIAN WAR BEGAN, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS DEPENDABILITY AND COURAGE HE WAS CHOSEN AS A SECRET SCOUT TO WATCH THE MANEUVERS OF THE RED MEN. AT OTHER TIMES HE ACTED AS A SENTINEL AND GUARD WHEN DANGER TO HIS OWN PEOPLE THREATENED TWO OF THE MOST DANGEROUS POSTS IN INDIAN WARFARE.
DURING THE PROGRESS OF THAT SIEGE OF MASSACRE AND BLOODSHED, JAMES HENRY BECAME ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FIGURES IN DEFENDING THE RIGHTS AND LIVES OF SETTLERS OF SANPETE AND SEVIER COUNTIES. MANY TIMES THE ARROWS FLEW AROUND LIKE HAIL, BUT HIS LIFE WAS SPARED TO DO THE GREAT WORK THAT AWAITED HIM.
THE HISTORY OF THAT TERRIBLE STRUGGLE, WITH ALL THE HORRORS IS A PART OF HIS OWN HISTORY AND THE COLONIZING OF THESE VALLEYS ARE A PART OF HIS LIFE WORK. TODAY HE ENJOYS THE HONOR OF BEING ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING BLACK HAWK INDIAN VETERANS OF THE STATE.
HIS FIRST VENTURE OUT INTO THE WORLD?S WORK CAME WHEN HE WAS SEVENTEEN. IN THE SPRING OF 1872, HE WENT TO AMERICAN FORK WHERE HE SECURED EMPLOYMENT ON A PRIVATE OWNED ROAD BEING BUILT TO A MINING CAMP IN AMERICAN FORK CANYON IN UTAH.
HERE HE REMAINED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING AUTUMN WHEN HE WENT TO COALVILLE TO TRY HIS HAND AT COAL MINING. THAT KIND OF LABOR WAS BOTH HARD AND UNPLEASANT. HIS NATURE REBELLED AGAINST THE DARK DUNGEONS OF DUST AND GRIME, AND THE UNPROGRESSIVE LIFE OF A POOR MINER. HE WAS FOR THE GREAT OPEN SPACES, ABOVE THE GROUND-THE PURE AIR AND THE GLORIOUS SUNLIGHT.
FORTUNE FAVORED HIM IN THIS DESIRE AND CALLED HIM TO BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON NEAR SALT LAKE CITY. HERE HE WAS ENGAGED BY A SAWMILL COMPANY TO CUT TIMBER, FOR THAT THRIVING INDUSTRY.
JAMES HENRY WAS A CONSCIENTIOUS WORKER AND SERVED HIS EMPLOYER FAITHFULLY AND WELL FOR FIVE SEASONS AND THEN HE DECIDED TO GO INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF BY HOMESTEADING A TRACT OF FARMING LAND AT CASTLE DALE, UTAH, WHERE HE ARRIVED IN THE SPRING OF 1876. HE WAS 21 YEARS OLD. FOR 10 YEARS HE HAD BEEN AWAY WORKING HARD AND MAKING MONEY AND HE DECIDED TO VISIT HIS PARENTS AND ENJOY THE SOCIAL LIFE SO LONG DENIED HIM. THE DAY OF ROMANCE WAS AT HAND.
JAMES HENRY WAS TALL AND HANDSOME AND A GREAT FAVORITE WITH THE FAIR SEX. WINNING HIS WAY INTO THEIR HEARTS WITH EASE, BUT HE WAS ALSO A CLEVER AND CAUTIOUS SUITOR AND KEPT HIS AFFECTION INTACT UNTIL HE WAS SURE HE HAD FOUND HIS MATE.
THIS HAPPY EVENT OCCURRED WHEN HE MET MISS HARRIET ANN DAY, THE CHARMING DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM AND CHARLOTTE KATHERINE DAY. HER BIRTH OCCURRED DECEMBER 27, 1864. SHE WAS NINE YEARS HIS JUNIOR, BUT THEIR NATURES AND INTERESTS BLENDED INTO THE IDEAL HARMONY THAT MAKES WEDDED LIFE A HAVEN OF PEACE AND COMRADERY, ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST BLESSED THINGS IN LIFE.
AFTER A SHORT COURTSHIP THEY WERE MARRIED ON OCTOBER 27, 1880 IN THE ENDOWMENT HOUSE AT SALT LAKE CITY.
TWO DAYS LATER THEY WENT TO CASTLE DALE TO MAKE THEIR HOME ON THE SPLENDID FARM, WHICH JAMES HENRY, IN THE TIME, ACQUIRED UNDER THE HOMESTEAD ACT.
HERE THIS FINE COUPLE TOOK UP THE BUSINESS OF LIFE AS ALL PIONEERS DO IN THE SPIRIT OF FAITH AND THE DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED. THE FUTURE HELD NO FEAR FOR JAMES HENRY. HIS AMBITION WAS TO PROVIDE EVERY COMFORT AND LUXURY FOR HIS FAMILY WITHIN HIS POWER FOR WELL HE KNEW THAT THE WONDERFUL WOMAN HE HAD CHOSEN TO KEEP HIM COMPANY DOWN THE STREAM OF COMING YEARS, WAS WORTHY OF ALL HE COULD OFFER HER AND THAT HER KIND AND LOVING SYMPATHY, HER ATTITUDE OF SWEETNESS AND GOOD CHEER WOULD LEAD HIM SAFELY ON TO THE SHORES OF SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.
HARRIET ANN WAS DEEPLY RELIGIOUS. THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN HER HEART AS TO THE DIVINITY AND TRUTH OF MORMONISM. SHE NOT ONLY SWAYED THE SCEPTER OF GOOD WILL IN HER HOME, BUT SHE KEPT ITS VERY ATMOSPHERE CHARGED WITH FAITH AND DUTY. IT WAS HER DESIRE TO SET A WORTHY EXAMPLE TO HER CHILDREN IN ALL THINGS, AND PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLES OF HER RELIGION TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY.
WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS CALLED TO FILL A MISSION, SHE GLADLY CONSENTED AND SENT HIM FORTH TO PROCLAIM THAT SAME MESSAGE OF SALVATION, WHICH HAD BROUGHT HER GRANDPARENTS TO THIS GOODLY LAND.
HE DEPARTED FOR THE NORTHERN STATES MISSION, OCTOBER 16, 1897, AND LABORED IN INDIANA AND VICINITY UNTIL DECEMBER 23, 1899, WHEN HE RETURNED HOME.
DURING HIS ABSENCE, HARRIET ANN MANAGED THE FARM WORK AND CARRIED THE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT FELL UPON HER FRAIL SHOULDERS AS ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS CARRY WITHOUT COMPLAINT, THE CROSS OF SACRIFICE, THAT FOR ANOTHER?S SAKE.
JAMES HENRY AND HARRIET ANN LIVED HAPPILY TOGETHER FOR 22 YEARS. PROSPERITY AND GOOD FORTUNE CAME THEIR WAY OVER THE ROUGH ROAD OF GOOD HARD WORK. THEY WERE COUNTED AMONG THE WELL-TO-DO OF CASTLE DALE AND THEIR FINE STABLE CITIZENSHIP PLACED THEM HIGH IN THE ESTIMATION OF THAT COMMUNITY, AND ALL WAS WELL AS FAR AS HUMAN EYES COULD SEE, AND HOW MERCIFUL IS PROVIDENCE IN CLOSING THAT DOOR UPON ALL OF LIFE?S CALAMITIES UNTIL WE ARE THERE TO MEET THEM.
AND SO IT WAS IN THIS CASE, NO ONE WAS PERMITTED TO SEE THE UNWELCOME RAVEN OF SORROW ABOUT TO SWOOP DOWN UPON THEM AND LEAVE IN ITS WAKE BROKEN HEARTS AND A DESOLATE HOME.
SEPTEMBER 29, 1902 WAS INDEED A DAY OF MOURNING, FOR ON THAT DAY, HARRIET ANN WENT AWAY BEYOND THE MISTS OF MORTALITY LEAVING AN INFANT DAUGHTER, BUT A FEW HOURS OLD. SHE HAD GIVEN TO THE WORLD ELEVEN LOVED CHILDREN; AND THEN LAID DOWN HER LIFE ON THE ALTAR OF MOTHERHOOD.
THIS GREAT TRAGEDY WAS THE BREAKING POINT IN JAMES HENRY?S LIFE. IT IS SAID THAT ADVERSITY IS SELDOM CONTENT WITH ONE VISIT. THE TRUTH OF THIS PREDICTION WAS VERIFIED A FEW YEARS LATER, WHEN JAMES HENRY BECAME INVOLVED IN A TRANSACTION WHEREBY HE WAS OBLIGED TO FORFEIT ALL HIS PROPERTY TO SATISFY THE COURTS, WHICH HELD HIM TO HIS PROMISE TO PAY IN CASE THE PARTY WHOM HE HAD BEFRIENDED BY SIGNING A PROMISSORY NOT, SHOULD DEFAULT AND DISAPPEAR.
THIS DISTRESSING EVENT, COUPLED WITH THE FIRST, WOULD HAVE DISHEARTENED MOST MEN AND SET THEM DRIFTING, BUT NOT SO WITH JAMES HENRY. CASTLE DALE HAD BEEN THE SCENE OF HIS GREATEST HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY, NOW IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE HE ENDURED HIS DEEPEST SORROW AND DARKEST DECEIT, BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE PIONEERS WAS IN HIS SOUL AND THE CONQUERING IMPULSE OF HIS FOREFATHERS BID HIM ARISE AND BEGIN ANEW, FOR THE WORLD WAS WIDE AND OPPORTUNITIES STILL AWAITED.
ACCORDINGLY, IN 1915, HE JOURNEYED TO MOAB, AND THEN TO SAN JUAN COUNTY AND TOOK UP ANOTHER FARM AS BEFORE ON THE HOMESTEADING PLAN. HIS RESIDENCE HERE CONTINUED FOR TWENTY YEARS, BRINGING THE ACTIVE PERIOD OF HIS USEFUL LIFE UP TO 80 YEARS.
IN THE AUTUMN OF 1934 HE GAVE HIS FARM TO HIS DAUGHTER, ANNA AND HER HUSBAND, WHO RESIDE THERE, AND CAME TO SALT LAKE CITY WITH HIS SON, EDGAR, WHERE HE HAS PERFORMED ORDINANCE WORK FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
THEY REMAINED THERE UNTIL JUNE, 1935, WHEN THEY CAME TO FAIRVIEW TO MAKE THEIR HOME. HERE THEY LIVE TOGETHER DEVOTING MUCH OF THEIR TIME TO THE ALL-IMPORTANT TASK OF GATHERING GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY-A DUTY ENJOYED UPON ALL LATTER-DAY SAINTS FOR THE REDEMPTION AND SALVATION OF THEIR KINDRED.
IN CLOSING THIS BRIEF, IMPERFECT HISTORY OF THE WILCOX FAMILY, IT IS PLEASING TO NOTE THE STRONG, FIRM CITIZENSHIP, THE UNSTINTED SERVICES TO COUNTRY, THE AMBITION AND PERSEVERANCE, THE LOYALTY TO HOME AND RELIGION THAT CHARACTERIZES THIS OUTSTANDING GROUP OF PEOPLE, EVEN FROM THE FIRST GENERATION DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME.
SURELY, THE VAST MULTITUDE WHO BEAR THE WILCOX NAME SHOULD BE PROUD OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHERISH THIS PRICELESS INHERITANCE COMMITTED TO THEIR KEEPING, POINTING THE WAY TO HONOR AND SUCCESS.
IT ISN?T THE THINGS WE GATHER
FROM OUT THE EARTH?S VAST STORE
THAT COUNT, WHEN THE GAME IS FINISHED
AND THE RACE OF LIFE IS O?ER,
BUT THE DEEDS OF LIFE AND SERVICE,
AND THE HEALING BALM WE POUR
OVER THE CRUSHED AND BLEEDING HEARTS
WE LEAVE UPON THE SHORE.

THE FOREGOING ACCOUNT OF THE WILCOX FAMILIES WAS WRITTEN BY GRACE CANDLAND JACOBSEN, DECEMBER, 1935, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF EDGAR WILCOX, THE 8TH IN THE WILCOX LINE.

IN THE HISTORY ABOVE, THERE IS NO MENTION OF HIS SECOND MARRIAGE. HE MARRIED ELIZABETH ELLIS (STAKER) (DAY), ON THE 7TH OF APRIL, 1904. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF NATHAN AND ELIZA (CUSWORTH) DAY, AND THE WIDOW OF GEORGE WILLIAM DAY. GEORGE WILLIAM DAY WAS A BROTHER OF HARRIET ANN DAY WILCOX. THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN.
TRUMAN AMBROSE WILCOX, BIRTH- 10 JAN. 1905
ARDEN JAMES WILCOX, BIRTH- 6 JULY 1907
OLIVE LORUNE WILCOX, BIRTH- 31 JULY 1909 DIED- 19 OCT. 1931

ELIZABETH ELLIS DIED 4 SEPT. 1949 IN FAIRVIEW, SANPETE, UTAH.

JAMES married HARRIET ANN DAY on 27 Oct 1880 in MT PLEASANT, SNPT, UTAH. HARRIET (daughter of ABRAHAM DAY and CHARLOTTE KATHERINE MELLAND) was born on 27 Dec 1863 in MT PLEASANT, SANPETE, UT; died on 29 Sep 1902 in CASTLE DALE, EMERY, UT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!CENSUS US CENSUS 1870

Notes:

TIMELINE OF JOHN HENRY OWEN WILLCOX

14 JAN 1824 JOHN HENRY OWEN WILLCOX BORN IN BENTON, SALINE, ARKANSAS.
ABT 1828 JAMES AND HAZARD WILLCOX BIRTHS.
16 FEB 1831 HAZARD WILLCOX, JR.'S DIED IN MARION, WILLIAMSON, MISSOURI. (JHO 7 YEARS OLD).
1833 CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES THEY WERE IN JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
NOV 1833 CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES THEY WERE DRIVEN OUT TO CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
SUMMER 1836 CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES THEY WERE ASKED TO LEAVE CLAY COUNTY AND THEY MOVED TO RAY COUNTY, MISSOURI AND STAYED ABOUT A YEAR.
1837 CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES THEY THEN MOVED TO FAR WEST, MISSOURI.
? CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES THEY MOVED TO QUINCY, ILLINOIS AND THEY STAYED THERE UNTIL SPRING OF 1839.
1838 JHO BAPTIZED BY JOSEPH SMITH, JR. (JHO 14 YEARS OLD)
SPRING 1839 CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES THEY MOVED TO CHARLESTON, LEE COUNTY, IOWA.
1841 CLARISSA JANE'S HISTORY STATES SEELYE FAMILY FIRST MOVED TO NASHVILLE, MISSOURI.
03 FEB 1846 JHO ENDOWMENT AT THE NAUVOO TEMPLE.
29 SEP 1847 ARRIVED IN SALT LAKE VALLEY.
18 MAR 1848 JHO MARRIAGE TO MARY YOUNG IN SALT LAKE CITY, SALT LAKE, UTAH.
1848-1849 DREW A LOT IN THE SUGARHOUSE AREA. CLEARED, PLOWED, AND PLANTED. LIVED IN A BRUSH "SHANTY". CRICKETS DEVOURED THE NEW WHEAT. MOVED BACK TO OLD FORT TO LIVE WITH HIS MOTHER.
15 FEB 1849 FIRST CHILD HAZARD WILCOX WAS BORN IN SALT LAKE CITY.
1849 CALLED TO GO TO MANTI, SANPETE, UTAH.
13 JUL 1851 SECOND CHILD ELIZABETH WILCOX BORN IN MANTI.

1851 ONE OF 6 FAMILIES SENT TO ESTABLISH FORT HAMBLETON (MT. PLEASANT). WORK IN A SAWMILL ON PLEASANT CREEK.
SPRING 1853 DRIVEN OUT OF FORT HAMBLETON BY INDIANS. MOVED BACK TO MANTI.
1 AUG 1853 THIRD CHILD SARAH WILCOX BORN IN MANTI.
1854 MOVED TO PLEASANT GROVE
1855 BRIGHAM YOUNG SENT THEM TO NORTH OGDEN. STAYED ONLY ONE WINTER (TOO COLD).
10 NOV 1855 FOURTH CHILD JAMES HENRY WILCOX BORN IN NORTH ODGEN.
1856 BRIGHAM YOUNG SENT THEM BACK TO PLEASANT GROVE. STAYED FOR 4 YEARS.
17 JUN 1856 JHO SEALED TO WIFE MARY YOUNG IN THE ENDOWMENT HOUSE.
13 MAR 1858 FIFTH CHILD JOHN CARLOS WILCOX BORN IN PLEASANT GROVE.
1859/1860 BRIGHAM YOUNG SENT THEM TO MT. PLEASANT.
08 NOV 1860 SIXTH CHILD MARY MEHITTABIL WILCOX BORN IN MT. PLEASANT.
20 MAR 1863 SEVENTH CHILD CLARISSA JANE WILCOX BORN IN MT. PLEASANT.
06 OCT 1865 EIGHTH CHILD SABRA ELLEN WILCOX BORN IN MT. PLEASANT.
13 APR 1868 NINTH CHILD HANNAH EMELINE WILCOX BORN IN MT. PLEASANT.
23 JUL 1871 TENTH CHILD MARTHA ANN WILCOX BORN IN MT. PLEASANT.
01 AUG 1874 ELEVENTH CHILD JUSTIN AZEL WILCOX BORN IN MT. PLEASANT.
06 JUL 1909 JHO NAME LISTED ON PIONEER MONUMENT IN MT. PLEASANT.
21 NOV 1909 JHO DIES IN MT. PLEASANT.

JOHN married MARY YOUNG on 14 Mar 1848 in SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. MARY (daughter of JAMES YOUNG and ELIZABETH SEELEY) was born on 6 Jun 1831 in WHITBY, ONTARIO, CAN; died on 16 May 1928 in MT PLEASANT, SANPETE, UT; was buried on 19 May 1928. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

! 1851 US CENCUS UTAH, 1880 US CENCUS UTAH

BIRTH: DATE: JUNE 6, 1831 PLACE: WHITBY, ONTARIO, CANADA
ALTERNATE PLACE: WHITBERRY TOWNSHIP, UPPER CANADA
PARENTS: FATHER: YOUNG, JAMES ROSS MOTHER: SEELEY, ELIZABETH MARRIAGE INFORMATION:
SPOUSE: WILCOX, JAMES HENRY OWEN

TEMPLE ORDINANCE DATA:
BAPTISM DATE: MAY 27, 1964
ENDOWMENT DATE: JUNE 17, 1856 TEMPLE: ENDOWMENT HOUSE, SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA
SEALED TO PARENTS DATE: NOVEMBER 3, 1965 TEMPLE: LOGAN, CACHE, UT, USA

COMMENTS: MARY WAS AMONG THE 5TH TEN OF THE LOWRY COMPANY THAT CAME TO UTAH IN 1847.

COMMENTS: AUTOBIOGRAPHY (1831-1848)--WRITTEN IN 1925. BORN IN WHITBERRY TOWNSHIP, UPPER CANADA, 1831. FAMILY CONVERTED TO LDS CHURCH BY PARLEY P. PRATT, 1837. TO MISSOURI, 1838. MORMONS RUN OUT OF MISSOURI. TO UTAH, C. 1848. WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS IS A SORT OF "ORAL HISTORY," INCLUDING A FEW QUESTIONS BY THE INTERVIEWER, A BROTHER ANDERSON--APPARENTLY GEORGE EDWARD ANDERSON, THE PROMINENT PHOTOGRAPHER. BOOKLET INCLUDES INTERVIEWER'S NOTES ON CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER ELDERLY LADIES IN SPANISH FORK, 1925. MARY RAMBLES AND DOESN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

---------------------

MARY YOUNG WILCOX WAS BORN 6 JUNE 1831 IN WHITBY, ONTARIO, CANADA, A DAUGHTER OF JAMES R. (ROSS?) AND ELIZABETH SEELY YOUNG. SHE WAS THE SECOND CHILD IN A FAMILY OF NINE CHILDREN: JOHN, BORN 21 APRIL 1829; MARY, BORN 6 JUNE 1831;ANNA, BORN 27 AUGUST 1832; SARAH (SAL), BORN 8 OCTOBER 1834; ELIZABETH (BETSY), BORN 29 MARCH 1837; THE FOREGOING WERE ALL BORN IN WHITBY; HANNAH, BORN 10 MAY 1842, IN MADISON, LEE, IOWA. THREE CHILDREN DIED YOUNG: MEHITABLE, BORN 28 NOVEMBER 1839; MARTHA, BORN 9 JANUARY 1845; BOTH BORN IN IOWA; AND EPHRAIM, BORN 13 MARCH 1847 AT FLORENCE, DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA.
MARY'S PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS JOINED THE MORMON CHURCH IN 1837. IN 1838, THEY MIGRATED TO MISSOURI. THEY WERE DRIVEN OUT AND WENT "DOWN THE RIVER" AND SPENT THE WINTER. IN THE SPRING, 1839, THEY WENT "UP THE RIVER" INTO IOWA, ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH OF BURLINGTON. MARY CROSSED IOWA WITH HER PARENTS IN 1846. SHE REMEMBERED SEEING THE TEMPLE "SHINING LIKE GLITTERING GOLD." THE TREK THROUGH IOWA WAS EXARDUOUS. THE SOIL WAS VERY MUDDY AND, SOMETIMES, THEY HAD TO BUILD CORDUROY ROADS TO CROSS SWAMPY GROUND.
NEAR THE NEBRASKA BORDER, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT RECRUITED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TO ENLIST AS SOLDIERS IN THE MORMON BATTALION. MARY RELATED STORIES OF THE SAD PARTING OF WIDOWED MOTHERS WITH, SOMETIMES, AN ONLY SON; WIVES PARTING FROM THEIR HUSBANDS, OR SWEETHEARTS SEPARATED; A SCENE OF WHICH ONLY THOSE WHO WITNESSED IT COULD REALIZE THE SADNESS.
MARY RECALLED THEIR SUFFERING FROM LACK OF FOOD, CLOTHING AND WARMTH DURING THE ENSUING WINTER. IN THE SPRING OF 1847, SHE LEFT WITH HER FAMILY IN THE JOHN TAYLOR/EDWARD HUNTER/JACOB FOUTZ/JOHN LOWRY'S COMPANY, ON THE PIONEER TREK WESTWARD. AT JUST 16 YEARS OF AGE, SHE DROVE A SUPPLY WAGON WITH THREE YOKE OF OXEN WHICH SHE YOKED AND UNYOKED MORNING AND EVENING. SHE IS SAID TO HAVE HAD A SPECIAL SKILL IN WORKING WITH OXEN.
MARY WORE A BLUE DENIM DRESS, A SUNBONNET, AND A PAIR OF HIGH BOOTS; SHE DROVE THE OXEN WHILE WALKING BESIDE THEM. THE BOOTS SOON WORE OUT, AND SHE WENT BAREFOOT.
THE COMPANY IN WHICH THE YOUNGS TRAVELED ARRIVED IN THE SL VALLEY 29 SEPTEMBER 1847.
MARY WENT WITH HER FATHER TO CITY CREEK CATO CUT LOGS FOR THEIR CABIN IN SOUTH FORT. SHE MADE THE ADOBES FOR THE CHIMNEY. THEY MOVED INTO THEIR CABIN JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. MARY RECALLED, "NO KING COULD BE HAPPIER THAN WE WERE WHEN WE REACHED THE VALLEY AND BUILT OUR FIRST LOG CABIN." IN SALT LAKE VALLEY, JOHN TAYLOR GAVE MARY A BLESSING, IN WHICH HE COMMENDED HER WORK IN CROSSING THE PLAINS. HE PROMISED, "YOU SHALL HAVE A NATION OF YOUR POSTERITY. YOU SHALL BE BLESSED AND LIVE AS LONG AS LIFE IS DESIRABLE TO YOU." ON 14 MARCH 1848, MARY WAS MARRIED TO JOHN HENRY OWEN (JHO) WILCOX BY WILLIAM STEWART SEELY, WHO LATER BECAME FIRST BISHOP OF MR. PLEASANT WARD, UTAH. JHO HAD JOINED THE MORMON CHURCH AT NINE YEARS OF AGE, WITH HIS WIDOWED MOTHER, SARAH SEELAY WILCOX, AND AT LEAST TWO SISTERS IN MARION COUNTY, MISSOURI. THEY HAD BEEN PERSECUTED AND DRIVEN INTO IOWA, ILLINOIS AND BACK INTO MISSOURI.
WHEN LAND WAS DIVIDED AMONG THE SETTLERS, THE YOUNG COUPLE '"DREW" A LOT IN THE SUGARHOUSE AREA, WHICH THEY CLEARED, PLOWED AND PLANTED. THEY BUILT A BRUSH "SHANTY." THAT YEAR, CRICKETS DEVOURED THE NEW WHEAT, AND THE YOUNG COUPLE RETURNED TO OLD FORT TO LIVE WITH JHO'S MOTHER. AFTER HARVEST TIME, MARY WENT EVERY DAY TO GLEAN WHEAT IN THE NORTHERN AREA, WHICH HAD ESCAPED DESTRUCTION BY CRICKETS. BEFORE LEAVING HOME, SHE ATE A HANDFUL OF ROSE LEAVES AND DRANK A GLASS OF MILK.
JHO "GRUBBED" OAK AND SAGEBRUSH FOR A PECK OF CORN A DAY. IN RED BUTTE CANYON HE CUT A LOAD OF POLES, WHICH HE TRADED FOR 40# OF WHEAT. IN 1849, HIS YIELD WAS 70 BUSHELS. FROM FOUR SEED POTATOES, WHICH HAD COST .25 EACH, THEY HARVESTED A PECK OF POTATOES WHICH WAS KEPT FOR SEED, AND THEIR YIELD THE NEXT SEASON WAS 30 BUSHELS.
THEIR FIRST CHILD, HAZARD WILCOX, WAS BORN 15 FEBRUARY 1849, AFTER THE NEW MOTHER HAD GATHERED STRENGTH FROM REST, SHE WAS FED ONLY A SMALL PIECE OF CORNBREAD AND A DRINK MADE FROM BROWNED BRAN.
THE WILCOX FAMILY, AMONG MANY OTHERS, WAS TEMPTED TO GO TO CALIFORNIA TO "PAN" FOR GOLD IN 1849; HOWEVER, THEY HEEDED BRIGHAM YOUNG'S COUNSEL TO STAY IN THE SL VALLEY AND, IN MARY'S WORDS, "WE WERE BLESSED BECAUSE WE WERE NEVER THAT HUNGRY AGAIN."
IN 1850, THEY WERE CALLED TO GO TO MANTI (SANPETE), WHERE ELIZABETH WAS BORN 13 JULY 1851. THEY MOVED TO HAMBLETON (MT. PLEASANT) WHERE JHO WORKED IN A SAWMILL ON PLEASANT CREEK. ON 19 JULY 1853, WHILE HE WAS A LONE AT THE SAWMILL, JHO SAW INDIANS LURKING NEARBY. AFTER THE THIRD "PROMPTING" TO RETURN HOME, HE LEFT HURRIEDLY. THE INDIANS DROVE OFF THE LIVESTOCK, AND THEY BURNED THE SAWMILL, LOGS, AND LUMBER. THE FAMILY WAS LEFT DESTITUTE. YEARS LATER, MRS. FRED G. TAYLOR ASKED MARY HOW SHE FELT WHEN SHE LEARNED OF THE INDIAN RAID. MARY REPLIED, "MY DEAR, WE BOTH KNELT DOWN AND THANKED THE LORD THAT MY HUSBAND'S LIFE WAS SAVED."
THEY MOVED BACK TO FT. MANTI, WHERE THEIR DAUGHTER, SARAH, WAS BORN 1 AUGUST 1853.
THEIR NEXT MOVE WAS TO PLEASANT GROVE, AND THEN TO NORTH OGDEN FOR A TIME, WHERE A SON, JAMES HENRY, WAS BORN 10 NOVEMBER 1855.
THEY RETURNED TO PLEASANT GROVE, WHERE A SON, JOHN CARLOS, WAS BORN 13 MARCH 1858. JHO HAULED A LOAD OF STRAW FROM PLEASANT GROVE TO CAMP FLOYD AND RECEIVED $20.
IN 1860, AFTER HAVING BEEN ON THE MOVE, OR DRIVEN, FROM PLACE TO PLACE FOR MANY YEARS, JHO AND MARY BUILT THEIR FIRST PERMANENT HOME, A ONE-ROOM LOG CABIN ONE BLOCK WEST OF MAIN STREET ON THE BANKS OF NORTH CREEK IN MT. PLEASANT. IT WAS REPLACED YEARS LATER WITH A TWO-STORY ADOBE HOME. THEY WERE THE PROUD POSSESSORS OF TWENTY ACRES OF LAND LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF TOWN. HE BUILT A HOME AND FURNITURE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. MARY AND JHO WERE THE ONLY ORIGINAL SETTLERS WHO RETURNED TO HAMBLETON.
SIX ADDITIONAL CHILDREN WERE BORN TO THEM IN MT. PLEASANT: MARY MEHITABLE, BORN 8 NOVEMBER 1860; CLARISSA JANE, BORN 20 MARCH 1863; SABRA ELLEN, BORN 6 OCTOBER 1865; HANNAH EMELINE, BORN 13 APRIL 1868; MARTHA ANNA, BORN 23 JULY 1871; AND JUSTUS AZEL, BORN I AUGUST 1874.
FROM THE SHEEP THEY RAISED, THE PIONEER WOMEN CARDED AND SPUN THE WOOL AND THEN HAND-STITCHED THE GARMENTS WITH HAND-RAVELLED THREAD. SHOES WERE MADE FROM TOPS OF OLD, WORN-OUT SHOES AND BOOTS. SOME MADE MOCCASINS OF RAWHIDE, AND SOME WENT BAREFOOT--EVEN TO MEETINGS. FROM BUCKSKIN, MARY MADE A PAIR OF MOCCASINS. SHE WOULD CARRY THEM WITH HER STOCKINGS TO WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE CHURCH, AND THEN PUT THEM ON HER FEET. AFTER THE MEETING, SHE WOULD TAKE OFF THE MOCCASINS AND WALK HOME BAREFOOT.
THE WOMEN MADE SHIRTS FOR MEN FROM OLD WAGON COVERS. THEIR CAPS AND HEADWEAR WERE MADE FROM CLOTH LEFT FROM DRESSES. SUMMER HATS WERE MADE FROM STRAW. MEN WHO HAD COATS WHEN THEY CAME ACROSS THE PLAINS HAD TO GO WITHOUT FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THE COATS WERE WORN TO SHREDS. WEARING APPAREL WAS VERY SCARCE.
FOOD WAS ALSO SCARCE. OFTENTIMES, ALL JHO TOOK FOR HIS NOON MEAL WAS A PINCH OF SALT TO SEASON THE GREENS OR SEGOS HE WOULD FIND AND COOK. AFTER A FEW YEARS, SEED FOR SUGAR CANE WAS OBTAINED AND PLANTED; JUICE WAS EXTRACTED AND BOILED DOWN TO MOLASSES (SORGHUM); AND PIONEERS ENJOYED THE FIRST AFFORDABLE SWEETS. FOR A LONG TIME, THEY HAD NO SOAP TO WASH CLOTHES. ONLY AFTER THE SIZE OF THEIR HERDS INCREASAND THEY HAD SOME FAT ANIMALS DID THEY HAVE LARD OR TALLOW FOR SOAP AND CANDLES. THE WICKS WERE SPUN FROM COTTON GROWN IN ST. GEORGE. THEY MADE COTTON CLOTH FROM FIVE POUND BUNDLES OF BULK COTTON.
GEORGE HURST VISITED GRANDMA WILCOX IN FEBRUARY 1916. SHE SHOWED HIM A LOVELY QUILT SHE HAD MADE, SAYING, "1 AM 85 YEARS OLD, AND I WON'T PUT DOWN MY NEEDLE TO ANYONE IN THE STATE OF UTAH." (SHE WAS KNOWN FOR HER QUILTS, AND SHE MADE RAG DOLLS. ALENE B. STEWART OF LAYTON HAS ONE QUILT MARY MADE FOR HER DAUGHTER, SARAH.)
GEORGE ACCOMPANIED HER TO AN "OLD FOLKS' PARTY." AS THEY WERE LEAVING THE BUILDING, GRANDMA WILCOX SAID, "NOW, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE KIND OF STOCK YOU'VE COME FROM." IN GEORGE'S WORDS: "AND THAT OLD SOUL WENT HOPPITY SKIP DOWN THOSE 12 OR 15 STEPS." SHE SAID, "THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF IN YOU!"
SHE WAS TALL AND HAD BROWN, WAVY HAIR WHEN YOUNG. HER SPEECH WAS EXACTING, BUT MILD, WITH KEEN ARTICULATION. SHE MOVED WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY.
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THIS COURAGEOUS LADY, WRITTEN BY LOFTNER BJARNARSON, WAS PRINTED IN THE DESERET NEWS:

SHE IS A FIGURE FROM THE PAST, THE LAST OF A LITE BAND OF STURDY PIONEERS .... HER WRINKLED BROW AND SUNKEN CHEEKS BEAR EVIDENCE OF YEARS OF TOIL AND STRUGGLE .... SHE ALWAYS HAD A GLAD WORD FOR ALL. HER MANNER IS DIGNIFIED AND MAJESTIC.
THOUGH NOT AWARE OF IT, SHE HAS THE AIR OF ROYALTY .... SHE HAS BEEN A TRUE DAUGHTER OF GOD, AN EMBLEM OF DEVOTION TO RIGHT, RELIGION, AND A LEADER IN THE CAUSE OF HUMAN BROTHERHOOD ....
THOUGH GRANDMA WILCOX NEVER LEARNED TO READ OR WRITE, HER LIFE WAS ONE OF ACTION. SHE DID HER PART IN LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF OUR GREAT COMMONWEALTH .... HER FAITH IN GOD AND HER FELLOWMAN [WAS] UNSHAKEN BY TRIALS AND HARDSHIPS SHE ENDURED.

IT IS KNOWN THAT MARY WAS A MIDWIFE AND DELIVERED MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED BABIES.
WE LEARN FROM MRS. FRED G. TAYLOR THAT MARY HAD A FIRM TESTIMONY THAT JOSEPH SMITH WAS A PROPHET OF GOD. MARY SAID, "IT WAS A WONDERFUL BLESSING TO LIVE IN THE TIME OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH. THE SAINTS FELT THE GREATNESS OF THE PROPHET, AND WHEN HE SAID, 'THUS SAITH THE LORD,' THEY COULD NOT DOUBT HIS WORDS AND KNEW THAT HE HAD HAD REVELATION FROM HIS HEAVENLY FATHER."
"COME, COME YE SAINTS" WAS MARY'S FAVORITE HYMN.
MARY AND JHO CELEBRATED THEIR 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IN MARCH 1908, WITH NINE OF THEIR ELEVEN CHILDREN PRESENT. ELIZABETH HURST WAS LIV-ING IN MEXICO; AND THEIR SON, JUSTUS AZEL, LIVED IN CANADA.
JHO WAS ACTIVE IN HIS LATER YEARS. HE PASSED AWAY 21 NOVEMBER 1909; HE WAS ALMOST 86. HIS OBITUARY STATED THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE NAUVOO LEGION; THAT HE HEARD THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH'S LAST SERMON AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE MANTLE FELL ON BRIGHAM YOUNG; AND THAT HE WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.
MARY WAS THE OLDEST MEMBER OF A LIVING SIX-GENERATION FAMILY: MARY YOUNG WILCOX; DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH WILCOX HURST; ALICE LUELLA HURST NIELSON; KATE ALICE NIELSON GUYMON; ALICE LOVERN GUYMON THAYNE; AND BONNIE GERTRUDE THAYNE.
JUST THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER 98TH BIRTHDAY, MARY PASSED AWAY MAY 16, 1929. AT THAT TIME, HER POSTERITY NUMBERED NEARLY SIX HUNDRED. THERE ARE, OR HAVE BEEN, IN THIS FAMILY OUTSTANDING MEN AND WOMEN IN ALMOST EVERY OCCUPAAND PROFESSION, INCLUDING ARTISTS, AND THEY HAVE FILLED NUMEROUS CHURCH POSITIONS FROM PATRIARCHS AND STAKE PRESIDENTS, A MISSION PRESIDENTS, TO NUMEROUS TEACHERS.
THE AUTHOR SEES THE INFLUENCE OF JHO AND MARY YOUNG WILCOX ON THEIR POSTERITY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR LIVES AND GLAD THAT I COULD PAY MY RESPECTS AND HONOR TO THEM IN THIS MANNER. I KNOW THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT SHOULD BE TOLD. BY RUBY HURST MORGAN, 1988

PARTS OF MARY'S STORY WERE TOLD BY HER ON JANUARY 27, 1924, AND TIMES THEREAFTER UNTIL JUNE 6, 1925, TO ANNIE CARLSTON BILLS, A GRANDSON'S WIFE. MRS. BILLS THEN WROTE THE STORY, AND IT HAS BEEN PRESERVED AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS. MARY DIED ABOUT 3 YEARS LATER. OTHER SOURCES ARE:

ALENE BILLS STEWART, DAUGHTER OF ANNIE C. BILLS.
JAMES LEROY KIMBALL JR., HISTORIAN AND CONIN THE CHURCH HISTORY OFFICES.
JOURNAL HISTORY (FILM #1,259, 735) 21 JUNE 1847.
BACKMAN, MILTON V., THE HEAVENS RESOUND, A HISTORY OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS
IN OHIO 1830-1838, DESERET BOOK, 1983.
HUNTER, MILTON R., BRIGHAM YOUNG, THE COLONIZER PEREGRINE SMITH.
BJARNSON, LOFTER, OVER DESERT TRAILS, ARTICLE IN DESERET .NEWS.
PRATT, PARLEY P., AUTOBIOGRAPHY, EDITED BY HIS SON, PARLEY PARKER PRATT, JR.
J. OWEN MEILING, A HISTORY OF JOHN HENRY OWEN WILCOX, GIVEN 1939, FLAT
CANYON.
HUGH HURST, A HISTORY OF MARY Y. WILCOX, GIVEN 1964.
WILCOX, EDGAR, (BRIEF) HISTORY OF EDWARD WILCOX I.
HURST, GEORGE ARTHUR JR., AN INTERVIEW OF HIS VISIT TO GRANDMA WILCOX, FEB.
19 OR 20, 1916.
DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS HISTORIES SUBMITTED BY A. SARAH WILCOX BILLS B.
BLANCHE NIELSEN C. MARY NELSON SHAFFER D. MRS. FRED G. TAYLOR E. ELIZABETH
WILCOX HURST

SPECIAL THANKS TO HOLLIS W. ALLGOOD AND BELLE HARRIS WILSON. ALSO, CLAY I. PETERSON, LLOYD PETERSON, DEAN STAKER, GLORIA FOSTER, AND OLIVE WILCOX WOOLEN. OBITUARIES FROM THE DESERET NEWS AND THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE.
-------------------------------
WIGGINS, MARVIN E. MORMONS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS
WILCOX, MARY YOUNG 6 JUN 1831 -
HISTORY OF SANPETE AND EMERY COUNTIES, UTAH, WITH SKETCHES OF CITIES, TOWN, AND VILLAGES, CHRONOLOGY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS, RECORDS OF INDIAN WARS, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. [OGDEN, UTAH: W. H. LEVER, 1898.] P.278
------------------------------
2726. WILLCOX, MARY YOUNG, 1831?
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (1831?C.1848)

DAVIS BITTON, GUIDE TO MORMON DIARIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (1977), PG.383
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (1831?C.1848)
HOLOGRAPH. 55 PP. 15.9 CM. HDC [LDS CHURCH ARCHIVES] (MS D 2050, 8, 11)

DAVIS BITTON, GUIDE TO MORMON DIARIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (1977), PG.383
WRITTEN IN 1925. BORN IN WHITBERRY TOWNSHIP, UPPER CANADA, 1831. FAMILY CONVERTED TO LDS CHURCH BY PARLEY P. PRATT, 1837. TO MISSOURI, 1838. MORMONS RUN OUT OF MISSOURI. TO UTAH, C. 1848. WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS IS A SORT OF "ORAL HISTORY," INCLUDING A FEW QUESTIONS BY THE INTERVIEWER, A BROTHER ANDERSON?APPARENTLY GEORGE EDWARD ANDERSON, THE PROMINENT PHOTOGRAPHER. BOOKLET INCLUDES INTERVIEWER'S NOTES ON CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER ELDERLY LADIES IN SPANISH FORK, 1925. MRS. WILLCOX RAMBLES AND DOESN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.SUS 1851 STATE OF UTAH, 1860, 1870, AND 1880

-------------------

MARY YOUNG WILCOX WAS BORN 6 JUNE 1831 IN WHITBY, ONTARIO, CANADA, A DAUGHTER OF JAMES R. (ROSS?) AND ELIZABETH SEELY YOUNG. SHE WAS THE SECOND CHILD IN A FAMILY OF NINE CHILDREN: JOHN, BORN 21 APRIL 1829; MARY, BORN 6 JUNE 1831;ANNA, BORN 27 AUGUST 1832; SARAH (SAL), BORN 8 OCTOBER 1834; ELIZABETH (BETSY), BORN 29 MARCH 1837; THE FOREGOING WERE ALL BORN IN WHITBY; HANNAH, BORN 10 MAY 1842, IN MADISON, LEE, IOWA. THREE CHILDREN DIED YOUNG: MEHITABLE, BORN 28 NOVEMBER 1839; MARTHA, BORN 9 JANUARY 1845; BOTH BORN IN IOWA; AND EPHRAIM, BORN 13 MARCH 1847 AT FLORENCE, DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA.
MARY'S PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS JOINED THE MORMON CHURCH IN 1837. IN 1838, THEY MIGRATED TO MISSOURI. THEY WERE DRIVEN OUT AND WENT "DOWN THE RIVER" AND SPENT THE WINTER. IN THE SPRING, 1839, THEY WENT "UP THE RIVER" INTO IOWA, ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH OF BURLINGTON. MARY CROSSED IOWA WITH HER PARENTS IN 1846. SHE REMEMBERED SEEING THE TEMPLE "SHINING LIKE GLITTERING GOLD." THE TREK THROUGH IOWA WAS EXARDUOUS. THE SOIL WAS VERY MUDDY AND, SOMETIMES, THEY HAD TO BUILD CORDUROY ROADS TO CROSS SWAMPY GROUND.
NEAR THE NEBRASKA BORDER, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT RECRUITED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TO ENLIST AS SOLDIERS IN THE MORMON BATTALION. MARY RELATED STORIES OF THE SAD PARTING OF WIDOWED MOTHERS WITH, SOMETIMES, AN ONLY SON; WIVES PARTING FROM THEIR HUSBANDS, OR SWEETHEARTS SEPARATED; A SCENE OF WHICH ONLY THOSE WHO WITNESSED IT COULD REALIZE THE SADNESS.
MARY RECALLED THEIR SUFFERING FROM LACK OF FOOD, CLOTHING AND WARMTH DURING THE ENSUING WINTER. IN THE SPRING OF 1847, SHE LEFT WITH HER FAMILY IN THE JOHN TAYLOR/EDWARD HUNTER/JACOB FOUTZ/JOHN LOWRY'S COMPANY, ON THE PIONEER TREK WESTWARD. AT JUST 16 YEARS OF AGE, SHE DROVE A SUPPLY WAGON WITH THREE YOKE OF OXEN WHICH SHE YOKED AND UNYOKED MORNING AND EVENING. SHE IS SAID TO HAVE HAD A SPECIAL SKILL IN WORKING WITH OXEN.
MARY WORE A BLUE DENIM DRESS, A SUNBONNET, AND A PAIR OF HIGH BOOTS; SHE DROVE THE OXEN WHILE WALKING BESIDE THEM. THE BOOTS SOON WORE OUT, AND SHE WENT BAREFOOT.
THE COMPANY IN WHICH THE YOUNGS TRAVELED ARRIVED IN THE SL VALLEY 29 SEPTEMBER 1847.
MARY WENT WITH HER FATHER TO CITY CREEK CATO CUT LOGS FOR THEIR CABIN IN SOUTH FORT. SHE MADE THE ADOBES FOR THE CHIMNEY. THEY MOVED INTO THEIR CABIN JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. MARY RECALLED, "NO KING COULD BE HAPPIER THAN WE WERE WHEN WE REACHED THE VALLEY AND BUILT OUR FIRST LOG CABIN." IN SALT LAKE VALLEY, JOHN TAYLOR GAVE MARY A BLESSING, IN WHICH HE COMMENDED HER WORK IN CROSSING THE PLAINS. HE PROMISED, "YOU SHALL HAVE A NATION OF YOUR POSTERITY. YOU SHALL BE BLESSED AND LIVE AS LONG AS LIFE IS DESIRABLE TO YOU." ON 14 MARCH 1848, MARY WAS MARRIED TO JOHN HENRY OWEN (JHO) WILCOX BY WILLIAM STEWART SEELY, WHO LATER BECAME FIRST BISHOP OF MR. PLEASANT WARD, UTAH. JHO HAD JOINED THE MORMON CHURCH AT NINE YEARS OF AGE, WITH HIS WIDOWED MOTHER, SARAH SEELAY WILCOX, AND AT LEAST TWO SISTERS IN MARION COUNTY, MISSOURI. THEY HAD BEEN PERSECUTED AND DRIVEN INTO IOWA, ILLINOIS AND BACK INTO MISSOURI.
WHEN LAND WAS DIVIDED AMONG THE SETTLERS, THE YOUNG COUPLE '"DREW" A LOT IN THE SUGARHOUSE AREA, WHICH THEY CLEARED, PLOWED AND PLANTED. THEY BUILT A BRUSH "SHANTY." THAT YEAR, CRICKETS DEVOURED THE NEW WHEAT, AND THE YOUNG COUPLE RETURNED TO OLD FORT TO LIVE WITH JHO'S MOTHER. AFTER HARVEST TIME, MARY WENT EVERY DAY TO GLEAN WHEAT IN THE NORTHERN AREA, WHICH HAD ESCAPED DESTRUCTION BY CRICKETS. BEFORE LEAVING HOME, SHE ATE A HANDFUL OF ROSE LEAVES AND DRANK A GLASS OF MILK.
JHO "GRUBBED" OAK AND SAGEBRUSH FOR A PECK OF CORN A DAY. IN RED BUTTE CANYON HE CUT A LOAD OF POLES, WHICH HE TRADED FOR 40# OF WHEAT. IN 1849, HIS YIELD WAS 70 BUSHELS. FROM FOUR SEED POTATOES, WHICH HAD COST .25 EACH, THEY HARVESTED A PECK OF POTATOES WHICH WAS KEPT FOR SEED, AND THEIR YIELD THE NEXT SEASON WAS 30 BUSHELS.
THEIR FIRST CHILD, HAZARD WILCOX, WAS BORN 15 FEBRUARY 1849, AFTER THE NEW MOTHER HAD GATHERED STRENGTH FROM REST, SHE WAS FED ONLY A SMALL PIECE OF CORNBREAD AND A DRINK MADE FROM BROWNED BRAN.
THE WILCOX FAMILY, AMONG MANY OTHERS, WAS TEMPTED TO GO TO CALIFORNIA TO "PAN" FOR GOLD IN 1849; HOWEVER, THEY HEEDED BRIGHAM YOUNG'S COUNSEL TO STAY IN THE SL VALLEY AND, IN MARY'S WORDS, "WE WERE BLESSED BECAUSE WE WERE NEVER THAT HUNGRY AGAIN."
IN 1850, THEY WERE CALLED TO GO TO MANTI (SANPETE), WHERE ELIZABETH WAS BORN 13 JULY 1851. THEY MOVED TO HAMBLETON (MT. PLEASANT) WHERE JHO WORKED IN A SAWMILL ON PLEASANT CREEK. ON 19 JULY 1853, WHILE HE WAS A LONE AT THE SAWMILL, JHO SAW INDIANS LURKING NEARBY. AFTER THE THIRD "PROMPTING" TO RETURN HOME, HE LEFT HURRIEDLY. THE INDIANS DROVE OFF THE LIVESTOCK, AND THEY BURNED THE SAWMILL, LOGS, AND LUMBER. THE FAMILY WAS LEFT DESTITUTE. YEARS LATER, MRS. FRED G. TAYLOR ASKED MARY HOW SHE FELT WHEN SHE LEARNED OF THE INDIAN RAID. MARY REPLIED, "MY DEAR, WE BOTH KNELT DOWN AND THANKED THE LORD THAT MY HUSBAND'S LIFE WAS SAVED."
THEY MOVED BACK TO FT. MANTI, WHERE THEIR DAUGHTER, SARAH, WAS BORN 1 AUGUST 1853.
THEIR NEXT MOVE WAS TO PLEASANT GROVE, AND THEN TO NORTH OGDEN FOR A TIME, WHERE A SON, JAMES HENRY, WAS BORN 10 NOVEMBER 1855.
THEY RETURNED TO PLEASANT GROVE, WHERE A SON, JOHN CARLOS, WAS BORN 13 MARCH 1858. JHO HAULED A LOAD OF STRAW FROM PLEASANT GROVE TO CAMP FLOYD AND RECEIVED $20.
IN 1860, AFTER HAVING BEEN ON THE MOVE, OR DRIVEN, FROM PLACE TO PLACE FOR MANY YEARS, JHO AND MARY BUILT THEIR FIRST PERMANENT HOME, A ONE-ROOM LOG CABIN ONE BLOCK WEST OF MAIN STREET ON THE BANKS OF NORTH CREEK IN MT. PLEASANT. IT WAS REPLACED YEARS LATER WITH A TWO-STORY ADOBE HOME. THEY WERE THE PROUD POSSESSORS OF TWENTY ACRES OF LAND LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF TOWN. HE BUILT A HOME AND FURNITURE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. MARY AND JHO WERE THE ONLY ORIGINAL SETTLERS WHO RETURNED TO HAMBLETON.
SIX ADDITIONAL CHILDREN WERE BORN TO THEM IN MT. PLEASANT: MARY MEHITABLE, BORN 8 NOVEMBER 1860; CLARISSA JANE, BORN 20 MARCH 1863; SABRA ELLEN, BORN 6 OCTOBER 1865; HANNAH EMELINE, BORN 13 APRIL 1868; MARTHA ANNA, BORN 23 JULY 1871; AND JUSTUS AZEL, BORN I AUGUST 1874.
FROM THE SHEEP THEY RAISED, THE PIONEER WOMEN CARDED AND SPUN THE WOOL AND THEN HAND-STITCHED THE GARMENTS WITH HAND-RAVELLED THREAD. SHOES WERE MADE FROM TOPS OF OLD, WORN-OUT SHOES AND BOOTS. SOME MADE MOCCASINS OF RAWHIDE, AND SOME WENT BAREFOOT--EVEN TO MEETINGS. FROM BUCKSKIN, MARY MADE A PAIR OF MOCCASINS. SHE WOULD CARRY THEM WITH HER STOCKINGS TO WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE CHURCH, AND THEN PUT THEM ON HER FEET. AFTER THE MEETING, SHE WOULD TAKE OFF THE MOCCASINS AND WALK HOME BAREFOOT.
THE WOMEN MADE SHIRTS FOR MEN FROM OLD WAGON COVERS. THEIR CAPS AND HEADWEAR WERE MADE FROM CLOTH LEFT FROM DRESSES. SUMMER HATS WERE MADE FROM STRAW. MEN WHO HAD COATS WHEN THEY CAME ACROSS THE PLAINS HAD TO GO WITHOUT FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THE COATS WERE WORN TO SHREDS. WEARING APPAREL WAS VERY SCARCE.
FOOD WAS ALSO SCARCE. OFTENTIMES, ALL JHO TOOK FOR HIS NOON MEAL WAS A PINCH OF SALT TO SEASON THE GREENS OR SEGOS HE WOULD FIND AND COOK. AFTER A FEW YEARS, SEED FOR SUGAR CANE WAS OBTAINED AND PLANTED; JUICE WAS EXTRACTED AND BOILED DOWN TO MOLASSES (SORGHUM); AND PIONEERS ENJOYED THE FIRST AFFORDABLE SWEETS. FOR A LONG TIME, THEY HAD NO SOAP TO WASH CLOTHES. ONLY AFTER THE SIZE OF THEIR HERDS INCREASAND THEY HAD SOME FAT ANIMALS DID THEY HAVE LARD OR TALLOW FOR SOAP AND CANDLES. THE WICKS WERE SPUN FROM COTTON GROWN IN ST. GEORGE. THEY MADE COTTON CLOTH FROM FIVE POUND BUNDLES OF BULK COTTON.
GEORGE HURST VISITED GRANDMA WILCOX IN FEBRUARY 1916. SHE SHOWED HIM A LOVELY QUILT SHE HAD MADE, SAYING, "1 AM 85 YEARS OLD, AND I WON'T PUT DOWN MY NEEDLE TO ANYONE IN THE STATE OF UTAH." (SHE WAS KNOWN FOR HER QUILTS, AND SHE MADE RAG DOLLS. ALENE B. STEWART OF LAYTON HAS ONE QUILT MARY MADE FOR HER DAUGHTER, SARAH.)
GEORGE ACCOMPANIED HER TO AN "OLD FOLKS' PARTY." AS THEY WERE LEAVING THE BUILDING, GRANDMA WILCOX SAID, "NOW, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE KIND OF STOCK YOU'VE COME FROM." IN GEORGE'S WORDS: "AND THAT OLD SOUL WENT HOPPITY SKIP DOWN THOSE 12 OR 15 STEPS." SHE SAID, "THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF IN YOU!"
SHE WAS TALL AND HAD BROWN, WAVY HAIR WHEN YOUNG. HER SPEECH WAS EXACTING, BUT MILD, WITH KEEN ARTICULATION. SHE MOVED WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY.
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THIS COURAGEOUS LADY, WRITTEN BY LOFTNER BJARNARSON, WAS PRINTED IN THE DESERET NEWS:

SHE IS A FIGURE FROM THE PAST, THE LAST OF A LITE BAND OF STURDY PIONEERS .... HER WRINKLED BROW AND SUNKEN CHEEKS BEAR EVIDENCE OF YEARS OF TOIL AND STRUGGLE .... SHE ALWAYS HAD A GLAD WORD FOR ALL. HER MANNER IS DIGNIFIED AND MAJESTIC.
THOUGH NOT AWARE OF IT, SHE HAS THE AIR OF ROYALTY .... SHE HAS BEEN A TRUE DAUGHTER OF GOD, AN EMBLEM OF DEVOTION TO RIGHT, RELIGION, AND A LEADER IN THE CAUSE OF HUMAN BROTHERHOOD ....
THOUGH GRANDMA WILCOX NEVER LEARNED TO READ OR WRITE, HER LIFE WAS ONE OF ACTION. SHE DID HER PART IN LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF OUR GREAT COMMONWEALTH .... HER FAITH IN GOD AND HER FELLOWMAN [WAS] UNSHAKEN BY TRIALS AND HARDSHIPS SHE ENDURED.

IT IS KNOWN THAT MARY WAS A MIDWIFE AND DELIVERED MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED BABIES.
WE LEARN FROM MRS. FRED G. TAYLOR THAT MARY HAD A FIRM TESTIMONY THAT JOSEPH SMITH WAS A PROPHET OF GOD. MARY SAID, "IT WAS A WONDERFUL BLESSING TO LIVE IN THE TIME OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH. THE SAINTS FELT THE GREATNESS OF THE PROPHET, AND WHEN HE SAID, 'THUS SAITH THE LORD,' THEY COULD NOT DOUBT HIS WORDS AND KNEW THAT HE HAD HAD REVELATION FROM HIS HEAVENLY FATHER."
"COME, COME YE SAINTS" WAS MARY'S FAVORITE HYMN.
MARY AND JHO CELEBRATED THEIR 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IN MARCH 1908, WITH NINE OF THEIR ELEVEN CHILDREN PRESENT. ELIZABETH HURST WAS LIV-ING IN MEXICO; AND THEIR SON, JUSTUS AZEL, LIVED IN CANADA.
JHO WAS ACTIVE IN HIS LATER YEARS. HE PASSED AWAY 21 NOVEMBER 1909; HE WAS ALMOST 86. HIS OBITUARY STATED THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE NAUVOO LEGION; THAT HE HEARD THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH'S LAST SERMON AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE MANTLE FELL ON BRIGHAM YOUNG; AND THAT HE WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.
MARY WAS THE OLDEST MEMBER OF A LIVING SIX-GENERATION FAMILY: MARY YOUNG WILCOX; DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH WILCOX HURST; ALICE LUELLA HURST NIELSON; KATE ALICE NIELSON GUYMON; ALICE LOVERN GUYMON THAYNE; AND BONNIE GERTRUDE THAYNE.
JUST THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER 98TH BIRTHDAY, MARY PASSED AWAY MAY 16, 1929. AT THAT TIME, HER POSTERITY NUMBERED NEARLY SIX HUNDRED. THERE ARE, OR HAVE BEEN, IN THIS FAMILY OUTSTANDING MEN AND WOMEN IN ALMOST EVERY OCCUPAAND PROFESSION, INCLUDING ARTISTS, AND THEY HAVE FILLED NUMEROUS CHURCH POSITIONS FROM PATRIARCHS AND STAKE PRESIDENTS, A MISSION PRESIDENTS, TO NUMEROUS TEACHERS.
THE AUTHOR SEES THE INFLUENCE OF JHO AND MARY YOUNG WILCOX ON THEIR POSTERITY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR LIVES AND GLAD THAT I COULD PAY MY RESPECTS AND HONOR TO THEM IN THIS MANNER. I KNOW THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT SHOULD BE TOLD. BY RUBY HURST MORGAN, 1988

PARTS OF MARY'S STORY WERE TOLD BY HER ON JANUARY 27, 1924, AND TIMES THEREAFTER UNTIL JUNE 6, 1925, TO ANNIE CARLSTON BILLS, A GRANDSON'S WIFE. MRS. BILLS THEN WROTE THE STORY, AND IT HAS BEEN PRESERVED AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS. MARY DIED ABOUT 3 YEARS LATER. OTHER SOURCES ARE:

ALENE BILLS STEWART, DAUGHTER OF ANNIE C. BILLS.
JAMES LEROY KIMBALL JR., HISTORIAN AND CONIN THE CHURCH HISTORY OFFICES.
JOURNAL HISTORY (FILM #1,259, 735) 21 JUNE 1847.
BACKMAN, MILTON V., THE HEAVENS RESOUND, A HISTORY OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS
IN OHIO 1830-1838, DESERET BOOK, 1983.
HUNTER, MILTON R., BRIGHAM YOUNG, THE COLONIZER PEREGRINE SMITH.
BJARNSON, LOFTER, OVER DESERT TRAILS, ARTICLE IN DESERET .NEWS.
PRATT, PARLEY P., AUTOBIOGRAPHY, EDITED BY HIS SON, PARLEY PARKER PRATT, JR.
J. OWEN MEILING, A HISTORY OF JOHN HENRY OWEN WILCOX, GIVEN 1939, FLAT
CANYON.
HUGH HURST, A HISTORY OF MARY Y. WILCOX, GIVEN 1964.
WILCOX, EDGAR, (BRIEF) HISTORY OF EDWARD WILCOX I.
HURST, GEORGE ARTHUR JR., AN INTERVIEW OF HIS VISIT TO GRANDMA WILCOX, FEB.
19 OR 20, 1916.
DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS HISTORIES SUBMITTED BY A. SARAH WILCOX BILLS B.
BLANCHE NIELSEN C. MARY NELSON SHAFFER D. MRS. FRED G. TAYLOR E. ELIZABETH
WILCOX HURST

SPECIAL THANKS TO HOLLIS W. ALLGOOD AND BELLE HARRIS WILSON. ALSO, CLAY I. PETERSON, LLOYD PETERSON, DEAN STAKER, GLORIA FOSTER, AND OLIVE WILCOX WOOLEN. OBITUARIES FROM THE DESERET NEWS AND THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE.
-------------------------------
WIGGINS, MARVIN E. MORMONS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS
WILCOX, MARY YOUNG 6 JUN 1831 -
HISTORY OF SANPETE AND EMERY COUNTIES, UTAH, WITH SKETCHES OF CITIES, TOWN, AND VILLAGES, CHRONOLOGY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS, RECORDS OF INDIAN WARS, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. [OGDEN, UTAH: W. H. LEVER, 1898.] P.278
------------------------------
2726. WILLCOX, MARY YOUNG, 1831?
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (1831?C.1848)

DAVIS BITTON, GUIDE TO MORMON DIARIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (1977), PG.383
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (1831?C.1848)
HOLOGRAPH. 55 PP. 15.9 CM. HDC [LDS CHURCH ARCHIVES] (MS D 2050, 8, 11)

DAVIS BITTON, GUIDE TO MORMON DIARIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (1977), PG.383
WRITTEN IN 1925. BORN IN WHITBERRY TOWNSHIP, UPPER CANADA, 1831. FAMILY CONVERTED TO LDS CHURCH BY PARLEY P. PRATT, 1837. TO MISSOURI, 1838. MORMONS RUN OUT OF MISSOURI. TO UTAH, C. 1848. WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS IS A SORT OF "ORAL HISTORY," INCLUDING A FEW QUESTIONS BY THE INTERVIEWER, A BROTHER ANDERSON?APPARENTLY GEORGE EDWARD ANDERSON, THE PROMINENT PHOTOGRAPHER. BOOKLET INCLUDES INTERVIEWER'S NOTES ON CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER ELDERLY LADIES IN SPANISH FORK, 1925. MRS. WILLCOX RAMBLES AND DOESN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.SUS 1851 STATE OF UTAH, 1860, 1870, AND 1880

Notes:

!ABRAHAM DAY WAS MARRIED TO (1) ELMIRA BUCKLEY (2) CHAROLOTTE BROOMHEAD MELLON (3) SARAH JARVIS.
! SOURCES THREE GENERATION FILE GROUP SHEET SUBMITTED BY JUNIUS DAY CASTLE DALE UTAH.

OCCUPATION FARMER, MILLWRIGHT LUMBERMAN AND CARPENTER ALSO SERVED AS THE MAYOR OF SPRINGVILLE UTAH FOR A TIME.

!CENSUS US CENSUS 1860 AND 1870 AND 1880

ABRAHAM married CHARLOTTE KATHERINE MELLAND on 30 Nov 1838 in SALTLAKE CITY, UATH. CHARLOTTE (daughter of STEPHEN MELLAND, SQ and ANN BROOMHEAD) was born on 25 Dec 1832 in KILLAMARSH DERBY, ENGLAND; died on 26 Sep 1872 in MT PLEASANT, UTAH. [Group Sheet]