goodridge history

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Goodridge-Goodrich Family Story Complied by Kate B. Carter Daughters of Utah Pioneers Each Journal or diary recorded by the pioneers presents a clear and concise story and adds to our storehouse of historical knowledge. They are heartwarming, faith-promoting accounts of individuals and families who made the trek West to build their homes in the valleys of the mountains. Such accounts were recorded by the Goodridge family whose stories we are proud to present. Benjamin Goodridge, Utah Pioneer, was a son of Oliver and Elizabeth Hastings Goodridge of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, born October 3, 1794 in Lunenburg. Benjamin married Penelope Randall Gardner on April 1, 1823. She was born Dec. 27, 1783 [1793] a daughter of Abel and Lusannah Bryant Gardner of Hopkinton, Mass. Penelope was a devout member of the Wesleyan Episcopal Methodist Church for over twenty years. Her brother, George A. Gardner, was the first to bring the gospel message to them. The Goodridges joined the Church and then came west in 1850 in the company led by Pres. Wilford Woodruff. Cholera visited the traveling groups that season. Eleven members of their company died, but the Goodridge family arrived safely in the Valley Oct. 14, having been on the way 188 days. Penelope and four of her children, Harriet, Lusannah, Sarah, and Esther were baptized Sept. 2, 1849 by Elder Leonard W. Hardy. Benjamin and two children, Mary Jane and George A., were baptized July 9, 1850 in the Platte River by Wilford Woodruff while crossing the plains. On their arrival in the Valley they stayed at the Fort for a few days, later moving to Wilford Woodruff's lot. Benjamin traded his teams and wagons for a small house and lot in the 19th Ward, 330 North 3rd West, where he lived until his death Dec. 1, 1859 in his 65th year. 2 THE JOURNEY WEST Sophia, first member of the Goodridge family to be baptized, kept a day by day record of the trip. June 7, 1850. We started from Kanesville at 1:00 p.m. for Bethlehem. Rode ten miles and camped at Margaret’s Creek, a very beautiful shady spot. We heard the wolves howl in the night for the first time. Our horses were frightened. 8th. Saturday. Traveled seven miles, camped three miles from Bethlehem. We enjoyed ourselves very much at the last two places we camped. Had two violins in our ten. Had some music and dancing. Good feed for the cattle and good water. 14th. Went three miles, camped at Bethlehem, had a pleasant time, some music and dancing. 18th. We traveled six miles today, camped at a creek, good feed and water. Our company was organized today. Captain Petty was chosen Captain over a hundred. Captain Leonard W. Hardy over the first fifty. George Gardner, Captain over ten, our company. All well. 20th. Still in camp. Did our ironing. Picked some wild gooseberries on the banks of the creek.... 25th. Crossed the creek this morning. Passed five graves; they died the 15th of June. They all had grave tablets made of wood rudely hewn with the name engraved with a knife. A verse was written on the grave of Mr. Done, which was very touching. Crossed three more creeks today without accident. Went ten miles and camped at Weeping Water Creek. 26th. We traveled ten miles today. Passed three graves, no names on them. Came up with a Government company. One man was sick with cholera, died, was buried in the forenoon. In the afternoon we passed three more graves, no names, died June 22. One of our company taken sick with cholera. Camped at Salt Creek. 27th. Sister Green died of cholera this morning. Brother Blazzard taken sick. Crossed the creek, went on to the bluff and camped for the night. The first fifty caught up with us today. They are on the other side of the creek. One man with the cholera among them. 28th. We started about noon and traveled six miles and camped on the open prairie without wood or water. Found water about one-half mile from camp. Passed the grave of a child. 29th. Our company all in good spirits this morning, and I feel grateful to my Heavenly Father for his kindness in preserving our lives and health thus far, and that He has preserved us from accident and danger of every

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Page 1: Goodridge History

Goodridge-Goodrich Family Story

Complied by Kate B. CarterDaughters of Utah Pioneers

Each Journal or diary recorded by the pioneers presents a clear andconcise story and adds to our storehouse of historical knowledge. Theyare heartwarming, faith-promoting accounts of individuals and familieswho made the trek West to build their homes in the valleys of themountains. Such accounts were recorded by the Goodridge family whosestories we are proud to present.

Benjamin Goodridge, Utah Pioneer, was a son of Oliver and ElizabethHastings Goodridge of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, born October 3, 1794in Lunenburg. Benjamin married Penelope Randall Gardner on April 1,1823. She was born Dec. 27, 1783 [1793] a daughter of Abel andLusannah Bryant Gardner of Hopkinton, Mass. Penelope was a devoutmember of the Wesleyan Episcopal Methodist Church for over twentyyears. Her brother, George A. Gardner, was the first to bring the gospelmessage to them. The Goodridges joined the Churchand then came west in 1850 in thecompany led by Pres. WilfordWoodruff. Cholera visited thetraveling groups that season. Elevenmembers of their company died, butthe Goodridge family arrived safely inthe Valley Oct. 14, having been on theway 188 days. Penelope and four ofher children, Harriet, Lusannah,Sarah, and Esther were baptizedSept. 2, 1849 by Elder Leonard W.Hardy. Benjamin and two children,Mary Jane and George A., werebaptized July 9, 1850 in the PlatteRiver by Wilford Woodruff while crossing the plains.

On their arrival in the Valley they stayed at the Fort for a few days, latermoving to Wilford Woodruff's lot. Benjamin traded his teams and wagonsfor a small house and lot in the 19th Ward, 330 North 3rd West, where helived until his death Dec. 1, 1859 in his 65th year.

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THE JOURNEY WEST

Sophia, first member of the Goodridge family tobe baptized, kept a day by day record of the trip.

June 7, 1850. We started from Kanesville at1:00 p.m. for Bethlehem. Rode ten miles andcamped at Margaret’s Creek, a very beautifulshady spot. We heard the wolves howl in thenight for the first time. Our horses werefrightened. 8th. Saturday. Traveled sevenmiles, camped three miles from Bethlehem. Weenjoyed ourselves very much at the last twoplaces we camped. Had two violins in our ten.Had some music and dancing. Good feed for the cattle and good water.14th. Went three miles, camped at Bethlehem, had a pleasant time, somemusic and dancing. 18th. We traveled six miles today, camped at acreek, good feed and water. Our company was organized today. CaptainPetty was chosen Captain over a hundred. Captain Leonard W. Hardyover the first fifty. George Gardner, Captain over ten, our company. Allwell. 20th. Still in camp. Did our ironing. Picked some wild gooseberrieson the banks of the creek.... 25th. Crossed the creek this morning.Passed five graves; they died the 15th of June. They all had grave tabletsmade of wood rudely hewn with the name engraved with a knife. A versewas written on the grave of Mr. Done, which was very touching. Crossedthree more creeks today without accident. Went ten miles and camped atWeeping Water Creek. 26th. We traveled ten miles today. Passed threegraves, no names on them. Came up with a Government company. Oneman was sick with cholera, died, was buried in the forenoon. In theafternoon we passed three more graves, no names, died June 22. Oneof our company taken sick with cholera. Camped at Salt Creek. 27th.Sister Green died of cholera this morning. Brother Blazzard taken sick.Crossed the creek, went on to the bluff and camped for the night. The firstfifty caught up with us today. They are on the other side of the creek.One man with the cholera among them. 28th. We started about noon andtraveled six miles and camped on the open prairie without wood or water.Found water about one-half mile from camp. Passed the grave of a child.29th. Our company all in good spirits this morning, and I feel grateful tomy Heavenly Father for his kindness in preserving our lives and healththus far, and that He has preserved us from accident and danger of every

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kind. We traveled four miles and camped on the open prairie withoutwood or water, except that we brought with us. There is nothing to see butone endless sea of grass, waving and rolling like the waves of the sea,and now and then a tree. We had a very heavy thunderstorm thismorning. 30th. Jane Green died this morning of cholera, she was 18years old. Our first fifty came up with us this morning. They had buried aBro. Smith this morning. The rest of the camp all well. We went fourmiles and camped where we found wood and water. We killed arattlesnake. July 1st. Joseph Green died this morning of cholera, age 19 months,making three of one family that have died within five days. Came up withour first fifty, found Bro. Hall dead with cholera. Our camp felt afflictedand distressed. We felt like humbling ourselves before the Lord, and praythat He might turn from us the sickness and distress among us. Wetherefore met together, the speakers exhorting us to be diligent in ourdevotions and united. A vote was taken to that effect. They called uponthe Lord in prayer that he would bless and preserve us on our journey tothe Valley. We then started on our journey rejoicing. We met the mailfrom the Valley. Met Bro. Crosby and seven other brethren on their wayon a mission to England. We were very glad to see them. They broughtcheering news from the Valley, which caused us to rejoice. We traveledsix miles and camped on the prairie without wood, but found water. 2nd.Very warm and pleasant, we traveled sixteen miles, all level prairie. 3rd.We traveled about 15 miles. Camped on the Bluff on the north side of thePlatte River. Good wood and water. Our first fifty camped about a milefrom us. Samuel Hardy buried his youngest child this morning. 4th.Stopped to wash. Lucy Johnson was taken sick this afternoon and diedat 12 o'clock. 7th. Camped for the day. Sister Snow died this morning,making five that have died in our division. 8th. We traveled sixteen miles,camped on the Platte River, good camping ground. Our two companiestogether. All pretty well. 9th. Had a heavy thundershower last night. Thismorning cool and cloudy. Bro. Woodruff baptized twelve persons.Father, Mary Jane and George were among the number. We traveled thetwelve miles. Camped on the Platte River. Passed some bluffs, the roadvery sandy and crooked in some places. 10th. Cool and pleasant. Wetraveled fifteen miles, camped on the bank of the Platte River. Heavyshowers. 11th. Heavy showers, very warm and sultry. Sister Huntingtonof the first division died of a fever. The road very wet and hard to travel.We went ten miles and camped on the Platte. Bro. Hyde passed us on

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his way to the valley. 12th. Had a heavy rain last night. The river rosetwo feet. One horse was drowned. Traveled about ten miles and campedon the open prairie. Had very heavy thundershowers. The cattle of thefirst division strayed away, but found them all again. 14th. Sunday.Camped for the day, both divisions camped in one corral. We held ameeting in the afternoon. Bros. Whipple, Hardy and Woodruff were thespeakers. We felt very much encouraged by what they said. 15th. Wetraveled seven miles, came to Ft. Childer, formerly Ft. Carney. Athundershower came up and Wm. Ridges was struck by lightning andinstantly killed. Three of his cattle were killed at the same time, and oneof his children injured but not seriously. A number of people felt theshock. We went two miles farther and camped. 16th. A child of Mrs.Barnes died of cholera this morning. The weather is clear and cool, it isvery muddy. We were delayed this morning. Traveled about eight miles,camped on prairie. Used buffalo chips for fuel. 18th. Went eighteenmiles and camped on Plum Creek. We passed a number of groves oftrees. We saw some animals on the bluffs, probably buffalo. The weatherfine, the roads good. 19th. This morning is clear and beautiful. Wetraveled sixteen miles and camped on the open prairie without wood orwater. 20th. Traveled about fourteen miles. The weather cloudy. Bro.Emmet killed an antelope. It was distributed among his ten. We found itexcellent eating. We camped on the bank of the river, a beautiful place.The bluffs begin to look higher and more rough and more rugged. 21st. Sunday, so we did not travel today according to counsel. We heldmeetings in the forenoon and afternoon, and received some excellentinstructions that served to cheer us on our journey. 22nd. We startedthis morning in good spirits. David Cook shot a sage hen. We saw someantelope and some wolves, did not kill any. We passed Bro. Woodruff'scompany about noon; they were camped on the Platte. Bro. Petty wassick, had buried one of his children the day before. We traveled about 16miles and camped on the banks of the Platte Rivera grand place to bathe.Bro. Woodruff's company caught up with us tonight. 23rd. Traveledfourteen miles and camped near the Platte River. Bro. Emmet killed anantelope. We had a steak from it, very good. Bro. Woodruff's companycamped with us tonight. 25th. We traveled about eight miles andcamped. We passed near a number of herds of buffalo. Our divisionkilled one, and brought into camp. The first division killed two. The feedfor the cattle is growing shorter. We see quite a number of buffalo deadon the ground. We made a rule in our camp not to kill any more than weneed to eat. 27th. Cloudy. Saw two big white wolves and four antelope.

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Passed a number of head of buffalo. Went about four miles and camped.Our wagon wheels are very musical. We had to stop and burn coal. Ourmen cut wood and started a coal pit. In the afternoon, part of ourcompany remained at the last camping place on account of the excellenthunting. There was no wood there but cedars, which they thought wouldnot make as good coal as the willows. We found this last place grand forwood and water. It is situated on the South Fork of the Platte River.There is quite a large island covered with cottonwood trees, and excellentfeed for the cattle. 28th. Sunday-did not travel. Had a meeting in the forepart of the day. Had a heavy shower which we needed very much. Ittightened our wagon wheels and saved our men the trouble of taking offthe tires and resetting them. Bro. Woodruff is sick today-worn out withfatigue and care. 30th. We traveled about ten miles when a stampedestarted in the first division. There were three wagons smashed. It wascaused by a runaway horse. Traveled about eighteen miles. The firstdivision stayed to fix up their cattle and wagons, a number of tongues andyokes of wagons were broken. Bro. Woodruff's beautiful buggy horse hadhis leg broken. The buffalo cows bellowed all night, and we expected theywould be down among us before morning, but fortunately they kept backamong the bluffs. Their bellowing sounded like distant thunder. BrotherLeonard Hardy is quite sick with cholera. 31st. Took an early start thismorning. Traveled thirteen miles and came to the crossing of the SouthFork of the Platte River. Our wagons all crossed safely before dark.Camped on the bank of the river. It is about 1/4 of a mile wide.

Aug. 1st. We ascended to the bluffs this morning and came upon anextensive plain or rolling prairie. Had some tremendous steep bluffs todescend. It seemed impossible for such heavily loaded teams to descendin safety, but we all reached Ash Hollow without an accident. We traveledeighteen miles and camped on the North Fork of the Platte. 2nd. Wewashed today. Ash Hollow is a beautiful place. Bluffs on both sides of thehollow which appears to have been the bed of a river once, and opensonto the North Fork of the Platte which runs from the east and to the west.Bro. Woodruff's company joined us tonight with the exception of sixwagons which were left, two broken down and became too dark to comedown the steep hills. Bro. Hardy's health was poor, getting better slowlyof the cholera. 4th. Sunday. Had a meeting. Bro. Woodruff made aproposition that we stop with his ten baggage wagons, and let the rest ofthe first and second divisions or as many as wished to go ahead. He felthe had so much care on his shoulders. Bro. Whipple said that he would

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take the burden of the ten baggage wagons on his shoulders. Bro.Gardner, the blacksmith, worked all day and had a number of men to helphim repair the wagons, but did not get all done. 5th. Bro. Hardy is betterthis morning and started out with sixteen of his division to go ahead. Bro.Green started out alone without counsel and out of order. Bro. Whipplestared with a part of his divisions and went four miles in search of feed forour cattle which was very short. Captain Hardy also camped with us forthe day. The land on the north side of the river is prairie, while on thesouth side is high towering bluffs, which look like fortifications in manyplaces. 7th. Bro. Woodruff came up with us this morning. We had ameeting this afternoon. Had a new organization; Bros. Whipple, Gardner,Goodridge, and Rawson were transferred into Bro. Woodruff's division,making twenty-four wagons in that division and leaving twenty in Bro.Whipple's. Bro. Moffet was chosen Captain over the remainder. 8th.Very warm. Started out about eight o'clock this morning, the seconddivision taking the lead. We had a very hard road today, very sandy andsteep bluffs to climb. We traveled about twelve miles and camped nearthe Platte River. Feed rather short. 9th. Had very heavy showers lastnight, very sharp lightning and loud thunder. The wolves killed a calfbelonging to Bro. Whipple. We traveled about fifteen miles and campedon the Platte. 11th. Sunday. We laid over. Held a meeting thisafternoon. We had a very excellent discourse by Bro. Whipple on thedifference between the Jews and the Gentiles. Bros. Woodruff andGardner gave us some excellent instructions. This evening we saw theprairie on fire. It was a grand and imposing scene. 12th. We started onour journey at four o'clock, all well. We passed a high bluff calledExchange, on account of its resemblance to a large building. PassedClear Creek, a small stream of very clear water. It comes from the bluffsand flows into the Platte. We traveled eighteen miles, had very goodroads. We met some Government trains from Ft. Laramie. They said thefirst division was about fifteen miles ahead of us. 13th. Started abouteight o'clock and traveled sixteen miles. Camped about three o'clock onthe Platte. A heavy rain came just before we stopped. We passedChimney Rock. This is a notable curiosity. It is 834 yards around thebase, and 200 feet high. The main shaft is 100 feet in diameter. Itappears to be formed of clay and sand of two colors, gray and white. Italso has the appearance of cement between the two columns. It issupposed by some to be work of the Nephites. 14th. It is a clear beautifulmorning. We made an early start and went about nineteen miles. Wesaw some Indians for the first time since we started. Their wigwams were

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spread along the road. They were Sioux. They looked very neat andclean for Indians. The men came out on horses to look at us. Thesquaws with their papooses stood along the road and tried to sell us somemoccasins. One of the men wanted to trade a horse for a white squaw. We passed Scotts Bluff on the right. We leave the river here and strikeinto the bluffs. We found chokecherries and wild plums; they were notquite ripe. We camped on the open prairie. There is a beautiful coldspring here. 15th. We did not start until late this morning. We had a longmeeting to settle some difficulties between some members of thecompany not worth mentioning. We crossed Horse Creek and campedabout half a mile farther on. This creek is several rods wide, about a footdeepand very muddy. The water after standing a few minutes becameperfectly clear and very good to drink. A very heavy shower came up justafter we camped. 18th. Sunday. On account of the feed being so poor,we thought it best to travel. We went twelve miles. Passed Ft. Laramie.We camped on the Platte River. We found Captain Hardy's train about 1/2mile from us. We had not seen them for two weeks. They were all well.Mrs. Bird had a stillborn child on Saturday morning. 20th. We traveledabout two and one-half miles. The feed is so good we thought it best tolet the animals feed up and rest. A company of Cheyenne Indians camealong in the afternoon and camped beside us. They had been out on abuffalo hunt and were returning to Ft. Laramie to sell their skins. Theylooked very friendly. We traded some with them. Bro. Woodruff lost anox last night and had to go back to the Fort to get some more, whichdelayed us some. 21st. We started about 2 p.m. and traveled about fourmiles. We had a very bad hill to go down. Bro. Woodruff's carriage horsegot frightened and ran away. Phoebe Foss was in the carriage butjumped out. The horse ran until he got tangled up in the brush, nodamage was done. We camped on the Platte. 22nd. Started early,traveled about 21 miles over a very uneven road. We passed through aband of Cheyenne Indians. They were camped on the bank of a beautifulclear creek. There were several hundred of them. We crossed anothercreek and camped. 23rd. We started early and traveled about 25 miles.We crossed three creeks. One was about three rods wide and one and ahalf feet deep. The roads were uneven and dangerous in some places,and in others nice and smooth. Camped on the Platte River. Cool andpleasant. There were some buffalo on the banks where we campedtonight. 24th. We are in the midst of the Black Hills. They look black ata distance, but when near they are green and covered with stragglingpines. We traveled eight and a half miles and camped for the day. We

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met Bros. Stratton and Banks from Salt Lake who had been sent out tomeet and cheer us on our way. They brought us some potatoes, whichtasted so good. They will tell us where to find good camping places. Weheld a meeting in the afternoon. Bro. Stratton read a letter from Pres.Brigham Young. It was truly cheering to us to hear from the Valley andknow that we were not forgotten by the Saints in the Valley, while we aretraveling in the wilderness. It caused us to rejoice and feel like startinganew on our journey. Camped on the Platte River. 25th. We took a votelast night to travel today on account of the delay we had the fore part ofthe week. We traveled nineteen and a half miles to the Labout Crossing.This is a beautiful river about two rods wide and one foot deep, pleasantand cool. The road is rough today. Our first and second divisions left thisplace this morning. Bro. Hardy had lost an ox and his horses were givingout. We found some cherries along the river. Camped on the LaboutRiver. 26th. We traveled eighteen miles. Came up with the two firstdivisions. They were all well but Bro. Hardy who is still suffering from thecholera. Only three families came up, Bros. Gardner, Goodridge andRawson. The rest of our division camped back about a mile and a half.27th. Our division that stayed back lost more than half of their cattle lastnight. We have got to lay by and hunt them up. The first and seconddivisions went ahead today. Bros. Stratton and Hanks killed a buffalo andbrought it to camp. They saw a grizzly bear. 28th. No cattle found yet.We cannot travel today. We went out this morning and picked fourteenquarts of cherries. 29th. Part of the cattle were found last night. Theyare hunting the rest today. It is very sandy here. The last two days wetraveled about three miles through it. We saw some mountain sheep in thehills. 30th. We started this morning before breakfast and went to theplace where the remainder of our division was camped on the LaferellaCreek. Our company killed two buffalo today. The rest of the cattle werefound today all but three. Bro. Smoot passed us today. Bros. Heywoodand Woolley camped with us tonight. We held a meeting together. Theyhad had but one death in their company and had got along well. 31st. Westarted this morning about ten o'clock. We crossed Box Elder Creek. Bro.Bedford has got his roadameter going today. We traveled fourteen miles.

Sept. 1st. We started about 10 o'clock and crossed Deer Creek. Traveledabout thirteen miles and one-half. We passed Bro. Smoot's company.We had strong winds and some rains. 2nd. Started at 10 o'clock.Crossed crooked Muddy Creek and camped on the Platte. Traveledthirteen miles. We picked thirty-three quarts of buffalo berries. They taste

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very much like currants and are red. They have one seed in them andmake excellent sauce and pie. 3rd. Started at 9 o'clock and came to thePlatte crossing. We stopped two hours to rest and feed our cattle, andthen crossed the river. The scenery along the Platte River is very grand.A very high and long mountain chain extends southwest. We havefollowed it for three days and have not come to the end of it yet. Wecrossed the North Fork of the Platte without any accidents. We travelednine and one-half miles and camped on the Platte River. Saw a grizzlybear. 5th. Planned an early start, but our cattle got mixed up withSmoot's on account of our herdsmen not attending to duty. My brother,George, caught some bass and suckers. We traveled 14 miles andcamped by a beautiful clear spring. We passed quite a number of deadcattle, perhaps 25, caused by a poisoned spring of water. The countryhere is not quite so rocky and barren as it has been for the past few days.We came through a place called Rock Avenue. It is about a quarter of amile in length and lined with rocks on each side. 6th. We traveled 16miles today and camped on Greasewood Creek, a beautiful creek andgood feed. The weather is very pleasant. We camped with Bro. Smoot'scompany. Bro. Stratton left to start. They took a beautiful wild horse withthem that they had captured. 7th. We traveled eight miles today. Wepassed a saleratus lake and camped at the foot of Independence Rock.This evening we had a dance on the banks of the Sweetwater. The wholecamp participated. 8th. The air is cool this morning. I have just climbedIndependence Rock and the view is beautiful. The Sweetwater flowssouthwest at the base of the rock and winds around the foot of themountain. The Saleratus Lake is seen in the northwest, the Devil's Gatein the west, while mountains are to be seen on all sides. We crossed theSweetwater and traveled on until we came to the Devil's Gate. Westopped and ate our dinner here. This is a curious freak of nature. Therocks are perpendicular four hundred feet high and in one place the gapbetween them is only two feet wide. The Sweetwater flows through thegap. Some of us crossed it on foot just for the novelty of it. 9th. Traveled8 miles over a heavy sandy road, crossed the Sweetwater and camped.We were detained in the morning until nearly noon on account of Bro.Woodruff's teamsters; one of them was fired and the other two left. Theywere rough, obscene men. Did not belong to the Church and werestealing the supplies. 11th. We started early, crossed the Sweetwaterthree times. Camped at Ice Springs. Traveled 8 miles, windy and dusty.Many rocks and hills. The ice springs are a great curiosity. About one ortwo feet below the surface of the spring any quantity of ice may be found.

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It is not good for use; it has a bad smell. 12th. We started early thismorning. We passed a fine Saleratus Lake. We gathered what wewanted. It was very white and clean. All we had to do was scrape it up.We crossed the Sweetwater. Found ice in our pails this morning. 13th.We started at noon and went 8 miles and camped on the Sweetwater.Plenty of good feed and wood. Some of our cattle gave out last night, soour Captain thought it best that we rest part of the day. 14th. We startedat 7 o'clock and traveled about two miles and came to a new route to thepass made by Captain Andrus. We took it and went eleven and a halfmiles and lost three miles and camped on Quaken Asp Creek. 15th. Wetraveled about five miles and camped on Sweetwater. We started a coalpit and held a meeting. Four wagons came up tonight from Hunter'scompany. 16th. We crossed the Sweetwater for the last time. Wetraveled 15 miles and camped at Pacific Springs. We met Captain Hardyin search of his horses. Capt. Currie's horse is gone also and onebelonging to another man. 17th. We stopped to do some repairing thismorning. We let Capt. Hardy have a yoke of oxen so he could travel on.We started out about noon. Just as we were starting, five Indians cameup. One was a squaw who could speak English. They said they hadfound two horses. Brothers Woodruff and Atwood went with them to theircamp. They took a few articles with them, supposing they were not willingto give up the horses. Aunt Hattie sent a blanket shawl. We waited theresult. Traveled 13 miles and camped on Pacific Bitter Creek. 19th. Wehave heard nothing from Bros. Woodruff and Atwood, and we feelsomewhat alarmed at their long absence. We sent two messengers backto Capt. Woolley's camp to see if they have heard from them, and if not tohave him join us and send our united forces of men after them. Ourmessengers had not been gone more than one-half hour when we sawthem returning with Bros. Woodruff and Atwood with one of Bro. Hardy'shorses and one of Bro. Currie's. We were glad to see them. It appearsthat the Indians had stolen them and then wanted to be paid for returningthem. When the brethren got to their camp they found three hundredwarriors and about one thousand horses. They were going to war with theCheyennes. These Indians were Shoshonies. They had lost one of thehorses, he was an ugly horse and got away from them, and took severalof the Indian horses with him. We traveled 11 miles and camped on theBig Sandy River. William Nealey shot an antelope. 20th. We campedlast night with Heywood and Woolley company and our first division. Westarted out about 10 o'clock, Capt. Hardy moving out first, Bro. Woolleynext. We traveled 16 miles and camped with Capt. Hardy's company on

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the Big Sandy River. 21st. Bro. Woodruf's ox died this morning. He wasat a dead stand; he could not go another rod without help. We concludedto let him take my father's oxen and Bro. Hardy's team, and Bro. Hardytake a yoke of Bro. Barrows, so as to have all the borrowed cattle in theirdivision. We traveled six miles and met Bro. Brigham Young from theValley, who stated there was no feed on Green River, so we camped onthe Big Sandy River. 22nd. Sunday. Held a meeting and felt very muchinstructed with the remarks of the speakers. We made a coal pit, setsome tires, and made some shoes and nails. 23rd. We traveled ninemiles and camped on Green River. George, my brother, caught a catfisha foot long. 24th. Started at 8 o'clock, went 19 and a half miles andcamped at Ham's Fork. We passed some beautiful scenery on the banksof the river. We met two brothers from the Valley, stating that the SnakeIndians were hostile to the Mormons and some of them had been killed,that four hundred Indians were in the mountains armed to the teeth, so wehad better be on our guard.... 28th. We drove up our cattle in order tomake an early start. Found after we got started about ten cattle weremissing. All hands went to search for them, and finally concluded theyhad gone back. Brothers Atwood and Nealey mounted horses and wentback and found them about 14 miles on the back trail. Got in with themabout dusk. We were very glad to see them. We spent the day fishing.There are some beautiful trout in the streams and very large. 29th.Started early and traveled eleven miles. Camped on a small creek. Wehad a very bad hill to descend. One of Brother Woodruff's wagons hadthe axle broken, one of our wagons had a wheel broken.

Oct. 1st. We started early and traveled fifteen miles. We had an excellentroad. It was rather hilly, but even and smooth. One of Brother Woodruff'scows died in the yoke today. We passed the highest summit of thejourney today. There is some splendid scenery around the mountains.We camped in a valley at the foot of the mountains. 2nd. We had rain,thunder and lightning last night. It cleared up this morning. We traveledsix miles. We had a very steep hill to climb; had to double teams. Wecamped on Bear River. We caught a glimpse of our first division climbingthe mountains ahead of us. 3rd. We picked twelve quarts of Hawberries.We intend to make vinegar of them. We traveled six and one-half milesand camped on a small creek. Joseph Webb tipped his wagon over whichprevented us from going any further today. Our road winds along at thefoot of the mountains, very wild and picturesque. We camped on YellowCreek. 4th. Very cold last night, froze the water over in our pails one-

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fourth inch thick. It has been a beautiful day. We met Brother Hyde on hisway to the station. He brought good newsfrom the Valley. We traveled ten miles. 5th.Started early, traveled eighteen miles,camped on Echo Creek. Bro. Hunter cameup and camped with us. We had to cross thecreek a number of times. In some places itwas bad, and we had to stop and mend theroads. Brother Gibson tipped over withoutdoing any damage. 11th. We traveled threemiles and came to the foot of the mountain.We had dinner and then started for the top,the second division being in head. We foundthe road very bad, but we made out to get tothe top without any accidents, but the seconddivision broke three wagons. We madeseven miles and camped on top of the mountain. 12th. We took ourteams and went down the mountain and helped the others up, thentraveled down the other side of the mountain about nine miles andcamped at the foot of another mountain. 14th. Mrs. Delin had a daughterborn last night. Bro. Woodruff came up with us this morning and we alldrove into the Valley of Salt Lake and camped in the Fort. It was a ratherdreary homecoming. It was very dry and dusty, and the wind was blowingthe dust in clouds. Only a few little log and adobe houses to be seen,fenced in with rail and willow fences. A few shade trees and fruit treeswere to be seen here and there. I thought at first; "Have I got to spend therest of my days here in this dreary looking place?" But I soon felt all rightabout it and loved my mountain home.

BISHOP HARDY

Leonard Wilford Hardy was born December 31, 1805, to Simon andRhoda Hardy in Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts. He passed hisboyhood in Bradford, learning the shoemaker's trade from his father.Although this work brought them a good living it did not seem to agreewith Leonard's health, and he turned to farming. He was thrifty andenergetic and obtained what schooling he could, but the opportunities foran education were very limited and he relied mostly on his native talentsand abilities to make his livelihood. He was trustworthy in all his dealings

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and as a farmer became a respected landowner and at diferent times heldpositions of leadership and responsibility in the community. He wasbrought up in the stern and sober manner of the Puritan influence andfirmly believed and practiced the moral teachings he received.

In September, 1826 he married Elizabeth Nichols Goodridge, widow ofBarnard Goodridge of Georgetown, Mass. Leonard and Elizabeth hadthree children, two sons and a daughter. The younger son, Rufus, diedin the East. The girl grew to womanhood and married Alonzo Russell.Charles, the elder boy, came to Utah and died in Salt Lake City. Justwhere and when Leonard Hardy first heard the Gospel is not known, buthe was baptized into the Church on Dec. 2, 1832 by Elder Orson Hyde.A notation in Church History under date of Friday, Dec. 6, 1844 reads asfollows: "Elder Wilford Woodruff and family, in company with Elder H.Clark and Dan Jones and their families, and Elder Hilton Holmes andLeonard W. Hardy, sailed from New York in the packet ship, John B.Skiddy, for Liverpool, England."

With Elder Holmes, Leonard Hardy was assigned to the ManchesterDistrict, but did not stay there very long; he was appointed to preside overthe Preston Conference and took up his labors there with great zeal.However, he had a very dreadful experience. He was given a roomwherein a patient had just died of smallpox and not even the linen on thebed had been changed. He became a victim of the disease and nearlylost his life, but through the administration of the priesthood and his faithhe recovered and was able to continue his labors. Leaving Preston, hepreached the Gospel in other localities of England, making many converts.On the 19th of October, he boarded a vessel for America and arrivedhome safely, being welcomed by friends and family who rejoiced that theseparation was over. In spite of the demands made upon his time insupporting his family, he never ceased his labor in the Church and fulfilledall his assignments faithfully.

During his labors in England, he asked Elder Woodruff to give him ablessing. The Apostle promised him a safe journey to his home, and thathis later life would be spent in the capacity of one of the leading bishopsof the Church in the land of Zion. Leonard was so amazed at this promisethat he could not believe it at first, and said that his faith was sorely triedin trying to accept it. Elder Woodruff told him to wait and see and if it didnot come to pass he would admit that he had not spoken with the spirit of

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prophecy. He was never called on to retract what he had said. The turnof events now prompted a move from his native state and he took hisfamily to Petersborough, New Hampshire. Making the acquaintance ofJesse C. Little, he joined him in a mercantile venture which provedprofitable to the extent that he stayed there until the spring of 1850 whenhe joined the westward movement of the Church. Selling his share in thebusiness and closing out all other interests, he said goodbye to his NewEngland and journeyed toward a new life.

Fate placed him again with Apostle Woodruff, for it was in his companythat he came to Utah. He had been commissioned to gather the Saints inthe East and to bring them and those remaining at Winter Quarters to theRocky Mountains. It was with much joy that Leonard found himself againin the company of this beloved Apostle. On the 9th of April, 1850, theHardy family joined the others at Boston and began the long and arduoustrek across the plains to the fast growing empire in the Salt Lake Valley.In the June 18th entry in his diary he wrote: "We traveled six miles today.Captain Petty was chosen captain over a hundred, Leonard W. Hardycaptain over the first fifty, Brother Whipple over second fifty, GeorgeGardner captain over ten. Our company all well."

Two of the wagons in Capt. Hardy's company were his own, one beingdrawn by a span of horses and the other by two yoke of oxen. Cholera,the scourge of the pioneer, took its toll with the company, as it had with allthe others, and before the journey's end eleven gave up their lives to theravages of the disease. Capt. Hardy became ill with the malady andthough he was carefully nursed and taken care of he found it extremelyhard to keep at his assigned duties.

In Capt. Hardy's camp there was a family by the name of Goodridge,father, mother, several young girls and an 11-year-old boy. They were amusical family, full of fun and possessing the happy faculty of making thebest and most of every situation. The girls sang and danced; theygathered berries on the way; they laughed. But they also counted thegraves and wondered about the sadness and hardships of the travelersand wept for those who were left behind on the prairie. They helped nursethe sick, washed and mended, cooked and carried water; they knew howto work. When necessary they would wade streams without complaining,shake the dust out of their clothing without resentment and gather buffalochips without disgust. They could fall on their knees night and morning

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and thank their Heavenly Father for their health and strength, their safety,their food and clothing, and the boundless sea of grass that paved theirway to freedom....

As they came into Wyoming they met scouts sent out by PresidentBrigham Young to help them on the way. One of them had brought aletter from the President and it cheered them all to hear his hearteningwords of courage and understanding. Capt. Hardy, still weak from hisillness, lost one of his oxen and was further disturbed by the fact that hishorses were giving out. Further delay and anxiety was caused by cattlestraying off at night in search of better forage. However, the berries andwild currants were ripe now and the cooks were trying their hands atsauces and pies. Fishing was good along the way, and the change of dietwas most welcome to all....

On October 14th, after spending the night at the mouth of EmigrationCanyon, the company drove into the Valley with Apostle Woodruff at theirhead. The sight was not too encouraging to the tired pioneers. It was hotand dusty and a wind was blowing the dry air over them as they passedthe few log or adobe houses with their rude fences. Into the fort theydrove their teams and at last realized that they were at the end of theirjourney. There is no hint in the records of their journey across the plainsthat there was any love affair between Captain Leonard Wilford Hardy andSophia Lois Goodridge, but soon after their arrival in the Salt Lake Valleythey were married; the 28th day of November to be exact; she was 24 andhe would soon be 45.

Upon his arrival in Salt Lake, Captain Hardy put his storekeeperexperience into good practice; he engaged in salesmanship and affiliatedhimself with various mercantile houses. He was associated with Edwin D.Woolley, Oscar H. Dogswell, Livingston and Kincaid, Livingston and Bell,and others. His capacity for leadership was recognized and needed in thefast-growing community, and he was appointed Chief of Police for the Cityunder Jedediah M. Grant. Later he served on the City Council from 1859to 1866. Before this he had proved his worth as Captain of Company D,Second Regiment, Second Cohort, in the Nauvoo Legion to which he hadbeen elected in 1851. In this capacity he took part in the Echo CanyonWar and all other events of the period where military strength and prowesswere needed.

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Always finding time to work as a faithful Church member, he wasappointed to the Bishopric of the Twelfth Ward on April 6, 1856. Thisassignment was augmented on June 21st with the addition of taking overthe Eleventh Ward also. October 12th of the same year he was called tobe First Counselor to Bishop Edward Hunter of the Presiding Bishopric ofthe Church. He held this position until the death of Bishop Hunter inOctober 1883. He became First Counselor to Bishop Preston, a positionhe held at the time of his own demise less than a year later. Elder Hardywas called on a mission in 1869 and on Nov. 20th left Salt Lake City forMassachusetts, his native state. He baptized two converts into theChurch, held many meetings, and otherwise looked after the affairs of themembers in the four months he was there. His return home was markedby a happy reunion with his large family.

From Church Chronology we have this reference: 29 May 1883-BishopsWilliams B. Preston and Leonard W. Hardy arrived at Rexburg, SnakeRiver Valley, Idaho. During the few following days they located thetownsites of Teton, Wilford, Lyman, Burton and Parker. In his office of thePresiding Bishopric, Elder Hardy traveled extensively for the Church,looking after its holdings and helping to build up the various wards andstakes. On April 14, 1877 he laid the cornerstone for the AaronicPriesthood at the Manti Temple site. He married his third wife, EstherSmilinda Goodridge, on August 20, 1854. On the 28th of March 1858, hetook as his fourth wife another of the Goodridge sisters, Harriet Ann.Elizabeth Nichols, the first wife, died Oct. 13, 1872 in Salt Lake City, afaithful wife and mother all the days of her life . . . . Bishop Hardy maintained a home in the 12th Ward on the corner ofSecond South and Fourth East, but also owned one in Parley's Canyon onthe land he had bought as early as 1858. About 1874 Bishop Hardypurchased land in the Sugar House area and built homes for his threesister-wives. It was there he died from the effects of a stroke that had lefthim partially paralyzed. His life was a shining example of all the attributesthat make up the character of a noble man. He was honest andbenevolent, diligent and sincere. He was an inspiration for good to thosewith whom he associated and lived a true Christian life in every respect.He passed away July 31, 1884; his funeral was held on a Sunday morningin the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City, and he was buried the same day,August 3rd, in the City Cemetery. -Files of D.U.P.

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Isabelle Brown McKenzie wrote:Soon after the City of Salt Lake was laid out, many of the men took uphomesteads, and moved onto them with their families, in order to earn alivelihood at farming. The Sugar House district was at that time allfarming, and because of its location with regard to the city and water forirrigation, it was particularly desirable. Daniel Garn took up a forty-acretract which began at what is known as Lake Street. Mr. Garn sold tenacres of his farm to Leonard Wilford Hardy, who was for many years thebishop of the old Twelfth Ward. A small house was built at 1776 NinthEast. At that time there were no avenues running east and west; the onlystreets ran north and south, and the streets cut through in an east andwest direction were called 10th, 11th and 13th South, with a half milebetween each.

Bishop Hardy built what was then a very fine home at 1838 Ninth East.The home on Ninth East was a frame building, with three large rooms onthe ground floor and two bedrooms on the upper, and a large kitchen androomy pantry. This house was built for Hattie, who later moved to 330West 3rd North, when Esther moved into it. Esther had lived at MountainDell in Parley's Canyon, where she cooked for the many farm hands. Shelived in this home on Ninth East until her death in 1914.

The housewives of those early days worked a heavy windlass to draw theoaken bucket with its load of cold crystal water, thirty to sixty feet at thetop of a well; then there was a last effort to grasp the bucket and swing itover the top of the well-curb. It was such a well as this that was sunk justnorth of the Hardy house. The importance of a well of this kind cannot beoverestimated. Many a thirsty traveler has been refreshed by a drink fromthe old Hardy well, and it served the neighbors as well as the Hardyfamily. The well-curb was built of strong planks.

The splendid farm, once yielding rich crops of fruit and grain, is nowcovered with stores and homes of brick and cement. Irrigation ditcheshave been filled up; wells exist no more; trees have been uprooted tomake way for homes and pavements; where once the patient oxen withtheir drivers walking beside them plodded their weary way to town, autosdash along, making light the once long journey.

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Harriet Ann Goodridge was bornthe 9th of March, 1828, inLunenburg, Worcester County,Mass., where she spent her earlygirlhood. With her family shetraveled to Kanesville, Iowa,where they joined a company ofSaints who were migrating to Utahin 1850. On the 5th of October,1851, Harriet married Seth Blair,the marriage ending in divorce.On the 28th of March, 1858, shemarried Leonard Wilford Hardy,who had already taken two of hersisters in marriage. A baby boy,Franklin, was born to them on the21st day of Nov. 1859, however,the little fellow was not long forthis world and died a few days

later. She had no more children. Harriet left with her husband in October,1869, to fulfill a mission for the Church in the Eastern States. Theyreturned March 5, 1870. It is known that Harriet was a large, handsomewoman, capable in many ways. The expression on her face was calm andserene and her brown eyes gave a feeling of warmth and understanding.

A grandniece, Eugenia Rampton, writes of her: "I had the privilege of livingwith Aunt Hattie for a few weeks in the fall of 1901 and a more angelicperson I have never known. Her prayers night and morning wereunforgettable and the simple prayer at meal time I shall ever remember.She got up one morning and announced that she going to help a family inneed of a doctor. Whether or not they paid her I do not know, but it madeno difference to her. Like many another woman, she was ready to go ona minute's notice. My father, the eldest son of her sister, Sophia, said thathe hardly knew the difference between his own mother and the other twosisters.

"After my grandmother, Sophia, left the Canyon home, Aunt Esther andAunt Hattie remained and some of the boys stayed there most of the timeuntil they were about 19 years of age. For years a niece, Mary HoveyLambert, daughter of Lusannah, lived with Aunt Hattie and later a

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grandniece, Genevieve Hardy Dangerfield, lived with both women.Hattie's home was in the 19th Ward on Third West. I well remember thelong row of white rooms, four it seems to me, with the porch in front of all.It stood on an acre and a third of ground with an old apple tree in thebackyard, with other fruit trees and a vegetable garden taking up theremaining space. Hattie was thrifty and quiet, spending her years inservice to her fellowman. She died in Salt Lake City on the 31st day ofMay, 1904, age 76." -GeorgieHardy Steed

Sophia Lois Goodridge born July2 , 1 8 2 6 a t Lu n e n b u r g ,Massachusetts, to Benjamin andPenelope Randall GardnerGoodridge. Sophia was baptizedDec. 16, 1844, the first one of herfamily to receive the Gospel. Whena young girl Sophia studied musicunder the leadership of LowellMason of Boston, whose worksgrace many of the hymn books oftoday. She had a very beautifulvoice. On November 28, 1850,soon after her arrival in the Valley,she was married to Leonard W.Hardy, the captain of the companyin which she emigrated. Her sister,Sarah Louisa, married Joseph Grafton Hovey on the same day, bothceremonies being performed at the home of Joseph Hovey.

Being a gifted musician, she had brought one of the first melodeonsacross the plains with her and used it for many years afterward. She wasgiven the distinction of being the first to sing in public the now familiarsong, The Glorious Light of Truth, which was composed especially for herby William Clayton after he heard her sing in the Old Bowery in Salt LakeCity in 1851. She also took part in plays. At home she rigged up a drawcurtain and her daughter Nell wrote a play called "The Fairy, Demon, andthe Lost Child," which was presented in the dining room of her home. Shemanaged the curtain and made the costumes for the children who wereeight, ten, and three years old. Twenty-one people came to see the play

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and said they liked it better than plays they had paid to see.

Sophia was the mother of nine children, five sons and four daughters.While her husband was Bishop of the 12th Ward, she made her home at2nd South and 4th East. After his death, she moved to the Hardy Farmin Sugar House and lived in a new brick home which is still standing at1812 South 9th East. Sophia died at the home of her daughter, LenaJenkinson, on November 3, 1903, in her 77th year. At the time of herdeath she was survived by 60 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her funeral services were held in the 12th Wardmeetinghouse. The speakers were Thomas B. Williams, Joshua Midgely,Seymour B. Young, and Joseph E.Taylor. The interment followed at theCity Cemetery, where Thomas V.Williams dedicated the grave.

Esther Smilinda Goodridge, daughterof Benjamin and Penelope GardnerGoodridge, was born March 16, 1836in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Herfather and mother and their familyjoined the Utah band of pioneers,traveled by oxteam and went throughthe varied experiences and hardshipsof that journey. They started on May21, 1850 and arrived in Utah October14, 1850.

Esther was married to Leonard W.Hardy August 20, 1854. He was then Bishop of the 12th Ward, where she

lived until 1865. She became themother of five children, three girlsand two boys. She moved to SaltLake City on May 6, 1878, to whatwas then called Sugar House Ward,where she was chosen secondcounselor to Sarah B. Gibson,President of the Relief Society, Jan.1, 1879. She served in that capacityuntil October 25, 1904. While she

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lived in Parley's Canyon and after moving to Sugar House, she acted asmidwife, not only to her own family, but to many who needed her. In thosedays they had no trained nurses outside of the hospital, so the midwife forten days bathed and changed mother and baby. Esther had remarkablesuccess, never losing a mother or babe, and she waited on a great many.She had a very kind, sweet disposition and was loved by all who knewher. After a short illness while on a visit to her granddaughter, EstherFairbanks, in Preston, Idaho, she died on August 29, 1914. Services wereheld in the Sugar House Ward Chapel, September 2, 1914. Interment wasin the City Cemetery. -Rhoda A. Hardy Garn

HARDY’S STATION

Parley's Canyon was named in honor of the esteemed pioneer andchurchman, Parley P. Pratt. The extreme length of the canyon from whereit enters the Valley to the summit is about thirteen miles. About six milesup the canyon it branches into two main forks, one bearing to the east andstill called Parley's Canyon, the other bearing to the north and namedMountain Dell. Lovely streams of water run continuously in each of theseforks, and in the spring of the year, from the melting snows, they oftenbecome raging torrents. At the junction of these creeks, the canyonwidens considerably forming quite an area of land suitable for farming.

R. G. Hardy wrote: It was at the junction of two creeks that LeonardWilford Hardy acquired a piece of land, as well as another piece about amile farther up the canyon which was used as a hay farm. The remainderof available lands were acquired by other men desirous of making a homein the canyon. The names that I recall were: Richard Winmill, Wm.Taylor, Bines Dixon, Wm. Hardy, Edward Laird, Seymour B. Young, MartinGarn, Sven Olson, Don Carlos Young, J. C. Neilsen, Wm. Roach andJames Bullock.

As the pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley increased each year it becamevery urgent that a supply of timber be made available for the building ofhomes, and Parley's Canyon had quite a supply in the upper forks.Sawmills were built and vast quantities of lumber and timber were hauledinto the Valley. Later it was found that a road could be built over thesummit having a very gradual slope, and down into East Canyon joiningup with the pioneer trail and making a better road than the one over theBig Mountain and down Emigration Canyon. So the road was built and the

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original Pioneer Trail over the Big Mountain was partly abandoned and thetraffic diverted through Parley's Canyon. Grandfather Hardy had quite asupply of hay and many outfits camped at his place and adjacent campgrounds, and his home was known for many years as Hardy's Station.

About 1888 a school district was organized in Mt. Dell as the 55th Districtof Salt Lake County. A board of trustees was elected, Wm. B. Hardy wasselected as chairman and secretary of the board, which position he helduntil the district was dissolved in 1899. About 1892 enough money hadaccumulated to warrant the building of a new school. This was a two-storybuilding, the lower part made of stone from the local quarry, the upper partbeing of brick hauled from Salt Lake.

Salt Lake City was growing very rapidly and a need for additional waterbecame very evident. The city built a dam at the mouth of the canyon forthe purpose of diverting the water into mains which would carry the waterinto the city. This dam was built about 1891. The farmers in the canyonstill owned the water rights and when it became dry in the summer theyused a big share of the water for irrigating, leaving only a small stream forthe city which really required all the water. The city began to negotiatewith the farmers for their water rights which they were not willing to giveup unless the land was sold too. The city also claimed that the drainagefrom the stables and yards was contaminating the water, making it unfit forculinary purposes, thus endangering the health of thousands of people.So the fight went on for several years and finally resulted in a victory forthe city and the farmers were practically forced to sell.

By 1900 there was not a farmer left in the canyon and the city hadacquired all of the water rights. However, this was not sufficient for thefast growing city, and it was evident that storage was necessary toconserve the waters of the spring floods, etc. Shortly after the turn of thecentury preparations were made to investigate the feasibility ofconstructing a dam in the canyon which would be sufficiently large to storeall the run-off water. The report was favorable so the dam was built abouta half mile below the Hardy farm, which backs up the water so that our oldhomesite is entirely submerged when the reservoir is full. In 1899 myfather, Wm. B. Hardy, sold out his holdings in the canyon and moved hisfamily to Alberta, Canada, where I have lived ever since. I still cherishmany fond remembrances of the dear old canyon where I spent myboyhood days.

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From Records of Tacy Hardy Winmill: In 1850 Leonard W. Hardypurchased a farm in Parley's canyon, and moved a portion of his familythere, keeping a station for Ben Holladay's Overland Stage Line. At thisplace he owned a seven-room log house and a large barn where the stagecompany kept extra horses. They drove two span or four horses at a timeon each stage, which would come from Salt Lake City and stop at thestation. The passengers would be served meals at Hardy's home whilethe hostelers changed the horses. The station was continued until thearrival of the Union Pacific Railroad. We went to school in themeetinghouse, which served as recreation hall, schoolhouse and chapel.We had parties and dances in it and we danced to the music of theaccordion. At our school we had only one teacher for all the grades, sowe could not advance as fast as we should have done. In 1894 the newschoolhouse was built, a two-story building with the school downstairs andthe recreation hall upstairs. That gave us more advantages in school asour teachers were better educated to teach.

Mountain Dell Ward consisted of Latter-day Saints residing in Parley'sCanyon, in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, and on Parleys Creek,originally called Canyon Creek and its tributaries. It was 14 milessoutheast of the center of Salt Lake City, and its altitude about 5300 feetabove sea level. All kinds of vegetables were raised, including potatoes,of which some samples weighed four pounds each. In 1850 Parley P.Pratt built a toll road from the main forks of this canyon, which road wasopened to traffic July 4, 1850 under the name of the Golden Pass. Thisroad, however, was soon afterwards washed out by floods. Among thefirst settlers in Mt. Dell were Ephraim K. Hanks and Augustus P. Hardy,who in 1858 established a trading post in the canyon for theaccommodation of travelers. At their hotel meals cost from $1.00 to$2.50, and a hundred pounds of sugar sold for $125.00.

Hanks and Hardy left the canyon, and when in 1860 Leonard W. Hardytook charge of the locality and remained there for several years, it becameknown as Hardy's Place. For the benefit of these pioneer settlers abranch of the Church was organized in March 1867.... In 1869 a morecompletely organized branch, named Mountain Dell, was established, withJames Laird as presiding elder, the branch being under the jurisdiction ofthe Sugar House Ward Bishopric. The Saints erected a logmeetinghouse, which in 1894 was replaced by a substantial rockschoolhouse, which served also for religious services. On Sunday,

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August 20, 1882, the Saints at Mt. Dell were organized as a ward withWm. B. Hardy as bishop. At that time the ward population, includingchildren, was about 100. Wm. B. Hardy presided at Mountain Dell until1895 when the ward organization was discontinued and Bines Dixonappointed as presiding elder.

PENELOPE WRITES

Shortly after the death of her husband in 1859, Penelope Goodridge feltthe necessity of recording the events which she would witness throughoutthe remainder of her life.

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Feb. 19, 1860. For the last few months I have at times felt very lonely,having no one in my family but my son, George, and he, like otheryoungsters almost always away, and so to pass off some of my lonesomehours methinks I will pass some of them in writing down a few incidentsas I pass along through life. My husband, Benjamin Goodridge, died onthe 2nd day of last December about 9 o'clock in the forenoon. He had

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been in a very strange and singular way for some years. I know not thecause, but I know he was a great sufferer in his mind by spells. I passedthrough so much with him I don't want to reflect upon it. His last sicknesswas what we called the pleurisy or lung fever. He lived only nine daysafter the attack. Although he was an invalid for many years, he seemeda kind of protector which I very much miss, but he is gone and accordingto the common course of nature I must soon follow. He was 65 years andtwo months old, lacking one day. I believe he is happy for he showedhimself to me immediately after we started from the graveyard. He lookedso fair and pleasant and so very natural, he could not be otherwise thanhappy. I felt that it was but a step between us and that I should soon bewith him.

George and I went home with Brother Hardy's folks, and that evening asI was reflecting on the transaction of the day, came near saying to Harrietand Esther as they were both present, "I want you to have my burialclothes in readiness," but did not say it for fear they would think it strangefor mother to make such a request. I have no work but the work ofsalvation and may the Lord help me to accomplish that in a manner thatwill be acceptable in His sight. I have all the necessaries of life and Ithank my Heavenly Father. I ask my God, my Heavenly Father, in thename of his son, Jesus Christ, to continue his blessings unto meaccording to my needs while I sojourn upon the earth. My children 6 innumber, 5 girls and 1 boy are very kind, not one of them would willinglyhurt my feelings in the least, but rather try to make me happy as far astheir circumstances will admit. My sons-in-law are equally kind. Mygrandchildren appear fond of me. I have a pleasant home which as yet Ican call my own, but it is so lonesome sometimes. I resort to many thingsto while away the time. After the funeral of my husband I stopped at theBishop's over 3 weeks. Harriet with little Frankie came home with me.She stayed 2 or 3 weeks, which made it more pleasant.

March 6th. This morning I am alone again. I have not had much time tobe lonely, the 22nd of February, Esther had a son born, Owen. I wentthere the same day and stayed ten days. I enjoyed myself first rate, camehome 3 days ago. George is absent tonight. There is a snowstorm out,but very still in. I have a good fire, a good light and am very comfortable.Last Saturday evening I went to the Tabernacle, heard Gibson lectureconcerning the Malay tribes and other tribes that are many thousands ofmiles away. Mr. Flint, my son-in-law, is quite sick; he thinks he has the

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mountain fever. 25th. Mr. Flint and family moved north yesterday. Lefttheir house empty and desolate. Three of my nearest neighbors have leftand strangers have come instead, which I have not yet seen. I hope theyare good people and that I shall take much comfort with them. Sophiacame here last Tuesday with her 6 children and Ellen Parkinson, stayedall night. Wednesday, Harriet and Lusannah came with their children andMary Jane's children, all made 16 grandchildren in one day. All but oneunder 8 years old; a lively time we had that day sure. Today is Sunday.I have been to meeting. It is so cheering to hear the Prophets of the MostHigh proclaiming glad tidings to the people. Brother O. Hyde spoke first,followed by Brother Brigham.

August 15th. It is a long time since I have written in my book, but I havenot been idle. I have wrote several letters, two to the East, one to mysister, Weston, and one to Sewell Goodridge's widow. Lusannah andfamily moved to Cache soon after April conference, and I have written anumber of letters to her. The spirit of loneliness came over me thisevening so I thought I must write to kill time! I have a great many callerswhich helps to pass off time....

December 6th. Have been to the Ward meeting, several were confirmed,one babe blest, had a good meeting. Bishop Raleigh with counselorswere present. Brother Hovey talked first rate, told some of hisexperiences in the latter-day work. This evening, Brother Hovey called tosee me. I was very glad he did. He talked with me, he prayed with meand he laid his hands upon my head and blest me with the blessings ofhealth, that my age should be renewed from that very hour and that Ishould feel like as if I was in my teens, that I should live many years, evenas long as life was desirable. I should go to the center stake of Zion if Idesired it, that I should go into the Celestial Kingdom, should be one of theone hundred and forty-four thousand that should come up on Mount Zion,that the holy angels should be roused about me to protect me. The HolyGhost should comfort me and teach me things present and things tocome, and that my blood should course through my veins from the crownof my head to the soles of my feet and renovate my system, I should belike Sarah of old, and many more things that I do not recollect at thistime....

9th. It is one year last Sabbath since my husband died. How short thetime seems. I scarcely can realize it to be so long. We have a boy living

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with us, 10 years old; he has been here since sometime in September.His name is Brigham Tarvis. He is very handy, saves me many steps. Icannot well be lonesome when he is about, he is such a talker. I have hada tumor cut out of my eyebrow by Dr. Anderson. 29th. This day I entermy 68th year of my life. I feel well; my limbs are quite elastic, can doconsiderable work. Harriet, Esther, George, and myself took a sleigh ridenorth about twelve miles to Mary Jane's. Found them all well but ratheruncomfortably situated. Pretty cold riding. Got home about 5 o'clockevening.

January 11th, 1861. Walked to Bishop Hardy's. They had a big donationdinner for the poor. I think there was between 50 and 60 that sat down tothe table, besides our own family which number 21 at the present time.On Feb. 2nd I returned home. March. George has just come in and says: "Mother, they have called onme to go with one of the teams back East to help fetch in the poor Saints.Do you think you can spare your dear son to do so?" It was giving mesomething of a trial, but I considered it for the best and said "go," and I amtrying to fit him out so that he will go comfortable....

April 22nd. George started for the East. I accompanied him as far as theBishop's and there parted with him with a heavy heart, asking God toprotect him. After staying at Brother Hardy's a few days I returned to mylonely home for I was in truth alone.

October. I have got along first rate. The Bishop works our lot. I havebeen well supplied with everything I was in need of. George is expectedin a few days. 23rd. George has returned with his company of Saints. Helooks pretty well considering he says he has seen some tight spots. I amglad he got home safe again and more glad for the good report of him. 1862. November 10th. George started with me to go to the Station. Wecalled at Brother Taggart's. Took Eliza along with us. Found a newmarried couple there and as the disease is catching, George was attackedso he came home with a wife by his side. They were married by ElderJames Laird. 20th. George has taken his wife, Eliza Taggart, to live withme. I hope I shall like her. It will not be so lonely.

1863. I had a grandson born in this house October 30th. They call his

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name George Leonard. Sophia had a daughter born the same night.

1864. September. Had I continued my journal I should have had manyan interesting item to refer to which has slipped my memory. Mr. Flint wasknocked down by a horse which deprived him of his reason for hours andvery much injured him otherwise. James Hovey, Lusannah's oldest boyhas been near to death's door by severe sickness and pain whichterminated in a fever sore on his leg which I think will always trouble him. October 3rd. The anniversary of my husband's birthday, if living, wouldbe 70 years old. Saw Mr. Hovey last Friday, says James had beenattacked in his other leg. Thinks he has arrested it, wants me to go homewith him and stay all winter. Went to the store spent $2.15. I have cut 20bushels of peaches to dry. . . .

November 6th. Eliza began to wean the boy. George and Dick started onFriday for salt at the Lake. Came home without any today. Sunday,Brother Taggart and wife were here. George went over the mountain tochop and haul wood. Eliza went home. Stayed until Wednesday. 11th. I went to town, carried some dry peaches, got 1 lb. of tea.

December 5th. George did not go back to work this week, had a pain inhis side. He and wife have gone to the theatre tonight, will stay all nightwith her mother. George got Eliza a new dress, paid 16 dollars for it. Gotme pair shoes, paid 5 dollars. Mary Jane got her a loom. This morningI am going to help Mary Jane warp the first web. 1865. January 6th. I received a letter from my sister, Mary, a few daysago, and a paper.

February 15th. Have been to two parties this winter to the Social Hall anddanced. I believe it has snowed every night this week and thawed everyday. Mary Jane, with my help, has wove nearly one hundred yards. Ihave made her a new harness.

March 3rd. George's birthday. He and I went to Savage's, had ourphotograph taken. 22nd. Wrote a letter to Sister Gardner at Dixie, sentGeorge's likeness; sent mine to my sister Mary.

May 14th. Since I wrote last I have been to the Bishop's, stopped over aweek, would have stayed longer, but George's boy was taken sick so Icame home. His mother has taken him to her mother's today, so I am

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alone. George has gone to the Station to work. He is putting in wheat.

October 22nd. I am growing less ambitious about writing, or the fact is itseems I have no time. I never was more drove with work in my life. Havejust finished a pair of garments for George. I have a dress, 1 pr. sheets,1 pr. pillow slips, 2 prs. garments, all to make for myself, besides lots ofknitting. I expect to do some knitting and sewing for Eliza as she has lotsto do. We have been very busy for the last 4 weeks with drying peaches.We have cut and put out 60 bushel. I stopped at the Bishop's for the mostof the time in July, August, and into September, until after Esther's babedied, which was on the 4th of Sept. While there I picked wool to pay fora new flannel dress which is to come by and by. Sophia moved into theCity one week ago and Harriet and Esther have gone to the Station.

May 1866. George took Harriet Taggart to wife. I went to the Bishop's,stayed nearly one month. On the 3rd of June I went over to the Station,stayed 3 months, returned home and went to drying peaches. 5th. I amweaving a carpet for myself. Eliza has very sore eyes. January 1869. The first day in the year 1869. It is such a long time sinceI have kept a journal. Well, I have been hither and thither so much that Ihave not felt settled anywhere. Two years ago I had a stroke of numbpalsy, or a paralytic stroke or something of that nature. It was not severe.Last May, Joseph Hovey died, left his wife, my daughter Lusannah, withseven children. In a few months had another, and she only 35 years old.Last October conference my son, George, was called to go south to helpbuild up a new place called St. Joseph, Nevada Territory, and on the 4thof November 1868, he with his family, six in number, started for their newhome. It was rather hard parting with my only son, but I believe it all forthe best. I have received one letter from them dated Jan. 3rd since theirdeparture. I have enjoyed myself first rate. I did once complain of beingalone so much. Now I enjoy it. The winter thus far has been very mild.It seems so pleasant, almost like summer; yet the ground is white withsnow and has been for weeks. It thaws in the daytime, freezes in thenight. Now and then a little snow just to keep the ground white. There isa good deal of sickness, and many deaths this winter, especially amongchildren and old people. I was 75 years old the 24th day of lastDecember. I can labor yet some, do all my own work except washing andsometimes that; knit a good deal and sew some. Have made one rug thiswinter. Last week the Female Relief Society had a party. I did not attend,altho a member of the Society, but bought a ticket and gave to Wm. and

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Mary J. Flint. Have been told the Society cleared 60 dollars overexpenses. 16th. Esther came to town to attend a Bishop's Ball. Came tosee me, stayed three nights. 21st. Have been writing today to Lusannahin answer to a letter I received from her dated Feb. 9th. She wants to sellher farm in Cache and go to the Muddy where George is. She had betterwait awhile. -The last time I met with the Female Relief Society they madea statement that they wanted the sisters to write something to be read inthe meetings. They did not care what the subject was whether poetry,dialogue, history or anything they chose. So I wrote the following bit ofhistory:

I am seventy-five years old, and when I look back upon my past life itseems but yesterday, or but a few years at most, since I, in my childishglee, was playing with my brothers and sisters around my own father’shearthstone, and where are they now, an Echo says where, ah! Some ofthem are gone to that Bourne from whence no traveler returns, and gonetoo without hearing the sound of the everlasting Gospel as it is declaredto us in this last dispensation. As I grew to womanhood my mind becamemore serious being impressed with the idea that there was somethingmore for me to do than eat, drink, and be merry; and as religious meetingswere common, revival meetings frequent, I attended many of them and inprocess of time had my name enrolled with the Wesleyan EpiscopalMethodist, and for nearly twenty years I was a member of that Society.Had many reasons of rejoicing with them, believing they were the bestpeople there were in the world, because they were the most persecutedof any people or sect that I knew of in those days. Something over twentyyears ago my brother, George Gardner, (who is now in Arizona) came tomake me a visit. He brought the truths of the Gospel with him, taughtthem to me. I believed and embraced the same. I came out from theMethodist, was led into the waters of Baptism by an Elder of the Churchof Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 2nd of September, 1849; in thespring of 1850, I, with my family, started from the Eastern states, evenMassachusetts, for the valley of the mountains and arrived here in theOctober following. Did I make any sacrifice? not in my feelings, but as thesaying is "our property went for a song." I did not care for that if I onlycould get to the Valley. I am here and not for one moment have I everwished myself back again. I can see the hand of the Lord has been overme for good even from my childhood up to the present time; nevertheless,I have had many trials, troubles, and afflictions to pass through, but theLord has sustained me. Even now in my old age He is my comforter and

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my guide, praise be to His Holy name.

The Elder who baptized me first into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was L. W. Hardy, and it was through his instrumentality that Iand my family were gathered to the Valley of the mountains. He hasproved to be an undeviating friend to me and mine ever since I came here.He has three of my daughters for wives, he fitted out George for hissouthern mission by taking my lot, and is to provide for me while I live andI feel pretty safe in his care. March 1st. A beautiful day, very much like spring. The winter just pasthas been very mild generally, although it has been smoky and foggy agreat deal of the time. Mr. Flint is sowing cabbage seed today. 15th.Today it has rained and snowed, snowed and rained. The Bishop andSophia have been here this afternoon, all well. Valeria Flint went withthem to the Station.

April 6th. Last Sunday George and Charles Taggart came here, stayedtill Wednesday morn. On Monday Bro. Hardy and Sophia came andbrought me some of the comforts and necessaries of life, may God blessthem. Esther made a new sunbonnet and gave to me. The Bishop put inthe garden last week.

May 7th. A few days ago I received a letter from my sister, Harriet, thefirst I have received from her since I have been here. Answered it thismorning. Brother Hardy has lately had a letter from George. Poor boy, heseems to be sadly tried in the furnace of adversity. I hope he will comeout unscathed; it is a good school for him. Hitherto, he has not had thetrials which have been the lot of many of the Latter-day Saints. I hope hewill bear it all with patience, come off the conqueror, have plenty of faithwith good work. If a weary task you find it, persevere and never mind it. 11th. I, with Mary Jane and Harriet, went into town, did some shopping.Bought calico for a dress, 1/2 lb. tea, 3 lbs. of sugar. 18th. Yesterday hadmy dress cut by Sister Stevenson. Last Sabbath afternoon went to theTabernacle, heard remarks from several of the Elders. A Methodist Priestspoke. 19th. Emily Stratton came here with her babe. She, with MaryJane, have gone to meeting. Sam, the Indian boy, came here yesterday.He is sick, looks bad. I guess he wishes he had stayed at the Bishop'sand not run away.

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June 24th. For the last 3 Sabbaths we have had strangers preach to usin the new Tabernacle. There has been many strangers passing throughhere of late and many distinguished guests have made it their pleasure orprofit, or out of curiosity, or whatever you have a mind to call it, to stop afew days and some attend meetings.

July 18th. Harriet came here before breakfast, returned to the 12th Wardin the afternoon. Went to see "Tom Thumb" on Monday, Tuesday shecame again with the boys. They finished hoeing the lot, and afterwardthey took Mary Jane and five children to go home with over the mountain.Apricots are ripe and very good. August 12th. A nephew of William Flint, Joseph Flint by name, from NewYork, came to make them a visit. He is quite a gent, a collegian and wasCaptain in the Army of the late war. We have for some weeks past hadplenty of grasshoppers, but they did not seem so destructive as last yearand the year before.September 11th. Sophia has been quite feeble, is better now. I walkedto the Bishop's awhile ago and walked back again the next day, and stoodit pretty well. Esther came to the city about a month ago and had all herteeth pulled. Joseph Flint left here last Wednesday morning for Nevada.Week before last Aunt Martha Hardy died of the dropsy. The same daySister Branch of St. George died in this city of bronchitis. O, how manyare dying, young as well as old, and lots of little children passed away thissummer, which speaks loudly to us that remain "be ye also ready." MayI profit by the warning.

October 11th. Monday Harriet and Valeria came, Tuesday Nelly Hoveycame, and the same day Br. Taggart, Br. Dixon and daughter all came tostop through Conference which commenced on Wednesday. I attendedthe first day and half of the last day. Nearly 200 missionaries have beencalled, amongst the rest L. W. Hardy, to go on a six months missionamongst his friends in the states. I made up a small bundle ofknickknacks for Aroet Hale to take to George in Arizona. 20th. Bishopand Sophia came and took me home with them to see him and Harrietstart on his mission which they did on Sunday. November 14th. I had presented to me a box of the Conserve ofHollyhock, which I think proved very efficacious in my case. LastThursday, which was the 11th, Mr. Flint's folks had an unexpected call to

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go to Hardy's Station, for they were nearly all sick including their son,William, who was down with the mumps.

January 1st, 1870. Oh! how time passes. Ten years ago when Icommenced this journal I little thought I should be able to write at this dateif living. But here I am and feeling quite smart. Can go about, do mywork, excepting washing. I am pretty healthy and strong for my age whichwas 76 last Monday. My sight seems to be failing me, which troubles meconsiderably, especially reading by candle light. O, if I should be blind,well I may for blindness is hereditary. My grandfather was blind forseveral years, my oldest sister has been blind for some years, the nextsister to her is blind in one eye, my youngest sister has been afflicted thatway, but I hear she is better. I do not get so lonely as I did. Solitude is sosweet, I love it. 5th. Sophia came with a carriage, took me to thechildren's party in the 12th Ward's new schoolhouse. Stayed until 11o'clock. Enjoyed myself very well. 10th. The completion of the UtahCentral R. R. a great celebration. It was judged there were 15,000 peoplethere to see the last rail laid and the last spike drove which was made ofhomemade iron and driven by President Brigham Young. There wereseveral speeches made which were very appropriate by Mormons as wellas Gentiles. 18th. The Female Relief Society of the 11th Ward had aparty. It was a splendid affair. I went to it and danced once. Did not staylate. 20th. Esther came for me to go home with her over the mountain.Quite good sleighing.

March 19th. On the 5th of this month the Bishop and Harriet came homefrom the East in pretty good health and spirits. Glad to get back to theirmountain home.

April 6th. Only one day of Conference. Brigham has gone south, soconference is postponed until the 5th of May.

May 14th. Lusannah with her little boy, Grafton, came here on the 4th.Stayed until the 9th to attend our May conference. Had a very good visit.We had a good conference, good weather and a good turn out. It wasjudged there were 13 or 14 thousand people seated in the house and thelarge organ discoursed music grandly. Esther came also. Stayed throughConference. I was well pleased that both girls happened to meet here.I enjoyed their society much. Sophia called and Mary Jane was alreadyhere so that I saw four of my girls together again. 25th. Leonard came

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and told Bro. Flint he might plant the lot on shares.

July 3rd. The grasshoppers were very numerous 5 or 6 weeks ago. Theday they came we heard them in the air. The sound for hours was like amighty rushing of waters at a little distance. Then they began to comedown to earth, and the way they eat everything ain't slow! I fear if theystop 24 hours there will not be much green stuff left even the fruit trees arecovered. 11th. I received a letter from George stating that his wife, Eliza,had a son born on the 27th of June, doing well. Their harvesting, haying,and threshing were all done. 19th. Last Sabbath I went to meeting, heardsome very excellent preaching. Lady Franklin, the wife of Sir JohnFranklin, was present in the afternoon. Much respect was shown her, asthere always is to distinguished visitors. 31st. Last Sabbath I attendedmeeting all day. Went to the Methodist meeting in the evening. Went tothe celebration on Monday forenoon. Called on Old Lady Atwood in theafternoon. In the evening went to the fireworks.

August 27th. Hearing that my daughter, Sophia, was sick, I walked downto the 12th Ward, stayed overnight. The next day being Sunday as I didnot feel like walking home, the boys fetched me home in the carriage.

September 4th. Walked to meeting. Word was given out that MartinHarris had just come to the city. He was one of the three witnesses to theBook of Mormon, and would speak on that subject. Well, he did as wellas could be expected under the circumstances, he being nearly 88 yearsold.

November 30th. Had a letter from Lusannah informing me that herdaughter, Nessy, was confined the 20th day of the present month of a sonwhich weighed 9 lbs. without its clothes. It is my first great-grandchild. December 11th. Has snowed pretty much of the time this forenoon. Now2 o'clock p.m., the sun is shining, the snow is melting, the birds aresinging, the flies are buzzing; they have not all gone to winter quarters.27th. My birthday. I am 77 years old and in good health; am able to laborconsiderable, and my faculties, altho some impaired are pretty good. Allthings considered on the whole, I enjoy life pretty well. Last Saturday Iwent to the 12th Ward to keep Christmas and stayed until Monday. Mr.Flint and Mary Jane came down and spent the day; on Monday we had avery pleasant time. Came home in the morning on a sled. I wanted to go

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and spend New Year's with Esther, but it was not very convenient.

January 6th, 1871. A nephew of mine from Dixie has been here on a visit,George Abel Gardner by name, left for home yesterday, is 18 years old. A fine young man, he seems to be. April 18th. It is quite a while since I wrote in my book. I thought I wouldwrite a little today. There has been many changes, turns and overturns,in the city, in the neighborhood, in my family and amongst my friends ata distance. I received a letter from my sister, Rachel Ware, stating thatmy sister, Lusannah Bowman, had a paralytic stroke and died on the 23rdof Feb. 1871, in the 87th year of her age. She was born Jan. 9th, 1789,in Kingstown, Mass. Have not had a letter from my son, George, since hemoved to Long Valley, but heard they were putting in their crops quitecheerfully. The Gentiles are flocking into Utah for the gold and silver thatis in these mountains. It may be the means of bringing some to theknowledge of the truth if there are any honest hearted amongst them,which may God grant for Christ's sake. Our winter has been very mild, but the spring rather cold and backward this forenoon. Now 5 o'clock thewind blows cold. I hope it will not freeze the fruit.

December 27th. My birthday, 78 years old today. My health is good, maythat blessing be mine while I sojourn on the earth, how long or how shortthat time may be I know not.1875, April 8th. Twenty-five years ago tomorrow, it was the 9th of April1850, that I, with my family consisting of my husband, myself, and sixmarried daughters, my youngest child a son of eleven years, one monthand 6 days, we started from Mass. for the Great Salt Lake. I now have38 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; have lost 8 grandchildren andone great-grandchild, have buried one daughter and her husband and heronly child, a son. 9th. Well, I have had a call this noon from an oldacquaintance, Bishop Wm. Neeley. I think it is nearly 30 years since Ihave seen him; we had a very pleasant chat of about an hour, dinner andall. Oh! how cruel is time to change us mortals so that we lose all formerrecollection of former looks. May 4th. My daughter, Lusannah Hovey, came last Thursday morningfrom Cache. She was out two days and two nights having a chance tocome with a neighbor in a wagon, not having means to come in the cars.She was very tired and nearly sick when she got here. I must say I was

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very glad to see her. This afternoon she and sister, Rachel, have gone tothe 14th Ward to the meeting that is held there once in two weeks calledthe Retrenchment meeting for Females. It is said they are very goodmeetings, but I have never been there since they were organized. Icannot walk around as I could once. I fear I shall not be able to get to theTabernacle much this summer. I am thankful that I have formerlyimproved my opportunities of going to the meetings when circumstanceswould permit. 8th. I went down to my daughter, Sophia's; they were allpretty well. Lusannah was over the mountain with my daughter, Esther.Sunday I attended the 12th Ward meeting twice that day. Bishop Hardywas not there, but we had some very good preaching. On TuesdayLusannah got back, came with the Bishop. On Wednesday, Sophia andLusannah and myself called on Jenny Leamon and spent the day veryagreeably. Someone in our absence had been so kind as to leave me aticket for the old folk's excursion. Thursday, after breakfast, we started formy home. We came to the Depot on the street cars. On our way home wecalled on Sister Buel.

May 14th. She left and I for the old folk's excursion. We were to start outon the Western train at 7 o'clock, but on account of getting us old cripplesseated, there was a delay of an hour. Then we started, and a most lovelyride we had for over 20 miles. Came to Clinton's Hotel where we stoppedand were refreshed with food and drink. With prayer and singing, speechmaking, with music on the organ, having a good time generally, about oneo'clock we went aboard the steamboat on the Salt Lake. It was a verycalm day and the way that we did skim it over the lake for about 2 hourswas delightful. Then after this was over, music was resorted to, andsongs, with more speeches, until 5 o'clock when we again took to the cars.There were 244 people on that excursion. One old gent in his 96th year,one old lady 91.... The cars were soon on the easy move for home. Fora few miles we were deliciously carried along; all at once there was athud, a crash, and the cars stopped. On examination it was found that thebaggage car had some bolt broke which let the bottom down with thecontents of the car, no great damage. By throwing off the damaged carand adjusting the rafts for several feet, in about one hour we were movingagain. Arrived at the depot about 8 o'clock in the evening, and all free ofcost except the cup of tea. It was the most enjoyable day that I can everremember having in my long life. Even the break on the road did not marmy feelings. Well, my Book is nearly full, and I guess it is time for I canscarcely see the ruling on the paper. I have been a long time in writing it,

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but it has afforded me some comfort, and amusement, in some of mylonely hours which have not been a few. I am now 81 years and 5 monthsold lacking one day. I do feel thankful to my Heavenly Father that I can doas well as I have. My sight is poor, my hand is not as steady as formerly.God be praised for all his goodness to me. I close this 26th of May, 1875.

Note: Penelope Randall Gardner Goodridge died Dec. 19, 1875, 7months after this was finished.

MRS. FLINT

Mary Jane Goodridge, daughter of Benjamin and Penelope Goodridge,was born on the 11th of June, 1825, at Lunenburg, Massachusetts. She,with her father's family, left with the Wilford Woodruff Company for the SaltLake Valley. On July 10, 1850, they reached the Platte River where MaryJane was baptized by Wilford Woodruff. The teams consisted of from two to five yoke of oxen to one wagon. In astampede there would often be from thirty to forty teams running in alldirections, knocking down anything that happened to be in their way.Wilford Woodruff ran into the midst of one of these stampedes andrescued his wife, Emma, and several others. Another time, Prescott Hardywas injured in the arm and thigh. Many others were injured at this timebut none were killed. Mary Jane drove a yoke of oxen all the way acrossthe plains and one day when they stampeded she narrowly escapeddeath. There happened to be an opening through which she fled,fortunately without injury. She often said that those who had neverwitnessed a stampede could not imaginethe awful confusion and terror thatreigned.

On December 24, 1850, Mary Janemarried William Flint, having known himonly three weeks. To reassure her as tohis respectability, he referred her to HeberC. Kimball, for whom he had worked. Shewent to Brother Kimball, whorecommended William very highly and toldher she would be making no mistake.After their marriage they went to

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Farmington, Davis County, where they lived in a dugout until they couldget enough logs to build a house. Her life there was very hard, with quitea few exciting incidents. One day while she and her bus band and brotherwere eating dinner, a large snake dropped by its tail from the roof andhung over a pan of milk. Another time a snake was curled up under thechair on which she was sitting. As she was expecting a baby soon, herhusband didn't want her to know so he asked her to step outside for amoment. He then went in and killed the snake. During a time when theIndians were hostile and her husband was standing guard against them,an old Indian slipped into the house and demanded a gun that wasstanding back of the bed. Mary Jane refused to let him have it. Hejumped across the bed, snatched the gun, which was loaded, and waspointing it at her when their big dog grabbed him by the leg. The Indiandropped the gun and begged her to call off the dog, which she did. Hehad been bitten quite badly, so Mary Jane bathed the wound and let himstay awhile. When her husband came home, he said the Indian couldremain all night. The only light they had at night was a lighted rag in a tinof grease. It was called a "slut." Later on she made candles out of tallow.

In 1856, they moved from Farmington to Salt Lake City and made theirhome in the 19th Ward on the corner of 2nd West and 3rd North, wherethey lived the remainder of their lives. Mary Jane wove the materials forher family's clothes, linsey, flannel and worsted. After her husband wasincapacitated by an accident, she added to the family income by weavingbeautiful carpets for other people. They raised their children without everhaving a doctor. Mary Jane was the first to pass away. The last year ofher life she was seriously ill with cancer. There were few drugs availablein those days to alleviate pain, but she bore her suffering with greatfortitude. She died January 19, 1883, at the age of 58. -Mary Jane Flint JacksonWilliam Flint, one of the Utah pioneers of 1848, was born Jan. 28, 1814,in Onondaga County, N.Y. He became a convert to Mormonism in theState of New York through the labors of Orson Hyde. He located inNauvoo, Illinois, then came west during the exodus and spent two yearsat Winter Quarters. In crossing the plains in 1848, he drove a team forMary Fielding Smith, mother of the late President Joseph Fielding Smith,from Winter Quarters to the Three Crossings of the Sweetwater. Fromthere Mr. Flint was sent back on the road to assist the later companies ofthat year's emigration to the Valley. After his arrival in Salt Lake Valley,he married Mary Jane Goodridge in 1850. Eight children were the issue

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of this marriage, namely, Sarah Jane, Valeria Ann, William L., Fedalia(who later married Henry Jacobs), Harriet, Abel, George and Sophia.William Flint died Sept. 21, 1890, at the home of his daughter, Valeria, inParley's Canyon. He was a farmer by avocation, and died a faithful Latter-Day Saint, being the only one of his father's family who joined the Church. -Jenson

TWO SISTERS Lusannah Emiline Goodridge, being at home a good deal, and notstrong enough to labor all of the time, thought that I would write a shortaccount of my life and some of the most prominent events connectedtherewith:

I was born in the town of Lunenburg, Worcester County, Massachusettsin the year of 1835, the sixth child of Benjamin and Penelope Goodridge.I was a sickly child from my birth up to nine years old. As my parentswere poor, we children were obliged to go out and work for our support assoon as we were old enough. My parentsbelonged to the Methodist Church, and wewere raised in that faith. Of the incidents ofmy childhood, I will pass up to the time I wassixteen years old.

Sometime during the year of 1849, LeonardW. Hardy and wife came to my father's homeand brought to us the gospel of our Lord andSavior Jesus Christ. On the night of Sept. 2,1849, my mother, three sisters and I werebaptized in Whale Pond by L. W. Hardy. Inthe month of April, 1850, my father, with all ofhis family, started for Utah to gather andunite with the Latter-day Saints. After a longand tedious journey, in which there weremany thrilling incidents of which I cannot write, we arrived in Salt Lake Cityin October. My father, my oldest sister, Mary Jane, and my brother,George, were baptized in the Platte River on the way. Father bought ahouse and lot in the Nineteenth Ward. . . .

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In the summer of 1851 I went north to Centerville to stay with my oldestsister, Mary Jane Flint. On September 23, 1851, my sister Sarah, whowas married to Joseph Hovey, died leaving a son eight days old, whomthey named John Goodridge Hovey. I returned to Salt Lake City inDecember. On January 14, 1852 I was married to Joseph G. Hovey. Inow took care of Sarah's little boy, John. I had gone into plural marriage

and I found many things that tried me verymuch. In the fall of 1852, Father became insaneand Mother had a hard time of it. Fatherwas so bad that he had to be confined in aroom by himself.

On April 29, 1853 my daughter, PenelopeLusannah, was born. It was a long timebefore I regained my health. Father stillcontinued in a very strange way, though notso violent as when first taken. I went andstayed with Mother awhile. On June 14,1855 my son, James Alma, was born,weighing ten and a half pounds and was a

fine child. In March 8, 1856 little John, Sarah's boy, died, which was agreat grief to me, for he was a very intelligent child. He died with abscessof the brain. The weather was very cold, and times hard, so we could notget teams to go to the grave. His father and one or two neighbors got intothe wagon with the coffin and took it to the graveyard, dug the grave andburied him. It seemed hard but it could not be helped. Times still continued hard. Provisions were scarce, and most familieswere on rations. I was nursing a big hearty child, and some days I wouldhave a little piece of bread and sometimes only a little milk and greens toeat. At harvest time, I left my children and went into the fields to help pullthe wheat up by the roots, as it was so short on account of drought that itcould not be cut. Our whole crop had to be gathered this way. A greatmany suffered this summer for food to eat.

On August 29, 1857 my daughter, Olive Ann, was born. About this timethe enemies of the Church began to rage and the government sent outtroops to fight the Mormons, but they were not permitted to enter theValley that fall but wintered at Ham's Falls. In the spring of 1858 the

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Saints left their homes and moved south. My husband, myself and threechildren started with an oxteam, two cows, and some chickens in a coopon the back of the wagon. The wagon was loaded to the bows so therewas just room for me to sit with my babe in my arms, and a little onestanding on each side of me clinging to my dress. When I walked I hadto drive the cows with the babe in my arms and the other two childrenclinging to my skirts as they were too small to keep up without help. Wewent this way as far as Spanish Fork. Here my husband left me with afamily by the name of Mason, who were strangers to me, and returned toSalt Lake City to get the remainder of his family. I stayed in this placeabout three months and when the people were permitted to return I wasthe last of our family to return.

Some time after I got home, my babe was taken very sick with spasms.Her left side would draw and twitch. It seemed that I must lose her. Shelost the use of her left side, and could move neither hand nor foot on thatside, but through the power of the Priesthood, faith, and good nursing shebegan to slowly recover. There were five weeks that I never had myclothes off to go to bed, having to lie down a few minutes at a time as Icould get a chance. It was a long time before she could either walk ortalk, she had to learn both over again. On July 22, 1859 my daughter,Mary Louise, was born....

My husband, having quite a family and being hard to support them in thecity, decided that in the spring he would move a portion of his family toCache Valley, and requested me to be ready to move to that place. April12, 1860 we started for Cache. We went as far as Hot Springs andcamped for the night. The roads were very bad; the spring rains hadmade them so muddy it was with great difficulty that a loaded wagon couldtravel. My babe took sick and I had to sit with her in my arms, wrapped ina quilt all night long in the dark, and it was cold in the wagon. We startedthe next day, but the journey was a long and weary one. There was aheavy snowstorm in the mountains in what is now called the DanishSettlement (Mantua). There was no settlement there then, and we had tolay by a few days before we could go through the mountains and canyon.We stopped here a week. My husband went on to Cache Valley and got more oxen to help usthrough the mountains. We stopped at the Church Farm, Brother GeorgePitkin, Sr. lived there and the Garr boys, and the Franklin Weaver family.

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We stayed here a few weeks before we could secure some land. Myhusband got some land on the east of the Blacksmith River and put insome crops. There was a townsite laid out and divided into lots. Therewas a sawmill built by Esias Edwards and a Mr. Kent on the BlacksmithFork River. We moved onto a town lot and sometime in the fall Bro.Maughan and others came from Logan and organized the settlement,named the town Millville, and ordained my husband, Joseph G. Hovey,bishop. We lived through the summer in our wagon and a board shanty.Late in the fall we got into a log cabin, and had only a cloth for a window. September 10th, 1861 my daughter, Martha C., was born. The winterfollowing was a very wet winter, it rained almost all the time. My houseleaked so bad that the beds would get wet through sometimes, and mychildren were sick. My daughter, Nellie, fell down cellar and she vomitedmore or less for six hours after. It looked as if we must lose her. Her fleshwas cold and there was no pulse to be felt in her arms to the elbows andin her legs to her knees and her side commenced to swell. She was verybad all night, in fact for a long time. Brother Benson, one of the TwelveApostles, was passing through the place at that time and I called him in tolay hands upon her, and he said she should live to be a mother in Israelwhich has come to pass. When she got a little better, Martha (the babe)was sick with a gathering on her neck which was very painful.

February 22, 1863 my daughter, Esther, was born. My husband hadbeen gone to Salt Lake City. All winter my health had been very poor.Somewhere about the 20th of the month there was a great snowstorm. Itwas a very trying time for me. My little girl, Martha, had a gathering underher ear and my children were all young and the weather was so cold. Anaged lady by the name of Hill took care of me. She did the best she couldfor it was hard for her as well as for me. Sometime in May my son,James, was taken very ill with fever sores on his leg. It was very painful,accompanied with high fever, and the leg swollen so much it was fiveweeks before the sore opened and when it did the marrow of the bonecame with the discharge from the sore. He suffered a great deal and wasso reduced in flesh that he was nothing but a skeleton. There were 27pieces of bone came out of his leg between the knee and the ankle. I wasup so much nights, and with the care and anxiety that it seemed as thoughI would have to give up, but after a long time he got so he was able towalk on crutches but his leg was quite crooked and much shorter than theother leg. I felt it could have been lots worse, and was thankful he was

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able to walk.

May 16, 1866 my son, George Benjamin was born. He was a large child.I now had seven children. During the summer, my husband went to SaltLake City where the rest of his family lived. In the fall he sent for Jamesso he could have his leg doctored. James went down with the Olsen boysand J. Cook. I got along the best I could through the winter. My husbandhad rented the farm to the Olsen family; he came home in December 1867and stayed until February. He settled his affairs, and said he expected tobe called on a mission in the Spring. He was not well, complaining of apain in his side. Sometime in February he came in and told me that aBrother Hunt was in town and was on his way to the City and that he couldgo with him; he wished me to prepare some food and other thingsnecessary to take with him, which I did, as they were to start early thefollowing morning. When morning came he bid us goodbye and said inparting-I would like to give you all my blessing, but I have not the time.That was the last time I ever saw my husband. After reaching Salt LakeCity, I received two letters from him saying his health was very poor.When April conference came I read the list of names of missionaries tosee if his name was there, but it was not. On May 5th I received a letter stating that he was very sick. On theseventh Joseph, his son, and I started for Salt Lake City to see him. Wewent with an ox team. We arrived Sunday, May 9th. James came out ofthe house as we drove up, and I asked how his father was. He said hewas dead and was buried last Thursday. That was a sudden and terribleshock without any preparation. He had gone on a mission that I had notthought of. I went to my mother's where I stayed a week, and then startedback to Cache with Nellie, James and Joseph. Here I was a widow witha family of seven children at the age of thirty-four, and soon to haveanother child born. No one can tell what my feelings were-only those whohave passed through the same.

I kept my children together at home where I did the best that I could. Myhealth was very poor; circumstances were bad, and provisions were dear,and sometimes we had little enough to eat, but no one complained and wewere thankful for what we had.

On Sept. 7, 1868 my son, Grafton Franklin, was born. He was very sicklyand it seemed sometimes that I would not be able to raise him, but I did

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all that I could for him, having a lot of faith. He was sick a good deal of thetime until he was two years old....In 1869 my oldest daughter, PenelopeL. was married to Samuel Clark. I still had a hard struggle to take care ofmy family. I was called out to take care of the sick a good deal of the time.There were no doctors here then, and as I had had a lot of experience insickness and nursing, I was called out both day and night, where I tried todo the best I could. The Lord knows best, and we were all in His hands, and Hisrighteousness will be done. . . .

On January 20, 1884 my daughter, Esther, died. She had only been sicka few days. She was a good girl and was loved by all. Two of my childrenhave gone on before me. My son, James, married Maria Esther Pitkin; mydaughter, Olive Ann, married William Neves; my daughter, Mary L.,married Charles Lambert; and my daughter, Martha C., married RichardLambert. -D.U.P. History Files

Note: Lusannah E. Goodridge Hovey died July 14, 1910, and was buriedin the Millville cemetery. She was seventy-six years of age.

THEIR ONLY SON

George Albert Goodridge was born March 3rd, 1839 in Lunenburg,Worcester, Massachusetts. Soon after his arrival in Utah, George becameactive in frontier life. On the approach of Johnston's Army, he was calledinto the Utah Militia and went with his company to Echo Canyon to prevent

the army's entrance into Salt Lake City. In1862, he was called to drive a team backacross the plains to assist in immigrating theSaints. On his return he was made aCaptain in the Utah Militia, and was active inthe Black Hawk War.

Nov. 10, 1863 he married Eliza Ann Taggart,then in 1866 he married her half sister,Harriet Maria Taggart. On Nov. 4, 1868,they were called to Southern Utah on what isknown as the Muddy Mission. While serving

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on this mission, George was one of the two men who sawed enoughlumber with a whipsaw to finish an adobe meetinghouse. Scarcely hadthey completed their arduous task when it was determined, by the stateboundary, that they were in Nevada. Taxes were so high they could notpay them, consequently the state seized many of their horses and cattleand sold them for taxes. They werereleased in 1871 and returned toUtah, going to Morgan County tomake their home. Here Georgeengaged in milling, first operating asawmill and later a flour mill. OnOctober 9, 1879, he married RhodaSlade, a school teacher.

Pioneer work was not over for theGoodridge family, for in 1885 theymoved to Ashley Valley. George andhis son, Albert, again engaged inmilling by operating one of the firstgristmills in the valley. During theeight-year period that Georgemanaged the mill at Maeser, adiphtheria epidemic came to thevalley. Many died, among them six of the Goodridge children. The lastbig job George worked on as a stone mason, was the Uintah StakeTabernacle at Vernal. Under the timber act, he took up a homestead atNaples, where he practiced general farming and planted two acres ofcottonwood trees. This grove furnished a real recreational park for theyoung children, supplying rabbit pens, greenhouses, teeters, stilts,whistles, stick horses, bud blowers, bird nests, etc. The toys grew mostlyon trees in those days. Many of the children made frequent use of thesaws, hammer and vise on the long workbench their father had built. Toywagons and doll furniture were among the fascinating results. The fewdolls they had were breakable china, but rag dolls were acceptable andpaper dolls came with Arm and Hammer soda, which were rare. From1892 to 1894, he filled a mission in the Southern States for the Latter-daySaint Church. George Goodridge was known as an honest man. At onetime, when his property was being listed, the tax assessor asked howmany pigs he had. On learning the number, he said, "O, I'll not put themall in." George answered, "They are good animals, put them in." George

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loved a good joke and one time the joke turned on him. Their cabinhomes were not equipped with clothes closets and built-in cupboards, sochairs often served a second purpose, that of clothes racks. Finding themdressed up thus one day, he remarked, "Won't it be fine when we get all

the things we want and chairs enough to putthem on." -D.U.P. History Files

Eliza Ann Taggart, born on the 28th ofJanuary, 1844, in Nauvoo, Hancock County,Illinois, was the daughter of Harriet AtkinsBruce and George W. Taggart. These twoyoung people, converts of Mormonism, hadcome to Nauvoo and were married in Mayof 1843. Their first and only child, Eliza, wasborn the next January. Harriet died onFebruary 19, 1845, which left her husbandgriefstricken, lonely, and confused. Shehad died while still practically a bride, and

life in Nauvoo was in such a turmoil. George was a member of the NauvooLegion and was frequently called to bear arms for the protection of thecity. He also worked on the temple, which the Saints had beencommanded to build and complete before they left for the west. In orderto do his duty and still care for his baby, he would often make a bed in hiswheel-barrow and take her to work with him, caring for her the best hecould.

On July 6, 1845, nearly two months after the completion of the temple, Mr.Taggart married Fanny Parks, who became a real mother to Eliza. Fannywrote in her own history: through all the hardships and trials to come I hadEliza with me, and she was a great comfort to me....In February 1846,some of the Saints started to leave Nauvoo because of persecution, butleaving Nauvoo was not their only problem. Some of the men were calledto act as guards for the artillery in the first company that left Nauvoo.George Taggart was one of these. Eliza and her mother were left in thecare of John Mills. Mr. Mills thought it was not safe for them to be inNauvoo, so he moved them across the river to a town called Nashville.When the call came from the Government of the United States for 500men to serve in the United States Army, Mr. Taggart was one in the groupto go and thus became a member of the famous Mormon Battalion.

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When they arrived at Council Bluffs they had no home, and no husbandto help them; but friends were kind, and the way was opened, and theywere blessed with enough of the necessities to live. They slept in awagon until the weather became too cold. Then they had a bed of hay onthe floor, which had to be taken up each morning. Sometimes the rainssoaked through the roof so that everything inside was wet. Again, it wasnecessary for those who had given them shelter to move or changeconditions, and Eliza and her mother would be forced to look for hospitalitywith another family. After some time, still in Council Bluffs, they weregiven the privilege of moving into the home of Charles Lambert, who hadgone down to Missouri to work, and whose family was now to go to him fora time. They asked Eliza and her mother to take their house, so they livedthere until their father and husband returned from the Battalion on the 17thday of December, 1847. Now they moved across the river to a towncalled Harris Grove in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where they lived untilthey left for Salt Lake City. Mr. Taggart brought home from the Battalion a span of mules and a horse.These he traded for young stock, some cows and a yoke of oxen. Heimmediately went to work on a farm and also built wagons for the Saints,all the time preparing to come to Salt Lake City. In the fall of 1850 hewent down to Missouri to earn means necessary to make the journey. Hecame home in the spring of 1851, planted crops, made his own wagon,and in July 1852 they started for the Valley, arriving in Salt Lake the 17thof October 1852. Eliza was eight years old now. As soon as they arrivedin Salt Lake City, President Young put Mr. Taggart to work building agristmill for him....

Eliza worked at times for one of the wives of Brigham Young. The next weknow of Eliza comes from the history of her mother-in-law, PenelopeRandall Gardner Goodridge. On November 10, 1862, she writes: "Georgestarted with me to go to the station. We called at Bro. Taggart's. TookEliza along with us. When we got there we found them well and jolly.Found a new married couple there and as the disease is catching, Georgewas attacked, so he came home with a wife by his side.

The next May, 1866, Eliza learned what it meant to be one wife in a pluralmarriage. Her half sister, Harriet, became her husband's second wife....Now the call came from Brigham Young to go to what was called theMuddy Mission. The purpose of this call was for the Saints to settle the

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southern part of Utah about 100 miles south of St. George for the purposeof raising cotton to help the Saints to be self-sustaining. The twoGoodridge families left on this mission on the 4th of November, 1868.They endured many hardships on this three-week journey. They had asmall linen tent for their protection.

The Goodridge families left the Muddy on July 12 and arrived at Salt LakeJuly 24, 1871. Here they remained a few days and then pushed on toMorgan where the Taggarts were living-Eliza's and Harriet's parents.George engaged in farming and milling here for the next 14 or 16 years.While here he was sheriff of Morgan County for two terms. At this placesix children were born to Eliza: Harriet Penelope on April 4, 1872; CharlesSydney on April 10, 1874; Rhoda May on April 24, 1876; Esther Fidelia onMay 29, 1878 or 9; Abbie Viola on Nov. 23, 1881, and Leslie Bruce onDecember 7, 1884. During these years, also, she was a member of thePrimary Stake Board.

Pioneer work was not over for the Goodridge family, for after hearingencouraging stories about the Ashley Valley they decided to make a homethere. In October 1885 they started for the valley, Harriet and Rhodaremained for a time in Morgan. Upon arriving in the valley, the first familylocated in Mill Ward, now Maeser, where George began operating the firstgristmill. It was owned by Lycurgus Johnson and run by water power.The family lived in a log house a little east of the mill. They operated thismill for about three years. While here, their last child, Byron, was born onNovember 23, 1887. A short while after this, they purchased land andbuilt a home just north of the Naples chapel. This house had two largerooms downstairs and two upstairs, and was made of logs. Soon Harrietcame from Morgan and the two families lived in the home. Rhoda cameand occupied the Maeser home.... Soon after this the wives were leftalone to make their own way while sending their husband on a mission toTennessee. He was away from 1892 to 1894. His son, Albert, was left tohelp care for the families during his absence, but soon the ChurchAuthorities called Albert to take the Sunday School Normal Course atProvo, and the families were left without a boy large enough to harness ateam.... At Naples, Eliza was a member of the Relief Society Presidency.The families, like most families around them, were poor in worldly goodsbut rich in spirituality, and they sought to improve their social life, religioustraining, and educational advantages....Harriet's family moved first to the80-acre farm. A few years later Eliza and family followed, and then Rhoda

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and her family. With the help of the boys a living was made for the threefamilies.

Eliza was a lover of beautiful things. She had her window sills lined withpotted flowers. One day while walking around the farm she saw somelittle blossoms. These she nurtured through the summer and saved theseeds in the fall. When spring came she carefully planted and cared forthem again; and soon she had a bumper crop of blossoms-wild morningglory. She sang much of the time as she went about her work, and thosewho remember her say that she seldom became angry at anyone oranything. One of her specialties in the baking line was soda crackers.

The children of the three families made the most of their ownentertainment, playing together as one family. They hunted, fished,skated, wrestled, and played ball, marbles, run sheep run, swam, andother games. All this they were able to do in the hills and fields not faraway, and in the creek which ran at the foot of the hill just below theirplace. Eliza's health broke after the birth of her eleventh child, and she wasunable to attend meetings and other public places, but was obliged toremain home most of the time. She suffered at times from seizures ofepilepsy. She loved to read, and kept up pretty well on events of the day.She especially enjoyed reading articles by the church leaders, a greatnumber of which she clipped from the Deseret News and kept for othersof her family to read. She had a strong desire to contribute to themissionary cause and all things pertaining to the church, and did soaccording to her ability. Her most consuming interest seemed to beGenealogy. The family was strict in tithe payments and other offerings,and always had the blessing on the food and family prayer. Eliza wasneat in her personal appearance and was unassuming in nature anddisposition, kind, tolerate, and unselfish. She lived to be 69 years of age,passing away April 6, 1913, two years after her husband. She is buriedin the Vernal Cemetery, Uintah County, Utah. -DUP History Files

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I, Harriet Maria Taggart, was born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa,September 2, 1848, my parents having left Nauvoo February 1, 1846. Iwas the daughter of Fannie Parks and George W. Taggart. My fatherreturned to Iowa, December 17, 1847, after having been discharged fromservice with the Mormon Battalion. From this time until July 1852, heworked at Harris Grove, making wagons, and preparing for the journeyacross the plains. In 1852, we left Iowa for Salt Lake City, arriving thereOct. 17. Father purchased a lot in the Twelfth Ward and went to work onthe Chase Mill in Liberty Park, later he worked one summer on the SaltLake Temple. Then he assisted in building four gristmills; one at Bountiful,Davis County, for President Kimball; one at Farmington for WillardRichards, and one for the latter's brother, Samuel Richards; and one atBrigham City for Lorenzo Snow.In 1865 father sold our home in Salt Lake City and we moved to Morgan.In the spring of 1866 I was married to George A. Goodridge at theEndowment House in Salt Lake City. I was his second wife, my half-sisterEliza, being his first wife. In 1868 we were called by President Young towhat was called the Muddy Mission . . . The following day about noon wereached our destination, St. Joseph. This was the forepart of December. My second child, Fannie, was born at this place, on November 10th. Thenight of her birth I was in a tent, ouronly shelter at that time. It wasimpossible to stake it solid in the sandand as the wind blew a gale, some ofour neighbors sat up thinking we wouldprobably need help.... We were unableto raise anything here, it being nothingbut an immense sand bench miles inextent. We planted garden and thewind blew it away in one night. The menbuilt a large canal but the wind soonfilled it up with sand, so it becamenecessary for us to haul water even forhouse purposes....The first year of ourstay there food was very scarce. Wewere able to buy one bushel of potatoesand that cost $5.00. Our first Christmas dinner consisted of corn breadand wild duck . . . Our clothing became very scant and threadbare, as anexample my husband's apparel for the 24th of July consisted of a shirt I

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had made from factory which I dyed, and trousers made from twoseamless sacks. He was obliged to go without garments as we could notreplace the worn out ones . . . He worked very hard at adobe making,which was very hard work, and often all he could get for his dinner was apiece of bread and a melon. President Young said we had the privilege of making our homes anywherewe wished, but that he should like to have a company of us go and settlein Long Valley, sometimes called Berry's Valley after one of its residents.Accordingly we left our unfinished homes, unharvested crops, etc., andobeyed these wishes. . . . Food was also scarce here and it becamenecessary for some of the men to go away to work in order to procureprovisions. My husband, assisted by Isaiah Bowers, again resorted to thewhipsaw. They went to the timber and sawed lumber for a man at PipeSprings and by this means secured some flour and beans, which werereceived gratefully as our food supply then consisted of only a little branand flour.

Joseph W. Young wanted our husband to remain and help build a sawmillbut could not promise us any bread stuff in pay, so when our presentsupply of food was exhausted it was necessary for us to leave.Accordingly we began our journey back to Salt Lake City, July 12, 1871,arriving there July 24 of that year. We remained here a few days with myhusband's mother and sisters, then we went to Morgan where my parentswere then living. George engaged in the occupations of farming andmilling for a period of about sixteen years. Here seven of my childrenwere born: Rachel Maria, William Burrage, Julia Louisa, Hyrum Parks,Wallace, Parley Herbert and Vilate. When we heard of Ashley Valley myhusband became interested in the same and we began to makepreparations to move there. George left with his first family in October1885. I remained at Morgan with my children until November 11, twoyears later, when we also made the journey, it requiring eleven days.

During my stay in Morgan my oldest son, Albert, then fifteen years of age,was hired by Charlie Clark to assist in running a gristmill for one year. Hereceived in payment $20.00 per month. This was our main source ofsupport and we considered ourselves very fortunate. My oldest daughter,Fannie, also aided by working as an assistant teacher in the districtschool. In addition to this work she was able to complete the grade workin the common school branches, then she taught.

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My husband, with Eliza and her family, located in Maeser Ward where hebuilt a rock house, and with the assistance ofAlbert, my son, operated a gristmill for aboutthree years. We located in what was thenMerrill's Ward, where our husband intendedmaking homes for all his families, as heowned land here. He and Albert built thehouse just north of the Naples Wardmeetinghouse. I lived in this house a littlemore than one year. While here, mydaughter, Leona, was born. When she wasone year old our family contracted diphtheria,which disease caused the death of five of mychildren, leaving only four children living. Dr.Hullinger was the only physician here at thattime, and neither he nor the army surgeonsfrom Fort Duchesne whom we summoned, were acquainted with effectivemethods of combating the malady. Then too, fear of the disease wasextreme. We were quarantined two months and during this time one manwas arrested for traveling the street on which we lived.

I moved from this home to the farm. I lived here for about nine years. Myyoungest child, Lucy, was born here. Before she was a year old her fatherwas called on a mission to Tennessee. Immediately after his return homehe left for Salt Lake City where he remained all winter with his sistersbecause of the polygamy raid.

In 1911 my husband's ill health terminated in dropsy, which caused hisdeath February 19th of that year. Since that time I have made my homewith my children.Note: Her death occurred May 22, 1928 at Roosevelt, Utah, at the age of79 years. -D.U.P. History Files

Rhoda Slade was born May 13, 1853 in England, the first child of Ameliaand William Slade, both members of the Mormon Church. They plannedto emigrate to Utah, but it was impossible to save enough for theirpassage, hence a decision was made that he would borrow money tobring him to America. William found work in Philadelphia for WilliamSellars, and after three years had made enough money to pay back hisloan and send for his family. Amelia and her three little girls, Rhoda, Eliza

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and Martha arrived in America in June 1860, where they were met by theirhusband and father and taken to Philadelphia to live in a home providedby Mr. Sellars. While they lived here three children were born, William, Edward andCharles. During this time it was their earnest desire to go to Utah. Whenit seemed they might finally make it Mr. Slade was kicked by a horse.The injury caused rheumatism which resulted in his death. Mr. Sellars, solicitous of the welfare of the bereaved family, asked whattheir future plans would be. Amelia replied "we are going home," meaningthey were going to emigrate to Utah. He thought they were returning toEngland and was in complete agreement with that arrangement. Thefamily was aided in their endeavor to emigrate by loyal church membersand friends, and arrived in Utah Nov. 2, 1864.

After living for a short time in Salt Lake, the Widow Slade moved toMorgan where daughter Rhoda helped in a store. Here they lived for fiveyears when Amelia married William Dean, and the family returned to SaltLake City. Rhoda lived and worked in twenty-one homes, many needinga hired girl only temporarily.

She longed to be able to give presents to her mother, sisters and brothersat Christmas time and for birthdays, and told how she managed onepresent for her mother. From a calendar she cut out a picture which shethought was beautiful, with carefully saved nickels bought a cheap lookingglass, scraped the painted substance from the back of the glass andframed the precious picture. Rhoda lived for a while in the home ofPresident Young where she worked for one of his wives. She was treatedas a member of the family. Rhoda had a great desire and determinationto get an education, working and saving even when friends and familydiscouraged her, considering her goal unobtainable. She finally enteredthe University of Deseret. Rhoda had read as much as time and theavailability of books allowed, but had no chance for formal schoolingexcept the four years in Philadelphia. She took a preparatory course atthe University, then went on and graduated from the Normal School andreceived a certificate to teach. She never forgot the teachings of John R.Park, who was an instructor in several of her classes, and formed a habitof quoting him on many subjects. She began her teaching career in SaltLake County and later returned to teach in Morgan County.

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Oct. 9, 1879, she married George Albert Goodridge in the EndowmentHouse, the ceremony was performed by Joseph F. Smith. She wasGeorge's third wife. Her first child was born August 22, 1880 and wasgiven the name of Marian Augusta after Augusta Winters who had beenher good friend while she had attended the University. Miss Winters gavethe baby a little gold ring which remained on her finger when she wasburied in Richville, Morgan County, after succumbing to complicationsfollowing whooping cough when she was not yet two years old. Threeother children were born in Morgan: Ernest LeRoy, Amelia Eliza (Millie)and Gardner Lacy. After George and his three families moved to AshleyValley, Rhoda continued to teach school at intervals. Five more children,Alfred Slade (Fred), John, George Arthur, Edith and Ruth were born toher. She completed twenty successful years of teaching in the Districtschools. She was president of the Naples Ward Primary for 13 years, andserved on the Uintah Stake Relief Society Board. In this position shewrote the lessons for the Ward Societies.

Rhoda, with some of her sons, filed on land in Bluebell when the UintahReservation opened for homesteading. She took great interest and pridein this land and its development, and was always more interested in cropsand livestock than in home furnishings and clothes. Her life was one ofstruggle and hard work. She made the family clothing and bedding, spentlong evenings knitting the family's stockings; indeed most of the sewinghad to wait until the day's work was over.

Rhoda continued throughout her life to find time to read and increase hereducation. She encouraged her children to read the classics and othergood books and even though money was scarce she found means to buya few books. She was an unconventional person, never being swayed byfads or styles so far as her personal adornment was concerned, nor didit bother her about what others might think concerning her way of life. Shehad firm faith in God and the hereafter, and a testimony of the Gospelwhich left no doubts or misgivings. When she was 76 years of age, shefell and broke her hip and was never again quite free from pain. Alingering illness, quite possibly tuberculosis, caused her death, January23, 1935 at the age of 81. She was buried in Bluebell. -Edith GoodridgeCase

A GRANDSON’S STORY

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As years went by, the descendants of George Albert Goodridge changedthe spelling of their name to Goodrich. When and where we do not know,but the following written by George's youngest son signed his name ByronGoodrich, as do all of George's posterity.

I was born November 23, 1887 at what is now Maeser Ward, Vernal,Uintah County, Utah, the 11th and youngest child in my mother's family.My father operated the Johnson flour mill and lived in a house close to themill-the house where I was born. He operated this mill three years. Thefamily moved from [p.303] there to Merrill Ward, now Naples. When I wasone year old, they built a house on the two-acre lot just north of the Napleschapel. Several of my brothers and sisters died from diphtheria about thefirst year in this place. I was about a year old and went through all of thatseige without contracting the dread disease. My first school days were inthe log schoolhouse located on what is now the Jake Karren corner aboutone mile north of the present Naples chapel. Our entertainments wereheld there – programs, children's dances where I first learned to dance.I was baptized May 6, 1896 by George A. Slaugh in Ashley Creek. I wasordained a Deacon and enjoyed my duties cleaning the meetinghouse,passing the sacrament and gathering fast offerings. We had Priesthoodmeeting every Saturday night. My first Deacon President was JohnMcKowen.

We lived at the above mentioned place until I was about 13 or 14 yearsold and during that time witnessed the gathering of materials for theconstruction of the large brick chapel known as the Naples Chapel whichstood as a monument to those faithful pioneer men and women until 1948,when it was considered inadequate to serve the needs of the increasedpopulation and church activities. During the construction of this chapel,I did many little jobs running errands etc., for the men laborers. Theadobes were made right there and piled into kilns and baked. I helped alot carrying these adobes and bricks. During 1948 the structure was takendown and the materials used as part of the new chapel built on the sameplot of ground. While we were living at this place, close to the Napleschapel, my father was called on a mission to the Southern States. I don'tknow just how we managed while Father was on this mission, as he hadthree large families living under very humble circumstances. None of theboys who weren't married were old enough to do a man's work. I doremember that we were very short on clothing and our food was plain andnot much variety. During the summertime I herded cows much of the

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time, as we usually had two or three. Most of the time they were herdedacross the road west from the home. At that time, cattails grew thick andtall and the cows would stay in them for hours at a time. Sometimes theywouldn't come out at evening and I would roll my overalls above my kneesand wade through the black mud and swamp water in search of the cows.

We generally kept a pig or two and it was my job to feed and water them.I had to go a little way north in the winter time to get a pail of water for theanimals. We could hear the whistle at the flour mill in Vernal as it bleweach noon and evening, and I had the habit of stopping whatever I wasdoing when it started to see how far I could count while it was blowing.One evening as I was getting water for the animals, the whistle startedand as usual I set my pail down and started counting. I counted until I wastired and the whistle kept on going. I don't remember how long it blew, butthe next morning I found out that Utah was declared a state whichexplained everything. Utah, having been a territory, became a state onJanuary 4, 1896, at which time I was eight years old. We moved onto my father's farm about one and a half miles east about1901, where I lived until the spring of 1913. I attended district school inNaples in winter, and herded cows and did farm work in the summer, untilI was sixteen. During these years of my boyhood, my father's threefamilies lived on the farm. We boys and girls of the three families enjoyedourselves playing marbles, ball, and other games. There were enough ofus for a ball game without the help of the neighbors; however, our placeseemed to be a sort of central gathering place where our neighbors andfriends came and joined in the games with us. In the summer we went toAshley Creek to swim, and in winter to skate. I took such delight inhunting and fishing, also baseball. I did the pitching in most of the games.We had some interesting games competing as wards. There were nopicture shows then, but we enjoyed dancing frequently, and had somehome parties. Our means of transportation was by foot or horseback andwhen the family went together it was by team and wagon. We had nomodern conveniences.It is interesting to me to think of how the three families got along. As wekids played together, I don't recall that we ever had any difficulties suchas jealousies and quarreling because of us being three separate families.I'm sure we got along together as well as the average single family. Eachfamily had its own vegetable garden, its' own milk cows. Each family hadits' own home, living about 150 yards apart. Father, with the help of his

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boys, planted and harvested the crops. Our entire living was produced onthe farm. Our living was plain with no luxuries. I don't recall any troubleor difficulties between the three wives. Perhaps Father was a goodpsychologist, peacemaker, or whatever it took. Father worked awaysome, as rock mason, and also watermaster of Central Canal. Wesometimes refer to each other as half-brothers and half-sisters, but to methey are all the same. To me there is something quite wonderful ingrowing up in a large family.

On June 18, 1909, I married Violet M. Starkie. The ceremony wasperformed by Bishop James N. Shaffer in the adobe house on my father'sfarm. A large crowd of relatives and friends attended the reception in theafternoon. That evening we attended the dance in the Social Hall. I didn'thave much money to buy the ring. It was only a plain gold band costing$10.00 but it still shines and means as much to us after 45 years as if itwas a costly diamond one.

Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 15, p.253-304Carter, Kate B. "Our Pioneer Heritage" Volume Fifteen; Daughters of UtahPioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah 1972. Utah Printing Company, Salt Lake City.