Key Words: England, St. Louis, Grover, Wyoming; polygamy

Transcription

1 STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS 1. Overview Title: Edward Moroni Thurman Author: Subject: Personal History Publisher: Publishing Date: Number ofpages: 6 ID#: 532 Location: Website 2. Evaluation Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson Date ofevaluation: December 2014 Key Words: England, St. Louis, Grover, Wyoming; polygamy Included Names: Edward Thurman, Mary Ann Gibson, Lovina S. Griffeth, Femina Besilla Stewart 3. Synopsis He was born in England in In 1853, he came with his mother, who had been converted to the Mormon Church, and his sister to America. In 1854, she married James Perkes. They experienced the persecution that was felt by many Latter-Day Saints. In 1862, they crossed the plains, settling in Hyde Park, Utah. He was one that returned eastward to help other immigrants. A portion at the end is entitled: "The Boys Story, by Edward M. Thurman, Grover, Wyoming." Some details of life in Grover are given. He married two wives and lived the law of polygamy. The wives and children are named. 4. Other

2 The Life Sketch ofedward Moroni Thurman In the year of 1848 the 15^ day ofdecember, atbeaston, Nottingham, England a little white headed baby boy was bom to Edward Thurman and Mary Ann Gibson Thurman. About 18 months later, my dear sister Mary came along. The Mormon elders were making many converts about that time. The Book of Mormon was being read by many. While I do not know, I am almost sure that the book ofmormon converted my mother, but not my father. There must have been some misunderstanding between them, for 1853 found my mother and her two little children in Liverpool, on their way to Salt Lake City. My father paid their way to Utah. I cannot forget how smoky and dark everything looked and how close Mary and I hugged to our dear mother, when we passed over the gang plank ofthe ship upon which we would sail. I do not know how many came aboard. The good ship finallymoved out and stoppedat a port in Ireland to take on more passengers. We drifted along slowly, but surely. How I loved to see the big fish jump out ofthe water. (Sea sick, oh no!) My mother engaged Brother Thomas Sleigh to take care ofme and he had a lively time to do so. We drifted oh! so slowly. After four weeks we were only about halfway across the ocean. There we stayed, not a breeze to stir our sail. The trade winds kept taking us south. After another four weeks we were about two hundred miles South offlorida straight east ofthe Bahamas Islands. An old Captain aboard said he could pilot us thru the Bahamas Islands. Our destiny was New Orleans. As we could not go north to pass through the Florida Straightour good Captain took a chance. We were sailing along nicely when the good old ship struck a slanting rock and out went the fi-ont end ofthe ship. Oh! What a stampede for the deck. Women screaming and some on their knees praying, children hanging on to their mothers. I can never forget the panic and turmoil ofthat occasion. There we hung on the rock. The captain ordered us all to the back part ofthe ship, to weigh it down into the water. The boats were lowered into the sea and fastened to the ship. The captain would shout and every sailor would lend his ear. After an hour or so the ship commenced to slide backwards into the water. Oh, what a relief I don't think there was a dry thread on any ofus.

3 The sailors were ordered to the front ofthe ship to turn it around the big rock. Boats were sent on ahead sounding the depth ofthe water. We were met at the mouth of the Mississippi River by a long board. We were then transferred to a steam boat to ascent the Mississippi river. About twenty miles below St. Louis, quarantine officers met us. Cholera broke out and we were unloaded to die. Five ofthe passengers did die. Two weeks later we were taken to St. Louis. Orders had come from Salt Lake to stop there. My mother and her children arrived in St. Louis with 50 cents to winter on. The president ofthe St. Louis branch ofthe church was a fine fellow. He did everything he could for the comfort ofthe saints. The winter finally passed. In the spring of1854 my mother married James Perks. We moved four miles west ofst. Louis to a coal camp where my stepfather secured work. We lived there four years; then we moved to Billville, Illinois where we lived for five years. The Mormon Elders called at our home several times warning us to move to Utah. The Civil War had broken out. In the year of 1857 or 1858 report went to Washington D. C. that the Mormons were in open rebellion. An army often thousand was raised and sent out to Utah to wipe out the Mormons. The rebels fired on Fort Sumpter and the sound ofward spread through all the land. Then came the Moses oflater day, Brigham Young, in his calm way said, "Follow me, we are going west to the great Salt Lake." When he first looked out over the great and beautifiil Salt Lake and said, "This is the place," the doom ofmormonism was set. A few days after the arrival into Salt Lake Valley the stars and stripes were raised over Ensign Peak. For twenty years the great caravans moved across the plains. Can we call the first wagons that moved out ofnauvoo covered wagons - were they covered? Yes, and not a piece ofcarpet or a quilt stretched over a few bent willows. Oh! perhaps a bow or two. Women and children driving or walking. Our Uncle Sam had dealt us a terrible blow. He had called for 500 or our best young men to fight in the war. Would the women be able to yoke up the oxen and wade the miry streams? What was the meaning ofall this? Still they went on. Just think ofit fifteen or twenty thousand people leaving their homes in poverty and distress. Their cattle shot to death, their homes burned. Poverty, yes, and plenty ofit. Can we imagine such cruelty and borrow in

4 America? In the fall of 1846 part ofa great caravan reached Winter Quarters. Trials and sorrow, yes. There are about 600 graves in that locality. It seemed like destiny was against us. In the spring of 1862 the Perks were in St. Louis, all but John, who enlisted in the Northern Army. We started west-ward and camped six weeks more, waiting for the teams to take us to Salt Lake. Before the teams arrived we numbered six hundred. In the early part ofjuly we started across the plains. Captain Miller of Farmington was in charge ofour caravan. Each morning when the wagons were ready to start the young people would all gather and sing "Come, Come Ye Saints". That was the happiest time ofmy life. For breakfast we would have solaretic bread and bacon. Then lay down on our stomachs and drink out ofa clear stream. Then we would roll up our pants and wade, and walk on and on until we were all in. I walked every step ofthe way - from Omaha to Salt Lake. Thanks to the Lord, God ofheaven for all those trials. It makes us just a little bit better. We finally arrived in Salt Lake in the early part of September. Then we moved to Hyde Park, Cache County ofutah. Well, to say we were thankful would be putting it mildly, but we had a lot of pluck. We applied for work and got all we could do. Threshing was on. There were four ofus. Father, Reuben, William and the scrub ofthe family, Ted as they called me. We stayed with the job and in a few months had enough wheat to last us a year. We borrowed a log house, one room and put a pole the length ofthe room for a partition; then piled straw in one side for our beds. In the spring our clothing were worn out. My mother took offone ofher red flannel petticoats and made me a shirt; then cut up the wagon cover and made us all pants. We were pretty poor, but when I got my new outfit I had to go see my girl. She had an old maid sister who met me at the door. She looked me over from head to foot and laughed. I grew angry, my eyes fell and I turned and went home but not daunted. I still had a little spunk left. The 10^ day ofjune 1868, James Wolfe and I left Hyde Park to meet the incoming immigration ofsaints. The 15^ day ofjune atthe mouth ofweber Canyon we organized. Chester Loveland ofbrigham was chosen Captain; Orval Childs was Assistant Captain. We moved slowly up Weber Canyon. A few days later we were camped on Green River. The river was very high. We ferried our wagons across and our Captain ordered the horses to be unhitched to swim across the river. Yes, I was a boy 19

5 years old and will admit I cried for my fondest hope - my first horse - had gone down. But the same day six ofthe boys were drowned; still we went on. In about two weeks we were in Laramie. Say, that was a tough town. All tents, not a house and fancy men and women. We stayed there six weeks waiting for our loads. The good old Captain would line us all up and take us to camp. Before sundown the long awaited train arrived and we were there to meet them. After we had loaded a sweet faced elderly sister said to me, "Brother, are the roads as rough as this all the way to Zion?" That same night we moved back to our old camp grounds. The next day was clean up day. The next morningwe were on our way. When we hit the road we had to hang on for our lives. The mules and horses knew they were on their way. We were all happy now; we had a lot ofpretty girls along, but what about our girls at home? So you see a boy is always mixed up. We followed up the South Platt to get feed for our teams which took us offthe main road about six miles. We were all dozing, the horses and mules were feedingjust at noon when two Indians yelled the warhoop and started to shoot. Instantly they stampededthe mules and horses. I can never forget the screams ofthe women and children. They got away with 49 head ofour horses. As soon as we could about 20 ofus were after them. Say, that was a ride. At Whiskey Gap, we overtook them. Five ofthe best horses shot ahead and the Indians closed in behind them. Six ofus followed them and just as the sun went down our rifles belched and two red skins went to their happy hunting grounds. Ten o'clock we were back at camp with 51 head ofhorses and mules. The next morningjust at daybreak we were busy packing the women and children behind quilts and bedding. Every man had his gun ready. That night we campedwith CaptainRollingscompany65 or 70 wagons. The two companies trailed together until we crossed the Green River. It seemed good to a boy to be nearing home. No more red skins to encounter - no more stampedes. Good old Bishop Hunter had the tithing gates open for us. Soon gold was discovered in Montana. Times changed. Men by the thousands flocked to the new gold campaign. Men brought teams to buy grain and feed. Wheat sold readyfor $5.00 a bushel. I soon got rid ofmy home made suit. My stepfatherwas a hard worker and a thrifty man. We soonhad a littlehomeof our own. The little log

6 cabin still stands in Hyde Park. It consisted ofone room, a lean-too on the back with a large fire place and a large stone for a hearth. The Boys Story, by Edward M. Thurman, Grover, Wyoming While Edward M. was a Utah pioneer the greatest part of his pioneering was done in Grover, Wyoming. He was one ofthe four first settlers in Star Valley. His first summer there, he and his son Ed C. lived in a wagon box. During the summer they got logs from a nearby canyon to build a house. The four men ploughed furrows around a section ofland which was to be theirs. They built the first school and meeting house and helped build the high-line canal to get water for irrigation. Edward M. was the first school teacher in Grover at a salary of$40.00 per month teachingall grades. He drew up a petition to get mail to come to Grover. He carried it from Grover to Afton a year without pay. He carried mail for 22 years. He was the first post master in Grover and had the position for eight years. He donated 40 acres ofland for the town sight of Grover. Edward M. Thurman served as Ward Clerk in Hyde Park, Utah under Bishop Daines before coming to Grover, Wyoming. He and family also lived in the United Order for about three years at Hyde Park, Utah. He always accepted any and all positions in the Church ofjesus Christ and was an ardent worker in the church all his life. He was blessed with a strong character and an elect mind. He was well informed relative to the Gospel and secular matters. Edward M. Thurman married two wives and lived the law ofpolygamy. On the 25^ ofapril 1870 he married Lovina Samentha Griffeth inthe Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. To this union was bom the following children: Mary Elizabeth-married Joseph Edmund Hepworth, Eldora Lovina - died young, Lettie Ann - married Joseph Young Thomsen, Edward Clarence - married Anna Johnson, Andrew Griffeth - (first wife) Mary Miles (second wife) Emily?, Phebe Samentha - died young, William Gibson - died young, Melissa Sarai - married Wilford Pead, Bertha Marinda - (first husband) Arthur Lemmon (second husband) Albert W. Bewtler, Joseph Carlos - died young, Katherine Delora- married Charles O'Keefe, and Hattie Lucinda - who married Mattew

7 Alleman. On the 10^ of October 1876 Edward M. Thurman married Femina Besilla Stewart. To this union was bom Camera- who married George William Hepworth, Charles Alvin- who married Zilpha Ann Lowder, Ray Stewart- (first wife) Lucy LuvillaMcCombs, (second wife) Elda Hepworth, MatildaMay- (first husband) Casper Hale (second husband) WilliamCurrier,Nellie Lorine- who married John C. Dewey, and Oscar Marion - who married Florence Lee. On the 16^ day ofjanuary 1892, Femina Besilla Stewart Thurman died ofa heart ailment, leaving six small children. Camera, the oldest, fourteen years ofage. Lovina Samentha, the first wife ofedward M. Thurman, gladly accepted and assumed the responsibility ofcaring for the six children offemina Besilla in connection ofher own large family ofeight living children. Mary Elizabeth was married to Joseph Hepworth. Seven were at home. These thirteen children lived well together at home. Father and Mother were great parents. They taught all the children to labor for the temporal things oflife and set a worthy example to them regarding the Restored Gospel ofour Lord and Savior.