BIOGRAPHY OF MALINDA STILLWELL LOVERIDGE. Born 2 March 1860, Lehi, Utah. Died 9 Oct.1941, Orem, Utah. Married Elliot Alfred Newell Jr. 14 Feb.

Transcription

1 BIOGRAPHY OF MALINDA STILLWELL LOVERIDGE Born 2 March 1860, Lehi, Utah Died 9 Oct.1941, Orem, Utah Married Elliot Alfred Newell Jr. 14 Feb Biography written 7 March 1973 By Cleora W. Maxfield, a Granddaughter Submitted 9 March 1973 by Beth C. Wright Battle Creek Camp, Pleasant Grove, Utah North Utah County, Daughters of Utah Pioneers Malinda Stillwell Loveridge born 2 March 1860, made her first appearance in the humble home of Pioneer parents Alexander Hamilton Loveridge and Malinda Stillwell Thomas in Lehi, Utah. They had journeyed from Nauvoo with the Saints, having formerly come from New York and Kentucky, respectfully, after hearing the gospel and joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 1

2 Malinda was the sixth child of a family of eleven. Later to have four step brothers and sisters, and three stepmothers. They lived within the Fort wall in Lehi. There was a large fireplace inside the wall as well as their small homes. Malinda remembered how she and her younger sister Matilda would wrap up in shawls, get real warm by the fire, then run jump in their bed curled up in their shawls to stay warm. Sometimes the children slept at the head and also at the foot of the bed to make room. Her father was a cobbler as well as a barrel maker. When she was seven and her sister five her mother made the high buttoned tops out of some black velvet she had brought across the plains, and her father made the soles for their first pair of shoes. She always remembered how happy she was. On 2 Dec her mother died leaving the eleven children, the youngest boy living only 9 months. Her older sister, Phylinda soon married leaving her to do most of the housework as she was then the oldest girl at home, being then ten years of age. Malinda s main duties were to keep the family in salt-rising bread, the clothes clean and mended. Her school days were not as bright as they might have been. The one room school house was only a block away from where she lived and many times she had to run home at recess and do the dishes or tend to the bread. Her spare time was spent knitting socks for her brothers and stockings for herself and her sister. She and her younger brothers and sister herded the cows in the summer and she always took her knitting or mending along. She was taught by her father to be diligent and attend to her church duties promptly. She was blessed at three weeks of age and baptized when eight years old. She was taught the gospel from her youth and her testimony of its truthfulness grew. She never criticized or complained against the leadership of the church. Her parents and grandparents cited many instances where it had been best to heed the counsel of their leaders and helped her testimony grow. She was happy to grow up in a somewhat peaceful valley after learning of the hardships her parents and grandparents had undergone before they reached Utah. Malinda's father married Mary Reynolds, who was a widow with four children. She was very good to the other children, but seemed to be continually scolding; with 14 in the family it was hard. When she came to live with them her mother Mary Finn, or Finny, came also. When Malinda was twelve her stepmother Mary Reynolds died. Mary Finn stayed to help with the children so upon the advise of their bishop they were married. Years later her father married Helen Harvey. Malinda was really impressed with the way she dressed. Her hair was so pretty and she was always so neat and clean. When eleven years old Malinda was working out for others, scrubbing bare wood floors, washing by hand, and ironing with stove irons for 50 a day. Her schooling ended at this time. Some of her older brothers found work and left home to live with their employers. When she was 2

3 fourteen she went to Provo for four years to live with her older sister who had married Henry Davis. The first year she worked at the Knight Woolen Mills but she was too young and nervous so she quit and did housework for the next three years. While she was thus engaged she went to see a very dear girl friend who worked for one of President Brigham Young's wives in S.L.C. There she met and was very impressed with President Young. While living with her sister on Provo Bench she went to the door to throw out a pan of dishwater and there was a young man who had come to see about a horse her brother-in-law had for sale. She was a beautiful young stately girl and it was love at first sight. It took him several months and many visits to decide about the horse. In the meantime he won Malinda's heart and hand. This young man with black hair and black eyes, and lots of ambition was Elliot Alfred Newell Jr., formerly of Provo. At the time he was homesteading a quarter section (160 acres) on what was called Provo Bench, later named Orem. He had to live on the land so he had built a one-room log cabin with a log and sod roof. They were married on St. Valentine's Day, 14 Feb They moved into the one room log house to start their married life. Sometimes the mice would make holes in the roof and one time after it had rained and the sun was shining again a snake dropped down through the roof and lay in the baby's box of clothing. It was probably a blow snake or a blue racer. The next year they raised the roof and shingled it. Later they added on a room for her to cook in which made her very happy. There were eight children born here, Ella, Eugene, Arthur, Harriet, Earl, Martha, Grace, and Cora. Martha died in infancy. Her first child Ella was born at her sister's home two and one half miles away. She was the first white baby to be born on the bench. In 1896 they built a new four room brick home with a large back porch that was later made into a room. Here they completed their lives. Here also four more children were born, Cealy, Mae, Edith, and Ernest. For three years they were members of the branch of Provo 3rd Ward. By this time there were several other families settled on Provo Bench and they were holding meetings in a room of Otto Poulson's adobe house. Some of the men hauled logs from Provo Canyon and built a one room log building for a meeting place and school house where the Spencer school was later built on what became Highway 91. Their own ward (Timpanogos) was organized in 1882 or Her husband became the first Sunday School Superintendent. The Primary was organized with Mary Bunnell as President and Malinda as 1st counselor. When Sharon Ward was organized she was a teacher. In 1911 she was called to be President of the Primary which position she held for seven years. She was also a visiting teacher in the Relief Society until five years prior to her death. She with her devoted husband suffered and survived many hardships. Coyotes, wolves and snakes were prevalent, and homes were over a mile apart. Rabbits were plentiful, good or bad depending whether one ate them or they ate the garden and crops. 3

4 She related an incident with a wolf that had frightened her. One time while the men were working to build a canal to bring water from the mouth of Provo Canyon, she was so lonely she decided to take the three little children and walk to where they were working. She carried baby Arthur while Ella and Eugene held onto her skirt as she walked up the trail the sage brush so high she could scarcely see over it. She glanced back and there was a large lean timber wolf following them. She was so frightened she didn't know whether to keep going or turn back. Every time she stopped the wolf would stop and lie down. When she would start walking it would follow her. She was afraid it would attack one of the small children. Finally it lurked off into the brush so she turned and hurried home as fast as they could, but it followed her again. She arrived safely but it layed down in front of the door and stayed there until Elliot came home. He drove it far enough away to allow him to get his gun and. kill it. She did not attempt to go very far from the cabin again until more of the sagebrush was cleared. When they first moved to the bench they had one cow. She churned a pound of butter every day. She would dig a hole in the ground and line it with wet factory cloth to keep the butter and milk cool. When she went to Provo about once a week she would take her butter to sell. In the summer she kept it cool by wrapping it in the wet factory cloth and putting it in the center of the load of hay, and Grandpa would go down to the co-op store in Provo where now is Wallgreen s Drug store. He would trade the hay and butter for other supplies. This was how she got her first rocking chair. She gathered wild ground cherries, a small green berry which grew wild. It was later considered a weed when it grew in the cultivated field. These she sold in Provo for ladies to make Jam. This was how she obtained her first dishes. They were very conservative, never going into debt. They got only what they could afford and went without the other things, so their place was never mortgaged. When they built the brick home she raised turkeys to buy the windows. They got into and ate the grasshopper bait and all died, so she had to wait another year and raise some more turkeys before she could get her windows. It was said of Malinda that she could see a wagon of friends or relatives coming down the dusty road and could have a chicken caught, killed, cleaned and in the pot to cook by the time her company arrived. She made hot biscuits every morning, especially for her husband for his breakfast. Then the children and friends ate them with her butter and sugar, later in the day. They had to drive the stock once a day to the Provo River to water them and haul water back for domestic use. In the winter they hauled barrels of water and filled the wagon with snow and ice for the domestic animals. They were happy when they were able to get the water for irrigation from the river. She told of how frightened she was one time when her husband was away and she was getting the baby asleep. Three buck Indians rode up to her front door on their horses, and asked for food. They wanted biscuits, tea and sugar, and then they wanted watermelons. She gave them every thing they wanted. Another time when she had just baked bread, the Indians came and wanted food. She gave them the four loaves of bread and shut the door as quickly as she could. They talked and laughed but she could not understand them. The Indians would camp along the 4

5 Provo River and hunt rabbits throughout the surrounding countryside. The rabbits were very thick at the time and her husband could sit on the porch and shoot them through the head with a bow and arrow. They had all they wanted to eat. Rabbits were very good food at that time. He kept her supplied with meat and fish. Even catfish and carp were good food then. One day some little boys dropped a match in the grass and set the sagebrush on fire which swept the countryside for a long way driving the rabbits before it. It finally covered and burned them. She said it was a pitiful sight. She was always thinking of others and doing things for them. If anyone had sickness she was the first one there doing all she could. If anyone was especially in need she seemed to know and take them things to eat or wear or take a quilt off her own bed to share with someone less fortunate than she. She was a midwife in the early years of her marriage. She did sewing for others, made them quilts, and did many other good deeds. Those who knew her said, "She had lots of faith and her faith and works have healed many. She said they were never too poor to help others. Whenever she went to visit a friend or neighbor she took a pat of butter, a few slices of bacon, a loaf of bread, a can of lard or a can of molasses. She knit stockings for all her family, did all her own sewing, by hand at first and in later years with the treadle sewing machine, cured all their own meats and made her own soap. She and the older children would cut and dry all kinds of fruit and corn, then trade it to the woolen mill and get wool flannel to make the children's coats and dresses. No matter how hard circumstances were at Christmas time they always had plenty to eat and toys and sweets to thrill the childrens' hearts and satisfy their appetites. She nearly always had a crowd of neighbor children there and would always say there was room for one more. No matter how crowded they were it was never any bother to make an extra bed or an extra pan of biscuits. The children loved the fruit, and were intrigued with the pond in which they stored water, and with the dairy barn they later built. The hay too was so nice to play on. Her niece, Nettalia M. Snyder wrote a tribute and sent it to "Aunt Lin" on her 80th birthday. She was always called Aunt Lin by all of her nieces and nephews. Composed by Nettalia M. Snyder and sent to her Aunt Lin in honor of her 80th birthday-- 11 March, Then added more to it when she died. As your Eightieth birthday is drawing near The favorite sister of my father dear. Thots in words to you I must give To add more solace while you live You'll not know when you're gone The praises rendered in verse and song. When youth and love were still quite young 5

6 With mate, hope and courage a home you begun In a sage brush field no tree for shade, But you had confidence, were not afraid. In a cabin of logs with furniture crude, You lovingly disciplined your precious brood. Having your sorrows, with your joys, Raising to maturity six girls and five boys. Tho oftimes the wolf starred in at the door. Your meager supply you d share with the poor In sickness or death where ere there was need Charity was willingly given, you never knew greed. When the neighborhood kids came there to play You were never too busy a kind word to say; There we were sheltered from every harm At mealtime were given a buttered biscuit warm Into the orchard we were permitted to go Climbing the cherry trees which grew in a row Eating grapes, peaches, melons and plums Some would say we were sure little bums But not Aunt Lin, she always understood All were treated equal the bad and the good So we all loved to go to Aunt Lins to play We were always welcome on any old day. As the years rolled by we older grew, Twas just the same for each one you knew Thru mortal trials you've remained so true May this be a solace if you ever feel blue. To your posterity a monument you'll leave All your acquaintance doth surely believe You've been a loyal wife and a devoted mother With such a record there need be no other. Twas charity the Master taught us to give To those in need while they live; In the race of life I've known no other To equal you, such a wonderful Mother. We mourn today of her passing away, But in the plan we can't always stay. Her sweet spirit has winged its way To a place of rest 'till resurrection day. It has ascended to a Higher Sphere 6

7 Mingling with loved ones, she loved so dear. If we will follow her example in life Joy will be ours in the world of strife; A respected posterity she has left behind. Words of comfort each will find; In the blessed Gospel, given to man, That all may be exalted thru Gods Plan. Elliot passed away 1 October, 1928 at the age of 75. Grandmother was a widow for 13 years. Nearly always one or more of the children would visit her on Sunday afternoon and the family made a practice of bringing a picnic lunch, and all the children, for family birthdays of those who lived in the vicinity. Arthur and Cealey purchased and built homes on portions of their farm land. Some of the grandchildren later did the same. All six daughters and Eugene and Arther were considered "near" after the invention and rise of automobiles. The youngest son, Ernest, and his wife Delta stayed and cared for her in her waning years, always making the family welcome. She no doubt influenced him to work for their ancestors as he later became the Family Genealogist. Malinda died 9 October 1941 at the age of 81 of a liver ailment and an enlarged heart, at her home in Orem. She was buried 11 October 1941 in Pleasant Grove, Utah. At the time of her death all ten children were living and 61 grandchildren and. 61 great-grandchildren. When they had been married but three years they received a Patriarchal Blessing. Her husband was promised that he would do much to bui1d up Zion, that his posterity would be numerous, and they would call him blessed. This, of course, influenced Malinda s life also. She was told to be faithful and train up her children in the fear of the Lord for there was the beginning of wisdom. She would have power to lead them in the path of righteousness and with much wisdom and integrity. They would work for the establishment of Zion and her soul would rejoice in their labors, and if she should desire it she should live to see her children to the third generation. Because of their faithfulness these blessings came to them. We honor her name and we owe her a debt of gratitude for our good parents, many happy hours, a cherished quilt, and teachings of loving your neighbor, patience and forgiveness, diligence in church activity and in following the church leaders. Malinia was born 11 March, She had the following brothers and sisters: Daniel Ambrose born 28 Jan., 1850; Phy1inda born 27 Jan., 1852; Alexander Hamilton born 27 March, 1854; Alvin Ne1son born 1 Nov., 1856; John Thomas born 25 Oct., 1858; Matilda Ann born 2 April, 1863; Twins, Daniel L. and Joseph L. born 17 Nov., 1865: Don Carlos born 20 Aug., 1864; Henry Thomas born 19 Nov., Malinda and her husband Elliot were parents of the following children: Ella Malinda born 10 April, 1880; married Louis Moroni Olsen 22 Dec., Elliot Eugene born 23 Mar., 1882; married Pearl Bunnel18 Jan., Arthur Alexender born 29 June, 1884; married Ella Augusta Millett 24 Jan John Earl born 8 July, 1886; married Laura Ann Richen 22 Nov., Martha Louisa born 15 Aug., 1888 and died 24 Aug.,1888. Grace Phylinda born 15 Aug., 1889; married Clarence Charles Wright 6 Dec., A baby girl born Aug., 1890 and died Aug.,

8 Harriet Olive born 15 Sept., 1892; married Robert Nephi Morton 8 Jan., Cora Matilda born 4 Nov., 1894; married. Samuel Lenard. Hooley 10 Dec., Cealey Oris born 8 Jan. 1897; married Iva Dean Wright 6 Oct., Jennie May born 28 April, 1899; married LeEarl Burr 26 Sept., Edith Zella born 23 June, 1903; married Arol Milton Dimmick 24 Nov., Ernest Charles born 27 Feb., 1907; married Delta May Brierley 7 Sept.,