Sarah Ann Beckstead Elmer was born March 14, 1851 at Traders Point, Pottawatomie County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sidney Marcus Beckstead and Ann Sophia Rollings. They were married in Belvue, Nebraska by a Catholic Priest on June 11, 1850. Both her parents joined the L.D.S. Church and were in the midst of persecutions of the Saints in Illinois and were driven from their homes at the time of the exodus from Nauvoo. They crossed Iowa to Council Bluffs and after their marriage, lived with Grandmother Beckstead about two years.
When their first child, my mother, was one year old, they began preparations to cross the plains to Utah. All families were required to supply themselves with necessary clothing and provisions, and also seed to plant when they reached the valleys of the mountains.
There were more than one hundred wagons ready to start on the long journey at that time, making the company too large to travel in safety. For convenience in camping and on account of feed for the cattle, the company had to be divided into two sections. Mother's grandparents, Enock Perham Rollins and family went in the first section, her parents following later, traveling with a relative, George W. Beckstead, who was left in charge of a widowed mother and children. His Father, Francis Beckstead Sr., having died in 1841, soon after the Beckstead families arrived in Illinois from Canada.
They were left without a leader, as he was assistant captain while en route from Williamsburg to Nauvoo. They were earnest believers in the mission of the Prophet Joseph and wanted to go where they could follow his teachings. They crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains with ox teams and arrived in Salt Lake City in October, 1852. Mother's parents traveled with George Beckstead to Fort Laramie, where his sister Sarah Beckstead Forbush was stricken with Cholera. She was so afraid of the dreaded disease, as her brother, Francis Beckstead Jr. had died of Cholera on the banks of the Missouri in 1848. She grieved so much for him. She said, "I'm afraid if I go on this journey, I too will die of Cholera" – and she did.
Some emigrants; had collected old clothes and other rubbish to make a fire. The smoke blew into her wagon. She became very ill. She thought the old clothes had belonged to someone who had died of Cholera. She only lived twenty-four hours. She was buried at Laramie on the Old Mormon Trail.
Rufus Forbush asked mother's parents to move into his wagon to help care for his motherless children, which they did, and traveled with them to Union Fort, where his parents had settled a while before. They remained with the Forbush family some time. When her father returned to Salt Lake City, he learned the blacksmith trade. He worked with Grandfather Rollins, who was a carpenter and wheelwright. Together they made wagons and also did carpenter and other work. While they were building a log house, the family lived in a wagon box. The is where mother's sister, Sabra, was born October 20, 1853.
Sidney Beckstead was a sturdy pioneer and colonizer. He moved his family into sparsely settled districts many times. Mother well remembers some of the hastily constructed places of abode where they lived for a time, especially the "dugout" in Spanish Fork at the time of the "Move" in 1858. Grandmother Rollins lived with them at the time of the invasion of Johnston's Army.
In Payson another emergency home was built of adobe without mortar, willows and clay for the roof, the earth for the floor. The willows were cut from the black willow trees which grew in the banks of the stream that runs through the lot on which her daughter, Ann E. Wilson, now lives.
After the "treaty" was signed, they went back to Weber Valley to cut their hay. Sarah Ann being the eldest child, she helped her father with his work. From Weber Valley, they moved to South Jordan. Uncle Alexander Beckstead lived there. Sarah went with her father to Great Salt Lake to get loads of salt which he sold. They also made trips to the point of the mountain for sumac, used in tanning leather.
At the time Johnston's Army was passing through the valley to Camp Floyd, they kept a "Traveler's Rest" on state road, about a mile and a half from Draper. They couldn't make that pay, so they went back again to Weber, hoping they could get some land. He failed to get any. His cousin, Henry Beckstead, lived in Riverdale, so they moved there. Her father built a two-room log house opposite a grist mill owned by Apostle John Taylor. I t was situated between the mill race and a canal. He bought and sold all manner of products used by the settlers.
On one of his business trips to Salt Lake City, he took his wife with him, leaving the children in care of Annie Wardsworth, a very trustworthy young girl. In the night the wind commenced to blow. They were very frightened and could not sleep. Sarah said to Annie, "this is no fool of a wind, is it?" It took off part of the roof. When morning came, it was still blowing with much force. They had to go to the canal for water. They had to hold each other and the willows along the canal to keep from falling in while one of the girls dipped up the water. They could hardly get back to the house. Annie's parents lived about two miles away. She knew if they tried to go to her home, they would be blown in the canal, so she decided to take the children into the cellar for protection from the wind. Sarah was nine, Sabra seven, Lillian five, Mary three and the baby seventeen months old. They were hungry because there was no food in the cellar. They found some wheat in a sack, ate some of it and chewed some for the baby. The neighbors knew the parents were gone, and went to see what had happened to them during the night. The children could not be found. It was thought that Annie had tried to take them to a place of safety. The path between the water ways was too narrow for anyone to walk safely in such a strong wind. They ran parallel more than three blocks before they diverged. A young man named Ralph Slater, who walked on crutches said, "the children are lost, I am sure I can find them." One man said, "I hope you can, but I doubt it."
Ralph went around the house, calling – no answer. He made so much noise with his crutches, they thought it might be Indians. They were frightened and kept very quiet. He went into the cellar and shouted, "Here they are, safe and sound." The wind lasted many hours. More than forty houses were blown down or damaged. Fires were started and numerous barns destroyed. Much damage was done for miles around. Ralph and others carried food to the hungry children.
The parents thought they could make the trip in two days. When they got to Farmington, trees were blown across the road. So much damage was done that they could not proceed. The mother was nearly overcome with grief and fear of what might have happened to her little girls. They arrived home the afternoon of the fifth day and found all well. They lived in Farmington for a while. Her father worked with grandfather Rollins at the settlement also.
Mother's folks again returned to West Jordan. Alexander, the oldest member of the Beckstead family was given a grant of land for cultivation and settlement. He allowed the Beckstead boys, who were the heads of families, twenty five acres each if they would improve it, which grandfather tried to do. Mother learned to drive the oxen and when she was eleven, she helped her father plow. All during his life in Utah, he made and mended shoes for his own family as well as for other people.
When mother was a small girl, she learned step dancing. She was visiting Rufus Forbush's family and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she first saw the Griffith sisters dance. They came out to Union from Salt Lake. She was fascinated with their performance and tried to dance as they did. The girls were interested in the little girl and taught her some of the steps. She soon learned to dance the Highland fling, so called then.
Then she made Payson her home a few years later, Mrs. Lucretia Wightman, her favorite actress saw her dance. She said, "Sarah, you should dance in the Theater." Mrs. Wightman helped the young protegee with some pretty costumes and arranged for her to appear between acts. Her dance was quite popular those days.
The land her father had on Joran was poor and unprofitable, so he gave it up and his next move was South of Goshen Valley. They lived on Stewart's Ranch in a two roomed adobe house. They were members of the Santaquin ward and attended meetings and entertainments there. Her father played the violin for dances. Mother, being large for her age, went with the older members of the family and took part in the dancing. All through the years she was called on to help entertain with her dancing, in parties, reunions, and especially the Black Hawk encampments, whenever she was known to be present.
In the spring of 1864, mother's father was called as a mechanic to go to the Missouri River with Captain John Murdock's company of teamsters. He repaired the wagons, put shoes on the animals and was an all round handy man. He visited his mother and other relatives in Sarpy county while en route. On the return trip about 400 miles from Salt Lake, a man's wagon had broken down. The company left his a few miles from camp. Sidney Beckstead promised to go back early and fix his wagon so he could catch the company the next day. He had to stand guard that night. Two young men were to take his place. Before day break, he called the boys and said he was ready to start back. He must have stood his gun in a bush while he mounted his horse. He started to ride away. The boys hear him say, "there I've forgot my gun." In a few minutes a shot rang out. They thought it might be Indians, listened, heard no more, then got up to investigate. They found him on the ground by his horse, shot through the head, the barrel of his gun clutched in his hand. The captain said the hammer of the gun had caught in the bush and discharged, killing him instantly. They rolled him in his blankets and buried him by the side of the road, about 14 miles north of the Platte bridge, near the Colorado line, August 7, 1864. The family was living on the farm where he left them, when he went away. They had heard the company had arrived in Salt Lake City and were looking for him to come. They were worried and dreaded they knew not what. The news of his death reached them three weeks after the fatal accident.
Grandmother Rollins and her sons Orson H. and Charles were living with them. The boys were taking care of the crops. They were a great help and comfort to the grief stricken family. The tragic death of her father and fear of the Indians adversely affected mother all through her life.
At the age of fourteen, mother went to work for Eliza Rust on the ranch south of the West Mountain, near Utah Lake. The Indians were quite troublesome at the time, going to the places and demanding food and beef. Mr. Rust had to leave the place a few days on business. He had hired Henry Elmer and Cush Nebeker nights, during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She had field glasses and kept a lookout for anyone coming. Early in the morning she saw a horseman coming. She watched and soon saw a lot of them riding in single file across the end of the little valley. "Indians," she exclaimed. "Sarah, we must go to town right now." They carried the smaller children. Sarah carried Georgie Rust and Junior Wightman in turn until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting the grain. He said he couldn't take them to Payson until the grain was harrowed and laid off, so they waited. During the day, some Springville men, Richard Mendenhall and others who had cattle at the ranch came along. The situation was explained to them. They thought it would be safe to take the frightened family back to the ranch. They thought the Indians were going around the other side of the lake and wouldn't trouble them. All the men stopped at the ranch that night. They found out later that the "red skins" were angry at not getting a whole beef and had threatened to go to the ranch while George Rust was away, kill the family and run off the cattle, but their chief, who Mrs. Rust saw in the lead, got them to leave the family in peace. He said Mr. Rust had given them heaps of beef and food as well as other things, so they abandoned their purposed cruelty at that time and id not molest them.
That was the time Sarah Beckstead first met Henry Elmer to whom she was married March 31, 1866 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. The young couple made their first home in Payson, moving on the Christopher Dixon ranch, northeast of Payson City Cemetery. They were expected to take care of the farm and dairy. She being inexperienced, Mr. Dixon taught them how to make cheese and butter. They were not permitted to work there together very long. Her husband, being a member of the Utah County Militia, was called May 2nd by Captain Jonathan S. Page, to go with a company of Calvary to Sanpete County to protect the settlers from Indian depredations. That was the outbreak of the Black Hawk Indian War. She was only fifteen, almost a stranger in Payson. No relatives of her own living near. Her mother and other sisters had moved to West Jordan, Henry Beckstead having sent for her mother to teach school at the time Sarah was married. During her early life, she learned to do all kinds of work, how to prepare materials for the things that had to be manufactured in the pioneer homes. Carded wool into batts and rolls, spun yarn, colored it with homemade dyes, wove cloth, made clothing for all the members of the family, braided straw, sewed it into hats for boys, had them blocked by Philo Johnson, the hatter, who made felt hats of rabbit fur, in the early days of Payson. Mother also made hats of flatiron shaped pieces, similar to sport hats worn by both boys and girls now. She knitted many articles worn at that time, and yards and yards of lace, crocheted a bedspread and other articles fashionable then.
Mother had one of the first sewing machines brought to Payson by James S. McBeth, on which she stitched the cloth tops and soft leather pieces for shoes, for her neighbor, Rebecca J. Daniels, who made and mended shoes. They were close friends and worked together making men's suits as well as shoes. In 1876, mother made and embroidered a baby's white flannel set to be sent to the Centennial Fair in Chicago. Somehow Utah's exhibit failed to reach Chicago, and later was placed in the Territorial Fair of Utah in Salt Lake City. The infant's set won a prize of recognition for the Payson Relief Society. Her next venture was the glover's trade. She made buckskin gloves for men and boys. Fawn skin gloves for ladies, embroidered with silk floss. Father tanned and smoked some of the deerskins. She colored some of the thinner ones, from which some especially soft gloves were made. They bought most of the buckskin from the Indians. It wore better and remained more pliable.
Sarah Elmer joined the Payson Relief Society soon after her marriage. Jane Simons was President. She was also a charter member of the Philomathian and Retrenchment Society. She attended the first meeting called by President Brigham Young in Payson. The organization was designed for the instructions and improvement of the young people. She realized the necessity of education and her lack of it. When her third child, Orrin, was one and a half years old, her sister-in-law, Diena Elmer, consented to take care of the baby and look after the home, so that she could attend the school taught by Henry E. Hudson on the hill where the Central School house now stands. On her way to school each morning, she left her small daughter Ann, age five, at the school taught by William Patten, in the small adobe building owned by James Reece, situated on the lot occupied now by the Loveless Greenhouse.
The mathematics she specialized in at that time, was a great help to herself and husband. The family moved many times into new and undeveloped communities. Their first move from Payson was to Chases' ranch in Juab Country near the Sevier River with a brother-in-law George A. Hatch and Amos Chase. Cattle and hay raising was followed there. Their baby daughter, Lucina, was taken very ill, and they had to return to Payson and took her to Provo for medical treatment, where she died. In 1877, they moved to Annabella, Sevier County, engaged in farming and sheep industry with Edward K. Roberts, Joseph Asay and Joseph B. Jackson, partners.
They went to Richfield in 1881 on account of the school. In Annabella, the children had to walk to central, a mile and cross the Sevier on a wobbly foot bridge, which was dangerous and caused the mothers a lot of worry. In company with Nelson Spafford and others of Anabella, father frieghted to Silver Reed and Pioche, also making trips to Utah's Dixie and to Salt Lake, exchanging Southern Utah's products for merchandise and notions. Some of the trips ended in Provo, where they sold their loans.
The family returned to Annabella in 1884, and had a small store. It was not a profitable business, as the community was small. Farming as the main occupation there. My parents had accepted all the principles of the Gospel and tried to live them. On account of the Edmund Tucker law, father went to Cannonville in Southern Utah. Some of Uncle Ira Elmer's family lived there. He bought some land and built a log cabin and prepared to send for his family. Mother wanted to visit relatives in Payson once again before going so far away. She brought her children with her in May, 1887, found some work and did not go back. Persecution was just as bad in southern Utah. In the winter of 1887, father also returned to Payson. In the spring of 1888, they moved to the farm east of Salem of Joseph Clowards and raised good crops that season. They moved back to Payson where twin boys were born, October 2, 1888. Father built a small house that fall and moved in at Christmas time. Joseph S. Jones help him. Wilbern took an awful cold and developed Spinal Meningitis and has been an invalid all his life. Willis died when he was a month old. Father worked for John Dixon, a son of his former employer, about two years.
In December 1890, the family moved to Clinton, Utah County, Utah. Mother was on the move from the time she was fifteen months old until 1921. When the Relief Society was organized in Clinton, Rebecca J. Daniels, mother's old friend, was president. Sarah A. Elmer was 1st Counselor, and Annie Moore, 2nd Counselor. They worked together under difficult conditions, but faithfully tired to carry on. Mother was especially interested in Mutual Improvement and Sunday School work. She was class teacher in both organizations and 1st Counselor a number of years in the M.I.A.
They had a farm on Bennie Creek in the Clinton Distrixt. Father owned some good cows and delivered milk to people in Thistle, six miles distant. They had no ice, but kept the milk cool and sweet through evaporation, by wrapping the bottles in wet clothes. That was in horse and buggy days, before the advent of the automobile. While the family lived in Clinton, mother was active as a nurse, being called many times in emergency cases before the doctor arrived. She took training in mid-wifery and assisted in confinements—working under the direction of well-known doctors in Utah County—Doctors Westwood, Robinson, Merrill, Fred Taylor, W.T. Hasler and some of the railroad physicians in Thistle. The doctors said they could safely trust their patients in the care of Mrs. Elmer, on account of her carefully following their instructions, and her extreme sanitation. Her work was in Thistle, Spanish Fork Canyon, Clinton, and also Provo.
When her health failed, they returned to Payson, November 29, 1921. Father passed away at the age of 87, December 14, 1928. Twelve children were born to them, the tenth birth being twin boys. Seven sons and five daughters. Three sons and four daughters are now living. They are: Mrs. Ann E. Wilson, Orrin E. A. Elmer, Mrs. Lodisa Elmer Jones, Mrs. Etta Elmer Jeppson, Mrs. Lillian Elmer Hancock, and Wilbern Elmer; all of Payson, Sidney B. Elmer of Birdseye (Clinton) Utah County, Utah.
Mrs. Elmer is 88 years of age March 14, 1939. She has three groups of five generations. Twenty-four grandchildren, thirty two great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren. Her four daughters are members of the D.U.P Camps (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) in Payson, Utah.
--Written by Ann S. Elmer Wilson, 1939
Addendum: Sarah Ann Beckstead Elmer died in Payson, September 14, 1945.
In 1965, when this is being copied, there are only three children living; Etta, Lillian, and Sidney.
Sketch of Sarah Ann Beckstead and Henry ElmerPayson Park, 6 August, 1966, by Ora Lucina Jeppson Dixon
I wish to pay tribute to the wonderful grandparents who made it possible for us to be here today on the 6th of August, 1966, our first Elmer family reunion.
Sarah Ann Beckstead was born 14 March, 1851 at Traders Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sidney Marcus and Ann Sophia Rollins Beckstead. Her parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the persecution of the Saints in Illinois and were driven from their homes at the time of the exodus from Nauvoo. They move to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they lived for two years with Sidney Marcus' mother. When their first child, Sarah Ann, was one year old, they made preparations to come to the Valley of the Mountains. There were more than 100 wagons ready to start, this was too many for safety, so Ann Sophia's parents went in the first company and she followed with her husband's people, the Becksteads, in the second group.
Sidney Marcus was a carpenter and a blacksmith. So, with the help of his father in law, Enoch Perham Rollins, they built wagons and homes. Their family was still living in a wagon box when Sarah's sister Sabra was born in Salt Lake City on 20 October, 1853. Sidney Marcus also mended shoes for his family and others.
Many times, such as when they lived in Spanish Fork, their home was in a dugout. These were made in two ways. If next to a hill or mountain, a 3-sided room was dug out of the side of the hill, then a curtain hung for the fourth side. If the ground was level, they would dig down in the ground until a room was formed, then place a ladder to do down inside or up from it. Much like the cliff dwellers and other Indians used. Later adobe homes were built without mortar, with willows and clay for the roof, earth for the floor. Some even had log cabins.
When Sarah Ann was eleven years old, she was visiting Rufus Forbush's family at Union and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she saw the Griffith Sisters dance. They came out from Salt Lake. Sarah was fascinated with them and tried to do what they did. They became interested in her and taught her some steps. She soon was able to do the Highland Fling and to step dance. When the family moved to Payson, Mrs. Lucrettia Wightman, her favorite actress, saw her dance and told her she should dance in the Theater. She helped the young protegee with pretty costumes and arranged for her to dance between acts of her show. Sarah Ann was large for her age so she was allowed to accompany the older members of the family to entertainments where she took part with her dancing. She also performed at parties, reunions and Black Hawks. I can remember when we attended Black Hawk celebrations in Heber, Richfield, Nephi and Payson. All of us children wouldn't be interested in the programs until someone would say, "It's time for grandma." We would all come running.
She could step dance right into your heart. Her feet were light as feathers and her grace of body like a tall poplar swaying in the breeze. One time when she was over eighty years old, she raised her skirt about eight inches from the floor and as the music from the violin and accordion began to play, her feet began to move. I have not seen a more beautiful dancer.
Because Sarah's father was such a handy man in shoeing horses, repairing wagons, etc., he was called to go back to the Missouri River to help emigrants. On the return home, about 400 miles from Salt Lake a man's wagon broke down. Sidney had to stand guard that night for the Company's camp so he told the man he would return the next day and fix his wagon. This he did and when the wagon was repaired, he stood his gun by a bush; then mounted his horse and started to ride away with the other men, when they heard him say "there, I've forgotten my gun." He went back. In a few minutes a shot rang out. The men though it was Indians. They listened, heard no more, then went back to investigate, found Sidney shot through the head. The bush must have released the trigger, for the barrel was clutched in his hand. The tragic death of the father and fear of Indians was a sad experience for this family.
Sarah Ann went to work for Eliza Rust living on a ranch south of the Payson West Mountain, called Genola, near Utah Lake. Mr. Rust had to leave his home on business and he hired Cush Nebeker and Henry Elmer to work during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She looked through some field glasses to see if anyone was coming. One time she saw Indians. She knew they were Indians because they were riding single file, not in groups of two or more as whites do. Mrs. Rust wanted to get to town. Little Junior Wightman was visiting the family, so Sarah Ann carried George Rust, then Junior Wightman in turns until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting grain. He said he would not take them to town until the grain was finished by harrowing the land off. So they waited.
This was Sarah's introduction to Henry Elmer, the son of Hiram King and Lucina Elmer, cousins. He was born 7 March, 1841 at Sand Prairie, Adams County, Illinois. He was only three years and his sister, Lucy Lodica, six months old, when his mother, twenty-two years of age, died. I was fortunate to be born on her birthday (2nd June) and named in her honor – Ora Lucina. Like grandpa, I have revered her memory and it is through her that I have traced our genealogy back to Adam as well as it can be done.
One time I wrote Grandpa and Grandma a letter and signed my name, Ora Lucina. That pleased them very much for the next time they came to Payson, they brought me a dressed chicken.
Henry's father (Hiram Elmer) married again, Mrs. Mary Huffman, and when Henry was eleven years old, the started across the plains. He walked most of the way and helped to drive cattle. They came first to Provo in 1853, then moved to Whites Fort, south of Salt Lake, where Henry was baptized in 1855. He was employed by Bishop Hunger to take charge of the church's cattle. He received fifty cents and day. With two other young boys, they milked 25 cows, night and every morning, every day.
He learned how to make the best kind of shingles shaved with a drawing knife, hauled granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon for the Salt Lake Temple and rock for the tithing cellar, the community well and the Tabernacle at Payson from Spanish Fork Canyon. He had the natural instincts of a good surveyor, helped make roads, canals, bridges, reservoirs and ditches.
In 1863, he was called with nine other young men of Payson to go with the ox teams to the Missouri River for more Saints. Brigham Young advised the boys to get their endowments. Some thinking they were unworthy, hesitated. But, President Young said, "Boys, if you are good enough to be called, you are good enough to wear garments. If you will wear the garments and obey your captain, I promise you will go in peace and return in safety, and will not be molested." During the expedition, they met Crow and Sioux Indians. They said, "You Mormons? Me see um shirt." Their shirts were unbuttoned and the Indians seeing their garments granted their approval and the Company went on their journey unmolested. A train of prospectors meeting these same Indians were killed and after the Indians took what they wanted, the wagons were burned. A Stage Coach passed the burning train and told Captain Murdock about the massacre. The boys were mighty thankful for the protection of their garments.
Five hundred emigrants returned with them. It took six months for the round trip. Jim Manwill and Henry cooked for the ten men on the trip. Their bread was sour dough, the meat was wild game and fish. They learned if the cooked a stack of hot cakes up to their knee, it was just enough.
It was after his return that he went to work for George Rust and met Sarah Ann Beckstead and they were married on 31 March, 1866. They went to live on the Christopher Dixon Ranch, East of Payson. Many times when Indians were sited, grandma carried the children on her back up the Peteetneet hill to the Fort in Payson.
Grandfather was with Captain A.G. Conovers in the Calvary in the battle of Rocky Fort – one of the worst encounters of the Indian War. It lasted four hours. He was one of the advanced guards that was sent to head off cattle the Indians had stolen. Many were wounded in the rain of arrows.
In 1867, their first baby was born. Sarah was just sixteen years old. Henry went to Payson Canyon, got cedar poles, and took them to Provo where he sold them for material to make clothes for the baby.
He was not afraid to do any kind of work. From farming to cattle raising, sheep herding, freighting, running a grocery store in Annabella, building roads, and doing all other things it takes to build communities and provide for a large family.
At one time, he was a guard for Brigham Young. Each time they would stop, President Young would talk to the guards. He told them the time would come when the voice could be heard around the world, music and words would come out of the air, men would fly as easy as they can ride on the ground, and that there would be horse-less carriages. When my father took grandfather up to Frank Coomb's home to hear his radio, he was so happy, he told many of the prophecies Brigham Young had made and how thrilled he was to se them come true. He was just as excited when Dr. Pfouts showed him an airplane and wanted to take him for a ride, but Grandma, fearful of these new inventions, didn't want him to go.
The two worked faithfully in the church wherever they lived. With the power of the Holy Priesthood Grandfather held, many sick have been healed. When he was called to take another wife in polygamy, he responded to the call. Sarah had 12 children and Selena, 3 boys. They all felt it was the Lord's way of colonizing the West. So many had been killed.
Grandmother sold books from door to door, did washing for the train men in Thistle, and made deer gloves both fancy and plain. She studied in Provo and became a midwife, delivering many babies. Among the last she delivered was Ernest Mitchell of Spanish Fork. For this job, sometimes she received a pound of butter or some eggs or rusty bacon which was bacon not cured right. One time she got $5.00 for delivering and tending the mother and baby for ten days. She really thought she was rich.
In 1923, Grandmother was staying with us and I was going to the B.Y.U. She looked at my coat as I put it on and said, "I have never had a new coat." This shocked me. She was over 70 years of age. I told her if I got a school teaching job, my first paycheck would be used to buy her a coat. I remember how happy she was with the black coat with the fur collar. All her life she had spent in doing for others. She got joy in service, not selfishness.
She made yards of lace, knitted articles, crocheting and embroidery work; carded wool to make batts for quilts and home spun material. She made thread for clothing her family.
Grandma received second sight when she was about 70 years of age. Her eyes cleared and she was able to read as well as she ever had without the aid of glasses. She was a devote reader. Every day she read the newspaper, she read the scriptures and knew why she was a Latter Day Saint and was always ready to defend the church. There was not a kinder thing she could say about anyone than that they were " A good Latter Day Saint."
Grandfather was also blessed with a special gift. He could handle poison ivy and it would not bother him. He helped and cleaned it out of our lot and around many other people's homes.
I never heard either of them swear. Grandma would say "Sugar tongues and tinder boxes." Grandfather would say "By gal." They didn't have time to gossip or tell unclean stories. These two taught us the way to live; clean above reproach, word hard, obey counsel, and serve God.
Grandfather said, "Don't worry your friends with your troubles, they have plenty of their own."
This is our tribute to them and our thanks to them and our Heavenly Father for our fathers and mothers. I wish to also pay tribute to Aunt Ann for the many hours she spent in keeping records. If it hadn't been for her, where would we all be today? And to Aunt Lillian, who wrote such a beautiful story of the life of Henry Elmer for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
When their first child, my mother, was one year old, they began preparations to cross the plains to Utah. All families were required to supply themselves with necessary clothing and provisions, and also seed to plant when they reached the valleys of the mountains.
There were more than one hundred wagons ready to start on the long journey at that time, making the company too large to travel in safety. For convenience in camping and on account of feed for the cattle, the company had to be divided into two sections. Mother's grandparents, Enock Perham Rollins and family went in the first section, her parents following later, traveling with a relative, George W. Beckstead, who was left in charge of a widowed mother and children. His Father, Francis Beckstead Sr., having died in 1841, soon after the Beckstead families arrived in Illinois from Canada.
They were left without a leader, as he was assistant captain while en route from Williamsburg to Nauvoo. They were earnest believers in the mission of the Prophet Joseph and wanted to go where they could follow his teachings. They crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains with ox teams and arrived in Salt Lake City in October, 1852. Mother's parents traveled with George Beckstead to Fort Laramie, where his sister Sarah Beckstead Forbush was stricken with Cholera. She was so afraid of the dreaded disease, as her brother, Francis Beckstead Jr. had died of Cholera on the banks of the Missouri in 1848. She grieved so much for him. She said, "I'm afraid if I go on this journey, I too will die of Cholera" – and she did.
Some emigrants; had collected old clothes and other rubbish to make a fire. The smoke blew into her wagon. She became very ill. She thought the old clothes had belonged to someone who had died of Cholera. She only lived twenty-four hours. She was buried at Laramie on the Old Mormon Trail.
Rufus Forbush asked mother's parents to move into his wagon to help care for his motherless children, which they did, and traveled with them to Union Fort, where his parents had settled a while before. They remained with the Forbush family some time. When her father returned to Salt Lake City, he learned the blacksmith trade. He worked with Grandfather Rollins, who was a carpenter and wheelwright. Together they made wagons and also did carpenter and other work. While they were building a log house, the family lived in a wagon box. The is where mother's sister, Sabra, was born October 20, 1853.
Sidney Beckstead was a sturdy pioneer and colonizer. He moved his family into sparsely settled districts many times. Mother well remembers some of the hastily constructed places of abode where they lived for a time, especially the "dugout" in Spanish Fork at the time of the "Move" in 1858. Grandmother Rollins lived with them at the time of the invasion of Johnston's Army.
In Payson another emergency home was built of adobe without mortar, willows and clay for the roof, the earth for the floor. The willows were cut from the black willow trees which grew in the banks of the stream that runs through the lot on which her daughter, Ann E. Wilson, now lives.
After the "treaty" was signed, they went back to Weber Valley to cut their hay. Sarah Ann being the eldest child, she helped her father with his work. From Weber Valley, they moved to South Jordan. Uncle Alexander Beckstead lived there. Sarah went with her father to Great Salt Lake to get loads of salt which he sold. They also made trips to the point of the mountain for sumac, used in tanning leather.
At the time Johnston's Army was passing through the valley to Camp Floyd, they kept a "Traveler's Rest" on state road, about a mile and a half from Draper. They couldn't make that pay, so they went back again to Weber, hoping they could get some land. He failed to get any. His cousin, Henry Beckstead, lived in Riverdale, so they moved there. Her father built a two-room log house opposite a grist mill owned by Apostle John Taylor. I t was situated between the mill race and a canal. He bought and sold all manner of products used by the settlers.
On one of his business trips to Salt Lake City, he took his wife with him, leaving the children in care of Annie Wardsworth, a very trustworthy young girl. In the night the wind commenced to blow. They were very frightened and could not sleep. Sarah said to Annie, "this is no fool of a wind, is it?" It took off part of the roof. When morning came, it was still blowing with much force. They had to go to the canal for water. They had to hold each other and the willows along the canal to keep from falling in while one of the girls dipped up the water. They could hardly get back to the house. Annie's parents lived about two miles away. She knew if they tried to go to her home, they would be blown in the canal, so she decided to take the children into the cellar for protection from the wind. Sarah was nine, Sabra seven, Lillian five, Mary three and the baby seventeen months old. They were hungry because there was no food in the cellar. They found some wheat in a sack, ate some of it and chewed some for the baby. The neighbors knew the parents were gone, and went to see what had happened to them during the night. The children could not be found. It was thought that Annie had tried to take them to a place of safety. The path between the water ways was too narrow for anyone to walk safely in such a strong wind. They ran parallel more than three blocks before they diverged. A young man named Ralph Slater, who walked on crutches said, "the children are lost, I am sure I can find them." One man said, "I hope you can, but I doubt it."
Ralph went around the house, calling – no answer. He made so much noise with his crutches, they thought it might be Indians. They were frightened and kept very quiet. He went into the cellar and shouted, "Here they are, safe and sound." The wind lasted many hours. More than forty houses were blown down or damaged. Fires were started and numerous barns destroyed. Much damage was done for miles around. Ralph and others carried food to the hungry children.
The parents thought they could make the trip in two days. When they got to Farmington, trees were blown across the road. So much damage was done that they could not proceed. The mother was nearly overcome with grief and fear of what might have happened to her little girls. They arrived home the afternoon of the fifth day and found all well. They lived in Farmington for a while. Her father worked with grandfather Rollins at the settlement also.
Mother's folks again returned to West Jordan. Alexander, the oldest member of the Beckstead family was given a grant of land for cultivation and settlement. He allowed the Beckstead boys, who were the heads of families, twenty five acres each if they would improve it, which grandfather tried to do. Mother learned to drive the oxen and when she was eleven, she helped her father plow. All during his life in Utah, he made and mended shoes for his own family as well as for other people.
When mother was a small girl, she learned step dancing. She was visiting Rufus Forbush's family and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she first saw the Griffith sisters dance. They came out to Union from Salt Lake. She was fascinated with their performance and tried to dance as they did. The girls were interested in the little girl and taught her some of the steps. She soon learned to dance the Highland fling, so called then.
Then she made Payson her home a few years later, Mrs. Lucretia Wightman, her favorite actress saw her dance. She said, "Sarah, you should dance in the Theater." Mrs. Wightman helped the young protegee with some pretty costumes and arranged for her to appear between acts. Her dance was quite popular those days.
The land her father had on Joran was poor and unprofitable, so he gave it up and his next move was South of Goshen Valley. They lived on Stewart's Ranch in a two roomed adobe house. They were members of the Santaquin ward and attended meetings and entertainments there. Her father played the violin for dances. Mother, being large for her age, went with the older members of the family and took part in the dancing. All through the years she was called on to help entertain with her dancing, in parties, reunions, and especially the Black Hawk encampments, whenever she was known to be present.
In the spring of 1864, mother's father was called as a mechanic to go to the Missouri River with Captain John Murdock's company of teamsters. He repaired the wagons, put shoes on the animals and was an all round handy man. He visited his mother and other relatives in Sarpy county while en route. On the return trip about 400 miles from Salt Lake, a man's wagon had broken down. The company left his a few miles from camp. Sidney Beckstead promised to go back early and fix his wagon so he could catch the company the next day. He had to stand guard that night. Two young men were to take his place. Before day break, he called the boys and said he was ready to start back. He must have stood his gun in a bush while he mounted his horse. He started to ride away. The boys hear him say, "there I've forgot my gun." In a few minutes a shot rang out. They thought it might be Indians, listened, heard no more, then got up to investigate. They found him on the ground by his horse, shot through the head, the barrel of his gun clutched in his hand. The captain said the hammer of the gun had caught in the bush and discharged, killing him instantly. They rolled him in his blankets and buried him by the side of the road, about 14 miles north of the Platte bridge, near the Colorado line, August 7, 1864. The family was living on the farm where he left them, when he went away. They had heard the company had arrived in Salt Lake City and were looking for him to come. They were worried and dreaded they knew not what. The news of his death reached them three weeks after the fatal accident.
Grandmother Rollins and her sons Orson H. and Charles were living with them. The boys were taking care of the crops. They were a great help and comfort to the grief stricken family. The tragic death of her father and fear of the Indians adversely affected mother all through her life.
At the age of fourteen, mother went to work for Eliza Rust on the ranch south of the West Mountain, near Utah Lake. The Indians were quite troublesome at the time, going to the places and demanding food and beef. Mr. Rust had to leave the place a few days on business. He had hired Henry Elmer and Cush Nebeker nights, during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She had field glasses and kept a lookout for anyone coming. Early in the morning she saw a horseman coming. She watched and soon saw a lot of them riding in single file across the end of the little valley. "Indians," she exclaimed. "Sarah, we must go to town right now." They carried the smaller children. Sarah carried Georgie Rust and Junior Wightman in turn until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting the grain. He said he couldn't take them to Payson until the grain was harrowed and laid off, so they waited. During the day, some Springville men, Richard Mendenhall and others who had cattle at the ranch came along. The situation was explained to them. They thought it would be safe to take the frightened family back to the ranch. They thought the Indians were going around the other side of the lake and wouldn't trouble them. All the men stopped at the ranch that night. They found out later that the "red skins" were angry at not getting a whole beef and had threatened to go to the ranch while George Rust was away, kill the family and run off the cattle, but their chief, who Mrs. Rust saw in the lead, got them to leave the family in peace. He said Mr. Rust had given them heaps of beef and food as well as other things, so they abandoned their purposed cruelty at that time and id not molest them.
That was the time Sarah Beckstead first met Henry Elmer to whom she was married March 31, 1866 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. The young couple made their first home in Payson, moving on the Christopher Dixon ranch, northeast of Payson City Cemetery. They were expected to take care of the farm and dairy. She being inexperienced, Mr. Dixon taught them how to make cheese and butter. They were not permitted to work there together very long. Her husband, being a member of the Utah County Militia, was called May 2nd by Captain Jonathan S. Page, to go with a company of Calvary to Sanpete County to protect the settlers from Indian depredations. That was the outbreak of the Black Hawk Indian War. She was only fifteen, almost a stranger in Payson. No relatives of her own living near. Her mother and other sisters had moved to West Jordan, Henry Beckstead having sent for her mother to teach school at the time Sarah was married. During her early life, she learned to do all kinds of work, how to prepare materials for the things that had to be manufactured in the pioneer homes. Carded wool into batts and rolls, spun yarn, colored it with homemade dyes, wove cloth, made clothing for all the members of the family, braided straw, sewed it into hats for boys, had them blocked by Philo Johnson, the hatter, who made felt hats of rabbit fur, in the early days of Payson. Mother also made hats of flatiron shaped pieces, similar to sport hats worn by both boys and girls now. She knitted many articles worn at that time, and yards and yards of lace, crocheted a bedspread and other articles fashionable then.
Mother had one of the first sewing machines brought to Payson by James S. McBeth, on which she stitched the cloth tops and soft leather pieces for shoes, for her neighbor, Rebecca J. Daniels, who made and mended shoes. They were close friends and worked together making men's suits as well as shoes. In 1876, mother made and embroidered a baby's white flannel set to be sent to the Centennial Fair in Chicago. Somehow Utah's exhibit failed to reach Chicago, and later was placed in the Territorial Fair of Utah in Salt Lake City. The infant's set won a prize of recognition for the Payson Relief Society. Her next venture was the glover's trade. She made buckskin gloves for men and boys. Fawn skin gloves for ladies, embroidered with silk floss. Father tanned and smoked some of the deerskins. She colored some of the thinner ones, from which some especially soft gloves were made. They bought most of the buckskin from the Indians. It wore better and remained more pliable.
Sarah Elmer joined the Payson Relief Society soon after her marriage. Jane Simons was President. She was also a charter member of the Philomathian and Retrenchment Society. She attended the first meeting called by President Brigham Young in Payson. The organization was designed for the instructions and improvement of the young people. She realized the necessity of education and her lack of it. When her third child, Orrin, was one and a half years old, her sister-in-law, Diena Elmer, consented to take care of the baby and look after the home, so that she could attend the school taught by Henry E. Hudson on the hill where the Central School house now stands. On her way to school each morning, she left her small daughter Ann, age five, at the school taught by William Patten, in the small adobe building owned by James Reece, situated on the lot occupied now by the Loveless Greenhouse.
The mathematics she specialized in at that time, was a great help to herself and husband. The family moved many times into new and undeveloped communities. Their first move from Payson was to Chases' ranch in Juab Country near the Sevier River with a brother-in-law George A. Hatch and Amos Chase. Cattle and hay raising was followed there. Their baby daughter, Lucina, was taken very ill, and they had to return to Payson and took her to Provo for medical treatment, where she died. In 1877, they moved to Annabella, Sevier County, engaged in farming and sheep industry with Edward K. Roberts, Joseph Asay and Joseph B. Jackson, partners.
They went to Richfield in 1881 on account of the school. In Annabella, the children had to walk to central, a mile and cross the Sevier on a wobbly foot bridge, which was dangerous and caused the mothers a lot of worry. In company with Nelson Spafford and others of Anabella, father frieghted to Silver Reed and Pioche, also making trips to Utah's Dixie and to Salt Lake, exchanging Southern Utah's products for merchandise and notions. Some of the trips ended in Provo, where they sold their loans.
The family returned to Annabella in 1884, and had a small store. It was not a profitable business, as the community was small. Farming as the main occupation there. My parents had accepted all the principles of the Gospel and tried to live them. On account of the Edmund Tucker law, father went to Cannonville in Southern Utah. Some of Uncle Ira Elmer's family lived there. He bought some land and built a log cabin and prepared to send for his family. Mother wanted to visit relatives in Payson once again before going so far away. She brought her children with her in May, 1887, found some work and did not go back. Persecution was just as bad in southern Utah. In the winter of 1887, father also returned to Payson. In the spring of 1888, they moved to the farm east of Salem of Joseph Clowards and raised good crops that season. They moved back to Payson where twin boys were born, October 2, 1888. Father built a small house that fall and moved in at Christmas time. Joseph S. Jones help him. Wilbern took an awful cold and developed Spinal Meningitis and has been an invalid all his life. Willis died when he was a month old. Father worked for John Dixon, a son of his former employer, about two years.
In December 1890, the family moved to Clinton, Utah County, Utah. Mother was on the move from the time she was fifteen months old until 1921. When the Relief Society was organized in Clinton, Rebecca J. Daniels, mother's old friend, was president. Sarah A. Elmer was 1st Counselor, and Annie Moore, 2nd Counselor. They worked together under difficult conditions, but faithfully tired to carry on. Mother was especially interested in Mutual Improvement and Sunday School work. She was class teacher in both organizations and 1st Counselor a number of years in the M.I.A.
They had a farm on Bennie Creek in the Clinton Distrixt. Father owned some good cows and delivered milk to people in Thistle, six miles distant. They had no ice, but kept the milk cool and sweet through evaporation, by wrapping the bottles in wet clothes. That was in horse and buggy days, before the advent of the automobile. While the family lived in Clinton, mother was active as a nurse, being called many times in emergency cases before the doctor arrived. She took training in mid-wifery and assisted in confinements—working under the direction of well-known doctors in Utah County—Doctors Westwood, Robinson, Merrill, Fred Taylor, W.T. Hasler and some of the railroad physicians in Thistle. The doctors said they could safely trust their patients in the care of Mrs. Elmer, on account of her carefully following their instructions, and her extreme sanitation. Her work was in Thistle, Spanish Fork Canyon, Clinton, and also Provo.
When her health failed, they returned to Payson, November 29, 1921. Father passed away at the age of 87, December 14, 1928. Twelve children were born to them, the tenth birth being twin boys. Seven sons and five daughters. Three sons and four daughters are now living. They are: Mrs. Ann E. Wilson, Orrin E. A. Elmer, Mrs. Lodisa Elmer Jones, Mrs. Etta Elmer Jeppson, Mrs. Lillian Elmer Hancock, and Wilbern Elmer; all of Payson, Sidney B. Elmer of Birdseye (Clinton) Utah County, Utah.
Mrs. Elmer is 88 years of age March 14, 1939. She has three groups of five generations. Twenty-four grandchildren, thirty two great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren. Her four daughters are members of the D.U.P Camps (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) in Payson, Utah.
--Written by Ann S. Elmer Wilson, 1939
Addendum: Sarah Ann Beckstead Elmer died in Payson, September 14, 1945.
In 1965, when this is being copied, there are only three children living; Etta, Lillian, and Sidney.
Sketch of Sarah Ann Beckstead and Henry ElmerPayson Park, 6 August, 1966, by Ora Lucina Jeppson Dixon
I wish to pay tribute to the wonderful grandparents who made it possible for us to be here today on the 6th of August, 1966, our first Elmer family reunion.
Sarah Ann Beckstead was born 14 March, 1851 at Traders Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sidney Marcus and Ann Sophia Rollins Beckstead. Her parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the persecution of the Saints in Illinois and were driven from their homes at the time of the exodus from Nauvoo. They move to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they lived for two years with Sidney Marcus' mother. When their first child, Sarah Ann, was one year old, they made preparations to come to the Valley of the Mountains. There were more than 100 wagons ready to start, this was too many for safety, so Ann Sophia's parents went in the first company and she followed with her husband's people, the Becksteads, in the second group.
Sidney Marcus was a carpenter and a blacksmith. So, with the help of his father in law, Enoch Perham Rollins, they built wagons and homes. Their family was still living in a wagon box when Sarah's sister Sabra was born in Salt Lake City on 20 October, 1853. Sidney Marcus also mended shoes for his family and others.
Many times, such as when they lived in Spanish Fork, their home was in a dugout. These were made in two ways. If next to a hill or mountain, a 3-sided room was dug out of the side of the hill, then a curtain hung for the fourth side. If the ground was level, they would dig down in the ground until a room was formed, then place a ladder to do down inside or up from it. Much like the cliff dwellers and other Indians used. Later adobe homes were built without mortar, with willows and clay for the roof, earth for the floor. Some even had log cabins.
When Sarah Ann was eleven years old, she was visiting Rufus Forbush's family at Union and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she saw the Griffith Sisters dance. They came out from Salt Lake. Sarah was fascinated with them and tried to do what they did. They became interested in her and taught her some steps. She soon was able to do the Highland Fling and to step dance. When the family moved to Payson, Mrs. Lucrettia Wightman, her favorite actress, saw her dance and told her she should dance in the Theater. She helped the young protegee with pretty costumes and arranged for her to dance between acts of her show. Sarah Ann was large for her age so she was allowed to accompany the older members of the family to entertainments where she took part with her dancing. She also performed at parties, reunions and Black Hawks. I can remember when we attended Black Hawk celebrations in Heber, Richfield, Nephi and Payson. All of us children wouldn't be interested in the programs until someone would say, "It's time for grandma." We would all come running.
She could step dance right into your heart. Her feet were light as feathers and her grace of body like a tall poplar swaying in the breeze. One time when she was over eighty years old, she raised her skirt about eight inches from the floor and as the music from the violin and accordion began to play, her feet began to move. I have not seen a more beautiful dancer.
Because Sarah's father was such a handy man in shoeing horses, repairing wagons, etc., he was called to go back to the Missouri River to help emigrants. On the return home, about 400 miles from Salt Lake a man's wagon broke down. Sidney had to stand guard that night for the Company's camp so he told the man he would return the next day and fix his wagon. This he did and when the wagon was repaired, he stood his gun by a bush; then mounted his horse and started to ride away with the other men, when they heard him say "there, I've forgotten my gun." He went back. In a few minutes a shot rang out. The men though it was Indians. They listened, heard no more, then went back to investigate, found Sidney shot through the head. The bush must have released the trigger, for the barrel was clutched in his hand. The tragic death of the father and fear of Indians was a sad experience for this family.
Sarah Ann went to work for Eliza Rust living on a ranch south of the Payson West Mountain, called Genola, near Utah Lake. Mr. Rust had to leave his home on business and he hired Cush Nebeker and Henry Elmer to work during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She looked through some field glasses to see if anyone was coming. One time she saw Indians. She knew they were Indians because they were riding single file, not in groups of two or more as whites do. Mrs. Rust wanted to get to town. Little Junior Wightman was visiting the family, so Sarah Ann carried George Rust, then Junior Wightman in turns until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting grain. He said he would not take them to town until the grain was finished by harrowing the land off. So they waited.
This was Sarah's introduction to Henry Elmer, the son of Hiram King and Lucina Elmer, cousins. He was born 7 March, 1841 at Sand Prairie, Adams County, Illinois. He was only three years and his sister, Lucy Lodica, six months old, when his mother, twenty-two years of age, died. I was fortunate to be born on her birthday (2nd June) and named in her honor – Ora Lucina. Like grandpa, I have revered her memory and it is through her that I have traced our genealogy back to Adam as well as it can be done.
One time I wrote Grandpa and Grandma a letter and signed my name, Ora Lucina. That pleased them very much for the next time they came to Payson, they brought me a dressed chicken.
Henry's father (Hiram Elmer) married again, Mrs. Mary Huffman, and when Henry was eleven years old, the started across the plains. He walked most of the way and helped to drive cattle. They came first to Provo in 1853, then moved to Whites Fort, south of Salt Lake, where Henry was baptized in 1855. He was employed by Bishop Hunger to take charge of the church's cattle. He received fifty cents and day. With two other young boys, they milked 25 cows, night and every morning, every day.
He learned how to make the best kind of shingles shaved with a drawing knife, hauled granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon for the Salt Lake Temple and rock for the tithing cellar, the community well and the Tabernacle at Payson from Spanish Fork Canyon. He had the natural instincts of a good surveyor, helped make roads, canals, bridges, reservoirs and ditches.
In 1863, he was called with nine other young men of Payson to go with the ox teams to the Missouri River for more Saints. Brigham Young advised the boys to get their endowments. Some thinking they were unworthy, hesitated. But, President Young said, "Boys, if you are good enough to be called, you are good enough to wear garments. If you will wear the garments and obey your captain, I promise you will go in peace and return in safety, and will not be molested." During the expedition, they met Crow and Sioux Indians. They said, "You Mormons? Me see um shirt." Their shirts were unbuttoned and the Indians seeing their garments granted their approval and the Company went on their journey unmolested. A train of prospectors meeting these same Indians were killed and after the Indians took what they wanted, the wagons were burned. A Stage Coach passed the burning train and told Captain Murdock about the massacre. The boys were mighty thankful for the protection of their garments.
Five hundred emigrants returned with them. It took six months for the round trip. Jim Manwill and Henry cooked for the ten men on the trip. Their bread was sour dough, the meat was wild game and fish. They learned if the cooked a stack of hot cakes up to their knee, it was just enough.
It was after his return that he went to work for George Rust and met Sarah Ann Beckstead and they were married on 31 March, 1866. They went to live on the Christopher Dixon Ranch, East of Payson. Many times when Indians were sited, grandma carried the children on her back up the Peteetneet hill to the Fort in Payson.
Grandfather was with Captain A.G. Conovers in the Calvary in the battle of Rocky Fort – one of the worst encounters of the Indian War. It lasted four hours. He was one of the advanced guards that was sent to head off cattle the Indians had stolen. Many were wounded in the rain of arrows.
In 1867, their first baby was born. Sarah was just sixteen years old. Henry went to Payson Canyon, got cedar poles, and took them to Provo where he sold them for material to make clothes for the baby.
He was not afraid to do any kind of work. From farming to cattle raising, sheep herding, freighting, running a grocery store in Annabella, building roads, and doing all other things it takes to build communities and provide for a large family.
At one time, he was a guard for Brigham Young. Each time they would stop, President Young would talk to the guards. He told them the time would come when the voice could be heard around the world, music and words would come out of the air, men would fly as easy as they can ride on the ground, and that there would be horse-less carriages. When my father took grandfather up to Frank Coomb's home to hear his radio, he was so happy, he told many of the prophecies Brigham Young had made and how thrilled he was to se them come true. He was just as excited when Dr. Pfouts showed him an airplane and wanted to take him for a ride, but Grandma, fearful of these new inventions, didn't want him to go.
The two worked faithfully in the church wherever they lived. With the power of the Holy Priesthood Grandfather held, many sick have been healed. When he was called to take another wife in polygamy, he responded to the call. Sarah had 12 children and Selena, 3 boys. They all felt it was the Lord's way of colonizing the West. So many had been killed.
Grandmother sold books from door to door, did washing for the train men in Thistle, and made deer gloves both fancy and plain. She studied in Provo and became a midwife, delivering many babies. Among the last she delivered was Ernest Mitchell of Spanish Fork. For this job, sometimes she received a pound of butter or some eggs or rusty bacon which was bacon not cured right. One time she got $5.00 for delivering and tending the mother and baby for ten days. She really thought she was rich.
In 1923, Grandmother was staying with us and I was going to the B.Y.U. She looked at my coat as I put it on and said, "I have never had a new coat." This shocked me. She was over 70 years of age. I told her if I got a school teaching job, my first paycheck would be used to buy her a coat. I remember how happy she was with the black coat with the fur collar. All her life she had spent in doing for others. She got joy in service, not selfishness.
She made yards of lace, knitted articles, crocheting and embroidery work; carded wool to make batts for quilts and home spun material. She made thread for clothing her family.
Grandma received second sight when she was about 70 years of age. Her eyes cleared and she was able to read as well as she ever had without the aid of glasses. She was a devote reader. Every day she read the newspaper, she read the scriptures and knew why she was a Latter Day Saint and was always ready to defend the church. There was not a kinder thing she could say about anyone than that they were " A good Latter Day Saint."
Grandfather was also blessed with a special gift. He could handle poison ivy and it would not bother him. He helped and cleaned it out of our lot and around many other people's homes.
I never heard either of them swear. Grandma would say "Sugar tongues and tinder boxes." Grandfather would say "By gal." They didn't have time to gossip or tell unclean stories. These two taught us the way to live; clean above reproach, word hard, obey counsel, and serve God.
Grandfather said, "Don't worry your friends with your troubles, they have plenty of their own."
This is our tribute to them and our thanks to them and our Heavenly Father for our fathers and mothers. I wish to also pay tribute to Aunt Ann for the many hours she spent in keeping records. If it hadn't been for her, where would we all be today? And to Aunt Lillian, who wrote such a beautiful story of the life of Henry Elmer for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Sarah Ann Beckstead Elmer was born March 14, 1851 at Traders Point, Pottawatomie County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sidney Marcus Beckstead and Ann Sophia Rollings. They were married in Belvue, Nebraska by a Catholic Priest on June 11, 1850. Both her parents joined the L.D.S. Church and were in the midst of persecutions of the Saints in Illinois and were driven from their homes at the time of the exodus from Nauvoo. They crossed Iowa to Council Bluffs and after their marriage, lived with Grandmother Beckstead about two years.
When their first child, my mother, was one year old, they began preparations to cross the plains to Utah. All families were required to supply themselves with necessary clothing and provisions, and also seed to plant when they reached the valleys of the mountains.
There were more than one hundred wagons ready to start on the long journey at that time, making the company too large to travel in safety. For convenience in camping and on account of feed for the cattle, the company had to be divided into two sections. Mother's grandparents, Enock Perham Rollins and family went in the first section, her parents following later, traveling with a relative, George W. Beckstead, who was left in charge of a widowed mother and children. His Father, Francis Beckstead Sr., having died in 1841, soon after the Beckstead families arrived in Illinois from Canada.
They were left without a leader, as he was assistant captain while en route from Williamsburg to Nauvoo. They were earnest believers in the mission of the Prophet Joseph and wanted to go where they could follow his teachings. They crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains with ox teams and arrived in Salt Lake City in October, 1852. Mother's parents traveled with George Beckstead to Fort Laramie, where his sister Sarah Beckstead Forbush was stricken with Cholera. She was so afraid of the dreaded disease, as her brother, Francis Beckstead Jr. had died of Cholera on the banks of the Missouri in 1848. She grieved so much for him. She said, "I'm afraid if I go on this journey, I too will die of Cholera" – and she did.
Some emigrants; had collected old clothes and other rubbish to make a fire. The smoke blew into her wagon. She became very ill. She thought the old clothes had belonged to someone who had died of Cholera. She only lived twenty-four hours. She was buried at Laramie on the Old Mormon Trail.
Rufus Forbush asked mother's parents to move into his wagon to help care for his motherless children, which they did, and traveled with them to Union Fort, where his parents had settled a while before. They remained with the Forbush family some time. When her father returned to Salt Lake City, he learned the blacksmith trade. He worked with Grandfather Rollins, who was a carpenter and wheelwright. Together they made wagons and also did carpenter and other work. While they were building a log house, the family lived in a wagon box. The is where mother's sister, Sabra, was born October 20, 1853.
Sidney Beckstead was a sturdy pioneer and colonizer. He moved his family into sparsely settled districts many times. Mother well remembers some of the hastily constructed places of abode where they lived for a time, especially the "dugout" in Spanish Fork at the time of the "Move" in 1858. Grandmother Rollins lived with them at the time of the invasion of Johnston's Army.
In Payson another emergency home was built of adobe without mortar, willows and clay for the roof, the earth for the floor. The willows were cut from the black willow trees which grew in the banks of the stream that runs through the lot on which her daughter, Ann E. Wilson, now lives.
After the "treaty" was signed, they went back to Weber Valley to cut their hay. Sarah Ann being the eldest child, she helped her father with his work. From Weber Valley, they moved to South Jordan. Uncle Alexander Beckstead lived there. Sarah went with her father to Great Salt Lake to get loads of salt which he sold. They also made trips to the point of the mountain for sumac, used in tanning leather.
At the time Johnston's Army was passing through the valley to Camp Floyd, they kept a "Traveler's Rest" on state road, about a mile and a half from Draper. They couldn't make that pay, so they went back again to Weber, hoping they could get some land. He failed to get any. His cousin, Henry Beckstead, lived in Riverdale, so they moved there. Her father built a two-room log house opposite a grist mill owned by Apostle John Taylor. I t was situated between the mill race and a canal. He bought and sold all manner of products used by the settlers.
On one of his business trips to Salt Lake City, he took his wife with him, leaving the children in care of Annie Wardsworth, a very trustworthy young girl. In the night the wind commenced to blow. They were very frightened and could not sleep. Sarah said to Annie, "this is no fool of a wind, is it?" It took off part of the roof. When morning came, it was still blowing with much force. They had to go to the canal for water. They had to hold each other and the willows along the canal to keep from falling in while one of the girls dipped up the water. They could hardly get back to the house. Annie's parents lived about two miles away. She knew if they tried to go to her home, they would be blown in the canal, so she decided to take the children into the cellar for protection from the wind. Sarah was nine, Sabra seven, Lillian five, Mary three and the baby seventeen months old. They were hungry because there was no food in the cellar. They found some wheat in a sack, ate some of it and chewed some for the baby. The neighbors knew the parents were gone, and went to see what had happened to them during the night. The children could not be found. It was thought that Annie had tried to take them to a place of safety. The path between the water ways was too narrow for anyone to walk safely in such a strong wind. They ran parallel more than three blocks before they diverged. A young man named Ralph Slater, who walked on crutches said, "the children are lost, I am sure I can find them." One man said, "I hope you can, but I doubt it."
Ralph went around the house, calling – no answer. He made so much noise with his crutches, they thought it might be Indians. They were frightened and kept very quiet. He went into the cellar and shouted, "Here they are, safe and sound." The wind lasted many hours. More than forty houses were blown down or damaged. Fires were started and numerous barns destroyed. Much damage was done for miles around. Ralph and others carried food to the hungry children.
The parents thought they could make the trip in two days. When they got to Farmington, trees were blown across the road. So much damage was done that they could not proceed. The mother was nearly overcome with grief and fear of what might have happened to her little girls. They arrived home the afternoon of the fifth day and found all well. They lived in Farmington for a while. Her father worked with grandfather Rollins at the settlement also.
Mother's folks again returned to West Jordan. Alexander, the oldest member of the Beckstead family was given a grant of land for cultivation and settlement. He allowed the Beckstead boys, who were the heads of families, twenty five acres each if they would improve it, which grandfather tried to do. Mother learned to drive the oxen and when she was eleven, she helped her father plow. All during his life in Utah, he made and mended shoes for his own family as well as for other people.
When mother was a small girl, she learned step dancing. She was visiting Rufus Forbush's family and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she first saw the Griffith sisters dance. They came out to Union from Salt Lake. She was fascinated with their performance and tried to dance as they did. The girls were interested in the little girl and taught her some of the steps. She soon learned to dance the Highland fling, so called then.
Then she made Payson her home a few years later, Mrs. Lucretia Wightman, her favorite actress saw her dance. She said, "Sarah, you should dance in the Theater." Mrs. Wightman helped the young protegee with some pretty costumes and arranged for her to appear between acts. Her dance was quite popular those days.
The land her father had on Joran was poor and unprofitable, so he gave it up and his next move was South of Goshen Valley. They lived on Stewart's Ranch in a two roomed adobe house. They were members of the Santaquin ward and attended meetings and entertainments there. Her father played the violin for dances. Mother, being large for her age, went with the older members of the family and took part in the dancing. All through the years she was called on to help entertain with her dancing, in parties, reunions, and especially the Black Hawk encampments, whenever she was known to be present.
In the spring of 1864, mother's father was called as a mechanic to go to the Missouri River with Captain John Murdock's company of teamsters. He repaired the wagons, put shoes on the animals and was an all round handy man. He visited his mother and other relatives in Sarpy county while en route. On the return trip about 400 miles from Salt Lake, a man's wagon had broken down. The company left his a few miles from camp. Sidney Beckstead promised to go back early and fix his wagon so he could catch the company the next day. He had to stand guard that night. Two young men were to take his place. Before day break, he called the boys and said he was ready to start back. He must have stood his gun in a bush while he mounted his horse. He started to ride away. The boys hear him say, "there I've forgot my gun." In a few minutes a shot rang out. They thought it might be Indians, listened, heard no more, then got up to investigate. They found him on the ground by his horse, shot through the head, the barrel of his gun clutched in his hand. The captain said the hammer of the gun had caught in the bush and discharged, killing him instantly. They rolled him in his blankets and buried him by the side of the road, about 14 miles north of the Platte bridge, near the Colorado line, August 7, 1864. The family was living on the farm where he left them, when he went away. They had heard the company had arrived in Salt Lake City and were looking for him to come. They were worried and dreaded they knew not what. The news of his death reached them three weeks after the fatal accident.
Grandmother Rollins and her sons Orson H. and Charles were living with them. The boys were taking care of the crops. They were a great help and comfort to the grief stricken family. The tragic death of her father and fear of the Indians adversely affected mother all through her life.
At the age of fourteen, mother went to work for Eliza Rust on the ranch south of the West Mountain, near Utah Lake. The Indians were quite troublesome at the time, going to the places and demanding food and beef. Mr. Rust had to leave the place a few days on business. He had hired Henry Elmer and Cush Nebeker nights, during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She had field glasses and kept a lookout for anyone coming. Early in the morning she saw a horseman coming. She watched and soon saw a lot of them riding in single file across the end of the little valley. "Indians," she exclaimed. "Sarah, we must go to town right now." They carried the smaller children. Sarah carried Georgie Rust and Junior Wightman in turn until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting the grain. He said he couldn't take them to Payson until the grain was harrowed and laid off, so they waited. During the day, some Springville men, Richard Mendenhall and others who had cattle at the ranch came along. The situation was explained to them. They thought it would be safe to take the frightened family back to the ranch. They thought the Indians were going around the other side of the lake and wouldn't trouble them. All the men stopped at the ranch that night. They found out later that the "red skins" were angry at not getting a whole beef and had threatened to go to the ranch while George Rust was away, kill the family and run off the cattle, but their chief, who Mrs. Rust saw in the lead, got them to leave the family in peace. He said Mr. Rust had given them heaps of beef and food as well as other things, so they abandoned their purposed cruelty at that time and id not molest them.
That was the time Sarah Beckstead first met Henry Elmer to whom she was married March 31, 1866 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. The young couple made their first home in Payson, moving on the Christopher Dixon ranch, northeast of Payson City Cemetery. They were expected to take care of the farm and dairy. She being inexperienced, Mr. Dixon taught them how to make cheese and butter. They were not permitted to work there together very long. Her husband, being a member of the Utah County Militia, was called May 2nd by Captain Jonathan S. Page, to go with a company of Calvary to Sanpete County to protect the settlers from Indian depredations. That was the outbreak of the Black Hawk Indian War. She was only fifteen, almost a stranger in Payson. No relatives of her own living near. Her mother and other sisters had moved to West Jordan, Henry Beckstead having sent for her mother to teach school at the time Sarah was married. During her early life, she learned to do all kinds of work, how to prepare materials for the things that had to be manufactured in the pioneer homes. Carded wool into batts and rolls, spun yarn, colored it with homemade dyes, wove cloth, made clothing for all the members of the family, braided straw, sewed it into hats for boys, had them blocked by Philo Johnson, the hatter, who made felt hats of rabbit fur, in the early days of Payson. Mother also made hats of flatiron shaped pieces, similar to sport hats worn by both boys and girls now. She knitted many articles worn at that time, and yards and yards of lace, crocheted a bedspread and other articles fashionable then.
Mother had one of the first sewing machines brought to Payson by James S. McBeth, on which she stitched the cloth tops and soft leather pieces for shoes, for her neighbor, Rebecca J. Daniels, who made and mended shoes. They were close friends and worked together making men's suits as well as shoes. In 1876, mother made and embroidered a baby's white flannel set to be sent to the Centennial Fair in Chicago. Somehow Utah's exhibit failed to reach Chicago, and later was placed in the Territorial Fair of Utah in Salt Lake City. The infant's set won a prize of recognition for the Payson Relief Society. Her next venture was the glover's trade. She made buckskin gloves for men and boys. Fawn skin gloves for ladies, embroidered with silk floss. Father tanned and smoked some of the deerskins. She colored some of the thinner ones, from which some especially soft gloves were made. They bought most of the buckskin from the Indians. It wore better and remained more pliable.
Sarah Elmer joined the Payson Relief Society soon after her marriage. Jane Simons was President. She was also a charter member of the Philomathian and Retrenchment Society. She attended the first meeting called by President Brigham Young in Payson. The organization was designed for the instructions and improvement of the young people. She realized the necessity of education and her lack of it. When her third child, Orrin, was one and a half years old, her sister-in-law, Diena Elmer, consented to take care of the baby and look after the home, so that she could attend the school taught by Henry E. Hudson on the hill where the Central School house now stands. On her way to school each morning, she left her small daughter Ann, age five, at the school taught by William Patten, in the small adobe building owned by James Reece, situated on the lot occupied now by the Loveless Greenhouse.
The mathematics she specialized in at that time, was a great help to herself and husband. The family moved many times into new and undeveloped communities. Their first move from Payson was to Chases' ranch in Juab Country near the Sevier River with a brother-in-law George A. Hatch and Amos Chase. Cattle and hay raising was followed there. Their baby daughter, Lucina, was taken very ill, and they had to return to Payson and took her to Provo for medical treatment, where she died. In 1877, they moved to Annabella, Sevier County, engaged in farming and sheep industry with Edward K. Roberts, Joseph Asay and Joseph B. Jackson, partners.
They went to Richfield in 1881 on account of the school. In Annabella, the children had to walk to central, a mile and cross the Sevier on a wobbly foot bridge, which was dangerous and caused the mothers a lot of worry. In company with Nelson Spafford and others of Anabella, father frieghted to Silver Reed and Pioche, also making trips to Utah's Dixie and to Salt Lake, exchanging Southern Utah's products for merchandise and notions. Some of the trips ended in Provo, where they sold their loans.
The family returned to Annabella in 1884, and had a small store. It was not a profitable business, as the community was small. Farming as the main occupation there. My parents had accepted all the principles of the Gospel and tried to live them. On account of the Edmund Tucker law, father went to Cannonville in Southern Utah. Some of Uncle Ira Elmer's family lived there. He bought some land and built a log cabin and prepared to send for his family. Mother wanted to visit relatives in Payson once again before going so far away. She brought her children with her in May, 1887, found some work and did not go back. Persecution was just as bad in southern Utah. In the winter of 1887, father also returned to Payson. In the spring of 1888, they moved to the farm east of Salem of Joseph Clowards and raised good crops that season. They moved back to Payson where twin boys were born, October 2, 1888. Father built a small house that fall and moved in at Christmas time. Joseph S. Jones help him. Wilbern took an awful cold and developed Spinal Meningitis and has been an invalid all his life. Willis died when he was a month old. Father worked for John Dixon, a son of his former employer, about two years.
In December 1890, the family moved to Clinton, Utah County, Utah. Mother was on the move from the time she was fifteen months old until 1921. When the Relief Society was organized in Clinton, Rebecca J. Daniels, mother's old friend, was president. Sarah A. Elmer was 1st Counselor, and Annie Moore, 2nd Counselor. They worked together under difficult conditions, but faithfully tired to carry on. Mother was especially interested in Mutual Improvement and Sunday School work. She was class teacher in both organizations and 1st Counselor a number of years in the M.I.A.
They had a farm on Bennie Creek in the Clinton Distrixt. Father owned some good cows and delivered milk to people in Thistle, six miles distant. They had no ice, but kept the milk cool and sweet through evaporation, by wrapping the bottles in wet clothes. That was in horse and buggy days, before the advent of the automobile. While the family lived in Clinton, mother was active as a nurse, being called many times in emergency cases before the doctor arrived. She took training in mid-wifery and assisted in confinements—working under the direction of well-known doctors in Utah County—Doctors Westwood, Robinson, Merrill, Fred Taylor, W.T. Hasler and some of the railroad physicians in Thistle. The doctors said they could safely trust their patients in the care of Mrs. Elmer, on account of her carefully following their instructions, and her extreme sanitation. Her work was in Thistle, Spanish Fork Canyon, Clinton, and also Provo.
When her health failed, they returned to Payson, November 29, 1921. Father passed away at the age of 87, December 14, 1928. Twelve children were born to them, the tenth birth being twin boys. Seven sons and five daughters. Three sons and four daughters are now living. They are: Mrs. Ann E. Wilson, Orrin E. A. Elmer, Mrs. Lodisa Elmer Jones, Mrs. Etta Elmer Jeppson, Mrs. Lillian Elmer Hancock, and Wilbern Elmer; all of Payson, Sidney B. Elmer of Birdseye (Clinton) Utah County, Utah.
Mrs. Elmer is 88 years of age March 14, 1939. She has three groups of five generations. Twenty-four grandchildren, thirty two great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren. Her four daughters are members of the D.U.P Camps (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) in Payson, Utah.
--Written by Ann S. Elmer Wilson, 1939
Addendum: Sarah Ann Beckstead Elmer died in Payson, September 14, 1945.
In 1965, when this is being copied, there are only three children living; Etta, Lillian, and Sidney.
Sketch of Sarah Ann Beckstead and Henry ElmerPayson Park, 6 August, 1966, by Ora Lucina Jeppson Dixon
I wish to pay tribute to the wonderful grandparents who made it possible for us to be here today on the 6th of August, 1966, our first Elmer family reunion.
Sarah Ann Beckstead was born 14 March, 1851 at Traders Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sidney Marcus and Ann Sophia Rollins Beckstead. Her parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the persecution of the Saints in Illinois and were driven from their homes at the time of the exodus from Nauvoo. They move to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they lived for two years with Sidney Marcus' mother. When their first child, Sarah Ann, was one year old, they made preparations to come to the Valley of the Mountains. There were more than 100 wagons ready to start, this was too many for safety, so Ann Sophia's parents went in the first company and she followed with her husband's people, the Becksteads, in the second group.
Sidney Marcus was a carpenter and a blacksmith. So, with the help of his father in law, Enoch Perham Rollins, they built wagons and homes. Their family was still living in a wagon box when Sarah's sister Sabra was born in Salt Lake City on 20 October, 1853. Sidney Marcus also mended shoes for his family and others.
Many times, such as when they lived in Spanish Fork, their home was in a dugout. These were made in two ways. If next to a hill or mountain, a 3-sided room was dug out of the side of the hill, then a curtain hung for the fourth side. If the ground was level, they would dig down in the ground until a room was formed, then place a ladder to do down inside or up from it. Much like the cliff dwellers and other Indians used. Later adobe homes were built without mortar, with willows and clay for the roof, earth for the floor. Some even had log cabins.
When Sarah Ann was eleven years old, she was visiting Rufus Forbush's family at Union and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she saw the Griffith Sisters dance. They came out from Salt Lake. Sarah was fascinated with them and tried to do what they did. They became interested in her and taught her some steps. She soon was able to do the Highland Fling and to step dance. When the family moved to Payson, Mrs. Lucrettia Wightman, her favorite actress, saw her dance and told her she should dance in the Theater. She helped the young protegee with pretty costumes and arranged for her to dance between acts of her show. Sarah Ann was large for her age so she was allowed to accompany the older members of the family to entertainments where she took part with her dancing. She also performed at parties, reunions and Black Hawks. I can remember when we attended Black Hawk celebrations in Heber, Richfield, Nephi and Payson. All of us children wouldn't be interested in the programs until someone would say, "It's time for grandma." We would all come running.
She could step dance right into your heart. Her feet were light as feathers and her grace of body like a tall poplar swaying in the breeze. One time when she was over eighty years old, she raised her skirt about eight inches from the floor and as the music from the violin and accordion began to play, her feet began to move. I have not seen a more beautiful dancer.
Because Sarah's father was such a handy man in shoeing horses, repairing wagons, etc., he was called to go back to the Missouri River to help emigrants. On the return home, about 400 miles from Salt Lake a man's wagon broke down. Sidney had to stand guard that night for the Company's camp so he told the man he would return the next day and fix his wagon. This he did and when the wagon was repaired, he stood his gun by a bush; then mounted his horse and started to ride away with the other men, when they heard him say "there, I've forgotten my gun." He went back. In a few minutes a shot rang out. The men though it was Indians. They listened, heard no more, then went back to investigate, found Sidney shot through the head. The bush must have released the trigger, for the barrel was clutched in his hand. The tragic death of the father and fear of Indians was a sad experience for this family.
Sarah Ann went to work for Eliza Rust living on a ranch south of the Payson West Mountain, called Genola, near Utah Lake. Mr. Rust had to leave his home on business and he hired Cush Nebeker and Henry Elmer to work during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She looked through some field glasses to see if anyone was coming. One time she saw Indians. She knew they were Indians because they were riding single file, not in groups of two or more as whites do. Mrs. Rust wanted to get to town. Little Junior Wightman was visiting the family, so Sarah Ann carried George Rust, then Junior Wightman in turns until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting grain. He said he would not take them to town until the grain was finished by harrowing the land off. So they waited.
This was Sarah's introduction to Henry Elmer, the son of Hiram King and Lucina Elmer, cousins. He was born 7 March, 1841 at Sand Prairie, Adams County, Illinois. He was only three years and his sister, Lucy Lodica, six months old, when his mother, twenty-two years of age, died. I was fortunate to be born on her birthday (2nd June) and named in her honor – Ora Lucina. Like grandpa, I have revered her memory and it is through her that I have traced our genealogy back to Adam as well as it can be done.
One time I wrote Grandpa and Grandma a letter and signed my name, Ora Lucina. That pleased them very much for the next time they came to Payson, they brought me a dressed chicken.
Henry's father (Hiram Elmer) married again, Mrs. Mary Huffman, and when Henry was eleven years old, the started across the plains. He walked most of the way and helped to drive cattle. They came first to Provo in 1853, then moved to Whites Fort, south of Salt Lake, where Henry was baptized in 1855. He was employed by Bishop Hunger to take charge of the church's cattle. He received fifty cents and day. With two other young boys, they milked 25 cows, night and every morning, every day.
He learned how to make the best kind of shingles shaved with a drawing knife, hauled granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon for the Salt Lake Temple and rock for the tithing cellar, the community well and the Tabernacle at Payson from Spanish Fork Canyon. He had the natural instincts of a good surveyor, helped make roads, canals, bridges, reservoirs and ditches.
In 1863, he was called with nine other young men of Payson to go with the ox teams to the Missouri River for more Saints. Brigham Young advised the boys to get their endowments. Some thinking they were unworthy, hesitated. But, President Young said, "Boys, if you are good enough to be called, you are good enough to wear garments. If you will wear the garments and obey your captain, I promise you will go in peace and return in safety, and will not be molested." During the expedition, they met Crow and Sioux Indians. They said, "You Mormons? Me see um shirt." Their shirts were unbuttoned and the Indians seeing their garments granted their approval and the Company went on their journey unmolested. A train of prospectors meeting these same Indians were killed and after the Indians took what they wanted, the wagons were burned. A Stage Coach passed the burning train and told Captain Murdock about the massacre. The boys were mighty thankful for the protection of their garments.
Five hundred emigrants returned with them. It took six months for the round trip. Jim Manwill and Henry cooked for the ten men on the trip. Their bread was sour dough, the meat was wild game and fish. They learned if the cooked a stack of hot cakes up to their knee, it was just enough.
It was after his return that he went to work for George Rust and met Sarah Ann Beckstead and they were married on 31 March, 1866. They went to live on the Christopher Dixon Ranch, East of Payson. Many times when Indians were sited, grandma carried the children on her back up the Peteetneet hill to the Fort in Payson.
Grandfather was with Captain A.G. Conovers in the Calvary in the battle of Rocky Fort – one of the worst encounters of the Indian War. It lasted four hours. He was one of the advanced guards that was sent to head off cattle the Indians had stolen. Many were wounded in the rain of arrows.
In 1867, their first baby was born. Sarah was just sixteen years old. Henry went to Payson Canyon, got cedar poles, and took them to Provo where he sold them for material to make clothes for the baby.
He was not afraid to do any kind of work. From farming to cattle raising, sheep herding, freighting, running a grocery store in Annabella, building roads, and doing all other things it takes to build communities and provide for a large family.
At one time, he was a guard for Brigham Young. Each time they would stop, President Young would talk to the guards. He told them the time would come when the voice could be heard around the world, music and words would come out of the air, men would fly as easy as they can ride on the ground, and that there would be horse-less carriages. When my father took grandfather up to Frank Coomb's home to hear his radio, he was so happy, he told many of the prophecies Brigham Young had made and how thrilled he was to se them come true. He was just as excited when Dr. Pfouts showed him an airplane and wanted to take him for a ride, but Grandma, fearful of these new inventions, didn't want him to go.
The two worked faithfully in the church wherever they lived. With the power of the Holy Priesthood Grandfather held, many sick have been healed. When he was called to take another wife in polygamy, he responded to the call. Sarah had 12 children and Selena, 3 boys. They all felt it was the Lord's way of colonizing the West. So many had been killed.
Grandmother sold books from door to door, did washing for the train men in Thistle, and made deer gloves both fancy and plain. She studied in Provo and became a midwife, delivering many babies. Among the last she delivered was Ernest Mitchell of Spanish Fork. For this job, sometimes she received a pound of butter or some eggs or rusty bacon which was bacon not cured right. One time she got $5.00 for delivering and tending the mother and baby for ten days. She really thought she was rich.
In 1923, Grandmother was staying with us and I was going to the B.Y.U. She looked at my coat as I put it on and said, "I have never had a new coat." This shocked me. She was over 70 years of age. I told her if I got a school teaching job, my first paycheck would be used to buy her a coat. I remember how happy she was with the black coat with the fur collar. All her life she had spent in doing for others. She got joy in service, not selfishness.
She made yards of lace, knitted articles, crocheting and embroidery work; carded wool to make batts for quilts and home spun material. She made thread for clothing her family.
Grandma received second sight when she was about 70 years of age. Her eyes cleared and she was able to read as well as she ever had without the aid of glasses. She was a devote reader. Every day she read the newspaper, she read the scriptures and knew why she was a Latter Day Saint and was always ready to defend the church. There was not a kinder thing she could say about anyone than that they were " A good Latter Day Saint."
Grandfather was also blessed with a special gift. He could handle poison ivy and it would not bother him. He helped and cleaned it out of our lot and around many other people's homes.
I never heard either of them swear. Grandma would say "Sugar tongues and tinder boxes." Grandfather would say "By gal." They didn't have time to gossip or tell unclean stories. These two taught us the way to live; clean above reproach, word hard, obey counsel, and serve God.
Grandfather said, "Don't worry your friends with your troubles, they have plenty of their own."
This is our tribute to them and our thanks to them and our Heavenly Father for our fathers and mothers. I wish to also pay tribute to Aunt Ann for the many hours she spent in keeping records. If it hadn't been for her, where would we all be today? And to Aunt Lillian, who wrote such a beautiful story of the life of Henry Elmer for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
When their first child, my mother, was one year old, they began preparations to cross the plains to Utah. All families were required to supply themselves with necessary clothing and provisions, and also seed to plant when they reached the valleys of the mountains.
There were more than one hundred wagons ready to start on the long journey at that time, making the company too large to travel in safety. For convenience in camping and on account of feed for the cattle, the company had to be divided into two sections. Mother's grandparents, Enock Perham Rollins and family went in the first section, her parents following later, traveling with a relative, George W. Beckstead, who was left in charge of a widowed mother and children. His Father, Francis Beckstead Sr., having died in 1841, soon after the Beckstead families arrived in Illinois from Canada.
They were left without a leader, as he was assistant captain while en route from Williamsburg to Nauvoo. They were earnest believers in the mission of the Prophet Joseph and wanted to go where they could follow his teachings. They crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains with ox teams and arrived in Salt Lake City in October, 1852. Mother's parents traveled with George Beckstead to Fort Laramie, where his sister Sarah Beckstead Forbush was stricken with Cholera. She was so afraid of the dreaded disease, as her brother, Francis Beckstead Jr. had died of Cholera on the banks of the Missouri in 1848. She grieved so much for him. She said, "I'm afraid if I go on this journey, I too will die of Cholera" – and she did.
Some emigrants; had collected old clothes and other rubbish to make a fire. The smoke blew into her wagon. She became very ill. She thought the old clothes had belonged to someone who had died of Cholera. She only lived twenty-four hours. She was buried at Laramie on the Old Mormon Trail.
Rufus Forbush asked mother's parents to move into his wagon to help care for his motherless children, which they did, and traveled with them to Union Fort, where his parents had settled a while before. They remained with the Forbush family some time. When her father returned to Salt Lake City, he learned the blacksmith trade. He worked with Grandfather Rollins, who was a carpenter and wheelwright. Together they made wagons and also did carpenter and other work. While they were building a log house, the family lived in a wagon box. The is where mother's sister, Sabra, was born October 20, 1853.
Sidney Beckstead was a sturdy pioneer and colonizer. He moved his family into sparsely settled districts many times. Mother well remembers some of the hastily constructed places of abode where they lived for a time, especially the "dugout" in Spanish Fork at the time of the "Move" in 1858. Grandmother Rollins lived with them at the time of the invasion of Johnston's Army.
In Payson another emergency home was built of adobe without mortar, willows and clay for the roof, the earth for the floor. The willows were cut from the black willow trees which grew in the banks of the stream that runs through the lot on which her daughter, Ann E. Wilson, now lives.
After the "treaty" was signed, they went back to Weber Valley to cut their hay. Sarah Ann being the eldest child, she helped her father with his work. From Weber Valley, they moved to South Jordan. Uncle Alexander Beckstead lived there. Sarah went with her father to Great Salt Lake to get loads of salt which he sold. They also made trips to the point of the mountain for sumac, used in tanning leather.
At the time Johnston's Army was passing through the valley to Camp Floyd, they kept a "Traveler's Rest" on state road, about a mile and a half from Draper. They couldn't make that pay, so they went back again to Weber, hoping they could get some land. He failed to get any. His cousin, Henry Beckstead, lived in Riverdale, so they moved there. Her father built a two-room log house opposite a grist mill owned by Apostle John Taylor. I t was situated between the mill race and a canal. He bought and sold all manner of products used by the settlers.
On one of his business trips to Salt Lake City, he took his wife with him, leaving the children in care of Annie Wardsworth, a very trustworthy young girl. In the night the wind commenced to blow. They were very frightened and could not sleep. Sarah said to Annie, "this is no fool of a wind, is it?" It took off part of the roof. When morning came, it was still blowing with much force. They had to go to the canal for water. They had to hold each other and the willows along the canal to keep from falling in while one of the girls dipped up the water. They could hardly get back to the house. Annie's parents lived about two miles away. She knew if they tried to go to her home, they would be blown in the canal, so she decided to take the children into the cellar for protection from the wind. Sarah was nine, Sabra seven, Lillian five, Mary three and the baby seventeen months old. They were hungry because there was no food in the cellar. They found some wheat in a sack, ate some of it and chewed some for the baby. The neighbors knew the parents were gone, and went to see what had happened to them during the night. The children could not be found. It was thought that Annie had tried to take them to a place of safety. The path between the water ways was too narrow for anyone to walk safely in such a strong wind. They ran parallel more than three blocks before they diverged. A young man named Ralph Slater, who walked on crutches said, "the children are lost, I am sure I can find them." One man said, "I hope you can, but I doubt it."
Ralph went around the house, calling – no answer. He made so much noise with his crutches, they thought it might be Indians. They were frightened and kept very quiet. He went into the cellar and shouted, "Here they are, safe and sound." The wind lasted many hours. More than forty houses were blown down or damaged. Fires were started and numerous barns destroyed. Much damage was done for miles around. Ralph and others carried food to the hungry children.
The parents thought they could make the trip in two days. When they got to Farmington, trees were blown across the road. So much damage was done that they could not proceed. The mother was nearly overcome with grief and fear of what might have happened to her little girls. They arrived home the afternoon of the fifth day and found all well. They lived in Farmington for a while. Her father worked with grandfather Rollins at the settlement also.
Mother's folks again returned to West Jordan. Alexander, the oldest member of the Beckstead family was given a grant of land for cultivation and settlement. He allowed the Beckstead boys, who were the heads of families, twenty five acres each if they would improve it, which grandfather tried to do. Mother learned to drive the oxen and when she was eleven, she helped her father plow. All during his life in Utah, he made and mended shoes for his own family as well as for other people.
When mother was a small girl, she learned step dancing. She was visiting Rufus Forbush's family and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she first saw the Griffith sisters dance. They came out to Union from Salt Lake. She was fascinated with their performance and tried to dance as they did. The girls were interested in the little girl and taught her some of the steps. She soon learned to dance the Highland fling, so called then.
Then she made Payson her home a few years later, Mrs. Lucretia Wightman, her favorite actress saw her dance. She said, "Sarah, you should dance in the Theater." Mrs. Wightman helped the young protegee with some pretty costumes and arranged for her to appear between acts. Her dance was quite popular those days.
The land her father had on Joran was poor and unprofitable, so he gave it up and his next move was South of Goshen Valley. They lived on Stewart's Ranch in a two roomed adobe house. They were members of the Santaquin ward and attended meetings and entertainments there. Her father played the violin for dances. Mother, being large for her age, went with the older members of the family and took part in the dancing. All through the years she was called on to help entertain with her dancing, in parties, reunions, and especially the Black Hawk encampments, whenever she was known to be present.
In the spring of 1864, mother's father was called as a mechanic to go to the Missouri River with Captain John Murdock's company of teamsters. He repaired the wagons, put shoes on the animals and was an all round handy man. He visited his mother and other relatives in Sarpy county while en route. On the return trip about 400 miles from Salt Lake, a man's wagon had broken down. The company left his a few miles from camp. Sidney Beckstead promised to go back early and fix his wagon so he could catch the company the next day. He had to stand guard that night. Two young men were to take his place. Before day break, he called the boys and said he was ready to start back. He must have stood his gun in a bush while he mounted his horse. He started to ride away. The boys hear him say, "there I've forgot my gun." In a few minutes a shot rang out. They thought it might be Indians, listened, heard no more, then got up to investigate. They found him on the ground by his horse, shot through the head, the barrel of his gun clutched in his hand. The captain said the hammer of the gun had caught in the bush and discharged, killing him instantly. They rolled him in his blankets and buried him by the side of the road, about 14 miles north of the Platte bridge, near the Colorado line, August 7, 1864. The family was living on the farm where he left them, when he went away. They had heard the company had arrived in Salt Lake City and were looking for him to come. They were worried and dreaded they knew not what. The news of his death reached them three weeks after the fatal accident.
Grandmother Rollins and her sons Orson H. and Charles were living with them. The boys were taking care of the crops. They were a great help and comfort to the grief stricken family. The tragic death of her father and fear of the Indians adversely affected mother all through her life.
At the age of fourteen, mother went to work for Eliza Rust on the ranch south of the West Mountain, near Utah Lake. The Indians were quite troublesome at the time, going to the places and demanding food and beef. Mr. Rust had to leave the place a few days on business. He had hired Henry Elmer and Cush Nebeker nights, during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She had field glasses and kept a lookout for anyone coming. Early in the morning she saw a horseman coming. She watched and soon saw a lot of them riding in single file across the end of the little valley. "Indians," she exclaimed. "Sarah, we must go to town right now." They carried the smaller children. Sarah carried Georgie Rust and Junior Wightman in turn until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting the grain. He said he couldn't take them to Payson until the grain was harrowed and laid off, so they waited. During the day, some Springville men, Richard Mendenhall and others who had cattle at the ranch came along. The situation was explained to them. They thought it would be safe to take the frightened family back to the ranch. They thought the Indians were going around the other side of the lake and wouldn't trouble them. All the men stopped at the ranch that night. They found out later that the "red skins" were angry at not getting a whole beef and had threatened to go to the ranch while George Rust was away, kill the family and run off the cattle, but their chief, who Mrs. Rust saw in the lead, got them to leave the family in peace. He said Mr. Rust had given them heaps of beef and food as well as other things, so they abandoned their purposed cruelty at that time and id not molest them.
That was the time Sarah Beckstead first met Henry Elmer to whom she was married March 31, 1866 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. The young couple made their first home in Payson, moving on the Christopher Dixon ranch, northeast of Payson City Cemetery. They were expected to take care of the farm and dairy. She being inexperienced, Mr. Dixon taught them how to make cheese and butter. They were not permitted to work there together very long. Her husband, being a member of the Utah County Militia, was called May 2nd by Captain Jonathan S. Page, to go with a company of Calvary to Sanpete County to protect the settlers from Indian depredations. That was the outbreak of the Black Hawk Indian War. She was only fifteen, almost a stranger in Payson. No relatives of her own living near. Her mother and other sisters had moved to West Jordan, Henry Beckstead having sent for her mother to teach school at the time Sarah was married. During her early life, she learned to do all kinds of work, how to prepare materials for the things that had to be manufactured in the pioneer homes. Carded wool into batts and rolls, spun yarn, colored it with homemade dyes, wove cloth, made clothing for all the members of the family, braided straw, sewed it into hats for boys, had them blocked by Philo Johnson, the hatter, who made felt hats of rabbit fur, in the early days of Payson. Mother also made hats of flatiron shaped pieces, similar to sport hats worn by both boys and girls now. She knitted many articles worn at that time, and yards and yards of lace, crocheted a bedspread and other articles fashionable then.
Mother had one of the first sewing machines brought to Payson by James S. McBeth, on which she stitched the cloth tops and soft leather pieces for shoes, for her neighbor, Rebecca J. Daniels, who made and mended shoes. They were close friends and worked together making men's suits as well as shoes. In 1876, mother made and embroidered a baby's white flannel set to be sent to the Centennial Fair in Chicago. Somehow Utah's exhibit failed to reach Chicago, and later was placed in the Territorial Fair of Utah in Salt Lake City. The infant's set won a prize of recognition for the Payson Relief Society. Her next venture was the glover's trade. She made buckskin gloves for men and boys. Fawn skin gloves for ladies, embroidered with silk floss. Father tanned and smoked some of the deerskins. She colored some of the thinner ones, from which some especially soft gloves were made. They bought most of the buckskin from the Indians. It wore better and remained more pliable.
Sarah Elmer joined the Payson Relief Society soon after her marriage. Jane Simons was President. She was also a charter member of the Philomathian and Retrenchment Society. She attended the first meeting called by President Brigham Young in Payson. The organization was designed for the instructions and improvement of the young people. She realized the necessity of education and her lack of it. When her third child, Orrin, was one and a half years old, her sister-in-law, Diena Elmer, consented to take care of the baby and look after the home, so that she could attend the school taught by Henry E. Hudson on the hill where the Central School house now stands. On her way to school each morning, she left her small daughter Ann, age five, at the school taught by William Patten, in the small adobe building owned by James Reece, situated on the lot occupied now by the Loveless Greenhouse.
The mathematics she specialized in at that time, was a great help to herself and husband. The family moved many times into new and undeveloped communities. Their first move from Payson was to Chases' ranch in Juab Country near the Sevier River with a brother-in-law George A. Hatch and Amos Chase. Cattle and hay raising was followed there. Their baby daughter, Lucina, was taken very ill, and they had to return to Payson and took her to Provo for medical treatment, where she died. In 1877, they moved to Annabella, Sevier County, engaged in farming and sheep industry with Edward K. Roberts, Joseph Asay and Joseph B. Jackson, partners.
They went to Richfield in 1881 on account of the school. In Annabella, the children had to walk to central, a mile and cross the Sevier on a wobbly foot bridge, which was dangerous and caused the mothers a lot of worry. In company with Nelson Spafford and others of Anabella, father frieghted to Silver Reed and Pioche, also making trips to Utah's Dixie and to Salt Lake, exchanging Southern Utah's products for merchandise and notions. Some of the trips ended in Provo, where they sold their loans.
The family returned to Annabella in 1884, and had a small store. It was not a profitable business, as the community was small. Farming as the main occupation there. My parents had accepted all the principles of the Gospel and tried to live them. On account of the Edmund Tucker law, father went to Cannonville in Southern Utah. Some of Uncle Ira Elmer's family lived there. He bought some land and built a log cabin and prepared to send for his family. Mother wanted to visit relatives in Payson once again before going so far away. She brought her children with her in May, 1887, found some work and did not go back. Persecution was just as bad in southern Utah. In the winter of 1887, father also returned to Payson. In the spring of 1888, they moved to the farm east of Salem of Joseph Clowards and raised good crops that season. They moved back to Payson where twin boys were born, October 2, 1888. Father built a small house that fall and moved in at Christmas time. Joseph S. Jones help him. Wilbern took an awful cold and developed Spinal Meningitis and has been an invalid all his life. Willis died when he was a month old. Father worked for John Dixon, a son of his former employer, about two years.
In December 1890, the family moved to Clinton, Utah County, Utah. Mother was on the move from the time she was fifteen months old until 1921. When the Relief Society was organized in Clinton, Rebecca J. Daniels, mother's old friend, was president. Sarah A. Elmer was 1st Counselor, and Annie Moore, 2nd Counselor. They worked together under difficult conditions, but faithfully tired to carry on. Mother was especially interested in Mutual Improvement and Sunday School work. She was class teacher in both organizations and 1st Counselor a number of years in the M.I.A.
They had a farm on Bennie Creek in the Clinton Distrixt. Father owned some good cows and delivered milk to people in Thistle, six miles distant. They had no ice, but kept the milk cool and sweet through evaporation, by wrapping the bottles in wet clothes. That was in horse and buggy days, before the advent of the automobile. While the family lived in Clinton, mother was active as a nurse, being called many times in emergency cases before the doctor arrived. She took training in mid-wifery and assisted in confinements—working under the direction of well-known doctors in Utah County—Doctors Westwood, Robinson, Merrill, Fred Taylor, W.T. Hasler and some of the railroad physicians in Thistle. The doctors said they could safely trust their patients in the care of Mrs. Elmer, on account of her carefully following their instructions, and her extreme sanitation. Her work was in Thistle, Spanish Fork Canyon, Clinton, and also Provo.
When her health failed, they returned to Payson, November 29, 1921. Father passed away at the age of 87, December 14, 1928. Twelve children were born to them, the tenth birth being twin boys. Seven sons and five daughters. Three sons and four daughters are now living. They are: Mrs. Ann E. Wilson, Orrin E. A. Elmer, Mrs. Lodisa Elmer Jones, Mrs. Etta Elmer Jeppson, Mrs. Lillian Elmer Hancock, and Wilbern Elmer; all of Payson, Sidney B. Elmer of Birdseye (Clinton) Utah County, Utah.
Mrs. Elmer is 88 years of age March 14, 1939. She has three groups of five generations. Twenty-four grandchildren, thirty two great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren. Her four daughters are members of the D.U.P Camps (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) in Payson, Utah.
--Written by Ann S. Elmer Wilson, 1939
Addendum: Sarah Ann Beckstead Elmer died in Payson, September 14, 1945.
In 1965, when this is being copied, there are only three children living; Etta, Lillian, and Sidney.
Sketch of Sarah Ann Beckstead and Henry ElmerPayson Park, 6 August, 1966, by Ora Lucina Jeppson Dixon
I wish to pay tribute to the wonderful grandparents who made it possible for us to be here today on the 6th of August, 1966, our first Elmer family reunion.
Sarah Ann Beckstead was born 14 March, 1851 at Traders Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sidney Marcus and Ann Sophia Rollins Beckstead. Her parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the persecution of the Saints in Illinois and were driven from their homes at the time of the exodus from Nauvoo. They move to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they lived for two years with Sidney Marcus' mother. When their first child, Sarah Ann, was one year old, they made preparations to come to the Valley of the Mountains. There were more than 100 wagons ready to start, this was too many for safety, so Ann Sophia's parents went in the first company and she followed with her husband's people, the Becksteads, in the second group.
Sidney Marcus was a carpenter and a blacksmith. So, with the help of his father in law, Enoch Perham Rollins, they built wagons and homes. Their family was still living in a wagon box when Sarah's sister Sabra was born in Salt Lake City on 20 October, 1853. Sidney Marcus also mended shoes for his family and others.
Many times, such as when they lived in Spanish Fork, their home was in a dugout. These were made in two ways. If next to a hill or mountain, a 3-sided room was dug out of the side of the hill, then a curtain hung for the fourth side. If the ground was level, they would dig down in the ground until a room was formed, then place a ladder to do down inside or up from it. Much like the cliff dwellers and other Indians used. Later adobe homes were built without mortar, with willows and clay for the roof, earth for the floor. Some even had log cabins.
When Sarah Ann was eleven years old, she was visiting Rufus Forbush's family at Union and helping his housekeeper, Aunt Lucy, when she saw the Griffith Sisters dance. They came out from Salt Lake. Sarah was fascinated with them and tried to do what they did. They became interested in her and taught her some steps. She soon was able to do the Highland Fling and to step dance. When the family moved to Payson, Mrs. Lucrettia Wightman, her favorite actress, saw her dance and told her she should dance in the Theater. She helped the young protegee with pretty costumes and arranged for her to dance between acts of her show. Sarah Ann was large for her age so she was allowed to accompany the older members of the family to entertainments where she took part with her dancing. She also performed at parties, reunions and Black Hawks. I can remember when we attended Black Hawk celebrations in Heber, Richfield, Nephi and Payson. All of us children wouldn't be interested in the programs until someone would say, "It's time for grandma." We would all come running.
She could step dance right into your heart. Her feet were light as feathers and her grace of body like a tall poplar swaying in the breeze. One time when she was over eighty years old, she raised her skirt about eight inches from the floor and as the music from the violin and accordion began to play, her feet began to move. I have not seen a more beautiful dancer.
Because Sarah's father was such a handy man in shoeing horses, repairing wagons, etc., he was called to go back to the Missouri River to help emigrants. On the return home, about 400 miles from Salt Lake a man's wagon broke down. Sidney had to stand guard that night for the Company's camp so he told the man he would return the next day and fix his wagon. This he did and when the wagon was repaired, he stood his gun by a bush; then mounted his horse and started to ride away with the other men, when they heard him say "there, I've forgotten my gun." He went back. In a few minutes a shot rang out. The men though it was Indians. They listened, heard no more, then went back to investigate, found Sidney shot through the head. The bush must have released the trigger, for the barrel was clutched in his hand. The tragic death of the father and fear of Indians was a sad experience for this family.
Sarah Ann went to work for Eliza Rust living on a ranch south of the Payson West Mountain, called Genola, near Utah Lake. Mr. Rust had to leave his home on business and he hired Cush Nebeker and Henry Elmer to work during his absence. Mrs. Rust was nervous. She looked through some field glasses to see if anyone was coming. One time she saw Indians. She knew they were Indians because they were riding single file, not in groups of two or more as whites do. Mrs. Rust wanted to get to town. Little Junior Wightman was visiting the family, so Sarah Ann carried George Rust, then Junior Wightman in turns until they got to the field where Henry Elmer was planting grain. He said he would not take them to town until the grain was finished by harrowing the land off. So they waited.
This was Sarah's introduction to Henry Elmer, the son of Hiram King and Lucina Elmer, cousins. He was born 7 March, 1841 at Sand Prairie, Adams County, Illinois. He was only three years and his sister, Lucy Lodica, six months old, when his mother, twenty-two years of age, died. I was fortunate to be born on her birthday (2nd June) and named in her honor – Ora Lucina. Like grandpa, I have revered her memory and it is through her that I have traced our genealogy back to Adam as well as it can be done.
One time I wrote Grandpa and Grandma a letter and signed my name, Ora Lucina. That pleased them very much for the next time they came to Payson, they brought me a dressed chicken.
Henry's father (Hiram Elmer) married again, Mrs. Mary Huffman, and when Henry was eleven years old, the started across the plains. He walked most of the way and helped to drive cattle. They came first to Provo in 1853, then moved to Whites Fort, south of Salt Lake, where Henry was baptized in 1855. He was employed by Bishop Hunger to take charge of the church's cattle. He received fifty cents and day. With two other young boys, they milked 25 cows, night and every morning, every day.
He learned how to make the best kind of shingles shaved with a drawing knife, hauled granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon for the Salt Lake Temple and rock for the tithing cellar, the community well and the Tabernacle at Payson from Spanish Fork Canyon. He had the natural instincts of a good surveyor, helped make roads, canals, bridges, reservoirs and ditches.
In 1863, he was called with nine other young men of Payson to go with the ox teams to the Missouri River for more Saints. Brigham Young advised the boys to get their endowments. Some thinking they were unworthy, hesitated. But, President Young said, "Boys, if you are good enough to be called, you are good enough to wear garments. If you will wear the garments and obey your captain, I promise you will go in peace and return in safety, and will not be molested." During the expedition, they met Crow and Sioux Indians. They said, "You Mormons? Me see um shirt." Their shirts were unbuttoned and the Indians seeing their garments granted their approval and the Company went on their journey unmolested. A train of prospectors meeting these same Indians were killed and after the Indians took what they wanted, the wagons were burned. A Stage Coach passed the burning train and told Captain Murdock about the massacre. The boys were mighty thankful for the protection of their garments.
Five hundred emigrants returned with them. It took six months for the round trip. Jim Manwill and Henry cooked for the ten men on the trip. Their bread was sour dough, the meat was wild game and fish. They learned if the cooked a stack of hot cakes up to their knee, it was just enough.
It was after his return that he went to work for George Rust and met Sarah Ann Beckstead and they were married on 31 March, 1866. They went to live on the Christopher Dixon Ranch, East of Payson. Many times when Indians were sited, grandma carried the children on her back up the Peteetneet hill to the Fort in Payson.
Grandfather was with Captain A.G. Conovers in the Calvary in the battle of Rocky Fort – one of the worst encounters of the Indian War. It lasted four hours. He was one of the advanced guards that was sent to head off cattle the Indians had stolen. Many were wounded in the rain of arrows.
In 1867, their first baby was born. Sarah was just sixteen years old. Henry went to Payson Canyon, got cedar poles, and took them to Provo where he sold them for material to make clothes for the baby.
He was not afraid to do any kind of work. From farming to cattle raising, sheep herding, freighting, running a grocery store in Annabella, building roads, and doing all other things it takes to build communities and provide for a large family.
At one time, he was a guard for Brigham Young. Each time they would stop, President Young would talk to the guards. He told them the time would come when the voice could be heard around the world, music and words would come out of the air, men would fly as easy as they can ride on the ground, and that there would be horse-less carriages. When my father took grandfather up to Frank Coomb's home to hear his radio, he was so happy, he told many of the prophecies Brigham Young had made and how thrilled he was to se them come true. He was just as excited when Dr. Pfouts showed him an airplane and wanted to take him for a ride, but Grandma, fearful of these new inventions, didn't want him to go.
The two worked faithfully in the church wherever they lived. With the power of the Holy Priesthood Grandfather held, many sick have been healed. When he was called to take another wife in polygamy, he responded to the call. Sarah had 12 children and Selena, 3 boys. They all felt it was the Lord's way of colonizing the West. So many had been killed.
Grandmother sold books from door to door, did washing for the train men in Thistle, and made deer gloves both fancy and plain. She studied in Provo and became a midwife, delivering many babies. Among the last she delivered was Ernest Mitchell of Spanish Fork. For this job, sometimes she received a pound of butter or some eggs or rusty bacon which was bacon not cured right. One time she got $5.00 for delivering and tending the mother and baby for ten days. She really thought she was rich.
In 1923, Grandmother was staying with us and I was going to the B.Y.U. She looked at my coat as I put it on and said, "I have never had a new coat." This shocked me. She was over 70 years of age. I told her if I got a school teaching job, my first paycheck would be used to buy her a coat. I remember how happy she was with the black coat with the fur collar. All her life she had spent in doing for others. She got joy in service, not selfishness.
She made yards of lace, knitted articles, crocheting and embroidery work; carded wool to make batts for quilts and home spun material. She made thread for clothing her family.
Grandma received second sight when she was about 70 years of age. Her eyes cleared and she was able to read as well as she ever had without the aid of glasses. She was a devote reader. Every day she read the newspaper, she read the scriptures and knew why she was a Latter Day Saint and was always ready to defend the church. There was not a kinder thing she could say about anyone than that they were " A good Latter Day Saint."
Grandfather was also blessed with a special gift. He could handle poison ivy and it would not bother him. He helped and cleaned it out of our lot and around many other people's homes.
I never heard either of them swear. Grandma would say "Sugar tongues and tinder boxes." Grandfather would say "By gal." They didn't have time to gossip or tell unclean stories. These two taught us the way to live; clean above reproach, word hard, obey counsel, and serve God.
Grandfather said, "Don't worry your friends with your troubles, they have plenty of their own."
This is our tribute to them and our thanks to them and our Heavenly Father for our fathers and mothers. I wish to also pay tribute to Aunt Ann for the many hours she spent in keeping records. If it hadn't been for her, where would we all be today? And to Aunt Lillian, who wrote such a beautiful story of the life of Henry Elmer for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Children
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Henry Francis Elmer
1867–1868
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Ann Sophia Elmer Wilson
1869–1960
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Orrin Elton Alma Elmer
1873–1962
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Emma Lucy Lodisa "Dicey" Elmer Jones
1879–1963
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Henrietta Ursula "Etta" Elmer Jeppson
1883–1966
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Joseph Elmer
1884–1884
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Lillian Rebecca Elmer Lewellen
1886–1976
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Willis Arlyn Elmer
1888–1888
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Wilbern Rollins Elmer
1888–1939
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Sidney Beckstead Elmer
1891–1968
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