In the year 1871, a widow, Lavinia Duffield Snyder, with two daughters Margaret Conrad, age 17, and Maria Todd, age 16 came to Salt Lake by way of train. Lavinia heard Joseph Smith speak while on a tour through Pennsylvania and she was very interested. Evidently her husband, George Snyder, was not. However, he was much older than she. He died and left her a very young widow. Lavinia left her home and farm in Philadelphia to her son to go west.
Lavinia was the daughter of Jesse Duffield and Mary Knowles. She was born February 17, 1816 in Philadelphia. Her parents and grandparents were wealthy landowners and business people. She and her children therefore knew nothing about pioneering or western life. Although they missed the easy life in the east, they were happy in Salt Lake City, and after becoming acquainted with the Mormon Church and its people, they were baptized.
At age twenty-five, John Edward married Margaret Conrad Snyder on March 16, 1874. She was born October 5, 1850 and was twenty-three years old. Margaret had a very good education for those early days, but she was a delicate girl. Because a doctor advised John Edward to take her south to a warmer climate, they decided to move to Arizona. Seven years passed however before they were able to go. Many of the Saints were moving to Mexico because of Polygamy. John Edward decided to join them for it would be a warmer climate there.
John Edward McNeil and his wife Margaret traveled in the company with others. According to a record of Joseph Samuel Cardon, it was early in February 1884.
Margarets health did not improve greatly, but they were happy in their home in Mexico and were quite comfortable. On March 29, 1886, Melissa Snyder was born. Margaret seemed to be improving, and was able to sit up. However, after helping her family sing a song, she slumped over and was gone. This sad event occurred April 8, 1886, ten days after the birth. It was almost impossible to raise a child without breast-feeding. Melissa was given good care, but lived only one month. She died May 1, 1886.
Lavinia was the daughter of Jesse Duffield and Mary Knowles. She was born February 17, 1816 in Philadelphia. Her parents and grandparents were wealthy landowners and business people. She and her children therefore knew nothing about pioneering or western life. Although they missed the easy life in the east, they were happy in Salt Lake City, and after becoming acquainted with the Mormon Church and its people, they were baptized.
At age twenty-five, John Edward married Margaret Conrad Snyder on March 16, 1874. She was born October 5, 1850 and was twenty-three years old. Margaret had a very good education for those early days, but she was a delicate girl. Because a doctor advised John Edward to take her south to a warmer climate, they decided to move to Arizona. Seven years passed however before they were able to go. Many of the Saints were moving to Mexico because of Polygamy. John Edward decided to join them for it would be a warmer climate there.
John Edward McNeil and his wife Margaret traveled in the company with others. According to a record of Joseph Samuel Cardon, it was early in February 1884.
Margarets health did not improve greatly, but they were happy in their home in Mexico and were quite comfortable. On March 29, 1886, Melissa Snyder was born. Margaret seemed to be improving, and was able to sit up. However, after helping her family sing a song, she slumped over and was gone. This sad event occurred April 8, 1886, ten days after the birth. It was almost impossible to raise a child without breast-feeding. Melissa was given good care, but lived only one month. She died May 1, 1886.
In the year 1871, a widow, Lavinia Duffield Snyder, with two daughters Margaret Conrad, age 17, and Maria Todd, age 16 came to Salt Lake by way of train. Lavinia heard Joseph Smith speak while on a tour through Pennsylvania and she was very interested. Evidently her husband, George Snyder, was not. However, he was much older than she. He died and left her a very young widow. Lavinia left her home and farm in Philadelphia to her son to go west.
Lavinia was the daughter of Jesse Duffield and Mary Knowles. She was born February 17, 1816 in Philadelphia. Her parents and grandparents were wealthy landowners and business people. She and her children therefore knew nothing about pioneering or western life. Although they missed the easy life in the east, they were happy in Salt Lake City, and after becoming acquainted with the Mormon Church and its people, they were baptized.
At age twenty-five, John Edward married Margaret Conrad Snyder on March 16, 1874. She was born October 5, 1850 and was twenty-three years old. Margaret had a very good education for those early days, but she was a delicate girl. Because a doctor advised John Edward to take her south to a warmer climate, they decided to move to Arizona. Seven years passed however before they were able to go. Many of the Saints were moving to Mexico because of Polygamy. John Edward decided to join them for it would be a warmer climate there.
John Edward McNeil and his wife Margaret traveled in the company with others. According to a record of Joseph Samuel Cardon, it was early in February 1884.
Margarets health did not improve greatly, but they were happy in their home in Mexico and were quite comfortable. On March 29, 1886, Melissa Snyder was born. Margaret seemed to be improving, and was able to sit up. However, after helping her family sing a song, she slumped over and was gone. This sad event occurred April 8, 1886, ten days after the birth. It was almost impossible to raise a child without breast-feeding. Melissa was given good care, but lived only one month. She died May 1, 1886.
Lavinia was the daughter of Jesse Duffield and Mary Knowles. She was born February 17, 1816 in Philadelphia. Her parents and grandparents were wealthy landowners and business people. She and her children therefore knew nothing about pioneering or western life. Although they missed the easy life in the east, they were happy in Salt Lake City, and after becoming acquainted with the Mormon Church and its people, they were baptized.
At age twenty-five, John Edward married Margaret Conrad Snyder on March 16, 1874. She was born October 5, 1850 and was twenty-three years old. Margaret had a very good education for those early days, but she was a delicate girl. Because a doctor advised John Edward to take her south to a warmer climate, they decided to move to Arizona. Seven years passed however before they were able to go. Many of the Saints were moving to Mexico because of Polygamy. John Edward decided to join them for it would be a warmer climate there.
John Edward McNeil and his wife Margaret traveled in the company with others. According to a record of Joseph Samuel Cardon, it was early in February 1884.
Margarets health did not improve greatly, but they were happy in their home in Mexico and were quite comfortable. On March 29, 1886, Melissa Snyder was born. Margaret seemed to be improving, and was able to sit up. However, after helping her family sing a song, she slumped over and was gone. This sad event occurred April 8, 1886, ten days after the birth. It was almost impossible to raise a child without breast-feeding. Melissa was given good care, but lived only one month. She died May 1, 1886.
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