biography:
Elizabeth Sophia Bailey was born July 22, 1823 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Joseph Brown Bailey and Ann Smith. She was the third of nine children. Her father Joseph was in the British Army and was stationed in Canada, England and Ireland. The family crossed the ocean several times, and after Joseph retired, the family moved back to his native England.
Her granddaughters recorded this story about one of the voyages across the ocean: "Through the many travel of her parents from one duty station to another, Elizabeth learned to adjust to different and often unfavorable conditions. She was mild in disposition and obedient to discipline. On one of the several journeys across the ocean, the children all became ill with measles and Elizabeth's life was in jeopardy for some time. To add to their discomfort a terrific storm arose which lasted for two days and nights, with thunder, lightning, rain and heavy winds. On the morning of the third day the storm abated and they sailed over smooth blue water. The children all recuperated normally from their illness except Elizabeth who had caught a severe cold during the storm. A bad swelling arose on her next and face which rapidly developed into an abscess and was very painful. Several of her teeth and pieces of bone from her jawbone are said to have fallen from the core of the swelling, leaving her mouth crooked. Elizabeth finally recovered but was a frail, delicate child during her youth, being afflicted intermittently with asthma which distressed her all of her life."
In 1850, in Chatham, Kent, England, her father Joseph died. In 1854, at the age of 30, Elizabeth was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized along with her mother Ann, and her surviving siblings, Ellen, George and Reuben. In 1855, she traveled with her mother, brothers and nephew on the Mormon Immigrant Ship "Samuel Curling" and arrived in New York City in May, 1855.
The family made their way to Kansas where they joined the Milo Andrus Company, a Mormon wagon train which was part of the "Perpetual Emigration Fund." They arrived in what was then called "Great Salt Lake City" in October, 1855 and lived in the Millcreek area with her brother George and his family. (George arrived in the Utah Territory in 1853.) Elizabeth received her patriarchal blessing on 13 February 1857 from Patriarch John Young, in the Millcreek Ward.
An interesting story (written in 1957 by her granddaughters) states that Elizabeth had left a beau in England and that her brother George disapproved of him. George went from Millcreek to Salt Lake once a week and would post letters for the family. Elizabeth sent letters to her beau and anxiously awaited his reply. When months and months went by and no reply came, she decided to try to distract herself with service to others.
During the winter and early spring of 1856-57, the Baileys helped a man named Luther Reed care for his wife until she passed away. Then, Luther was called by Brigham Young to go to Tooele and establish a sawmill. Before leaving Luther surprised Elizabeth by proposing marriage. Elizabeth was conflicted by the proposal because she did not love Luther. Luther was in his sixties, his wife had just died and Elizabeth was still holding on to hope that her beau would send word to her from England. However, being persuaded by George, she accepted Luther's offer of marriage. They were married 23 April 1857 by the bishop of the Millcreek Ward and then they left for Tooele.
The story goes, that after the wedding, George gave Elizabeth a wrapped package which she assumed to be a wedding present. He made her promise to open it when she was alone.
Her granddaughters wrote, "One day while Luther was at the mill Elizabeth decided to open the package her brother had given her and use the money to buy material in preparing clothing for the coming child. Imagine her surprise and consternation in discovering the package did not contain money, as she supposed, but the two letters she had written to her sweetheart in England, and also two letters from him, addressed to her. She broke the seal. [In] the first letter, [her beau wondered] why had she not written as she had promised? Was she unfaithful to him? The second letter was in a different vein. He had investigated the Latter-day Saint religion and had found it all she had declared it to be. He wanted to come to Utah but not unless he could have her for his wife. Why had she not written to assure him of her faithfulness? This revelation was a severe shock to Elizabeth and she was entirely prostrated for a few days. Elizabeth was overcome with grief, resentment, confusion and frustration. She could tell no one. Her own brother had done this to her! He had not posted her letters, and had confiscated those from her sweetheart, thus parting them forever. Now she was married to another man and was to become a mother. As she looked back upon her marriage she realized that too, was of her brother’s instigation! She recognized this trial as a test of character. She knew she was being tried. With fasting, faith and prayer, she emerged victorious from the ordeal. With forgiveness in her heart she was able to bring to her home a quiet dignity and serenity, and a love for her good, kind husband that might never have been fully realized without this distressing experience. Early in 1858 her mother Ann came to stay for a few weeks. Elizabeth’s little son was born 10 February 1858. Luther was overjoyed. They named him Luther Bailey Reed."
In 1858, word of Johnston's Army reached them and they moved South to the Goshen and Spanish Fork areas of what is now Utah County. They spent several years there. In 1860, while in Spanish Fork, Elizabeth's daughter, Ann Maria Reed, was born.
In 1863, Luther was called by Charles C. Rich to help settle the Bear Lake Valley and build a mill there. Soon, other male members of the family received similar calls and together they moved North. In the Bear Lake Valley, the Reed family lived in Round Valley, Laketown (then called "Last Chance") and Bloomington.
After Luther died in Bloomington in 1871, Elizabeth and Ann moved back to the Laketown area to be closer to her family. Elizabeth died there on June 26, 1882 and was buried near her mother and her sister in what is now the Laketown Cemetery.
Elizabeth Sophia Bailey was born July 22, 1823 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Joseph Brown Bailey and Ann Smith. She was the third of nine children. Her father Joseph was in the British Army and was stationed in Canada, England and Ireland. The family crossed the ocean several times, and after Joseph retired, the family moved back to his native England.
Her granddaughters recorded this story about one of the voyages across the ocean: "Through the many travel of her parents from one duty station to another, Elizabeth learned to adjust to different and often unfavorable conditions. She was mild in disposition and obedient to discipline. On one of the several journeys across the ocean, the children all became ill with measles and Elizabeth's life was in jeopardy for some time. To add to their discomfort a terrific storm arose which lasted for two days and nights, with thunder, lightning, rain and heavy winds. On the morning of the third day the storm abated and they sailed over smooth blue water. The children all recuperated normally from their illness except Elizabeth who had caught a severe cold during the storm. A bad swelling arose on her next and face which rapidly developed into an abscess and was very painful. Several of her teeth and pieces of bone from her jawbone are said to have fallen from the core of the swelling, leaving her mouth crooked. Elizabeth finally recovered but was a frail, delicate child during her youth, being afflicted intermittently with asthma which distressed her all of her life."
In 1850, in Chatham, Kent, England, her father Joseph died. In 1854, at the age of 30, Elizabeth was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized along with her mother Ann, and her surviving siblings, Ellen, George and Reuben. In 1855, she traveled with her mother, brothers and nephew on the Mormon Immigrant Ship "Samuel Curling" and arrived in New York City in May, 1855.
The family made their way to Kansas where they joined the Milo Andrus Company, a Mormon wagon train which was part of the "Perpetual Emigration Fund." They arrived in what was then called "Great Salt Lake City" in October, 1855 and lived in the Millcreek area with her brother George and his family. (George arrived in the Utah Territory in 1853.) Elizabeth received her patriarchal blessing on 13 February 1857 from Patriarch John Young, in the Millcreek Ward.
An interesting story (written in 1957 by her granddaughters) states that Elizabeth had left a beau in England and that her brother George disapproved of him. George went from Millcreek to Salt Lake once a week and would post letters for the family. Elizabeth sent letters to her beau and anxiously awaited his reply. When months and months went by and no reply came, she decided to try to distract herself with service to others.
During the winter and early spring of 1856-57, the Baileys helped a man named Luther Reed care for his wife until she passed away. Then, Luther was called by Brigham Young to go to Tooele and establish a sawmill. Before leaving Luther surprised Elizabeth by proposing marriage. Elizabeth was conflicted by the proposal because she did not love Luther. Luther was in his sixties, his wife had just died and Elizabeth was still holding on to hope that her beau would send word to her from England. However, being persuaded by George, she accepted Luther's offer of marriage. They were married 23 April 1857 by the bishop of the Millcreek Ward and then they left for Tooele.
The story goes, that after the wedding, George gave Elizabeth a wrapped package which she assumed to be a wedding present. He made her promise to open it when she was alone.
Her granddaughters wrote, "One day while Luther was at the mill Elizabeth decided to open the package her brother had given her and use the money to buy material in preparing clothing for the coming child. Imagine her surprise and consternation in discovering the package did not contain money, as she supposed, but the two letters she had written to her sweetheart in England, and also two letters from him, addressed to her. She broke the seal. [In] the first letter, [her beau wondered] why had she not written as she had promised? Was she unfaithful to him? The second letter was in a different vein. He had investigated the Latter-day Saint religion and had found it all she had declared it to be. He wanted to come to Utah but not unless he could have her for his wife. Why had she not written to assure him of her faithfulness? This revelation was a severe shock to Elizabeth and she was entirely prostrated for a few days. Elizabeth was overcome with grief, resentment, confusion and frustration. She could tell no one. Her own brother had done this to her! He had not posted her letters, and had confiscated those from her sweetheart, thus parting them forever. Now she was married to another man and was to become a mother. As she looked back upon her marriage she realized that too, was of her brother’s instigation! She recognized this trial as a test of character. She knew she was being tried. With fasting, faith and prayer, she emerged victorious from the ordeal. With forgiveness in her heart she was able to bring to her home a quiet dignity and serenity, and a love for her good, kind husband that might never have been fully realized without this distressing experience. Early in 1858 her mother Ann came to stay for a few weeks. Elizabeth’s little son was born 10 February 1858. Luther was overjoyed. They named him Luther Bailey Reed."
In 1858, word of Johnston's Army reached them and they moved South to the Goshen and Spanish Fork areas of what is now Utah County. They spent several years there. In 1860, while in Spanish Fork, Elizabeth's daughter, Ann Maria Reed, was born.
In 1863, Luther was called by Charles C. Rich to help settle the Bear Lake Valley and build a mill there. Soon, other male members of the family received similar calls and together they moved North. In the Bear Lake Valley, the Reed family lived in Round Valley, Laketown (then called "Last Chance") and Bloomington.
After Luther died in Bloomington in 1871, Elizabeth and Ann moved back to the Laketown area to be closer to her family. Elizabeth died there on June 26, 1882 and was buried near her mother and her sister in what is now the Laketown Cemetery.
biography:
Elizabeth Sophia Bailey was born July 22, 1823 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Joseph Brown Bailey and Ann Smith. She was the third of nine children. Her father Joseph was in the British Army and was stationed in Canada, England and Ireland. The family crossed the ocean several times, and after Joseph retired, the family moved back to his native England.
Her granddaughters recorded this story about one of the voyages across the ocean: "Through the many travel of her parents from one duty station to another, Elizabeth learned to adjust to different and often unfavorable conditions. She was mild in disposition and obedient to discipline. On one of the several journeys across the ocean, the children all became ill with measles and Elizabeth's life was in jeopardy for some time. To add to their discomfort a terrific storm arose which lasted for two days and nights, with thunder, lightning, rain and heavy winds. On the morning of the third day the storm abated and they sailed over smooth blue water. The children all recuperated normally from their illness except Elizabeth who had caught a severe cold during the storm. A bad swelling arose on her next and face which rapidly developed into an abscess and was very painful. Several of her teeth and pieces of bone from her jawbone are said to have fallen from the core of the swelling, leaving her mouth crooked. Elizabeth finally recovered but was a frail, delicate child during her youth, being afflicted intermittently with asthma which distressed her all of her life."
In 1850, in Chatham, Kent, England, her father Joseph died. In 1854, at the age of 30, Elizabeth was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized along with her mother Ann, and her surviving siblings, Ellen, George and Reuben. In 1855, she traveled with her mother, brothers and nephew on the Mormon Immigrant Ship "Samuel Curling" and arrived in New York City in May, 1855.
The family made their way to Kansas where they joined the Milo Andrus Company, a Mormon wagon train which was part of the "Perpetual Emigration Fund." They arrived in what was then called "Great Salt Lake City" in October, 1855 and lived in the Millcreek area with her brother George and his family. (George arrived in the Utah Territory in 1853.) Elizabeth received her patriarchal blessing on 13 February 1857 from Patriarch John Young, in the Millcreek Ward.
An interesting story (written in 1957 by her granddaughters) states that Elizabeth had left a beau in England and that her brother George disapproved of him. George went from Millcreek to Salt Lake once a week and would post letters for the family. Elizabeth sent letters to her beau and anxiously awaited his reply. When months and months went by and no reply came, she decided to try to distract herself with service to others.
During the winter and early spring of 1856-57, the Baileys helped a man named Luther Reed care for his wife until she passed away. Then, Luther was called by Brigham Young to go to Tooele and establish a sawmill. Before leaving Luther surprised Elizabeth by proposing marriage. Elizabeth was conflicted by the proposal because she did not love Luther. Luther was in his sixties, his wife had just died and Elizabeth was still holding on to hope that her beau would send word to her from England. However, being persuaded by George, she accepted Luther's offer of marriage. They were married 23 April 1857 by the bishop of the Millcreek Ward and then they left for Tooele.
The story goes, that after the wedding, George gave Elizabeth a wrapped package which she assumed to be a wedding present. He made her promise to open it when she was alone.
Her granddaughters wrote, "One day while Luther was at the mill Elizabeth decided to open the package her brother had given her and use the money to buy material in preparing clothing for the coming child. Imagine her surprise and consternation in discovering the package did not contain money, as she supposed, but the two letters she had written to her sweetheart in England, and also two letters from him, addressed to her. She broke the seal. [In] the first letter, [her beau wondered] why had she not written as she had promised? Was she unfaithful to him? The second letter was in a different vein. He had investigated the Latter-day Saint religion and had found it all she had declared it to be. He wanted to come to Utah but not unless he could have her for his wife. Why had she not written to assure him of her faithfulness? This revelation was a severe shock to Elizabeth and she was entirely prostrated for a few days. Elizabeth was overcome with grief, resentment, confusion and frustration. She could tell no one. Her own brother had done this to her! He had not posted her letters, and had confiscated those from her sweetheart, thus parting them forever. Now she was married to another man and was to become a mother. As she looked back upon her marriage she realized that too, was of her brother’s instigation! She recognized this trial as a test of character. She knew she was being tried. With fasting, faith and prayer, she emerged victorious from the ordeal. With forgiveness in her heart she was able to bring to her home a quiet dignity and serenity, and a love for her good, kind husband that might never have been fully realized without this distressing experience. Early in 1858 her mother Ann came to stay for a few weeks. Elizabeth’s little son was born 10 February 1858. Luther was overjoyed. They named him Luther Bailey Reed."
In 1858, word of Johnston's Army reached them and they moved South to the Goshen and Spanish Fork areas of what is now Utah County. They spent several years there. In 1860, while in Spanish Fork, Elizabeth's daughter, Ann Maria Reed, was born.
In 1863, Luther was called by Charles C. Rich to help settle the Bear Lake Valley and build a mill there. Soon, other male members of the family received similar calls and together they moved North. In the Bear Lake Valley, the Reed family lived in Round Valley, Laketown (then called "Last Chance") and Bloomington.
After Luther died in Bloomington in 1871, Elizabeth and Ann moved back to the Laketown area to be closer to her family. Elizabeth died there on June 26, 1882 and was buried near her mother and her sister in what is now the Laketown Cemetery.
Elizabeth Sophia Bailey was born July 22, 1823 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Joseph Brown Bailey and Ann Smith. She was the third of nine children. Her father Joseph was in the British Army and was stationed in Canada, England and Ireland. The family crossed the ocean several times, and after Joseph retired, the family moved back to his native England.
Her granddaughters recorded this story about one of the voyages across the ocean: "Through the many travel of her parents from one duty station to another, Elizabeth learned to adjust to different and often unfavorable conditions. She was mild in disposition and obedient to discipline. On one of the several journeys across the ocean, the children all became ill with measles and Elizabeth's life was in jeopardy for some time. To add to their discomfort a terrific storm arose which lasted for two days and nights, with thunder, lightning, rain and heavy winds. On the morning of the third day the storm abated and they sailed over smooth blue water. The children all recuperated normally from their illness except Elizabeth who had caught a severe cold during the storm. A bad swelling arose on her next and face which rapidly developed into an abscess and was very painful. Several of her teeth and pieces of bone from her jawbone are said to have fallen from the core of the swelling, leaving her mouth crooked. Elizabeth finally recovered but was a frail, delicate child during her youth, being afflicted intermittently with asthma which distressed her all of her life."
In 1850, in Chatham, Kent, England, her father Joseph died. In 1854, at the age of 30, Elizabeth was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized along with her mother Ann, and her surviving siblings, Ellen, George and Reuben. In 1855, she traveled with her mother, brothers and nephew on the Mormon Immigrant Ship "Samuel Curling" and arrived in New York City in May, 1855.
The family made their way to Kansas where they joined the Milo Andrus Company, a Mormon wagon train which was part of the "Perpetual Emigration Fund." They arrived in what was then called "Great Salt Lake City" in October, 1855 and lived in the Millcreek area with her brother George and his family. (George arrived in the Utah Territory in 1853.) Elizabeth received her patriarchal blessing on 13 February 1857 from Patriarch John Young, in the Millcreek Ward.
An interesting story (written in 1957 by her granddaughters) states that Elizabeth had left a beau in England and that her brother George disapproved of him. George went from Millcreek to Salt Lake once a week and would post letters for the family. Elizabeth sent letters to her beau and anxiously awaited his reply. When months and months went by and no reply came, she decided to try to distract herself with service to others.
During the winter and early spring of 1856-57, the Baileys helped a man named Luther Reed care for his wife until she passed away. Then, Luther was called by Brigham Young to go to Tooele and establish a sawmill. Before leaving Luther surprised Elizabeth by proposing marriage. Elizabeth was conflicted by the proposal because she did not love Luther. Luther was in his sixties, his wife had just died and Elizabeth was still holding on to hope that her beau would send word to her from England. However, being persuaded by George, she accepted Luther's offer of marriage. They were married 23 April 1857 by the bishop of the Millcreek Ward and then they left for Tooele.
The story goes, that after the wedding, George gave Elizabeth a wrapped package which she assumed to be a wedding present. He made her promise to open it when she was alone.
Her granddaughters wrote, "One day while Luther was at the mill Elizabeth decided to open the package her brother had given her and use the money to buy material in preparing clothing for the coming child. Imagine her surprise and consternation in discovering the package did not contain money, as she supposed, but the two letters she had written to her sweetheart in England, and also two letters from him, addressed to her. She broke the seal. [In] the first letter, [her beau wondered] why had she not written as she had promised? Was she unfaithful to him? The second letter was in a different vein. He had investigated the Latter-day Saint religion and had found it all she had declared it to be. He wanted to come to Utah but not unless he could have her for his wife. Why had she not written to assure him of her faithfulness? This revelation was a severe shock to Elizabeth and she was entirely prostrated for a few days. Elizabeth was overcome with grief, resentment, confusion and frustration. She could tell no one. Her own brother had done this to her! He had not posted her letters, and had confiscated those from her sweetheart, thus parting them forever. Now she was married to another man and was to become a mother. As she looked back upon her marriage she realized that too, was of her brother’s instigation! She recognized this trial as a test of character. She knew she was being tried. With fasting, faith and prayer, she emerged victorious from the ordeal. With forgiveness in her heart she was able to bring to her home a quiet dignity and serenity, and a love for her good, kind husband that might never have been fully realized without this distressing experience. Early in 1858 her mother Ann came to stay for a few weeks. Elizabeth’s little son was born 10 February 1858. Luther was overjoyed. They named him Luther Bailey Reed."
In 1858, word of Johnston's Army reached them and they moved South to the Goshen and Spanish Fork areas of what is now Utah County. They spent several years there. In 1860, while in Spanish Fork, Elizabeth's daughter, Ann Maria Reed, was born.
In 1863, Luther was called by Charles C. Rich to help settle the Bear Lake Valley and build a mill there. Soon, other male members of the family received similar calls and together they moved North. In the Bear Lake Valley, the Reed family lived in Round Valley, Laketown (then called "Last Chance") and Bloomington.
After Luther died in Bloomington in 1871, Elizabeth and Ann moved back to the Laketown area to be closer to her family. Elizabeth died there on June 26, 1882 and was buried near her mother and her sister in what is now the Laketown Cemetery.
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