Son of Jonathan Calkins Wright and Caroline Karen Marie Olsen

Married Martin Luther Ensign, 15 Jan 1888, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah

Children - Martha Eunice Ensign, Martin Russell Ensign, Esta Wright Ensign, Horace Darwin Ensign, Geneva Ensign, Jonathan Calkins Wright Ensign, Milton Wright Ensign, Irving Wright Ensign

Biography - Martha Wright was born 9 July 1865 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory to Jonathan Calkins and Caroline Karen Marie Olsen Wright. Her father, Jonathan, had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843 at the age of 34. He came across the plains to the Utah Territory with the Edward Hunter Company leaving 29 June 1850 and arriving in the valley 13 October 1850. There were 266 in the company with 67 wagons outfitting at Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa. They were the first company to have the help of the PEF (Perpetual Emigration Fund).

Martha’s mother had joined the Church in 1851 and came with the Christian Christensen Company seven years later. It was the 7th Handcart Company with 330 individuals, 68 handcarts, 3 wagons, ten mules and one cow. They left 15 June 1857. The first captain was James P. Park. He had to have an interpreter because they all spoke Danish and he was not very sympathetic toward them. He would take the wagons so far ahead that sometimes the handcarts took a wrong road. When they left he made them leave many of their supplies and they thought someone would come back for them later. That never did happen.

There were no PEF funds left so the people had to purchase their own supplies. They pooled together to buy the supplies they would need. When they left they had only 60 pounds of flour and only four pounds of meat per person. When they got to Florence, Christian Christensen was returning from a mission and became the captain. He was gentle and fatherly and most of all knew the language—he was from Denmark.

They crossed the Elkhorn River on 9th July. When they got to the Loup River it was a mile wide and there was lots of quicksand. It took them two days to cross because they had to hook up ropes to wagons and pull to get the handcarts across. The night after they all got across they had a severe thunderstorm and immediately two families dropped out. At the Wood River, a woman slipped out of camp and delivered her own baby and then returned to camp ready to walk the next day. They allowed her to ride in the wagon for a few days.

There was a prairie fire that they were able to escape from. They wore out their shoes and had to wrap their feet in burlap or rawhide. The rawhide would get wet then dry hard and they would end up with bloody feet. By 22nd August they were at Devil’s Gate. They were so hungry and thirsty. Johnston’s Army was headed to Utah and felt sorry for these pioneers so they gave them a lame ox to kill for meat. They didn’t even have an axe to kill the animal.

There was a blind woman about 60 years old from Norway who walked the whole way. She pushed the cart while her young daughter pulled the cart. She could often be heard “with merry laughter” as they walked the trail. Their food lasted only three weeks. They cooked with “ko-kasser”(buffalo chips). Her mother remembered when they had only one biscuit to eat all the day long. They left every morning by 6:30 A.M. Every day they would ask, “How far is it to water today?”

When they reached South Pass relief wagons from Salt Lake came with flour and supplies. They were also able to buy more flour at Fort Bridger. When they were coming down Echo Canyon it rained, hailed and they had ice on the mountain streams. When they were about 30 miles from Salt Lake City, wagons met them with bread, cake, and fruit. They arrived 13 September 1857. The lead handcart carried a Danish flag as they came into the valley. About 15 people in that company died coming to the valley. CCA Christensen said of these Danish pioneers, “I have never seen a more patient people, a people completely devoted to God.” This is the same CCA Christensen who painted many murals of the pioneers coming to Utah.

It was important that Eliza and her brothers and sisters knew of the strong stock they had come from and how they loved the gospel so much they were willing to sacrifice their lives if it were necessary.

Martha was baptized 1 March 1888 at the age of 22. She also was married to Martin Luther Ensign Jr. in the Logan Temple, Cache, Utah Territory. They had eight children, three girls and five boys. The first three children were born in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory. Martha Eunice was born 25 October 1888; Martin Russell was born 24 November 1890; Esta Wright was born 21 July 1892. The next four children were born in Collinston, Box, Elder, Utah. Horace Darwin was born 4 January 1895; Geneva was born 21 November 1898; J C. Wright was born 16 December 1903; and Milton Wright was born 19 March 1906. Their last child Irving was born 28 October 1908 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah.

Martha died 13 June 1922 at the age of 56 in Logan, Cache, Utah and was buried 16 June 1922 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah. Her husband, Martin, married Olive Ann Pratt 15 October 1879 at the age of 64 in Logan, Cache, Utah. He died 11 May 1932 at the age of 70 in Logan, Cache, Utah and was buried 13 May 1932 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah.

Obituary Newspaper

Utah Death Certificate