Elizabeth (Betsy) Barnes Billman
(1843-1916)
Written by Hazel Jane Billman Clegg
Elizabeth was born 11 Sept 1843, at 13 Lomas Street, Registration District of Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, England. She was the daughter of George Barnes and Jane Howard Barnes. She was the third child of a family of eight. Her father, George Barnes, was born the 28th of February 1815, at waver ton, Cumberland County, England. He was a mill grinder by trade and died the 4th of October 1856 while crossing the palins with the Martin Handcart company. He was buried in Wyoming and his name is on the monument at Martin’s Cove. Her mother, Jane Howard Barnes, was born on the 11th of July 1817 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. She died on the 4th of November 1902 in Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah and was buried in Nephi, Utah. Elizabeth was helpful in caring for her younger brothers and sisters. He father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 and her mother became a member in 1842. Her brothers and sisters were:
1. William, born the 30th of March 1837, died at the age of 3 ½ years.
2. Margaret, born the 9th of October 1840, Manchester, Lancashire England
3. Elizabeth, born the 11th of September 1843, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
4. Esther, born the 28th of August 1845, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
5. Deborah, born the 11th of November 1847, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
6. William Levi, born the 6th of November 1850, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
7. Mary, born about 1855 and died about 1857, buried in Salt Lake (found in Parkin’s
Handwritten notebook)
8. Mary Jane, born the 24th of July 1856 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
After her family joined the church they wanted to come to Zion. With the help of her Uncle, William Barnes, George’s brother, who had already immigrated to Salt Lake, they prepared to set sail for America. A dishonest merchant took their money before they could go. They gathered what they could from other resources. With these resources and help from the Perpetual Emigration fund they started their journey.
Captain Edward Martin, a missionary, was put in charge of the group in which the Barnes Family was included.. They set sail on the ship Horizon, with Captain Martin in charge on the 25th of May 1856 for Boston, Massachusetts. (PE Fund 635-Ordinary 221 total passengers 856) The voyage was from 38-65 with the seas going from tranquil to rough storms. Sometimes the ocean was so rough from winds and storms that water would whip into the lower part of the ship where the emigrants were housed. From the Atlantic ports the Saints were taken by railroad to Iowa City, Iowa for a small fee of $10.00 to $11.00 dollars.
Many suffered from starvation and cold traveling with the Martin Handcart Company . Some of the members of the company were getting up in years and traveling for them was slow. The provisions they had didn’t last as long as expected. They ran out of flour even though it had been rationed to a very small amount. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane Howard Barnes had to shake the flour sack and put water with what she could get and then give it to her family to drink. Some of the cattle couldn’t travel any further. They would be killed and their meat would be distributed to the pioneers. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane took the hides and boiled it for soup. One of Elizabeth’s sisters, Esther, had her feet frozen so badly that when they reached Salt Lake they had to remove her toes. Elizabeth had slid out of bed during the night and
her hair had frozen to the ground. In the morning, her mother had to pour warm water over her hair to
free her.
Elizabeth’s father, George Barnes, died on the plains from starvation and cold. He was buried in the snow like many others as the ground was frozen so solid that it was impossible to dig graves. At night, the survivors could hear the wolves fighting over the remains of these brave pioneers. Men and supplies were sent out by Brigham Young from Salt Lake to rescue these pioneers. Joseph Young a nephew of Brigham Young was among these rescuers. Between 135 and 150 people lost their lives
traveling with the Martin Handcart Company. They finally arrived in Salt Lake City on the 30th of November 1856. The sufferings of the Martin Handcart Company is one of the greatest tales of the West.
George Barnes’ brother William Barnes had proceeded George, Jane, and their family to Salt Lake the year before. He had began to make preparations for a home for them after their arrival. He met Jane and her family after their terrible journey and took Elizabeth’s sister Esther to the doctor to have her frozen toes removed. William married Jane on the 12th of March 1857 and assumed the responsibility of
husband and father to his brother’s family.
As a young woman, Elizabeth did house work for those who needed help. Joseph Young, one of her rescuers, was one of the people she worked for.
Elizabeth and Carlos Moon were married on the 28th of May 1860 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah by Hugh Moon. They had one child together, Annie born the 10th of April 1860. It is said that Carlos Moon apparently left Utah with the military after this marriage.
A Pony Express Rider, Charles Henry Billman who was stationed at Rush Valley Station, was directed to Mrs. Jane Howard Barnes in Salt Lake City, for treatment of an infected wound in his hand. Arriving at the Barnes home, Charles Henry received treatment from Mrs Barnes and her daughter Elizabeth. This chance meeting precipitated their future marriage. Charles was born in Ohio and was not a Mormon. He later joined the church and he and Elizabeth were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake.
They lived at one of the Express Stations operated by Wells Fargo in the early period of their marriage . At this time the Indians were not very friendly and Charles and Elizabeth had a dog to warn them of danger. Charles Henry had once saved an Indian boy’s life while riding. One of the prominent Indians would send word if thee was danger to Elizabeth. Charles later moved back to Salt Lake where he worked at various jobs and bought a parcel of farm land near Fort Union. Nine children were born to them while they were living in the Salt Lake area. In 1881 they sold their land and traveled to Livingston, Montana, where Charles’ brother, Andrew, was living. Andrew had sent word that men were needed to help build the railroad. The railroad was in the process of connecting Chicago with the Western States.
Elizabeth was sick and had to travel in a covered wagon. When she recovered there was need for help in cooking for the men who were working on the railroad. Elizabeth helped with the cooking.
When the railroad job ended, Charles Henry started herding sheep for a large sheep company. While in Livingston, a baby boy was born on July the 5th, 1883 who they named Mortimer (this was my father- Hazel Jane Billman). In the process of being a sheep herder they had to move and went east of Livingston to the Big Timber, Boulder River, where Elizabeth and her family lived in a sheep camp in a covered wagon. Sometimes they had to do their washing in the Boulder River. Eventually they built and lived in a log cabin. Charles’ brother, Andrew, continued to help his brother’s family and at times they even stayed with Andrew and his family. The children had to walk to school which was a one room building where all ages of children were taught together. Is is said that many a night Charles’ family would sleep at Andrew’s house.
Charles and Elizabeth’s older children had married their companions in Montana. Elizabeth and Charles had made two trips to Idaho looking for a farm and a home to live in. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was living in Bingham County, and they eventually found an acreage in Bingham County, Coltman School District, Willow Creek Precinct in Idaho. Now the family could go to church at Willow Creek and the two younger boys attended school at Coltman. Not long after this, Charles Henry passed away.
Elizabeth had to wash her clothes in a tub on a wash board. Since the older girls were gone, one of the boys had to help her. I was told that my father, Mortimer,helped her scrub on the board. Elizabeth was very particular about her washing of the clothes as they had to be white before she hung them on the clothes line to dry. No one was allowed to come in her house with dirty or muddy shoes on her board floors. She didn’t like any one to touch her ornaments or dishes in her living room. When my brother were old enough to carry wood in for wood box she told them to lay it nice and straight. As children we thought she was a cranky grandmother. She attended her mother’s funeral in 1902 in Utah. She was able to ride the train there. Grandma lived across the field from us in Coltman and Dad, Mortimer, looked in on her very day and took care of her until her death. One day when I was four or five, I was making figures on her steamy window and she scolded me, which made me feel bad. I remember sitting in her wicker rocker close the the flat topped stove. She died 14 Jan 1916 in Bonneville County, Idaho and was buried in the Ucon Cemetery.
(1843-1916)
Written by Hazel Jane Billman Clegg
Elizabeth was born 11 Sept 1843, at 13 Lomas Street, Registration District of Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, England. She was the daughter of George Barnes and Jane Howard Barnes. She was the third child of a family of eight. Her father, George Barnes, was born the 28th of February 1815, at waver ton, Cumberland County, England. He was a mill grinder by trade and died the 4th of October 1856 while crossing the palins with the Martin Handcart company. He was buried in Wyoming and his name is on the monument at Martin’s Cove. Her mother, Jane Howard Barnes, was born on the 11th of July 1817 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. She died on the 4th of November 1902 in Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah and was buried in Nephi, Utah. Elizabeth was helpful in caring for her younger brothers and sisters. He father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 and her mother became a member in 1842. Her brothers and sisters were:
1. William, born the 30th of March 1837, died at the age of 3 ½ years.
2. Margaret, born the 9th of October 1840, Manchester, Lancashire England
3. Elizabeth, born the 11th of September 1843, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
4. Esther, born the 28th of August 1845, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
5. Deborah, born the 11th of November 1847, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
6. William Levi, born the 6th of November 1850, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
7. Mary, born about 1855 and died about 1857, buried in Salt Lake (found in Parkin’s
Handwritten notebook)
8. Mary Jane, born the 24th of July 1856 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
After her family joined the church they wanted to come to Zion. With the help of her Uncle, William Barnes, George’s brother, who had already immigrated to Salt Lake, they prepared to set sail for America. A dishonest merchant took their money before they could go. They gathered what they could from other resources. With these resources and help from the Perpetual Emigration fund they started their journey.
Captain Edward Martin, a missionary, was put in charge of the group in which the Barnes Family was included.. They set sail on the ship Horizon, with Captain Martin in charge on the 25th of May 1856 for Boston, Massachusetts. (PE Fund 635-Ordinary 221 total passengers 856) The voyage was from 38-65 with the seas going from tranquil to rough storms. Sometimes the ocean was so rough from winds and storms that water would whip into the lower part of the ship where the emigrants were housed. From the Atlantic ports the Saints were taken by railroad to Iowa City, Iowa for a small fee of $10.00 to $11.00 dollars.
Many suffered from starvation and cold traveling with the Martin Handcart Company . Some of the members of the company were getting up in years and traveling for them was slow. The provisions they had didn’t last as long as expected. They ran out of flour even though it had been rationed to a very small amount. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane Howard Barnes had to shake the flour sack and put water with what she could get and then give it to her family to drink. Some of the cattle couldn’t travel any further. They would be killed and their meat would be distributed to the pioneers. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane took the hides and boiled it for soup. One of Elizabeth’s sisters, Esther, had her feet frozen so badly that when they reached Salt Lake they had to remove her toes. Elizabeth had slid out of bed during the night and
her hair had frozen to the ground. In the morning, her mother had to pour warm water over her hair to
free her.
Elizabeth’s father, George Barnes, died on the plains from starvation and cold. He was buried in the snow like many others as the ground was frozen so solid that it was impossible to dig graves. At night, the survivors could hear the wolves fighting over the remains of these brave pioneers. Men and supplies were sent out by Brigham Young from Salt Lake to rescue these pioneers. Joseph Young a nephew of Brigham Young was among these rescuers. Between 135 and 150 people lost their lives
traveling with the Martin Handcart Company. They finally arrived in Salt Lake City on the 30th of November 1856. The sufferings of the Martin Handcart Company is one of the greatest tales of the West.
George Barnes’ brother William Barnes had proceeded George, Jane, and their family to Salt Lake the year before. He had began to make preparations for a home for them after their arrival. He met Jane and her family after their terrible journey and took Elizabeth’s sister Esther to the doctor to have her frozen toes removed. William married Jane on the 12th of March 1857 and assumed the responsibility of
husband and father to his brother’s family.
As a young woman, Elizabeth did house work for those who needed help. Joseph Young, one of her rescuers, was one of the people she worked for.
Elizabeth and Carlos Moon were married on the 28th of May 1860 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah by Hugh Moon. They had one child together, Annie born the 10th of April 1860. It is said that Carlos Moon apparently left Utah with the military after this marriage.
A Pony Express Rider, Charles Henry Billman who was stationed at Rush Valley Station, was directed to Mrs. Jane Howard Barnes in Salt Lake City, for treatment of an infected wound in his hand. Arriving at the Barnes home, Charles Henry received treatment from Mrs Barnes and her daughter Elizabeth. This chance meeting precipitated their future marriage. Charles was born in Ohio and was not a Mormon. He later joined the church and he and Elizabeth were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake.
They lived at one of the Express Stations operated by Wells Fargo in the early period of their marriage . At this time the Indians were not very friendly and Charles and Elizabeth had a dog to warn them of danger. Charles Henry had once saved an Indian boy’s life while riding. One of the prominent Indians would send word if thee was danger to Elizabeth. Charles later moved back to Salt Lake where he worked at various jobs and bought a parcel of farm land near Fort Union. Nine children were born to them while they were living in the Salt Lake area. In 1881 they sold their land and traveled to Livingston, Montana, where Charles’ brother, Andrew, was living. Andrew had sent word that men were needed to help build the railroad. The railroad was in the process of connecting Chicago with the Western States.
Elizabeth was sick and had to travel in a covered wagon. When she recovered there was need for help in cooking for the men who were working on the railroad. Elizabeth helped with the cooking.
When the railroad job ended, Charles Henry started herding sheep for a large sheep company. While in Livingston, a baby boy was born on July the 5th, 1883 who they named Mortimer (this was my father- Hazel Jane Billman). In the process of being a sheep herder they had to move and went east of Livingston to the Big Timber, Boulder River, where Elizabeth and her family lived in a sheep camp in a covered wagon. Sometimes they had to do their washing in the Boulder River. Eventually they built and lived in a log cabin. Charles’ brother, Andrew, continued to help his brother’s family and at times they even stayed with Andrew and his family. The children had to walk to school which was a one room building where all ages of children were taught together. Is is said that many a night Charles’ family would sleep at Andrew’s house.
Charles and Elizabeth’s older children had married their companions in Montana. Elizabeth and Charles had made two trips to Idaho looking for a farm and a home to live in. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was living in Bingham County, and they eventually found an acreage in Bingham County, Coltman School District, Willow Creek Precinct in Idaho. Now the family could go to church at Willow Creek and the two younger boys attended school at Coltman. Not long after this, Charles Henry passed away.
Elizabeth had to wash her clothes in a tub on a wash board. Since the older girls were gone, one of the boys had to help her. I was told that my father, Mortimer,helped her scrub on the board. Elizabeth was very particular about her washing of the clothes as they had to be white before she hung them on the clothes line to dry. No one was allowed to come in her house with dirty or muddy shoes on her board floors. She didn’t like any one to touch her ornaments or dishes in her living room. When my brother were old enough to carry wood in for wood box she told them to lay it nice and straight. As children we thought she was a cranky grandmother. She attended her mother’s funeral in 1902 in Utah. She was able to ride the train there. Grandma lived across the field from us in Coltman and Dad, Mortimer, looked in on her very day and took care of her until her death. One day when I was four or five, I was making figures on her steamy window and she scolded me, which made me feel bad. I remember sitting in her wicker rocker close the the flat topped stove. She died 14 Jan 1916 in Bonneville County, Idaho and was buried in the Ucon Cemetery.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Barnes Billman
(1843-1916)
Written by Hazel Jane Billman Clegg
Elizabeth was born 11 Sept 1843, at 13 Lomas Street, Registration District of Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, England. She was the daughter of George Barnes and Jane Howard Barnes. She was the third child of a family of eight. Her father, George Barnes, was born the 28th of February 1815, at waver ton, Cumberland County, England. He was a mill grinder by trade and died the 4th of October 1856 while crossing the palins with the Martin Handcart company. He was buried in Wyoming and his name is on the monument at Martin’s Cove. Her mother, Jane Howard Barnes, was born on the 11th of July 1817 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. She died on the 4th of November 1902 in Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah and was buried in Nephi, Utah. Elizabeth was helpful in caring for her younger brothers and sisters. He father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 and her mother became a member in 1842. Her brothers and sisters were:
1. William, born the 30th of March 1837, died at the age of 3 ½ years.
2. Margaret, born the 9th of October 1840, Manchester, Lancashire England
3. Elizabeth, born the 11th of September 1843, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
4. Esther, born the 28th of August 1845, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
5. Deborah, born the 11th of November 1847, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
6. William Levi, born the 6th of November 1850, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
7. Mary, born about 1855 and died about 1857, buried in Salt Lake (found in Parkin’s
Handwritten notebook)
8. Mary Jane, born the 24th of July 1856 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
After her family joined the church they wanted to come to Zion. With the help of her Uncle, William Barnes, George’s brother, who had already immigrated to Salt Lake, they prepared to set sail for America. A dishonest merchant took their money before they could go. They gathered what they could from other resources. With these resources and help from the Perpetual Emigration fund they started their journey.
Captain Edward Martin, a missionary, was put in charge of the group in which the Barnes Family was included.. They set sail on the ship Horizon, with Captain Martin in charge on the 25th of May 1856 for Boston, Massachusetts. (PE Fund 635-Ordinary 221 total passengers 856) The voyage was from 38-65 with the seas going from tranquil to rough storms. Sometimes the ocean was so rough from winds and storms that water would whip into the lower part of the ship where the emigrants were housed. From the Atlantic ports the Saints were taken by railroad to Iowa City, Iowa for a small fee of $10.00 to $11.00 dollars.
Many suffered from starvation and cold traveling with the Martin Handcart Company . Some of the members of the company were getting up in years and traveling for them was slow. The provisions they had didn’t last as long as expected. They ran out of flour even though it had been rationed to a very small amount. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane Howard Barnes had to shake the flour sack and put water with what she could get and then give it to her family to drink. Some of the cattle couldn’t travel any further. They would be killed and their meat would be distributed to the pioneers. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane took the hides and boiled it for soup. One of Elizabeth’s sisters, Esther, had her feet frozen so badly that when they reached Salt Lake they had to remove her toes. Elizabeth had slid out of bed during the night and
her hair had frozen to the ground. In the morning, her mother had to pour warm water over her hair to
free her.
Elizabeth’s father, George Barnes, died on the plains from starvation and cold. He was buried in the snow like many others as the ground was frozen so solid that it was impossible to dig graves. At night, the survivors could hear the wolves fighting over the remains of these brave pioneers. Men and supplies were sent out by Brigham Young from Salt Lake to rescue these pioneers. Joseph Young a nephew of Brigham Young was among these rescuers. Between 135 and 150 people lost their lives
traveling with the Martin Handcart Company. They finally arrived in Salt Lake City on the 30th of November 1856. The sufferings of the Martin Handcart Company is one of the greatest tales of the West.
George Barnes’ brother William Barnes had proceeded George, Jane, and their family to Salt Lake the year before. He had began to make preparations for a home for them after their arrival. He met Jane and her family after their terrible journey and took Elizabeth’s sister Esther to the doctor to have her frozen toes removed. William married Jane on the 12th of March 1857 and assumed the responsibility of
husband and father to his brother’s family.
As a young woman, Elizabeth did house work for those who needed help. Joseph Young, one of her rescuers, was one of the people she worked for.
Elizabeth and Carlos Moon were married on the 28th of May 1860 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah by Hugh Moon. They had one child together, Annie born the 10th of April 1860. It is said that Carlos Moon apparently left Utah with the military after this marriage.
A Pony Express Rider, Charles Henry Billman who was stationed at Rush Valley Station, was directed to Mrs. Jane Howard Barnes in Salt Lake City, for treatment of an infected wound in his hand. Arriving at the Barnes home, Charles Henry received treatment from Mrs Barnes and her daughter Elizabeth. This chance meeting precipitated their future marriage. Charles was born in Ohio and was not a Mormon. He later joined the church and he and Elizabeth were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake.
They lived at one of the Express Stations operated by Wells Fargo in the early period of their marriage . At this time the Indians were not very friendly and Charles and Elizabeth had a dog to warn them of danger. Charles Henry had once saved an Indian boy’s life while riding. One of the prominent Indians would send word if thee was danger to Elizabeth. Charles later moved back to Salt Lake where he worked at various jobs and bought a parcel of farm land near Fort Union. Nine children were born to them while they were living in the Salt Lake area. In 1881 they sold their land and traveled to Livingston, Montana, where Charles’ brother, Andrew, was living. Andrew had sent word that men were needed to help build the railroad. The railroad was in the process of connecting Chicago with the Western States.
Elizabeth was sick and had to travel in a covered wagon. When she recovered there was need for help in cooking for the men who were working on the railroad. Elizabeth helped with the cooking.
When the railroad job ended, Charles Henry started herding sheep for a large sheep company. While in Livingston, a baby boy was born on July the 5th, 1883 who they named Mortimer (this was my father- Hazel Jane Billman). In the process of being a sheep herder they had to move and went east of Livingston to the Big Timber, Boulder River, where Elizabeth and her family lived in a sheep camp in a covered wagon. Sometimes they had to do their washing in the Boulder River. Eventually they built and lived in a log cabin. Charles’ brother, Andrew, continued to help his brother’s family and at times they even stayed with Andrew and his family. The children had to walk to school which was a one room building where all ages of children were taught together. Is is said that many a night Charles’ family would sleep at Andrew’s house.
Charles and Elizabeth’s older children had married their companions in Montana. Elizabeth and Charles had made two trips to Idaho looking for a farm and a home to live in. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was living in Bingham County, and they eventually found an acreage in Bingham County, Coltman School District, Willow Creek Precinct in Idaho. Now the family could go to church at Willow Creek and the two younger boys attended school at Coltman. Not long after this, Charles Henry passed away.
Elizabeth had to wash her clothes in a tub on a wash board. Since the older girls were gone, one of the boys had to help her. I was told that my father, Mortimer,helped her scrub on the board. Elizabeth was very particular about her washing of the clothes as they had to be white before she hung them on the clothes line to dry. No one was allowed to come in her house with dirty or muddy shoes on her board floors. She didn’t like any one to touch her ornaments or dishes in her living room. When my brother were old enough to carry wood in for wood box she told them to lay it nice and straight. As children we thought she was a cranky grandmother. She attended her mother’s funeral in 1902 in Utah. She was able to ride the train there. Grandma lived across the field from us in Coltman and Dad, Mortimer, looked in on her very day and took care of her until her death. One day when I was four or five, I was making figures on her steamy window and she scolded me, which made me feel bad. I remember sitting in her wicker rocker close the the flat topped stove. She died 14 Jan 1916 in Bonneville County, Idaho and was buried in the Ucon Cemetery.
(1843-1916)
Written by Hazel Jane Billman Clegg
Elizabeth was born 11 Sept 1843, at 13 Lomas Street, Registration District of Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, England. She was the daughter of George Barnes and Jane Howard Barnes. She was the third child of a family of eight. Her father, George Barnes, was born the 28th of February 1815, at waver ton, Cumberland County, England. He was a mill grinder by trade and died the 4th of October 1856 while crossing the palins with the Martin Handcart company. He was buried in Wyoming and his name is on the monument at Martin’s Cove. Her mother, Jane Howard Barnes, was born on the 11th of July 1817 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. She died on the 4th of November 1902 in Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah and was buried in Nephi, Utah. Elizabeth was helpful in caring for her younger brothers and sisters. He father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 and her mother became a member in 1842. Her brothers and sisters were:
1. William, born the 30th of March 1837, died at the age of 3 ½ years.
2. Margaret, born the 9th of October 1840, Manchester, Lancashire England
3. Elizabeth, born the 11th of September 1843, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
4. Esther, born the 28th of August 1845, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
5. Deborah, born the 11th of November 1847, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
6. William Levi, born the 6th of November 1850, in Manchester, Lancashire, England
7. Mary, born about 1855 and died about 1857, buried in Salt Lake (found in Parkin’s
Handwritten notebook)
8. Mary Jane, born the 24th of July 1856 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
After her family joined the church they wanted to come to Zion. With the help of her Uncle, William Barnes, George’s brother, who had already immigrated to Salt Lake, they prepared to set sail for America. A dishonest merchant took their money before they could go. They gathered what they could from other resources. With these resources and help from the Perpetual Emigration fund they started their journey.
Captain Edward Martin, a missionary, was put in charge of the group in which the Barnes Family was included.. They set sail on the ship Horizon, with Captain Martin in charge on the 25th of May 1856 for Boston, Massachusetts. (PE Fund 635-Ordinary 221 total passengers 856) The voyage was from 38-65 with the seas going from tranquil to rough storms. Sometimes the ocean was so rough from winds and storms that water would whip into the lower part of the ship where the emigrants were housed. From the Atlantic ports the Saints were taken by railroad to Iowa City, Iowa for a small fee of $10.00 to $11.00 dollars.
Many suffered from starvation and cold traveling with the Martin Handcart Company . Some of the members of the company were getting up in years and traveling for them was slow. The provisions they had didn’t last as long as expected. They ran out of flour even though it had been rationed to a very small amount. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane Howard Barnes had to shake the flour sack and put water with what she could get and then give it to her family to drink. Some of the cattle couldn’t travel any further. They would be killed and their meat would be distributed to the pioneers. Elizabeth’s mother, Jane took the hides and boiled it for soup. One of Elizabeth’s sisters, Esther, had her feet frozen so badly that when they reached Salt Lake they had to remove her toes. Elizabeth had slid out of bed during the night and
her hair had frozen to the ground. In the morning, her mother had to pour warm water over her hair to
free her.
Elizabeth’s father, George Barnes, died on the plains from starvation and cold. He was buried in the snow like many others as the ground was frozen so solid that it was impossible to dig graves. At night, the survivors could hear the wolves fighting over the remains of these brave pioneers. Men and supplies were sent out by Brigham Young from Salt Lake to rescue these pioneers. Joseph Young a nephew of Brigham Young was among these rescuers. Between 135 and 150 people lost their lives
traveling with the Martin Handcart Company. They finally arrived in Salt Lake City on the 30th of November 1856. The sufferings of the Martin Handcart Company is one of the greatest tales of the West.
George Barnes’ brother William Barnes had proceeded George, Jane, and their family to Salt Lake the year before. He had began to make preparations for a home for them after their arrival. He met Jane and her family after their terrible journey and took Elizabeth’s sister Esther to the doctor to have her frozen toes removed. William married Jane on the 12th of March 1857 and assumed the responsibility of
husband and father to his brother’s family.
As a young woman, Elizabeth did house work for those who needed help. Joseph Young, one of her rescuers, was one of the people she worked for.
Elizabeth and Carlos Moon were married on the 28th of May 1860 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah by Hugh Moon. They had one child together, Annie born the 10th of April 1860. It is said that Carlos Moon apparently left Utah with the military after this marriage.
A Pony Express Rider, Charles Henry Billman who was stationed at Rush Valley Station, was directed to Mrs. Jane Howard Barnes in Salt Lake City, for treatment of an infected wound in his hand. Arriving at the Barnes home, Charles Henry received treatment from Mrs Barnes and her daughter Elizabeth. This chance meeting precipitated their future marriage. Charles was born in Ohio and was not a Mormon. He later joined the church and he and Elizabeth were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake.
They lived at one of the Express Stations operated by Wells Fargo in the early period of their marriage . At this time the Indians were not very friendly and Charles and Elizabeth had a dog to warn them of danger. Charles Henry had once saved an Indian boy’s life while riding. One of the prominent Indians would send word if thee was danger to Elizabeth. Charles later moved back to Salt Lake where he worked at various jobs and bought a parcel of farm land near Fort Union. Nine children were born to them while they were living in the Salt Lake area. In 1881 they sold their land and traveled to Livingston, Montana, where Charles’ brother, Andrew, was living. Andrew had sent word that men were needed to help build the railroad. The railroad was in the process of connecting Chicago with the Western States.
Elizabeth was sick and had to travel in a covered wagon. When she recovered there was need for help in cooking for the men who were working on the railroad. Elizabeth helped with the cooking.
When the railroad job ended, Charles Henry started herding sheep for a large sheep company. While in Livingston, a baby boy was born on July the 5th, 1883 who they named Mortimer (this was my father- Hazel Jane Billman). In the process of being a sheep herder they had to move and went east of Livingston to the Big Timber, Boulder River, where Elizabeth and her family lived in a sheep camp in a covered wagon. Sometimes they had to do their washing in the Boulder River. Eventually they built and lived in a log cabin. Charles’ brother, Andrew, continued to help his brother’s family and at times they even stayed with Andrew and his family. The children had to walk to school which was a one room building where all ages of children were taught together. Is is said that many a night Charles’ family would sleep at Andrew’s house.
Charles and Elizabeth’s older children had married their companions in Montana. Elizabeth and Charles had made two trips to Idaho looking for a farm and a home to live in. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was living in Bingham County, and they eventually found an acreage in Bingham County, Coltman School District, Willow Creek Precinct in Idaho. Now the family could go to church at Willow Creek and the two younger boys attended school at Coltman. Not long after this, Charles Henry passed away.
Elizabeth had to wash her clothes in a tub on a wash board. Since the older girls were gone, one of the boys had to help her. I was told that my father, Mortimer,helped her scrub on the board. Elizabeth was very particular about her washing of the clothes as they had to be white before she hung them on the clothes line to dry. No one was allowed to come in her house with dirty or muddy shoes on her board floors. She didn’t like any one to touch her ornaments or dishes in her living room. When my brother were old enough to carry wood in for wood box she told them to lay it nice and straight. As children we thought she was a cranky grandmother. She attended her mother’s funeral in 1902 in Utah. She was able to ride the train there. Grandma lived across the field from us in Coltman and Dad, Mortimer, looked in on her very day and took care of her until her death. One day when I was four or five, I was making figures on her steamy window and she scolded me, which made me feel bad. I remember sitting in her wicker rocker close the the flat topped stove. She died 14 Jan 1916 in Bonneville County, Idaho and was buried in the Ucon Cemetery.
Family Members
Siblings
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
