Joseph was of a spiritual nature reading the Bible and attending Bible classes. When the ‘Mormon' Elders came with the Gospel tract, it was like a message he had once known but forgotten. He and Ann were readily converted. They were baptized 27 November 1851 by Elder William [Whitman] Griffin, in a font constructed on their own farm. The font had steps leading down into the water, was fed by a spring and beautifully surrounded by willow trees. They had five young children, ages 8 years to 8 months at the time.
Ironically, Elder (later Bishop) Griffin had previously tried to convert the Howards to the Church of England without success. Joseph said Whitman Griffin didn't preach according to the scriptures. Later, Griffin joined the LDS church, gained a knowledge of the scriptures and converted the Howards to Mormonism.
Not long after, Joseph was appointed as President of the Allison Street Branch. It was a challenge for Ann to care for their large, very young family with Joseph's long work hours and his being away from home so much with church duties. They had six children under the age of ten at the start, but Ann didn't complain as she supported her husband in his eleven years as Branch President. It was later called the Hockley Branch.
The family dreamed of joining the Saints in Zion (Utah), so to better earn money for the journey, Joseph changed his occupation, left the five acres* and went to work at Webb's Smelting and Refining Works. This work was very hard and only a strong man such as he could have stood it.
The Church faced heavy persecution in New Birmingham. The Branch meetings were held in an upstairs room. Many times because of hearing singing, undesirable people congregated on the stairs causing a disturbance and Joseph Howard being a strong, husky man, was obliged to throw them down the stairs. Despite the opposition, membership grew and it was necessary to get larger quarters. The Hockley Chapel was leased for 99 years.
The very day Joseph completed the details of leasing the chapel, he took a short cut home across land where new houses were being built. Some ruffians were hiding behind these houses. When Joseph came along, they attacked him from behind. They beat him, knocking parcels he was carrying all over the ground and trampling him in the dirt. As fast as he tried to arise, he was again knocked to the ground until he was almost unconscious. "Take that you bloody Mormon!" His clothes were torn to shreds, his silk hat battered in and his face cut and bleeding. Even a neighbor refused to help the poor man in his plight so he was forced to stagger on his own to his home. Imagine the horror in Ann's face as she saw Joseph when he arrived home. For months after, he was accompanied home by some of the Saints.
The family had a meeting and Thomas and William volunteered to go to America with an LDS group and obtain work, sending back to England whatever money they could save to assist in bringing the rest of the family to Zion. How Ann worried when their two oldest sons, Thomas and William, ages 17 and 16 sailed April 23, 1861 for America.
In a letter Feb. 20, 1862, Joseph responded to a letter from his son, William, which shows the task was not easy for the boys. Things didn't work out with certain people and they had to find other employment. The father writes: "My dear boys, when you write again tell us whether you are living together or not and who you work for and what you work at and if all your things are safe. Well, lately, my dear boys, ever since you left England, we have had hard work to struggle along. James [age 16] is at work at Webbs, getting four shillings and I get what I can catch and we have not been able to save any for emigration yet, but I hope it will be a little more favorable another year. We have left Hope cottage, the rent was more than we can pay. We are living by Lewis' Coal Yard. My dear boys, above all things live your religion, obey those that are placed over you and make all the improvements you can in your education."
It took several years, but on 3 June 1864, Joseph and Ann, four sons and five daughters, finally sailed for American despite Ann's brother's offer of money if she'd stay. The steamship Hudson left with 863 saints under the leadership of John McKay. They knew the journey would not be easy, but little did they know the heavy price they would pay before Zion was reached.
They were on the water one month and sixteen days. On the ship they were divided into wards with a steward placed over each ward. The families were in one ward and the single men in another and the single women in another. Joseph, at age 15, was in a bachelor ward as he was too old to stay with the women and small children. Joseph was a steward. His duty was to carry food (which the emigrants had to supply for themselves) to the kitchen for cooking then carry it back and parcel it out.
Because it was the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), when they neared New York, gun boats were sent out to see if they were friend or foe. After two days, they were all ordered on deck. When the officers saw the women and children, they believed it was an emigrant vessel and allowed them to land in New York, 19 July 1864. Many, including Joseph and son James were in a weakened condition from a fever when they landed and were not fit for the journey ahead of them. But again they crowded into a little steamer which was used to transport cattle which had not been cleaned and there was no place to sit or lie down. They took this boat from New York and went around by way of New Orleans and up the Mississippi River to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Joseph hired a man, his team and wagon to carry his family, and the land journey to the Rocky Mountains commenced. At Council Bluffs, Nebraska, they joined with The William [not Rozell] Hyde Company which started with 179 teams on 2 Aug.1864 arriving in Salt Lake 26 Oct.1864. The wagon they rode in was furnished by the Church. A Brother Howell drove it. Two families shared the wagon. So many passengers with belongings made it difficult to ride and hence most of the journey was made by foot. Their driver was very cross and would never let them ride no matter how tired they were, saying the wagon was already too heavily loaded for the oxen.
Additional information can be read on Ann's memorial.
(Courtesy of Karol Gerber Chase)
Ironically, Elder (later Bishop) Griffin had previously tried to convert the Howards to the Church of England without success. Joseph said Whitman Griffin didn't preach according to the scriptures. Later, Griffin joined the LDS church, gained a knowledge of the scriptures and converted the Howards to Mormonism.
Not long after, Joseph was appointed as President of the Allison Street Branch. It was a challenge for Ann to care for their large, very young family with Joseph's long work hours and his being away from home so much with church duties. They had six children under the age of ten at the start, but Ann didn't complain as she supported her husband in his eleven years as Branch President. It was later called the Hockley Branch.
The family dreamed of joining the Saints in Zion (Utah), so to better earn money for the journey, Joseph changed his occupation, left the five acres* and went to work at Webb's Smelting and Refining Works. This work was very hard and only a strong man such as he could have stood it.
The Church faced heavy persecution in New Birmingham. The Branch meetings were held in an upstairs room. Many times because of hearing singing, undesirable people congregated on the stairs causing a disturbance and Joseph Howard being a strong, husky man, was obliged to throw them down the stairs. Despite the opposition, membership grew and it was necessary to get larger quarters. The Hockley Chapel was leased for 99 years.
The very day Joseph completed the details of leasing the chapel, he took a short cut home across land where new houses were being built. Some ruffians were hiding behind these houses. When Joseph came along, they attacked him from behind. They beat him, knocking parcels he was carrying all over the ground and trampling him in the dirt. As fast as he tried to arise, he was again knocked to the ground until he was almost unconscious. "Take that you bloody Mormon!" His clothes were torn to shreds, his silk hat battered in and his face cut and bleeding. Even a neighbor refused to help the poor man in his plight so he was forced to stagger on his own to his home. Imagine the horror in Ann's face as she saw Joseph when he arrived home. For months after, he was accompanied home by some of the Saints.
The family had a meeting and Thomas and William volunteered to go to America with an LDS group and obtain work, sending back to England whatever money they could save to assist in bringing the rest of the family to Zion. How Ann worried when their two oldest sons, Thomas and William, ages 17 and 16 sailed April 23, 1861 for America.
In a letter Feb. 20, 1862, Joseph responded to a letter from his son, William, which shows the task was not easy for the boys. Things didn't work out with certain people and they had to find other employment. The father writes: "My dear boys, when you write again tell us whether you are living together or not and who you work for and what you work at and if all your things are safe. Well, lately, my dear boys, ever since you left England, we have had hard work to struggle along. James [age 16] is at work at Webbs, getting four shillings and I get what I can catch and we have not been able to save any for emigration yet, but I hope it will be a little more favorable another year. We have left Hope cottage, the rent was more than we can pay. We are living by Lewis' Coal Yard. My dear boys, above all things live your religion, obey those that are placed over you and make all the improvements you can in your education."
It took several years, but on 3 June 1864, Joseph and Ann, four sons and five daughters, finally sailed for American despite Ann's brother's offer of money if she'd stay. The steamship Hudson left with 863 saints under the leadership of John McKay. They knew the journey would not be easy, but little did they know the heavy price they would pay before Zion was reached.
They were on the water one month and sixteen days. On the ship they were divided into wards with a steward placed over each ward. The families were in one ward and the single men in another and the single women in another. Joseph, at age 15, was in a bachelor ward as he was too old to stay with the women and small children. Joseph was a steward. His duty was to carry food (which the emigrants had to supply for themselves) to the kitchen for cooking then carry it back and parcel it out.
Because it was the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), when they neared New York, gun boats were sent out to see if they were friend or foe. After two days, they were all ordered on deck. When the officers saw the women and children, they believed it was an emigrant vessel and allowed them to land in New York, 19 July 1864. Many, including Joseph and son James were in a weakened condition from a fever when they landed and were not fit for the journey ahead of them. But again they crowded into a little steamer which was used to transport cattle which had not been cleaned and there was no place to sit or lie down. They took this boat from New York and went around by way of New Orleans and up the Mississippi River to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Joseph hired a man, his team and wagon to carry his family, and the land journey to the Rocky Mountains commenced. At Council Bluffs, Nebraska, they joined with The William [not Rozell] Hyde Company which started with 179 teams on 2 Aug.1864 arriving in Salt Lake 26 Oct.1864. The wagon they rode in was furnished by the Church. A Brother Howell drove it. Two families shared the wagon. So many passengers with belongings made it difficult to ride and hence most of the journey was made by foot. Their driver was very cross and would never let them ride no matter how tired they were, saying the wagon was already too heavily loaded for the oxen.
Additional information can be read on Ann's memorial.
(Courtesy of Karol Gerber Chase)
Joseph was of a spiritual nature reading the Bible and attending Bible classes. When the ‘Mormon' Elders came with the Gospel tract, it was like a message he had once known but forgotten. He and Ann were readily converted. They were baptized 27 November 1851 by Elder William [Whitman] Griffin, in a font constructed on their own farm. The font had steps leading down into the water, was fed by a spring and beautifully surrounded by willow trees. They had five young children, ages 8 years to 8 months at the time.
Ironically, Elder (later Bishop) Griffin had previously tried to convert the Howards to the Church of England without success. Joseph said Whitman Griffin didn't preach according to the scriptures. Later, Griffin joined the LDS church, gained a knowledge of the scriptures and converted the Howards to Mormonism.
Not long after, Joseph was appointed as President of the Allison Street Branch. It was a challenge for Ann to care for their large, very young family with Joseph's long work hours and his being away from home so much with church duties. They had six children under the age of ten at the start, but Ann didn't complain as she supported her husband in his eleven years as Branch President. It was later called the Hockley Branch.
The family dreamed of joining the Saints in Zion (Utah), so to better earn money for the journey, Joseph changed his occupation, left the five acres* and went to work at Webb's Smelting and Refining Works. This work was very hard and only a strong man such as he could have stood it.
The Church faced heavy persecution in New Birmingham. The Branch meetings were held in an upstairs room. Many times because of hearing singing, undesirable people congregated on the stairs causing a disturbance and Joseph Howard being a strong, husky man, was obliged to throw them down the stairs. Despite the opposition, membership grew and it was necessary to get larger quarters. The Hockley Chapel was leased for 99 years.
The very day Joseph completed the details of leasing the chapel, he took a short cut home across land where new houses were being built. Some ruffians were hiding behind these houses. When Joseph came along, they attacked him from behind. They beat him, knocking parcels he was carrying all over the ground and trampling him in the dirt. As fast as he tried to arise, he was again knocked to the ground until he was almost unconscious. "Take that you bloody Mormon!" His clothes were torn to shreds, his silk hat battered in and his face cut and bleeding. Even a neighbor refused to help the poor man in his plight so he was forced to stagger on his own to his home. Imagine the horror in Ann's face as she saw Joseph when he arrived home. For months after, he was accompanied home by some of the Saints.
The family had a meeting and Thomas and William volunteered to go to America with an LDS group and obtain work, sending back to England whatever money they could save to assist in bringing the rest of the family to Zion. How Ann worried when their two oldest sons, Thomas and William, ages 17 and 16 sailed April 23, 1861 for America.
In a letter Feb. 20, 1862, Joseph responded to a letter from his son, William, which shows the task was not easy for the boys. Things didn't work out with certain people and they had to find other employment. The father writes: "My dear boys, when you write again tell us whether you are living together or not and who you work for and what you work at and if all your things are safe. Well, lately, my dear boys, ever since you left England, we have had hard work to struggle along. James [age 16] is at work at Webbs, getting four shillings and I get what I can catch and we have not been able to save any for emigration yet, but I hope it will be a little more favorable another year. We have left Hope cottage, the rent was more than we can pay. We are living by Lewis' Coal Yard. My dear boys, above all things live your religion, obey those that are placed over you and make all the improvements you can in your education."
It took several years, but on 3 June 1864, Joseph and Ann, four sons and five daughters, finally sailed for American despite Ann's brother's offer of money if she'd stay. The steamship Hudson left with 863 saints under the leadership of John McKay. They knew the journey would not be easy, but little did they know the heavy price they would pay before Zion was reached.
They were on the water one month and sixteen days. On the ship they were divided into wards with a steward placed over each ward. The families were in one ward and the single men in another and the single women in another. Joseph, at age 15, was in a bachelor ward as he was too old to stay with the women and small children. Joseph was a steward. His duty was to carry food (which the emigrants had to supply for themselves) to the kitchen for cooking then carry it back and parcel it out.
Because it was the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), when they neared New York, gun boats were sent out to see if they were friend or foe. After two days, they were all ordered on deck. When the officers saw the women and children, they believed it was an emigrant vessel and allowed them to land in New York, 19 July 1864. Many, including Joseph and son James were in a weakened condition from a fever when they landed and were not fit for the journey ahead of them. But again they crowded into a little steamer which was used to transport cattle which had not been cleaned and there was no place to sit or lie down. They took this boat from New York and went around by way of New Orleans and up the Mississippi River to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Joseph hired a man, his team and wagon to carry his family, and the land journey to the Rocky Mountains commenced. At Council Bluffs, Nebraska, they joined with The William [not Rozell] Hyde Company which started with 179 teams on 2 Aug.1864 arriving in Salt Lake 26 Oct.1864. The wagon they rode in was furnished by the Church. A Brother Howell drove it. Two families shared the wagon. So many passengers with belongings made it difficult to ride and hence most of the journey was made by foot. Their driver was very cross and would never let them ride no matter how tired they were, saying the wagon was already too heavily loaded for the oxen.
Additional information can be read on Ann's memorial.
(Courtesy of Karol Gerber Chase)
Ironically, Elder (later Bishop) Griffin had previously tried to convert the Howards to the Church of England without success. Joseph said Whitman Griffin didn't preach according to the scriptures. Later, Griffin joined the LDS church, gained a knowledge of the scriptures and converted the Howards to Mormonism.
Not long after, Joseph was appointed as President of the Allison Street Branch. It was a challenge for Ann to care for their large, very young family with Joseph's long work hours and his being away from home so much with church duties. They had six children under the age of ten at the start, but Ann didn't complain as she supported her husband in his eleven years as Branch President. It was later called the Hockley Branch.
The family dreamed of joining the Saints in Zion (Utah), so to better earn money for the journey, Joseph changed his occupation, left the five acres* and went to work at Webb's Smelting and Refining Works. This work was very hard and only a strong man such as he could have stood it.
The Church faced heavy persecution in New Birmingham. The Branch meetings were held in an upstairs room. Many times because of hearing singing, undesirable people congregated on the stairs causing a disturbance and Joseph Howard being a strong, husky man, was obliged to throw them down the stairs. Despite the opposition, membership grew and it was necessary to get larger quarters. The Hockley Chapel was leased for 99 years.
The very day Joseph completed the details of leasing the chapel, he took a short cut home across land where new houses were being built. Some ruffians were hiding behind these houses. When Joseph came along, they attacked him from behind. They beat him, knocking parcels he was carrying all over the ground and trampling him in the dirt. As fast as he tried to arise, he was again knocked to the ground until he was almost unconscious. "Take that you bloody Mormon!" His clothes were torn to shreds, his silk hat battered in and his face cut and bleeding. Even a neighbor refused to help the poor man in his plight so he was forced to stagger on his own to his home. Imagine the horror in Ann's face as she saw Joseph when he arrived home. For months after, he was accompanied home by some of the Saints.
The family had a meeting and Thomas and William volunteered to go to America with an LDS group and obtain work, sending back to England whatever money they could save to assist in bringing the rest of the family to Zion. How Ann worried when their two oldest sons, Thomas and William, ages 17 and 16 sailed April 23, 1861 for America.
In a letter Feb. 20, 1862, Joseph responded to a letter from his son, William, which shows the task was not easy for the boys. Things didn't work out with certain people and they had to find other employment. The father writes: "My dear boys, when you write again tell us whether you are living together or not and who you work for and what you work at and if all your things are safe. Well, lately, my dear boys, ever since you left England, we have had hard work to struggle along. James [age 16] is at work at Webbs, getting four shillings and I get what I can catch and we have not been able to save any for emigration yet, but I hope it will be a little more favorable another year. We have left Hope cottage, the rent was more than we can pay. We are living by Lewis' Coal Yard. My dear boys, above all things live your religion, obey those that are placed over you and make all the improvements you can in your education."
It took several years, but on 3 June 1864, Joseph and Ann, four sons and five daughters, finally sailed for American despite Ann's brother's offer of money if she'd stay. The steamship Hudson left with 863 saints under the leadership of John McKay. They knew the journey would not be easy, but little did they know the heavy price they would pay before Zion was reached.
They were on the water one month and sixteen days. On the ship they were divided into wards with a steward placed over each ward. The families were in one ward and the single men in another and the single women in another. Joseph, at age 15, was in a bachelor ward as he was too old to stay with the women and small children. Joseph was a steward. His duty was to carry food (which the emigrants had to supply for themselves) to the kitchen for cooking then carry it back and parcel it out.
Because it was the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), when they neared New York, gun boats were sent out to see if they were friend or foe. After two days, they were all ordered on deck. When the officers saw the women and children, they believed it was an emigrant vessel and allowed them to land in New York, 19 July 1864. Many, including Joseph and son James were in a weakened condition from a fever when they landed and were not fit for the journey ahead of them. But again they crowded into a little steamer which was used to transport cattle which had not been cleaned and there was no place to sit or lie down. They took this boat from New York and went around by way of New Orleans and up the Mississippi River to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Joseph hired a man, his team and wagon to carry his family, and the land journey to the Rocky Mountains commenced. At Council Bluffs, Nebraska, they joined with The William [not Rozell] Hyde Company which started with 179 teams on 2 Aug.1864 arriving in Salt Lake 26 Oct.1864. The wagon they rode in was furnished by the Church. A Brother Howell drove it. Two families shared the wagon. So many passengers with belongings made it difficult to ride and hence most of the journey was made by foot. Their driver was very cross and would never let them ride no matter how tired they were, saying the wagon was already too heavily loaded for the oxen.
Additional information can be read on Ann's memorial.
(Courtesy of Karol Gerber Chase)
Family Members
Children
-
![]()
Thomas Howard
1843–1915
-
![]()
William Howard
1844–1873
-
![]()
James Howard
1846–1926
-
![]()
Joseph Howard Jr
1849–1930
-
![]()
Mary Ann Howard Tolman
1851–1931
-
![]()
Emma Howard Corbridge
1852–1953
-
![]()
John Shelton Howard
1854–1923
-
![]()
Samuel Shelton Howard
1856–1940
-
Matilda Howard
1859–1864
-
![]()
Elizabeth Howard Dean
1859–1940
-
Tamar Howard
1861–1864
Advertisement
Advertisement
