Son of William Carson and Ruth Sherman
Married Ann Hough, 17 Feb 1817, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
Biography of Ann Hough, taken from the Lemmon Family History, as recorded by Hortence Hovey
Ann Hough, was born June 27, 1794 in Milford, Tuscarora Valley, Mifflin, Pennsylvania. From information on the endowment house record, created by Ann herself, on March 29, 1862, she recorded that her parents names were Jonathan and Ann Hough. The Hough families that were the ancestors of Ann Hough originated in Hough, Wilmslow Parish, Cheshire, England. It is believed that John Hough was married to Hannah about 1680 in England, in near Cheshire. Their first son, John Hough II, was born about 1682. On or about September 4, 1683, the family of three boarded the ‘Friendship' in Liverpool and arrived at the Delaware River on November 21, 1683. John and his family were Quakers, and undoubtedly came to Pennsylvania to escape the persecution in England, and to take advantage of the hospitality of William Penn. John Hough II married Eleanor Sands, daughter of Stephen Sands, in 1714. John Hough the 3rd married Hannah Townsend, daughter of their neighbor, Stephed, in 1742. They had four children: John, born about 1740; Mary, born about 1743; Eleanor, born about 1745 and Jonathan*, born 1747 (father of Ann).
Jonathan Hough was married about 1769 to Elizabeth Pugh, daughter of David and Sarah (Morgan) Pugh, Welsh Quakers of New Britain Township. Jonathan's first wife, Elizabeth, died of the flu in August 1777. About 1778, Jonathan married Ann Barton, apparently also of New Britain Township. Mifflin county was formed in 1789, and Jonathan was listed in the 1790 and 1800 censuses in Milford Township. Ann, and Elizabeth Hough, the twin daughters of Jonathan, were born in 1794. Some time prior to 1808, Jonathan moved his family to Derry Township, Mifflin County, as he is listed as a "supervisor" of the Township in that year. This was the same township in which most of William Carson's children were living.
About 1817, George Carson and Ann Hough were married, probably in Mifflin County. George was Presbyterian; Ann was Quaker they were parents of eight children, six boys and two girls: William Huff Carson, born 8 Jan 1818, John Carson, born 13 Nov 1819, Jonathan, about 1820, Elizabeth, 7 July 1822, George, 2 Oct 1827, David, 2 Oct 1827, Washington, 18 April 1830 and Mary Ann, 16 Mar 1833.
In the middle of June, 1831, George and Ann, on leaving church services one Sunday afternoon, saw two men teaching under a tree. They listened and found they were two Mormon Missionaries, David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock. They had been commanded to travel to Missouri, preaching along the way. Ann joined the Mormon church that same month; George joined late it in August, 1831.
Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site in Independence, Missouri, and designated the surrounding area as Zion. He called all the Saints to gather to Zion, instructing those returning to Ohio to inform all Saints they contacted of the call to Zion. In 1832 George and Ann, along with David and Elizabeth Frampton, respond to the call, and traveled some 900 miles, probably mostly by flat boat down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and the Missouri River to Independence.
The first week of November, 1833, mobs attacked the Mormons, forcing them to flee to Jackson County. It was very cold; the ground was frozen and it was raining. The Carsons' and Framptons' fled into the nearby woods. The women tied the tops of some bushes together and spread blankets over them. The children huddled under the blankets all through the night while Ann and Elizabeth stood watch. Ann was holding 7 month old Mary Ann and Elizabeth held three year old Elizabeth Ann. The men stayed near the edge of the woods and watched their houses. They returned the next morning to retrieve what possessions they could, and headed for the river bottoms.
"The shore of the Missouri River began to be lined on both sides of the ferry with men, women and children, goods, wagons, boxes, provisions, etc., while the ferry was constantly employed hundreds of people were seen in every direction. Some in tents and some in the open air around their fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands; parents for their children, and children for their parents."
On November 13, 1833, "About two o'clock on the morning of the 13th, we were called by the signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment all the firmament seemed enveloped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course, and spent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun."
Elizabeth Carson later described this phenomenon: "As flakes of fire, falling like flakes of snow in a snowstorm, remaining light until a few feet from the ground."
In August. 1836, Far West was founded; John Whitmer and W.W. Phelps selected the site. During the fall of 1836 to spring, 1838, the growth of Far West was rapid, reaching a population of 5,000 by 1838. The Carsons', Framptons', and Egberts' all located in Far West. There were as many as 15,000 Mormons in the northern counties of Missouri. On March 14, 1838, Joseph Smith arrived at Far West from Kirtland to direct the affairs of the church. In April, 1838 Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were excommunicated from the church. This was probably a very trying time for the Carsons', as David Whitmer was one of the missionaries that converted them. In addition, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, Lyman Johnson. John Boynton, and William McClellan were excommunicated, comprising the presidency of the church in Missouri, and four of the twelve apostles.
In 1843, the Carsons' apparently kept their farm in Adams County, but moved their family and some of their possessions to the Nauvoo area for protection from the mobs. On June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob at the Carthage Jail. David Carson recalls that the Carson brothers got on their horses and rode to Carthage after the bodies had been removed. They saw the blood on the floor, the bullet hole through the door, and the raised window through which Joseph fell. In the summer of 1845, the Carsons' were "sharing the fortunes of the saints and doing their share on the temple and other public works, and in making preparation for the move to the Rocky Mountains that had been decided on as a new gathering place."
The summer of 1846, the Carson family left from Nauvoo, returned to Adams County to gather their belongings, and started their journey through Iowa. In November, 1846, between five and six hundred saints gathered at Garden Grove, about 170 miles west of Nauvoo. This camp was the first stopping place of the first group of saints, most of whom had moved further west.
As the Carsons' did not have the provisions required by Brigham Young to continue the journey, they were forced to remain in Garden Grove. On May 17, 1851, the Garden Grove company left for the Salt Lake Valley. In the company were the Carsons', Egberts', Ewings', and Griffiths'. They procured the service of Harry Walton at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
William Huff Carson was a captain of ten, comprising the Carson family. There were 60 wagons in the company. William Huff Carson had two yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows; he traded the cows for oxen en route. Patison Griffith had two wagons. One drawn by oxen, one by cows. They used the cows for fresh milk. On September 24, 1851, the company arrived in Salt Lake Valley. The Carsons' moved to South Cottonwood, about 10 miles south of the city, where the pioneers had made preparations for the Garden Grove Company. On November 9, 1851, George Carson and Ann Carson were re-baptized at South Cottonwood. On February 1, 1869, Ann Hough Carson died at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Griffith, in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah, as the result of ruptured blood vessel caused by coughing. She was 74 years old at the time of her death, and was buried in the Hyde Park Cemetery.
This history was rewritten by Margaret G. Dallof 2 Nov 1982 of Murray, Utah.
Married Ann Hough, 17 Feb 1817, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
Biography of Ann Hough, taken from the Lemmon Family History, as recorded by Hortence Hovey
Ann Hough, was born June 27, 1794 in Milford, Tuscarora Valley, Mifflin, Pennsylvania. From information on the endowment house record, created by Ann herself, on March 29, 1862, she recorded that her parents names were Jonathan and Ann Hough. The Hough families that were the ancestors of Ann Hough originated in Hough, Wilmslow Parish, Cheshire, England. It is believed that John Hough was married to Hannah about 1680 in England, in near Cheshire. Their first son, John Hough II, was born about 1682. On or about September 4, 1683, the family of three boarded the ‘Friendship' in Liverpool and arrived at the Delaware River on November 21, 1683. John and his family were Quakers, and undoubtedly came to Pennsylvania to escape the persecution in England, and to take advantage of the hospitality of William Penn. John Hough II married Eleanor Sands, daughter of Stephen Sands, in 1714. John Hough the 3rd married Hannah Townsend, daughter of their neighbor, Stephed, in 1742. They had four children: John, born about 1740; Mary, born about 1743; Eleanor, born about 1745 and Jonathan*, born 1747 (father of Ann).
Jonathan Hough was married about 1769 to Elizabeth Pugh, daughter of David and Sarah (Morgan) Pugh, Welsh Quakers of New Britain Township. Jonathan's first wife, Elizabeth, died of the flu in August 1777. About 1778, Jonathan married Ann Barton, apparently also of New Britain Township. Mifflin county was formed in 1789, and Jonathan was listed in the 1790 and 1800 censuses in Milford Township. Ann, and Elizabeth Hough, the twin daughters of Jonathan, were born in 1794. Some time prior to 1808, Jonathan moved his family to Derry Township, Mifflin County, as he is listed as a "supervisor" of the Township in that year. This was the same township in which most of William Carson's children were living.
About 1817, George Carson and Ann Hough were married, probably in Mifflin County. George was Presbyterian; Ann was Quaker they were parents of eight children, six boys and two girls: William Huff Carson, born 8 Jan 1818, John Carson, born 13 Nov 1819, Jonathan, about 1820, Elizabeth, 7 July 1822, George, 2 Oct 1827, David, 2 Oct 1827, Washington, 18 April 1830 and Mary Ann, 16 Mar 1833.
In the middle of June, 1831, George and Ann, on leaving church services one Sunday afternoon, saw two men teaching under a tree. They listened and found they were two Mormon Missionaries, David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock. They had been commanded to travel to Missouri, preaching along the way. Ann joined the Mormon church that same month; George joined late it in August, 1831.
Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site in Independence, Missouri, and designated the surrounding area as Zion. He called all the Saints to gather to Zion, instructing those returning to Ohio to inform all Saints they contacted of the call to Zion. In 1832 George and Ann, along with David and Elizabeth Frampton, respond to the call, and traveled some 900 miles, probably mostly by flat boat down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and the Missouri River to Independence.
The first week of November, 1833, mobs attacked the Mormons, forcing them to flee to Jackson County. It was very cold; the ground was frozen and it was raining. The Carsons' and Framptons' fled into the nearby woods. The women tied the tops of some bushes together and spread blankets over them. The children huddled under the blankets all through the night while Ann and Elizabeth stood watch. Ann was holding 7 month old Mary Ann and Elizabeth held three year old Elizabeth Ann. The men stayed near the edge of the woods and watched their houses. They returned the next morning to retrieve what possessions they could, and headed for the river bottoms.
"The shore of the Missouri River began to be lined on both sides of the ferry with men, women and children, goods, wagons, boxes, provisions, etc., while the ferry was constantly employed hundreds of people were seen in every direction. Some in tents and some in the open air around their fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands; parents for their children, and children for their parents."
On November 13, 1833, "About two o'clock on the morning of the 13th, we were called by the signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment all the firmament seemed enveloped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course, and spent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun."
Elizabeth Carson later described this phenomenon: "As flakes of fire, falling like flakes of snow in a snowstorm, remaining light until a few feet from the ground."
In August. 1836, Far West was founded; John Whitmer and W.W. Phelps selected the site. During the fall of 1836 to spring, 1838, the growth of Far West was rapid, reaching a population of 5,000 by 1838. The Carsons', Framptons', and Egberts' all located in Far West. There were as many as 15,000 Mormons in the northern counties of Missouri. On March 14, 1838, Joseph Smith arrived at Far West from Kirtland to direct the affairs of the church. In April, 1838 Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were excommunicated from the church. This was probably a very trying time for the Carsons', as David Whitmer was one of the missionaries that converted them. In addition, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, Lyman Johnson. John Boynton, and William McClellan were excommunicated, comprising the presidency of the church in Missouri, and four of the twelve apostles.
In 1843, the Carsons' apparently kept their farm in Adams County, but moved their family and some of their possessions to the Nauvoo area for protection from the mobs. On June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob at the Carthage Jail. David Carson recalls that the Carson brothers got on their horses and rode to Carthage after the bodies had been removed. They saw the blood on the floor, the bullet hole through the door, and the raised window through which Joseph fell. In the summer of 1845, the Carsons' were "sharing the fortunes of the saints and doing their share on the temple and other public works, and in making preparation for the move to the Rocky Mountains that had been decided on as a new gathering place."
The summer of 1846, the Carson family left from Nauvoo, returned to Adams County to gather their belongings, and started their journey through Iowa. In November, 1846, between five and six hundred saints gathered at Garden Grove, about 170 miles west of Nauvoo. This camp was the first stopping place of the first group of saints, most of whom had moved further west.
As the Carsons' did not have the provisions required by Brigham Young to continue the journey, they were forced to remain in Garden Grove. On May 17, 1851, the Garden Grove company left for the Salt Lake Valley. In the company were the Carsons', Egberts', Ewings', and Griffiths'. They procured the service of Harry Walton at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
William Huff Carson was a captain of ten, comprising the Carson family. There were 60 wagons in the company. William Huff Carson had two yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows; he traded the cows for oxen en route. Patison Griffith had two wagons. One drawn by oxen, one by cows. They used the cows for fresh milk. On September 24, 1851, the company arrived in Salt Lake Valley. The Carsons' moved to South Cottonwood, about 10 miles south of the city, where the pioneers had made preparations for the Garden Grove Company. On November 9, 1851, George Carson and Ann Carson were re-baptized at South Cottonwood. On February 1, 1869, Ann Hough Carson died at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Griffith, in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah, as the result of ruptured blood vessel caused by coughing. She was 74 years old at the time of her death, and was buried in the Hyde Park Cemetery.
This history was rewritten by Margaret G. Dallof 2 Nov 1982 of Murray, Utah.
Son of William Carson and Ruth Sherman
Married Ann Hough, 17 Feb 1817, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
Biography of Ann Hough, taken from the Lemmon Family History, as recorded by Hortence Hovey
Ann Hough, was born June 27, 1794 in Milford, Tuscarora Valley, Mifflin, Pennsylvania. From information on the endowment house record, created by Ann herself, on March 29, 1862, she recorded that her parents names were Jonathan and Ann Hough. The Hough families that were the ancestors of Ann Hough originated in Hough, Wilmslow Parish, Cheshire, England. It is believed that John Hough was married to Hannah about 1680 in England, in near Cheshire. Their first son, John Hough II, was born about 1682. On or about September 4, 1683, the family of three boarded the ‘Friendship' in Liverpool and arrived at the Delaware River on November 21, 1683. John and his family were Quakers, and undoubtedly came to Pennsylvania to escape the persecution in England, and to take advantage of the hospitality of William Penn. John Hough II married Eleanor Sands, daughter of Stephen Sands, in 1714. John Hough the 3rd married Hannah Townsend, daughter of their neighbor, Stephed, in 1742. They had four children: John, born about 1740; Mary, born about 1743; Eleanor, born about 1745 and Jonathan*, born 1747 (father of Ann).
Jonathan Hough was married about 1769 to Elizabeth Pugh, daughter of David and Sarah (Morgan) Pugh, Welsh Quakers of New Britain Township. Jonathan's first wife, Elizabeth, died of the flu in August 1777. About 1778, Jonathan married Ann Barton, apparently also of New Britain Township. Mifflin county was formed in 1789, and Jonathan was listed in the 1790 and 1800 censuses in Milford Township. Ann, and Elizabeth Hough, the twin daughters of Jonathan, were born in 1794. Some time prior to 1808, Jonathan moved his family to Derry Township, Mifflin County, as he is listed as a "supervisor" of the Township in that year. This was the same township in which most of William Carson's children were living.
About 1817, George Carson and Ann Hough were married, probably in Mifflin County. George was Presbyterian; Ann was Quaker they were parents of eight children, six boys and two girls: William Huff Carson, born 8 Jan 1818, John Carson, born 13 Nov 1819, Jonathan, about 1820, Elizabeth, 7 July 1822, George, 2 Oct 1827, David, 2 Oct 1827, Washington, 18 April 1830 and Mary Ann, 16 Mar 1833.
In the middle of June, 1831, George and Ann, on leaving church services one Sunday afternoon, saw two men teaching under a tree. They listened and found they were two Mormon Missionaries, David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock. They had been commanded to travel to Missouri, preaching along the way. Ann joined the Mormon church that same month; George joined late it in August, 1831.
Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site in Independence, Missouri, and designated the surrounding area as Zion. He called all the Saints to gather to Zion, instructing those returning to Ohio to inform all Saints they contacted of the call to Zion. In 1832 George and Ann, along with David and Elizabeth Frampton, respond to the call, and traveled some 900 miles, probably mostly by flat boat down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and the Missouri River to Independence.
The first week of November, 1833, mobs attacked the Mormons, forcing them to flee to Jackson County. It was very cold; the ground was frozen and it was raining. The Carsons' and Framptons' fled into the nearby woods. The women tied the tops of some bushes together and spread blankets over them. The children huddled under the blankets all through the night while Ann and Elizabeth stood watch. Ann was holding 7 month old Mary Ann and Elizabeth held three year old Elizabeth Ann. The men stayed near the edge of the woods and watched their houses. They returned the next morning to retrieve what possessions they could, and headed for the river bottoms.
"The shore of the Missouri River began to be lined on both sides of the ferry with men, women and children, goods, wagons, boxes, provisions, etc., while the ferry was constantly employed hundreds of people were seen in every direction. Some in tents and some in the open air around their fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands; parents for their children, and children for their parents."
On November 13, 1833, "About two o'clock on the morning of the 13th, we were called by the signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment all the firmament seemed enveloped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course, and spent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun."
Elizabeth Carson later described this phenomenon: "As flakes of fire, falling like flakes of snow in a snowstorm, remaining light until a few feet from the ground."
In August. 1836, Far West was founded; John Whitmer and W.W. Phelps selected the site. During the fall of 1836 to spring, 1838, the growth of Far West was rapid, reaching a population of 5,000 by 1838. The Carsons', Framptons', and Egberts' all located in Far West. There were as many as 15,000 Mormons in the northern counties of Missouri. On March 14, 1838, Joseph Smith arrived at Far West from Kirtland to direct the affairs of the church. In April, 1838 Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were excommunicated from the church. This was probably a very trying time for the Carsons', as David Whitmer was one of the missionaries that converted them. In addition, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, Lyman Johnson. John Boynton, and William McClellan were excommunicated, comprising the presidency of the church in Missouri, and four of the twelve apostles.
In 1843, the Carsons' apparently kept their farm in Adams County, but moved their family and some of their possessions to the Nauvoo area for protection from the mobs. On June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob at the Carthage Jail. David Carson recalls that the Carson brothers got on their horses and rode to Carthage after the bodies had been removed. They saw the blood on the floor, the bullet hole through the door, and the raised window through which Joseph fell. In the summer of 1845, the Carsons' were "sharing the fortunes of the saints and doing their share on the temple and other public works, and in making preparation for the move to the Rocky Mountains that had been decided on as a new gathering place."
The summer of 1846, the Carson family left from Nauvoo, returned to Adams County to gather their belongings, and started their journey through Iowa. In November, 1846, between five and six hundred saints gathered at Garden Grove, about 170 miles west of Nauvoo. This camp was the first stopping place of the first group of saints, most of whom had moved further west.
As the Carsons' did not have the provisions required by Brigham Young to continue the journey, they were forced to remain in Garden Grove. On May 17, 1851, the Garden Grove company left for the Salt Lake Valley. In the company were the Carsons', Egberts', Ewings', and Griffiths'. They procured the service of Harry Walton at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
William Huff Carson was a captain of ten, comprising the Carson family. There were 60 wagons in the company. William Huff Carson had two yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows; he traded the cows for oxen en route. Patison Griffith had two wagons. One drawn by oxen, one by cows. They used the cows for fresh milk. On September 24, 1851, the company arrived in Salt Lake Valley. The Carsons' moved to South Cottonwood, about 10 miles south of the city, where the pioneers had made preparations for the Garden Grove Company. On November 9, 1851, George Carson and Ann Carson were re-baptized at South Cottonwood. On February 1, 1869, Ann Hough Carson died at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Griffith, in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah, as the result of ruptured blood vessel caused by coughing. She was 74 years old at the time of her death, and was buried in the Hyde Park Cemetery.
This history was rewritten by Margaret G. Dallof 2 Nov 1982 of Murray, Utah.
Married Ann Hough, 17 Feb 1817, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
Biography of Ann Hough, taken from the Lemmon Family History, as recorded by Hortence Hovey
Ann Hough, was born June 27, 1794 in Milford, Tuscarora Valley, Mifflin, Pennsylvania. From information on the endowment house record, created by Ann herself, on March 29, 1862, she recorded that her parents names were Jonathan and Ann Hough. The Hough families that were the ancestors of Ann Hough originated in Hough, Wilmslow Parish, Cheshire, England. It is believed that John Hough was married to Hannah about 1680 in England, in near Cheshire. Their first son, John Hough II, was born about 1682. On or about September 4, 1683, the family of three boarded the ‘Friendship' in Liverpool and arrived at the Delaware River on November 21, 1683. John and his family were Quakers, and undoubtedly came to Pennsylvania to escape the persecution in England, and to take advantage of the hospitality of William Penn. John Hough II married Eleanor Sands, daughter of Stephen Sands, in 1714. John Hough the 3rd married Hannah Townsend, daughter of their neighbor, Stephed, in 1742. They had four children: John, born about 1740; Mary, born about 1743; Eleanor, born about 1745 and Jonathan*, born 1747 (father of Ann).
Jonathan Hough was married about 1769 to Elizabeth Pugh, daughter of David and Sarah (Morgan) Pugh, Welsh Quakers of New Britain Township. Jonathan's first wife, Elizabeth, died of the flu in August 1777. About 1778, Jonathan married Ann Barton, apparently also of New Britain Township. Mifflin county was formed in 1789, and Jonathan was listed in the 1790 and 1800 censuses in Milford Township. Ann, and Elizabeth Hough, the twin daughters of Jonathan, were born in 1794. Some time prior to 1808, Jonathan moved his family to Derry Township, Mifflin County, as he is listed as a "supervisor" of the Township in that year. This was the same township in which most of William Carson's children were living.
About 1817, George Carson and Ann Hough were married, probably in Mifflin County. George was Presbyterian; Ann was Quaker they were parents of eight children, six boys and two girls: William Huff Carson, born 8 Jan 1818, John Carson, born 13 Nov 1819, Jonathan, about 1820, Elizabeth, 7 July 1822, George, 2 Oct 1827, David, 2 Oct 1827, Washington, 18 April 1830 and Mary Ann, 16 Mar 1833.
In the middle of June, 1831, George and Ann, on leaving church services one Sunday afternoon, saw two men teaching under a tree. They listened and found they were two Mormon Missionaries, David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock. They had been commanded to travel to Missouri, preaching along the way. Ann joined the Mormon church that same month; George joined late it in August, 1831.
Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site in Independence, Missouri, and designated the surrounding area as Zion. He called all the Saints to gather to Zion, instructing those returning to Ohio to inform all Saints they contacted of the call to Zion. In 1832 George and Ann, along with David and Elizabeth Frampton, respond to the call, and traveled some 900 miles, probably mostly by flat boat down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and the Missouri River to Independence.
The first week of November, 1833, mobs attacked the Mormons, forcing them to flee to Jackson County. It was very cold; the ground was frozen and it was raining. The Carsons' and Framptons' fled into the nearby woods. The women tied the tops of some bushes together and spread blankets over them. The children huddled under the blankets all through the night while Ann and Elizabeth stood watch. Ann was holding 7 month old Mary Ann and Elizabeth held three year old Elizabeth Ann. The men stayed near the edge of the woods and watched their houses. They returned the next morning to retrieve what possessions they could, and headed for the river bottoms.
"The shore of the Missouri River began to be lined on both sides of the ferry with men, women and children, goods, wagons, boxes, provisions, etc., while the ferry was constantly employed hundreds of people were seen in every direction. Some in tents and some in the open air around their fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands; parents for their children, and children for their parents."
On November 13, 1833, "About two o'clock on the morning of the 13th, we were called by the signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment all the firmament seemed enveloped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course, and spent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun."
Elizabeth Carson later described this phenomenon: "As flakes of fire, falling like flakes of snow in a snowstorm, remaining light until a few feet from the ground."
In August. 1836, Far West was founded; John Whitmer and W.W. Phelps selected the site. During the fall of 1836 to spring, 1838, the growth of Far West was rapid, reaching a population of 5,000 by 1838. The Carsons', Framptons', and Egberts' all located in Far West. There were as many as 15,000 Mormons in the northern counties of Missouri. On March 14, 1838, Joseph Smith arrived at Far West from Kirtland to direct the affairs of the church. In April, 1838 Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were excommunicated from the church. This was probably a very trying time for the Carsons', as David Whitmer was one of the missionaries that converted them. In addition, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, Lyman Johnson. John Boynton, and William McClellan were excommunicated, comprising the presidency of the church in Missouri, and four of the twelve apostles.
In 1843, the Carsons' apparently kept their farm in Adams County, but moved their family and some of their possessions to the Nauvoo area for protection from the mobs. On June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob at the Carthage Jail. David Carson recalls that the Carson brothers got on their horses and rode to Carthage after the bodies had been removed. They saw the blood on the floor, the bullet hole through the door, and the raised window through which Joseph fell. In the summer of 1845, the Carsons' were "sharing the fortunes of the saints and doing their share on the temple and other public works, and in making preparation for the move to the Rocky Mountains that had been decided on as a new gathering place."
The summer of 1846, the Carson family left from Nauvoo, returned to Adams County to gather their belongings, and started their journey through Iowa. In November, 1846, between five and six hundred saints gathered at Garden Grove, about 170 miles west of Nauvoo. This camp was the first stopping place of the first group of saints, most of whom had moved further west.
As the Carsons' did not have the provisions required by Brigham Young to continue the journey, they were forced to remain in Garden Grove. On May 17, 1851, the Garden Grove company left for the Salt Lake Valley. In the company were the Carsons', Egberts', Ewings', and Griffiths'. They procured the service of Harry Walton at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
William Huff Carson was a captain of ten, comprising the Carson family. There were 60 wagons in the company. William Huff Carson had two yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows; he traded the cows for oxen en route. Patison Griffith had two wagons. One drawn by oxen, one by cows. They used the cows for fresh milk. On September 24, 1851, the company arrived in Salt Lake Valley. The Carsons' moved to South Cottonwood, about 10 miles south of the city, where the pioneers had made preparations for the Garden Grove Company. On November 9, 1851, George Carson and Ann Carson were re-baptized at South Cottonwood. On February 1, 1869, Ann Hough Carson died at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Griffith, in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah, as the result of ruptured blood vessel caused by coughing. She was 74 years old at the time of her death, and was buried in the Hyde Park Cemetery.
This history was rewritten by Margaret G. Dallof 2 Nov 1982 of Murray, Utah.
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