Minnie Ann Stratton Wilson

Minnie Ann Stratton Wilson - My Maternal Great Grandmother

In going through my dad’s family history files I came across information on my great-grandmother, Minnie Ann Stratton. I have written about her husband, Morris Wilson, Jr. and decided it was time to find out more about the woman who was at the side of this great man. The first thing I found on her was a short tribute written by her daughter and my grandmother, Thora Wilson Gubler as follows: 

My mother was a very hard worker all her life. She was really fast and could work circles around most people. She always accomplished a lot during one day.
While my father was called on a mission to Idaho, on a special assignment for the church for 6 months, mother had Afton and was expecting her second child. He was born and only lived 1 month and died with pneumonia and my dad never did get to see him. It was very hard on both of them. 

When we lived in the little house back of the big house (Later used as a storage or shed.) It consisted of two rooms and Pres. David O. McKay, then a Sunday School superintendent, came and stayed with us. They were given mother and dad’s bed and mother and dad slept in the kitchen. They were made welcome and came back again when we moved into the big house. 

We always had company, sometimes for a month at a time and they were no relation to us, but they were always welcome. Many times I would wonder whatever will mother have for dinner, but she always could fix a very good meal it seemed out of nothing. Mother was known all over for her cream pies. She was always making pies to take to someone. 

During fruit time, dad’s load of fruit was prepared and readied for him on Saturday so he could leave on Monday at four o’clock in the morning. I have heard my dad say that he never lost a peach or any other fruit by getting it ready on Saturday. Mother worked right along with us all to get it ready. 

I knew all the people that came from St. George Stake always came for two nights and left early Monday morning to go home. 

My mother was Ed’s and Marge’s Sunday School teacher and I still have some of the dishes the different classes gave her for being their teacher. She was a great lady. 

The following are excerpts from a history found in the same file. It was dated 1992, but no author listed. It was put together by a descendant for a Wilson Family Reunion. 

Minnie Ann Stratton was born in Virgin, Utah on 14 July 1876. She was the sixth of twelve children born to James Albert and Emily Amanda Gardner Stratton. She attended the Murdock Academy in Beaver, Utah, probably with the intent of becoming a teacher. At the age of 22 on 2 May 1899 she married Morris Wilson, Jr.

In the early years of Morris and Minnie’s marriage were in Mountain Dell where their first three children were born, Morris Afton (1900), Eldon (1901), and Thora (1903, my grandma). In January 1904 Morris and Minnie moved to LaVerkin. On 23 June 1904 the LaVerkin Ward was organized and Morris Wilson was sustained as Bishop and remained Bishop for the next 24 years. Minnie was the first Young Women’s MIA president with meetings being held in private homes until the school house was built.

Minnie had a still-born daughter in 1904, followed by Wayne (1906). Minnie had a very difficult time with each of her pregnancies. She had to stay in bed the whole time and always got so thin that her bones came through the flesh. She was so ill with her sixth child, Reed (1910), that the doctor said she could not live through the pregnancy and wanted to take the baby. This she would not consent to. They had two more sons, Paul (1915) and Delworth (1917). 

Minnie was a wonderful helpmate, mother and grandmother. She kept a lovely home, was a good seamstress, did beautiful handwork, raised lovely flowers, made her own soap and always helped with the preparation of the farm goods that they sold for a living. She was active in the affairs of the church and town and held responsible positions all through the years, especially in the Ward and Stake Relief Society. She was an actively involved member of the DUP. Her boys were all good athletes and she was an avid sports fan and supported all of them in their activities.

In her later years Minnie’s health failed. She was ill for a long time, unable to read because of failing eye sight or use her hand for close work. She suffered realty from a broken hip and other ailments. She passed away on 27 May 1954.

It was interesting to read and learn more about my great-grandmother as I noticed that my mom and grandma carried on her wonderful attributes of service to others, hard-work, and faith and testimony.  I hope to carry on in their footsteps! 

Lewis (Louis) Curtis Zabriskie

When I went on my little cemetery tour I was struck by the three tombstones of Lewis Curtis Zabriskie.  He has been on my mind so I decided to see if I could find more about him.  In a Google search I found a brief history about Lewis Curtis Zabriskie in an ebook entitled Polish Pioneers in Illinois, 1818-1850 by James D. Lodesky, who gathered his information from George Olin Zabriskie.  Apparently this George Olin Zabriskie, was quite the genealogist, he was a descendant of Lewis Curtis Zabriskie through his second wife and I descend from Lewis’ first wife. 

LEWIS CURTIS ZABRISKIE

My 3rd Great-grandfather

According to George Olin Zabriskie, [George Olin Zabriskie, The Zabriskie Family, Copyright 1963 by George Olin Zabriskie, pp.348-9] Lewis was born in Hamilton County, Ohio on September 17, 1817.  He converted to the Mormon faith April 19, 1836.  Lewis fled Missouri during the Mormon exodus of 1838-1839.  He settled in Adams County, Illinois, first, but later moved to Hancock County.  Lewis was not done moving yet, and at some point moved across the Mississippi River to Lee County, Iowa.  Lewis’ father, uncle, and brother were all living in Lee County at the time.

Lewis was married twice.  His first marriage was to Mary Keziah Higbee on April 5, 1839.  Mary was born in Clermont County, Ohio, September 5, 1821.  The marriage produced six children, William, Isaac, Eleanor, Huldah, John, and Mary. Mary Higbee Zabriskie died March 2, 1847, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Lewis’ second marriage was to Sarah Ann Park.  Their marriage took place in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 25, 1847.  Nine children were born from this marriage, Hyrum, Joseph, Matilda, George, David, Louisa, Sara, Esther, and Charles.

Lewis and his family participated in the famous Mormon trek to Utah in 1846.  The family took up residence in Provo, Utah, September 23, 1851.  Lewis’ father was also living in Provo.  Lewis moved several times after arriving in Utah.  In 1859, he moved to Salem, Utah County.  In 1860, he moved to Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah.  Lewis made his last move in 1862, his final destination Spring City, Utah, Lewis died in Spring City, November 17, 1872.

Moses Martin Sanders

I was having a hard time coming up with someone or something to blog about this week. Usually I have been gathering data or visiting cemeteries, but this week I have to guiltily admit that I have not had my ancestors on my mind. So when my phone beeped at me like it does every Sunday to remind me that it's time to blog I did not know where to begin. 

Luckily the idea came to me to look through past research projects from Universal Genealogy Center and in one of the documents I came across an advertisement for lodging in an old Nauvoo cabin built by Moses Martin Sanders and his son, John Franklin Sanders. Now I not only have a blog idea, but a trip to plan as well. I have copied and pasted the history here along with the website. 

Moses Martin Sanders

My paternal 3rd Great-Grandfather

Nauvoo Log Cabins @ http://nauvoologcabins.com/cabin_sanders.php
Moses Martin Sanders Cabin 
Built by Moses and John Franklin Sanders

Acquiring an old homestead log cabin inevitably means, digging up the past in search of history. In this case the time spent was well worth the effort. 

The Sanders story is one of adventure, tremendous faith, hardship and perseverance. It is not an isolated case, but rather a similar representation of thousands of pioneers and the trials they faced. Thanks to those who kept journals and records, we have the opportunity to view their lives from a distance. 

Moses Martin Sanders was born August 17, 1803, the son of David Sanders and Mary Allred. Moses was the Grandson of Moses Sanders, founder and first pastor of the Line Grove level and Nail Creek Baptist churches of Franklin County, Georgia. 

At the age of 23 Moses Married Amanda Armstrong Faucett, born May 6, 1810 in Maury, Tennessee. They were married on January 12, 1826 in the same county. They both came from homes that owned slaves. Her first child William Carl was born December 4, 1826, but lived only about 8 months. Amanda's second son, Richard Twiggs, was born May 31, 1828. In 1829 the family moved to Montgomery County, Illinois where her third child, John Franklin, was born on March 20, 1830. Here she had two baby girls named Rebecca Ann born, March 5, 1832 and Martha Brown born May 23, 1833, and another boy named David Walker, born on September 1, 1834. 

Moses and Amanda joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on January 28, 1835 and were baptized by immersion by Elder William Joy. In the summer of 1836 they moved to Missouri where their Seventh child was born and they named him Joseph Moroni Sanders. He was born December 25, 1836, which was during the time Caldwell County was organized. The Sanders purchased property at Far West, Clay County, before the northern part was formed into Caldwell County, Missouri. They went to be with the main body of the Saints. They suffered inhuman treatment at the hands of the mobs and were driven from their land and home. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were in Liberty Jail facing false charges. During this time Amanda delivered her Eighth child and he was named Sidney Rigdon Sanders, born April 10, 1839. 

The Sanders traveled up river and took shelter with the concerned people of Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. It was in Quincy that Moses was ordained an Elder and a Seventy. In May of 1839 the prophet Joseph Smith and a group of Saints settled at Commerce, which was fifty miles up the river from Quincy. Joseph renamed the area Nauvoo the Beautiful. There the Sanders built a small log home on the corner of Water Street and Partridge. they lived next door to Joseph's Uncle John Smith, and very near the Prophet, and they cherished the associations, both in Church activities and in sporting events. Moses owned a beautiful but unruly horse. One day the prophet said to his nearby neighbor, Moses, "Brother Sanders, give the horse to me and I promise that you'll never lose by it" Moses Martin replied, "I would but I'm afraid that he may hurt you." Then the Prophet said, "No, he would never hurt me." Moses tossed him the rope and said, "He is Yours." 

While in Nauvoo, Amanda had three more children. Emma was born on January 23, 1840 and she is said to have been named by the Prophet himself, in honor of his wife, Emma. On June 4, 1843 Eliza Jane was born followed by Hyrum Smith Sanders born on October 10, 1845. Life was difficult for survival on account of malaria, lack of proper food, shelter and persecution of the mobs. It was here in Nauvoo, they had the sorrow of parting with their son Sidney Rigdon, who was six years of age. The Sanders also witnessed the return of the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. 

That same year, Joseph Moroni Sanders was baptized on the day he turned eight. His Birthday was on December 25th, Christmas Day, 1844. A hole had to be cut in the ice and he was baptized by immersion in the Mississippi River. Joseph Moroni had a vivid recollection of the Prophet, when he gave his farewell message to his people before, Joseph and his Brother Hyrum met their tragic death. It is interesting to note that at this event Joseph Moroni was less than eight years old at the time. The Sander's enjoyed many of the Prophet's Sermons. He also remembered Brigham Young when he was chosen to be the president of the church, when he spoke in the voice and image of the slain Prophet, Joseph Smith.

Joseph Moroni Sanders
My paternal 2ggf

John Franklin Sanders as a teenager helped the builders of the Nauvoo Temple as a water boy. Year after year John saw firsthand the huge, cut, chiseled, and polished stones arrive from the Quarry by wagon. The Sunstones, Moons and Star stones along with the Twelve Oxen we're carved out of stone. Nothing but the finest quality and workmanship was accepted for the House of God. Large amounts of timber from the pineries of Wisconsin were floated down the Mississippi to provide the lumber necessary for such a large edifice. The work was hard and tedious, under adverse conditions, poverty, sickness, weather and opposition, but the work continued. John's father and older brother Richard also worked regularly on the Nauvoo Temple. The Sanders witnessed the completion of the Lord's Temple in Nauvoo and on January 3rd, 1846, Moses and Amanda received their endowments and were sealed for time and all eternity by Heber C. Kimball. Often John was the only one home to help his mother and younger brothers and sisters, as his Father and Richard were gone so much on church duties. Moses served as city policeman, and in the Temple as the voice for Temple Prayers.

Due to mobs and persecutions the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo in the dead of winter in 1846 and crossed the frozen Mississippi. Wagons with belongings and supplies lined up Parley Street as the mass exodus began. The Sanders arrived at Winter Quarters, now Florence, Nebraska, in the summer of 1846, they camped and settled at Pigeon Grove near Kanesville, Iowa. It was here that Amanda lost two more children. Eleven month old Hyrum Smith, was buried at Winter Quarters on September 27, 1846. Not much later on April 4, 1847, Eliza Jane, age three, died and was buried in grave #123. 

Moses worked in a sawpit making lumber by hand, and John worked on the ferry along with Henry Weeks Sanderson. When a call from the United States Government for 500 Mormons to enlist in the war against Mexico. The Oldest living son, Richard Twiggs Sanders, age Eighteen, volunteered. 536 men signed up by July 16, 1846, and they marched from Council Bluffs to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and to San Diego, California. This was the longest march in the history of the United States Infantry--over Two thousand miles.