In telling her story Sarah Fiske Allen wrote,
At an early age I became a lover of books and spent much of my time in reading the scriptures and other religious books, and in meditating upon the things of God, desiring always that my life might be pure that I might have a right to the tree of life and enter in through the gate of the Holy City.
While remaining in my father's house as a school girl, the news came to our village that a young man in the southwestern part of the state had declared that he had had the visitation of an angel, and that he had found a book, or a Golden Bible. Sometime after that, my father had occasion to go on business to the city of Ogdensburg. When he returned I heard him tell my mother that he had seen the Golden Bible, and in answer to her inquiries he told her it purported to be a history of the ancient inhabitants of this continent and that he had found it laying upon the table of the hotel.
As time passed I sometimes found an article in the newspapers headed, “The Mormon War.” I suppose it was when our people were passing through the persecutions in Missouri.
In 1837 I became acquainted with a young man from the town of Madrid by the name of Ezra H. Allen. He was an ambitious young man of good character and on December 25, 1837, I was married to him and removed to his home with him in Madrid. A few years passed and my own dear mother and mother-in-law had been laid in the silent tomb. We received their parting counsel and mourned for them, as do those without the consolation of the gospel. Two beautiful little girls had been born to us to bless our home with their presence, and we were comforted. About this time word was brought to us that a Mormon elder had given out an appointment for a meeting to be held in the district schoolhouse in our neighborhood. I at once made up my mind to attend the meeting and hear what they had to say about the angel and the Golden Bible. At the time appointed, accompanied by my husband, I proceeded to the schoolhouse with some anxiety. After the opening services, a quiet and unassuming man arose and said he had not come to preach any new doctrine, but that the doctrine he taught was old, the same that Jesus and His Apostles taught when they were upon the earth. I felt that his remarks were very reasonable and well sustained by quotations from the Scriptures. My friends asked me what I thought of the preaching. I replied that I had heard nothing that I could condemn. They said they thought I would become a Mormon. I replied, “I cannot condemn the Scriptures.” I soon after learned that the elder was our esteemed brother, William Snow.
A few more months passed away. Late in the autumn the health of my younger child began to decline. Medical aid seemed of no avail. I watched her tender form slowly, gradually sink away with all the anxiety of a fond mother's heart. One day while I was quietly sitting at my work, a rap came at my door. Upon opening it I met one of my husband's brothers and his wife. They were accompanied by two gentlemen who were strangers, but were introduced to me as Elder Christopher Merkley and Elder Murray Seamons, two Mormon elders who had come into the neighborhood to fill an appointment, which had previously been given out. I immediately put away my work, prepared supper and made myself ready to accompany them to meeting. . . [1]
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| Christopher Merkley |
I was called on a second mission to Canada, and started on June 23rd, accompanied by…Brother Henry Jacobs…who had been called on a mission to Canada. We arrived at our destination on August 12th. We traveled and preached until October 19th, when Brother Jacobs left me. He had a dream, which greatly affected him. He left his mission and returned home, leaving me entirely alone. Not being much of a preacher, I felt very bad. After making it a subject of prayer, it was shown to me that the Lord required no more of me than he had given me. After this I was determined to do my duty to the best of my ability. I continued in my labors traveling and preaching, and occasionally baptizing a few, until February 14th, 1842. Then Brother Murray Seamons came to labor with me.Elder Merkley then expounded on the doctrine of baptism, and the universal need of all to be baptized by the proper authority to obtain salvation. He closed the meeting and extended an invitation to any who were inclined to come and be baptized in the coming weeks. In his journal he wrote, “On the 12th of December, I baptized eleven persons.” Among those eleven persons were Ezra Hela Allen, and two of his brothers. Sarah Allen further wrote of the events saying,
I continued to visit and preach until the latter part of November. I gave out an appointment to preach in the red schoolhouse. On my way to the schoolhouse, I was informed by a woman where I stopped for supper that I was to be opposed by six preachers. I told her I did not care how many. I had the truth and I knew it. I accordingly went to meeting and preached on the first principles; at the close, a Methodist preacher arose…and asked, "What qualifications were necessary to prepare an individual to preach the gospel?" I answered, "The same that were necessary in the days of the Savior when He went to the sea shore.” He commenced and said he presumed the gentleman would have no objections to his weeding his garden a little. He was referring to me. I told him not in the least. He then spoke of the lies told against us, and of course represented them as true.
When I arose I told the people inasmuch as the reverend gentleman undertook to weed my garden, I presumed he would have no objections to my weeding his a little. I then compared Methodism with the teachings of the…Apostle Peter's, on the day of Pentecost, when the people asked a similar question. Peter said: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost."[2]
…After this visit other visits were made and books were introduced into the house, and we were also allowed the privilege of asking questions pertaining to their faith. And the seed that was thus sown in our hearts soon began to manifest life. My husband and two of his brothers soon offered themselves for baptism. As for myself I sought the silent recesses of my chamber and poured out my soul to the Lord. Earnestly I besought Him not to suffer me in my weakness to reject the truth, and that if the doctrines I had heard were from Him and were principles of life and salvation that I might receive them, and my mind was continually occupied in meditation, prayer and reading. The time now came that was appointed for my husband and his brothers to receive the ordinance of baptism. I did not accompany them to the water, but remained at home with my sick infant. They were baptized and returned to the house for confirmation. After receiving this ordinance my husband requested the elders to administer to our sick child, which they did.
My soul was now filled to overflowing; I had spent all my days in a Christian land and had never witnessed the ordinances of the gospel performed until now and yet it was plainly written in the Scriptures and practiced in the days of Jesus and His Apostles.
How earnestly I wished that I could be where no human ear could hear the sound of my voice that I might shout, “Glory to God in the highest; hallelujah to God and the Lamb.” I had never heard a Latter-day Saint shout, and I had not been very charitable toward the Methodist shouting; so I closed my lips and pondered over those things in my heart. Our infant was blessed but not healed; our Heavenly Father had decreed it to be otherwise and its blessed spirit was freed from its mortal tabernacle.
We now began to receive the spirit of gathering. Our home seemed lonely without our darling babe, and we constantly longed for the society of the Saints and to hear the Prophet's voice, so we began in earnest to prepare to emigrate to Nauvoo. Our homestead was sold, our team fitted up, our friends and kindred visited and in two weeks we were ready to start upon our journey. I shall never forget the sorrowful tears I shed when I passed the grave of my darling child. Our faces were now set as flint Zionward and our God had opened our way. On account of the lateness of the season our journey was long and tedious, but we arrived in good health in the city of Nauvoo early in the winter of 1842. We hired a small house and began working that we might accumulate the necessities of life, and be prepared for any changing scene that awaited us.
Early in the spring of 1843, an effort was being made to make a settlement at a place called Shocoquan, about 25 miles up the Mississippi River, Brother Amasa Lyman presiding. My husband concluded to remove there. It was a beautiful location. I was delighted with the scenery. The majestic river rolled in all its beauty and grandeur a few steps from my door, and the wild flowers greeted me at every step as I passed. But we found the climate damp and unhealthful. It was not my good fortune long to walk on beds of flowers or rejoice in the beauties of nature.
In April we returned to Nauvoo and were present at the general conference that was held on the 6th of April inside the walls of the temple. This was the first time that we had had the privilege of seeing the Prophet Joseph Smith and hearing him preach. We had a time of rejoicing with the Saints, and returned to our homes in good health. In May 1843 I was baptized by Amasa Lyman and confirmed a member of the Church. Meetings were held in the branch and the spirit of the Lord attended, causing our hearts to rejoice.
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| Nauvoo, Illinois with the temple visible in the distance - circa 1843 |
One evening after I retired to rest I had the following dream: I dreamed I was nursing a young eagle, after nursing it for sometime it released itself from my hands and flew away to a great distance. After a long time had passed away, it returned to my arms and I nursed it again. In July of 1843 our first son was born. We named him Alexander Hamilton.The Battalion marched to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were outfitted for the remainder of the journey. They continued, walking, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the San Pedro River Valley along the Arizona/Mexico border, then to Tucson, Arizona where they participated in the capture of Tucson. From here the Battalion continued to San Diego, stopping for a short while in Temecula, to provide support for the natives following the horrendous massacre of Luiseño Indians by the Mexicans. Arriving in San Diego on 30 January 1847, they continued to serve until July 1847, when their year of enlistment was over. Except for 81 who reenlisted for another six months, the rest left immediately for northern California.
We had not been there long when my husband was seized with chills and fever, and in a few days our little daughter came running into the house, shivering from head to foot, exclaiming, “Oh, mama, it is cold, it is going to rain!” and climbed upon my bed. I covered her up where she lay chilling until a fever came to take the place of the chill. In a few days I was also attacked with the ague. We were now a family of invalids. It was very difficult to hire a nurse, and as difficult to keep one on account of so much sickness, so I had to be my own nurse. In the mornings my husband would bolster me up in bed, and then after washing me and combing my hair I would wash and dress my young babe and my little girl. My husband would prepare a little breakfast and then I would lie down and have a spell of ague and fever, which generally lasted about four or five hours until my strength was gone. I was soon unable to turn in bed. My baby had to be put out to be nursed but was returned to me in a week or two, the people saying they could not do it any longer. He was attacked with chills and fever also, and from poor nursing he soon wasted away. He would cry and moan while the chill was upon him, then go to sleep while a burning fever preyed upon his tender form, seldom were his lips moistened with water or his little head bathed with a cooling lotion. (Oh, bitter recollections.) I over-exerted myself, lost my speech and lay helpless by my baby's side. He lived until he was eight weeks old, and then passed from this world of sorrow, (and thus my eagle had flown.) My husband and little girl a portion of the time were not able to wait upon themselves. A few kind friends came in and prepared my baby for burial, not one of my family being able to accompany it to the grave.
I continued to grow weaker, one disease after another setting in, until I fainted and became unconscious. I was believed by all who saw me to be dying. I was told afterwards that I remained in this condition two nights and one day. Suddenly, one day, I became conscious, but was too weak to move or speak or even open my eyes. There were several persons in the house. I heard them say, “Sister Allen is dying,” and heard them make remarks on my general character and the esteem they had cherished for me. One woman came and whispered in my ear and sent a message to a friend who had passed behind the veil. A lady came in and asked how long I had lain in that condition and if they had given me any nourishment. They replied that they had not, as I could not take any nourishment. She then mixed some wine and water, and with a teaspoon put a few drops into my mouth. It ran out again as I had not strength to swallow it. She then put the spoon down to the roots of my tongue and got a few drops to run down my throat. I then began to receive a little strength. She continued until I could swallow, then I put out my tongue and touched my lips. She then sent for some meat broth and fed me, and thus as an angel of mercy she nursed me back to life.
As soon as I recovered so that I could speak in a low whisper, I requested my husband, that as soon as I gained a little more strength, to take me to Nauvoo. I said, “If I die, I wish to be buried there.” Meanwhile one of the brethren had died, and Brother Lyman had been taken sick and had been taken to Nauvoo, and another brother died soon after. As soon as it could be arranged I was placed upon a bed and removed to Nauvoo. I was taken to my husband's sister's home, where I received nursing and the faith and prayers of the Saints, and I soon began to recover; but it was not until January that I was able to perform the duties of my household. My husband and little daughter also recovered. In the spring of 1844, I was again attacked with fever, but I requested them to take me and baptize me in the river for the restoration of my health. This they did. I was taken home, put to bed and began immediately to recover and my body became healthy and strong.
In June 1844 the clouds, which had so long been gathering around the heads of the Latter-day Saints, now burst in all their fury, and enshrouded in deep gloom the hearts of the Saints. On the 27th our beloved Prophet and Patriarch were murdered, and Brother John Taylor was seriously wounded in Carthage Jail. I will hastily pass over this painful scene, as many have written upon the subject; but suffice it to say that many were the bitter tears that were shed upon that occasion, but our faith was in God. He had commenced His work upon the earth, and we would not forsake it. We knew God's work would triumph, while those who had committed this horrible crime would eventually be punished.
Several of the Twelve Apostles were absent from home at this time, and upon their return the people were counseled to remain calm, and to build up the city and finish the temple. In consequence of the sacrifice and loss of property and sickness, we had become reduced to very poor circumstances. In September 1845 our second son was born. We named him Alexander Alma. The work upon the temple had steadily progressed until the winter of 1845 and '46. Many of the Saints received their endowments in that house. My husband and I were among that number. On account of continued persecutions the Church began making preparations to remove west, although very few, if any, knew where that journey would end. My husband in company with Joel Ricks took a journey to St. Louis to assist him in bringing his stock to Nauvoo to prepare for the journey, and in return he was to have assistance in removing his family.
All was in readiness; my husband taking charge of a large team, we crossed the Mississippi River on the 27th of April 1846. On account of heavy rains and bad roads our progress was very slow. The company was urged forward until we arrived at Mt. Pisgah, where we remained for a length of time while the brethren plowed some land and put in grain for the immigration that was expected to follow. Then we again continued our journey until we arrived at Council Bluffs. We encamped near a small stream of water at a place called Musketol. There were some in the company, who had brought their violins, and my husband had been a fifer in the Nauvoo Legion; so at evening after the company had encamped, they endeavored to cheer the hearts of Saints with their music.
While at this place, July 1846, a call was made for five hundred of our brethren to enlist in the service of the United States (this company known as the Mormon Battalion) and march to California. My husband enrolled among the volunteers and immediately prepared to go. After bidding his family and friends farewell, he hastened to join his company that left on the 16th.[3]
The discharged men had heard of the Brooklyn and its load of Mormons in San Francisco and decided to take this route to join the main body of the Church, although they did not know at that moment exactly where Brigham Young had decided to stop.
Using old maps that showed only a few rivers, they journeyed past Fresno, where the Indians gave them corn and melons. A short time later they met Thomas Rhodes a Mormon emigrant of 1846, and learned from him that the Great Salt Lake Valley had been selected as the stopping place. They arrived at Sutter's Fort on August 25, had their animals shod, purchased needed supplies, and then continued on.
The ex-battalion members climbed east towards the Sierra Nevada mountain summit, witnessing the remains of the Donner Party tragedy on September 5. They continued to the other side of the summit where they met Captain James Brown, also of the battalion. He came to collect their discharge pay and to bring them a letter from President Brigham Young. They were instructed to return to California for the winter and to, work for clothing, stock and provisions if they did not have sufficient means. If their families were in Salt Lake, they were to continue on. Diaries state, “half went on and half turned back.” Since about 265 had been discharged in Los Angeles there were approximately 130 discharged soldiers who turned around and went back to work a season at Sutter's Fort and in the Salt Francisco Bay area.
Thus it was that Ezra Allen spent the winter working for Captain John Sutter. The following January 1848, the nine workers building a lumber mill for Sutter at Coloma were present when the mill foreman, James Marshall, discovered gold. As spring approached, the men were eager to be on their way to Salt Lake. Situated ill an enviable position, they had first claim to rich gold deposits, yet a majority remembered the instructions of their Prophet and began to make plans to leave.
On the 24th of June three members of the first exploring company – Captain Daniel Browett, Ezra Allen, and Henderson Cox - decided to find an alternate route through the mountains. Their friends advised them against going in such it small group because of the Indians. They set out, each having a riding animal and a pack mule, saddle, and gun.
Allen made a small double pouch for his gold dust and attached a buckskin string, enough to put around his neck, letting the pouch hang in his bosom inside his clothes. Saying they would travel slowly, hunt the best way to cross the Sierra Nevada Range, and meet their battalion companions again somewhere in the mountains, they left.
By July 2 the main body was ready to leave Pleasant Valley. Also included in this group were several families from the Brooklyn as well as the remaining discharged battalion members. As they traveled along, they kept a sharp lookout for their three companions who had started out ahead.
On July 18 an advance company of five men was sent ahead to clear the road. They located a rushing mountain spring, which had evidence of a recent campfire beside it. Nearby they also saw a new mound of dirt. While traveling back to the main group they noticed an Indian who was wearing the vest of one of their missing companions. They told their companions, and the next day, when the entire group arrived at the spring, they found upon closer examination arrows, broken arrows, bloodstained rocks, and evidence of a hard struggle. Near a big fir tree laid Ezra Allen's gold pouch.
Darkness settled in, and around the campfire that night the men decided to open the mound the next morning. To their dismay they found the naked, mutilated bodies of their companions. The men determined the three must have been attacked at night, since there was evidence that two had slept together with the third nearby. The pouch had apparently slipped to the ground unnoticed in the dark when Allen's clothes were being taken. The men reburied their former companion’s bodies, putting a three-foot high wall around the grave. After filling the center with dirt, stones were put over the top to further seal it from wild animals. Next they chopped the bark from the large fir tree and on the hole, of the tree carved this memorial to their friends:To the memory of Daniel Browett, Ezra H. Allen, and Henderson Cox, who were supposed to have been murdered and buried by Indians on the night of 27th June 1848.
They then named then named the spot Tragedy Spring, a name it bears today. The men continued on, arriving in Salt Lake Valley on September 29, 1848.[4]While these events were transpiring Sarah was in Iowa, tending to the family. She writes:
Before leaving, my husband made arrangements for me to draw provisions from the store of a trader at a small settlement on the Mississippi River, but for some reason the provisions never reached me. Through this and some misunderstanding it passed into other hands. The company now prepared to move to a better location. Having received no means I thought best to remain where I was. My goods were put into a small shanty; my cow was separated from the other stock, and the company moved away. After they had been gone a few hours, my cow seemed determined to follow the herd and shortly she broke through the corral and ran after them. I could not leave my babe and little girl to follow her. Overcome by the desolate situation that confronted me alone and in a wilderness, and unprotected, I wept bitterly. I determined to go to a camp some distance away for help. There I found a young woman to stay with me and after my return in the evening, judge of my surprise, on seeing my cow come walking into camp. The Lord always provides for those who put their trust in Him, and upon this occasion He was more than kind. After we had retired for the night, we were startled by a man's voice calling out, “Hello.” At first I was afraid to answer, but as he continued to call, I asked what was wanted. He asked where the company had gone. I replied that a part of them had gone away. After a few more inquiries about stray stock, he departed. The next morning he came again to our camp and said he was camped in the edge of the timber, and asked the privilege of moving his wagon into the yard. I asked if he had a family; he replied that he had. I then told him that I would be glad to have their company. I was pleased with the appearance of the mother and children, and a friendship sprang up between us that remain to this day. Thus the Lord raised up friends in my hour of need.
I cannot recount all the kindnesses that were shown to me by this woman and her worthy husband. He built me a house and divided his provisions with me, and waited until I could, in a meager way, return their kindness; meanwhile I exerted myself in every way that I could to provide for my family.
When my babe, Alexander Alma, was one year old, he was attacked with chills and fever, and became seriously ill, and continued to grow weaker until I became very anxious about his recovery. I came to the conclusion I would fast and pray for his recovery. The first day he had a slight chill, the second day it was almost unnoticeable, the third day it was gone. Thus through the mercy of God he was restored.
The Omaha Indians in the spring of 1847 were very troublesome, killing stock and stealing everything in their power. My cow went into the edge of the timber to find something to eat. The Indians found her there, drove her into the thick woods and killed her to satisfy their hunger. I then gave the calf away to save its life. In the summer of 1847 I taught a school of small children, and procured means to buy another cow. In the spring of 1848 I began to look forward to the return of my husband. The Lord had blessed my efforts to provide for my family and the brethren and sisters had been kind to me, but a long journey lay before me, and I looked forward to the time when his strong arms would lift these burdens of care from my shoulders. I gathered grapes from the lowlands near the river and made wine, and prepared such dainties as I could that would please him.
At length the news came that a company of brethren was expected to cross the river at the ferry in a few days. I felt anxious to go to the ferry to meet him, but circumstances would not permit; so I remained at home, waiting and watching, listening to the sound of every footstep that approached my door. After several days, word was brought to me that some of the brethren had arrived home, and that my husband, with two other of the brethren, had been killed by Indians in the California mountains. Three men had volunteered to travel in advance of the company to prepare a road; namely, Daniel Barrett, Ezra H. Allen, and Henderson Cox, and had been murdered on the 2nd night on their camping ground by Indians. I learned that a purse containing about one hundred and twenty dollars in gold dust had been found belonging to my husband, and it was being brought to me. Thus were my hopes and expectations blasted in a moment. What could I do now but trust in God? I had no relatives in the Church, two small children and a journey of a thousand miles before me. For some time I felt as if I would sink under my burden of grief and anguish of heart. Then I aroused myself and began to meditate on what course to pursue, how to provide for my family and prepare for the journey. I therefore determined to make every effort in my power to accomplish this desirable undertaking, and leave the event in the hand of God. In a few days the purse that had been found containing the gold that had belonged to my husband was brought to me. There were marks of blood upon it, and it seemed to me as the price of his life. I will say here that this purse my son has and the bloodstains are still plainly seen. When my folks in the east heard of my terrible experience, they wrote to me and told me that if I would give up my horrible religion all would be forgotten and forgiven, and that every comfort of life that they enjoyed would gladly be shared with me and my little ones. But I knew the gospel was true and I could not deny it, and was willing to take my chance and trust in the true and living God.
In 1849 I was summoned to attend the deathbed of my husband's sister. Her husband had gone to Salt Lake. She was conscious to the end. Her last words were: “I can see that the Lord has not forsaken me.” She left two children. I took them home with me and in a few weeks their brother came and took them to his home in Missouri.
Soon after this I was requested to teach school for a few weeks in the absence of the teacher. When I arrived at the boarding school, I found a young woman of my faith engaged as a housekeeper. At this time the cholera was prevalent in some of the settlements on the Missouri River. There had been one death nearby, and this young woman was attacked with it. When my school closed at night, she sent for me to come to her room. When I entered she requested me to administer to her, as there was none of our brethren there. I laid my hands on her head and asked God in the name of Jesus Christ to rebuke the disease and preserve her life from the power of the destroyer and restore her to health. She immediately arose and said she was healed, that God had heard our prayers, and she returned to her work. The mistress of the house was astonished. We made no explanation but went about our duties. Upon another occasion Brother Orson Hyde had been editing a paper at Kaysville; I had been there assisting Sister Hyde for a few days. One evening after I had retired she came into the room with a candle in her hand. Before leaving she accidentally set fire to a piece of cloth that reached to the curtains around the bed where I was sleeping. I awoke very suddenly and found my bed curtains all in flames. I instantly sprang from the bed, snatched the child that was sleeping with me and gave the alarm. My hands were burned but not seriously. Thus again I felt to thank God for sparing our lives.
In 1851 I exchanged my gold dust for cash and goods, reserving enough of the gold to make me a ring, which I still wear. I gathered my little means together and hired a wagon made, purchased another cow and a yoke of cattle, procured my provisions for the journey. I took a young man and his wife in my wagon, he acting as teamster, and in company with many of my brothers and sisters in the spring of 1852 I started for Salt Lake City. I will hastily pass over the incidents of the journey as many have written about it. Suffice it to say our teams became weakened; our loads were heavy and our progress slow. The cholera attended the camp for several hundred miles, one woman dying.
We arrived in Salt Lake City September 14th, 1852. On our journey we had many exciting and terrifying experiences as well as many happy, hopeful hours in anticipation of a peaceful home in the valleys of the mountains. When I arrived in Salt Lake with all I had in the world, I had no place to go, but I had learned that the Lord always provides for those who put their trust in Him. One of the brethren had just completed a new stable that had never been used, and I and my family and belongings were privileged to take possession. This was our first home in Utah. I obtained work where I could and helped again with teaching school, and the Lord blessed my efforts and the people were kind to each other in those days. We did many things. I was considered an expert spinner of yarn and helped to make many yards of cloth, also carpets. My first home was lighted with a grease rag until we were able to make tallow candles, which we thought were wonderful. I went many days to the hills to dig sego bulbs to help provide food for the little ones and myself. In 1854 Joel Ricks whom I had known and was my husband's friend in Nauvoo had built a large comfortable home and asked me to come and share it with him. We were married some time after, but our trials were not over, for we experienced the cricket war and when the news came about the Johnston Army coming to destroy us all, we with the rest of the Saints moved south until peace was established; but pioneer life did not end for me, as my husband was among the first to pioneer Cache Valley. We settled in Logan where my husband engaged in farming and cattle raising for several years. Until a home could be built, we lived in the open in sort of a bowery, sleeping in the wagon box. After passing through varied experiences that only pioneers know of, my husband built a large rock house where we began to enjoy some of the necessities of life and to us they were luxuries. I did my part in helping with the building of the temple and gathered what genealogy of my own and my husband's families that I was able to do, and when the temple was completed I spent many happy days for their salvation.[5]
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| Joel Ricks, Sr. |
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| Sarah Fiske Allen Ricks |
These first-comers seem to have called the Valley “Willow Valley” at first. But not long after the discovery, these men began to cache their furs here, probably in 1825, and soon they began to refer to the Valley as Cache Valley.[6]
Stretching north for fifty miles from Utah into southern Idaho, the Valley is nestled between the Bear River Mountains to the east, the Wasatch Range to the south, and two mountain ranges on the west: the Bannock Range marks the western boundary of the valley in Idaho, while the Wellsville Mountains hedge up the west in Utah. Prior to Mormon settlers, Mountain Men used the valley as a place of gathering.
In fall and spring, the men would trap. The start of the season and its length were dictated by the weather. The spring hunt was usually the most profitable, with the pelts still having their winter thickness. Spring season would last until the pelt quality became low. In July, the groups of mountain men and the company suppliers would gather at the summer rendezvous…In 1849, Captain Howard Stansbury of the Army Corps of Engineers, while searching for a suitable location for a fort, wrote,
The tradition of the rendezvous was started by…men of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1825. What began as a practical gathering to exchange pelts for supplies and reorganize trapping units evolved into a month long carnival in the middle of the wilderness. The gathering was not confined to trappers, and attracted women and children, Indians, French Canadians, and travelers. Mountain man James Beckworth described the festivities as a scene of "mirth, songs, dancing, shouting, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target-shooting, yarns, frolic, with all sorts of extravagances that white men or Indians could invent."[7]
Following the same route which I had taken when coming up, we arrived at Bear River on the evening of the 11th and encamped. The examination of Cache Valley occupied several days. Crossing over the range of low, rounded hills through which Bear River has cut a passage, we entered this beautiful Valley then covered with a profusion of rich green grass and adorned and diversified by numerous clumps of willows…The soil of the Valley is very rich, being principally alluvial with a great deal of vegetable mould. Facilities for irrigation are very great and water could be commanded to a large extent for farming purposes. Any amount of hay might be cut without in the least interfering with the range for cattle. The only objection to this as a most desirable spot for settlement is the danger from snow; and even this might be in a great degree obviated by the erection of suitable sheds for protection of the stock during the more severe portions of the season. These seldom last more than a few weeks.[8]For thirty-two years Sarah Allen thrived in the fertile environment of Cache Valley. Winters were, as Captain Stansbury indicated, “Unusually severe: the snow fell in the Valley to a depth unprecedented,” yet, the short duration of these periods of harsh weather brought reprieve, as desirous as the snow brought nourishment to the Valley.[9]
It was here in the shadows of the Wellsville and Bear River Mountains on 12 June 1891 that Sarah died leaving behind her only son, Alexander Alma Allen.
To be continued...
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[1] Sarah Beriah Fiske Allen Ricks. Our Pioneer Heritage, Volume 11, pages 135-143. Digitized in LDS Family History Suite, 1996 version. Online http://younginfo.net/Young/RicksJoelSrSarah/SarahBeriahFiske.htm (accessed 8 July 2014).
[2] Christopher Merkley. Biography of Christopher Merkley. J H Parry & Co. (Salt Lake City, UT: 1887). 14.
[3] Ricks, Our Pioneer Heritage.
[4] Norma Baldwin Ricketts. “Tragedy Springs and the Pouch of Gold.” Ricketts Publishing Co. (1983).
[5] Ricks, Our Pioneer Heritage
[6] M R Hovey. “Trapping Period – Discovery of Cache Valley, Early Explorations and Conditions.” Logan Journal. August 4, 1923. (Logan, UT: 1923). Online - http://www.mendonutah.net/history/cache_county/02.htm (accessed 8 July 2014).
[7] “History of the Mountain Men.” Frontiers Camp – Historical Roots. Online - http://www.scoutingvermont.org/pubs/c/27_pinetreehistory.pdf (accessed 8 July 2014).
[8] Howard Stansbury. “An Expedition to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah: Including a Description of Its Geography, Natural History and Minerals, and an Analysis of Its Waters with an Authentic Account of the Mormon Settlement.” Lippincott, Grambo, & Co. (Philadelphia, PA: 1852). 94.
[9] Ibid.
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