Blackburn Family Documents

Elias Hicks Blackburn testimony, addressed to Joseph Blackburn, 1903; Family history and genealogy from Abner Blackburn, 1894; Testimonial from patient Minnie Akelund Maxfield, 1952; Biography of Elias Hicks Blackburn and families, written by Clara Blackburn Haache, no date.

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And tof hs He rts rrybring Mare A Mesucrud of bee bat tht: dome brs borne be adornsetet br Whim dine by taTring te Srifheny tUuated digeon'non fap tape igKad bn, He Orrsbarneet tra felvranch, Ohy ficins 2 | abe of et (yh UA. 0% Mroky ha LE a Vnorp % ‘ eGat x Un We Laat [hk Yrarae 1¥R) ee |Bec gee BissSEO Fg aa on of hy fod Vile VO Cu mip hitsis. Dam nang on a! Ae Vou Sn ha. foe ae ee loakhers Satatawh | eo +e- ond Et ae fat tngLovol om IE? 40 Ls ay ng i t , s ie ‘Sy. ag ] | CMwhigan orntial,Yeatioad at’, fo | Freight & Ticket O fice, NO. 178 BROADWAY), , ele : + J EA OF £ one) crane antHe TAS BROW:anwe ty a - % he: PaAay FS we San Bernerdino California Apr 17. 94 Dear Niece i received your welcome letter yesterday and feel happ y to answer it to day. My mothers name was Hester Rose she was maried to my Fath er April 25, 1621 She died September 17, 1876 Matilda was maried in 1844 and. left her husband in 1845 they had one child a boy whit ch died young She was maried again Oct the 7 1851 to William Stout he died about 8 years ago they had no children my brother Thomas died in 15603 the 1g” of June his wifes maiden name was Emily Bartholomew they had four children the first Thomas Leroy. The second Allicé Maranda the third Emily Lucetta the last-- Perry--their is about two years difference in their ages Eliza Blackburn was maried Jan 27, 1844 to John Bain bridge they had four children the oldest--Jean a boy the second Sara the next Bell. Clarence the last--i think their is some dead those named are alive they live at a distance and i am not well informed concerning them { was married April gt 1052 to Lucinda Haris we have nine children all liveing the oldest Levi Anthony born May 15, 1853 John Franklin December yt 1854. 13 1862 Charles sire él, 1056 William byron April 7 1860 Ella Lucinda April Arnetta March 6, 1464, Mary Adelia May 17 1869 Jesse October 21, 1670 Freddie Abner October 30 1673 i can give my famil y dates because i have the dates if their is anny more information please let me know and i will freely inform you bs hie best of my ability--for i am glad to corespond with a persons that can think further than yesterday i feel intrested in Utah for all my young days werre spent in mormonism from Savk ede County to far west and Nauvo to Salt Lak i have ben in the employ of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and have went through most all the early exci ting times of the Mormon Church I am not an acomplished scholar but have abandoned hard work and ocupy myself in other ways more beneficial to old age 1 have been writting a byography of my Adventures in an early day containing an acount of transacions in the Mormon. church from 1336 to 1851 also an acount of the mexican war which i was in and indian wars of whitch i have had a sad experience in -with seven trips across the plains through hostile indian bands and in the mines of California in her palmiest days have travled the Pacific Ocean from Bering Straits to Valporazo the South Sea islands and sowed my wild oats have settled down in this semi tropic clime to lay my bones to rest and heave ben wrighting up an acount of my past missdeeds containing about thirty thousand words When it is convenient i would like to make visit to Utah for i am acuainted with nearly all the first setlers it is over forty two years since i left their Wish you would please wright me some information concerning Jehu and Elias and their familyes i would have written long ago but when i left Utah they cut us all off from the church i suppose they dropt me at suppose uncle Jonathan Rachel and Aunt Beckey are dead and gone their is no way for me to hear only from Utah Give my regards to Elias and his and Jehues familyes hoping those lines will not be to tedious i remain your Nephew Abner Blackburn San Bernerdino California Apr 17. 94 Dear Niece i received your welcome letter yesterday and feel happy to answer it to day. My mothers name was Hester Rose she was maried to my Father April 25, 1821 She died September 17, 1876 Matilda was maried in 1844 and left her husband in 1545 they had one child a boy whiteh died young She was maried again Oct the 7 1851 to William Stout he died about 8 years ago they had no children my brother Thomas died in 1863 the 15° of June his wifes maiden name was Enily Bartholomew they had four children the first Thomas Leroy. The second Allice Maranda the third Emily Lucetta the last-« Perry--their is about two years difference in their ages Eliza Blackburn was maried Jan 27, 1844 to John Bainbridge they had four children the oldest--Jean a boy the second Sara the next Bell. Clarence the last~-i think their is some dead those named are alive they live at a distance and i am not well informed concerning them I was married April 8° 1852 to Lucinda Haris we have nine children all liveingthe oldest Levi Anthony born May 15, 1853 John Franklin December 4° 1854. 13 1862 Charles Novem 21, 1856 William Byron April 7 1860 Ella Lucinda April Arnetta March 6, 1864. Mary Adelia May 17 1869 Jesse October 21, 1870 Freddie Abner October 30 1873 i can give my family dates because i have the dates if their is anny more information please let me know and i will freely inform you to the best of my ability--for i am glad to corespond with & persons that can think further than yesterday i feel intrested in Utah for all my young days werre spent in mormonism from Jackson County to far west and Nauvo to Salt Lak i have ben in the employ of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and have went through most all the early exciting times of the Mormon Churgh I am not an acomplished scholar but have abandoned hard work and oeupy myself in other ways more beneficial to old age I have been writtinga byography of my Adventures in an early day containing an acount of transacion s | in the Mormon church from 1836 to 1851 also an acount of the mexican war which 4 was in and indian wars of whitch 4 have had a sad experience in-= with seven trips across ‘the plains through hostile indian bands and in the mines ef California in her palmiest days have travled the Pacific Ocean from Bering Straits to Valforazo the South Sea islands and sowed my wild oats have settled down in this semi tropic clime to lay my bones to rest and ies ben wrighting up an acount of my past missdeeds containing about thirty thousand words When it is convenient i would like to make visit to Utah for i am acuainted with weary all the first setlers it is over forty two years since i left their Wish you would please wright me some information concerning Jehu and Elias and their familyes i would have written long ago but when i left Utah they cut us all off from the church i suppose they dropt me too i suppose wale Jonathan Rachel and Aunt Beckey are dead and gone their is no way for ma te hear waiter from Utah Give my regards to Elias and his and Jehues familyes hoping those Lande will net be te teblews & Penatn your Mayhew Abner Blackburn August 5, 192 Today Mr. Joseph Blackburn has brought me an article published in the History of Provo by J. Marinus Jensen, A. M., 192. Mr. Joseph Blackburn is the son of Patriarch, Doctor, _ and Bishop Elias Hicks Blackburn, who was the first L. D. 8. Bishop of Provo. On page 125 in the History of Provo is the story of "Honey Dew.” Mr. Joseph Biackburn states that he together with his father visited Salt Lake City some years after the oosurrence, | and called at the old tithing office building. While they were standing on the steps, Bishop Blackburn put his arm around Joseph and said: “Son, you stand where I am standing _ and I will stand in the food steps of Brigham Young.” placed his arm around the shoulder of Joseph and said: He | "These - are the wrds that President Brigham Young said to me, *Brother Elias, this is sugar from the Lord.'” He was referring to the incident when Brother Blackham brought theier from Provo. illamals ie i =e Por Behidee vege £ o f u d n a , ib t e g 3 r u o ond f 7 w o r w u h c i h w l c l e g h t a p r u o Y r pe bd ak urorhed, a ‘ghee oue FO k n o C e e d e r e t r a b e e baa fae | Salt Lake City, 7, Utah ‘ ‘Sept. 20, 1952 Wa , ame lire. Mianie Maxfield fies PEN SO a7 4990 Wander tane Secret sina ~ Deer irs. Maxfield: \ Not hentia from you in reply wo my letter of August io am taking the liberty of writing you again as I am very anxious to get in touch with you relative to the subject about which I previously wrote you. | Would you be kind enough to telephome me, Sa_t Lake City 37-1155, Collect, advising me if it would be convenient Ree a I feel The President of the Brigham Young eee t Provo sent. two of the faculty members to me relative to the several testimonies and the history of my father as they are compiling Sage impressed to get your testimony at this tine. "eestiabies for me to come to your home on Sunday September 287 ey ! a ae an additional reeord, and they need this ew from you. to complete the records. in closing I wish to state that it is very necessary that we get this information and will appreciete your cooperating with Thank you very much. me by calling me collect. pag, . Sinesrely yours, — g. ©. Blackburn 1 * October 20, 1952 Urs, Minnie Maxfield Altonah, Utah Rear Mrs, Maxfield: Just wish to acknowledge receipt of your testimony regarding the snake, and to thank you very much for your efforts in connection with this story. | My very best wishes to you and your family, sincerely, Mr. Jos, ©, Blackburn Altonsh, Utah | September 28, 1952 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: On duly 10, 1697, when I was fifteen yearsof age, two girl After dancing friends and myself went to a dance at Fremont, Utah. for a while we became thirsty and though my mother had often told me not to drink from irrigation ditches, I did. Jt was dark end we The first handful of water tasted drank from our cupped hands. very good, but as swallowed the second I felt something slip down my throat and I had a queer feeling. It felt very dry and I wanted to spit or vomit. I could not do this, and I got very sick and when ever I tried to eat I could eat very little. Moout the middle of August, 1897, (neer the 20th) my mother T took me to Monroe to see D, Loring. fle could do nothing for me. We went back home to Fremont and in a few days Dr, loring came So He suggested that we go to Salt lake City, but | 10% wo My mother then took me to see Patriarch Blackburn at loa was also a doctor. t gotten sick and had this dry feeling wanted te spit. He got up ami held my hands for quite a while, then he released my hands his hands clasped together. and started to walk backand forth with up to me and toldme to go home He was very quiet. Finally he came and then for me to take two big tesnpoonsfal of in water. It was a most horrible dose. Blood Root He said I would vowit soon and to cateh the vomit in a pan and search We saw Patriarch Blackburn again and he told me to repeat the said @e would get it this time. I fasted26 or atment, and 30 hours, ate the ground up lettuce, took the same amount of Blood Root powder. harde Very soon I was very sick and vomited very This time I threw up the snake. It wiggled in the pan a few seconds, then turned over and died. My father, Peter Akeland, lifted the snake out of the pan with a pencil, washed it off and put it in this same bottle and we took it down to Patriarch Blackburn. This happened about the 2th or 25th of September, 1897, in Loa, Utah. This is my testimony of the miraculous healing I received at the hands of Ix Patriarch Blackburn. 4e was a wonderful man. Witeosned by: Dixie Nielson Shirley Nielson Jos. C. Blackburn Eleanor Blackburn (Signed) Minnie Akelggd Maxfield, Age 71 (also signed) William Arthur Maxfield (husband of 7 ld fie Minnie Akelund Max Salt Lake City, Uteh August i 1952 | wii Minnie Maxfield Altonah, Utah Dear Mrs. Maxfield: | me has elapsed since I last heard from you relative to the question of my 1 note ae you and the snake. papers that the Maxfield Reunion will be held atMcos ‘on August 16th. Reunion will you kindly My address is 790 If you attend this phone me at 87-1155? Wander Lane, Holladay. Awaiting a message from you, I remain, Very respectfully, ‘Joseph Ue Blackburn cont : a ul fo. i9 7oe, Dae dts Years of a a, eMAefc “a uaennd hier ay aud thous onyanothin }hoodLadlis foldaneae iri Sead ad Fs danfom onscoffe ! las pM iPicould rot doat J gett sty ssiandi whan toner wo ape a pea de. paiegsera ngHag she ce bs 7 aaa oe aaylaa i eohsee agGicguuate 1o7.50hauto ath aan ds:TotSEeaoe aeek, ehtee Weeel heomothuig fos sunt). ‘ yu wint tock for“ To | SON espe ae Dptoring Cameover1 ate ant ; No auggetid Wesa lo LoktLakw + ees. P u-oulkd Dayap Sul liptinans eee 7. the dgTyeos bos pe te Beaneae 2 Teeib Ifadedrsanh a . ale v FTI:fayhadondias,AL veeetad¢hubACE erating,te Hie lack atsedath nyLe a sabes ey ayWipeMeleegs le ablyOo ich Duda lames ‘ou Tokd.ane. es.a ROn+47 sedfalaang ee could GOFic A ihas lialle deekaat wae wi Oleaes eae eeoes ghana |aLhe, add rprwe eeean a) Ti tig Taopame fallafgeist Load neayGeCeaely hovrittelorw, ! Ree| ile Avie Ce We oa Anaad hua ae ae Thewant) arrorintof peeciao J Bbcod Revt poweler LArOa cog atk,al)oily Ary aLb cdehes adhalfourat ane Lowsj Beee ee Oba de Paaed,gleelhala. happened 20 ov 25of Beptinter io a, aeadheMaalaedtatac ok ka py Va. Phpnnwrpsulpirejthhte ‘| 4 olhirag Gee ofek4 OSEPDWan Mb wars Bs wrowdlertilChceaieccBi pao eee Nah Ne a ae | ge 21, 4 | ete CthWdepritdhaabaneh of Mere RAEilhe A) Altonah, Utah september nen as 20, 1952 HR s§or’o TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: On July 10, 1897, when I was fifteen years of age, two girl fae a while we became thirsty and though my mother hedoften told -_not-to-drinkfromirrigationditches,Idid._[twasdarkandwe drank from our cupped Spcanes me - nee peneek of water tasted p dow verygood,butasI sw my throat and I had a ae Hieitue. It felt very Pa gio I wante tospitorvomit, Icouldnot do this, and I got very sick and whenever I tried to eat I could eat very little. About the middle of August, 1897, (near the 20th)my mother took me to Monroe to see Dy. loring. He could do nothing for me. ‘We went back home to Fremont and in a few days Dr. Loring came over to see me. He suggested that we go to Salt Lake City, but I would not go. mothe e Patriarch Blackburn at hoa about er. ee els up ar ‘ 5 Patriarch Blackburn was also a doctor. 5 ve SP LCOaSec ny and started to walk back «and forth rath his aaiha.alae’ together Hey o me and told me to go hom and fast re as I a £ did not eat anything for 2) ours.Hetoldmeaftermyfastingtogrind up leaves of lettuce, add a little vinegar and cream and to eat just as much as I could and take teaspoonsful of powdered Blood Root in water. It was a most horrible dose. He said I would vomit _verysoon and to catch the vomit in a pan and carefully search it. He said if nothing was there for me to come back to him. I followed his instructions but withoutthe desiredresults. We saw Patriarch Blackburn again and he told me to repeat the treatment, and said we would get it this time. I fasted 28 or 30 hours, ate the ground up lettuce, took the same amount of Blood Root powder. Very soonIwasverysickand vomited very hard. This time I threw up the snake. It wiggled in. the pan a fewseconds,thenturnedover-anddied. My father, Peter Okeland, lifted the snake out of the pan with a pencil, washed it off and put it in this same bottle and we took it down to Patriarch Blackburn. This happened about the 2lith or 25th of September, 1897, | at loa,Utah. | This is my testimony of the miraculous healing I received at the hands of Patriarch Blackburn. wonderful man. WITNESSED the above signature: Sept. 28, 1952: He was a ro (lloerat Ot 16- /9 5 2, a , ps fe tia cae f om SE ¥ BIOGRAMIY OF ELIAS HICKS AE & FAMILIES os a ia / The American ancestry of Elias Hicks Blackburn dates back to 1%59 when his great great grandfather, John Blackburn and family came to America from Ballyhagen Armage County, Ireland and located in Pennsylvania among the Irish Quakers, The Quakers were first organized in England but because ¢& the hardships and persecutions in both England and Ireland they came to America to find a haven of refuge to be able to worship God @s they desir ed, The great grandfather of Elias Hicks Blackburn, John Blackbur n JY., married a Quaker lass named Rebecca Harlan, a daughter of Moses a enriees dieses 3 and Margaret Ray Harlan of the same Harlan family of which Ida Saxt on McKinley, wife of Presidént William McKinley @escended, The Blackburns were prominent in the settlement of Pennsylvania, helping to subdue the Indians, also being among the first to join the Revolutionary forces, for which some were disowned by the Society of Priends, RExabe Quakers were called in America. His grandparents, — Anthony at meetings. nathan Bowen, however, were still active in the Quaker They helped purchase land for a meeting house in Penn, near spring Meadow, a gee 7 -( e. His parents were Thomas Blackburn and Elizabeth Bowen, daughter” of : Jonathan and Ann Blackburn Bowen, . ea — = About the time of the birth of Elias Hicks (Nove 17, 1827) the Quaker Church divided into the "Orthodox" and the "Hickite" branches. The later being called from Elias Hicks, a noted preacher among them. This causes me to believe that my grandfather was named afte r this "Hickite" preacher. i ores In 1828 his father died leaving his Mother with eight chil dren. The eldest, Eliza, dying before the father, there remained; Anthony, Mary, JOnathen , Rebeccay Cu » Rachel, Ann, Jehieg and Elia s Hicks, (So far as I have been &ble to learn only three sons came to Utah, Jehie Jetix, Elias Hicks, and Anthony.) Anthony went on into Californ ia. after—thefatherts—death We next find the family in 1833 in Ohio, later with the Sain ts in Nauvoo where on April 7, 1845, Elias Hicks was bapt Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ized into.-the Here he assisted in finishing the Nauvoo Temple and was with the Saints in the Fxodus from Nauvoo in 1846, He witnessed the enlistment of the Mormon Battalion and spent the winter of 1846-7 in aiding the families of those in the Battalion. | | ae In March 1847 he was ordained a seventy. At Pottowanice COe;s Towa on March 5, 1847 he married Sarah Jane Goff, daughter of James and Mary Kimbrough Goff, who were also among the saints that had been driven from their homes in both Missouri and Nauvoo, In the spring of 1849 he and his wife Sarah Jane, began the journey across the plains in the William Hyde Companye Riwer at a place called "Lone Tree", a son was born, Elias Platt. On the Platt He was named / Eiias Hicks Blackburn cont. Page .2. ro The Journey was continued and after reaching the valley they made their way to Provo, Utah where his mother and brother Jelin were living. They had been among the settlers called that spring to settle Utah Valley. The children born to Sarah Jane were: Elias Platt, Sarah Jane, Orson Hyde, Thomas, Ann Laura, James Elisha and Alice, James EBlish being my father, On March 19, 1851 grandfather was made first Bishop of Provo by President Brigham Young. The pla ce grew so rapidly that in 1852 it was divi ded into five wards. In Andrew Jenson's history of Provo, he states that Bishop Blackburn was chosen Bishop of Prov o 3rd Ward with Dominicus Carter as his first counselor and John H. Carter as his second counselor. the Provo Woolen Mills. This ward being located in the locality of The saints first met in private homes but in 1854 a building, called "Bells Folly" was purchased. tions were made to this place of worship in 1856. Some addi- The ward ee consis-~ ted of £48 souls, 10 high priests, 25 seventies, 7 elders, 5 priests, l teacher, 1 deacon, April le, 1852 grandfather married Nancy Fips Lane, a daughter of Bishop William Lane and Mary Wheeler Lane, Nancy' s father did not reach the valley. He died in Nebraska when the family was coming to Utah. To this union were born thirte en children in the order given, Nima tenes? George Albert, Bathsheba, Dav id Patten, Mariah Ellen, Alm a 1, Lewis Henry, Mary Dyonetia, Frank Alb ert, Emily, Heber Charles, Luella and Parley, George A. Smith made a report of the growth of Utah Valley and Provo Sept. 27, 1852 showing the practical nature of Bishop Blackburn's duties . He says "Bishop Blackburn is about finishing a tithing house with good cellars underneath," During the spring and summer of 1853 muc ienced with the Ute Indians under chief Walker h trouble was exper, This continued into 1854 when President Young made peace with Chi ef Walker, in the Deseret News, dated April 22, , the following report was sent from Provo by E. H. Blackburn. 1854 "In this city and surroundi ng country our affairs are in a flourishing condition, The city wall is progressing as all seem willing to lend a helping hand to build it and carry out the Presidents instru ctions. There have been manufactured in this city 5500 yards of cloth during the past year. We are visited by strolling bands of Indians, some to beg, othe rs to fish. From the autobiography of grandfather, which he wrote in 1901, "In Sept. 1854 I was called by President Young to take a relief train (ox teams and provisions) to the emigrating saints on the plains, TI found much suffering, es- at the age of 74 years, he writes: pecially among the Scandinavian company on acc ount of the loss of their oxen. I took 100 sacks of flour which had been donated in the valley. I went as far as the Sweetwater River, but we all returned in safety to Salt Lake City. As the custom at that time was Plural Marriage, he married Elizabeth Hales, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Hale s, on Aril 9, 1855. She Was called “aunt pipe by the othe r wives ang children, Elias Hicks Blackburn cont. page .5. » Ra ‘ To her were ban three children, Brigham Henry, Mary Elizabeth and Harriet Eliza, It was during the October conference in Salt Lake City in 1856 that news reached the valley of the distress of the Willie and Martin Hand Cart Companies of Pioneers, President Young immediately asked for help from the saints. Bishop Blackburn writes: "I sent out twenty wagons and provisions to relieve the hand cart companies which were in distress. In due time this company arrived in Salt Iake and 141 sick and frozen immigrants were sent to Provo, Jane 1, 1857 grandfather married Hannah Haws, a daughter of John and Martha Masters Haws; four children came to bless hhis womane They were Martha Ann, John Ambrose, jiarren and Oscar. In April 1857 President Young called grandfather to run the mail from Salt Lake City to Salt Creek (or Nephi} Jaub Co. which he did for one year without pay. in 1858 he assisted in the great “move south" that was made while Johnston's Army passed through Salt Lake City. The saints in the Northern Settlements drove their herds and flocks south. Homes were deserted with just a few left to apply the torch should the army attempt to take possession. Too many times had the saints been driven away, leaving their homes behind for them to submit once again, to an ~~ army marching against them. In 1858 Bishop Blackburn was released of his duties of Provo ord Ward, but was appointed as Presiding Bishop of the City of Provo. William M. Wall who had recently returned from a mission to Australia was chosen as his successor. In the year 1859 he was called with six other brethern to take a mission to Great Britian and Scandinavia. They were the first Elders sent after the trouble with the government. him as Presiding Bishop. Silas Smith succeeded He spent three years in the Mission field, He and John Brown were called to act as emigrant agents. When he returned to Salt Lake City he met the family of Steven and Ann Gladman Crompton whom he had known in England. They came to Zion prior to his return from his mission. It was here on Jan. 30, 1862 he took to wife their daughter, Virtue Leah. He sent word to his four wiv es and families in Provo that he was bringing home a new wife. This did not please Elizabeth (or Aunt Lib) so taking her children, their clothing and a feather tick, she secured a ride with some people going to California and stayed there. She never returned, but after fifty years her oldest son, Brigham Henry, came to Utah to find his father who was then living in Loa, Wayne County. ‘He did not disclose his identity until he had eaten dimmer with his father, then he said: "Did you have a son Brigham?" time to the son's knowledge. brothers and Then father and son met for the first Brigham visited several days with his sisters in Loa then returned to California. March 1, 1862 grandfather was called to go to Beaver County. They settled in Minersville where he was superintendent of the Sunday School for eleven years and also took part as a home missionary of that stake, Elias Hicks Blackburn cont. Page. 4. There were now four wives and their children. For some time they all lived together until separate homes could be built. Sarah and Hannah lived in one house each having two rooms. Later Sarah and Nancy shared the same house, two rooms being used for each family. This house is still standing in Minersville, Utah. across the front with a lean two on the back. It had a porch On recent examim tion it was found that there were no cracks on this housee There have, however, been additions built to the original old home. Here the families worked together, the older children working in the fields planting potatoes, corn, wheat, and hay. Many cattle were raised. They had a large granery which was stored full of grain and corn, They sometimes harvested 500 or 600 bushels of corn. They worked in groups some husking the corn, others put it into the corn sheller. They also raised sugar cane from which molasses was made thereby providing them enough for their use. Molasses was their only sweetening. In the fall they would kill a beef and about 15 pigs. Each wife had a large barrell into which was placed a portion of the meat for her family. The wife, Leah, helped make the shoes for all, She had helped her father make shoes in England and had secured from him a machine for sewing the leather. The shoes were made of rather hard leather. Each child had one pair a year so they were forced to go barefoot a great deal of the time. Sometimes it was very cold weather before they got their shoes. The older boys hauled hay for forty miles to a place called Frisco in Beaver County to sell. They would have to take merchandise for pay, sometimes bringing home boltsd cloth to be divided and made into clothing. Grandfather would also take a load of grain to Salt Lake City. On these occasions Leah would be able to go with him to visit her people who still lived in or near Salt Lake City. On these trips more polts of cloth were brought home sometimes "Store shoes" and other clothing. Thus life moved on; children being ban, some dying, others growing to manhood and womanhood. In the spring of 1875 Hannah lost her only daughber, Martha Ann, a young maiden of 15. She grieved terribly the loss of this girl and was so heart broken and discouraged that she could not endure the hardships of this strenuous pioneer life. She took her children and went away. Thus her children became separated from the rest of the family. All took an active part in the church Nancy being lst counselor to the Relief Society in Minersville. Leah sang in the choir with the older girls as she was not much older than some of them. When Thomas and Orson, sons of Sarah Jane, were 18 and 20 years old they went to Wayne County or Fremont valley as it was then , called. There Thomas built a one room log cabin, cuting and hewing the lq@s himself. This was the 5th house in Loa and is still standing today in excellent condition even to the dirt roof. It was moved once and is now on the property of Howard Blackburn. It surely makes a wonderful land mark. These boys then sent for their mother where she and her family lived until another house was built for her, In 1879 grandfather and Leah were all packed ready to leave for Loa when two young women of Minersville went to him for a blessing. One, a sister Hamlin, now living in Lyman, Wyoming, related rt :ae er Re i Elias Hicks Blackburn cont. Page.5,. this incident to me recently. a large red blister, She said "I hag a growth on my hip lik I had been to a woman doctor twice and had it reI showed it to Brother Blackburn. He said: "Let me see it.” He touched ®t and said, "If it ever comes back write and let mé know." She said it never did return and severa moved but it had returned. l years later she met him in Salt Lake at conference and rem inded him of this incident of healing. | The children born to Leah were: Harriett Elizabeth, Howard , Flaence, Eliza May, William, Minnie Lil lie, Ezra, Seth Hicks, Joseph Ces Nellie and Daniel Stephen, Nancy remained a few years longer in Minersvil le With her children, one of whom (Aunt Dee) married and still liv es there.* his mother sen ding her money to help provide the necessities of lif e. never married; is still alive, He The reason for this move to jayne County was to have more feed for their cattle and sheep. In Fremont Valley there was plenty of water and on Boulder Mountain the feed was plentiful maki ng it a good cattle country. The climate there was quite cold. The summer season was so short they could not raise fruit as they had done in Minersville and they missed it greatly. Ree In May 1880 Grandfather Blackburn was set apart to act asBishop of atl the settlements in Fremont valley by Apos tle Erastus Snow, | From 1880 to 1883 he acted as selectman of Piut e County. He also served &@ term in the Utah Legislature representing Beaver and Piute Counties in the session of 1882, As has been stated before, he had a great gif t of healing and was at all times using this gift. He also made med icine from the roots and herbs which served as the only med icine used in those pioneer days, In the Deseret Weekly of Jan. 24, 1889 the fol lowing article is found: Loa; “We are having an epidemic of sickness amo ng our chile dren and in some instances it attacks grown people with sev erity. It comes in the form of a severe cold attacking the lungs, throat and head with great violence in nearly all cases requiring the utmost care, and attention to keep the dear one with us as it cho kes up the lungs with great rapidity and is attended with violent fever. cases have proved fatal. One or two But, God, throurh the energetic lab our Bishop (E. H. Blackburn) members of all classes are ena ors of ble to rejoice in the safety of their little ones, for he has fou ght the dis- ease untiringly, almost day and night, for the past two months with great success, On May <9, 1889 Apostle Frances ij. Lyman ordained Elias Hicks Blackburn a the people. manifest. Patriarch and set him apart to travel and bless Since that many miraculous healings have been made People coming from all mrts of the United States and Canada to receive his blessings and healings. He traveled thousands of miles and blessed 1589 people. He cured many cancers and tumors, always giving credit to the Lord and only those who had fiith were able to receive such blessings, “Her son alma had become a miner in Nevada, He was a great help to Zz | ; Elias Hicks Blackburn cont. Page. 6. ReyEe, oe «K I remember him coming to our home where people came to him for these a terrible sore on his face which was cancer. Grandfather went to annointings and blessings, In one instance there was a man who had his home one day, heard him taking the Lord's name in vain and he told this man that until he cea@f@d such language and had faith in God that he would be unable to do anything for him. i meet many people who tell me of his great healings. The follq@ ing was told by brother John Curtis of Salt Lake City: "While living in Auroa (Sevier Co.) I was working with some farm equipment and ran a rusty nail into my hand. It gave me great pain and was blue and swollen to my arm pit. I was preparing to go to a doctor when I saw a buggy coming down the road. I said: "Oh, here comes Dr. Blackburn," which was true as Brother Blackburn always stayed at our home whenever he came our way. I showed him my hand and arm, { He said: “See that catnip growing along the ditch bank. Take some of that and place on the stove to boil; into the water mix some bran; then put your hand and arm into that hot mixture, continue to do this for some time." I did as he told me with the result the poison and infection was drawn out leaving the blood vessels on my hand Sstandimg out. I know that he saved my life by this simple remedy as blood poison was well set in," The settlement of Loa grew. In many of the homes were the sons and daughters of Elias Hick Blackburn. In December 1891 his wife, Sarah Jane died. She had been a kindly person, helping with the sick and the poor. She always had some little thing to take to those in need, a little jelly, a slice of bacon, or a cookie or two, Her lifé of service and hardships have been as a beacon light to her children, to guide them on through the journey of life. — »iIn later life grandfather had a habit of visiting his children almost every daye Vividly do I see him as he passed our home. of large statue, tall and straight. He was He wore a long black coat, a high hat and carried a cane but walked with a dignified air on these daily trips. i remember dear Aunt Nancy who lived just across the street. How we ran to her when we had trouble or sickness. Many things come to my mind, the green meadows, the beautiful streams of water, the cows being brought home from the pasture, the making of cheese and butter, the tubs of soap, the trips to grandmothers for a bucket of yeast, the aunts, the uncles, and cousins, the Fourth of July celebra- tions, the trips to the hills to gather pretty rocks to place on the graves of our loved ones, the boys returning from the war, the wedd- ings and dances, the births, deaths and funerals. rows gO to make up life. These joys and sor- Grandfather never missed going to conference im Salt Lake City but in April 1908 he was notable to gO. He called his son, Orson, to his home and talked to him about his burial things. was a cabinet maker and made all of the coffins at Loa. Qson At four o! Clock on April 6, 1908 grandfather said:"Well conference is out and the people will be going home.” Then he quickly passed away. ships Thus a very useful life was ended after enduring mmy hardand privations he had ascended to his maker to receive his re- ward and to meet his wives and children who had preceeded him in death. _ git Elias Hicks Blackburn cont. Page. 7. anfayis> Nancy had died on April 5, 1903, Leah lived to be almost She died 27th Nov. 193% at the home of her daughter. Of 93 years, this large fanily there mow remain only six sons and two daught ers. Thése children have scattered into many places in Utah, Idah o, Colorado, and California. How many descendants of these Stu rdy pioneers there are J am not pre pared to say except that they are many. Last year I wandered through the quiet little cemetary at Loa reading the inscriptions on the markers; some of the sandstone markers Were worn and the names completely washed away with the winds and storms of the years Se ene os ees How little do we realize what we owe these belo ved pioneers for their perseverance and fortitude, for our peac eful homes in these mountains in this beautiful land of America, SNeILL ay ae REY , saeae AhaTite Kol 00) Arcos of Xie fathers teed wi wm Be Bama om Bande, Came. 4 Crier alk & Finale, Wax ip mn BO ee Fm About twin, Fu tenn a Met, Wistesiias <bcliky: atid, Be Sppsseshly. tea re Ah outs a - eg Finis afK ! ten Cou eyib G4 That Comes on Fhe, Mod” Vm Skid Yank jpou fanw Yat Glo lately mice Yep! 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