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Show William Reeves had been converted to a new religion and soon Mary Ann also became interested. They all united by joining this church called the Mormons. William felt that he could not ask his wife to share his earnest desire to go to America to be with the main body of the Church. He knew so well the background of her life and how far removed she had ever been from any hardships or trials. It was she who proposed that they leave their old life behind them and cast their lot with the many Saints who, like them, sought the spiritual wealth that their new faith gave them rather than the comfort and luxuries Mary Ann Storer Walton of their well-established home. She and William had a small baby when they left with her two children to cross the plains, and to add to the agony of the hardships they suffered, the baby died and was buried in a s the way. Before the family could get watched the wolves dig up the gra\'e t thankful to be They arrived in the vall " alive. They lived in S J -z '" ':;. hardships of the ear ~~ ~ willows and mud. Foo '~ to dig roots, herbs or anything th ~ l '? en used the straw from their straw t .., " ... few of the ,I.' necessities and none of Mary Ann learned t ) wool to make the clothes they wore. As soo o a't ered about them a few necessities for living, they ( 0 add little by little some of the comforts and beauties they laa known in their home in England and for which they longed. They made the first real show flower garden in Centerville. They had flowers of every hue and every variety, making an ideal oldfashioned garden. Although Mary Ann couldn't have a harp which she loved to play, she did have an organ and often entertained many of Salt Lake's outstanding musicians in her home. Mary Ann was visiting her daughter Mary Ann W. Cheney when she passed away. / - County, Ohio. Her parents were of Dutch descent and were honest, industrious and thrifty farmers. When Elizabeth was four years of age her parents who were scorned and shunned by relatives and friends alike, accepted the urge to come west. They sold their farm and home and made preparations for the journey. Th ey joined the Moses Thurston Company and arrived in Salt Lak e City October 13th, 1855. Her family finally se ttled on the farm owned first by Jam es Barnard and rapidly set about to make their plot of g round and home a lovely place. Elizabeth's future husband saw her when she was pe rf or min g o n the stage for the first tim e. Th ey becam e ve ry good friends ilnd were sweethc<lrts before long . She wellremembered his suit of blue homespun ilnd herself with a pink cillico dress with white collars and cuffs, also wool stockings she knit Elizabeth Garn Ford herself. They were married in the Endowment House, on January 4th, 1868, by Heber C. Kimball. One of the most prominent and ardent Church women of DaVis County was Elizabeth Garn Ford, the daughter of Phillip James and Mary Magdelene Vogt Garn. She was born in Sandusky, Perry When the seven th child WilS six weeks old the family moved into a spacious old h o use up on the main highway purchased from the Parks. This house was to rn down ilnd il ten-roo m brick one built in 1894. Mrs. Ford was a wonderful wife, mother and homemaker. No task in the line of duty or for the comfort of her family was too arduous. She was a splendid cook ilnd no one was allowed to go hungry from her home. Loads of young people, ,1S well ,1S older ones, e njoyed her hospitality, and eve r yone was made welcome. She taught he r children correct principles by exa mpl e as well as precept. Her work at h o me was supplemented by service in the Church organizations, both locill-<lnd stilke. She and Lucy A. Rigby were two of the first Relief Societ y te achers in Centerville. She was first counselor in the local Primilry org,Hlization to Fanny Carn and later to Annie Rockwood, then was President from September 22, 1899, to March 1904. On this dilt e she was called as Stake Primary Aide and was released April 27, 1907. Mrs . Ford acted as treasurer for some time, and later was first counselor to Alzina Tingey in the Centerville Ward Relief Society. On April 27, 1907, she was chosen first counselor to Minerva Knowlton in the Davis Stake Relief Society. She acted in this capacity until March 30, 1913, when she was chosen as Stake President with Emma G. Strong and Elizabeth Wood as her counselors . When the stake was divided in 1915 she was made President of South Davis Stake Relief Society, with Elizabeth Wood and Caddie R. (136) (137) y - 7 ELIZABETH GARN FORD |
