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Show - - - - --- - i 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 of their well-established home. Mary Ann Storer Walton .I 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 shallow grave along the way. Before the family could get out of sight however they watched the wolves dig up the grave. They arrived in the valley in 1852, very tired but thankful to be alive . They lived in Salt Lake vicinity for three years, enduring the hardships of the early days and poor houses - most of them made of willows and mud . Food was very scarce and often they had to dig roots, herbs or anything they could find. Sometimes they even used the straw from their straw ticks to cook the food . They had very few of the necessities and none of the comforts of life . Mary Ann learned to knit, spin flax, and card wool to make the clothes they wore. As soon as they had gathered about them a few necessities for living, they began to add little by little some of the comforts and beauties they had 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. 11tL C)!Y1, l (Jl - lSe.twCeut 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. The y joined the Moses Thurston Company and arrived in Salt Lake Cit y Octobe r 13th, 1855. Her family finally settled on the farm owned first by James Barnard and rapidly set about to make their plot of g round and home a lovely place. Elizilbe th's future husband saw her when she WilS performing on the stilge for the first time . Th ey becilme very good friends ilnd were swee th e<1rt s be for e long . She we llremembered 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 Gam. She was born in Sandusky, Perry When the seven th child was six weeks old the family moved into a spacious old house up on the milin highwilY purchilsed from the Parks. This house was torn down ilnd a ten-room brick one built in 1894. Mrs . Ford was a wonderful wife, mother ilnd homemaker. No task in the line of duty or fo r the comfort of her family was too arduous. She was a splendid coo k <1nd no one was allowed to go hungry from her home. Loads of young people, ,1S well as older ones, enjoyed her hospitality, and everyone was made welcome. She taught her children correct principles by e xample as well as precept. Her work at h o me was supplemented by service in the Church organizations, both IOCil 1-;1 nd stilke. Sheilnd Lucy A. Rigby were twoof the first Relief Society teilchers in Centerville. She was first counselor in the local Primilry organiziltion to Fanny Gilrn and later to Annie Rockwood, then was President from September 22, 1899, to March 1904. On this date sh e was cillied as Stake Primary Aide and was released April 27, 1907 . Mrs. Ford acted as treasurer for some time, and later was first counselor to Alzin a 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) ELIZABETH GARN FORD |
