Maria Louisa Dilworth

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel 1847–1868 Jedediah M. Grant - Joseph B. Noble Company (1847) Age at departure: 13

Daughter of Caleb Dilworth and Eliza Wollerton. Married George Nebeker on 29 Aug 1863 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah Death Certificate

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via sister Ann Wollerton Bringhurst (born Dilworth) by SmartCopy: Feb 28 2015, 20:20:38 UTC
• Residence: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States - 1880

Maria wrote the following letter to her aunt after the death of firsts husband John Chatfield Leonard: Farmington, Davis County, Utah

April 28, 1860

Dear Aunt:

It is with feelings of diffidence that I take my pen to address thee, for thee is much older also endowed with superior mental abilities. Still I feel a desire to communicate with a dearly loved, though distant aunt - one who in early childhood I learned to love. Well can I remember when I used to go across the fields to see thee and when thee used to call me a little fairy. But those days are all past and others take their place. Though plains and mountains intervene, yet my early ties of friendship are not forgotten by the niece who lives in the Valley of Great Salt Lake .

Aunt Harriet, I am young yet, I have been called to pass through scenes that are very hard to bear - yet we must submit to the will of heaven. Perhaps thee can realize my feelings better than I can write them, having been called to pass through the same . I had one of the best of husbands - he was true to the cause he espoused while young and remained so until death called to part. I have cause to mourn his loss for I feel very lonely, yet I look forward when we shall meet in Heaven to part no more. I had one of the sweetest little boys - he too was taken just seven weeks before his father - he was 14 months old, so I am quite alone, although I am blessed with one of the best of mothers, and sisters that are near and dear to me, yet they do not take the place of an affectionate husband. He was sick for two years and three months -and he only lived two years and nine months after we were married. I have been a widow two years and six months. I live alone in a little town called Farmington, sixteen miles from where Mother lives; she comes to see me occasionally - she is getting so old she cannot come very often. She is failing, her hair is white as snow, she has only one tooth, she dresses mostly in black, with economy she lives quite comfortable on the money she receives from the east. Her family are all well and in prosperous circumstances. Ann Bringhurst and family lives sixty-five miles from Mother, Mary Jane and family lives forty miles from her. Martha, five miles, Harriet, eight miles, Rebecca, Lavina and Elizabeth live in the city near her. She lives alone -Rebecca's little girl sleeps with her - she is thirteen years old. Mother is quite happy - she feels thankful that she has lived to behold the light of the everlasting Gospel and see and behold things in their true light.

Oh! Aunt Harriet, if thee could believe as we do the beauty of our religion. It is so plain, - so consistent - everything on natural principle embracing everything that is good and true, virtuous and pure. You hear so many slanderous reports that I cannot blame you for being prejudiced against our religion, but if the eyes of your under­standing were open, you could see as we see and have cause to rejoice. Aunt Harriet, my religion is dearer to me than life - through it I can be content to live and not feel to die .

Please excuse me for intruding on thy time and patience in writing these few lines to thee, but being alone, and my mind reverting to the land of my birth and the scenes of my childhood, I felt a desire to write thee to let thee know that our relatives still hold a place in our memory. It has been so long since we have heard from any of you - I do not know but what you have forgotten us. When we are together we often talk of you - wondering if you have changed in looks and feelings.

I often wish I could fly and see you, but that I cannot do, and the distance so great that I almost despair of seeing you in the flesh again. Do write to Mother, she loves to hear from you. You are as near and dear to us as ever - write and tell us all about times and friends there. I expect that Aurelia has forgotten her cousin. I wrote to her to see if she had written or if she did not wish to renew the correspondence. I directed her letter to Uncle William for I did not know her address.

Please excuse my bad writing and spelling and give my love to all my relatives in the East.

I remain thy affectionate

Maria Louisa Leonard

Maria was married the following day to James Thomas Workman, a marriage that did not last, as she married a third time to George Nebeker. They had six known children.

• Immigration: Oct 2 1847 - Deseret, United States
• Residence: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Residence: 1870 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
• Residence: 1880 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Apr 15 2023, 20:19:09 UTC