1.

            Brief History of Naomi Eliza Murry Redden 

In Victor New York, on the 8th day of July 1803, a birth was recorded, that of

a baby girl, who was born to William Ellis Murray and Mary Spring ( Springer )

she was given the name of Naomi Eliza Murray,.

This birth was a happy occasion for devoted grandparents, Roswell Murray and

his wife Susannah Fitch Murray, and for a devoted Aunt, Vilate Murray (who

bacame the first wife of Heber Chase Kimball).

William Ellis Murray died in Snyder, Missouri in the year 1847 (on his way to

Utah), her mother came to Utah with her daughter Naomi and Naomi's husband Return

Jackson Redden. Her mother married a Captain Brown and moved to California from

Utah in the Gold Rush days.

We don't have much on the life of Naomi as a child but we do have information

on the Murray line. The Murrays are connected with the Campbell Clan of Scotland.

They came to America from Scotland in the year 1685 nearly 100 years before the

Revolutionary War. Many Murray men were a soldier in the Continental Army during this

war.

Members of the Murray family joined the Mormon religion early in the life of the

Church and endured many of the trials of this group of people.

Naomi Eliza Murray married Return Jackson Redden, February 6, 1847 while the

family were with the Mormon group at Winter Quarters, Missouri (later called

Nebraska). Her husband RJ Redden cam to Utah with the Brigham Young Company

and served as one of the advance scouts of this group, while Naomi stayed in Winter

Quarters with her mother, a step sister and an Aunt Vilate Murry Kimball.

In the fall of 1847 after helping plant crops and getting the first group settled

in Salt Lake valley, Redden returned to Winter Quarters with Brigham Young, and others.

She and her husband entered the valley in the early spring of 1849 and her

first child was born in Salt Lake City Utah April 5 1849. He was named William

Carlos Redden.

They located near or in City Creek canyon area, in Salt lake City, Utah, and

while the baby was still small Naomi and her husband RJ Redden moved to California

where they lived on a cattle ranch and Redden also panned gold on the “Mormon

Bar” as it was called in Sacramento, California.

While the family lived in California, her husband, RJ Redden, met with a gun

accident, his arm was badly splintered by this gun shot accident. They sent

to San Francisco, California for a Doctor to amputate the arm, It was a long trip, he was

promised his fee, if he would come and do the work. It was some time before he

arrived to do the operation and in the meantime RJ Redden had a strange dream

which impressed him very much, so he had decided not to have the arm taken off.

His dream was that he and his wife were back in Salt Lake City and Located again

near City Creek canyon where they had lived before moving to California.

In his dream his wife asked him to bring two buckets of water from the creek

so she could do the family washing, in his dream he saw himself carrying two

buckets of water for her, and he thought, both of my arms are alright.

When the Doctor arrived from San Francisco, he was told of R J's decision to

not have the arm taken off. The Doctor was of the opinion the man was delirious

from his fever and said he was going to take it off anyway. R J took his gun

from under his pillow and won that argument. The Doctor was paid $20,000.00

in gold for his trip, and though the gold was lost, the arm was saved.

2.

           Sketch of life of Naomi Eliza Murray Redden

As the arm healed, small pieces of bone festered (would fester) from the splintering of the

bone at the time of the accident, and come up to the surface of the arm. As they

festered, he pulled them out with a small pair of tweezers. (We have these now in

our possession as a treasured memento of this incident.) Later the family

moved back to Salt Lake City and the drama of his dream became real. He was able

to carry two buckets of water from a creek for his wife. His faith in his

dream and his courage to endure the pain of his arm, saved his arm for future

use. His arm healed very well and never gave him any trouble in later years.

But while it was healing it was necessary to keep a piece of fresh meat hanging

in the house to keep the yellow jackets away, as they would swarm around him

to get at the infected arm.

I was in 1853 that the family returned to Salt Lake City and then later moved

to Grantsville, Tooele County to make their home. Here they owned a large ranch.

Two daughters and six sons were born to them.

Aldelbert jackson Redden, born 20 May 1853;

George Grant Redden, born 15 June 1854;

Eliza Naomi Redden, born 5 October 1855;

Vilate Murray Redden, born 22 February 1857; 

Heaman Murray Redden, born 25 June 1859;

John Henry Redden, born 28 September 1861;

and Murray Carlos Redden and Carlos Murray Redden (twin sons), born 11th October 1863.

While living in Grantsville, Utah Naomi became very ill and had a nervous

break-down and was very ill for some time (no wonder so many children) and

living under Pioneer conditions. While living in Grantsville, Utah R J Redden

served as Justice of the Peace. His ability of leadership was recognized and

he bacame an active part of the community. He was a man devoted to his

country and was called upon to speak at many gatherings. A man of great faith.

From Grantsville they moved back to Salt Lake City and was going to go on to

Wyoming to live, but Heber C. Kimball (Uncle Heber as the family called him)

asked Redden to locate in Coalville, Utah and they did.

R J owned a large piece of ground facing main street of Coalville, Utah, from the

corner street facing west, then turning east and running to where the cemetery

street now is. The corner was later known as the Tom Allen corner. His home was

just south of the corner property. They lived here until the family moved to

Hoytsville, Utah.

While living in Coalville Utah two more sons were born to them; Richard Edmon

Redden, born 29 August 1866; and Heber Rosewell Redden, born 11 March 1868.

The mother Naomi died at the time of this son's birth, and the small son died,

July 12th 1868. She was only 38 years of age at her death. Mother to 9 sons

and two daughters in so short a time. She is buried in Coalville, Utah.

Naomi was a beautiful woman, gentle and kind, she had black hair and black

eyes. Her hair was long and always hung in ringlets down her back. She used to

keep it well brushed and it was shiny. She used the stove poker to brush

her hair around so it hung in long ringlets. Her face was beautiful, like a

beautiful painting. It showed kindness and love.

Naomi was a wonderful home maker, she took pride in her home and loved her

children. They enjoyed the wonderful results of her cooking skills and her

instructions to them in the field of education. She was well educated. She had

a keen mind and insight. On many occasions she warned her husband of dangers

and experiences that would come to him. He came to respect her judgment and so

was often guided by her insight and inspirations.

No one was ever turned away hungry from the family home. She always had time to

help the needy and although she did very little visiting, taking care of such a

large family, she was always ready to help a neighbor in time of need; she was

very good in taking care of the sick and helped out a great deal in others lives.

3.

Sketch of the life of Eliza Murray Redden,

She helped in the illness of others. She was loved and respected by all who

knew her. She loved her husband and family very much.

Although she lived such a few short years, she made her mark in the world, for

she left eight sons and two daughters, who have all assisted in the settling

and building up of the State of Utah. All of her sons were fearless, upright

hard working men, home loving, who raised large families and who have lived most

of their lives in the State of Utah. A State to which their father and mother

came as Pioneers; They were true Pioneers,

Many people were made happy by her caring and sharing her home with others,

and although her own family was large she was always willing to share with others.

She truly lived with this saying, “Where there is room in the heart there is room

in the home.”

To have been mother to Two Daughters and Nine Sons is an accomplishment in

it self, but to have picked up and traveled with her husband to settle

new places and meet new challenges of the times is a tribute to true womanhood.

The following Bible thoughts come to my mind when I think of her, my beloved

grandmother.

“ Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also; Prov. 31-10-28

 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119-11

 FAITH is not merely praying upon our knees at night;

 FAITH is not merely straying through darkness into light;

 FAITH is not merely waiting for the glory that may come;

 FAITH is the brave endeavor, the splendid enterprise,

 THE strength to serve, whatever conditions may arise.

I am sure it was her deep faith and love of family that kept her following her

dear husband and making a home for him and her children, no matter where it lead.

So we of the family of Return Jackson Redden and his wonderful wife Naomi Eliza

Murray Redden, are very proud of her and her family and for the wonderful

family she raised and the things she taught them in her short life. For these

things have come down to us through her children and I hope we will pass on

to our children some of her traits and her love and her courage and devotion.

I hope we will talk of her, and keep her memory bright, For it is through

our good living, she will live, again in memory bright, and know

she taught those sons and daughters well; We are indeed PROUD of our HERITAGE.

The sweetest lives are those to duty wed, Whose deeds, both great and small.

Are close knit strands of an unbroken thread, where love ennobles all.

At cool of day, with God I walk, In my gardens grateful shade.

I hear his voice among the trees and I am not afraid.

The heart that has truly loved never forgets, but as truly loves on to the close.

As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets, the same look which she turned

on the rose.

Written by Mabel Redden Larsen, granddaughter of Naomi Eliza Murray Redden.

Written January 1974, in my 75th year.

The above thoughts came to my mind in writing of her life.

                                                    Mabel Redden Larsen