George Fredrick Housley

Mormon Pioneer:

"The Bishop of the Ward wanted George to talk in Church and tell of his coming across the plains, but George said he just could not speak in public so his wife's brother-in-law, George Wood, who was a lawyer, came to his home and took his story down in short hand as George told the story to him. Then they had it read in a reunion. It was a follows:

"In the year of 1865 [1856], I with mother left our native land England, with about 600 others for our America "The Zion of Our God," on the good ship "Horizon," spending five weeks in our voyage to Boston. Where we took passage on a steamboat to Iowa. Awaiting there for three weeks for our hand-carts to be made that were to carry our "all" across the vast stretch of the plains to Utah. Each family supplying themselves with the necessary food for their journey if they were well. At Iowa City, where we were camped, a gentleman told me that we would starve to death if we went there at this season. One of our people and his family decided to stay over. I became tempted to do likewise and upon telling my mother that we better stay she became much depressed in spirit and told me to wait a little while. During the time she prayed to Our Heavenly Father for guidance. One fellow traveler, after deciding to stay, sent out one day in the woods to hunt for game, and while away was seized with fever and ague. He hurried home and upon entering the tent where mother I were awaiting him, he laid upon the cot and commenced singing in poetry and rhyme, telling mother to take me with her to the valley and that we should get through alright. Mother told me she had made it a matter of prayer and by this means her prayers were answered. I told her then that we would go to the valley at all hazards because I was satisfied all would be well.

"Upon the company starting we were in line with our cart and ready. All went well as we joyously sang, "For some must push and some must pull as we go marching up the hill. As merrily on the way we go, until we reach the valley, Oh!" As days wore on, our spirits lagged as we became weary. Some of our people became sick and were compelled to ride, thus compelling others to be more heavily loaded. Provisions commencing to get scarce as the days wore on, necessitating our captain to put us on shorter rations. Many dying by the wayside where they were buried each night where we camped and their graves were left unmarked except by our tears. At this season and at this part of the plains it commenced getting cold, and were again placed on shorter rations of 4 ounces of flour to each person per day. We traveled to the Sweet Waters River where we camped, being so weak and exhausted that it was almost impossible to move . Many of our people while there died of starvations while others froze to death by the wayside.

"A man from London by the name of Stone, while trying to get to an Indian camp was devoured by wolves; when found by some of our camp, nothing was left of him but his legs inside his boots.

"Receivers were sent out from the Valley to assist us in and could not find us, thinking we were lost on the plains the rescue party concluded to return to the Valley. But one of their number stated that he would go to the States but what he would find us. About noon a horseman was seen coming into our camp, and he looked like an angel to us poor starving emigrants who had eaten nothing but flour for three days. With words of encouragement he entreated us to make another start. But, many, while their will was good, their strength failed them and they dropped and froze to death by the way.

"The relief party returned and met us and assisted us with some provisions. But scores of our brethren and sisters died and were left in unmarked graves by the wayside. At this time I was permitted to sleep in a tent with two of my companions. Each of them dying by my side where I slep by them 'till morning when they were taken away and buried. "In a later trip across the plains to assist the emigrants at one of our camps I saw many of the bones of my companions that had been dug up by the wolves. At the time of my companions death I became despondent through weakness that I longed for death and tried to hide myself from the company that I might die, but one of the brethren returning back for something, found me sitting behind the rock where I had hoped to die. He took me along with him for a day before we caught up with the company. I was permitted to sleep in a wagon that night, where I slep with a dead man all night.

"The next day we were permitted to see and enter into the Valley (November 29, my birthday). Although I was too weak to walk, my feet being much swollen I wrapped them in my mother's shaw until we were taken care of by kind friends who were awaiting us. But brother Slack, our kind friend, would not allow me only a limited amount of bread as he was afraid it would kill me. But after they had gone to meeting I finished up the whole pot pie which had been prepared for the family, and I am alive yet and I have been hungry to this day."

...An addendum was added: "One time while visiting in Mapleton at his son Ben's home, he and my Grandfather—Marshall Franklin Allen—were reminiscing over old times. Grandfather Allen told of one time when "Brother Brigham" had called him to accompany several other young men in going out to meet the Hand Cart Company, to take them some provisions and assist them into the Valley. As he knelt in prayer the evening before going, he said that he told the Lord that it was a foolish thing to do, going out in such weather and with no roads to follow. But while he was still in the act of prayer, it was made known to him that he should go. It was also made known that he would be able to save many of their lives. After search many hours the rescue party became discouraged. Thinking the Hand Cart Company had been lost on the plains, they decided to return to the Valley. Grandfather said, "I told them I would go 'til I reached the States but what I would find them" About noon they found a group of handcarts with their poor, starving people. Thinking there may be more farther back, he rode on for some distance. He saw a dark spot among some rocks. Upon investigating, he found it to be a young man. He wrapped his blankets around him and helped him onto his horse. Then Grandfather Housley spoke up and said—"The horse had one white leg, a white strip in it's forehead and the rest of it was coal black." Grandfather Allen said, "Yes." Grandfather Housley said, "It was a bright plaid blanket." Grandfather Allen asked, "How do you know?" Grandfather Housley said, "Because I was the one you found!" Then he stood up and said, "And I want to tell you, if it hadn't been for the prayers of my mother and the faith of the Saints, I would not have lived 'till you found me and I never would have reached the Valley!" 

SOURCE: Housley, George Frederick, [Reminiscences], in Life histories of George Frederick Housley and Maria Christina Jacobsen Housley. Retrieved online from http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-8786,00.html

In the year l856, I with my mother left our native land, England, with about 600 others for our Mecca, the Zion of our God, on the good ship Orizon spending 5 weeks in our voyage to Boston; where we took passage upon a river steamboat to Iowa, awaiting there for three weeks for our Hand Carts to be made that we were to carry our all across the vast stretch of the plains to Utah. Each family supplying themselves with the necessary food for their journey there if all were well.

At Iowa City, Iowa where we were camped, a gentleman told me that we would starve to death if we went there at this season. One of our people and his family decided to stay over. I became tempted to do likewise and upon telling my mother that we had better stay, she became much depressed in spirit and told me to wait for a little while. During this time, she prayed to our heavenly father for guidance. Our fellow traveler after deciding to stay went out one day to hunt in the woods for game, and while away was seized with the fever and argew, he hurried home and upon entering his tent, where Mother and I were awaiting him. He laid on the cot and commenced to sing in poetry and rhyme telling Mother to take me with her to the valley and that we should get there alright. He appeared all this time to be in a queer stupor or comates state. Mother then told me she had made it a matter of prayer and by this means her prayers were answered. I then told her that we would go to the valley at all hazzards because I was satisfied all would be well.

Upon the company starting we were in line with our cart and ready. All went well with us as we joyously sang, for some must push and some must pull, as we go marching up the hill, as merrily on the way we go, until we reach the valley oh--h.

As days wore on, our spirits lagged as we became weary. Some of our people becoming sick, were compelled to ride, thus compelling others to be more heavily loaded. Provisions commencing to get scarce as the days wore on necessitating our captain to place us on shorter rations; many dying by the wayside where they were buried each night where we camped and their graves were left unmarked except by our tears.

At this season of year, and in that part of the plains the weather commenced to be cold and we were again placed on shorter rations of 4 ounces of flour to each person per day.

We traveled to the sweet water river where we camped being so weak and exhausted that it was almost impossible to move. Many of our people while there died of starvation, while some froze to death by the wayside. A man by the name of Stone from London while trying to get to an Indian Camp was devoured by wolves. When found by some of our camp nothing was left of him but his legs inside his boots. Rescuers was sent out from the Valley to assist us, and they found us thinking we were lost on the plains the rescue party concluded to return to the valley, but one of their number declared he would go to the states but what he would find us. About noon a horseman was seen coming into our camp and he looked like an Angel to us poor starving emigrants, who had eaten nothing except flour for 3 days. With words of encouragement he entreated us to make another start, but many, while their will was good their strength failed them and drooped and froze to death by the wayside. The relief party returned and met us and assisted us with some provisions, but scores of our Brethren and sisters died and were left in unmarked graves. At this time, I was permitted to sleep in a tent with two of my companions each each of them dying by the side where I slept by them until morning when they were taken away and buried.

In a later trip across the plains to assist the emigrants, at one of our camps I saw many of the bones of my companions that had been dug up by wolves. At the time of the death of my companions I, became so despondent through weakness that I longed for death and tried to hide myself from the company that I might die; but one of the brethren returning back for something found me sitting behind a rock where I had hoped to die. He took me along with him for a day before we caught up with the company. I was permitted to sleep in a wagon that night, where I slept with a dead man all night. The next day we were permitted to see and enter into the valley although I was too weak to walk. My feet being much swollen I wrapped them in my mothers shawl until we were taken care of by kind friends awaiting us. I being young was so hungry that I could have eaten everything before me but Brother Hack, our kind friend would allow me only a limited amount of bread and butter as he was afraid it would kill me. But the next day they had a pot pie on the fire for the family, Brother Hack went up into town. I finished up the whole pie and am alive yet. And I have been hungry up to date. How long before dinner will be ready, I am almost starved now.

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My grandfather was George Frederick Housley, who was born on 29 November l826 in Sutton, Ashfeild, Notes, England.

His father was Charles Douben Housley and his mother was Harriet Agnes Cook. His mother left his father in England and sailed with her family of at least two sons to America one was my grandfather, George Frederick Housley. Landing in Boston we made the journey to Salt Lake City, Utah, whore we lived a short time. Later moving to Drapewill, Utah where I went to work for a farmer by the name of Shepley. It was while there I met my future wife I Maria. She had been sent to live with these people where she was to be raised as their own. She was only 14 years old at the time and these people were not treating her as they should and were letting their own children make all manner of fun of her because she couldn't speak their language. She felt so badly about this that she prayed to the Lord and ask him to help her to forget the Danish language which she did forget. Grandfather had left a sweet heart in England, who had refused to come to America and so he married my grandmother at just 14 years old. To this union was born 12 children. When my mother was just a small child her mother had developed dropsy and Phueumatiain and so raised the balance of the family in this condition. She was only in her fifties when she passed away leaving grandfather to care for 4 small children.

Later on he married Mary Ann Barron, who had several children and they later on had 3 more and 1 boy.

Grandfather moved to Paradise, Cache County, Utah. After he was married and while there he sang in the choir when ever ho could get to church. They never were blessed with to much of this worlds good and both he and his wife were very proud people. However they taught their children the Gospel and tried to keep them as active as they could in the Gospel. Eight of their children were married in the temple and two went later. One died as a baby and the youngest passed away some time ago with out this privilege.

Grandfather came across the plain in the Martin and Tayer Handcart Company. He was 19 years old at the time and grandmother came in the Independent Company and was just 8 years old. She was baptized in Drapervill, Utah.

He was a war veteran and Indian Scout and also a freighter. He brought the paper from St. Lewis, Missouri by freight wagons that the first Deseret News was printed on. He established the first wollen mills in Cache County and was also a mail carrier. He made to trips to Winter Quarters to living immigrants to Salt Lake by handcart, and later on was one of the few who had the privilege of having his record endowments in the temple. He passed away in June of 1915.

Grandfather was married in the old endowment house 22 February 1862. At the time just prior to the birth of their first child this old sweet heart who had remained in England came to America and sought out grandfather, who was truly surprised to see her. She still was in love with him and so was willing to become his second wife, but my grandmother just couldn't see it that way and so they waited for awhile and a short time later this young women, whose name was Emma took ill and passed away. As the other children came to this union grandfather wanted to name one girl after this sweetheart and so finally after a time grandmother gave her consent and the next baby girl was named Emma.

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George Housley's History

Written by his granddaughter Emma Housley Auger

George Frederick Housley was born 29 Nov 1836, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham , England, the son of Charles Douben and Harriet Agnes Cook Housley. He had a brother Charles, born 11 May 1833, and a sister Charlotte, born 21 Feb 1835.

In the fall of the year when he was three years old, his mother left his father on account of his bad behavior to her. She took George F. with her and went to Hull, leaving Charles and Charlotte with their father. After a few weeks had elapsed their father took them as far as Rotford, telling them he was taking them to their mother, but he turned back to Sutton and left them on the street in the dead of night and told them to go to their Uncle Joseph Simm 's house while he went home and made the bed for them. After waiting in the street for some time they called their Uncle who kept one of the children and arranged for the other to go to Allen Morley's. The next morning they inquired after their father but he had left town and they could not find out anything more about him.

Their Uncle could not keep them and the Relieving Officers would only allow two schillings per week. They said they could not keep them for so little as that so they put them in a workhouse.

After a few weeks their mother came from Hull and took them out of the Workhouse and took them with her. The Parish allowed her two schillings a week. They were so glad to be back with their mother and brother.

After some time his father came and promised his mother he would send her some money if she would not go to the parish again. She took him at his word but he did not send any money so she went to Ikston in Derbyshire where he was living to see what was the reason. When she got there she found that he had a house ready for her, promising that if she would live with him again he would behave better than he had done before. She consented and went to Sutton and got her children and they were all together and very happy for a few months. Then he began to abuse her again so she left him and went back to Sutton taking Charlotte with her and leaving the boys with him. After a few months he sent George F. to his mother and in about two years he took Charles and turned him out in the street in Sutton where his mother was living. Charles said "So Father got shut of us all - and we were all with mother and did rejoice, for truly a mother she was."

On March 23, 1849, Charles and Charlotte were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Charles was ordained on August 10, 1851, to the office of a Priest and on January 11, 1852, he was ordained to an Elder and did Missionary work until 1861 when he came to Utah.

George F. was baptized on December 31, 1854. His mother had been baptized on December 21, 1849. On Saturday, May 18, 1856, they left England to go to Salt Lake City, taking leave of Charles who came a short distance on the road with them early in the morning. He prayed God to give them a speedy passage over the sea and give them power to perform their journey to Zion in safety.

The next we know of George and his mother they were living in Draper, Utah. George was working for a man named Robert Shipley. While there he met a Danish girl named Maria Christina Jacobson. She had been sent to live with the Shipley family to be raised as one of their own. She soon began to confide in the hired man and tell him of her troubles, the children were making all manner of fun at her because she could not speak English very well and she would sound peculiar to them. This caused her to feel very badly.

George F. had left a sweet-heart in England who had refused to come to America and thinking he would never see her again--he married this Danish girl, Maria, when she was just fourteen years old in Salt Lake City and for a few years went right on living in Draper.

On 28 Nov 1860, their first baby was born. They named her Harriet Maria after her grandmother and mother.

Then on 22 Feb 1862 this couple were sealed as man and wife in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.

And on this same day his mother Harriet Agnes Cook Housley was sealed to a widower by the name of Benjamin Green; he was the father of two sons; James, age 25 years, and William, age 22 years, both of them married prior to this time.

At the time just prior to the birth of George and Maria's first child this old sweet-heart who had remained in England came to America and sought out George, who was truly surprised to see her. She was still in love with him and so was willing to become his second wife, but Maria just couldn't see it that way. A short time later this young woman, whose name was Emma, took ill and died. As other children came to this union George wanted to name one of the girls after her but it was not until the seventh girl was born that Maria consented to name one 'Emma'.

The second child was born April 1, 1863, and they named her Charlotte Agnes. The next two were boys; George, born on 29 March 1865 and Lewis born 28 Nov 1866. They were all born in Draper, Utah.

George left Draper and moved his family to Cache Valley as the Church leaders called for settlers to go there. They first went to a little place called Avon, a farming district. Here he built a log house where they lived during the summer months for a few years, moving to Paradise in the winter. They first rented a house to live in, later on they bought a house and a little land in the west part of town. They then stayed in their own home and the boys took over and ran the dry farm for a while. He, George, would buy a few acres of land at a time as his meager means would permit. He had 20 acres in the southfield, as it was then called, and later a 10 acre piece east of town joining the cemetery.

Eight more children were born to them while living in Paradise, one son and seven daughters . Anna Eliza was born 28 Oct 1868, Benjamin, 28 March 1871, Julia, 1 March 1873; Elizabeth, 16 Jan 1875; Ellen, 16 Feb 1876; Emma, 15 Aug 1878; Janette, 9 Dec 1880 (and died 14 Feb 1881) ; Carolyn, 24 Sep 1883.

George was always a hard working man. He made two return trips to bring immigrants to Utah. He was an Indian Scout, a war veteran, a miller and a freightor. He brought a load of paper to Utah that the Deseret News was printed on. (the first Deseret News was printed in June 15, 1851 according to Essentials in Church History). He also brought several loads of material to set up factories. Besides his farming he did some logging and worked quite a bit in the canyon.

George went about waiting on the sick folk in the town, and as the epidemics came along, as was the case in those days in the winter-time, he was called upon to go into the different homes many times in the night. He would always go but would usually say "I don't see why they always call on me. I'm not going to go. I'll not go another time." But all the time he was dressing and putting on his coat and boots and hurrying off to do whatever was needed for his sick neighbors. Among the pioneer remedies he would use a warm baked potato to bind on the throat. He also spent a lot of time in the evenings going up to Gregory's and reading the paper to Mr. Gregory. They were an aged couple and Brother Gregory was blind. George like to carry a few raisins in his pocket to give to his little children when he came home.

He had a strong testimony of the Gospel and attended Church as often as he could, considering the illness of his wife and family. He sang in the choir and it was not uncommon for him to rise to his feet on Fast-Day and sing a hymn of praise and thanksgiving by way of a testimony as he felt his weakness to speak. He was an honest up-right man. He would not harm anyone. If differences of opinion came up between he and Maria, he would just put on his hat and walk a block or so and return, open the door, and throw his hat in - would laugh and say, "Please, may I come in?"

They were a very proud couple and appreciative of what they had although they never were blessed with much of this worlds goods. They taught their children the Gospel and tried to keep them active in the Church.

On the 14 July 1893, George's brother, Charles, and sister, Charlotte were sealed in the Endowment House to their mother and Benjamin Green. But George refused, as he said he did not want to be sealed to a man who was not his own father.

Maria passed away in March 1896, after a lingering illness of over twenty years. A lot of the time she was not able to walk. Three girls were not married, the youngest one was thirteen years old at the time.

On 18 Nov 1896 George married a widow from Hyrum by the name of Mary Ann Buckley Baron. She was thirty-six years old, the mother of ten children; three of these had died and those still livng were between the ages of two-and-a-half and twenty years. Her oldest sons, Thomas and Carlon Peterson, were married the same day and the same place-the Logan Temple, thus a double wedding.

George was hauling mail from Paradise to Logan and, as it was hard for him to get to Paradise from Hyrum, the family moved up to his home in Paradise for the winter but when spring came they all moved to Hyrum. Carry was the only son of George's children who live a while with this family. She was a little younger than Nellie Baron but they got along nicely together.

George (who was always called Housely by the Baron family) would go up to Paradise and get the mail. He took eggs from Soren Hansen to Paradise. One time George had the small pox along with ten of the children. He had them very badly and when he was able to resume his daily mail route they stopped him from hauling the eggs.

He had a small cafe in Logan that was called "the Little Broom Hotel," but he gave so many meals away that he lost out and had to sell his business.

He hauled mail eight years. Then he sold blankets for the Baron Wollen Mill. He also worked some in the factory, hauled loads of goods to the depot to be sent away on trains. Delivered some to the stores and would take orders for more. His goods consisted of batts, sox, yarn, union assortment of blankets. He also did some door to door canvassing, and ran his farm in Paradise. (I remember that) One year he raised field corn of the twenty acres in the south field.

One time when the corn was green, he went to his son Ben's home and brought a few ears which he called "roasten ears". After the shucks were taken off, he stuck a fork in each of the corn ears and placed them on the stove hearth by the open flame. When the corn was brown he put a little butter and salt on it. We then ate it for dinner. It surely tasted good. Then in the fall when the corn was ripe he came again with some that was ripe. What a lot of pretty colors of kernals were on each cob. George showed us how to help shell it, then he put it in the corn popper on the stove. How surprised we were when it did not pop. As soon as it was a golden brown, he removed it from the popper and ground it up fine in the food chopper. He made some molasses candy, when it was done he poured in the ground corn and put it in a tin milk pan to cool. How good it tasted. I have never seen any like it at any other time. The bulk of the corn was sold for feed. Hay and grain were alternated on the ten acres east by the cemetery.

George was always on hand to help his children or neighbors who would move. He would see to it that everything was carefully packed so that there would not be anything broken. When his daughter Julia moved back to Hyrum from up in Idaho, he went with his buggy and brought her children to his home and kept them there a few days while the house was being made ready for them to live in.

Three children were born to this couple; one boy and two girls. Jesse Frederick was born 9 Sep 1897; Florence Wanda was born 16 July 1899; Vilate was born 18 Aug 1903, all in Hyrum, Utah.

This family had a vegetable garden and rised some small fruit. They also had two large mulberry trees just west of the house on the brough of the hill. The berries on one tree were dark colored berries. These berries made very good juice to drink.

Mary Ann was a good cook and they did a lot of entertaining on special occasions such as having dinners for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.

"Just as always, both he and his good wife were continually waiting on the sick, many of the sick, lame, and crippled were taken into their home and cared for. Some of them were nursed back to health, others passed away, but they never expected pay.

One spring when his son Ben's wife was down with a bad spell of rheumatism and three of the children had diphtheria and were quarantined, George took his wife and went to Mapleton by team and buggy. Mary Ann stayed to care for the sick. Now in those days, anyone who went into contagion had to stay until all were better and fumigation was completed throughout the house and everything that could be washed was thoroughtly done. The laws were so strick that even though the cows were miled by someone who did not go in where the disease was and the cream was separated in another building they could neither sell milk or cream. Mary Ann helped churn the cream into butter. She stored the butter in crock jars and gallon buckets. These were buried in the ground. When all were well, George came again and took Mary Ann and part of the butter. When they got home they also buried their butter. Both families had what butter they needed and it kept good until early fall.

He helped build the Hyrum Second Ward Church house where they attended church. He and his wife sang in the choir for a number of years. The Bishop of the Ward wanted George to talk in Church and tell of his coming across the plains, but George said he just could not speak in public so his wife's brother-in-law, George Wood, who was a lawyer, came to his home and took his story down in short hand as George told the story to him. Then they had it read in a reunion. It was a follows:

In the year of 1865, I with mother left our native land England, with about 600 others for our America "The Zion of Our God," on the good ship "Horizon," spending five weeks in our voyage to Boston. Where we took passage on a steamboat to Iowa. Awaiting there for three weeks for our hand-carts to be made that were to carry our "all" across the vast stretch of the plains to Utah. Each family supplying themselves with the necessary food for their journey if they were well. At Iowa City, where we were camped, a gentleman told me that we would starve to death if we went there at this season. One of our people and his family decided to stay over. I became tempted to do likewise and upon telling my mother that we better stay she became much depressed in spirit and told me to wait a little while. During the time she prayed to Our Heavenly Father for guidance. One fellow traveler, after deciding to stay, sent out one day in the woods to hunt for game, and while away was seized with fever and ague. He hurried home and upon entering the tent where mother I were awaiting him, he laid upon the cot and commenced singing in poetry and rhyme, telling mother to take me with her to the valley and that we should get through alright. Mother told me she had made it a matter of prayer and by this means her prayers were answered. I told her then that we would go to the valley at all hazards because I was satisfied all would be well.

Upon the company starting we were in line with our cart and ready. All went well as we joyously sang, "For some must push and some must pull as we go marching up the hill. As merrily on the way we go, until we reach the valley, Oh!" As days wore on, our spirits lagged as we became weary. Some of our people became sick and were compelled to ride, thus compelling others to be more heavily loaded. Provisions commencing to get scarce as the days wore on, necessitating our captain to put us on shorter rations. Many dying by the wayside where they were buried each night where we camped and their graves were left unmarked expect by our tears. At this season and at this part of the plains it commenced getting cold, and were again placed on shorter rations of 4 ounces of flour to each person per day. We traveled to the Sweet Waters River where we camped, being so weak and exhausted that it was almost impossible to move . Many of our people while there died of starvations while others froze to death by the wayside.

A man from London by the name of Stone, while trying to get to an Indian camp was devoured by wolves; when found by some of our camp, nothing was left of him but his legs inside his boots.

Receivers were sent out from the Valley to assist us in and could not find us, thinking we were lost on the plains the rescue party concluded to return to the Valley. But one of their number stated that he would go to the States but what he would find us. About noon a horseman was seen coming into our camp, and he looked like an angel to us poor starving emigrants who had eaten nothing but flour for three days. With words of encouragement he entreated us to make another start. But, many, while their will was good, their strength failed them and they dropped and froze to death by the way.

The relief party returned and met us and assisted us with some provisions. But scores of our brethren and sisters died and were left in unmarked graves by the wayside. At this time I was permitted to sleep in a tent with two of my companions. Each of them dying by my side where I slep by them 'till morning when they were taken away and buried.

In a later trip across the plains to assist the emigrants at one of our camps I saw many of the bones of my companions that had been dug up by the wolves. At the time of my companions death I became despondent through weakness that I longed for death and tried to hide myself from the company that I might die, but one of the brethren returning back for something, found me sitting behind the rock where I had hoped to die. He took me along with him for a day before we caught up with the company. I was permitted to sleep in a wagon that night, where I slep with a dead man all night.

The next day we were permitted to see and enter into the Valley (November 29, my birthday). Although I was too weak to walk, my feet being much swollen I wrapped them in my mother's shaw until we were taken care of by kind friends who were awaiting us. But brother Slack, our kind friend, would not allow me only a limited amount of bread as he was afraid it would kill me. But after they had gone to meeting I finished up the whole pot pie which had been prepared for the family, and I am alive yet and I have been hungry to this day.

President Parkinson of the Hyrum Stake was present at the reunion and when he heard of the hardships, suffering and hunger George went through, he made arrangements with the Church authorities to grant this couple the privilege of receiving their second endowments. After they received theirs, Mary Ann stood proxy for George's first wife, who received their second endowments of the 28th of July 1910. This is a privilege and blessing that only a few people have had since the Church was organized.

Often times when going to Logan he would stop at the Inn and buy a few crackers and a piece of moldy cheese. Sometimes he would say 'The more the mold, the better the cheese.'

While he was hauling hay and working on the farm he began to have some kind of spells. He would turn pale and it was hard for him to breathe. The family finally persuaded him that he was working too hard so he rented the farm to a man in Paradise. He and his wife went out canvasing for the Wollen Mills. They rode in a buggy sometimes going as far north as Idaho Falls, Idaho. They continued canvassing for a few years.

On May 11, 1911, he had his daughter, Harriet Maria, sealed to them in the Logan Temple. His daughter Anna Eliza Stone being proxy for Harriet Maria, and Mrs. J.P. Seamons was proxy for his wife Maria Christina.

George was a good entertainer, both of the old and the young. He would gather the children around him and maybe one or two on his knee while he sang songs, rhymes and ditties to them such as "Oh Susannah," "Yankee Doodle," and many others. He would also play tunes by flipping his fingers against his teeth. The children would sit spell bound and as soon as he would stop they would say, "Grandpa do that again."

He was a small man, his average weight being about 110 pounds. He had a sandy complexion, blue eyes and he wore a beard. He was quick both in speech and action. He stood erect being but very little bent in his later years.

On Sunday, June 6, 1915, two of his daughters came to see him as he had not been feeling very good for a few days. The boys were away for the afternoon. George went down to the yard to care for a setting hen. One of his spells came over him, he went pale, and it was hard for him to breathe. He sat down on the wagon tongue to rest. In a few minutes he felt better. His daughters took hold of his arms and helped him back up the hill to the house. He laid down on the bed and closed his eyes in death, as if he were asleep.

He was the father of fifteen children; and he had ninety-four grandchildren at the time of his death. His funeral was held in the Second Ward Church House. One of the speakers spoke of the good name he had left us and admonished the grandchildren to work hard to keep it that way. He also told us that it was up to us to take the name back to him as pure and undefiled as he had left it to us. He was laid to rest in the Paradise Cemetery beside his wife, Maria, and baby, Janette, who had preceded him in death."