Louisa Shumway

Louisa Minnerly's ancestors are Dutch who lived in Westchester County, NY since before 1700. In the 1830s her family moved to Thompson, Sullivan, NY where they joined the LDS Church. They then moved to Nauvoo, IL where in 1845 Louisa became the 2nd wife of Charles Shumway. On the 4th of Feb 1846 Charles led the first group of Saints west to escape religious persecution. They arrived in Salt Lake City Utah in 1847. At Brigham Young's request they pioneered the settlement of Manti, Sanpete County, and Cache County Utah and Navaho County Arizona.

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76780631

Birth: Jan. 8, 1824 Tarrytown Westchester County New York, USA Death: Feb. 28, 1890 Linden Navajo County Arizona, USA

Louisa Minnerly's ancestors are Dutch who lived in Westchester County, NY since before 1700. In the 1830s her family moved to Thompson, Sullivan, NY where they joined the LDS Church. They then moved to Nauvoo, IL where in 1845 Louisa became the 2nd wife of Charles Shumway. On the 4th of Feb 1846 Charles led the first group of Saints west to escape religous persucution. They arrived in Salt Lake City Utah in 1847. At Brigham Young's request they pioneered the settlement of Manti, Sanpete County, and Cache County Utah and Navaho County Arizona.

Family links:

Parents:

 John Minnerly (1792 - 1837)

Spouse:

 Charles Shumway (1806 - 1898)

Children:

 Charles Minnerly Shumway (1848 - 1940)*

 Wilson Glenn Shumway (1850 - 1925)*

 Peter Minnerly Shumway (1853 - 1935)*

 Levi Minnerly Shumway (1859 - 1940)*

Sibling:

 Susan Minnerly Strong (1820 - 1897)*

 Louisa Minnerly Shumway (1824 - 1890)

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Taylor Cemetery Taylor Navajo County Arizona, USA

Created by: Rex Shumway Record added: Sep 19, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 76780631

Resident of Tarrytown (Sleepy Hollow) Contributor: D_O_Dbl _G Created: 11 months ago Updated: 11 months ago

In due time most of Louisa’s progenitors came together and lived in Tarrytown, New York. They were the Minnerlys, the Martelings, the Devouws, the Storms, the Ekers, the Ackermans, the Taylors, Jones, Sharpenets, and others. Most of these people were members of the Dutch Reformed Church, and most were christened, married, and buried in the Old Dutch Church building that centered the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Washington Irving lived in Tarrytown, not far from many of Louisa’s ancestors. In fact in his book Legend of Sleepy Hollow he mentions some of Louisa’s ancestors. The town and customs there reflect the activities of Louisa’s grandparents. In fact Louisa herself was born in Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, on January 8, 1824. She had eight brothers and sisters, namely, Susan, Wilson, Charles, Levi, Rebecca, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah, and Albert. Louisa Minnerly Shumway Contributor: D_O_Dbl _G Created: 11 months ago Updated: 11 months ago

Louisa Minnerly Excepts taken from The Stories of Three Great Grandmothers By Lucetta Buttars Gibson Let us begin this story in Tarrytown sometimes called Sleepy Hallow, New York. It is in this quaint little town that we know these grandmothers, Louisa, Catharine and Charity were born and worshipped, married and baptized their children. So you will understand who I am talking about, let me introduce them perhaps you know Louisa best, because you have herd more about her. Louisa married Charles Shumway and is the mother of Charles M. Shumway. Her father’s name was John Minnerly and her mother’s name, Catharine Taylor Minnerly. Catharine was Louisa’s Mother. Her father’s name was Thomas Taylor. Her mother’s name was Charity Sharpnet Taylor. Charity was Catharine’s mother, her father’s name was Simeon Sharpnet and her mother’s name was Catharine Jones. It is interesting to note that their progenitors came from nations Holland, France, and England. These three grandmothers lived together much of their lives, so the beginning of this story will include all three, giving experiences they had and the story of their earlier lives. There came a time in the 1830’s that there was a famine in lower New York and some of the people moved northward. We know these grandparents left Tarrytown because in 1831 we find Catharine and John Minnerly had a child born in Thompson, Sullivan Co., New York. Sullivan County is in the central part of New York State. The town of Thompson is quite near Colesville, and is even closer to the Susquhanna area where the Prophet Joseph translated the Book of Mormon. So there would be missionary activity in the area. On the 17 December 1837 John died at the age of 45, then Catharine was 39 years old. Catharine was left alone with much responsibility. John was gone, she had six children sill at home ages 14 to 1 year of age. Her oldest child at home, Louisa was 14 years, her oldest son, Levi was 10 years and she had a baby age one. The three other children fit in between these ages. Her parents would have to depend on her too. Catharine must have been concerned. It was in 1839 she Purchased land in Sullivan Co. John’s father Albert, must have been quite concerned for this little family too. For a time I wondered how they managed, but I found Albert’s will which was proven in 1851. In the will we find recorded “To the children of my son John (deceased) an amount equal to one of the above shares less one hundred and twenty-five dollars, which sum I paid their mother for their use and benefit in December1838.” We must conclude then that Catharine purchased land in Sullivan Co. in 1839, using the money given to her by her father-in-law, Albert. It seems John did not join the church before he died. We find in the Nauvoo Temple records that Catharine had had him baptized in 1842. But we do have records of several of his family joining the church in 1840. The place of their membership is not given. They were probably still in Thompson, New York. We do know the family was in Nauvoo in 1842 if not before, because we find records showing their activity there that year. We have told the story of Louisa up to her marriage to Charles Shumway on the 4 August 1845. She was his second wife and they lived in polygamy until the death of his first wife, Julia Ann Hooker. It would be nice to know how Charles and Louisa met, and whether Louisa and Julia Ann lived in the same home. At this time Julia Ann and Charles had three living children. According to his oldest daughter, Mary Eliza who was old enough to remember, Charles had brought lumber from Galena to Nauvoo , when he joined the church, and he had built a nice home for Julia Ann and children. In any event however, Louisa and Charles together with Julia Ann and children didn’t stay in Nauvoo very long after he and Louisa were married. We know the story of Charles and family crossing the Mississippi River, how his wagons were the first to cross. We remember, too, terrible conditions in Sugar Creek (Montrase, Iowa). How because of weather conditions they remained in this place, suffering from cold.. They didn’t leave Sugar Creek until March. So many beautiful things have been said about Charles Shumway, his obedience and abilities, that I will not ago into detail of many things. I want to tell what we know about Louisa’s life and accomplishments. We do not know too much about her, but we do know some of them, they must be recorded. How brave she was, and how she must have supported Charles by taking care of responsibilities at home so he could be obedient to the prophets in their callings to him. Now let us continue with the story of Louisa’s life, as she crosses the Mississippi River with Charles, Julia Ann, Andrew, Little Harriet and Mary Eliza, Louisa was pregnant, and one can empathize with them and what their feelings would be. They were leaving Nauvoo the beautiful. How grateful they must have been as they looked back at the temple and knew they had been so blessed as to have their endowments and sealings 21 January 1846. Now they belonged to each other throughout eternity. They must have been sad to leave Nauvoo, but too, they must have been happy. They were leaving the mote and wickedness beind them, and they were to be guided and helped to their new “Zion”. As they left Sugar Creek, Mary Elisa says, “As we left Sugar Creek, Charles’ family experienced the worst traveling in the entire journey. The melting snow and spring rains dissolved the earth into deep sticky mud into which the wagon wheels sunk hub deep. The children and women pushed. The ox teams were doubled, but it was several months of slow, ponderous travel, some times going not more than two or three miles a day. We have heard the story about their experiences at Winter Quarters. It was here all of the family were ill, even Charles. Their lives were threatened, and neighbors had to give them help. It was here this family experienced sadness. Julia Ann, the first wife died, after suffering dreadfully. A few days later little Harriet died. Then too, Louisa’s baby Catharine was born and lived one day. This all happened at winter Quarters. Louisa’s little Catharine was born 18 of April 1846 and died 19 April 1846, and Harriet several days later. Charles was called to go West with the first company. But as he always did, he provided a home for his family. He built a large room log home in Winter Quarters and took the boxes off of the wagons, for sleeping quarters. After making arrangements for a Mr. Bird to drive one of his wagons and preparing the other wagon and oxen for Louisa to drive, they headed west with Brigham Young’s lead company. He left Winter Quarters after Julia Ann died, but received word of Harriet’s death after he had left. Louisa and Mary Eliza must have left Winter’s Quarters not too long after Charles company. She was in Jedidiah M. Grant’s hundred, Willard Snow’s fifty and John Vance’s ten. She was in Salt Lake in August 1847. Louisa drove one wagon pulled by two oxen across the plains. This would not be easy, but she had the company of Mary Eliza who was about 13 years old. We have no recorded experiences of Louisa crossing the plains. She would experience many happenings as did all of the immigrants, driving all day, dancing, singing, worshipping at nights, grateful she was on her way to Zion. They arrived at a place called Rocky Road in August 1847, and here they met Charles, their husband and father. What great joy they must have felt, and how relieved Louisa was—now Charles could take the responsibility of driving and caring for Louisa and Mary Eliza. Charles had been chosen as one to go back to Winter Quarters with Brigham Young to bring their families. He told Charles to return to Salt Lake with Mary Eliza and Louisa. How relieved they must have felt. When they got to Salt Lake Charles had prepared a home, he had built a log room up to the square, but did not have a roof on it. But they put a canvas over the top and managed. It is interesting to note – Charles had arrived in Salt Lake on the 22 July, he was chosen with others to plan and plant, and he would be kept busy in this responsibility, yet he was thinking of the confront of Louisa and Mary Eliza and by the time they got there in August, he had a place for them to live. https://billiongraves.com/grave/Louisa-Minnerly/4946927?referrer=my...