Maria Susan Haven

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWJC-PX9

Taken from a Blog Post at this web address: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blo...

NOTE: the second photo shown here under "Media" is the earliest known photo of Robert Burton Haven, his wife Maria, 3 year old Theresa and one year old William Shipley Haven, taken about 1857. Robert, whose light blue eyes did not show up in early photos, is about 30 years old and Maria is about 25.

Anyone who read my introductory post on Maria Susan Haven Burton may have thought I was off on my dates when I posted the date of her departure as 1846. Anyone who knows church history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knows that the pioneers didn't arrive in Salt Lake until 1847. But what we forget sometimes is that the journey started much earlier with the mobs and the government driving the "Mormonites" out of their homes. Maria and Robert (RT) were in advance party meant to lead the way for others who would follow. Advance parties left Sugar Creek on Feb. 25 but the main band members left March 1, 1846. They marched north west 5 miles and then camped in several inches of snow. The second days journey brought them within 4 miles of Farmington. "After encampment was made and the toils of the day were over, the snow would be scraped away, a huge fire or several of them kindled within the wagon enclosure, and there to the inspiring music of Pitts band, song and dance often beguiled the exiles into forgetfulness of their trials and discomforts... The men of Iowa, it is said, looked on with amazement, when witnessing such scenes and were told that these were the exiled "Mormons" from Nauvoo, "bound they knew not wither, 'except where God should lead them by the hand of his servant.'

A number of citizens from Farmington visited the camp and soon invited the band to entertain their village. RT and other band members gave a concert in Farmington, Iowa which ended up being the first of many along the journey from the Mississippi to Council Bluffs. The band and laborers were paid much needed money and goods to help them on their journey.

Although travel conditions deteriorated as days passed, spirits remained cheerful and music would uplift the parties in the evenings. Thawing during the day and freezing at night made travel more difficult. RT wrote in his journal of this toilsome time:

"As snow and frost gave way, then came muck and water; the streams were so swollen by the melting of the winter snow that they overflowed their banks until the whole sections of the prairie were covered with water. Sometimes we were compelled to camp where the water was several inches deep. Improvising beds by throwing down willows and bush enough to raise the bedding above the surrounding floods, and so difficult was the traveling that in some instances we could only make three miles per day. During this slow and tedious march we were obliged to go to the settlements of Missouri and work for food for ourselves and animals, and what made it still the more unpleasant for me my wife, being young and at that time delicate in consequence of these exposures, was attacked with chills and fever and would shake until the bows of the wagon would rattle and but little could be done for her comfort. Thus we continued our weary journey to the west.

After 7 days travel the main party had only made it 36 miles from Sugar Creek and camped and Richardsons Point until the 19th, holding several concerts in the surrounding settlements.

Because of the harsh realities of this journey the leadership decided to find a temporary stopping place to at the Missouri River where the saints could raise crops and work for additional needed supplies. And it was decided that an advanced company would blaze ahead and blaze trails, build bridges and select and clear campsites. Not all were happy with this and a few small groups moved ahead independently. The conditions were so terrible the last few days of March that they camped at the Charidon River. RT wrote:

"Our next prominent stop Charidon River where we arrived on the 22nd. Here in consequence of the terrible conditions of the road we were compelled to stop until April 1st when we resumed our journey and arrived at Shoal Creek (Locust Creek) on the same night. Traveled 7 miles. Here we remained until the third and obtained corn and supplies from Missouri, Moved on 3rd to Shoal Creek, and roads and weather were so bad until the 9th when we again resumed our journey. The roads were so bad and water so bad, Mrs. Burton and I were compelled to camp on prairie in mud and water, having only traveled three miles today. The balance of the company, however, reached a point three miles in advance of our wagon.

On the next morning, we were helped to six yoke of cattle, with this help we succeeded camping in little point of timber before mentioned, Here we were compelled to remain until the 13th in consequence of the terrible condition of the roads. We then resumed the journey and traveled 4 miles and camped with Heber C. Kimball's company. Moving on the next (day) succeded in getting 3 miles and reached President. Young's company.

• Residence: Holliston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States - 1826
• Residence: 15th Ward Great Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States - 1860
• Residence: Utah, United States - 1870
• Residence: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States - 1880
• Residence: ED 24 Precinct 23 Salt Lake City Ward 2, Salt Lake, Utah, United States - 1900
• Residence: Salt Lake City Ward 2, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States - 1910
• Residence: Salt Lake City Ward 4, Salt Lake, Utah, United States - 1920