ARIZONA BIOGRAPHIES

My parents were Hyrum Smith Phelps and Mary Elizabeth Bingham Phelps.  I was born August 26, 1877 at Montpelier, Dear Lake county, Idaho. I was 16 months old when my family moved to Mesa. The first house that father built was on the corner of second Ave and Hilbert.

Among my first recollections of this place was the first Sunday School I attended.   It was held In the school house, a one room adobe.   Hannah Peterson (Miller) was the teacher.   We recited the alphabet from cards.   We were seated on a low bench In the front of the room. I attended my first primary with my sister Lucy.   We were very devoted to each other.   Each week we anxiously waited while the secretary read the program for the following week but we never got put on the program. I never went anywhere without Lucy.

When I was nine years old the school put me on a program and every child in the room was given a part but me.  I felt disgraced and I never even told my mother,  I always remembered the feeling I had and In the sixteen years I presided over the Primary I always favored the backward child and never slighted anyone to my knowledge.

Father built a long room on the back of the house to accommodate the growing family.   Grandmother Bingham lived with us a while before moving into a house where the Sixth Ward now stands. (On the corner of Mesa Drive and University).  We children were staying with her after father was taken to the Yuma penitentiary. The officers were there one night looking for mother, they had a warrant and grandma wouldn't take It so they threw It on the floor. I thought she wasn't very polite.

When I was twelve years old mother gave me an accordion for Christmas.   I soon learned to play It. A few years later she and Lucy gave me a larger one which I kept until after I was married.

One time Father went to Tempe and bought a bolt of cloth called Zephyr gingham, it was a beautiful plaid. As I remember five of us girls had a dress alike.   Lucy and I always dressed alike.   Most people thought we were twins.

The first MIA class I attended had only one class for everyone.  Pres. Charles I. Robson told the story of Joseph Smith's first prayer. That was the first time I had heard it and I have never forgotten how it Impressed me.   Soon after this Lucy and I was asked to sing at one of the meetings. We sang "Write Me a Letter From Home",  After that I think we were asked to sing at every public entertainment held in Mesa until after I was married. Lucy and grandma Phelps bought us an organ which I learned to play by ear.  Father and I played for the dances at Lehi a few times. I earned $2.50 over the Christmas holidays playing out there. I left my organ there during that time so I wouldn't have to carry It back and forth.

Lucy and I Joined the choir when I was sixteen and I sang with them twenty years. I memorized 200 hymns besides the anthens we sang.

I well remember the first dress I made, it was a real pretty blue and I wore a blue ribbon around my waist, that mother's sister Anne LeSueur sent to me because they told her I looked so much like her.   In the summer of about the year 1891 there was a conference held at Pine Top and mother and Aunt Clarinda, in company with quite a large group of saints attended. Brother William took them. It took six weeks to make the round trip. Amy was four years old. While they were gone I made Amy a dress, I made it a plain tight waist with a full skirt that came nearly to her ankles, and so tight I could hardly fasten it.   She had it on when mother came and when she saw her she began to cry, she said Amy looked like we had starved her.

One night at a dance John S. Allen, known as Seymour came into our lives.   He rushed across the floor, came up to me and said, "Come on Caddie let's dance."   Then he saw his mistake and after an apology asked me to dance.   From then on he never failed to dance with me and Lucy.   Later on he began making regular visits to our home but we did not know which one of us he was most Interested in.   We had a lot of good times together.   One night he asked if he could take me home.   Up to this time he had never taken us any place.   He had a lady friend and we were Just side issues, but after this night we knew which were his favorites.

John S and I kept company for about nine months and were married 2 October 1895 In a quiet wedding in our home on the corner of Hibbert and East First Ave.   Only close relatives were invited. The ceremony was performed by Bishop James Mallen Home.   We stood at the head of the table and guests were seated around it ready to partake as soon as the ceremony ended.   Mother and Lucy cooked a very fine dinner.   When we went through the kitchen to be married Mother and Lucy were standing by the stove, Mother was crying and Lucy was looking sad but I couldn't see anything to feel sad about.

One week after we were married we started to the St.George temple In company with Ell and Medora Openshaw.   It took six weeks to make the round trip. When we returned home we started housekeeping in the two roomed house built for Fannie and Warner.   It was here our first child, Ashael was born 31 July 1896. At this time fast meeting was hell on Thursday afternoon and he was blessed by Grandpa Allen. Blanche was born 15 Feb 1898,   When she was four months old John S. was called on a mission to the Southern states.   He left in June and I milked from eight to ten cows while he was gone and my sister Esther stayed with me to help care for the babies. Mother was very good to me and I wondered how I could get along without her.   I did all of the sewing for her six daughters, Lucy, Hattie, Amy, Esther, Clara and Gertrude.   At this time Lucy was working In Johnson's store and did a lot to help the family. I was blessed all the while John S was gone and we all enjoyed good health.   When it was time for him to be released I went to Utah in company with my parents and Father Allen and his wife Annie. Uncle Perry Bingham met us at Price, Utah and took us to Vernal where I stayed until I heard from John S and then I went to meet him In Cove.
After we returned home John S and his brother Warner went in partners and purchased eighty acres of land on the base line. Hymn Loren was born 7 Oct 1901 and Barbara was born 5 Oct 1903. On 26 July 1907 Gove Linbona was born and John S went on another mission.   This time to the Eastern States.   I was left with more responsibilities and work but Ashael was a big help and one of my sisters stayed with me most of the time. John S came home In 190S In June and Mary was born 1 Sept 1910 On 27 March 1912 Eldred Phelps was born, but only lived six weeks. This was the first real sorrow to come to us.   8 July 1914 Russell Hoopes was born.

On 2 Dec 1915 Ashael left to go on a mission to the Southern States.   Ben Rich was born and 5 Nov 1917 Joseph Seymour was born while Ashael was still on his mission.

When Joe was about eight months old I took a little motherless baby Robert Southern (four months) to raise. I kept him nine months and his aunt Mrs. Ellingbou wanted him so bad J.S. told me I should- not be selfish and keep him so I let her have him. After several years the depression came on and we decided Seymour's half brother Benjamine should live with us for a couple of years,   J.S. sent him on a mission.   Also Charley, Seymours oldest brother lived with us quite a bit.

Delia, our youngest was born, 11 Nov 1920, four days after Loren had left for a mission In Louisiana. We struggled along for several years in the depression and decided to rent our ranch as the boys wanted to go to school and it was too much for Seymour to run It alone. We bought a home at 48 West Second Street In Mesa and lived there for more than a year. John S and his brother Jim took a Job building a fence along the railroad.   It was at this time when the next great sorrow came when Delia died,  Nov 21, 1925.

We sent Gove on a mission to the Eastern States and In 1935 we sent Russell to the Samoan Islands to fill his mission. Before he returned home we sent Ben to Argentina for a mission. All our family have very fine companions and have been sealed in the temple.   In all our family gatherings they are with us 100.   We are very proud of our family and their families and always pray for their success in righteousness. We held our Golden Wedding Anniversary 29 Oct 1945. The first time all of our family had been together for a long time. For the celebration Ashael came from a Spanish American mission, his wife Ida from Los Angeles, Russell from Kirtland, New Mexico and Mary from Vallejo, California.   We had a dinner at the ranch with our ten children, their companions and 27 grandchildren. It was a lovely time.   After this celebration, Ida was called to labor with Ashael on his mission and they took their son George with them.

Our mother was very strict about us attending our duties and being punctual.Because of this the Sunday School superintendent called on me to be a substitute teacher while still quite young. When I was 17 I attended conference.   At this time they reorganized the Stake YLMIA and I was surprised when they sustained me as stake secretary.   I served in this capacity for twelve years and under five presidents:   Ann Eliza Leavitt, Jamett Johnson, Lula McDonald, Fanny Dana and Mary Hibbert.   Soon after I was released I was chosen stake secretary for the Relief Society.   I held that position for about six years and was released to be president of the Mesa First Ward Relief Society.   I was In this position for about a year when
we moved to Gilbert.   There was no Gilbert ward then so we were In the Chandler ward.   After this I spent about sixteen years £s president of the Primary in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa.   I was president of the Primary at the same time I was superintendent of Religion Class In the Gilbert Ward.   At this time my son John was attending Gilbert High School and he assisted me In Religion Class.   We rented our ranch and bought a home In Mesa.   At this time I was president of the Primary In Gilbert and Bishop Haymore Sr. asked me to preside there until my daughter Barbara came.   This I did and at this time I was made president of the Mesa First Ward Primary.   I presided over both primaries for about six weeks.   I have been president of the Gilbert Ward Relief Society two different times, second counselor in the Mesa First Ward to Grace Nielson and second counselor to Adelaide Peterson In the stake primary, and held several other positions.   Now at this time of 74, I am a Relief Society district teacher and a Guide teacher to four boys in the primary of the Mesa Ninth Ward.   I am very thankful for the many opportunities I have had to serve.

March 1942 was the Relief Society Centennial year and the General Board requested that pioneer stories be brought before the public as much as possible.   At that time I was president of the Gilbert Ward Relief Society and read several good stories and decided to put them into a pageant.   I had fine cooperation and it turned out to be a success.   We played it In six different wards. I also wrote an Easter and Aaronic Priesthood pageant which was very successful.   In doing this work I received some of the greatest joy In my life.   Another thing I enjoyed was putting on Primary programs with the children.   There was a lot of work doing these things but when it was over there was unspeakable joy that came to us seeing the happiness that came to the children.

The Lord has been good to me for which I am grateful. We have been relieved of pain through prayer and being administered to many times.   My first relief came to me when I was first married, I had an ulcerated tooth and thought I could stand It no longer, John S administered to me and relief came instantly.   Another time I was alone on the ranch with the little children.   I became very sick the pain in my head was so bad, part of the time I was not conscious.   John was nine years old, he went off by himself and prayed for me.   All at once a quivering feeling went through my body and with it the pain.   I couldn't account for it until he told ne he had prayed for me.   John had been Instantly relieved twice when he had gathered ears.   One time when we had been helping the Chandler Ward pay off their debt on the piano by chopping maize and came home late we found Loren crying with pain..   As he drove the cows around the haystack they loosened the derrick fork and it swung around before he knew it striking him on the leg and puncturing his leg Into the bone.   The pain was so severe he could not stand to have us walk across the floor.   He Immediately called for his father to administer to him.   The pain left as he took his hands
from his head and it never returned.   For all of these and many more blessings too numerous to mention, I am grateful.

Barbara and Seymour filled an Indian mission at San Tan in the year 1948 and 49.   They celebrated their Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary in 1955.   She passed away 31 January 1957 In Mesa, Ariz.

The life of Elizabeth Adelaide Hoopes Allen is a series of faith promoting incidents, which take their place along side those of many other faithful pioneers who lived in the early days of the Church.

She was the daughter of Warner Hoopes and Priscilla Gifford, and was born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, September 9, 1847. If not the first, she was one of the first babies born in a humble pioneer wagon, as her parents, in company with other Saints, were driven from their home in Missouri.

The early part of her life was spent amid the trials and tribulations experienced by thousands of other faithful saints. Years afterward she related many of her interesting experiences to her children, one of which follows:

"My father was a shoemaker by trade, and my mother was a woman of great faith and energy.   At one time, about the 1855, we moved into Buchanan County, Missouri, near St. Joseph, and worked at burning charcoal.   Here we became quite prosperous.   My mother's health was very poor, and they hoped that this change of climate would hasten her recovery.

"Even in this part of the world we found a strong sentiment against the saints and their religion, and my father had an experience which taught him it was better to take counsel of those called of God.   One night we entertained an Elder McGaw who had stopped at our place on his return trip from a mission to England.   He told father that he felt impressed that he, my father, should remove his family immediately to Florence, Nebraska and there prepare to immigrate to Utah.   He repeated the advice that night and again the next morning.   After he had started away, he returned and advised him to go right away and leave his family to dispose of the property and follow after.   But my father was loathe to leave this prosperous situation and heeded not the counsel.   About a week later a non-Mormon family was burned in their house and the Mormons were accused of committing the deed.   Four of the brethren were arrested, but were proven innocent and released.   However, the decision of the court did not satisfy the hellish mob, which then made plans to kill them.   The brethren were warned by a friend, but my father didn't believe any harm would befall him.   The sheriff of Buchanan county called for my father and offered him protection, and yet he refused to accept, for he 'knew of no enemies' he said.   But after a few days when he had reconsidered, he began to feel a little uneasy, and one night he felt that he had better not be found at home. Consequently he left for the woods in back of the house, with the understanding that should friends come, my mother was to call him; if enemies should come she was to blow the dinner horn, signifying that he should hasten farther into the denseness.

"Some time during the night my mother was awakened by some voices outside.   She listened and recognized the voices of the mob making plans to take my father away.   After they had stationed their guards at the doors and windows with the intention of shooting him down should he attempt to escape, she arose and taking the dinner horn, blew three loud blasts.   The leader of the mob, thinking it a signal for him to return, entered and wrested the horn from her and blew it repeatedly.   Finally my mother told him that the longer and louder he blew the horn, the farther and faster my father was going in the opposite direction.   The mob grew more angry, but she told them that had they come like gentlemen, she would have called him and he would have returned.   Furiously they took to the woods where they hunted all night for father and a Brother Lincoln, but without avail.   The next day they returned and tried to persuade my mother to 'give up that terrible religion', saying that if she would do so, she and her children would be well cared for. My mother's answer was an inspiration to me.   She said, 'My husband and religion mean more to me than money, or anything money can buy'. They cursed her and used vile language as they took their departure. We children scattered hot coals In the yard in hopes that if they returned they would get burned.

"The following night my father and Brother Lincoln returned and were taken to prison by the sheriff for protection from the mob. They remained there for ten months and were then proven innocent and released.   Thus the money my father had accumulated was spent for lawyer fees and we were reduced to a state of poverty, all of which might have been averted had father seen fit to take the counsel of the servant of the Lord.   However, mother was energetic and made willow baskets for us children to sell to help sustain our lives. Our last cow was sold to pay our steamboat fare to Florence, Nebraska, where we waited sometime for my father to Join us."

Elizabeth Adelaide inherited a great deal of energy, and like her mother was ever ready to do things to help.   She was about nine years of age when they left Nebraska to start across the plains to Utah.   They had secured means to emigrate from her Uncle Hyrum Hoopes in Florence   She helped to care for her mother's children and the baby was her special charge, for her father was ill throughout the exodus and her mother had to drive while the children drove the loose cattle.   A Brother Bovier said to mother one night, Sister Hoopes, if you could tie the calf at night, you would have the milk for your children" but he didn't offer to assist with the chore, so little Elizabeth Adelaide, always up and doing, undertook the task.   She succeeded in getting the rope around the calf's neck, but when it began to run, her strength was insufficient to handle the Job; the calf pulled through the slough and brush and rough road until she had to let go.   But she did her best although help was necessary before she succeeded in tying the calf.

They arrived in Salt Lake City In 1857 and located soon after in Bountiful, where they lived for a short time, then moved to Cache Valley to locate permanently.

Although her mother bore nine children, only four lived to grow to maturity.   She was one of the larger ones and was assigned to be her father's helper.   She herded the sheep and cattle and helped with the outside work in general.

At the age of seventeen she met Charles Hopkins Allen, who so admired her winsome and energetic ways that he desired her for a helpmate.   Although he was seventeen years her senior, she seemed to share his feeling, for she consented to become his wife and they were married the 15th of June In 1864.

Often the Indians would enter the settlement and take liberties and commit depredations which were unwarranted.   On one occasion, while her husband was away getting their winter's supply of wood from the canyon, two Indians strolled into their yard and through the door, ordering Elizabeth to give them something to eat. Her nature was not of a nervous type and so, while some women under like circumstances might have been frightened, she displayed no timidity.   She was preparing them a "handout" when she noticed one's gaze riveted on her rifle, which was hanging on the wall. As he took a step toward the gun she discerned his intention and drew the gun herself.   He immediately grabbed a hatchet out of the wall and raised it, as she gave him an unexpected shove.   It was so forceful that it landed him outside the door onto a board with a nail In it where he parted with a bit of his gaudy colored blanket.   As is the nature of the Red Man, his admiration for her bravery recompensed him for the humiliation he had received, and they took themselves off without giving her any more trouble.

After a few years of residence In Richmond, Utah they moved three miles north into Cove where they made themselves a very beautiful home.   While living there five other children were born to themfour girls and one boy.

Elizabeth Allen was of a very friendly disposition and her doors were always open to welcome her friends and relatives. The young people in the community felt free to mingle with her and her children, and came and went as if it were their home.   If the number of beds was insufficient to accommodate all the visitors, pallets were made on the floor and none seemed to find them uncomfortable.

She always found pleasure In having the elderly women in her home and sought to make them comfortable.   She felt that she was repaid by the faith promoting stories they told her children. She promoted the spirit of home entertainment to keep the children under the family roof.   She possessed the spirit of home evening long before the Prophet of the Lord recommended the practice through out the Church.   "Playing Primary" was a delight for which the children anxiously and conscientiously prepared to make a success. Each member, from the oldest to the youngest, on such occasions, took his part and felt it a dignified opportunity to make others happy.   Should it happen that Grandma Alverston or Grandma Brady or any other visitors were present, they were given a part on the program and felt it an honor to participate.

The ability to "do things", displayed in her youth, did not desert her in later life.   Situations often arose which gave her ample opportunity to use that ability.   On one occasion when her husband and his brother were on a freighting trip, leaving her and her sister-in-law to keep up the home, the women decided that they must have some meat to eat.   Mary said she would knock the pig in the head if Elizabeth would cut its throat.   They agreed, and when the water was hot and everything was ready, Mary took the ax and entered the pig pen.   She raised the ax and let it fall upon the head of the pig, but her strength was not great and she had failed to extinguish the life of the animal, and it ran crazily around the pen squealing.   Elizabeth saw Mary hurriedly climb from the pen and heard her screams, then she came running to the rescue. Carrying with her a butcher knife, she heroically entered the pen and cut the pig's throat, thus ending the animal's life and stopping its suffering.

We women of our modern days cannot seem to understand just how our mothers and grandmothers played the part of Manufacturer in addition to their everyday household duties, and the rearing and caring for their large families.   Elizabeth Allen was one of the women who were not strangers to the spinning wheel and the loom. Like many others in those days, the late hours of many a night found her seated at the spinning wheel or loom, busily engaged in preparing raiment for her children, her mate and herself, while the family was peacefully sleeping.

Often she would do two duties at the same time, or as we often say, "kill two birds with one stone." If she found a few minutes to rest her weary limbs, her fingers were rapidly wielding the knitting needles, shaping the yarn into stockings for the winter's use.   So proficient and dexterous did she become that she made a stocking while enroute to Relief Society and  Thursday morning Fast .Meetings.

About the year 1882, President Young had been calling saints to dispose of their homes in the north and to emigrate to Arizona and other southern places to start new settlements so as to make room for the increasing population there. The spirit of going to the new country seemed to grip the minds of many, and because Brother Allen had been suffering with rheumatism, he persuaded his good wife that it would be to their advantage to go to Arizona, the land of sunshine. He had learned of many of the virtues of that sunny land from his brother Elijah who was a member of the Mormon Battalion, and had passed through there in the late 40's. Therefore, early in October, 1882, with two wagons and four horses to each, a light hack and one team of nice fat horses, they left their home in Cove and began their travels to the land of Arizona.   Although she loved her home very dearly, Elizabeth Allen entered into the project with a loyal acquiescence, for the health of her husband meant much to her and she knew that  hey could build again as they had done before.   Her services were required to drive the team on the hack as the bigger boys and the father had to handle the other two outfits. During these six weeks of traveling, her knitting needles were ever busy, as she permitted her horses to follow along behind the wagons.

On the 13th of November, 1882 they entered what is now Mesa, Arizona. The first friends to meet and welcome them were the Stewarts, Standages and Pews, all of whom they had previously known in Utah. They camped for a few days, but soon bargained with Henry J. Horn for a quarter section of land on which there was already built an adobe house with one room.

The following summer, In July, another baby girl was born and she was but a few weeks old when a plague of smallpox increased the trials of the faithful pioneers in Mesa.  The Aliens continued to exhibit their ever-ready faith and courage as they went out among the sick, he to administer by the power of the Holy Priesthood, and she to help in the many ways a willing and practical nurse can help in times of sickness.   Although they and three of their children were exposed, none took the dreaded disease.  Often times when she could not be spared from her home, she took into her home duties which would relieve the suffering of responsibility,   When the Stewarts were stricken with smallpox, she took their three small children and cared for them until the parents died. That summer was a very sad one, for each week found the little colony decreased by two or more of its inhabitants.   No doctors were available and the saints were forced to rely on the help of the Lord and their own experiences. These sad experiences and trials seemed to draw the people nearer together and to unite them In the faith.

The following few years brought three mere children into the Allen home,   When the last, which was the fourteenth, was born, November 13, 1889, Elizabeth Adelaide passed through the valley of the shadow of death into the Great Beyond to rest from the constant struggles of this earthly life, and to await the reward of the faithful.

She had often expressed her desire to visit her old home in Utah, but for some good reason, no doubt, she was denied the realization of this.

Her entire life was devoted to the service of others. Like the Master, Himself, she visited the weak and suffering, the poor and the needy, the widows and the fatherless, to administer to their needs And in doing this she never neglected her devoted husband and loving children.

She was active in Church affairs. Being a natural born teacher and disciplinarian, she was ever successful. She possessed unlimited faith, courage and charity.   She was companionable and cheerful, radiating her good will wherever she went. She gave up her life to give life to another. Surely it must be said of her that inasmuch as she did it unto the least of His, she did it unto Him.   Her Influence on her family lives on forever.

The expression of love and esteem which others held for her was manifest by the attendance at her funeral services. Henry Rogers said, "the sick, the needy, and those bowed down in sorrow will miss Sister Allen most." Sixty carriages followed to the cemetery which was the largest funeral procession at that time. Her last conscious request was that tithing be paid on the butter she had sold that she might feel that she was square with the Lord.

Tempy Allen, the name she was known by was about 5 feet 5 inches tall.   She was a beautiful, attractive girl with blue eyes and blond wavy hair which in later life turned to a lovely silver gray.   She had very good taste in choosing her wearing apparel, she always looked richly dressed, lavender was her favorite color which she wore becomingly.   She was a good seamstress.   She made nice clothes for her daughters, was a good cook and homemaker. She had a dignified bearing, lady like manners, and a kind,gentle disposition.

The Rial Allen Family lived in Southern Utah when their daughter Susan Temperance was born.   She was always called Tempy. When she was seven years old her parents moved to Pine, Arizona,
Yavapai County, now known as Gila County.   Their home in Pine, Arizona was a log house built by her father.   Tempy had two brothers and six sisters. Her first schooling was in Pine and was taught by Mary Allen, the wife of her father's cousin, Marian.   When 19 years old she went to Snowflake and attended the Academy the winter of 1889-1890. She lived in Snowflake with Jane Freeman, her father's sister.

The next September 1891, she married Alfred Bradley Randall known as Fred.   They moved that fall with her parents to Tuba City, Arizona, which is 90 miles north of Flagstaff. Tempy's father had given her a horse and sidesaddle which she rode on this trip, helping her husband drive about 30 head of brood mares, with mule colts   Her father turned his horses out on the range around Tuba City and the Indians drove them off to Navajo Mountain and the Aliens never saw them again.

Tempy had some stock with a brand of her own at Pine, she sold them to her husband's mother.   About six miles west of Tuba City, Fred and the Aliens bought a farm. This ranch was called Moenava.   Tempy and Fred lived in a two room adobe house, later moving to a two story frame building called the Bates home. Tempy was afraid of Indians, she had a good neighbor, Susan Foutz, who always came to her rescue should she see Indians around Tempy's house, when she was alone. They made the trip to St.George to the Temple in a light wagon and a mule team which took a months time. They belonged to the Tuba City Ward.

Tempy lived in Tuba City while her husband was away on a mission to Texas.   She had three children, a daughter Delia, had died before her husband left for the mission field. She had Harvey, her oldest son, and her little daughter, Ruth, then Rial Melvin was born soon after his father departed for his mission. Ruth died of a kidney infection the 2nd of January, 1902. This great sorrow brought her husband home from his mission.   Another infant daughter died in 1904, all three children were buried in Tuba City. Tempy often spoke of the help Fred Tanner rendered during her husband's absence. Sometime after the death of Tempy's mother in 1895, her younger sister, Lottie, came to live with them and stayed for about eight years. Their father died in 1889.

Fred moved his family to St. Joseph, (Joseph City), in March 1903.   Here an infant son passed away.Three more daughters came to their home.   Five children grew to maturity.   Except for two years residence in Pine from 1908 to 19108 the remainder of her life was spent in Joseph City. Tempy had poor health the latter part of her life, her husband did everything possible to make her life pleasant and happy.   At her sudden death; he could hardly be reconciled. This occurred in the hospital in Holbrook 29 January 1941.

In all the world It would be hard to find such a wonderful person, or one who has, and is still doing so much for humanity Truly she lives "In the house by the side of the road", and that house is in every sense a home, and is a haven to storm tossed souls, who know that day and night SHE will be there to bid them welcome, and by her very example of cheerfulness help them to adjust themselves to circumstances and try to emulate her example of bravery.

Margaret Baird was born on the Nodoway River, in the state of Missouri, where her family were camped en route from their Southern heme to unite with the Mormon emigrants on their way to Utah. She arrived on the night of November 8, 1848, the fifteenth child in the family. It was a cold, inclement night and for awhile it was feared that neither mother or babe would live.

From a long line of Southern aristocracy came the gentle mother of this family, who owned her own plantation and the slaves necessary to care for it, given to her as a dowery by her father at the time of her marriage.   She was a devout Baptist and her husband William Camp a Campbellite minister, but when they were visited by two Mormon missionaries Mr. Camp Joined the Church of Jesus Christ and at once began making preparations to join the Saints In Illinois.   Altho his wife Diannah Greer Camp had not joined this church her love for her husband caused her to leave her beautiful home and go with him.

The Camp family decided to remain in Missouri the remainder of the winter before continuing their Westward Journey. This was a swampy location and toward Spring the mosquitoes were terrible. From the bites of these pests, little Margaret was afflicted with a running sore on her right leg that ate out the large leader above the knee and made her a cripple for life, necessitating always a crutch and cane to enable her to walk.   Possibly because of her affliction, she never grew very large, physically,   but what she lacked in stature was more than made up to her in "grit",(?) and her mental qualifications were above normal.

After the family reached Salt Lake Mr. Camp decided to take his wife and two youngest children back to their homeland to try to sell their plantation and possessions. Of course the trip was made by team, as that was the only mode of travels   When they reached there they found it very difficult to sell anything, but finally Mr. Camp traded part of their property for merchandise, and teams. It took twelve wagons to convey the things to Utah. One of the most prized possessions was a beautiful piano, so large that it took one wagon to haul it. This wagon was the second in the train and the team was driven by their most trustworthy "yaller" girl. Mrs. Camp's conveyance, a magnificent carriage with glass doors, led the procession of teams, following her husband who went ahead on his fine saddle horse, to find the best route, and test the streams to see if they were safe. The other teams were driven by servants of the family with the exception of those that were brought by three families to whom Mr. Camp furnished transportation In exchange for their services.

When Salt Lake was reached Mr. Camp established the second mercantile establishment there.  In 1850 he returned again to the South and traded their remaining property for more goods. Here they remained for two years before returning to the West. Little Margaret made all of these overland trips, so she was a traveler at a very early age.   On this trip the wagon train was attacked by Indians but Mr. Camp satisfied them by giving them a beef and they were not further molested.

Because Margaret was not strong and robust as were the other children of the family, her education was looked after possibly, more than theirs, at any rate she studied under that dean of all teachers, Dr. Karl G. Maeser. She tells of one time In the spelling class, she was at the head when some how she slipped and fell causing a disturbance: Dr. Maeser sent her to the foot of the class. After just four words were given out she was at the head of the class again. "There now", she said triumphantly, but perhaps with a little too much emphasis, anyway she was promptly sent to the foot again. Again she soon regained her place, but this time she said nothing, but it did not keep her from "thinking a whole lot" she said.   Because she could not walk to school she was carried by her brother Dick, and when the snow was on the ground she was taken on a sled.

Knowing that she was not old enough to be baptized, her father tried to put her off about it. She begged for baptism she said she would never be able to walk unless she was. They finally broke the ice and baptized her and her faith made her whole because she could walk for the first time in her life.

When she was a small child she showed an aptitude for music and so a teacher was employed and she was given lessons. When she was 14 years of age a very fine French instructor came to Salt Lake City, and she studied with him. She gave her first music lessons when she was 15 years old, and kept it up for more than fifty years.

Before she was 17 she was married to her first real lover, Thomas Brantley. He, too, was a Southerner, a Virginian by birth, and their happiness knew no bounds but it was too precious to last, for he sickened and died, suddenly, just a year and twenty-one days after the wedding, leaving his little wife and a six weeks old son, Thomas, Junior, to mourn his loss. Bravely she carried on for four years, when she married again, this time Richard A. Baird.   By this man she had seven children four boys and three girls. She continued giving music lessons and carrying more than her portion of responsibility.

For years her husband was a night policeman in Salt Lake City, then decided to move to Sacramento, California where work was more plentiful. He was a mason by trade. The damp climate, here was very hard on her health, so he moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he could continue with his contracting and building.

While In St. Louis their 7th child was born, and here also their little boy born in Sacramento, died. Neighbors had found out that the Bairds were "Mormons" and the prejudice was so strong against her people that no assistance was offered and the poor mother had to prepare the body and the husband obtain the casket. Because of the unfriendliness of the people, a metal casket was procured, in which the baby was placed and hermetically sealed and they kept the little body in the house for the remaining two years they stayed in St. Louis. At the end of that time they moved to Salina, Kansas where a brother-in-law lived. Here the people were much kinder, and so here the baby was finally buried. The keeping of her child's body was a great trial to her, and she says she so often dreamed of it that it was a constant sorrow.

The two men worked together for more than a year in the contracting business. One night, Mr. Baird was awakened from his sleep by the growling of a dog.   He got up to see what was the matter, when the dog sprang at his throat.   He succeeded in knocking it off, this was repeated, and the third time the dog fastened its teeth in his shoulder and neck. This resulted in his death nine weeks later, after the most excruciating suffering.   He was a Mason, in good standing, and his Lodge looked after his widow and paid the funeral expenses.

Just ten days after her husband died a baby girl was born to her. As soon as the baby was old enough, and Margaret was able to endure the trip. The Masons chartered an emigrant car to take her household belongings, and hired a nurse to accompany her and her family to Utah. Never has Margaret ceased to express her gratitude for this help In the greatest trial of her life0

Margaret was too independent to remain long with her people, and so decided to go to Northern Arizona where she had a sister, who thought she might be able to support herself and family out here by giving music lessons,   Therefore, she bought two yoke of big oxen, and five milk cows and started for her new heme, bringing all of her possessions except the treasured piano. This was left with her brother for a year then shipped around by San Francisco thence to Holbrook, Arizona on the train.

She left, with two other families, for a four month trip, which ended in the Little Colorado River section, at the Greer Ranch the heme of her sister Ellen. This was in the month of November; 1882. She remained with her sister that winter, teaching the daughters of the family, and the neighboring children. In the Spring she moved into the heme of her Nephew, Nat Greer. She stayed here two years. While here the greatest sorrow of her life came to her. Her eldest son, Thomas Brantley, her strength and her support, was killed by a desperado, and his lifeless body shipped home to her, from New Mexico where he was working. This was almost more than she could stand. For months she seemed stunned, but at last came to the realization that she must look after her remaining six children, the eldest of which was only thirteen.

In the fall she would move to St, Johns to put her children in school. The schools were better there, and there was greater opportunity to teach music.

Each summer was spent on the ranch where she and the children milked cows loaned to them by the cattlemen, who also bought cheese and butter that she made. The cowboys gave her their discarded clothing which she made over to fit her children. They made it a point to stop at her heme, where they were always welcome. She never charged them for their meals or bed, but often she would find some money under their plates after they left, and whenever they killed a beef near her they always saw that she got a generous piece.

One of Margaret's most thrilling experiences on the ranch was when the boys caught a new cow. She proved to be a terrible fighter. She bellowed and fought when they tried to rope her. Finally they caught her and tied her to the snubbing post in the center of the corral, when snap went the rope, and the boys sought protection on the other side of the fence. Their mother deliberately made her way into the corral, the cow sniffed and came at her.   She broke her cane over the cow's head, and stopped her, and she proved to be the best milk cow they had that summer.

Having been a sufferer all of her life, Margaret had great sympathy for those in distress, and would endure any hardship, herself, to relieve others. Here is an example of her courage: A neighbor woman was about to be confined. She lived a mile and a half away, across the Little Colorado, which at that particular time was not little as the melting snows had made a raging torrent of it, covering also the flat with its muddy waters.   Margaret had her horse saddled and started on her mission of mercy, with her own baby, as there was no one on the ranch to leave the little one with. In some places the horse had to swim, but nothing daunted, the fearless rider reached the sick bed in time to save both the mother and babe.

There were no free schools when the Baird children went to school, and It cost her at the rate of $12.00 per month for their education.

After eight years of the most grueling struggle for sustenance, thru which she was not known to show the spirit of complaint of cowardice in any way, she received a legacy of $3000 from her mother's estate. From this she bought her a farm and orchard in Concho, Arizona, and put the remainder in the Co-op store, living from the divide]d of this money, the proceeds of her farm and her music pupils.

Hers was the first adobe house in Concho. Her boys made the adobes. She and the two little girls hauled them from the adobe yard to the house. The children would carry them to her and she would place them In the wagon, then pile them where they were needed. She hauled every foot of lumber from the mill 75 miles away, thru the Apache Indian Reservation. Her helper was a boy thirteen, and one of the little girls, usually accompanied them.

On one trip the Indians were praying for rain.   As is their custom they had set the timber on fire, believing that when the Great Spirit saw the smoke He would send rain. Margaret and her children made the trip to the mill, got the lumber and started home. When about twenty miles from the mill they came to where a big tree had burned causing it to fall directly across the road. It was on a rocky hillside and there was no way around it. In her cheerful way she told the boy to stake the horses, and they would have supper. After supper she and the children unloaded the wagon, got it over the log and then by the light of the burning timber reloaded the lumber. It took into the early hours of morning to complete their task, then they lay down to rest and sleep if they could. In the morning they had breakfast, then came the difficulty of trying to bind the load. They tried to devise a plan to tighten up the chain to hold the load in place. The binding pole was placed under the chain, but all three were not heavy  enough to pull the pole down to tighten it up, so they found a large malapai rock, little by little they got it up on the load, then they pushed it onto the binding pole, and slid it toward the end and the mother and little girl both got on with the rock, the pole came down and the load was bound, and they continued on their way.

When about 10 miles from their heme they met eight Indians, all decked out in war paint. How frightened all three were. The Indians rode up to the wagon.   Margaret could talk some Piute, this she tried on them, they forgot to be fierce, perhaps when they saw the helplessness of this little crippled woman anyway they laughed at her attempt at conversation. She gave them some cookies from her "grub box" and they rode away, she motioned them that they were on the wrong road and they went away laughing at her and swinging their arms. As soon as they were gone she said to the boy "Now put on the ship and lets get out of here as soon as   we can." Now was a chance to test the genuineness of their work as they went "lickety-split" down the mountain and the load did not loosen at all.

She always raised good gardens, crawling along on her hands and knees to weed it. On her farm she raised alfalfa, fruit, corn and cane which was made into molasses, which she would take to the mountain country to trade for potatoes and articles of clothing.

In Concho a very helpful spirit was felt, the women would go from house to house to spend the day and help each other with their sewing. At times they would have as many as six sewing machines going at once, while some of the ladies would cut out, baste or finish off. Margaret was always the central figure on these occasions, as on the all day workings during the fruit season,They would go from place to place, peeling, pickling, preserving and drying. The children were called into service also and several hundred pounds of fruit would be taken care of a day. Margaret was considered the fastest peeler, that and her good nature and funny stories always won a welcome for her.

Because of the scarcity of pure drinking water, many cases of typhoid fever developed in the community, she was always ready to render assistance, and she never lost a case she was nursing. whenever a boy wanted to go to school and had no money to pay board he knew he could find a place at her home as she was a firm advocate of education, and saw that all of her own children passed the eighth grade and sent them thru high school, and the ones to college who cared to go.

Her home was always open to boys and girls, whose joys and disappointments she seemed to understand.

For over thirty-five years she has lived in Snowflake, Arizona where she also taught music, and some of the finest pianists in both Apache and Navajo Counties owe their success to the early training she gave them.

Grandma Baird, as she is now lovingly called by young and old like, is beloved by all who know her. Possessed with all of her faculties, and added to that a cheerful disposition, and an optimism that is infectious, she truly "Lives in a house by the side of the road, and is a friend to man."

Grandma Baird died January 9, 1941 in Snowflake, Arizona.

Source: Pioneer Women of Arizona

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