James Hall, Springville City Marshall, and Mary Cox Whiting Assist the Warren Family

Source: A typed legal sheet that was among the papers of Harriet Lucinda Whiting Jensen b. 1879. Punctuation and spelling original. Typed by James W. Whiting, Springville, Utah, 12 Feb 2013.

I ask permission of Hatty Whiting Jensen if I may write a bit in addition to her history. We were schoolchums, the Whiting’s and I.

I was born in Springville in the year 1879. In 1882 I came to Mapleton and later began school. Hatty Whiting was born the same year as I.

I was 9 years old when my brother Wellie and Jessie B. Warren, my sisters Lucy and Myrtle, mother and father were all stricken with diptheria. Altha, five months old and I did not take the disease. We were quarantined nine weeks. No one was to come in and the children were very sick. It was a very hard ordeal we went through. James Hall the Marshall of Springville came to see what we needed. The doctor came once.

One morning Jessie seemed so sick his eyes were crossed to his nose and he seemed to strangle. When I heard someone whistle and ran to the door. Brother Hall had come on horseback. The snow was deep as it was the month of December. I called “Come in quick—Jessie is dying.” He came into the bedroom and asking his name, picked Jessie up in his arms and these are the words he said, “Brother Jessie Benonie Warren, In the name of Jesus I command you to live,” then laid him down again and anointed him. He and father laid hands on him to confirm the blessing. This was at 10 o’clock in the morning. This is one of my testimonies I ever will remember.

We were all sitting in the bedroom overcome with joy to see how improved Jessie was. The Marshall, Mr. James Hall had gone home and about 11 o’clock in the morning we heard a tapping on our window, and I went to see. There stood a lady, — our dear Aunt Mary Whiting. She bestowed kindness to those who were in need of it and must have been prompted by a soft still voice because these are the words she said to me : “Something tells me you folks might be hungry.” We were very hungry, not able to cook and had no bread baked. She had a smile on her grand, wrinkled face. Aunt Mary Whiting was always so serene. I always thought of her whenever I did sing this song “Rock-a-bye-baby on the Tree Top”. The last verse goes

“Grandma sits knitting by the fireplace
Her food on the rocker, a smile on her face
The years have passed by, yet it does not seem long
Since she rocked baby’s Papa to sleep with this song.”

U. E. Curtis’ daughter Leatha taught this song to me to sing in the program at Springville’s Twenty-Forth of July Sunday School Jubilee. U. E. Curtis was a pioneer of Mapleton Utah.

We are happy that Jessie recovered. When he was grown he married Ruby Snow. They are the parents of Burten Warren, Welby Warren and Mable Warren Hansen and a daughter Eveline who died at Salem, Utah. Jessie later died.

Fond remembrance of your dear Grandma Whiting

Your old Chum, Ariel Warren Perry

The three surviving children of Mary Ann Washburn Noble Whiting. L to R: Daniel Abraham Whiting, 1858-1921; Monroe Frink Whiting, 1862-1944; Joseph Washburn Noble, 1853-1921. The photographer was G.E. Anderson and a scan of an original print can be seen at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LZXC-V32

The Gravestone of Mary Ann Washburn Whiting is shared with the stone for Elizabeth Tillotson Whiting. It is located in the Springville City Cemetery, Blk 51 Lot 1 Pos 6. The headstone faces West.

“Almira Mehitable Meacham… “went through all kinds of hardships endured by the early day converts of the Mormon Church.  The family in their westward migration had made a temporary stop at Springfield, Illinois, where Almirira, at the early age of fifteen, was married to Andrew Palmer.  To this marriage were born two sons, Almon Babbitt, who came to Utah and settled at Nephi, and Warren, who died in infancy.  Soon after the death of this son, the father died.  Two years later, Almira was married in the Nauvoo temple to Edwin Whiting as a plural wife.  To this marriage were born the following children, most of them in Sanpete and Utah Counties, Utah:  Edward Lucian, Cornelia, Ellen Emerett, Katherine Emeline, Edwin, Frank, and Sylvia Almira.

The Whitings had come to Utah with Captain Morley’s company in 1849 and settled in Manti where Mr. Whiting became quite prominent.  In “Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah” he is listed as the first mayor of Manti and as having held other important positions of public responsibility.

In 1861 the family moved to Springville where they lived during during the early Indian troubles known as the Black Hawk and Walker Indian Wars.

Almira became one of Utah County’s early nurses and midwife and did much in that way to provide a living for her family.

Plural marriage did not bring happiness and in 1861 Almira and Whiting separated.  July 24, 1863, Almira married Henry Packard and to this, her third marriage, was born a daughter, Sophia Olive Packard.  Later the Packards moved to Healdsburg, California, where they lived until 1896 when Mr. Packard died.

After the death of her husband, Almira moved to San Bernardino where she lived in a home given her by her son-in-law, Nathan Henry Barton, and her daughter Sylvia.  She passed away in 1898 and is laid to rest in the Pioneer Cemetery in San Bernardino, California.”

Henry Packard

Birth: May 6, 1825 Parkman Geauga County Ohio, USA
Death: Nov. 17, 1896 Healdsburg Sonoma County California, USA
Son of Noah Packard & Sophia Bundy

Living his youth in a place called Nauvoo, Illinois, the saints had built a city which at the time was bigger than the city of Chicago. They had also built a temple which was the largest and most expensive building west of Philadelphia. From here they were driven by their enemies to a resting place called Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here, Henry enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, an army of 500 men called to fight in the war with Mexico and help secure California for the U.S. as part of Manifest Destiny. It was and still is, the longest infantry march in U.S. Military history. There is hardly an event that occurred in the American west between 1846 to 1848 that some of the members of this group did not take part in. Henry was probably the second Packard in California.

Henry Packard was born May 6, 1825, in Parkman, Geauga, Ohio, the third child of Noah Packard and Sophia Bundy. His parents were some of the early settlers in that town, and when he was seven his family were converts to the Mormon Church.

In 1840 the family moved to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, which one year before was nothing more that a marshy bend in the Mississippi River called Commerce, which contained a few log cabins. Their new home being located across the street from the city’s founder, mayor and spiritual leader, Joseph Smith. Passers-by were amazed at what the saints had built in such a short time, which shocked their enemies as well. A year and a half after the murder of Joseph Smith, they were driven from the state as both the federal and state governments stood idly by and watched it happen.

Henry’s father was too ill and too poor to leave Nauvoo that February of 1846 and cross the frozen Mississippi River with Brigham Young, but he at least sent his three oldest sons to help the saints move to their new home in the West. They traveled as far west as Winter Quarters, Nebraska.

At Mt. Pisgah (Grand River), Iowa, the saints were met by Captain James Allen, under the command of Colonel Stephen W. Kearny, commander of the U.S. Army of the West stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He brought orders authorizing him to enlist 500 volunteers for a year, in a campaign to secure California in the war with Mexico. On July 20, 1846, the battalion started their march from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Fort Leavenworth. At this time Captain Allen was promoted to Colonel and Kearny was promoted to General.

When the battalion reached Fort Leavenworth August 1st, there were 22 officers and 474 enlisted men for a total of 496. There were also 34 women and a number of children. 20 of the women were assigned as laundresses, four to each company. All of the clothing pay allowance was sent back to the church and the families of the men in Council Bluffs to help them cross the plains to the valley of the Salt Lake. The men were each issued a musket, bayonet, scabbard, cartridge box and leather belt. A white belt was the only clothing which they all had in common. They were also each issued a blanket, canteen & knapsack, and each mess group of six was issued cooking pots and a tent. Each of the five companies was allowed to buy a wagon with a four mule team, in which they could carry their gear.

On August 13th they started with orders to go to Bent’s Fort, Colorado. Colonel Allen was too sick to lead the men and stayed at the fort. Capt. Hunt would be in command until Col. Allen could rejoin the group. On August 26th at Bluff Creek, Kansas, word reached the battalion of Col. Allens death. On the 29th, Lieutenant Andrew Smith and Dr. George Sanderson arrived from the fort to take command of the battalion, with orders to go directly to Santa Fe now that it had been captured by Kearny’s advance party. Most of the men wanted Capt. Hunt to continue the command since he out ranked Lt. Smith, but the officers voted to give the command to Lt. Smith since he was a career soilder and West Point graduate. However, Lt. Smith did not like volunteers, let alone Mormon volunteers. Also, because the battalion’s re-supplies had been sent ahead to Bent’s Fort and they were now ordered to go to Santa Fe, the men were put on half rations.

Just after they left the Arkansas River a sick detachment was sent to Pueblo, Colorado, via Bent’s Fort. Many of the men were sick from exposure to the elements and Dr. Sanderson (Dr. Death) prescribed a dose of calomel powder and arsenic, no matter what was wrong with them. The men marched sick, under fed and under clothed, from water hole to water hole all the way to Santa Fe, arriving October 12, 1846.

At Santa Fe they were given a new commander, Colonel Philip St. George Cooke, who had been with Kearny’s advance party, but was sent back to take command after Kearny learned of Allens death. Col. Cooke told the men that they had orders to make a new wagon road to the Pacific along a southern route, something that had never been done. From here another sick detachment left for Pueblo with all of the remaining women except five and all of the remaining children except one boy.

On October 18th, they left Santa Fe with 25 government wagons and 60 days rations, 5 company wagons and 12 private family wagons. Upon learning that Gen. Kearny had abandoned his wagons, Col. Cooke also brought along pack saddles for the mules. He also ordered that the men be organized into messes of ten men each. On the 24th they arrived at Albuquerque and exchanged some mules. From here they traveled south down the western side of the Rio Grande River. Just before they left the river they sent another sick detachment back to Pueblo, leaving 335 men in the battalion. On Nov. 13th they left the Rio Grande and began blazing a new wagon trail. Rations to the men were again reduced.

From here the men blazed a new road through the southwestern part of New Mexico into Mexico and up into Arizona along the San Pedro River Valley. On December 11th as they were watering the animals, some wild bulls got in with the cattle and were killed by the sheep drovers. Later that day another group of wild bulls charged the men and a short but wild melee ensued. The rampaging bulls charged on and on as they attacked men, mules and wagons. Three men were wounded, three mules were gored to death and several wagons were tipped over. Corporal Frost was charged by a bull from one hundred yards, took aim and fired when it was ten paces from him and it dropped at his feet. Col. Cooke later said of the man, “One of the bravest men he ever saw.” It is not known how many bulls were killed in all, but one person reported nine dead in one spot. Many reported over 20 dead in all and maybe three times that many wounded.

Just before they arrived at Tucson, the garrison of Mexican soldiers stationed there had fled to the south on hearing of their coming. After a short stay they marched north to the Gila River and the Pima Indian villages. From here they basically followed the southern edge of the Gila River to the Yuma crossing of the Colorado. From there to Mexicali, then north to Palm Springs, following the San Luis River through the Temecula Valley arriving at San Luis Rey January 27, 1847. Much of this route later became known as the Spanish Trail, San Antonio-San Diego Route and the Butterfield Stage Line.

On July 31, 1846, a large group of Mormons arrived at El Paraje de Yerba Buena (The Place of the Good Herb), later called San Francisco, aboard the ship Brooklyn, under the leadership of Samuel Brannan. This was a month after the Bear Revolt had taken place and soon after Commander Montgomery aboard the USS Portsmouth had taken control of the area for the US without a shot being fired. The local Mexican General at the Presidio and many of the local residents of the bay area having fled to the south.

Upon reaching California the battalion learned that it had already been secured from Mexico by Fremont and Kearny, but all was not peaceful. John C. Fremont had been installed Governor of the state by Commodore Stockton. Lt. Col. Fremont along with Commodore Stockton were refusing to take orders from Gen. Kearny, who had been given orders by President Polk to be the Governor of California after it was secured. With the arrival of the battalion loyal to Kearny, he then had more than enough men to enforce his authority. From here the battalion was split with one company going to San Diego and four companies, along with Henry, going to Pueblo de Los Angeles, where they built Fort Moore. At some point during the trip Henry was promoted from Private to Corporal.

On May 31, 1847, 15 members of the battalion along with Gen. Kearny and other officers left Monterey with Lt. Col. John C. Fremont, taking him back to Fort Leavenworth for court-martial. This group was the first to discover the remains of the Donner Party at Truckee Lake, other than the original rescue parties. It was a gruesome sight of dismembered bones and body parts!

When the battalion was discharged July 16, 1847, at Fort Moore, the government tried to get as many men as possible to re-enlist for another six months. Henry was one of 79 who did, and they spent their time stationed at San Diego. There he was promoted to Sergeant. About 118 of the men headed east to Lake Arrowhead and then later northeast to the valley of the Salt Lake. About 105 other men traveled north to the Coloma area and worked for Captain John A. Sutter at his fort and mill, where gold was discovered January 24, 1848. Six of these men became The California Star Express riders, carrying printed word of the gold discovery back to the east, starting the California gold rush.

After the volunteers were released in San Diego on March 14, 1848, half went northeast to Utah and the other half, as well as Henry, traveled north to Yerba Buena and the gold fields.
Many of these men left in 1848 and headed back east to Utah. It is not known exactly when Henry left, but we know that he was in Salt Lake City when his parents arrived there September 17, 1850.

About 26 members of the battalion died during the the trip and never made it back to their families, though not a single shot was fired in battle, except during the battle with the bulls. The battalion proved the worth of this area which was later to become the Gadsden Purchase. They pioneered the southern emigration route, as well as the Carson Pass route through the Sierra Nevada’s.

While living for a short time in Salt Lake City and building a mill race for Archibald Gardner with his father and brothers, Henry met and married Mary Mariah Chase January 16, 1851. She was the younger sister of one of his fellow battalion soldiers.

Henry and his new bride then moved to Hobble Creek with the rest of his family. I do not know what happened to this marriage, or if there were any children from it.
On July 24, 1863, Henry married Almira Mehitabel Meacham, who had eight children from two previous marriages. At some time, probably during the late 1860’s, he moved back to northern California with his family and lived in Healdsburg, Sonoma, California, where he died November 17, 1896, leaving no known children that I know of, other than his second wife’s.”

Sources:     Burial:: Oak Mound Cemetery <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GRid=29262587&CRid=8216&>
Healdsburg
Sonoma County
California, USA
Created by: Todd Schott <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&GRid=29262587&MRid=46932087&>
Record added: Aug 23 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 29262587

Copy of a letter to Almira Meacham Whiting by her mother, Dolly Meacham

“Burlington, March the —- 1848

Dear Child, with pleasure I take this opportunity to inform you that I am well and in good spirits hoping these few lines will find you the same.  I am in hopes one day we shall be able to converse without writing (.)  I have received to (two) letters from you and have written you to (two) one a few weeks ago and for fear you will not get it I now write a few lines and send it in the care of Bradford Eloit (Elliot?).  Sylvia is well at present and out to work (.) her health has been very poor for six months back and not able to work much of the time.  Erastus is well and hearty Henry and Roswell the same.

Lafayette is in Springfield in Mr. Hill’s office (.)  He writes often and says his determination is to go west as soon as he can see me fitted out and not before.  I think we shall not be able to go west before another spring unless something turns up more than I know of now.  I have heard from Darwin this winter I wish he would come back with a team to the Bluf(f)s and meet us there to help us over the mount(a)ins in the valley.  George has gone on to the Bluf(f)s perhaps you have seen him(.)  Write us as soon as you get this and send it by male tell me all about the folks and how your father gets along with his young wife.  I have not heard a word from Alonzo since I came to Burlington(,) your mother(.)”

(signed)  Dolly (Ransom) Meacham

Yesterday the 15th, Mother Elizabeth Whiting reached the age of 76 years. Her children, grand and great grand children gathered to the old home in honor of the happy day.

At 2 o’clock p.m. Dinner was announced and such a dinner! Spread upon two long tables. Roasted Pullets from Sage Creek, yellow rolls of butter from Mapleton, three slices of roast beef from F.P. Whitmores meat market, with the usual array of cake, pie and puddings in all styles, together with many other choice dishes. Benediction was pronounced by Father Edwin Whiting. Did we ever eat? We did.

An hour later Mother Whiting was in her large sitting room receiving congratulations and presents. The company were entertained by Mr. W. T. Tero, who performed several very fine instrumental pieces. Darius Green and his flying machine by Aaron Johnson”

From an address on the occasion by D.C. Johnson we quote the following: “Seventy-six years!” to what a remote age do those fingers point, to the younger children present. Seventy six years ago our glorious government was in its infancy. Mother Whiting has lived to see it take the front rank among the greatest nations. The mighty triumphs of mind over matter. The wonderous steam motor whistling with its palatial train, and living freight on its shining steel way, from the eastern waters to the Western ocean in five days time. The earth, girded by the magnetic coil, annihilating time and space, more marvelous than anything recounted by eastern fable. The ocean coursers, speeding over the main, easily, between Sabbath and Sabbath, laughing in its giant strength, at the howling tempest and the plunging waves. She has lived to see a terrible war convulse our nation, our country restored again to peace and amnity. The fetters of serfdom stricken from human slaves and our nation’s ensign wave from bordering oceans, to the centre of a great and glorious union.

Dear Mother may you still dwell with us many years. Mother! What a tender word, what an enduring title. The most hallowed word uttered by human tongue. Around this enshrined name cling all the sacred memories of home, the word stands for all that is pure and noble. The mention of the endearing term recalls all that is tender, loving and true. The first word lisped by prattling infant lips is the sweet word “Mother” The first to hail with rapture the cry of the new born babe, is mother. And the last to bend low over the dying couch when the pale rider is on his round to catch the last good-bye, is mother!”

Andie
Springville, April 15, 1890

Source: The Daily Enquirer Newspaper 1890-04-18, page 1 Volume 15, no. 32

Transcribed from online edition of the newspaper, Utah Digital Newspapers, URL https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1411189&q=1890+Mother+Elizabeth+Whiting+reached+the+age+of+76+years&sort=rel 3 Jan 2012 by James. W. Whiting

Original spelling and punctuation retained.

The Family of Edwin and Almira M Meacham Whiting- L to R: Edward Lucian Whiting, Sylvia Almira Whiting, Edwin Whiting, Cornelia Dolly Whiting, Elisha Franklin Whiting. Photo – George Edward Anderson Collection # 7266.

The original plate is housed in BYU Special Collections.

Edwin Whiting, Lorenzo Whiting,son, Hannah Haines Brown Whiting, Abby Ann Whiting Bird

Note:  BYU is soliciting any information you may have on the photographs in the collection.  If you see information that is incorrect or incomplete, please alert BYU Special Collections using the Submit Information page.

(Special Correspondence)

St. Johns, Ariz. July 6.–
Mary Elizabeth Whiting died July 5, 1912 at the age of 85 years, at the home of her granddaughter, Clara Curtis Burk, after an illness of about a week, the cause of death being old age and general debility.

Deceased was born Dec. 15, 1826, at Oswego, N.Y. and was the daughter of Jonathan Upham and Lucinda Blood Cox. She joined the Church at Nauvoo in 1845, and, in the temple in that city, became the wife of Edwin Whiting. She was the mother of nine children.

She was among those who were driven from Nauvoo, who crossed the Plains, and landed in Salt Lake City in 1849. She was among the first to locate in Manti, and passed through a severe ordeal of scarcity of food in 1850 and 1851. She moved to Brigham City, Ariz., at an early day and lived there in the united order. Circumstances called her back to Utah, where she remained until about 10 years ago, when she again came to Arizona, locating in St. Johns, where she passed the remainder of her life.

From childhood she was an earnest student and, at an early age, was a qualified teacher, her labors in that direction beginning when she was 15 years of age, since which time she taught 42 years.

She had many friends both here and in Utah, who loved her for her amiable disposition, her sterling integrity, and for her devotion to her family. She was an energetic worker in various organizations in the Church, for many years, till her health began to fail. Her mind was bright up to the time of her death.

She leaves five sons and a great many grandchildren and great-grandchildren to revere her memory.

Source notes indicate the source of this obituary was St. Johns Herald and Apache News, July 11, 1912, 1. [citation and link needed]