Mary Elizabeth Cox

MARY ELlZABETH COX

by John C. Whiting

Some great man has said that every man is justified in saying I have the best wife and the best mother in the world. I heartily agree with him. When memory takes me back to my childhood days, I wonder what I could have accomplished without my mother, with her loving care, wise counsel and advice. She had three titles: Mother to a favored few — Grandma to a large number — and Aunt Mary to a host of loving friends. She spoke no evil. She was patient and uncomplaining in sorrow and adversity. She loved young people and children, joining in their games and amusements until the day of her death. She was never idle; could nit, read and rock the cradle at the same time. Mother loved to play the quiet home games of her day. About the only time I ever heard her swear was when I was able in a game of checkers to maneuver around and take three or four of her men. Then she would exclaim. “O the devil” perhaps meaning me. Mother was a devout Latter Day Saint and came as near living perfect life as mortals ever attain.

By John C. Whiting

Sketch of Almira M. Meacham – by Gertrude P. Killpack

ALMIRA M. MEACHAM

Almira M.. Mecham. was born May 13, I824 in New York. She was grandfather’s second wife and was the mother of seven children. She did not live in the big house, but Grandfather built her a home near by where she lived and raised her children.

Edward, her eldest son, was dependable and aided in the support of the family. She was a good nurse and gave service to neighbors when needed. Many babies saw the light of day for the first time in her faithful care. She was kind and gentle, even tempered and gracious to everyone. She respected Elizabeth,the first wife, as the head of the house hold along with Grandfather and was congenial with the other wives who taught correct principles to her children who loved, honored and respected her. Leaving friends and relatives, as a young girl, she came to Utah as a pioneer and when she suffered poverty and many other hardship common to the early days. May these faithful souls be rewarded in the great beyond.

(signed) Gertrude P. Killpack

Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson by Wayne Johnson

Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson, grandfather’s first wife, was the mother of eleven children. She was honored by the other wives and thought of as coming first after grandfathher in the Whiting home. She was a very quiet, refined, klind-hearted and industrious. As a child, I see her very old as one who had passed through many sorrows and trials, who had struggled hard and had overcome the obstacles that stood in her way. She seemed to be descending the hill and looking toward the sunset of life. She taught school before her marriage and had charge of the Sabbath School for small children for many years after coming to Utah. She had a very brilliant mind, yet was simple and reserved in her appearance and manner. As I remember the old home, the picture uppermost in my mind is the old arm chair she sat in with its black velvet cushion and raw hide bottom, one of the chairs made from the native wood by grandfather, in which she reclined by the old Charter Oak cook stove. Her children and grandchildren have her, many admirable qualities.

(signed) Wayne Johnson

Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson Whiting A Biography

The incidents in this story are true and are taken from papers and letters in the possession of Teressa Fullmer Johnson, great granddaughter of Elizabeth P. Tillotson Whiting. Some of the letters are more than 100 years old. This is NOT a first-person account, but rather an account written in the voice of Elizabeth by William S. Johnson, therefore there are some historical discrepancies with other Whiting histories.

Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson-300x426

My name is Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson. I was born on April 15, 1814, in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. I was one of fourteen children born to Sarah Partridge and Samuel Tillotson. They were humble, average New England people. While I was still a child, my parents and the rest of the family, including myself, moved to Nelson, Ohio. I was extremely interested in education and received all the education available to me in those frontier days. This education served me well when I later became a school teacher, teaching frontier children the fundamentals of learning.

One day while still living in Ohio, I met Edwin Whiting. We fell in love and were married September 21, 1833. Shortly after we were married, we learned of a new religion, fathered by Joseph Smith. We were so impressed by the principles and teachings set forth by the Prophet Joseph Smith, we joined the Latter Day Saint Church and received a testimony of its truthfulness. So strong was our faith, we left our home and moved to Kirtland, Ohio.

During my early church association, I received numerous letters from my family, particularly from my sister Polly, who criticized me for accepting the Gospel and joining the Church. If only I could impress upon them the truthfulness of the Gospel. Polly wrote that the Book of Mormon had originally been written as a novel but that certain men had felt that it would have greater sales as a religious work.

Stirred by bitter men, the feelings of the townspeople of Kirtland turned against us Mormons. Angry mobs forced us to flee our home, escaping only with our clothing, bedding and our lives. And while we were living in Lima, Illinois a group of hateful men forced their way into our homes. They had waited until the men of the Mormon families were away helping to guard the prophet Joseph Smith. On that horror-filled night, the only Mormon home that was spared was that of father Elisha Whiting, who was so ill that he could not be moved from his bed. Fires were set to all the homes and buildings. The brightest flame in the night was that of the Whiting chair shop. Valuable lumber and expensive machinery shot showers of sparks into the air. My daughter, Sarah, who was three years old at the time, clapped her hands and danced about as if at a party at seeing the great number of enormous bonfires. Great was the fear in my heart, as I spent the night huddled on a pile of blankets we managed to save, trying every way to keep the baby Emily, who was sick, comforted and warm.

The next morning, teams came from Nauvoo. We loaded our meager possessions on to wagons and moved to a new home in Nauvoo. Edwin helped to erect the temple there. Great was our joy to enjoy the teachings and companionship of the Prophet Joseph.

“A group of crazed and angry men have killed the Prophet Joseph Smith, breaking their way into the Carthage jail where Joseph and others were being held. They shot him.”

Once more we were forced to flee from our homes by angry mobs. After leaving Nauvoo, we settled for a while at Mt. Pisgah, Union County, Iowa. While we were there, Edwin was president of the branch for a few seasons. Sorrow came to us at Mt. Pisgah where my darling daughter Emily, who was six years old at the time, passed away. Added sorrow came to us when father Elisha Whiting and his wife Sally contracted malarial fever during an epidemic and also passed away. Their names are inscribed on the monument there. This monument was erected by the Church, honoring the many Saints who rest there in unmarked graves.

So great was our faith that we heeded the call of our leaders — in 1849. We undertook the task of crossing the plains to Utah. Day after dreary day crept slowly by as we trudged our way onward. My five children and I walked most of the way. We braved numerous hardships and suffered many trials. My wagon was next to that of George A. Smith. His wife, Bathsheba, and I became fond friends. Elder Smith was in charge of 50 wagons in Ezra T. Benson’s train of 100 wagons.

Finally our goal was almost in sight as we slowly fought our way up the slopes of what is known as South Pass. As we started to assent, snow began to fall. As we neared the summit, the storm had grown into a raging blizzard. For three days we were beaten by the falling snow and the howling winds. Numerous cattle and other live stock were lost in the deep snow and bitter cold. At last, tired and weary, we worked our way through the pass and into the valley below. We arrived in Salt Lake Valley in November, 1849. But upon our arrival, Brigham Young asked us to go with Morley’s company to start a new settlement in the area, which was later to be known as Manti in Sanpete County. With our foot-sore oxen, it took us three weeks to travel from Salt Lake City to the sight of our new settlement. After leaving Provo it was necessary to make our own trails and to build several dugways and bridges in order to continue our journey, which ended the latter part of November.

A large band of Indians, numbering about 500, were already living in the area. We made dugouts in the hillsides where we spent the winter. We shared our meager possessions with the Indian band.

Snow fell very deep and all our cattle and oxen perished of starvation. The Indians were constantly begging for food. When spring finally came the Indians left to go to their hunting grounds in southern Utah. But they left behind the aged mother of the chief, who was too feeble and weak to make the trip. They placed her in a hole in the ground, left her a jug of water to drink and a piece of dried venison to eat. They covered her with brush and left her to die. Some children found her there before she died so she was taken to the home of Bishop Aaron Johnson for special care. She lived for several years, unknown to the chief, though he would have been very angry if he had found out the whole story.

I was very shocked at the treatment the Indians gave to their old people. When one became old and feeble, they would tie his feet to a horse with a rope and drag him over the rough rocky ground to their burial place, which was on the south side of what is now temple hill.

Edwin went to Salt Lake to sell the chairs, which he had made during the winter. These chairs were made out of timber, which he had pulled down by hand from the canyon himself. He had fashioned the seats out of rawhide. With the money he received, we were able to buy food and supplies for the family.
My daughters, Caroline and Louisa were born in our primitive, humble dugout home. The city, which we had settled was named Manti, and it was decided by the Church authorities to build a temple there.

Our dugout was located at the bottom of temple hill. One spring a great multitude of rattlesnakes crawled from the rocks of temple hill and invaded our homes, causing great fear and terror among us. However, thanks to God, no one was ever bitten.

In 1855, Edwin was called to go on a mission to the East. While he was gone, a plague of grasshoppers descended upon the valley and destroyed all our crops. I spun wool, made straw hats and knit socks for my neighbors to procure food for my children. In the fall, my son William and I drove by ox team to Springville where William tearfully allowed me to exchange his pet colt for a wagonload of corn.

After the marriage of my daughter Amelia to Archibald Buchanan, and my daughter Sarah to Bishop Warren Snow of Manti, and my son William to Rebecca Losee, Edwin and I and our four children, Lucius, Oscar, Louisa, and Caroline, moved to Springville.

I was delighted and pleased to hear from my sister Polly, to learn that she had joined the LDS Church. I was very happy to receive each one of her letters. We have kept in touch through the years even though it takes great lengths of time for our letters to be delivered. I knew in my heart that she had made the right decision. Her daughter, Sarah, later married Lorenzo Snow, who was later to become the President of the LDS Church.

I had the privilege of serving as counselor in the first Primary in Springville along with Zabonia Alleman and Mary Crandall.

The twilight years of my life were spent in a comfortable home surrounded by an abundance of fruits and flowers. I have lived a full life, have had a wonderful husband and family. I truly have been blessed by the Lord.

Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson Whiting died February 4, 1892 and was buried beside her beloved husband in the Springville Cemetery. She was a kind and gentle home-loving person. She was loved by all.”

Compiled by William S. Johnson – May 1955, From Marie J. Whiting Collection

Samuel Tillotson

Samuel Tillotson, son of Joseph Tillotson and Theodosia Young, was born in Farmington, Connecticut on October 4, 1758.

Samuel served as a private in Captain Ezra Whittlesey’s Company, Colonel John Brown’s detachment, in the Revolutionary War. Samuel entered service on Sept 7, 1777 and was discharged Sept 30, 1777. Whittlesey’s Company was raised in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Samuel later served again as a Private in Captain John Collar’s Company, Colonel John Ashley’s (Berkshire County) Regiment. Samuel entered service July 19, 1779, and was discharged Aug 27, 1779 after serving one month, nine days. The company marched to Connecticut under command of Lieutenant Colonel Powel.

Samuel married Sarah Partridge on March 16, 1786. Sarah was born May 15, 1769 in Tyringham, Berkshire, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Silas Partridge and Abigail Rawson. Sarah and Samuel produced fourteen children. The first three died in infancy, but the remainder lived long enough to marry and produce children.

· Samuel Tillotson was born November 10, 1786 and died July 04, 1791.

· Sarah Tillotson was born July 28, 1788 and died May 4, 1792.

· Daniel Tillotson was born June 25, 1790 and died June 3, 1794.

· Samuel Tillotson was born March 23, 1792 and died August 30, 1869. He married Lucy Dena Jackson.

· Zadock Tillotson was born December 26, 1793 and died April 28, 1859. He married first Susan Caroline Rodgers. Later he married Elmira Benjamin Babcock.

· Daniel Tillotson was born March 25, 1796 in Lee, Massachusetts. He married first Tryphena Hulet on November 23, 1820. They became the parents of Franklin James Tillotson. Later Daniel married three sisters in turn: Harriet Turner on December 2, 1829; Olive Turner on March 6, 1831; and lastly Sally Turner Hulet on January 18, 1862. Daniel died June 3, 1863 in Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio.

· John Tillotson was born May 18, 1798 and died October 18, 1873. He married Adeline Demontank Hitchcock.

· Sarah Tillotson was born March 23, 1800 and died May 25, 1831. She married Cortis Stevens on June 21, 1820.

· Leonard Tillotson was born March 11, 1802 in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He married Mary Cossitt Thomas on February 27, 1825 in Liverpool, Medina County, Ohio. Mary was the daughter of Seth Thomas and Susan Cossitt. Susan Cossitt was the half-sister of Orpha Cossitt, mother of Roxa Adams, mother of Jane Ann Sexton. Leonard died December 1, 1862 in Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio.

· Polly Tillotson was born May 28, 1804 and died March 20, 1886. She was married twice. She first married John Prichard. Later she married Thomas Dutcher.

· Seth Tillotson was born March 29, 1806 and died March 29, 1865. He married Mary Matilda Curtis.

· Meletiah Tillotson was born October 27, 1809 and died February 18, 1892. She married Lucius Warner.

· Betsey Tillotson was born September 24, 1811 and died April 25, 1852. She married first Elisha Taylor. Later she married a man surnamed Allen.

· Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson was born April 15, 1814 and died February 4, 1892. She married Edwin Whiting.

Solomon Harvey, James Stearns and Henry Parker were the first settlers in Brunswick, Ohio in October and November of 1815. Shortly afterwards in that same year, Samuel Tillotson brought his wife Sarah and younger children to Brunswick. Samuel built a farm on land he purchased from the State of Connecticut. (In those days the District of Ohio was considered an extension of Connecticut.) That farm remained in the Tillotson for four generations until the final owner, Grant Eugene Tillotson, sold it to the Eyssen family in 1927.

In 1817 the residents of Brunswick organized a Methodist Church. Samuel and Sarah Tillotson were among its original members.

The first school house was a log cabin erected on the West line of Brunswick to accommodate families living in the neighboring Liverpool township. Sarah Tillotson (Samuel and Sarah’s daughter) became the first teacher at the young age of seventeen. Sarah had 16 students in 1817.

Samuel Tillotson lived to the ripe old age of 91. He died in Brunswick on December 3, 1848. His wife Sarah had died on April 11, 1846, reaching the age of 77. They are both buried in Westview Cemetery in Brunswick.

The following memoir by Samuel’s great-grandson Grant Eugene Tillotson offers more information about Samuel and Sarah.

“Sarah Partridge was a staunch Methodist, and the first religious meetings in Brunswick, both prayer and preaching, were held at Samuel’s home. Both their names are among the founders of the first church in Brunswick — Methodist of course.

“Sally or Sarah as she became known taught the first school in Brunswick, while her mother, being quite adept with herbs, travelled for miles to alleviate the sick before the advent of a physician. Sarah, the daughter and not the mother, as one might think from the name, was the teacher.

“Samuel Tillotson (1758) came to Brunswick, Medina Co, Ohio, in the fall of 1815, bringing with him his wife Sarah Partridge, his five sons and five daughters, and one daughter-in-law, Susan Caroline Rogers, who had married Zadock in August.

“Two wagons furnished the transportation, one drawn by a yoke of oxen and the other by a span of horses. The men walked and the others either walked or rode as seemed expedient. They brought along a fresh cow that furnished milk and butter for daily use. The cow was milked morning and evening, and the unused portion put in the churn on the wagon, and the rocking and jolting of the wagon churned the milk, so a small bit of butter was found each evening at stopping time. When they went through Cleveland there were only twelve houses, and one of them was a block-house compound, or means of defense.

“They came first to the house of Timothy Doan in Columbia township. The day after arriving at Mr. Doan’s, Samuel and the boys all came on into Brunswick, locating their claims, and Samuel cut the first tree to build the first house in Brunswick. Only Samuel returned to Mr. Doan’s, he going and coming each day to bring food. The boys remained in the woods until the house was completed.

“On returning to Mr. Doan’s the first night, Samuel found that a Mr. Harvey had arrived there with a large family, making nearly 20 people to sleep in a one-room log house. They slept heads out and heels in. Mr. Harvey’s people came right on into Brunswick, and completed cutting logs for a house also. They turned in and helped Samuel “roll up” his house one day and Mr. Harvey’s the next. It was a saying afterward that Samuel Tillotson built the first house but that Solomon Harvey (Sol) rolled the first wheels in Brunswick.

“When they returned to Mr. Doan’s they found Zadock’s wife sick with the measles, which delayed their moving in. They finally came on with the Harveys.”

Women of the Western Reserve (p. 715) says this about Samuel and Sarah:

Brunswick Township is situated in the northern part of Medina County, twenty miles southwest from Cleveland. No railroad has ever invaded this peaceful hamlet. In October, 1815, the families of Samuel Tillotson and Solomon Harvey came to the unbroken wilderness of Brunswick, which up this time had been the undisputed habitation of Indians and wild beasts.

Sarah Partridge became the wife of Samuel Tillotson in 1785, at the age of sixteen. She left her home in Lee, Massachusetts, together with her husband and ten children, the latter part of August, 1815. There was a bonnie bride in the little company, for Susan C, Rogers was married to Zadoc, one of the sons, just before the family started on the long tedious journey. Susan was a sweet singer, and the life and joy of those around her.

The journey was made with two yoke of oxen, a span of horses, and large covered wagons, and occupied six weeks. A cow was tied behind one of the wagons, and after a few days was given her liberty to follow. The journey from Cleveland to Timothy Doan’s, in Columbia, occupied three days, the father and sons being obliged to use their axes in many places to clear the way through the wilderness; here the family remained until their own house in Brunswick was ready to receive them. This was the first house erected in the town, and was built of logs, in the most primitive style. Mrs. Tillotson was the mother of eight sons and six daughters. She was a good nurse and the only physician in the township for two years. She was often called to neighboring towns to attend the sick; with a bag or herbs, and simple remedies, she mounted a horse, and sometimes was absent from home several days on her mission of mercy.

Polly Stearns was the wife of Solomon Harvey. To her belongs the honor of being the mother of the first white child born in Brunswick, and the child was named “George.” Mrs. Sarah Partridge Tillotson was the attending physician. The Harvey family came from Massachusetts, and arrived at Timothy Doan’s, in Columbia, the next day after the arrival of Samuel Tillotson’s family. Their log house was rolled up the next day after the completion of Mr. Tillotson’s house, by the same set of hands, and they had the distinction of moving into town and occupying their house one day before Mr. Tillotson’s family came.

Measles broke out in Mr. Tillotson’s family and they were delayed one day, but the next morning the sick one was wrapped up, and the family came to Brunswick, and moved into their new home.

Back to my Tillotson genealogy page.
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Last modified by pib on July 6, 2003.

Internet pib (phil burns)

Source: Saints of Kirtland

Tillotson Genealogy

Tillotson Genealogy From Saints of Kirtland

Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female)¹Birth: Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female) Date: April 15, 1814 Place: Tyringham, Berkshire, MA, USA

Parents: Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female) Father: Tillotson, Samuel Mother: Partridge, Sarah

Death: Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female) Date: December 8, 1892² Alternate Date: February 4, 1892³

Marriage Information: Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female) Spouse: Whiting, Edwin Date: September 21, 1833

Church Ordinance Data: Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female) Baptism⁴ Date: November 27, 1875

Temple Ordinance Data: Tillotson, Elizabeth Partridge (Female) Endowment⁵ Date: January 7, 1846 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA
Sealed to Spouse⁶ Date: January 27, 1846 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA
Sealed to Parents⁷ Date: August 29, 1946 Temple: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT, USA

Tillotson, Ephraim (Male)⁸

1Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46
Family Group Sheet-Father
Nauvoo Social History Project. Smith, James
Temple Index Bureau

8Family Group Sheet-Self
Family Group Sheet-Father
LDS Biographical Encyclopedia. Jenson, Andrew. 1951
Volume: 2 Page: 15

Samuel Tillotson and Sarah Partridge

samuel-tillotson-headstone
Above: Headstone of Samuel Tillotson, located in the Abbott Cemetery, Nelson, Ohio, USA. Tom Haymond, a descendant of Samuel is kneeling next to the headstone.