Harries, Henry Hugh - Biography

LIFE SKETCH

of Henry Hugh Harries and Mary Rees

written by their daughters Caroline Harries Lloyd and Elizabeth Harries Liddle

(written before 1950)

        Henry Hugh Harries was born Oct. 22, 1828 at Talog, a suburb, in the northeastern part of Carmarthen, South Wales.  He was the son of John and Mary James Harries.  His mother died when he was thirteen years of age.  Besides his father, who never married again, the family consisted of three daughters, Ann, Elizabeth and Sophia and young Henry.  His father and sisters were very indulgent with the heir and little brother, and the girls were both mother and sisters to him. 

            His father was a well-to-do land owner and owned one of the best grist mills in South Wales and therefore Henry had everything that money and servants could do for him.  He was sent to the best schools and received a good education.  He was fond of the open country and often went hunting and fishing.  He had beautiful rods and guns, some of which he brought to Utah with him.  His love for hunting and fishing at which he was very expert was the source of concern to his father and sisters as he often went fishing on the Sabbath Day instead of attending Church.  Upon one occasion, when his father, who was a very stern man, and the minister chastised him, he threw a stone with a sling to knock the minister’s hat off, but instead it went through it and his father had to buy the minister a new hat.

            When he was 21, his father sent him to the mill to work, as he would own it someday and therefore should know the manner in which it worked.  While working in the mill, his sleeve caught in a belt and his arm was drawn into the machinery.  He was hurled to the ceiling where his head was cut on a beam.  The machinery was stopped.  When he was extricated, it was found that his right arm was broken and crushed from the fingers to the shoulders, and a deep gash was cut in his head.  The arm was so badly mangled that the doctor’s wanted to amputate it, but he and his father could not consent to this.  So the best medical aid was secured and although the arm was saved it was not much use to him.  It filled his sleeve and he could use it to balance any object in his left hand, carry anything under the arm and use it to press on the lines to guide the horses as he drove with his left hand.  His father felt so badly about the accident that he closed the mill.  The machinery never turned again.  When Henry visited Wales in 1886, he went into the mill, which by then was rusty and hanging with cob-webs.  He said he could still see the blood stains on the beam which had cut his head.

            His father now sent him to school to learn to write with his left hand and to study for the ministry.  He felt that this was a profession in which his son would not be handicapped by his misfortune and no doubt he thought he needed the spiritual training.

            It was while Father (Henry) was studying the scriptures that he first heard of the Mormon Elders preaching in a street meeting.  He felt that their interpretation of scripture agreed with his own.  He became interested and attended their meetings.  He said he was converted the first time he heard them.  He was baptized Jun 23, 1851, when he was twenty-two years of age.

            His father and sisters shared the prevailing prejudices concerning the Mormons.  They couldn’t understand their idolized son and brother yielding to the influence of those despicable people, although they must of wondered what there was in Mormonism, when all of their lives they labored to get their brother to attend church and now all at once he was overwhelmed with religious zeal. 

            Henry was ordained an Elder and labored as such in Wales.  He often visited at the home of William N. Williams, who later became the manager of the Co-op Furniture Store in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

            His father finally softened to the extent of indulging him in his whim of affiliating with such a despised people, until he talked of emigrating to America, that seemed more than he could bear.  He again entreated, then threatened to deprive him of any share of his property, which was considerable, but Henry was unmoved, and asserted his convictions that the Latter Day Saints were the only people who possessed the true Gospel, and that he intended to cast his lot with them.

            Early in 1854, when Elder Thomas C. Martell, the President of the Carmarthen Conference was honorably released to return to Utah, having saved sufficient money, Henry Hugh Harries, with other Saints accompanied him.  They sailed from Swansea to Newport, there via railroad to Liverpool.  On the Feb 4^th, with 464 Welsh and English saints, they sailed on the ship “Golconda” for New Orleans.  Henry was 26 years of age.  From here they sailed up the Mississippi past St. Louis and Kansas City to the camping grounds at West Port.

            After the immigrants were properly organized into companies and received their supplies, each company commenced their long journey across the plains with ox-teams.  Job Smith was captain of the company in which Henry drove an ox team.  T. C. Martell was Captain of the Guard.  Henry and Martell, being intimate friends and both being unmarried, bunked together and ate their meals at the table of Daniel James.  Each drove an ox team but slept in the same wagon.

            On the arrival of the company in S. Lake, Harries and Martell accepted the kind invitation to visit the family of Elder Thomas Jeremy, where they lived for quite awhile.  Brother Jeremy was on a mission to Wales.  They lived here about a year then moved across the street to a two room adobe house where they kept bachelor quarters until 1856.

            At a meeting held in the “Bowery” (now Pioneer Park) and presided over by Brigham Young, on Sunday, August 17, 1856, Henry Harries now 26 years of age, Daniel Page, Samuel Roskelley, George Taylor, James W. Stevens, Andrew Shumway and William Bevans were called to go on missions to England.

            During the two years Henry had spent in the Valley, Henry endured the hardships incident to early pioneer life.  At one time all he could buy to eat was soda crackers at $1.00 per pound, and a pound a day was all that was allowed.  His mouth became so dry and the crackers so tasteless, he would dig a weed called “red-root” and chew the roots to get sort of a taste in his mouth.  The tops of this weed, as well as all other green things had been eaten off during the grasshopper plague.

            On September 16^th, Bro. Isaac Morley gave him a patriarchal blessing telling him “Let not thy heart be troubled upon the water nor thy mind be excited.” He was promised his safe arrival in Europe and his safe return to Zion.  A company of Elders left Salt Lake the same day and traveled to Echo Canyon where they had a meeting and organized to cross the plains.  I think Father (Henry) started a few days later with a light rig and span of mules and overtook the company.  He traded a beautiful gold watch and other belongings for the mules.  I distinctly remember handcart friends in our home speaking of meeting him as though he were traveling alone at the time.

            These Elders met many handcarts pushing toward the Valley and also companies of wagons.  On September 24^th near Independence Rock, Franklin D. Richards, with a company of Elders returning, met and reported that near Ft. Kearney some United States soldiers had shot some Indians as they were peacefully sitting eating corn.  The Indians retaliated, killing nine of our Saints and some California emigrants.  On Oct 3, these Elders passed the Indian camp and that night camped with the Indian Agent, about 16 miles out of Laramie, Wyoming.  Here others who were afraid to cross alone joined the Elders for protection.  Nov 10^th at 11 PM, Henry Harries with Elder Thomas Bullock, Barnard Snow, Samuel Roskelley, Andrew Shumway, Daniel Page, Jr., James Stevens and William Bevens arrived in St. Louis for the European Mission.  It took them practically three months to reach New York before leaving for England on the ship “Guy Mannering.”  They arrived in England January 11, 1857 after 4 months of travel including a very distressing voyage.

            The following description of the voyage was written by Thomas Bullock.

            “We had a beautiful sail until we lost sight of land.  On 23^rd December a breeze arose which continued to increase until ‘the storm fiend’ rode in his fury.  The wind whistled and shrieked through the rigging, the waves rolled mountain high, continually sweeping the deck.  A portion of the bulwark was washed away; one of the boats was dashed to pieces.  Three sails were torn to ribbons.  The cargo shifted and partially careened the vessel, which sprung a leak.  We were at the mercy of the waves, no one being able to walk on the deck without laying a firm hold on the ropes for fear of being washed overboard through the gap.  The sailors were kept at work at the pumps and were frequently knocked down by the waves.

            “On Christmas Day the storm had considerably abated.  The missionaries were at the pumps all day.  The leakage being found and stopped, we were glad to report to the Captain ‘the pumps suck.’  Up to this time the Officers had reported they would have to run into the nearest port for repairs.  The Captain concluded to continue his voyage to Liverpool.

            “Through the week following, all were employed in shifting heavy chains, spare mast, anchors, water and other heavy materials so as to get the ship in sailing trim.  The pumps were worked day and night to pump out the water.  On the last evening of the year, the wind changed blowing from the southerly direction, righted the ship and continued blowing until we reached the coast of Ireland. 

            “A heavy fog set in for several days.  We could not help praying for it to clear up so that we might see land and know where we were.  About noon on the 9^th of January, land was seen which proved to be the coast of Ireland near Cork, when the fog again set in. 

            “About 7:30 p.m. a cry was heard, land on the leeward, in a minute all was confusion: the Captain and all hands jumped for their berths.  It was discovered that we were sailing broadside into the rocks.  In a few minutes, the ship would be dashed to pieces.  The helm was immediately changed which again brought the vessel on her side to the water’s edge; all the sails were let fly as quickly as possible when again rocks were seen ahead, looming up horribly to our sight.  The helm was again changed, the moon appeared and we perceived a lighthouse on our left and one on our right.  To his horror the Captain discovered we were between two ledges of rock in Waterford Bay.  Here again two sails were rent to ribbons.

            “The Captain acted like an able seaman and comforted the passengers as much as he could.  He had a narrow escape of going overboard while pulling a rope with four of the missionaries; the rope which was perfectly new broke asunder in their hands.  The first mate secured his watch and papers so as to swim ashore when the vessel should strike.  The steward said he had a plank for his escape.  The boatswain swore that if any of the passengers attempted to get into his boat he would cut them into pieces.  The second mate said he would take passengers and leave a half dozen of the green horn sailors to go with the ship.  But thanks to God, we were not left ashore on any such manner.

            “The wind veered around and blew the old ‘slaughter house’ out to sea again.  The Captain did his best but a set of more brutal petty officers never disgraced a ship.  Blood was shed the first day and fighting continued until the pilot came aboard off Holy Head.  My ears have never been assailed with so many vile provocations, impious oaths, blasphemous language, and continued distress since the merciless mobs drove me from my home in Nauvoo in Sept ‘46 at the point of sword and bayonet.

            “We docked at Liverpool on January 11, at midnight and was glad on Monday morning to leave the petty hell and go ashore and shake the hands of the servants of God, thus fulfilling the words of the Prophet ‘ you shall see the hand of the Lord in tempest and a storm but shall arrive at your destination safely.’  signed Thomas Bullock”

            On Jan 31, 1857, Henry H. Harries was appointed to the Welsh Mission under Elder Daniels.  On Mar 12 at a conference at Swansea, Ezra T. Benson was present.  Henry gave an interesting report of his labors among the Gentiles.  (Millennium Star 19:205)

            After laboring two years in Wales, he was very disappointed at not being able to convert his own people.  His strength of character and firmness of conviction is shown at the stand he took at this time.  When he was again preparing to come to Utah, his father again made him the offer that if it was preaching he wanted to do, he would build him a church, if he would but remain; but that in America, “he would do nothing for him.”  In the words of Thomas C. Martell, his life long friend “It takes strength of character and firmness of conviction of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the divine mission of Joseph Smith, for a man, reared in the lap of luxury to come out here to a barren waste, live on roots and then return to the home of his father, where he might enjoy every luxury again, resist the pleadings of his loved ones and again face the world with the handicap of having only one arm and the prospects of a hard life before him, – a thing he was not accustomed to – “.

            Henry H. Harries was honorably released to return to Zion at a conference, Jan 1 and 2, 1859 at Birmingham, England.  He was prepared to leave but while waiting at Liverpool for his ship he was taken sick with smallpox and held in quarantine for some time.  As soon as he was able, he returned to his old home to recuperate his strength.  He had previously known a young lady, Mary Rees, and they became sweethearts.  She decided to go to America with him.

        Mary Rees was born at Argoed, Monmouthshire, Wales, on February 18, 1840, a daughter of Morgan and Eleanor Rees.  (Her parents were first cousins.)  Together with mother Eleanor and older sister Margaret, she was baptized into the LDS Church when 10 years old, on August 24, 1850.

            Henry Hugh Harries, age 31 years, and Mary Rees, age 19 years, were married in the Parish Church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church, by David Morgan Rees, March 15, 1859.

            Mary Rees’ father was a merchant.  She had been given a good education and was in a school of sewing and millinery at the time she married.  He father was not a member of the Church and was much opposed to her marrying Henry.  However, after their marriage and when they were preparing to leave for America her folks were very generous in loading her with supplies, nice dishes, household utensils, linen and dresses.  She had 32 silk and wool dresses, partly cut out to save duty, and had plated and sterling silver tableware and fine linen.  Even a cumbersome china set for the bedroom wash stand was included.  Her parents were afraid they were coming out here to suffer want and they did all in their power to provide for their daughter.

            They set sail from Liverpool, on the ship “William Tapscott,” with 725 other saints on April 11, 1859.

            While they were on the ship ready to leave, Henry’s sister Sophia Davies arrived with a sum of money which the father had sent, telling her to give it to Henry’s “little girl,” as he felt sorry for her.  He also gave his new daughter-in-law a lovely silk dress, parasol made of the same silk, leghorn hat with white plumes trimmed with the same silk, also shoes and stockings.  He kept his word not to give his son anything, but did make this nice present to his wife which was much the same thing.

            The emigrants were in charge of Robert F. Neslen, with Henry Harries and Geo. Rowley as counselors.  On May 25, 1859 after arriving safely in America, they were ready to leave Florence, having sent money ahead for teams & wagons.  There were 60 wagons in their company.  They traveled across the plains with as little hardships as was possible at the time.  The one terrible incident which Mary afterward related was of a stampede of the oxen and cattle.  They were just hooking up the cattle in the morning after they had been rather restless in the night.  The women were placing the utensils in the wagons, the men harnessing the teams, when all of a sudden, one of the animals let out a terrible bellowing and began pawing the dust.  In a few minutes all was confusion.  The animals, bellowing and pawing the dust, started running for the hills and brush.  Women and children were screaming.  Wagons with oxen half hooked-up were overturned and boxes, bedding, utensils and other things were thrown from the wagons.  Mary said the animals seemed to be attracted by a myriad of devils at once.  The horsemen tried to head them off and drive them into a circle until they quieted down.  She said she screamed for Henry to help her as he had left his team to head off the first one that started, and now she was running after their own team alone.  They finally held the animals in a circle, gradually closing in on them until they stopped.  Now nothing was in order.  It was some time before they gathered up the scatter material and found to whom all belonged.  Instead of a happy day’s start, they had to dig a grave for a woman who had been killed.  A man was severely wounded and twenty others were less seriously injured.  It was a most horrible experience.

            They arrived in Salt Lake September 15, 1859 (R.F. Neslen’s Biography) and were taken to the home of Thomas Jeremy.  They then lived in a little two room adobe house at about 26 North 6^th West St.  Mary was very sick after reaching the Valley.  Homesickness caused her to have jaundice.  The following January 19^th, 1860, their first child was born, a girl, and she was named Mary Ellen.  They moved from here to what is now known as Nibley Park.  At that time it was called Wright’s Farm, located at 27^th South and 7^th East streets. 

            Upon moving, Henry wrote home to his Father and asked him for a loan of money to buy this place.  His father replied “I will buy you the best farm in Wales if you return, but not one cent will I contribute for one in America.”  So he didn’t buy the farm, but he got a job as miller in Brigham Young’s grist mill which was situated on Parley’s Creek, then known as “Canyon Creek,” near where 21^st East crosses the hollow near 25^th South St.  In this hollow, there was a Fort wall and many houses were inside and outside the Wall.  This mill was afterwards used as a woolen mill and owned by Jennings.  The mill was finally moved to Provo.

            On March 9, 1861, Mother and Father (Henry and Mary) were sealed for time and all eternity in the old Endowment House.

            While living in the Fort, their first boy was born, John Morgan, on July 14, 1861, but he lived only a day and was buried in the fort.  The next baby boy, Henry Hugh was born Sept. 28, 1862;  Annie was born Apr 9, 1964 and Margaret, on Dec 16 1865.  These children were all born in this home.

            In April 1865, scarlet fever took the life of their baby Henry Hugh, (2 ½  years old) so the first baby boy, John,  was removed from his burial place in the Fort, and they were both then buried in the City Cemetery.

            They later moved to one of the Decker’s homes, a log house with a dirt thatched roof, located on the North edge of the canyon rim above the Fort hollow, across the street from the J. Elkins property.  Caroline Lois was born in this house February 22, 1868.

            A quarter-section of land had been filed on – located at 21^st East and Emigration Creek.  This was secured in 1867, and in 1869 a rock house was started there.  A Mr. John Davis had had “squatter’s rights” to this land and as a concession to him, for letting Henry and his family live in his log house, he was given 5 acres for him to build a new home.  This log house was located on the west side of Emigration Creek and on north side of 13^th South, at their junction.  Thirteenth South was not opened through the property until 1924.

            While living in this log house, with four daughters and themselves, in one room, a son, William Henry was born, Jan 11, 1870.

            So eleven years after leaving their homes in Wales, the Harries finally moved into their own humble little home.  It consisted of one large room, a small room, a large pantry and a cellar, all built of rock.  More rooms were added later and it finally became a beautiful home with lovely furnishings.  This house now stands 1294 South 21^st East St., in Salt Lake City, Utah.  It was here on August 31, 1871, another son, Benjamin R. Harries was born.

            Henry continued to work in the mill, and hired men to clear the ground for his farm.  He finally left the mill and devoted all his time to his farm.  He owned ten acres at 25^th East on which he opened up a rock quarry.

            During the winter of 1871-1872, there were four cases of small pox in the Valley. These patients were confined to what was called the “Pest House” located east of the farm.  When one of the patients jumped through the window and escaped, Henry was called to assist caring for the other three.  Although he was very careful each night to change his clothing and leave them on an island in the creek before coming in the home, two curious children went looking for his clothing to see what smallpox smelled like.  The disease was contracted by five of their children.  The baby, four months old and Mary did not have it.  Their two year old boy, William Henry, died from it Jan. 23, 1872.

            On May 31, 1873, Willard James was born and on March 23, 1875, Alice Catherine was born.

            In 1876, Father (Henry Harries) had a contract for hauling sand for the Officers quarters at Fort Douglas.  Charlie Halnes, one of the teamsters was so in need of work that he failed to report that his children were sick with the dreaded scarlet fever.  Consequently the family was exposed and seven of the Harries children had the disease at one time.  The three year old boy, Willard James, died from the fever, June 11, 1876.

            After this, four more children were born after this, Mayme Vilate Dec 5, 1876;  Elizabeth Phillips, Jan 3, 1879;  Howell Henry, Oct 30, 1881 and James Martin, Nov 3, 1883.  There were no more deaths in the family for 15 years.

            Mother (Mary) learned to card and spin and weave.  One time when she had some scraps of wool left of all different colors, she threw them all in together and spun it into yarn.  She then wove it into cloth and made Father (Henry) a suit of clothes.  It made such pretty material everyone wanted to know how she had made it.  She had just been “saving.”

            Father (Henry) did teaming, as he only had the use of one arm, he had to hire men to do the heavy work.  Later he had cancer in this good hand.

            Father always had one or more hired men living with us as though one of our family.  One of them, Henry Thomas, lived with them for so many years that many thought he was a son.  Father and his men hauled hay and grain to Ft. Douglas from as far as Lehi and American Fork.  He planted an orchard of all varieties of fruit.  For years he kept one man to look after the orchard and his hot beds of early vegetables.  He sold them on Market Row and also supplied Fort Douglas.  He received a prize at the St Louis Fair for the best egg plant and potatoes grown.  He raised cows and horses on the farm.  In later years he had a dairy of 30 head of cows. 

            Living so close to Ft Douglas, he always had contracts with the government for supplies for the Fort.  This was his main outlet for his dairy and farm supplies - milk, butter, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruit.  He was the manager and teamster, being unable to do the heavy farm work except where a team was employed such as plowing, raking and hauling.

            Mother (Mary) had a girl to help her when the children were small.  Evan Stephen’s sister Annie, lived with her for a long time.  Mother named her second girl after her.  Evan Stephen was one of the early musician of the Church from Wales.  He ate his first meal in the Valley at the Harries home.

            Mother worked hard as one may know as she had a large family.  The children were always kept busy with fruit to pick and vegetables to get ready for sale.  Because their home was situated at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon, many people ate their first meal in the Valley at their home.  One visitor said, “It wasn’t only my first meal.  It was my first good meal – eaten right at your mother’s table.”  Their home was always open to friends and strangers – especially if they were from Wales.  Besides their own large family, there was always extra help that lived with them.  In as much as the first four boys died as babies, the girls had to help considerably with the milk, fruit, and vegetables.

            In 1886, Father (Henry) took a trip back to Wales to receive his inheritance.  He was set apart as a missionary and was gone for four months.  Though the bulk of his Father’s estate went to his sisters, his father had relented and did leave Henry Hugh about $3000 in cash.  This seemed quite a considerable amount at the time.  His sisters in Wales were very glad to see him again and gifts were given him for the children.

            Mary Rees Harries probably never held an office in any organization of the Church but she was a Relief Society, all in one, to her neighborhood.  Many times we would get up in the morning to find her missing – having been called out in the night to a sick neighbor.  Many of those she helped in this manner lived to attend her funeral.

            The big thing that impressed me with my parents was their absolute honesty, integrity, generosity and unselfishness.  While we were far removed (2 ½ miles) from the nearest school, all of the children except the oldest girl were given education above the grade school.  Most of us were boarded in town and attended the University of Utah (now known as the Union Building at the West High School).  Most of us graduated.

            Father and Mother did the best they could by their children at the sacrifice of their children’s accomplishments.  Their worse trial was of having sickness and the death of their beloved children.

            On October 27, 1890, a severe trial was the death of a grown daughter and young mother, Margaret Harries Lloyd.  She left a baby girl named “May,” whom Mother cared for for nine months until the baby passed away.  On July 25, 1901, another grown daughter, Annie Elizabeth Harries Burns, died leaving five children.  Mother cared for the baby Bessie until her own death on May 8, 1908.

            Father had died September 12, 1902, after being quite helpless for some time due to the cancer on his left hand.

            When their oldest daughter, Mary Ellen, died June 23, 1904, this left Mother alone with the little granddaughter, Bessie Burns.

            On May 8, 1908, after a very brave struggle with much suffering; after having buried her husband and seven of her children; after having worked for the living and for the dead; after having finished a very industrious, helpful and self-sacrificing career; Mary Rees Harries peacefully passed to her reward and to greet her husband, children and friends she had so faithfully served in her life here upon this earth.