Devina Elizabeth Waldron
(by Mary Waldron)
My grandmother, Devina Elizabeth Waldron, was born in Glamorganshire, South
Wales, June 5, 1859. She was the daughter of David and Hannah Spencer
Roderick. They lived near the mines and her father, David, worked as a
carpenter at the mines.
Grandmother was one of nine children. She had but little schooling because
they lived such a long distance from school and she only sent for a little
while with her brothers, for in those days it was too dangerous to travel over
the isolated roads as there were many stragglers or tramps as we call them.
When Grandma was just a small girl, her father fell ill and was ill for about
two months. The Mormon missionaries, two of whom my Grandmother remembered as
Brother Stowe and Brother William Jones, called at their home frequently to
talk about the gospel. They urged Father to let them baptize him. They said
they knew if he had enough faith to accept the gospel and be baptized his
health would be better. Great grandmother was scandalized and would not hear
of it. She said, "Why the idea of putting a man in his condition in the water
would kill him. Are you crazy?"
One day the missionaries called when
she was not home and persuaded Grandmother's father to let them baptize him.
He consented and it was his testimony that from that instant he began to get
better and was soon as well as ever. It wasn't long until all the family but
one, Mary, who was Grandmother's sister, became members of the church. At this
time her sister, Margaret, came to America and later married one of the
missionaries. It wasn't until about three years later that Grandmother's
family decided to leave Wales and join the Saints in America. All of them left
but Mary, the sister who hadn't accepted the Gospel. She remained in Wales.
Grandmother's mother prepared a large box of food, raisin loaf and other things
that would keep for their use on the ship, "The Minnesota." They sailed from
Liverpool and came to New York. Grandmother was ten years old at the time.
She said that they got along just fine as long as their food held out but when
it was gone they had very little to eat except some sea biscuits that were not
very appetizing. Grandmother was not the least bit sick on the way over.
There were a large number of Saints on the ship and Grandmother said she
remembered that one night a terrible storm came up and very nearly sank the
ship. The next morning the saints held a prayer meeting and thanked God for
their deliverance from death.
They reached New York in about three weeks. The Rodericks came to Ogden on the
very first train to cross the continent. From there they went to Brigham City
where Grandmother's sister, Margaret lived, and stayed with them for 13
months after which they moved to Perry, Utah. Here they lived for two years
then moved to a place called Pole Patch now called Mt. Pleasant just north of
Ogden. After spending two years her they moved again, this time to Samaria,
Idaho.
On their way to Samaria they met wagon train going south. On one of the wagons
sat a young man by the name of Levi Waldron. Another man remarked that these
people were moving to Samaria and they had a girl. Levi Waldron spoke up and
said, "That girl is going to be my wife." Maybe she has a beau", said the
other man. "If she has, I'll cut him out", said Levi Waldron.
Grandmother was a little over 14 years of age at that time, and not quite two
years later she married Levi Waldron in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.
This took place Jan. 11, 1875. They made their home in Samaria and five of
their children were born there, then they moved to Gwenford, Ida., where they
made their permanent home. Eight more children were born here.
Grandmother always had to work hard. To keep house for a husband and 12
children is no easy task. Many times she had to wash until one o'clock in
the morning on the washboard with homemade soap. She did all the sewing for
the family and knit mittens and socks for all of them. Many a night she has
had to sit up all night to finish a pair for one of the children.
When the children were small and Grandfather was away from home, Grandmother
had to milk the cows. Often she would bundle her baby up in a shawl and go out
to milk. Grandmother had a horse and buggy she used to go wherever she wished
and when anyone needed her or was in trouble she was always there to give
assistance in every possible way.
She tried to raise her family to be good Latter-day Saints. Grandmother said
it was not always easy to go to church with a large family, but she always
tried to get them to go. She said, "I think I have raised a pretty good
family." Out of her 12 children, 11 have been to the Temple and one son
has been on a mission. All her sons are Elders. Grandmother has done some
temple work.
On Jan. 11, 1925, Grandmother and Grandfather celebrated their Golden wedding
anniversary. Most of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
were present.
Grandfather was ill for a number of years and was confined to his bed for 14
months and no one could have been kinder and more gentle to him than
Grandmother was. He died March 9, 1936. They had lived together for 61 years.
Since Grandfather's death she kept house for Uncle Charles and seemed in
good health until last July and then her health grew worse and she died of
cancer on Jan. 4, 1947 at the age of 87 years. At the time of her death there
were 11 children, her son, David, and daughter, Emeline, having preceded her in
death.
She had 79 grandchildren, 121 great grandchildren and 12 great great
grandchildren.
A short time before her death she was honored at a Mother's and Daughter's
meeting in Malad. There were present the five generations, Grandmother, her
daughter, Hannah Atkinson, her granddaughter, Viney Evans, great granddaughter,
Vera Burns, and great great granddaughter, Janiel Burns. They had their
picture taken together. I think she was a very wonderful woman and we all miss
her and she will be long remembered for her hospitality. She never let anyone
go away from her home hungry.
