LIFE HISTORY OF MARGARET PEARCE
wife of the
LATE DAVID PEARCE, SR.
written by a daughter
Rosetta Pearce Johnson
(1937)
Margaret Pearce was born in Pengarnddu, South
Wales on the 28th day of March, 1854. She was the daughter of John and Margaret
Jones Griffiths and oldest child.
Her father was a miner and worked in the coal mines. It was very hard work at that time as most of
the work was done by hand. He did not
have very good health but labored at all times to support his wife and
family. Seven children were born to them
in Wales. But four died before they came to America.
Those coming were Margaret (my mother), Evan and Sarah
Ann. Four more children were born to
them at Lehi, Utah
and two at Adamsville, Beaver County,
Utah. Those whom I remember were Evan, Sarah Ann,
John, Kate, Thomas Lewis. There are but
four living now; Mother, John, Sarah Ann and Thomas Lewis.
Mother's parents being very good people and religiously
inclined were very much impressed with the L.D.S. missionaries who visited their
home. So like many others who believed
and had great faith in the teachings and Doctrines of the Elders they were soon
baptized and became members of the L.D.S.
Church. Shortly afterward they began to make
preparations to gather to Zion. They soon sold or gave away all of their
belongings that they could possibly get along without and packed the remaining
articles and left their home on the 30th day of March, 1866. They had a short distance to go by bus. There they remained until the following day. They left Liverpool
on the 1st day of April, 1866 by ship.
The name of the ship on which they sailed was "Old
John Bright". The captain of their
company was Henry Chipman, now living at American Fork. (This was the last trip this ship ever
made.) It was a long and tedious voyage
of six weeks. Grandmother was ill all
the way over. But mother stood the
voyage fine. She was just 12 years old
and was always well and strong, so of course with her mother ill she had the
responsibility of the two younger children, Sarah Ann being only one year old.
After sailing some distance the ship sprung a leak and
for some time there was a great deal of excitement and worry. We can imagine ourselves in such a
predicament. But owing to the quick
alertness of grandmother the trouble was solved. She quickly took a big pair of white wool
blankets off her bed and gave to the captain to put into the hole through which
the water was entering the boat. They
then poured a big bucketful of tar over the blanket and that checked the flow
of water. Each person who was able was
given a bucket to help dip the water from the boat. So in a very short time everything was clear
sailing once more.
Mother has often told me how cheerful the entire group of
people were. And a very devout,
faith-loving and courageous family, or I must say families, they were; for
including Grandfather and grandmother's family there was grandfather's sister
and her husband, Evan Jones, and family, and grandmother's brother, John J.
Jones and family. They came the entire
distance together from Wales
to Lehi.
At the end of six weeks, about June 12th, they landed
safely and were ready to join others across the trackless plains. But to their disappointment there were no
immigrants there to meet them so they had to wait there for three weeks. At first they were quite disappointed. But while they were waiting the people there
learned that they were miners so they came to them and gave them work drilling
wells. They were very glad to get this
opportunity as it enabled them to get quite a sum of money to assist them on
their journey west-ward.
Let us imagine, if we can, how happy they must have been
to take up their journey once more after being delayed so long. Three weeks must have seemed a long while to
camp out and to know there were still days and weeks ahead. They surely must have been very brave and
good.
Grandfather was so very ill all the way across the plains
that he had to ride. But Grandmother and
mother walked all the way and took turns in carrying the baby (Sarah Ann), who,
being only one year old was unable to walk at all.
One of the drivers had his sweetheart along with him and
she rode the entire distance while mothers with babes in their arms walked
along with their little children by their side.
One day two of the girls who had been walking every day got so tired
they just refused to take another step.
So they sat down in the road and would not move. The wagons rolled on for some distance before
they discovered the girls really were not with them. They were quite concerned and had to send
someone back for them.
But the trip was not all sad and tedious; there were
times when they had some very enjoyable moments while they rested and camped
for the night, as there were some who were always full of life and would start
a good jolly song or game to cheer them up and it would be no time before each
of them would forget his troubles for the present and join in the fun.
Then there were many trying occasions. Mother recalls the time the Indians caused so
much trouble. They had camped for a
short time and some of the boys at the age of 14 or 15 years of age thought
they would go to the creek nearby for a swim.
They had been gone but a few minutes when they heard a commotion among
the horses and cattle. Looking up they
saw some Indians driving them off (the cattle and horses). So they quickly ran to camp and notified the
men, who began immediately to shoulder their guns and run after the
Indians. They began firing as soon as
possible; this frightened the Indians and they fled but not until many of their
arrows had found their mark in the horses and cattle, wounding many and killing
some. Some were saved as the arrow could
be pulled out and the animal doctored.
Others had to be killed but could be used for food if not too badly shot
with arrows.
Among these boys who gave the alarm were three whom most
of us know well; B. H. Roberts, John G. Jones, and John E. Jones. This incident caused delay again as with the
loss of several horses and oxen they had to use cows in their places; so of
course they would have to stop oftener to let them rest as they were not as
strong and could not go far at a time.
Mother often tells of B. H. Roberts and what a brave boy
he was. He was very poor at that time
and walked bare-footed most of the way.
But when the journey was nearing its end and a man died, so they took
his shoes and gave them to the boy.
Everyone felt so sorry for him as his feet were bleeding and very sore
by this time. He was indeed grateful to
get most any kind of shoes.
After a long and tedious journey they arrived in Salt Lake City on the
16th day of October, six and one half months.
How tired and worn they must have been.
But the trip was not over with yet.
On arriving in Salt Lake their names were listed as usual
and there were several men from Lehi and it was the custom for them to look at
the names of the new immigrants, and seeing so many by the name of Jones and
their names being Jones, they were than interested, so they invited them to
their homes in Lehi. They accepted the
invitation. Among these men from Lehi
were Thomas R. Jones and Thomas R. Davis who had come to Utah two years previous, and were
brothers-in-law to Grandfather Griffiths, having married his two sisters, both
of whom died while crossing the plains.
So it took very little persuasion for grandfather and his friends to go
to Lehi. It took three more days to
reach their final destination.
People were very kind and considerate and helped them to
get settled. At first they lived in
little log houses as most people did at that time. In a short time Erastus Snow and his brother,
William were called to go to Southern Utah--St. George--to assist in
settlements down there. They were both
polygamists and each had two women and lived in what was called large houses at
that time. They each had two large
rooms, room for each wife and family. So
when they moved out, Grandfather moved his family into two rooms, and his
sister and family took the other two rooms.
Then they were quite comfortable.
After they were settled and getting acquainted, Mother
went to work for lots of the women as she was quite large and strong for her
age. She was nearly 13 now. Then she lived with Abby Ellison most of her
spare time and earned her clothes, etc. which helped her parents
considerably. It also helped her in many
ways as she learned to do lots of work which was very beneficial in later
years. Whenever a herd of sheep would
pass through the town the children were sent out to gather the wool that would
be caught on the brush. She always did
her share of this kind of work. This
wool was then spun and corded by the women; and it was while she was living
with Abby Ellison that mother learned to cord and spin.
Mother also lived with and worked for a Mrs. Frank Moulan
who was very well off. She always had
plenty to get along with and when a meal was over with everything that was left
over was thrown out. This extravagance,
mother had never seen before and she hated to see it. So once she asked if she couldn't take a
large piece of meat and other things home rather than throw it away as her
folks hardly knew what meat was at that time.
Mrs. Moulan gladly consented and told her she was welcome to do that at
any time, because they wouldn't use it anyway.
That, of course, helped greatly with grandfather's family.
Wm. Snow's wife was very good to grandmother Griffiths too. Many times she gave her a large piece of
tallow and loaned her the candle molds and taught her how to make candles. This was the only light they had at that time
and the candles cost 25 cents each if one had to buy them.
They had lots of good friends and every one seemed so
willing to help each other. Mother has
told me that one day grandmother was just wondering what she would have for
supper when a dear old lady came in with a big bowl of something and said,
"Sister Griffiths I brought you this", thinking grandmother would
know what it was. Grandmother said, "Oh,
thank you, that will be dandy soup for the children and all of us for
supper." Then the lady laughed and
said, "why, Sister Griffiths, don't you know what this is? It is soft soap." Well, grandmother was just as pleased anyway
for that was a luxury in those days. But
they had a good laugh about it.
They also had a barrel of molasses given to them and
after it had stood for a certain length of time it granulated. Poor grandmother felt terrible about it, not
knowing it was supposed to do that, and she told her neighbors how badly she
felt because her molasses had all gone to sand.
After they had been in Lehi for some time, the soldiers
who had been in echo Canyon fighting the Indians and keeping them from
attacking the towns and villages, came home.
Among these brave stalwart men and boys was David Pearce, who met, loved
and married my Mother.
Mother was just a girl of fifteen years when married; but
fully as capable of rearing a family and taking care of a home as any girl of
twenty years is today.
Mother and Father were married Jan. 6, 1869 in the
Endowment House by Daniel H. Wells. To
this union was born eight children; David, Margaret Ann, John, Jane, Richard,
Elizabeth, Sarah Ellen & Mary Rozetta.
Ann died when she was about eighteen months old. This was a terrible thing for them to endure. Richard died on the 24th of January, 1919 at
Beaver of Influenza. He left a wife and
six children.
My parents were very happy together and father worked
hard at anything any place where work was available to support his family. He worked a great deal on the Railroad that
was being built at that time, and there was lots of work being done in Cottonwood Canyon where he spent weeks and months
at a time. He would send his pay or
bring it home, and mother always managed to save a portion of it for future
use; never thought of spending it all carelessly.
On April 9, 1870 their first child was born, a boy whom
they called David after his father; then their happiness seemed complete. Two years later Margaret Ann of whom I have
spoken was born and lived but eighteen months.
This was very sad, of course, but they stood it bravely. Then on the 14th of May 1873, John was born,
and of course another great rejoicing as usual.
It was about two years after this in the Spring of 1875
that father made his first trip to the southern part of the state, Beaver County,
to sell some produce and to look at some land that was for sale. He was very much interested as the land was
very fertile and he could readily see that with lots of hard work and careful
planning it could be made very productive.
He immediately purchased several acres of land and at once returned to
Lehi to break the news to mother and make preparations to return in time to get
crops planted for the coming year. He
quickly prepared a place for his family.
Then about the first of June, 1875 they packed their belongings and
moved to Adamsville, Beaver Co., Utah. It took about a week to make the trip at that
time.
They had just been there about a week when they received
word that mother's father had died. Very
sad news to receive so soon and it was made worse by the knowledge that she
would be unable to attend the funeral as it would take so long to go, and she
was not in a condition either for they were expecting the arrival of the stork
soon again.
It was on the 8th of August, 1875, Jane (now Jane Reese)
was born. They were very happy in their
new little home. And they worked so
unitedly together. Four more children
were born after this; Richard on July 11, 1877, Elizabeth--Feb. 20, 1879, Sarah
Ellen--Feb. 9, 1881, and myself, Rosetta, Dec. 5, 1882. Father died on the 15th of June 1882, 5
months before I was born. He hurt his
hand while bailing hay and blood poisoning set in and he died within a
week. This was a great shock to mother,
but she took it very well, and was very brave and dear as she has always
been. And indeed it took a lot of
courage with seven children to care for and the oldest but twelve years of
age. But Dave had been taught to work
and was able to do quite a good deal on the farm and by this time father had a
great many acres of land, implements of all kinds, horses, harness, cows, etc.
and nearly everything that was necessary to run a farm. He left enough money so that mother was able
to hire a good deal of help too. Mother always
insisted on paying for help. One thing
she has always done--she has never accepted a cent of charity from anyone nor
from County or State.
Mother has worked very hard to rear her family, and her
children did all they could to help her.
She was always ready and willing to help her neighbors and friends
also. There was never any sickness in
any home in the community but what mother was always there to assist in any
way. She and Sister Mary Ann Stewart
brought dozens of babies to this world, as they were miles from a Doctor, and
it would have taken hours to go for him and return.
After the baby was delivered, mother would help at this
home for ten or twelve mornings and take care of mother and babe and sometimes
do lots of the house work. Most of the
time this work was charity. Sometimes if
the party concerned could afford it they would give her something for her labor
but not very often. She never set a
price. Day or night she was always ready
to help.
Whenever there was a death in the Ward, mother and Sister
Elizabeth Reese (D. J. Reese's mother) were always on had to take care of the
body and see that there was someone to remain with it while they went and
bought material for the burial clothes; and then they would sometimes stay up
most of that night sewing and making them, as it was impossible to buy anything
ready made at that time. Not only did
she do this kind of work but she also helped in the different organizations of
the Ward. At the time father died, 1882,
she was President of the Women's Mutual Association.
Shortly after Mother and Father had moved to Adamsville,
she was chosen First Counselor to Sarah Jones in the Relief Society at that
time. She was President of Relief
Society for twenty-six years in the Adamsville Ward and a very faithful
president too. I can remember how she
used to go from house to house doing good for all and gathering donations to
help other people who were less fortunate.
While she labored so diligently for others she never
neglected her own family. She used to
work any place and any time to get things to help us all. I well remember how she used to help Sister
Stewart with sewing, washings, mending or anything she had to do. She would take me with her. It was about one and one half miles out of
town, and we always had to walk there and back again after she had worked all
day. Sometimes she would go two or three
days a week and she would take produce or something of the kind for pay and
carry that home. I never heard her
complain. She was so glad to be able to
do this.
This is the kind of life mother has lived--always doing
good wherever she could. A wonderful
mother, neighbor and friend she has always been and still is, and we all
appreciate all she has done and is still doing for us. We all love and honor her and hope we will
have her for years to come. She still
lives in Adamsville, in the home she built after father died, and does most of
her own work.
At the time of my writing, she is still well and
happy. She will be 83 years old March
28, 1937. She still resides at
Adamsville, Beaver County, Utah, but she enjoys visiting with her
children. Each year she spends most of
the winter with me and my sister, Jane, here at Lake View, Utah. How we love to have her for she is so
understanding, so contented with life, so kind and gentle to each of us at all
times. We will always love her and we
hope that we will be able to repay her in kindness and good deeds for the
devotion and love she has shown us.
She has twenty-five grand children and thirty-six great
grandchildren living.
(From files of DUP Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah)
