Margaret Jones Reese
Margaret Jones Reese, Thomas Reese, a coal miner, married Margaret Jones of Aberdare, Glamorganshire, South Wales. There were three small children in the fmaily when Thomas was trapped in a mine and killed. After the introduction of Mormonism into Wales, the missionaries were frequent visitors at the Reese home, and in 1845 Margaret was converted and baptized a member of the Church. The little familiy emigrated to Utah with a Welsh company in 1856. It took them six weeks to make the journey across the ocean. Landing in Boston, they came by train to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they joined Captain Edward Bunker's Welsh Company. Margaret and her children, George, Lotwick and Anne, walked the entire distance from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City, pulling a handcart filled with their supplies and possessions. They stayed in the city the first winter, moving early in the spring to Willard, where they had many friends.
When George was twenty-two, he was called by Brigham Young to go to Winter Quarters for emigrants. On the return trip, he met a young lady by the name of Mary Hughes, and fell in love with her. Soon, they were married. In the spring of 1864 Lotwick was called to Bear Lake, Idaho, where only a few families resided. Later, the remainder of the Reese family arrived in Bloomington. Their journey was by oxteam and wagon, and after their arrival they lived in a two-room log house.
On March 15, 1870, Anne married Thomas Ward, who had joined the Church and left England in 1861. Seven years later, Thomas filled a call from Bishop James H. Hart to go to the railroad terminal and bring back emigrants. On October 11, 1870, the young couple went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, and were sealed to each other. Through united effort they were able to send for Thomas's family in England, including a married sister, her husband and children. Margaret lived with Anne much of the time, and enjoyed their eight children as they came along.
Anne was a small woman, wiry and energetic, but often she was ill, and at these times her fervent prayer was that the Lord would spare her until her children were able to care for themselves. Although the Heavenly Father richly blessed her in many ways, her greatest hope was not entirely fulfilled, for she died on June 29, 1892, leaving her youngest child not yet six. Margaret preceded her daughter in death, passing away January 9, 1892. Both are buried in Bloomington.
The Reese family was admired by associates for their rich testimony of the gospel, and for their love and compassion for others. George, the eldest son, died January 10, 1910, and his brother Lotwick, who as a mail carrier left a record of honesty and integrity, died June 13, 1930.
