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Show • WILLIAM HEMMING 1827-1916 William Hemming was born 8 June 1827 in Hooknorton, Oxfordshire, England, to John and Sarah Embra Hemming. When only a boy he went as an apprentice for a carriage painter. Later he moved to Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. Here he became acquainted with a young lady by the name of Emma Sanford and they were married 31 August 1851. Emma Sanford was the daughter of James Sanford and Elizabeth Powell Sanford and was born 26 September 1830 in Warwickshire, England. Her mother died when she was three and one half years old, and later her father married again. They didn't treat her very well, so she went to live with her grandmother. It was in Stratford-on-Avon, William Hemming heard the Latter-day Saint Missionaries preach the gospel and became interested in their church, which he joined on 16 November 1852. Like many others, he was anxious to come to America, so 27 November 1855 he and his wife and two daughters left Liverpool with a group of Saints for America, sailing on the ship "Emerald Isle". They landed in New York two months later on the 2 January 1856. They stayed there until 6 May 1860. After arriving in New York he took the vocation of painter and glazier. The two daughters, who accompanied their parents from England, were Fanny, born 9 June 1852, and Harriett, born 5 June 1854-both born at Burford, Stratford-on-Avon, Oxfordshire, England. Harriet died 24 February 1856 at Williamsburg, New York. Her • mother never knew where she was buried. William Hemming, Jr. was born at Williamsburg, New York, 16 April 1856, and died 17 October 1857 at Williamsburg, New York. Emma Elizabeth was born 10 June 1859 at 26 North Third Street, Williamsburg, New York. It was she and Fanny who traveled across the plains with their parents. On 6 May 1860, they left New York by rail for St. Joseph, Missouri, and from there to Florence, Nebraska, by boat. There they joined the Daniel Robison Handcart Company for the long walk across the plains. The following is taken from the account given by William Hemming of the trip: The company was prepared to commence their journey 6 June 1860, but a thunder storm came up and stopped them. They left the next day, with 43 handcarts and 4 wagons loaded with provisions. After traveling for 100 miles, the Pawnee River was reached where the Pawnee Indians lived. The Indians ferried them across the river and when a short distance away they camped. Brother Joseph Young came with 50 wagons and teams. While getting ready for the evening meal there came a thousand Indians of another tribe on horseback to fight the Pawnee Indians. The next day they traveled until the Lacorn River was reached. A bad rain storm came making the roads very muddy and hard to pull the carts. After it dried up, traveling was fairly good. When Wood River was reached, they were fortunate to have buffalo meat. After many days travel, they arrived at Chimney Rock in Nebraska. It was known as one of nature's sign posts which helped guide pioneer saints along the trail. It is near • Bayard, Nebraska, and a most striking work of nature which can be seen for many miles. Leaving Chimney Rock, traveling through sand 2 or 3 inches deep made pulling the |
