Yes not morgan this one has been read. Done with hagg Jessie McNiven Taggart Jessie McNiven Taggart was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 7th day of February, 1853. Her parents were John and Janet McNiven. Her father died when she was only a few days old, so she never knew the joy of a father’s love and protection. One other child was given to these parents, a little boy, James. When their mother was left a widow with herself and children to provide for, she hired a woman to care for her babies so that she could work, but she soon discovered that her little ones were being sorely neglected, so she started a laundry on a small scale. The business grew rapidly, and in a short time she found it necessary to hire a great deal of help so that when she was ready to leave Scotland, she was really financially independent. During the time that she was thus engaged, she was permitted to hear the Mormon Elders preach the principles of the Mormon Church. Her desire, then, was to come to Zion, so she left Scotland and came to America with the two children, in the year 1861. They crossed the ocean on the ship Underwriter, the saints being in charge of the following brethren: Milo Andrus, Homer Duncan, and Charles W. Penrose, arriving in New York, May 22, 1961. It seems that Satan had a desire to stop the progress of this young girl, and for some reason, would throw different obstacles in her way, trying to prevent her coming to Zion. At one time, while playing upon the deck of the ship a very rough storm was on the ocean. The waves came on top of the vessel and Jessie was washed down through the port-holes, and fell from the top of the ship to the very bottom, down among the boilers, and together with canned goods and other supplies for the vessel, she was found swimming around in the water. Her mother and the officers of the ship fully expected to find her dead, but to their surprise, she was unhurt, and was able to land with the rest of them at the ship’s destination. During the weary trip across the plains, Satan again attempted to take her life, and in this case was tempted to eat toad-stools, thinking they were mushrooms. The honorable Charles w. penrose, who was one of their company, administered to her, and by the pwere of the priesthood, promised her that she would be made well, and would be allowed to arrive safely in Zion, and in due time, become the Mother of a large family, mother tells of many, many hardships endured while crossing the plains, and remembers so many other incidents of interest. During the short time they lived in Salt Lake City, her mother married Robert Hogg, one daughter being born to them, nor Mrs A.O. Durrant, of Morgan City, Morgan, County, Utah. In the fall of 1862, they moved up into Weber Valley, now known as Morgan County. They were among the first settlers there, and while they had their pleasures, they indeed suffered the hardships of pioneer life. The first year, they had only one sack of flour to do them through the winter. The first houses built were small huts with dirt roofs, all facing the same direction, and arranged in a row. Their neighbors were T.R.G. Welch, William Hemming, John Rich and others. Her step-father owned a piece of land in Littletown, and while he was at work on it, Jessie would have to walk and carry lunch to himeach day, a distance of about three and one-half miles. Often, she with other girls, would walk to Peterson, ten miles, to pick greens for cooing, and hungry though she was, after eating her meal of cooked greens, it was her duty to go in those hills west of Morgan and hunt the cows. On one of these trips, Satan again attempted to tak her life. She had walked into the mountains, and had crossed many canyons and dry creek beds, but was still unable to find her cows. While thus searching, a terrible electric storm came, and these dry creeks became as living floods of water, as a result of the terrific storm. Bridges, across these places, had never been built, and so far as was known at that time, there had been no human beings in that district that might build the bridges. The people of the Valley became alarmed at Jessie’s absence, and all joined in an anxious search for her, as it was then getting very late. During the search , they met her coming home, without the cows, and with no apparent injury. When asked, by one of the men in the searching party, “Jessie, how did you get across that stream?”, she stated, “Why, I walked across the bridge.” Every man in the party exclaimed, “Why, ther is no bridge, and never has been.” The company returned to the stream and found that there was no bridge there at that time, and to this day, Mother still insists that she saw a man lay a bridge across that stream for her to walk on, and she crossed without injury. (As there were no saw-mills, and no way to get boards, they could not make a bridge.) She had very little chance to gain an education and would often sit in church and study reading and spelling from the song books, but she has become educated through experience which, after all, is education. She is now a lover of good books and spends most of her time reading. She was married to George H. Taggart Aug. 1870, in the Endoment house in Salt Lake City. Their first child was born in the little settlement of Richville, Morgan County, after which they moved to Morgan City, where they established their home. She is the mother of sixteen children, ten boys and six girls, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, excepting one boy, who was stricken with infantile paralysis, and died when eleven years of age. In the year 1900, her husband was called to help settle the Big Horn country in Wyoming. He, with many others and their families, under the leadership of Apostle Owen Woodruff, pioneered again, and suffered all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life. This was a severe trial to her, who had suffered so much and worked so hard to raise a large family, After landing in their new country, there was a great deal of sickness among the people and as her own children were not so small, she was able to go and nurse the afflicted ones. This she did as long as her own health permitted. She had not been able to do much in public life, until this time, but after the different wards were organized, she was chosen to preside over the Relief Society in the Cowley Ward, which position she held for eight years. She was a beautiful alto singer and was a choir member for many years. She was a lover of refinement and had her pleasures and joys, as well as many trials and hardships. She loved the shows in the old theatre in Salt Lake City, and when a young girl, enjoyed it more than any other of her recreations. She is now seventy-seven and her health is failing rapidly, she has been a widow for six years, but she has a host of children, and grand-children to love and care for her. She has eighty-seven living grand—children, thirteen great grand-children, and thirteen have passed away. Her patriarchal blessing said her last days would be her best. She is blessed with every kindness and every comfort that one could wish for, but when asked for a story of her pioneer life, she replied, “ohm, let the pioneers res, I’ve had all the pioneering I want.” Her children all join in one great wish of happiness for her, and say, “May Heaven bless her memory.” Mother passed away on June 12, 1930 at her home in Cowley, Wyoming and was laid away in the Cowley cemetary. By…… Her daughter, Maggie Taggart Francis.