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Show in infancy. In 1854 they sold their home and, taking their seven children, left for Liver¬pool, 50 miles away. Here they boarded the Indamere, a two decked packet ship, for the first leg of their journey to Zion. There were 572 passengers on board. On 17 March, the Ship was caught in a furious storm which cracked the masts and ripped the sails to shreds. The Captain, fearful that the old vessel could not withstand the pounding of the heavy seas, called on the Saints to fast and pray. By that time the Ship had caught fire. He said, "If there be a God, as you people say, you had better talk to Him if He will hear you. I have done all I can and I am afraid whe will go down!" Heroic efforts by the bucket brigade of passen¬gers and crewmen, plus their prayers, contained the fire and the flames were coused. Drinking water became scarce and food had to be rationed. Finally the Ship limped into port. The Ford family crossed the plains and finally settled in Centerville. Rebecca was an excellent cook and expert with the needle. She made all the clothes for her family, including suits for her husband. One year her son, Will¬iam, worked for a man who paid him three yards of calico for a week's work. She turned the calico into clothes. She was given two old pieces of wagon cover and this was also made into wearing apparel for her children. Her family was given strict training in good manners and how to work. In 1881, John lost the bride of his youth when Rebecca died in Centerville. She was the mother of 11 children. Two had died in England and another while cross¬ing the plains. In 1883, John married Mary Ann Wright, a convert from England. In 1897, he was set apart as a Patriarch. John Ford Sr. died in November of 1902, at the age of 92. He was buried beside his wife, Rebecca, in the Centerville Cemetery. SONS AND GRANDSONS Two sons and three grandsons of John Sr. and Rebecca Chandler Ford lived with their families at various times on the Mountain Green Ranch. They tended and milk¬ed a herd of dairy cows, made cheese, harvested hay and grain, and furnished fresh beef to meat markets in Ogden. John Ford Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Garn Ford, spent time at the ranch. He served an IDS Mission to Kentucky, took part in the Morrisite War at South Weber, assisted in bringing an emigrant train across the plains and served in the Center¬ville Ward Bishopric. He was married to Elizabeth Garn and the couple had seven children. 176 |
