JOHN HENRY GILES and Wife ANN KINGMAN 1855 SKETCH OF THE LIVES OF JOHN HENRY GILES, AND HIS WIFE ANN KINGMAN. By FANNIE GILES FRANCIS. JOHN HENRY GILES' The son of Launcelot Giles and Lucretia Friday was born November 20th, 1826, at Shepton Mallet, Somerset Shire, England. When he was three years of age, his mother died, and he was sent to live with an uncle named John Giles. He was given an education, and when old enough, learned the carpenter trade, which was a great help to him in after years, in providing for his large family, which numbered 18 children. When a young man, and still living in England, he married Louisa Candy. Three children were born to them in their English home, Thomas, who died in infancy, Louisa and Oliver. They became interested in, and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and planned to emigrate to America. His Uncle John, now quite a wealthy man, was very opposed to the Mormon Church, and when he heard that his nephew and family were going to America, offered to give him half of his estate if he would stay in England and denounce his religion, otherwise he would not give him one cent. John Henry said, "I will not sell my religion". Uncle John kept his promise, and all his money. The voyage across the ocean took six weeks. They arrived in Salt Lake City in the early fall of the year 1855; and made their home there for a while. Bowden, was born on the 19th day of February, 1836, at Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, England. When she was small girl, her Sunday School Class offered a prize to the one who could quote the most passages of scripture by the end of the year. Ann won the prize which was a small Bible. She prized it very highly. Grandmother Kingman learned through a friend that two Mormon Missionaries were going to hold meetings in her home town. The friend invited the Kingman family to attend, which they did. Grandmother and two of the daughters were much impressed in what was sid, and they continued to attend the meetings regularly. Soon they were baptised members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Grandfather never did accept the Gospel, and never came to America, but Grandmother and these two daughters, ANN and ELIZABETH emigrated to America to be with the Saints, leaving England in the year 1855. While crossing the ocean Elizabeth passed away and was buried at sea. Ann Kingman became the plural wife of John Henry Giles in the Old Endowment House in March of 1850, at Salt Lake City, Utah. They lived in Salt Lake City, where Joseph was "born to Louisa. They left Salt Lake City in the spring of 1858, when the Saints were advised to move South on account of the coming of the Johnson's Army, at which time father, Louisa, his first wife, and Ann, my mother, moved to Provo, where my brothers Harry and Fredrick were born. They lived in Provo for a time, then moved back to Salt Lake City for a while. In the year 1862 they moved to Framington, Utah, where John and Annie were born to my mother, and Sophia and Emily were born to Louisa. In the year 1866, they learned that there was plenty of farming land in the Weber valley, so they moved up into the Weber Valley, now known as Morgan County, and permenantly settled here. Charles, William, Elizabeth, Fannie Minnie, Albert and David were born to mother and Isabelle was born to Louisa. This gave my father seven children by Louisa and eleven children by my mother. When they came into the Weber Valley they bought two farms from George and William Grant, uncles of President Heber J. Grant. The first thing they did was build a house. It was made out of logs. There were one large room and two small ones upstairs. Later two more rooms were added - built out of rustic. Father's trade cmae in very handy. He did most of the carpenter work on the first school house built in Littleton; worked on the Joseph Williams store when it was first built; built the T.R.G. Welch home, which is now owned by J. Kich Waldron. The House in which Howard Randle lives was built by father for his first family. He made bob sleighs and a cutter for the family. In the early days no caskets could be purchased. They had to be made from rough lumber which had to be plained. Father made a great many of them. Father owned a saw mill up in Smith Creek, however, ti was later moved to Sheep Canyon. Being among the first settlers in Morgan County, they took part in all the activities and shared in the hardships of Pioneer Life. Father had some sheep and they also had a loom to weave cloth. They dyed it yellow with some kind of a weed, then made dresses out of the material. Mother said it didn't look so bad. To make stockings, the wool was washed, carded and made into yarn. To make gray stockings a little black wool was added to the white wool. In the spring of the year when milk was plentyful, mother would make butter and cheese. The butter was put into brine and kept until fall. Father was a member of the first brass band in Morgan County. For fifteen years he was a trustee of Littleton School District, Superintendent of the Sunday School for a time. For twenty years he was first counselor to Bishop Ely Whittier. Mother was the first councilor to Cordelia Smith in the Littleton Primary. She was second councilor to Annie Whittier in the Relief Society. Mother was also busy helping people who were in need. Mother and Father sent three boys on missions, the fourth boy William, was called to go on a mission, but when he arrived in New York, he received word of father's death so returned home. In May of 1887, Louisa died from a stroke. Father met his death by accident on the 16th day of January, 1890. The heavy snow on the barn caused the roof to fall. He was struck on the head by a falling rafter. Mother passed away December 12, 1901. Her death was caused by an enlarged spleen.