Done SARAH DAVIS CARTER BORN SEPTEMBER 15 - 1837 PIONEER OF 1855 A SHORT STORY OF MY MOTHERS LIFE. 86 done My mother, Sarah Davis Carter, was born Sept. 15th, 1837 at Herefordshire, Stokes Lane, England. Her father William Davis (1805) her mother Elizabeth Bishop (1815) were both born at Herfordshire Stokes Lane. Mother's grandparents were Mark and Hannah Davis. I have no record of their death or birth. Mother was the fifth child in a family of 9. At the age of eleven years she went to live with her Uncle and Aunt, Thomas and Bessie Davis. Here she lived until she was 14, doing house work, nursing children etc. She carried all their drinking water over a mile. This she did mostly on her head. This habit thus formed in her youth remained with her through¬out life. For at 80 she carried herself as straight and graceful as a girl. Here she was taught the strickest economy in all things. This was another virtue that mother never forgot. While living with her Aunt and Uncle she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by Elder Finch. Her mother and father had previously, by Elder Wilford Woodruff, Grandfather Davis was a God fearing humble man, but like many others at that time, was not satisfied with the different churches and the principles they taught. So grandfather with many others formed a religion of their own. They called it the "United Brethern", and there was 500 of them. When Elder Wilford Woodruff went to the place as an L.D.S. missionary he baptized every one of the 500, but one man. Soon after this mother was baptized and she returned home to live. Grandfather's wages were small and they had a large family, so mother again went into service working for her board and clothes. They knew if they emigrated to Utah, which was the great desire of their hearts, they would have to save every penny. My grandparents kept an open house for the Elders and many times 87 they gave their bed to the Elders while they would take a quilt and sleep on the floor in the other room, never letting the Elders know, but always making them welcome and feeding them with the best they had. Two years later in the spring of 1855 they started on their journey to Utah, There was grandmother, grandfather, Ted, William, John, and Sarah, Elizabeth, Rubin and baby Levi, Aunt Eliza was married to John Nott and did not come. While crossing the ocean on the ship "Windomere" the small pox broke out. When little Ruben and Levi both died from it and had to be buried in the ocean it almost killed Grandmother. She had to watch her two darlings wrapped in a canvas and a weight attached and then see them dropped in the water. On landing at New Orleans grandmother, mother and two brothers were taken to the hospital while these not having the disease were taken up the river with the company. After staying at the hospital for eight days and eight nights on the steamboat without bedding of any kind and scarcely sanything to keep them warm. Lying at night on the hard rough boards they had little to eat. But the cook seeing grandmother so weak and frail would often bring her some warm soup or gruel which she enjoyed and appreciated. Grandmother only weighed about 100 pounds. Hatching up with the saints they immediately made preparations to start that long journey across the plains. There was only one wagon for 10 people to carry bed¬ding, clothes and food etc. There was no room for any one to ride. Grandmother and all walked every step of the way. It was a rough hard journey and only by the help of our Heavenly Father did they ever reach the valley. Grandfather was a large powerful man and often after a long hard day would hold grandmother in his arms, which seemed to give her new strength. They were a happy loving couple and mother said she never heard an unkind word between them. 88 On one occasion my mother, Aunt Elizabeth and another young lady with her boy friend started out ahead of the company, thinking they could follow the road. After traveling a long time they come to a low mountain. They with difficulty climed to the top hoping they might see the company. Instead on the other side they saw an Indian camp. Not knowing if they were friendly or hostile the young man told them to wait behind the bushes while he went down to the camp to see if he could get some water as their tongues were swell¬ing and they could scarcely speak. The young man returned with water and an old squaw. Mother said never in her life did she taste anything so good as the water. The squaw said she would show them the road the emigrants took, if mother would giver her mother's petticoat and Aunt Elizabeth her stockings which they gladly did. She showed them the road and they got into camp just at dark, and a company was just forming to go and hunt for them. Never again did they venture off. The journey was a hard one but never did mother hear grandfather or grandmother say one word of complaint. On October they reached the valley foot sore and weary but so very thankful. They lived in one room in Cottonwood that winter. In the spring of 1856 they moved to Kaysville. They worked very hard to build them a home. In the spring of 1856 mother married Levi Roberts. One daughter Sarah Elizabeth was born to this union. On April 1, 1857 through neglect and abuse mother was given a sep¬aration by Pres. Brigham Young. Mother worked very hard, doing housework and anything she could find to do, in that early day, for support of herself and baby. In the spring of April 18, 1863 mother married my father, Samuel Carter, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They went to be married from Kaysville to Salt Lake riding on a cart (two wheels of a wagon) drawn by oxen, father walked most of the way to guide them. 89 When they returned to Kaysville my Aunt Ellen, fathers first wife, had a nice supper cooked and all were very happy. They made their home in Kaysville for 3 years, when a son William Henry was born Dec. 15, 1863. In the fall of 1865 they moved to Round Valley where Father farmed, taught school etc. Often I have heard my parents talk of the railraod when it was built through Morgan. Mother and Aunt Ellen cooked for a number of men who were working on it, and mother has often said what a help the money was they earned at that time. Everything was so high in price at that time While living there the grass hoppers came. They ate everything Mother said they were so thick when flying in swarms they would hide the sun. That winter was hard one for many. Often they had to eat boiled whole wheat and bran bread. Four children were born in Round Valley, Ann Elizabeth Fec. 20, 1865, George Edward April 1, 1867, Joseph, Jan. 31, 1869, Alice, May 2, 1871. Alice married May 25, 1887. in the spring of 1873 father moved to Porterville where he homesteaded land. While mother lived in Kaysville Grandmother Davis was taken very sick and mother nursed her for some weeks. In Dec. 1868 she passed away. Just after she died mother feeling very faint went outside the house for fresh air. While leaning against the house trying to overcome the first deep sorrow of losing her mother she heard music in the distance. As she listened it came nearer and nearer until it seemed to be in the very door yard. It stopped for a few minutes and then it began again sweeter than ever and then it seemed to receed into the distance. Mother said it was the most beautiful music she had ever heard in all her life. She said she could discern the different instruments, the drum beats etc. When she returned to the house no one had heard any music and it was about 2 o'clock in the morning and they lived 90 some distance from town. So it couldn't have been earthly music. When mother told me this she said, "Alice I have never told this to many people for they may not understand, but my girl I did hear it, and never can forget." Now to go back to Porterville, It was a struggle for father with two growing families. I can remember the first houses father built. They were log houses. Mother had three rooms and Auntie three. They had floors in them but dirt roofs. Sometimes they leaked but after the storm was over mother would white wash them (the walls) and they would be pretty and white again as ever. Mother had a home made rug on one floor but we girls had to scrub the other rooms and Oh! the slivers we got in our hands. While our home was crude it was always clean and neat. My mother was a wonder the way she managed everything, making soap with ashes and the scraps of grease (how I did hate it though). Making candles of tallow taken from the sheep father killed for our meat. Knitting our stockings, spinning yarn to be woven into cloth from which mother made father's suits and also my brothers, and oh dear so many other things. Mother and my Aunt Ellen worked together, helping each other in times of sickness and so I remember we were all one big happy family. My father was a very just man, treating both families with the same consideration and love. I have often thought how perfectly he lived the law of celestial marriage. Mother had seven more children, David Davis May 10, 1873, Emma Jan 13, 1875, but she died at seven months, Levi Alfred, Jan 16 1876, Amelia, June 16, 1878, Clara, May 23, 1880, Benjamin Feb. 2, 1883, Franklin, Dec, 1884, (died in infancy When mother lived at Kaysville they had all been to meeting once and Brother Geo. Q. Cannon had preached a powerful sermon on the 91 word of wisdom. My grandfather had smoked a pipe for 40 years. After returning home from meeting he took his pipe with his tobacco and put them both in the stove and he never again touched tobacco. I record this to show what determination and faith our forefathers had. I have often wished we could be as good and faithful as dear mother was. She worked so hard for us children. She had no washing machine or any of the conveniences we have. Never once did she fail, when father was not there, to have family prayers or to neglect to teach us the gospel, she was always cheerful and never once did I hear her complain over any hardship. Written by Alice Spackman, daughter of Sarah Davis Carter. (At the time of her death which occured May 3, 1925 she had 13 children 91 grandchildren 80 great grand children Note by Evelyn Bjorkman. 92 Children's Birthdays William December 15, 1863 Ann Eliza (Brough) —February 20, 1865 George Edward April 1, 1867 Joseph January 31, 1869 Alice (Spackman) May 2, 1871 David Davis May 10, 1873 Emma January 18, 1875 Levi Alfred January 16, 1876 Amelia (Heiner) June 16, 1878 Clara (Mortensen)— May 23, 1880 Benjiman February 2, 1883 Frank —- December 18, 1884