Life Sketch of ELIZA DURRANT Born; 9 July 1844. Deanshanger, Northampton, England Death: 8 January 1890, Morgan, Utah Sailed for America 28 July 1869 on the ship "Colorado" History giTen by: Deleen White Sommer South Morgan Camp, date: 9 September 1980 Soui h Morgan Camp Historian Margaret McKinnon LIFE SKETCH OF ELIZA DURRANT AND HER THREE HUSBANDS THOMAS WHITEHEAD OCTAVE URSENBACH GEORGE COMPTON Eliza Durrant was born July 9, 1844 at Deanshanger, Northampton, England, to William and Phebe Hoar Durrant. She was the 5th of 11 children. She received a little schooling in Engladd, mostly in classes held in homes. Eliza"s parents were converted to the L.D.S. Church by missionaries in England, and they in turn taught the gospel to their children, and had them bapized as they reached 8 years of age. Eliaz' was baptized June 4, 1855. William and Phebe were anxious for the family to go to aion (Utah), so they all worked very hard, sacrificed much, and saved all they could out of ~eager earnings, over a period of several years, in order to have enough money to secure passage on a ship for each of their older children, one or two at a time. However, Eliza married Thomas Whitehead December 20, 1863 and had two children. The first, George Alfred, died at l year of age. Thomas joined the church to win Eliaa, but became g, habitual drunkard and moved around to various cities. One night he came home intoxicated, locked the door, took out his razor and threaterled to kill her. Eliza snatched up her baby daughter, Sarah Jane, and by some miracle at that moment, the door flew open and she ran out into the darkness. Later, her brother, Joseph, in Utah, heard of her trouble, and secured passage for her on the ship "Colorado". She sailed for America July 28, 1869, to join her sister, Jane, and two brothers, Thomas and Joseph. She divorced Thomas Whitehead before sailing. \. • • • (2) On this ship she met Octave Ursenbach, who was returning from a mission to Switzerland, and they were inunediately attracted to each other. Sometime after arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, they were married November 8, 1869, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City . They made their home here and a year lat er a son, Octave ~redrick, was born to them. Octave Ursenbach was born November 22, 1832 at Geneva, Vaud, Switzerland, to Jacques Daniel Fredrick Ursenbach and qean Sophie Esther Buvelot. He kaaw many hardships as a youth, being apprenticed at age 13 to a cruel watchmaker. He worked hard tending this man's cattle while also learning the trade. For 5 years he seldom had enough food or clothing, and was forced to sleep much of the time in the barn . At the age of 22, Octave was converted to the L.D.S. Church and was baptized $eptember 12, 1854. He sailed to America on the S.S. George Washing~on March 27, 1857. He l i ved in New York for one year, then with a group of returned missionaries, he came to Utah by mule team. They took an untravelled route to avoid Johnson's Army and had an extremely difficult journey, nearly freezing to death. When they reached Salt Lake City, it was Deserted, except for men detailed to burn it should the Army come through. On November 12, 1859 he received his endowments and was sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City to his first wife, Josephine de la Harpe, a widow with two children. He built a small house and started a business after much financial difficulty. He was finally successful in his trade as watchmaker and became quite prominent. ~7 • • • (3) The Utah silk industry was started 1n 1868, fostered by President John Taylor, after Oetave imported silkworm eggs from France in 1863, and established a small cocoonery. OctalYe left April 1867 for a mission to Switzerland. His companion was Karl o. Maesser. They tried to open up France for missionary work but failed. OctaTe was imprisoned in the Ca!tle of Chillon in tile same dungeon where Lord Byron had been. This confinement caused hia to be in Tery poor llealth, resulting in llis early death. Just 4 months after Octave Fredrick, OctaTe'e only child was born to him and Eliza Durrant, OctaTe passed away 26 Feb 1871, and was buried in the Salt Lake City cementery. 18 NoTember 1873, Eliza married George Compton, a friend whom she had known in England. They liTed in Morgan, Utah for 17 years. He. helped build the railroad and was a clerk in Williams' store. He was also City Recorder for many years. No cllildren wereoorn to George and Eliza, but he was a Tery good father to Eliza'e children, Sarah Jane and Octave Fredrick. Eliza was a Tery unselfish and kind person. On 13 July 1874, Eliza went to the Endowment House and had Saran and Emma, her two sisters wllo had · died at the ages of 20 and 18, umnarried, sealed to her own deceased husband, Octave Ursenbach. Eliza had an interesting life. She was an expert at making pillow lace, and some of her work won a prize at the World's Fair. When the president of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, and his wife were visiting Salt lake City, the Relief Society presented a collar of lace to Mrs. Hayes, which had been made by Eliza. She studied medicine with Dr. Kohler in Morgan, and was very kind and helpful to those who were ill • /{; 8 ... • • • (4) Eliza was a very spirtual woman, and once when she was extremely 111, and had apparently passed away, her mother insisted that the Elders exercise their Priesthood and ask the Lord to bring her back so she could raise her children. Eliza was reviYed, and she later testified that her huaband, Octave, had met her on the other side and said "The Priesthood are exercising their power and you must return and raise our family. I will come for you later ". After this experience, her heal th was neYer good, and she eYentua.lly went quite deaf, which preYented her from being very actiTe in church work. She liTed until Sarah Jane was married and Octave Fredrick was 20 years of age. She passed away 8 January 1890, and was laid to rest in the Morgan Cenetery •