| OCR Text |
Show • • • Zachariah and Eliza Philbrook Hardy My G.G. Grandparents By Louise Butters Waldron In a colonial town called Belfast, Waldo County, Maine on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean lived a seafaring family by the name of Hardy. They had migrated to America from Europe. It was here that Zachariah Hardy, a son of Joseph Hardy and Elizabeth Thorndyke Hardy was born, on the 12th of . March, 1 799. He was the eldest of a family of four children. Zachariah eventually became a captain of a large vessel, the same as his father before him. It was about 1822 that he married Eliza Philbrook of Belfast, Maine, who was a daughter of Elisha Philbrook and Dorothea Witham Philbrook. While he was engaged in his trade, he first heard the gospel of the Latter-day Saints preached by Elder William Hyde in Siersport, Maine, in about 1839 or 1840. Zachariah readily accepted the gospel as he recognized the truths in Brother Hyde's words, but his wife was a very faithful Methodist; therefore, she couldn't see it as clearly and was reluctant to believe what they claimed. One day two missionaries of this church visited them and told her about the beliefs. She wasn't impressed so they decided to go on into the next town. One of them asked her ifhe could leave his Book of Mormon with her to keep for him until he returned. He told her not to read it, which aroused her curiosity very much. She was fascinated with what she read. The more she read the more interested she became until she was completely convinced of its sincerity and truth. Shortly after this she had a vision, which impressed her very much. She saw the Saints in their temple clothing and they were with Joseph Smith. She then had a song come to her, which she sang. She sang all 17 verses to her husband. Many years later her grandchild, Eiza Hardy, 7 6 years old, recalled a portion of the song as she heard her Grandmother sing it. "My son Joseph, He shall lead you, through a long and promised land, and lead you out ofBabylon ... " After this manifestation, they joined the church in August of 1840 . 11'1 =" . . . . • • • They sold most of their belongings to raise money to go west. They bid farewell and left for Illinois, settling in LaHarp, which is near Nauvoo, Illinois. After arriving in Illinois, they secured a cottage, rejoiced, and were thankful when he was called to perform many duties for the prophet. He was appointed to be a bodyguard to the Prophet. The saints had to leave Nauvoo because of the hatred of the mobs and the terrible acts that were being committed against them. If bridges hadn't been erected over the streams, they had to rely on ferryboats where the streams couldn't be forded. A skilled boatman, Zachariah Hardy, was assigned to ferry the saints and their belongings across the Missouri river. The chilly winds of winter swept down upon them in such a force that it rivaled the terror of the mobs, but Zachariah never wavered from his task. Halting only long enough to comb the ice out of his hair and beard, he worked until all were safely across the river. On the night of 11 February 1846, a terrible storm came up and the next morning he was very ill with pneumonia. Lying on the deck of the ferry, his hair had to be cut away as it was frozen to the floor. He died two days later, 13 February 1846, leaving his wife and six children. The youngest baby was just five days old. The only shelter they had to stay in was a wagon box on the ground covered with canvas . As they dare not return to Nauvoo in the daytime, Zachariah's brother, Joseph and Lewis, and brother-in-law, Abiah Wadsworth, took his body to Nauvoo in the night and buried it. (In Navuoo, the records indicate the location were Zachariah's body was buried. The sight was visit by G.G.G. Granddaughter Jeanine Waldron Carter in 2003) Emma Smith, the wife of the Prophet, opened her home to Eliza and her children after the death of Zachariah, and cared for them until she was able to travel. She, Emma, also said if Eliza would give up going west and remain with her, she would share her home and all her possessions with her and also pay for her children's education. When it came time for them to start their move to Utah, Eiza sold all her belongings to a Mr. Abbot for $400.00. Due to some misunderstanding, she was never able to collect the money. However, the Church provided her with a team and wagon and provisions with which to make the journey to Utah . 12.() ., • t 1• • • In the wagon she had all of her earthly possessions. Her oldest son, William, drove most of the way and she and the older children walked most of the way pulling a handcart. The two youngest children rode on the wagon. She had a coffee grinder she used to grind corn into meal out of which they made bread. Sagebrush was used for fuel to cook with and to warm their selves. Sometimes they used dried buffalo chips to burn for fuel. They endured much, including trouble with wandering tribes of Indians. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley, which was indeed a "Land of Promise" the 18 of February in 1852. After resting one day and night, President Brigham Young sent them and a colony of saints to settle East Weber. It took three days to make the journey as their teams were so worn out from the long trip across the plains. They arrived in East Weber the 21st of September 1852. They lived there for several years, sometimes being threatened by Indians who at times were very troublesome. They built a fort for their protection against and outbreak. In the winter of 1854, they were compelled to move all the families into it as the Indians were on the warpath and would often drive off their horses and cattle. They moved back to their homes the next May (1855) and planted crops, but it was late in the season and a very dry year. Their crops were a failure and they all knew what it was to go to bed so hungry they couldn't sleep. During the year of 1858, Eliza moved with her family to Mountain Green and then to Morgan in 1860. After her children were all married, she made her home with her son's William and Elisha until her death in 1881. 12..1 |
