·1/ Eli and Annie Maria Hall Whitear The decade of the 1850's was to find much unrest for the people of Preston Candover England. Elders from America had come proclaiming the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and in their wake many were forced to make wrenching decisions about home and family. Among these were three sisters, Emma, Fanny, and Maria Brooks. They listened to the elders and their hearts burned within them as they recognized the truth. Upon their baptism they were disowned by their family so they set about earning money for their passage to America. A young blacksmith, Eli Whitear, was attracted to Emma and he courted her when possible. When his parents found out he was interested in a Mormon girl, they were shocked and upset. Eli was deeply concerned about the reaction of his parents and others in the village. In February I 854, Emma and her sisters had earned enough to buy their passage and Eli made plans to go to Liverpool to see them off. When his parents learned about his plans the disagreement came to a climax. At the time Eli knew little about Mormonism, but he was deeply saddened by his parent's reaction and felt he should have the right to choose his own companions. He made the journey to Liverpool where he saw the girls off on their journey. After they left, he found himself at a crossroad. Choosing to stay in Liverpool he was taught by the missionaries and the Holy Ghost bore record that this indeed was the true church. After his baptism he prayerfully considered his options. His father needed his help in the blacksmith shop, but his conversion would hurt his parent's business as well. Peace came to his soul when he decided to immigrate to America. On March 24, 1854, he set said with 393 other Latter-day Saints. After arriving in the U.S. he made his way up the Mississippi and then the Missouri River to the John McGee Camping grounds in Kansas. Several in his group died with cholera and he was very ill, but recovered. Anxious to complete his journey to Salt Lake City and be reunited with Emma he joined the next wagon train. Eli drove one of the wagons and served as a blacksmith. There was some concern as they left over reports that there had been an Indian uprising and soldiers killed at Fort Laramie. At one point they sent a group back to help rescue fan1ilies from a train, whose cattle and oxen had been driven away by Indians; but otherwise their journey was quite uneventful and they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in October. Upon their arrival Eli learned that the wagon train which should have brought the Brooks sisters had arrived only three days previously. Sadly, he learned that both Emma and Fanny had died during a smallpox outbreak on the ship and had been buried at sea. Eli was saddened to learn of Emma's death. He had looked forward to a happy reunion and the joy of telling her that he was baptized. All this was now an empty dream. He did his best to comfort her sister, Maria. He found work at a blacksmith shop in Farmington, meanwhile maintaining his acquaintance with Maria and found his affection for her growing. Nine months after arriving in the valley they were married. The next few years brought the both joy and sorrow. The first sorrow came when their first son died soon after his birth. , < .. • A short time later, Eli was shocked one November day when Lot Smith arrived at their home with his sister Elizabeth Sermon and her four children. They were in such pitiful condition that he was moved to tears. He had not known that she and her family had been on the ill-fated Martin and Willy Hand Cart Companies. Overcome at the sight of their suffering, he called in another elder and they administered to the family and gave each member a priesthood blessing. Trying to alleviate their suffering, they poulticed their feet which had been frozen. The two boy's feet had been so badly frozen that they had started to decay, and Elizabeth had been forced to cut the decayed parts away with her scissors. Death had come to her husband one night when Elizabeth awoke to find his lifeless body next to her on the cold ground. Eli and Maria cared for them until Elizabeth had recovered enough to get employment and care for herself and her family. Eli loved music and brought music to the people wherever he lived. He organized and directed the first choir in Farmington. Bishop organized the first band in 1856 and asked Eli to play in it. He played B-flat coronet. This band was one of those asked to play at the celebration up Big Cottonwood Canyon to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley. During this celebration, Abraham Smoot and Judson Stoddard rode up the canyon to warn President Brigham Young of the approach of the United States Anny. When President Young received the news, he immediately called a meeting with the church authorities at the celebration. Excitement and ala1m spread throughout the crowd. Fearing the effect of the news upon the people, President Heber C. Kimball and Daniel Wells came to Eli's tent and asked the bands to strike up the National Anthem. As they began to play the Star Spangled Brumer, the people gathered around, removed their hats, and stood at attention. When the national Anthem ended, President Brigham Young gave a patriotic speech and dismissed the celebration. He advised the people to return to their homes the next morning and Eli and Maria returned to Farmington with their family. Month's later when Colonel Kane had made arrangements for Governor Cununing to meet with church leaders, Eli was involved. It was April and the snow was too deep to bring the party over Big Mountain, so they came down Weber Canyon. At the mouth of the canyon, they were met by the Farmington Militia who escorted them to the Farmington Court House. When they arrived, the Farmington Brass Band struck up the National Anthem to welcome them. Eli, later telling of the event, said Governor Cumming was surprised and overcome by the welcome. He could barely express himself upon meeting loyal citizens who welcomed him, for he had been warned that the Mormons were rebels and traitors. Governor Cumming stayed in Farmington on Sunday and on Monday morning the Brass Band in carriages met him and played for him Hail Columbia, Yankee Doodle, The Star Spangled Banner, and other popular arias. He was again affected ru1d tears rolled down his cheeks. He responded by giving a speech and expressing hope for a peaceful settlement. He was escorted to Salt Lake City and shown the Government seal and records reported to have been destroyed. He immediately sent a dispatch to President Buchanan informing him of the truth. Eli and Maria's fifth son was born December 27, 1862. Maria became ill with milk fever and passed away January 14, 1863, leaving Eli with four young sons to care for. The bishop brought a young English convert to the home to help care for the children. Her nrune was Annie Maria Hall. A1mie had given up a considerable inheritance to come to America and join the Saints . 2 .' . After only two weeks, though she had come to love the children, Annie felt she should leave because people in the town were gossiping about them staying in the same house together. Eli was greatly upset and took the problem to the bishop who suggested he marry her. Both Eli and Annie were very concerned about the short period of time since Annie' s death and Eli still greatly mourned Maria, but they knew it was best for the children, so they were married January 29, 1863. They came to love each other greatly and were sealed for eternity in March of 1865. Some of Eli's acquaintances had moved to the Weber Valley (Morgan) and were farming the land. Eli decided to try farming so he moved to the valley and bought land in a small settlement called Littleton (Milton). When he had settled his family, he found there was no school, nor choir or band, so he set about to correct the situations. He taught school his first years in Morgan County using the tithing house as a school room. He organized the first choir. The choir met at the Morgan church, and he would ride his horse every week to Morgan to conduct and teach the choir. He did this faithfully for many years. He also organized the first band, and gave music lessons for many instruments. He directed the band for many years as it played for events throughout the county. By 1871, Annie and Eli had added four more children to the family. There were now eight and the oldest was 13. Annie worked hard. An excellent seamstress, she sewed all the children' s clothing. She also made butter, sometimes to sell in exchange for groceries. She was very organized, and a caring neighbor who helped to look out for others as well as her family. It was at this time that Annie' s sister, Eleanor.(called Ellen), can1e to stay with them to help with the house work and help care for the children. After living with Annie and Eli for two years, the bishop suggested that Eli take Ellen as his second wife in plural marriage. Annie was pregnant and it was a great test of her faith, yet she didn' t want to go against church counsel. She tried to hide her feelings and gave her consent for Eli to ask Ellen. Eli and Ellen were sealed on March l 0, 1873. · When Annie retired alone to her room that night, she was so distraught she felt she could not sleep a wink. In her anguish and heartache she fell on her knees and cried, "Oh Lord, if polygamy is true, give me a good night' s rest tonight." She hardly remembered getting up from her knees, and as soon as she lay down she was fast asleep and did not wake until Eli came next morning to wake her to come eat breakfast. When she opened her eyes, the sun was shining full upon her face. She had overslept and she felt so good and refreshed, she knew the Lord had answered her prayers. She decided she would live the principle to the best of her ability. On July 4, 1877, the Morgan Stake was organized and Eli was called to serve as Bishop of the Milton Ward. A few years later Annie was called to serve as the Relief Society President. Her special boiled raisin cake and roly poly puddings and bread were taken to the home of those ill, in morning, or in need. She was capable in whatever role she had to face. The ensuing years were filled with service, hard work, and hardship. Eli was the father of 20 children. Of those 20, six of them preceded him in death. Throughout their lives, both Eli and Annie had the courage and faith to accept the truth even though they knew they would be called upon to sacrifice much for that decision; yet the blessings received far outweighed any sacrifice. 3 • • The Savior said, "And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall inherit everlasting life." Matt 29: 19 (Sources: Information for this sketch came from histories written by Hazel Whitear Richins. Hazen has dedicated her life to researching and writing family histories. It has been a privilege to take this summary from her work. Laraine Whitear) 4