Elisha Whiting Jr.

GIVN: Elisha
SURN: Whiting
NSFX: Jr
Sex: M
Born: 17 Dec 1785 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Died: Mar 1848 in Mount Pisgah, Union, Iowa, USA
Buried: in Mount Pisgah, Union, Iowa, USA
AFN: 1B2Z-ZW
Baptised LDS: 1838 in Far West, Caldwell, Missouri, USA 3 Feb 1846
TEMP: NAUVO - Nauvoo Illinois (original) 27 Oct 1960


Notes:
!Archive Rec Edwin Whiting Family Assn.-Springville, UT; Early Church Members Susan W. Easton.
ELISHA WHITING, Jr. & SALLY HULET WHITING
compiled from the collected writings of Martha Whiting Brown, Ruth Brown Lewis, other family writings, & historical writings as noted in text
by Louine B. Hunter1997 revision


Elisha's father, Elisha, was born November 21, 1762, at Hartford Connecticut. He married Susannah Butler March 25, 1784, at West Hartford.
Elisha was a sea captain who died, leaving his wife alone to care for their three small children in Hartford. Elisha Jr. had two younger sisters, Polly and Susannah.


EDITOR'S NOTE: Although we do not have a death date for Elisha Sr., we know he died at a young age, probably around age 28, and near the year 1790. Their last child was born about 1789, and Susannah married her second husband, Reuben Simmons on May 1, 1796, indicating that Elisha and Susannah were married far less than twelve years, and probably closer to six years.


Revolutionary War Records, Connecticut, page 541: "Elisha Whiting, Private in Captain Ozias Bissell's Company." His birth date is listed as November 21, 1762. The war was fought between 1775 and 1783, indicating that Elisha was somewhere between thirteen and twenty one while serving in the Revolutionary War.


1 ELISHA Jr.'s EARLY YEARS
Without her husband's income, Susannah was very poor. Not knowing what else to do, she eventually bound Elisha out to an old Quaker to learn the carpentry trade. Though Elisha worked hard, the Quaker was very mean to him, sometimes hitting him and doing other cruel things.
Elisha was very unhappy. He was resentful of his mother and to all concerned that such a thing had happened to him. He never got over those feelings and his children and grandchildren knew that his lips were sealed so far as any experiences of his youth were concerned.
Cordelia Perry, his granddaughter, told Martha Whiting Brown the following:
His feelings were so badly hurt that he never wanted to speak of it. One day at his chair and wagon shop in Manti, Ohio, a stranger came in and brought up the subject of being a relative from his early days. Elisha flew into a rage and refused to listen to him, then ordered him to leave his shop at once.
So we, his children's children, will never know, I guess, just what he went through, being sent from home by his mother, after his father's death. They say he was bitter about it until the day he died.


Elisha Meets Sally
Although he was afraid of the old Quaker, Elisha ran away to make his own way in the world. He went to Lee, Massachusetts, where he met Sylvanus Hulet, a wheelwright (one who makes repairs of wheels and wheeled vehicles) who lived on a farm. Elisha asked Sylvanus for a job, assuring him that he could do carpentry work and make chairs and furniture, so he was hired.
There he met Sylvanus' daughter, Sally, a real pretty girl, the oldest of the seven Hulet children. She was part Indian and had dark hair and dark eyes. Elisha soon fell in love with Sally who was not quite seventeen years old; he was not yet twenty.
They were married September 18, 1805. Lee, Massachusetts was their first home, where their first four children were born. It was a sad day when their first baby died the same day it was born in 1806. A year later William was born, followed the next year by Edwin, our ancestor, their third child. Two and a half years later Charles was born. The next two children, Catherine and Harriet, were born in ???, their second place of residence.


Nelson, Portage, Ohio, 1817
When little Edwin was six, the family traveled over the Mohawk Trail to Nelson, Ohio, which was then the western frontier, probably the very place Elisha wished to be to get suitable timber for his carpentry trade, to support his growing family.
Elisha built a log cabin on a quiet sloping hill that looked out over the valley. He built an open fireplace where Sally cooked. An iron crane protruded from the side where Sally would hang a kettle from the crane and push it back over the fire. When she wanted t bake bread, she put the dough inside the kettle and put red hot coals on the flat top.
Around the room were beds, a table and a cupboard After all, her husband was a carpenter who learned to do beautiful work while he was with the old Quaker. He made a handsome black walnut bureau for Sally that she was very proud of. The girls slept in a trundle bed that was pulled out from under their parent's bed. They soon built another section onto their log cabin. One side they lived in; the other side was a wagon and carpentry shop At night they lit tallow candles and burned knots from pine trees in the fireplace while they told stories.
The last six of their twelve children were born in Nelson, Portage, Ohio: Emeline, Chauncy, Almon, Jane, Sylvester, and Lewis. Their education was limited, but they were all taught "the three R's: Readin', Ritin', and Rithmetic."
We are told that Sally Hulet Whiting was a wonderful woman and that she was very gifted in writing prose and poetry, a characteristic bequeathed to many of her Whiting descendants. Sally and Elisha were some of the most respected citizens of Nelson. They were honest, generous, and firm in their convictions.


Three Stories About Catherine
Catherine was the fourth child of Sally and Elisha, a sister to our ancestor, Edwin. Catherine spent a lot of time with her relatives, especially her grandmother, Mary Lewis Hulet, and her aunts and cousins.
A Trip Through the Woods
One day Catherine went to visit her aunt who sent her on an errand to borrow a pattern from a friend who lived about a mile away, straight through the woods. She knew she wouldn't get lost, but it was kind of scary to go into the woods alone. She wanted to please her aunt so she tied on her sunbonnet and began her errand. As she went along she saw some snakes, but she was used to them, they did not frighten her. She saw plenty of rabbits and squirrels and other little animals. The forest was beautiful and interesting and she was having a good time.
She soon reached the aunt's house, got the pattern from her and started back. When she was almost home she saw a big, black bear. Upon seeing Catherine, the bear rose to his hind feet! Catherine was nearly paralyzed with fear, so frightened that she could not move. After the bear watched her for a little while it dropped down on all fours and lumbered away with a growl. She ran the rest of the way home.
The Chiefs Son
Sometimes the Indians came to see the people. When Catherine Whiting (sister of our ancestor, Edwin Whiting) was a little girl, an Indian chief came with his little son. He had shining black eyes, copper colored skin, and his father was very proud of him. Because the father was a chief, both were dressed in colorful beads, earrings, brooches, and elaborate clothes.
The chief thought Catherine was so cute that he told her he would give her one of his brooches if she would kiss his little son. She really wanted that brooch, but she did not want to kiss the boy. The chief was quite offended; he thought she should be very proud to kiss his son, but she would not kiss him.
After the Indians went away, Sally, Catherine's mother, was afraid they might come back and do some harm, but they never did.
Bedtime Fright
One evening while their father (Elisha) was away, the family sat around the fire talking. Catherine became sleepy but she did not want to take a candle up the stairs, so she went up in the dark and got ready for bed. She put her hand down to turn the covers back and felt a big, hairy head. "Oh!" she screamed, and fled down the stairs crying, "There’s a man sleeping in my bed!"
Her mother was alarmed but bravely flew into action. She took a broom in one hand and a candle in the other and dashed up the stairs, followed by her boys who held clubs at the ready. They all rushed into the room to find out WHO WAS SLEEPING IN CATHERINE'S BED?, just like the Three Bears and Goldilocks.
When they held up the candle, they saw their old dog, Paint, under the covers. The boys laughed and teased Catherine!
Edwin & the Gun
In the Whiting family, no one was allowed to hunt on the Sabbath. One Sunday morning Edwin decided he wanted to go hunting, so he tried to sneak his gun out of the house by drawing it through a crack between the logs. The gun got caught, fired, and wounded his left arm. That was a lesson to keep the Sabbath day holy that he never forgot. He retold this story to his children and grandchildren many times.
Source: Louine Berry Hunter


Mt. Pisgah Cemetery and Park:
East side -- Front of Granite Shaft (centered as written below):This MonumentERECTEDA.D. 1888,In memory ofthose membersof the church ofJesus Christ oflatter day saintsWHO DIED in1846, 1847,AND 1848,Dureing their ex-odus to seek a homebeyond theRocky MountainsInterred here isWILLIAMHUNTINGTONthe first presidingElder of the temporarySettlement calledPISGAH.LENORA CHARLOTTESNOWDaughter ofELDER LORENZO &CHARLOTTE SQUIRESSNOW.(On Base of Granite Shaft):ISAAC PHINEHAS RICHARDSSON OF ELDERFRANKLIN D. & JANE SNYDER RICHARDS-----------------------------------------------------------------------South side -- of Granite Shaft (centered as written below):Betsy Carley ShipleyNephi ShipleyDavid McKeePolly SweatLouisa CoxEliza CoxHenry DavisJoel CampbellEmily WhitingElisha WhitingSally WhitingWidow Head WhitingElizabeth DanielsRebecca AdairWilliam P. MangumLane Ann MangumJemima Mangum AdairWilliam Jefferson Adair---------------------------------------------------------------------West Side -- of Granite Shaft (centered as written below):Ezra T.B. AdairNancy WorkmanSamuel WorkmanSamuel SteelSimeon ThayerJessy Hitchcock & wifeClark HalletPhebe HalletAnn Gould HalletLouese Hallet & 2 other children.Sarah HuletSarah Ann HuletNoah RogersAmos Philemon RogersMary Briant EnsignMargaret Josaphine Billingsley--------------------------------------------------------------------North Side -- of Granite Shaft (centered as written below):Hyrum SpencerAlvah HancockGardner EdmisonPhilanda Calvin JordinJoseph Smith BillingsleyElkano KellerMrs. Baldwin and BabyMr. Hess - buried on w. side of riverMr. Hays - " " " "Joseph MerryfieldMr. CookWife of Mr. BrownMr. ThompsonWilliam Selvanies BishopJoseph Franklin BishopAngelia CarterStranger. Not in the churchHenry JudsonAlexander GayBenjamin GayEmma Jane JohnsonMartha A. Dana---------------------------------------------------------------------The following is posted in the Log Cabin near the old cemetery:MOUNT PISGAHA Mormon community of 2,000 once flourished here while preparing to followBrigham Young to Salt Lake City, Utah.In 1846 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)began their historic trek from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Great Salt LakeBasin of the Rocky Mountains. Having been cruelly driven from their homesin Nauvoo, they settled Mount Pisgah, Iowa, while preparing for the westerntrek. The name was given to this locality by Apostle Parley P. Pratt. Mormon leader Brigham Young arrived here May 18, 1846. Soon after,temporary farms were sectioned off and planting began. Other migratingMormons quickly arrived in this community until the population had swelledto over 2,000. The mortality rate was quite high due to exposure andhardship suffered as the result of being driven from Illinois. Over 150persons died here during the first six months.In July of 1846 the Church was called upon by the Federal Government toraise 500 young men to march to Mexico and participate in the war beingconducted there. Brigham Young himself acted as temporary recruitingofficer under the authority of United States Army officers. Losing many ofMount Pisgah's able-bodied men placed an even greater hardship on those whoremained. Nevertheless, in the fall of 1846 it was reported the Mormons atMount Pisgah were "enjoying peas, cucumbers, and beans; that corn had silkedout and buckwheat was in flower. There was a good prospect for crops ofpotatoes, melons, pumpkins, and squash."In 1852 this settlement was abandoned. The Latter-day Saints were advisedby Church leaders in Utah to unite there with the rest of their people. Agranite shaft has been raised over the old cemetery and upon it are engravedthe names of those pioneers who gave their lives during the great Mormonexodus west.THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS-----------------------------------------------------------------------My Notes: As the above states - "Over 150 persons died here during thefirst six months." Apparently there are many names that were not kept, as the granite shaft (monument) shows many less than that.

This picture was taken May 8, 2005 when Jermy Whiting's family moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Lynn Whiting and two grandsons, Escher and Noah are pictures with the monument.

Aaron Johnson Pioneer Profile

Aaron Johnson Company (1850)
Departure: before 12 June 1850
Arrival in Salt Lake Valley: 12 September 1850
Company Information: 100 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs).

Johnson, Aaron. Son of Didymus Johnson and Rheuama Stevens. Born 22 June 1806 at Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut. Bound out at the age of fourteen to learn gunsmithing; continued in this trade until about 1827. Joined Methodist Church 1824. Married Polly Zerviah Kelsey 13 September 1827. Four known children: Willis, Marilla, Mary Ann, and Emma Maria. Baptized 15 April 1836. Moved to Kirtland, Ohio, in spring of 1837. Purchased land in Kirtland at suggestion of Joseph Smith. Member of Kirtland Camp 1838. Ordained seventy in Far West, Missouri 28 December 1838. Moved to Nauvoo 1839. Justice of peace in Nauvoo. Appointed member of Nauvoo high council 19 January 1841; acknowledged in position 6 February 1841. Served as high councilor 1841-45. Received endowment 21 December 1845. Sealed to Jane Scott 12 July 1845. Six known children: Don Carlos, Aaron, Sophia, Stephen, Moses, and Heber. Sealed to Sarah Maria Johnson 22 December 1845. Two children. Sealed to Mary Ann Johnson 18 May 1846. No known children. Left Nauvoo 1846. Settled in Garden Grove, Iowa, May 1846. Bishop in Garden Grove. Resided in Iowa until spring of 1850; then left for Utah. Arrived in Salt Lake City September 1850. Directed to settle in Springville, Utah. First bishop of Springville served there 1850-72. Chief justice for Utah County for eight years. Major general of Utah Militia. Member of Utah Legislature for twenty years. Postmaster of Springville for twenty-six years. Sealed to Rachel Ford 22 April 1852. Three known children: Marion, Rachel Ann, and Rose Emmeline. Sealed to Harriet Fedelia Johnson 16 December 1852. Five known children: Ida, Eugenia, George, Christabelle, and Alexander. Sealed to Eunice Lucinda Johnson 14 June 1853. No known children. Sealed to Margaret Jane Ford. Six known children: Montezuma, Quetlavaka, Zina, Girilda, Gotamoses, and Daniel. Sealed to Julia Maria Johnson 1 March 1857. Two known children: William and Isabelle. Sealed to Sarah James 1 March 1857. Five known children: Winfred, Edward, Ambrose, Brigham Young, and Annabella. Sealed to Cecelia Almina Sanford 1 March 1857. Eight known children: Lafayette, Sulvia, Armenta, Arminia, Cecelia, Silas, Cyrus, and Maude. Married Jemina Davis Johnson, brother’s widow, for time 6 April 1857. Died 10 May 1877 in Springville, Utah County, Utah. [Cook]

- Mormon Biographical Index, BYU.edu, Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for LDS History

Sylvanus Hulet

This is Edwin Whiting's maternal grandfather:

GIVN: Sylvanus
SURN: Hulet
NSFX: Revolutionary War Soldier
Sex: M
Born: 7 Nov 1758 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut
Christened: 10 Dec 1758 in Thompson Church, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut
Died: 10 Nov 1824 in Nelson, Portage, Ohio, USA
Buried: Nov 1824 in Nelson, Portage, Ohio, USA
AFN: 8KKQ-7F
Baptised LDS: 28 Jul 1844
TEMP: NAUVO - Nauvoo Illinois (original) 20 Feb 1878
TEMP: SGEOR - St. George Utah 27 Feb 1947
TEMP: IFALL - Idaho Falls Idaho
Record last updated: 8 Nov 2008
TIME: 18:07
Notes:
Sylvanus was a Soldier in 2 campaigns in the Revolutionary War, against Bourgogne in 1777 and against Arnold, who burned his home town in South Connecticut in 1780. Three brothers, John, Sylvanus and Samuel were partners in a blacksmith and wagon-making shop and a mill in the edge of Lee township against Tyringham twp, Berkshire, MA. Samuel died 6 Mar 1813. The farm was valued at $35 per acre. The estate was settled and by 1815 Sylvanus and John had moved to Nelson twp, Portage, OH. When Sylvanus applied for a Revolutionary Pension in 1820, his 160 acres was valued at $3 per acre. Connecticut kept the NE corner of Ohio for Revolutionary Soldiers as the "Western Reserve".Sylvanus was 56 years of age when he moved to Nelson: his wife, Mary, 51. He owned more than $3000 in 1814 before he moved to Ohio. The Hulets were considered well-to-do at that time. Most of their children went to Ohio with their parents. When Sylvanus applied for a Revolutionary pension in 1820 his 160 acres was valued at $3 per acre. Their oldest daughter, Sally, had married Elisha Whiting in 1806. They came to Ohio a few years after Sally's parents came, about 1816. The Hulets were baptised Mormons in Oct 1831. About 1831 they moved to Independence, Jackson, MO. Oct 31, 1833 mobs drove them north across the Missouri River into Clay County. In 1836 they moved north into Far West, Caldwell, MO. In early spring 1839 they moved to Melrose, Lima twp, IL, about 30 miles south of Nauvoo. In the fall of 1845 mobs drove them into Nauvoo. Sylvanus was a member of the Nauvoo, Illinois First Ward. In 1846 they were driven into Iowa, later coming to the Salt Lake Valley.Patricia Skinner (4 - 2000) patty555@webtv.net "Sylvanus bought land in Lee, Massachusetts and Great Barrington in 1800. He stayed in that vicinity until approximately 1812, when he boutht land in the new frontier - Ohio. He moved to Portage, Ohio. He married Mary (Polly) Lewis. Sylvanus' children were among the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). . . . Sylvanus can be found in the tax list for Hiram, Portage County in 1817 and 1818. In 1819 and 1820 I have found him in the tax list for Nelson, Portage County, Ohio. He applied for a Soldier's Pension on 14 Jun 1819 while living in Nelson. Many in his family moved to Missouri and then later to Utah."Four families descended from Sylvanus (4) Hulet came early to Utah.1. Elvira (6) Mills Cox, daughter of Rhoda (5) Hulet Mills, arrived in Salt Lake October 2, 1847. She lived in Manti and Fairview. Her descendants numbered about 2000.2. Edwin (6) Whiting, son of Sally (5) Hulet Whiting, ar in the fall of 1849. He lived in Manti and Springville. His descendants number about 8000.3. Charles (5) Hulet, son of Sylvanus (4) came in 1850; lived in Springville, with descendants perhaps about 9000.4. Emeline (5) Whiting Cox, daughter of Sally, came in 1852, lived in Manti, with descendants perhaps about 2000.Your cousin, Orville Cox Day !Birth: Birth per Killingly vital recordsAlt Birth: 7 Nov 1758 Killingly, Windham, ConnecticutAlt Birth: 13 Nov 1758 Of, Lee, Berkshire, MassachusettsBaptism given by Thompson, Windham, Connecticut church records.Alt Name: Sylvannus HULETTAlt Death: 10 Mar 1824 Nelson, Portage, OhioAlt Baptism: 1 Nov 1933Alt Endowment: 15 Mar 1937 Alt Seal to Parents: 18 Sep 1944Alt Seal to Parents: 21 Apr 1973 PROVO - Provo UtahAlt 1 marriage: 1 Sep 1944Alt 1 marriage seal: 1 Sep 1944Naoma Manwaring Harker Research: FGS 57 1. O.C. Day Records2. Utah Gen. & Hist. Mag. vol XXV p. 77 Call #979.2/B2ug Film #564,3533. Church Records of Thompson, Connecticut 974.645/T1/K2t4. Vital Records of Lee, Massachusetts Q/974.41/L1/V2h5. Baptisms for the Dead in Nauvoo 1841Rec of Ella Whiting Waite- LaGrande, Oregon; Archive Rec of Charlotte Cox;Ut Gen Mag 1934 p 130; Hartford Times 27 Nov 1937; Boston Transcript 12 Dec 1928 by O.C. Day; IGI 1988 Conn p 7,588 batch 7450336 0;!DOCUMENTATION (by Margaret Neuffer):!BIRTH: Source - Utah Gen & Hist. mag. Vol XXV, p. 77; Church Rec of T Thompson, Conn. Vital Records of Lee, Berkshire, Massachusetts.!In 1850, Sylvanus had a household of five, a real wealth of $0, and a personal wealth of $0.!In 1860, Sylvanus had a household of 9, a real wealth of $250.00, and a personal wealth of $1200.00!In 1870, Sylvanus had a household of 8, a real wealth of $0, and a personal wealth of $300.00! He and Polly had 4 children. They were: (1) Sally, born 29 Oct 1787 who married Elisha Whiton (Whiting) on 18 Sep 1806, (2) Charles, born 3 Mar 1790 (3) Charlott, born 7 Nov 1792 (4) Rhoda, born 8 Jun 1795. Those were the children listed as born in Lee Vital Records. Other children I have found born to him and Mary (Polly) are (5) Sylvester, born about 1800 (6) Francis, born about 1803, and (7) Mary, born about 1805.

History of Edwin Whiting (Background)

History of Edwin Whiting(Compiled by Jennie Bird Hill, daughter of Abby Ann Whiting, daughter of Edwin and Hannah Whiting- 1919)
Background
About the year 1800, in the little town of Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, near the border of New York, lived the family of Elisha and Sally Hulett Whiting. Elisha Whiting's father was a sea captain and lived in Connecticut. He died when Elisha was very young. His mother, not knowing what else to do, bound him to an old Quaker, who was very cruel to him, and after a few years, he ran away to Massachusetts and worked on a farm with a wheelwright. Here he was married to Sally Hulett. They were highly respected, honest, generous and firm in their convictions.
Elisha Whiting followed the trade of wagon and chair maker and did his work well. His wife was very gifted in making prose and poetry, a characteristic that has been bequeathed to many of the Whiting descendants. To Elisha and Sally Whiting, twelve children were born, eight sons and four daughters as follows: (1) Charles, (2) William, (3) Edwin, (4) Charles, (5) Katherine Louisa, (6) Harriet, (7) Sally Emeline, (8) Chauncey, (9) Almond, (10) Jane, (11) Sylvester, and (12) Lewis.
Edwin Whiting was born September 9, 1809, the third child of this family. When he was six years old, his parents moved to Nelson, Portage County, Ohio. At that time, it was the western frontier of the U.S.A. but probably the very place his father wished to be to get a suitable timber for his trade and for support of his large family.
Edwin Whiting's chance for education was very limited, but they were all taught the "3 R's", Readin', Ritin', and Rithmetic, and he wrote a legible hand, an extraordinary feat for his time. At an early age, he wrote credible verse.
His early life in the forest, no doubt, accounts for his love of the out-of-doors, the beauties of nature, the trees, the flowers, the mountains and the desire to hunt.
One Sunday morning, when but a small boy, he decided to go hunting. He knew this was contrary to his parent's teachings, so he tried to draw his gun through the cracks between the logs of his bedroom and go unmolested. His gun caught and was discharged, inflicting a serious wound in his left arm. This, he said, was a lesson to observe the Sabbath Day and to obey his parents.
He learned the chair making trade from his father and his workmanship was considered very good.
In 1833, when Edwin was twenty-four years old, he married Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson, an Ohio girl of French descent. She was a highly educated school teacher, quite an accomplishment for those days.
In 1837, the Gospel was brought to the Whiting family. Edwin and his wife, his father and mother and some of his brothers and sisters joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were baptized by Thomas Marsh in 1838. Here, as in the time of Christ and His Apostles, the humble, hard-working class of people were the ones to listen and accept the Gospel of truth.
They were among the early members of our church and soon joined the saints in Kirtland, Ohio. It was here that their trials, hardships and persecutions began and it took true manhood, womanhood, and faith in God to endure.
They were forced to leave their new comfortable home, complete with furniture, orchards and land in Kirtland, Ohio and took only their clothing and a few valued relics and went to Far West, Missouri. By this time, Edwin and Elizabeth had four children: William, Helen Amelia, Sarah Elizabeth and Emily Jane. They were only in Far West a short time and had just built a new home, when the mob, several thousand strong, ordered them out. During the battle of the Crooked River, just before they were ordered to leave Missouri, his brother Charles was killed.
They were compelled to flee again so they joined the saints at Lima in father Isaac Morley's branch, where Edwin Whiting acted as counselor to brother Morley. For Several years, the saints were happily building up the city of Nauvoo and their temple, while living at Morley's branch (Yelrome), near Lima. Here they worshipped God without so much persecution as they had experienced in Missouri. Edwin was appointed Colonel in the Nauvoo Legion and was an active worker at all times for the up-building of His Church.
In 1844 he was called on a mission to Pennsylvania and was there at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He soon returned home and took up arms with his bretheren to protect his property and the lives of his family.
Through the advice of those in authority, and for a righteous purpose, he entered the law of plural marriage. On January 3rd 1845, he married Almira Meacham. The following year, January 27, 1846, he married Mary Elizabeth Cox.
In the fall of 1845 the mobs began threatening them, and attacking them. Every house in the village was burned except father Elisha Whiting's, which was spared because he was so sick they could not move him. We remember of hearing aunt Elizabeth tell how she sat on the pile of bedding far into the night with little daughter Jane in her arms. Little Jane died soon after from exposure and lack of proper food. Sarah clapped her hands at the big bonfire the mob had made with their fences and the select wood from her father's chair shop. [Note: When Jennie Hill wrote this sketch, she mixed up some places. The burning was not in Missouri, but in Yelrome, in August 1845, as I have changed it to read. C T Cox]
The families moved into Nauvoo for protection, and to get ready to go west. While there, Edwin and his wives were sealed together in the Nauvoo temple.
Still a greater test awaited him, his brothers, Almond, Sylvester, Chauncey and Lewis and his sister, Louisa did not feel that Brigham Young should be the leader of the Church so they followed a Mr. Cutler and called themselves "Cutlerites" and moved up into Clitheral, Minnesota. To this day they hold tenaciously to the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. They still correspond with the children of Edwin Whiting, and have given us, for temple work, an extensive genealogy of the Whiting family.
Edwin Whiting, his families, his father and mother stayed with the saints, who were compelled to move west as far as Mt. Pisgah, (now known as Talmadge) Iowa. There they stayed to prepare for the journey across the plains.
The dreaded disease, cholera, took the father and mother of Edwin, his little brother and little daughter, Emily Jane. Their names are on the monument lately erected at that place in memory of those who died there. So many of his family were sick at one time, that there was no one well enough to get the sick ones a drink, but even in those trying times, they still had faith and rejoiced in the Gospel, for the Lord was with them. Emeline, a sister of Edwin, married Fredrick Walter Cox and the two families were as one big family for years.
They established a chair factory and hauled the chairs to Quincy, Illinois where they were sold. From this and their crops, they prepared to come west. Aunt Mary taught school two terms and helped the family some. While at Mt. Pisgah, three children were born. Albert Milton was born to Mary. Oscar Newell was born to Elizabeth, and Catherine Emeline was born to Almira.
In April, 1849, Edwin and Emeline, the only children of Elisha and Sally Whiting who stayed true to the Church, started westward in brother Morley's company.
Volumes have been written of the westward journey of the saints, and as Congressman Leatherstood has said, "It is the greatest emigration trail that was ever blazed and our pioneers will some day stand out in history as the greatest pioneers of the world."
They fought Indians, had their cattle stampeded, suffered for lack of proper food, and even though tired from that long and tedious trek, still they went on. After reaching the Black Hills, a heavy snow storm came and for three days they were shut in. Many of their cattle died and perhaps they would have died had not the teams and provisions sent by President Brigham Young come to their aid. On October 28, 1849, they reached Salt Lake City, which looked like a haven of rest to that travel-worn company. Aunt Mary said, "I have never beheld a sight so good and so beautiful as Salt Lake City. We were so thankful our journey was at an end." But their rest was of short duration, for in a few days, Edwin Whiting, the Morley's and the Cox's were called to settle the San Pitch River, now known as Manti. Again they journeyed on. It took three weeks to go from Salt Lake City, because they had to build their own roads.
Provo was then a village of about six homes. As they passed Hobble Creek, afterwards known as Springville, Edwin Whiting remarked, "This is a fertile spot. I would like to stop here."

History of Edwin Whiting (Manti)

History of Edwin Whiting(Compiled by Jennie Bird Hill, daughter of Abby Ann Whiting, daughter of Edwin and Hannah Whiting- 1919)
Manti
They arrived in Sanpete County on December 1, 1849, with almost nothing to eat, no food for their cattle, no shelter to keep them warm, and cold weather upon them. They made "dug-outs" on the south side of the hill where the Manti Temple now stands. It was a severe winter, with snow so deep the cattle could scarcely get grass and most of them died. Food had to be divided with the Indians to keep peace.
President Young had promised them provisions and help, but none came, so Edwin and Orville Cox put on snow shoes and with a little parched corn in their pockets for food, placed their bedding on a sleigh and started toward Salt Lake City for help. When they reached Nephi Canyon, they met their help, brother Dace Henry, his wife, her brother, Mr. Dodge and an Indian, snow bound. Their cattle had died and their wagons were all but covered with snow. The young wife was very sick, so Edwin gave them the sleigh to pull her to Manti. They put their quilts on their backs and walked on to Salt Lake City and reported conditions to President Young. Aid was immediately sent, but some of that company went back to Salt Lake City.
Edwin's family now numbered fourteen. They lived in a large room in the wall of the hill with their chair factory in one end. The men and boys hauled wood from the hills on the hand sleighs.
The following spring (1850), there were three girls born; Harriet Lucinda was born to Mary Elizabeth in April, Louisa Melitia was born to Elizabeth in May, and Cornelia Dolly was born to Almira in June.
For several seasons, very little was raised. It became necessary to build a fort to protect themselves from the Indians, for they felt that the white man had stolen their land. The gates of the fort were locked while the men went to the fields with their guns. From this developed the Walker War. Edwin was appointed Captain for the Militia. Twice the Indians drove his cattle off and stole whatever they could.
Edwin often told us of one big old ox that he owned. The ox would rebel whenever an Indian tried to drive him. He would turn on his captors and break their defense and come home. He hated Indians and would always lower his head and challenge them if they came near.
Edwin tried planting fruit trees, shrubs and flowers, but they could not survive the very cold winters. Their crops were poor, but they managed to exist and were a happy family in spite of their hardships.
In 1854, he was called to Ohio on a mission and was gone for two years. While he was away, the grasshoppers came and took everything they raised. They faced starvation, but miraculously, where the crops had been, a patch of pigweeds grew and they lived on them until the corn ripened in Utah County. A strange thing it was, for the Indians said those pigweeds had never grown there before, nor have they grown since. Walter Cox divided with his brother's (brother-in-law) family while Edwin was away.
Edwin, upon his return, brought many kinds of fruit trees, (some from his father's farm that he helped to plant when a boy) shrubs and flowers, and again tried to grow them, but the climate was too cold.
On the 8th of October, 1856, Edwin married Hannah Haines Brown. Abby Ann Whiting was born to this couple at Manti in 1858 and Lorenzo Snow Whiting was born at Manti in 1860.
On the 14th day of April, 1857, he married Mary Ann Washburn. Two children were born to the family while they resided at Manti. Daniel Abram was born in May, 1858 and Monroe Finch Whiting was born in November, 1862.
While he lived at Manti, Edwin was among the foremost men in religious and civic affairs of the community. He was counselor to the Stake President. He was mayor of the city from 1857 to 1861. He was a member of the legislature for two terms, and as stated before, he was Captain of the Militia in the Walker War.
Springville
After finding the climate of Manti unfavorable for raising fruit, his special work, he was advised by President Young to try out his nursery at Springville. He moved to Springville in 1861 and was able to plant and grow all kinds and varieties of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. People used to come from neighboring communities to see his flowers.
He built a home on the lot where the Springville Second Ward Church now stands. That old two story adobe home will stand in the memory of the members of the Whiting Family as a place of many happy evenings and of fun and amusement. Aunt Mary also taught school there.
He transplanted, in different towns, many evergreens from the mountains. To obtain his evergreens, he went up the canyons and got the small trees. He would take some of the soil with each root. He would then wrap them so as to keep some of the native soil in place. These were packed securely in the wagon box. He always marked the trees so that they could be set the same way they stood in the canyon. Many of the evergreens and fruit trees were planted throughout the county. Among these was the large cedar tree that for many years stood in front of the Second Ward church. This tree was brought from the nearby canyon in 1861 and planted by Mr. Whiting, being nurtured and cared for by him. He also transplanted those around the old Court House in Provo, those at the Springville City Park, and one large evergreen that stands southwest of the Manti Temple which can be seen for miles around. He once said "I brought that in my dinner bucket and I think it was the first evergreen transplanted in Utah."
His life was typical of this great tree. A poem written by Emmay Whiting, wife of Daniel Whiting, describes his life and this tree as being similar.
Edwin had one of the largest families in Utah. Many of those stand at the head of Stake and Ward organizations in our Church. Among his descendants, we found seven bishops.
In his later life, he did temple work for his dead relatives in the St. George Temple and in the Logan Temple. He lived the principles of his religion. He was honest, charitable, and never accumulated great riches. He was thrifty and loved his wives and children and gave them the comforts of life.
He died at Mapleton, Utah on the 9th of December, 1890 at the age of eighty-one years. He was firm in his belief and testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel.
His descendants are numerous and are found in Idaho, Arizona, Mexico, California, New York, and in Utah.
Edwin's granddaughter Harriet Jensen described her grandfather this way:
Grandfather Edwin Whiting and his family were typical early residents of the canyon. Some of the first needs of the pioneers were to have land for crops and water to make them grow; also to be near where they could obtain wood for cooking and heat. Hobble Creek Canyon had plenty of trees, not only for fuel, but, also the large pines were used as logs for building houses, or to be sawed into lumber. Edwin Whiting had taken up 160 acres on Union Bench (now Mapleton) and divided it among his older boys; but as the young ones grew up, there was need for more land. By this time Joseph Kelly and others were ranching in Hobble Creek Canyon, so grandfather decided to homestead land in that vicinity. One log cabin was built on the Whiting homestead, and here they took turns staying and working the land. Brush and trees had to be cleared off the land and ditches made. For the Bench land, it meant going up the canyon where the elevation was as high as the land and making a ditch around the hillside. I remember, as a small girl, going with my uncle Fred to the site of the dam to see whether there were any breaks in it.
They had a fine range for cattle and raised hay, grain and vegetables. People were eager to locate where there was a spring. Well do I remember carrying water up the bank of the creek in a little brass kettle which had been brought across the plains. We grandchildren seemed to feel that we had a share in the old home, which was one large room made of logs, with a small window and a large fireplace in one end where grandmother used to do the cooking. She would pull some of the hot coals on the hearth -- a large flat stone in front of the fireplace -- place the bake kettle on them; then, with her tongs, put more red coals on the kettle lid. Almost every afternoon we would carry water to sprinkle in front of the house, which made the ground hard, and also kept what little grass was growing around the house, green and inviting. In the spring she would take newspapers, saved during the winter, to paper the logs. This was the first time I had ever heard of wall paper.
At first this was a summer home, then finally a school house was built and the families stayed the year around. This building had only one room, but, it served as school house, church and amusement hall. Children rode their horses to school. The Whitings had a sawmill up the canyon above the original log home. They did most of their logging in the winter, using half of a bob-sled to put one end of the log on and letting the rest of the log slide on the snow. By spring there was a good pile of logs. Edwin M. Whiting bought a steam engine and for a number of years furnished the lumber for Springville. They moved the sawmill wherever there was suitable timber. It was 16 miles up to the Whiting Ranch from town and took about five hours, with horse and wagon, to get there. There was always plenty of fish in the creek, and wild chicken and deer in the hills.
The following is a list of those who ranched in the canyon during its early settlement; Mr. Cutler followed by a Mr. Kelly, Cyrus Sanford, Myron and Milan Crandall, Al Roylance, Moroni Fuller, William Gallup, James Holley, Orson Mower, Erastus Clark, Royal Clements, Charles Johnson, and Levi Kendall. In those early days Charley Williams operated a sawmill on the creek. They took adverse possession (land not surveyed) but later congress passed a law to legalize the land so that they could get possession of their deeds. Farther up the canyon was the Packard Ranch. Alpheus Curtis, Wallace Johnson and Edward Snow also lived there. The Adams family now live on the original Whiting Ranch.
A marker, up Hobble Creek Canyon reads: "In memory of Edwin Whiting, pioneer, born September 9, 1809. Died December 8, 1890. Home-steaded this ranch in 1871. Erected August 17, 1935 by his family."

Utah's Heritage Trees

Utah's Heritage Trees
Larry S. Sagers, Utah State University Extension Agent

Imagine, if you will, entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Looking out over the vast expanse toward the inland "salt sea" the view was not the never-ending hardwood forest that most of the pioneers, who hailed from the eastern United States, were familiar with. With the charge to make "the desert blossom as a rose" planting became a priority for the immigrants from all over the world.

Although some have supposed that there were no trees in Utah, that was not the case. Of course the mountains were covered with trees. These trees provided the timber for homes, schools, and churches. It also provided the timber for the mines, and fueled the smelters for a fledgling mining industry. This pressure made trees endangered species in some locations as hillsides were denuded in the quest to settle the West.

The first trees were planted to produce fruit and to provide protection from the hot desert sun and winter winds. Some were natives transplanted from nearby mountains, while other were imported from more exotic locations. Lombardy poplars originated in Italy and Tree of Heaven came from China and South Sea islands. Mormon pioneers, Chinese laborers and other immigrants brought their favorites to their new home in the mountains.

Many of these trees have very interesting histories. Some were planted under well-documented circumstances while the history of others is less well known. They have survived fires, winds insects and other calamities. Because of the history and heritage of these trees they are protected under a special designation the Utah Heritage Tree Act.

I have often wished these trees could share their history with us. I would love to hear the stories of the Pony Express from the gigantic Black Willow on Dave Bagley's ranch in Callao. As the sentinel of the desert did the tree watch for the cloud of dust that signaled the approaching rider from the east or the west. Did Nick Wilson and other Pony Express riders shade themselves under its branches? What else could this and the many other historical trees tell us about the history of our state?

I must confess a personal interest in one of the trees because it was planted by my Great-great-grandfather. He was probably responsible for some of my horticultural interest. Edwin Whiting made his home in Springville after arriving from Nauvoo in the cross country trek. He established a nursery, a retail store and a sawmill. His contribution to the heritage trees of Utah is summarized as follows in an article from the Deseret News in 1948.

"Another interesting tree that has withstood the rigors of advancing years is an 87-year-old native cedar which still thrives near the Second Ward chapel on South Main Street."

It was brought in a quart cup from a nearby canyon in 1861 by Edwin Whiting and planted in his own front yard."

Mr. Whiting, a nurseryman who joined the church in Ohio in 1849, always marked the evergreens he brought from the canyons so he could set them the same way they stood in the canyon. This tree was marked by the Camp Aaron Johnson of the DUP with a pioneer plaque.

"This cedar stands in perfect symmetry, along with many others, as a living monument to the vision of early pioneers who planted not only for themselves, but for future generations."

I am happy to report that the tree is still doing well after another fifty years and is one of the oldest documented planted trees in Utah. My great great-grandfather may have had a little inkling of how much trees could mean to future generations when he dug this small seedling and transplanted it to his front garden on Main street. His legacy was the planting and preservation of trees to benefit future generations. We can create a similar tradition by preserving this past legacy for those that will follow us.

Preserving Heritage TreesPreserving this legacy of trees is so important, that the Utah Heritage Tree Act protects them from wanton destruction. The Act is administered under the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. The law is designed to protect two categories of trees. The first is trees that are botanically significant (the only one of the species n the state or the largest specimen in the state). The second is trees that are related to the state's heritage.These historically significant trees must have been planted by a pioneer or have been present at the site of a historic event or location.

Protecting heritage trees requires they be recognized under the Heritage Tree Act. To do this they must be nominated to the Utah State Heritage Tree Register. To nominate a tree please submit the form included.Identifying and protecting these trees is only possible when you get involved with community forestry and take care of these plants. Many communities have programs to help encourage planting and preserving trees.

for more information contact:Heritage Trees Program, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, 1594 W. North Temple, Suite 3520, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5703.

More Facts About Johanna Lovisa Lofdahl Evans

Today I went to the Family History Library in Idaho Falls and these are the treasures that I uncovered:

Johanna's mother was Christina Lovisa Dixelius. She was born 8 Aug 1809 in Uppsala, Sweden. Her records are recorded in the Enkoping Parish Records. Christina's parents were Anders Dixelius and Sara Dixeman. Christina was christened one day after her birth on 9 Aug 1809.

Christina Lovisa Dixelius married Johan Lofdal on 30 Dec 1832. Christina is recorded as being 23 years old and Johan is 28 years old.According to the marriage record, a marriage banns was posted on 9 Dec 1832. This marriage also took place in Enkoping Parish, Uppsala, Sweden.

It appears to me that Johan and Christina must have worked on Christina's family farm and probably lived either with her parent s or on the farm property.

A birth record for Johanna Lovisa was also found. She was born 8 Oct 1834 and christened on 12 Oct 1834. These records are also from Enkoping Parish, Uppsala, Sweden. Her mother, Lovisa, is recorded as being 25 years old when she gave birth.

Diggin deeper I found an additional record: Lovisa Christina Dixelius's death record indicates that she died from Barnsbord (childbirth). Lovisa gave birth to a little girl, Anna Lisa Lofdahl, on 10 Oct 1839. The baby was christened on the same day that she was born; 10 Oct 1839. This suggests that she was sick or unhealthy and was christened as soon as possible in her Lutheran faith. Anna Lisa only lived four days. She died on 13 Oct 1839 and was buried on 20 Oct 1839 - probably with or next to her mother.

As the above record suggests, Christina Lovisa died from complications of childbirth. She died three days after giving birth and was buried on 20 Oct 1839. Christina was 30 years old when she died. It appears that five year old Johanna was left in the care of her mother's parents, Anders and Sara Dixelius.

Based on Johanna's historical information, she was orphaned at five years of age. This means that both parents died within a year or the same year of each other. Johan Lofdahl died during the year of 1838 or 1839. I will look for his death information next time. I am looking to see if he died after Christina or before, but the following Household record indicates that he died before Christina in fact, he may of died in 1838..

A household Index records the following during the year of 1838:

Borgamen Anders Dixelius b. 1781 Enkoping
wife: Sara Elisabeth Bjorkman b. 1781
daughter: Lovisa Christine b. 1809 Enkoping
son: Lars Gustof b. 1815 Enkoping
son: Asrael b. 1819
Daughter: Johanna b. 1831 (s/be 1834)

Notice that the above record has no listing of Johan Lofdahl. Also, Johanna was raised by two bachelor uncles following the death of her mother and then her grandparents. I think that she was raised by Lars and Asrael. She then sold her birthright of the farm and headed to Zion when she was older.

All of these records are in my PAF. They were found using the Genline 2.5 Swedish software only available in the FHL. I had a great sister missionary help me and was thrilled to finally solve a family puzzle.

Johann Lovisa Lofdahl Evans

My love for family history has been ongoing since I was four months pregnant with Noah. Jeremy, the kids and I took an impromptu weekend trip to Logan, UT and Preston, ID to photograph tombstones over this past summer. A crazy past time I know, but one that I truly couldn't wait to do. We researched Jeremy's ancestors and learned a very humbling life story of his 5th great grandmother. I used her in my talk on Gratitude last Sunday...what an example of strength, passion and love for the gospel of Jesus Christ! (She is actually not buried next to Samuel, but she is buried near one of her sons on the land that used to be her family's farm in the same Logan Cemetery as Morgan. Logan City Cemetery, Logan, UT)

Johanna Lovisa Lofdahl was born October 8, 1834 at Enkoping, Sweden, the daughter of Yan Olsson Lofdahl and Lovisa Christine Dixelius Lofdahl. She was orphaned at five years old, and lived a lonely child life, being taken first into the home of her grandparents; then upon their deaths she was raised by two bachelor uncles, then a neighbor and his wife. Her religious education was the Lutheran faith until in young womanhood she was converted and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So firm was she in her faith that she left friends and family and set out for America alone. To own a farm in Sweden was considered by the peasant farmers as a priceless inheritance. When Johanna sold her share of her Grandfather Dixelius' estate her relatives were shocked beyond measure to think that she would join such an unpopular American religion and use this money to emigrate to Utah. Dismayed beyond repair at her rash actions, they made no attempt to contact her again, consequently she did not see them nor hear from them again in her lifetime.
Unable to speak or understand any but the Swedish language she made her way to England and boarded the ship Amazon and sailed to America in 1863. Coming west in a company with Wm. B. Preston as captain, Johanna met with an accident which crippled her for the rest of her life. The company paused before fording a river. Johanna, thinking it best to leave the wagon to lighten the load jumped from the wagon as the order to move was given. She slipped and the wagon passed over her leg, breaking it below the knee. This was just nine days before entering Salt Lake city, and thinking that she would soon receive medical aid, she refused to allow the inexperienced members of the company to set the limb. Upon arriving in Salt Lake City she was placed on a quilt upon the dirt floor of an unoccupied log cabin and was given the best aid available.
While crossing the plains Johanna became acquainted with Morgan Samuel Evans, a member of the company who had been called by President Brigham Young to drive his ox team to the Missouri river to bring the immigrants to Salt Lake Valley. Upon returning to his home in Logan, Morgan told his wife Mary of the sad accident which had befallen Johanna, and Mary insisted that he return to Salt Lake City and bring Johanna to their home in Logan that they might care for her. The same year with the full consent of Mary, Johanna became the plural wife of Morgan S. Evans. She became the mother of seven children, 3 boys and 4 girls. She died December 12, 1912 and is buried in Logan City Cemetery.

She was baptized on 25 July 1849, when she was 14 and emigrated to America in 1863 at the age of 28 on the ship "Amazon" with a group of 895 LDS passengers from London, England. The ship traveled for 44 days from 4 June 1863 to 18 July 1863.