LEAH KIRKHAM ANDERSON

LEAH KIRKHAM ANDERSON

by Bessie Laverne Fillerup
Leah, daughter of George and Mary Russon Kirkham, was born 22 May 1887 in Lehi, Utah, and died 4 Feb 1920 in American Fork, Utah, and is buried in American Fork, Utah. She married Stephen Lyman Anderson 12 May 1909 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Later she was endowed in the Salt Lake Temple. He was the son of Emil Anderson and Sophia Anderson. He was born 10th Aug 1885 in American Fork, Utah, and died 3 Dec 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was buried in American Fork, Utah.

Leah received her early education in the elementary schools of Lehi where she was accompanied by her sisters. Her childhood was spent happily doing her parents bidding in attending church duties and learning the ways of the Gospel. Leah was baptized on her eighth birthday by her father. Leah loved the songs of Zion and was a member of the Fourth Ward Choir that had thirteen relatives as members and that her father was leader for twenty years. (A picture of this choir exists.)

Leah always loved to tell the story about her father being a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and that he went with them to the Chicago World’s Fair Exposition and upon his return, he made a concert tour of Southern Utah with his little daughters, Leah and Maude, furnishing music and song and displaying a picture of the choir and lecturing about it’s famous Chicago trip.

Leah and Stephen and family made their home in American Fork, Utah, and remained there the rest of her life.

Children of Stephen Lyman and Leah Kirkham Anderson

Emil Anderson

Wayne Lyman Anderson

Miles Alvin Anderson

Vilda Anderson Phillips

Leo James Anderson

ANNIE AMELIA KIRKHAM FOX

ANNIE AMELIA KIRKHAM FOX

(The following was written by Bessie LaVerne Kirkham Fillerup, half-sister of Annie Amelia.)
Annie Amelia, daughter of George and Mary Russon Kirkham, was born 2 Oct 1884, in Lehi, Utah, and died 29 Aug 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She married Clyde Samuel Fox, 29 Sep 1909 in the Salt Lake Temple, son of Isaac Fox and Elizabeth Zimmerman. He was born 22 Dec 1886 in Lehi, Utah.

Annie spent her childhood days in Lehi and was a dutiful and loving sister and daughter. Along with her sisters Eliza and Rachel, she attended to household duties uncomplaining and happy to be with them. She received her education in the schools of Lehi and was a leader in her interests in art and music. She was baptized on her eighth birthday by her father as he did all his children.

With her husband and family, in 1917, after living in Utah for several years, moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she was active in Primary work and served as President of the Relief Society and as member of the Relief Society Stake Board.

Several years later, the family returned to Utah and lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. Annie was active in Sunday School work and was a member of the Singing Mothers. She had been a member of the choirs of the Eighteenth and Twenty-seventh Wards.

Annie’s great interest and hobby was her painting. She filled her home and the homes of her loved ones with beautiful paintings.

Children of Clyde Samuel and Annie Amelia Kirkham Fox


Orval Clyde Fox

Esten Levan Fox

Leo Wilson Fox

Rhea Fox Duncan

NOTE OF INTEREST:  by CJC
I lived in the 18th Ward in salt Lake City from 1967 to 1973.   While I lived there, we were told much about this historical building.  When I lived there, President Joseph Fielding Smith and his wife, Jesse Evans Smith,  were part of our ward.  Eventually, the chapel for this ward was moved and the remaining parts of the building were demolished and a new church was built.  You can now see the chapel where it was moved to on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake.  The chapel was T shaped with a loft in the back.  The stained glass windows were beautiful and worth preserving.

RUBY LEONA KIRKHAM PACK

RUBY LEONA KIRKHAM PACK

Ruby, seventh daughter of George and Mary Russon Kirkham was born August 19, 1897, Lehi, Utah. Ruby was baptized by her father August 19, 1905 at Saratoga Springs. Her childhood and youth was spent entirely in Lehi, attending elementary schools, high school and enjoying her attendance at Church. She had a beautiful singing voice and along with her many friends was a member of the Ward and Stake Choirs. Ruby played trombone in the Lehi High School Ladies Band. Ruby was loved by all, a very pleasant disposition, sociable, happy and helpful to all her friends, brothers and sisters.

After her High School days, Ruby was employed at the People’s Co-op., Lehi, Utah, and for many years was a successful saleslady there. She then moved to Salt Lake City and was employed at Montgomery Ward’s large store where she was made head Saleslady.

At this time, 1921, she married Blaine Moody Pack, November 14, 1921 and lived in Salt Lake City. Her children, son Blaine Willard was born 22 April 1922 in Lehi, Utah and daughter Genele was born July 7, 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She resided in Salt Lake City until her death which occurred October 31, 1960.

Written by: Bessy LaVerne Kirkham Fillerup, daughter of George and Sarah Russon Kirkham March 21, 19721

Children of Blaine Moody and Ruby Leona Kirkham Pack

Blaine Willard

Genele Kirkham

WHY FAMILY HISTORY? WHY A FAMILY HISTORIAN?

WHY FAMILY HISTORY?  WHY A FAMILY HISTORIAN?

The other night, as I was telling my sister a story about a distant relative, and how excited I was to know this heretofore unknown story, she asked me when I first became interested in family history. The story is on my Kirkham/Wrigley Blog of how I started doing genealogy with my Grandmother Kirkham when I was eight years old.


She then asked why I thought I had such an unusual interest in Family History – knowing that there are many who do have that interest, and many who don’t.

I’ve though a lot about what she asked.

As a psychology major, I am interested in what makes a person what he is. My favorite model or theory is that we are one-third each of the following: Environment, Genetics, & Inherent Personality.

My environment is determined by my family. My childhood environment has a lot to do with how I see the world and respond to it. My parents and extended family created that environment. They in turn were influence by their parents and extended family, and we go back that way for hundreds of years. So part of me looks to Family History to find out who I am. . My adult environment continues to shape me, and is colored greatly by my family relationships.

Again, genetics creates at least a third of what I am. So I look to my parents, and go back in time, to see where I got the characteristics that made me what I am. Then I look at what my ancestors did with those characteristics they seemed to have, and it gives me clues of what I can accomplish, or how I can circumvent or cope with negative genetic downloads. Even my adopted children and grandchildren can look to the past and compare genetic similarities.

I see Inherent Personality coming from a life before this world – much of it existing forever (though I little understand this concept,) and some of it existing because of who my original Heavenly Parents were. Interesting. Again, family is behind what I am.

A study of family is a study of self, and a study of the extension of self.

I look at the pictures of those people I have known. I remember who they are, how they lived, and how they handled life. It teaches me. I look at the pictures of people who died before my memory. Again, I remember their stories and I am taught. And there are those who have no stories with their pictures. But deep inside I know their story. It isn’t much different than mine. They struggled and made mistakes and had successes. They persisted, and were resilient, and survived. And when there is no picture, their story, or the tales of their times form the picture in my mind. And again I learn.

My mother recently passed away. My father passed away 12 years ago. My grandparents are long gone. But to me, they sometimes walk side by side with me – through my memory of them. And little known to my grandchildren, they walk side by side with them – through me. Their influence goes on forever. I am influenced by myriads of generations past.

Why do I like doing Family History? I decided that genetically, environmentally, and inherently , the desire to know from whence I came, and how, has been deeply instilled in my heart and soul. I learn who I am as I learn who they were.

ECKERSLEY HISTORIES

Following are histories for three of the four daughters of William Eckersley and Hannah Hardy Eckersley.
These three girls, along with thier sister came to America when they were children.  There, their father was murdered in St. Louis, and their mother had to find a way to get her family of four girls to Salt Lake City.  For more information about this persevering and faithful family, see the histories for Hannah Hardy Eckersley Crompton, William Eckersley, and John Crompton. 

John Crompton and Hannah had two daughters.  I am hoping to find someone who has information or histories about the fourth Eckersley daughter and the two Crompton daughters. 
Names:
Mary Eckersley md. Peter Erickson
Margaret Emma Crompton md. William James Rushton (settled in Snake River Valley nr. IF)
Elivra Crompton md.  James Ephriam Steele (settled in Snake River Valley nr. IF)

SARAH ECKERSLEY ROBINSON

HISTORY OF SARAH ECKERSLEY ROBINSON

(by a granddaughter, Mildred G. Weaver)

Sarah Eckersley was the daughter of William and Hannah Hardy Eckersley, and was born 15th of February, 1844, at Oldham, Lancaster County, England.

Hannah Hardy, Sarah’s mother, was born at Oldham, Lancashire County, England, on the 19th of June, 1815.

William Eckersley, Sarah’s father, was born the year 1810, at Oldham, Lancaster County, England. He was married to Hannah in the year of 1833 when she was 18 and he was 23.

To this union came four daughters and one son: Ann–born 15 Oct 1834; Mary–born 1 June 1837; Fanny–born 18 July 1840; Sarah–born 15 Feb 1844.

In the year 1845, when Sarah was about one year old, her parents and sisters left England and came to this country for the Gospel’s sake. After a six weeks voyage they landed in St. Louis where they discovered that Sarah was totally deaf. This tragedy was due to an illness Sarah had on the ship.

While in St. Louis, a son, James Henry was born, July 1846. This child passed away just five weeks after birth and was buried in St. Louis. Three years after their arrival in St. Louis, Sarah’s father, William Eckersley, died in 1847 at the age of 37, and was buried in St. Louis.

Note: In the book, Pioneer Women of Faith & Fortitude, Vol I, a biography of Hannah Hardy Eckersley Crompton states:

The following year (after the birth and death of baby James Henry) William went into town, and some say he was mugged and killed for the money he had hidden in his coat, because when he was found there was no money. This left Hannah with four small girls and no support. She took employment at the largest hotel in St. Louis and earned enough money to get the family to Council Bluffs, Iowa, the taking off place for Utah.

Sarah’s mother left St. Louis in 1850 with family and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa. There she met and married John Crompton. This family, with the desire to come to Zion, began their trek west. Upon their arrival in Platte River Nebraska, a daughter, Emma, was born to them on the 21st of July 1853. A few months later they arrived in Salt Lake.

They lived for a short time in Cottonwood, where Sarah’s sister, Elvira, was born, 15 November 1855. Later the family moved to Camp Floyd (Cedar Fork) where they resided until after the arrival of Johnson’s army. Later, the family moved to American Fork, where the children were finally raised.

Although Sarah was totally deaf, she displayed an intelligent mind with great intuition and much wit and a sense of good humor.

She was known to play an April Fool’s joke on occasion; one of which was remembered by friends of her childhood. One day when she was about 10 years of age, as she was playing in front of her house, a wagon load of wheat driven by John Herbert, came by. Sarah ran to the young driver of the wagon and motioned to him that grain was falling on the ground from the wagon. He stopped his horses and getting down from his wagon, he went around to the back to inspect. At this moment, Sarah clapped her hands and laughed merrily.

Sarah was a very good swimmer as a small child and could dive as well. One of her favorite games was to dive into the deep creek bed which ran, perhaps, the distance of half block. At times pennies were tossed into the creek by the passerby for the purpose of watching her dive in, like a little fish, after them.

She grew into a beautiful woman, with black hair and blue eyes. She was about 5 feet 5 inches tall and very slender. She was as light as a feather on her feet, having never been known to stumble or to be awkward.

At the dances, she was the belle of the ball. All the men liked her and wanted to dance with her, because she never missed a step.

She learned to spin and weave at a very early age. She learned also to knit and crochet and to sew fine seams by hand. She did these things very well and was very particular with her work. She was well known for her find handicraft. She also made straw hats. After her marriage and family had arrived, she took the time to teach her daughters the fine arts of sewing while they were at a very young and tender age.

At the age of twenty-three, on the 15th of December, 1867, she became the plural wife of William Walker Robinson. The wedding took place in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. They made their home on the corner of 1st West and 1st South in American fork, Utah.
Sarah became the mother of five children: Sarah Ann–born 16 September 1868; Hannah–born in 1871 and died 1872; Fannie–born 25 May 1876; Lot–born 19 January 1880; and Melinda–born 16 January 1883.

Sarah Robinson lived through the hardships of pioneer life from her birth and never faltered in the faith. Her husband’s first wife died August 12, 1876, leaving a family of eight children to Sarah’s care, adding to the two which were her own. She finished raising them to the best of her ability. She was 32 at the time.

Although handicapped by loss of speech through deafness caused by illness when a small child, and thus unable to read, she gleaned a remarkable spirit by her attendance at church and so great was her power of feeling that it seemed to more than balance her deficiencies. Her implicit faith was an example and inspiration to others. She was a loving mother and an industrious citizen, passing through all the hardships incident to pioneer life, never faltering.

She was an immaculate housekeeper and a very good cook, always seeming to know instinctively how to make food taste so very good.

Sarah could tell you when a train was coming two miles away and from which direction. Her great intuitiveness and discernment of spirit, which was displayed in so many ways, was her greatest boon and many times a life saver. For example, in the early days of her marriage, upon returning to her home, she sensed the presence of someone in the house. Quietly, she stepped to her bed and looking under she found a man crouched there. Acting quickly, she grabbed her broom and whacking him, she chased him from the house.

She always had a flock of chickens which she always kept confined in a net wire fence. The neighbors chickens would come to her yard and lay eggs and when Sarah found them, she would take them to the neighbor who owned the chickens. In her own way or language she always sang to her babies as she rocked them to sleep. She could always tell, somehow when her babies had awakened. :She was a loving and gentle mother to her children, and showed great faith in their behalf many times. When daughter Fannie, about 7 years of age, became very ill, Sarah called her own mother to her home to help her nurse the child to health. One evening as Sarah’s husband returned home from work he was met by his mother-in-law, to be informed that Fannie had passed away just a few minutes before. William, without a word, turned and ran next door south to his neighbor, Patriarch William Greenwood, who hastened back with him and helped administer to Fannie. The faith of this couple was exercised in the prayer offered to their Father in Heaven, for the restored life of their child and their prayers were answered. Fannie lived and grew to womanhood, to marry and raise a family of her own.

William Robinson was a very good man and a good husband to Sarah. He loved her dearly, and because of her handicap, he was blessed with inspiration in her behalf. He did much toward the disciplining and teaching of their children and the administering to the sick in the family.

Although Sarah was totally deaf, she did much of her own shopping, taking her own eggs to market and counting her own change when she received it.

She was a lover of nature all of her life. She took great pleasure in everything that goes to making a home beautiful, to the flowers and shrubs about her house, that one could hardly pass by without stopping to admire their splendor. Her plants were always at their best, and Sarah experienced great joy in giving flowers to her many friends and neighbors which gained her many loyal friends. A prize was once offered for the best kept lawn and flower garden, and William and Sarah’s place took the prize.

William passed away on the 21st of September 1923, at the age of 90 years, leaving Sarah alone at the age of 79. One year later her eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, who had been ill for many years, passed away on November 13, 1924.

Sarah, who loved to take long walks to and from her son Lot’s home in American Fork, took her last walk to her son’s home on March 14, 1929. In two nights there, her spirit quietly and peacefully passed from her body as she slept, in the early hours of the morning of 16th of March, 1929, at the age of 85 years.

At the time of her death, her descendants consisted of not only her own children, but 31 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

ANN ETTA ECKERSLEY DRAPER

ANN ETTA ECKERSLEY DRAPER


By Erma Taylor Livingston & Wanda Livingston Bond February 17, 1956

Obtained from DUP Museum History Dept. by Carolyn J. Christensen

Ann Etta Eckersley was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England on October 15, 1834. Her parents were William Eckersley and Hannah Hardy Eckersely.

Her mother embraced the gospel in England, after hearing it explained by a Mormon Elder. At the age of eleven, she, with her parents and three sisters, Mary, Fanny and Sarah, ages 8, 5 and 3 months respectfully, emigrated to American on a sailing vessel known as the Palmyra. They were six weeks crossing the sea.

They first settled in St. Louis. A baby boy was born there in 1846, and was named James Henry Eckersley. Six weeks later he died. Ann’s father died in 1847. Both of the deceased were buried in St. Louis. (Note-CJC: For details of William’s murder, see his history.)

Her mother worded that the Planter Hotel, then known as the largest in St. Louis. With the money she earned, she saved enough to take her family up the river to Council Bluffs. While living there, she met and married John Crompton. To them a baby girl was born, but died and was buried in Council Bluffs. (Note-CJC: See history of John Crompton & Hannah Hardy for more details.)

They, both being members of the Latter Day Saints Church, soon began to plan and prepare to follow the Saints to Utah, and in the Spring of 1853, they left in an independent company. Their captain was Edward Pugh. When they reached the North Platte River in the state of Nebraska, a baby girl was born, which they named Margaret Emma. *1. They forded the river the next morning, and they arrived in Utah in September.

That fall they picked up potatoes on shares and earned enough to last them through the winter. They then moved to Little cottonwood, where they resided for two years, then to Cedar Valley (Camp Floyd area) but because of the Indians being on the warpath, they moved to American Fork in 1856. *2 Here they passed through all the hardships of pioneer life. Many times they were without bread and lived on thistle roots and wild berries. The first grain they raised was barley, because it ripened earlier than other grain. This they ground in a hand coffee mill and made bread from it.

I remember hearing my great-grandmother Crompton tell how one Christmas when my grandmother Ann Etta was working for a family who were much better off financially than they were, the lady gave her a pan of white flour and the day off, so Ann Etta walked six miles to bring the flour home to the family for their Christmas dinner. Great grandmother said that was the best dinner they had eaten since crossing the plains. *3.

At the age of 23 years, Ann met and married William Lathrop Draper. They were married in Draper, January 1857. The later years of their life was spent in the old home at Freedom, Sanpete, Utah. They both died in that home.

Ann Etta was a very hard worker, and to help with the family expenses she did much sewing. The one item she was an expert at was making men’s trousers, fixing them just a little better than anyone else could. She also taught sewing classes in Moroni and Freedom. Her children’s dresses were beautifully made, all sewed by hand. She was outstanding at designing her own patters for eyelet embroider. She also corded the wool, spun the yarn and wove the material for their dresses.

She loved to visit and mingle with people. She would go to visit at a home where the mother was ill or had been taken from the family or where other members were ill. She would get there before sun-up and stay until sun-down, doing washing, ironing, mending cleaning house, or any other task needing to be done in the house. I don’t think she ever left a home without a needle, thread, and thimble in her skirt pocket.

She was a midwife and for years was the only help to be had for miles around,. Her charges were from fifty cents to one dollar for caring for the mother and baby for three weeks, and within needy homes there was no charge. In many homes where a contagious disease had taken a loved one, she did the preparing of the body for burial.

She had a beautiful voice and did much part singing. *4. She was a very outspoken person, but would never say anything uncomplimentary of anyone not present.

After the death of her husband, she took her aged mother and step-father into her home and cared for them until her mother’s death. The step-father then went with his own children.

She was a very graceful dancer and was an accomplished step dancer, taking part on many programs. She was invited to dance at the Black Hawk Encampment at Ephraim, but as she was walking on the icy sidewalk, she fell and not realizing the extent of her injuries she continued on the place of entertainment, dancing for hundreds of onlookers with her fancy steps, little dreaming this would be her last performance. This was another act of courage that this wonderful woman gave for her succeeding generations to read of and call her blessed.

This accident caused a paralysis which caused her to spend her last years in a wheelchair.

I am thankful to be her granddaughter. I knew and loved her, and I feel she was a choice spirit sent by God to fulfill a wonderful mission and set an example for us, her posterity, to follow.

She passed away at Freedom, Utah, in the evening of June 10, 1915, leaving a large posterity.

1. Note-CJC: John Crompton had a sister named Margaret in Council Bluffs, but no record of her can be found after they left Council Bluffs. She was not included in the roster of the Edward Pugh group. Did they name their baby after a deceased sister of John? Also, for more details of the birth of Margaret Emma, see Hannah’s history.

2. An interesting incident concerning the Indians being on the warpath is in the George Kirkham Histories.

3. The “I” throughout this history would be Erma Taylor Livingstone who told this to Wanda Livingstone Bond.

4. For more about her singing, see the history of Fannie Eckersley Brown Draper, her sister; also in that history is more about her husband’s death, and the plural marriage family in which Ann Etta lived.



* * * * * * * *

The above history was written by my mother, Erma M. Taylor Livingston, wife of earl Livingston.

The following is an account of a story told me several times by my mother. It is a story of her grandmother, and great grandmother, Ann Etta Eckersley Draper. I am the 4th child, a daughter, of Earl and Erma Livingstone. (Written by Wanda Livingston Bond)

At the time Ann Etta was young, the church leaders were encouraging the young ladies to marry into polygamy. Ann Etta had gone to a church meeting where this was being preached. She, wanting a man for herself, sharing him with no-one, stood up in the meeting, expressed her feelings on the subject, then whisked down the aisle and out of the church building.

The visiting brethren often had dinner at the home of Ann Etta’s parents, John and Hannah Hardy Crompton. This day was such a day. Ann Etta was there to help serve the meal. She was recognized by one of the brethren as the outspoken young lady who had left the church in the middle of the meeting. The visiting brother commented on the matter. Ann Etta, not being afraid to speak up on the subject told him that she didn’t plan to share her man with any other woman.
She and William Lathrop Draper were married 19 Jan 1857 at Draper, Utah. On 19 Aug 1863, her took a second wife, Ellen A. Wilhelm. On 13 Aug 1864, he married Ann Etta’s younger sister (widow) Fanny Eckersley Brown.

* * * * * * * *

The following information was taken from a history written by Fern A. Johnson and Erma Taylor Livingston.

Ann Etta’s sister Mary married Peter Erikson.

Ann Etta’s half sister, Elvira Crompton was born in 1856 in Little Cottonwood, Utah.

Ann Etta’s husband, William Lathrop Draper was the son of William draper and Elizabeth Staker Draper, born 4 March 1938 in Kirtland, Ohio, and died 3 May 1887 in Freedom, San Peter, Utah.

Children of Ann Etta and William Draper

Ann Maria Draper b. 21 Nov 1856, Spanish Fork d. 3 Dec 1943, Provo

md. Andrew Whitlock 21 Mar 1877

Mary Delina Draper b. 10 Feb 1860, Draper d. 22 Nov 1946 , Freedom

md. Martin A. Taylor 13 Jul 1879

Julia Ann Draper b. 14 Feb 1862, Draper d. 16 Feb 1862, Draper

William Albert Draper b. 2 May 1863, Rockville d. 22 Feb 1864, Rockville

Elnora Hannah Draper b. 18 Oct 1865 d. 20 Jun 1939, Axtell

md. Vasco H. Taylor 6 Jan 1885

Lathrop Lee Draper b. 6 Sep 1868 Chicken Creek d.31 Aug 1869, Chicken Creek

Loren Staker Draper b. 13 Aug 1870, Moroni d. 18 Mar 1950 Pueblo, Clrd

md. Francis Taylor 6 Jan 1885

Ella May Draper b. 5 May 1875, Freedom d. 5 Mar 1912, Freedom

md. James Elmer Simonsen 1898

William Love Draper b. 12 Dec 1877 , Freedom d. 27 Jan 1962, Salt lake City

md. Hannah Jensen 12 Jul 1905

Andrew Adolphine Draper b. 4 Apr 1880, Freedom d. 2 Aug 1880, Freedom