Thursday, April 7, 2011
Sarah Ann Murdock Lindsay
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Christina Howie Lindsay
Christina Howie Lindsay
Written by her son William Lindsay
She was the oldest child of William Howie and Jane Blackwood. She was born at Craighall,
She got very little education, as they lived three miles from the school house. When quite young, she learned to milk cows, make butter and cheese. She even helped to cut the grain with a cycle and bind it. While cutting grain, she cut her little finger which was stiff for the rest of her life.
When Father first met her, she was a dairy maid at a farm called Crawfordstone. They were married at Craighall on the 15th day of May 1844. On account of Father’s work they kept moving about from time to time. Only once, however, did they move out of Ayrshire an that was just before my birthday in 1847. While living there in 1848 (April) they joined the Mormon Church, and both were faithful leaders as long as they lived, though they had to meet the scoffs and scorn of their friends and neighbors. She was the only one of the Howie family to join the church at this time. Her brother William Howie did join later, but it seemed it was only for the purpose of getting help to bring them to
I remember well when I first had to go to work in the coal mines. I was nine years old and we had to get up very early. Mother used to wake us up and help us get dressed and with tears in her eyes she would say, “My poor sweet boys, I hope you will some day get away from the coal pits.”
Mother was a grand baker of soda scones, especially if she could get butter-milk to mix with the flour. At the death of our dear father, she did not give way to despair but stood the terrible shock wonderfully well. Her faith in God was still strong, and calling us boys around her, she said, “Boys, never mind, we will go to
James S. Brown was president of the company. The ship was divided into 7 wards with a man to oversee each ward. We only had one storm of any consequence on the voyage. The food and water was not good and there was only one large stove or galley to cook for the 700 people. In these conditions it as hard to get anything cooked. Mother, however, had cooked a lot of oat cakes to bring with us so we fared better than many others. There were two deaths on the sea. We arrived safely in
Our family, with others, was assigned to John Turner’s wagon in Homer Duncan’s company. The teamsters and oxen were new to us. We left
Mother soon bought a cabin from Dayless Sprouse and paid for it in clothing she had brought from
Mother was always very independent. There was a move on foot soon after we got here by Wm. J. Wall and others, for all of the settlers to donate to a fund that would furnish a cow free to all the new families, but she refused to take a cow in that way, so she traded a dress pattern to Janet Sessions and got her first cow. In 1864, she was married to George Muir, and even after her marriage she worked in the harvest fields binding wheat to help him with his work. She was always busy doing work of some kind. She got one of the first sewing machines and did sewing for other families. She went to the head of Echo canyon to work and cook for 20 or more men from Heber, who were working on the railroad in 1868. Later, she went to
When they returned to Heber, she acted as a mid-wife, helping many women in times of need. Then she took up a homestead claim at Center Creek, proved upon the claim and gave the title to her sons John and George. She also did what temple work she could for her dead. She was quite active, up to within a year of her death. She often expressed her thanks to God, that she had, with help, and the help of her sons, been able to come to Utah and to see them all comfortably located in homes of their own, with good wives, and she said, “I couldn’t have picked better ones myself.”
When I went on my mission in 1905, she accompanied me on the train to
She lived with George Muir over 40 years, and you may be sure she had plenty to put up with, on account of his drinking, but however she stayed with him or let him stay with her, and finally she had the satisfaction of seeing him live a sober few years. I want to say this for him, he had many good traits in his character and especially he was good natured and not abusive when drinking as some men are.
(Missing something here I think)
She said no, when got a cow it will be “oor ain”. So she sold a shawl or a dress pattern to Alex Session’s wife and got her first cow and she was proud of it too.
There was a grist mill on Snake Creek that had been built that summer but it had no smutter and the flour we got from it was very dark. But people had to use that or go to a mill at
I the fall of 1868 when the Union Pacific Railroad was being built, I took her out to the head of Echo Canyon to cook for some 20 men from Heber which were working there and I also took my intended wife to help her. I took Mother’s stove and all cooking utensils. They earned about $90.00 each while there. She had two children by George Muir. John, born May 24th, 1864 and George, born February 16th, 1866. She also got one of the first sewing machines in Heber and did the sewing for other families. Then she went out to
She also visited the
A few years before her death, she lived in her own home in Heber and was quite spry and active and did her own housekeeping till within a short time before her death at the age of 83 years and 22 days.
Although she never held any high public office in the Church, she was a firm believer and a staunch supporter of all the doctrines of the church and did all she could to encourage her children to work in every way possible for the up-building and on-rolling of the worn of God in the earth. She surely deserves great praise for the great work she performed in bringing her family to
She was a wonderful good mother to us all. God bless her memory.
The following lines were written by me while in
On Hearing of my Mother’s Illness:
It grieves my heart to learn you are so ill
And that I am so far away but still
I know you’ve good true friends on every hand
No better can be found in any land.
I thank the Lord that though I’m far away
Your sons and daughters are with you each day
To cheer and comfort you by words and deeds
In every way attending to your needs.
I pray to God that if it be his will
That he with health and strength may bless you still
That we might all be spared to meet again
In
On July 3rd you will be eighty three
A good old age that only few do see
And few have e’er excelled you in your life
As Mother, constant friend, or faithful wife.
I feel to honor you for all you’ve done
To teach and train your daughters and your sons
In honor, virtue, truth and all that’s good
I’m sure you did your best and all you could.
God bless our Mother Dear in life or death
And keep us all like her, firm in the faith.
That when our race upon this earth is run
We all may meet in our eternal home.
Another few lines written a few days later.
My Mother dear though I am far away
I think of thee quite often every day
And wish within my heart I had the power
To soothe your sufferings in your trying hour.
At morn and night when I bow down in prayer
I ask that God may keep you in his loving care.
And still preserve your life if he thinks best,
Till I shall meet you in the golden West.
But if it be his will that you should be
Called from this life unto eternity
I feel to bow submissive to his will
Knowing that I shall meet dear Mother still.
If true and faithful which I hope to be
I shall both you and my dear Father see
Where pain and sickness and all sorrows cease
And those who’ve overcome find sweet release.
Many times when I used to call at her home she would say, “William, I thank the Lord every day I live that I got you boys all here to
Your affectionate brother,
William Lindsay.
Extracts from the Diary of Robert Lindsay
15th of June 1888 –
Got up early and commenced getting ready for my journey to
Passed through Otemholm, a small town with some fine rock houses. Then Tobay Junction, and Penrith. Rough country with small sheep and heather on the hills. Carlile with it’s castles, and Awcondou (?); which is a large and fine city. Some fine cattle in the fields of the Polled Angus variety. Boattock Carotsire (?). Saw two old ruined castles. Wishau, with coal pits and blast furnaces; then Motherwell. Not Brothers Davidson and Low, also a one-armed brother from
16th of June 1888
Got up feeling rested and washed and went to writing in my diary; and wrote a letter to President Tocadale (?). Took breakfast, wrote and posted a letter to Brother Chipmen; and then in company with Brothers Davidson and Low went and saw some boat races, which were very exciting and looked very nice. The atmosphere is quite cool and I was glad to get to our quarters. We only take two meals per day. That is all that the Bretheren take in
17th of June 1888
Got up in fair time and washed and started to write, being in a hurry to get my diary up-to-date. Took breakfast and went over to meeting in company with Brother Davidson, Brother Low having gone to visit another Branch early in the morning. They have Sunday School at , which we attended, and all took part in the Book of Mormon Class, and had a good time. At o’clock the meeting was held and there were quite a nice lot of people present, with us for strangers. I had the privilege of speaking first and made a few remarks. Then a Brother Little preached his farewell sermon, expecting to leave in a few days for
Meeting at 6:30. Brother Ligget (?) occupied the time.
18th of June 1888
Got up in pretty fair time and washed and went at my diary in good earnest, knowing that tomorrow, all being well, I will be off for
I am lonesome here when I have nothing to do. I am eager to be away to find out the worst, and I do feel my weakness in starting away alone on such a mission. But I do earnestly ask my Father in Heaven to help me. Oh, how I do pray in my heart to be made equal to every duty that I may have to perform.
I paid Sister Walker for washing my clothes, 10 pence. I also paid for my meals, 4 pence each meal, and gave two shillings for the Store. I went out into the street a little while today and saw a crowd of people standing at a druggist’s window, and learned that a boy six years old had been killed in the street just a few minutes before. I went and saw how he was killed. Some iron had been laid up against the inside of a board shed, and the iron pushed the boards off and it fell on him and killed him. And in an hour another one got run over with a cart and he was not expected to live. So that is the way things go in
19th of June 1888
It is a beautiful morning. I left
I then went up to the Enscbrae (?) and found John Murry and wife and wife and enquired about George Johnson’s widow. Took dinner with Brother Murry and am now getting ready to walk to Kilmaure to see if I can find Mrs. Johnsaon. I visited Burn’s monument on the banks of the
I made my way to Kilmaurs and in due time I found Mrs. Johnson and she received me kindly and told me I could stay as long as I liked. Her daughter Marget, when she came home, seemed quite sociable and took me to see her sisters and I feel quite at home here. Went to bed at well after 12 and slept pretty well.
20th June 1888
Did not get up until very late. It is the Fair Day here and I am going to see the cattle, all being well. It is a little colder this morning. The cattle are commencing to pass the window now as I write. I have got some flowers here and am going to send some of them home. I visited the cattle fair and saw some very fine looking cows and some beautices, but I was disappointed in seeing so many poor cattle, but I learn that all the cattle that are here are for sale. There is some great talk during their bargaining, all loud and in broad Scotch. I could hear them saying to each other, “cum on Jock, or Jimie, or Rob, gets another haf crun”, or something like that, and all the time holding out their hands and then they have another gill, but nobody drunk, but all happy and good natured. Of course, it is Fair day and that only comes twice a year.
21st June 1888
I forgot I had a long walk with Wm. Paterson yesterday. I visited Kilmurs old graveyard and saw some very old grave stones; 1623, 1674, 1677, 1696, 1729. I also met the Minister, Mr. Ingles, who refused to give us any assistance to get to
22nd June 1888
Did not get out very early. Went to Mack’s well for water to wash. Took breakfast and went and bade folks good bye and started for Crosshuso; and on the way visited
I am now at
23rd June 1888
Got up in fair time and took breakfast and then bade them all goodbye and started for Ann Bank. Arrived there in due time and then to Burnbray; then up on to the railroad bridge and had a fine view of the water Ayr and Knocknoggle home, and beautiful woods on either side of the river. I see the Cushidoo, the Lark and many other birds that I can hear but not see. They are singing in the trees. I have been to Tarhence and Craidhow and am now at Wallace’s Well, and I feel very weak and shaky. I have been to Berrackbow and got a drink of water out of an old well there, also some flowers. Passed down through the Lagland Woods. They look lovely. I took a long look at Oswald’s Brig and surroundings. I walked on to Aly Ayr and tried to find Elias Anderson but could not find him.
I am awful tired. My legs fairly tremble under me. I rested under a chestnut tree and the branches extend 21 yards and make a beautiful shale over the side walk. I took the train for Tarbolton in the evening and arrived at where Cousin Adam Howie is living with his grandmother at 7 o’clock p.m. Very tired. The old lady made me welcome and got me some supper. She gave me some nice milk. I was very glad to get to bed and get my boots off for my feet are very sore. I met a man at Tarbolton station that I had seen before and we had a very pleasant talk all the way from the station to Tarbolton.
24th June 1888
Got up in fair time and washed and took breakfast of porridge and milk, and ont cake and fresh herring and tea. The folks are very kind to me and every one of them tries to make me comfortable. I have been to see the cows and coops. Some of the crops look very poor, their cows are pretty poor, the hay good Ryegrass and looks very well. I also saw a lark’s nest and three young ones in it. Uncle George Howie died 18th Dec. 1885, aged 59 years. Aunt Ann Crawford Howie was born 9th Oct, 1840, died 22nd March 1886. Her brother, Charles Crawford, was born 8th Oct 1833 and died 28th April 1888. Charle’s Mother, Marion Stewart Crawford, was born 8th or 10th July 1807. Her husband, Adam Crawford, was born 15th Nov 1808, died 15th Nov 1883. I visited Burn Weal monument in company with Cousins William and Adam Howie, and a grandson of Grandmother Crawford. Also visited the tronches, or the battle field where William Wallace fought. We came home to Mayers and bade William goodbye.
25th June 1888
Started on my journey for Coylton. Visited Sandy Blackwood and he went with me to St. Cuivox graveyard and I got some dates off the grave stones. He then walked on with me and we met Tom Blackwood in the road and had a talk. We then went in at the gate house and down the coach road to Auchinerey. Big house. It is a beautiful place. We went all around it and out at Oswald’s Brig. Saw the place where the old peelhill pit used to be, then up through the fields to Craidhaw. There
Reached Sandhill Cottages very tired and gave out and found the doors locked at half past two o’clock p.m. I had to lay down by the dike. I could not go any farther. After I had rested about three hours I got up and went to a farm house and asked for broher McClean’s folks and found Sister Mclean at the house, helping to milk their cows. She could not leave with me but told me where to find the key and go into the house. So I went back and got the key and went in and left my overcoat and then went to where Brother McLean was breaking stones on the road, and he came to the house with me and seemed very pleased to meet me, and both he and his wife were very kind to me. I am feeling very weak in my limbs tonight, but we are feeling well in spirit and looking forward to better days. Got to bed late.
26 Jun 1888
Did not get up very early, it being late before I got to sleep. Took breakfast and then wrote a letter, or rather finished one to brother William, and put some flowers in it, then after dinner went with Brother McLean to a potato field and had some talk with some of the farm servants. Came home to Brother McLean’s and wrote a letter to Brother Davidson, telling him just how I feel. My legs are very weak at the present time. I bore my testimony to the farm servants and told them to flee from the judgments that are to come. Told them that peace would be taken from the earth shortly and would not be found anywhere upon the earth except amongst the despised Mormons.
27 June 1888
Got up in pretty good time and washed and took breakfast alone as all the rest had had breakfast. I did not get much sleep all night, having taken tea for supper. I did not get to sleep until after 3 o’clock in the morning. Consequently I am feeling rather sorry today.
Grandmother Howie was born at Lismahagn, Lanarkshire. Grand Uncle William Blackwood died Jan 22, 1837, aged 42 years. Great Grandmother Christina Kennedy died July 1845 aged, 72. Grand Uncle Andrew Blackwood died June 5 1851, aged 41. Great Grandfather George Blackwood died July 28, 1831, aged 65. Andrew McCall was born June 15, 1806, died July 4, 1887. Agnes Lochart McCall was born 1806, died July 23, 1872.
I am feeling very weak and miserable today, but hoping to be relieved soon from my pain. I got to bed at 10 o’clock.
28 June 1888
Got out in tolerable good time and washed and took beakfast and am now ready to go to help Brother McLean to break a few stones. I did just the least work possible yesterday. Still my left hand has a blister on it. Still I cannot travel, neither can I lie still. My limbs are very weak today and I feel miserable. I have been out and broken a few stones but got tired very quickly. I have a pain in my back or loins that makes me quite useless. I helped Brother McLean to hoe a few potatoes and then I pulled one of my teeth that was loose and bothering me. It is raining some today. Helped to get some flowers to decorate a cart for a trip for the S.S. children.
29 June 1888
I feel a little chilly this morning. I wrote a letter to Charles Tillack. I have taken several walks today, not feeling very well, my limbs being weak. I went and prayed to God, my Heavenly Father, and in answer to my prayers the impression came to me that these people, of this land, have been warned and have rejected the Gospel, but there are many very many honest people who have lived and died in this land who never heard the Gospel. Get some of their names and go and do work for them and God will aid and bless you in your labor.
I have taken a walk and my legs seem easier when walking a little. I cannot rest while laying still. I want to be doing something. I have just been out listening to the Corncrake. It has a very peculiar song. Sister McLean gave me 1 shilling to pay my fare to
30 June 1888
Got up early and got ready for my journey. Went to Alows Old Kirk yard and saw Sister Jonnies grave. Saw the well where Mongas Mither hanged herself. One grave dated 1691. Saw the Christening pool or bowl in the wall. Burns was sprinkled from this. Also the winock bunker in the wall of the kirk. The date that the kirk has on it is 1516. The bell is 235 years old and still intact. Visited
Bade Brother McLean goodbye and took train for
1 July 1888
Got up in pretty good time and got water from the Monks well and washed and got ready for Riccarton. Maggie Johnstone went part of the way with me. We had a very pleasant time. I found Hugh Anderson and got the information that I desired. Then I walked to some rows of houses called Peace and Plenty at Coporton and visited one of John Myrry’s daughters. Her name is Martha McNight. We had a very good time. I bore my testimony to them. I then went and saw Mrs. Aird and her daughter and had a very pleasant time. I bore my testimony to them.
I then went and found where mother’s uncle John Howie lived but did not go in, there being some strangers there. Walked to Kilmaurs and found Maggie Johnstone at home. She gave me an old song book and a four-leafed clover, and a small twig of Boxwood, also a thimble and thimble case for Elisa. It was bought at
2nd July 1888
Got up in pretty good time and washed and took a walk and then got ready for breakfast. Am now ready for Cumnock. Walked to
Saw Arthur Cunningham in the Star Inn. Paid James Adams 18 pence for fixing my umbrella and had a sociable time with Uncle William Fulton and Mr. Adams. It rained all day and I feel kind of sore. Saw the little chairs that Mother and all the family of children were taught to sit in at Mr. Fulton’s. Mr. Fulton and Aunt Jane had three children; William Howie Fulton, Jane Fulton and John Fulton. John is dead. Address: William Fulton,
3rd July 1888
Got up in good time and washed and went with Mr. Fulton to Paxton’s Brewery, and saw their place. They make lots of beer. Then we got on the cart and rode to his house and took breakfast and bade the folks goodbye, and rode with him on the cart to Kilmaurs. It is a cold raw day and looks very much like rain. I did not get any letters. I cut two little pieces of lead off the inside of Wallace’s Monument at Burn Weal and put them in my button sack. I forgot that yesterday I saw Hurlford and Galston; Auchinleck Mauchline, also the
I was very much disappointed in not getting a letter from Brother Davidson. I went to bed early and my legs pained me so I did not get to sleep for a long time.
4th July 1888
Got up in pretty good time and took breakfast and bade Maggie Johnston goodbye, not expecting to see her again. I walked to Kilmarnock and took train for
Drybridge is the next station.
We are now in Brassie Station, then Troon. It is the same old dirty looking place. Then Monkton and Prestwick, then
Next station Annbank. From it you can see the Annbank rows and Craghaw and Burnha. Arrived at Tarbolton at half past twelve. Got back to Ayr at half past two o’clock and had to wait 2 ½ hours for a train to
5th July 1888
I feel very sore this morning. Brothers Davidson and Low helped me to the station and brother Low helped me about getting a ticket. I bade the bretheren goodby and at 20 minutes past ten o’clock I started from
Copied from the original
17 March 1963,
By Alta K. Lindsay
William Lindsay Senior
A Brief History of William Lindsay Senior
and His Wife and Family
This William Lindsay was the Eldest son of Robert McQueen Lindsay and Elizabeth Geddes. He was born in May, 1820, at Wanlockhead, Dumfries Shire,
However, this Robert McQueen Lindsay and his family moved into Ayrshire probably about 1832, where he and his eldest son, William, engaged in sinking shafts and opening new coal mines. While working there William got acquainted with a young woman who was a dairy maid at one of the farm houses whose name was Christina Howie and in due time they were married at Coylton parish church, July 19, 1844. This I learned from the parish records in
She was born at Craighall July 3, 1823 and had lived near there all her life up to that time. Her parents names were William Howie and Jane Blackwood; highly respectable people of the working class and their work was on farms, tilling the soil and attending to the horses and cows, and usually a few sheep were kept on each farm.
Soon after their marriage this couple moved to a little village named Gatehead, where Robert, their eldest son was born on 19th of April 1845. On account of changes in the work and wages of the coal miners they changed and moved from place to place quite often, seeking better pay or better working conditions.
From there they moved to a place called Chapehall, near Ardrie in Lanarkshire and while living there their second son was born on the 11th of February, 1847. It was probably while living here that they came into contact with the Mormon Elders. I have heard my father say he attended a meeting held by a Mormon Elder named Crandel Dunn and that he attended that meeting for the purpose of showing this Elder wherein he was wrong. But he listened attentively to his preaching and soon became convinced that the elder was preaching the Gospel exactly as Christ and his Apostles preached it as set forth in the New Testament. Therefore he could not gainsay it. So it came to pass that in April 1848, Grandfather and Grandmother Lindsay and all their family were baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including William Lindsay and his wife Christina Howie and all became active, earnest workers in the Church with the exception of James, who had enlisted in the British Army and was then in South Africa, and he too, found an Elder in that country and was baptized when he learned that the rest of the family had all been baptized into the Church.
While the Lindsay family all joined, our Mother, Christina Howie, was the only one of the Howie family to join the Church at that time. Soon after William Lindsay’s baptism he was ordained an Elder and used to go out on the streets and preach the Gospel to people in the neighborhood of his home. He also in time acted as President of at least two branches, one at the town of
For some cause, however, they moved back into Ayrshire before our brother James’s birth, which took place on the 17th of February, 1849, at a place called
I can remember we had scarcely enough to eat when living at Plelland (?) and perhaps not much to wear either. It was hard times for some cause. We soon moved again, this time to Craighall, where our good brother George died and was buried in St. Quin Churchyard, and brother Andrew was born on April 14, 1853. And it was while here that the men working in the mine with father, on account of pure prejudice on account of his being a Mormon, called a meeting and decided to have father discharged. A committee waited on the mine owner and stated their case. Mr. Dixon asked if Mr. Lindsay had interfered with any of them in any way and they admitted he had not but he was one of those Mormons and they would not work in a mine where he was. “Well,” said Mr. Dixon, “I have noticed that Mr. Lindsay is one of the best miners in the mine. He is steady and dependable and can be trusted to do any kind of a job in the mine and I am not going to discharge him just because he is a Mormon. You men work or quit, just suit yourselves but Mr. Lindsay can work anyhow.” So, of course, the men went back to work and were a little more careful in their actions towards the Mormon.
Our next move was to Gatehead near
While living at Gatehead Robert and I went to school. I for the first time but the teacher was a cruel man and whipped the children unmercifully if they did not happen to suit him. I can’t remember learning anything from him.
We moved again, this time near Crosshouse, and finally to Thornton Row and it was while there that Robert and I attended
While living at Thornton Row, two more sisters were born,
Our father being a very steady man, always sober and dependable, always had the respect of the managers of the mines and the better class of the miners. But we boys had to stand the scoffs and scorn of the more ignorant class of men and boys; sometimes hard to bear. One little circumstance I will relate. When the men called at the office to get their pay, as each man’s name was called he stepped up to the office window and his pay was handed out to him. Father’s name was usually called among the first. One time he was not there when his name was called. An ignorant fellow named Lindsay answered. “The Mormon Lindsay’s not here but I’m here.” Mr. Gilmour said, “Well, even if he is a Mormon, he’s a much better man than you are.”
Well, of course, working in the mine was very hard work and very long hours; hardly ever less than twelve hours in the mine. Boys from 11 to 12 years of age were used almost entirely pushing the little cars loaded with coal from where it was dug to the shaft where it was taken to the surface, and with forty to sixty boys, all of an age you may be sure there was many a quarrel and often a fight for a change and every boy had to defend his rights or be over-run by his mates.
Father used to tell us boys to seek no quarrel with any of the boys and be sure not to try to abuse them in any way and if they try to abuse you, defend yourselves the best you can and then if you can’t maintain your rights, report to me and I will see that you get justice. But don’t ask me to interfere if you can get anything like fair play. So, of course, we learned to stand up for our rights when quite young in a coal mine.
Wages were very small and father’s family kept increasing so it took practically all we could to make ends meet when we all had regular work and all were well and able to work. Father tried hard to save a few shillings to put in the emigration fund in the hope that some of the family would be able to come to
Brother James and I were working with him taking the coal away in the little cars. We were the last to see him alive and were gone with our car of coal about half an hour and came back to find him dead. Of course, we were almost frantic in our endeavors to get the stone removed but it was impossible, even when we ran to other parts of the mine and got men to come and help remove the stone, they were some time in getting him out from under it.
That was a sad and sorrowful day for us and especially for our dear Mother, who, with him, had been hopefully looking forward to the time when he and all the family might at some future time have the blessed privilege of coming to
What a sad home coming that was. He had left home that morning well and strong and full of hope and cheer for the future. Now all our hope seemed blasted forever. A few of our friends came to our aid and did all they could to cheer and comfort us and prepare his body for burial.
He was buried in St. Andrews Churchyard in the town of
But even in this dark hour of trial our good Mother did not give up. But when we were all feeling very downhearted and discouraged said, “Cheer up boys, we will go the the valley yet and on the very first ship next spring.” Her words proved true to the letter. We did come on the first ship that brought Mormon emigrants in the spring of 1862.
However, we were under the necessity of still working in the mine from the time of our dear father’s death up to the 14th of April, 1862. The pit boss helped us to find men to work with pushing the cars in the mine. But it was a sad change for us working with strangers and there were those who imposed on us as we had no kind father now to protect us. We even had to push our little cars right over the spot where Dear Father lost his life.
However, we managed to work every day and got along as well as we could trying to earn enough to support mother and the family. Mother doing all she could to encourage us and save expenses of all kinds.
On the 16th of April 1862, Mother received a letter from George Q. Cannon, in
This letter caused great rejoicing in our home. Brother Sam was so overjoyed he ran around the house saying. “Boys that is the best letter ever came to our house.” And we all felt to endorse it. There was some excitement disposing of what little we had and making preparations for the long tedious journey before us. Some of us boys went to the mine and notified the men we were leaving and we sold what tools we had of father’s for just what was offered us and Mother did the same with the house furnishings and on the morning of the 19th of April, Robert’s 17th birthday, we boarded the train for Glasgow where we were bet by Brother Robert Sands, who secured passage for us on a small steamboat bound for Liverpool and helped us get located on the boat and here we left our native land without the least feeling of regret. Not that we did not love the land of our forefathers and many heroes and great men Scotland had produced, such as Wallace and Bruce and Burns and many others, noted characters, but we felt that we were being privileged to go to a land of greater liberty and opportunity, and especially as it was to us the land of Zion and the headquarters of the Church where all our future hopes and prospects in life were centered.
We landed in Liverpool next morning and went on board the John J. Boyd along with some 700 Mormon emigrants all bound for
We left Liverpool on the 22nd of April, 1862, bound for
But we lived on our fare all right and were glad when we reached
It is too long a tale to tell of the many changes we had to make in getting from
However, we were soon assigned to John Turner’s wagon along with a few others, about 12 persons to each wagon. Each family was given a bake skillet, a camp kettle and a frying pan and flour and bacon once a week and about once a week an allowance of fresh beef. A few small animals were driven along by each company to be used for beef at odd times.
As soon as possible we started on the westward journey in Homer Duncan’s ox train. Everything as done in an orderly way to make the people as comfortable as possible on the long wearisome journey. There was always 50 or more teams and wagons in each company and some six men on horseback who herded the oxen at night when they were turned out to eat grass, so they could work the next day. Fifteen miles was an average day’s travel and everybody had to walk if they possibly could.
A tent was furnished for each wagon to be hauled in the wagon and set up each night for the people to sleep in who belonged to that wagon and one man in each had the job of setting up the tent at night and taking it down and putting it in the wagon next morning. A corral was bade by one half of the wagons being placed on one side and the other half on the other side, and it was used to put the oxen in to yoke them up for each day’s travel and also as a meeting place where prayers were offered at night and morning and warning and advice given to members of the camp.
A bugle was sounded to call the people together for meetings. Although it was a long and very trying journey for people who had never seen oxen or tried to cook by smoky fires, or slept outdoors, even though tired, worn and weary, they used to gather around the campfires in the evenings and sing songs; especially “Come, Come, Ye Saints, no Toil nor Labor Fear, But with Joy Wend Your Way.” There was always someone who had a violin, an accordion or a concertina to make music and even play for a dance at odd times. We had several deaths on that journey and a shallow grave without a coffin was all that could be given them, and their sorrowing dear ones had to march on with the train never to see those graves again. Many had died and laid their wearied bodies down by the side of the Mormon wagon trial from the year 1847 to the year 1868. All that crossed the plains before the railroad are real Pioneers. Just think what faith and courage our good old Mother showed in undertaking such a journey with such a family in those conditions.
Our family got through without any loss of life. Our little sister Elizabeth was not well when we got here and died two weeks after our arrival in Heber and was buried among the first in the
John Turner being from Heber and we being in his wagon, came right into Heber without going to
We landed in Heber on the 21st day of September, 1862, having been five months on the way. Three days after getting here Robert and I went to work. We were hired for a year each to get one hundred dollars, to be paid in wheat at $2.00 a bushel, so Mother could get wheat to grind into flour for her and the younger children to live on. Mother had brought some clothing with her and traded it to Bailie Sprouse for a log house all ready to move into and a little later she traded more clothing for a cow. At the end of the year I took a cow on my wages and let Mother have her to milk, and later I traded the cow for 18 acres of land.
In 1863 Mother was married to George Muir and us older boys kept working for different people and earning means to help Mother feed and clothe the children, and finally amongst us we had two yoke of oxen and a wagon of our own and I went to hauling wood and coal to Salt Lake City to sell for store pay. There really was no money.
In 1866 the Blackhawk war came and I enrolled in John M Murdock’s company and did service, for which I now receive a pension. Robert worked for Alex Claderwood on the Weber that year and did not enroll that year, and though he enrolled in 1867, no one got a pension for that year as the war was over mostly.
Mother later went to
William Lindsay – April 1931
Robert Lindsay is Don Lindsay's great grandfather
HISTORY OF ROBERT LINDSAY
Robert Lindsay was the eldest son of William Lindsay and Christina Howie. He was born at Gatehead, Kilmaurs,
On the 17th of October, 1861, his father was killed by a large stone falling on him while at work in the Station pit near Kilmarnock,
His parents had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in May of 1848, and had a great desire to come to
His mother’s faith was good and her courage strong. She said to her children, even when their hopes seemed to be blasted, “Never mind boys, we will go to
They went on board the sailing ship “John J. Boyd”, 700 passenger capacity, bound for
They landed in
It took ten days at that time to get from
They were assigned to a wagon driven by John Turner of Heber, and they crossed the plains in Homer Duncan’s company, spending two months on the way. This was their first introduction to Bull Whackers and ox teams. But they soon got used to the cracking of the whips and the whoa, hawing and geeing of the teamsters. It was still harder to learn to cook in the bake skillet and frying pan over a fire made of sticks, when they were available, and buffalo chips when they could get nothing better. Flour and bacon were about all they got to cook and everybody had to walk.
The family came right into Heber, arriving September 21, 1862. Robert was hired out to work one year for one hundred dollars in wheat, at two dollars per bushel. He worked for several years for different persons, at all kinds of work, and finally got a team and wagon of his own.
He married Sarah Ann Murdock December 15, 1868, in the Endowment House in
He was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Also a High Priest and High Councilor up to the time of his death.
He was a hard working man and did his full share in all public enterprises for the building of the county and town of