Pioneer Days...

Crossing the Plains

July 24th, we celebrate the arrival of the Utah Pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

My husbands Family Tree has many stories to tell.  I was very surprised to discover I also have Pioneers on my Family Tree.  My 5th Great Grand Father Joseph Sheffield born in 1714  had three sons..

Thomas born 1741

George born 1745

John born 1758

I am descended through his second son George.  His oldest son Thomas married Ann Carlisle. Their second son John born in 1768 married Mary Garner and records show several of his children became members of the LDS church in the very early days after the Church was established and missionaries were sent to England to preach the gospel.

Of these descendents several were pioneers crossing the Plains with the Handcart Companies.

Quite recently I found a documented history of  Louisa Jane Sheffield my 4th cousin 2x removed.

Louisa Jane Sheffield 1854-1924

Louisa was born in Salt Lake City and died in Georgetown, Bear Lake, Idaho.

She married Alma Hayes his second wife in a polygamous marriage his first wife was Annselena Thomas only three years older than Louisa.  The 1880 Census shows them both living in the same home with Alma.

Later Census Records show them in separate houses in 1882 a Federal Law was passed prohibiting Polygamy.

  That must have been a very difficult time in the  history of the church for those families that were involved.  From what I have read it wasn't until around 1902 when Utah was accepted as a State that the Church fully enforced that Law.  In the 1930 Census Alma and his fist wife were living in a Soda Springs, Idaho while Louisa was alone with some of her children.in Georgetown.

Alma Hayes and Louisa had 10 children.  Alma and Annselina had 13 children.
The above family picture does not identify the individuals.

Alma Hayes 1846-1935

A written story of Alma depicts him as a hard working and honorable man, born in Missouri to parents who were converts and died there after being persecuted for their beliefs.  Alma and his brother Nephi were very young  at the time of their parents death and were sheltered and taken in by other families as they crossed the plains to Utah.

He was used to hard work and employed as a farm laborer until he was eighteen.  Then came the troubled times of the Blackhawk War in 1865.  He joined the ranks of forces fighting against the Indians.
See historytogo.utah.gov

He was greatly respected and loved by all who knew him.

As we celebrate the 24th with Parades and Fireworks and Picnics and Family Reunions I know I will pause and remember the sacrifices and hard work of many who made the Salt Lake Valley and Utah the beautiful place it is today.