Margaret Harris was born about 1831-34 at Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, Wales, to John Harris and Elizabeth Evans. (There seems to be some confusion on the surname, Harris. Winifred Sorensen has both Margaret and her father John's surname listed as Thomas in one biography but as Harris in the other.) Margaret was the youngest of a family of ten. (The family group sheet which I have, lists only nine children.) Her mother, Elizabeth, died when Margaret was two years old. Her father died when she was eleven. She was raised by an aunt. When she was just fifteen, she left her aunt and went to Dowlais at the invitation of her older sister, Ann.
In Dowlais, John Daniel and Margaret met. They got married when they were both about 24 years old, on the 25 October 1858 at Pontmorlais, Glamorganshire. The young couple moved to Merthyr Tydfil and lived in a rented house. There, John Daniel worked as a farmer. He became dissatisfied with living conditions and his job, so he moved to Cwmbach (near Aberdare) where he worked In the coal mines which are abundant in that area of Wales.
Here in Cwmbach is where all nine of their children were born.
In the coal mining towns of southern Wales, when the men went to work in the morning, the first thing their wives did, was to make the bed and put a white spread on it. This is because the mines were so dangerous that nobody knew when a worker would be hurt and they would have to be brought home.
In 1865, the year Lucy was born, John Daniel joined the LDS Church (27 Nov 1865). He was baptized by David Jenkins and confirmed by Thomas Evans. At first Margaret was bitterly
opposed to her husband joining the church. But 12 years later, after all the children were born, she also joined the church (26 July 1877). She was baptized by her husband and confirmed the same day by David R. Gill.
The emigrants arrived in New York City, July 10th and continued their journey by rail. They arrived in Salt Lake City, July 18, 1878.
The Evans settled in Logan and were received a member of the Logan Second Ward on July 20, 1878.
The arrival of the Evans family in Utah in a mere 21 days from the time they left England is in sharp contrast to the 9 months it took Benjamin Walter Baker and his sister-in-law, Jean Rio Griffeths Baker, to travel the same distance just 27 years earlier. By this time, the Evans were able to cross the Atlantic on a steamboat, rather than having to rely on the wind. A steamboat traveling at an average speed of 20 miles an hour could cross the Atlantic in about 10 days. By this time (1878) the transcontinental railroad had been in operation nearly 10 years; the Golden Spike being driven at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869. Thus the Evans could enjoy the luxury of train travel all the way across the North American continent.
Three years after arriving in Utah, Lucy Evans married a young man from Franklin, Idaho by the name of Benjamin Charles Baker (age 18) on June 2, 1881, just 11 days prior to her 16th birthday.
Sometime within the next few years the Evans family moved to the Snake River Valley in Idaho and settled on a farm near Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls). At this time there was hardly a farm between the Indian Reservation (near Pocatello) and Rexburg. Eagle Rock was the only town in that part of the country.
For many years, John Daniel presided over the branch at Eagle Rock and after the ward was created, he was a member of the bishopric. In 1885 (Nov 11), John Daniel and Margaret went to the Salt Lake Temple, took out their endowments and were sealed for time and eternity. Within a few years, John Daniel was called to go on a mission.
He probably left immediately after this for his mission to his homeland, Wales. (Winifred Sorensen gives the month as August 1888, but this was prior to receiving his patriarchal blessing in October.) While on his mission, he compiled the "magazine of the Missionary" into book form. He returned to his family in August 1890.
Their cooking was done on a wood or coal stove. Those stoves made wonderful bread and pies. The recipes were not written like now, only when given personally. So many
women like her couldn't have read them anyway. Most cooking was done by the "by guess and by golly" method (by taste mostly). The old time women like my mother were wonderful cooks.
John Daniel and Margaret returned to Idaho after they had sold the store. There they lived with one of their daughters in Payette, until John Daniel passed away on February 1, 1909.
For another eight years, Margaret lived on. After John Daniel had passed away, she went from one of her children to another. They were all busy with families of their own, most of them large ones. She never felt wanted. She was invited to her daughter Margaret's in Oakland, California. After a short stay she fell and died of injuries on the 17th of July 1917. She was buried by the side of her husband at the City Cemetery in Salt Lake City.
Written by Winifred Davis Sorensen
In Dowlais, John Daniel and Margaret met. They got married when they were both about 24 years old, on the 25 October 1858 at Pontmorlais, Glamorganshire. The young couple moved to Merthyr Tydfil and lived in a rented house. There, John Daniel worked as a farmer. He became dissatisfied with living conditions and his job, so he moved to Cwmbach (near Aberdare) where he worked In the coal mines which are abundant in that area of Wales.
Here in Cwmbach is where all nine of their children were born.
In the coal mining towns of southern Wales, when the men went to work in the morning, the first thing their wives did, was to make the bed and put a white spread on it. This is because the mines were so dangerous that nobody knew when a worker would be hurt and they would have to be brought home.
In 1865, the year Lucy was born, John Daniel joined the LDS Church (27 Nov 1865). He was baptized by David Jenkins and confirmed by Thomas Evans. At first Margaret was bitterly
opposed to her husband joining the church. But 12 years later, after all the children were born, she also joined the church (26 July 1877). She was baptized by her husband and confirmed the same day by David R. Gill.
The emigrants arrived in New York City, July 10th and continued their journey by rail. They arrived in Salt Lake City, July 18, 1878.
The Evans settled in Logan and were received a member of the Logan Second Ward on July 20, 1878.
The arrival of the Evans family in Utah in a mere 21 days from the time they left England is in sharp contrast to the 9 months it took Benjamin Walter Baker and his sister-in-law, Jean Rio Griffeths Baker, to travel the same distance just 27 years earlier. By this time, the Evans were able to cross the Atlantic on a steamboat, rather than having to rely on the wind. A steamboat traveling at an average speed of 20 miles an hour could cross the Atlantic in about 10 days. By this time (1878) the transcontinental railroad had been in operation nearly 10 years; the Golden Spike being driven at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869. Thus the Evans could enjoy the luxury of train travel all the way across the North American continent.
Three years after arriving in Utah, Lucy Evans married a young man from Franklin, Idaho by the name of Benjamin Charles Baker (age 18) on June 2, 1881, just 11 days prior to her 16th birthday.
Sometime within the next few years the Evans family moved to the Snake River Valley in Idaho and settled on a farm near Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls). At this time there was hardly a farm between the Indian Reservation (near Pocatello) and Rexburg. Eagle Rock was the only town in that part of the country.
For many years, John Daniel presided over the branch at Eagle Rock and after the ward was created, he was a member of the bishopric. In 1885 (Nov 11), John Daniel and Margaret went to the Salt Lake Temple, took out their endowments and were sealed for time and eternity. Within a few years, John Daniel was called to go on a mission.
He probably left immediately after this for his mission to his homeland, Wales. (Winifred Sorensen gives the month as August 1888, but this was prior to receiving his patriarchal blessing in October.) While on his mission, he compiled the "magazine of the Missionary" into book form. He returned to his family in August 1890.
Their cooking was done on a wood or coal stove. Those stoves made wonderful bread and pies. The recipes were not written like now, only when given personally. So many
women like her couldn't have read them anyway. Most cooking was done by the "by guess and by golly" method (by taste mostly). The old time women like my mother were wonderful cooks.
John Daniel and Margaret returned to Idaho after they had sold the store. There they lived with one of their daughters in Payette, until John Daniel passed away on February 1, 1909.
For another eight years, Margaret lived on. After John Daniel had passed away, she went from one of her children to another. They were all busy with families of their own, most of them large ones. She never felt wanted. She was invited to her daughter Margaret's in Oakland, California. After a short stay she fell and died of injuries on the 17th of July 1917. She was buried by the side of her husband at the City Cemetery in Salt Lake City.
Written by Winifred Davis Sorensen
Margaret Harris was born about 1831-34 at Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, Wales, to John Harris and Elizabeth Evans. (There seems to be some confusion on the surname, Harris. Winifred Sorensen has both Margaret and her father John's surname listed as Thomas in one biography but as Harris in the other.) Margaret was the youngest of a family of ten. (The family group sheet which I have, lists only nine children.) Her mother, Elizabeth, died when Margaret was two years old. Her father died when she was eleven. She was raised by an aunt. When she was just fifteen, she left her aunt and went to Dowlais at the invitation of her older sister, Ann.
In Dowlais, John Daniel and Margaret met. They got married when they were both about 24 years old, on the 25 October 1858 at Pontmorlais, Glamorganshire. The young couple moved to Merthyr Tydfil and lived in a rented house. There, John Daniel worked as a farmer. He became dissatisfied with living conditions and his job, so he moved to Cwmbach (near Aberdare) where he worked In the coal mines which are abundant in that area of Wales.
Here in Cwmbach is where all nine of their children were born.
In the coal mining towns of southern Wales, when the men went to work in the morning, the first thing their wives did, was to make the bed and put a white spread on it. This is because the mines were so dangerous that nobody knew when a worker would be hurt and they would have to be brought home.
In 1865, the year Lucy was born, John Daniel joined the LDS Church (27 Nov 1865). He was baptized by David Jenkins and confirmed by Thomas Evans. At first Margaret was bitterly
opposed to her husband joining the church. But 12 years later, after all the children were born, she also joined the church (26 July 1877). She was baptized by her husband and confirmed the same day by David R. Gill.
The emigrants arrived in New York City, July 10th and continued their journey by rail. They arrived in Salt Lake City, July 18, 1878.
The Evans settled in Logan and were received a member of the Logan Second Ward on July 20, 1878.
The arrival of the Evans family in Utah in a mere 21 days from the time they left England is in sharp contrast to the 9 months it took Benjamin Walter Baker and his sister-in-law, Jean Rio Griffeths Baker, to travel the same distance just 27 years earlier. By this time, the Evans were able to cross the Atlantic on a steamboat, rather than having to rely on the wind. A steamboat traveling at an average speed of 20 miles an hour could cross the Atlantic in about 10 days. By this time (1878) the transcontinental railroad had been in operation nearly 10 years; the Golden Spike being driven at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869. Thus the Evans could enjoy the luxury of train travel all the way across the North American continent.
Three years after arriving in Utah, Lucy Evans married a young man from Franklin, Idaho by the name of Benjamin Charles Baker (age 18) on June 2, 1881, just 11 days prior to her 16th birthday.
Sometime within the next few years the Evans family moved to the Snake River Valley in Idaho and settled on a farm near Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls). At this time there was hardly a farm between the Indian Reservation (near Pocatello) and Rexburg. Eagle Rock was the only town in that part of the country.
For many years, John Daniel presided over the branch at Eagle Rock and after the ward was created, he was a member of the bishopric. In 1885 (Nov 11), John Daniel and Margaret went to the Salt Lake Temple, took out their endowments and were sealed for time and eternity. Within a few years, John Daniel was called to go on a mission.
He probably left immediately after this for his mission to his homeland, Wales. (Winifred Sorensen gives the month as August 1888, but this was prior to receiving his patriarchal blessing in October.) While on his mission, he compiled the "magazine of the Missionary" into book form. He returned to his family in August 1890.
Their cooking was done on a wood or coal stove. Those stoves made wonderful bread and pies. The recipes were not written like now, only when given personally. So many
women like her couldn't have read them anyway. Most cooking was done by the "by guess and by golly" method (by taste mostly). The old time women like my mother were wonderful cooks.
John Daniel and Margaret returned to Idaho after they had sold the store. There they lived with one of their daughters in Payette, until John Daniel passed away on February 1, 1909.
For another eight years, Margaret lived on. After John Daniel had passed away, she went from one of her children to another. They were all busy with families of their own, most of them large ones. She never felt wanted. She was invited to her daughter Margaret's in Oakland, California. After a short stay she fell and died of injuries on the 17th of July 1917. She was buried by the side of her husband at the City Cemetery in Salt Lake City.
Written by Winifred Davis Sorensen
In Dowlais, John Daniel and Margaret met. They got married when they were both about 24 years old, on the 25 October 1858 at Pontmorlais, Glamorganshire. The young couple moved to Merthyr Tydfil and lived in a rented house. There, John Daniel worked as a farmer. He became dissatisfied with living conditions and his job, so he moved to Cwmbach (near Aberdare) where he worked In the coal mines which are abundant in that area of Wales.
Here in Cwmbach is where all nine of their children were born.
In the coal mining towns of southern Wales, when the men went to work in the morning, the first thing their wives did, was to make the bed and put a white spread on it. This is because the mines were so dangerous that nobody knew when a worker would be hurt and they would have to be brought home.
In 1865, the year Lucy was born, John Daniel joined the LDS Church (27 Nov 1865). He was baptized by David Jenkins and confirmed by Thomas Evans. At first Margaret was bitterly
opposed to her husband joining the church. But 12 years later, after all the children were born, she also joined the church (26 July 1877). She was baptized by her husband and confirmed the same day by David R. Gill.
The emigrants arrived in New York City, July 10th and continued their journey by rail. They arrived in Salt Lake City, July 18, 1878.
The Evans settled in Logan and were received a member of the Logan Second Ward on July 20, 1878.
The arrival of the Evans family in Utah in a mere 21 days from the time they left England is in sharp contrast to the 9 months it took Benjamin Walter Baker and his sister-in-law, Jean Rio Griffeths Baker, to travel the same distance just 27 years earlier. By this time, the Evans were able to cross the Atlantic on a steamboat, rather than having to rely on the wind. A steamboat traveling at an average speed of 20 miles an hour could cross the Atlantic in about 10 days. By this time (1878) the transcontinental railroad had been in operation nearly 10 years; the Golden Spike being driven at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869. Thus the Evans could enjoy the luxury of train travel all the way across the North American continent.
Three years after arriving in Utah, Lucy Evans married a young man from Franklin, Idaho by the name of Benjamin Charles Baker (age 18) on June 2, 1881, just 11 days prior to her 16th birthday.
Sometime within the next few years the Evans family moved to the Snake River Valley in Idaho and settled on a farm near Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls). At this time there was hardly a farm between the Indian Reservation (near Pocatello) and Rexburg. Eagle Rock was the only town in that part of the country.
For many years, John Daniel presided over the branch at Eagle Rock and after the ward was created, he was a member of the bishopric. In 1885 (Nov 11), John Daniel and Margaret went to the Salt Lake Temple, took out their endowments and were sealed for time and eternity. Within a few years, John Daniel was called to go on a mission.
He probably left immediately after this for his mission to his homeland, Wales. (Winifred Sorensen gives the month as August 1888, but this was prior to receiving his patriarchal blessing in October.) While on his mission, he compiled the "magazine of the Missionary" into book form. He returned to his family in August 1890.
Their cooking was done on a wood or coal stove. Those stoves made wonderful bread and pies. The recipes were not written like now, only when given personally. So many
women like her couldn't have read them anyway. Most cooking was done by the "by guess and by golly" method (by taste mostly). The old time women like my mother were wonderful cooks.
John Daniel and Margaret returned to Idaho after they had sold the store. There they lived with one of their daughters in Payette, until John Daniel passed away on February 1, 1909.
For another eight years, Margaret lived on. After John Daniel had passed away, she went from one of her children to another. They were all busy with families of their own, most of them large ones. She never felt wanted. She was invited to her daughter Margaret's in Oakland, California. After a short stay she fell and died of injuries on the 17th of July 1917. She was buried by the side of her husband at the City Cemetery in Salt Lake City.
Written by Winifred Davis Sorensen
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