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| John Roberts |
John
Roberts, son of Hugh and Mary Owens Roberts, was born March 16, 1849 at
Eglwysbach, Wales. He was one of a family of ten children. During his childhood
he worked with his brothers and sisters in assisting to support the family,
often helping grandfather who was a shoemaker.
Grandfather
and Grandmother, previous to my father’s birth, had joined the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, so as their children attained the proper age, they
were baptized members of the same. My father received baptism at the hands of
his father, Hugh Roberts on May 9, 1857 and was confirmed the same day by his
father.
The
persecutions of the saints in Wales had reached such a point that at times they
were almost unbearable. Even their lives were sometimes in danger.
Consequently, my father received very little education in the common schools,
as he was molested terribly by his associates and he remained away from school
to avoid their taunts. As a result, his schooling throughout his whole life was
on of experience, but he was one who lived and learned.
When
father was at the age of fifteen, grandfather emigrated to America, bringing
with him grandmother and five children; Aunt Betsey and Aunt Margaret having
previously come. Father was the only son in grandfather’s family to come to
Zion; Uncle Robert preferring to remain in Wales. Thus according to the
patriarchal order, father became the head of the Hugh Roberts Family upon
grandfather’s death.
Grandfather’s
family arrived in Salt Lake City in the year 1864 after a hard and strenuous
journey across the plains, my father having walked all the way. Times were hard
during the first winter father hauled wood for a man, from a nearby canyon,
taking every third load as his pay.
Circumstances
grew no better by spring so grandfather decided to move his family to
Smithfield, Utah, as conditions there seemed more favorable for making a
living. At this place father was engaged mostly in farming and logging in the
canyons. He always had time to perform his duties in the church, having taught
the deacons for several years and was active as choir member. Father loved
music very much. It was a natural gift and art which had been developed as a
child in his home, as all Welsh children are taught good music from their
infancy.
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| John and Eliza Sorensen Roberts Family |
Father
was ordained an Elder, May 16, 1868 by William White. Six years later on July
9, 1874 he married Eliza Marie Sorensen in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake
City. Twelve Children were born thru this union.
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| John and Fannie Akins Roberts Family |
On
April 7, 1881 father married in the Endowment House, Fannie Lazell Akins.
Polygamy was generally practiced throughout the Church at this time. Thirteen
children were born to them. Plural marriage, being against the law, it became
necessary for father and his families to seek new homes as the Untied States
Marshals had been sent to molest and imprison all polygamists. Many were the
nights father spent away from home in secret places to avoid them, even
remaining in hiding for several days at a time.
To
gain more security from the officers of the law, the family moved to Bear Lake
Valley, Idaho, arriving there September 7, 1883. They located on a farm father
had previously purchased which was then a part of the Liberty Ward, but came within
the boundaries of the Lanark Ward when a division of the Ward was made.
Imagine
if you can, their feelings as they arrived at their new home. It was eleven
o’clock at night when they reached their journey’s end. No one to greet or
welcome them. They built a camp fire and ate a supper of hot milk and bread
which had been purchased at Bishop Austin’s on the way.
Their
supplies had run low as they had been three days on the way. A rude house
without doors or window sheltered them that night and amid the howls of coyotes
on the near-by hills, they spent their first night on the now old ranch.
For
along time one cow furnished a scanty supply of milk for the two families and
their main diet besides milk consisted of bread, butter at times, and potatoes,
with wild game occasionally. Sickness often came and even death, but thru their
courage and faith they were able to withstand all of the trials.
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| Eliza and John |
The
original farm was made up of 160 acres and purchased for around $400 to $500.
Years later 320 acres were homesteaded above what was known as the Miles Creek
Canal. Father spent all his spare time in the canyons getting our material for
building barns, fences, corrals, ect. On the additional land father built one
of the best farm houses in that part of the valley and out into it all the
conveniences and comforts within his means. This was mother’s first home after
the original two-room log house in which both families lived several years.
Father also purchased the Peter Beck home adjoining his land and Aunt Fannie
lived there.
Father’s
first machinery consisted of a mower, a cradle, and a scythe. But at the time
of the sale of his farm, he had every kind of farm implement and tool necessary
to carry on the work of a modern up-to-date farm. The machinery was always the
best and well cared for. Father was considered one of the most successful
farmers in Bear Lake Valley. His crops were among the best and his livestock
often won prizes at the county fairs.
For
many years there was no money with which to transact business. Father often
paid a bushel of wheat for a dance ticket. At one time father drove a herd of
sheep thru the mountains to Smithfield to obtain money to liquidate some of his
debts. Working-bees were organized among the neighbors for the purpose of building
fences and other work.
As
father became more prosperous he made yearly trips to Brigham City after fruit,
requiring about a week to go and return. As a child I recall the thrill I would
feel when I would see father returning with a load of fruit.
He
also went regularly to Salt Lake to conference usually in the spring. Father
always took one of the children on his trips until each had had his turn.
Father hauled rock for building the Logan Temple and was present at the
dedication of both the Logan and the Salt Lake Temples.
In
the year 1900 Father built a reservoir on his land, enabling his to retain the
spring flow for all his land especially his garden. He took great pride in this
and often he would show visitors thru it pointing out the fact that there were
few weeds. Many vegetables were sold in nearby towns, especially Montpelier.
When
Lanark Ward was organized, Father was made leader if the choir, which position
he held for many years. In the year 1900 father was ordained a High Priest,
having been ordained a Seventy August 21, 1886 by Thomas Minson.
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| John and Eliza |
In
the fall of 1902 father moved my mother to Paris, so that his children might
have the opportunity of attending the Fielding Academy. Father was a firm
believer in education and delighted in his children’s scholastic attainments,
four of them received college training.
Father
joined the Bear Lake Stake Choir after moving to Paris. He had a wonderful bass
voice, being able to sing lower than any one else in the choir. Father loved
good music, he disliked ragtime and jazz. His idea of a pleasant evening was on
of music, especially singing. All of his children are more or less musically
inclined.
In
the fall of 1917 father sold his farm to Ernest Hymas. Reuben, Milford, and
Lyman had been called into the armies of the United States in World War I, and
he could no longer run it without them. He purchased a home in Paris for Aunt
Fannie and took a well-earned rest.
Father
loved the Gospel and taught his children the principles of the Gospel and delighted
when he saw his children in the line of duty.
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| John Roberts |
Father was a large man, at one time he weighing as much as two hundred sixty pounds. He and mother made several trips to Salt Lake and Logan Temples and performed work for their kindred dead. It was in the fall of 1923 that his health broke down entirely. He had been suffering for many years from Bright’s disease. He and mother had been to October conference in Salt Lake City, they stopped in Ogden to visit Milford and his family, then they came to our home and stayed for a week and he insisted on seeing Elsie in St. Anthony before returning home even though the physical strain was too severe for a man of 74. Shortly after they arrived home, he said to mother, “Well, I have been to see all my children living outside of Bear Lake and I feel that something is going to happen.” Within a month he was dead. His old ailments appeared with complications and after less than one week of illness he passes away on December 3, 1923. During the last day or two his knowledge of the Welsh language, his mother tongue, came back to him and he talked fluently in Welsh as he had done as a boy.
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| Milford, Hugh, Mary, Owen, Carrie Dora, Mother Eliza, Elsie, Eliza, Father John, Lyman |
Eliza Sorensen Roberts
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| Eliza Marie Sorensen Roberts |
Eliza
Marie Sorensen Roberts was the daughter of Christian and Karen Marie Abrahamson
Sorensen, born in a little town of Vensesild, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark,
April 15, 1858.
Her
parents received the Gospel in Denmark. When mother was five years old they
emigrated to Utah. They crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, one month being
required to reach New York, arriving April 1863. The following October the
family arrived in Salt Lake, after a very hard journey across the plains. They
traveled by ox team in Bishop Preston’s company.
The
nest year Grandfather Sorensen moved to Smithfield, Utah, where the family
endured untold hardships. Mother learned during this time to spin the yarn that
made her own clothes. A calico dress in those days was a much coveted article
of clothing. Mother’s first calico dress cost seventy five cents per yard and
money was hard to obtain.
Mother
was baptized a member of the Church July 8, 1866 by Andre A. Anderson and
confirmed the same day by Jeremiah Hatch. On July 9, 1874 Mother was married to
John Roberts by Daniel H. Wells, in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City.
The couple moved to Smithfield, where four of their children were born. Mother
was called to sing in the choir and served faithfully for many years, she had
an alto voice. Mother has often told me of the time she would get up an hour or
two before waking time for her children, walk up the hollow at least a mile to
pick wild berried to stew for breakfast.
Amid
all their trials and hardships mother and father attended faithfully to their
religious duties, always going to their meetings and choir practices, traveling
over bad roads thru stormy weather and good.
Mother
served as a counselor in the Lanark Ward Relief Society for many years until
father moved our family to Paris. Here she was a teacher in the Paris second
ward Relief Society, later being called as second counselor to Sarah J. Ashley.
Many days and nights she spent with the sick and those in distressing
circumstances.
In
1908 Mother and Elsie, a daughter, went to Sterling Alberta Canada to visit
with my sister Carrie who was living there, she enjoyed every day of the month
she visited.
Probably
one of the hardest ordeals mother ever had to face was to have two of her sons
Milford and Lyman, join the armies. Those weeks and months of anxiety were
almost unbearable, but she stood up bravely under the strain. I recall on
incident during the boys’ absence. We had not heard from Milford for about two
months. The Armistice had been signed, but he had been sent with the army of
Occupation into Germany. Then on Christmas Eve the long looked for message
arrived. It had been written after the Armistice, which gave us the assurance
that he was safe. The letter from Milford certainly Mother’s best Christmas
present that year.
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| Eliza Roberts |
Mother has been lonely since father’s
death, she has lived part of the time in the old home and part of the time with
her sons and daughters, her eyes are so bad she cannot sew or read. This makes
the hours hang heavy for her. She loved to sew and she schooled her daughters
in this art.
An
interesting incident was when mother had been suffering from ill health for
many years; she was advised to go to the Temple and be baptized for her health.
This was in 1889, she testifies to the great blessing she received there from.
Her health was much improved and she was able to perform her duties as a
mother. In the year 1921 mother was ill for six months. Specialists were
consulted and everything medically was done for her, father had great faith in
the Elders and asked them to bless her often. I can testify as also can all the
members of my family, that mother’s health was restored by the power of the
priesthood.
At
one time mother became suddenly ill. I was before the death of my brother John
who was at that time 12 years of age. Father was working in Liberty and only
the children were at home. Mother was suffering from intense pain; her muscles
were stiff and rigid. John said in the usual sympathetic way, “What can I do, I
can ask Heavenly Father to make you better.” He laid his hands on mother’s head
and uttered words of simplicity yet in great faith, “Heavenly Father, bless
mama and make her better.” Immediately her body relaxed, her pain left her and
by the time father reached home she was resting. Mother received her
patriarchal blessing at the age of 12 by Brother C.W. Hyde. He told her that
she would become a singer upon mount Zion which has certainly been fulfilled.
Also that she should sing with the multitude upon the completion of the Temple
in Jackson Co., Missouri. This will soon be fulfilled.
Eliza loved her family and enjoyed every time that they could get together.
Eliza loved her family and enjoyed every time that they could get together.
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| Children of John and Eliza |
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| Roberts Family Headstone... Liberty Cemetery |
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