Tell My Story Too; Jolene Allphin: stories of Mary Ashton, Isaac Wardle and Langley Bailey

Jolene Allphin has compiled hundreds of stories of handcart pioneers.  The stories include the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies, Hunts and Hodgetts Wagon Companies, and of the Rescuers.  Some of the stories are available on line at "Tell My Story, Too" where they are accompanied by the artwork of Julie Rogers, such as the painting of Sarah and Mary above.
Among these stories are a few of our ancestors.  She tells the story of Isaac John Wardle.  Isaac tells the story of his conversion in 1853, of getting a better prospect to earn money to emigrate, of his journey by ship, of his pulling Langley Bailey in the handcart.  Leaving Florence he had on the handcart Langley Bailey, 100 pounds of flour, and tent and camp equipment for seven people with John Bailey to help pull.  He was blessed by Franklin Richards and Cyrus Wheelock that he would live to see "the valley".  Langley felt bad about his brother and Isaac having an extra burden, and tried to get away one day.  His mother found him and reminded him of the blessing.  Langley rode on the handcart until the met rescue wagons from Salt Lake, and then rode in a wagon all the way to the Valley.
The journey was difficult.  There was a sandy trail, and later a snow covered trail.  Many gave up according to  Isaac, and were buried by the wayside.  Isaac himself collapsed at one time and lay for some time. 
Isaac is also known for chopping down trees at Martin's Cove, just over a little hill.  Orrin Wardle wrote of this is his history of Isaac.  This knowledge helped to identify the location of Martin's Cove many years layer. 
Isaac would later marry Mary Ashton.  She was also a Martin Handcart Pioneer.  Isaac likely met her through his friend, Alex Beckstead, whose brother married Sarah Ashton.
Sarah Ashton's history is also included, and this includes a history of the Ashton family.  The Ashton's struggled with finding resources to emigrate.  The handcart plan made this possible.  William and Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton had five daughters, one having dyed in infancy in England.  Another, Elizabeth, would pass away on board the Ship Horizon while docked in Boston.  Tragedy would further stalk the family.  Sarah would die in childbirth, one day journey after Florence.  The new baby, their sixth Sarah Ann, would die 16 days later. 
William Ashton left the company at Fort Laramie, joining the military, Company G, an infantry unit.  At any rate, the three remaining girls were left in the care of others, perhaps with the Barlows.  Betsy too would also succumb and is buried on the plains.  The two remaining girls, Sarah and Mary arrived in Salt Lake and were taken in by different families.  This history documents: "At some point Mary and Sarah found a home with the Hartfield family in Farmington, Utah.  At the age of 12, Sarah was living with the Joseph Carlisle family and working for them as a domestic.  homas W. Beckstead when she was 15. ... Mary was possibly living with them in S. Jordan, as she later married Isaac Wardle who had lived with and worked for Thomas Beckstead's father, Alex Beckstead, Sr. ... Mary and Isaac had one son who they named William Ashton [Haston] Wardle;  perhaps after Mary's father.  Mary only lived four hours after her son was born. 
Another history in this book if that of Langley Allgood Bailey.  In this history is included the letter written by Langley Bailey to Isaac Wardle in 1916.  This letter includes a heartfelt thanks for the assistance Isaac rendered him on the handcart trail.