Isaac Wardle in the Deseret News

Kristine Frederickson who writes a blog for the Deseret News, included a story about Isaac Wardle who she says is her great-great-great-great grandfather.  She also talks about William Haston Wardle and Mary Ashton.  I would recommend you check out the link because this is very touching.  She talks about Isaac being obedient in hauling Langley across the plains, digging so many graves and chopping down firewood.  His obedience likely saved his life.

Hyrum Wright's Children

I found this photo in my mother's photo album.  It is labeled "Uncle Hyrum's Family."  It is likely taken about 1894 based on the ages of the children.  However, the only family I could find that matches on Family search is that of my mother's grandfather' The family of Hyrum Isaac Wright and Ann Elizabeth Harper.  This especially matches when my wife pointed out to me that boys under two were often dressed in what would be considered girl's clothing today.  This picture would not include the youngest two children.

 Children are: John Hyrum, Elizabeth Ann, Benjamin Harper, William Alfred, Charles James (my grandfather), Franklin Phipps, Reuben Albert, and Elbert Arlic.  The two children missing are Hannah Eileen and Isaac Leon.  As I look at this picture I am convinced the child farthest to the right with blond hair is my grandfather as a boy.  If you have a different view, I would love to hear it.

Sheri's Great-great-great-great Grandfather Edmond Durfee: Mormon Martyr

Edmond Durfee was an early martyr for the church.  He lived outside of Nauvoo, and was murdered a bit more than a year after the prophet.  He also had a home in Nauvoo.

Modern tombstone placed in cemetery in Nauvoo

Sketch form New Era 1960

Back of tombstone in Nauvoo

Edmond and Magdalena were married 18 Oct 1809 in Tiverton RI.  They moved to Ohio and joined the LDS Church May 1831.  They had 13 children.  Edmond was a farmer, carpenter and millwright.  He served 3 church missions to NY during the next 5 years.  He assisted in laying one of the cornerstones of the Kirtland Temple in Ohio and saw the temple completed.

Statue in Pioneer Ceme

He went with a group to Caldwell County, MO to plant crops and build homes for the saints to come when the Mormons were driven from Missouri.  The Durfees settled in Il.,  what became Morley’s Settlement or (Yerome).  He helped lay the Southwest Cornerstone of the Nauvoo Temple and spent many days working on the temple.

In Sept 1845 a mob burned many Yerome homes.  The Durfees went to Nauvoo for safety.  Edmond and several men went back to finish the harvest.  Midnight fire awakened them.  They rushed out to fight it.  Shots were fired.  Edmond was shot just above the heart and killed.  His body was taken to Nauvoo for burial.

Rumor said someone offered a gallon of whiskey to anyone who would kill Edmond Durfee.  LDS Apostle Orson Hyde, in a letter to Brigham Young, said, “Mr Durfee was one of the most quiet inoffensive citizens in these United States.  We are  persuaded that his murder was wholly unprovoked

Iowa City: Marching Off Point for Mormon Pioneers 1856-57

There are times when what we imaging in our heads has nothing to do with how it really was.  At the time when the end of the rail line was at Iowa City (1856-1857) the outfitting point was actually two to three miles outside of town.  This necessitated a good walk to get there.  These year of course coincide with the first two years of handcart companies.  Today it is part of the University of Iowa Campus and is within a mile of the Iowa City Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This is where Caleb's mission would meet for transfers every six weeks, as it is considered a central location for the mission.
I always imagined Iowa as being fields at the time, cultivated, and the vegetation pretty much being similar to that in Wyoming or western Nebraska.  However in visiting the place, I now realize how wrong I was.  I should have remember Iowa is a humid place, which much more rain fall that Wyoming or Nebraska.  Consequently the grass would have been very high, and there would have been woods not yet cleared, and a three mile hike would have been a formidable task.  Another formidable task would be to maneuver handcarts which such thick vegetation.
I went there to find where Langley Bailey had talked about swimming, in the Iowa River, close to the outfitting point.  I could not find the river, although I know it is not too far distant.  There were river beds, which made me wonder if the route of the river could have changed in the last 150 years.
At any rate, I was totally taken back by the presentation of the environment.  It was not anything like what I had in my head.  The humidity and the heat would have been difficulty.  This type of environment would have also been prime ground for bugs, including mosquitoes.  It also was a prime environment for wild flowers.  There where many trees, which would have provided shade.  However, it would have been difficulty to find a place for the tents.  When Isaac was there there were 2000 other pioneers making ready to cross the plains.  They would have been spread out, but also crowded trying to find a place for that many people.

Lots of greenery to deal with

lots of grass

Looking down at old river bed

That be us

Mary Dixon Wardle: Death Record

This is the death record for Mary Dixon Wardle, the wife of James Wardle making her the sister-in-law of Isaac Wardle and the daughter-in-law of John and Mary Wardle.  This record gives her parents as James Dixon and Mary Farrel both of Scotland.  Her dob is 3 November 1850, born in Scotland and her death date is 18 March 1943 in Salt Lake City.  The witness to the death is A.C. Wardle.  The cause of death is cardiac arrest due to senility.  She was 92 years old.

Quick Trip to South Jordan Cemetery

I looked at the directory of the cemetery as we were leaving, and there are many more Wardle names, perhaps 100, all related some how.  However these are the names I found quickly with Natalia's help.

Great great great Grandparents John and Mary Wardle.  They crossed the plains in the Robinson Handcart Company of 1860.

Isaac's brother and his wife, Mary Dickson. James also crossed the plains with the Robinson Company.

 

Isaac's second wife Mary Ann Ashton Wardle.  Crossed the plains in the Martin handcart Company

Aunt Lula Wardle Beesley: Obituary

Aunt Lula Theo Beesley is my father's older sister.  She passed away 14 February, 1992 in Salt Lake City and was buried in Rexburg Cemetery.  Her husband John Thayne Beesley preceded her in death.