| Georges' Father Sidney. He came across the plains. His father, Robert died in Wyoming on the trail. His mother and siblings made it though. Sidney Weekes was born in Welling, Kent, England on the 8th of March 1841. With his parents he left England in 1853 and sailed for America on the ship International. In April of the same year they arrived in New Orleans. From there they went to Keokuk, Iowa. In May they left for Utah, moving slowly with ox teams and wagons.
While crossing the Platte River, Sidney's brother Benjamin was drowned. He was eighteen years old at the time. As they neared Fort Laramie his father, Robert passed away. The widowed mother Ann Mary and her children continued the journey settling in Smithfield, Cache County, Utah.
A few years after their arrival in Utah Sidney's brother Samuel, who had remained in New Orleans, Louisiana desired to move west. It was Sidney's task to go and help him move. In order to do so, he had to have some new clothes. Among the necessary articles was a pair of pants. These his sister Edith made by sewing small pieces together as we do for quilt tops. When he returned in October he had grown so tall that his trousers came almost to his knees. His mother cried because he was so grown up. He made this trip successfully by wagon and ox teams.
Sidney's mother and family moved from Salt Lake City to Lehi. In April 1860 they moved to Smithfield, Cache County, Utah. In this new home, they planted a couple of crops. Each year they were utterly destroyed by crickets. The saints tried in every way possible to destroy the insects, but in vain. Despair filled their hearts; yet they trusted in God. Flocks of seagulls filled the sky, down they swooped and began devouring the swarms of crickets.
During this time, the faithful little mother was barely able to provide food enough for her family. Grandfather said seldom had he enough to satisfy his hunger. His mother and the children gleaned in the fields gathering grain wherever they could. This they threshed by hand and ground through a coffee mill for flour. They lived entirely on foods they could gather this way and by digging tender roots and sprouts in the woods. Sidney assisted his mother in supporting the family until 1864.
There Sidney met Susan Elizabeth Pilgrim, who had also immigrated from England. He loved her for the ideals she cherished. On the 16th of July 1864 they drove an ox team to Salt Lake City to be married in the Endowment House. They made their home in Smithfield. Three sons George, John and William and three daughters, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Sarah blessed their home. It was one in which love, devotion, and consideration were Paramount. Their children were taught to be thrifty and energetic. Each had a testimony of the Gospel planted deep in their heart, just as their parents had.
Sidney worked hard and soon after his marriage had a new five room adobe house built for his family.
One day as they conversed Sidney said to Susan, "How do you feel about plural marriage?" "If one principle of our Religion is true Sidney, they're all, they are all of divine origin," she answered. They spoke further on the subject, after due consideration it was decided that Sidney should marry the second wife. His choice was Annie Bennett Harris, a young widow who lived near them. Her husband had been accidentally killed while hauling a load of wood from the canyon. She had two little girls Martha and Beatrice.
Arrangements were completed and Susan accompanied them to Salt Lake City were they were married Oct 4, 1878. Upon their return home Annie was given two rooms in Sidney's and Susan's home.
Due to the oppressive treatment of men who had plural wives it seemed wise for Sidney to move to Idaho and there make a new home for his second wife and it was his desire also to have homes for his sons as they grew older so they could stay close to the body of the Church.
Susan chose to stay in her home in Smithfield, since she was older and her health was not good. However she assisted with plans and in the spring of 1883 Sidney his sons George and John, daughter Rebecca and his second wife and daughter Martha (Beatrice had passed away previous to this time) left Smithfield for Lyman, Idaho. It was a slow tedious journey with wagons and ox team and cattle trailing. After their arrival there were numerous challenges; ground to be cleared of sage, a home must be built, ditches canals and roads to be made. Life would have been difficult without interference from the government agents who checked constantly on men who had plural wives. Members of above mentioned families had to be constantly on guard for their safety. It was necessary for Sidney as well as others who had plural wives to have secret places of abode where they could elude the officers.
Life went on under these trying conditions for four years when on 25 December 1887 Sidney was arrested. His trial was held at Blackfoot, Idaho the county seat. At that time he was told by Government officials that if he would denounce his religion he could have his freedom. He staunchly refused to do so saying he would rather lose his right arm or leg. Therefore the sentence was pronounced. He was to serve three years in the Federal Penitentiary at Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory. Soon after his arrival, guards and officers learned of Sidney's splendid traits of character. He was trustworthy, honest, ambitious and obedient. Therefore he was granted special privileges, allowed to run errands, work in the garden, to mix and carry adobes for the new building being erected, to take the cows in and from the pasture etc.
Visitors came often to the penitentiary often out of curiosity to see a Mormon. One woman exclaimed, "Oh! I thought Mormons had horns, don't they?" "We have to wait until we grow older." Sidney calmly assured her. In answer to another similar inquiry Sidney said "Here we are, judge for yourself."
While detained there Sidney explained and taught the Gospel at every available opportunity. He converted and baptized the warden, Mr. Moulton and his daughter.
In Journal History of the L.D.S. Church for the 26 Jan. 1888, page 4 is a copy or an extract from the Deseret Evening News of that date, as follows: Sioux City, a letter from Brother Sidney Weekes, now in Sioux (Iowa) prison in company with several other Mormons for living with more than one wife, state that all the brethren there are in good health and are getting along as well as can be expected under the circumstances. The jail is well ventilated and is kept scrupulously clean. The prison officers are kind and gentlemanly in the treatment of the prisoners.
When his term was nearly half served, Sidney was shown in a dream the date his pardon would be granted, (7 Jan 1889). He told the guard and his companions of the experience. "Your crazy, your time is only half up," they chided. "Wait and see," he answered. January 7 arrived and the mail men failed to bring his pardon. He was harassed by his companions, but felt certain it would arrive before the day ended. In the evening by special delivery his pardon arrived, signed by Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, in Washington, D.C. His joy knew no bounds. However he returned to his loved ones with a heavy heart, for during his absence, Susan, his first wife and Ann, his mother, had both passed away.
He visited with his children in Smithfield then rode a horse bareback to Lyman, Idaho to be with Annie and his children, he resumed his duties without further interference from the Government agents.
He remained true to the ideals and standards of the Church as long as he lived. His faith in its principles never wavered. He served as Supt. of the Sunday School in both Utah and Idaho as Presiding Elder and the first Bishop of the Lyman Ward.
He enjoyed and did temple work. During the terrible epidemic of Diphtheria and whenever needed in time of illness, he gave fully of his time and service.
On 14 of April 1909 he passed away at Sunnydell, his death came due to pneumonia.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment