~ Record of Abigail Jones Family ~

~ Abigail Mariah Reed Jones~

born~ July 29,1857 Bay City Michigan
died~ June 5,1937 Pocatello Idaho
buried~ Logan Utah

FATHER~ of Abigail
Levi Bennett Jones
born~ Aug 22,1816 Courtland New York

MOTHER~ of Abigail
Sarah Leolide Reed
born~ Dec 20 1835 Hanover Michigan

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~PARENTS of LEVI BENNETT JONES~

FATHER~ Peter Jones
born~ Courtland New York
MOTHER~ Emma Jones
born~ Courtland New York

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~ PARENTS of SARAH ZEOLIDE REED ~

FATHER~ Garrett Reed
born~ England
MOTHER~ Marria Reed
born~ England

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~ ABIGAIL'S LIFE STORY ~

My father and mother and four children started for Salt Lake City in the year 1860.

We came across the plains with one wagon, one cow. She was a great help to old Tom and Charlie, the oxen. They were so faithful and good and we children loved them dearly. Father kept them for a long time after we reached Utah.

We were very lucky in getting the first adobe house that was built in Cottonwood, to live in. It was built by Peter Preece.

We moved from Cottonwood to Porterville,Morgan Co. Utah. We lived on a farm for seven years, that belonged to Bishop Amas Musser, of Salt Lake City. We all worked very hard as the Bishop was a hard master.

While on this farm, my two oldest brothers and myself were baptized into the L.D.S. Church. Our father and mother were endowded and sealed May 4th 1861 by President Brigham Young.

In April 1868 we moved to Uintah Utah, where we lived on a nice little farm for some time and made a good living on this little farm. That same winter my father took a small contract from the U.P.R.R between Uintah and Ogden. I cooked for my father and 7 of his men while they were making on the grade. I was at the time, 11 years and 6 months old. I did all my cooking over a fireplace and all my baking in a Dutch oven or bake oven. You will find my name recorded in the court house at Ogden, as one of the Golden Spike Veterans.

In May 1869, my father took all of his family but my two oldest brothers and myself and went back to Michigan on a visit. Father intended to staying only a year, but he could not get enough money to pay their fare back to Salt Lake City again so had to stay in Michigan.

I cannot tell you how thankful I am to my Heavenly Father that I did not go back to Michigan with my parents as they all left the church. My mother and my oldest sister died and are buried in Flint City Michigan. One older brother and three sisters came out west again, but did not join the church.

In 1872 Patriarch Charles Ryde gave me a Patriachial Blessing. He said I would be the means of redeeming my fathers family or household. I could not see how that could be possible at that time, but I am very thankful that the way was opened up for me to get most of the Temple work done for my fathers family. I did the work in the Logan Temple in 1923 & 1924.

At the age of 17 I was married to Benjamin Stewart. We lived together for 22 years.(Temple) I almost worshiped him altho he was not kind to me. But his mother was so tender and kind to me that I could forgive all of his cruel words to me. I always worked very hard and always helped earn the living for the family.

I am the mother of 12 children, 10 boys and 2 girls, only 4 of whom are living at the present time (1927).

My oldest son, Edson Nephi Stewart was killed in the R.R. yards at Ogden. He was crushed between 2 cars. He worked for the U.P. R.R. for 17 years. He left a splendid record, a splendid wife and a family of 11 children, most of them live in Ogden, Utah at the present time.

My daughter Mary Elvira died at the age of 38 years. My other babies were babies when I layed them away to rest.

I live in great hopes of meeting them again in the next world.

In the winter of 1868 I cooked for the U.P.R.R. for my father and 7 of his men. I was 11 years old at the time.

In the summer of 1879 I cooked for the D.R. G. R.R. for my husband an 20 men. We were camped in the Sevier Canyon, Utah.

In 1882 I cooked on the O.S. L. R.R.

In 1884 we moved to Riverdale, Idaho.

In 1889 we moved to Pocatello Idaho, we dug the first well that was ever dug in Pocatello to get good water.

In 1890 my husband Benjamin Stewart took the contract in Pocatello to build reservoirs on the hillside west of town. I camped all summer with my 5 children in a tent and cooked for 28. My stove stood out in the open.

In 1909 I cooked for the U.S. Gvt. Surveyors in Bannock Valley. We camped with the Indians all summer. I was very happy, the boys were very good to me and so were the Indians. My salary was $85.00 per month.

In 1907 I took up a homestead, a dryfarm of one hundred and sixty acres west of American Falls, Idho. I live on my homestead for 7 years. Built a two room house, fenced my farm, had it all plowed and then sold it for $2000.

I only got half the money for it when the man died, who had bought it.

I moved to Pocatello Idaho. My son Benj. built a nice 4 room bungalow and he and I lived very happy together for 2 years then he sold the house.

I took up nursing and spent most of my time in the sick room for ten years, wherever I was needed.

In Feb 1922 I moved to Logan Utah in the 10th ward.

I married John C. Phillips in Logan, where we worked in the Temple most of the time, until his death, which was caused by a fall on the pavement Nov 16th 1924. After his death I lived in our humble little log cabin alone.

I made my own living, tended my one acre of ground, picked and sold the fruit (if I could get sale for it) tended my few chickens and went out as a ward teacher in the Relief Society when my health would allow me to.

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~ 1928 ~

At this writing, I am 71 years old.

I moved to from the 10th ward to the 6th ward in Logan. My son Carl was very sick, he died Dec 10th 1928 and was buried in the Logan cemetery Dec 12th. He left a family of 5 children. Two oldest girls were married, a boy Carl 16, a girl Maxine 12 and a girl Ella Mae 8 years old. I kept the two youngest girls with me all winter. I was very ill for 3 months.

On July 8th my son Parley came home from Oakland Calif and stayed with me until July 23rd, then went to Pingree Idaho to paint a schoolhouse.

On the night of the 7th of Jan 1928, it being a Sunday night I lectured to the young people of the 10th ward in Logan. I explained what a grand thing it is for us to have a body, and how thankful we should be to our mothers for it, as well as our Heavenly Father.

August 3rd 1931, I went to Pocatello Idaho to collect some rent on my home that was due me on my home on Wilson Ave. I learned that Mr. Tom Crockett had left Pocatello oweing me $100. for rent. I felt very much grieved for I needed the money very badly to get food. I cannot see my way to get food but maybe the way will be opened. The way looks dark at the present.

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~ The Care of Children Without a Mother ~

I loved to care for children who had no mother.

In the first settling of Pocatello, I picked up a boy who was sick with the measels. I took him to my home and took care of him until he was well. He stayed wth me for a year. He was a truthful, honest boy. He was lying on the banks of the Portneuf river when I found him. He had no father or mother and no home.

I cared for three children while their father filled a mission. They're mother deserted them. She went away with another man. I cared for the children or three years.

I cared for two children whose father deserted them. Went away with another woman. They had a splendid mother and were good children. Their mother was obliged to work.

I gave a boy a home for two years who had gotten his feet badly frozen. He was trying to find work in Jan had to stay out all night. His father and mother were both dead. He was a first class boy, did all he could to help me.

Two years after he left another motherless boy came to my home. I took him in and he stayed with me until he was a grown young man. He married a splendid wife, at least I think so.

Three years later, 5 more children were left without a mother. Their mother died and their father was in poor health, unable to work most of the time, but with little help his daughters and myself could give him, we kept the family together. Kept them in school, and Sunday School.

They were my grand children and we got along nicely together.