Sariah Fidelia Pew Hendricks
Sariah Pew was born in Jackson County Missouri on August
11, 1833. She was the daughter of
William and Caroline (Calkin) Pew. He
was a ship builder serving his apprentice – ship probably, in St. Louis,
Missouri. They heard the gospel and both
joined the Church. It seems the must
have had to remain at his work, for she came on with the Saints to Jackson
County, Missouri. Their first child,
Hyrum, named for Hyrum Smith who brought the Gospel to them, was born in 1831
before she left for Jackson Co. Sariah
was born a few months after she arrived at this place. Caroline frequently heard from him for a time
telling her when his time was up he would join her and the children. However some time before his release from his
contract, his letters stopped coming, and several months later his tool chest
came to her. But instead of containing
his tools it was filled with trash.
Although she tried to learn something of him, she never did. She always thought that he had been killed and
robbed.
She went with the Saints when they were driven from
Jackson Co., and again when they were mobbed and ordered to leave the state or
be exterminated. John H. Tippets and
family became her friends and she traveled with them. Many apostatized and the poor had to be
helped by others. They had gone only six
miles when the wagon tire broke. Brother
Tippets and another man 70 years old walked the six miles to have it mended
then back again to their wagon. They
went on and caught up with their company by dark where they had camped. They arrived in Quincy, Illinois in April
1839.
Caroline went on to Nauvoo, there she lived near the
Prophet Joseph. Little Sariah now six
years old and went to school in his house.
One day he took her on his knew and asked her if she knew she was born
in the Garden of Eden. He said always
remember that and tell your children you were born in the Garden of Eden. Caroline was a tailor and worked hard to
support her children, the Prophet asked if he might adopt the little girl.
In March her friend Abby Tippets died at childbirth, the
child, a son died too.
26 September 1840, Caroline married John Tippets, their
first child they named Abby Jane, who died when about 4 months old.
After the Prophet’s death, the Temple at Nauvoo was
hurried to completion so the Saints could have their endowments. There Caroline and J.H. Tippets received
their endowment and were sealed in 1846.
Sariah was baptized in the Missouri River. Brother Tippets was a member of the Mormon
Battalion and so went into Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Then went back to Winter Quarters to brink
his family. Early in 1848, they started
on the long trek across the plains.
Sariah was now about 14 years old.
She and her little brother would gather buffalo chips with which they
made their camp fires when wood was not available.
On the way they lost two cows and three oxen. But they were going to a home where they
could live as they desired so they did not complain. They milked the cows in the morning and put
the milk in a jar. By night there would
be fresh butter for the newly made salt rising bread, this was made from a
start called emptings. Hyrum and Sariah
drove an ox team and walked most all the way from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake
Valley.
Their first home was a dug out about 10 feet into the
hill on City Creek, the front built up of dirt.
During the winter they built a house and in the spring moved into
it.
Fashion followed then and it became the style to have
very small waistlines. If a man could
span his sweet hearts waist with his two hands she was the bell of the
ball. One morning when her father,
Brother Tippets went to call Sariah, he found she had slept in her corset to
make her waist smaller. He cut the
string it surely would have awakened her had she not fainted. He was kind to her, as if she were his own
daughter and she adored him. They lived
there eight years and there the youngest girl was born. When she grew up she was known to all as Aunt
Fin.
Sariah was married January 4, 1857 to Joseph S.
Hendricks. He was nineteen, and she was
twenty three years old. They went to the
Bath house to live, which Joseph and his mother were running. They had three negro servants to do much of
the hard work, but she always found plenty to do, much to the admiration of the
servants whose names were Bill, Cad, and Chloe.
Their first child, a girl whom they called Lilly was born
there and died in a few months. 24
September 1859 another baby girl was born to them. Her name was Sariah Fidelia, who grew to be a
wonderful woman and nurse to all far and near of the pioneer section near her
home in Snake River Valley to whom she was Aunt Dea, when she was eight months
old the family moved to Richmond, Utah.
Three children were born in Richmond, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Inez.
When they moved to Snake River Valley, James Pilant
“Jake” a young man from Nebraska went with them, their home was always his
home. He became as one of the
family.
Their food was raised on their own farms, meat, milk,
butter, eggs, and vegetables, having their grain made into flour. Fish and game were plentiful. Sweets such as sugar and syrup’s were brought
in from outside.
The houses were made of logs most of them with dirt
roofs. But the Hendricks’ home had board
roof and two rooms. So many of the
meetings and gatherings were held in their home.
Nearly all her life was spent on the frontier enduring
the hardships and trials of the pioneer.
But she was always patient and a faithful Latter-day Saint working in
Relief Society an Primary so long as she was able. Being of such a loveable nature, friend and
mother to everyone she became known throughout the country as Aunt Rye and her
husband Uncle Joe.
When she was about 60 years old her son’s wife died
leaving a family of six children, the baby two weeks old. She took him and his children into her home
and cared for them till they were married except one, who was shot while
learning a .22 rifle, and died of lock-jaw.
Sometime near 1915-16 they moved back to Lewiston, Utah
where 16 June 1919 she passed from this stage of life. Funeral services were held at the Lewiston
First Ward. Bishop G A Hogan presiding. Speakers were James W. and Brigham Hendricks,
nephews of the deceased, and Brigham Pond.
Each of whom spoke of the noble spirit she possessed. She was buried in Richmond, Utah.
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