George Oscar Sant; Luvannah Townley--parents: George Jr. Sant
Margaret Mustard, the daughter of David
and Margaret Kay Mustard, was born in Fifeshire,
Brunt Island, Scotland on March 9, 1842. Her life
history is given here in her own words.
“In April, 1848, my father got the spirit of gathering
and left his native land to come to Zion to prepare a
place for my mother and me to come to. We remained
in Scotland. Father worked in St. Louis until 1840,
when he came to Utah. He earned money and sent
for Mother and me. We came in 1852. We crossed
the sea in the ship “Ellen Maria”. We sailed on
February 10, 1852. There were 369 other saints
in the company under command of Isaac G. Haight,
with George B. Wallace as assistant. We landed at
New Orleans April 6, after being eight weeks on the
sea in a sailing vessel. We had a severe storm of
three days and we steerage passengers were fastened
down under the hatches and not one allowed on deck
until it was over. My tenth birthday was spent on the sea.
After arriving at New Orleans, we took a steamboat
and sailed up the Mississippi River to St Louis where
we changed steamers and went up the Missouri River
to Kansas City, which took another week, thus making
two weeks to make the trip from New Orleans to Kansas
City. We remained here until the captain bought our tents
and wagons. Then the men went to Independence to buy
the oxen to convey us across the plains.”
“While they were gone the Cholera broke out in our
camp and a great many of our company died, 63 in all.
Seth Langton’s father, mother and sister were among them.
The citizens of Kansas were greatly alarmed and took
their own teams and moved us ten miles out on the prairie.
There was a beautiful stream of water, and plenty of wood
there. A week later, the men came with the cattle, then
we prepared to take the trip across the plains during
which we passed through many hardships.”
“A.O. Smoot was our captain and Christopher Langton
was his assistant. There were 31 wagons. This company
brought the remains of Elders Lorenso D. Barnes and
William Burten who had died in the mission field.
(Elder Barnes died in 1842 and the Prophet preached
his funeral sermon at Nauvoo). The Indians stampeded
our cattle several times. My mother walked all the way.
Many of the women had to wade the rivers, there being
no bridges in those days. The rivers crossed were the
Bag River, Little Blue Virmilian River, Platt River, Green
River, Sweetwater River, Bear River and Weber River.
Some of the landmarks seen in crossing the plains
were Fort Laramie, Fort Kearney and Fort Bridger.”
“We were met at the mouth of the canyon by President
Brigham Young, accompanied by Captain Pitt’s band and
many citizens. They brought watermelons, and we had a
great feast and celebration. We were met at the 19th Ward
Square by Robert Watson and taken to his house. Father
had gone to California with I.B. Nash to drive cattle, and
had arranged with Brother Watson to keep us until he returned.
“We arrived in Salt Lake Valley September 3, 1852.
My first thoughts in seeing the valley were of thankfulness
in getting off the plains and coming to our journey’s end.
We drove oxen on our journey across the plains.
Their names were Tom and Banly.”
“When father returned, he bought a house and lot
from a man named Tom Walker for $150.00. It was in
the 15th ward and had corn, potatoes and other vegetables
on it. Our first home in Utah was a two room adobe house.
Father brought a Colt’s revolver and a Bowie Knife and
belt from California which he sold for a high bed-stead,
six common chairs and a rocking chair. I was the only
child and my bed was made up on the chairs. We went
through many hardships that first winter. The first grain
threshed the first year or so was with a flail, and was out
with a scythe, raked with a hand rake, then threshed.
The food rations during the first year were bread, butter,
milk, and vegetables. We used Segos, Nettle and Mustard
Greens, as food substitutes.We pioneer women did some
weaving the first year, and I learned to spin. However,
we had brought good clothes with us from Scotland.”
“The Nauvoo Legion took part in all the celebrations
in Utah. The first bands of music I remember were
Captains Ballow’s Brass Band and Dimmock Huntington’s
Marshal Band. David McKensie was the first engraver,
while William C. Stain was the first florist. The first
doctors were Doctors Anderson, Sprague and Williams.
The first Midwives were Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Dunkinson.”
“In 1847-1948 City Creek separated at the Eagle Gate,
one branch went west and the other toward Main Street.
I do not know when it’s course was changed.”
“Herbs were often used in those early days in
place of Medicine from the Doctors.”
‘The first celebration I remember was July 4, 1852,
while we were coming across the plains.”
“ We went through the Grasshopper War of 1854-1855.
The Grasshoppers came and ate everything green on top
of the ground, even the leaves off the trees. The sun
was darkened for several days by the hoppers.”
“In the spring of 1856 my father was called with
others to go on a mission to go and help settle Fort Supply
out near Fort Bridger, 110 miles east. One night we went
to bed hungry. George Barber and family were there too and
were short of food. Four of the brethren married squaws.
They were counseled to do so but very few obeyed that
counsel. We moved back to Salt Lake City in the fall and
never went back again. My mother had raised a little
garden and we got along.”
“One little incident that I will never forget is this:
One morning father and mother were called by the
bishop of the 15th Ward to go and get their Endowments
in the Endowment House. We had no food in the house
so they went to the Globe Bakery and got some cakes.
I, with a neighbor’s daughter, went to Brigham’s Mill
(that now stands in Liberty Park) to buy some flour.
On the way we made up what we were to say to the miller,
though we had money to pay, he would not always let the
flour go. My companion was a young married woman
whose mother was a widow with six children. She said
to me, “You wait outside, and I will go in and tell him
that my mother is a widow with six children and I will
cry and you watch. Then when you see him giving me
some, you come in.” The plan worked all right, and we
each got one dollars worth of flour, sixteen pounds.
We then had to walk four miles home, but we were
so happy that it did not seem so long.”
“In September 1856, there were Relief Societies
organized in the 14th and 15th Wards, with Phoebe
Woodruff, President of the 14th and Mother Grange,
President of the 15th Ward. The late companies,
the hand cart companies, were out on the plains and
the Societies were told by the President to make warm
clothing, socks and stockings, to send back. So the sisters,
young and old, went to work in earnest to prepare something
to comfort the poor souls in the mountains. In December,
1856, the last company of hand carts came in. It was Sunday,
and we were at meeting in the small tabernacle when the
word was brought to President Young. He arose saying,
“Consider yourselves dismissed. Go and minister to our
poor brothers and sisters. And you Bishops take all you
can in your wards and provide for them.” Quite a number
was taken to the 15th ward where my mother and I used
to go and help them what little we could.”
“I omitted to say that while crossing the plains, I was
baptized in the Platt River in June, 1852.”
“In the summer of 1857, President Young invited all
who could to go up to Cotton Wood Canyon to spend the
24th of July. Hundreds went. I went with a party of three
couples in a covered wagon with one yoke of oxen to draw
us over a very rough road. While in the midst of the
festivities, Abraham O. Smoot And Judsen Stoddard
came over the mountains with the message that
General Harney with two thousand troops had been
ordered to Utah, and some Artillery men. I was one
of the number who saw these men come over the
mountains to tell President Young of the coming of
the army. The people were celebrating July 24th.
Three large bowery’s had been made with good floors
for dancing also some songs to amuse the people.
Ballow’s Brass Band and Dimmock Huntington’s Martial
Band, besides several fiddlers (Hop Pender,
Luts Brothers, and others) played the music.”
“President Young sent men out on the plains to harass
the soldiers and prevent them from coming into Salt Lake
City. A large number were camped in Echo Canyon to
prepare a defense and prevent the soldiers from entering
the Valley. All winter the men were in the mountains
preparing breast works and other defenses for the
protection of the people. The Relief Society sisters who
could spin yarn and knit socks and mittens for the men
and boys who were out did so for their comfort. They
had a great many sewing bees, wool pickings, and
quilting bees in order to help make the men in the
mountains more comfortable. But the men had a
good time, both singing and dancing. My father
was out there. He has told me of the stag dances
they had and the songs they sang. They were a
brave lot of men and they were not afraid of the soldiers.
One of the original songs sung is as follows:
“Squaw killer Harney is on the way,
The Mormon people for the slay,
But if he comes we’ll have some fun
To see him and his Jimmies run.”
The Chorus of another is:
“Then let us be on hand,
By Brigham Young to stand,
And if our enemies do appear,
We’ll sweep them from the land.”
“President Young prepared a warm reception for
the soldiers when they came. These were serious times.”
“In the spring of 1858, President Young thought it
best for the people north of Salt Lake City to move south
of the City to be more prepared to defend themselves,
so all the people from Brigham City south left their
homes and scattered themselves, some going to one
settlement and some to another.”
“My parents, leaving their home, moved to Lehi,
not knowing if we would ever return to see the place again.”
“The three couples of us took tents and enough food
for four days. All had a splendid time. The news was
not given out about the soldiers coming until the bugle
called everyone to President Young’s camp to prayers.
That was done every night and morning. All went home
the next day after hearing about the soldiers.There was
no excitement. So ended the celebration of the 24th of
July, 1857, ten years after the Pioneers entered the
Salt Lake Valley.”
“I was working out and went south with my
employers who went in a company to Cedar City,
Iron County, Utah. Several men were sent to Salt
Lake City from Cedar City and surrounding country
to help the people move south. George Sant was sent to
help us move. On the way south, we became acquainted
and attached to each other, and he asked me to become
his wife. We were married in Cedar City On October 2,
1858, by Isaac C. Haight, who was Captain of our
company on our journey to Utah. We lived there for
two years. I did not know much about housekeeping
but soon learned to card, spin, and weave. I did lots
of this work after we came to Smithfield. We had
hardly anything to keep house with. We mixed our
bread in a wooden box, and baked it on a hot rock
in front of the fire. We had two pottery plates and
a pitcher. We often drank bran coffee without sugar
or milk. Our bed was of straw without a tick, laid down
on the floor. We had only two quilts. Our first baby,
a girl, was born September 10, 1859, while we were
still living in the dug-out.
“ In January, 1860, we came to Salt Lake City.
My father had been sent on a Mission to Scotland,
and we remained with my mother who had gone back
to her home in the 15th ward.” “In April, 1860, my
husband engaged to work for Doctor Ezra G. Williams,
and we came to Summit Creek, later named Smithfield
in honor of the first Bishop, John G. Smith. In the spring
of 1860, a good many more settlers came here from
different parts of Utah, and there was a ward organized
with John G. Smith as Bishop, and Samuel and Dudley
Merrill as counselors.”
“The people were camped around in different places
until the Indian trouble of the 23rd of July 1860.”
“For God’s sake, Maggie, get up, the Indians are
killing men all around us!” This was the startling cry
that came to my ears as I was lying in my wagon nursing
my infant daughter. This was on July 23, 1860. My husband
was working for “Uncle George” (Dr. Ezra G. Williams.),
helping him build a house. But my husband at this time
was in Salt Lake City moving Dr. Williams and his
household to Smithfield. I was cooking for five men.
Our wagons and a Mr. Brunson were camped near
where the Dr. R.T. Merrill residence now stands.
They were drawn near to each other, and a brush
bowery was built over the two camps. Mr. Brunson,
his wife, and three children occupied the one wagon
and I, my husband and infant daughter, the other one.
“On this occasion, I was lying in our wagon getting
my baby to sleep, when Mr. Brunson came running
from where he was building a house, warning us to flee
for our lives. He and his wife and children ran down
the street to the north side of the creek. I, with my baby
clasp to my breast and a blanket hastily snatched from
the bed under my arm, followed as fast as I could.
I could see them running towards the only house that
had been finished in the town, located on the south side
of the block on which Freeborn Merrill now lives, owned
by John. B. Smith and a Mrs. Wamsley. Most of the
people lived in dugouts or in wagons at that time.
“Oh how I ran, for I could hear the men and Indians
firing at each other as I passed up the opposite side of
the creek. With only the brush and trees between them
and us, I could hear the bullets sing and spit as they hit
the trees. Fear loaned wings to my feet as I ran down
to about where the Smithfield Lumber and Hardware
Company now is. There were two logs side by side
across the creek for a foot bridge, with a pole for a hand
rail. I made straight for the house of Mrs. Wamsley
where the women and children were gathering.
Oh, what excitement: women and children were
running and screaming with fear. Men were rushing
from their work, getting guns and ammunition,
giving orders, running after the Indians. As I neared
the house there was a high tight pole fence around
the garden at the side we approached. It was between
six and eight feet high. I could not get through it and
how I ever got over it I do not know to this day.
Yet, I got into the house with the others, and soon
after the men gave orders for us to go to the dug-outs.
I, with some others, went to Ausitn Merrill’s. He was
the father of Sarah C. Noble and Freeborn Merrill.
“While at Mrs. Wamsley’s the men brought in
an Indian and squaw! They kept them captive tying
them to the fence. The Indians let out a war whoop,
a blood-curdling yell. The men threatened to shoot
the captive buck if they yelled again. These Indians
were freed after the men returned from the canyon
to where the Indians had fled. But as soon as the
Indians got among the brush, the brethren had to
give up to save themselves.”
"Two men were killed, Ira Merrill, and James Read
of Franklin, Idaho. Solomon Merrill, brother of Ira,
Samuel Cousins, and Arthur Cowan were wounded.
James Read and Arthur Cowan were camped near
the Creek when the Indians passed them, killing the
one and wounding the other. Ira Merrill was the first
one to be buried in Smithfield, and James Read was
the first one to be buried in Franklin, Idaho. Only one
Indian was killed, their Chief, his name was Pugweema.
Several Indians were wounded. They then fled towards
the Canyon.
“When the brethren came back they concluded to
put the wagons all together for fear of the Indians
returning to be revenged for their dead Chief who lay
in the road all night. It was a very sorrowful night,
I tell you. There was Ira dead, his brother wounded
across the right arm and bowels, and Ira’s young wife
and two fatherless children and his parents, brothers,
and sister, Sarah Noble, who can tell you a sad story
of that fearful time.”
“We were camped all close together, four rows
of wagons, and did our cooking, such as we had, by
campfires outside of the wagons. We camped in this
way for over two weeks and the Indians did not come
back. However, the men all took turns guarding the
camp both day and night. President Young then sent
word for all the settlers to make a fort to protect
themselves. The Fort line was then laid out and all
the people moved their tents or wagons to where
they were going to build. Great care had to be taken
for fear of the Indians coming upon them unawares.
When the men went to the canyons, they went in a
company, armed, and it was the same when they
went to the field to look after their crops. When
the men get the log from the Canyons and were
ready to build, the brethren would help out one
another, first putting up one house then another.
Some of the men were good hands at building
log houses, and we were kept very busy. All the
time this was going on, the men had to stand guard
at nights. When the houses were up and the roofs on,
there were no shingles, the logs were rough and the
roof was straight willows laid close together and
covered with grass and dirt. Then windows were
covered with factory, for very few had window glass
and very few had floors--only the ground.”
“Often at night one and another would build
campfires, a crowd would gather, and we would
listen to brother Smith sing about the Derby Ram
and a great many comic songs. Also Robert Rishburn
and his wife, Pricilla, George and Alice Done and
Nathan Smith, who lived on the Northeast corner
of the Fort, and if we were in hard circumstances,
we were happy and contented.”
“We lived in the fort until 1864, when it was
abandoned. We then built homes on city lots and
moved out of the fort to them.”
“There are very very few remaining of this little
band of pioneers who lived in the fort and have passed
through these trying times and scenes. And our hearts
are cemented in friendship of good old fort days.”
"Our furniture was of the very rudest kind.
Most of us had what was called Mormon bedsteads,
which was a hole bored in the wall at the head, another
for the foot and two sticks supported by one leg, and
boards or sticks laid across to put the bed on. Some
had tables to eat from, others had boxes. I had a dry
goods box laid on its side, which answered for a
cupboard too. Sister Done had two holes bored in
the wall and a board laid across and many a happy
hour we spent with one another. We braided straw
hats and if we could not sew them ourselves, Sister
Emily Smith would sew them for us.”
“We had to make our cloth for the nearest store
was at Salt Lake City. Most of the people had a few
sheep, and the men would sheer them in the spring
then we washed it by the creek and when it was dry
we had wool pickings, and helped one another.
Then it had to be taken to Logan or High Creek
to be carded. We then spun it on the big wheel.
When the spindle was full we reeled it on a reel
that was two yards around and put forty threads
in a knot and ten knots in a skein, and fifteen knots
made one yard of Lindsey. When the pinning was
done and the yarn washed, we had to color it.
There was no Diamond Dyes in those days, so
we gathered the flower of Rabbit Bush for yellow,
Tag Alden bark for Black, and had to send to Salt
Lake City for Nadder root to color red, and Indigo
to color blue. Sisters Peter Sorenson, Hannah
Toolson and a Sister Betsey Anderson did most of
the weaving, except a few who had looms and did
their own. After the cloth was made we had to make
it up ourselves, as there were no dressmakers in
those days. There were many who could spin and
many who could not. The Misses Jane, Corena and
Charlotte Downs did a great deal of the spinning
for those who could not spin. Harriet Lucy and Julia
Merrill also did a good deal of spinning, too.”
“We had to make our own soap out of the ashes
we had in the fire places. We also made our own
candles if we had tallow, for electric lights were not
even thought of in those days. We all had to carry
our own water from the Big Creek as there was no
water works at that time either. The washing was done
with the tub and washboard. Wood was used for fuel
for there was not coal either in those days. The mode
of conveyance also was different. There were very
few buggies, and the Ox team was the most popular.
The young people had dances and concerts for their
amusements. The Cotillion, Money Mustk, French Four,
Oslers Four, Scotch Reel, Roger De Coverly and others
were the dances we most enjoyed dancing. There was
very little waltzing in those days. Then we had corn
shuckings, and candy pullings, the molasses was made
from sugar cane grown on the farms. We would perhaps
have a quilting party through the day and at night the
young men would come for supper. Then they would
dance till 12 o’clock. All the lights then were the tallow
candles. The music consisted of violins. Dances in these
days began at early candle light and stopped at 12 o’clock.”
“Thomas Richardson and William Douglas were the
first to start a store in Smithfield. That was a great blessing
to the people here.” The first mill was built by and owned
by Alonsl P. Raymond, Thomas Hilyard, and Thomas
Tarbett. The first miller was John Ahrens. The first
sawmill was built and owned by Dr. Ezra G. Williams
and his nephew, Mr. Brunson, but they did not live here
long and sold out to Brother Raymond. The Doctor
practiced while he was here and was a good, kind man.
After he left the people had to do the best they could.
Robert Bain did a great deal of good with simple
remedies and got to understand medicine. He was
a blessing to many who were sick. If there were any
bones broken or dislocated, John Story was the man
who would do all he could to make them comfortable.
Then Sister Gray in her line, was a great blessing to us
women folks, and Sister Scrowthers, too, was often
called upon the same occasions. If there were any
children ailing, we soon sent for Sister Mary Ann
Downs, for she seemed to know just what to do
and it always did good. Old Brother Daniel Collett
was very often called in sickness, as well as
Brother Noble. They were blessed with the Gift
of healing and used the gift in behalf of those who
called for them.”
“Preston Morehead made and owned the first
molasses mill, and a tannery was built and operated
by Robert and James Meikle.”
“Before the meeting house was built, we used
to hold our meetings in Brother Austin Merrill’s
house and stood where his son Freeborn’s house
now stands. The first log meeting house was built
just outside of James Thornley’s gate. It was also
used as a school house with Charles Wright as
the teacher.”
“There were three blacksmith shops owned by
Daniel Collett, Brother Chambers and Brother Kellsey.
Brother Robert Thornley was our local butcher.”
“I would like to tell you now of an incident that
happened in the spring of 1862 that nearly brought on
another Indian trouble, and which caused the men to
stand guard for weeks. One morning Joseph Watts
went for his cattle that were east of the Fort….
(This is where the story ends. on Pg 11. Stacey and I
are searching to find the rest of the History. When we do,
I’ll post the rest of the personal history of Margaret Mustard)
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