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Show ' pjONEEROF '61 CALLED BY DEATH . -Aunt Hannah" Nixon, Aged 85 Years, Passed Away Thurs-Night Thurs-Night After 2 Days Illness i . Mis Hannah Fawcett Nix in, a mem-vr mem-vr of the first company sent by Pres-! Pres-! went Brigham Young to settle in. St. ! George passed away at her home here i last Thursday night at 10:15 from the i Sinnities of old age. She had enjoyed 1 comparatively good health up to the t day before her death. Hannah Isabell Fawcett was born in Nauvoo, 111., January 17, 1845. a : daughter of Wm. and Jane Smith Fawcett. They were driven from their home in Illinois and after making their home in Missouri, came to Utah in I the spring of 1850. They remained in Bait Lake City where her father was a counselor in the sixth ward, un-after un-after the October conference in 1861 when 300 families were called to set-; set-; tie the Dixie country. They left there ' on October 29 traveling with Robert Thompson and family and James Johnson and family, these being -the first three wagons to reach St. George arriving here on November 25. They j camped at a point just west of the adobe yard. Many hardships were endured, the cattle having been driven with the wagons, the members of the families walking most of the distance. After their arrival here she worked with her : (Continued on page 8) PIONEER OF '61 CALLED BY DEATH 'Continued from, page 1) brother George breaking the hard ground and putting in crops. Food and clothing were scarce and following the hf;avy storms during which it rained almost incessantly for forty days, they willingly shared their meager provisions provi-sions and clothing with the few fami-ilies fami-ilies in the Tonaquint field whose homes and belongings had been cashed cash-ed away in the floods. In 1875 she was chosen a counselor to Lillie Snow in the young ladies organization or-ganization of the M. I. A. and was president of the Primary for a number num-ber of years. She was a devout member mem-ber of the church and was active in all organizations. She was married to Wm. Nixon on February 21, 1876, in the Endowment house at Salt Lake City. When her children were still young her husband passed away and she worked diligently to support them that they might have the best. She was a member of the first organized choir that sang in the stake tabernacle, and spent years in genealogical work, and when unable to do it herself hired others to carry on the work. Despite the hardships and privations she endured since a small child in Nauvoo, her memory remained clear to the last and she never tired of telling tell-ing of experiences of the early days in Dixie. She was known as "Aunt Hannah" to old and young alike and was loved by all who knew her. Two daughters, Mrs. Mary N. Andrus of Salt Lake City, and Mrs. Jennie Foster, one brother, George Fawcett of Lund, Nev., and six grandchildren and two great grandchildren survive. Funeral services were held in the stake tabernacle last Saturday afternoon after-noon under the direction of the West ward bishopric, Vernon Worthen presiding. pre-siding. Her favorite hymns, "Come, Come, Ye Saints," "Oh Ye Mountains High" and "Oh My Father," were sung by the choir. Vocal solo, "Not Understood," MSss Mona Woodbury. Organ solo, Mrs. Mae Pace. Speakers were elders George W. Worthen, Jos. T. Atkin, Sr., Brigham Jarvis, Sr., and Vernon Worthen. All paid high tributes to her life and told of incidents and especially praised her for her faithfulness to the gospel. Prayers were offered by Elders R. A. Morris and Joseph K. Nicholes. Interment In-terment was in the city cemetery, the grave being dedicated by Bishop W. W. McArthur. |