| Show OF R L ENSIGN on saturday afternoon at al 2 at the tabernacle impressive funeral services were held over the remains of the late M L ensign bishop brigham wi wryght right was in charge of tile meeting and conducted the exercises the speakers were elders brigham wright john D peters denmark jensen W I 1 L watkins walking john W woolley ot of salt sail lake ake I temple seymour n B young ot of the first counsel of seventy and L A snow ot of the stake presidency each paid a tribute to the memory ot of the deceased and historical events of his life were related by some pros pres S 13 young related in a graphic manner the trip across the plains from salt lake city to the mississippi river by the first company of missionaries who pulled hand carts of which company the deceased and himself were members told how they went forth without a murmur and depended entirely upon the blessings of heaven for foe their support as they had barely enough provisions to last them on their way and no money practically to get more af tar they arrived at the outer edge of civilization as it was then known on this mission elder ensign went uncomplainingly 41 and through his faith finally arrived in england englana ebere he labored a year and a halt half elder woolley first met deceased in nauvoo in 46 and hati baa been more or less intimately acquainted with him from that time until his death bore record of his sterling character and noble spirit the other speakers spoke in the same terms the floral offerings were profuse and beautiful and the spirit of the occasion was hallowed by the knowledge that a good man had gone to rest the choir sang uie the hymns come come ye saints when first the glor solis lous light ot of truth and resting between speakers mrs lottle lottie cozier sang imy my loved one rest mrs ry ray evans read a tribute from sirs 2 1 rs lucy wright snow of salt lake city the prayers were offered by elders A madsen and 13 11 tolman martin luther ensign was born in westfield hamden county mass march larch 31 1831 at the ago age of 15 years lie joined the saints in nauvoo ill having become converted to th the 0 faith and since that time he was prominently identified with the growth ot of the church or of jesus christ of lat ter day saints ite ife came across the plains in 47 that memorable year when the first pioneers entered this wondrous valley brother ensign came with the second company of immigrants walking al the way and pulling a hand cart lie ile remained in salt lake city until 1853 when he with his bride of a year camo came to brigham city which has since been their home they resided first in the old fort later ister erecting the home which now stands on the corner of second north and third cast streets nine children were born to brother and sister r ensign 11 six of whom still live their children have all married and have in turn been blessed with CS 58 children twelve of whom have passed into the other life and the great grand chil dren number forty one seven of whom are arc dead so that rather father ensign left a wife and posterity numbering eighty seven souls and he has gone to with twenty two who proceeded hm him to the other life it was stated at tile the funeral services cs by one of the speakers that brother ensign built the first three bridges ever constructed across bear river in this county sir mr ensign was a pioneer in and was one of the foremost in laying the foundation of this his co common mirion wealth in 1837 1857 he was called to take a mission to england which included a trip from salt lake city to the mississippi river with hand cart although he had no means and nothing for his bis wife and family to subsist upon while he was gone he accepted the call and went upon the mission that little band of missionaries was the first to make the trip by hand cart and their names will go down in the history of the church of which they were a part as heroes of the truest type after an absence of 0 a year and a half elder ensign was called home on account ot of the approach of johnstons army and when lie he arrived here he found that ils his wife and children had gone south with the balance of the saints but they all returned when peace was restored fallier ensign was early identified with etli tha 0 uni cai cit and was the bass drummer until he be came too feeble to swing the sticks he will be remembered because of his ability to handle a drum stick in ill each hand by which means he kept his ais instrument sounding all the time ile he was a high councilman tor for many years and wis was released but a few years ago on account of failing health ile he was an active church worker ever willing to sacrifice his own personal comfort for the interests of 0 the church ile he never aspired to cal preferment being content to let those who liked politics have all the offices his only interest was for the up building of the community and to that enterprise he gave his best energy honest and faithful those who have known him tor for a lifetime bear witness that he never betrayed a trust nor proved a disappointment to his friends lie ile lived to a good old age which was not made unpleasant by ring for be did not experience any pain but lis his body became so worn out and tired that he was helpless nearly had to be waited uron upon day and night by his faithful wife and children in the passing of martin luther en sign the community looses one 0 of its staunch pioneers and faithful builders it also thins the ranks of that noble band ot of which there remains but a few all honor to the memory of such men ind and omen women tor for they removed the stones from the pathway of their posterity and laid such a deep foundation that the civic as well as moral and spiritual structure la Is bound to stand bland throughout the ages |
