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Show The Ogden Valley News Volume XXIX Issue VI Page 9 February 1, 2022 Biography of Elijah Shaw II – Part Eleven Note: This biography of Elijah Shaw II was provided courtesy of Lynnette Poulson of Eden, a direct descendant. Her mother is a Shaw, and Elijah is her third great-grandfather. This sketch was written by Jeanette Shaw Greenwell, a granddaughter of Elijah Shaw II. Elijah II and Martha Ann were the most liberal people ever known. They were a close knit, loving family. The children would rather receive a spanking from their father than their mother. He was real tender-hearted and didn’t spank hard. Martha Ann had very little education. She was a fair readElijah Shaw II. er but a poor writer. She taught Elijah II to read a little. In the warm weather, when they weren’t working, a group of young people would get together and go out to the Utah Hot Springs to swim. Before bath houses and dressing rooms were built, wagons and nearby bushes were used as screens for changing bathing suits. Every chance the community could find for good, clean, sociable amusements was welcome. In the fall, they held a “wood” supper and dance. This was for the purpose of getting wood for the schoolhouse, church house, and those in need in the community. The Shaw’s were always ready with their wagon and team of horses. Those bringing a load of wood in were paid by tickets. The bigger the load, the more tickets. The aim of the driver was to see that they had enough “wood tickets” to entitle each member of his family to have supper and go to the dance after. The supper was donated and prepared by the housewives. Long tables were loaded with every kind of appetizing food known to the group. Spicy pickles, preserves, shimmering jellies, hot vegetables, meat, and pies. Chicken pie was one of the favorite dishes, and, of course, mashed potatoes with thick cream to make them fluffy. The drinks were water, milk, buttermilk, and cider. It seemed as though the young men “gaunted up” just for this occasion. After supper, the dancing went on far into the night. The male side of the Shaw family often participated in “Corn Husking Bees.” In these “bees,” the corn was gathered into large shocks to be carefully taken apart. First, the ears were removed from the shocks, husked, and put into piles to be stored for winter use and for seed for the next year. The stocks and dry husks were stored to be used for stock feed in the winter. There were “roof-raising” bees, to help new neighbors get their houses built. There were “quilting bees” and “peach and apple bees” for the girls and women. In the fall, when the peaches and apples were ripe, the young women would wash them, cut them up, and put them out to dry on large tables or scaffolds. Often the young men would just happen “to pass by.” They would help the young women with this chore just to be near them. Quite naturally, the boys would start some mischief by throwing fruit at each other or putting it down the girls’ necks or just having a pitch-battle. When the work and play was finished, everyone headed for the water to wash up and get ready to eat. Molasses candy, watermelons and cantaloups were usually had, after which games were played, such as steal stick, run-sheep-run, pomp, pop the whip, and whiftywhifty-holler. The older folks would play quieter games: button, button, whose got the button; crossing the plains; fruit basket; and heavy, heavy, hangs over thy poor head. Later in the fall, a Harvest Festival and dance was held, usually at the school or church house. Everyone brought their finest commodities to put on exhibit. Then, of course, the gath- Danny Graves 801-857-1567 @DJFencingLLC ering wouldn’t be complete without something to eat. Tables were laden down with “goodies” such as squash, pumpkins, apples, corn, bread, butter, roast beef, cheese, cakes, pies (especially pumpkin pies), and potatoes and gravy. In 1868, the town was divided. The west end was called “Stringtown” but was later named Pleasant View. At that time, they had their own school, but it wasn’t until July 9, 1882 that the ward was divided. Then, on May 16, 1886, a new ecclesiastical ward was formed. Edward W. Wade was Bishop. The Shaw membership was transferred to the new ward at that time. Baptisms were done in ponds—some in Cragun’s Pond and some in Packham’s Pond. In all probability, some of the Shaw children were baptized in Packham’s Pond, it being the closer. Fast meeting was held on the first Thursday morning of the month, at 10 O’clock. School was dismissed during this time. In 1865, North Ogden had a post office. The people would come to the post office to pick up their mail. Later on, the mail was delivered to the homes by Mr. Pershaw, who delivered it in a horse and buggy. Then it was delivered out of Harrisville. On December 1, 1893, it was distributed out to Ogden. As time went on, some of the children began reaching adulthood. Martha Ellen was the first to get married. She was just fifteen when she met and fell in love with Hyrum Rose. They were married May 24, 1869. Edmund Riley and Laura were the next two. They planned a double wedding. They went to the Salt Lake Endowment House and received their temple endowments November 20, 1871, and were married the same day, according to the temple records. However, some of the family group sheets note their marriage day as November 20, 1870. Edmund Riley was married to Elizabeth Rose, a sister to Hyrum. Edmund was just 16½ years old and Elizabeth 17½. Laura married Willard Uriah Cragun, Laura was younger still, just 14½ years old and Willard 17. There must have been some magic magnetic charm or something in the Rose family because William Orson married another sister, Phoebe Ann, January 20, 1872. Phoebe Ann was 15½ years old, but William Orson was older; he was 21 years old. Despite the ages of these couples, they lived happily together until death parted them. When Edmund Riley’s wife Elizabeth died November 20, 1876, Edmund was called to go on a mission to Tennessee, the place of his mother’s birth. He left his two young daughters, Eva 1½ years and Sarah 3 years and 7 months, with parents, Elijah II and Martha Ann. He returned home after two years and moved in with his father and mother. On January 2, 1870, he married his second wife Sarah Jane Ward. Edmund wanted to take the girls to live with him and his new wife, but Elijah II and Martha Ann couldn’t part with them. They loved them too much. Edmund and Sarah Jane left the girls there, where they grew up to womanhood. Sarah went to college. Upon completion, she married Chancey Willard Rhees November 25, 1892. Eva was married to George Franklin Barker, May 6, 1892, Eva being another young bride… almost 17. As the family prospered, they began thinking about a new home so in the winter of 18771878, the plans were made. This home was to be built just west of the log home and north of the barn. It was to be a lovely two-story house. A flowing well was driven at the northeast corner of the home, later to be piped into the home. In the spring, when the planting was over, rock, footings, and foundations were put in -Permanent Continuous Fencing -Arenas -Round Pens -Livestock Corrals -Custom Gates -Roping Boxes & Hitching Posts We work hard to guarantee low maintenance, high quality products that will last a lifetime. Thursday Night 6:00 p.m. Saturday Night 6:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:00 a.m. Fr. Joshua Marie Santos 801-399-5627 FrJoshuaS.Stambrose@gmail.com Saturday 5:30 p.m Sunday 8:00 a.m. or by appt. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. place. Then the brick work was begun. The bricks were probably made by the Cragun family, in as much as Laura had married Willard Uriah Cragun. The walls of the house were made three or four bricks thick, about one foot, which kept the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The bricks used were of superior quality except for the north side, which were not as good. It was a large, Victorian style house with “Peek” windows. It was two stories, measuring 32 feet east and west and 40 feet north and south. A large brick chimney, on east and west ends, extended from the ground to above the roof. On the main floor, there were two big rooms across the south, a bedroom, and a living room. In the middle, extending the full width of the home was a kitchen, dining room combined and on the north end was a large pantry and a large washroom. There was a lovely staircase, in between the two front rooms, leading to the upstairs—15 steps north, a landing, then three steps west, leading into the west bedroom. Upstairs on the south, were two large bedrooms while the north half was a lovely “ball- room” approximately 31 by 23 feet. It had the smoothest hardwood floor available. It had seven windows in it, five on the north and one on the east and one on the west end. The ceilings in the upstairs were about 10 feet high, while the ones downstairs were 13. The 12-inch baseboards, the door and window casings, the doors with their transoms, and the staircase were all made of lovely birds-eye maple, very exquisitely carved and kept very highly polished. The front door was on the south with a small “stop” over the step. A large porch, with a balcony, ran the full length of the east end of the house. An east door from the living room and one from the kitchen opened onto this porch. There was also a west door in the kitchen. Later on, a basement was excavated under the south half of the house. There were three large dirt rooms and a small one. In the fall, this basement was loaded with cabbage, turnips, beets, potatoes, carrots, all kinds of dried fruits and vegetables, along with many dried herbs and spices and bushels and bushels of crisp, juicy apples to be given away to family, friends, and neighbors all winter long. The basement kept the produce good all winter and even into the early summer. From The Past . . . Pictured is the first staff hired by the Larkins (nearly 50 years ago) to host, cook and serve in the newly remodeled Eden ward house, doubly christened - the Valley Chapel and Hearthside upon opening for business in 1974. Anybody know the whereabouts of these slightly older youngsters? (Photo provided by Lynette Poulson) Alta and her husband Preston (on the floor) passed away some time ago. If you have any information to share, please call Shanna at 801-791-4387 or Jeannie at 801-7452879. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |