Jeff_Liz.ged

This sketch and happenings of my life was written, November 1942 when I was 76 1/2 years old, to my grandchildren whose names are: Karma Hill, Clyde Hill, Blaine Hill, Harold Hill, Anna Jane Hill, Elaine Ashcraft, Verl Ashcraft, Nelda Ashcraft and Geniel Ashcraft, and to my great-grandchildren should any be born, and placed in a deposit box to be opened in fifty years.

I, John Henry Manwaring son of Henry Manwaring and Sarah Barber, was born May 18, 1866 at Sandlach, Cheshire, England. My parents having Joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we emigrated to Utah in 1870, arriving in Salt Lake City in November the same year, after a journey of about one month. Sea and train service was very slow and accommodations poor.

I was one of a family of seven boys and two girls as follows: Herbert, George, Eleanor, Mary, David, Jesse, myself John Henry, and Albert, a brother William having died in infancy. Herbert the oldest, at the age of sixteen, preceded us to Utah to assist in preparing the way for our coming. He made the journey in a sailing vessel and across the plains by ox team and covered wagon, walking most of the distance, driving ox teams. He had never seen an ox team before.

There were no railroads built in that early day for travel. He was in a company of four or five hundred saints with some returning Elders in charge. Before he left England he was promised by the gift of tongues that he should go to Zion (Utah) and be the means of getting his father's family to Utah, which he did by borrowing money from the Church Emigration Fund. After arriving in Utah he got employment on the farm of a Mr. Thompson at Draper and while plowing in the field a terrific thunder storm came up and lightning struck him and killed his horse, burned his clothes and he was picked up for dead, but the Lord preserved his life so he was restored, although his hearing on one side was affected.

When he left England in 1866, my brother Albert and I were not born so he didn't get to see us until we arrived in Salt Lake City in November, 1870, the year after the railroad was built to Utah.

We lived in Salt Lake City until May, 1871, during which time my father had a long spell of sickness of mountain fever and my s sister Mary died. Then we moved to Springville, by brother Herbert bringing us by horse and covered wagon. We were two and one-half days making the trip. There wasn't a house between Pleasant Grove and Provo. Orem was all sage brush and Provo River was dangerous to cross on account of high water and no bridge. We had to ford the river.

My first home in Springville was on the corner of Main and 1st South Streets, an old adobe and log rented house. , My brother George and Sister Eleanor remained in Salt Lake City. Father obtained employment at his trade as a shoemaker. He learned the trade in England starting when he was eight years old. In those days our shoes were almost entirely made by shoemakers by hand and one could scarcely buy shoes or boots in the stores.

In my youth I didn't have much chance for schooling, Just two to four months during the winter. My first teachers were Amelia Curtis, Mary B. Crandall, wife of Spicer Cranda11. She always dismissed school and took us to fast meeting at 10 A.M. the first Thursday of each month when fast meeting was held. After the four wards were organized fast meeting time was changed to the first Sunday in each month. At these meetings I enjoyed the testimonies, and many times the speaking in tongues and the interpretation of the same. I was baptized December 16, 1875 by Thomas Child and confirmed by Lucien N. Scoville. I attended Sunday School regularly in the old white meeting House and well remember Brigham Young coming to Springville by horse and buggy and the Sunday School children and people lined up on each side of the street and escorted him in the meeting house where he spoke to the people.

I Joined the first Primary that was organized in Springville, My mother was in the presidency then. It was called Saturday School as we met on Saturday at 2 P.M.

I was ordained a Deacon at age 16 February 28, 1882 by William H. Kelsey and was the youngest Deacon in Springville. Our duty consisted of caring for the meeting house, collecting wood from the people and cutting it in three-foot lengths for firing as there was no coal in those early days and no meeting house janitors. I labored under the presidency of Hozias Strong, Johah Phillips and my father and later as a counselor to John Peterson. We also collected the fast offerings by visiting each home with team and wagon, fast offerings being mostly produce ? very little cash.

I kept fires in the vestry of the old meeting house for Patriarch John Smith when he gave blessings. Then he visited each ward in the church. He was the presiding and only Patriarch of the Church and was the son of Hyrum Smith, who was killed with his brother, Joseph, the Prophet.

I was ordained a Teacher, November 4, 1884 by John Tuckett and was the youngest teacher in Springville. My first companion was John M. Clements. I Joined the first Y.M.M.I.A. organized in Springville.

I was ordained an Elder January 20, 1885 by Bishop Nephi Packard and was the youngest Elder in Springville and still continued by duty as a ward teacher.

As a boy with other boys and girls in the summer I would glean ground cherries in the fields, pod them, and mother would scald and dry them and sell them to the stores as dried fruit and oh, wasn't ground cherry pie good, yum yum. I would also glean wheat heads in the wheat fields after the harvest--sacks full, all I could carry home' then would thrash and clean chaff out by the wind and carry wheat to the grist mill to be ground into flour. I worked for the farmers at odd farm Jobs, one year as chore boy for Bishop William Bringhurst who was the Second Bishop of Springville. He put me to work in his cellar cutting potatoes for planting. Mrs. Bringhurst had a jar of cookies in the seller and oh, weren't they good, yum-yum.

The luxuries of life were few, plenty of corn meal mush ; with skim milk and molasses made from sugar cane. I was invited t to attend a benefit party with my boy and girl companions which cost $.50. I didn't have $.50 and neither did my parents. I felt so disappointed that I prayed to the Lord that he would open the way for me to get $.50. I had a little scrub runt of a calf that had been given to me. John M. Dalton passing by saw it and offered me $3.00 for it which I gladly accepted as it wasn't worth a dollar; thus my prayer was answered and I had $2.50 left, and wasn't I happy for this was the first 13.00 I had ever had.

Word came to town the Z.C.M.I. Store Freight Wagon had arrived from Salt Lake City and brought 100 lbs of sugar which was worth $20.00. Mother hurried to the store to get ten cents worth. That was all she could afford.

June 3, 1804 while living with my brother Herbert at Granger Ward, Salt Lake County, I received a Patriarchal blessing from William J. Smith. while living here some older boys on Sunday were drinking apple cider and gave to me freely which made me sick drunk. I went out in the field and vomited, sick as a pig, with sorrow in my heart and ashamed. I prayed to God for forgiveness with a promise that I would not do such a thing again. After I found out the boys had added a bottle of alcohol in the cider.

In the spring of 1888 in company with C.A. Stane I engaged with George E. Anderson to canvass for pictures in Cache Valley going to Logan. Being impressed with the sight of the Temple, I made my way to the Temple ground and feeling I was treading on holy ground removed my hat. As I walked around the building and being impressed with a desire to enter that holy house with the rest of my father's family I sat down on the window sill on the South side and prayed earnestly to God to open the way that we might be able as a family to come there and be sealed for time and eternity, with a promise if He would bless me with means I would use it for that purpose. 1 wrote to my parents and told them of my visit to the Temple and advised them to get ready to come there with a promise that I would pay the expenses. I never had a dollar, and there were nine of us as follows: Father, mother, Herbert, George, Eleanor, David, Jesse, Albert and myself. 'When they got my letter Father said, "Pooh that boy thinks he can do a lot." The expenses would be about $75.00, and there wasn't one of the family that had enough to pay their railroad fare. Mother said to Father, "Let's try, maybe the Lord will open the way." And he did, for in a year we were all there and I had the money to bear the expense, and oh what a happy reunion for three days, and the blessing of being sealed together as a family for time and all eternity. That was the last time we were together as George and Eleanor died.

During one winter I worked for Joseph Bate at Soldier Summit getting out Railroad ties for the D. & R. G. when it was being built to Denver, for $1.00 per day. When I returned home I gave my earnings to my father to apply on the little home he was buying where the Seminary and High School Shops are now located. When we moved there in a little log and frame house I could stand on the fence and Jump over the Evergreen tree which now stands Just East of the Seminary.

In 1889 I received employment from John W. Young of Salt Lake City (son of Brigham Young) in answer to prayer and a promise to the Lord that I would pay my tithing and use the means I received for good. While in his employ I lived with him in the Beehive House (Just West of the Eagle Gate, both of which was built by his father, Brigham Young). In I,n March 1890 he recommended me to President Wilford Woodruff for a mission and I was called to go to the Southern States T!mission. He advised me to get married if I could leave my wife in a comfortable home. At once I came home to Springville and made arrangements to get married and I wasn't even engaged, but that only took a minute to bind the bargain, for I had previously prayed to be directed in the choice of a companion, which choice was Anna [Mary Peterson (daughter of Magnus and Ingree Peterson of Springville.) Before leaving, we were married in the Logan Temple by President M. W. Merrill, February 26, 1890 and took up our abode with her parents for two weeks before leaving for my mission March 11, 1890.

I was ordained a seventy and set apart for my mission to the Southern States by Apostle Heber J. Grant, leaving Salt Lake City March 11' 1890 in company with 15 other Elders for different fields of labor. On my arrival at Chattanooga, Tennessee I was appointed to labar in the North Alabama Conference by President William Spry. During this mission I labored with ten different companions, some of which were timid and backward on account of mob violence, two elders having been killed by mobs about a year before I was called. This made it difficult to progress. On account of persecution we couldn't get many appointments to hold meetings and saints and friends were a long distance apart so we had very long, tedious walks. I was anxious to do my duty and put forth every effort in my missionary work. At one time I secured an old schoolhouse to hold meetings, in the back woods. There was no floor, with slab benches for seats where hogs sometimes slept. There were about 50 or 60 people present. My companion had had no experience in speaking so the responsibility seemed to depend upon me with the Lord's assistance. I went out into the woods alone and prayed earnestly for God's help and I received it. After my companion had spoken but 5 minutes I spoke with freedom for forty minutes for the Lord seemed to put words into my mouth.

Our Conference covered Alabama and the North Part of Mississippi. May 9, 1891 I was appointed President of the Conference by President William Spry, after which he was released and J. Golden Kimball was appointed to take his place. We traveled almost entirely without purse or script depending or the hospitality of the, people for food and bed, yet we were refused entertainment many many times but in the main people were very kind, especially the saints and many friends.

We held our district conference at the home of the Saints with President Kimball and eight Elders and 150 Saints and friends who cared for us without cost. I hired a Negro with his mule team and wagon to go to the Railroad Station twelve miles to bring President Kimball and the Elders to Conference and we road on board seats across the wagon bed as spring seats were out of the question. I returned President Kimball back to the Railroad Station by horseback leading his horse back.

I received my release March, 1892 after two years absence. I returned home and took up my abode with my wife at the home of her parents where we lived for more than a year. During the su_mer of 1892 I got employment on the railroad as a section hand and as a mason tender building the H. T. Reynolds three-story building on the corner of Main and Second South opposite the Springville Bank.

I took sick and was nigh unto death. It was six months before I gained enough strength to work again. Doctor Morris said I had Malaria fever, then typhoid fever, then typhoid pneumonia, lastly he said I was in the first stage of consumption and he could do nothing more for me and told my wife we were at liberty to get another Doctor. This long sick spell brought me down so low, poor and weak that for a time I couldn't walk, stand, or dress myself without assistance and I got so thin my wife could carry me to bed. By her kind treatment and the assistance of her parents Magnus and Ingree Peterson and many friends and the Lord's help I recovered after being administered to a number of times. Thanks to my many friends and for God's mercy my life was spared by faith at one administration. Elder Benjamin T. Blanchard promised me that by my faith I should be healed after I had suffered as long as the Lord designed. At the last administration my father offered an earnest prayer, John M. Clements anointed me with oil to the end I should be healed and William F. Wiscombe sealed the anointing, rebuked the disease and promised me I should be healed and recover from that very moment. Inside of an hour I arose from my chair (where I was bolstered up and walked to my bedroom which I had not done before for over two months without assistance. I remained awake all night, my lungs sluffed off more than a gallon of puss and corruption. In the morning my lungs seemed as clear as ever before although I was left weak and poor. I began to recover and gain strength and I attended the doctor's funeral who gave me up to die.

The first fast and testimony meeting I attended in the old white meeting house I bore testimony to the goodness of God to me. Brother William Clegg spoke in tongues and Sister Sarah Harrison speaking direct to me gave the interpretation which was to the effect that God had spared my life for he had a work for me to do and that positions of trust and responsibility awaited me if I remained faithful. Soon after I was appointed to visit all the wards in Utah Stake which covered all of Utah County at their regular sacrament meetings which were held Sunday afternoons at 2 P.M. Each city or town in the stake had but one ward except Provo which had four wards. My companions were Elders Lucian D. Crandali and later William Wainwright. We visited nearly every ward in the stake in the major part of two years traveling from Lehi on the north to Payson on the South with my horse and two-wheel cart. There were no automobiles in those days.

I labored as a Sunday School teacher and chorister for several years, also an officer in the Y.M.M.I.A. in the 2nd District of Springville, as counselor to Samuel Allsworth and Don c. Fullmer, Presidents.

After being married seven years, (the first two of which I was on a mission), and having no children, with the prospects of my wife being childless and having a desire for children, my wife and I went to the Manti Temple where she was anointed and blessed that she should become a mother. President McCallister invited us to go into his private prayer room and tell the Lord our desire and our prayers were answered and we were blessed with six children--three sons and three daughters Zenos J., Zora, Helen, Wilford M., George M., and ingree Maurine.

I was also a member of the fifty-first quorum of Seventies Prayer Circle. When the four wards were organized the Seventies circle was dissolved and I was called by the Stake Presidency to be a member of the First Ward prayer circle, which I was a member of for about twenty-five years, where twelve to fifteen leading brethren met once each week in prayer.

August 7, 1898 I was ordained a High Priest, called and set apart as first counselor to Bishop George H. Maycock of the Springville First Ward with Willis Strong as Second Counselor, by Apostle John Henry Smith and Stake President David John, laboring with them until the Bishop's health failed and he was released. When he was called to act as Bishop he testified he was at a loss to know who he should have as Counselors. He made it a matter of prayer and it was revealed to him that myself and Willlis Strong should be his counselors.

During my labors with Bishop Maycock I witnessed two miraculous healings in the casting out of evil spirits; first in the case of Jacob Hatfield who was possessed in such a raging manner that he would use all kind of vile language. At times it took three or four men to hold him. Bishop Maycock called a group of about 90 of the Priesthood together in fasting and prayer; while seven of us went to the home and administered to him, they remained in session in prayer and testimony, I was called to anoint him. In the anointing I said, "I anoint the crown of your head with oil to the end that these evil spirits may leave you." He held up his finger and begged me to pour oil on his finger. See the cunningness of the devil after I had said I anoint your head. But I didn't obey the devils request. Oliver B. Huntington sealed the anointing and rebuked the evil power and he was healed entirely. Another case was that of Emmi Peterson of Mapleton who was possessed of evil spirits and would carry on singing and wanting to dance with every person who came into the house and was so strong she could handle strong men at her will. After a previous administration in which she dictated who should anoint her the brother who was presiding yielding to her request that her husband should anoint in preference to my brother, Herbert, (She said, "My husband has as much priesthood as Brother Manwaring). Her husband was allowed to anoint her and the administration was a failure and she just laughed in their faces. Elder Thomas Williams was the presiding Elder. Afterwards Bishop Loran H. Harmer of Springville Second Ward called seven of us to go in fasting and prayer to administer to her and she wanted to swing and dance with us but the bishop commanded her to sit down, which she did. and the administration was a success. She wilted under the power of God, couldn't raise a hand and was carried to bed by two of the Elders, entirely healed.

After the release of Bishop Maycock, Oliver B. Huntington was appointed to take his place and he chose brother Strong and myself to continue as his counselors in which position I remained 26 years and 3 months, being released November 28, 1924. During this period Brother Strong moved to the Fourth Ward and Guy W. Mendenhall was chosen to take his place after which he moved to the Fourth Ward and Carl W. Erickson was appointed to occupy the vacancy until our release November 28, 1924., when J. Emmett Bird was appointed Bishop.

I was appointed Janitor of the Jefferson School in 1905 at a salary of $20.00 per month, which position I held thirty-one years, five years of which I was transferred to the Washington School at $35.00 per month, with a promise to take charge of the Springville Art building at its completion, but I was released and my son Wilford was appointed to take over my job and also the gym building caretaker.

I was appointed City Sexton after the death of John M. Clements, August 16, 1897 (which position I held 38 years). He dropped dead of a heart attach while speaking in the first ward priesthood meeting. He was an early pioneer of Springville and told me of a remarkable answer to his prayer when he lost his cow and hunted on foot all west of Springville to Utah Lake and to the East fields and Mapleton when there was not a house up there. When he reached the big hollow Just South of the Evergreen Cemetery he knelt down and prayed to God to direct him to the place where he might find his cow; that his family was in want of milk for food. While praying he said a black crow flew over his head, around and around shrieking out "Caw, caw, caw" and it lit. The impression came to him to go near where the crow lit. He followed the impression and there found his cow alone with a little young calf. Those days there were no fences and animals ran at large.

I acted as agent and news correspondent for the Deseret News for about ten years for Springville and Mapleton when there was no daily news, Just the semi-weekly. I was also night watchman at H. T. Reynolds and Company store for fifteen years. During these years I did some farming and built my home which I commenced in 1893, which I now occupy and where my children were all born-488 South 4th East. This building lot was given to my wife by her parents.

February 16, 1910 having been recommended, my wife and I went to the Salt Lake Temple and received our second blessings (annointings) from President Anton H. Lund.

My wife dropped dead of a heart attack June 19, 1921 on the sidewalk at corner of Second East Third South at Springville as were walking together at 7 A. M. We were on our way to Dell Brimhall's to take the auto for Salt Lake to attend the funeral services of my nephew 'Myron Manwaring who had been killed by an electrical shock while working for an electrical company in Salt Lake City. She appeared in perfect health, as she had fixed breakfast and did up her house work and hurriedly walked four blocks when she dropped dead without a struggle. When she died she was president of the First Ward Relief Society. Before that she was Secretary and Treasurer and was always a faithful Latter-day Saint, a devoted, kind, faithful, loving wife and mother. This loss left me with a family of three boys and two girls; Zenos, Helen Wilford, Maurice and Maurine. Zora having married William R. Hill and left home. Helen stayed home and kept house nine years then she married Lloyd Ashcraft in October, 1930 leaving us to shift for ourselves and since we have run sort of a bachelor's home. Maurine had been stricken with spastic paralysis and lost the use of her lower limbs so she has been an invalid for twenty years but has good health. Although she has been unable to attend school she has educated herself and has a bright mind and does much fancy needle work but is a constant care.

When she was taken with this affliction she was treated in Salt Lake City by Doctors and in two hospitals for two years without any results.

Wilford filled a mission in California from June 11, 1928 to September 1, 1930. After his return he attended the University of Utah one school years.

At the Kolob Stake Conference October 2, 1932 I was called and ordained to the office of Patriarch by Apostle and Acting Church Patriarch, George F. Richards, and at this date, November 22, 1942, I have given 745 blessings and the Lord has been very kind in blessing me in my calling as I feel my unworthiness and inability.

I saw the first automobile that came to Utah County let in a parade in Provo. It was advertised as a horseless carriage. When I was appointed City Sexton there were only five graves in the Evergreen Cemetery. It was covered with sage brush which I cleared off with a grup hoe and trimmed the cedar trees as they now stand. I worked ten hours a day for $1.50 per day. Then people condemned it as a burial place and said what a Godforsaken desert it was and the city officers were condemned for locating such a place for a grav;yard. Now after fifty years it is a place of beauty like a Garden of Eden. I think I dedicated more graves than any other Elder. Some though that was part of my duty as sexton.

In my official church duties,I administered to scores of sick people. In the case of Amasa Haymond - about five years ago he was in a condition where he was believed to be dying. I was called to assist in administering to him and he was promised he should live until he was satisfied with life and Amasa Haymond still lives at the age of 94 able to be up and about.

Aunt Frances Peterson was also in a dying condition and was promised she should live as long as she desired. Now she is 86 and able to be up and working about the house and in her flower garden.

Mrs. Rebecca Alexander was lame and went on crutches for two years. I assisted in administering to her and she was healed and threw her crutches away.

At this writing (November 1942) I have a son, Maurice, in the Military Service of the U. S. in World War No. II since last April whom we have not seen since he was drafted.

John H. Manwaring

* * * *

During the remaining 12 years that father lived, he enjoyed good health although he gradually became less active. He finally had to quit giving Patriarchal blessings. He gave 1,015 while he was patriarch of Kolob Stake. He always fasted and prayed before giving blessings and never took any pay for giving one.

Father was stern, also kind, jovial, considerate and generous. He had a strong testimony of the gospel and great faith. He was always grateful for his heritage and the many blessings he enjoyed.

Although he never had a high salaried Job, he was ambitious and worked hard. At one time he held down six Jobs. He was city sexton and registration agent, Janitor at school and bank building, night watchman at Reynolds store, and Deseret News Reporter; besides taking care of his own and grandma's home lots and a fruit farm on Mapleton.

He wanted to live until Maurine was able to care for herself. When he saw that through faith, prayer and her own determination she was again able to walk, go to the Temple, do house work and church work, he was ready to pass on and be with his companion.

On September 3, 1954 he had a heart attack and died the next day. He was buried in Springville City Cemetery.

Helen M. Ashcraft