BARBARA ANN EWELL
(1821-1898)
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BARBARA ANN EWELL
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Barbara Ann Ewell Evans,
the daughter of Pleasant and Barbara Ewell,
was born the 16th day of May 1821
in the state of Virginia, Albemarle County.
The following sketch of her life was written by her,
two years before her death...
"My father and mother left that state when I was
nine years old, and moved to Bedford County, state of Tennessee, where we
remained three years. In 1833 we moved to Ray County, Missouri. There I witnessed
the falling of the stars, November 13, 1833.
"It was in my father's house that I first heard the sound
of the everlasting gospel preached by Brother Jacob Foutz. The next Elder
I heard was David Evans. My mother being first to believe, she was baptized
by David Evans, and the family soon followed.
"We remained in Missouri until the Saints were driven
from that state. My mother and sister were very sick when we left, and they
both died shortly after our arrival in Illinois, and in the course of a few
months another of my sisters died, each leaving a small child which I had
charge of in connection with my father's family. This consisted of two brothers,
two sisters, my father, myself and the two small babies of my sisters. I
had charge of all, I was only 18 years of age at that time.
"I was baptized by Elder David Evans, and confirmed by
him June 10, 1837, and I was married to him on the 23rd of November 1841."
[She doesn't mention that David Evans' first wife
had passed away in June leaving a family of five children from 1 to 14 years
old. This made Barbara Ann at just 20 years old the head of two households
with children--her father's and her new husband's.]
"I saw Joseph and Hyrum Smith after their martyrdom.
It was a solemn day among the Saints. We felt like a flock of sheep without
a shepherd, but the Lord had another shepherd to lead his Saints. It was
Brigham Young. I was present the day he was set apart to lead the church.
No Saint could dispute it, for it did seem when he spoke as though it was
Joseph's own voice that was addressing us. I never shall forget that day
nor how the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the people; it came so
mild, yet so penetrating that every heart beat with joy to know we had a
man of God to lead the Saints. Oh, what a consolation it was to know we were
not forgotten.
"I remained in Illinois until the exodus from that state,
which was in 1846. Some of the Saints had neither teams or wagons. The brethren
united together and made wagons for those that had none; by that means all
had wagons, but not teams, and we were obliged to get away, as the mob was
howling around, and Nauvoo was threatened. So my husband, being bishop of
the Eleventh Ward, concluded to take the teams they had and move as many
as they could. We made a start with what teams we had, crossed the Mississippi
River, went a day's journey, and set the families down on the prairie. The
next day they took the teams and brought the rest.
"Soon after the men got employment breaking prairie and
doing other work. We took oxen and milk cows so in the fall all had teams
and provisions for winter. I did considerable spinning in the tent, also
quilted several quilts. One great blessing--we were generally well. We did
not have many luxuries, still we felt thankful for what we had. We then started
for Council Bluffs, but it was late in the fall, winter had set in and we
stopped on the headwaters of the Nodaway. The men cut hay and put up log
huts. My husband made a sideloom, and I did considerable weaving that winter.
The cattle could not live on the frost-bitten hay so they commenced to die;
our provisions began to get short; and we were obliged to leave in the month
of February 1847. We started for Missouri and lost our way. Our teams that
were left gave out, and we had to kill and eat them to save our lives.
"My husband and two other men went down to Missouri to
get fresh teams and provisions, while they left their families camped on
a small stream which was called Starvation Creek. We suffered from hunger
and cold, but we did not complain, for we were united; we truly lived the
order; we all shared alike. My husband came with fresh teams and provisions.
I tell you, it was a day of rejoicing. We had not heard from them since they
left. They had had hard work to get teams. The people were so prejudiced
against the Mormons, they were almost to return without anything. My husband
told the people he would return and die with the rest of the people. One
gentleman spoke and said, `Can't you do something for these men: they seem
to be honest?' The men began to volunteer, and he soon had all the provisions
and teams he wanted.
"We then made another start for Missouri. The snow had
fallen to a great depth, and we could not keep on the divide. After wallowing
in the snow for four or five days, camping on the prairie without fire, we
arrived in Nodaway County, Missouri, March 1, 1847. My son, Joseph, was born
April 7th, in a house without doors, windows, chimneys or floor. My food
was cornbread ground on a hand mill; we had bran for coffee. We stayed there
three years, had plenty of work, make a good outfit and started for Utah,
May 15th 1850. My baby was ten days old when we started. After the company
got together Bishop Evans was appointed captain. They were organized and
on June 15 we made a start for Utah.
"The cholera soon broke out in camp. People were stricken
down on every side. There were five deaths in our company, my husband's oldest
daughter, Mrs. Ira Hinckley, was one among them. That was a trying time.
I had six small children, but none of them had the dreaded disease. Had it
not been for that we would have had a pleasant journey. After we arrived
at Laramie, we all enjoyed good health.
"In the year 1850, September 15th, we arrived at Salt
Lake Valley, and lived there until February 15, 1851. We then moved to what
was called Dry Creek, which was later called Lehi, and we have made our home
in Lehi ever since.
"My husband was appointed bishop of Lehi, also postmaster
and served several terms in the Legislature. Our son, Hyrum, was drowned
at Pelican Point, in Utah Lake, July 29, 1862, age 9 years, 21 days. He had
been baptized.
"I served as Second Counselor in the Relief Society for
eleven years. I have done work in three temples and had a little more to
do, but my health would not permit. If I cannot do it, some of my family
will attend to it.
"My son, Eleazer Evans, was called on a mission to Germany.
He left October 16, 1883, took a severe cold while in London; still he would
not give up until he arrived in Berlin. He was sick all winter. The president
released him to return home. He lived just three weeks after his return,
when his noble spirit took its flight to God who gave it.
"I am the mother of fifteen children--seven boys: Joseph, Hiram, David, Eleazer,
Mosiah, Ephraim, and Jacob and eight girls: Martha, Amanda, Abigail, Sarah,
Susan, Barbara, Rozilla, and Mary--ten of whom are living besides an adopted
child, the daughter of Louise and John Beck. I have 101 grandchildren, 86
living, 21 dead; 51 great grandchildren, 43 living, 8 dead. I was 75 years
old May 16, 1896. All my children living are married and have families. I
have been a widow 13 years. I was left with three children. I feel thankful
that through all the shifting scenes of life I have been preserved thus far
in the faith of the gospel, and can testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet
of God."
In addition to the foregoing her children recall
some intimate incidents that may be of interest to those who read this
sketch.
"At one time when food was so scarce she roasted and ate
a pork rind that had been kept and used to grease the dripper that the bread
was baked in. Her hunger for meat overcame everything and the urge to satisfy
that impelled her to sacrifice a family necessity."
"The fear of Indians was ever prevalent. Often when they came to the home
at meal time they were seated at the table, the best food was served to them
while the children stood back in hungry expectancy hoping that all would
not be consumed."
"One night when her husband was away the Indians came.
Their countenances were savage, they were decked in feathers and war paint.
With gestures and threatening voices they demanded an audience with the Big
Chief as they called the husband. He was finally located and returned home.
The mother with her children stood awe-stricken in mute silence when he entered
the house fearing that in their anger they would take his life. He seated
himself in his accustomed place in an arm chair by the stairway and spoke
calmly, kindly, persuasively to them. The infuriated savages in a short time
were quieted. They did not get the scalp they had intended to take that night.
Such scenes as this, however, only added to the fear already felt by the
family."
Barbara Ann Evans' children remember her as a kind, gentle, loving mother with a pleasing personality, a friend to all, her hands were ever extended to help those in need.
Barbara Ann Ewell, daughter of Pleasant Ewell and Barbara
Fauber, was born 16 May 1821 at Albemarle, Virginia. On 23 November 1841
she was married to David Evans, they were the parents of fifteen children.
She died 28 June 1898 at Lehi, Utah County, Utah and was buried there.
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