Jedediah Morgan Grant, Jr. (III)

1879 - 1930

J. Morgan Grant Jr. was born the 11th of August 1879 in Bountiful, Davis County, Utah to Lucy Fackrell and Jedediah Morgan Grant (II). Morgan was the second child. His sister Alfa was the first child. Morgan was blessed the 9th of January l880 by his father, J.M. Grant. The Grants were living in Woods Cross near Bountiful when a big east wind struck and blew the roof off their house. There were three children in the family at that time, Rosetta being the youngest.
Called to Settle in Randolph, Utah
It was not long after the roof blew off their house that the Grants and another family the Jacksons were asked to move to Randolph, Utah and help settle the area. The Grants went into the Cattle Business they lived on the North Fork of Otter Creek about 5 miles from town.
More children were born to the Grants, while they lived in Randolph Joseph, Henry, and Estella. And little Rosetta died at 6 years of age. Then two more girls were born to the Grants Jemima and Lita. Morgan was baptized on the same day as his sister Alfa, the 18th of June 1888 by Hyrum J. Norris and confirmed the next day by George A. Peart. Around 1889 the price of cattle dropped. The Grants drove their cattle to Salt Lake City to sell and when they got there the price of a cow plus a calf was $5.00. That price was much to low to take so they drove the cattle back to Randolph. At this time Morgan (II) was unable to make the payments on the ranch so they moved onto a 320 acre farm 3 miles closer to town.
Morgan went to school in Randolph, which consisted of mostly the three R's. School teachers were very strict if a child misbehaved they were whipped. Morgan's sister Alfa was just older than Morgan so if he was punished in school he knew he would receive a whipping at home. His mother expected the best from him. She believed that a child should be punished for their mistakes and that a child should always be kept busy. He and his brothers and sisters would walk to school when the weather was good. In the winter time they drove back and forth in an open sleigh.
Farming in Randolph
The farm the Grants moved onto had a heavy growth of sage brush on it. Consequently, after school and on Saturdays, the Grant children had to get out and help burn sage brush, especially in the spring of the year. The men would get the sage brush plowed up and raked into windrows, then at night they would burn all they could. Morgan (II) grew a lot of oats, so in the fall, the Grant children had to shock grain, help stack it, and during threshing time, work on the straw stack. In the winter time the children helped sack the grain to take it to market.

Fun on the Bear Lake
While living on the farm, Lucy and Morgan (II) used to arrange for the children to go over on Bear Lake and spend a few days every summer, either at Aunt Sis Sprouse's (Lucy's sister) in Garden City, or Aquilla Nebeker's in Lake Town. The children enjoyed that. To complete the Grant Family two more children were born, Austin and Wesley.
Cleveland Panic
In 1897 when the Cleveland Panic hit the country the Grants lost the farm and moved into town and when school was out, the boys who were old enough worked out. They worked 10 hours a day for 50 cents and their dinner. When summer came, a man who was raised in Randolph and with whom the Grants were acquainted, offered Morgan (II) and Morgan Jr. and Joe work at a big cattle ranch. Their acquaintance was the ranch foreman. They got three times as much pay as they were getting on the small farms, but the ranch was a rough place for a boy to work. At the ranch they operated three hay camps, so they put each of them in a different camp. Morgan (II) stayed about 3 weeks, the work was hard. He was rode a mowing machine. Morgan Jr. stayed about 6 weeks; he didn't get along with the boss. Joe stayed until September.
Business School
While they were living in Randolph, Morgan's parents sent him to a Business School in Salt Lake City. Morgan went for about one quarter. He enjoyed himself there. They had electric lights at that time and the boys would throw a stick up and hit the wires so that the lights would go out.
A Mission to Settle in the Big Horn Basin
In the spring of 1900, Morgan's father was called on a mission by President Lorenzo Snow to take his family, which included the five boys, and Lucy's brother William Henry Fackrell and go to the Big Horn Basin. They forded the Bear River and stayed the next night in Kemmerer. Many of the people that were going to the Big Horn Basin organized at Hams Fork into companies. Their company was #4. The captain was Alfred Nebeker, the Chaplain being Morgan (II) and the Hostler was George A. Peart. The Grants had 3 wagons, Morgan (II), Henry Fackrell and Morgan Jr. drove them. Joe tended to the cattle. They left April 27, 1900 from Hams Fork. While they were traveling on the way down South Pass it was so steep that they chained a log to the back of the wagon and rough locked the wheels to keep the wagon from running over the horses. They went up the Greybull River to Meeteetse and crossed the Shoshone River about 3 miles below Cody using the Corbett Bridge.
When they arrived at the Powell Flats there were lots of sage brush and antelope herds. They hadn't had meat for quite sometime and they were meat hungry. So a bunch of the men went off to get some antelope, but when they got back they didn't have any antelope. They went on down the river and arrived where the colony was camped on the 19th of May 1900 it had taken 3 weeks and one day to make the trip. The area was described as sand and salt sage. They could hardly prepare a meal that wasn't filled with sand before it was eaten.
Camped to build Canal
They and many others of the colony camped at the Howell place in tents for the summer. Every morning they would have Morning Prayer, they would sing a song "Come to prayer, come to prayer" in the morning. An irrigation system had to be set up so that the land could be used for farming; all the men went to work on building a canal, the Sidon Canal.
Answer to Prayer
By the 7th of September the colony was running out of money and getting discouraged. A special fast was called. And their prayers were answered, in that the Burlington Railroad was going to build a railroad into the Big Horn Basin and needed men to build the grade. The people were let off from the canal in order to build homes for the winter and get ready to work for the railroad. Part of the men worked on the canal and part at putting in grade for the rail road. The colony was able to finish the canal because of the money they got from the railroad.
Assigned to Raise Hay
The Apostle Woodruff asked Morgan (II) to rent a farm and raise hay for the colony. The Grants rented a farm east of Lovell from J.J. Marshall. It took them about two months to build a log house and haul firewood to last the winter. The farm was already being rented to a family by the name of Tracy. Then Uncle Henry, Joe and Morgan Jr. went into Montana to work on the railroad. When spring came the Grants started to raise hay for the colony. When they would haul it over to the colony President Session would have them hook their team up and drag the canal until it was too dark to see. At that time there were no bridges you had to ford the rivers.
The Grants hired the hay bailed the first year and then they purchased a hay bailer of their own, the old horse drawn type. Joseph & Morgan were sent to Bridger to get it. On the way back they ran into a storm. It was a real Wyoming Blizzard it was freezing cold. Morgan ran beside the wagon to help them keep on the road while Joe drove the wagon. When they finally found a farm house Morgan had a hard time getting Joe off the wagon. Joe was so cold he didn't want to move. They couldn't get their hands to close they were so frozen. So the farmer unhitched the team for them. This was one of the many stories that Morgan related to his son Nolan.
They raised hay for the colony for three years and farmed some of the land we acquired under the new canal in Cowley. They had 160 acres in Cowley 80 acres west of Cowley and 80 acres south of Cowley. Often they would entertain church and other dignitaries.
Called to Irish Mission
In 1903 Morgan was called on a Mission to Great Britain. On the 16th July 1903 Jedediah Morgan Grant Jr. received his Patriarchal Blessing in Lovell by George Crosby. On the 20th of July he departed for Salt Lake City where he visited relatives. On Aug 4th Morgan purchased his ticket to Liverpool. It was $67.00. He was set apart by Apostle George Teasdale. August 5th he received his endowments in the Salt Lake Temple. He left Salt Lake by train at 5:45 Aug the 8th. At Buffalo he boarded the Mayflower it departed shortly after 1:00. On Aug 22 he arrived in Liverpool, England.
He was appointed to the Irish Mission by Mission president, Apostle M. Lyman. He left for Belfast, Ireland on the steam boat Magic. It was a little over a month from the time he left his home in Lovell, Wyoming to reach his field of labor in Belfast, Ireland. The two years spent in Ireland was very special to Morgan through out his life. They had street meetings; this was one way of finding contacts to teach. Most of his mission was in Dublin and surrounding area.
I Have to Eat this Food?
Morgan found the food there to be his biggest problem, being as the Grants were always selective in their food habits. In the rural community in Ireland the barn and houses were in one building. They had cows, chickens and pigs. You could often see a pig in the house as they had the run of the house. When they milked they wouldn't take the cream off and they put the milk in a big 55 gallon barrel. Once this barrel finally got full they would make it into butter. This barrel had a really strong smell it was a dark gray color. The barrel had a foot pedal and the lid on the barrel would churn the butter when the foot pedal was used. They would roll up about a pound of butter in cloth and trade it for tea, salt, etc. When one went to the butcher for some meat he just cut some off. There weren't different cuts. They just thought meat was meat. But they had two types of butchers Hog butcher and Beef Butchers.
At night the missionaries would have to pick the cooties off of themselves, the sanitation was so bad. During the year of 1904 he spent total of $186.00.
Wesley bids Farewell
While Morgan was on his mission his youngest brother Wesley died of leakage of the heart. Wesley had been ill for about nine months but he wanted to see his oldest brother so he held on to life as long as possible. Morgan tells in his Missionary Journal of how Wesley came and told him goodbye while he was on his mission in Ireland. Morgan knew he was gone before he received the letter from home telling him the news.
Trip of Europe
Heber J. Grant was the Mission President at the time of his release. Heber had two nephews on a mission in Ireland one of them being Morgan and the other Walter Grant. He gave them both a trip to Europe. One of the places Morgan saw was Holland. On the way back to the U.S. Morgan rode the Lusitania on its maiden voyage. This ship was one of those sunk during World War I. Morgan was released from his mission on the 3rd of November 1905.
Courting Nellie
When Morgan got back from his mission he found that the May family had moved to Lovell, onto the old Cotner place. It was while attending MIA at one of the dances that he met one of the daughters Nellie Amelia May. He started courting her; sometimes he would ride a horse over to her home or sometimes walk on the rail road. When he walked on the railroad, he would have to cross the railroad bridge. Morgan was afraid of heights and he would have to crawl across the bridge.
In the year l906 was the first year the Grant family started to raise Sugar Beets. Morgan (II) and his sons had a lot of learning to do as they raised sugar beets.
Temple WeddingAfter about a year of courting they decided to get married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity. They rode a train to Salt Lake City it went around by Nebraska to Denver, Colorado. It took them about 3 days to get to Salt Lake City. John Winder May married Jedediah Morgan Grant Jr. and Nellie Amelia on the 6th of October 1906 in the Salt Lake Temple. Here they spent their Honeymoon. Morgan enjoyed introducing his bride to his many relatives living in the Salt Lake and Bountiful area. On the 18 May 1907 Jedediah Morgan Grant Jr. was set apart as a Seventy by Francis M. Lyman.
First Child
After their marriage they moved into the log house on the farm that the Grants had first built when they came to Lovell. On the 3rd of October 1907 their first child was born Jedediah Morgan Grant (the 4th). He was the first grandson in the Grant family and was loved and spoiled by all, but he wasn't permitted to stay. He was called home to his Heavenly Father on the 24th of March 1908, leaving an empty place in their home.
More Children
A few months later Nolan Grant their second child was born on the 27 Jan 1909. He was named after a family Morgan had met on his mission. Again the Grant family had another boy to pour out their love to.
Next came their first daughter Nelliemae born Oct 1, 1910. She was named after her mother Nellie May.
Fire
When she was very small another tragedy came to Morgan and Nellie. Nellie had built a good fire in the cook stove put her boiler of water to heat to do her washing. While the water was heating, Nellie took Nolan in his little red wagon, left Nelliemae asleep in the house and went to the Grants root cellar for a squash and some potatoes. The cellar was less than a block from their house, there was a row of willow's between their home and the cellar. Nellie hurried as she had dinner to prepare and washing to do. As soon as she passed the willows she could see smoke coming out of her house. She left Nolan crying in the wagon ran to the house opened the front door the room was full of smoke. Opened the back door the fire started there, this created a draft the fire spread. Running to the bedroom window she broke the glass and somehow managed to get in the window to get her baby daughter out. By that time some workers in the field had seen the smoke and arrived. They managed to recover a rocking chair and the trunk that had traveled with Morgan to Ireland and back. They lost everything else they owned but the clothes on their backs. The rocking chair was used to rock most of the Grant's children. (The trunk has been special to the family and Nelliemae now has it.) They moved to another house on the Grant farm.
September 2, 1913 Viva came to the family and then November 2, 1915 Donna.
Blessings
Nolan remembers having the croup a lot. He would say get the ipecac. Then when he was about to choke to death his Papa would administer to him and he would go to sleep and just be a little hoarse the next morning.
Land
Everyone was given the privilege of filing for 40 acres of land on the bench it was south and a little east of Lovell. Morgan filed on the land. Here they planned to build a home and raise their family but their dream was never realized. Morgan (II) asked his son Morgan Jr. to stay and help him with the farm instead of having his own 40 acres and that he (Morgan Jr.) would get to have 40 acres of his (Morgan II's) land. They found Morgan had a heart condition. The Dr. felt it had followed a bad case of measles.
Their family continued to grow. Their next and last son Wilson was born in 1917. He was born on the 4th of July and he was named after the United States President at that time Woodrow Wilson.


Flu Epidemic
When the flu epidemic came in 1918 Morgan spent many nights sitting with friends and neighbors that were ill. One night sitting with Olaf Jensen he went to sleep and fell off the chair. He wasn't hurt except skinned his head, the scar was visible the rest of his life. He never had the "flu" nor did his wife and children, but his mother Lucy passed away the January 11, 1919. Lucy was a hard worker, her grandson Nolan Grant remembers her saying "Idle hands are the devils tools, if you haven't anything to do, gather sticks and scatter them again.
DepressionAfter World War I Morgan and his brother Joe where planning to buy the farm. The price of land was high at this time. It was going to cost them about $60,000. The depression hit and many people were in debt. They couldn't afford to buy it. The drop in prices was so great that Morgan’s brother-in-law Victor Showalter, being a sheep man could have sold his sheep one day for 80,000 and the next day was 20,000 in the hole. Morgan bought 80 acres of the farm form his father Morgan (II) and his wife Pheobe for $10,000. Joe went to Utah to find work.
Wilson remembers them having a tractor. One day he wanted to cross the ditch (he was a little fellow at the time) and whoever was driving the tractor let him stand on the draw bar and backed the tractor up to the ditch and let him across. They had the tractor when Joe and Morgan were farming together.
On the 25th of January 1920 a Special High Council meeting was called with President Edward W. Croft presiding. The purpose was to discuss sending missionaries into the stake for 2 weeks labor. They were to distribute tracts, books, preach, teach and do regular missionary work. George Easton, Jedediah M. Grant and Charles R. Lyman volunteered to go when asked by the Stake Presidency. Morgan labored in Worland.
The FarmAfter Grandma Grant (Lucy) died. Morgan and Nellie moved into the Grant home and Grandpa Grant built a new brick house in town. On the 1 April 1920 Grandpa remarried a woman by the name of Mrs. Pheobe A. Steer Pidcock. She was a widow with two daughters. This marriage did not last long they were divorced the 8 Aug 1922.
Rosalia a dark haired little baby was born in this home on June 28, 1921. She was named for her Grandma Rosalie May but with an "A."
On the 15 Feb 1922 Morgan Jr. bought 80 acres of the farm from his father Morgan (II) and his wife Pheobe. The main crop on the Grant farm was sugar beets about 60 of the 80 acres. In 1925 the yield was 19.31 tons per acre. One thing that kept the crops so good was that they always had a herd of 15 to 20 dairy cows. The manure was used to fertilize the fields. They also raised a little grain and hay for the cows and horses.
Peas and the Mexicans
We had a labor house quite often no one was living in it. The field man for the Sugar Factory wanted Morgan to let some Mexicans live in it free for the winter, so we often had Mexicans in it in the winter. Morgan would often share milk and sometimes peas with the Mexicans. The previous summer, they had raised peas for the canning factory. These peas had gotten too ripe to sell to the canning factory so Morgan had thrown them up on the horse barn to dry out. He planned on feeding them to the animals. Morgan had noticed the Mexican taking a few peas from off the horse barn every now and again but it was only a few so Morgan didn't say any thing. One day the Mexican had a friend over and he and his friend came over and got a few peas off the barn and Morgan didn't say any thing to them it was only a few peas. Well the Mexican finally moved on. And then one day the Mexican's friend came and started loading the peas into his wagon. Morgan went over and asked him what he thought he was doing. The Mexican said that the Mexican that had lived in the labor house had sold him the peas. Morgan told him that they were not the Mexican’s to sell and that he had better put them all back on the barn.
Living on the Farm
They always had from 1 to 12 pigs and some chickens. Wilson remembers them selling the eggs for about 60 cents a dozen. He would trade one egg for a candy bar in at the store. Wilson remembers them butchering a pig about twice a year and having canned pork and beef. For a while the cows were kept up on the 40 acres on the bench and they would milk them their. Latter Papa signed a quick claim deed to Cyrus Robertson for the place for back taxes.
Papa and Nolan would do the milking. Viva would also do a lot of the out door chores. Mama would make butter from the cow’s milk. They would sell it for 40 cents a pound. The table would often be full of butter. They delivered the butter twice a week to their customers on their butter route and would sell some to the store. Wilson remembers packing water from the well in the corrals to keep the milk, cream, and butter cool in the summer. Nolan remembers this as being the time when they had the best living.
Papa had a bunch of horses. He was always breaking one. When they were colts he would tie them to their mother and when they were big enough he would put a harness on them, then he would work them between two other horses. It seemed they always had a bunch of young colts. Papa always had a good cultivating team to cultivate the beets and beans.
Nolan remembers his father getting up at 4:00 and going into the sugar factory and getting a load of wet beet pulp to feed the stock, then coming home and milking two cows. There was no open water on the place. Papa had to pump water with a pitcher pump for hours by hand, and then haul hay and straw. Nolan remembers the music that the iron tired wagon wheels make going on snow when the temperature was below zero. Nolan could tell when his Papa was coming home by the screech of the wagon tires. They would often feed other peoples cows the beet pulp on their land, so they could have the manure for fertilizer for the fields. Wilson remembers his Papa putting the frozen beet pulp in the silo to keep and slowly feeding it to the cows.
Papa would often fall asleep at the table after working in the fields. He would put his arm over the back of the wooden chair, put his head on his arm and fall asleep. Farming is hard work and long hours; this Papa did that he might support his family.
Once when Papa was coming home from town in the buggy in the dark a car ran into them. It broke the tongue off the buggy and the horses ran away. Nolan and Papa looked all over and couldn't find them. The next day the horses turned up at the house still hooked to the tongue.
Family Prayer
In the Morgan Grant Jr. home they would always have Family Prayer every morning and every night just before it was time to eat they would pull out their chair from the table, turn them around and kneel down and Papa would most always say the prayer. Then we would sit up to the table and one of us kids would say the blessing on the food. For breakfast we would usually have oatmeal, some kind of cooked cereal for supper and fried oatmeal for dinner.
Church
When we went to church Dad would hitch up the wagon and we'd go in the wagon. The buggy was too small for all of us. That old wagon would generally have had manure or beet pulp in it. It had been scraped out, but we all stood up in the wagon so as to keep clean. Once in a while we kids would walk into church. Rosalia remembers walking into town to the old White Church when the weather was good, with Papa and some of the other kids. Papa would sometimes carry Ruth and Rosalie on his shoulders when they got tired.
Gentle and Loving
Wilson doesn't remember Papa ever reading to the children but he generally would tell them stories. If he did it was usually raining. Donna remembers how her Papa loved children and was always very gentle with the little ones. Sometimes she would feel flustered when one of them would fall and he would say 'Come here and I'll pick you up" after all you'd already be up by the time you got to him.
Donna remembers how her Papa loved music but was completely tone deaf. She has heard him sing "Oh Ye Mountains High" and "Oh My Father" without changing a note up or down. On Oct l5, 1923 Ruth a light haired little girl came to their home.
The Cat
Rosalia remembers that on her 5th birthday Nelliemae, Viva and Donna gave her a party, one of her gifts was a yellow striped cat from Helen Robertson. She had had the cat for a while when it must have been bitten by an animal with rabies, as it went crazy. It came home one day screaming and yelling. It slipped into the house and tried to get into bed with Viva, Donna and her. Papa told them to kick hard and not let it near them. He caught it and thought he had killed it, but it came back. He killed it again or thought he did and put it under a wash tub until morning, when he found it, it was still alive. He killed if for the 3rd time and buried it deep. Donna remembers the same story but with a little different ending. "I don't know what happened to the cat, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that my father never killed that cat.
Wilson remembers one day when his Papa was going out to the hay field which was west of the house. Wilson wanted to go along. His Papa said, “Well then let's go.” So Wilson grabbed his shoes in one hand and an apple in another. When they got to the field Wilson still didn’t have his shoes on. As he was getting his shoes on his Papa was throwing some hay up in the wagon. It hit Wilson and he began to bawl. (I usually stomped the hay down.) Papa got me down and swatted me and told me to go home. I went off through the beet field. I found a bare spot and lie down and fell asleep. Next thing I knew Nolan was looking at me. They told me I had lost one of my shoes, we never did find it.
Nolan remembers that one of the most common meals in the Grant home was bread and milk. His father liked it and Nolan hated it. He remembers having to sit at the table until his bowl was empty. Donna remembers her father as being very stern and strict. Black was black and white was white most of the time, but there were really many sides to him.
New Car
In about 1925 things were going good Morgan had the farm paid off and he bought a brand new car an Essex, two door sedan. Wilson remembers of sometimes going to church in the car, if it wasn't broken down. Wilson remembers going in the car out to Kane to visit Aunt Lita and Uncle Lou Howe and Uncle Oliver May and Aunt Grace. He remembers once going out to two trees (east of Lovell not far from the base of the Big Horn Mountains, these two trees that the area was named for no longer stand) for a picnic. Rosalie remembers going in the car to the foot of the Mountains to take Uncle Henry Fackrell some things. They didn't recognize Uncle Henry as he had grown a full beard.
Next it was Faye's turn on the 21 Feb 1926. Nellie had problems after Faye was born. Alfa had her and the baby come stay with her in town until she recovered. Nellie had an abscess on her breast and didn't have enough milk for the baby. Aunt Grace May had just had a baby not long before and she had plenty of milk and so once a day she would come into town and give the baby a feeding. Morgan and the family missed her and were happy to have her return home.
Papa grew cucumbers one of the years when there was a pickle works near the depot in Lovell. Wilson remembers his Momma and Papa holding up the vines as the kids picked the cucumbers and picked the cucumbers, everyday they picked cucumbers. Rosalia remembers riding in the wagon when her Papa took the cucumbers into town.
Serious Illness
About the middle of October 1926 Morgan became seriously ill. For over a month he hovered between life and death. Dr. Croft told Nellie there was no chance for him to recover, his heart had enlarged to the size of a mans head. This was so hard on the family especially his wife. Rosalia remembers the Dr. giving up and saying there wasn't any thing else he could do for him. The Elders were called. While they were administering to him Aunt Alpha Grant Showalter was there and I remember she had us kids kneel and pray for Papa. It seemed like he started to get better then.
Wilson remembers all the family was farmed out except Nolan, Nell, the baby and maybe Viva. He remembers going and staying with Uncle Allen and Aunt Stella May and their new baby Bernice. He said it seemed like years but was probably only a month or two before he got to go home. At this time when Morgan was so ill he signed the farm over to his wife Nellie on the 4 Nov 1926.
Morgan's strength was gone he had to give up the cows. He hired a man, Fred Wagoner to run the farm the next year.
On May 7, 1928 Elizabeth (Betty) joined the family. Rosalia remembers Papa would take the kids into Grandpa and Grandma May's so they could look at her through Grandpa's bedroom window; they couldn't get near Mama and her as they all had whooping cough.
In 1928 Nolan did a lot of the farm work as his fathers strength had not returned. Morgan did some cultivating, a little irrigating and the beet lifter. Wilson always remembers his Papa as being the one to operate the beet lifter.
In 1929 Morgan's father had moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and he was out of money. Being as he had got a pretty good deal out of the farm he felt obligated to help his father out. He gave his father $2,000 more for the farm on the 10 Aug 1929.
Donna remembers a time when her Mother was very ill (later she realized she had a miscarriage) and in great pain." All the older brothers and sisters were gone. Papa and I took turns rubbing mother’s back for hours and hours until the doctor arrived in the wee small hours of the morning. But what I can't put into words is the compassion and love that father showed for my mother during those long hours. After the Doctor arrived Papa kissed me and sent me to bed. That was the only time I can remember father kissing me. But I went to bed with the certainty that my father truly loved my mother and his family."
Papa is DeadIn 1930 times all over were really tough, there wasn't any money. Morgan had been out looking over the fields when he came back in and suddenly passed away. Some of the children were coming home down the lane when they met Nelliemae running for Robertsons to call the doctor. She tossed them her apron and said, "Papa is dead." Nolan was in town when a neighbor told him his father had passed away. Morgan Jr., Papa, was of medium height and had curly hair. He died at the age of 50 years on the 5 March 1930 on his farm east of Lovell, Wyoming. He was laid to rest in the Lovell Cemetery.
Testimony
In J.M. Grant’s Missionary journal we find his testimony, 2 September 1905,"... I knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that all he said was true and I am going to bare my testimony to that effect as long as I live."
This history is a compilation of many sources; some are History of Joseph C. Grant, J. Morgan Grant Jr. Missionary Journal, information from sons Nolan and Wilson, remembrances of daughters.

Nellie Amelia May Grant
1885-1969



Rockland
Nellie Amelia May was born in Rockland, Idaho December 16, 1885, the daughter of Rosalie Elvira Perry and Jude Allen May. Many are the fond memories, she has related to her children, of her childhood years on the farm in Rockland. Nellie spent her childhood on a small farm where she was required to help with chores, housework and the care of the younger children in the family.
Baptized
When she turned eight years old on 16 Dec 1893, her father broke the ice in a creek about one mile from their house where he baptized her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One of the fond memories is of the family camping trips to the Snake River for fishing.
Big Horn Basin
In 1905 when she was 18 years old her parents moved the family to the Big Horn Basin which was being colonized by the Mormons. They moved in covered wagons traveling through the Yellowstone Park. All of her children had exciting dreams of the geysers and wild animals there, long before they even had the opportunity to see them for themselves as she was an exciting story teller, and was able to make her experiences live for others. Their first home in BigHorn was a Ranch in Cody, which is now covered by the Buffalo Bill Reservoir.
Handsome Return Missionary
About a year later they moved to Lovell she met and fell in love with Jedediah Morgan Grant (III), who had just returned after filling a mission in Ireland. On October 4, 1906 they were married in the Salt Lake, L.D.S. Temple, and returned to Lovell to make their home, on the Grant farm east of town. There they spent all the years of their married life. They had a fire that destroyed their first home. Nellie had gone to the cellar taking their small son leaving their baby daughter in the house asleep. Coming from the cellar she could see smoke. She rushed to the house but couldn't enter either door because of smoke, so she broke the bedroom window and got their baby out. They lost every thing they owned but a rocking chair and the trunk her husband used on his mission.
JedediahTheir first son Jedediah Morgan was born 3 Oct 1907. They were not allowed to enjoy him very long as the Lord called him home on the 24 Mar 1908.
Nolan
Nolan, their 2nd son, married Irene Assay. Nolan worked for Amoco Oil Co. until he was forced to retire in Jan 1973 because of ill health. Irene worked as nurse’s aid at the Powell Hospital she also had to retire because of ill health. Irene is active in the Relief Society and Nolan has held several positions in the Church. He has been one of the seven presidents of the seventies, YMMIA President, and has been in the superintendency of the Sunday School. They live in
Powell, Wyoming.
Nelliemae
Nelliemae, the oldest daughter, married Andrew E. Schow (Shorty). He worked for Big Horn Cannery until Aug 1942 they then moved to Layton, Utah. Here they were both employed at Hill Air Force Base. In 1971 both retired because of ill health. Both Nell and Shorty are active in the Church. Shorty has been in the stake Sunday School Superintendency; many teaching positions and is now working in the Ogden Temple. Nell has taught in the Sunday School, MIA and Relief Society, and has been Secretary in both the stake and ward YWMIA. All three of their boys have filled missions.
VivaViva, their 2nd daughter, married Horace H. Dove, (Toots). They lived in Deaver, Wyo. They were divorced. She then married Joe Frank Ellis. This marriage was not successful. She remarried Horace Dove the father of her children. They live in Lemon Grove, Calif.
Donna
Donna, the 3rd daughter, married Russell L. Dove. He was killed in an accident in Calif. She then married LaVern (Babe) Dove, Russell's brother. This marriage wasn't successful. She then married Bert Yogi he passed away 5 Dec 1969. Donna now lives in Riverdale, Utah.
Wilson
Wilson, their last son, married Marie McGonagle. They lived in Lovell, Wyo. then moved to Utah in 1942. Here Wilson was drafted into the Navy. Marie and the children moved to Powell, Wyoming to be near her parents. Wilson returned to Wyoming. Mobile Oil Co. transferred them to Big Piney, Wyoming, where he is still employed. Marie is a convert to the church. They are both active in the church. Wilson has served in the MIA as scout master. Marie has served in teaching primary and as Relief Society President. They are the parents of 11living children.
Amelia May
Nellie and Morgan had a still born baby girl on 2 Dec 1919.
Rosalia
Rosalia their 5th daughter married Wayne Sterner. They spent a few years in Wyoming before moving to California. Wayne works as a Machinist. They enjoy going to rabbit shows, Wayne acts as a judge. Rosalia was a Relief Society President in the Mt. View Ward. They now live in Menlo Park, California.
RuthRuth their 6th daughter married Allen Johnson. They made their home in Belflower until a few years ago they moved to Chino, California. Allen drives a milk truck picking up milk from dairy farmers. Allen is a convert to the church; both are active in church work. Al has been the ward clerk in every ward they have lived in. Ruth has worked in the MIA and helped Al with his clerical work. They have a son filling a mission in Argentina and one daughter living at home.
Faye
Faye their 7th daughter married Francis Robins. Frank is an electrical engineer for Boeing Air Craft. Frank and Faye are both active in the church. Frank has been a bishop in two wards in Seattle and the branch president in Huntsville, Alabama. Faye has taught in the Sunday School, Relief Society and MIA, and has been a President of the YWMIA. They have one son who has filled a mission and two sons on missions at the present time. There home is in Kirkland
Washington.
Betty
Elizabeth (Betty) was her last child. She married Ned Clark. They are now divorced. Betty has been active in the church. She has taught in the Sunday School and MIA. She has been activity counselor and President of the YWMIA. Betty worked as a key punch operator at Hill Air Force Base and Internal Revenue's Western Service Center. She also worked as a supervisor at both Hill and Internal Revenue until she was forced to take a medical retirement. Betty lives in Layton, Utah.
Church ServiceAlthough busy with her family Nellie managed to keep up an active church life working as a Sunday School Teacher, MIA Teacher and Relief Society Visiting Teacher for about 30 years.
Husband passed away
Nellie was no stranger to sorrow for she lost her beloved husband on the 5 Mar 1930. Her husband passed away with a heart condition leaving her with nine children to care for and support. She didn't have much time to grieve for her husband as it took all her time to find ways and means to feed and clothe her children. They had very little money but they did have a lot of love in their home. Her Testimony sustained her, and she was able to keep her cheerful disposition, while being both Mother and Father to her 9 (nine) children.
Busy and Singing
She was always busy and singing as she went about her duties. Her hands were never idle, when she rested they were busy crocheting, knitting, or embroidering, and many were the beautiful stitches she put into Quilts both for her family and the Relief Society. This she was able to do until the last few months of her life.
After her husbands death she moved her family into town living most of the time in her Dads old house. He and her mother were a great help to her during this time.
DonShe helped to raise her oldest grandson Don. He was a pleasure and a great help to her. In 1941 she moved to Layton, Utah, after most of her family had grown. She and her two youngest daughters and grandson moved to Layton, Utah to be near her daughter Nelliemae. Nellie worked at the Navel Supply Depot until it closed down.
Travels
She was able to do quite a lot of traveling and visited her children in California, Arizona and Washington. A highlight of her life was her trip to the eastern states where she attended the Pageant at the Hill Cumorah, Liberty Jail and Nauvoo along with many other church and national historical spots.
Nellie lived for a time with her daughter Nelliemae in Layton, Utah before her health became so poor that she was moved to the Nursing Home in Bountiful. Nellie passed away on 12 June 1969 in Bountiful, Utah at the nursing home. She was laid to rest next to her husband in Lovell, Wyoming.

In closing I would like to read a poem which she often quoted to her children:

Mama's mama, on a winter's day,
Milked the cows, and fed them hay,
Slopped the hogs, saddled the mule,
And got the children off to school.
Did a washing, mopped the floors,
Washed the windows and did some chores.
Cooked a dish of home dried fruit,
Pressed her husband's Sunday suit.
Swept the parlor, made the bed,
Baked a dozen loaves of bread,
Split some firewood, and lugged it in,
Enough to fill the kitchen bin
Cleaned the lamps and put in oil,
Stewed some apples she thought might spoil.
Churned the butter, baked a cake,
Then exclaimed: "For mercy's sake,
The calves have got out of the pen!"
Went out and chased them in again.
Gathered the eggs and locked the stable,
Returned to the home ant set the table.
Cooked a supper that was delicious,
And afterwards washed all the dishes.
Fed the cat, sprinkled the clothes,
Mended a basket full of clothes.
Then opened the organ and began to play:
"When you come to the end of a perfect day."
This Obituary was written by family members and was read by Jeri Clark

Jedediah Morgan Grant
1853-1933

Jedediah Morgan Grant the second was a Pioneer. He was born on the 9th of October 1853. He was the son of Jedediah Morgan Grant and Rosetta Robison Grant.

Anthony W. Ivins remembers that when he and Morgan were children they would ride stick horses and almost think they were real. Anthony Ivins also remembers going up into Davis County and spending a week or a few days with Hyrum (son of Susan Noble and Jeddy Grant) and Morgan on the farm and helping them with the hay, and going down in the bottoms and hunting geese. Morgan and Anthony were a good deal alike, Hyrum did not care so much about those geese, but Morgan and Anthony had the hunting instinct, and Anthony can remember sometimes when it almost rained geese down in those fields, when they would lay there together as they passed over them.

Morgan endured many of the hardships of a pioneer life as he grew to manhood in the Salt Lake Area. In his early twenties he married Lucy Fackrell of Bountiful, Utah on the 29th of May 1876 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. For about six years the young couple lived in Woods Cross near Bountiful, Utah. Then they with their three children moved to Randolph, Rich County, Utah to help settle the area. It was pioneering; Morgan's wife Lucy stood by him and helped him to build the first home, shared his hardships, and encouraged him day by day.

For almost twenty years they pioneered in Rich County, and then there was another new country opened further east. It was in the spring of 1900, that Morgan was called by President Lorenzo Snow, to take his family and go help colonize the Big Horn Basin. The church sent a colony under the direction of Apostle A.O. Woodruff to this new country in the Big Horn Basin. There were groups of men, many of them young men, a few middle aged, who left Morgan County, Rich County, and some of the other counties near by, and drove their teams, through canyon defiles, across bridgeless streams, out into a new country in Wyoming.

There were about 500 people who went to the Big Horn Basin in 1900 and quite a few more followed the next two years. The Grant family at that time consisted of Morgan-46, Lucy-47, Morgan Jr.-20, Joe-17, Henry-15, Estella-13, Jem-12, Lita-11, Austin-8, Wesley-7 and Lucy's youngest brother William Henry Fackrell-39. (Their oldest daughter Alfa-23 joined them a year later. She began teaching school in Lovell the fall of 1901.)

The Grant family left their home on the 27th of April 1900. They went as far as Hams Fork, a small river that empties into the Bear River above Cokeville. There the group that left Randolph was organized into a company, just as the pioneers were that crossed the plains in 1847, with a captain, Alfred Nebeker, a Chaplain, Morgan Grant, and a hostler, George A. Peart. (Family histories report that the family did not travel with the assigned company. They had some difficulty and ended up traveling alone.) Apostle Woodruff was there to do the organizing. There were several other companies, from other parts of Utah, organized at the same place. 

 About three and a half weeks later they arrived in the Big Horn Basin on the Byron flats, they were greeted with a barren land; many of the Grant children describe the place as being just 'sand and salt sage brush.' They recall that they could hardly get a meal prepared that wasn't filled with sand. On very hot days when they saw a heavy cloud gather in the southwest, they sometimes thought maybe they would get a heavy rainstorm, but when it got there it would be just dust and they would quickly put everything away in a food box. If it was just a whirlwind and they were eating they would cover everything and wait until it passed before they could finish their meal.

It was necessary for a canal to be built to irrigate the land. The Grants along with many others lived in a ditch camp for the first four or five months as the Sidon canal was being built. There they lived in tents or what ever they could make do with.

By the end of the summer the colony was running out of money, a source of income was needed, the people fasted and prayed. And then an answer to their prayers came; the railroad needed help building grade for their new branch of the railroad into the Big Horn Basin. Many of the men of the colony went and helped build the grade. As winter was about to set in the people left the ditch camp and went and built homes for their families.

Because the Grant family had many boys they were asked to go down the river and rent a farm with lots of hay on it and raise hay for the colony. The Grant family rented a farm three miles east of Lovell from Mr. J.J. Marshall, the surveyor for the canal. A few years later the Grant family bought the farm, which from that time on became their home.

As the need for hay was no longer needed for the colony after they built the canal, Morgan decided to explore other crops to grow. Morgan was the first man, in the Big Horn Basin to raise Sugar Beets.

In 1905 Morgan and his family began learning how to grow sugar beets. Because of all the work involved in loading and unloading and hauling the sugar beets to the railroad to be transported to Billings, Morgan decided it would be easier to have a sugar beet factory in Lovell. But to have a factory you had to have so many acres of sugar beets. So Morgan turned his whole farm over to sugar beets and he began working on getting other farmers to turn more of their land over to sugar beets. And finally his dream was fulfilled the Great Western Sugar Company built a Sugar Factory in Lovell in 1916.

Morgan was not only involved in the Sugar Beet industry, but for a time he went into the dairy business and had a cheese factory. By hard work and the sweat of his brow Morgan was beginning to show progress he was beginning to prosper.

 In 1918 the flu epidemic hit the Lovell area, Morgan's wife Lucy went form home to home caring for the sick and then she too succumbed to the flu. On the 12th of January 1919 she left this earthly life. Morgan sorrowed greatly over the loss of his wife. Lucy was a hard worker and believed in politeness. Two of her favorite sayings are "Idle hands are the devils tools, if you haven't anything to do gather sticks and scatter them again; and Doors like these, open with ease, to very little keys, two of these are, I Thank You and If You Please."

Not long after the death of his wife Morgan moved to a brick house in town, while his son J. Morgan Jr. ran the farm. Morgan succumbed to the charms of Mrs. Pheobe Steer Pidcock, a widower with two daughters; they were married on the 1st of April 1920. This marriage was not successful and lasted but a short time. In 1922 Morgan sold his farm to his son Morgan Jr. Morgan lived in the Big Horn Basin for about twenty-five years, after which time he returned to his place of birth, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

 In addition to his activities as a farmer and rancher, Morgan took an active part in church work. He became a first counselor in the Shoshone branch in 1900. Later he was appointed presiding Elder in the Lovell branch and at the organization of the Lovell Ward he became first counselor in the bishopric. He was the first stake clerk of Big Horn stake, and later served several years on the stake high council. In 1919 Elder James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve ordained him patriarch of the Big Horn stake. Morgan spent the remainder of his days in the Salt Lake Area.

Following several weeks of illness Morgan's spirit left this life to once again be reunited with his wife Lucy. Morgan was 79 years of age when he departed from this life on the 11th of January 1933 in a Salt Lake Hospital. During his funeral services Elder David O. McKay spoke on how he had been impressed with J. Morgan Grant (II) as a pioneer and a home-builder. Elder McKay spoke of Morgan as a pioneer in developing the west and as a pioneer in the church, and in looking after the spirituality of his family.

Elder McKay and Pres. A.W. Ivins spoke of Morgan's many sterling qualities, of his honesty and frankness, his kindly spirit, his sincerity, integrity, and fair-dealing. Pres. Ivins spoke of Morgan as a man who made his way up by the sweat of his own brow, made it honorably and uprightly, until he was among the foremost of farmers and ranchers with whom he was associated. Jedediah Morgan Grant (II) was laid to rest beside his wife Lucy Fackrell Grant in the Lovell Cemetery, Lovell, Big Horn, Wyoming.

Taken from:

Life story of Lucy Fackrell Grant

Life History of Joe Grant

Funeral Service of J. Morgan Grant (II)

Obituary of J.M. Grant (II)

Story of Alfa Grant Showalter

Lucy Fackrell Grant
1853-1919

On a lovely spring day the 27th of May 1853, six months after Joseph Crumb Fackrell and his wife Clarissa Dempsey had entered the Salt Lake Valley, to settle in Bountiful, they were blessed with a lovely little daughter, whom they named Lucy. She was their fifth child of fourteen, one who died in infancy and one at 3 years old.

At the age of sixteen, her beloved mother became ill with the measles and passed away. Lucy and the rest of the children were also ill in bed with the same illness as their mother, and they were told that if they got out of bed they would die. When Lucy was told that her mother was, no more of this world, she felt she couldn't let her go without one last look at her, so she got up and ran into the room were she was, when she was discovered she was scolded severely.

As soon as Lucy was well she assumed the cares and responsibilities of helping keep together the home for the family. Up to this time she had never mixed and baked a batch of bread, this was because of the hard times and the fear that the bread might be spoiled; also she had been needed to help her father in looking after the geese and the sheep. Seven of the children were younger than herself with the baby being only two years old, she was the eldest daughter living at home at the time, but feeling these duties to be hers, she assumed them willingly, as family and home were always first with her.

A few years later she went into Salt Lake City, where she went to work for a Sister Redfield, who was the mother of the wife of Senator Reed Smoot; she stayed there learning the things that helped her prepare for her marriage and homemaking. She was still there when she made her marriage plans and on the 29th of May 1876, in the Salt Lake Endowment House she married Jedediah Morgan Grant (II). For six years they made their home in Bountiful where three children were born, Alfa born 29 April 1877; J. Morgan Jr. (III) born 11 August 1879; Rossetta Grant born 18 Mar 1881.

Then the family moved onto a cattle ranch on the North Fork of Otter Creek, about five miles out of Randolph, Utah. With them came Lucy's brother Henry Fackrell. While living here five more children were born Joseph Crumb born 29 Apr 1883; Henry Charles born 25 Dec 1884; Estella born 7 Sep 1886; Jemima born 20 Dec 1887 and Lita born 22 Feb 1889. For awhile, while living on the cattle ranch Lucy's brother Jim Fackrell lived with them while he taught school in Randolph. A sadness came to them on the 28 Apr 1887 their six year old daughter Rossetta died.
Due to a drop in the price of cattle they were unable to make the payments on the ranch, so they moved onto a 320 acre farm about two miles out of town. There was a heavy growth of sage brush on the farm when they moved onto it so the children would often be out burning sage brush especially in the Spring of the year. Lucy was always a zealous church worker holding various position in the Religion classes and Sunday School.

When the Woodruff Stake was reorganized she was chosen and sustained as Stake President of the Relief Society. The manner in which she received her calling was rather unusual. A conference was being held at Woodruff, Utah. Her husband, Morgan was away in Oregon, and there was urgent work to be done in the fields, the land had to be cleared of sage brush if there were to be crops planted. Even though it was not women's work, Lucy knew the necessity of helping. She had spent the day in the fields with her boys, when word was sent to her asking that she be at stake conference. She attended and accepted the position of Stake Relief Society President.

When she was set apart for this position, She was given a blessing and was told, that her life's work would be among the sick, and she was promised that if she would go to whatever sickness she was called too, she would never bring the illness back into her home. Her daughter has memories of the many times Lucy went out to take care of any and all illnesses. Some of the illnesses were highly contagious communicable diseases such as Typhoid fever, smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, and etc. Each time upon her return she would go into an old shed. There she would bathe and change her clothes so that she would not bring the illnesses into her home. Truly she was an angel of mercy and her blessing was fulfilled.

While living on the farm two more children were born Austin born 19 Nov 1890 and Wesley Dempsey born 23 Aug 1892. Wesley was the last completing her family of 10 children. Her children were a source of joy and pride to her to the end of her days.

A couple of positions she held were an instructor in the Primary Grade and Ladies Dept. in Randolph, Utah between 22 Dec 1892 and 30 June 1892 another was instructor in a Religion Class in Randolph, Utah between 1 Oct 1897 and 20 June 1889.

In 1897 when the "panic" hit which was blamed on President Grover Cleveland they couldn't make the mortgage and lost the farm.

It takes courage to leave a home and answer a call to assist in colonizing a new country, but Lucy Fackrell Grant had that courage. In 1900, having been called by President Lorenzo Snow and under the direction of Apostle A.O. Woodruff the family gladly responded to leave their home. Lucy's father was concerned about her not wanting to go and came to visit her. She told him yes, that she wanted to go because in the Big Horn Basin her sons might find land on which to build homes. This was the last time Lucy saw her father as he passed away that winter. It took the company four long weeks to make the trip. One of her daughters, who at that time was thirteen years of age, tells that she clearly remembers the day they crossed the South Pass and met two men on horseback. It had been a hard day's travel, for the company had covered only one mile, Lucy and two of her little girls were walking along by the wagon in the mud and slush. The two men on horseback looked pityingly at their struggles and said, "it's a hard trail folks." Such hardships did not discourage them, these very words were typical of Lucy's entire life, "a hard trail,' but she followed it cheerfully.

When they finally arrived in the Big Horn Basin, on the Byron flats, they were met by Apostle Woodruff who after greeting them said, "This Sister Grant, is to be your home." The pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley in obedience to President Young's "this is the Place," could not have faced a more barren land or more discouragement. Those of her children describe the place as seeming to be just "Sand and Salt sagebrush." They recalled they could hardly get a meal prepared that wasn't filled with sand. On very hot days when they saw a heavy cloud gather in the southwest, they sometimes thought maybe they would get a heavy rainstorm, but when it got there it would be just dust and they would quickly put everything away in a food box. If it was just a whirlwind and they were eating they would cover everything and wait until it passed before they could finish their meal. For eight months the family lived in a ditch camp, where everyone pitched a tent, lived in their wagons or what have you for shelter while the Sidon canal was being built.

During this time Sister Grant gladly shared with anyone in need. The Grant family was very fortunate in possessing two cows, but the family only used so much, because of the many babies in the camp, it had to be shared with all. One incident in which kindness brings its own reward was when a Mr. Marshall who had been sent from Omaha, to act as a surveyor on the canal, brought his wife and two daughters from the east, there for the summer. They were refined wealthy people of the world, used to every luxury possible of the day and living in places where neighborliness had been forgotten. The Grant family shared milk with them also. At the end of summer, when they were preparing to leave for the east, Mrs. Marshall came expecting to pay for the milk they had received. Sister Grant refused any pay whatever, insisting that she was only too glad to share what they had with others. Mrs. Marshall was very surprised and vowed to repay her in some way. The Grant's rented a farm from Mr. Marshall for one year and then they bought it, which from that time on became her home.

When the family first moved on to the Marshall farm, they found a rather distressing situation a large house stood on the place and part of it was occupied by the family of the tenants of the previous summer. The people who were then on the farm were very much opposed to having anything to do with the so called "Mormon" believing the untruths and tales the world would have them believe. They flatly refused to permit the Grant family to live in the unoccupied part of the house. There was only one thing to do and that was to build a small cabin of their own in another corner of the farm.

Soon after the wife of the tenant became seriously ill with erysipelas, there was no one for miles around to go to their assistance, but Sister Grant, whom they had despised because of her religion, gladly went. For days she devoted every minute of her time in saving the life of Mrs. Tracy and also taking care of the rest of the family. Needless to say, the family had their ideas about "Mormons" changed very suddenly, and from that time on Sister Grant considered Mrs. Tracy one of her most faithful friends.

On the 28th of Oct 1900 organization of the church in the new colony called the Shoshone Branch was established with Byron Session Branch Pres., Jedediah M. Grant First Counselor and W.W. Graham Second Counselor, Mrs. Lucy Grant, Relief Society President. Lucy held this position about one year or until the Big Horn Stake was organized. Sister Grant's home was always open to the weary travelers, and at conference time, it had always been sort of a “headquarters" for conference visitors. Her children relate how many times there was scarcely room to step; so many beds had been made on the floor. Many times Apostle Woodruff, who stayed at the Grant home a great deal of the time would say, "Sister Grant, put these good people up for the night, they're tired and hungry." She never failed to respond to this call. Once again a sadness came to their home when their son Wesley died at the age of 13 with a heart ailment.

Busy helping others; busy rearing her own children, teaching them to follow in her footsteps, the years passed quickly. Lucy was able to see her sons go on missions. In her Patriarchal blessing Sister Grant had been promised that she should live as long as life was desirable to her. Her only desire was that she be permitted to live until she could see her children developed into good men and women and building homes of their own. This dream she saw fulfilled most of her children settled in the vicinity of Lovell. There they raised their families, and happy indeed were the days when the families met together in the old home on the ranch, bringing joy to the hearts of Brother and Sister Grant.

The grandchildren brought joy to the hearts of their grandparents. Many of the grandchildren, who were then little, still speak of the happy visits there. They tell of the wonderful dishes, which no one else could cook just like “Grandma”, and how she let them help her. She taught them other things, such as sewing, knitting, and tatting, leaving many wonderful memories. One Granddaughter, Nelliemae Grant remembers a favorite poem of hers:
Doors like these open with ease,
Two very very little keys,
Two of these are,
I Thank you and If you please.
A Grandson Nolan Grant remembers how she didn't believe in idle hands. She would tell him to go gather sticks and scatter them again if he had nothing else to do.

Sister Grant continued her life of service, always ready to aid in sickness and distress, and never for pay. When the "flu" epidemic which took such a toll, came to the land, she nursed the first victims in her locality, and during the long siege of sickness she went from home to home, helping. One of her grandchildren, who was then a little girl, relates that her only memory of her grandmother was as she stood in the doorway, holding her baby brother, looking in upon the rest of the family who were stricken with the "flu".

The strain of taking care of so many proved to much for her, and a few days later, on the 12th of January, 1919 she, herself succumbed to the flu. At the time of her death she was five foot six and one-half inches tall with brown hair, gray eyes, about one-hundred fifty pounds in weight and sixty-eight years of age. Many mourned her passing her family found it hard to give her up, but somehow it seemed that she would have preferred it that way. On the 13th day of January 1919, she was buried in Lovell, Wyoming. Her mission finished; her life of service completed. She had erected a monument of Love and Mercy unto herself, and her children could truly say, of her, "such a Mother as ours is not dead, but a living Presence."

Jedediah Morgan Grant
1816-1856

Jeddy’s spiritual training
Jedediah Morgan Grant was born in Union near Windsor, Broome County, New York, February 21, 1816. He was the seventh child in a family of twelve. His parents, Joshua and Athalia Howard Grant, were deeply religious, trying always to rear their children to believe in God and to develop high ideals in life. When Jedediah was a small boy, he became seriously ill and came so near dying that neighbors prepared his burial clothes, since it seemed only a matter of a short time before he would pass away. His mother, full of faith, was impressed to place his body in warm water. This treatment revived her son, and through careful nursing he was restored to health.
The family moved to Naples, Ontario County, New York. And in 1829-30 the family moved from Naples to Chatauqua. The family remained in Chatauqua for about a year.
For a short time during his youth he worked in a maple sugar plant. While he was thus engaged he heard a voice say: "Go out quickly." He hurried out and a few minutes later lightning struck the roof and demolished the building.
We have no definite knowledge of Jedediah's elementary education, but the foundation for mental pursuits and love of good books was evidently laid at an early period of life.
Converted to true church
The family left New York State and settled on the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania. By this time there was a family of twelve children. While living in Erie, Pennsylvania, the gospel was brought to the door of his parents in the spring of 1832. These good people had always prayed that the Lord would lead them to the truth and with this desire in their hearts it was not difficult for them to be converted, after making a brief study of the new religion.
On March 22, 1833, Jedediah, then seventeen years of age, were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with John F. Boynton officiating. It was so cold when he came up out of the river that his clothes froze to his body. His Father, Mother and the younger children were baptized before, but the older children were allowed to make up their own minds.
Mother miraculously Healed
For some time prior to her conversion, Jedediah's mother was bedfast with rheumatism and suffered greatly, she could hardly stand to be touched. Amasa Lyman and Orson Hyde, missionaries for the Church, came to the Grant home and gave the mother a blessing, promising that her health would be restored. Many years later (1904), in speaking of this circumstance, her daughter Thedy said, "Although I was but twelve years of age at that time, I still remember how tall Elder Lyman appeared as he stood by the side of the bed telling us that the gifts of the gospel follow the believer in our day as they did in the days of the Savior. My mother requested a blessing, stating that she had faith that God could make her well. Elders Lyman and Hyde laid their hands upon her head and she was healed. She immediately got up, dressed herself, went out of doors and climbed the stairs, which were on the outside of the house, and prepared, with my help, a bed in which the elders slept that night. This impressive testimony was never forgotten by the Grant family. This room was always available whenever any Mormon missionaries visited in the vicinity of their home.
Soon after Jedediah's baptism, the family moved to Chargrin, a small town about five or six miles from Kirtland, Ohio.
Zion’s Camp
In the springtime of 1834, one year after Jedediah had joined the Church, at the age of eighteen, he was called to go with Zion's Camp on its memorable march from Ohio to Missouri. The Prophet Joseph called these men to go and assist their persecuted brethren in Jackson County, Missouri. The people living in Jackson County were very hostile to the saints, as the Prophet had announced in 1831, that "Missouri was the land which the Lord had consecrated for the gathering of his saints and the spot now called Independence is the center place." Without arguing the saints wended their way to Zion.
In the spring of 1832, there were miner disturbances such as breaking windows and burning hay stacks, but by the summer of another year the storm of hate increased. The mob was taking definite steps to rid the country of intruders. The saints promised to leave. They had many terrible experiences with mobs.
On June 19th, the members of Zion’s Camp had pitched their tents between two forks of Fishing River, in Ray County, Missouri. Five men rode into camp and announced a mob had come from Jackson County and would soon be reinforced by a hundred or more from Richmond and Clay Counties. It looked as if Zion's Camp would soon be completely annihilated. One scow lead of intruders, about forty in number, had been ferried across the river as the sun was about to set.
Divinely Protected
The camp observed a small cloud in the west. In about twenty minutes the heavens were in inky blackness, split by vivid streams of lightning. A white sheet of hailstones and rain pelted the earth. The wind hissed and a great branch broke from the trees. The scow tried to return for a second lead of men but they encountered the storm in all its fury and the man who had threatened the life of the Prophet and his brethren were drowned along with six other men. The mob left, swearing that Little Fishing River had risen thirty feet in that many minutes. Those who had ferried across the river were glad to crowd into a shanty they found or crawl under wagons or into hollow trees. The storm lasted all night. By morning they had no desire to get at "Joe Smith's Army" and were glad to return home. Jeddy endured all of the privations and sufferings experienced by that handful of valiant men and women. While the history of Zion's Camp has not been written in full and probably never will be, enough is known to show that every man who carried himself through that trying period without complaint was in reality a hero of the first order.
Mission Call
Jedediah was ordained an Elder soon after his return from his journey with Zion's Camp. On February 28, 1835, the First Quorum of the Seventy was organized and Jedediah M. Grant was ordained a member by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Immediately thereafter he was called to fill a short mission to New York State. He would probably have been surprised had he known his missionary labors were to extend, off and on, over a period of eleven years.
On the morning of May 22, 1835, in the company of Elder Harvey Stanley, he left Kirtland on his first mission to declare the everlasting Gospel. They went to Fair Port, took the steamboat to General Porter and then on to Buffalo. They then left the boat, took the Buffalo Road, traveled five miles and had breakfast at a tavern. They traveled without purse or script, as the disciples of old, asking for food and lodging in the name of the Lord. Here are a few experiences taken from the diary kept by Elder Stanley.
The second being Sunday, they received permission to hold services in a church. There were about twenty listeners who were hard hearted and impudent.
May 29th, at Bennington. Tried to get a meeting for Sunday but failed. Started next morning, found no opportunity to hold meeting, stayed at Warsaw. Tried to get a meeting there. People very hard. Gradually the attitude of the people began to change.

June 20th: Held a meeting Saturday in school house. Had a full meeting people pretty tender some believed.
A Fortnight later: Filled an appointment at four o'clock. Had a large congregation. The Lord blessed us with His spirit.
July 29th: The whole country is awakened and the Priests very mush disturbed.
Aug. 2nd: Held a meeting in school house near Willow Blackman. Had a large congregation. The Lord Blessed us. One came forward and asked for baptism. Her name was "Nancy Blackhaw." She was baptized after the meeting and confirmed the next day.
By Sept. 28th, there were ten members in the branch. By the time his mission was completed in October 1835, thirteen people had joined the church.
Jedediah returned to Kirtland in the autumn of 1835 and spent the following winter helping to complete the Kirtland Temple. He, along with every able-bodied man, gladly gave of their strength to help. With much sacrifice and hard work the temple was completed and dedicated March 27, 1836. Jedediah was privileged to take part in the most wonderful spiritual manifestations the church had known up to that time. He also was among those who received verbal instructions from the Prophet Joseph Smith relating to the duties of the members of the priesthood.
Second Mission
Two weeks after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, April 13, 1836, Jedediah set out on his second mission to the Eastern States. This time alone. He returned to some of the same places of his first mission. For example, in Bennington, New York, he held eleven meetings. The people were friendly and gave him money to help with expenses.
He tells in the diary he kept: "The crowds were often so great the schoolhouse was not large enough to hold them, but there was still some opposition." He also wrote: "I did not want for words, for the Lord gave me his Spirit, which gave me the power of utterance, not withstanding, some of the people were very unbelieving. The Priests were stirred up. When they attended meetings, I gave them liberty for objections but I couldn't get a word out of them. As soon as I left town, they would go from house to house warning the people against going to hear me preach the false prophet, Joe Smith's gold bible."
The heckling had exactly the opposite effect on the people. Now, instead of refusing his meetings, he found it impossible to meet all their requests.
After five weeks, on June 25th, his brother Joshua and two other missionaries arrived. The brothers embraced and Jedediah commented that, "it was like a drink of cold water to a thirsty soul." Joshua remained six weeks. Meetings were held in Naples and other towns were the Grant family had lived. Jedediah joyfully wrote, "The school house cannot hold but half the people that come out in Naples." In August, Jedediah reluctantly said goodbye to his brother Joshua who left for the West.
In January, 1837, after he stopped making a day-by-day record, he wrote. "I have not given a full account of my labors for this reason. I have been so busy night and day that I have not had time to write."
In the town of Falsburg, he held sixty meetings and the people were attentive. From among them he baptized twenty-three. One of the converts was his brother, Austin Grant. The people gave him money for food, raiment and to bear his expenses home. When the weather permitted, he started home arriving in Kirtland March 13, 1837.
Third Mission
Three months later on June 6th he left for his third mission. He went east to some of the places he had been before. He then went to the Southern States where his most intensive and successful efforts were to be made. Here he labored alone. When he introduced the Gospel to this country, no Latter-Day-Saint had preached within 200 miles of Surry County, North Carolina.
The people were curious to hear the Mormon preach. They came out by the hundreds from every direction. He was invited to go East, West, North and South. When the people found he could not travel extensively on foot, they soon gave him a hundred dollars to buy him a horse and equipment suitable for traveling. Jedediah traveled as much as was possible, but still had three requests to preach where he could only fill one.
He established a small branch of the church in Patrick County, Virginia but his labors were so extensive that he didn't baptize many, but laid a foundation for a great work. He preached in courthouses and chapels, in all parts of the country and had large congregations wherever meetings were held.
The people in Virginia and North Carolina were very kind to him. They fed him and his horse, furnished him clothing and gave him money for his expenses to Far West, Missouri when his mission was over. His parents had moved during his absence.
Far West Missouri October 9, 1838, Jedediah started for Far West, Missouri. He was in charge of a group of converts from Virginia going to join the main body of the church. The first week in November, they reached the Missouri State line. What they saw there made them feel like turning back.
The trouble in Kirtland had become so bad that the Prophet and the Saints left and traveled to Missouri. The Prophet was in the Richmond jail. Jedediah found his brother, George D. Grant, there too. They would have been shot but General Doniphan, a friend of the Mormons, got them to stay the sentence.
Jedediah states that he arrived in Far West, November 12th. Here he saw fertile soil, black with smoke and desolation and the pure streams red with the blood of the Saints and wilderness sheltering the widows and orphans.
He joined his parents, who had settled near Far West on a large tract of ground, hoping that a peaceful home could be established in that fertile country. The hopes of the family were not to be realized, however, for during that winter mobs burned houses, destroyed other property, and murdered men, women, and children. Jedediah assisted his parents in exchanging their farm for a yoke of oxen, a wagon and a horse. Thus provided with transportation, the family started back toward the East, beginning their journey on Christmas Day, 1838. They stopped at a place called Henderson Grove. They found an abandoned cabin and moved in for the rest of the winter. Here they tapped the trees and made maple syrup. In the spring they went as far as Lafayette, Knox County, Illinois. Jedediah's brother, Nelson, lived here. He persuaded the family to stay with them for awhile. Joshua was too independent to stay with his son very long. In 1840, he settled ten miles west of his son, in Walnut Grove Township. The Country was unimproved prairie land. Joshua Grant was 82 years old but started building another home, which was to be the last for him and his wife.
Fourth Mission
After moving his parents, Jedediah hastened to Quincy to attend a conference and afterward went to Nauvoo, where he, on the first day of June, 1839, was called upon his fourth mission, again going to the Southern States. This mission was to coincide with the most extensive proselyting effort the prophet had launched up to this time when most of the twelve apostles were sent to England. Some left families with sickness and poverty.
This was the longest mission Jedediah had filled. It lasted for four years. In January 1840, he had the privilege of meeting with his brother Joshua Grant Jr. They traveled and preached extensively, having more calls than they could fill. They baptized ten within a few weeks and five more offered to be baptized. This increased their number to forty.
That was the age ... The time of Webster, Lincoln and Douglas ...when a debate constituted a popular form of entertainment. When a speaker made a name for himself, whether political or religious, people flocked to hear him.
Jedediah became an adroit scriptorian and orator. He had a ready wit and power of exhortation and his fame soon spread abroad. Those who heard him, remembered him even though they might not agree with him. This young man was something out of the ordinary. The religion he preached was new. The manner in which he presented it was strange, as he never prepared his sermon before hand but he read and stored in his mind the gospel truths.
Blank Text
People began to doubt that such a sermon could be preached. At their request, Jedediah promised to preach at a certain time, place and from a text to be chosen by them.
The meeting place was Jeffersonville, Tazewell County, Virginia. The courthouse, where the meetings were held, was filled to over-flowing. Some came to hear the young preacher’s message; some came out of curiosity and still others wished to see the young Mormon humiliated. A number of ministers, lawyers and other prominent men were present, occupying the front seats. John B. Floyd, who became Secretary of War, was in the audience for this was his home town.
Jedediah walked in the room. He was poorly dressed, for he was traveling without "purse or script." He looked about to see if there was another member of the church present, but failed to find one. Walking to the stand Elder Grant opened the meeting with a song and a prayer. The clerk appointed for the occasion handed him a paper. A hush fell over the audience. He opened the paper and found nothing. The paper was blank. Jedediah was not defeated so easily. He showed no surprise as he stepped before the platform and began. 'My friends, I am here today, according to agreement, to preach form such a text as these gentlemen might select for me. I have it here in my hand. I do not wish you to become offended at me, for I am under promise to preach from the text selected; and if anyone is to blame, you must blame those who selected it. I knew nothing of what text they would choose, but of all texts this is my favorite one. You see the paper is blank, you sectarians down there believe that out of nothing God created all things, and now you wish me to create a sermon from nothing, for this paper is blank. You believe in a God that has neither body parts nor passion. Such a God I believe to be a perfect blank, just as you find my text is. You believe in a church without prophets, apostles, evangelists, etc. Such a church would be a perfect blank, compared with the church of Christ and this agrees with my text. You have located your heaven beyond the bounds of time and space. It exists nowhere, and consequently your heaven is blank, like unto my text.' Having pointed out the inconsistencies in their religion, he contrasted them with what he had to offer in the restored Gospel and proclaimed the principles of the gospel in great power and wound up by asking, "Have I stuck to the text, and does that satisfy you?'
At the conclusion of his sermon, Mr. Floyd jumped to his feet and said. "Mr. Grant, if you are not a lawyer, you ought to be one." Then turning to the people who filled the court room he added, "Gentlemen you have listened to a wonderful discourse and with amazement. Now look at Mr. Grant's clothes. His elbows are almost out and his knees are almost through his pants. Let’s take up a collection." As he sat down, another eminent Lawyer, Joseph Stras, Esq. still living in Jeffersonville, arose and said, "I am good for one sleeve in a coat and one leg in a pair of pants, for Mr. Grant." A hat was thrust into the hands of the presiding elder of the Methodist Eastern Church in the South, who was requested to pass the hat around but replied that he would not take up a collection for a Mormon preacher. "Yes, you will!" shouted Mr. Floyd. "Pass it around!" Cried Mr. Stras and the cry was taken up and repeated by the audience, until for the sake of peace the minister had to yield. He accordingly marched around with a hat in his hand receiving contributions for Elder Grant. Enough money was contributed not only to buy him a new suit but a horse, saddle and bridle as well.
Quite a number of the people joined the church as a result of this meeting. In fact, due to his efforts, several branches of the church were organized and the people of the South loved him.
Who is Head of your Church?
"At another time Elder Grant was challenged to a discussion by a very eminent Baptist preacher named Baldwin. Brother Grant consented. The place chosen was the fine, large church of his proud and imperious antagonist. Mr. Baldwin was described as a man overbearing in his manners - 'a regular browbeater.' When the time came for the discussion the house was crowded. Umpires were chosen and everything was ready to proceed when Brother Grant arose and said: 'Mr. Baldwin, I would like to ask you a question before we proceed any farther.' 'Certainly,' said Baldwin. "Who stands at the head of your church in Southwest Virginia?' Mr. Baldwin very quickly replied, 'I do, sir; I do.' 'All right,' said Brother Grant, 'I wished to know that I had a worthy foe.' Mr. Baldwin looked a little confused for a moment and then said; 'Mr. Grant, I would like to ask you who stands at the head of your church in Southwest Virginia?' Brother Grant arose and with bowed head replied, "Jesus Christ, sir.'
"The shock was electrical. This inspired answer completely disarmed the proud foe and the humble servant of God again came out victor.
"It is said of him by those who remember him well and were most familiar with his life and ministry, that he ever impressed those who knew him with a maturity of his judgment and thoroughness of his discipline, as related to his own culture and occupations, and the perfection he had reached in the application of the principles of eternal life."
In the spring of 1842, as Jedediah bid the kind hearted people of Virginia, adieu, there were tears in their eyes. He returned to Nauvoo.
When Jedediah left Nauvoo for his mission, he left a place that was literally a wilderness. The land was mostly covered with trees and bushes and much of it was so wet it was difficult for a footman to get through and almost impossible to get through with a team. Now the city was lovely, from the encircling arms of the placid Mississippi, it rose to a hill top where the temple was being erected. Below, wide tree-shaded streets, which crossed each other at right angles, sheltered homes surrounded by lovely gardens.
Fifth Mission--Philadelphia
In June of 1843 he was called on his fifth mission and for one year was the presiding Elder over the Saints in the city of Philadelphia.
Martyrdom of the Prophet During the tragic days that immediately preceded the martyrdom, he was closely associated with the Prophet. He and Theodore Turley were the trusted messengers who carried the Prophet's last letter to Governor Ford, who was then in Carthage, stating that Joseph Smith would give him self up for trial. This occurred June 23, 1844. After the governor had read the message he would not allow Elder Grant and his companion time for rest but sent them immediately back to Nauvoo with orders to have Joseph Smith report to him the following morning not later than ten o'clock.
The brethren started on their return trip of twenty miles, but their already weary horses could not get them into Nauvoo until four o'clock the next morning. On this day, 1844, Jedediah M. Grant watched his beloved Prophet ride toward Carthage, never to return. Joseph Smith went sorrowfully but peacefully to his death. As he left, he gazed with anguished eyes at the partly built temple and then looked over his dream city that had become a realty.
Jedediah was among those that followed him to the outskirts of town. He took a long look at his beautiful farm. He knew he would never see it again.
Joseph Smith was promised full satisfaction by Governor Ford, but the following afternoon the terrible tragedy took place.
When, a few hours later, the mutilated bodies of the martyrs were borne out of town, they left a deserted city, frightening in its stillness. The Governor hurried to Nauvoo to warn the people not to make any demonstrations, but his warning was unnecessary.
Married Caroline Van Dyke
July 2, 1844, Jedediah M. Grant married Caroline Van Dyke, Bishop Newel K. Whitney officiating. On the same day he left Nauvoo, accompanied by his wife, for his sixth mission. Jedediah went to Philadelphia to resume his former position as presiding Elder.
After ten months in Philadelphia, Jedediah and his wife returned to Nauvoo to make their home. By this time there was a baby daughter, named Caroline, for her mother, but she was always called "Caddy." Upon their return to Nauvoo in May of 1845, he and his wife received their blessings in the temple.
Ordained first President of the Seventy
On December 2, 1845, when twenty-nine years of age, he was ordained and set apart as one of the first Seven Presidents of the Seventy, by President Brigham Young. This same year he was also set apart as an ordinance worker in the Nauvoo Temple.
The people of Nauvoo soon found they would be forced to flee to the Rocky Mountains for safety. So preparations were started. They hauled timber and started building wagons, making harnesses, clothing and getting camping equipment together.
People from all parts of the country flocked to Nauvoo to purchase houses and farms that were sold extremely low.
Forced from Nauvoo
The mob was to allow the Saints until spring to prepare. They became worse until on Feb. 11th and 12th; a long line of covered wagons poured out of Nauvoo in a steady stream and crossed the Mississippi on the ice. There were four hundred families in all. Among them were Jedediah and his wife Caroline, and little daughter, Caddie. Jedediah M. Grant left Nauvoo for the Rocky Mountains in February of 1846.
After crossing the Mississippi to Montrose, they proceeded to Sugar Creek, about seven miles distant. They traveled to Mosquito Creek, Iowa. Here a council meeting was held in a small grove. They were required to build a ferry boat to cross the river. Many of the Saints volunteered their services. The ferry was finished the following day. July 12th at Cutler's Park Colonel Thomas L. Kane arrived among the Saints. He came to assist in mustering in the Mormon Battalion into the service of the United States.
While at Jedediah's camp the young Colonel was quite ill. He never forgot the kindness shown him there. On the 18th of Sept. Alanson Eldredge, Albert P. Rockwell, Jedediah M. Grant and Ezra Chase, were appointed to locate winter quarters for the saints. They decided upon a site three miles from Cutler's Park. It was on a high plateau overlooking the Missouri River. It is now Florence, Nebraska.
"Winter Quarters"
"Winter Quarters" --- What deep emotions that name evokes in the hearts of true Latter-day Saints. The winter of 1846-47, it is as if the angel of death himself penned the day-by-day record. How the grim reaper mowed them down --- six hundred in all.
During this winter Elder Grant was requested by Brigham Young to return to the East for another short mission to communicate with Colonel Kane. While there he secured the material for a very large United States flag, which later floated over Salt Lake City for several years.
While he was away, his wife Caroline welcomed her second little daughter, May 19th 1847 at Winter Quarters. For some time after the birth of this child the mother was in very delicate health, but, even so, the journey to the valley of the Great Salt Lake was begun one month later.
About the middle of April, the first camp of Israel left on their journey west.
On the 18th of June shortly after Jedediah returned from the East, the second group of pioneers departed west. Caroline, with her month old baby in her arms and two year old Caddie, courageously climbed into her covered wagon.
Captain of one hundred wagons
Jedediah was appointed captain of one hundred wagons. He was the third. Certain requirements applied to those intending to make the trek such as: Three hundred pounds of bread stuff for each person and enough grain to last every family for eighteen months.
Leaving Winter Quarters, they traveled to a point on the Elkhorn River. Here they waited for the others to come. They erected a liberty pole on which a white banner floated, "as a signal of peace to all the nations."
On June 19th, in Jedediah's hundred, the first tragedy occurred. An Indian shot Brother Weatherly through the hip and bowels. He died the following day.
The roads were in such condition that only about ten to fifteen miles could be traveled each day. The wagons were drawn principally by oxen, but horses, cows, sheep, and chickens were also taken along. The cattle fed on the grass that the country afforded, and the men, women and children lived on the provisions that were carried in the wagons. Sometimes the food was extremely meager.
This company, like most of the others, suffered much annoyance from loss of cattle stolen by the Indians, also because of scarcity of water, and from general exposure, but faith and courage were not lacking. Sister Eliza R. Snow, who was one of the company, wrote as follows: "Many were the moon and starlight evenings when, as we circled the blazing fire and sang songs of praise to Him who knows the secrets of all hearts, the sound of our united voices reverberated from hill to hill and, echoing through the silent expanse, seemed to fill the vast concave above, while the glory of God seemed to rest on all around."
The Journal History for June 22nd gives a stirring picture of the entire camp as they moved out in orderly formation beside the Platt River. At 8 o'clock a.m., the signal for starting was given by the ringing of the Temple bell. The order of traveling was as follows: the first fifty of the first hundred took the lead. The second fifty formed a line to the right. Next to those two lines came the Charles C. Rich Company with the cannons, the skiff and the Temple Bell in the lead. The second formed to the right like the first fifty, making five lines. Each company followed in line.
Some of the Captains felt it was only fair that different companies take the lead, as those in the rear were late arriving at the campground in the evenings, and also the dust was bad. This was soon settled. The decided that the hundred in the front would travel in the rear the next day, thus travel in turns a week at a time.
On July 1st, Kinyon Kellog, age six and Robert Gardner, age five, were run over by wagons crossing the river. The boys were administered to and soon seemed on their way to recovery. On July 3rd, they took up their march at 8 a.m. Before noon the companies came to a muddy creek. The brethren cut grass and threw it in the creek and by this means they were able to cross.
July 4th the camps held a meeting. It was decided that each fifty in each hundred would travel by themselves and from separate camps. Also each fifty would herd their own stock.
July 6th the first hundred left and were followed by the second and third. Feed was good at this point, but the ground was covered with salt-petre. Some of the cattle got sick. John Taylor, in reporting to the First Presidency said, "I have never known in all my experience so little sickness and so few deaths among so many people in the same space of time." Of the six or seven deaths that did occur, three were in Captain Grants hundred.
Jedediah's wife Caroline endured the trek as best she could. Her health grew steadily worse. She tried to keep up her courage for her husband’s sake.
The ingenious pioneer post office was boards or bleached buffalo skulls on which messages were inscribed. Jedediah himself was fortunate enough to bring one into camp. It was dated May 9th on it was written: "All well -- feed bad -- are only 30 miles from Winter Quarters."
President Taylor cautioned the Saints to eat sparingly. They had nothing to depend on but their bread stuffs. They should weigh out a certain quantity of food for each day.
July 10th, hunting party was organized. They returned successful bringing to camp four buffalo, two dear, and one antelope. They were divided among the Saints.
Mountain sheep were later killed for food and once a bear was killed and divided among Captain Grant's company. With their out-of-door appetites it was eaten with relish.
About the middle of July, the travelers were in country of hordes of buffalo. On Saturday July 17th during the night, the cattle broke out of the corral in Jedediah's hundred, and in the morning, twenty yoke were gone. This delayed the companies. Captain Grant's hundred were twenty miles behind. The others could not go on without them and so they sent out men to search for the lost cattle. Two days later they were still missing. It was decided to take five yoke of oxen from each hundred and loan them to Captain Grant's Company. They were to be returned to the owners at the end of the journey. On July 24th Captain Grant's Company had moved up and they were altogether again.
Brother Grant had a kind feeling towards the Indians. Once about a hundred Indians came to their camp. As a token of peace they carried an American Flag. The camp prepared a feast for the Indians and gave them some presents. They returned the following day to trade beads, moccasins, etc., for bread and other articles. The brethren, returning the visit, traded horses, cattle and bought buffalo robes which were soon to be needed.
Aug 2nd Ezra Taft Benson was sent back with a company of horsemen to meet the Saints to tell them the first group had arrived in Salt Lake. Jedediah sent a letter back to Salt Lake with Brother Phineas Young: "My wife's health has continued to be very bad. She feels the need of the prayers and faith of those who have influence with the most high. She wishes to be remembered in your prayers."
Aug 23rd Company camped on the banks of the Sweetwater. Each camp has lost many of their cattle. This slowed down their travel. At this time Captain Grant's Company were at their lowest ebb. The Crow Indians had stolen 8 of their oxen. President Young came back to visit the Saints. His presence gave them new courage to carry on. Jedediah greeted him with tears in his eyes as six days previous on Sep 2nd in the evening, his four and a half month old baby daughter, Margaret, died of cholera. She was buried the next morning before the company moved on. His wife was so sick she was not expected to recover. The sorrow-stricken parents cheered each other as best they could and went bravely forward.
At South pass they noted that the water now ran West instead of East. They knew they were getting near their destination.
The weather was cold. They were now in the mountains. On Sep 14th Grant's hundred, which was still last, "was given permission to break up into companies of ten in order to continue the journey in greater comfort.
Sep 19th Twenty wagons came into Salt Lake. The first of the company to arrive.
Later as Caroline's health partially returned she walked each day for a little while beside the wagon. But as the company entered the upper stretches of Echo Canyon, Rocky Mountain fever attacked her weakened body.
Sep 22nd Sister Caroline Grant passed away at her company on Bear river. Some teams from Salt Lake were started back to help the Saints in the last camp.
Sep 23rd The weather was cold, ice an inch thick. We crossed eight times and traveled over the worst roads yet.
Sep 27th The second fifty of the first hundred arrived. This company had carried the cannon 54 days across the plains. They sent some teams back to help the other companies across the mountains.
Sep 28th More teams arrived in Salt Lake Valley.
It was Sep 29th 1847 that Jedediah M. Grant, driving the wagon himself that bore the remains of his wife into the Salt Lake Valley, came sadly to his destination. He had hurried ahead to keep a promise he had made to his wife that she would be buried in the valley.
Not for a moment did he let his sorrow interfere with his duty to those under his supervision. The very day of her funeral he headed eastward to help his company. Arriving in the valley, all his possessions were those in his covered wagon.
Returned for Baby’s body
True to a promise he made his wife before her death, Jedediah, accompanied by Joseph Bates Noble, began his return to the Sweet Water River only three days after his arrival in the valley to bring the body of little Margret to Salt Lake City, that she might rest in the valley by the side of her mother. These brethren, however, were to find that the grave had been robbed by the wolves. Of this sorrowful incident Brother Noble Writes:
"As we sat there alone at night by our little campfire in the very heart of the Rockies, after meditating in silence for some time, Brother Jedediah turned and requested Brother Bates sing a hymn or two. After a number had been sung, Jedediah said, 'Now sing God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." As we finished:
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his works in vain:
God is his own interpreter
And he will make it plain.
Brother Grant sat with bowed had for some time, then he looked up and glowing with his former inspiration which I had not seen upon him for some time, declared in a firm voice, 'Bates, God has made it plain. The joy of Paradise where my wife and baby are together seems to be upon me tonight. For some wise purpose they have been released from the earth struggles into which you and I are plunged. They are many, many times happier than we can possibly be here. This camping ground should be the saddest of all sad places to me, but this night it seems to be close under heaven.' As Jedediah spoke, there vibrated in my bosom a feeling that comes only under the inspiration of God. Then we knelt in prayer, Brother Grant being mouth. It seemed to me that no human soul could have listened to his words and doubted that he talked to his Father in Heaven; doubted that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored and that Joseph Smith had been divinely chosen; doubted that Caroline and Margret were with their Heavenly Father in Celestial Glory."
Home in Salt Lake City
Jedediah Grant was given a lot in the Wilford Woodruff block. It measured 165 feet in width 365 feet in length. Here he built a home. ZCMI later built their store on this lot. It still stands.
They decided to build homes for the Saints instead of living in wagons during the winter. They also decide to build a stockade fort to keep out the Indians.
The winter of 1847-48, was mild, grass was abundant, flocks and herds thrived. They were able to till the earth most of the winter. But the winter of 1848-49 was very different. The coldest part of the winter was the 5th of February, the mercury falling 33 degrees below freezing. Violent and contrary winds were frequent. Snow so deep that wood was hard to find and cattle became so poor it was hard for them to pull the wood that could be found.
In the early part of February an inventory was taken of bread-stuffs. It was reported that there was about three-fourths of a pound per day for each meal, until the fifth of July.
Plural Marriage The 11th of February, 1849, one year after the death of his wife, Jedediah accepted the doctrine of plural marriage and married Susan Noble and Rosetta Robison at the home of Joseph Bates Noble. Both of these young women had crossed the plains in the same company as Caroline. They had known and loved her and were glad to mother her daughter.
Militia
The people of the land of Deseret began to organize a militia and in May of that year they were glad to report the completion. But by no means in that short space of time was it at once perfected. The old name of the "Nauvoo Legion" was very endeared to so many that were now members of the militia. However the name was now changed to The Militia of the State of Deseret.
Elder Grant was elected to serve as Brigadier-General of the first brigade of the Nauvoo Legion, and was later promoted to the major-general-ship of the First Division which military office he held until the time of his death. He was a very efficient officer. He was valiant, energetic and just. In the difficulties with the Indians at that time he manifested considerable skill, and was always regarded as eminently jealous of the right of the red men as well as the safety of the whites. January 19, 1851, Jedediah M. Grant was elected the first mayor of Salt Lake City, a position he held until his death.
On the organization of the territory of Utah, certain officials from the capital came to Utah. Finding the situation in Utah not to their liking they returned to the east after a few months with a report which grossly miss-represented the people of the Salt Lake Valley and made some outrageous charges against them.
Representative to Washington D.C.
In 1851, at the request of President Young, Jedediah M. Grant went to Washington, D.C., for the purpose of counteracting the misrepresentations of Chief Justice Brocchus who had maliciously stated that he was forced to leave Utah because of the "lawless acts and seditious tendencies of Brigham Young and the majority of the people.
“With the support of Thomas L. Kane, staunch friend of the Latter-day Saints, Elder Grant with his quick wit and incisive statements was largely successful in his mission. Mayor Grant was called to go to Philadelphia and New York, for the purpose of correcting the untrue stories of the "runaway judges," as the official came to be known. With his fighting spirit he thoroughly enjoyed the assignment. The letters he wrote to the New York Herald and addressed to James Gordon Bennett, its editor, which one writer said "entitled him to a place in front ranks of home literature."
In this letter he introduced many pingent proverbs such as the following: "While the grass grows the cows starve; while congress is taking its months to do the work of a day, the verdict of the public goes against us, and we stand substantially convicted of anything and everything that any or every kind of black-guard can make up a lie about. Laws catch flies and let hornets go free."
There was humor to relieve the grim earnestness of the letters, as when he wrote; "No solemn, sanctimonious face I pull, nor think I'm pious when I'm bilious!" Sometimes there was a chip on my shoulder attitude "I have stood up for my Country in more ways than one that I don't condescend to mention."
In answer to an accusation that Mormons were unpatriotic he wrote: "I have read the constitution of the United States, Article 4, Section 2, Clause 1. He that wants me to answer whether or not I am not as good an American as he is shall step out like a man and insult me to my face." He was described as "being always smiling when he was not angry, but when he was in anger, no man would care to face him." These letters had quite an effect on the thinking of the people in the east at that time and as a result of these letters the "report" fell flat the runaway officials never recovered from the wholesome exposure of their conduct.
He was Speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives, 1853-1855.
Apostle
On April 7, 1854, he was ordained an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was set apart as second counselor to President Brigham Young, in which calling he served two years up until his death.
Four more wives and nine children
From 1851 to his death in 1856 Jedediah's life was full. He married four more women. Had six sons, one son by each of his six wives and had two daughters, and adopted a son.
In spring of 1851 he adopts with Susan 12 year old John McKeachie and renames him Lewis McKeachie Grant
9 Oct 1853 a son Jedediah Morgan is born to him and Rosetta Robinson
17 Oct 1853 a son Joseph Hyrum is born to him and Susan Noble
On 15 Dec 1853 he marries Sarah Ann Thurston
On 17 Feb 1854 he marries Louisa Marie Goulay Grant widow of his brother Joshua Grant Jr.
On 16 Aug 1854 he married Maryette Kesler
On 27 Apr 1855 a son George Smith is born to him and Sarah Ann Thurston.
On 19 Sep 1855 a daughter Susan Vilate is born to him and Susan
On 27 Nov 1855 a daughter Rosetta Henrietta is born to him and Rosetta.
On 29 Nov 1855 he marries Rachel Ridgway Ivins.
19 Apr 1856 a son Joshua Frederick is born to him and Louisa.
15 Oct 1856 a son Brigham Frederick is born to him and Maryette.
22 Nov 1856 a son Heber Jeddy is born to him and Rachel.
Jedediah led a very active life. He enjoyed socials held by the Church and those he attended as Mayor of the city. He led a strenuous life -- many times attending three meetings during the same afternoon and evening -- he exhausted his physical strength and collapsed.
It is recorded that "his work in the Reformation, which he conducted almost with the fervency of a crusader, had brought out all his potential powers and apparently there was a great future for him in the Church - but it was not to be so."
Illnesses
His spirit went joyfully to join those of his family and friends who had gone before him. Because of his great zeal to promote the spiritual welfare of his people he had worn him self out. He contracted a severe cold which rapidly developed into pneumonia and on Monday, December 1, 1856, his valiant spirit departed this life. He was forty years old. He died in the home he had built, which stood where Z.C.M.I. now stands, on Main Street in Salt Lake City. His son, Heber J. Grant, was then only nine days old.
Near death experiences
Two nights in succession before the death of Jedediah M. Grant he was permitted to visit the spirit world. Telling of his experience to those about him, he said, "I saw the order of righteous men and women, beheld them organized in their several grades, and there appeared to be no obstruction to my vision. I looked to see whether there was any disorder, but there was none. I saw the righteous gathered together and there were no wicked spirits among them." The people he saw were organized into family groups in perfect harmony. He saw his wife Caroline. She was the first person who came to him; she looked very beautiful; she had their child Margret in her arms, and said: "Here is our little Margret, the wolves did not harm her."
He said that in some of the families there he saw a lack for they would not be permitted to come and dwell together, because they had not honored their calling here on earth. Brother Grant said that the Lord gave Solomon wisdom and poured gold and silver into his hand, that he might display his skill and ability and said that the temple erected by Solomon was much inferior to the most ordinary building he saw in the spirit world. Brother Grant told of flowers and trees and spacious buildings and of his great desire to be permitted to remain. He felt extremely sorrowful at having to leave so beautiful a place and return to the earth. He later said: "I looked upon my body with loathing but was obliged to enter it again."
Funeral
On December 4, his funeral was held in the Old Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. At nine o'clock, the day of the funeral, stores in the city were closed and remained so until after the services. Many of them had their doors draped in black. Flags were flown at half-mast and crepe was sewn at the ends of the colors. Officers of the city council wore badges of crepe on their left arm for thirty days in respect for the departed.
The funeral was scheduled for ten o'clock, but the ceremonies of the morning took so long it was ten minutes to twelve when President Young arose to address the vast audience. Another speaker was Heber C. Kimball. Among other things, President Young said: "Some men would have to live to be a hundred years of age to be as ripe in the things of God as was Brother Grant; as was the spirit which inhabited this deserted earthly tabernacle. There are but few that can ripen for the glory, the immortality that is prepared for the faithful; for receiving all that was purchased for them by the Son of God, but very few can receive what Brother Grant has received in his lifetime. He has been in the Church upward of twenty years, and was a man that would live, comparatively speaking, a hundred years in that time.
Jedediah M. Grant was buried in the City Cemetery at Salt Lake City, Utah, aged forty years and nine months.

This information was taken from a story written by Sadie Grant Pack and Susie Grant Mann in 1936 printed in Our Pioneer Heritage Unpublished Pioneer Stories pages 193-199, and a History written by a great granddaughter of Rosetta Robinson Grant, and a History written by a great-great granddaughter Sally Grant for a seminary report.