By Mrs. Pearl Hawks 

In the little town of Crescent, Iowa, on the 18th of January 1853, Oliver H. Hoskins and his wife, Lucinda, were made very happy over the arrival of a baby girl, the second daughter and third child that God had entrusted in their care. This black-eyed baby was christened Emma. She came into a lovely home where loving parents welcomed the little stranger. The house was surrounded by beautiful trees, the shady walnut, the sugar maple and stately elms. 

As she grew from babyhood into girlhood, she was busy and happy. She, with the rest of the family, would gather nuts from the trees that grew near their home, happy in childish glee when she could scamper off with a bucket to gather wild strawberries and blackberries which grew in thick abundance near their home. She loved to watch the bushy-tailed squirrels as they jumped from limb to limb in the trees gathering nuts. 

Emma looked forward to the time, as most little girls do, when she would start school. When the day arrived she was happy to go down the dusty road with a little dinner bucket on her arm to the little log schoolhouse which sat among the trees. Here she was taught the A B Cs, reading from a little primer and spelling from the spelling book. 

Even as a girl, Emma had burning in her heart, a testimony of our Father in Heaven. When her father was baptized in 1862, her testimony was increased and she looked forward to the time when she could go into the waters of baptism. 

In May, 1862, she left her home in Iowa forever with her face turned to the barren west. She began a new life, that of a pioneer. She crossed the plains in a covered wagon with her family. The family was better equipped for the long journey than some of the other pioneers. They traveled with a team of horses while some had oxen, some one horse and an ox, and some with hand carts.  

In August, 1862, the journey was over and they settled in what was called Cottonwood Canyon. She later moved to Kaysville. While attending a dance, she was noticed and much admired by a tall, dark-complexioned man everyone called Joe. He said to his friends, “You see that black-eyed little lady over there? She is the girl I am going to marry.” He was introduced and there began a beautiful courtship and a romance that lasted throughout their lives. Sometimes he would come to court her on horseback, sometimes in a wagon and in the winter, he came in the little one-horse cutter. The young people had time for pleasure in those days. They enjoyed dancing to the tunes of the fiddle as a good man called the plain quadrill. They didn’t stop dancing at 12 or 1 o’clock. Many a time the sun would find the happy but tired people on their way home as he came peeping over the eastern hills. 

Joe was a happy man when Emma consented to become his wife, but to get the consent of her parents, that took courage. So after much maneuvering and watching to catch Mr. Hoskins alone, he finally found the courage to ask for the hand of Emma in marriage. When the parents gave their consent, he was the happiest man in town. 

During her early married life, she would gather the wool and spin the yarn to make clothes and make socks. She would sell the knitted socks for a dollar a pair. With this money, she helped furnish her home. She had learned to knit with straws when she was a very little girl. On these straws she would knit stockings for her cat. 

During her life, Emma was a very busy woman. Her home was kept spotless. She was a splendid cook and many times she fed the people from all over the country at conference time. Her home was a place where young and old alike came freely. She was a perfect hostess. She was a good conversationalist and loved to talk with people who understood the gospel.  

Thirteen times she went into the shadow of death and gave God’s spirits mortal bodies to dwell on earth, a noble act for any woman. She was a devoted mother, always ready to sacrifice her own needs and pleasures for her children. Her children all received a fair education. One of her sons filled a mission to the southern states. 

She always had a burning testimony of the gospel. She was called to be the first president of the primary in the Malad stake. Many a trip she has made to the furthest ward which was 75 miles away, with the buggy and team, to keep an appointment. She was at a meeting when Eliza R. Snow came and talked to the Primary and showed the Prophet Joseph’s watch to the children. 

  She was a natural born nurse and in storm or cold, rain or shine, she went wherever she was called to the sick or dying. She has prepared many a body for its last rest. 

Three times she was called to make a great sacrifice. When three of her lovely daughters were called home in young womanhood and also when the grim reaper of death called her beloved husband home. She always acknowledged the hand of the Lord and waited faithfully for the time when she would answer the call, and He would be waiting with outstretched arms to welcome her to that heavenly home. 

Her husband, Joseph Halford, was a man loved by all who knew him. He was presiding Elder in the Portage ward for many years. He also served as counselor in the bishopric for several years.