Written and compiled by Martha Thomas Lewis

            (Picture of Benjamin Waldron)

Benjamin Waldron, son of George and Betty Brodie (Brawdy–Broody) Waldron, was born 29 March 1795, at Bellbroughton, England. He had a brother, Thomas, and a sister, Betty.

When a boy, he was taught the trade of shoe making which he followed nearly all his life. However, he also studied and became a doctor. He was patient and kind and loved by all who knew him. He played a flute and wrote many beautiful poems in leisure hours.

When he was quite young, his father died and his mother remarried Frederick Davenport, who was a very kind and good stepfather. When Benjamin was 25 years old, he married Ann Crocket at Bellbroughton in 1820. Ann was 17. She was born at Bellbroughton in 1803. They had one child, Frederick, born Feb. 1821. When he was six months old, his father left England for the United States of America, to make their home for his wife and son, but within a year his beloved wife died leaving their little son quite alone. But as soon as he was old enough he too sailed to the United States where he was met in New York by his father.

Frederick was a doctor and served as such in the Civil War. He married and had one son, William B. Waldron. They made their home at Dale, New York. Doctor Frederick met with an accident and died at Warsaw, New York in 1865.

In September 1823, Benjamin married Mary A. Day at Pittstown, Pa. She was born at Worcestering, England October 1798. To this union 3 children were born: Jane D. 9 August 1826 at Ledyard, New York. Martha, 27 Sept. 1828 and Byron 15 Aug. 1830. On 13 Jan. 1831, when Byron was about 6 months old, their dear Mother died and was buried at Ledyard, New York. This was July 1831.

Again Dear Grandpa Benjamin was left alone with 3 children to care for. He moved to Scipio, New York and married Sally Laphain (Lapham) on Feb 1832. She became a loving mother to the children but sadness was soon to enter their home again for in April, little Byron died when just a little more than a year old. A few years later in Sept. 1844, Martha died at the age of 16.

Jane married John Truesdale. They had 5 children. Frank W., Edwin F., George Byron, John D., and Grace Jane. On Jan. 10, 1874 at the age of 46, Jane died and on 12 Feb., 1913, John, the father died at the age of 83. They were buried at Warsaw, New York.

Benjamin and Sally had 3 children. Thomas Theordore, born Oct. 1834 at Castile, New York. When he was seventeen he was kicked by a horse and died 30 Jan., 1851. Gillispie Walter was born at Castile, New York 15 August 1836. Orson H. was born October 1838 and died October 1838 and was buried at Castile, New York.

(Picture of Emeline Savage)

Benjamin married Emeline Savage in polygamy at Kanesville, Iowa in 1849. Emeline Savage was the daughter of Levi and Polly Haynes Savage, born at Lynie, Huron Co., Ohio, 22 Jan.,1825. She was a small woman but was endowed with energy and ambition. She was cheerful and charitable and loved to help all who were in need. Sally and Emeline lived very congenial together and was a very happy family. Emeline said, “Sally was the most wonderful woman that ever lived.”

Emeline had 5 children. Levi born 7 July 1850 at Kanesville, Iowa. Benjamin born 18 Aug 1853 at Salt Lake City, Ut. Emeline Eliza born 9 Oct 1856 at Oregon Springs, Malad Valley. Sarah Ann born 28 Feb 1860 at Centerville, Utah and died at the age of 24 on 17 April 1884 at Samaria Idaho. Mary Maria born 11 Dec 1862 at Willard, Utah and died 13 Dec 1862 buried at Willard, Utah.

Gillispie drove an ox team across the plains. Emeline and little son, Levi, accompanied him. They had a long hard journey. They reached Salt Lake weeks later. On 18 Aug., 1853 Benjamin was born. Sometime later Grandpa Benjamin and his wife Sally reached Salt Lake and they moved to Centerville, Utah where they bought a home. In 1854 Grandpa Benjamin and Gillispie went north to what was then known as Oregon Springs, located at the south end of Malad Valley. A few other families, Bernards, Frodsons, Bale and Paynes also moved to Oregon Springs where they soon made homes, built of sod dirt floors and roofs, with very few necessities of life. They made fences of rock around their claims, plowed with oxen with very crude plows and planted their wheat by broadcasting.

Grandpa Benjamin had an accident when he was a young man, breaking his hip, which caused one leg to be shorter than the other and it was very difficult for him to work on the farm so his oldest son Gillispie and second wife Emeline and baby Benjamin went on the farm and Grandpa Benjamin, Sally and little Levi lived at Centerville, Utah, where Grandpa made shoes and also helped with the sick for he was a good neighbor.

We today can’t half imagine all the hardships poor old Grandma Emeline put up with. At one time they were without flour for six weeks with nothing to eat but pig weeds and thistle roots which she boiled for greens. But Grandma as a rule was happy and with her scanty meal fed many Indians and Trappers. At one time her little boys, Levi and Ben, came to the house and asked for something to eat. Grandma Emeline tried to make them believe they were not hungry. She told them stories and finally sang them to sleep. While they lay on their little straw beds on the floor in the corner of the room, Grandma knelt down and prayed as she never had before for something to feed her darling boys. And then it happened. The only two hens that Grandmother had left, laid an egg apiece. The first in weeks. When the boys awoke, she had a real treat for them, a boiled egg. That night Grandpa Benjamin walked in with a fifty pound sack of flour on his shoulder. How thankful Grandma was to see it.

That fall, the pioneers raised but a very small amount of grain. It did not grow very tall as it had been such a dry summer, but they pulled it and tramped it out as best they could and took a grist to the mill in Brigham.

The Indians became so hostile at times it was very hard to live. Under these conditions on 9 October, 1856, Emeline Eliza was born in this lowly home lying by her dear mother’s side on a bed of straw in one corner of the room with blankets and quilts on the straw for comfort and warmth. It was quite a sight for the Indians as they took their turn entering the tiny bedroom to see the “White Papoose” as they called her. The white people wanted to name her “Mary Malad” but the Indians said NO. Malad was “A heap-sick-name.” So she was christened by her father, Emeline Eliza in honor of her mother and Eliza Barnard, a neighbor.

The little colony had been blessed with health up to this time. There had been no sickness to speak of. But in November 1857, Grandma Emeline took very ill with rheumatic fever. For weeks she lay perfectly helpless and it seemed as though she would never again get control of her limbs, although the neighbors and friends worked faithfully. One day a friendly squaw came in to offer her assistance. She said that she could easily cure her it it were only in the spring so that she could procure a certain kind of herb which grew nearby. But notwithstanding the disagreeable weather, she went down to the spring and dug in the bank until she found a few roots of the herb.These were ground between two rocks and mad a poultice of, which she applied to the affected joints. Although it was very severe at the time, two poultices made a wonderful change.

A short time later an old Indian with his squaw and two step daughters, made the Waldrons a visit. They came to try and make a bargain. The Indians wanted to trade the oldest daughter, 7 years of age, to Grandpa for his gun and some food, but Grandpa wasn’t to be bargained with. He tried to tell the old Indian he should keep the girls and be kind to them, but he hated the girl and finally went, leaving the poor child, much against her mother’s wishes, with the white strangers.

Celestia, for that is what they named her as they forgot to ask the Indians what her name was, and as the child could only speak or understand Indian language, she couldn’t tell them, so she went by Celestia. She was a very good little girl and although she must have been afraid almost to death, kindness and food soon won her over. Her step-father had been very cruel to her and many times she had gone so hungry that her new home soon became a haven to her. She was studious and soon mastered the language and was happy to help with the work. Grandma soon loved her as her own child and when her parents came a year later and wanted to take her back it made Grandma’s heart ache. However, when they spoke to Celestia she would not answer back. They spoke to her in Indian Language and called her Manauincy for that had been her real name, she would only hide her face in Grandma’s dress and beg her to keep her. At last the gruff old Indian became very angry and said, “Enough, enough! The Bannocky talk gone out and the Mormany talk gone in, I don’t want her.” So Celestia was never troubled by the Indians again. She loved and was loved so she was happy. She went to school with the white children but she always seemed to feel inferior to them. When the bridge washed out she took her shoes and stockings off and carried the little boys and girls across the stream. From this kind act, she caught a cold and got pneumonia and died when she was 14 years old. The Waldron family had lost a daughter. They loved her dearly. She was buried in Willard.

One day the Waldron Family was given the pleasure of having some real dear friends to visit them. They were the Dewhurst twins from Centerville, Utah. They were very beautiful girls and looked so nearly alike their mother, at times, could not tell them apart. Ann Dewhurst was born 20 Sept., 1840 in Blackburn, Lancastershire, England. The gospel was brought to her parents when Ann was 10 years of age. She, with her parents and sisters were all baptized in England in the year 1848. Shortly after Ann was baptized she was taken very ill. President Wilford Woodruff administered to her and promised her she would get will and go to Zion. On February 10, 1854, Ann with her parents and family set sail for America. They sailed on the ship “Windmere” and were nine weeks on the voyage. Their ship sprang a leak at one time and the captain came to the Mormon company and said, “If you have any faith, for God’s sake pray to save this ship.” At another time on their voyage the ship caught fire and their lives were saved. When they reached America, the captain and five of his crew joined the LDS Church. In October of 1854 this company of saints joined the Mormon Pioneers and began their journey across the plains in the William A Empey Co. While they were camped at Winter Quarters, cholera broke out and they suffered much. The father died and was buried there. However, they continued their journey and arrived in Salt Lake City, 29 October 1854. When Ann was 15 years old they moved from Salt Lake City to Centerville. It was during this time she met Gillispie. He knew that he would always be able to tell the girls apart but to his surprise he at one time made the mistake. But next time the girls were to make the visit, Ann made it alone, so the mistake could not possibly be made, for she became his bride 13 Sept., 1857. The first couple to be married in Malad Valley. They were married by Benjamin, Gillispie’s father, not in costly gown and jewels, but with something more tangible and lasting, that of a character well balanced with improvements of experience.

Twelve children were born to this union. Nine of whom grew to adult life and were all married in the LDS Temple. They also adopted one girl. Four of their sons fulfilled missions for the LDS Church. Joseph Theadore, born 10 Sept. 1859, Ann Elizabeth born 31 Aug 1862, Walter Gillispie born 4 Nov., 1864, James Benjamin born 22 Feb. 1867, John Franklin died. Thomas Orson born 4 Oct. 1871. Ester died. Harriet Eliza born 15 Sept 1874. Mary Maria born 18 Mar. 1877. Levi Elias born 30 June 1879. Lucy Emiline born 13 Aug. 1881. Sally B. died. Hulda Lovisa born 10 July 1896. Adopted.

The Indians from the north became hostile, they robbed the people of everything they could get their hands on, they burned their grain and threatened to kill the little colony of people. An old Indian who was very friendly with the Waldrons went to Grandpa and warned him of the wicked intentions of the tribe of Indians. Grandfather heeded this warning and prepared to leave. In a few days they received word from President Brigham Young, advising them to go South and Fort themselves in. Grandfather buried everything in the ground, they couldn’t carry a single bed wagon, and went to Calls Fort. It was a long and tiresome journey with an old ox team.

Grandma Emiline had rheumatics so bad, she could not sit for any length of time with her crippled knee and hold her baby Emiline Eliza. So Aunt Ann, Gillispie’s wife, rode in the wagon and held the baby, while Grandmother walked on her crutch and drove a pig, as they had no other way to take it.

One night the pig gave out and grandmother drove it to a little straw stack along the side of the road and slept until next morning early. She went on, meeting Grandpa who had gone back to find her. They arrived at Calls Fort and the first night they were there, the Indians stole their oxen and many of their neighbors. They only had their poor old milk cows left, but they were told to go on so they yoked the cows which were untrained and with much trouble continued their journey. They finally got to Spanish Fork to a little place called Pond Town, where they stayed about six weeks, hiding from Johnson’s army, who were planning to kill the Mormon people who believed in polygamy, but this time the pioneers were blessed for the army passed without molesting them, and they received the glad news that a treaty was made between Pres. Young and the U.S. Government and the people were ordered home.

The Waldrons went back to their home at Centerville. Emeline’s daughter, Sarah Ann was born 28 Feb. 1860. When she was two years old they moved to Willard. On 11 Dec. 1862, Mary Maria was born but she lived only two days. She ws buried in Willard, Utah. On 10 Sept. 1859 at Centerville, a little son came to bless the home of Uncle Gillispie. They named him Joseph.

In the spring of 1861 Uncle Gillispie took his little family to Richville and got himself a far. On a little hillside they built a home, and within the threshold of this home came their twelve Childre. The house was replaced by a brick home wich still remains with barns and out buildings as a credit to their industry. The little farm house on the hill will always be dear to each member of their family, also to all the Waldron families who made visits from Samaria, Malad or where ever they lived. They all loved to go to Uncle Gillispie’s and Aunt Ann’s home which was an example of love, economy, order and promptness and welcome.

When Uncle Gillispie was a young man he was a champion swimmer. He swam the Bear River when it was swollen to great depths and he also won a swimming race with an expert swimmer, Mr. Thurston of Morgan, who put his pocket knife as a wager that he could beat. The race was won by Gillispie by quite a distance, so he became the fortunate possessor of a pocket knife which was quite an object in those days.

Uncle Gillispie was always ambitious, kind, and loving and always did exactly as he promised for he was a man of honor. He was chosen Presiding Elder in the Branch for a time until it was organized. He was then chosen first Counselor to Bishop Dickson. This office he held until he moved from the Ward. In the summer of 1906 they made a home in Morgan, thus retiring from farm work. Their family had all grown up and were taught to be industrious and were all a credit to this dear old couple.

We, all the family, loved and respected Uncle Gillispie and Aunt Ann. How we looked forward for their visits which they faithfully paid to all their relatives. Aunt Ann, with her sweet patient voice and loving smile, will always be held dear in the memory of all of us who knew her. On Sept. 13, 1907 they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Uncle Gillispie died at the age of 84 years at his home in Morgan, July 10, 1921. Aunt Ann died at the age of 80 at Logan at her daughter Lucy’s, June 20, 1920.

Grandfather Benjamin married a widow Harriet Jones in 1866. She was born 11 March 1820 at Stockport, Lancashire, England. She was a very dear lady. She was a cripple from overwork at the loom, one of her legs being drawn up much shorter than the other. She had two children, Mary, age 6 and John, age 4 years. All the Waldron family accepted Mary and John as part of the family and are dearly loved by all.

Grandfather and Grandma Harriet lived in Unitah. Grandfather Benjamin died at the age of 87 on 11 October 1882 and was buried in Unitah. Grandmother Harriet went to Rexbur to live and died.

Grandmother Emeline and children moved to Samaria in April 1869. They built a house of logs which later was replaced by a brick home. The boys worked on a farm, they were ambitious and thrifty for they were born of hard working pioneers. Dear old Grandma played the part of Godmother to her children’s families along with other families of Samaria and many, many Indians who passed her door, with sacks on their backs, begging. She never refused them bread and many other articles of food or clothing and a cheery smile as they went on their way. To the Indians who were hostile and unfriendly, she very cleverly outwitted them, never showing fear to her small children, for she was a brave little soul. She showed courage and faith when her youngest son, who met with the terrible accident of losing a leg, nursed him back to health and gve him the will to live and go on, always standing by to help in any and every way. Grandma Emeline died at Uncle Levi’s home at Gwenford, Idaho, 6 Dec., 1898 at the age of 73.

Levi Waldron, son of Benjamin and Emeline Savage Waldron was born 7 July, 1850 at Kanesville, Iowa.. He was the 6th son of Grandpa Benjamin but Emeline’s first child, they being married in plural marriage.. When Levi was 1 year and 2 days old, he, with his parents, arrived in Salt Lake, Utah. Crossing the plains with one of the companies of Mormon pioneers. Two years later the family moved to Centerville where they bought a home and his father buit a shoe shop of adobe where he made and mended shoes for several years.

In 1854, his mother and father went to Malad Valley and tookup a claim where they made a home of sod. His father stayed most of the time in Centerville and worked at his trade making the money for the pioneering of the new home. Gillispie, the oldest son and half brother to Uncle Levi, did the farming with Mother Emeline helping. Many times the little family went to bed hungry, for there was but little to eat. They ate pig weed and thistle root greens, often the only food they did not have to ration as flour was so hard to get. With ox teams it took days to go to Centerville for provisions.

Levi saw the hardships of being driven away from their homes by the Indians, and when but a small boy worked very hard for he was ambitious and always did more than his share of the work. They moved to Samaria in 1869 where he helped build a home for his mother. In 1875 he married Davinah E. Roderick when she was 15 years of age in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. Thirteen children were born to this union, most of them still live at Samaria or Gwenford where they had a very nice home built in later years. Hannah Elizabeth born 8 Nov 1875, Levi Gillispie born 10 Mar. 1878. Emeline Janett born 28 Dec. 1879. Mary Anne Waldron born 28 Feb. 1882. David Roderick born 7 Feb. 1884. Benjamin Haynes born 6 June 1885. William S. born 24 Dec. 1888. Charles Edward born 7 Jan. 1891. Waltr Andrew born 29 Mar. 1893. Thomas John born 4 Sept. 1895. Nathaniel Acie born 4 Feb. 1898. Ernest Savage born 19 May 1900. Lewis Roderick born 19 July 1904.

Uncle Levi helped make the first irrigation ditch and owned the first blacksmith shop in Malad Valley. He invented many things which were very useful on the farm. He died at his home after a long illness March 9, 1936 at the age of 86. He was buried at Samaria, Idaho.

(Picture of Ben Waldron)

Uncle Ben Waldron was born at Salt Lake City, Utah 18 August 1853 only a few weeks after Grandma had crossed the plains with Uncle Gillispie and her little son Levi. Soon after Grandpa and Grandma Sally reached Salt Lake, they all moved to Centerville, Utah, where they bought a home.

Uncle Ben was one year old when the family moved to Idaho, where he grew in a very humble pioneer home, knowing many hardships and many times hunger. He received his education in Logan. Uncle Ben was ambitious and thrifty, always doing his share of work. He met with a severe accident, a miraculous escape from being torn to pieces, his leg being torn from his body and his body terribly mangled and torn. We can only attribute the sparing of his life to a supreme power. After recovering from this accident, he set up a business, starting with a peddler’s wagon. From this humble starting point his business grew to one of the largest business houses in the valley. He was among the largest taxpayers of Oneida Co., and help several positions of public trust which he filled with honor. He was also one of the directors of the First National Bank. He lived not for himself but was determined that no one should lack for anything which was in his power to give. He was known as Uncle Ben to all who knew him, even the Indians loved and respected him and mourned his passing.

He married Axie Cheney and adopted two children, a boy, Levi, and a daughter, Evelyn. He died 13 April 1914 and buried 16 April 1914 at Samaria, Idaho. His funeral was the largest ever held in Samaria. Representatives of the firms of John Scowcrofts and Sons, Shupe Williams Co., Blackman and Griffity, J. G. Read and Co. all of Ogden and the First National Bank of Malad were present who, with many others, sent beautiful wreaths and floral designs. These scriptures were read in his memory: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor than Silver or Gold.” (Proverbs 22:1) “he that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)

(Picture of Emeline Eliza Waldron)

Emeline Eliza Waldron, my mother, has the distinction of being the first white chld born in Malad Valley. She was born 9 Oct. 1856 in a little house made of sod and a bed of straw in the corner of the room with a few blankets and quilts. Her parents wanted to name her Mary Malad but the Indians would not allow it. So she was christened Emeline Eliza in honor of her mother and Eliza Barnard, a neighbor friend. When she was one and a half years old, she moved with her parents south to Calls Fort to safety from the Indians. They stayed in a little place called Ponds Town for six months, then moved back as far as Centerville in 1859, then to Willard, Utah in 1862, where they lived until April 1869 when they moved to Samaria, Idaho. The little family were truly pioneers and had hardships and suffering. They built a log house. Mother mixed and carried the mortar to help her brothers chink the house. She was only privileged to attend three months of school, but she did very well with her language, a fairly good reader and very few people have written more letters, as many of her children lived miles away from her fut they always heard from Mother every week.

She married on 5 Jan. 1875, when she was 18 years old, to Charles R. Thomas. For a time they lived down by the Samaria Lake in a dugout, then built a one room log house in Samaria until five of their children were born, then they added one more room. This served as their home until five more babies came. They then moved to Pleasantview on a homestead and built a frame home, which seemed like heaven to the large family. Mother has done most everything, washed, picked, corded, dyed and spun wool into yarn. Then she knit stockings for the whole family- 26 to 28 pairs a winter, besides all the sewing, mending, baking, washing, and ironing.Three more children came to bless their new home but sadness also entered as three died while babies.

Mother worked hard to school her children, getting as many as eight ready each morning, sending lunches, backpacks, all piled in a two wheel cart. Oh the joy of those days1 Wish we could turn back, just for a while so we could fully appreciate them. She had the privilege of sending two of her children on missions and was happy to sacrifice every penny she could to keep them there. She tended several hives of bees, hiving, robbing them herself and making cakes of wax to sell to buy shoes for her children.

Father died August 1917 leaving her a widow at sixty. She bought a little home in Malad at the time and busied herself caring for it and helping her children when in need as long as she had her health. In August 1931, she was honored in as much as she officiated in the unveiling of the Marker, assisted by the Vanguards and President D.P. Woodland, which was erected at her birthplace in honor of the first pioneers. There were 600 present to witness the scene. She was an honored guest at the dedication of the great bridge, built over the Boise River. At that time she was given an airplane ride which gave her a great thrill. The last three years of her life she lied around with her children as she had very poor health. She was 80 years old at the time of death. She died at my home September 25, 1936, buried at Pleasantview, Idaho on 28 Sept. 1936. Her children are Elizabeth Ann (Hughes) born 27 Apr. 1875. Benjamin Waldron Thomas born 14 Dec. 1876. Emeline Dorothy (Wight) born 31 Mar. 1879. Charles Edward born 5 Apr. 1881. Harriet Eliza (Huntsman) born 6 July 1883. Phoebe Jane born 14 Nov. 1884. Lettuce born 8 Jan 1887, Letitia (Willie) born 9 Sept. 1888. Martha Lucinda (Lewis) born 8 July 1890. James born 11 May 1892. Levi born 14 Oct. 1893. Mary (Jeppson) born 8 Jan. 1895. Polly Haynes (McCallie) born 27 Dec. 1897.

(Picture of Charles Rowlands Thomas

 Charles Rowlands Thomas was born in Pembrockshire, Roach Parish, Wales on 21 October, 1850 to James and Elizabeth Rowlands. He was the oldest of three boys. They had a nice home with beds of flowers and beautiful surroundings. His mother died when he was but 4 years old, his brothers, Joe and Bill, 2 ½ years and 6 months old. They were cared for by a very kind and patient lady, Dorothy Phillips. She married their father James Thomas some months later and took the part of a real mother. Charles was baptized in Wales in 1858 by William John who later moved to Portage, Utah. Charles was small for his age when a lad but he went to school anxious to learn. His only reader being the Holy Bible. In the year 1851, the little family came to America and lived in New York for one year, then came west with a Mormon Colony to Utah, taveling by ox team. They located in Logan, Utah. The boys went to school, and Charles became a champion speller and Bible Scholar. In 1868 they moved to Samaria, Idaho on a homestead. Charles helped Levi Waldron dig the first irrigation ditch in Samaria. They were fast friends and later became brothers-in-law. He married Emeline Eliza Waldron at the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, Utah. Thirteen children were born to this union. For many years he held some sort of public trust, justice of the peace and road overseer, school trustee and Probate Judge for two terms. He met with a terrible accident, losing hes left eye. For many weeks, which seemed like long months to his family, passed before he was ble to spend the evenings in the accustomed way of reading to us. He was always so patient and kind, everything a child could wish his father to be. He was also a friend to everyone who happened to stop at the “House by the Side of the Road.” And there were many who stopped. He was 65 years old, when he underwent an operation at the Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah which was a complete failure. He suffered one year and 3 months before he died at Pleasantview on 5 August, 1917, buried 7 Aug. at Pleasant View Cemetery, being the second grave there. He was always an energetic worker in the L.D.S. Church, holding many offices. At the time of his death he was counselor to the President of the Stake High Priest Quorum.

(Picture of Davinah Elizabeth Roderick)

 Davinah Elizabeth Roderick was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, 5 Jun, 1859. She was the daughter of David and Hannah Spencer Roderick. She was one of nine children. They lived near the mines where her father worked as a carpenter at the mines. When Davinah Elizabeth was a small girl, her father, mother, and family, except one sister, were baptized in the Mormon Church. Her sister, Margaret, soon after joining the church, sailed for America where she later married one of the missionaries. About 3 years later, the rest of the family except the sister, Mary, who did not join the church, left Wales and sailed on the ship “Minnesota.” They sailed from Liverpool and after a long, tiresome, stormy voyage, they landed in New York about 3 weeks later. The Roderick family came west to Ogden, Utah on the first train to cross the continent. From Ogden they went to Brigham where Margaret was living. How happy the family was to see their dear daughter and sister again after more than 3 years and also to be in Zion and the valley of the mountains!

After living a few years in Utah, they moved to Samaria, Idaho, where she met and married Levi Waldron at the age of 15. They were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, 11 Jan., 1875. They made their home in Samaria until 5 of their children were born. They moved to Gwenford, Idaho where they made their permanent home. Here 8 children were born.

Aunt Lizzie, as she was always known to the family and everyone else, was a very ambitious lady. She worked hard, she did all her sewing, washing, cooking and knitted socks and mittens for her 13 children. On 11 Jan., 1925, Uncle Levi and Aunt Lizzie celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Aunt Lizzie was always so patient and kind. She waited on Uncle Levi, who was bed fast for 14 months, and never complained. He died of cancer 4 Jan., 1947 at the age of 8. At the time of her death 11 children, 79 grandchildren, 121 great grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren were left to mourn the loss of a loving mother and grandmother.

(Picture of John L. Jones)

John L. Jones was born 22 Nov. 1863 at Uintah, Utah, son of Levires and Harriet Chharlton Jones. His parents were converts of the L.D.S. Church. He married Elenor Zellnors Spaulding 3 Jan., 1889. Four daughters were born to this union. They are Mary Opan born 11 Aug 1889 and died the same day. Flossie Cleo born 27 June 1890, Rosa May born 4 May 1894, and elenor Zelnora born 22 Nov. 1898. Uncle John was a successful farmer. He had a large farm in Independence, Idaho. (west of Rexburg). He helped build roads, canals, bridges, school houses and churches. He was a good donor to all community activities, and when there was death or sickness, he was always there to do his bit, in work and finances. Many people heard of him through friends before they ever met. Him. He was a school trustee, President of the Liberty Park anal Co., Director of the Woodmany Building Assoc., President of the Lemhi Union Mining Co., and worked as road overseer for the county. He was in partnership with Uncle Dave Spaulding for thirty five years without any written agreement and there was always perfect harmony. At one time he owned 1250 head of cattle and owned and rented 2000 acres of land. His wife died 17 Jan., 1899, leaving Uncle John to be father and mother both, which he did very well. He was so kind and understanding. Later he married Ida Brown, who had two sons from a former marriage, in April 1914. He built the Lincoln Hotel in 1917. He also owned the Elk Theatre and the buildings occupied by the Kugler Jewelry Store and the Utah Power and Light Co. He retired from the farm in 1920 living at the Lincoln Hotel. He sold his farm to his three daughters in 1929. He died on 13 Nov., 1940. His funeral was held in the First Ward of Rexburg. He was survived by his 3 daughters, 9 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and one sister Mary E. Summers, 5 nephews and two nieces.