Letitia John was born 6 April 1853 at Castle Redding Parish at Mathry, Pembs., S-Wls. She was the eighth child of Thomas John and Margaret Thomas. There were nine children-five boys and 4 girls.
In the year 1861 she crossed the ocean with her parents. It took them 33 days to make the trip. They came on the sailing vessel-”The New York Manchester.”
Their first home in America was at Williamsborough on the banks of the Hudson River. They lived there for 14 months. In August 1862 she crossed the plains. Henry Miller from Farmington was the captain. There were about 2000 people in this company. They arrived in Salt Lake City on 17 October 1862. They arrived in Wellsville Utah on 22 October 1862. In November 1862 she was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The family lived in Wellsville until the year 1867. Letitia was 14 years old when they moved to Portage, Utah. She was taught to work at an early age. She became an expert with the spinning wheel. In the spring of 1868, a young man came to their home by the name of William Henry Gibbs. There is no record of their former acquaintance so we will say this was the first time they met. Letitia was very popular with the young people, often going to dances in the little church house in home spun dresses made by her own hands. The music was furnished by two or three violins, and sometimes a mouth organ would add to the much needed music. Other amusements were candy pulling contests. This was done by making candy from molasses. When it was cool enough they would put butter on their hands so the candy would not stick to their hands and pull it until it became a beautiful golden color. They would judge the winner by the best looking, as well as, the best tasting candy. This was an art as well as practice. Other times they would meet together in someone’s home, pop corn and tell stories of their earlier days. In this way Letitia spent her teenage years.
On the 25th day of January 1872, Letitia received her temple recommend to the Endowment House to be married. Her intended husband, William Henry Gibbs also received his. On the 2nd of February 1872 the happy couple, with a borrowed team of horses and wagon, started for Salt Lake City. They arrived on the 4th of February. In the morning it had snowed about 6 inches. Her future husband broke the trail through the snow and she followed in his footsteps. They arrived at the Endowment House at 7am. And were married by Daniel H. Wells.
When the young couple left home they had $50 of their own. On arriving in Willard City they paid out $3.00 to get the horses shod. In William Henry Gibbs’ story we find written, “I had expected to buy me a new suit of clothes in Salt Lake City, for I had borrowed a coat. After we were married my wife said, ‘It would be nice if we could buy some things to keep house with. I agreed with her. Then she added, ‘when I get home I can spin wool on shares and get enough cloth for a suit for you and a dress for me and underwear for winter. So we agreed to it and we bought one table, four chairs, half dozen knives, half dozen spoons, three cups and saucers, half dozen plates, four tumblers, a bake skillet, a frying pan and a bucket. When we finished, my purse was empty.”
On returning home, a porch was built on John Duggan Gibb’s home and this was her first home. That year, a little log cabin was built, adobies were used for the chimney, and a fireplace was built on one end of the house. Nails being scarce, the window frames, the floor and other woodwork were put in place with wooden pegs. Letitia spent most of her time spinning wool on shares. She spun enough to make her husband a suit of clothes and a dress and underwear for herself. She also spun enough to pay for the weaving. The crickets and grasshoppers took most of the crop that year. This forced her husband to go to Willard City to find work. On the 23rd of January 1873, her first child, a son, was born. Thomas John Gibbs was the name given to him. He became very sick and on the 30th of May 1873 he passed away. The grief stricken parents laid their darling baby away. He was the third to be buried in the Portage Cemetery.
The crickets and grasshoppers took most of their crops again the same year. Once again, her husband was forced to make a living in some other way. This time, he cut cedar posts and sold them. At times he would haul wood to Corinne, Utah-35 miles away. He would earn $1.50 to $1.75 a day. On the 9th of January 1875, her second child, a boy, was born. He was strong and healthy and filled the home with joy and happiness. The name given to him was William Henry, Jr. Once again the grasshoppers and crickets took part of the crops. On the 26 December 1875 sorrow again came to their home. Her third child was born premature. He was given the name of Samuel Willard. He died 9 January 1876. On March 1, 1877 the fourth child was born. He was named Joseph Edward and grew to be a great comfort to his mother. Since there were no girls in the family, he helped his mother around the house. He was very willing to help and did his work well. When his mother would tell him what a good helper she had, his heart would swell with pride. About this time the old fireplace was removed and a stove was put in its place and other furniture were added to the home to make it more comfortable.
Letitia loved to cook and would fix dainty dishes for the family. Her bread and pastry was the very best. Her love for her husband and family made a home of happiness.
On 22 December 1878 her first daughter was born. Her name was Julia Ann. She was a lovely child. One day Julia fell from her high chair on the hot stove, burning one side of her face and hand. Everything was done to relieve her suffering. This burn left a scar on her face through life.
The family was getting too big for the little home, so it was decided to buy a farm on the outskirts of Portage. This farm had a four room house on it, so they were very comfortable in their new home. It also had buildings on the lot such as chicken coops, sheds and corrals. In the beginning of the year 1881, Letitia’s health was very poor. She was expecting another baby soon. One night the children had gone to bed, and her husband was away from home. She lay on the bed feeling very miserable and blue. Her sickness became so bad she could not sleep. A bright light appeared in her room. It encircled her bed and Heavenly Messengers appeared and administered to her. She felt their warm hands on her head and it entered her whole body. After this administration she went to sleep and was relieved from her suffering. When she awoke she felt refreshed and free from pain. On March 22, 1881 she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The little boy died and was laid beside his brothers. They named them Francis Duggan and Frances Letitia. Frances was a lovely child and filled the home of her parents with sunshine. It seemed that she tried to make up for the loss of her brother. Letitia worked hard helping her husband support and make the children happy.
The year 1884 was a very trying one, yet one that gave her much joy and happiness in her afterlife. On 26 January 1884, a son came to her home, her eighth child. They named him Charles Warren. On 1 May 1884 her husband was called to serve as a juror at Ogden, Utah. This took him away from home which left her alone with her small children. On 10 May 1884 her husband was called by President John Taylor to report to Salt Lake City on 30 May of that year to serve a mission to the Southern States in the United States. While in Salt Lake City, he met with George Q. Cannon and was given permission to remain home until he had harvested his fall crops. The summer passed rapidly, everyone busy trying to get everything in order for the husband to leave on his mission. The crops were good that year and the farm was leased for two years. The first part of October, she and her five children bid their husband and father farewell. The responsibility placed on Letitia was great. The farm was not paid for; she had her family to care for; food to provide for them, their schooling and all the responsibilities of life. She prayed, “Dear Lord, please give me the strength to be a good mother and a real missionary’s wife.
Her father’s and mother’s teaching, her pioneer life, her faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, her husband’s family all gave her the assurance that she, with their help, could and would be equal to any task that might come her way.
Letitia was not idle for a minute and she planned her work well. The children were very young and yet they seemed to feel the responsibility placed on their mother.
It was surprising, the help the children gave their mother all the time while their father was away. A large flock of chickens was raised by the mother and assisted by the children. The boys helped with the chores, feeding the horses, cows, caring for the pigs and anything else they could do to help. In the summer months the mother would take the boys, go to the canyon and get wood for the winter. The girls would take care of the home and the baby. Letitia sold eggs and surplus butter. In the fall she would sell the fat pigs that she didn’t need for meat. She would also sell the chickens that were not laying. In this way the little family was comfortable. The winter was also made profitable by Letitia for she gave room and board to the school teacher. So she was busy both winter and summer, early in the morning until late at night. With all her work, she did not neglect the religious training of the children. Each night and morning she would kneel in family prayer, giving thanks to her Heavenly Father for his blessings that day, and asking for the protection of her missionary husband. Letters of encouragement would be received from her husband. She, in turn, would send letters of cheer and all the happenings at home.
The people of Portage were very good to the family and helped them whenever they could. It is the custom of this little town to help one another and this custom has been handed from generation to generation.
On 2 March 1887, her missionary husband received an honorable release. On his arrival home, the home was cleared of all indebtedness.
Their 9th child arrived on 6 December 1887. They named the baby girl Amelia Naomi. Naomi was not a very healthy baby. She became so ill that they had to carry her around on a pillow but through careful care of her mother, she became well. On 6 February 1889, she gave birth to her 10th child, a girl named Margaret Rosella. She was a beautiful baby with dark blue eyes and a fair complexion. On 17 September 1890, another daughter was born, Martha Louisa. She was healthy and had a happy disposition and was loved by all her family. Her 12th child, a boy, was called James Hyrum. He was born on 5 September, 1892. His older brothers were very fond of him and he was their constant companion. Her 13th child, a daughter they named Matilda Priscilla, was born on 17 November 1894. She was the pride of the family, making home life cheerful by her happy smile she gave her parents, brothers and sisters. Although Letitia gave birth to a large family, she worked hard, and with her good management, they were able to build a large home in which to live and made the family comfortable. It was a real home. William and Letitia would gather their family together and spend many happy home evenings together.
A very interesting experience was related by Letitia. It happened on her 40th birthday. April 6, 1893. This was the date the Salt Lake temple was dedicated. She and her husband were present. As she sat with that great throng of people, she saw heavenly angels, and heard them singing songs of praise to their Lord for His Holy Temple. Her husband, sitting by her, saw and heard nothing except the people assembled in the room. It was revealed to her that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by the Mormons, was true, and that temple work, both for the living and the dead was true. It had to be done before they could enter into the Glory of their God. Letitia’s testimony of the Gospel was full of faith. She had seen the sick healed, her prayers had been answered, her eyes had seen heavenly beings, and she loved her fellow men. She always gave a helping hand to the poor. The widows and orphans were always given food and clothing. The hungry were never sent away from her door without being fed.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were always big days at Letitia’s home. One Thanksgiving she entertained all the widows and widowers in Portage. She served delicious meals which were enjoyed by all. Her children and grandchildren all looked forward to a Christmas at her home. Nothing was too good for them and nothing was left undone when Christmas came. Her pantry shelves would be filled with all the dainties of Christmas…cakes, pies and cookies, her bread box was filled with the best bread, pounds of homemade butter on the pantry shelf. Many varieties of jam, candies and nuts were placed in everyone’s reach. The children and grandchildren would be running up and down the stairs, from room to room, wrestling, fooling around and playing rough and otherwise. I often think back, and in bewilderment, wondered how she ever kept her sunny smile and never a cross word. She would take us all in her arms and loved and kissed us and tell us what good kiddies we were. A large Christmas tree was placed in one corner, so it would not be knocked down in our play. At night, beds would be made on the floor for the children. What a time we would have until grandfather would say, “Time for you to sleep.” Then all would be quiet for a while. Grandmother would say, “Oh William, let them play just a little longer.” Then, once again, the noise would start and Grandmother’s kisses always healed all the bumps and bruises. After we kids were given out in play (if you could call it such), we would all kneel down in prayer. Morning and evening prayers were strictly observed in her home. Then all was quiet until morning.
Grandmother’s bread was a little better, her butter a little sweeter, her jam and jellies just a little more tastier to her children and grandchildren. I think it was her sunny smile, her love for her children and grandchildren. When she made things for us she left a part of her love with her work, so that we might remember her life and understand more of that God-given gift of love.
Letitia was not only a mother to her own children but she took a little two year old Indian boy by the name of Lewis, in her home and gave him the same mother’s love as she did to her own children. Lewis lived in her home until he was fifteen years old.
Letitia was a member of the Portage Relief Society and she loved to work in it.
In the latter part of May, 1914 she passed away at her home she loved so well and worked so hard to make a home. Both young and old mourned her death. She was laid to rest in the Portage Cemetery.
A tribute to her memory was written by her daughter in law, Elizabeth Sarah (Zundel) Gibbs
Letitia John Gibbs, lived a noble life
Filled with deeds of love and kindness for all who knew her.
Her husband and children’s lives were made richer
By the example of faith, charity and love that she bestowed upon them.
May the memory of her
Whom we loved so well
Be, and abide with us forever.
A minute for meditation:
….Marble floors and gilded walls
Can never make a home,
But every home where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home, sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
By Henry van Dyke