Martha Ann Smuin McFarlane History by Betty McFarlane Sorenson
Martha
Ann Smuin McFarlane was born 8 August 1847 in Abbington, Berkshire, England. Her
parents were John Smuin and Jane Honey Smuin. She was the second child. The
first child, Harriet, died when four years old. There were thirteen children
born to the parents, but only four grew to maturity. They were Martha, John,
Jane, and Louise. When Martha was five years old, the family moved to London,
where they lived until they came to Utah. The parents and the grandparents,
William Smuin and wife, and several of their sons and daughters had been
baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as early as 1844,
and their greatest desire was to come to Zion.
They
were poor people and it was hard for them to save much from their scant
earnings. Martha went to work at a very young age, and found employment in the
home of a wealthy general of the British army. He was away from his home much
of the time. The officer’s baby, when a month old, was given into the care of
Martha. The graduate nurse remained in the home another month giving Martha
instructions on the care of the baby. The mother was very young and knew very
little about the care of children, or home keeping, but that was beautifully
taken care of by expert help, cook, butler, first, and second maids, so the
home life was very orderly and pleasant.
After
two years, a little girl was born. She too, was placed in Martha’s care. The
time came when she had saved enough money to pay her emigration to Utah. She
was the first of the family to leave for Utah. Her parents went with her to
Liverpool to see her on board ship. Two of her girl friends were going with her
and they were to travel in the care of Brother and Sister Andrews, who were
close friends of her parents. They had two young daughters, Angie, who in later
years became the wife of M. H. Walker, a Salt Lake banker, and Louie, who
married a young man by the name of Raymond, of Kaysville, Utah. Both have
passed on.
Martha’s
parents remained in Liverpool overnight, as the ship, or sailing vessel, did
not set sail till the next day. They spent a sleepless night, for they knew
there was a long, hard journey before their daughter. Still they were happy to
have her go and they expected to follow soon; yet the parting was hard. As soon
as it was daylight they went to the docks, hoping they would be permitted to go
on board the ship to see her once more, but found the ship had been released
from anchor and was moving out to sea. They could only wave farewell to her
from the dock.
The
company was presided over by Elder John Nicholson, with Joseph Rawlings, as
chaplain. It was in the early spring of 1866 that their great journey started
toward the promised land, which was to be their future home.
Martha
frequently told her children how rough the sea was, at times, during the long
voyage. Often, when their meal was prepared, the ship would give a lunge and
food would be scattered on the floor. And what a clatter; for the dishes were
all of tin. But they were a happy band of Saints. Only on one occasion were
they all in deep sadness. A little child had passed away, and after brief
services, the little body was wrapped in a blanket and lowered into the sea.
Every heart was sad and the parents broken-hearted. There was nothing they
could do, but accept the sorrow with humble hearts and pray to God for comfort.
The sailing vessel was six weeks in crossing
the ocean and to see and set their feet on land again made them happy once
more. They didn’t fully realize the long hard journey yet ahead of them when
crossing the plains.
They
were met at Florence, Nebraska, by teamsters and covered wagons drawn by oxen,
with provisions and food for the trip. Only the aged and little children could
find places to ride while all the men and young people had to walk all the way.
Their shoes were worn out long before the journey was over. They had to wrap
their feet in any kind of heavy cloth they could get. At night their feet were
often sore and bleeding from the thistles, rocks, and hot sand they had
traveled over in the long hours of the day. Camp was made by the wagons forming
a circle. After the evening meal, the Saints would gather for prayers, and they
would sing the songs of Zion; “Come, Come Ye Saints” was a favorite.
They had
a great deal of trouble with the Indians. Sometimes the teamsters would arise
in the morning to find part of their cattle had been driven off by the Indians,
although the guards were watching the animals all night. It required a great
deal of judgment and diplomacy to get their cattle back without a fight.
It was
during the pilgrimage that her life’s romance began. Because her shoes were worn
and thin, James McFarlane noticed her predicament. He was driving a yoke of
oxen, having been called on a mission to go to Florence, Nebraska, and bring a
load of freight to Zion. He invited her to ride on his wagon and a few years
later they were married.
Sometimes
it was hard to find water for the cattle and the people. They spent June, July,
August, and September on the plains and arrived in Salt Lake City about 1
October 1866, and made camp in the tithing yard, where the Hotel Utah now
stands.
Mother often
related an experience she had on the last day of the journey to the promised
land. Her shoes had worn out and her feet were raw and bleeding when thy made
camp the last night before entering the Salt Lake Valley, but she still had her
pride. So while the camp was asleep and as soon as the stores were opened, she
purchased a new pair of shoes and went back to meet the caravan as it moved
toward the city.
If the
Saints had relatives, or friends, in Utah, they were met by them and taken to
their homes until places and work could be arranged for them. Those who had no
one to meet them were placed in care of the Church Committee who helped them to
get located. Sometimes it would take a week, or so to get them all located. The
covered wagons still provided shelter for them.
Martha
was met by her cousin, Bishop George Smuin, and taken to his home in Mound
Fort, Ogden. Work was soon found for her in the home of Brother and Sister
Miles Jones, who lived on Canyon Road, and were members of the Ogden Third
Ward. The Jones’ had one child and were expecting the second. So very soon.
Martha found herself serving as housekeeper and nurse. She managed both very
well and gave perfect satisfaction to the family. She was quite young, having
spent her 18th birthday on the plains.
In the
spring of 1867, she went to the home of Bishop Chauncey West where she remained
until October 5th, when she was married to James McFarlane in the Endowment
House in Salt Lake City. Traveling in a wagon three days was the time taken in
making the trip to and from. There were six young people making the trip
together. They were George T. Odell, Florence Grant, James McFarlane, and
Martha Smuin. These young people were married October 5, 1867. The other
couple, Annie Odell Wright and Gilbert Wright, were married in Ogden some time
before, but had their endowments and were sealed the same day as the others.
They all
returned to Ogden to continue to make their home. James and Martha had their
home on Franklin Street (so named for Franklin D. Richards, a member of the
Council of the Twelve Apostles). Later it was named Lincoln Avenue.
Peter
McFarlane, father of James, owned a large piece of property and he gave James
one-half acre and there he made his home. Martha had received one dollar and a
half per week wages which she had saved for her wedding trousseau. She paid one
dollar a yard for white material for her dress and it took 12 yards. Thread was
twenty-five cents a spool. Later on she used the material to make window
curtains and the layette for her first baby.
She and
her husband loved music. He played the coronet in the Ogden City band and in
the orchestra which furnished music for the dances and entertainment in the
wards. They were both members of the Ogden Tabernacle Choir and the Third Ward’s
choir for many years. They were active members of the Ogden Third Ward. Winslow
Farr, Bernard White and James Wotherspoon were the bishops of the ward during
their residence there.
Her
husband, James, worked for the Union Pacific Railroad Company many years as
Baggage Master and Depot Master. Later, he was transferred to Salt Lake City,
where he held the same position until called to fill a mission to England. Ten
children were reared to man and womanhood, one child having died at age three.
Martha
continued active service in Relief Society and temple work in Salt Lake City
until her death 13 November 1913. March 13, 1980
From a history of Martha Ann Smuin - written
by Betty McFarlane Sorenson (on file with D. U. P. at Museum Library in Salt
Lake City.) She was 5’ 2” tall and weighed 105 pounds. She had dark brown hair,
blue eyes, shiny lips, and a pleasant personality.
