MY MOTHER'S PARENTS
BY
LOIS ELDER STEINER
JOHN AND JEMIMA TOPHAM DEWSNUP were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850. Two years later Hyrum was born. He was the youngest of seven children. They were the first of the Dewsnups to join the Church.
Hyrum's father held a responsible position on the Manchester Police force. As Hyrum grew to young boyhood, the love of the Gospel was instilled into his heart by his mother, his father being completely occupied with his work. On the days the Missionaries held their meetings, Jemima would wait until her husband left for work, then call Hyrum and they would walk 5 miles to the meeting place; then, afterwards, walk the 5 miles back home again.
When Hyrum was 11 years of age, he had a heavenly vision. One morning he did not come down for his breakfast and his mother became worried and went upstairs to see what was the matter. Upon reaching his room she found him lying in a trance, his eyes fixed and staring at the ceiling. Thinking he was dead she became frightened, turned, and ran down the stairs to summon help. She had no sooner reached the bottom of the stairway when she heard a loud commotion. Turning she saw him stumble and fall down the stairs to the first landing. He then motioned for his mother to bring him paper and pencil and began writing down the things he had seen in the vision. His mother hurriedly went out and found the missionaries and, while Hyrum dictated to them, they recorded his whole heavenly experience.
In the after years members of Hyrum's family held a meeting in the home of his daughter, Lois, who verified the above facts.
One of Hyrum's grandson's made a record of every word that was said. "A Heavenly Guide", the daughter said to those present, took Father on a guided tour through the heavenly Kingdom. The things he beheld were so beautiful and of such a marvelous nature that he was never again satisfied with the things of this earthly existence."
Hyrum's father was a good man and believed his son's story, and began making plans to emigrate to America. They sailed from Liverpool on the S.S. Seddons, on 27 Feb 1855. After three months they arrived in Philadelphia, PA. John took all the savings he had left after the long journey, and sent Jemima and the children across the plains to Utah, while he stayed and worked for the day when he could join his family--with money in his pocket to build a home for them in Zion.(1)
Hyrum, growing to manhood, was early compelled to rely upon himself and his own judgement for the exigencies of life, forcing him to take up his own maintenance at the early age of 12 years of age, and from that time on he was master of his own destiny. From 12 years to 17 he was in the employ of one man, a fact that speaks well of his integrity and faithful service.
When he was 17 years of age he got a job on the railroad. One night as he as sitting around a campfire with the men, in a burst of confidence, he told one of the men about his vision, a copy of which he always carried in his vest pocket. The man went right out and told the other men about the vision, and they began to make fun of him and taunt him with ridicule. In sudden anger Hyrum threw the copy into the flames and it was destroyed. It was said that the recorded words were immediately taken from his memory and he was never again able to write it down. But, previously, he had related the vision to many souls, and so the story has come down to posterity.
At the age of 21, he married my grandmother, Emily Mace, and established a home in Fillmore, later moving his family to Deseret, and was active in all kinds of hard labor and freighting operations until 1882 when he was called on a Mission to England.
We have in our possession, a little day-by-day diary which he kept up all the time he was on his mission. It is priceless! Here is one entry--dated 26 Nov 1882:
Sunday--After preparing ourselves, we partook of a good breakfast; thence, we walked to a small town called Anston, about 3 miles distant; met with a kind reception from a friend. Partook of a good dinner, and as there were several grown persons present, I thought it a good time to introduce the gospel. They seemed very interested in my remarks, and the Spirit of God illuminated my mind, so that I presented, through the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, the scriptures in their plainness, occupying all the time we had to spare--about an hour. They all said they had received more knowledge in the short time, than they had ever known. One man arose, and with tears in his eyes, said he knew I spoke the truth, for it had been spoken with the power of God. We promised to return in two weeks and hold meetings.
Perhaps--who knows? It may have been during this very night, after the household had all retired for the night, and Hyrum had finished his prayer to God, that he brushed a tear from his eye, took out his pen and turning to a clean, white page--recorded these inspirational words in his diary:
I GO TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
Deseret--my dear home--how I long to be there
With my ties and my kindred, their pleasures to share;
And mourn in their troubles when sorrow is known,
But, my heart it is with them, although far from home.
I've not strayed away to these European Isles,
For glittering gold for the pleasures of life,
But, to preach the glad tidings of Jesus so kind,
And comfort the poor, the halt, lame and blind.
I've no other desire but to help those to live
Who are poverty stricken, or wandering in sin.
To reclaim them from evil, of various kind,
And plant there instead, faith and hope combined.
To teach them true laws that govern this sphere,
That we may prepare, the Lord to revere,
And obey the first law acknowledged in Heaven-
The law of baptism; for salvation 'twas given.
To forsake all our sins, to live life anew;
To seek unto Jesus; to help us subdue.
Our passions of evil, that tend to create
Sorrow and misery, in mortal state,
And eternal destruction in the world to come.
For death is inevitable, we must've called home
To be received or rejected by Father and Son,
And be judged by the works upon earth we have done.
Then let us so live that the blessings of Heaven
Which was promised to earth, upon us may be given.
And when we've completed our Master's design,
Be welcomed in Heaven by Jesus so kind.
Where sickness and sorrow is known there no more.
Where all is contentment and life evermore--
Where we will be free from trouble and pain,
And in the Millennium with Jesus will reign.
Composed by my grandfather, Hyrum Dewsnup while on a Mission in England, 1882
After Hyrum Dewsnup returned from his mission, he married a second time. Missionaries, returning home from England, brought with them two sisters--Elizabeth and Anne Rotherham. Upon the Bishop's advice, Hyrum married Elizabeth and George A. Black married Ann. Hyrum and Elizabeth had seven children. Elizabeth died while giving birth to the last one.
My grandmother, Emily Mace Dewsnup, was a noble woman. At Elizabeth's death, she took all of the children and reared them as her own--making 16 children to love and care for. I have been told my aunts that they were all brought up as one family and did not know until they were grown, which ones belonged to the other family.
Shortly after this bereavement, Hyrum moved his family to Rexburg, ID, where he engaged in farming; and opened a mercantile establishment in that rapidly growing city of Rexburg. Here he acted as Justice of the Peace, to which office he was elected in 1900. In 1901, he was chosen Mayor--a position he held with high honor and dignity for four years. At the turn of the century he was chosen as a member of the City Council, and was a High Councilman in the Freemont Stake.
In 1906, Hyrum called friends and neighbors together and led them to Gridley, CA, where he helped to colonize Unit 4 of that newly found community. In Gridley, Hyrum and Emily owned and operated one of the leading hotels, as well as taking a prominent part in many civic activities in the city.
Hyrum passed away on the 11 Feb 1911; Emily, in 1927. Before Emily died, however, she left a letter for her grandchildren--written in her own handwriting.
Yes, Emily Mace Dewsnup was a noble mother in Zion--judge for yourselves in the following
letter:
GRANDMA DEWSNUP
TELLS HER OWN STORY
Pioneer Ancestor writes a letter to her Grandchildren
My father's name was Hyrum Mace. My mother's name was Elizabeth Armstrong. They were born in the state of New York, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints soon after the Church was organized. They went through the hardships and privations with the Saints. They knew the Prophet Joseph Smith well and often visited him. They saw the Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, after they were martyred. They were at the meeting when the mantle fell upon Brigham Young; knew he was the right one to lead the Saints. They were driven out of the beautiful city of Nauvoo; crossed the river and camped on the banks.
Oh, the hardships and trials of the Saints! They laid two of their babes to rest on that vast desert. They traveled across the plains and finally reached the great Salt Lake. They lived in the valley about two years when they were called by President Young to go down to Fillmore, Millard County and there help to build a State House. I was born in the little town of Fillmore in 1853. There the Saints suffered much. Times were terrible! The Saints very nearly starved to death. We lived on roots, Segos, and wild onions. We lived on black bread. I well remember the times we would cry for bread. Oh, if we could get a piece of white bread how happy we would be! But, it was not to be had. There were no stores nearer than 1000 miles away.
My father was a contractor and builder, and helped the Saints all he could to build and make homes for all that he could. We were all alike as far as this world's goods were concerned. No one had any money. I was dressed in blue denims, and went barefoot, until I was 12 or 13 years old. We held our dances and entertainments in the daytime as there were no lights in those times, and oh, how we would dance! The men wore buckskin trousers, and the women with just enough to cover their bodies. Our clothes were patched with all kinds of goods.
There were no schools at that time. My first book was a 5th Reader, and my last one was the same old 5th Reader. We had no chance for schools in those days, but we learned all we could from our parents, and as we got older we learned a little from observation. I was married in 1873 to Hyrum Dewsnup. He was born in Manchester, England. His people heard the Gospel in England and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and emigrated to the Valley of Fillmore City, Millard County, in early days.
I have born 12 children--six boys and six girls. We reared and took care of 16 children. I believe in large families. I advocate early marriages. I do not believe in race suicide. I believe in giving our children good educations, and in doing all we can for our children. I believe in doing all the good we can for our fellowman. Live and let live. Love the Lord with all our heart. Have charity. I pray that I may keep the faith. I am 71 years old.
By Emily Mace Dewsnup
Gridley, CA
Part of another letter she started:
The Saints suffered untold agony, and walked most of the way across the plains. They did not get into the Valley with the first company of Saints, as they had much sickness and buried two little ones on the desert. All those who were buried on the vast desert are lying in unknown graves. I well remember the days of hunger and hardship. I have gone out in our lot or back yard many times and dug Segos and wild onions, and have sat down on a rock and ate all I could to stop the hungry and faint feeling I had. We would pick greens of one sort or another and our mother would cook them for the family. Our food was sweet to us. The Lord made it that way.
(1) This whole paragraph is incorrect. Actually:
Joseph (Topham) DEWSNUP (1839-1908) emigrated on his own to the USA in 1855 on the "SS Siddons" which landed at Philadelphia. He with his wife Ann RITSON (whom he met on the "SS Siddons") and daughter returned to England in 1860.
Jemima and her children Ann, Phoebe, John and Hiram left England on the 28th April 1864 on the "Monarch of the Sea" and landed in New York on 3rd June 1864. The next report we have is Jemima, Ann, Phoebe and Hyrum (no John) arrive on 26th August 1864 in the Greater Salt Lake area on Capt. John R. Murdock's mule train from Wyoming Nebraska. Jemima's and the 4 children's expenses were paid by the Perpetual Emigration fund. George Finlinson was a fellow passenger on the "Monarch of the Sea" and he kept a daily diary of the trip to New York and then up the Hudson river to the Great Lakes, to Chicago and then to Wyoming, Nebraska. Since the passengers on this ship were LDS emigrants and the son of Hyrum Smith was the President of the ship's party, it can be surmised that they all traveled the route described by George Finlinson. In this case the family was nowhere near Philadelphia where Joseph had lived years before. John Dewsnup the father left England on the "Belle Wood" in 1865 and joined his wife Jemima in Fillmore/Deseret.
I have seen the ship's passenger lists, the entry for the arrival in SL and read George Finlinson diary to confirm the above events - Neil