George and Elizabeth Coleman

George and Elizabeth

Overview

          "George Coleman, son of George Simko Coleman and Sarah Wright, was born November 1, 1814, in Sherrington, Buckinghamshire, England. On October 11, 1834, he married Elizabeth Bailey. She was born October 17, 1816 in Onley, Buckinghamshire, England, daughter of John Bailey and Sarah Curtis.[1]
          George and Elizabeth were married in England and embraced the gospel in 1844. George bought and sold farm/dairy products and groceries. It became a thriving business and the family was prosperous. They were industrious, ambitious, and honest, and taught their children to follow in their footsteps."[1]

Branch President 

and Sharing the Gospel

          "George was made branch president of the Hemel Hempstead branch, which position he honorably filled for many years. A young man named Samuel Claridge delivered bread to George's store each morning and generally stopped to chat. George enjoyed talking about the church to which he belonged. Mr. Claridge became interested and soon embraced the gospel. He joined the Church and soon had a chance to leave for Utah." Claridge returned to England and served a mission for the Church.[1] After Claridge finished his mission, "George sent his oldest son Henry, then only 17 years old, to America with his friend Claridge."[1]

Their Sons in America

          "George and Elizabeth received word of Henry's safe arrival, but it was seven long years before they heard from him again. His parents worried about him and heard rumors from a missionary that he had been killed by Indians. Despite the rumors, George never lost faith that he would see his son again. Henry soon established himself in America and married Mary Jane Threlkeld on November 30, 1867.[1]
          About three years after they heard from Henry, they sent two more sons (William and Louis). They were in their early teens. Sailing was a new experience for them and they spent six weeks at sea. They arrived at the crossing of the Missouri River, full of hope and ready for any emergency.[1]
          Though mere boys in age, they were men in experience by that time. There they met a Brother Pratt, who offered William a job to drive a herd of cattle from there to Utah. William said he would be glad to do the job if he could take his younger brother with him. They were given the cattle to drive and were successful in reaching the Salt Lake Valley without major accidents or much trouble. This was another new experience for the boys, who had to walk every step of the way."[1]

Voyage to America

and The Trek West

          "In 1864, George and Elizabeth, their son Samuel, and their three daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Annie, set sail for America. The six-week ocean voyage was very hard for Elizabeth (mother), who was seasick most of the trip. For a time they were afraid she might not survive the voyage. After a kind fellow passenger gave her a glass of malt beer she was better for the rest of the voyage.[1]
          The trip across the plains was hard on the whole family, as they all walked most of the way. Even the children were not allowed to ride unless they were sick. In spite of their hardships, they arrived safely in the Salt Lake Valley."[1] They traveled in the William Hyde Company.[2] A fellow pioneer in their company, Mary Aveson, wrote, "While crossing the plains, one of the diversions was picking up buffalo chips. This task fell to the women and girls. We wore aprons and filled them with the chips. Once in awhile a few Indians would come into camp while we were eating and offer to barter trinkets for food.[3]
          "Most every evening we would have dancing and singing. Brother Careless kept the company in a jovial mood, as best he could under the circumstances, with his violin and community singing. ... During the singing and dancing tears of joy would run down the sunburned cheeks of many in the party.[3] James Sutton wrote, "After we were settled for the night and our small portion of food eaten, (we were on small rations long before reaching Salt Lake) we would dance and sing, have meeting and prayer before going to bed. 'Come, Come Ye Saints' sung whole heartedly by the whole company would give us fresh courage to face the next day's hardships."[4]
         Mary Aveson continued, "After a storm on the plains, we would trudge along the next day and lustily sing:

"We get a little wet

When we have a shower of rain.

The heat may skin our noses,

But they'll soon be well again.

And when we think of Zion's land,

We forget the wet and pain.

So gee-up, my lads, gee wo;

Push on my lands, heigh ho;

For there's none can lead a life

Like we merry Mormons do."[3]

         While crossing the plains at times we had a scarcity of food, but all were willing to share with each other until new supplies could be brought. ...[3]
         While crossing the plains another sad affliction came to the [Davis] family. Mrs. [Elizabeth Noyes Hope] Davis was taken seriously sick with cholera (dysentery) and died at three o'clock in the morning. What made matters still worse, Mr. Davis' little boy [Moroni] was sick with the same disease and the father [William Davis] little thought the child was so seriously ill. a short time later the son called to his father in a faint voice and asked, 'Daddy, I want some soup.' Brother Davis asked the child to wait until daylight and he would make him some soup. He was so bewildered by the death of his wife. Just as daylight came, he built a fire and made some soup. Taking it to the child, he said, 'Here, Benny, here is your soup.' It was too late. The child was dead. ...[3]
            They were laid, side by side, in one grave. The bodies were wrapped in a sheet and covered with a blanket. It was a sorrowful scene and many stout hearts were bedimmed with tears.[3]
            How often did they sing that beautiful hymn: "Think not when you gather to Zion your trials and troubles are through. ...[3]
            The Civil War was closing and some of the troops encountered by the emigrants on the way to the Outfitting Camps in Wyoming manifested bitterness toward our company of Saints. At one point they drove us through a river, with rain falling in torrents, which exposure caused much sickness and many deaths in the company.[3]
           Expostulating with the soldiers on their conduct, Elder Kay said to them: "If you have no respect for the living, will you not look with mercy on the sick and the dying, and consider the sacred dead?"[3]
           "If you say another word, I will rip you up, even if you were Jesus Christ, Himself!" one of the soldiers replied.[3]
           After reaching the point where Elder Kay was relieved of his command by the arrival of the Church teams from Salt Lake City, the devoted Elder took sick with mountain fever. He traveled on with the rest of us for a number of days and seemed to improve. On the evening of September 26, he stood in his tent door and sang as he tried to cheer up the hearts of his fellow pilgrams to Zion.[3]
           At 2:00 A.M. on the 27th day of September, 1864, Elder John M. Kay died suddenly and apparently without pain. He was buried at a point seven miles west of Little Laramie in what was the Territory of Colorado.[3]
           Elder Kay's death came as a distinct shock to the Latter-day Saint emigrants. It was many days before the Saints could whole-heartedly join in their community singing. He was beloved by all who knew him and had set a most worthy example of earnest devotion to the gospel and to the Church. ...[3]
           President John M. Kay was dearly loved by all the Saints in the company. He always strived to gladden the hearts of hundreds of homeless pioneers plodding their way over the barren plains and bleak mountains to the haven of their hopes in the West.[3]
           Altogether twenty of the company were buried on the plains.[3]
           No one but those who have walked our prairies for days and weeks, where water is so scarce that the creeks were reduced to little puddles of alkali water, can imagine the beauty and glory of a river. On the Sweetwater River we rested, washed our clothing, went in bathing, and had a real jollification.[3]
           Our last pull was through Parley's Canyon. Up at the top of the hill we got our first glimpse of Salt Lake City."[3]
           The Deseret News reported, "The last of this season's emigration has arrived, mostly in good health and fine spirits. Cap. Wm. Hyde's train, which reached the Public Square on the afternoon of the 26th ult; was unusually well provided for by the donations of the people through their Bishops. ...[5]
           Immediately on the arrival of the train, the brethren and sisters came forward with soup, beef, potatoes, pies, [and] sugar...to supply the wants of those who had just come in from their long and tedious journey across the plains. ...They also provided for the sick, and had them made comparatively comfortable in the 8th Ward School House. ...[5]
           This is the way the Latter-day Saints treat their poor brethren when they come here from distant nations, ignorant of our manners and customs, ignorant of our mode of procuring the necessities of life, and many of them ignorant of the language we speak. Can this be the result of fanaticism? or is it the fruit of that pure and undefiled religion of which the apostle speaks? We ask, can the Christian world show its equal? Our religion teaches this maxim 'By their fruits ye shall know them.'"[5]

Settling in Utah, 

Sealing, and Deaths

          The Colemans "were very happy to be reunited with their three sons, who were living in Midway, Utah. They all spent the first winter there. The next spring, in 1865, they moved to Holladay. There they established a comfortable home. At the age of 50, George Coleman received his endowment and was sealed to his wife Elizabeth Bailey in the Endowment House. In 1868, their son George Jr. joined them in Holladay. He was the last one to come from England. Two children, Charles and Joseph, never came to America.[1]

          George Coleman Sr. died June 15, 1888, in Holladay, Utah. Elizabeth died April 22, 1880, in Holladay, Utah." George and Elizabeth had 11 children.[1]

References 

1. George and Elizabeth (Bailey) Coleman. Retrieved from Our Family Heritage. Edited by Devin McFarlane.
2. William Hyde Company. Retrieved from LDS.org.
3. Aveson, M. A. R. (1986). A History of the Richard Rawlings Family: Ancestors—Descendants. Retrieved from LDS.org.
4. Sutton, J. T., Reminiscences, 2-4. Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved from LDS.org.
5. Home Items. (9 Nov 1864). Deseret News. Retrieved from LDS.org.