Westons Go West 5 - Ogden and Sad News

 June 15^th, 1873

5 Main Street

Ogden, Utah Territory,

USA

 

My darling Rachel,

Zion at last! This is proper America, Rachel, not like home. Thee have never seen such mountains! I do hope thee and Bert will consider coming here soon. We all do all miss you so.

Your father assures me that I will become less charmed with mountains, and yet he indulged me and rented a buggy that we might all go up into Ogden Canyon which is tall and narrow - there is barely room for the road next to the river - and we stopped for our picnic under a grand, long waterfall stagger-stepping down the opposite wall. We were well back from the spray, and yet the air was so cold! And nearly electric, Rachel - it made me giddy to feel it! The children loved playing in it.

We met the nicest couple on our outing – Fanny and Abie - Jews, if thee would believe. They have just married and are on their honeymoon, en route to a small mining town a bit south of Salt Lake City called Pioche. She said they feel even more like outsiders than we do – and she was so tickled that people called them “gentiles.” They are staying at the Lester House Hotel with the Cohens, who are probably the only other Jewish people in Ogden. Fanny and I have decided to write to each other, once they have moved on.

Ogden is being built as I write - even five years on after the railroad, half the town is still roofed in canvas, and the bustle in the streets is remarkable. And yet just outside of town there is nothing but open, empty land and the mountains soaring above.

You will think me quite silly, but this morning I woke early and walked clear away from town to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Everything is stronger and grander here, Rachel, even the very sun itself.

We have been given accommodation with a widow lady, Mrs. Elizabeth Crowe. Her husband was also in the shoe making business, and Samuel will be able to more or less take over his work space and clientelle. The Mormons do take very good care of us, but I am longing for us to be debt free and able to have a house of our own again.

All our love, my dearest from each and every one of us. Write soon.

 

Your loving Mother

 

*****

 

 

September 1, 1873

Ogden Utah

Mary waited until Simon came home from work to open the letter from England – the first they had received, although she and the children had written to Rachel several times since they arrived. She knew from the handwriting that this letter was not from Rachel, but from cousin Ann Weston, she who had so discouraged them from making the trip to Utah.

July 10^th, 1873

Butterworth

St. Margarets

Leicestershire

My dear Mary and Simon,

I am so sorry to be the bearer of such terrible news. Rachel died last night. She had had influenza and was in a low state, but I thought she would recover, and then she suddenly became much worse, and she died in my arms. Such a waste of a life. I assure you that my companion Mary Tailby and I did everything we could for her. She did ask me to tell you how much she loved you, and how she longed to see you again. Alas, that will not now happen in this world. I know you will feel guilty about having left on your trip only to find that this has now happened, but I don't think even if you had been here, you would have been able to keep her alive.

Please write to me occasionally, and let me know how you are getting on. Rachel let me read her letters from you, from the ship, and then when you had first arrived there in Ogden. That is how I knew as to where to post this letter to you.

The funeral will be at St Margaret's on Saturday next. I have let all the local relatives know, and her friend Albert, has said he will tell all her friends. She will be buried in the family grave with Naphi and Mary Isabella.

Love from Cousin Ann

Mary crumpled and the tears streamed down her face. Simon too, who had read the letter over her shoulder, was crying as he gathered her in his arms.

“It's God's punishment on us for leaving her behind,” said Mary.

“Don't even think like that,” said Simon. “God doesn't punish people for doing His will, and we both felt that we were doing it. We are not the sort of people who would force our near-grown daughter to take a path that she did not want.”

“Three months already she has been cold in her grave,” sobbed Mary. “And I was hoping we could get her and Bert to come here next spring. Now we'll never see her again.”

The children had gathered around to find out what the commotion was.

“Children, there is no easy way to say this. Thy sister, Rachel, has died in England, a few months ago now. Cousin Ann has written to tell us. She is with God now. We must think that it is what God wanted of her,” said Samuel.

“She was supposed to come here and play with me,” said little Ann. “Now she can't.” She started crying and her mother tried to console her.

The boys were looking confused and upset and trying hard not to cry. The eldest, Issac, said, “What did she die from, Father?”

“Cousin Ann says it was influenza. She was ill, but seemed to be getting better, but then just died. It sometimes takes people like that. She was buried in Sts Margaret's churchyard, by your brother and sister. Thee remember where that was. I'm sure Cousin Ann puts flowers on her grave every Sunday when she goes to church. And we must remember that she is now with God, who has chosen to take her from us to have her for himself.”

The whole of the Weston family were of very somber mood when the next day dawned, but life had to go on as usual. The younger children went to school  and Simon went to work as usual at the Workingmen's Association.

Mary settled down to write a reply to Cousin Ann.

 

September 2^nd, 1873

5 Main Street

Ogden, Utah Territory,

USA

Dear Cousin Ann,

Thank thee for thy letter which arrived yesterday. We were of course shocked and devastated with your news about Rachel, and I thank thee for thy care for her in her last hours. Simon tells me I must accept this as the will of God, and not punishment, but I am finding it very hard.

I will tell you a bit about how we are getting on.

Simon 's shoe business is up and running now, and with the boys help and that of a man who was assigned to him as an apprentice when we came here, Thomas Leek. He already had built up a group of customers – all Mormons of course. There is talk of there being a branch of the Zionist Commercial Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) coming here to Ogden, perhaps as early as next year, and Simon thinks that if his shoe business was part of that huge emporium, he would have no problem with succeeding.

We are sill living in the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Crowe, (pictured above)  whose husband was also in the shoe business, and he died last year. She says she is happy to share her house with us for as long as we wish it, but I want very much to have my own home again. We have three bedrooms and a sitting room to ourselves, but must share the kitchen space and I do the cooking and such for our family.

The younger children's school is run by Miss Mary Jane Dilworth, a Quakeress originally, and a very gentle lady whom I like very much. The older boys attend half days before they go to work, and are taught by Julian Moses, who is perhaps a bit rough and ready for my liking.

I will try to keep thee informed of our news at least a few times a year, and I hope thee will be able to tell me how things are progressing in Leicester. How do thee and Miss Tillby spend thy days?

Thanks again to thee for thy kind care of our daughter, and may the blessing of God be upon Thee.

Love

Cousin Mary