Alexander Spowart Izatt was born July 22, 1844 in the town of Dumfermline, a town in Fife about 19 miles across the Forth of Firth from Edinburgh.¹ His father, Andrew Izatt and Andrew’s older brother William, like generations preceding them, worked in the coal mines.

In 1840, when their father, Alexander Izatt, died, Andrew was only 19 years-old. The two were very close and William tried to look after his younger brother.²

Latter-day Saints missionaries come to Scotland

Orson Pratt came to Scotland on May 3, 1840 to supervise the missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He climbed Arthur’s Seat, an 822 foot rocky ridge over looking the city of Edinburgh. There, he offered a prayer and dedicated Scotland for the preaching of the gospel.³ The missionaries  began teaching everyone who would listen to them. The Church experienced amazing growth during its first decade in Scotland. It grew from zero branches in 1840, to 3291 members forming fifty-seven branches by 1851.⁴

Alexander was but a wee baby when the Izatt family heard the missionaries testify of Joseph Smith and the Restored Gospel. Like many others who worked the coal mines, they found spiritual, material and psychological hope in their message. It was not in the highlands of Scotland, but rather the coal mines, smokestacks and crowded alleys of the industrial heartland which echoed with the songs of Zion sung by the fast growing Latter-day Saint congregations.⁴

Opposition to the new religion also grew quickly and criticism was sometimes expressed in acts of violence. In 1842, Latter-day Saints were stoned in Kirkpatrick, mobbed in Busby and Joseph Smiths effigy was burned at the tollbooth in Clackmannanshire. A number of those who were investigating the church in 1844 were prevented from joining because their tyrannical employers threatened to dismiss persons who became Mormons.⁴ Nevertheless, one by one, the Izatt family entered the waters of baptism.

The missionaries baptized Alexander’s uncle William Izatt on February 27, 1845 and his uncle’s wife Grace in June the same year. They baptized his father and mother, Andrew and Ellen Spowart Izatt, respectively, on April 5, and  May 31, 1846. Andrew Izatt and his family were members of the Oakley Branch of the Edinburgh Conference.²

Alexander lost his mother when he was three

Andrew moved his family to Airdrie, Scotland about 25 miles east of Glasgow to be closer to the mine where he worked.² Shortly after their move, Ellen was carrying twins when complications developed. The twins died at birth and Ellen died shortly after on April 5, 1848. Andrew buried his wife along with babies, Thomas and Catherine.

The grieving family worked together to help each other. Alexander and his younger brother William stayed with their aunt Grace, while their father Andrew and uncle William worked in the mine.²

Ellen appeared to her young son Alexander after her death and sang his favorite song to him. This strengthened the boy’s faith in God.² Many years later, Alexander told his wife that the only thing he could remember about his mother was the song he used to sing to him. The words were, “Oh but you’re a long time a’ coming, but welcome when you come.”⁵

Tragedy in Airdrie

On July 23, 1850, Andrew got up early to get to the mine by 6 am. William also headed for the mine that morning but he was a few minutes late. Andrew entered the cage full of miners and promptly at 6 am, it began its descent into the mine. The cage left William standing at the edge of the pit.²

As the cage was descending the shaft broke and the cage fell.⁵ William distinctly heard the explosion. He knew his brother was in that cage. For nearly an half an hour he heard the groans and cries from the bottom of the pit. All of the men died. “I have had 30 years experience in the coal pits, and I never knew of such a fearful accident.” William said, “I was going down the pit myself, when the cage started, leaving me on the bank,”²

This terrible accident happened on the day after Alexander’s sixth birthday. Alexander’s brother William was four. They now had no father or mother. Alexander’s Uncle William and Aunt Grace tried to parent the two orphaned children, but they were struggling to raise six of their own. Therefore, another aunt, Jane Izatt Campbell, took in William.²

Alexander’s Uncle William Izatt and Aunt Grace Adamson Izatt took him in and were a very important part of his life.

“Little Sandy” and “Big Sandy”

Grace and William raised Alexander Spowart Izatt as though he was their own son. In 1851, the family still lived in Airdrie. The Scotland Census that year listed the parents, William and Grace, along with with their children Janet, Grace, Alexander, David, William, Jane, and their nephew Alexander.

Alexander was also the name of William and Grace’s third child. Therefore, Alexander Spowart often identified himself as Alexander S. or simply A. S. As a young boy in Scotland, however, they called him “Little Sandy”. He was one year younger and smaller than his cousin of the same name, who took on the title “Big Sandy”. They had a companion, Robert Rankin, and the three were inseparable.⁵

William struggled to feed the family. Alexander Spowart remembers being so hungry that he picked up pieces of bread that he found on the street and ate them.²

Working in the Coal Mine

An act of Parliament in 1606, ordained that “no person should fee, hire or conduce and salters, colliers or coal bearers without a written authority from the master whom they had last served”. This law virtually made coal miners slaves of the mine owners.⁶ All day in the mine, they rarely saw the light of day.

The Mines and Colliers Act of 1842 made some improvement for miners. It forbade all females and males under the age of 10 from working underground in the coal mines. However, boys may have started working outside the mine as early as age 8. At first they gave them easy tasks.

They assigned Big Sandy to care for the lunch pails and the pipes of the miners. The pipes were an attraction for him so he soon tried one. At first it was but a single draw, but then a second, and before long there was a pipe of his own among the collection.⁷

When Little Sandy turned ten he began to work in the mine. His task was to open and shut the trap door for the miners. This was quite difficult for the lad.⁸ At age twelve they were full fledged minors, digging coal with the adults.² They were then able to buy nice clothes for themselves and other things they needed. About this time his uncle and his family moved to Rutherglen, Lanarkshire about 4 miles south-east of Glasgow.⁸

Working in the mines took a severe toll on both of the boy’s health. They were malnourished and spent all day breathing coal dust in the damp mines.

Big Sandy became so ill that he was unable to work in the mines for a while. He had to use crutches in order to walk. He was eager to learn, so while recovering, he took the opportunity to attend night school. This was his only formal education.²

Little Sandy also became sick and developed many health problems. One day when he was very sick, he went out on the lawn and laid down to rest. “Two personages laid their hands on his head and blessed him. He did not see these men, but felt their hands on his head. From this time on he was never troubled with headaches.”⁸

Mysterious meetings in Glasgow

Big Sandy, Little Sandy and their friend Robert Rankin would travel each Sunday to a meeting in Glasgow.

Jane Angus, a curious 13-year-old lass, wondered about this. Her friend, Sarah Rankin was the sister of Robert. Jane asked Sarah, “Where do the boys go when they go into Glasgow?”

She would not tell her. “You know in those days they would not speak of Mormons”, Jane later wrote.⁵

Jane was from a very religious Presbyterian family. One day after reading a pamphlet, she said to her mother, “When I grow up, I am going to Zion!”

“What? What did you say?” her mother gasped, “Lassie, hold your tongue. I don’t ever want to hear you say that again”⁹

The three young men went into Glasgow on Sundays to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ from the missionaries and other members, or to share their beliefs in testimony meetings.² Jane’s friend Sarah thought it best to not tell her that they were going to join the Mormons.

Glasgow was church headquarters of Scotland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They held two meetings there every Sunday in a large beautiful hall.²

Elder Matthew Gardener baptized Big Sandy a member of the church in 1857. William Low baptized Little Sandy on June 4, 1858 at age 14. Missionaries, at that time, went to the River Clyde to perform the ordinance.²

James Buchannan Gallacher

James Gallacher married Janet Izatt, William and Grace’s oldest daughter, on December 30, 1859. We owe our gratitude to Gallacher for keeping a daily journal and preserving a few glimpses of history of the Izatt family in Scotland.

Gallacher was 30 years old when his first wife died on November 6, 1859. After her death he depended on his house servant, Bella, to take care of domestic affairs and his five children while he was at work at his bakery.

One afternoon he found Bella drunk and not attending to her duties. A couple of days later, he noticed articles of clothing and other things missing from the home. The owner of one of the pawn shops said a lady, as he described, pawned a coat that day. He procured the services of a policeman who found 15 pawn tickets on her possession.

James was so upset about the situation he immediately went to Rutherglen. He got a friend to accompany him. “We wakened Janet Izatt out of her bed. She came out and I told her my tale with a heart so full, like to break”, he wrote.¹⁰

Janet cheered him up and comforted him. She told him she would get her cousin Maggie to help keep his house until they could arrange the celebration of their marriage. Over the next few days, Gallacher baked a cake for the coming wedding, and Brother William Izatt gave him two pounds to help him get a suit of clothes.

James Gallacher then went to President Fox and asked if he would marry him and Janet. The President’s reaction was not what he expected. He wrote about it in his journal:

The mean devil stared at me and said surely I was very ill off for a woman when I could not wait two months. I told him nothing of that kind pervaded my bosom, and I just hope Sis Janet Izatt would not entertain that idea about me. Well he said he would marry us although he did not think it was the best thing he could advise me to do. My feelings got so warm at him I sat and wrote the following lines on him.10

James then proceeded to write a two page poem in his journal which left little doubt how he felt about President Fox. Nevertheless, his poetic verse was quite entertaining, especially if read with strong feeling and Scottish brogue. Relief of his feelings was captured in the last two lines of the poem: “I feel as satisfied now, as if I had given him a good drubbing with my fists.“¹⁰

In March, 1860, three months after the marriage, President Fox asked James if he “ailed anything at him”. He felt there was a “dryness” between them for he had been absenting himself from his presence. James explained to Fox that he could not help having hard feelings for him for telling him such a thing in the midst of his affliction and trouble, and he could not forget it. At this, Elder Sands gave a dry laugh which was not appreciated at all.

President Fox told him he only meant it as a joke and asked for his forgiveness. After thinking over their discussion, he felt better and believed that this enabled him to come away a much better and wiser man.¹⁰

The Izatts and the Gallachers became very close over the next two years. The Izatts helped James in his bakery, had supper together after church at his home, and sometimes stayed over night. The families sometimes attended the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. “Sleeping Beauty in the Woods” was the first time Janet Izatt Gallacher had been in a theater. In his journal, James always referred to William and Grace as my “father-in-law” and my “mother-in-law”.¹⁰

Jeanette Williamson

On October 4, 1861, Little Sandy attended the wedding of Will Williamson, another member of the church.  After they came back from the wedding, Jane Angus listened to and enjoyed the hymns they sang. However, she was puzzled and didn’t know what they meant when they spoke of “Latter-day Saints”.⁵

At the wedding, Alexander S. met 14 year-old Jeannette Williamson, the youngest sister of the groom. Seventeen-year-old Little Sandy soon fell in love with the young lass.⁵

New Year’s Eve was one of Scotland’s biggest celebrations. On January 1, 1862 the entire family was at the Gallacher home where Janet prepared for them a New Year’s breakfast. “The two Sandys, Robert Rankin and their lasses came home at 4 am after having danced their fill.”¹⁰ The unnamed lass who danced with Alexander S to welcome in the new year was undoubtedly young Jeanette Williamson.

Eyes toward Zion

It was now 1862, and Alexander S had not seen his younger brother William for almost seven years. In 1855, William moved with their aunt and uncle Jane Izatt Campbell and David Campbell with the rest of their family to America. They crossed the ocean in a small sailing ship the “Onward” from Liverpool to New Orleans. After nine “soul searching weeks at sea” they docked on June 2, glad to be alive.¹¹

The family then traveled up the Mississippi River to Belleville, Illinois, across the river from Saint Louis. There, David Campbell found work in the coal mines so they could prepare to cross the plains to Utah territory.¹²

Most converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland were from the coal mining and heavy industrial areas in the lowlands. This was the abode of Scotland’s working class. After 1851, the conversion rate and church membership in Scotland began dropping as many of its strongest members left for the land of Zion in the mountains of Utah.¹³

To many, the promise of Zion meant freedom! One convert, William Gibson, acknowledged that he was leaving Scotland in large measure because of the grinding poverty he faced and that he wanted a piece of soil that he could call his own, and to have no master but God.  When fellow miners criticized his choice he posed a challenging question: “Does your parson speak against oppression of your masters and in favor of the poor? No, they dare not for fear of losing their place and their salary but they tell you from the pulpit to be content with your lot.”⁴

I assume from this comment that the Latter-day Saint missionaries, who were not bound by the mine bosses, may have presented this argument.

James Gallacher wrote several times in his journal about his desire to go to Zion or “the Valley”. William and Grace Izatt certainly shared that desire.  William worried about the safety of his family. James wrote about this concern of his father-in law, William Izatt on November 16, 1861: “His mind is anxious about his sons as they are working in a very bad pit”¹⁰

The Perpetual Emigration Fund

Good news came to the Izatt family on March 24, 1862. A check from America for $10 worth of British money to assist them in going across the ocean, and to the starting point at Florence, Nebraska.¹⁰ Worthiness and poverty were the criteria for receiving money from Brigham Young’s Perpetual Emigration Fund. This plan helped the poor of the church in Europe immigrate to Utah. Recipients were expected to work after they got to Utah to pay back the fund so others could be helped in the future.

Departure on the Steamer Princes Royal to Liverpool

In April 1862, William Izatt sent his emigration schedule to Liverpool and began preparing for his exit to the valley. He took his nephew 17-year-old “wee Sandy” (Alexander Spowart Izatt). They would send for William’s wife, Grace, and their children, when they got established.

May 1. Gallacher described the departure in his journal: “My father-in-law and all his family came to Rutherglen, and I went down to the Steamer Princes Royal and saw the Saints going away. My father-in-law parted with his good old wife in our house and at parting they were both a little affected.”¹⁰

Manchester departure May 6, 1862

Alexander S and his Uncle William arrived at Liverpool and embarked on the ship Manchester for their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. There were 435 passengers aboard, 376 were Latter-day Saints lead by Elder John D. McAllister.

One of their fellow passengers described the scene on the ship. “It was a cheering sight to look upon the joyful countenances of the Saints radiant with happiness and bright anticipation, while they appeared to have a fair idea of the trying circumstances they would be called to pass through. Peace, unanimity, and goodwill prevailed among them, and the Spirit of God was richly enjoyed by them.”^14a

May 6, 1862, the Manchester left Liverpool about half past 5 in the evening and made fair headway.^14b

Two big storms

May 7-8. The weather became quite tempestuous and the winds created mountains of waves driving the ship first one way and then another. The poor sailors were working night and day trying to gain a little headway.^14b The ship was rolling very much and most of the Saints were laying all around like so many cattle, helpless and sick.^14c

William Hill described his fellow travelers during the storm thus: “Most of the passengers discovered that they owed Jonah a bill and he was demanding payment forthwith. As the Saints claim to be honest they were paying him with double interest but notwithstanding they were relieving the vessel of a considerable amount of ballast.”^14b

May 12-13. Another storm came on worse than the first. The captain ordered all the people below, all light shut off, and hatches fastened down. They were in darkness for the space of 40 hours. The waves washed over and entire the deck and it really seemed at times as though the ship would go down. However, notwithstanding the danger, they continued their daily meetings and our prayers and sang the songs of Zion.^14b

The stowaway

May 15. The weather has been calm for a couple of days. Someone heard some knocking and opened a trap door. A stowaway came up. He had been below deck for nine days and had only eaten a rat and eight potatoes.^14c

The birth of Henry John Trask Adamson

May 22. Again, there were strong head winds and heavy waves. The ship was not making much headway. Several folks were falling about. One sister received a severely hurt nose, mashed up. Sister Annie Adamson was in labor about six hours and was in convulsions part of the time. At 10 o’clock she went in convulsions again for about 2 hours. Then she went off in a quiet sleep. The doctor and Elder McCallister were with her during the time. She had a son.^14d

May 23. A very fine morning. Whales spouting not far from the ship. Sister Adamson is better and the child is well. The sister with hurt nose is better. The swelling is down considerably.^14d

May 28. After some marching and singing the captain made the following remarks. “Soldiers of Zion, not soldiers yet, but soldiers in embryo who will someday be soldiers. Be firm and steadfast.” Cheers came from the audience.^14c Someone then quipped, “Since we have been mustered as soldiers in embryo, it would follow that we are all mustard seeds.”

May 30. Arrived on Newfoundland Banks. Sea changed color from blue to green. Rather calm.^14c

May 31. Very cold. Sounding 65 fathoms deep.^14c

June 1. It was a nice, but very cold Sunday morning. Church meetings were held below as it was to cold to have meetings on deck. The officers of the ship were present in the meeting to hear Elder McCallister bless and name the new arrival Henry John Trask Adamson. They named him after the captain of the ship.^14d Captain Trask presented Peter and Ann Adamson, the parents, with a congratulatory letter, accompanied with a chart of the Atlantic, indicating the latitude and longitude in which the child was born.^14e

Icebergs off Newfoundland

 June 2. Head winds all day. The sea was too rough to serve out provisions. The captain, facing constant headwinds since the beginning of the trip, took the northern route. In consequence, they were into very high latitudes, (47.4 North). This is believed to be the highest latitude yet attained by the Manchester. The ship now was amongst icebergs. The nipping cold caused some to wonder what the folks in old England would say to a June day so cold.^14cde

June 3. The weather was cold and damp and inclined to be foggy. Eleven icebergs were sighted, some were the size of large mountains. This in itself was a grand and imposing spectacle, though not very pleasant company. The anxiety on the face of the captain divulged their frightful situation.^14cde

Among the Saints were two English sailors of note who asked to be allowed to help pilot the ship through the danger. They gave them permission. About the middle of the afternoon one of the brethren discovered an iceberg ahead of the ship. It was the largest yet seen. The fog was so thick they were almost on to it before they saw it. But by the blessings of the Lord, they passed it safely.^14cdef

June 4. The fog got worse! Horn blowing. Bells ringing. Two men were on the lookout and passengers ordered to keep silence so that signals might be heard.^14c The fog was so dense they could see but a very short distance away from the ship so the foghorns were blowing and the bells were ringing day and night. Finally, they got clear of the icebergs and the fog lifted and the winds abated some so that the sailors could handle the ship better.^14b

June 5. They were now off the Newfoundland banks and the sea calmed. The passengers gave thanks and praise to the officers and crew as well as the two Latter-day Saint English sailors.^14c

Historical note: Fifty years later, the RMS Titanic sank in the early morning hours of 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City.

Arrival in New York

June 10. A fine day. Wind fair. The Saints enjoyed themselves on deck. Whales were playing around them spouting up the water like great fountains, and showing all their backs.^14d

June 11. Land is in sight. Alexander S and William Izatt got their first view of America as the ship passed Shinnecock Lighthouse off Long Island New York at about 8 am.^14d

June 12. Head winds kept the ship beating about until land was again out of sight. The second mate ill-used a seaman for striking him. The seaman was tied up to the rigging by his thumbs. They took him down at the demand of the passengers.

The crew were very busy fixing things and preparing to land. In the evening a freshet sprung up enabling them to sail right into the harbor. They had a fine view of New Jersey and the narrows and entering New York harbor at sunset on a calm evening. All things seemed combined to make it a most beautiful site. One not easily described. They passed the quarantine officer and at 9 o’clock cast anchor opposite Castle Garden.^14cde

At the end of the voyage, William Hill, expressed gratitude, a feeling common to most of the Saints, for the safe journey across the Atlantic:

At the close of five weeks and three days on the waters with very little sickness aside from seasickness, we were permitted to once more set our feet on land, and that the land of Zion. So feeling in our hearts truly thankful to our Heavenly Father for His preserving care that has been over us.14b  (time on the waters corrected)

Castle Gardens, New York

June 13. Alexander and William Izatt secured their luggage and by noon they, along with the others, were comfortably quartered in Castle Gardens in New York City. William mailed letters to his home to tell of their safe arrival in New York.²

North to Buffalo

June 14.  At 5 p.m. the Saints who had crossed the ocean together went to the Hudson River  Station where they boarded the train along with quite a number from New York.^14d Their route to Florence, would zig zag across the country. The simple route through New Orleans and up Mississippi/Missouri Rivers, which had been traveled David and Jane Izatt Cambell and other earlier immigrants, was no longer an option. There was a Civil War now in progress. They took a train north to Albany.

June15. They arrived in Albany early and crossed the river on a ferry boat. They then went to the depot where they stayed the rest of the day.^14c

June 16. It was a nice cool morning. All were in good spirits. They boarded the 12:40 New York Central Railroad train for Buffalo. There was a great deal of crowding to get seats.^14cd

The Suspension Bridge

June 17. In the morning, their train passed some small waterfalls near Rochester, passed through Buffalo, and then crossed the Suspension Bridge over the Niagara River into Canada. As they crossed the bridge, they saw Niagara Falls in the distance.^14c

Note: The Niagara Railway International Suspension Bridge was the first railroad suspension bridge in the world. It was built in 1855, spanned 825 feet, and was quite an engineering marvel of the time. It usually was referred to simply as “The Suspension Bridge”.

On British ground

They were now on British ground again. In Canada they changed trains on to the Great Western Line for Windsor, Ontario which passed along the shore of Lake Ontario. It was very hot and close in the carriages. There was a general taking off of all needless clothing and some that was needful.^14c

June 18-19. The train pulled into Windsor at 7 o’clock on Wednesday morning. The Latter-day Saint travelers waited there until 9 o’clock then crossed the river by ferry boat to Detroit. At 2 p.m. they took a train on the Michigan Central Railroad 264 miles to Chicago and arrived on Thursday, the 19th at 4 p.m. They then boarded the train to Quincy, Illinois at 5 pm. on the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad.^14d

The baggage car fire

June 20. Animosity toward Mormons was still high in Illinois and Missouri. The engineer was enraged when he learned his train was carrying a load of them. “I would drive the Mormons to hell,” he swore, along with some additional abusive language. He drove the train at high speed “a mile a minute” toward Quincy.

Perhaps from friction, or sparks from the engine, one of the baggage cars caught fire. But instead of stopping and unloading the burning car, he had the other cars uncoupled. Then he drove at a high rate of speed for six miles causing the flames to gain complete control until he reached the station. There, the burning car was thrown from the track, in a mass of ruins.^14b,15

Meanwhile, the passengers, uncoupled from the engine, were unaware of the fire. They stood still in the night on the line for four hours.^14c Why had they stopped? No one knew. As they were talking together excitedly, they were not prepared for the engine coming rapidly toward them. No signal was given to warn them to brace themselves. When the train reconnected, there was a violent an unexpected concussion. Fortunately, no one was injured seriously.^14b,15

They were soon on their way again but with sorrowful hearts for no one in the company knew whether their luggage was in that car or not.^14b They arrived at Quincy at 4 o’clock pm. At half past 5 pm, they boarded the steamer “Blackhawk” and traveled down the Mississippi 22 miles to Hannibal, Missouri arriving at half past 6 o’clock and stayed on board all night.^14d

Through Missouri to St. Joseph

June 21. Saturday at 4 am the group of Saints started on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railway to St. Joseph. In Missouri, there were squads of Union soldiers at all the bridges to prevent the destruction by rebels. All were dirty ragged looking men.^14c Arrived at St. Joseph at 5 p.m. They found comfortable quarters in the freight house by the river.^14d

June 22. Alexander S and William Izatt and others in their company were in St. Joseph for three days. One member of the group complained that after waiting at the bakery for nine hours, he could only get half the bread he wanted, and that ham was 4c a pound, butter 10c a pound, and bacon 3c a pound. Their boat, the “Omaha” arrived during the night.^14c

June 23. Luggage was loaded onto the ship. The Civil War was going on, and they could hear guns firing down the river from St. Joseph.^14c

Up the Missouri River on the “Omaha”

June 24. The Omaha was about three stories high. A large group of New York Saints arrived and there were about 1000 on board. It was very crowded.^14c When all the passengers were finally on board and the ship was about to start, the crew struck for higher wages. John Orr Freckleton recounted his experience:

The captain, a heavy set man, with a loaded pistol in each hand came in sight. The deck hands were all together in the stern end of the boat. He spoke with a loud rough voice. “All you men who want to go up the river with the boat come here to me. And all who do not want to go, get ashore”. There was a movement among the men immediately. About one-half went to the captain and the rest went on shore and the boat started her journey.

The captain called our President McAllister and said he wanted half a dozen stout young men out of the company to help take the boat up the river. Brother McAllister called for volunteers and soon got them. I was one. My job was putting in wood to the fireman and I helped so well he got quite attached to me. We had a dollar a day and our ward.^14g

June 26. The steamship arrived at Florence, five miles north of Omaha, Nebraska at 9 pm. The weather was very hot and humid. One baby boy was born aboard the Omaha. The group of fresh pioneers were met at the landing by hundreds of Saints who greeted them with cheers and a warm shake of the hand.^14d

A delay at Winter Quarters

The Mormon Pioneer trail was now 15 years in operation and was quite well organized. Brigham Young sent teams, mostly ox teams, from Salt Lake to bring the immigrants back to Utah. A messenger on horseback sent a message that the teams were detained and would not arrive for three weeks due to considerable flooding of the rivers. Also, it would be some time before they could make the return trip as their cattle would have to rest and recuperate before their homeward journey.^14b

The captain of the Omaha steamship wished the same boys to go back down the river with the boat and bring up another load of emigrants from St. Joseph. Since they had time enough to go there and return before the trek across the plains began. They consented to go back with the boat.

John Orr Freckleton continues his story of the young men who helped on the riverboat.

After seeing my wife in a tent, I went with the other brethren back down the river. We had great hardships to endure on that trip, for the deck-hands were more numerous than we were, they ill-used, imposed upon and abused us in every way they could to get revenge for their partners whose places we took. Every annoyance they could heap upon us they did, and would have killed us if they durst. There was no one on board but the captain on our side, and he darst not say very much. But I had a friend in the fireman who made it a great deal easing for me than the other boys had it. When we got the Saints on board again at St. Joseph’s we were all right.^14g

A city of 300 tents

Back at the camp, they set up their canvas tents, the extra time they had was used to prepare for the trying journey ahead. All who could sew helped in making tents, wagon covers and other necessary things for the journey.^14f

There were about ten persons to each tent. The tents were placed from 16 to 20 feet apart each way. There were nearly three thousand Saints and about 300 tents. This formed quite a large tent city.

The “awfulest” storm ever

Occupants of each tent held prayers morning and night. On Sundays, general meetings were held where all assembled together. Food was handed out each morning from the commissary to the head of each family for the day,^14b 

A storm came up suddenly on the afternoon of July 7. William Priest described it as, “the awfulest storms that I ever saw, with thunder and lightening and rain and the wind blowed as though the very eliments was coming down.“¹⁶ (unedited)

Two men were struck by lightning and killed instantly.  John W. Young, was speaking with George Q. Cannon when lightning struck. Some wooden crates fell down on him. Young, a team leader, was severely injured. Cannon was not hurt. Many tents were blown down and, clothing and bedding soaked.^14df,17

Many in the camp were sick. Several children died of various causes including sunstroke, whooping cough, worm fever, canker, measles, and diarrhea. At least two men and one woman also died of sickness during these five weeks.^14d

Brother McCallister found names of those who could donate clothing to applicants that had their belongings burned in the fire. The train fire was investigated and the engineer was found at fault. It is believed victims were compensated about 30% of their loss.^14d,15

A family reunion

There was an exceeding joyful reunion in camp the day Alexander S, age 18, greeted his brother William Andrew Izatt, age 16. They had not seen each other for seven years.

William came with his aunt Jane Izatt Campbell, her husband David Campbell, their son William Campbell and their daughter Janey Campbell Kinghorn. They left Belleville, Illinois to join the trek to Utah. David Campbell and others of the family worked the coal mines in Illinois for preparing for this time. Some of their married children stayed in Illinois.¹¹

Campbell family history recorded that, “Eleven people had to sleep in the Campbell tent at night”.¹² Apparently, the family traveled close together, and the eleven family members in that tent were: William Izatt (50), Alexander Spowart Izatt (18), William Andrew Izatt (16), David Campbell (53), Jane Izatt Campbell (53), Jane (Janey) Capmbell Kinghorn (18), George Kinghorn (1 1/2), David Kinghorn (3 months). Jane Gillespie Adamson (46), Jane Adamson (16). The Adamsons are William Izatt’s wife’s sister-in-law and her daughter. They traveled with William and Alexander S all the way from Liverpool.²

Alexander S Izatt and his cousin Janey Kinghorn were the same age, 18-years-old. She had her two small children with her, George Kinghorn and David Kinghorn. Her husband was Alexander Kinghorn. Church leaders asked him to help prepare and drive for another wagon company. Therefore, Janey and her children traveled with her parents and the Izatts, while her husband traveled in a different company following eleven days behind.

The Ansil P. Harman team from Salt Lake City rolled into camp on July 22.^14d

Their trek begins August 1, 1862

The Harman company was the fourth train of the group to leave. The Harmon wagon train including the Izatts, Cambells, Kinghorns and the Adamsons, left on August 1. The wagon train consisted of about fifty wagons, with three or four yoke of cattle to a wagon. (This calculates to about 350 oxen in the company)

Everyone woke up to the sound of a horn blowing in the morning a little after day light. Provisions were rationed out to the families who cooked their own meals. After breakfast, they rolled up their tents, loaded them, and assembled for prayers. At noon they camped for rest and dinner, then on again till night. They traveled an average of about 15 miles per day. But, slower when traveling though sand near the sand hills, which was very hard on the oxen.^14g,16

The captain went ahead to select the camping places both for noon and for night, where grass, water and fire wood were most plentiful.^14g Wood, and water “fit to drink” were sometimes hard to find.¹⁶ William Priest recorded in his journal each day the number of miles they traveled, and rated the quality of the camp site by whether it had “Wood” or “No Wood”.

Bags of flour were picked up at certain locations along the trail, which were left by the teams that came from Salt Lake.^14g

They had a black-smith shop for repairing wagons and shoeing cattle and horses. There was a commissary wagon for provisions and a wagon for the night herders to sleeping in through the day. One wagon had to carry the baggage, tents and cooking utensils for 18 persons.

The wagons at night formed two semi-circles, leaving an opening at both ends where the cattle could be driven in, corralled and yoked up. The wagon tongues were all on the outside of this circle, as were the camp fires and tents of the immigrants.^14g

Everyone who could walk, had to walk

There were some sick, and women with small children, who had to ride. However, every man woman and child who were able to walk, had to walk.^14g

Janey Kinghorn and her mother Jane Campbell took turns. They each walked half the time and then rode in the wagon with the two small children half the time. David and William Campbell and the three Izatt men walked every step of the way.^2,18

After evening prayers there was personal time for bathing, cooking, fishing and sometimes dancing. Wild grapes, currents and plums were plentiful in some places along the Platt River. Some fishermen caught a few catfish. They also observed antelopes, wild geese, hawks and rattle snakes.¹⁶

The family’s food consisted almost entirely of flour and a little bacon. Janey Kinghorn and the other women would bake bread every night so they would have food the next day.¹⁸ Alexander S remembers there was usually food enough for only one meal a day.¹

The Harman train camped neared Chimney Rock on August 30. An Indian camp was across the river. A group of Indians came into camp the next morning and traveled with the pioneer train all day until evening camp was set up at 6 pm. These Indians were very civil to them, but hostile to their adversary, the Pawnee tribe.¹⁶

The Platt River was crossed three times between September 5th and the 8th. Women and young children were carried across in the wagons, but the men took of their pants and shoes and waded across. Very cold, and painful for bare feet.¹⁶

They passed Independence Rock and through Devils Gate on September 14.  The pioneers often heard wolves howling nearby.¹⁶

Alexander’s cousin’s baby George Kinghorn

There was much sickness, and 22 pioneers of the Harman company died along the way. Eighteen were children under the age of eight. The youngest was two days old, another was born two months ago on the “Omaha” steamship between St. Joseph Missouri and Florence, Nebraska. Some couples lost two children. Four adults ages between 25 and 57 also died.^14d

Eighteen-month-old George Kinghorn became seriously ill with an infection and blood poisoning in his foot. For several days the family didn’t know if the child would live through the day or the night. Everyday, Janey Kinghorn had someone tack a note to a tree where George’s father would find it. This was to keep him informed of the condition of his son, as he was traveling several days behind.

In an effort to heal little George, the family used some of their precious sour bread dough as a poultices, along with faith and prayer.

Alexander Kinghorn read the distressing news in a new note each day. Then, coming across a fresh grave, he feared that it was that of his son. With another note on another tree, he was relieved to learn that his son was recovering.¹⁸

Alexander’s greatest hardship

The young men of the company were appointed to dig the graves, and they buried the dead deep in the earth with due respect and reverence, where they would be left undisturbed.^14g One of those who were given this assignment was Alexander Spowart Izatt. It was one of his greatest hardships. One time, while digging a grave, he fell across it exhausted due to weakness and fatigue.⁵

Through the mountains of Utah

Nights in the mountains of Utah were cold and frosty. On the morning of September 30 they made a very steep climb to the summit, “and it was bad to get down the other side.”¹⁶

After a few more hills they could see the head of Echo Canyon. They camped for dinner at 11 am, and then onward at 1:30. Here it was “down, down, down, with splendid sights on either side of the canyon”.¹⁶

William Priest then expressed his opinion about the historical significance of this location:  “It was here where our brethren built their forts in ’57 and ’58 to stop the U. S. army, if they had been inclined to do so. Their position seemed to be very strong and to my view it would of been impossible for an army to get passed this place”.¹⁶ (Grammar edited)

On October 1, two wagons turned over into the creek. In one of the wagons, two children drowned.

Entering the valley

After traveling for twelve weeks, they finally got to the mouth of Emigration canyon. “We all thought it was the most pleasant sight that our eyes had ever beheld”. Salt Lake City was still very small in 1862. “From where we stood,” William Hill wrote, “we could have counted every house there was in the city.”^14b

It was Sunday morning October 5, and they were twelve miles from their goal. Captain McAllister felt it might not be good to travel into Salt Lake that day, it being the Sabbath. He was quickly overruled. William Priest described the feeling they felt as they entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake.

We were soon on our way down Emigration Canyon and when we came to the mouth of it, we were looking for the city. At last we could see a few small houses. Onward a little farther, the city came more in to view. At last, we could see the whole city, the desired spot we had had in our mind for so long. When near the city we halted until all were close up so as to enter the city all together. Forward onto the city at 4 pm. The city looked most beautiful when we were about 2 miles away. On our arrival into the city we camped on the public square. Distance 12 miles, total 1029. No Wood.¹⁶ (Grammar edited)

When they entered Salt Lake City, they were all black with dust, tired and foot sore. (Note: The public square where they camped their first night, is today (2021) the location of the City and County building.) The Saints welcomed them with an abundance of fruit and flour for all. It was now five months since Alexander Spowart Izatt and his uncle William left Scotland.

William Izatt was kindly received in Salt Lake by some old acquaintances and friends who provided him and his nephew Sandy work, 2 dollars a day and board for the two of them.¹⁰ William was a gate keeper and stone cuter for the Salt Lake Temple, while Alexander S worked as an assistant, learning a new trade.⁸

William wrote a letter home and told them that he and Alexander S were safe and comfortable. He is now anxious to get his wife and children across the sea and into “the valley”. He promised that he will have a home ready for them.¹⁰

To be continued…

Chapter E14- The Life Story of Alexander Spowart Izatt, Part 2- Seven Pathways to Zion Alexander Spowart Izatt greatly misses his sweetheart Janetta. She crosses America as Civil War intensifies. An obstacle blocks their romance. William Izatt’s wife in Scotland begins to act strangely. James Gallacher stops calling William Izatt “my father-in-law. Big Sandy and the Izatts cross the plains through a terrifying Indian uprising. Big Sandy meets Elizabeth Boyle and seeks romance along the journey. In Scotland a friend finally invites Jane Angus to church, which causes a problem. Jane fulfills a prophecy she made as a child. James and Janet Izatt Gallacher make the journey from Scotland to Utah in record time.

Summary Page 4- Alexander Spowart Izatt Family History

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, All rights reserved. The Chamberlain Story, 2021.

References:

1- Ellen Izatt Stoddard, A Brief Sketch of My Life. Personal family record

2- Marva Lawrence, History of William Izatt (1812) and Grace Adamson Izatt (1811) Familysearch.org, memories.

3- Wikipedia.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland

4- Frederick S. Buchanan, The Ebb and Flow of Mormonism in Scotland, https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/, BYU Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, Iss. 2 [1987]

5- Jane Angus Izatt, My Dear Children, A History of Our Coming to Utah, Familysearch.org.

6- Early Mining History, http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/8.html

7- Cyrus L. Clark (grandson), A History of Alexander Izatt (“Big Sandy”, son of William Izatt and Grace Adamson Izatt). Familysearch.org, memories.

8- Jeanette McNeil, A Sketch of the Life of Alexander Spowart Izatt, Familysearch.org.

9- Jane Angus Izatt, Pioneer Lady of Logan Tells story,  Familysearch.org.

10- James Gallacher, The Journal of James Buchannon Gallacher, Familysearch.org.

11- Grant Collard, grandson of David Kinghorn, The Izatt-Campbell-Kinghorn Conection, Izatt History, Familysearch.org.

12- Lola T. Wells, Life Story of Jane Izatt Campbell, From Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude. Familysearch.org.

13- BYU Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, Iss. 2 [1987], Art. 4

14- Saints by Sea, Latter-day Saint Immigration to America, The Manchester, May 6, 1862

a- A Compilation of General Voyage Notes
b- Autobiography of William H. Hill
c- Journal of John Henry Humphrey Barker
d- Journal of John Daniel Thompson McAllister
e- Letter from John Daniel Thompson McAllister- June 12, 1862
f- Autobiography of Louisa Harriett Mills Palmer
g- Reminiscences and Journal of John Orr Freckleton

15- Fred E. Woods, Two Sides of a River: Mormon Transmigration through Quincy, Illinois, and Hannibal Missouri. Page 131, (Memories of Georg Isom, 10-12, Church Archives.)

16- Priest, William, “A record of my life, 1828,” Church history Pioneer Database 1847-1868

17- Smith, William, (Autobiography), in “Utah Pioneer Biographies,” 44 vol., 2:185-86, Church history Pioneer Database 1847-1868

18- Life Story of Jane Campbell Kinghorn, Familysearch.org.

Thomas Chamberlain was murdered on May 11, 1709. The circumstances of this crime were unknown in the modern age until FamilySearch filmed the court records in 1972. More recently, the perpetrator was exposed and graphic details of this event revealed when introduced on the world wide web.¹ The killer was Israel Proctor.

Thomas Chamberlain III

Thomas Chamberlain III was born May 30, 1667 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He was the first son of Thomas born in 1639 and the first grandson of Thomas the immigrant who arrived in Virginia in 1635.² His mother was Sarah Proctor the daughter of Robert Proctor and Jane Hildreth.³

When Thomas was 8 years old, his father was stationed at the garrison in Groton, during the King Phillips Indian war, and served in Captain Joseph Sills expedition to Osipee and Pequawket in September, 1676.⁴

In September of 1691, Indians raided Dunstable. Thomas, his father, and brother Samuel, therefore, began rendering services in the garrison at Chelmsford to protect the town in 1692. Also that year, nearby communities were in turmoil due to the witch trials inflicted upon them. This nightmare affected many residents including members of the Chamberlain family.

Thomas married Elizabeth Heald  January 9, 1690 and they lived in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Their first child, John, was born on March 29,1692. Five more children, Joseph, Aaron, Moses, Gershom, and Sarah, soon followed.² 

Thomas Chamberlain’s Mill

Thomas was a wheelwright and a miller by occupation.  On March 10, 1699, he bought a 50 acre farm and a mill at “Baddacook” by Brown Loaf Hill in the town of Groton, Massachusetts²  Later events would one day make the Chamberlain mill location an historical landmark.

Thomas’ second wife

Elizabeth Chamberlain died at Groton on June 18, 1699, two of their children also died that year. Thomas’s children were all under the age of 8. Two months later on August 16, he married his second wife Abigail Nutting.

Over the next ten years Thomas and Abigail added seven more children to the clan, Elisabeth, Abigail, Thomas, Mary, Jane, Dorothy and Sarah.2,3

On May 11, 1709, there were ten children living in the Chamberlain home and Abigail was expecting another daughter. Sarah was born three months after the death of her father.

Israel Proctor

Israel Proctor was born April 29, 1668. He was the tenth child of his parents Robert Proctor and Jane Hildreth. In 1689, he married his first cousin, Margaret Hildreth. They had two children Lidiah in 1690, and Josiah in 1691⁵ Margaret died in 1693.⁶

Israel’s oldest sister, Sarah Proctor, was Thomas’ mother. Therefore, Israel was Thomas’ uncle. They were, however, about the same age. Though Israel was eleven months younger than Thomas, on the date of the crime both men were 41 years old.

Thomas was a husbandman for Israel at Chelmsford, apparently taking care of his farm at that location.¹ Many of the Chamberlain family still lived in Chelmsford. Thomas, however, moved to Groton more than ten years previous where he ran his mill.

Murder at Chamberlain Mill

It is believed the murder took place at the Chamberlain mill in Groton, though I have not been able to verify this information.⁷

It is hard to imagine the situation that would precipitate the events of May 11, 1709. A group of eight men were together that day, presumably at the mill. Samuel Barnes and Isaac Barnes testified that at the time they departed for home, there was peace among the two men. The other four men, John Read, Sam Chamberlain, Joseph Chamberlain and Timothy Adams were listed in the record as witnesses.⁸

In July, 1709 in the Court at Cambridge Massachusetts, the jury found that “Israel Proctor feloniously and willfully murdered the said Thomas Chamberlain”. This was done with several stabs or strokes of a bayonet or short sword to the body of Chamberlain, on or near the groin right side. The fatal stab “entering so far into the body of the said Thomas Chamberlain that he then and there died instantly of said wound or wounds”¹

The court record lists no motive for the brutal crime. However, they determined malice aforethought, a conscious intent to cause death before the crime, or an evil and depraved state of mind with no concern for the lives of others. “Israel Proctor… not having the fear of God before his eyes but being instigated by the devil and of his malice forethought”.¹

An unusual sentence

The court found Israel Proctor guilty of manslaughter. He was then tied to the gallows for one hour with a rope around his neck. They then took him down and sentenced him to receive thirty stripes upon his naked body, while being tied to a cart’s tail. The court also ordered him to pay compensation to widow Chamberlain for her support. Abigail Chamberlain, at the time, had eleven minor children.⁸

Israel Proctor died at Chelmsford on June 9, 1755. He was 87 years old.

Thomas Chamberlain’s estate

John Heald of Concord, brother of Thomas’ first wife Sarah, took inventory of the estate. He was appointed guardian to Thomas’ oldest son, John “a minor in ye 18th year of his age.”⁹

On June 30, 1713, after John reached his majority, the court settled his father’s estate. They allotted one third to the widow Abigail Chamberlain.  John inherited two thirds of his father’s mill, housing, stream, and lands in Groton. This was on the condition of paying to each of the other children 2 Pounds, 17 Shillings, and 6 2/3 pence, a value equivalent in 2021 of about $225 to each of his ten living siblings.

Paugus John Chamberlain

In 1725, John was among 47 men of Captain John Lovewell’s expedition to engage the Indians at their headquarters at Pigwacket. Chief Paugus had come from a distant tribe to lead the local Indians in attacks on nearby villages. At the battle at Lovewell’s Pond John Chamberlain distinguished himself with a face to face duel with the Indian Chief. John won the duel by a fraction of a second.

Lovewell’s men were out numbered and surrounded. The death of Paugus likely saved the majority of Lovewell’s men, because, after the duel, the Indian band fled the scene. John became an instant hero in Groton, Massachusetts where he became known as Paugus John Chamberlain.

His fame spread far and wide, but after many years, some questioned the story. The Chamberlain Story presents the facts in the case for John Chamberlain in The Legend of Paugus John Chamberlain

Chamberlain mill memorial rock

In the fall, the son of Paugus came looking for John Chamberlain in Groton to avenge the death of his father. A neighbor warned John about the possible attack. The showdown took place at the mill that John inherited from his father.

The mill was situated on Martin’s Pond Brook about 200 yards South of present day (2021) Highway 40 and east of Brown Loaf. In 1883, the location was near School House 9 near the confluence of  Martin’s Pond Brook and a small stream called Paugus Brook.¹⁰

In 1951, the City of Groton engraved a rock to point out the historical site of the Chamberlain mill. The memorial is in a grove of trees south of Hwy 40, and west Lost Lake Road. Today (2021) there is also a Chamberlain’s Mill Lane which enters on to School House Road. This is north of Hwy 40. Brown Loaf Hill is south of Highway 40 near this location, which is about one mile east of Groton town center.

Court record of the trial of Israel Proctor

FamilySearch photographed and recorded this record in 1972. More recently, someone found it and placed it on the internet.¹

Translation into modern English

Middlesex Se: At court of Assize and General goal. Delivery holden at Cambridge for the County the last Tuesday of July 1709.

The Jurors of our Sovereign Lady, the Queen upon their oaths of present Israel Procter of Chelmsford, within the County of Middlesex, husbandman for that said Israel Proctor at Chelmsford, afore said on the eleventh day of May last, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being instigated by the Devil and of his malice aforethought with force and arms, and against the peace, an assault made on the body of Thomas Chamberlain of Groton afore said miller. Then in the peace of God of the Queen, being and with a bayonet or short sword of the value of five shillings, he the said Israel Proctor feloniously made several mortal stabs or strokes on the body of the said Tho. Chamberlain, viz. on or near the groin, ye right side, the bayonet or short sword entering so far into the body of the said Thomas Chamberlain that he then and there instantly died of the said wound or wounds, and so the Jurors, afore said say that the afore said Israel Proctor feloniously and willfully murdered the said Thomas Chamberlain against the peace of our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity and the law.¹

Witnesses: John Read, Sam Chamberlain, Joseph Chamberlain, Timothy Adams.  Abraham Durant Governor.¹

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, All rights reserved. The Chamberlain Story, 2021.

References:

1- FamilySearch, Suffolk County Court: File #7783, (Family Search)

2-George W. Chamberlain, One Branch of the Descendants of Thomas Chamberlain of Woburn, Worcester Mass, 1897

3-Chamberlain Family-The First Six Generations, http://www.babcockancestry.com/

4- William Hubbard, Indian Wars in New England, Roxbury, Mass, MDCCCXV.

5- A genealogy of descendants of Robert Proctor of Concord and Chelmsford, Mass., Robert Proctor (p.5), Israel Proctor (p.8)

6- Familysearch.org

7- Thomas of Woburn, Third Generation by David C. Chamberlain, www.chamberlain.society.org

8- Steve Dow, My New England Ancestors, The Murder of Thomas Chamberlain, 3-11-2018, Court Record #7713 (warrant for holding Proctor in jail), #25013 (bill of constable Jonathan Hill of Chelmsford, who arrested and delivered Proctor), #27946 (Barnes testimony),  #28051 (testimony on a piece of neckcloth) Superior Court of Judicature, 1700-1714 (film 945843): pages 239-240 (Family Search)

9- George W. Chamberlain, B. S., John Chamberlain, the Indian Fighter at Pigwacket, Reprint from Quarterly of the Maine Historical Society, Jan., 1898.

10- Samuel A. Green, M. D., Groton During the Indian Wars, Groton Mass., 1883

I was born in 1942 during the war. My dad and mother desperately wanted our family to be together that year for Christmas. If we are still together in December, dad promised, it will be our best Christmas ever.

My father, Lt. Ernest M. Chamberlain, left for Fort Lewis, Washington on December 31, 1941. My mother, Agnes Fay Barney Chamberlain, and my brother Martin moved in to her parent’s home in Salt Lake City. Dennis Chamberlain (aka me) became part of the Chamberlain family in March.

Ernest and Fay Chamberlain wrote to each other almost every day during World War 2. Fay saved every personal letter and card she ever received. She therefore preserved the story of our family during the war.

The World in March 1942

The world was not a very inviting place in March 1942. Nevertheless, I had been invited and was on my way. Gratefully, my destination was the USA, and to loving parents Ernest and Fay Chamberlain, and to the peaceful home of my grandparents, Archie and Livonia Barney.

In March 1942 the world was a mess and our freedom was in serious peril. The Imperial Empire of Japan scored a major victory in the naval battle of Java Sea, and they were well on their way to occupy all of Dutch East India, (Indonesia). They surrounded the Philippines. General Douglass MacArthur narrowly escaped with his family and staff. In Australia he declared, “I shall return.”

A German submarine near Cuba torpedoed and sank the USS Texan an American Cargo Ship. At Riga, in Nazi occupied Latvia, 3740 men, women and children (Jews, Gypsies and those who opposed the occupation) were taken into the nearby woods and shot.¹

This was the state of the world when I arrived.

March 16, 1942

On the morning of March 16, 1942 Fay Chamberlain opened the trap door in the bathroom floor and dumped the laundry through the hole. It fell into a basket on the floor in the basement. “At nine am”, she wrote in a letter to her husband, “the pains started and were every ten minutes apart. I went down and did the washing without telling anyone about them.“²

The washing machine hummed a soothing rhythm as the clothing swished back and forth. She took the clothes out of the water, placed them piece by piece through the ringer, then pinned them on the line to dry.

In her letter she continued: “By 11:00 the pains were quite hard and I decided I might as well tell them and get it over with.” Fay did not like to be the center of attention, especially during times of distress. Therefore, she always understated her pain and discomfort. “The pain got pretty good and I called the Doctor. He said ‘Go to the hospital Immediately!”²

Her pains were now 4 minutes apart.

Her father, Archie Barney, came home from work and got her and Livonia and they where on their way. There was one minor detour. Fay had to stop at the Bank in downtown Salt Lake to get money to pay the hospital. “So Dad took me to the bank to get the money. Wasn’t I crazy? I could have had it on Main Street! I hadn’t told them how hard they were and Mom and Dad figured there was plenty of time. We got to the hospital at 2:30”²

Archie and Livonia were unaware they were carrying a ticking time bomb. Fay preferred they were not present for the main event. So she told them everything was fine and sent them into town to run their errands. “Just as they left the room the water broke.” She called the nurse at 3:10 and at 3:15 she was in the delivery room.²

I arrived on the scene at 4:02 pm.

“Mom was sure mad when she got back… She was happy it was over but mad at me for sending her away.” Fay wrote to Ernest.

Archie wrote in his journal with a hint of disgust: “Fay told us to take our time not hurry. The baby boy was born between 3:30 and 4:00 pm while Livonia and I were at Z.C.M.I.”³

Our first family reunion, May 1, 1942

Ernest was lonely, especially on weekends. He wished Fay was there so he could take her to the occasional big dance party in town for the officers.

On April 8 Fay wrote: “I’m getting anxious and excited about coming up now. I am frightened every time the phone rings and it is for Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain. I’m afraid you are calling to say good bye. I don’t think I could stand it if I didn’t get to see you, and have you see your sons before they grow up too much.”⁴

Ernest wrote on April 12: “Let’s throw caution to the winds… If we gamble and I see you for but a moment, no money was ever spent better.”⁵

Ernest found a vacancy at the Holly Auto Court on the main highway about two miles east of Olympia Washington. Our plane left Salt Lake City on May 1 and we met Dad at the Seattle airport. It was wonderful to be together for the first time as a family of four.

Long Days for Fay

After three weeks together, Ernest had to leave Fay and us boys in the motor court. Three days later, Fay wrote:

“These have been the longest three days. I don’t know what the next two weeks will be like. Maybe if the sun would shine it would help, huh?”⁶

She complained that It rains whenever she puts the clothes on the line and soaks them.

Finally, Ernest returned on about June 15th. They were happy to be together for their fourth wedding anniversary on June 29.

However, Ernest soon received orders to take a Communications Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The course was TD (temporary duty) and would terminate in about three months. Upon completion he would return to Fort Lewis, Washington.⁷

Our family left Washington and we arrived in Salt Lake City at Fay’s parent’s home about August 24th.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma August 29, 1942

Ernest left us behind in Salt Lake with great hopes to get together soon. His train arrived at Fort Sill on August 29. He studied hard on his classes which included electricity, map reading, telephone, radio and secret codes and Morse Code.⁸

He missed his family and was counting the days until they would be together again. However, Martin needed to have his to tonsils out in Salt Lake. Also, Ernest wanted to buy their first car. This would solve some problems, but cash would be tight for a while.⁸

Big plans for Christmas

Fay was excited about the car and wanted to see pictures and know more about it. Hopefully, she could meet Ernest in Oklahoma, and at least come back with him. “When am I coming to see you?” she wrote. However, this dream was fading. The car down payment, insurance and $50 monthly payments, caused them to reconsider their plans to get together at Fort Sill.

“The money alone is not important, Ernest wrote, but the fact that to get to Fort Lewis will probably take all or more than we can save up and after we get there it will be December. I want this Christmas, if we are still able to be together, the best we have ever had”.⁸

The big day finally arrived and on Friday November 20, Ernest graduated from the army Communications Course. The next morning he went to the ration board to get a little extra gas and bade goodbye to old Fort Sill. He arrived in Salt Lake City about November 23.

Preparing for Christmas in Olympia, Washington

After their brief visit in Salt Lake, they loaded Fay’s sewing machine and supplies into the car. She was an excellent seamstress and liked to modify her own clothes and planned to make Christmas clothes for the children. She was delighted the family was together and that she would have something she enjoyed doing when Ernest was away.

When they arrived in Olympia, they found a motel along the highway near Fort Lewis. They decorated it and fixed it up. Fay was happy about her new home and sewing set up. Ernest was excited about Christmas. It was now only a few weeks away.

On Tuesday, December 8, Fay drove Ernest to Fort Lewis.  He wanted to be sure she learned the route so she could get back to the motel. Ernest watched as Fay, Martin and Dennis traveled two blocks and turned onto the highway.⁹

Ernest then walked up the stairs to headquarters, but found the building vacant except for two enlisted men. They told him his unit was training at the firing range in Yakima, Washington on the other side of the mountain.⁹ “Get on the kitchen truck, it is leaving in a few minutes!”¹⁰

He had told Fay he would be back for dinner, but instead he was now heading for the firing range in Yakama.⁹ 

It gets worse

Early the next morning Ernest was at a train station in Billings Montana frantically writing to Fay.  He knew she would be upset. He had to explain to her his incredible experiences of the last 24 hours, and why he didn’t call her sooner.

“Here is my story”, he wrote at 3 am, “I haven’t really had any sleep since I last saw you”.¹¹

He told her he had to leave for Yakima, “We finally managed to leave at 9:20 am”.

The trip should take about four hours. However, due to heavy rain and snow and an over turned gasoline trailer, the 180-mile trip around Mt. Rainier took 12 hours. They arrived at 9:30 pm.¹¹

When Ernest got to Yakima, he walked into the adjutant’s tent to report in. The adjutant looked at him and said, “Aren’t you at Fort Sill?”¹¹

Obviously, he was not.

“I just came from Fort Sill. I finished my course there and returned to my permanent station”, Ernest replied.^10,11

“We sent your orders to Fort Sill, didn’t you get our telegram?” They told Ernest that he is supposed to take another three month course at Fort Sill since he is already there. “School starts tomorrow morning, December 9, the soonest you can possibly get there is the 10th. You need to be on the next train to Fort Sill!”¹¹

Poor Ernest was a day late and $60.00 dollars short, for he had no money to buy his train ticket. When they got to the train station, Union Pacific had just left. Northern Pacific took a longer route, but now would arrive sooner. “Finally, miracle of miracles, I found a fellow that would take my check for $60.00.” he wrote. He then bought his ticket on NP.¹¹

What else can go wrong?

Ernest felt sick. It would have been just as easy to make the trip with the family back to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma as it was to go to Ft. Lewis, Washington.

Suddenly it dawned on Ernest that it was after 10 o’clock and Fay was waiting for him back in the motel in Olympia. And now, he was about to board a train for Oklahoma. Not only that, he didn’t know the phone number of the motel!^10,11

He looked through the phone directory. There was no listing for Hi Way Motor Court or the manager’s name Rowe. In desperation Ernest called the Switchboard in Olympia Washington. At that time, live operators conducted all telephone service. The operator was very patient and accommodating and connected him with the Highway Patrol. They read Ernest the long list of motels found between Fort Lewis and Olympia. None of them sounded familiar.^10,12

Ernest got the same operator back and she graciously began calling each of the motels along the highway to see if they had a Mrs. Chamberlain registered there. Finally, one manager told her that the Hi Way Motor Court might be listed under the name “Gibson”. And it was. They recently changed the name.^10,11

He called the number and the manager, Mr. Rowe answered. He confirmed that Mrs. Chamberlain was indeed registered there.^10,11

Where is Fay?

Ernest told Mr. Rowe he needed to talk to Mrs. Chamberlain. So, Mr. Rowe went and knocked on the door. He came back to the phone and told Ernest: “Mrs. Chamberlain is not home. The car is there, but the newspaper has not been taken in.“¹¹

Ernest said: “Please give her a message as soon as you see her. Tell her I am on my way to Fort Sill and won’t return.” He then rushed off to catch the train.¹⁰

As he boarded the train his mind was whirling. “Where is Fay?” He worried about all the possibilities. “Had she gotten back from the post OK? Was he sure her car was there? If that was our car, why wasn’t she home?”¹¹

Billings Montana, December 9, 1942

The Northern Pacific train pulled in to Billings Montana at about 3 am. It was over one hour behind schedule, so he missed his connection with the train to Kansas City. The next train would not leave for seven hours.¹¹

He immediately started writing to Fay. He wrote a quick note on a post card and mailed it before the morning pick-up. The post card note read:

Dearest Fay – I certainly have felt punk today worrying about you and thinking of how I messed up X-mas. Write me by airmail what you plan to do. Will send you complete letter soon as possible. Love, Ernest.13

He then composed a six page letter with the woeful details of his day. Since he missed the connection to Kansas City, he boarded the next train to Lincoln, Nebraska. The train finally left Billings, Montana and chugged its way to Lincoln where he missed his connection again.¹⁴

Abandoned at Hi Way Motor Court

The manger told Fay the message from Ernest the next morning. Last night she was exhausted and didn’t wake up when the manger knocked on the door. The paper on the porch was some free advertisements which she ignored.¹²

When she got the message she felt angry and abandoned. “I don’t know whether I’m more homesick, lonesome or plain scared, but the combination leaves my quite ill”, she wrote in her letter to Ernest.¹⁵

Fay spent that afternoon at the rationing board to see if she can get gas. And tomorrow she had to go to the fort to get authorization from some Colonel. “I’m using up all my gas trying to get more gas. If I do get the gas how will I get home?¹⁵

Fay had very little driving experience and driving alone with two small children was not an option.

Her mind was full of questions: How much money is in the checking account? Should she stay here? or go to Salt Lake? or go to Fort Sill? And how would she get there? Should she take a train and store the car in Washington? Would Ernest ever return to Fort Lewis?¹⁵

Fay was much happier the next day after she received the post card. She wrote on December 11: “Dearest Ernest. Hello again. How did you like the scorcher you received previous? I hope this one will not be quite as bad. Anyway I was happy to receive your card and am looking forward to the letter. Hope it is soon.”¹⁵

Dean Barney to the rescue, December 14, 1942

Fay called her folks in Salt Lake City. The long-distance call was $3.00 (about $44 in 2020). “Isn’t that terrible”, she wrote. However, she was pleasantly surprised that her call went through so quickly. It took only 45 minutes.¹⁵

She told her family her sad story and her seventeen-year-old brother Dean Barney said, “I will come up.”¹⁰

Fay, Martin and Dennis were soon on their way back to the home of Archie and Livonia Barney.

Ernest back at Fort Sill

Plans can change fast when there is a war going on and you are in the service of your country. Only three weeks ago Ernest was leaving this post and well on his way to filling his dream of “our best Christmas ever”. Now he is back at Fort Sill.

By December 16, Ernest was at his wits end and mad at the world. This was the day he received Fay’s self described “scorcher.” He flunked his first test that day, but he was especially frustrated with the many futile attempts and hours he had spent trying to contact Fay. Also, the mail back and forth took so long that the situation would change. For example, by the time Ernest was upset and responding to her letter of December 10, Fay was at home in Salt Lake and the crisis was over.

Later that day he wrote Fay another letter. “Sorry I sent the last letter” he said. “I was just trying so hard to be able to be with you and the boys for Christmas.” He was especially counting on watching Martin open his presents on Christmas morning.¹⁴

Fay was also very disappointed that their plans for Christmas didn’t work out:  “Every time I think of how we all have to be separated, I just wilt inside. We try so hard to be together and have what family life we can. Dennis was just beginning again to love his Dad and Martin misses you so much”.¹⁵

Ernest and Fay made urgent plans to get together at Fort Sill after the first of the year. Rumors abound, and the latest was that they would be sent overseas for the Spring 1943 offensive before Ernest even finished the course.

Christmas day December 25, 1942

While disappointed they were not together for Christmas, they also recognized their blessings. “I am happy knowing you are at least near and not “over there”, Fay wrote.¹⁵

Fay, Martin and Dennis spent a wonderful Christmas with Granddad and Grandma Barney. While Ernest went to a movie, “The Black Swan”, one which they had hoped to see together.

On Christmas Eve, Ernest wrote to Fay the following note expressing gratitude and hope for the future:

Here I am really not so far away, and above all whether I am far or near I have been granted the privilege of having three beautiful hearts tucked away safely in my bosom. And soon, God granting, I can have them all so very near to me. When the war is all over and Christmas comes around again that star on top the tree will really look like the Star of Bethlehem and truly shine out ‘Peace on earth, good will to men’. Then we can make up for what we miss now.- Love Ernest, December 24, 1942.¹⁴

Three years later

That star of hope will finally shine on the Chamberlain Christmas tree three years later. On that  magical night in 1945, Martin and I were sure we heard reindeer on the roof and couldn’t wait for morning. The war was over. Dad came home and the family is now together.

I still remember this year as our best Christmas ever.

The rest of the story….

Read the full story of Ernest and Fay Chamberlain in 1942. Chapter 29- Ernest and Fay Chamberlain During WWII 1942

Acknowledgments:

Thanks to Deanna Chamberlain Grant for publishing “Selected Journals of Archie Fay Barney” and DVD with the photos to make this information available. And to Lyle Brent Chamberlain for his 1984 interview with Fay and Ernest Chamberlain on DVD. And of course to Archie F. Barney, Ernest M. Chamberlain and Fay Barney Chamberlain for writing down and preserving this information.

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to  www.thechamberlainstory.com.

References:

1- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1942

2- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letters to husband Ernest M. Chamberlain, March 1942.

3- Archie F. Barney, Journal entry for March 1942.

4- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letter to her husband Ernest M. Chamberlain, written April 8, 1942

5- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letter to his wife Fay Barney Chamberlain, written April 12, 1942

6- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letters to Ernest M. Chamberlain, April 25 through May, 1942

7- Orders from Headquarters IX Army Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash, 17 Aug 1942

8- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letters to Salt Lake from Fort Sill, Aug 29- Nov 18, 1942

9- Ernest M. Chamberlain, “What More Can Happen” presentation given to seniors and family on July 5, 2012.

10- Ernest & Fay Chamberlain Personal Histories, Recorded 25 June 1984 in England by Lyle Brent Chamberlain.

11- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letter to Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain, “Hi-Way Motor Court (Located on Highway between Ft Lewis and Olympia), Olympia Washington”. Postmark: Billings Mont. Dec 9, 1942 5 PM

12- Ernest Martin Chamberlain, Jr. Ernest Chamberlain’s Early Army Years, written November, 2001.

13- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Post Card to Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain, “Hi-Way Motor Court (Located on Highway between Ft Lewis and Olympia), Olympia Washington.” Postmark: Billings Mont. Dec 9, 1942 5 AM

14- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letters to his wife from Fort Sill, December 13-26, 1942

15- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letters to Ernest M. Chamberlain, December 10 & 11 & 20, 1942

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

and Merry Christmas again!