I claim this wonderful
spunky woman, Amy Lorette Chase Bigler, as my Great, Great, Great, Great Aunt. She truly met life with courage, vigor, dedication, and zeal for her family and her religion.
The daughter of Abner
Chase and his wife Amy Scott, she was born in Lincoln County, Vermont, November
7, 1822. Her mother was widowed when Amy was only seven years old. The poor family
included nine children, the youngest daughter only two-years-old, the oldest a
nineteen-year-old son. Little Amy, only a child, was determined to provide for
herself and lighten the burden of her widowed mother.
Amy's education was extremely
limited, with only occasional attendance at district schools. Nevertheless, as
an adult, she became the first school teacher in Nephi, Utah.
Amy was eighteen when she
first heard of Mormonism, from her uncle, Ezra Chase, and she became wholly
converted to the faith and was baptized in the fall of 1840. Three years later,
with her mother, two brothers and other relatives, she moved to gather with the
saints in Zion, in Nauvoo, Illinois.
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| Jacob and Amy |
In Nauvoo, Amy met Jacob G.
Bigler, a young widower just returning home from a mission. They were married June
18, 1844, the day that Mayor Joseph Smith proclaimed Nauvoo under martial law. They
were devastated by the news nine days later of the martyrdom of the Prophet. Intimate
friends with the Smith family, they mourned with Joseph’s mother, Lucy, who often
referred to Jacob as her son.
Two weeks later, Amy
received her patriarchal blessing under the hands of John Smith Sr., the brother of Joseph
Smith Sr.. The blessing included a wonderful promise: “Thou shalt be a mother
in Israel, yea a mother of many mighty sons and daughters, and this blessing
shall be perpetuated from generation to generation. It is your privilege to
have faith to hold thy children that none of them shall die until they are old.”
Amy’s patriarchal blessing was fulfilled; all ten of her children grew to
adulthood, not the common lot of most pioneer mothers of the time.
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| Nauvoo Temple |
One can only imagine the
effort required of Amy as she supported Jacob while he devoted his time helping
in the construction of the Nauvoo Temple. Although facing expulsion from
Nauvoo, the couple found great reason for rejoicing when they entered that
sacred House of the Lord to receive their endowments and to be sealed for all
eternity on January 31, 1846. Eight days later, Amy gave birth to their first
son, David George.
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| Apostle Orson Hyde |
Having sacrificed most of
their worldly possessions, the Bigler’s were among the poorest of poor when
they arrived in Winter Quarters on the 18th of August 1846. Anxious to escape persecution
and make a new home in the west, they scrimped and saved to prepare an outfit
for their travel to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Just as they were preparing to leave
Winter Quarters, Apostle Orson Hyde visited them, saying, “The Lord wants you
to continue your services in Iowa.” So, there they remained.
They moved in the spring
of 1848 across the river to the east, and then a year later to Kanesville, where
Jacob was called as Bishop, and given charge of the general tithing office in
Pottawatomie County. Looking after the poor who had been driven from Nauvoo would
have been a difficult, yet rewarding opportunity, that undoubtedly involved Amy
in significant ways. Jacob was additionally a member of the High Council at
Kanesville, a Justice of the Peace, and County Probate Judge.
A simple entry in Jacob’s
history hints at the patience amidst trials of dear, devoted Amy. He notes that
on their way west, on July 17, 1852, he pulled their wagon up along the Platte
River in Nebraska so that Amy could give birth to a fine daughter. While they
were stopped, a fairly large band of war-painted Cheyenne Indians came upon them.
Afraid of a hostile encounter, uncertain how to appease the natives, but in
order to let them see that they were unafraid, the saints got out their fiddles
and the young people danced to the amusement of the Indians. They gave gifts of food, and the band departed peacefully.
Only Amy and Jacob's three plural
wives truly understand their challenges, joys and heartaches, but little is
written of that situation, other than that the wives lived in harmony with one
another. The 1885 invitation to the 80th birthday anniversary of the
Prophet Joseph Smith refers to the family as “Elder J. G. Bigler and Ladies”.
The Bigler’s were called
to settle in Nephi where Amy’s bravery among the Indians was legendary and has
often been recounted. The settlement built a surrounding wall for their
protection. The men had to go out of this wall to do their farming, but the
women and children were warned never to leave the enclosure.
Although conflicts
occurred and there were casualties on both sides, the general policy was to
give the Indians presents, and be kind to them. When the Indian braves would
fiercely approach the family household and demand flour or meat or other food, Amy’s
fear did not show. They would come and sit on the floor and never move until
they got a fresh loaf of bread or something else to eat, which she calmly
provided.
Jacob’s church and
community service were impressive and extensive, another testament to the
support and strength of Amy. He was the Bishop of Juab, the first Stake President
of the Juab Stake, a Patriarch, six times a member of the territorial assembly,
mayor of Nephi, probate judge in Juab County and a member of the Territorial Council.
Jacob passed away February
23, 1907, at the age of 73. His companion throughout mortal life, she followed him 3 ½ months
later, June 8, 1907.
Amy’s spunky attitude
toward the challenges of life are summed up in a poem that she wrote in March,
1899, when she was 76 years old. It is safe to say that she proved throughout her lifetime that she was up to a challenge!
