Plenty of Fresh Air

My cousin, Lurancy Chase Hill, was born to Sisson Almadorus and Miriam Gove Chase, in Lincoln, Vermont. My curiosity longs to know how her Quaker parents, devout members of the Society of Friends, were persuaded by the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to listen to their message of the restoration of the gospel.

Perhaps their feelings were similar to those of another Quaker, Elizabeth J.J. Robson, who wrote in her diary in 1842:

"Oh, may my prayers be more sincere: for I fear, that though I read the Bible every night on retiring to rest, and endeavor to enter into stillness and a prayerful spirit, yet it is more show than reality…
 
I am sometimes tempted to fear that the work of true religion has not yet even begun in my heart...
 

Elizabeth wrote that she endeavored to live a life fully devoted to God, but was:

“not feeling enough to convince herself that she is a Christian.”

All we know is that "in a very short time" Sisson and Miriam were convinced that the missionaries were men of God, and the Church they represented was divinely established. According, they were baptized in August, 1840, two years before the birth of Lurancy.

Having a great desire to be with the main body of the saints, they moved to Nauvoo, arriving in November, 1843, justseven months before the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith.  

Sisson and Miriam esteemed it a great blessing and privilege to meet the Prophet and rejoiced in listening to his inspired sermons. They grieved in sorrow at Joseph's death and received an abiding testimony that Brigham Young was his divinely appointed successor.  

Two years later, compelled to leave Nauvoo, due to persecution and an extermination order from the state of Illinois, the family moved into Iowa on the Sioux River, where they stayed for several seasons before they could acquire necessary provisions to cross the plains to the Salt Lake Valley.  

Lurancy’s first memories were of their time in Iowa and are telling of her father’s great love for mankind:

“Father built a rude log house, and I have a most vivid picture of how 300 Indians came to our home. We did not know what would happen, but father was able to make friends with them.”

 

In May 1853, when Lurancy was 11 years old, they started across the plains traveling in Captain Joseph Thorn’s Company, part of the Daniel A. Miller/John W. Cooley Company. Father, mother, six children, Lurancy’s widowed and invalid Grandmother Chase, and a young man to assist, set out together. 

Their outfit consisted of two wagons, one drawn by two oxen, the other by four young steers. Three cows supplied milk for their breakfast and supper and the extra was put in a tin churn tied to the wagon, whose bumpy ride would churn it to butter. Their fare was very meager. At times buffalo would be killed, dressed and divided, providing a welcome change of diet for a few meals. When trails were bad, as they often were, the cows were hitched up to help pull the load. The children walked most of the way from Iowa to Utah. Lurancy remembered the journey fondly and said it was the “greatest trip she ever enjoyed in her life”.

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Lurancy’s mother, Miriam, was a frail woman and in her younger days considered an invalid most of the time; nevertheless, she was given strength beyond her own weak frame and drove one of the wagons most of the way. The family vividly recorded memories of her standing in the wagon, her face white as death, and a long whip in her hand, driving across Green River, whose water was so deep that it came into their wagon box.

When the wagon train rested, Lurancy washed clothing, helped gather wood to fuel the fires to forge the shoes for the oxen, and dried buffalo chips to fuel their cooking fires. Their four-month journey from Iowa to Utah came to an end in September 1853.

Lurancy’s Uncle Isaac Chase met the company at the mouth of Immigration Canyon. Never had they seen anything look so good as did his carriage. They were dirty, tired, and ragged, and starved. When Lurancy was told to stay and come on with her father in the wagons, while her mother and younger siblings went ahead in the carriage, she cried so hard that they found a space to tuck her in.
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Uncle Isaac welcomed the family into his adobe house where the family of eight lived in one room for two years. 

Having consumed all their resources to make the trek west, the first winter was hard. They sold everything they could from their sparse belongings to procure food, which consisted mostly of corn bread and molasses. They had so little clothing that they could not venture out much.

Sisson taught the Second Ward School and was although he was supposed to receive $3.00 from each pupil, many were unable to pay, so very little was received.
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The deprivation took its toll on Sisson and by the end of two years, in his weakened condition, he contracted typhoid fever. Through priesthood blessings, and the loving, vigilant care of Miriam, his life was spared, but he was left with a severe cough and never regained his normal strength. Those who knew him said that his severe trials served to strengthen and solidify his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of the gospel in the latter days.

The burden of supporting the family fell to Lurancy and her mother and sisters. They washed wool, corded, spun it, and then wove it into cloth for blankets and wearing apparel, which they sewed completely by hand. They made their own soap, knit stockings, and molded candles.
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An example of their poverty is evident in one of Lurancy’s memories: When about 14 years old, she was delighted to receive a young man’s invitation to a dance, but after consideration realized she literally “had nothing to wear”. She had to tell him that she could not go. He asked no questions, understanding the reason for her refusal. Soon after, a housekeeping job became available. She worked for eight weeks and earned enough to buy herself and her mother material for calico dresses, four yards of purpose for her mother and red and blue for herself. When her dress was made, she said she "was one of the proudest girls in Salt Lake City".

Heamon Allison Hill

Perhaps that dress helped her catch the eye of a young man by the name of Heamon Allison Hill, an

industrious young farmer, who rented some nearby land and needed the help of a wife and began to visit the Chase home often in hopes of attracting the interest of Lurancy.

Let us briefly depart from Lurancy’s story to tell of Allison’s journey. When only 14 years old Allison had crossed the plains assisting a Mr. Bigler and his wife, in exchange for his food. However, Mr. Bigler contracted cholera and died, leaving the teenage boy with all the work and responsibility for the family. He walked all the way west, with the exception of one-half day, when he was too ill to stand. In fact, it was said that he walked twice the distance, as he constantly walked back and forth the trail to keep the sheep and cattle from straying. When he arrived in Salt Lake City, his only possessions were the clothes he wore.

After six months of diligent courting and persuasion, Lurancy accepted Allison’s proposal and they were married by her father in November, 1860.They thought their wedding supper was elaborate – chicken, white bread, a wedding cake made from molasses, and a pie made from table beets. They were sealed for time and eternity in the Endowment House the following year. 

They originally resided with Lurancy’s parents. Their bedroom was an unfinished log room with no windows and no chinking between the logs. In characteristic optimism, Lurancy wrote that “they had plenty of fresh air”.
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Of the spring of 1862 when the couple moved into a log home in Payson, she later reminisced that “no bride was ever happier.”

Heartache extended through five childless years, a great disappointment to Lurancy. Her arms ached for a child. In 1867, a neighboring sister died in childbirth. The father, debilitated with rheumatoid arthritis and unable to care for the infant son, asked Lurancy to care for the baby. She hesitated, feeling ill prepared to care for fragile infant, whose own health was precarious. The father, seeing her reluctance, raised his hand and said, “I promise you, Sister Hill, that if you will take this child and care for him as your own, the Lord will bless you with children of your own.” Her fears melted and she took the wee infant and cared for and loved him until his death a few months later. Within a year, the promised blessed was fulfilled in the form of a baby girl, who was christened with her name and that of her mother, Miriam Lurancy.
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When the baby was three weeks old, President Brigham Young called for volunteers to go back and help Saints crossing the plains. Willingly she bid Allison farewell as he joined the other men and started back across the plains. The strength of her character is compelling, as she sacrificed the companionship of her husband when she needed him so badly herself. It was the planting season, but she did not complain or falter in any way in letting him go with her blessing. She cared for the home, farm and baby alone, and patiently awaited the arrival of the few letters her husband was able to send until his return a long six months later. Reminiscent of her father’s sacrifice of his own health to provide for others, her husband returned with an illness that affected him the rest of his life.

Her faithful husband was taken from her in 1907, leaving Lurancy to finish her mission here on earth alone. For more than nineteen years she remained active and faithful, a staunch and true pioneer, serving in the Church and serving everyone around her. She was a guide and a light to her children and grandchildren. She truly found joy in her posterity. 

The land of the west was long preserved

For a people tried and true.

Our kinfolk’s spirits sent to earth

With a special work to do.

The descendants of these noble ones

Must journey on their way

To honor those who’ve gone before

Preparing for this day.

Let us not forget as we go through life

Through all our days and years

What wonderful blessings we enjoy

Through the faith of the pioneers.