17S. Elnora Jane MILES-8494
TEMPLE: Reuben Woolsey, b 11 May 1831, Browns, Jackson, Indiana, was
sealed 24 Sep 1864, to Jane Elnora Miles, in the Endowment House, Salt Lake
City,UT
WARD: Kanosh Ward records Reel #4314. 1880. 6 Sep Mrs. Mary Ann Woolsey,
President of Primary Assoc. - Pres. Woolsey was succeeded in 1887 by Mrs. Mary
A. Mills. The Assoc was reorganized in 7 Feb 1892 with Mrs. Adelaide Paxton, Pres,
with Mrs. Jane Woolsey 1st counselor and Lucina Morrey 2nd c.
WARD: Kanosh Ward Records. Reel #3264. Elnora Jane Woolsey, d/o Sampson
Miles and Catherine Hickerson, b. 5 Aug 1842. p. 9. #114. Elnora Jane Woolsey,
d/o Sampson Miles & Catherine Hickerson. b. 5 Aug 1842, Fayette, ILL. bapt. 15
Apr 1857 by J. Browning and conf. by C. West. Rebaptized 15 Apr 1857 by same.
Scipio.
Biography of Elnora Jane Miles Woolsey "Pioneer" Born
15 Aug 1842, Fayette Co, IL died 12 Sep 1911, Kanosh, Millard Co, UT arrived in
Utah 1856 md Ruben Woolsey, 16 Sep 1858 written by Calla Penney Ivie grand
daughter 1965 Camp Fourteen, Center Utah County, Provo, UT
Elnora Jane Miles was born 15 Aug 1842 in Fayette Co, IL, dau of Sampson and
Catherine Hickerson Miles. She was the fifth child of a family of eight, five
boys and three girls.
At that time, this Mormon faith was very new to them. Great grandmother
Catherine Hickerson Miles, was opposed to this new religion, however, her
husband Sampson favored this new faith.
On 15 May 1855 Sampson Miles died without becoming a member of the church,
also three of their children had died. By spring of 1856, my great grandmother,
Catherine's brother, George W. Hickerson, who had come to Utah with the early
saints, came back to Illinois. He encouraged his sister Catherine to come to
Utah with the children. By this time another child died, leaving four children,
one boy and three girls: Lee, Elnora, Susan and Lindy.
By June of 1856 they left their home in Illinois and started West. My
grandmother Elnora Jane was sick when they started their journey, had to be
carried from the house to the wagon, but was promised she would be well. This
promise was fulfilled. They had many experiences on their way, both joy and
sorrows. When they arrived in Utah, they settled first, on the Weber River, up
by Ogden.
It was here that my grandmother Elnora Jane met her sweetheart, she was 15 years
of age. His name was Ruben Woolsey born 11 May 1831 in Jackson, Browns Co, IN
[this s/b Jackson Co,IN ww] son of Thomas Andrew and Mary Burrell Woolsey. They
were md 16 Sep 1858 in Salt Lake City, UT. They were sealed in the Endowment
House in Salt Lake City, 24 Sep 1864.
When they moved from the Ogden area they went to Mt. Pleasant, there three of
their children were born, three girls. They they moved to Millard Co, first to
Round Valley or Scipio now, and here their first son was born.
Later they moved to Corn Creek or Kanosh as it is now, which became their
permanent home. Five more children were born, three boys and two girls, one of
the girls became my mother, Sarah Melissa, the other little girl Delia died when
she was two years old.
Nine children in all: Mary Jane Woolsey (Lemon), Catherine Mariah, Elizabeth
Ellen, Ruben Andrew, Lewis Bartholemew, Sarah Melissa (Penney), George Alonzo,
Delia and John Birl.
The Ruben Woolsey family was a good family, honest, and kind, loving to one
another, and to everyone they knew. Their lived their religion and helped to
build up the community in which they lived.
Grandmother has written a short history of their trip coming to Utah. It is in
her own handwriting. Grandfather died 28 Dec 1898, Kanosh, UT and grandmother
died 12 Sep 1911 in Kanosh, UT. Both are buried in the Kanosh Cemetery.
Notable People of Kanosh: A Sketch of Elnora Jane Woolsey's Life: I was born in
Fayette Co, IL on 15 Aug 1842. My father died 15 May 1855 and left Mother with
five children, my brother Lee being the eldest and I came next. We had to go in
the fields and take care of the crops my father had planted, and that fall Uncle
Wash came back from a mission. Then my mother made up her mind to come to Utah,
and in 1856 we left our home (the 15 day of June). I was sick at the time with
chills and fevers. I had to be carried from the house to the wagon, and my
father's brother told Mother that she would soon have to bury me. But Uncle
Wash told them that I wouldn't have another chill. And I didn't, and drove the
team across the plains.
We crossed the Missouri River the last time on Sunday, the 27th and there were
15 armed men came and searched our wagons to see if we had guns with us, but we
did not have so much as a pistol. We had to travel 4 days to catch the train of
wagons right to the camp, so we camped out to ourselves alone that first night.
Soon as the others got up, Uncle went over to their camp to see if it was the
camp of Saints, and found that the Captain of the camp was the man he had gone
on a mission with, it being Ben Clap. We were all right then, and began enjoying
ourselves. I was fourteen years of age that summer, and I had never had a well
day in my life before I left my home.
We had a good time on the trip. We never had any deaths in our camps. We had two
births; Sister Eastmo gave birth to a girl and Sister Corlile to a boy. My
Mother was very sick for a long time. We traveled with her for several weeks
until she got so bad that the Captain said we would have to lay over with her,
and that being Friday, the Captain told the brothers and sisters to fast and
pray until Sunday. On Sunday they held meeting and Brother Billy Godby unloaded
his wagon to get a bottle of oil, and it was consecrated and anointed by the
brothers and they anointed my Mother and prayed for her and told her she would
live to go to the Valley and have the privilege of herself and children
embracing the Gospel, all of which she did. That was my first testimony. On
Monday morning when the Captain came to see her, she said: "I am ready to travel
today." From that time on she began to improve and was soon well and fine.
We traveled on all right until we got to Ash Hollow. There we had a big hill to
go down and Lee was driving the buggy that Mother was riding in and it tipped
over and Mother walked to the bottom of the hill with some of the sisters
helping her.
We always laid over on Saturdays so the women could wash, and on Sunday they
always held meetings. Along the Platte River we traveled four days through
buffalo herds so thick that men were sent on horses ahead to part the buffalo so
the train could pass through. The whole earth would shake as we passed through
the herds, but our cattle never got scared of them, even though as far as one
could see, there were huge buffalo. It looked like a cedar grove, and after we
had gone through there was hardly a spear of grass left. Our teams nearly
starved. We saw many graves on the desert that had no marks, only the dead ashes
of camp fires.
On the 23rd of June we formed a nice camp ground and our Captain said, "We will
spend the 24th here." The men and boys got busy and cleared the ground and
stretched wagon covers to make shade and the women began to cook and we had a
good time. That was the first time on my left that I tried to dance and I danced
with Bill Godby, and the next day we started on our journey rejoicing that our
Heavenly Father had blessed us with the riches of good health and a safe journey
to Utah. (Elnora Woolsey died 12 Sep 1911, and was buried at Kanosh Cemetery. -
Contributed by Melissa Penney Sally Kanosh Camp, D.U.P. Ruby Iverson, Historian.
UTAH WAR: Utah State Archives - Mar 2002. AFFIDAVIT CONCERNING SERVICE IN
INDIAN WARS WITHIN THE STATE OF UTAH AND OF SERVICE RELATING THERETO. -Provision
of Chapter 55, Laws of Utah, 1909. State of Utah, County of Salt Lake. Elnora J.
Woolsey, being first duly sworn upon her oath, says: "I am a resident of Kanosh,
Millard County, Utah, and am the widow of Reuben Woolsey, deceased, who died on
or about the 28 Dec 1898, at the age of 67 years. That on the 1 day of May 1866,
Reuben Woolsey was enrolled in Company CAV, commanded by Captain Jas C Owens,
that at said time he was a resident of Scipio, Millard County, Utah, and of the
age of 35 years and served 6 months. . . . and was honorably released from
service with said command on the 1 day of November 1866. That during said
service in Company CAV under Captain James C. Owens he participated in the
following engagements and duties: He participated in the battle at Scipio - and
made an expedition onto the Sevier - served as scout and patrol. . . . That as
witnesses of the foregoing service, I name the following persons who served with
him in Company CA, under Captain Jas Cowens: Peter huntsman, Joseph E. Ray. . .
. that said Reuben Woolsey was constantly with said command, . . . . (Signed)
Elnora J. Woolsey, Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7 Feb 1910. J. H.
Arthur, Commissioner. Peter Huntsman, a resident of Fillmore, Millard Co, Utah,
for 56 years last past, age 70 years. Joseph E. Ray, a resident of Salt Lake
City, for 1 year past, age 59 years.
Utah 1880 Census. Kanosh, Millard, UT. FHL film #1255336. 8-136-33 p. 497
80-80.
Husband...
