Samuel
Bennion Autobiography
[There are two surces for Samuel's autobiography: Bennion
Family of Utah Vol. 2 and Samuel's Day Book at the Utah State Historical
Society. Both are included here, beginning with Vol. 2] Samuel Bennion was born December
11, 1818, in the Moor Lane
near Hawarden, near Chester County of Flintshire
North Wales, England.
Mary Bushell
was born March 1, 1816, in
Roby, in the Parish of Huyton, County
of Lancashire, England.
Samuel Bennion
and Mary Bushell married on Sunday, the 28th day of
April, 1839, in St. Nicholas Church, Liverpool.
At the same time I worked as a
Journeyman Baker for Robert Farrall, Mill
Street, Taxteth
[Toxteth] Park Liverpool. September 14th, 1839, by the assistance of my uncle,
William Bennion, I commenced business for myself as
Bread, Flour and Provision Dealer in Harding Street
Windsor, joining Liverpool.
I gave up the Business on the
4th day of November, 1844 to prepare to come to America.
During the time I carried on the business I cleared about £500 or 2500 dollars.
I was Baptized
and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on
the 30th day of September, 1842 in the River Mersey, Liverpool,
by Elder Thomas Domvale.
Mary Bushell
Bennion continued in her adherence to the Methodist
faith until 1848 when she was baptized by Bishop Abram Hoagland, in Salt
Lake City.
I left Liverpool
in 1845, and set sail for America
on Sunday, the 30th day of March, on the sailing ship Parthenon, - Captain
Woodbury.
After a
pleasant voyage of six (6) weeks arrived at New Orleans on
the 12th day of May in the afternoon.
Myself, wife and son John R.,
aged five years, one daughter, aged three months.
We arrived at St.
Louis on the 20th day of May near night. Stopped the first night in the Stone House at the landing.
Next day the s were putting the Capstone on the Temple, and my brother John
brought his team, took us to his house or shanty seven miles east of Nauvoo
where I bout 85 acres of land of Daniel H. Wells, the same summer. Had it
fenced and built a good two story Brick House with six apartments in it. Hauled thirty two thousand bricks from Nauvoo. Cost of house
was one thousand dollars. During the summer my father, myself
and wife and two children, John R. and Elizabeth were sick with the ague and
fever.
On the 18th day of February
1846, our little daughter Elizabeth died of the same. Buried in the Nauvoo
burying ground, near Nauvoo, and put a large headstone on her grave.
May 1846, I sold my house and
farm for two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.) part trade.
On the 19th day of May 1846, we
left our Nauvoo home to go West somewhere. Myself, wife, son, and father, brother John and his wife Esther
Wainwright and two children, Samuel R. and Mary.
We traveled one hundred sixty
miles west from Nauvoo, and stopped at a place called Garden
Grove. Here we plowed up land and put in some corn and
buckwheat.
My father had one yoke of oxen
and one light wagon. I had two yoke of oxen and wagon, one span of horses and
wagon. My wife drove the horse team.
[Below is from Samuel's
"Memorandum and Day Book", dated 1858]
Samuel Bennion Born Decr. 11,
1818 at the Moor Lane near
Hawarden Near Chester County of Flintshire
North Wales England
Mary Bushell
Born March 1st 1816 at Roby
in the Parish of Huyton
County of Lanchshire,
England
Baptized by Bishop A Hogland Samuel Bennion and Mary Bushell Married on Sunday 28th of April 1839 in Saints
Nichols Church Liverpool at the same time worked as a Journyman
Baker for Robt Farrall Milk
Street Toxtath Park Liverpool
1839
September 14th Commenced Busnefs for myself has Bread Flour
and Provision Dealer in
Harding
Street Windsor near Liverpool
give up the Buisnefs on the 4th day of Nov 1844
during the time I carried on the Busnefs I cleared
about £500
Baptized and ordained a member
in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day on the 23rd day of August 1843 in
the River Mersey Liverpool By Thomas Domvale
1845
Left Liverpool and set sail for
America with one Son and one Daughter on Sunday the 30th day of March 1845 on
Board the Ship Parthenon Captain Woodburry after a
Pleasant Voiage of Six Weeks arrived at New orleans on the 12th day of May in the afternoon Arrived at
Saint Louis on the 20th of May at this Place my Father met us from Nauvoo Who
had Left Liverpool One year Before us on the Ship John Cummin
Arrived at Nauvoo on the 23rd day of May near night Stoped
the first Night in the Stone house at the Landing Bought 85 Acars
of Land of D H Wells 7 Miles East of Nauvoo and fenced and Builded
a good too Story Brick house witch cost me one thousand Dollars --- $1000 ---
-------
during this Summer My Father
Self and Wife and too Children John R. and Elizeabth
had moast of the time the ague or Chills & feaver On the 28th day of Febuary
1846 our little Daughter Elis Died of the Same, &
Buried in the Nauvoo Buring Ground near Nauvoo and
put a large Head [end of page]
1846
Stone on her Grave
May Sold
my house and farm for $250. On the 19th day of this month Left Nauvoo to go West Some ware in Company My Self & Wife & Son John
R. My Father and Bro John and famiely Traveled 60
miles West of Nauvoo and Stopped at a place Called Garden
Grove. here we plowed up land
put in Some corn & Buck Wheat
Januray
13th 1847 Hyrum Born [this line then crossed out]
September 24th
My Father Died and Buriead on the 26th at the above pleace
Jery
13, 1847 Hyrum Born
April Left Garden Grove and
Started further West. When we arrived at Councill
Blufs on Mo River we found that a Company of Saints
about 500 Waggons whare
fitting out for the Mountians or GSL Valley.
