ELENOR JONES CALL
Elenor Jones Call, daughter of Benjamin Jones and Esther Davis Jones, was born
in Cayrncock, South Wales, March 19, 1844. Her father, Benjamin Jones, was the
son of David and Eleanor Morgan Jones and was born on a farm called Pandry
Manfymith at Mandile Llanfyhennel, Carmarthenshire, South Wales on January 1,
1814. Her mother, Esther Davis Jones was born on a farm called Tanycord near
Lampeter, Carmarthenshire, South Wales on June 5,1814.
Her grandparents on her mother's side were raised close together. The families
owned their estates for generations back and were thus freeholders. Her sister,
Mary Jones Harding, was born in the same house that her mother was born in. Her
father's and mother's families were devout Methodists, very liberal in their
ideas, and very highly respected, they being the wealthiest families in the
county in the year 1838.
When Benjamin Jones and Esther Davis Jones were married, they commenced life in
unusually good circumstances and fine prospects at Lampeter, Carmarthenshire,
South Wales. It was here their first two children were born. They were then
advised to move the family to Glanmorganshire because of the great cholera
epidemic. Some members of the Jones family had already moved there. The doctors
advised Mr. Jones to work at his trade, that of boot and shoemaker. He was also
a shoe merchant. The young couple prospered and were doing fine. Their third
child, Elenor, was born here--Cayrncock Parish, Glanmorganshire, South Wales on
March 19, 1844. Their son Evan was also born here.
Again the parents were advised to move, but this time it was by the Methodist
pastor, who wished Benjamin to lead their choir and take care of the chapel and
cemetery. For about three years everything seemed to go their way; prosperity
and contentment filled their home.
In February of 1848, while living in Cadiston Parish, Captain Dan Jones passed
through the village on his way to Swansea to take the steamer for Liverpool and
then to America. He brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
with him, but it brought a spirit of uneasiness to the community. Some of the
people ridiculed him and spoke all manner of evil against him. The people began
speaking of this new religion and the deplorable creatures who professed to
teach it. One day a neighbor lady came to the home and asked Benjamin if he had
heard these men preach. He said, "No, and I don't want to hear them either, for
they are men who are trying to make money by deceiving the people." The woman
continued to attend their meetings, and again she went to Benjamin saying that
he was intelligent and wise, and she wanted him to advise her in regard to
spiritual affairs, as he read the scriptures and was so well informed. She
greatly desired to go to the meetings of the Mormon Missionaries, but her
people were very much opposed to her going. She begged Benjamin to attend and
then tell her what he thought concerning them. He finally promised to go the
following day. He went on the back streets and stood in the back of the church,
as he felt ashamed to be there. On his return home he was very quiet. He had
some of their literature with him. He read a great deal, and one could see that
he was greatly disturbed in his thoughts.
Shortly afterwards one of the missionaries came to the home and had dinner and
spent the afternoon presenting the principles of the Gospel. This brought ill
feelings between the parents. Esther wanted Benjamin to join the Church of
England because they had offered him a clerkship with a very good salary. He
refused to join the Church of England. The missionaries told Benjamin if he
would be baptized with a pure motive and a prayerful heart, he would obtain
knowledge that the Mormon Church was true. After prayerful study, he felt that
he should be baptized and was on a Sunday midnight in July, 1849. Esther also
believed and was baptized six weeks later.
The Methodist pastor came to the home to plead with Benjamin and Esther to
renounce this strange and wicked religion and to think of the disgrace they had
brought upon the family. Then persecution and hardship started in earnest.
Benjamin lost his position, and the family was shunned.
Elenor was baptized when she was eight years old. The family moved to another
county in order to obtain work. In those days the Elders traveled without purse
or script and had to depend on the Saints for many things. While in the Parish
where the Jones family lived, they made their home with them. Sister Jones did
their washing, ironing, mending, and assisted them in many ways. It was no
small task for the Saints to care for the needs of the Elders, but they did it
well and were happy in the thought that they had found the truth and wanted to
help the servants of God. Esther was always kind and charitable to the poor,
and she shared with those in need, even strangers, what she had.
The doctrine of gathering to Zion was very strongly urged, and Benjamin Jones
and the older children were anxious to go to Zion. He had been made an Elder
and presided over a branch of the Church in South Wales. His wife felt that he
was doing all he could in that position and should remain there. Disputes arose
in the family, and they were considerably divided as to the proper course they
should take.
Mary Jones Harding, the eldest daughter, had worked for a rich gentleman for
some time, and she had saved money toward paying her way to Zion. She was tired
of the persecutions and hardships that her family were passing through.
At this time the following incident greatly strengthened the faith of this good
family. One of the neighbor women who had reviled and cursed the Elders and the
message they bore and all those who had joined the Church also cursed the
Priesthood of the Church. When her baby was born, the little one had but one
arm, and the woman then became convinced that the punishment and cursings she
had asked for others had been heaped upon herself and the daughter she bore.
Benjamin and Esther consented that Mary leave for the "valley." On May 28,
1863, when she was twenty-two years old, she left Swansea for Liverpool in a
small sailing vessel called a packet. In Mary's words, "My parents and sisters
and brothers and many of my friends came to the wharf to bid me good-bye. I
cried pitifully, for I knew that some of them I would never see again. This was
true, for there I gazed for the last time on the faces of my dear mother and
baby brother Johnny. To make the parting easier for me, my little brother
Joseph was placed on a barrel so I could see him, and across the water came the
clear, musical tones of his sweet voice as he sang, 'We are coming sister Mary,
We are coming bye and bye. Be ready, sister Mary, for the time is drawing
nigh." Oh, how sweet the tones of his boyish voice, and how assuring were the
words of the song."
In 1864 brother David left Wales for Zion, arriving in Salt Lake City on
October 6, 1864. He went to Willard to be with his sister Mary. He was taken
ill with Mountain Fever and lived but one month, passing away on November 6,
1864, at the age of twenty-two years. Previous to leaving Wales, he had
presided over a conference as well as doing regular missionary work. He, like
the other boys and girls of the family, had great faith and a strong testimony
of the Gospel.
When the news of David's death reached the family in Wales, they were greatly
disturbed, and Mother Jones, not being in sympathy with emigrating to Utah,
tried to persuade her husband to stay in Wales. The will of Benjamin could not
be changed, and his wife was equally determined. He and some of the children
left for America, and a little later Elenor, who had been such a support to her
mother and younger children, also left for Zion. The mother and two children,
Eliza, then about nine years of age, and John, about five years, stayed with
their mother. The anguish of Sister Jones was almost more than she could
bear--her husband and eight children having left their home, and one of the
number already dead. All the children in the family were fine singers, and many
evenings had been spent in devotional singing and prayer, with neighbors coming
in to enjoy the music; now all was quiet and lonely.
Elenor had the care of two or three younger members of the family while en
route to America. She walked every step of the way across the plains. Now many
times at night she would think of her mother and the two children so far away,
and her heart would be saddened at the thought that perhaps she would never see
them again. But she had work to do in helping others on that long and tedious
journey, and she must not think of her own sorrows. They finally reached
Willard, where she was happily reunited with her father and Mary and the
others.
The following year, on March 30, 1867, she was married to Omer Call and entered
into plural marriage. She obtained work and saved everything she possibly could
to send home to her mother. She was a beautiful girl of twenty-two years,
gifted with a lovely voice and a keen sense of honor. She brought sunshine and
love wherever she went. She was also a peacemaker and very just. She became a
favorite wherever she went. Though many times her heart was heavy, and she
yearned for her dear mother and sister and baby brother, she tried to keep her
sorrow to herself. The year she was married she was welcomed into the family by
her husband's first wife, Sarah, who became very fond of her. They lived for
many months together as one family. The two women were considerate and
unselfish with each other. On one occasion a trip was planned, and Elenor was
invited to go, but she refused the trip when she learned that there was not
room enough for Sarah to go also. Sarah Call was also a beautiful singer, and
the two women sang together and enjoyed their companionship.
After a time Omer built a comfortable home for Elenor about a mile south of
Willard. She labored willingly, many times beyond her strength, to care for the
children that came to them, often helping with Sarah's children, too, because
of Sarah's poor health.
Omer and his twin brother Homer often went to Ogden, where they would buy
shirting, gingham and fabric by the bolt. On their way home they would often
stop at Elenor's first. Omer would take the cloth in and ask her to take what
she wanted for the children and herself. She always refused to take her choice,
saying that Sarah and Homer's wife Nancy should first take what they wanted,
and she would take the rest.
When Elenor had been married about fifteen years, Sarah passed away. Elenor was
devoted to her all during her long illness and rendered a the assistance she
could. When the end was approaching, many were in the room and heard Sarah call
Elenor to her side and asked her to leave home and come to the one she had been
living in and be a mother to her children. Elenor was reluctant to promise to
assume such a task, and she did not answer. Sarah released her hand and began
to weep, so Elenor said, "If your time has come, Sarah, I will do the best I
can for your children. Sarah put her arm around Elenor's neck, saying "Now I
can die happy, for I know you will keep your promise." At this time Elenor had
seven children of her own.
Elenor felt the loss of Sarah keenly, realizing that she had lost a very dear
friend. Shortly after this she moved to the larger house on April 6, 1883.
Elenor felt this added responsibility keenly, but she prayed constantly and
earnestly for strength and wisdom to rear this family of children in the fear
of the Lord. She did her job well. The children of both families reverenced and
honored and loved her, and all that lived grew to be a credit to the Call
family. She buried one girl and three boys. The two boys met accidental deaths,
one in a molasses mill run by water power. One was kicked by a horse. She had
eleven children of her own.
The Call home was a stopping place for friends and others, not even
acquaintances, on their road to Conference in Salt Lake City. They drove into
the yard by wagon-heads, and all were welcomed. Accommodations were found for
them and their horses. This continued for years.
Sister Call held many positions of trust and responsibility in the various
organizations of the Church, both in Willard and in Wales. She used to walk as
far as ten miles to sing at meetings in Wales, and she belonged to Evan
Stevens' choir, as well as others, for many years.
She had many trials to pass through, but she bore them without a murmur.
When the children of the first family married, they moved to Idaho, where they
became leading citizens.
When Elenor lived in South Willard, she was a friend to the Indians, and many
came to camp near her home. She was chairman of the wheat committee for many
years and worked with the other women gleaning in the fields.
Her mother never came to Utah. Her brother John died when he was twenty years
of age and was buried in Wales. Her mother died in Tanycord, near Larnpeter,
South Wales on April 6, 1882.
Children of Omer and Elenor Jones Call are:
Justin David, born April 6, 1868; died May 20, 1922
Mary Lucina, born June 12, 1869; died June 17, 1869
Cyrus John, born February 10, 1871; died October 2, 1885
Joseph, born October 4, 1872; died 23 March 1878
Sarah Eliza, born 2 February, 1875; died 19 May, 1970
Benjamin Carlos, born 28 March 1877; died 30 January 1962
Esther, born 24 March 1879; died 4 May, 1959
William Vosco, born 28 July, 1881; died 8 May, 1957
Margaret Elenor, born 23 April, 1883; died 24 September, 1941
Chancy Homer, born 31 December, 1884; died 5 December, 1893
Waldemer Alma, born 29 January, 1889; died 8 November, 1948
Written by a son, Benjamin Carlos and his wife Louise of Brigham City.