WILLIAM AND JANE SPENCER JULIAN
William Julian,
son of James and Elizabeth Bouncer Julian, was born August 3, 1795, in
Shellford, Nottingham, England. When a
boy he was apprentice to a tailor for seven years. He learned the trade well and followed that
occupation. He was united in marriage to
Jane Spencer, daughter of Richard Spencer and Elizabeth Harrison. She was born June 1, 1798 in Bingham,
Nottingham, England. To this happy union
six children were born: James, Samuel, William, Edwin, Emma, and Ellen.
When the gospel
of Jesus Christ was brought to their native land by humble missionaries, their
hearts were open to the truth for they soon applied for baptism and their whole
family were initiated into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
December 16, 1853. Like all others who
were converted to the church at that time, they soon had a great desire to
gather with the saints of God where they could serve him more fully. Just fifteen months after their baptism with
their entire family, they left England for the gospel sake to come to the land
of Zion.
They set sail
on the ship “Juventa” 31 March 1855. There were 537 souls on board the ship
which was under the direction of William Glover. On the 6th day of
April, conference was held on board and President Richards told them if they
lived righteously and obeyed the principles of the gospel, that not one soul
would die during the voyage. There were no deaths on the way, but three
marriages and one birth. They had a
rough voyage and on one of these days, while the tempest raged, this one child
was born and was named Juventa Tempest.
They were five weeks on the water.
They landed at
Philadelphia May 5th, 1855. This company went by railroad to
Pittsburg, then by steamboat down the Ohio River to St. Louis, Missouri. While in St. Louis, they found Elder Thomas
Barratt and family, who had left England en route to Utah a short time before,
on account of the sickness of his wife, who was a dear friend of their youngest
daughter, Ellen. His wife, Mary Morgan
Whitby Barratt, passed away at St. Louis and before leaving there, Ellen became
the wife of Elder Thomas Barratt and became the foster mother of a boy, a child
of a former marriage of his first wife.
Their daughter, Ellen, left St. Louis with her husband but the rest of
the Julian family decided to make their home, for a short time at least, in
Grasslake, Michigan.
William and the
rest of his family soon made preparations to go on to Utah. They went by steamboat
“Equinox” which carried them to Atcheson, Kansas. From there they went to a camping place know
as Mormon Grove. This place was
established by the Church a few miles west of Atcheson. It was chosen as the
chief outfitting place for the Saints who crossed the plains in 1855. Apostle
Erastus Snow had charge of the emigrants that year. Many of the emigrants traveled up the
Mississippi and Missouri River became sick with malaria; many died. There are
still many unmarked graves in Mormon Grove. After being there for a season they
were happy to resume their journey to Utah.
On their journey
across the plains they had their share of hardships along with their happiness
in the thought of going to a place where they could be in peace and worship as
they pleased. The Lord surely watched
over them and when they arrived in Great Salt Lake they were sent directly to
American Fork and made it their permanent home.
A few years after
arriving here they received their endowments in the Endowment house in Salt
Lake City, January 26, 1861. They first
lived in a small house North of the Stephen Mott home and later bought a lot
now owned by James H. Barrett. They made their living with their garden, cows,
and chickens. William took great
interest in gardening. At that time
there were no horses, neither had he a plow, but spaded every inch of the
ground and raised a wonderful garden. He
was a tailor by trade before coming to Utah and did very fine work and did what
he could also in this line, but in this early day few had means to pay for the
making of clothing.
He loved music
and took a great deal of pleasure in playing an instrument he owned called a
Bozone but when he became ill and could not enjoy it longer, he sold it to a
man in Ogden. Jane, his wife, was a
helpmate in every deed. In all the
experiences of pioneer life, she took her part well. She loved her home and family and no
sacrifice was too great for their comfort and happiness. By her unassuming loving disposition she made
many friends and was beloved by all who knew her.
After she became
unable to care for herself and husband, their grand daughter, Ellen Barratt
Gardener and Mary Barratt, in turn took care of her with a greatest love and
devotion, until Father seen fit to release her, April 18, 1873. After her death they took care of her husband
in the same way until they took him to the home of his daughter, Ellen Julian
Barratt, where they built a log room which still stands on the Barratt lot.
William lived to
the ripe age of 93, fifteen years after the death of his beloved wife. He was called home May 10, 1888. A faithful Latter-Day saint to meet the
reward of a well spent life.
By proxy, William
and Jane were sealed to their parents in the Temple of God, May 26, 1932. We love the memories of those who made it
possible for us to have our beautiful homes in the valleys of the mountains,
and who left for us examples of thrift, love and devotion worthy of our utmost
thought and emulation. Blessed be their
memories and may our Father grant His spirit to all their numerous descendants
that they may, when their time comes, be worthy to meet and dwell with them
throughout the countless ages of Eternity.
Wish I could give
the number of the descendants. Their
daughter, Ellen, alone had fifteen children, twelve of their own and three
adopted. Forty three grand children, 152
great grand children and thirteen great great grand children.
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