Shepherd Pierce Hutchings Born: November 29, 1818; Norwalk, Huron, Ohio Married: Eliza Ann Pectol Died: July 23, 1895; Springville, Utah Immigration Date: 1849 in the Richards Company

Shepherd Pierce Hutchings and Eliza Ann Pectol

"I feel this is my duty, to give the history of that which has taken place through the journey of my life. My name is Shepherd Pierce Hutchings, born Nov. 29 at 7:00 a.m. in the town of Norwalk, Huron County, in the state of Ohio, in the year 1818. My father's name was Elias Hutchings, the son of Asa, the son of Thomas, the son of Thomas Hutchings. My mother's name was Sally Smith or Cox. She was the daughter of John and Amy Cox, born 26 Feb. 1794, Somerset Co., New Jersey."

When Shepherd Pierce was very young the family moved into the county of Cuyahoga, in the township of Orange, along the Chagrin River in Ohio.

Young Shepherd began work when he was about 8 years old, riding horses to plow in the corn for 5 cents a day. The family was very poor and destitute, and was continually having their property attached and seized by the law and sold for little or nothing.

Elias and Sally (Sarah) Hutchings, his parents, embraced the Gospel in 1830 and the following spring Shepherd, 13 years old, was baptized in March 183 1, in the Chagrin River. They had to cut the ice, which was very thick, and the weather was extremely cold. Elder John Woodard baptized him and he was confirmed by Elders Lyman White and Whitmore into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

In 1834 his father, Elias, was called to go to Zion's Camp to fight for members of the Church who had been driven out of Jackson County, Missouri.

The following summer Shepherd, 16 years, and Hovey, 17 years old, had to work very hard chopping and clearing land, fencing and digging wells to completely sustain the family, then numbering ten. They continued taking care of the family in 1836 while their father started on a mission to the East. He returned five months later.

In 1837 Hovey, Shepherd and two other boys set out for Caldwell County, Missouri to gather with the Saints.

Shepherd says, "The mobbing against the church had begun, arraying themselves and to rob and plunder and destroy property, and killing in a most inhuman manner. It seemed as though all hell had burst asunder, for all the dregs of the bottom of hell had risen to extreme heights, to show forth power against the Saints. The Missourians were more savage than the red men of the forests. They seemed to be regardless of human feelings, and nothing was so wicked they wouldn't try."

At this time Shepherd was ten miles south of Farr West dangerously sick with measles, so bad that he couldn't even turn over in bed. The man he lived with and worked for became afraid of the mobs and moved his family to Richmond for safety, so he was left alone on an old straw bed.

His brother Hovey came to see him and stayed to care for him, and then he came down with the measles. Shepherd watched the movements of the mobs by day and sat with his brother by night, nursing him. As soon as Hovey was strong enough to travel, they set out trying to get to a safer place. They started out on a back road to a destination of some 50 miles. A friend, Nathan Ames was going along to guide them. After they had traveled some eight miles, a short distance at a time because of Hovey's weakened condition, they were surrounded by a mob. Though they were very frightened, Shepherd insisted that the best course would be to boldly walk right up to them.

Bogard, their captain, commanded them to present arms and prepared to shoot. When the young men reached the mob, he gave orders to return arms and stand at ease.

Shepherd greeted them and asked why they were armed. They took the young man as prisoners and told them they should soon die. He ordered them to be searched, and were surprised they didn't have arms.

Shepherd replied that they were in a civilized country and had no need for arms. Bogard sent some men to get whips, swearing they would whip them to death.

Shepherd told them they looked like a good set of men and he was sure they would not kill persons unless they were guilty of death. He went on to say, "I am a son and descendant of parents who fought for your freedom and mine. We have violated none of the laws of the land, and we claim protection at your hands." Some of the mob were favorably impressed but most of them cursed and threatened.

It was a day Shepherd never forgot. They had had neither food nor drink all day, nor did they want any. Evening came and the men sent for whips did not return. He afterward learned that they had previously joined the mob for protection. One man knew the boys to be harmless and of good, character. He made such a strong plea in their behalf that the men did not return with the whips.

After using every honorable means he could think of, Shepherd finally told the mob that Hovey was just breaking out with the measles. Immediately, the leader told them to go. He knew they were very contagious.

When the exterminating orders came to the Saints in Missouri, many thousands of men rallied out against the Saints, with their commanders at their heads. The Prophet Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon were put in jail in chains. Many Mormons were killed in a most barbarian and brutal manner, many were plundered and robbed, while others were whipped almost to death, and women ravished. Shepherd Pierce Hutchings was a witness to it all.

In 1839 Shepherd and his brothers, William and Hovey, were rowing across the Illinois River in a large canoe, when the river got rough and the waves became four or five feet high. He was standing up at the stem trying to get the craft across the swells, when he was knocked out of the boat, down under the water, He was buried deep and had a hard time reaching the top, only to be dashed in the face again, nearly strangling him- Finally he spotted the canoe a long ways up the river with his brothers still in it. Finding his hat floating nearby he threw it into the air, thus catching the attention of his brothers who quickly came to his rescue.

Shepherd gratefully expressed his appreciation to the Lord. "Thus we see that the Lord is all powerful and can lengthen out our days on earth and preserve us from all danger in times of trouble and fear. While I have been and am living on earth may all my days be spent to his praises. Many times how forgetful we are. Poor weak mortals of clay, subject to folly and the allurements of this world, forgetting the angels of mercy that stand by us each day, and who continually entice us to God and his ways."

Shortly after this he took a boat for Naples and found his father's family sick with the fever and ague. He took sick also. Three of his little sisters died with the candor: the twins, Mary and Martha then 8 years old, and Lavina, a little over nine. Gradually he got better, but started having trouble with his teeth as they ached and pained him terribly. The doctor pulled several of them and one broke off. He started chewing tobacco to still the pain of his teeth.

In November of 1839, after much deliberation, he married Lucinda Clark. She proved to be unhealthy and was sick much of the time. In spite of this, they were quite happy together, setting up their own home. Soon they were blessed with a baby girl whom they named Paulina.

When Joseph Smith was candidate for President of the United States, Shepherd was called on a political mission to advocate the Prophet's views of the power and policy of government of the United States.

In one place he learned that his landlord was a Democrat and in politics and he told him, "Sir, understanding you are a Democrat in principles, therefore I have called upon you as I am somewhat dependent upon my brethren, the Democrats, for support, as I have no money. I am an advocate of Jefferson principles, who helped to frame our country. I have some views and policies of government with me that I wish to offer to the public."

Shepherd blinded him by the way he addressed him and was received with the greatest of pleasure by him, giving him supper and his lodging for the night.

He had success the next day but when he returned that night his Landlord was not friendly, and would not let him have his saddle bags without paying him for the last night's lodging. Having no money, he prayed that the Lord would lead him to someone who would help him.

After walking some 300 or 400 steps, he met an old farmer and after passing the time of day with him he said, "Sir, I am in want of a little money and I thought to ask you if you could accommodate me."

After telling him what he wanted of the money, the farmer gave it to him, and also asked for more information about his views on politics, and gave him 25 cents more. He then went back to the hotel, paid his bill, got his saddlebags, and went on his way rejoicing.

On the 27 June 1844 the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred in cold blood, and the missionaries were all called home.

At the conference on Aug. 8, 1844 Sidney Rigdon claimed that it was his legal right to be President of the Church because he was the Prophet Joseph's counselor. While Brigham Young was talking on that occasion, he was transfigured and looked like the Prophet Joseph Smith, and even sounded like him. Shepherd Hutchings was there and he declared that he knew Brigham Young was the right one to lead the Church ... for he had seen and heard enough to know for himself that Brigham Young was called of God for that purpose.

In the year 1846 he received his endowments and prepared to go west with the Saints. Because he did not have the means he couldn't go to Utah with the pioneers of 1847. So he went back to Missouri and put up a shop mending wagons until the year 1849 when he again started for the Salt Lake Valley. He joined the Richards Company of fifty along with his wife's parents, as he wanted to be able to help them with their work. They had a hard trip crossing the plains. Shepherd, being a wheelwright had to mend all the wagons that broke down. Besides, he had to stand guard every few nights and then had to drive three yoke of cattle with the wagon all day, so it was very hard on him. His outfit consisted of one big wagon, one small one and a horse. He hired Eliza Ann Pectol to go along with them to help with the work. She was glad to go because she wanted to go to Utah herself. It seemed an endless journey, crossing streams, over rocks, sand, and all kinds of roads through all kinds of weather. They stopped one day a week to wash and cook and would stop on Sundays to rest and hold meetings. There were some hard storms along the way.

It was yet early in the day when they stopped on a little stream called Deer Creek where there was fresh water, feed for the cattle, and wood to bum. Shepherd took his gun to find some game. When he came near a thicket there were fifteen or twenty large wolves surrounding him. They were very vicious and growled, showing their teeth. Being very frightened, and knowing no one else was close enough to help him, he reasoned that if he could spot the leader and kill him, it might baffle the wolves long enough to escape with his life.

He decided which one was the ring leader, aimed and shot, killing the wolf so it rolled down an embankment. The other wolves looked at the dead wolf and then at him, not knowing what to do. He took his hat and gun and started swinging them, and hallowed with all his might. This seemed to weaken their courage and they began to retreat a little. Then he hurried back to camp, glad to be alive. He believed that killing the one wolf was all that saved him as it gave them something else to eat.

The next day they arrived on "Big Mountain" and a storm came up. They left hurriedly, not wasting time to prepare and eat breakfast, but soon the snow was two feet deep. They continued on, and slowly the clouds passed and the storm stopped, so all was well. Afterwards they learned that the snow on "Big Mountain" had been five feet deep, so they were very thankful they had escaped all right.

They arrived in Salt Lake on the evening of 29 Oct. 1849. Shepherd found a two room house in the fort which they rented for the winter.

The warm friendship and mutual trust that grew between Eliza Ann and Shepherd through the months of trial and hardship while crossing the plains turned to a beautiful love and caring for one another. Then on I Jan 1850 they went to Brigham Young's office and were married by the Prophet. On 14 July 1852 she received her endowments in the Endowment House, and on 6 Mar. 1856 she was sealed to Shepherd.

Eliza Ann Pectol was born in Floyd County, Indiana on 18 Nov. 1832. Her parents, with her family, moved to Madison County, Missouri, where her father owned and ran a store. It was here they first heard the Gospel and joined the church.

In the spring of 1850 Shepherd bought a lot in the 19th Ward and built a house. He sold his yoke of cattle for farming land and gave his wagon as a $10.00 donation for the Seventies Hall in Salt Lake City.

The following summer he and his family were rebaptized, which was according to the counsel of the church to all the Saints that came in at that time.

"When I, Verlean Brewster, was verifying all of the baptism and endowment dates of my forefathers a few years ago, I wasn't able to verify the baptism dates of Shepherd Pierce Hutchings and Eliza Ann Pectol. He had originally been baptized in 1831 and Eliza Ann in 1847 but we were unable to find the record. When they had been driven from place to place by the mobs many of the records were undoubtedly destroyed. After searching in the ward records of several places they had lived, I stumbled onto the information that they had lived in the 19" Ward in Salt Lake in the early-days."

"I found the old ward records and went over the baptisms carefully, and hurriedly skipped over other business notations and minutes of the ward bishopric meetings. I reached the end of the microfilm and hadn't found it, thinking we might have to have them rebaptized. I put the microfilm on automatic, and closed my eyes while it rewound. Suddenly it stopped, and there were the names of Lucinda, Shepherd, and Eliza Ann Pectol with the record of their baptisms. The reason I hadn't found them was because it was in the middle of other ward business instead of with the list of baptisms."

"Chills ran up and down my spine! It couldn't have been a coincidence! I felt strongly that Eliza Ann Pectol Hutchings was really there and had stopped the machine so I would find the needed records. They had done the ordinances themselves and she didn't want anyone to have to do it again."

In September of 1850, Shepherd, while building a threshing machine, caught his hand in it, breaking three fingers in three places each. The pain was excruciating but the fingers finally healed.

During the next few years he built another house and shop for himself. He built wagons, buggies, houses, cupboard, tables and chairs for extra income. In 1855 Shepherd gave his first wife a bill of divorcement. They had been unhappy for many years.

Also in 1855 he was called on a mission among the Piute Indians and was to look over conditions in Carson Valley, Nevada. He moved his wife to Manti to be near her parents.

They spent most of their time traveling. They usually had a group of friendly Indians traveling with them. Food was scarce; but they shared their bread and water with the Indians, who seemed grateful and appreciative. Shepherd was very disappointed in his traveling companions. He said, "I have been insulted several times and have not said much, but I must here remark that I am disappointed in traveling with a company of Elders whose topics of conversation is that of vulgarity. It generally was the last word before prayers and the first word after prayer, and I must say I am sick and sickened. I do feel lonesome. As the poet ways, "Birds of a feather will all flock together", but in this flock of birds there are some of different feathers, and I do not think they will keep our company long, for it seems as though they do not consider their standing and calling. I have often said to diem, "Let us be prepared to fill our missions with honor to our God. Then if we get into straightened circumstances, or in danger, our Father who is in Heaven will remember and protect us from harm, and he will fill all our necessities and wants."

Conditions grew worse, but ended up with each of the men apologizing to Shepherd for their actions.

On the 4th of July Shepherd expressed his feelings in his journal. "The Fourth of July, the day of our forefather's Declaration of Independence and freedom. I am one of the descendants of those noble parents who fought and shed their blood for the freedom of their children. In my bosom there is a burning of freedom and liberty--the freedom of our country and the freedom of our homes."

"But how has it been with me? I have been driven from my home and robbed of my property, bound as a prisoner. My life has been threatened. I have been chased and hunted as a doe on a mountain. I have been separated from the land and home that gave me birth. And more over, the land that I would have made my home and the place where I would have been happy; thus because of my religion, and the true principles that emanated from God. I have, under the penalty of extermination or oath, been forced therefrom, and have been subjected to all the privations of a people, goaded, plundered, and robbed, driven from place to place, and from land to land, having no place to rest in peace."

"By the order of Elder Hyde I was sent upon the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains north west of Reese's Station to erect a flag for the government to see that they might determine the line between California and Utah Territory. I started at 8:00 a.m. and finally got to the top. This peak was one of the highest of the Sierra Nevada mountains and was quite erect to climb, and it tired me very much. The distance to the top to the mountain I should judge it to be eight miles. I reached the top as soon as I could, and erected the flag. From the top of this peak I could see Lake Bigler and Wanshaw Lake. I could see as far as the eye could see. As soon as I had erected the flag I returned down again. I got back to the Station at dark, but was very tired and hungry."

Shepherd describing the Indians said, "Desert grass grows on the sand by the lake. It produces a great quantity of seed, and from this seed the Indians powder and beat it to make bread. This bread, and rabbits, and fish is mostly what the natives live on. The Indians mostly naked, and do not have guns. They only have bows and arrows, but are very dexterous and sure with the bow. In shooting, they very seldom draw the bow without getting the game."

When he returned six months later, he met his wife on the road home. After spending most of the night talking with her, he wrote in his journal:

"We were very joyful to meet each other on earth again. If our joy is so great to meet on earth, how great our joy will be to meet each other in the world to come, no more to be separated from our God, and where we will know as we are known. Then oh ... how great will be the morning of the Resurrection Day when we shall put on immortality and be clothed with authority and power from our God who reigns on high. 0 then may I so live here below that I may have a Resurrection in that great day, then why should earthly matters swerve us from our duties and be deprived of a Resurrection with the Just."

"And while I write at this time something seems to whisper to me that I am a stranger here ... tells me that I am here by the will of God, and to be proven by him, and determine what I'll be. My former knowledge has been kept from me that I might pass through scenes that I otherwise could not do. To think of this short life ... how uncertain and how fading all things are. When I would do good, evil is always present to destroy all pleasure and happiness. We are always filled with earthly matter that keeps our minds suspended."

"There are some have plenty of friends today and tomorrow scarcely none. Sometimes we are fortunate and gather wealth around us in great abundance and have our hearts desires, and in a moments time it is hurled from us.

"So have I looked at the natural man on earth, and if such state of things were to constitute mankind's happiness, I of all men would be most miserable, for I could not make myself happy therein. My eyes are on the future, after this mortal body is decayed or dissolved, when I shall come forth from the dead and have put on immortality. This is the kind of happiness I am looking for, when I can associate with the heavenly angels and beings that are perfect, to be associated with light and knowledge. This is what I call riches. The blessings of eternity that ever remains and does not fade away. Then we shall know the creating power, and how the Gods created the worlds that are so numerous ... that shines forth in number as the stars in the firmament above. Then shall we realize the laws as they are controlled, and what relation they stand one to another. The Lord knows the end of this world of sin, and when the set time will come to change this world and make it become new, fit for the abode of the Saints."

A notation from the journal of Shepherd Pierce Hutchings:

"Feb. 1, 1856 at one o'clock p.m. I started on my way to Salt Lake City on horse back to see President Young to learn of him if my family and I were to go to Carson Valley this coming spring. Previous to my going I called my family together in solemn prayers. I asked the Lord to protect them and preserve them from every evil power and from sickness, sorrow and distress that his parental care might be over them, and that the angels of mercy might be near them continually, until I shall be returned unto their bosoms again. Also, 0 Lord, have mercy on me Thy servant, Thou knowest I desire Thy will, and now Father who art in Heaven, as I am about to see Thy servant Brigham Young, may Thy spirit by upon him, and may he counsel according to Thy will concerning me, Thy servant, and the glory and honor be given to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen."

Planning to take his wife and family back to Carson Valley the following spring, they sold their home in Manti and went to Salt Lake. They were unable to sell some property to provide tile necessary equipment to take the trip, so President Young told them not to worry about it--just wait until the way opened for them.

While trying to arrange a way to get to Carson Valley, he had his wife and family in a house at Cherry settlement when Shepherd became very ill and in much pain. -This lasted almost a week. When he recovered he wrote in his journal:

"I feel to thank the Lord for His healing power upon me, that I am able to use the pen, and that I am rescued from the pangs of pain and torment. My wife, Eliza Ann, has been exceedingly good to me in all respects, since she has been my wife and companion. I feel to ask the blessings of the Lord upon her all her life long upon the earth, and that she may be made joyful in the blessings of the Lord and that we may live together on earth in peace and happiness, and also throughout eternity to come. My neighbors also have been kind to me in my sickness and I feel to write about them here. May heaven's best wishes and blessings be upon them, and so may the Lord do to all His good sons and daughters forever. Amen."

Soon after, they bought a house in Centerville, and times were very hard. The grasshoppers had eaten so many of the crops the past two years, and the winter had been unusually severe. Many cattle and sheep had died of starvation. During the following summer flour and food stuff were very scarce. They went without bread for three weeks, eating mostly greens, dried corn, squash and beans.

In 1857 Shepherd and Brother Joseph Fisher built the first grist mill in Utah for John Taylor. They worked at it until the following year, 1857. About this time Johnston's Army was headed for Salt Lake and most of the Saints went south for protection. However, Johnston's Army did not come into the valley until the next spring. President Young agreed for them to come in and pass through Salt Lake City but should not quarter within forty miles of Salt Lake City. While most of the families moved back to Salt Lake City their family stayed in Springville.

The Indians on the warpath were also a great worry to the people. At one time, when their oldest boy, Carlos, went *into the foothills for wood with two friends, one was killed. Their son and the other boy were upset and frightened, but safe, and were very thankful to still be alive.

Kolob days began, of which Shepherd took an active part. The authorities of the church had ordered bands of brethren to go to the different high mountains where they could see with glasses into Salt Lake City, and if the soldiers made an attack, a flag would be raised. The Kolobers were to arm themselves and give the alarm by building a fire in a certain place, and then go to Salt Lake in defense of the Church and people. They wanted Shepherd to go secretly with them as he was a man that could be trusted, and of good ability.

Shepherd was appointed mail carrier and every three or four days he would take mail to their families and bring other mail back. He would make the round trip the same night, which was very hard on him physically.

Through much exposure, hardships of Kolob, and his past life of mobbings of the Saints, his health broke down and he was unable to work.

At Eliza Ann's request he built her a loom so she could earn a living for the family. From their journal we take the words of Eliza Ann:

"I can say we had a hard time getting a living. I know what it is to hear my children cry for bread. During this time flour was twenty-five dollars per hundred pounds, which was due to the grasshoppers destroying the crops. It was heart rending, but that is all past and gone. The Bible tells that we must be tried in all things, either here or hereafter. I am glad that this trial is past and gone. Our trials in this life are for our good and learning. The Lord says, "How do you know but what your greatest trials are your greatest blessings?" Then let us bear the trials of this life with patience, and great will be our reward in heaven."

Shepherd had married two other wives, Mary Cope and Sara Ann Williamson in 1861. Eliza Ann also taught them to weave. They also made brooms, baskets, and tallow candles, braided straw and made hats, all to sell. In this way she kept the family living until Shepherd's health improved, which was about seven years later.

Flour became very scarce. They had a large family, and often went without flour. It was during these hardships that a peculiar incident happened.

In those days they made salt rising bread. Eliza Ann would make a sponge and stir the rising in, and then cover the sponge with a layer of flour and when it was light, mix it into a stiff dough. Then she would put it in pans to rise and bake. On this day she had prepared the rising, made the sponge and covered it with flour, and set it outside in the sun to rise.

She then went about her work. While doing so she noticed through the window a man approaching the house coming toward the door. She didn't recognize him as anyone she knew, but thought- it was some caller. When she didn't hear him knock she went to the door and to her surprise, there was no one near. It seemed strange to her, so she made an investigation. They weren't living in the city but just at the just at the edge of town on a small plot of ground. The house was back in from the road and there were no close neighbors, so one had to go a long distance to get out of sight. Eliza Ann thought this was very mysterious.

When she went to mix her bread she found the flour cracked apart to from strange looking characters. She then called Shepherd, who looked it over carefully. It looked like some kind of ancient character, and was very plain and distinct. Shepherd said he felt they had been visited by one of the three Nephites, and the message must mean that they would never want for bread again. From that time one, they always had all the bread they needed.

Eliza Ann continues their journal, "In the year 1861 or 1862 Shepherd bought seven acres of land at Springville. Then we soon became more comfortable. We lived on this land and worked hard. We got it cleared from oak brush and willows and etc. which was very hard to clear off."

"About this time Shepherd had made a turning lathe with which he turned chair rungs and table legs. He was not very well, yet he could hold the chisel on the stick of wood as they would revolve, and it would turn out fancy chair rungs and legs while the children would turn the large master wheel by hand. He was able to sit as he worked, so we were able to make a living this way."

"Before I write farther I will note the following incident which I should have written before. In the summer of 1852, 1, Eliza Ann Pectol Hutchings, received my endowments in the Council House in Salt Lake City which had been set apart for that purpose at that time."

"In the year 1876 Shepherd homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land between Springville and Spanish Fork. Situated three miles south, direct from Springville. On Shepherd's birthday 29 Nov. 1877 myself and husband and our children, who were not married, moved upon this land, which was in the state of nature. It was a forest of sage brush and greasewood. I will give the names of my children that were not married at this time: Stephen, 14 years, Asa, 11 years, Silas, 8 years, Eliza Minerva, 5 years, Amelia, 2 years, and Naoma, just a few months old. We had to work hard to improve this land and make a home. Some of my other children that were married had their homes close around our home at that time. I will name these that lived close by us: Mary Ellen Hatch, Carlos Lake, and Sarah Jane Strong. Arlitta Probart lived at Lakeshore and Lodema Cheney lived at Huntington, Utah."

"At this time Shepherd's health was some better. Within three or four years we became more comfortable. The year 1885 we were quite well fixed and in good shape to live in comfort, and we have lived in peace and harmony every since."

"On my birthday 18 Nov. 1888, our son Asa died. He was a good faithful Latter Day Saint leaving a wife and one child, a son, named Asa Earl, who died in March 1890."

"In the spring of 1895 my husband's health began to fail exceedingly, gradually growing worse until 23 Jul 1895 when he departed this mortal life, and has gone to receive a well earned reward of a true Latter Day Saint. He has gone to join his worthy parents and his children who have gone before, and the Prophet Joseph Smith whom he dearly loved."

"On 16 Jan. 1896, our daughter, Amelia, died with pneumonia. She was promised to marry William C. King. She was afterwards sealed by proxy to him in the Salt Lake Temple. Her sister Mary E. Hatch stood as proxy for her."

"Thus I have parted with husband and children, and likewise grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Up to this date 16 Jan. 1909 1 am the mother of fifteen children, nine of whom are living yet, all of them married and have homes and families of their own. I am grandmother of eighty-two children and great grandmother of seventy children. I am still on earth in my seventy-seventh year. My health is poor, though how long I will be permitted to live on earth I know not. My desire is that I may live until I have done some temple work for the living and for the dead, and until the destined time of the Lord my God shall see best to call me home."

"May God bless all my posterity with his Holy Spirit and keep them in their path of duties, and that he will keep them on and on down to the latest generation. I wish to bear my testimony to all, that I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the most high God; that we had an existence before we came upon this earth. I believe that if we keep the commandments of God we shall go on and on to perfection through time and eternity. May God bless all my sons and daughters is my desire."

Eliza Ann took seriously ill in Oct. 1911, with creeping paralysis and died 25 Oct. 1911 at the age of 78 years. At her death she had a posterity of 200 souls.

What a tremendous posterity she and Shepherd have now, 82 years later. May we, her posterity, always remember Eliza Ann and Shepherd Pierce Hutchings, our dear progenitors. May we live through our trials, staying true to the faith they suffered to give us, and may we always treasure this great heritage they left us.

Stephen, their son, said in describing them, "Father was of light complexion, light brown hair, and blue grey eyes. He was six feet tall, well and evenly built, and weighed at middle age, two hundred pounds. He was of stem disposition and had good control of his children. He was honest and upright and taught his children the same. He was of English descent."

"Mother was of light complexion. She had light blue eyes, and light brown hair. She was five feet two inches high and weighed about one hundred fifty or sixty pounds. She was of even temperament and full of love, patience, and long suffering. She would always say, "Speak all the good you can about everyone, and keep the bad to yourself."

Copied from The Trunk of the Tree: It's Roots and Branches, compiled by Verlean Davis Brewster

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