Genealogy Chat

http://www*maystar*org/familyhistories.htm (replace * with .) Unbelievable family story: HARRIET ELLEN MC FARLANE: 'I was born Feb. 20, 1886 at 2138 Lincoln Avenue, Ogden City, Utah to James and Martha Smuin McFarlane. My paternal grandfather homesteaded this large piece of ground. His home was next to ours. He raised a splendid vegetable garden, also berries, apples, pears, apricots and plums. Father kept a cow, chickens and pigs. We were a large family, James, May, Mattie, Joseph, John, Louise, William, Arthur, myself, Florence and Lawrence. The first home of my parents was a log house with home made furniture with two or three windows, built-ins if you please, which were shelves with curtains. Now these curtains and those at the windows were made from mother's white Swiss wedding dress.' ... We helped in other ways, too. Louise, John, Alice, May and I were Sunday School teachers. John, Alice and I in the Mutual. John was still president when the LDS Church sponsored boy scouts and it was in Waterloo Ward that the first troop was organized and became Troop No. 1. John's wife Alice Liddle McFarlane was the founder of the Beehive Girls. She organized the first troop of Campfire Girls in the city (Waterloo Ward) which later became Beehive Girls. May and Louise were Primary workers, Louise staying with it for more than 30 years, being called to the stand in the Tabernacle to receive a corsage on her conclusion of 30 years.' RITA FLORENCE MILLECAM: (From her story): 'I was born under the covenant in my Grandmother's house, 360 Harrison Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah on the ninth of September, 1911. My parents were Julius Millecam and Harriet Ellen McFarlane. We lived for about the first four years of my life in Salt Lake City, in a little house on Kensington Avenue. We were only a few blocks away from my Grandmother McFarlane's house. I used to enjoy my visits there very much. Aunt Louise lived next door with her children and Uncle Arthur lived next door to them. They both had children close to my age. I don't remember much about our home on Kensington, except that the Saunders twins lived across the street, and Alice Coombs lived next door. The house itself was not large, and we had an outdoor toilet in the backyard that locked from the outside with a hook fastener. I delighted in locking my mother in it, and she would pretend to cry, and then I would let her out, thinking it was great fun...' There is much more to this story, although I don't think it mentions Louise anywhere else.

You're quite welcome, Richard. While they aren't part of your Mears family, two people have contributed to Rootsweb (McFarlane): http://wc*rootsweb*com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi Type surname Mears, birthplace Utah

Thanks again for all that Lisa. Have just been off reading them. Whilst it does relate to Gilberts wife and her family, does give me a good idea and a very interesting insight into their early family life there. I assume living in Salt Lake City, and being 'born under the covenant' means Louisa's family were Morman? Presumably Gilbert must have joined the church too at some point soon after emigration, which is again interesting to note.

http://www*familysearch*org/ George Andrew MEARS (AFN: BC4X-MM) Pedigree Sex: M Family Birth: Abt. 1853 Bishops Waltham, Hntshr, England Spouse: Sarah Jane KNIGHT (AFN: BC4X-NS) Gilbert MEARS (AFN: 1KDR-G1) Sex: M Birth: 10 Dec 1879 Bishops Waltham, Hntshr, England Death: 10 Jul 1976 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut Parents Father: George Andrew MEARS (AFN: BC4X-MM) Mother: Sarah Jane KNIGHT (AFN: BC4X-NS) Spouse: Louisa MC FARLANE (AFN: 1FWH-85) Marriage: 17 May 1906 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut Note: Submitter's name is included (view site for name and address)

Richard, while I didn't read the entire story, I found it fascinating. It does sound like the family belonged to the LDS Church. (It's the middle of the night here and I'm not thinking too straight.) I did notice that on Gilbert's immigration record one or two passengers above and below his name were headed to Utah and I was wondering at the time of reading it, if they were Mormon. (Usually there are a variety of destinations - not typically one state.) On a personal note, I visited Salt Lake two or three times years ago and just loved it! The area is beautiful - mountains, snow in the winter (quite a bit of snow!), beautiful architecture, etc. The people were also very welcoming. It would be a lovely place to live.

It's strange, because Gilbert lived to a ripe old age 96. He outlived his younger sister Emily,my great grandmother , who also lived to a grand age, by 4 years. My own grandmother though she was born long after he emigrated, I would have thought would have known of her uncle Gilberts existance from her mother, but nobody ever mentioned any family in the States, Morman or otherwise, to my memory. Perhaps if he did change his religion they didn't quite approve? Who knows, but must thank you again to all the effort you have gone to in finding this information for me. It's nice to know he moved someone nice and beautiful, and whatever religion or way of life he chose, appears to have lived a fairly happy, certainly very long, life.

I have an ancestor was was born in Ireland in 1822 and died in Canada in 1928. So much for our ancestors not living a long life, eh? :) I also have a marriage between Church of England and Catholic families. It was agreed that the boys would be brought up in one faith and the girls in the other. However, upon the approaching death of the only daughter (when she was an adult), after much 'discussion' she 'gave up' her religion and died sharing the same religion as her brothers. Sometimes religious conflicts arise. Perhaps your family either lost touch with Gilbert, or they didn't approve of his marriage (into the LDS family)? Life must have been very hard in Utah in the early 1900's. But if the people were anything like the ones I met, I can understand why he stayed. If you are nosy like me, I would suggest googling Salt Lake City and taking a look at the area. I also have been googling around, trying to find out more about the McFarlane's, as I think there is more to be found (which may lead to you further information about the Mears). I didn't continue looking for any information about Gilbert's children. Are you interested in them? If so, Rose may be back, or I will be later today. Signing off for now.

Thanks for the advice Lisa I have found the following info on IGI for four of their children Martha Louise Mears 8 dec 1907 d 19 dec 1986 Clifford Gilbert Mears 20 Feb 1910 d. 12 Feb 1985 Ruth May Mears 21 April 1914 d.1 July 1915 Douglas Lynwood Mears 26 Oct 1916 d. 27 june 2001 There must have been at leats one more though as there is a Wallace Mears aged 8 with them on the 1930 census extract you gave me. Can't find any info on him/her so far though.

Richard, I can't look right now for the children, but I did find something else. Remember the Rootsweb findings? Someone posted on Rootsweb (Rick Kilby), and on Ancestry he has added photographs of the McFarlane family, including Louise and her parents and grandparents. He also posted (on Ancestry) other information, including a small, distant view of the McFarlane log cabin. Also there's a photograph of the McFarlane headstone - can't read the words too well, but it looks like: 'Pioneers of 1862 - Came to Utah with Israel Canfield Company.' The headstone has a carving of a covered wagon. I would think that if your Gilbert wanted to marry Louise, he would HAVE to become a member of the LDS Church, if he wasn't already. With the 'background' that her family had, I don't see how they would have allowed Gilbert to marry otherwise. I'm now sure you will find more on google regarding at least the McFarlanes. ----------------------------------------- Sending pm regarding Wallace D Mears. ---------------------------------------- Found a photograph of the headstone: http://155.97.12.155/mwdl/index.php/browse/byInstitution/3?sortId=&recordsPage=45 If that doesn't work, google 'israel canfield company'

Richard,are you still here? did you need a photo of the headstone for Louise Mcfarlane Mears , i live in Salt Lake City, altho the cemetary is about 20mins drive if you would like a photo i can probably go get you one next time i'm going down town, and thank you Lisa for your comment's on Salt Lake,it is beautiful. Pam