She was of Puritanic heritage, the first Bronson ancestor being Richard, her fifth great grandfather who was living in the state of Connecticut in the year 1640, then an aged man. Some of the Bronson descendents moved to New York state including those ancestors of Martha Ann, and thence to Ohio and Michigan.
Martha's childhood days were spent on her father's farm at Brownstown where she received educational training in the town schools. Her religious training was carefully taken care of by her parents, who like their forefathers were lovers of religious thought and freedom.
After being converted to the Latter-day Saint Church and baptized by missionaries in 1842, this family moved in 1845, to Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1846 they joined the saints who were evacuating their homes in Nauvoo because of expulsion orders from the governor of the state, and began the journey west with them. This company located for a short time at Winter Quarters in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where her mother who had been accustomed to comfortable surroundings at her home, became ill and died of flebitis.
The saints suffered terrible privations at Winter Quarters and many died from exposure, hunger and disease. This great loss left Martha, now thirteen years of age, her father, two brothers and her younger sister, to continue the journey westward, with the three heavy wagons, oxen, household goods and provisions. They traveled a distance then camped with the saints at Council Bluffs.
It was here that the call came from President Polk, to enlist five hundred men from among the suffering Mormon camps. When Martha's brother, Clinton, enlisted and marched away with the Battalion, it left one of their wagons without a driver, and little Martha was put to the task. Though but thirteen years old she drove three yoke of oxen hitched to a heavy wagon all the way from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to the Salt Lake Valley. Their one cow was driven all day and milked at night.
The Bronsons were placed in a company of ten ahead of the main body of travelers. It was the Daniel Spencer Company. Ira Eldredge was their captain. They were able to kill sufficient buffalo and game to provide themselves with meat. They encountered great herds of buffalo but the pioneers were never allowed to kill more animals than were needed for food. A number of times the herd became frightened by the wagon train and stampeded. At one time Martha had to dash for the wagon, and take cover while the herd jumped over the wagon tongue between the oxen and the wagon she was driving.
Martha's children have heard their mother relate how in passing through some of the settlements, people would stop them and look into some of their wagons. At one time, one said to her, upon looking at the boards which covered the sacks of flour to keep the storms from wetting it, "You have Joseph Smith's body in there."
When the family arrived in the valley they were given a place of residence in the fort which was then being erected. Martha attended school during the first winter at a little one room building in the fort, Zina D. Young being the teacher. The family had sufficient food left over after the journey, to last a year. But they divided it with others until it was all gone and they suffered hunger with the rest of them.
After living in the fort for about eighteen months, a tract of land near where the present Oregon Short Line Passenger Depot now stands, was assigned to Father Bronson and his family and he immediately moved on to it and began to build a house and to prepare the soil for seeding.
During these days Martha learned to speak the Indian language from the many Indians round about. From the boys who returned from the Battalion and a number of Spaniards who came to the fort she learned to speak Spanish.
Being very fond of dancing, Martha attended dancing school under Professor Brim. The dance hall in the fort was lighted with candles which stood in improvised candle sticks made of crossed nails driven in the wall. Dancing was one of her life's pleasures, and even when over eighty years of age she was light on her feet and enjoyed dancing to the fullest degree. At the age of about ninety, she danced to entertain the people of West Bountiful at a Ward Reunion.
The family moved to Fillmore remaining for one season. An incident occurred there which showed the high sense of honor characteristic of most of the Indians. One day an Indian entered the house of a white man, Mr. Robinson, by name, and not receiving the kind of reception he felt he should have received, spat in the bucket of water which was just inside the open window. This made Mr. Robinson very angry and he proceeded to thrash the Indian. In the melee, the Indian pulled a knife and stabbed Mr. Robinson in the abdomen, then fled. When the Indians learned the cause of the trouble, Chief Konosh had the insulting Indian taken prisoner and he sent word to the white people that if Mr. Robinson died, the Indian would be killed. The squaws went to the Robinson home and nursed and cared for the wounded man until he fully recovered - the offending Indian, during this entire time having been chained and guarded by other red men in the blacksmith shop, until the recovery, then was given his freedom. The family returned to Salt Lake City where Father Bronson received a call to return to the state of Michigan as a missionary and shortly thereafter, while performing his duty, he died from disease at the home of his wife's brother, Samuel, in 1854, and was buried there.
On February 10, 1856, Martha was married in Ogden City to Josiah Marsh Ferrin, the marriage being solemnized later in the Salt Lake Endowment House. Brother Ferrin had come with his parents in 1852 from the state of Pennsylvania to Utah.
Being a millwright and lumber man by occupation, he built a sawmill and a house in the northern part of Ogden valley at the mouth of Pine canyon and here the couple resided for four years. They moved then to a permanent residence which he had built in the new townsite of Eden. The sawmill having burnt down, Josiah built another one in a canyon called, Wolf Creek which served to give employment to many of the settlers and also to supply them with lumber.
Brother Ferrin became Bishop of the Eden ward in which capacity he served for twenty seven years. Earlier, in about the year of 1868, he was called to fulfill a mission in England. He departed leaving his wife and seven small children. Martha faced the hardships bravely and endured the trials patiently. Not only did she manage the farm and business and provide for her family, but she struggled to keep their faith in God and the love of righteousness burning in their hearts.
Martha learned early in life to harness, drive, and ride horses. Of necessity she would drive to Ogden on many occasions to market lumber or farm products, returning sometimes late at night with flour, clothing or other supplies for the family. The rough, narrow road built close to the stream and crossing the river at four different places, led through the deep canyon. Only at certain convenient places was the road made wide enough for teams to pass.
The Shanghai Bridge, situated a little east of where Wheeler's Creek emptied into the river, was long and narrow, standing about fifteen feet above the water. It had no railings on the sides and was approached by a curve in the road which made it an extremely dangerous place especially on a dark night.
The Ferrin's owned a little black mare named Polly. She was wild and skittish. Snorting, kicking, and running seemed to be her favorite habits. Even grown people could scarcely manage her; yet at that time she was Martha's favorite riding animal. Amid prancing, pawing, and whirling, Martha would succeed in saddling and mounting her and with a quick dash away they would go with the fleetness of a fawn.
For many years Polly was the swiftest horse in the whole valley. She was beautiful to look at and her four white feet moving so swiftly made a white streak beneath her shining black body. From both Eden and Huntsville, owners would bring their horses to compete in a running race with her. But all were doomed to defeat when matched against the fleet footed Polly.
One morning, with Polly hitched to the wagon beside a gentle horse, Martha took her little baby and her eleven year old son, James, and drove through the canyon to Ogden. She left the other children at home in care of their older sister.
One day passed; evening came on and the absent ones had not returned. A black cloud appeared and thunder began to roll, lightning flashed and the rain poured down in torrents. Then more lightning flashes and terrible cracks of thunder. It seemed almost as if the very heavens would be torn asunder. The night was coal black except for the lightning.
The children at home were very worried. They wondered if their mother and the two children might have stayed in Ogden City or whether they were overtaken in the canyon by the storm. They went often to the door to listen but heard nothing except the awful thunder and the downpour of rain. They thought of the Shanghai Bridge high above the water with no side railings and some loose boards in the floor. Anxiously they waited and watched as the hours passed by.
Finally, about midnight, the glad news of their arrival was sounded and the anxiety was over. The mother and the two children came in, the team was put away, wet clothes were changed for dry ones, and then Martha told her children the story.
They were overtaken by the storm soon after leaving Ogden. They were invited to stay overnight at some of the few dwellings along the way, even in the canyon where a few houses were standing by the roadside. But the mother knew her family would be worried and felt she just must travel on. She passed a number of wagons, teams and drivers who had camped for the night because of the storm. Some had called out to her advising her to accept hospitality at a settler's home. But she refused and with a prayer in her heart and her faith in God she traveled on.
Presently she heard a rattle which informed her that the inside tug on the wild mare had come loose and dropped to the ground. She stopped the team and wondered how to get it fastened up again. She could not depend upon the strength of the little boy to hold the team while she got down and fastened up the tug. She couldn't allow him in the darkness to get down by the wild mare's hind feet and feel around for the tug. The animal might kick him. What should she do? Finally she decided to let the boy try. Down the little boy climbed to attempt the dangerous task while the mother's heart beat with anxiety.
The child found the tug and hooked it up during which time, to their great surprise, the wild mare stood like a gentle creature. Time after time during the drive, this adversity repeated itself with equal success in fastening the tug each time. On they traveled in the dark fearing for the crossing of the dangerous bridge, yet trusting in the Lord that no harm would come to them.
As the curve at the end of the bridge was approached the lightning began again to flash in quick succession making the way as clear and bright as day. The curve was rounded safely as the lightning continued without intermission until the bridge was safely crossed. As the horses' feet struck the solid earth at the other end of the bridge, the lightning ceased and intense darkness again prevailed. But the danger point was passed and who but God had given them light to see the way?
After Brother Ferrin's death on June 19, 1904, Sister Martha Ferrin went to live in the big brown house on 24th street in Ogden. Here she was near to some of her married daughters who looked after her needs. At the age of ninety she could enjoy the ward picture shows or read the newspaper without glasses.
She died January 14, 1927, age ninety-two years. At that time she left a posterity of 192 descendants.
Husband: Josiah Marsh Ferrin: born 22 Jan. 1834 at Cherry Creek, Chautaugua, New York, son of Samuel Ferrin and Sally Clotilda Powell; died 20 June 1904; md. 10 Feb. 1856.
Wife: Martha Ann Bronson: born 13 June 1834, Brownstown, Wayne, Michigan; dau. of Leman Bronson and Lucy Brass; died 14 Jan. 1926, Ogden, Weber, Utah.
Children: (Ferrin)# 1- 5 b. Ogden, Weber, Utah; 6 - 11 Eden, Weber, Utah.
1. Josiah Leamon: born 26 Sept. 1856.
2. Martha Jane: born 26 Sept. 1856, died 30 May 1951, md. 27 Dec. 1877, Zacharriah Ballantyne.
3. James Clinton: born 30 Aug. 1858.
4. Thaddeus Marsh: born 9 Sept. 1860.
5. Moroni Daniel: born 6 July 1862.
6. George Elihu: born 30 Aug. 1864, died 4 Apr. 1960, md. 13 July 1887, Josephine Mortensen.
7. Wilmer: born 4 Oct. 1866, died 25 Apr. 1944; md. 25 Oct. 1893, Nancy May Prichett.
8. Lucy Lorenda: born 26 Aug. 1868, died 22 Dec. 1948; md. 3 May 1893, William Stringham.
9. Winslow Bronson: born 27 May 1871, died 12 July 1910; (never married)
10. Chariton Philip: born 8 Mar. 1874, died Dec. 1942; md. 19 Oct. 1898, Ida Madilene Farley.
11. Sally Luella: born 12 May 1877, died 22 Jan. 1937; md.
10 Sept. 1903, Dr. John Francis Sharp. Source: Ancestors and Descendants of Leman Bronson 1640-1963;
Compiled by Sarah Bronson Boden; pp. 82-84. LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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| Martha Ann Ferrin and her husband Josiah Marsh Ferrin. |
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| Martha Ann Bronson (grandmother of Margaret Rosella Ferrin Larkin) circa 1893 |
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| Martha Ann Ferrin |
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| Martha Ann Ferrin |
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| Martha Ann Bronson seated, taken in the Fall of 1926, last photo of Martha Ann Ferrin before her death in 1927. |
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| Martha Ann Bronson |
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| Four generations, LtoR Moroni Ferrin, Rosella Ferrin Larkin, George Larkin and Martha Ann Bronson (mother to Moroni) |
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| Four generations, LtoR Moroni, Rosella, George and Martha Ann Bronson (mother to Moroni) |
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| Martha Ann Bronson Ferrin |
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| Lto R Martha Ann Ferrin, Martha Jane Ferrin and Josiah Leamon Ferrin (Martha Ann and her twins) |
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| LtoR Josiah Leamon Ferrin, Martha Ann Ferrin and Martha Jane or (mother and her twins) |
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| LtoR Josiah Leamon Ferrin, Martha Jane Ferrin and Martha Ann Ferrin., |
Ogden Standard 1927-01-14
Ogden Standard 1927-01-15
Obituary of Martha Ann Bronson
Utah Pioneer of 1847, Ogden Resident Since
1854 Answers Call
OGDEN, Jan. 15. - (Special) - Mrs. Martha N. Ferrin, 92, Utah pioneer of
1847, who has lived in Ogden practically since the city was
established, died Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lucy B.
Stringham at Woods Cross, where she has resided for the past three
years.
Mrs. Ferrin was the last but one surviving pioneer of 1847 in Weber
county, the only surviving pioneer now being Peter A. Bingham of Ogden.
Of the 11 children born to Mrs. Ferrin, the following survive: Josiah
L., and Wilmer Ferrin, Eden; George E. Ferrin, Rigby, Idaho; Sheridan P.
Ferrin and Mrs. John F. Sharp, Salt Lake; Mrs. Zakariah Ballantyne,
Rigby, Idaho, and Mrs. Perry, Woods Cross; 67 grandchildren, 78
great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Ferrin was born in Brownstown, Wayne county, Mich., June 13, 1834, a
daughter of Leman and Lucy Brass Bronson.
With her parents, brothers
and sisters, she left Nauvoo, Ill., and drove an ox-team across the
plains, arriving in Salt Lake Sept. 19, 1847, in Daniel H. Spencer's
company.
Mrs. Ferrin assisted in planting the first crop of Utah's grain in 1848.
Her diary describes the raid of the crickets on the crops and how the
pests were devoured by the seagulls. In 1850, the family moved to
Fillmore, in 1850 returning to Salt Lake in 1851 year [sic]. Mrs.
Ferrin came to Ogden, establishing her home first with her brother,
Clinton D. Bronson in 1854.
She was married Feb. 10, 1856, to Josiah L. Ferrin. They made their
home at the mouth of Ogden canyon where her husband established a saw
mill. Four children were born in their home near the canyon, which was
destroyed in 1862 during the high waters of Ogden river. After living
for a time in northern Ogden, the family moved to Ogden valley, settling
in Huntsville. After living there for a few years, her husband filled a
mission in England, and returning was made bishop of Eden ward, which
position he held for 25 years. Mr. Ferrin died June 19, 1904.
(Deseret News, 15 January 1927, p. 6)
-------------------------------------------------
PIONEER WOMAN OF 1847 CALLED
Mrs. Martha N. B. Ferrin, 91, Dies at Home of Woods Cross Daughter.
OGDEN, Jan. 14. - Mrs. Martha N. Bronson Ferrin, 92, Utah pioneer of
1847, passed away today at noon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lucy
B. Stringham at Woods Cross. Mrs. Ferrin had lived in Ogden practically
ever since this city was settled and moved to Woods Cross to reside
with her daughter three years ago.
Mrs. Ferrin's passing leaves only one Utah pioneer of 1847 in Weber
county. He is Peter A. Bingham of Ogden.
Mrs. Ferrin was born in Brownstown, Wayne county, Mich., June 13, 1834.
Her parents were Leman and Lucy Brass Bronson. With her parents,
brothers and sisters, she left Nauvoo, Ill., and drove an ox-team across
the plains at the age of 13.
They arrived in Salt Lake Sept. 19,
1847, in Daniel H. Spencer's company.
In 1848 Mrs. Ferrin assisted in planting the first crop of Utah's grain.
Her diary describes the raid of the crickets on the crops and how the
pests were devoured by the seagulls. In 1850, the family moved to
Fillmore, living there a year, and returning to Salt Lake the following
year. In 1854, Mrs. Ferrin came to Ogden, establishing her home first
with her brother, Clinton D. Bronson.
Mrs. Ferrin was married February 10, 1856, to Josiah L. Ferrin. They
made their home at the mouth of Ogden canyon where her husband
established a saw mill.
Four children were born to them in their home
near the canyon, which was destroyed in 1862 during the high waters of
Ogden river. After living for a time in northern Ogden, the family
moved to Ogden valley, settling in Huntsville. After living there for a
few years, her husband filled a mission for the L. D. S. church in
England, and returning was made bishop of Eden ward, which position he
held for 25 years.
Mr. Ferrin died June 19, 1904.
Mrs. Ferrin was the mother of eleven children, of whom the following
survive, Josiah L. Ferrin, Eden; George E. Ferrin, Rigby, Idaho; Wilmer
Ferrin, Eden; Sheridan P. Ferrin, Salt Lake; Mrs. Zarariah Ballantyne,
Rigby, Idaho; Mrs. Lucy Stringham, Woods Cross, and Mrs. John F. Sharp,
Salt Lake.
Surviving are also sixty-seven grandchildren, seventy-eight
great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
(Salt Lake Tribune, 15 January 1927, p. 18)
Source: Deseret News, (Salt Lake City, Utah), 15 January 1927, page 6,
microfilm; LDS Historical Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Obituary of
Martha N. Ferrin.
see also Salt Lake Tribune, (Salt Lake City, Utah), 15
January 1927, p. 18.
| Birth: | Jun. 13, 1834 Michigan, USA | ||
| Death: | Jan. 14, 1927 Woods Cross Davis County Utah, USA | ||
 Family links: Parents: Leman Bronson (1792 - 1855) Lucy Brass Bronson (1795 - 1847) Spouse: Josiah Marsh Ferrin (1834 - 1904) Children: Martha Jane Ferrin Ballantyne (1857 - 1951)* Thaddeus Marsh Ferrin (1860 - 1913)* George Elihu Ferrin (1864 - 1960)* Wilmer Ferrin (1866 - 1944)* Lucy Lorenda Ferrin Stringham (1868 - 1948)* Winslow B Ferrin (1871 - 1910)* Chariton Phillip Ferrin (1874 - 1942)* *Calculated relationship | |||
| Burial: Ogden City Cemetery Ogden Weber County Research notes:
History of Edwin and Mary Bronson
EDWIN RUTHVEN BRONSON AND MARY CLARK
My Father, Edwin Ruthven Bronson, was born October 14, 1817, in Mentor,
Geauga (now Lake County) Ohio. He was the oldest son of Lehman and Lucy
Brass Bronson. When a small boy he went with his parents to Michigan
and lived on a farm. At the age of eighteen he went on the Great Lakes
as a sailor and later he became a captain on a boat that belonged to my
mother's brother, John Persons Clark. He stayed there for a number of
years both before and after he married my mother, Mary Clark Bronson.
At one time, one of his ship mates, a young man by the name of Everice
Fisher, persuaded him to go to sea with him. My father was anxious to
go because he loved the water. He made all preparations and when he was
ready to leave he went home to bid his mother good-bye, but her sorrow
was so great at the thought of him leaving, that he decided not to go.
It continued to be a great disappointment to him, but his friend who
went to sea was never heard of again.
On February 9, 1849, he married my mother, Mary Clark. She was born
October 25, 1823 at Wyandotte, Michigan. To them was born seven
children, four boys and three girls. Their names are Everice Ruthven,
Charles Isaac, (both born in Wyandotte, Michigan) Sarah Eliza, Avis
Mary, Alice Naomi, George Clark and Alvin Tracy Bronson.
The missionaries of the Latter-day Saint Church, while laboring in
Wyandotte, were very kindly treated by the Bronson and Clark families.
My parents were converted by these missionaries and were baptized into
the church.
When my brother Charles was about three years old, in 1856, my parents
sold their comfortable home and all of their cherished belongings and
started with a company of saints for Utah. My mother's brothers were
much opposed to her joining the church. They felt that she had
disgraced them all. She had always been sickly and had been loved and
tenderly cared for by all her brothers and sisters.
My mother and the children were to ride in a light wagon and she was to
drive a team of horses. My father drove an ox team hitched to a heavy
wagon. In the wagon he had packed all the necessary things to use on
that long journey. They stopped at the town of Florence, Nebraska, to
rest and prepare for the remainder of the journey. They were with
Captain Merrill's Company. While in Florence they met a man and his
wife who were very anxious to get to Utah, and who were willing to work
and pay their way across the plains. My father was glad to accommodate
them and before they came to their journeys end that couple proved to be
a great blessing to them. They had not been traveling long when my
mother took typhoid fever and was very ill for many weeks. Much of the
time she was delirious, and many times given up to die, but through her
faith and the faith of the Mormon Elders, her life was spared and she
came with the saints to Zion. During her illness, the lady they had
befriended took care of mother and the two little boys. They were ten
weeks crossing the plains and six weeks of that time mother was confined
to her bed. Many, many times during their trip over the dreary
country, my father would ask her if they should turn and go back where
she could get proper care, but her answer was always, "No, I must get to
Utah. "
They reached Utah and settled in Cache Valley to be near my mother's
cousin, Dr. Ezra Williams, and after only a short stay at this place,
moved to Provo City where they built a two-room adobe house. In that
home, I Eliza Bonner, was born on July 4, 1858. I remember the house
well. It was located about two blocks south of the Brigham Young
University on Academy Avenue.
During that same year, 1858, Johnsons Army was sent by the United States
Government to do away with the Mormons. President Brigham Young called
my father, along with many others, to go to Echo Canyon to guard the
pass.
In 1859 my folks moved back to Cache Valley through the persuasion of
Dr. Williams, as my mother was not strong and the sickness and hardships
had weakened her. About that time the Indians were on the war path and
a battle was fought. It frightened and disheartened mother so much
that they moved back again to Provo.
In the spring of 1861, my folks moved to Provo Valley, (now Wasatch
County) and settled on Snake Creek in Midway, between what was known as
the upper and lower settlements. There we made true and lasting
friends. Among them was Jeramiah Roby and Sidney Epperson and their
families.
The next winter in 1862 was called the "Hard Winter". My sister Avis
was born December 1, 1861.
The snow began to fall very early in the
fall, then it turned to rain and a part of each day, for six weeks, it
rained. The first day my mother sat up to dress her little, new baby,
the chimney which was laid up with rock and mud, fell into the room;
water, soot and mud came with it. Mother had related many times that
little incident. Father put her to bed while he rebuilt the chimney.
The snow came very deep - so deep that it was impossible to get to the
grist mill during the winter. That meant a lot of work for father. He
washed and dried ten bushel of wheat and ground it in a coffee mill that
held only about one pint. It was a long and tedious job, but he did it
uncomplainingly. All that winter they were kept in the house, however,
they were able to keep the cows and chickens from suffering for feed.
That winter Father built a small vessel with sails, life boats, and all
parts perfected. It was patterned after the vessels he had operated on
the Great Lakes. He painted it and I can remember what a beautiful
ornament it was and how proud my father was of it. He always had a
longing for the sea and always loved to take us upon his knee and talk
about it and sing sailor songs to us.
My mother's oldest sister, Sarah Clark Button, joined the Mormon church
about the same time that my parents accepted the gospel, and she was a
very sincere believer, having a great desire to come to Utah and live
there with the saints. Her husband was very much opposed to her having
anything to do with the Mormons and would not allow any of their
literature in his home. Aunt Sarah was grieved because she was deprived
of attending meetings and reading the books and tracts which contained
the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
She was taken seriously ill and came near to death. One night she
prayed earnestly to the Lord to spare her life. She promised that if
her prayers were answered she would gather with the saints to Zion.
When she was well again she remembered her promise and it was so sacred
to her, she knew she must keep it. But how? She had a son and also a
little girl twelve years old, and she knew if she came to Utah it meant
to sacrifice her children, her husband and her home.
She spent days and
weeks praying, planning and wondering what to do. At last she decided
she must keep her promise, so she packed her trunk unbeknown to her
husband, and sent it on to her brother who lived only a few miles away,
then several days later made some excuse to visit with her brother. Her
little daughter Alice, drove her to his home and it was then that she
bid her little girl goodbye. The long years went by and she never saw
her again or never ever received a letter from either of her children.
Her husband died a few years later.
In the year 1863, just after the first railroad came to Utah, my father
drove to Echo to meet the train and bring Aunt Sarah to our home. My
mother was overjoyed to see her, and she was a great help and comfort to
her. Two weeks after her arrival, my sister Alice was born October 11,
1863.
A short time after, the people of the two settlements were called
together on account of the Indians. They were unfriendly and were
stealing the horses and cattle that belonged to the settlers.
The
houses were built to form a square. Inside the square was a high pole
fence to corral the stock at night. I remember very distinctly of my
father taking his turn walking around that fence at night with his gun
to guard them from the Indians.
My brother George was born July 28, 1865, while we lived in the Fort.
Two years later we moved out a little way on a farm where my youngest
brother Tracy was born. He died when about two years old.
My Aunt Sarah taught school and later she remarried and moved to
Glenwood. My mother was President of the Relief Society for a number of
years. Later she was Stake Secretary until her health failed and she
had to resign. She went among the sick and comforted those who were in
trouble. She also helped take care of the dead.
In 1875 my parents moved to Glenwood, Sevier County. They stayed two
years with my aunt Sarah. My mother's health improved enough that she,
with my help, taught school for one summer. After we came home she
enjoyed better health for a few years. She died February 9, 1886. My
father died March 19, 1889. Both died at their home in Midway, Wasatch
County, Utah.
Told by Sarah Eliza Bronson Bonner
Husband:
Edwin Ruthven Bronson;
born 14 Oct. 1817, Mentor, Geauga, Ohio,
son of Leman Bronson and Lucy Brass,
died 19 Mar. 1889, Midway, Wasatch, Utah;
md. 9 Feb. 1849, Brownstown, Wayne, Mich.
Wife: Mary Clark;
born 25 Oct. 1823, Wyandotte, Wayne, Mich.,
dau. of John Clark and Sarah (Sally) Savain.
d. Feb. 1886
Children: (Bronson #4-7b, Midway, Wasatch, Utah)
1. Everice Ruthven,
born 8 Sept. 1851, Brownstown, Wayne County, Mich.
2. Charles Isaac,
born 7 Oct. 1853, Brownstown, Mich.
3. Sarah Eliza,
born 4 July 1858, Provo, Utah.
4. Avis Mary;
born 1 Dec. 1861
5. Alice Naomi,
born 11 Oct. 1863.
6. George Clark;
born 28 July 1865.
7. Alvin Tracy
born 19 Apr. 1867.
died 23 July 1869, age two years.
BAPTISM OF MARY CLARK BRONSON
Mary Clark Bronson, wife of Edwin Ruthven Bronson, was baptized in the
river _____? Michigan at midnight, Feb. 2, 1846. She was then twenty
three years of age. She had been converted to the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints by a Mormon missionary, Elder Sirrine.
On account of the cruel treatment and persecutions of the Mormons by the
citizens of Brownstown, they were compelled to perform the ordinance of
baptism at night.
The river was frozen over with ice two feet thick, and it was necessary
to cut a hole in the ice large enough for the baptism, with an ax that
had been taken along for that purpose.
The ordinance was performed and my mother has testified many times, that
the midnight ride in her wet clothing, that bitter cold night, had no
ill effects on her health and they arrived home safely without any
trouble from the mob that had made the pledge they would rid the country
of the hated Mormons.
Sarah Eliza Bronson Bonner
Source: Ancestors and Descendants of Leman Bronson 1640-1963; Compiled
by Sarah Bronson Boden; pp. 21-23. LDS Family History Library, Salt
Lake City, Utah.
Salt Lake Tribune 1915-02-27           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Martha Ann Bronson Ferrin - https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=KWJZ-8KC§ion=details ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Martha Ann Bronson sssDDDLLL (Dixon Ferrin Larkin) Birth Date: 13/18 Jun 1834, Brownstown Township, Wayne, Michigan Death Date: 14 Jan 1927, Syracuse, Davis, Utah OR Woods Cross, Davis, Utah Married Josiah Marsh Ferrin 10 Feb 1856 1st Baptism Spring 1848 Drove Ox-team across plains while only 13 years old Father drove another Ox-team All previous Church Blessings reconfirmed and ratified on 15 Sep 1967 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- born? 18 or 13? died? 1826 or 1827? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Ann Bronson Ferrin - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33790975 ---------------------------------------------------- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GRid=33790975&CRid=77368& ---------------------------------------------------- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pif&PIcrid=77368&PIMode=cemetery ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Ann Bronson (1834-1927) - "History of Martha Ann Bronson" - https://familysearch.org/photos/stories/1303901?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- "Obituary of Martha Ann Bronson" - https://familysearch.org/photos/stories/1843098?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- Martha Ann Bronson - https://familysearch.org/photos/people/577311 ---------------------------------------------------- https://familysearch.org/photos/images/1367932?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- https://familysearch.org/photos/images/1367960?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- https://familysearch.org/photos/images/3137339?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- https://familysearch.org/photos/images/3137422?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- https://familysearch.org/photos/images/3137409?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------- https://familysearch.org/photos/images/3162566?p=577311 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bronson, Martha Ann Birth Date: 13 June 1834 Death Date: 14 Jan. 1927 Gender: Female Age: 13 http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/pioneerDetail?lang=eng&pioneerId=1012 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneerdetails/1,15791,4018-1-1012,00.html "Utah Pioneer of 1847, Ogden Resident Since 1854 Answers Call," Deseret News, 15 Jan. 1927, 6 Journal History, 21 June 1847, p. 25 Utah State Death Certificate, Utah State Archives ------------------------------------------------------------- Ferrin, Martha Ann Bronson, Reminiscences, in Utah Semi-Centennial Commission, The book of the pioneers [ca. 1897]. - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&pioneerId=1012&sourceId=27093 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-27093,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- "Edward Hunter - Jacob Foutz Company" (1847) Departure: 19 June 1847 Arrival: 1 October 1847 Company Information: 155 individuals and 59 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post on the Elkhorn River about 27 miles west of Winter Quarters, Nebraska. http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/companyDetail?companyId=342 ------------------------------------------------------------- Bronson, Wilmer Wharton, Autobiographical sketch, in Sarah Bronson Boden, Ancestors and Descendants of Leman Bronson 1640-1963 [1963], 60-62 - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=18345 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-18345,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Ferrin, Martha Ann Bronson, Reminiscences, in Utah Semi-Centennial Commission, The book of the pioneers [ca. 1897] - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=27093 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-27093,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Hunter, Edward and Jacob Foutz, Letter, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 17 Aug. 1847, 5-6 - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=6382 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-6382,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Hunter, Edward, Reminiscences. (Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Some restrictions apply.) - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=18697 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-18697,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Laney, Isaac, Autobiographical sketch, 9th Quorum, Biographies, 1844-1873, vol. 1, 51, in Seventies Quorum, Records, 1844-1975 - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=12886 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-12886,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Pettit, Edwin, Biography of Edwin Pettit, 9-10 - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=6383 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-6383,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Scearce, William, Diary, 1847 June-Sep., 1-5 - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=6384 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-6384,00.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Seely, David, Autobiographical sketch [ca. 1885] - http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&companyId=342&sourceId=6386 http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-6386,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Ann Bronson Ferrin b. June 13, 1834 Brownstown, Michigan - d. January 14, 1927, Woods Cross, Utah, age one of eight children of Lucy Brass and Leman Bronson the family lived in Connecticut, New York, Michigan, and Ohio taught by missionaries and baptized in Michigan in 1842 1845 moved to Nauvoo Early in 1846 they left Nauvoo to Winter Quarters they went on to Poncho or Puncho, Pottawattamie County, Iowa Lucy, Martha’s mother, died there at Council Bluffs her brother, Clinton, joined the Mormon Battallion with no one else to drive the wagon, Martha drove the 3 yoke of oxen across the plains arrived in Salt Lake on Sept. 19, 1847, Daniel H. Spencer’s company, age 13 attended school with Zina D. Young as teacher learned several Indian dialects from the Indians and Spanish from MB soldiers witnessed the miracle of the seagulls 1854, living with her brother Clinton and his wife in North Ogden, she met Josiah Ferrin married Josiah Marsh Ferrin Feb. 10, 1856, age 23 11 children, our ancestor is Moroni Daniel Ferrin lived at his saw mill at the mouth of Ogden Canyon worked very hard to raise family while her husband was a missionary and also bishop served in RS presidency and as Young Women President March 1889, took in a granddaughter to raise, our ancestor Rosella Ferrin Larkin lived in a home at 885 26th Street in Ogden in later years, about 1893  age 93 danced the Grand Waltz at the Annual Pioneer Ball at the Berthana Ballroom in Ogden with the Governor of the State ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Ann Bronson - http://genealogy.kathihill.com/Person/family_group/301452 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Woodhaven, Michigan - http://www.google.com/search?q=Woodhaven,Michigan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Syracuse, Davis, Utah - http://www.google.com/search?q=Syracuse,Utah ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baptism: 15 SEP 1967 SLAKE Endowment: 12 JUL 1852 POFFI Sealing to Parents: 16 DEC 1897 SLAKE Lemon Bronson / Lucy Brass Sealing to Parents: 16 FEB 1953 LOGAN LEMAN BRONSON / LUCY BRASS | |||
