She'd be 168 years old tomorrow!!
"On November 19th, 1840 a little stranger made its appearance. A beautiful, healthy little girl it was. She was to be named for Elder Kimball's wife Vilate, adding her mother's name, Ellen. It was said she was made much of, being the youngest in the family. When Vilate was but 15 mo. of age the family decided to come to America. They came on a sailing vessel which took nine week to cross the ocean. They arrived in New Orleans but decided to go up the Mississippi River to St Louis but remained there only a short time and then moved to Nauvoo, the City of the Saints. They were truly grateful to their Heavenly Father for His Protecting care and their safe arrival in a new country. They proceeded to find a place they could call home.
It was not long before the Saints were tried and tested. Often have I heard mother tell of the determination of the Saints to burn their homes and Temple rather than leave them for their persecutors to possess.
Grandmother (Ellen Douglas) soon had her own trials to meet. Grandfather Douglas, her husband, passed away leaving her with 7 children to rear. Her cross seemed heavy to bear, but she knew the right source to go to and she received strength to face the ordeal. She was truly heroic in the courage and fortitude she displayed. Uncomplaining she set about to keep her family together, notwithstanding she had to go out by the day and work.
One day she met Hyrum Smith, Patriarch of the Church and he asked her if she would like him to give her a blessing. She readily answered yes, knowing full well what a comfort it would be to her. He pronounced a blessing on her head and said, "Oil, fruit, and honey would be at her disposal." "Not in this life will I realize its fulfilment," she said. He immediately said, "Yes, in this life." As time passed, the blessing was literally fulfilled. (Sometime later Grandmother remarried a man named William Parker)
Sometime later they emigrated to Utah. In the year 1850. They brought with them 10 wagons loaded with provisions and it was they who brought the first thrashing machine to the valley.
Vilate , by this time was 10 years old. Old enough to enjoy the journey across the plains, but not old enough to be affected by many sad scenes that were enacted. Some were buried by the wayside in a shallow graves. So shallow that the wolves caught the scent of the blood and when they turned their eyes backward they could see them removing the bodies recently buried. There was no retreating, they had to plod on and on day after day. Little wonder they said, "Come, Come Ye Saints, no toil or labor fear, but with joy went your way."
Vilate's brother Ralph Douglas, the oldest in the family, had preceded them to Utah. He met them with a light spring wagon loaded with new potatoes, green corn and melons. He was a member of the Mormon Battalion and he was the first man to hoist the flag of Ensign Peak at the request of Brigham Young.
(They found a place to stay in a room of a home that the Watts family shared with them) But by Fall, through thrift and industry they had a new home of their own. Vilate and her sister MaryAnn dug potatoes and every third bushel was theirs for pay, so in a short time things were going nicely.
Their nearest neighbors were the Romneys, who also had but recently emigrated to Utah. The two families soon became acquainted. George, the oldest son of Miles Romney, was soon paying attention to Vilate. She was old enough at that time, for the men were advised to marry the girls so they wouldnt marry the soldiers and run away. George had one wife and four daughters at the time. Their romance was not long and the wedding day was set for Feb. 16, 1857. Vilate lost no time in her preparation and made two work quilts, two pair of sheets, two pair of pillow slips to put in a chest George had made and given to her. He had little of this worlds' goods to offer.
With fathers' unusual business ability, leadership and keen foresight and mother's aptness with her needle and resourcefulness, the couple made the most of everything. Their first bed was the fluff mother found in the milkweeds and put in a tick. Later this was replaced with straw. Father (George) made a little shelf and nailed it to the wall and when a can of baking powder etc, was emptied, mother polished it with wood ashes from the stove. That was her only bric-a-brac, but they shone like a looking glass.
They plodded on and little ones came to gladden the home. When Johnson's Army was reported on the way, Brigham Young advised the Saints to go South. When on their way, Mother was taken sick at the point of the mountain. She sat on the wagon tongue while others cleared out a dugout so she might enter and someone held an umbrella over her to keep off the rain while her first child was born. His name was Heber John, and he took great delight as he grew older in saying that he was born on a wagon tongue.
Through this union, 12 children were born. 6 boys and 6 girls. Mother was a power of spiritual strength in the home and her influence was fundamental in assuring the success and stability of her children.
Without any warning or previous preparation the call came for father to leave for England to fulfill a mission. Again, they didnt falter. Mother sewed ore sack, made soap, and sold home make pies to support herself and 3 boys during his absence. While father was in far off England, sickness and death visited her home. One little boy, 2 yrs old, passed away and in about a month after that a daughter was born.
Three of mothers sons filled missions and one of them filled two.
They lived to see the time they could travel extensively. They visited their birthplace and spent their 6oth wedding anniversary in Hawaii!! "
Mother died Dec. 9, 1917
At that time she had 56 grandchildren."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER VILATE!!
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