Pioneer Ancestors: An Example of Being All In

Sadly, I have not been active in family history research.  I have recently done some indexing, but I have left the hard research work to others.  Like my aunts, and cousins, who have indeed researched family stories and compiled them in books.  Because of the work of one of these cousins, I was made aware of the story of John and Maria Linford, one of our ancestors on my mother's patriarchal line. In honor of Pioneer Day tomorrow, I'd like to share some of their story. Some parts of this story are taken from the history.lds.org site; other parts I remember from my cousin's family history efforts:

Maria Bentley Linford Rich

Maria was born on April 10, 1813, to William Christian and Mary Bentley. She grew up in a large family in the parish of Graveley, Cambridgeshire, England.  By age 20, she had fallen in love with John Linford, the owner of a shoemaking business in the area, and they made plans to marry.

Their wedding took place on June 24, 1833, in their home parish of Graveley.  They were still living there several years later when Mormon missionaries came to preach.  One Sunday the couple attended a meeting, accompanied by Maria's father, William.  They were surprised and inspired by what they heard.  William exclaimed, "Why, it is the old gospel come to earth again!"  But the missionaries left, and William died before they returned several years later.  Maria and John were both baptized in 1842.

The Linfords were persecuted for their newfound faith by relatives and others in the community.  One of their tactics was to stop patronizing John's shoemaking business, which eventually forced him to let his workers go.  Yet the Linfords never wavered.  They were one of the stalwart couples of the small unit of the Church in Graveley, England.

In the spring of 1856, they responded to the call from leaders of the Church to gather to Zion. They took with them three of their four sons, leaving behind their oldest son, James, who was 19 and serving a mission at the time; their extended family; and most of their belongings.  

After arriving in New York in June 1856, they made their way to Iowa City to meet the Saints bound for Zion.  After a series of delays, they left in mid-July with the James G. Willie handcart company.

The trek west was difficult under the best of circumstances, but it became perilous for the Willie company as food ran out and an early winter set in.  John worked tirelessly to help his family and others, but the rigors and privations of the journey took their toll.  He became so ill that he was unable to walk, and Maria and their sons pulled him in their handcart along with their supplies and belongings.

As his final moments approached, Maria asked John if he was sorry he had come.  He told her, "No, Maria.  I am glad we came.  I shall not live to reach Salt Lake, but you and the boys will, and I do not regret all we have gone through if our boys can grow up and raise their families in Zion."  John died in the early morning of October 21, 1856, having given his all for his family and the gospel.

The rescuers arrived later that same day, just hours after John's passing.  As John had predicted, Maria and their sons all reached the Salt Lake Valley safely, though it took them some time to regain their health.  

According to my cousin's account, the boys were taken in by a family that was better established in the valley, but the family could not also take Maria into their home.  She provided for herself by doing cleaning and sewing jobs for other families, but the separation of mother and sons was difficult for them all.

In the summer after they first arrived in the valley, Maria became the second wife of Joseph Rich, who was the father of apostle Charles Coulson Rich.   Her marriage to Joseph Rich allowed her to be reunited with her sons at last.  Maria cared for Joseph Rich's first wife, who was ill, until her death.   Joseph was a kind-hearted man, who recognized the deep love Maria still had for John.  Joseph stood as proxy when Maria was sealed to John in the Salt Lake Temple.

Maria lived a life of faithfulness and service, serving as president of her ward Relief Society and as a counselor in the stake Relief Society presidency.  She also gave her time and talents to furthering the work of the newly created Primary Association.  She died in 1885 at the age of 72.

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The river the pioneers had to cross

When Denise and I drove across the country to North Carolina, we stopped in Nauvoo, Illinois.  If you leave Nauvoo and follow the road the pioneers took down to the river when they were being forced from their homes by the mobs, you find a small building which is a memorial to the pioneers who lost their lives before reaching the Salt Lake Valley.  Though John and Maria Linford never lived in Nauvoo, John Linford's name is found among the numerous names memorialized on the walls.  

John Linford's name appears on the Pioneer Memorial

I owe such a debt of gratitude to my great-great grandparents, John
and Maria Linford, and many other pioneer ancestors who, like them, were not deterred by the difficulty of the way; who followed their hearts and exercised their faith in doing what prophets and the Holy Spirit told them to do.  I only hope that we in our family can, in some small measure, emulate their faithfulness in the way we live our lives, raise our families, and fulfill our callings in the Church.  As Vanessa reminded us in her talk, we do need to follow the example of our ancestors and be All In.