Susan Kaziah Davis is my 2nd great grandmother. In 1915, at the age of 65, she wrote a brief sketch of her life. This manuscript was passed down to her son Claude Albert Ellis, and to Claude’s daughter Mary Margaret Ellis, and to Margaret’s son Blake, and then to me. Margaret is my grandmother and Blake is my uncle.
This brief sketch was used as the basis for a longer personal history written by Susan and her son Claude. That history can be found here.
The full resolution scans for this handwritten sketch can be found here. Smaller images of this sketch are presented here in order:
Transcription of Susan’s history:
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Ogden Utah
April 28th, 1915
A Brief Sketch of the life, & happenings of Susean K. Ellis, Wife of F. W. Ellis. and Daughter of Sarah E, & Edward G. Davis, Born Jan 28th, 1850, Bath Summerset England,
My Mother and Father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, about the year 1849, just a short time preceeding my birth, I being born with my
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eye lids sealed together, but through the anointing with oil, and the faith of my mother, I was made to see,
I was blessed with a name by Bro Kendel.
My Father was made president of the Bath branch of the Church, and Counsel meetings were held at our home every monday evening,
Our doors alway’s remained open to welcome any of the servent’s
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of God,
When about twelve years of age, I went to work at the Corset factory, where my Father was engaged as a presser, and two of my sisters as seamstresses,
A year later after my Father’s death, my Mother had to begin work in order that we might obtain a living, We continued working at this factory for five years longer, “And were greatly favored, & respected by our head Maneager”
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When we decided to emigrate to Utah,
During our short stay in England as members of the Church, we rec’d great persecution from mob’s, which gathered to persecute the saints,
Many times my Father had to remain at the Poleace Station the greater part of the night, to avoid being mobed, and our windows were broken in with rocks from the hand’s of our enemies,
I was very sickly
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the greater part of my younger life, and when we decided to come to Utah, A great many people tried to perswade Mother to leave me in England with them, as they thought it impossible for me to stand the voyage across the water, and told mother that she would barry me in on the ocean, but through the faith, & ambition of my mother, & the goodness of the Lord, I was permitted to come to Zion,
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We sailed from England on the ship Colorado, Tues, july 14th, 1868, with a company of six hundred (600) saints, under the direction of William B, Preston,
After a voyage of about two week’s, we arrived in New York, July 28th, 1868, The Company continued on as far as Benton Neb, arriving Aug 7th, 1868,
We left Benton Aug 14th, 1868, for Utah, with an Ox team company, numbering 61 wagon’s, & 411 passengers, under direction of Capt. Daniel D. McArthur,
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arriving in Salt Lake valley in Sept 3 1868,
There were six deaths on the journey, One being a young man by the name of Harry Popel, who was acciedently shot, “Also one birth”
Our journey accross the plain’s was very pleasant considering the mode of travel, The evenings were spent singing hyms, and listening to our brethern talk, We had not the hard-ships to indure which some companies had,
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We were meet in Salt Lake City by Sister Irish, who took us to her home, that we might rest for a few days,
I went to work at the “Salt Lake House” as Chambermaid, with Mr Little, as owner, After two months service I went to live with a family by name of Foalsome, staying with them about four month’s, I then went to live with a family by name of George Alder, for two month’s, Here I took sick with Typhoid feaver,
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and Erysipelas, and was under the care of Sister Polly Felt, for seven weeks I was very sick, but rec’d the best of care,
While in the City I took an active part in the seventeenth ward choir, under direction of F. W. Ellis,
In July 1869, I accompanied Bros James Ward, F. W. Ellis, & Miss Marry an Ellis, to North Ogden, and made my home with Bro. & Sis Ellis, at Plesant weiv [Pleasant View],
I also lived a short time with Sister Lizia Brown,
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On the 6th, of sept 1869, three month’s later, I was married to T. W. Ellis [Frederick William Ellis], in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, by Bro Daniel H, Well’s,
I joined the Relief Society in 1869, shortly after arriving in North Ogden, and with a number of other’s we used to walk from Plesant view, to North Ogden each week to our meeting, & choir practise, I acted as a visiting teacher until just about four years ago,
My Husband was asked to take charge of
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the coaperative store, which then stood on the East corner of the old Dudman lot,
This necessitated our moving to North Ogden, which we did, and lived in one log room just behind the store, “which was used partly for a granery” Until four month’s after our first baby was born, When we moved to where we now live,
In 1881, My Husband was married to Sarah Jane, Barker, Both Family’s lived
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together until the persecution started, and my Husband then built another home at Plesant view,
My Husband was taken to the Penitentiary Dec 13th, 1886, where he served a term of six month’s, and then again later, the 13th, Dec 1890, he was made to serve two month’s more, This was a hard trial for me, having such poor health at that time, and a large family to take care of,
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In 1893, My Husband recd a call to the Australian Mission, which he accepted, and left Nov 6th, He was gone for 2 1/2 years, during which time we did every thing possible to support him, & ourselves,
Two of My boy’s also have filled mission’s of late, My oldest son “Freddie” spent two years in the Western States mission, and my youngest son “Claude” spent two year’s in
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the Eastern States Mission, The oldest son, “William” of the second Family spent 4 1/2 years in the Japanese Mission,
I am happy to state that I have been priveleged to go through the temple a number of times, and do work in behalf of our dead relative’s,
I am the Mother of ten (10) Children, six boy’s, & four Girls, all “but one” of which are living at the present time, and all but
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two have made their home’s in the Idaho Country,
I am now (65) years of age, and am enjoying better health than when a girl alout the age of 18 year’s,
There is something extra special about reading a sketch of someone’s life in their own handwriting. Even though there are more detailed histories of her, this one is my favorite. I feel like the items she chose to include on these brief 15 pages must have been the very dearest to her heart or the most painful.
I am grateful for Susan and her life. I’m grateful for the fine son she raised who grew up to be the father of my own beloved Grandmother. I’m thankful that this treasure found its way to me. And lastly, I am thankful for the technology that has allowed me to preserve and share this family treasure.
Happy Monday, I hope you have a meaningful genealogy experience today!