Life Sketch of William and Jane Bryant Draper
Written by Zilnorah D. Barnett May 19, 1961
My Grandfather, William Draper, was born in Easterton, Wiltshire, England, 25 November 1818, a son of William Draper
and Sarah Earl. He married first, Sarah Ann Miles on 25 Aug. 1838, by whom he had four children, Elizabeth, Annie, Josiah, and Joseph. Elizabeth died 14 Oct. 1863, at the age of 23.
Grandfather's first wife heard the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints before he did. At one time, when he came home and learned that she had gone to hear the Mormon missionaries, Grandfather was very angry. He grabbed a stick and was going to go and bring her back home and punish her. But when he arrived at the meeting and listened he was so impressed that he could only stay and listen to what they said.
They were both baptized in 1845.
His wife died 4 June 1863. He married my Grandmother, Jane Bryant in 1858. She was born 2 Mar. 1831 -at Rushall, Wiltshire, England. She was baptized 23 May 1852. When Grandfather and Grandmother Jane had had three children, Phillip Hyrum, my Father George Henry, and a daughter Sarah Elizabeth, they decided to come to Utah and join the Saints here. Their son Phillip Hyrum died 6 March 1862, just four days before my father was born. They left England April 19, 1865, on the sailing vessel "Bell of Wood" when father was three years old and his baby sister, Sarah was 13 months old. They also brought the two sons by Grandfather's former marriage, Josiah and Joseph. The daughter, Annie, had joined the Church and had come to America in 1862. The baby sister died 22 July 1865, seven weeks after they arrived in New York on 1 June 1865. After being on the ocean for 31 days, they arrived in New York on 1 June 1866. They stayed there for one year, then left for Utah 25 June 1866. They first journeyed to Quebec by boat via the Hudson River; then on to St. Joseph, Missouri by train; and then to Nebraska City by means of boat travel. They then journeyed across the plains by ox team with Henry Chipman's Company and arrived in Salt Lake City on 15 Sept. 1868. Their journey had been hard but they had made the trip in good time, notwithstanding the loss of about 100 of their best cattle which had been driven off by the Indians at La Bonte.
After arriving in Salt Lake City, they went to Heber City to live, where another daughter was born. She was named Martha Jane, born 11 April 1867. She died the next year after her birth, on 22 Sept. 188, in Herriman, Salt lake Co.
The family moved to Herriman, Utah in Feb. 1868. They were received as members of that Branch 11 Feb. 1868. In Herriman, Utah, another daughter, Mary Louise, was born 24 Feb. 1871. She died 7 Nov. 1877. They also had a son William born 29 Sept. 1873, who died 11 Dec. 1936.
After a conference of the Salt Lake Stake, Grandfather, William Draper, was ordained a Patriarch 8 Jan. 1882, by Erastus Snow. It was the same day that the Assembly Hall on the Temple Square was dedicated.
In the spring of 1889 they moved to South Jordan, together with my parents. My grandparents were not in the best of health at this time. My parents moved to Kaysville, Utah, in 1890, where my Father, George H.
Draper had a position to operate a farm for Knight and Company, he being the foreman. My brother Jesse Hyrum was born 24 Dec. 1890 and soon after in 1891 my Grandparents moved to Kaysville to live with my Parents.
For six long years, my Mother cared for Grandmother Draper, who was paralyzed in her lower limbs. During this time, myself, Jabez, and Caroline Edith were born.
When I was about three years old, I became lost one afternoon and Grandfather, being an active Patriarch seemed to know where they would find me, although my Parents did not think that I would be that far from home. A search of many anxious hours told where I was. They found me two miles from home on a door-step asleep, where Grandfather had told them to go. The people were not at home so they knew nothing about me being there.
My Grandfather was a man of great faith. He knew the scriptures and could quote them whenever he wanted to. He could not read or write, but had a remarkable memory. My Grandmother was a very good reader and read to him and he memorized the scriptures. He was extremely honest in all that he did.
At one time my Grandfather had a stroke. He asked for the Elders to come and administer to him. As soon as they removed their hands from his head he threw away the cane he had been using and exclaimed, "thank God I am healed."
My Grandfather was a remarkable wood chopper. He used to chop piles of wood to keep our fire burning. There were fields of oak-brush on the farm and it made very good fuel. He seemed to enjoy chopping it very much.
I can remember my Grandparents although they died when I was about six years old. I used to talk to my Parents about them very much, and they taught us about their sterling qualities. Grandfather died 29 June 1898 of yellow jaundice. Grandmother died one month later 30 July 1898, when my sister Caroline Edith was two weeks old. They were buried in the South Jordan Cemetery, just across the street from where they had once lived.
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