True Tales of Pioneers and Early Settlers by Mary Ann Shill Edgworth Ovard

True Tales of Pioneers and Early Settlers

By Mary Ann Shill Edgeworth Ovard

Editor's Note: This is the true story of the life of Mary Ann Shill Edgeworth Ovard, Henefer, written by her and submitted upon request to the "Bee" for publication.

My parents came to this country in the fall of 1866 coming across the ocean in a sailing vessel and going where ever the wind would take them. Mother told me that they were on the water for six weeks. She said Father became so sea sick he asked the captain to throw him overboard and let the sharks eat him.

Upon reaching this country, Father secured a span of mules and crossed the plains, arriving in Salt Lake City in the all of 1866.

James Hennefer Jr. biography by Lucy Brown Archer

James Hennefer Jr.

Born: June 2, 1820 at Wardsley, Staffordshire, England

Died: August 22, 1897 at Henneferville, (later Henefer), Summit County, Utah

Compiled by Lucy Brown Archer

James Hennefer Jr. is the son of James Hennefer Sr. (1791-1862) of Worcestershire, England, and son of Charlote Hicken Hennefer (1793-1832) of Walsal, Stafford, England.

On August 30, 1846, James married Sarah Ann Hulks (1823-1880). The couple had twelve children, including a set of twins and a set of triplets (the triplets died as infants). James and Sarah died and are buried in Heneferville (now Henefer), Summit County, Utah.

James Hennefer Jr. and wife, Sarah Ann Hulks Hennefer 1823-1880

In the year 1853 two brothers, William Hennefer and James Hennefer, received a call from Brigham Young asking them to take their families to start a settlement along the Weber River in the valley, which was then known as Indian hunting ground.

Sarah Ann Hulks Hennefer biography

Sarah Ann Hulks Hennefer

Sarah Ann Hulks was born in London, England, in 1823 and received formal schooling as a child, and as she grew, the training to be a seamstress. She married James Hennefer when she was twenty-three, in Longson but Burmingham, England, was where their first child, Lehi Hennefer, was born on July 5, 1847.

Sarah and James joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latt-day Saints and yearned for the opportunity to come to America and join the Saints in Utah. For several years they scrimped and saved then one day James came home with depressing news, his brother William was going to America, now, without them.

Sarah volunteered to pawn a precious wedding present, her silver spoons.

Joseph Edgeworth headstone

Prudence Jones Edgeworth headstone

William Ovard headstone

Phoebe Hennefer Ovard headstone

Thomas Ovard and Mary Ann Shill Edgeworth Ovard headstone