Compiled by Lucile Evans Smith wife of grandson Thomas V. Smith
I was born 10 February 1855 at Waterloo Street, Tipton,
Staffordshire, England (map), a daughter of
Elizabeth Cope (1). My father
(Joseph Bowen?) was in the army, so I never did know him
(3). My mother always worked to keep us together at the
home of some wealthy people close to where we lived. This enabled her to
come home at noon to nurse me
(4). So I was left home
alone at a very early age. My mother, Elizabeth is listed as a servant
at Tedsame Street on my christening record
(1).
Ishmael and Mary Phillips lived in
rooms adjoining ours. Mrs. Phillips
eventually started to take care of me, they had been converted to the
L.D.S. Church and in 1863 decided to emigrate to America. My mother
asked them to take me with them to America. Mother gave Brother Phillips
the money for my passage. As soon as she had saved up enough money to
emigrate she would come. My mother's health failed and she was never able
to come. Sister Phillips took me to see my Mother. We went to a high
wall and rang a bell at a gate or door in the wall. Mother came to the
opening to see us. Sister Phillips gave me a large coin to give to my
Mother so I would remember her. This was the last time I ever saw my Mother
(4).
I was eight years old when on the 4th of June 1863 I boarded the Ship
Amazon with Brother and Sister Phillips, their family and two
other girls. On the passenger list I was listed as 7 yr. old
(5). I still have the memories of the long boat ride
and so many people on it. I even remember the sickness and death of one
child. There were a lot of headwinds and rough seas. The voyage usually
took 28 days but after 44 long days we finally arrived at the New York
Harbor 18 July 1863
(9). Two days later we were processed at Castle Garden.
I never saw my brother after we left the boat as he was with another family
(2),
(6). We then prepared for our long journey to join the
saints.
We reached Florence, Nebraska, a few days later and started at once
our preparations for crossing the plains (map
of the Pioneer Trail). On the 9th of August 1863
our family left with 115 other saints from Florence, Nebraska, by ox
team under Capt. John W. Woolley. I walked all the way from New York
across the plains. Even at eight years old I had my chores to do.
I looked after the smaller children. This trip was a very tedious and
dangerous one. Capt. John Woolley's train did not reach Salt Lake
until 4 October 1863
(8). Many times during the journey we were attacked by
Indians. These redmen seemed to take a liking to me and wanted to steal
me. I guess it was because of my pretty blonde hair. So great
precautions had to be taken to keep me safe. At one time when the
hunt became intense they had to hide me in a nail keg where I stayed
for three days. The wagon in which I was riding tipped over and my
head was badly cut while in the keg. One of the wagons in our train
rolled over the bank of a river we were crossing.
We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 4th of October 1863. On
arriving in Salt Lake Brother Phillips and his family took up their
residence in South Cottonwood. After a short time we moved just
a little further south to
Union
(map;
see also Union Ward). At the beginning of
1865 Bishop Richards
(cemetery marker)
left on a mission. The Union Fort Ward was combined with
So. Cottonwood Ward. It remained this way for the next 13 years.
During this time a temporary organization was kept in Union with a
presiding Elder in charge under the direction of the So. Cottonwood
Bishopric. After a while Daddy Phillips was made the presiding Elder
over Union. We had to walk down to 5600 So. and Vine Street for most
of our meetings. Occasionally some meetings were held in Union. Daddy
Phillips was made bishop of Union Ward on 1 July 1877
(8). He retained this position until 1900 when the
stake was divided and he was ordained Patriarch under the hands of
President Lyman. He was one of the stalwart old timers. He was made
of the stuff it takes to make pioneers successful. Brother and Sister
Phillips raised three foster children and four grandchildren.
I was one of the foster children.
I must tell you about a very spiritual experience I had. On
the 12 of Sept, 1868, I was baptized by Daddy Phillips. How thrilled
I was. I now belonged to the same church as Mother and Daddy Phillips
(3)
It was here in Union where I spent my childhood. Often like many
of the women and children of those days, I had to help fight grasshoppers
and crickets to save our crops. As children we also gleaned wheat after
the shocking. We went to help families with housework for which we were
paid 15 cents per day. If we helped with the washing and the housework
we received 50 cents.
So I lived and grew up with other foster children in the Ishmael Phillips
home. I was never adopted and I never went to school even for a day. I can't
write my name. However I was taught to be an especially good house-keeper,
an excellent cook, a very fine seamstress, and I even tailored clothes for
men.
| When in my teens, I met a very handsome
young man by the name of
Thomas Smith, in Union Fort. Daddy Phillips
didn't sorta approve of him. Tom always said I was a pretty young
lady. He was my choice and Mother Phillips said, "Now Emily you
could do much worse, he has a fine team of horses and he is a very
good worker, so you make up your mind."
So real early on 24 February 1873 as planned, around 4:00 a.m.,
I had my little bag packed and ready. As I watched for Tom, Mother
Phillips said to me. "Well what have you decided, Emily, as
you know your father is off on business. So it is now or never for
you. So, if you have made up your mind to go, you sure have my
blessing." About that time the wagon rolled up in time.
Everything went well and Tom was anxious to get some timber out to
build a home before fall. It was July by now so off to the canyons
to get logs for the home.
| 
Thomas Smith at age 21, two years after marrying Emily Cope |
Three men and teams went to cut and prepare logs to haul back to
Burntfork (map),
George Stoll, Andy Anderson, and Tom Smith.
First trip or so was successful and summer had been a busy one. A
fellow came along looking for work, so Tom gave him a job helping
cut timber. Tom was a large powerful man, his ax was his pride and
joy and no one used it but him, as it meant his living. The stranger,
John King, asked to use Tom's ax, he said it was better than the
one they let him use. But Tom said, "No, I'll use my own ax."
So this left a little feelings. The next trip up to get the loads
of logs, the four men, Tom Smith, George Stoll, and Andy Anderson,
and the drifter went up to the log camp for more logs. On Tuesday
morning just at sunrise, Andy and George were taking care of the
horses. Tom began to cook their breakfast. He climbed up to cut
some venison off, which was hanging in the tree. Tom was shot
through the ribs by John King who was hiding. Several shots were
fired, two of which took effect, one entering just below the right
shoulder blade and lodging somewhere in his body. The other
entered the body about three inches from the spinal column, a
little above the hip and coming out the left side, near the
lower part of the abdomen.
Dropping to the ground he heard another shot and Andy Anderson
was shot through the upper part of his leg, but George Stoll hid
and was not wounded. As Anderson seen what was happening, he
yelled, "Run George, run, that so-and-so has shot Tom and
me."
George did get on one of the horses, bare backed, got away
and went for help to Burntfork. Anderson pulled a silk handkerchief
through the bullet hole to stop the bleeding and hid out in the brush.
Tom crawled off into the underbrush and hid because he was afraid
King would come back and finish them off. Tom crawled about a mile
and a half, out through the underbrush, to keep out of sight.
He went through Burntfork Creek and then began to feel the loss of
blood, so he came back out near the road and leaned up against a tree
to wait for help to come back. He didn't know how soon help would
come but knew they would find him there.
George came for me and we went back as quickly as possible
in the buggy, as it was about three miles to Burntfork. We
found Tom leaning up by the tree, alive. They soon got him into
the buggy and started home. The road was rough and the pain was
so great, and started home. The road was rough and the pain was
so great, so before they reached home he passed away. He told
the story of what happened. It was 28 July 1885.
The outlaw, John King, took one of the horses, a gun, some
ammunition and some food and left that part of Wyoming. As
officers followed his trail, he hid out for a spell in Little
Hole. Wyoming and then made his way over into Vernal. The officers
ate a meal and went on, and that same day King came in and ate
there, too. He was behind the officers instead of ahead of them,
as they thought. It has been said the Indians caught him and held
him for a spell but before the officers could get to him, he got
away again. I understand he was shot and killed near Jackson
Hole, Wyoming
(10)
I was left heartbroken, with five small children to take care
of and away up in Burntfork, Wyoming. I had to begin to shape a
new life for me and my small family.
Mary Ann and George shipped almost all our
belongings home with us on the same train as Tom's body. As
soon as Louis (Andy) Anderson recovered he brought the wagon
with the rest of our belongings to us, We returned to Union
Fort, Utah, to our little home that we had left such a short
time ago. So on 30 July 1885 Tom's funeral was held in the
Union Ward (Ed. Note: see also The
Memoirs of President Joseph Smith, III) and he was
buried beside his baby son
(Ishmael Smith) in the South
Cottonwood Cemetery (later changed to Murray City Cemetery).
I was so thankful we hadn't sold our little home before we left.
So with a very sad heart and five little children to feed, I
began again my baking and washing for people I knew.
In about two months I met a young, handsome bachelor who
was in Union visiting his sister Lillie Egbert who lived across
the road from me. She was a good friend and neighbor. She
had asked him to carry some food over to my house. His
name was
Ransom Cutler (called Joe). His parents
lived in Lake Shore west of Spanish Fork on the shore of Utah
Lake. Thereafter he frequently brought food, wood and other
small comforts to our little family. One evening I was
standing on Lillie's step talking to her, Ransom was in the
house and came to the door. Lillie said "You are right
together, go ask her Joe." Ransom caught his toe on the
threshold and fell out the door, knocking me to the ground.
He picked me up and dusted me off and we both laughed. This
was the beginning of our courtship. He called me his small,
blonde, blue-eyed widow. He walked home with me that evening.
We were married on 3 December 1885 by Isaac Harrison, Justice
of the Peace. Ransom was 20 years old and I was 30 years old.
We still lived in my little home in Union
(12)
Our home was a happy home. My children loved their new
father. They called him Pa Joe. Ransom worked after we were
married hauling ore from Bingham, Big and Little Cottonwood
canyons. This hauling was done in the winter before thawing
set in as there was too much danger from snow slides after
the weather warmed up. Bub Freeman and Ransom used to take
all the dry stock into Mill Creek and Parleys Canyon for the
summer and herd them for a small fee for each animal
(12)
We were blessed with seven children,
Joseph Ransom (14 June 1886),
Henry (2 August 1888),
Minnie (18 September 1890),
Margaretta (Margaret), 18 November 1892,
Alma Laurence (7 April 1895),
Ida Louse (6 October 1897),
Lillie Rose (6 February 1900).
Tragedy struck our home in the evening of the 23rd of
October 1892.
William Smith now 11 years 6 months old,
met with an accident as he and a group of youngsters were
playing run sheep run. He was hit by a horse and cart.
The shafts caught him in the chest and he was killed on
the spot.
On 24 January 1894 Rachel Smith married
Henry Hansen. On 21 June 1895 Nellie (Mary Ellen) married
Ruben Garrett. On 28 May 1896 Emily (Em) married
David Lorenzo Hewlett.
In 1900 scarlet fever came into our home. We had a serious time.
I was not well. On the 6th of February I gave birth to our daughter
Lillie. I was very sick and the new baby
seemed to catch the disease soon after birth. Little Alma also
came down with the disease. On account of the quarantine no one
was allowed to come to our place to help us out. Alma died 10
February 1900 at the age of 4 years 10 months old. The funeral
services were held on the front porch in the open air. Then the
three girls, Ida, Minnie, and Margaret came down with scarlet fever.
I was still bedfast with an infection after birth. The sickness
seemed never ending and we were afraid the baby would not live.
I, with the help of Joe, took care of the baby. Joe and Tom cooked
for the family, waited on the sick ones and cared for the younger
boys. The doctor said because the three boys slept on the back porch
covered by a roof and the sides built out of new lumber and sleeping
in the fresh air had warded off the boys getting the disease.
After the quarantine was taken down two of my married daughters
came and took me and the baby along with the other children except
Tom, to their home. Then the cleaning began. All of the factory
ceilings, and any old clothing had to be burned. Even a shelf of
cured pork had to go into the fire. Everything had to be taken out
of the house while the walls were cleaned and white washed with
lime. New unbleached muslin was put up after the fumigating for
the ceilings of the rooms.
In the fall of 1900 Joe got interested in a new land project
in Box Elder County, Utah. He and Tom went up there to look it over.
They liked what they saw. In February 1901 I sold my home and
we moved up to Fruitland
(14). Fruitland was located about three miles
west of Corrine and four miles south of Bear River City. There were
large orchards of apples here. We were later in Corinne. The
home was large with plenty of rooms, three bedrooms upstairs,
kitchen, pantry, 1 large bedroom and a living room on the ground
floor with 40 acres of land which had to be cleared
(11)
We made the journey from Union to Fruitland with three wagons,
one of them covered with canvas in which the family rode. I don't
recall how long it took to make the journey but Joe
(Joseph Ransom), Tom and Aaron (Ransom's brother) had to drive the
other two wagons and take care of them and the horses. The wagons
were loaded with household goods, furniture, farm machinery etc.
(13).
Ransom ran a livery stable for some years in Corinne. He was
a lover of fine horses and enjoyed working with them from 1908 to
1912. In 1912 we decided to move to Arizona. We had an auction
sale and sold all our property. We then moved to Arizona but after
about one year we moved back to Corinne
(12)
At the age of 65 years Ransom decided to quit smoking. He
put down his tobacco and never again picked it up. When he
became nervous and desired tobacco he would take out his
pocket knife and start to whittle. My he whittled me some
fine wooden paddles for me to use in stirring the big pans of
fruit that I canned. These paddles had sturdy handles about
fourteen inches long, with the paddle on the end gradually enlarged
to three inches wide, and flat across the bottom. They were
nicely smoothed and most useful
(13)
There was no LDS Church near or in Corinne. I was glad when the
LDS Church came and enjoyed being a member of the first Relief Society
in Corinne
(see Corinne Ward). I was a
block teacher for many years. I worked hard
all of my life and tried to do good wherever I could. In the summer
of 1927 I became very ill and my life was spared. I guess my mission
was not yet fulfilled as I recovered in time enough to get around
once more. I was never right well after this. For ten more
years I lived to enjoy my family. Quite a few of them lived
fairly close around me.
Emily Cope Smith Cutler died 13 June 1937 at her home in Corinne.
She was buried 16 June 1937 in Brigham City Cemetery, Brigham City,
Box Elder County, Utah. She was 82 years 4 months old.
A tribute was given at her funeral. She was always a loving mother
and wife devoting her whole life to the comfort and welfare of her family.
She was always a hard worker and doing much good wherever she went.
She has earned a great reward for the greatest mission on earth that
of motherhood. She has gained eternal rest in the mansions of our
Father
(7)
Sources of information:
- Only Mother's name on birth certificate - BX65009 Somerset House London
- A James L. Cope is listed on Amazon Passenger List (we have no other reference of him)
- Endowment House Record #522 - Book H - p. 22 lists Father Joseph Bowen; Bapt. Certificate F026625 6502 Pt 2 shows Father Joseph
- Life of Elizabeth Cope
- Passenger list of Ship Amazon
- History of Emily Cope Smith Cutler told to granddaughter Burnetta Duncan by Emily Cope Smith Cutler
- Short sketch of The Life of Emily Cope Cutler given at her funeral
- Historical Record Vols. 5,6,7, & 8 Church Encyclopedia Book I p. 334, 338, 339
- History of the voyage of the Ship Amazon
- Obituary from The Deseret News Aug. 1 1885 p.3 c. 3
- History of Thomas Smith (Emily's son)
- History of Ransom Cutler
- Parts of Life of Ransom Cutler by Son Joseph Ransom Cutler and Grandchildren
- Early Corinne Ward Records lists a Fruitvale
Children of Thomas and Emily:
Children of Ransom (Joe) Cutler and Emily:
Genealogy Collection provided by:
Becky S. Porter,
2493 S. Hulls Crossing,
Preston, Idaho 83263
E-Mail: Roland K. Smith