Lurancy Chase Hill

Lurancy Chase Hill was my great, great, grandmother. 

She was born in 1842 in Lincoln, Vermont. Her ancestors for several generations back were members of the Society of Friends, or more commonly called “Quakers.” Therefore they were taught that it was wrong to wear bright colors; their clothes should be made plain and simple. It was wrong to dance, whistle, sing, or indulge in any slang phrases or swear words, and they addressed each other as ‘thee’ and ‘thou’. 

When Lurancy’s mother, Miriam, was nineteen years of age, it was announced in a meeting that Sisson Almadorus Chase would take Miriam as his wedded wife. They were married in 1832. While living in their first home at Lincoln, Vermont, three children were born to them; Rachel, born in 1834 lived only a few hours; Hannah, born in December 1834; and Lurancy born in 1842. They also adopted a little girl, Jane Ann, born in 1839.
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When the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints visited their neighborhood, Sisson and Miriam were persuaded to go and listen to them. In a very short time they received the truth and were baptized. Having a great desire to gather with the Saints, they began to prepare to move to Nauvoo where the Saints were gathering. They arrived there in November 1843, seven months before the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. Sisson and Miriam esteemed it a great blessing and privilege to meet the Prophet, and rejoiced in listening to his instructions. They shared the sorrow of the Saints at Joseph's death. Miriam was convinced that Brigham Young was the divinely appointed successor when she witnessed the mantel of Joseph fall upon him. This was a strong and abiding testimony to her all through her life.  

While in Nauvoo, a son was born to Sisson and Miriam but he lived just a few hours. When the Saints were compelled to leave Nauvoo, two years later, Sisson and Miriam, with their

children and Sisson’s mother, moved into Iowa on the Sioux River, where they stayed for several seasons to make preparations and to get provisions and teams preparatory to crossing the Plains.  

About this Lurancy said: “This was the first I remember of Pioneer life. Father built a rude log house, and I have a most vivid picture of Grandma Chase, sitting by the fireplace roasting potatoes, that was our evening meal. I also remember how 300 Indians came to our home. We did not know what would happen, but father was able to make friends with them.”

 

Three more children were born to them while in Iowa

Sisson Almadorus, born in 1847; Miriam, born in 1849; and Amy, born in 1851.
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In May 1853, when Lurancy was 11 years old, they started across the Plains traveling in Captain Joseph Thorn’s Company part of the Daniel A. Miller/John W. Cooley Company. Their outfit consisted of two wagons, one drawn by two oxen, the other by four young steers. They had three cows which supplied milk for breakfast and supper.

The extra milk they put in a tin churn, tied it to the wagon, and the jolting of the wagon would churn it to butter. Their fare was very meager. At times buffalo would be killed, dressed and divided, which would make a very acceptable change of diet for a few meals. When the trails were bad, they would walk, and that was most of the time and most of the way from Iowa to Utah. Many times the cows were hitched up also to help pull the load over the poor trails.

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Miriam Chase was not a very strong woman and yet she drove one of the wagons most of the way. Those of her family who were old enough to remember have said they shall never forget seeing her standing in the wagon, her face white as death, and a long whip in her hand. At one time they were able to rest for a week and this was most welcome. During that time wood was gathered to shoe

their oxen. Their long and tiresome journey came to an end in September 1853, four months from the time they

had left Iowa. Lurancy’s Uncle Isaac Chase met the company at the mouth of Immigration Canyon. They had never seen anything look so good as did Uncle Isaac’s carriage. After their long walk it was beautiful to see. They were all dirty, tired, and ragged. It was decided that Lurancy should stay and come on with her father in the wagons, while the mother and younger children would go in the carriage with Uncle Isaac, but Lurancy cried so hard that they tucked her in too.
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They lived in one of the rooms of Uncle Isaac’s adobe house for two years. It stands in the center of Liberty Park in Salt Lake City and for years was the home of the custodian of the Park. 

That first winter was a hard one for the Chase family. They sold everything they could spare to get enough to live on. They had so little clothing that they could not go out much.

Lurancy’s father taught the Second Ward School and was supposed to receive $3.00 from each pupil, but many were unable to pay so very little was received. Their food those two years was mostly corn bread and molasses.
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In the winter of 1855 her father contracted typhoid

fever, and they all gathered around his bed, thinking he could not live, but through mercy and blessings of the Lord, and the good nursing of his wife, his life was spared, but he never again fully recovered his normal strength. It also left him with a bad cough. The burden of supporting the family fell to his wife and daughters. They washed wool, corded and spun it, then wove it into cloth for their blankets and wearing apparel, which they sewed completely by hand. They also made their own soap, knit their stockings, and molded their candles.
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When Lurancy was about 14 years old, a young man asked her to go to a dance. She so was so pleased that she told him she would be glad to go, but after considering it she knew that she did not have a dress fit for a dance. She had to tell him that she could not go. He asked no questions,
indicating that he knew the reason. Soon after she had the chance to do some housework. She worked for eight weeks and earned enough to buy herself and her mother material for a calico dress. When that dress was made, she was one of the proudest girls in Salt Lake City.
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Eventually the family was blessed financially enough to purchase two city lots. They built two log rooms for which they were very thankful. In this home was the Ward Branch of Z.C.M.I. and the mother did most of the clerking.

A young man by the name of Heamon Allison Hill, an

industrious young farmer, rented some land outside of Salt Lake City. He decided he needed the help of a wife, and after meeting Lurancy his visits to the Chase home were frequent. In the Spring of 1860 he tried to persuade her to marry him and move out on the farm, but she managed to put him off until November, and they were married by her father. After the Endowment House was finished they were sealed for time and Eternity. 

They stayed for a while with Lurancy’s parents. Their bedroom was an unfinished log room with no windows and no chinking between the logs. Needless to say, they had plenty of fresh air.
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In the Spring of 1862 Allison and Lurancy moved to

Payson, and there they went through all the hardships incident to pioneer life. They built their home, a log cabin. It stood for many years, being demolished sometime in the late 1960’s. Although it was only one room to begin, no

bride was ever happier than Lurancy when she moved into it.

They had been married for five years and were still

childless, a great disappointment to them. A

Mrs. Fillmore died in childbirth, leaving an infant

son. Mr. Fillmore, having no way to care for the

infant, asked Lurancy if she would care for his baby. She hesitated, as they had so little to live on and the baby seemed so fragile. Mr. Fillmore, seeing her reluctance, raised his hand and said, “I promise you, Sister Hill, that if you will take this child and care for him as your own, the Lord will bless you with children of your own.” She took the

baby and cared for it and loved it, but they were only permitted to keep him for a short time when he became very sick and died. Within a year a baby girl came to bless their home. They named her Miriam Lurancy. After that, they had the following children: Leonard Allison, born in 1868; Sarah Jane, born in 1870; Sisson Almadorus, born in 1872, died in 1873; Frederick Simeon, born in 1875; Jasper Franklin, in 1877; and Amy Cylinda, born in 1880, died in 1885. 
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When her first baby was three weeks old, President

Brigham Young called volunteers to go back and help the Saints who were crossing the Plains at that time. It is certain that the hardships of his own journey were burned deep in the memory of Lurancy’s beloved husband, and having such vivid memories surely helped to account for the warm compassion he had for others. Willingly he left his dearly beloved wife and their three week old daughter, took his team and wagon, joined the other willing men, and started back across the Plains. Surely this says much of his character, but it says the same of the character of his lovely wife. Sacrificing the companionship of her husband when she needed him so badly herself. It was the planting season for their small farm, and surely without a successful year, there would be a long hard year ahead of them before another planting season came. But she did not complain or falter in any way in letting him go with her blessings. She cared for her home and her baby alone, to the best of her ability, and patiently awaited the arrival of the few letters her husband was able to send her by the methods of the day. A long six months later, her husband returned to her and how happy was their reunion!
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From the exposure and the conditions on the trip he was afflicted with an illness that affected him the rest of his life. Faithfully she stood by his side and did her share in sustaining him and in raising their children.

Throughout their lives they were active in the Church, always willing to serve when and wherever they were called. Their hardships were many, but nothing altered the firm faith they had in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were staunch and true pioneers. 

Lurancy worked for many years as an officer in the Primary organization, and she was also a Relief Society teacher. She taught her children the principles of the Gospel, both by precept and example. They were all true to the faith

and active in the Church throughout their lives. Two of her sons became Bishops, one of them a Stake Patriarch.

Her good husband was taken from her in 1907, leaving her to finish her mission here on earth alone. For more than nineteen years she remained active and faithful, serving in the Church and serving those around her. She was a guide and a light to her children and grandchildren. She truly found joy in her posterity. 
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In 1926 at the age of 84, she passed away at her home in Payson, Utah. She was laid to rest beside her beloved husband in the Payson City Cemetery. Their posterity is great and far spreading. The seeds she planted has reaped abundant harvests throughout the many years. 

Ancestral Line:  Janeal Kindred Smith...Kent Lewis Kindred...Chloris Hill...Jasper Franklin Hill...Lurancy Chase Hill