Selena was baptized in England when she was 10 years old. Her father, Thomas Marshall, did not have good health and died in England. After his death, her mother was very anxious to come to America. She had the courage and desire to immigrate to Utah. She had five daughters and one son. One of the daughters was a frail, sickly child, and on that account she hesitated to leave their comfortable home, but she had a blessing given to her in which she was promised that she would go to the Salt Lake Valley and would not lose a child. This was a great encouragement to her. She made preparations as fast as she could for their departure from England. She, along with her children, left England in April, 1856 by railroad to Liverpool, where they sailed on the ship "S. Curling", comprising 800 souls of Latter Day Saints, mostly of Welch stock. Selena's mother also paid emigration for her 25-year-old unmarried sister, Maria Goode. Sister Marshall was 34 years of age. The children were: Lavinia 12, Selena 10, Tryphina 8, Louisa 6, George 4, and Sarah 2.
They sailed from Liverpool and landed in Boston about a month later. Here they boarded a train for Iowa City, arriving there in June. A few days after their arrival on the camp grounds, they joined a handcart company, and headed for the Salt Lake Valley, with Daniel McArthur as their captain and leader. This was the first Handcart Company headed for the Salt Lake Valley.
Selena was next to the oldest child, and she had the responsibility of helping her younger sisters and brothers along while her mother and eldest sister pulled the handcart. Everyone, even the small children, had to walk unless they were ill.
Every person in the company was given a pint of flour a day to make whatever they wanted. Selena always made her share into bread, and kept most of it to coax her sisters and brothers along, and it helped a great deal when they were so tired and weary. She sometimes helped others in their camp by gathering wood for their campfires. Some were wealthier than others for they had more supplies in their camp. These people gave bread to Selena for her help. She would keep it to coax the children along. It helped so much for her to keep the children moving along ahead of the handcarts. Selena asked her Father in Heaven to take away her appetite so that she could give her rations to the younger ones more easily. She got very weak but she seldom got hungry. When the children were tired she offered them a small piece of bread if they would go to a bush or rock that she would point out ahead, and she took turns carrying them a little ways to rest them. When they reached the chosen place she would give them a bite of bread. This was a very long and tiresome journey for these brave souls.
They encountered a very disheartening experience on their journey. When the company had stopped to make camp after a long, hard day, they found that one of Selena's sisters was missing. Many were alarmed but the captain tried to quiet them by saying that the wolves would have her by that time, and he didn't want any more lives lost by going back and trying to rescue her. Selena and her mother really felt that they could find the child and started back in search for her. After going a short distance from camp, they both knelt down in prayer. Her mother had a feeling immediately that she would find her child. They did find her huddled up close to a large bunch of grass near the trail. The wolves howled on all sides of them, but they were so thankful to find the lost one that they were not afraid. The mother didn't forget the promise made to her in the beginning of her journey westward, and it buoyed her up on the road to her goal.
When the company was two days from Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and a few men came to welcome and cheer them on. Brother Young brought them a treat of gingersnaps. Each child was given three cookies. Selena kept most of hers for her little brother and sisters.
Their journey proved a very hard one, and conditions were very bad in the Salt Lake Valley. They arrived in September, 1856. Here they camped a week to rest. Then they went on to Ogden.
The next year, Selena's mother married Joseph Chadwick. Mr. Chadwick didn't prove to be a good husband, and she obtained a divorce in the beginning of 1860. That spring she left Ogden and took her family to Cache Valley, arriving in Franklin, Idaho in April, 1860, where they made their home. Selena worked very hard to help her mother get a home. She went to the canyon for wood, she plowed with an ox team, and she planted a garden and some small crops.
When Selena was 18 years old, she became acquainted with a good man from England who was a widower, and who had just previously come to Franklin. His name was Robert Gregory. They were married at the bride's home and lived a short time with Selena's mother, then made a home out in the Franklin Fort. Selena was very happy and contented with her fine husband. She became the mother of thirteen children, eight girls and five boys. Three children died in infancy. All the rest of her children married, had large families, and faithfully worked in the church in their respective wards.
In January 1865, Selena and Robert received their endowments, and Selena acted as proxy for her husband's first wife, Mary Stevens Gregory, who had died while they were crossing the plains at Fort Laramie, Wyoming.
Selena worked as a nurse and midwife and helped many, many people through sickness, epidemics and childbirth. It is estimated that she brought 200 or more babies into the world, including all her grandchildren. There were many times the doctor would send patients to Selena telling them that she could do more for them than he could do.
In November 1883 the YLMIA was organized, Selena taking the office of president. In 1894 the primary organization was effected, and Selena served as counselor in this organization for six years. Selena also served as a Relief Society visiting teacher for many years.
Her husband, Robert Gregory, died suddenly in 1900, while asleep in bed at the home of their daughter with whom he was visiting.
Selena contracted sugar diabetes and suffered several years from that disease. She cared for herself until December 1917, when she became bedfast and died in January 1918.
She left a numerous posterity. She was a noble wife and mother with a sterling character, and did much good in this world. All loved her and her kind, loving ways.
She was buried in Franklin, Idaho.
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