History of John Hollingdrake and Sarah Wood

by Ida Holindrake West

John Hollingdrake was born August 5, 1810 at Bradford, Yorkshire, England. His father was Charles Hollingdrake, born June 10, 1787 at Calvary, Yorkshire, England. His mother was Mary Barren, born in 1794. He lived with his parents in England before he emigrated to America where he met Sarah Wood Wilson.

Sara Wood was born September 12, 1823 at Burley, York County, England. Her father was William Wood who was born August 1, 1803, and her mother was Elizabeth Brogden, born October 16, 1807 at Idle Works, England.

At the age of eighteen years, in 1841, Sarah Wood married William Wilson in York County, England. At that time many people were migrating to the wonderful new land of America. Sarah and William decided to come to this new land. They made their home in Philadelphia. William was a merchant. Two children were born to them; Elizabeth Wilson on July 22, 1845 and Mary Ellen Wilson on August 1, 1848. William had a son by a previous marriage who died December 28, 1845.

William was drowned about 1849, before the birth of Mary Ellen, while hunting ducks along the docks in Philadelphia. His body was not found until ten days layer. He was recognized by a watch and handkerchief.

While they were living in Philadelphia, there was a Cholera epidemic. Many people were buried in trenches. One young man came home to find that his wife had
been buried in a trench. He found her still breathing and took
her home. She lived.

After William's death, Sarah made a living for her children by
making men's fancy shirts. These shirts were made with many
fancy pin tucks down the front which took many hours of
tiresome work. She could only make one shirt each day and
received only a few cents for each shirt. The little family lived
most of the time on bread and molasses. Finally she could not
earn enough to pay rent for their home. Sarah was expecting
her second child, but the landlord had no mercy. Sarah and her
child and their belongings were put out in the street. John
Hollingdrake, a close friend of the family, took Sarah and her
child to a kind woman they knew. The day after their arrival at the woman's home Sarah's second daughter, Mary Ellen, was born. They stayed at this good woman's home for some time.

John Hollingdrake had married before. He had one daughter, Mary Ann. His first wife was Ann Swain, born 1812 and died 1843. John owned a small bakery shop. He came to visit Sarah often and brought them food from his bakery and helped them in many ways. They were married about 1849.

Not long after the birth of their first child, Sarah Jane, they returned to England. There was a happy reunion with parents, brother, sisters, relatives, and friends. They lived for a short time with Sarah's parents, William Wood and Elizabeth Brogden Wood. Their second child, Louise was born in Idle York, England, August 2, 1853.

While residing in England they experienced trouble and sorrow. Sarah had a dream that she was walking through a church yard and stepped into four small holes, one after another. The next four children born to them died in infancy. First was Lavine, born April 16, 1856, died, May 23, 1858. Second was John W., born July 18, 1857 and died, December 29, 1859. One child was still born, July 18, 1859, and the fourth was Charles, born July 19, 1860, and died March 8, 1861. During these years many children in England died in infancy due to the damp, cold climate with diphtheria and other diseases.

In 1845 two Mormon missionaries, Edward Milnes and companion, came to the home of Sarah's parents, William and Elizabeth Brogden Wood, and brought them the message of the restored gospel. They received a testimony of its truth and Elizabeth was baptized, April 27, 1845. The following year, William was baptized by Charles Miller. When their daughter, Sarah and her husband, John Hollingdrake returned to England, Sarah's parents were anxious to tell them the wonderful news of the restored gospel. John and Sarah were very much interested. Sarah Wood Hollingdrake was baptized, March 5, 1855 by John Heaten. She was confirmed on March 13, 1855 by Joseph Young. John Hollingdrake, was baptized at Idle York, July 31, 1855, and confirmed August 5, 1855 on his birthday by John Myres.

At the time many missionaries were being sent to England to take the restored gospel, and many were being baptized into the Church. There was a spiritual effect upon the Saints of the restoration of the keys of the gathering of Israel. The greatest desire of the Saints was to come to Zion. John and Sarah and Sarah's parents were anxious to join the Saints in America. William and Elizabeth, however, felt that they were too old to stand the journey. William loved his children and grandchildren. He had a very kind, loving personality. It was hard for him to part with them. Many missionaries made their home with them while in that part of England. John's parents lived at Bradford, England. They, too, were sad to part with John and his family, knowing that they would probably never see them again.

John, Sarah and children left England for America in 1864. The ship in which their company sailed was six weeks on the ocean. They were driven far north of their route and encountered icebergs and were in danger of sinking when the ice parted and they were saved. Sarah was sea-sick and in bed most of the way. The children enjoyed the ocean. Sarah, being the oldest helped care for the young children. One day they saw a whale and the captain made haste to steer the ship away from it. He gave crackers to the children to feed the sea pigs which often followed the ship.

John's family were weavers by trade and later manufactured clothing. John was told that he would find employment in this business in Utah. He decided to bring two looms with him. They traveled by train from New York to Omaha. It was extra expense to take the looms and other baggage. When they arrived in Omaha John bought two teams of horses and two wagons. He hired two young men, John Mitchell and Jack Armstrong, who were members of the group of pioneers coming to Utah, to drive the teams for him. Mary Ellen was now nineteen years old and Elizabeth sixteen. Two romances must have developed on that long journey from Omaha to Utah. Ellen later married Jack Armstrong and Elizabeth became the wife of John Mitchell. John Lloyd traveled to Utah with one of the Handcart Companies. He pushed a handcart most of the way. He later married Mary Ann, John's daughter by a former marriage. Sometime after arriving in Utah they made their home in Springville. Joseph Lloyd was Bishop in Springville for many years.

Before starting on their long journey across the plains, John bought a cookstove in Omaha, believed to be the only one in their company. They arrived in Salt Lake with their precious possessions but Sarah never had an opportunity to use her stove for it was stolen from their wagon. During their long toilsome journey many of the children and adults who were physically able walked a great part of the distance to Salt Lake. One of Sarah Jane's tasks was to pick up buffalo chips as this was their only source of fuel for a great part of the journey. Their average distance of traveled each day was ten miles.

They encountered Indians at various times during their journey. The Indians begged for food, mostly bacon and meal. One day a band of Indian warriors came to their camp and wanted their beautiful brown eyed daughter, Sarah Jane, who was eleven years old. John jokingly said they would trade her for a horse. The next day one of the warriors returned with a fine horse and demanded the child. Sarah Jane's mother hid her in the wagon and, after much persuasion and bargaining, the Indian left, but the company feared trouble and kept vigilant watch for many days. On their journey they saw dead Indians wrapped in blankets and hung on trees.

The girls brought some of their nice dresses with lace pantelets and high topped straw hats with them. The girls wore them at first, but they became objects of ridicule and were soon discarded. Sarah Jane was gifted, cleaver, full of fun and liked to play jokes on the other girls. Mary Ann felt superior to her half sisters and sometimes caused ill feelings.

As soon as the emigrant company arrived in Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young sent them to settle in different parts of the territory. John and his family were assigned to settle in American Fork. They located on the south bank of a large stream of water coming from American Fork Canyon. With crude implements they built two rooms of soft rock brought from the nearby canyon.

There was a lean-to shed on the west end where coal, wood and other articles were stored. The west room was the kitchen and all purpose living room with couch, table, chairs, cupboard, stove, etc. The east room was the bedroom and parlor with a fire place on the east wall, a bed in the northwest corner, a couch, rocking chair and center table with a crocheted doily and the family bible resting on it. For many years the kitchen had only a fireplace for cooking and heating. In the northwest corner of the kitchen was a stairway leading to the attic where John kept his looms, old trunks and heirlooms. This was a mystery room which grandchildren loved to explore. Sometimes we imagined there were ghosts up in the attic and we were afraid to venture there. For many years after I dreamed of this attic. A path lead from the front door to the gate of the fence with lilacs growing on each side of the path.

Prior to 1850 American Fork creek was a favorite camping ground for roving Indians. The first account of white men visiting American Fork was an account of Escalante with his companions while passing through this vicinity found a group of Indians camped here. The first Christian sermon known in history of Utah was preached to these Indians by Escalante. The Indians told Escalante of plenty water, lumber and a lake with many fish and water fowl and choice meadows land toward the lake.

When our grandparents came to make their home in American Fork, there were roving bands of Indians living in wickiups along the banks of the streams. These Indians were generally friendly. They came to the homes of the new settles begging for food.

When I was about ten or eleven years of age, grandmother Hollingdrake like to have me brush her hair. While I brushed her hair, she told me stories of their early days in American Fork. I always wanted to hear them over and over again. I am sure that hearing them repeatedly so often has kept these events fresh in my mind. One incident I enjoyed very much was about a group of Indians coming to the door while they were eating dinner. They walked up to the table picked up their plates of food and walked off with it. When a band of Indians were in the neighborhood, grandmother kept the children in the house.

During the early years in the valley, food was at times scarce. Breakfast consisted of cornmeal 'mush'. Cornbread and molasses was the most essential part of their diet. At first molasses was made from beets, carrots and melon. Later they began to plant sugar cane form which they made sorghum. John Jacklin build a molasses mill about a mile north of grandmother's home. One of my most enjoyable experiences was when we as children took our little buckets up to John Jacklins molasses mill. He would give us the skimmings form the top of the juice. Mother made it into Molasses candy. When cooked, the syrup was poured onto a plate. When cooled enough to handle were stretched and we made molasses taffie from it. That was the very best candy I ever tasted (ate).

During times of drought and the grass hopper plague, my grandparents and their families lived on thistle roots and sego lily roots. I remember when my parents gathered pig weeds for greens and we liked them. Grandmother told us that during a drought there was just small amounts of flour left in the flour barrel. Grandmother was a woman of greatest faith. She prayed that their children would not go hungry. That little supply of flour lasted a very long time. Flour was scarce. At one time it was sold for 20 dollars per hundred pounds.

During their first years in American Fork many of the men wore clothes made from buffalo hides an buckskin. When John arrived in the valley in 1864 he set up his weaving looms in his attic and expected to make a living weaving, but most of the new arrivals had their own spinning wheels. They raised sheep, corded the wool and made cloth for clothing. It was very hard for John to give up his trade and earn a living by farming.

After they built their soft rock house they made their furniture: table, stools, cupboards, chairs, beds. Mattresses were filled with straw. Since Sarah had lost her stove, they used the fireplace for cooking. Had irons, skillets and kettles hung over the fireplace. The house was lighted at night with the flame form the fireplace and saucer of grease in which was placed a strip of cloth with a button on the end and the cloth was set a flame. Later they made candle molds with tubes about twelve inches long. Cotton wicking was threaded through the tubes, melted tallow was then poured into the tubes, then set to cool and harden. Later kerosene lamps came into use and were considered a luxury. Most of their wood was brought from the cedars west of Jordan river. Buffalo hides and bear skins were at first used for bed covering.

Life was not all hardships. Candy was made form sorghum molasses. Young people had great fun with pulling candy. Dances were held in the combination school and meeting house. House parties consisted of pulling up the rugs, then accordion music was played for quadrille and other popular dances. Waltzes and card playing were considered evil and not allowed.

John and Sarah arrived in American Fork with five girls: Elizabeth Wilson, age 19, Mary Ellen Wilson, age 16, Mary Ann a daughter of John's former marriage, Sarah Jane, age 12, and Louisa, age 10. Their first son born June 13, 1864 right after they arrived in American Fork. Sarah had been pregnant while crossing the plains. He was given the name of Albert. John Robert was born May 26, 1866.

In those days a midwife delivered a baby and stayed to care for baby and mother for 10 days, often doing other household tasks, all for five dollars.

John Hollingdrake was a kind gentleman and was loved by family and friends. He died June 2, 1877 at the age of 67 years. When Albert was 13 years old and John Robert was 11. Sarah Wood Hollingdrake was a woman of noble, strong character. She lived the principles of the gospel and her counsel and advice to her children and grandchildren was a great help and influence for good in their lives. She lost one eye soon after she came to Utah. She later developed asthma. She died March 3, 1903 at the age of eighty.

Regarding the remaining members of the family: Sarah Jane was afraid of becoming a polygamist wife so she married a non-Mormon salesman, Hugh Alexander Gann. They settled in DesMoines, Iowa. Louise married Dave Mitchell. They lived out their lifetime on their farm northwest of American Fork.

Albert was 13 and John Robert was 11 when their father died. They helped their mother on the farm until they grew up and started families of their own. Albert married Nancy Ann Sloan. They settled in Park City, a thriving mining town. He became sheriff there and later accidently shot himself while cleaning his gun. John built a two room adobe house next to his mother so that he and my mother, Emily Winn could take care for her. He bought more land and spent his life farming. They all raised fine families and added much to church and community.

Sarah lost her right eye while walking across the lot form her house to John Robert's. She fell and a stick pierced her eye.

John Sr. made many trips back across the plains for supplies before the railroad came through in 1869.

My grandfather died 13 years after the family made their home in American Fork. He died at the ate of 67 on June 2, 1877. He had a kind and gentle personality. He worked hard to obtain a living from the gravely rocky soil for his wife and seven children. He was one of those stalwart pioneers who worked and suffered much to bring the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Chris to his family and posterity. We own so much to those wonderful pioneer grandparents whose example of faith and courage his influenced our lives and we hope will influence the lives of those loved ones who follow.