EMILY SLAFTER THOMPSON

By Claudia Spencer Sadler

Emily (the 4^th wife of Daniel Spencer) was born in Mansfield Center, Tolland Co., Connecticut on August 13, 1819. Her father was Moses Thompson (1792-1832), a farmer and her mother was Tryphosa Slafter (1793-). There were seven children in the family and Emily was the third child. There is no recorded date of her conversion to Mormonism, only that her baptism took place before she arrived in Nauvoo. She came to Nauvoo and met Hiram Spencer, a widower of three years with eight children. He was tall, standing over six feet and had very large, powerful physique. Hiram’s brother Daniel, being an elder in the Church received permission from the prophet Joseph Smith to marry Hiram (age 45 and Emily (age 24) on January 1, 1843. Hiram worked the family farm and was in charge of the rock hauling for the Nauvoo Temple. When the Temple was completed Emily had her endowment on December 20, 1845. By January 1846 it was imminent they would be leaving the city. She returned to the Temple with Hiram and was sealed to him on January 16. Following this ceremony she acted as proxy in the sealing for Hiram’s deceased wife Mary which took place at 12:00 noon the same day, with Amasa M. Lyman officiating and Brigham Young and S. Woodworth as witnesses. The family left Nauvoo February 15, 1846. Hiram had two wagons to take his children Mariah (age 20), Charles Henry (age 18), Anna (age 16), Martha (age 14), Hiram Theron (age 11), Amanda (age 8), Edwin Eugene (age 2) and Frances Elizabeth (age 7 months). They were placed in Company #7 under the direction of his brother Daniel. During the journey from Nauvoo to Garden Grove, Hiram organized the labor force of the camp and took contracts from settlers bordering the route of travel to chop timber and split rails to procure food for the camp. They reached Garden Grove April 19, 1846. The morning after their arrival, a family council was held between Hiram, Daniel and Orson, and Hiram, being described by Daniel as "brave in spirit", to return to Nauvoo and dispose of our houses and land for something to aid us in our journey." He succeeded in selling the homes on June 4, for $325.00, and Section 9 property for $200.00. He sold Section 6 on June 20 for $850.00. Hiram took partial payment in 100 head of wild cattle, which were located some distance from Nauvoo. When the townspeople heard of his intention to move the cattle, trumped up writs and attachments were issued to hold them until a mob, which was gathering outside of Nauvoo, could arrive. By almost "super human exertions" Hiram and Claudius escaped with the cattle, crossing the Mississippi River by ferry 60 miles above Nauvoo while the sheriff and posse were waiting to intercept them 40 miles below the city. They drove the cattle continuously for two days and three nights, and through exposure and fatigue, Hiram caught cold. Claudius turned to find his uncle reeling in his saddle. He hurried back helping him to the ground. He asked that he might lie quietly where he was, to rest. He added wearily "this is the end." Hiram’s body was taken to Mt. Pisgah where he was buried August 12, 1846. Emily was left to care of her family. A few months later in Winter Quarters (Florence, Nebraska) Emily (age 28) married Daniel (age 53) on January 25, 1847 for time. Those pioneers who were equipped to travel moved 27 miles west of Winter Quarters and established camp at the Elk Horn where they were organized into companies. Five companies were organized, Daniel Spencer (362 saints), Edward Hunter (356 saints) J.M. Grant (331 saints), A.O. Smoot (318 saints) and Charles C. Rich (126 saints). Daniel and Emily crossed the Elk Horn River on June 12 on a log raft and camped. At 9:00 a.m., June 17, 1847, all five companies left for the Salt Lake Valley, 600 wagons in all. On September 19-24 Daniel’s company arrived in the valley, the first company to arrive following Brigham Young’s group. Emily spent her first winter in the fort that was being built. Their provisions ran short before spring and all the hides that had been put up to shelter the cattle were taken down, scraped off, cut up, cooked and eaten. In the spring of 1848, Daniel built a temporary house for the family located at North Temple and 3^rd West. Emily helped plant vegetables in their garden next to their house, but soon found the climate was not like Nauvoo. The frost killed their vegetables and they had to replant several times. Daniel was busy building houses for others working on a church farm and working on his farm that was located in the area of where Sugarhouse is today. He built a shanty on the farm, raised cattle, oxen, mules and grew wheat, corn and barley. In June they had trouble with crickets eating the crops. They ate all the barley and most of the wheat until the seagulls came. The seagulls stayed for two weeks, and on July 2, they finally got all the crickets out of the corn. In 1849 Daniel purchased property on the north east corner of Main and 3^rd South and property for him on the north west corner of State Street and 3^rd South. He also bought property in Emily’s name on the southwest corner of State Street and 5^th South. Daniel built a one-room adobe home for Orson in 1849 while Orson was serving as British Mission President. Orson's children arrived from Winter Quarters in the fall of 1848, and stayed in the fort until their home was ready. By 1850, Daniel’s two story, two kitchen adobe home was completed on his 3^rd South and State Street property. Emily’s lot was used for growing vegetables and fruit trees. Emily was opposed to plural marriage. Daniel married Mary Woolerton, who was working in the home as a domestic servant, in name only. However, in 1856, he married in a joint ceremony Sarah Jane Gray, Mary Jane Cutcliffe and Elizabeth Funnell. Emily shared the home with them. In the spring of 1858 the threat of Johnston’s Army forced Emily to vacate her home for a few months and move to the Provo area but she returned to her home that fall. In 1868, Emily (age 49) was left a widow with four children at home from ages 19 to 7. After Daniel’s death in December 1868, she moved to the 16^th Ward at #231 East 2^nd South. After six years she boarded next door to C.V. Spencer on Social Hall Avenue, with her daughter Josephine, a noted poetess. In 1893 Emily’s heart began to fail and she moved back to 2^nd South where after a lingering illness she died on May 15, 1895 at age 75. She was a widow for 27 years. She was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on May 16, 1895. Emily was known for her demanding personality. Following Daniel’s death, she felt that because she was the eldest wife she was entitled to more of his estate. This attitude caused a severe split in the household. After going to court Emily received more funds which resulted in the other wives having less and having to work to support themselves. Emily refused to work for her support, leaving her son John Daniel the responsibility.