Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Jacob Mica Truman

Male 1825 - 1881  (56 years)


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  • Name Jacob Mica Truman 
    Born 30 Aug 1825  Niagara, Niagra, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 23 Nov 1881  Truman Ranch, Vejo, Washington, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 24 Nov 1881  Hamblin Cemetery, Mountain Meadows, Washington, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I538  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family 1 Elizabeth Boyes or Boyce,   b. 19 Apr 1831, Redford, Wayne, Michigan, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Nov 1919, Gunlock, Washington, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 88 years) 
    Married 19 Apr 1849  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F438  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Catherine Maxwell,   b. 15 Apr 1829, Kirkfield Bank, Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Dec 1922, Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 93 years) 
    Married 21 Dec 1856  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F439  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Julia Ardena or Ardence Hales,   b. 17 Jul 1842, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Nov 1919, Cedar City, Iron, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Married 7 Jun 1857  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Divorced Yes, date unknown 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F150  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Picture of this individual is at the gallery portion of the website .

      2. Website for this individual with pictures and family organization: <http://www.softcom.net/users/paulandsteph/jmt/homepage.html>

      3. Censuses:
      1880 US: Gunlock, Washington, Utah, NA Film T9-1339, p. 392C:
      Jacob M. Truman, farmer, M, 55, NY, - , NY.
      Elizabeth, keeping house, wife, M, 49, MI, Eng, Eng.
      Catherine, keeping house, wife, M, 50, Scot, Ire, Scot.
      William T., farmer, son, S, 21, UT, NY, MI.
      Lulu E., dau., S, 15, UT, NY, MI.
      Abbot H., son, S, 12, UT, NY, MI.
      Mary L., dau., S, 9, UT, NY, MI.
      Lacina, dau, S, 6, UT, NY, MI.
      Esta P., dau., S, 4, UT, NY, MI.
      M.S., son, S, 15, UT, NY, Scot.
      Ellen S., dau., S, 12, UT, NY, Scot.
      Arthur M., son, S, 10, UT, NY, Scot.

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. "Jacob Mica Truman - Pioneer and Servant of God. By Robert Goodwin. Jacob Mica Truman, the youngest of five children born to John Franklin (Frank) Truman and Martha (Patty) Spencer <http://www.softcom.net/users/paulandsteph/jft/homepage.html>, was born the 30th of August, 1825, not far from the small village of Niagara (now the city of North Tonawanda), Niagara County, New York. A backwoods area of Western New York, still in the process of being settled. Jacob Truman was born into the hardships of life that accompanied those adventurous enough to leave the easier life in the firmly established settlements of the East and venture into the largely unsettled West, in an attempt to better themselves and their families. Jacob's life itself was that of a dedicated pioneer and Latter-day Saint, who braved the wilderness by traveling to Utah to insure his family, and his posterity, the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
      I - Ancestry:
      Jacob himself was from hearty Pioneer stock. His mother was descended from the early colonial settlers of Massachusetts and Connecticut. His father's family, though the name is English, was from the Dutch settlements of New York. Jacob's mother, Martha Spencer, was born the 22nd of July, 1793 in the town of Unadilla, Otsego County, New York, where her father, Mica Spencer had spent his youth. He had moved there from Massachusetts as a child and in 1792 had married Rhoda Mudge. Mica Spencer and his family lived in Unadilla until Martha, their oldest child was about thirteen years old. At that time Mica, along, with some of his brothers decided to move to Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Tioga County in 1806 was a newly settled area with great tracts of land that were still unoccupied. Mica and Martha's uncles found an area near what was later Canoe Camp in Richmond Township, which was not yet been settled. After scouting out its possibilities they soon settled there. Soon after the family had moved to Tioga County, Martha's uncle Amos Spencer built a gristmill to grind flour while the others started farming. Later, Amos also built a sawmill to provide lumber for many of the new settlers then moving into the area. This lumber was needed to build permanent houses and barns. Amos' saw mill kept many of the family employed, both logging and sawing lumber while they struggled to get their farms, settlers moved into the area. The towns of Mansfield, Canoe Camp, Lamb's Creek, and Kelleytown were founded. Mica Spencer, taking advantage of the increased population opened a bookstore which provided extra income for his family. It was while living in Tioga County that Martha Spencer met John F. Truman. John Franklin Truman was born the 28th of January 1789 in either Connecticut or Vermont. He spent his early youth in Burlington, Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain. Shortly before 1800 his parents moved across the lake to Plattsburgh, New York. Shortly afterwards, John was apprenticed out to another family to learn a trade. In apprenticeships the employer usually furnished food, clothes, lodging and some schooling, while the apprentice was required to work assisting his employer in whatever work was needed. Eventually the apprentice was to learn a useful trade. After a time this family moved away and John lost track of his family. John stayed with this family until he was twenty-one, when his apprenticeship ended, and probably moved with them to the area of Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Soon after his release he met Martha Spencer and in 1810 they were married. For a time John and Martha stayed in Tioga County where John built Martha a nice frame house, which stood on a knoll just south of Kelleytown. This house was later used as one of the first school houses in the area.
      John and Martha did not stay long in Tioga County, though. Shortly before Anna Maria was born, in 1811, they moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An important commercial center, and departure point for people traveling down the Ohio River to the Western lands beyond. They stayed in Pittsburgh until after their second daughter, Adeliza Lauretta, was born. They then moved back to Tioga County for a while before moving on to New York. According to tradition, while in New York at this time, John and Martha lived not far from the St. Lawrence River in Northern New York where John ran a tavern and the family 'owned land with many maple sugar trees growing, where they made enough for their own use and to spare.' This tradition has not been verified though. While living in New York, John and Martha's third daughter, Rhoda Sarah, was born in 1820. But again they didn't stay long and soon moved to Canada where Almus Spencer, their first son, was born in 1822. By 1825, when Jacob Mica was born, they had again moved. This time back to New York, in Niagara County where Martha's father had moved for his family's health. Here John bought a small farm from the Holland Land Company not far from where his father lived. John's father, Jacob L. Truman, at this time was also living in Niagara County, no doubt John not only took the opportunity to get re-acquainted with his father, but also to meet his new step-mother, Abigail Horton, and his three young half-brothers. Because it was about this time that John decided to visit his mother, who had stayed behind in Burlington, Vermont and had since remarried. He took his brother-in-law George C. Spencer and started off for Burlington. When they arrived they found his mother at home one night. George was to do the talking. He did so and they got permission to stay. John kept his hat on. He had curly hair and thought his mother might recognize him. She looked at him, walked over and raised his hat, and said: 'John, my son.' What a happy meeting that must have been. They sat up and talked all night.
      II - Birth and Childhood:
      After Jacob Mica's birth in 1825 his family stayed in Niagara for almost five years. While his father tried to make their new farm productive, many of his family took sick, probably with the ague, and his grandmother, Rhoda Mudge, finally became so ill that she died on October 1st, 1828. This, along with the family's constant moving, illness, and financial woes, finally became too much for John and Martha. Mica Spencer, who lived with them, and who had apparently just suffered some financial setbacks when his son, Roswell, lost the land they were trying to buy expressed their sentiments in a letter to a purchasing agent in Canada. Here Mica expressed his desire to move to Canada, where he thought life would be better. He wrote: 'Niagara, N.Y. Sept. 23d 1829. Owning to sickness and other misfortunes we were unable to pay for the soil of the lot Roswell Articled for in this place. We have sold our improvements and as Dorastus and Amos have purchased a lot at Long Point we should like to go ther too ... Mrs. Spencer is dead she died the first day of last October. The rest of the family are all living but some are in a very indifferent state of health vix. myself Roswell George and Sophia. We came here to git into a healthy country. Than which a more unhealthy place cannot be found on the face of Go's earth. the inhabitants have more the appearance of Dondering Ghosts than living mortals if we can once more get well seated in Canada the inhabitants of the States may enjoy all their boasted liberty (which God knows is more wind that reality) and wellcome.' Before the end of the year, Jacob's whole family including his grandfather, Mica Spencer and his family had moved to Charlottesville, Canada. On the way Almus, Jacob's only brother took sick and on the 4th of January 1830 he died; leaving Jacob as the only son in a family of three sisters.
      Jacob and his family lived in Canada for eight years. The longest that they had stayed anywhere. While there, they worked together to build Lauretta a new home. Not long after they had arrived, Lauretta, started seeing a young man named Henry Barnum. He was a local boy who had grown up in the vicinity. Henry worked as a boatman or mariner on Lake Erie. As John was also a boatman, it was only natural that he would have met some of John's family. The courtship must not have lasted long for on the 22nd of March, 1831, hardly a year after they had arrived in Charlottesville, Lauretta, then only 16, and Henry Barnum were married by the local Presbyterian minister John F. Truman, Mica Rhoda. Listed, as witnesses at the marriage were Spencer, and Jacob's nine-year-old sister Rhoda. As a consequence of Lauretta knowing Henry Barnum, Anna Maria met Henry's brother, James Barnum. They quickly fell in love and they were married a year afterward on the 20th of June 1832, at the local Baptist church. During these years the family stayed together and worked hard, making improvements to the land on which they lived. Jacob helped out where he could laboring in the fields, helping his father and uncles clear land, and helping make the necessary improvements to their land. In 1837 Upper Canada, as Ontario was then known, was in the midst of political turmoil. Due to some of the arbitrary decisions made by many of the British appointed officials, who seemed to favor the rich and landed interests over the less wealthy settlers, many of whom were originally from the United States, a revolt broke out, led by William Lyon Mackenzie. This was an effort to get Canada to join the United States. One of the hotbeds of the revolt was the area of Long Point and Charlottesville. This revolt, or Patriot's Rebellion as it was known, was quickly put down in December of 1837, and many of its leaders were captured. At least one of Jacob's uncles took part in this revolt. Henry Barnum was captured during the rebellion, tried for treason, and transported to Tasmania for life imprisonment, the family thinking he was dead. John F. Truman, Mica Spencer, James Barnum, Lauretta Barnum, and their families all quickly left, and by 1838 were all living in the area of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan (a short distance from Detroit). It was while Jacob's family lived in Michigan that tragedy struck his family. On December 26th, 1839, the day after Christmas, just a year after they had moved to Michigan, John F. Truman, according to tradition, went 'fishing' and never returned — dying while away from his family. Jacob was only 14 when this happened and he was left to help care for his mother, something he faithfully did until she died. For a time Martha, Rhoda, and Jacob lived with his sister Lauretta and her family where they appeared in the 1840 census of Ypsilanti, Michigan. It was while they were living in Ypsilanti that Jacob's family first heard about the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the Gospel by Joseph Smith, from missionaries sent out from Nauvoo. Lauretta was presumably the first to receive the Gospel and was baptized November 17th, 1842. The rest of the family didn't accept the Church quite as fast. Apparently wanting time to think about this new religion before joining.
      III - Nauvoo and the Journey West:
      About this time a lot of things started happening at once to Jacob's family. First, Anna Maria's husband died in 1842 leaving her with three small children. Rhoda married Stephen Hicks in 1844 and moved away. And Mica Spencer decided to move to Knox County, Illinois in 1845, where a small Mormon settlement had been established by Michigan Saints gathering to the vicinity of Nauvoo as Brigham Young had urged. The whole family moved with Mica Spencer and after their arrival in Illinois Lauretta married Ashel Murrey as a second wife. It was at this time that Jacob decided to seriously consider joining the Church, but wanted to go to Nauvoo before doing so. In the summer of 1845, while Brigham Young was trying to gather the scattered Saints to Nauvoo and making plans to travel West the next spring, Jacob moved to Nauvoo and was baptized June 10th 1845 by Lyman Stoddard. Two months later on the 22nd of August Jacob received his patriarchal blessing. Eight days later, on his twentieth birthday he was ordained a Seventy in the 30th Quorum of Seventies. When the Saints were driven from Nauvoo in the winter and early spring of 1846, Jacob returned to Knox County, and with his mother and sister, Anna Maria, gathered their possessions and oxen, and gathered with the Saints on the west side of the Mississippi River. During the spring and early summer they struggled across Iowa to Council Bluffs where semi-permanent camps were being made to gather the Saints. While at Council Bluffs, the call for the Mormon Battalion came and Jacob Mica Truman enlisted on the 16th (of) July 1846 in Company 'C' commanded by Capt. James Brown. There were only five days to prepare for service with battalion. Jacob left his mother and sister in the best care he could and departed with the Battalion around the 21st of July and traveled to Fort Leavenworth, in Kansas, to be outfitted and equipped for their journey. Since no one was familiar with such a lengthy march for infantry, estimates of what supplies were needed were greatly underestimated. This was to trouble the Battalion throughout their whole march. All of the men liked their first commander, Colonel James Allen, the man who had raised the Battalion. But shortly after they left Ft. Leavenworth he took sick and died. His replacement Lt. Col. A. J. Smith of the regular Army was extremely un-liked and many of the men wanted to make Capt. Jefferson Hunt of Company 'A' their commander, he being the senior officer of the Battalion itself. This request was turned down, and it wasn't until October 19th, 10 days before arriving at Santa Fe, that Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke arrived to take permanent command of the Battalion. He was regarded by all as a just and honorable soldier. One of the officers that the Battalion disliked most was Dr. Sanderson, the Battalion doctor and a non-Mormon. Most of the men regarded Dr. Sanderson with a mixture of fear and loathing. Many times Dr. Sanderson showed his contempt and dislike for the 'Mormon' Battalion members, and was willing to let many men suffer rather than to properly treat them. Most men were willing to endure their illnesses and the rigors of marching with the Battalion rather than to submit to Dr. Sanderson's "cures" before being allowed to ride in the sick wagons. Since Jacob was one of the younger Battalion members, one of his duties was to help care for the stock and help 'break in' any new animals they got for their work. One of these animals, either a mule or a horse was especially wild, and when Jacob tried to mount it, it ran off running and bucking wildly into the desert with Jacob on top. Three different versions of this story relate what happened next:
      a. 'The horse ran under a tree whose branches knocked Jacob to the ground and he was badly hurt. The doctor of the company said he would not live long - that they would have to go on and leave him there to die. Four of his comrades begged the doctor to dress his wounds and let them stay behind with him for a little while. The request was granted. As soon as the company moved on, the four boys formed a circle and offered up a fervent prayer for the recovery of their comrade. After a short time Jacob was sufficiently recovered to be put on a horse and all rejoined the camp that evening. The doctor, not being of their faith said: 'You can't kill those d ... Mormons.'
      b. 'One day, while attempting to 'break' a mule for riding, the mule ran bolting and bucking across the desert. He ran under a tree, bucking as he went. A low branch knocked Jacob from the saddle and he lay bleeding on the ground. A few hours later he was found by his companions, who had traced the mules tracks when the mule had returned to camp rider-less. At first, Jacob was thought to be dead, but he was not, although the blow had laid open his head to the bone, in a gash from ear to ear. The Army doctor examined him and said he could do nothing. Since the Army was breaking camp, they decided to leave him to die as they had no facilities to care for while traveling. After much persuasion, three members of the Battalion obtained permission to stay and bury Jacob, promising to catch up with the remainder of the Army at their next camp. As soon as the Army left, the Elders laid hands on Jacob and administered to him. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Battalion kept watch for their comrades who had stayed behind. As they looked back on their trail, a moving dot became larger and larger until finally it was evident to all that walking toward them were four, not three men as expected! Jacob had not only been healed through the power of the Priesthood, but had walked a day's journey across the desert, with only a scar to show that an accident had occurred (the scar he carried to his grave). When the doctor saw him, he exclaimed, 'You can't kill those d... Mormons!'
      c. 'Jacob M. Truman had a scar on his head across and 1/2 inch deep. A horse fell with ran under a tree. The tree cut his head. He all night and then made his way back to camp. The doctor said they couldn't hold the whole camp for him, 'He won't live more than an hour anyway.' They asked the doctor to bind up his wound. The doctor didn't want to, but did anyway. Brother Morris (sic Moore) and three other men stayed with him and told the camp that they would catch up with them by noon. As soon as they were out of sight, the four brethren knelt down and blessed him. He got up and walked back to camp. The doctor never had to bind the wound up again. The doctor said: 'The God damned Mormons — Knock all their brains out and they get up and walk.'
      After Jacob and the men left Santa Fe, their supply situation became worse. Not only were they footsore, but their food supply was running out rapidly. Eventually the Battalion was forced to start eating some of their own oxen before arriving at the San Diego Mission on January 29th, 1847. After the Battalion arrived at San Diego, and until the battalion was discharged, the Battalion performed garrison duty at San Diego, San Luis Rey, and Los Angeles. After their release, those who did not want to re-enlist, which was the majority, traveled as a group north to the Sacramento River with the intent to lay over there, a few days before crossing the mountains to the East and finding the body of the Saints. Jacob was among this group.
      In August this company reached Sutter's Fort where they rested and relaxed while they prepared for the rest of their journey. While at Sutter's Fort they met Sam Brannan with the news that the pioneers had reached the Salt Lake Valley. He seemed discouraged that he had not been able to convince Brigham Young to settle the saints in the more fertile and prosperous areas of California, instead of the barren wastes of the Salt Lake Valley. He also brought with him an epistle from the Apostles instructing those Battalion members who did not have the means to finish the trip to Salt Lake to remain in California over the winter and work; and then to bring their earnings with them to Salt Lake in the spring. About half of the men decided to stay the winter, while the others forged ahead to the Salt Lake Valley. Jacob decided he had better stay and was able to find employment nearby. One of the larger employers in the area was John Sutter. He was attempting to build a gristmill and flume to supplement his large land holdings. In order to build these he employed many of the former Battalion members who were in the area seeking work. It is possible that Jacob found a job there also, for in January of 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill by James Brown a former Battalion member employed by John Sutter. 'Gold Fever' quickly spread like wild fire and just about everybody dropped what they were doing and started hunting for gold, which they found was quite easy to find. Jacob joined in this hysteria and panned for gold most of that winter; and reportedly brought back a small sack of it with him to Salt Lake. Wanting to get back to their families, an expedition of former Battalion members, including Jacob formed early the next spring to travel to Salt Lake. They planned to go in early May but were forced to wait until July 2nd before they found the passes through the Sierra Nevada's clear enough to go. On October 1st 1848 they arrived in Salt Lake where they were heartily welcomed.
      IV - South Cottonwood:
      Soon after arriving in Salt Lake, on April the 19th, 1849 Jacob married Elizabeth Boyce, the daughter of George Boyce. The Boyces had lived in Redford and Livonia, Michigan, where they had become members of the Church, before coming West with the Saints in 1847. Redford and Livonia are close to Ypsilanti and were the centers of the Church in Southern Michigan. No doubt Jacob and Elizabeth had already become acquainted with each other there, while Jacob was investigating the Church and before he moved to Nauvoo. On seeing her already in Salt Lake he quickly fell in love and married her. After their marriage Jacob received an allotment of 12 acres of land in South Cottonwood on the Northwest corner of what is now 56th South and Woodcrest Drive in Salt Lake. Jacob and Elizabeth worked hard to build a home and plant crops to sustain them. Twice in those early years they had to endure cricket infestations which destroyed many of their crops. South Cottonwood was one of the hardest hit. But, through their hard work and industriousness they were able to overcome these difficulties and add another 22 acres on the east side, between Woodcrest Drive and Highland Drive, to their holdings. Gradually they were also able to acquire 46 additional acres on which Jacob planned to settle his mother and sisters, who had not yet arrived in Utah. Jacob supplemented his income by serving as an officer in the Nauvoo Legion, as Utah's state militia was then called. In February of 1850 he was called on with the rest of his company on an expedition against some Indians who had killed some cattle and stolen some horses. Expeditions like these paid well for early Utah, with Jacob as a private making as much as a dollar fifty to two dollars a day while gone. This was much needed cash at a time when any sort of currency was scarce in Utah. Jacob gradually came up through the ranks to become first a lieutenant, then captain, and finally commanding his own company in 1857.
      Jacob's first three children - Martha Ann, John Franklin, and Emma Boyce were born during this time and before Jacob went back East to bring his mother and family to Utah. Martha Ann was born in 1850, John Franklin in 1851, and Emma Maria in 1852. In 1853 Jacob decided it was time to go back East and bring his mother and sisters back to Utah. In 1849 Jacob's grandfather, Mica Spencer had died leaving only his uncle George C. Spencer to care for them. Martha and Anna Maria had originally gone to Council Bluffs during the exodus from Nauvoo, and had intended to emigrate with the main body of the Saints, but were financially unable to. They had moved back to their farm in Knox County where they were joined by Lauretta's family and were waiting for Jacob to come back for them. Jacob brought them to Utah the next year in 1854, as part of a small independent company led by Perigrine Sessions. After their arrival he settled them on some of the land he had previously prepared for them in South Cottonwood. After returning to Salt Lake, Jacob was called by Brigham Young to enter into polygamy by taking a second wife, Catherine Maxwell. Catherine had received the gospel in her native Scotland along with her family. A man named Gaddis had helped pay her way to Utah with the intention of marrying her when she arrived. But Brigham Young had advised him to marry someone else first and to marry Catherine as a second wife. After she arrived in Salt Lake and found out the situation, Catherine refused to marry him, and made her brother tell him that she wouldn't. She said: "I will not be the second wife to any man." She later met Jacob, and, since he was more to her liking, quickly broke her oath and married him on December 21st, 1856. Brigham Young officiated. Catherine and Elizabeth were able to get along. Catherine had to learn to cook and clean house, something she hadn't learned to do in Scotland because she had worked in factories all of her life. Jacob helped in the training and she did learn to cook somewhat. But she never did learn the fine art of proper housekeeping, Jacob never did complain though, so they got along just fine. Jacob's third marriage did not work out near as well. On June 7th 1857 Jacob married Julia Ardena Hales, a young girl of 16. When Jacob brought her home to Elizabeth and Catherine, and they found out how young she was, things started going wrong from the start. It wasn't long before she and Elizabeth had a major disagreement and she refused to stay any longer. Jacob tried to talk her out of leaving, but she left anyway and never came back. She and Jacob soon divorced. Later she married a man by the name of Berry. While living in South Cottonwood most of Jacob's children were born. Jacob Boyce was the first to be born after his return from the East, being born on July 24th 1855. George Almus followed in 1857, then Catherine's first child Ralph Maxwell was born. Also in 1857, William Thomas, Elizabeth's sixth child was born in 1858. Rhoda Maria, Catherine's second was born in 1859. The last of Jacob's children to be born in South Cottonwood was Elizabeth's little Lucius, born in 1860, who lived for only a few months. As Jacob's family grew so did his relative wealth. In 1853 Jacob owned land and improvements worth $300. By 1857 this had grown to $600. In 1856 Jacob purchased 26 more acres adjoining the land that he already owned. In all, by 1860 Jacob owned around 103 acres in South Cottonwood, on which he supported himself, his two wives, his mother, his uncle George C. Spencer, and his two sisters and their families. His place was considered 'one of the outstanding homes and small farms in that district.' In 1857, during what is known as the 'Utah War', Jacob moved his family, along with the other families in South Cottonwood to the South side of Utah Lake near Pond Town (now Salem) to wait out the expected fighting that everyone thought was sure to come when Johnston's Army reached Utah. As a Captain in the Nauvoo Legion, and the commander of one of the companies of soldiers, Jacob was probably placed in charge of seeing that the citizens were safely evacuated from South Cottonwood, and to burn their homes if called on to do so. After it was safe to return to their homes, Jacob went back to Pond Town and retrieved his family. All were glad that bloodshed had been avoided and that their homes had not been destroyed. In 1860, Jacob was called by Brigham Young to help settle Peoa in Summit County, Utah. But, Jacob didn't immediately go there with both of his wives, he decided instead to take Catherine and leave Elizabeth in South Cottonwood to help run the farm there. Jacob was able to go to Peoa in two days by wagon and faster by horse, so he felt that he was close enough that he could both manage his farm in South Cottonwood and help build up the new settlement at Peoa. Apparently, Jacob split his time evenly between his two homes. Others that helped settle Peoa were Henry and William Boyce - Elizabeth's brothers, Jacob's sister Anna Maria Barnum, his uncle George C. Spencer, and Catherine's brother John Maxwell and his family. In 1861, Jacob was appointed as one of the Selectmen for the new County of Summit. Part of his duties as a selectman were to oversee the construction and upkeep of the roads, the gathering of taxes, and to otherwise run the County. Much like being a County Commissioner now.
      V - St. George:
      1862 was a pivotal year for Jacob Mica Truman. This was the year that he volunteered to go to Utah's Dixie to help build up the settlement of St. George. The actual call came during the October Conference of 1861. Going to St. George meant that Jacob had to either give up his home in South Cottonwood, or abandon his attempt to settle in Peoa. Jacob decided to sell both his farms and take Elizabeth and Catherine with him, at least for the time being. According to Elizabeth, the trip to St. George was one of the most trying, hard, and perilous trips the pioneers had encountered. When they came to the Black Ridge, south of Cedar City she could not see how they would ever get down it. The story is told how in places the gulches were so straight down and narrow that is was necessary to unload the wagons, take them apart, and then piece by piece, take them to the other side. While on the road, George Almus, only five years old fell out of the wagon and broke his leg. The Company had to lay over a day to set the limb before they could continue on.
      After they first arrived, they lived in their wagon until the town was laid out and lots were assigned to each family. Jacob was given a lot on the corner of 2nd South and 1st West where he went to work building a small one room adobe house. Later he would enlarge it to accommodate both of his families. Neither Catherine nor Elizabeth liked St. George very well. It was too hot, the water was terrible and brackish, and if you drank too much of it you would get sick. Sand blew everywhere. During the first three or four summers the whole family would move up to Diamond Valley where they would make butter and cheese for everyone who had cows in the surrounding settlements. Later Jacob again enlarged his home in St. George so that it eventually became known as a "nice place." On their allotted farm land Jacob grew cotton. Catherine knew how to spin cotton from working in the cotton factories of Scotland. So she would spin it while Elizabeth would pick the seeds out. They would make all of their own clothes out of the cotton they spun. Life in St. George was a lot harder than in the Salt Lake Valley. During a particularly hard time, when food got scarce, Catherine sold her fine black silk dress, which had been woven in Scotland before she came to Utah, for flour to feed the family. This hurt Catherine more than anything else she ever did.
      Despite the hardness of their lives, Jacob's family continued to grow. In 1861 Catherine Lauretta was born to Catherine while still in Peoa. But in 1863 Elizabeth Ann was born, only to die a few months later. Lucy Elizabeth was born in 1864, Mica Spencer in 1865, Albert Henry in 1867, Ellen Sophia in 1868, and Arthur Monroe in 1870, while Catherine was visiting in Peoa. From hard work, Jacob gradually increased his wealth. In 1865 he was worth only $500 while by 1868 his worth had grown to over $1000. The tax assessment records for these years show how his small herd of cattle and horses gradually increased from one horse and nine head of cattle in 1865 to 18 head of cattle and four horses in 1870, the year they moved to Hamblin.
      VI - Hamblin and Later Life:
      After living in St. George for 8 years, Erastus Snow, the presiding Church authority in St. George, called Jacob to go to Fort Hamblin (Mountain Meadows) to help build up the small settlement there. Several people, for now unknown reasons, threatened to kill him if he and his family attempted to settle in Hamblin. But President Snow promised him that no one would have the power to kill him. Both Elizabeth and Catherine objected to having to move again, especially to a locality that was so isolated, but Jacob insisted and the family moved. Again everyone had to work hard to carve out a new home for themselves. Deed records show that Jacob purchased three lots in Hamblin. There was plenty of room for everyone since there were only nine families that lived there. The only occupations at Hamblin other than growing a few garden crops were ranching. The hills round about provided good grazing for cattle and the grass at the Meadows was sufficient for the cattle to winter over there. Jacob's herd of cattle grew quickly from 18 to 36 head. At times he had as many as 8 horses. After his arrival in Hamblin, Jacob became presiding Elder there. Hamblin was part of the Pinto Ward, but because of its isolation they would send someone to church in Pinto who would attend the Ward meetings there, and then in turn return and report on the proceedings at a separate Church meeting at Hamblin. This continued as long as Jacob lived there. The Gospel played a large part in Jacob's life. When Emma Marie decided to get married to Franklin Everton Holt in 1874 the St. George Temple had not yet been completed. Jacob decided that they would get married by the authority of the Church in the proper way. This meant that they had to go to Salt Lake to properly seal the marriage. It took three weeks to make this long trip to Salt Lake. Jacob took Elizabeth along with the future bride and groom, so that she could visit some of her family who were still living in the Holladay area. After the wedding Jacob and Elizabeth visited with Elizabeth's sister Nona Boyce Taylor. She was touched at the signs of hardship and toil that Jacob and Elizabeth had been through so she said, 'Out yonder is plenty of corn. If you will shuck it, you may have all your wagon can hold.' Thanking the Lord, Jacob and Elizabeth set about shucking all that they could. In a few hours the wagon was heaped with corn. This they took, along with bags of dried peaches from Hamblin, to the market in Salt Lake and sold it. With the money they bought clothing, shoes, yarn and cloth. All commodities lacking in Southern Utah. Elizabeth is quoted as saying before they left Salt Lake: 'Alright Jacob, we can go home now and be assured that we are covered until prosperity and markets come to Southern Utah.' Hamblin was not free from its share of occasional trouble. Though Jacob was 6 feet tall with curly hair and blue eyes, he was and slender of build and wiry. He was also quick tempered, stern and outspoken. Some of his neighbors called him 'Old Walking Jesus' because of the way in which he would walk around from place to place in Hamblin giving his opinions on how he thought things should be run, or on what he thought people should be doing. His daughter, Nell Brockbank said that no one ever disobeyed Jacob Truman. One time John Reed, a local ruffian and sometimes outlaw was gotten drunk by some of Jacob's enemies and sent to Jacob's house to cause trouble. Jacob was just getting over a bout with pneumonia and was still weak. When the family saw him coming, Almus stationed himself with a gun out by the fence just in case of trouble. Jacob told Almus that he must not kill Reed under any circumstances because "I wouldn't have that dirty rascal's blood on my hands for anything." While Jacob and Almus waited outside, Catherine made up a lye solution to throw in his face if he tried to come inside the house. When Reed saw that Jacob was ready for him, he didn't try to force his way inside the gate, but stayed outside whooping and hollering for a while before riding off.
      The next morning Jacob got up, put an old gray shawl around his shoulders and went to see Reed to find out what the trouble was. All Reed would say was that some of the fellows had got him drunk and that he didn't have anything personal against Jacob. Jacob told him that if he tried something like that again, he would kill him. Another time, Elizabeth looked out of the window just in time to see Jacob running toward the house just as fast as he could run, with another man right behind trying to catch him. Jacob dashed into the house, shut the door behind him and slipped quickly upstairs. The man, obviously upset, flung open the door and hollered at Elizabeth 'Where's Jake?' Elizabeth pointed towards the kitchen. The man thinking she meant that he had gone out the back door, ran through the house and out the back, still hunting and hollering: 'Where's Jake?' Later this same man came back sneaking around the house. When he saw that the table was set for dinner, he proceeded to take the plates, one by one, and broke them by dropping them on the floor. No one knows what Jacob did to upset him so much. While living in Hamblin John D. Lee, the man the Government and the Church blamed for leading the Mountain Meadows Massacre, was brought to the sight of the massacre after his trial to be shot. Jacob took some of his boys to see the execution but wouldn't let them get very close. They did hear John D. Lee say 'Yes, Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, but Brigham Young is leading the people astray.' Later Jacob would say about John D. Lee: 'He has done our church more harm than any other thousand men in the world.' In 1877 Jacob located a spot two and a half miles below Gunlock and started a second Ranch. He settled Elizabeth and her family in this new house where Elizabeth lived the rest of her life. Gunlock and Hamblin were only about a day's ride apart so Jacob found it easy to travel back and forth between the two ranches as he saw fit. Jacob's last three children were born while the family in Hamblin. Mary Lois was born in 1871, Lucina Almina, in 1873, Esther Priscilla in 1876.
      VII - Death and After:
      In November of 1881 Jacob contacted pneumonia for a second time and after suffering for a week he died on November 23rd, 1881 in his home in Gunlock. He was buried in the Hamblin Cemetery later on the 26th. He was only 56 years old. At the time of Jacob's Death, Mica Spencer Truman (16 years old) and some of his neighbors were cutting timber in the mountains near their home when Mike stopped work and started looking around him, as though he had lost something. 'What are you doing, Mike?' asked one of his co-workers.
      'Looking for something.' 'What?' 'I don't know, I just had this sudden feeling that I had lost something, so I am looking for it.' After a diligent search of the surrounding area, Mike went back to work, continuing to glance frequently about him and on the ground, as a sense of loss persisted. The next day, a rider came into camp and told the timbering crew that Jacob Truman had died. 'What time was that?' asked Mike. When they told him the time, Mike realized what he had lost the night before, and just how fruitless his search for he had lost his father.

      Deseret News, November 29, 1881.
      'Still Another Veteran Gone' - Bro. Pulsipher wrote from Hamblin, Washington Co., on the 26th inst. - "This morning I report the sad news of the demise of our beloved brother Jacob Mica Truman, who died at this place at 8 o'clock last Wednesday evening the 23rd inst. after one week's suffering with lung fever.
      Bro. Truman was born in the State of New York on the 30th of August 1825. Joining the Church in Nauvoo in 1845 and from that time he has been a firm and faithful servant of the Lord, ever ready to speak and act in defense of the Latter-day work. He was one of the brave men known as the Mormon Battalion that performed so important a part in freeing this portion of our country from the rule of foreign power.
      Deceased was among the first settlers of St. George having arrived there twenty years ago this fall. He breathed his last after business was ended, like going to sleep, in the midst of his numerous family. May the Lord comfort them. The funeral was attended by almost the entire inhabitants of this town and a good number from other places. Bishop Robert Knell, of Pinto, presided, Elders Jos. Eldredge and Richard Harrison and others gave much good instruction to comfort and encourage all.' "

      2. Mormon Battalion service:
      A. FHL film 0471518 "Mexican War Pension Records" for Jacob M. Truman:
      p. 1: Index card for Jacob M. Truman, Mormon Batt'n Iowa Vols. (Mexican War.) Co. C. Private. Lists 7 card numbers. Number of personal papers herein: 0.
      p. 2: Muster in at Council Bluffs, July 16, 1847, for one year, notes that age not stated.
      p. 3: Company Muster Roll, Private Co. C, Sept. ?, 1846, not stated if present or absent.
      p. 4: Company Muster Roll, Private Co. C, Aug 31, 1846, not stated if present or absent.
      p. 5: Company Muster Roll, Private Co. C, Jan & Feb 1847, not stated if present or absent.
      p. 6: Muster-out Roll [unreadable]. Muster-out date: July 1847.
      p. 7: Company Muster Roll, Private Co. C, May & Jun 1847.
      p. 8: Company Muster Roll, Private Co. C, Mch & Apr 1847, not stated if present or absent.

      B. FHL film 480147 "The National Archives, Mexican Dependents, Certificate no. 5739, pensioner Elizabeth B. Truman, widow of veteran Jacob M. Truman, can. no. 399, bundle 49.
      p. 1: Declaration of Widow for Pension. Stamped by the US Pension Office 28 Apr 1887. Territory of Utah, County of Washington, 18 Apr 1887, Elizabeth B. Truman, a resident of Gunlock, Washington Co., Utah Territory attests she is the widow of Private Jacob M. Truman, commanded by Captain James Brown of the Iowa Volunteers regiment of Company C., Mormon Battalion, commanded by Col. Allen and P. St. George Cook. Her husband enlisted 16 Jul 1846 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was married under the name of Elizabeth Boyes by John Taylor on 19 Apr 1849 at Salt Lake City. Husband died 22 Nov 1881 at Hamblin, Washington Co., Utah Territory. Notes her husband served the one year and his service included marching with his company enroute from Council Bluffs to Mexico and was honorably discharged at Los Angeles on 16 Jul 1847. Elizabeth notes that she is 56 years of age and was baron 19 Apr 1831 at Redford in Michigan.
      p. 2: Continuation of page 1. Elizabeth claims pension because she is dependent for support by Franklin O. Holt and other citizens of Gunlock who furnish her breadstuff and also contribute to assist her in clothing and supporting her children. She notes that she includes affidavits from Franklin O. Holt and Henry W. Bigler and that she has lived in Gunlock since the death of her husband. She signs her name as Elizabeth Boyes Truman and Franklin O. Holt signs as witness. Affidavit is dated 18 Apr 1887 and sworn to in Washington County, Utah.
      p. 3: Continuation of pages 2 and 3 which is the cover sheet for the Widow's Declaration including a copy of the act of Jan. 29, 1887.
      pp. 4 and 5: Depositon, pp. 12 and 13, deposition E, in the case of Elizabeth Truman, no. 3167, dated 5 Oct 1888 in St. George, Washington, Utah Territory of Lorenzo Clark before E. P. Halstead, special examiner of the Pension Office. Lorenzo states he is 82 years old, occupation as watchman, residence in St. George. He states he has known claimant for 26 years and her husband since 1846 in the Mormon Battalion in the same company. He was not sure if Jacob was married at that time, but knew them as man and wife 26 years ago from which time they have lived as man and wife until Jacob's death about seven years previously. He thinks Jacob may have had another wife later. The couple had children with the oldest being nearly 38 years old. She has not remarried or lived with another man since the soldier's death. He is not related.
      pp. 6 and 7: Affidavit of Witness. Henry W. Bigler on 18 Apr 1887 at Washington Co., Utah Territory, attests to the same information given in the widow's affidavit including marriage and death dates and places. He further adds that it was each of their first marriages and that he also served with Jacob Truman. He notes that she is poor and that he has heard that she has had to be helped by her neighbors and friends. Signed by Henry W. Bigler.
      pp. 8 and 9: Form noting ":Pensioner Dropped" per Certificate No. 5739, class: Mexican Widow. Notes last pension was paid $20 to 4 Sep 1919 and has been dropped due to death dated 6 Nov 1919. Additional typed note included saying that check #5598240 for $60 dated 4 Dec 1919 for Elizabeth B. Truman of Gunlock, Utah has been returned and canceled.
      pp. 10 and 11: Affidavit of Witness. Franklin O. Holt on 18 Apr 1887 at Washington Co., Utah Territory, attesting to the same birth, marriage, and service information given by Elizabeth in her application. He was not in the Battalion but had heard Jacob speak of being a member of it. He was with Jacob when he died at Hamblin.
      pp. 12: Mexican War Widow card no. 5739, noting pension rate of $8.00 commencing 29 Jan 1887. Certificate dated 23 Oct 1888 and mailed 26 Oct 1888, payable at San Francisco Agency. Stamped Dead. Another slip of paper on same page is a handwritten note from the postmaster of Gunlock, Utah, dated 8 Dec 1919 addressed to the Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington D.C., informing them of Elizabeth Truman's death of 6 Nov 1919 and that her friends wish to ask you to send them $50 as part of funeral expenses.
      p. 13: Form advising admission from E.P. Halstead, Special Examiner, to Chief of Old War and Navy Division for their consideration.
      pp. 14 and 15: Claimant's Statement, Deposition F, pages 14 and 15, 5 Oct 1888 at St. George, Washington, Utah Territory, by Elizabeth B. Truman, case no. 3167, to E.P. Halstead, Special Examiner of the Pension Office. She notes that she does not desire to be present if other witnesses need to be examined and that she has no attorney. She states she can provide more witnesses if desired and that she has nor paid any fees connected with this application.
      pp. 16 and 17: Depostion of Ute Perkins, Depostion D, p. 10, 5 Oct 1888, at St. George, Washington, Utah Territory. He states he is 72 years old, a farmer, and resides at St. George. He has been acquainted with the claimant and her husband for 35 years and that they were living together as husband and wife and that they continued to do so until his Jacob's death about 7 years before. He has known them intimately for 27 years and Jacob had no other wife when he became acquainted with them. He does not know if they were married prior to their marriage to each other. She has not remarried or lived with any other man since her husband's death. Signed by Ute Perkins.
      pp. 18 and 19: Depostion of Daniel D. McArthur, Deposition C, p. 8, 5 Oct 1888 at St. George, Washington, Utah Territory. He is 69 years old, a farmer, and a resident of St. George. He states that he knew her before her marriage in 1846 and met her soldier husband in 1849. Neither had been previously married and they have lived together as husband and wife since that time until Jacob's death about seven years previously in Gunlock. He notes that in 1846 and 1847, he traveled with and was neighbors with Elizabeth. He is not related. Signed by Daniel D. McArthur.
      pp. 20 and 21: Depostion of Caroline McArthur, Depostion B, p. 6, 5 Oct 1888, at St. George, Washington, Utah Territory. She is 68 years old, a housekeeper, and a resident of St. George. She attests to the same information as her husband. Signed by Caroline McArthur.
      pp. 22 and 23: Deposition of Elizabeth B. Truman, Depostion A, p. 4, 5 Oct 1888, at St. George, Washington, Utah. She states that she is 57 years old, a housekeeper, and a resident of Gunlock, Washington, Utah Territory. She that she is the widow of Jacob M. Truman who enliest 16 Jul 1846 and served his term of enlistment up to his discharge of 17 Jul 1847. She was married to Jacob the day she was 18 on 19 Apr 1849 by John Taylor. Neither of them had been married before. Jacob was born in 1825 and that they lived together as husband and wife since then to his death on 22 Nov 1881. She has not remarried since then. She requests Lorenzo Clark, Daniel D. and Caroline McArthur, and Annie C. Woodbury to be examined as witnesses. She has resided in Gunlock since her husband's death. Signed by Elizabeth Truman.
      p. 24: Letter dated 5 Oct 1888 from St. George, Washington, Utah to John C. Black, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C. in which it is recommended that Elizabeth receive the pension. He notes that her case had been referred to the Special Examination to determine if she was the legal widow.
      p. 25: Notice of Special Examination sent from the Dept. of Interior, Office of Special Examiner at St George, Utah, to Elizabeth B. Truman, dated 5 Oct 1888 advising her that on 8 Oct 1888 at St. George that her case will be examined. She acknowledges and signes her name that she has received the notice.
      p. 26: Index to Special Examiner's Report indexing the various forms and statements showing a total of 15 pages. Each of the statements is noted as "good" and it is recommended that she be admitted.
      p. 27: Handwritten note: "Gunlock Utah Oct 16, 1916. Washington D.C. I am the widow of the late Jacob M. Truman who was a veteran of the Mexican War or Mormon Battalion. My name is Elizabeth B. Truman. I was born on Apr. 19, 1831 in the State of Michigan, Redford, Wayne Co. Certificate no. 5739. [Signed] Mrs. Elizabeth B. Truman, Gunlock, Washington Co., Utah."
      p. 28: Widow's Brief. Notes service dates of Jacob and that Elizabeth was born 19 Apr 1831. She is 56 years old and married 19 Apr 1849. Jacob dieds 22 Nov 1881. An examiner notes that there is no record evidence of service in the Bounty Land Claim. Declaration filed 28 Apr 1887, submitted 4 Jan 1888 for $8 per month commencing 29 Jan 1887.
      p. 29: Widow's Brief. Notes same information as previous page however now it is endorsed by the Adjutant General, an Examiner, a Pension Searcher, a Bounty Land Searcher, and a Re-reviewer. Approved 22 Oct 1888. Later stamped with note that the pension was changed to $20 per month commencing 8 Sep 1918 under Act of same date.
      p. 30: Widow's Service Pension card with summary of service record of soldier, age of widow, death date of soldier, and marked received 28 Apr 1889.
      pp. 31-33: Mexican War Claim for Increase Under Act of 9 Jan 1893 filed 21 Jan 1893 for Elizabeth B. Truman, aged 61, of Gunlock, Washington, Utah, enrolled at San Francisco Pension Office, Certificate No. 5739, authorizes Alex M. Kenaday, attorney in Washington D.C. to prosecute her claim for increase of pension. Signed by Elizabeth B. Truman. Witnessed by Franklin O. Holt and John F. Laub., both of Gunlock.

      3. LDS Journal of History, 1 May 1848: "May 1848, A number of Battalion brethren and others in Sacramento Valley, California, subscribed $512.00 and bought two brass cannons of Captain John A. Sutter, to be taken to the Great Salt Lake for the benefit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following are the names of the donors: [46 names listed including the following]
      Wilford Hudson $20.00
      Wesley Adair 10.00
      Jacob M. Truman 15.40"

      4. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers for "Catherine Maxwell Truman... m. 21 Dec 1856 Jacob Mica Truman in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah (he died 23 Nov 1881 at Hamblin, Washington, Utah), children:
      Ralph Maxwell, 2 Oct 1857
      Rhoda Maria (Hunt), 4 May 1859
      Lauretta Cahterin (Mathie), 4 Aug 1861
      Elizabeth Ann, 26 Apr 1863 (died as an infant)
      Mica Spencer, 19 Oct 1865
      Ellen Sophia (Brockbank), 18 Feb 1867
      Arthur Munroe, 12 Dec 1869
      ...Elizabeth later met Jacob Mica Truman, from New York. They were married three months later on Dec. 21, 1856 with Brigham Young officiating... Jacob had married Elizabeth Boyce on April 19, 1849, and was living in South Cottonwood. Having lived the first 25 years of her life in the industrial cities of Scotland, Catherine had many adjustments to make as a pioneer wife. Catherine and Elizabeth were able to build a good relationship. Often indeed, did Catherine's fiery temper have the upper hand. Some felt sorry for the gentler Elizabeth, but can remember well their mutual anger when their husband brought home a third wife, Julia, on June 14, 1857. They made him see his error, and soon the new Mrs. Truman left... The family lived in South Cottonwood where two children were born. They moved to Salem at the time of the Johnston's Army problem. Jacob was a Captain in the Nauvoo Legion and was in charge of making sure that the settlers were evacuated from South Cottonwood. In 1860, the family was called to settle Peoa, Utah. In 1862, to help settle St. George, but his wives did not like the heat in the summers in St. George... They were again called to help settle Fort Hamblin (Mountain Meadaows). They built a new home, had a garden and a lot of cattle, and there was plenty of grass for Jacob was the presiding Elder there... On Nov. 23, 1881, Jacob contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 56 years. He is buried in the Hamblin Cemetery..."

      5. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers: "Elizabeth Boyes/Boyce Truman...Children:
      Martha Ann, 2 May 1850
      John Franklin, 7 Jul 1851
      Emma Marie, 5 Nov 1852
      Jacob Boyce, 24 Jul 1855
      George Almus, 2 Mar 1857
      William Thomas, 20 Dec 1858
      Laceus/Lucius, 5 Apr 1860
      Lucy Elizabeth, 8 Oct 1864
      Albert Henry, 20 Oct 1867
      Mary Lois, 26 May 1871
      Lacina Almena, 11 Sep 1873
      Esther Priscilla, 4 Jan 1876
      ...She married Jacob Mica Truman on April 19, 1849 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah by John Taylor. He passed away on Nov. 23, 1881, leaving her widow for 38 years. He died at the Truman Ranch near Veyo, Washington county, Utah..."

      6. Obituary notes Jacob arrived in St. George area fall of 1861.

      BIRTH:
      1. See death entry below.

      2. Per obituary.

      3. Per Burial Index cited below.

      4. 18 Dec 2002 website indicates Niagra in now North Tonawanda, NY.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. See DUP biographies of two wives cited above.

      2. Per wife's obituary.

      3. FHL film 480147 "The National Archives, Mexican Dependents, Certificate no. 5739, pensioner Elizabeth B. Truman, widow of veteran Jacob M. Truman, can. no. 399, bundle 49. Note she gives under oath birth of 19 Apr 1931 at Redford, Wayne, Michigan and marriage of 19 Apr 1849 on her 18th birthday in Salt Lake City by John Taylor. Death is given as 6 Nov 1919 at Gunlock, Washington, Utah. Death of Jacob Truman is given as 22 Nov 1881 which varies from obituary date of 23 Nov 1881.

      DEATH:
      1. There is a discrepancy as to the actual date of death. The sworn pension affidavits for Elizabeth Boyce's widow's pension from Jacob's service in the Mormon Battalion consistently uses 22 Nov 1881. The obituary quoted below uses 23 Nov 1881. The cemetery index uses 26 Nov 1881. I belive the obituary is probably the best source since it was contemporaneous with the time of death and even cites the day of the week. The pension application was filed about 7 years later. Consider the following sources:
      a. FHL film 480147 "The National Archives, Mexican Dependents, Certificate no. 5739, pensioner Elizabeth B. Truman, widow of veteran Jacob M. Truman, can. no. 399, bundle 49. Note she gives under oath birth of 19 Apr 1931 at Redford, Wayne, Michigan and marriage of 19 Apr 1849 on her 18th birthday in Salt Lake City by John Taylor. Death is given as 6 Nov 1919 at Gunlock, Washington, Utah. Death of Jacob Truman is given as 22 Nov 1881 which varies from obituary date of 23 Nov 1881.
      b. Per website ; "Cemetery/Death Indexes (1852-1996) in Washington County, Utah," compiled by Wesley W. Craig, Ph.D: "Jacob M. Truman, b. 30 Aug 1825, d. 26 Nov 1881, Hamblin Cem." Note wives DUP biographies have variant date of 23 Nov 1881. Elizabeth Boyes' DUP bio. indicates death was on the Truman Ranch near Veyo (see citation above). Per obituary: death was Nov. 23, 1881. I use 23 Nov 1881 for death date.
      c. Utah State Historical Society Burials Database online: Jacob Mica Truman, b. 30 Aug 1825, d. 26 Nov 1881, bur. Hamblin Cemetery (East of Route 18 on the road to Pinto in Washington County, Utah.)

      BURIAL:
      1. Per burial index cited above.

      OBITUARY:
      1. "Still Another Veteran Gone. Brother J. Pulsipher wrote from Hamblin, Washington County, on the 26th inst.: 'This morning I report the sad news of the demise of our beloved brother, Jacob M. Truman, who died at this place at 8 o'clock last Wednesday evening, the 23d inst., after one week's suffering with lung fever. Brother Truman was born in the State of New York on the 30th of August, 1825. Joined the Church in Nauvoo in 1845, and from that time he has been a firm and faithful servant of the Lord, ever ready to speak and act in defence of the latter-day work. He was one of the band of brave men known as the Mormon Battalion that performed so important a part in freeing this portion of our country from the rule of a foreign power. Deceased was among the first settlers of St. George, having arrived there 20 years ago this fall. He breathed his last after business was ended, like going to sleep, in the midst of his numerous family. May the Lord comfort them. The funeral was attended by almost the entire inhabitants of this town and a good number from other places. Bishop Robert Knell, of Pinto, presided. Elders Jos. Eldredge and Richard Harrison and others gave much good instruction to comfort and encourage all." Deseret News Weekly, Wed., 7 Dec 1881, p. 705.

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. 18 Dec 2002 website .