Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Catherine Maxwell

Female 1829 - 1922  (93 years)


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  • Name Catherine Maxwell 
    Born 15 Apr 1829  Kirkfield Bank, Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Christened 17 Jun 1829  Kirkfield Bank, Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 28 Dec 1922  Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 2 Jan 1923  Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I2624  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Jacob Mica Truman,   b. 30 Aug 1825, Niagara, Niagra, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Nov 1881, Truman Ranch, Vejo, Washington, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 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

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. 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. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers: "Catherine Maxwell Truman, b. 27 Apr 1829 at Kirkfield Bank, Lesmabago, Lanark, Scotland, d. 31 Dec 1922 at Huntington, Emery, Utah, parents are Ralph Maxwell and Elizabeth Donnoly [Burial index cited below shows mother as Edith Gifford Maxwell], pioneer of 26 Sep 1856 with the Second Handcart Company, 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 Catherin (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
      Catherine was born in 1829 in Scotland. Her parents were both born in Ireland. Her family belonged to the Presbyterian Church prior to their conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843-44. Her brother was the President of the Glasgow Branch for many years. After her father died in 1853, the family, like many other people, wanted to come to Zion but didn't have the money to do so. Brigham Young organized the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company to help finance member's trips, but the Saints came so fast that the fund was being depleted. Covered wagons were expensive, so the handcart movement was started. They could sail from Europe to America for $45.00, and then finish the journey by handcart. Elizabeth and her fmily left Liverpool, England on March 23, 1856 on the ship "Enoch Train" and arrived in Boston, MA on May 1, 1856. They traveled by rail to Iowa, purchased handcarts for their journey across the Plains. Elizabeth Maxwell became ill, and decided to remain in Winter Quarters until she felt able to go on. Catherine shouldered her mother's responsibility in caring for her two brothers and two sisters. Two other young girls, Ellen Russell and Elizabeth Darrough, traveled with the Maxwell family. They traveled in the second company, a Scottish group, with Captain Daniel McArthur beginning on June 11, 1856. They established a record of 32 miles for one day's march. They arrived on Sep. 26, 1856, in the Salt Lake Valley. The way was long and hard. Often, some of their few possissions had to be left along the way to lighten the load. Catherine did manage to keep a beautiful paisley shawl and a lovely black silk dress, a pair of candle holders and her crochet hooks. She loved to crochet and did it beautifully. Upon their arrival in the valley, word reached them that their mother had joined another company and was on her way. But she was not strong enough to combat the rigors of the trail and she died in Echo Canyon, and is buried there beside the trail. This news made Cahterine's heart heavy. Upon her arrival in the valley, she learned that a Mr. Gaddis, the man who had helped pay her way to Utah with the intention of marrying her when she arrived, already had a wife. Elizabeth said, 'I will be the second wife to no man!' Elizabeth later met Jacob Mica Truman, from New York. They were married three months later on Dec. 21, 1856 with Brigham Young officiating. Although she said she would not be a second wife, that was exactly what she was. 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. Catherine learned to cook and keep house, but she never enjoyed doing it. She had a beautiful singing voice and sang in the Opera in Scotland. She sang as she went about her work. Her favorite song was 'Listen to the Mockingbird.' 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 would move to Diamond Valley where they had cattle and made butter and cheese. Catherine knew how to spin cotton from working in the factories in Scotland and she made beautiful clothing. While living in St. George, Catherine sold her beautiful black silk dress because food became so scarce. She sold it for flour. What a sad day this was for Catherine. 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. Catherine's last girl was born in Hamblin, and she had seven children all together, her last son was born in 1869 in Peoa. On Nov. 23, 1881, Jacob contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 56 years. He is buried in the Hamblin Cemetery. Jacob's first wife lived in Gunlock and had 12 children, and passed away there on Nov. 6, 1919. Catherine was a proud woman, firm in her convictions and strong in character. She was a faithful Church member, holding many church positions, mostly in the music areas. She maintained a strong testimony of the gospel. After her husband's death, Catherine's son, Mica Spencer, took her and the unmarried children to Castle Valley, where she stayed for several years. She then moved to Rexburg, Idaho with her son, Arthur, ten years old. She then returned to Huntington, Utah where she passed away on Dec. 3, 1922, at the age of 95 years. She is buried beside her son Mica Truman. She was indeed a brave pioneer who experienced many trial and tribulations following her joining the Church. She remained faithful to the Church, and lived her religion. Her posterity honor her for her faithfulness and for her great fortitude in moving so many times in helping settle the areas of the territory."

      2. From the website www.softcom.net/users/paulandsteph/jmt/elizabethshistory.html 8 Dec 2002: "History of Catherine Maxwell - Adapted from a history by Mrs. J. M. Jones: Catherine Maxwell was born in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on 15 April 1827. She was a proud woman, firm in her convictions, and strong in character. She was the daughter of Ralph Maxwell, who was born 25 Dec 1794 in Celerity, Ireland and, Elizabeth Donnely, who was born in 1804. Catherine started working in a factory at age six. She had a beautiful voice and would often sing as she went about her work. Her favorite song was "Listen to the Mocking Bird." She also sang operas. Catherine's family belonged to the Presbyterian Church before their conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints in 1843, or 1844. Her father was President of the Glasgow Branch of LDS Church for many years. After her father's death about 1853, the family re-doubled their efforts to move to Zion, and join her brother John, who had come ahead to prepare a way for them to come. They left Liverpool, England 23 March 1856 on the ship "Enoch Train," and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts Harbor 1 May 1856. They traveled by rail to Iowa where whey purchased a handcart for the journey across the plains. A man by the name of M. Gaddes paid for her to ride to Utah, but she walked so her mother could ride. Catherine's mother became in Winter Quarters so decided to stay until she became able to travel. This left Catherine, a young lady of 25, with the responsibility of caring for her brothers and sisters, namely Arthur, Ralph, Elizabeth and Ann, also Ellen Russell (who later became a sister-in-law) and Elizabeth Darrough. When they finally were able to leave Winter Quarters in 1856 (their mother stayed behind until she was able to travel), they traveled in the second Handcart Company led by Daniel D. McArthur. The names and ages of the family as listed by the daughters of Utah Pioneers (D.U.P.) lesson Jan 1971, pg. 312 are as follows: Elizabeth 52 (this has to be in error, as explained later in this history), Arthur 30, Catherine 25, Elizabeth 23, Ralph 18, and Ann 14. The way was long and they saw no other white persons along the trail. Often some of their possessions had to be left along the trail to lighten the load. Catherine did manage to bring a beautiful paisley shawl with her prized possessions.
      Word reached the Maxwell family that their mother had joined another Handcart Company and that she was on her way. But she was not strong enough to take the hardships of the journey, and she died at head of Echo Canyon. She was buried in a large cave alongside of the trail. In the meantime, when Catherine's brother, John, heard that his mother was on the trail to Salt Lake Valley with another Handcart Company, he went back along the trail to meet them. There he learned that his mother had died the day before he met the company. This was severe shock to him. This news made Catherine's heart ever heavier, for she found that upon arriving in the Valley that the man she was to marry already had a wife. She said, "I will be the second wife to no man," but she changed her mind when she met Jacob Mica Truman. She became his second wife, within six months. Having lived most of her life in the industrial cities of Scotland, many adjustments had to be made by her to become a pioneer wife. Often indeed did her fiery scotch temper have the upper hand. Many of the neighbors felt sorry for the gentle Elizabeth Boyce, Jacob Truman's first wife. But well do they remember the mutual anger at Jacob when he brought home a third wife, Julia Ardena Hales, whom he had married 14 Jun 1857. Together they made him see the error in bringing Julia there as she did not fit in with them. Alice Hunt Jones, a granddaughter of Rhoda Maria, relates the following incident: 'I will just have to relate a little incident told to me by a granddaughter of Catherine's (Libby Terry). One morning Aunt Katie (as she was more commonly known) was getting ready to go milk the cows, she had her little brass milk bucket in her hand ready to go, when Julia said to her, 'I slept with Jacob last night, but all you slept with was little Jacob.' At that Aunt Katie threw the bucket at Julia's head, but Julia ducked in time to miss it.' Julia finally left and divorced Jacob, leaving Catherine and Elizabeth with the labor of rearing their families in the path of righteous living. Jacob Mica and his two wives, Elizabeth and Catherine, lived in South Cottonwood for several years. Then he was called by Brigham Young, to go help settle the little town of Hamblin, better known as Mountain Meadows. They lived there several years, when in November 1881 he was taken very ill and after one week he died suddenly on the 23rd. He was only 56 Years old. John Pulsipher wrote in his diary that Jacob Mica Truman was buried 26 November 1881 in the little cemetery on the small hill just southeast from the town. Jacob and Catherine had seven children:
      Ralph, born 2 Oct 1857
      Rhoda Maria, born 4 May 1859
      Lauretta Catherine, born 4 Aug 1861
      Elizabeth Ann, born 26 Apr 1863 (but died on 9 Jun 1865)
      Mica Spencer, born 19 Oct 1865
      Ellen Sophia, born 18 Feb 1867
      Arthur Monroe, born 12 Dec 1869
      Years later Catherine moved to Huntington, Emery County, Utah, to live with her son Mica and family, where she lived for a few years. Her son Arthur lived in Sugar City, Idaho and when his wife died she went to live with him to help take care of his son Reave who was just a small boy at the time. Later she moved back to Huntington, where she felt more at home. At the age of 90 years she fell and broke her hip, from which she never entirely recovered and she died 31 December 1922, at the age of 93 years. She was buried in Huntington Cemetery.
      Reflections of Grandma Truman by Arthur Reeve Truman, son of Arthur Monroe Truman: 'Grandmother Truman was very protective of me in my early Childhood and up through my age of 13 or 14 years. My earliest recollection of her is (while) living in Rexburg, Idaho, where my father practiced law. She lived with us and was in charge of the household and of me. I do not know what her age may have been at that time. I remember her as being of slight build, maybe 115 to 125 lbs, about 5' 5." I don't recall that she talked very much about her family, brothers or sisters, if any. She did talk of having worked in a textile mill in Glasgow, at age 12, and frequently talked about the beautiful city of Edinburgh. I remember we had quite a time finding the LDS baptismal place in the Madison River nearby, where I was baptized. In Rexburg, she would take me to visit and play with a boy named Eddie Miller; also in Sugar City, where I would play with the children of a Ross family, (who are) my 1st and 2nd cousins. I recollect I wrote a lot of letters for her from Rexburg to Huntington, to Enterprise and to Gunlock, Utah. I would also read (to her the) reply letters from these towns. I am not sure whether or not she could read or write, but I believe she could to some extent. I lived with her in Huntington for a while, (when) I was going to grade school then. Seems like I did some letter writing for her there - to Enterprise and Gunlock - to a Pulsipher family, maybe St. George also. After graduating from high school in Huntington and coming to Salt Lake for a summer or two, I lost tract of her activities. She was living in Huntington at that time. I am sure that without her love and care, my early life would have been very difficult.'"
      From same source but for Jacob Truman's other wife's biography: "The following were the children of Catherine Maxwell, Jacob's second wife:
      Ralph Maxwell Truman (2 Oct 1857-5 Jul 1871)
      Rhoda Maria Truman (4 May 1859-21 Jul 1907)
      Lauretta Catherine Truman (4 Aug 1861-6 Mar 1933)
      Elizabeth Ann Truman (26 Apr 1863-9 Jun 1865)
      Mica Spencer Truman (19 Oct 1865-19 Mar 1947)
      Ellen Sophia Truman (18 Feb 1867-8 Mar 1956)
      Arthur Monroe Truman (12 Dec 1869-9 Mar 1925)
      Catherine was always known as Katie by (her) family and friends..."

      BIRTH:
      1. Date per burial citation below (I disregard "Eddenghough" since I cannot find it in the Atlas and it looks like a misspelling for Edinburgh); Ancestral File uses same date but the differing place "Lesmahagow." Per DUP biography cited above has variant date of 27 Apr 1829 but does use "Lesmabago" [Lesmahagow]. I use a combination.

      CHRISTENING:
      1. Per Ancestral File.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Per DUP biography cited above.

      DEATH:
      1. Per burial citation below. DUP biography cited above confirms the same; however, Ancestral File uses variant date of 28 Dec 1922.

      BURIAL:
      1. Website for Utah State Historical Society Burials Database: 31 Dec 1922 at Huntington, Utah. Born 15 Apr 1829 at "Eddenghough, Scotland;" cause of death was "incident to age;" buried in Huntington City Cemetery, C_32_08. Parents listed are ____ and Edith (Gifford) Maxwell.

      2. Ancestral File: 2 Jan 1922.

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. Per Ancestral File.