Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Elvira or Alvira Stowell

Female 1856 - 1876  (20 years)


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  • Name Elvira or Alvira Stowell 
    Born 12 Sep 1856  Brigham's Fort, Weber, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 19 Oct 1876  Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I880  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Thomas Michael Wallace,   b. 25 Jan 1829, Barony, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1894, Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years) 
    Married 10 Feb 1873  Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F23  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Name may also show up as Elvira but husband's obituary uses Alvira.

      2. Online website LDS Pedigree Resource File gives parents as William Rufus Rogers Stowell and Sophronia Kelley.

      3. Per Archival Family Group Sheet prepared by Lewis Joseph Wallace, Elvira [Alvira] only had one child: William Stowell Wallace, b. 20 Jul 1874 in Ogden and married Clara Isabel Chambers 5 Jan 1898 in Salt Lake City.

      4. See notes for Thomas Wallace with which there is included a transcription of his membership record with the following note: "Jane Burnhope Spense, daughter of Isaac Burnhope and Elizabeth Charlton, born 17 Jan 1840 at East Boldon, Durham Co., Eng., died at American Fork 28 Apr 1865. Thomas and Mary A. Burnhope Wallace reed 2nd 14 Jul 1886. Elvira Stowell reed 2nd 14 Jul 1886. Mary A. Burnhope Wallace Proxy."

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Partial entry from husband's autobiography: "The 11th of February, 1873, I married Elvira Stowell, daughter of William R.R. Stowell and Sophronia Kelley. At that time the Church authorities were advising the brethren to go into Polygamy and I felt it my duty to obey council. My wife, Mary Ann, being willing, I brought her into our home and we lived together until after her son, William, was born, July 20, 1874, after which she moved to herself. She was a loveable character and my family were very fond of her. In the fall of 1876 another terrible epidemic broke out in Ogden. Smallpox and many died. Elvira was a victim. She died October 19, 1876, and Samuel, my son, died November 7, 1876. Everyone was so afraid of the disease that the dead were buried at night. No one came to help us. When Elvira died my good wife Mary Ann had nursed her during her sickness and when she died prepared her for burial, and I with the driver of a lumber wagon took her at midnight and buried her; her people never came near while she lay sick or when she was buried. I was allowed to take Samuel to bury him in the day time. From the time Elvira took sick until we were out of quarantine, 18 weeks, no one but the Drs. Anderson and Williams and a Mr. Embling who nursed us for a short time, ever crossed our doorstep."

      2. Partial entry from Mary Ann Burnhope's autobiography: "My husband, being very devout in his religion and feeling that he should keep all the commandments, married Elvira Stowell, February 10, 1873. She had one son, William, born July 20, 1874 at Ogden, Weber County, Utah. Elvira was born September, 1856 at Ogden and died October 19, 1876 of smallpox. I nursed her, William, and my two children, Elizabeth and Samuel through this dreadful disease, but only saved two of them. People were so frightened of smallpox thay would not come on the street where we lived; none of her people came and when she died, Brother Wallace and I laid her out for burial. I had to go across the street for our temple clothes, as we had loaned them, and she was buried at midnight, and taken to the cemetery in a lumber wagon, Brother Wallace and the two men who came with the wagon being the only mourners. I raised William as my own child and loved him as my own. He grew to be a fine man, and married Clara Chambers of Ogden, January 5, 1898." [Note: I have on file an obituary for Will Stowell Wallace who died 3 Sep 1945 in Oakland, CA.]

      BIRTH:
      1. Per online website Family Search by LDS Church, IGI file, Alvira was born 12 Sep 1856 at Bingham's Fort, Ogden, Weber, Utah.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Per online website Family Search by LDS Church, IGI file, Thomas was married to Alvira Stowell, 10 Feb 1873.

      2. Per husband's autobiography, he states 11 Feb 1873 and uses name of Elvira Stowell.

      DEATH:
      1. Per husband's obituary, Alvira Stowell died in 1876 during the smallpox epidemic in Ogden. He also lost his 11 year old son at about the same time and for the same reason.

      2. Per Ogden City Cemetery online website: 19 Oct 1876 in Ogden. No infomation given as to birthdate nor parents.

      3. Per husband's autobiography, he states she died 19 Oct 1876.

      BURIAL:
      1. Per Ogden City Cemetery online website: location is B-5-34-4W. Name shown is Alvira S. Wallace.