I was born on 6^th South between 1^st and 2^nd West, a member of the Seventh Ward, Salt Lake Stake of Zion, on Oct. 16, 1881. My first picture was taken being held in a sitting position in a fur rug on a high chair. I am told that the squint eyes, open mouth and turned in toes were the result of being held in the fur from the back by my father, stooping out of sight behind the chair. Sister Dott's baby picture was taken in a pretty white dress. I am told that I also went in a dress which was discarded in favor of the long hair fur rug. No wonder I have always had trouble with clothes.

Before I was old enough to know very much about my surroundings, we moved into a lean-to on mother's father and mother's home on the corner of 1^st West and 2^nd South. My grandparents were as much a part of my family as my own parents. I slept in their living room during my bout with whooping cough. I had a little rocking chair . . . Grandfather got up even in the night to give me comfort of my little rocking chair when I coughed and called for a rag. He was always so kind.

Grandmother was very tidy about her housekeeping. When I came in she had me put her chairs straight, just a little way from the wall and straight with the wall. She would sit on her chair and see a bit of string or a straw on the floor for me to pick up. I also combed her hair and was often told to comb the bald spot also. Of all her grandchildren, I was chosen for the job though I was not yet 6 years old.

Just before going to school we children helped to lath the new house. Father let me use the hammer. A little bit of flattery made me hit the nails on the head and drive them in with a few strikes. Of course my thumbnail got hit too often. I liked to do outside work helping father and grandfather with outside chores and gardening. Housework had little charm for me. I even went visiting and could not be found when the dishes were to be washed. Mother got wise and forbid me to go to bother the neighbors after supper so I had to find another place to hide. I spent many an hour under a table in a dark room until I heard the dish water being thrown out of the kitchen door. When I came out to study, I was sent to bed without doing my lessons, as I had wasted my homework time.

I was the poorest speller in the school, for which I try to give my sister, Dott, credit. The little sisters set in the double seats with their older sisters. When I stood up to spell, Dott would whisper the letters and I, having good ears, would get oral spelling o. k. but my written work I defy anyone to read. One day I did myself proud when Dott's class were standing up to spell. The word stove pipe had been given by the teacher Miss Youngberg. I almost shook my hand off. When asked what I wanted, I said, "I can spell it," "All right, Rebecca. Spell stove pipe." "Stough (stove) Squigity wigity y p e (pipe) stove pipe." I was told that this was a fun spelling. I had learned it while helping father. I didn't even know how to spell the one thing I was so sure of. 

I somehow learned that mother did not like us to be late for school. So day after day I loitered along the way until I herd the bell ring and then would come home again. Lit soon became a chestnut. I was made to go to school, late or not.

Our principal, Mr. A. S. Martin, kept his horse in grandfather's lot while in school, so I became very well acquainted with him as he paid attention to me as I watched him unhitch his horse. I thought he somehow belonged to me. So when our teacher sent pupils in to Mr. Martin for breaking her rules, I deliberately broke the rules to get the chance to go to the principal's office and talk with Mr. Martin. One day when he had taken me on his knee he said, "Rebecca, you are a nice little girl. Why are you so naughty that your teacher has to send you to me." "I just like to come in and talk to you, \" I replied. Then he invited me to come in any time without being naughty. He surely made me feel that I had a special friend in him.

My playmates had always been boys. So I played ball, run sheep run, tippy cat, climbed trees, walked along picket fences, caught rides on sleighs or the grocery delivery wagons in the winter and stole a ride on the back of mule cars in the summer.

Somehow I got through the 6 grades in the Seventh Ward School. However, Mr. Martin had been replaced by Mr. McKnight. In 1896 we moved to grant School on 1^st West just below 6^th South. To my delight Mr. A. S. Martin was the principal of the new school. I wondered if he remembered how forward I had been when a little girl. I left with the 8^th grade class of 1898.

This last year Dott and I kept house for grandfather Woodbury, or rather, he kept house for us. Mother had moved out on the orchard on Mill Creek bench before it became Wilford. We girls came out to visit on weekends and became acquainted with the young people through going to Sunday School, MIA, etc.

Among my boy friends was a red headed Danish boy who had gone to the University. He along with most of the boys worked at the Salt Lake Brick Co. Not all, however, were working for money to continue their education. At the age of 17 he had graduated from the 3 year Normal in 1897. He spent a year in Woodruff, Ariz. Teaching school in which there were boys larger than himself. He mad a success of the same through his athletics.

One day after Sunday School he came up behind me on a very hot, dusty 14^th South (now 3300 South) and asked to walk home with me. I had no idea then that in about 10 years he would be my husband. In those days going steady was not heard of. We just went in a crowd or with the fellow that asked first. So we went together off and on for 10 years.

At the turn of the century, 1900, Wilford Ward was organized being cut from the old Millcreek Ward and Granite Stake, a division of Salt Lake Stake. Our young folks made their own amusement in dance, plays, etc. Connected with the church program. We also formed a debating club. My first job in the church was teaching the missionary class, at which time I had enrolled at the U. of U. I also was leader of the junior girls in the W.W.I.A.

Charley and Allice were married Dec. 22, 1898. Dott and Hon were married June 29, 1904.

Mother and I picked and sold the fruit off our 12 acre farm. So I could not start school until the fall work was done.

During my last years at the U., I had to walk through mud and snow from 33^rd South to Sugarhouse to catch the streetcar. The mud was like batter and it splashed even in my eyes especially when the horses passed by. There were only four houses and Nephi Jensen's Lumberyard on the way, and it was cold and wet.

B.H. came back to school in 1901 and got his A. B. degree from the U. He then went to Moab as principal of the high school. He came back and we had another year at the U. together. Our Sunday evenings were spent studying algebra. How would I have passed without him. I don't know. Too bad he did not make me learn to spell also. He was chosen Rhodes Scholar from Utah to Oxford and was away 1904-1907.

In June of 1903 I received my certificate from the 4 year Normal at the U. Of U. And taught in the primary grades of the Salt Lake County schools, Wm Ashton being Superintendent and M. M. Moffat first principal at Holiday school. With 81 beginners the first few months, at $40. 00 per month, I was given an 8^th grade graduate to help me. And a big raise in salary of $5.00 a month. My transportation to and from school was by horse and cart. The horse blanket did double service around my knees while riding and over the horse during school time. 

My second year I lived with Mrs. Wagstaff near the school only going back to Wilford on weekends.

My third year I came a little nearer home to the North School and taught the 3^rd and 4^th grades. We still had the big pot belly stoves to warm the school rooms. I had a little trouble with some of the older boys. One boy, a trustee's son, said he was going to tell his father on me. "All right. Go ahead, I want your father to know." He knew his father would be on my side, so he let it drop. Another time a colored boy kept after school, jumped through an open window. The other boys wanted to catch him for me but I said, "Oh, no. He will have to come back." The next morning the children burst through the door. "Oh, Miss Stay, Solomon's mother is coming after you with Solomon." I told them all was O.K., for them to have her come in. She was a big, husky woman in a house dress and apron with sleeves rolled up. She tole me she knew I would do nothing wrong as I had been good to Mary, another colored child in the Holiday School. "If Solomon don't mind you, let me know and I will lick him." Solomon was a good boy after that. I doubt I would have sent him to his mother for punishment.

The next year and a half I went back to Holladay school with Heber Garff as principal. My sister Dott also came out there to teach.

The summer of 1906, I spent in Mass. Looking up genealogy of my mother's parents. The Woodbury and Haskell families both were traced back to our Pilgrim fathers.

Inserted here is mother's diary titled,

"Notes of S. Rebecca Stay on her first trip out of Utah. 1906,"

Fri. June 1.

I spent the morning with my loved ones at the eight grade commencement exercise in the Assembly Hall, my brother Jesse being one of the eighth grade students. As I went out, Bishop J. D. Cummings was waiting for me and in his presence I went to the office of the President of the Church. Not finding them in, we separated until 2 o'clock when we again met and went up to the Seven Presidents of the Seventy and there I was given a blessing by Golden Kimball (assisted by Bishop Cummings). I then went back to my mother and brother, Jesse, and my three sisters, Ruth, Dott, and Rosetta. I had said fare-the well to my baby brother, early in the day. His name was Valentine and with him little Catherine. My other brother, Charley, I saw on the evening before with his wife and four sons.

After taking in the town, with a well-filled lunch box and a suitcase and saying goodbye to all the friends I saw on the streets, we took the car for the Denver & Rio Grande train. Little Kenneth looked so sweet and bright. I wondered how he would be when I should again see him. What was so comforting about leaving them was the great promise that had been given me by Brother Kimball.

3:50 came and the train pulled out. I reached my had out of the window for Jesse to hold and he did so as long as he could keep up with the movement of the train. Thus left alone I had many a sad thought try to take hold of me. But no, there was a glory, a fond hope to be soon no longer in fancy. I was to be thrown upon the world with an all powerful guide, whose dictation I pray I may ever be willing to follow. A new life, a broadening of heart, mind and soul was my dream as we passed the old spots I had gone over before and took my last long look at the beautiful Wasatch Mountains of the east of my home.

There was nothing new until we turned to the left at Thistle and passed over the Rocky Mountains toward Colorado. But not being sleepy, I watched the beautiful landscape change at every moment in the moonlight shades. I was thankful for the light by night.

At one of the small stations a young man got off the car. While absent from his seat a man with his 10-year-old son came in, made a bed for the night out of coats, etc. and fell asleep. The owner of the seat coming back and finding the seat thus in the possession of the dark skinned person from the south of Europe said, "The old man has had a hard day's work. Let him sleep."

Time passed on and in an hour or so, there was no seat for the kind young fellow, I asked him to share my seat, which he did after much excuses about making it unpleasant for me. I found him to be a very interesting talker and the remainder of the night we spent in conversation. He had a short nap in the early morning.

Sat. June 2

By daylight I passed along the beautiful "Grand River Canyon," through "Castle Gate" and the wonderful "Royal Gorge," the most awe-inspiring part of the Rockies, 50 feet wide at the bottom and 70 feet at the top with the walls that rose 3,000 feet above the level of the river, at one point of which a bridge is swung from the sides of the gorge in order to build the railroad track.

We passed on to the great table land to Colorado Springs and Pike's Peak in the distance. From this plateau I looked back at the long reaching range of the Rockies as far north as the eye could reach and not less to the south.

Got to Denver at 4:20. Was sorry to say goodbye to my friend who had been so kind to me and from whom I accepted nothing but peanuts. Went up and down the streets of Denver in order to get an idea of the place before dark. In the station I talked with a young girl who had never seen a "Mormon." She thought she saw a great thing when looking at a real live "Mormon" and was half inclined to move a little way off, perhaps to get a bird's-eye view.

Darkness came on so I spent my time in the station. It being the first Union Station I had ever seen, many things of interest came before me. The directory of the city was looked up and all the Haskell and Woodbury names taken therefrom. At 10 o'clock my train was made up and we left the Great Western City on a fast train. I had a few hours sleep during the night and found many people who were kind to me on the train.

Sun. June 3.

About the first bad thing I did on this beautiful Sunday morning was to forget fast day and eat a hearty breakfast from the box Mother and Dott had fixed for me.

Our road lay along the wide spreading plains of the Mississippi Valley covered with wild grass and lin parts near town, laid off in beautiful corn fields. The corn was about three inches high. I had not changed my watch after leaving Denver so still had Rocky Mountain time. My first experience of being turned around was early this morning. I looked out of the window in time to see the sun come out of the west. I was speeding toward home and my watch pointed 4:30. After again closing my eyes and feeling that I was eastbound, everything was made right except the watch which was to be read one hour late.

The people whom I met and talked Utah and Mormons with were: (Kansas to Chicago)

Francis Hostetta, traveling salesman, a friend of the Mormons. He has a Mormon girl by the name of Miss Petersen, perhaps a good reason. Francis gave me the sample bottle of snow.

Mrs. Charles Armbuster who gave me her card in connection with her husband, l#2938 Main Street, Denver Colorado. This woman was going to see her sister before she was put to her final resting place. We had many a pleasant talk during the day.

Mrs. J. W. Thompson.

My next move after reaching a little station (on the Missouri River, by the name Armor) was to get on a small train which crossed the river to Atchison. In a very short time I found my uncle Benjamin and wife living with their daughter, Mrs. Osborne, with her husband and one son, Ben. They were very happy and comfortable and my stay of two nights was spent in a delightful way. As my uncle was an old man of 79 he had gone to bed before I came. Their address in Atchison is d714 (20 is inserted above the 14) South Fifth Street. Atchison is a very beautiful city in which there are a great number of trees. It is build on the river bluffs.

Mon. June 4.

I had a long talk with my uncle who gave me a great many statements about my grandmother's people, the notes of which are written in my Haskell Note Book. He told me many a wild story of early life on the plains and was proud of the fact that he drove the first hogs out of that country. Was very pleased to see me and wanted me to call on my way back. Uncle took me to see the river from the bluff overlooking the muddy river.

In the evening Mrs. Osborne and myself went for a ride around the city. Uncle went to bed at 8 o'clock so I said goodby to him as I was to leave the next morning.

Tuesday, June 5. Atchison.

Mr. Osborne took me to the depot and gave me a card of his friend who lived in St. Louis. Rode to Armor. Hence took main line to Kansas City. At once found my way to the Mission House where I had the kindest treatment from the president of the mission and Brother Bennion. I went downtown to see the large department stores with Sister Evans (of Lehi) and the president's wife and young St. George girls who were then at the Mission House. Sister Evans was on a mission with her husband.

In the afternoon I took the car for Independence alone and found the temple site overlooking the valley of the great mud river, so beautifully meandering its way through the country.

Went in the evening down on the street to hear the missionaries at work in a street meeting. Was proud to help them sing the good old songs. Brother Evans and Brother White took up a great big hour and 3/4, for which they were tormented on the return home. I liked it and felt that I too would be contented to stay in Kansas if it were not so hot.

Wed. June 6.

Started on another trip with the Sisters. Brother Lee and the president went with us. Brother Lee and his wife were with us also yesterday. This time we were headed for the Stock Yards and Swifts Packing House, the most real explanation of how the food is prepared for the people in the large cities I have ever seen. There a stream of livestock was going in and coming out in the form of frozen meat and canned meat to be shipped to all parts of the world.

Left Kansas and my new Mormon friends at 6 o'clock the same night only to find new ones on the delightful chair car bound at a fast speed to Chicago, 50 to 60 miles an hour, too fast to pay any attention to the small stations along the road. The corn fields looked beautiful. Reached Chicago about 8 o'clock Thursday morning.

Thurs. June 7.

Took stage from Union Depot to the M.D. across the city which at 9 o'clock is very busy. Was much astonished to see the streetcars lined up waiting for the road to clear so that they may pass. On one street there must have been fifty cars in the space of a block with a heavy dray rushing along on the same track.

At 11 o'clock I took a special train to Boston along with the Christian Science people. I was the only person excepting the crew who was not a Science member. That evening we crossed on the ferry to the Canada side.

Fri. June 8

Early in the morning I watched for Niagara Falls between naps and passed both sides while asleep, awakening to see them in a distance from Buffalo. They looked grand even from that distance. Crossing the beautiful State of New York along the Erie Canal, I saw the boats being tugged along by horse poser on the banks.

At Albany we crossed the Hudson River and speeded along through the forests of Western Massachusetts. The small hills covered with grass fields full of buttercups and daisies were marked off into homesteads by the old rock fences. I tried to think back to when this country was wild and when no man but the Indian knew his way through the forest-covered hills. We passed many a pretty village and city until at last I came to Boston about 8 o'clock in the evening.

I shall never forget the kindness of the people on this trip and the men in charge of the party. 

Boston seemed a large place but I felt as ever that I was in the charge of one above who would guide me to a place of rest. Knowing that the hotels were full on account of the "Christian Science people" and "The Doctors' Convention," I started to find Lora A. Underhill, the Secretary and Clerk of the Woodbury Society, who lived on l324 Faneuil Street (Brighton District) Boston. I asked questions all along the way and at last met a man on the Brighton District train who helped me to a car at Alston Station which took me a few doors from the number I wished. On calling at the door, I found the son, Carl, was the only one at home. Mrs. And Mr. Underhill had gone to the South Station to meet me. I took a bath and on coming out, found Mr. Carl asleep in the lounge so sat in a chair and fell asleep. Mrs. Underhill and husband came home about 1 o'clock. They had helped a Christian Science woman to her friends and waited for the late divisions of the train to come in at the South Station.

Sat. June 9.

This was a glorious day for Becky. She looked through the safe in which have been collected the records of her forefathers from the time they came to America, all ready to be formed into a book by Mrs. Underhill.

In the afternoon I went with Mrs. Underhill to the Woodbury meeting where I met the president, treasurer and a number of the family, who were very glad to see me and extended a hand of welcome both to the meeting and their homes. The prospect of a good time commenced in this meeting.

I was favored by being asked to act on the election committee and also by being asked to report the condition of the Woodbury people in Utah. I repeated the statement of George Scott at our last reunion of Woodburys at Uncle Thomas H. Woodbury's home, "I have never seen a Woodbury who used so much as a cigar." I added that there were a few however who used tea. At the above there was a general smile floated over the meeting. A report of all the money received and of all the books and records in the possession of the society were read. It was moved and left to the action of the trustees that Mrs. Underhill should be given help on her work of gathering money. It has been through her efforts that most of the money has been gathered for the book.

Mrs. Underhill slept on the lounge and let me take her place in a bed for four nights. I did not feel that she was getting the proper rest. She has been like a mother to me. I wish her life may be happy and that she may receive everything she wishes for her comfort upon this earth. I want to see her books come forth in their full glory that through them she may live in the hearts of her people through all time to come.

Her dear husband is also a very kind friend to me. He at 79 years of age is in possession of the most active mind and body I have ever seen. He thinks nothing of carrying a grip blocks at a time. He spends most of his time in study and reading the newspaper.

Sunday, June 10.

Spent forenoon in talking with Mr. And Mrs. Underhill. In the afternoon went into the city of Boston. We met at the streetcar her daughter, Lora Foster, and her husband who went to town with us. We went through the subway, the first underground system I had seen and were then transferred to the elevated system, where we saw the Bunker Hill Monument and the Breed Hill where the battle was actually fought. A windstorm and rain changed our plans. We came back through the subway. We had dinner with Mr. And Mrs. Foster at the Thorback Hotel, a Bohemian place decorated with old English pictures. Men were allowed to smoke while at the table and yet is was a respectable place. I ate my first crab meal here. 

Mon. June 11.

Spent the day with Mr. Underhill. Saw the Old State House, Faneluil Hall and the Old South Church. I went to the post office but got no mail. We then went to the Public Gardens where there are many beautiful pieces of historical interest in the form of monuments. Saw the Civil War monument and the Washington monument.

Tues. June 12.

Spent the day in copying the data of the Woodbury family from Mrs. Underhill's cards. Moved to Mrs. Fuller's in the evening. At Boston baked beans at Marston's with Mrs. Underhill.

Wed. June 13.

Went to post office. Got a letter from B. H. Went down to the New England Historical Rooms and started my work on the Haskell people.

Attended a wedding in the Puritan Church of Mr. Edwin Woodbury's daughter. Mr. Edwin Woodbury is the president of the Woodbury Society.

Thurs. June 14.

Spent the day at the State Library. Found a great many facts about the William Haskell people but very little of the history of our line.

Sat. June 16.

Mr. Underhill took me to the North Station from which point we sent to the north coast. We had dinner in the evening at the York Beach. This was my first glance at the ocean. It was beautiful and calm all evening. I danced with Mr. . . . the chairman of the company and with Mrs. Foster during the evening.

Sun. June 17.

The night brought on a rainstorm and stopped our plans for a ride the following day, which was spent in eating, reading, talking about our Mormon people and Utah and with the Eastern people. And far more delightful than all was the angry sea which foamed and roared with a powerful song. The rocks along the shore seemed to enjoy its wrath as they stood firm under the plunging waves only to come out fresher then before as the sea fell back in place.

Mon. June 18.

Monday morning came with no change in the weather, so we took the train back to Boston, feeling that our trip was not in vain as to see the sea in such a passion was better than our mountain to climb.

Arrived in Boston at 12 o'clock. Went to Ruth's in the afternoon with Mrs. Foster.

The next week was spent in Boston. The most important things I saw were in the State House. Mr. Tracey showed me the Witchcraft papers and many old historical documents.

June 25, 1906. 

With Mrs. A. L. Holcomb at Birch Nook on Lake Quinsigamond. Went for a row on the lake with the daughter of Mrs. And Mr. Putman. Percilla and I went west before supper and her father took me for a row toward White City after supper. We all took in White City in the evening: Shoot-the-Shoots, Scenic Railroad, Old Mill, etc.

I also had a ride on the car to Park University.

June 26, 1906.

Went for a car ride out to the City Park.

This concludes the diary of her trip to Massachusetts and returns to the autobiographical writings.

July 1907 B. H. came home from Oxford and not long after I accepted an engagement ring. His grandmother had died while he was away and so we got married Thanksgiving day rather than waiting until spring. By the New Year we had bought a home on 12^th South (now 21st South) and 10^th East. The street car had not yet come out to Wilford.

My Rowena was born the next October, Cecil, Dorothy, Joe and Leo were all born there in our 4 room house with 2l attic rooms. Electric lights were in but our water supply came from a pump on the back porch. The lights were a treat as I had done all my studying by coal oil lamp while going to the U. We were very happy when the pantry was made into a bathroom with hot and cold water.

A fast stream of water ran down the street. Cecil liked to play in it. One day he was stooped over the end of a culvert ready to catch a piece of wood he was using for a boat when I slipped up behind him and ducked him in the cold water. The neighbors jumped on me as the meanest mother in the world. All I could say was it was better for him to take a ducking when I was near to pull him out.

While we lived in Sugarhouse, we lost our brother Jesse, so mother came over to be near us with Catherine and Val. They rented next door. I have always been thankful to my husband for being so kind to mother. I know she loved him as one of her own.

Smallpox

Editors Note: We don't know why this word "smallpox" appears in the text except that it may be a note indicating they wished to discuss the death of Jesse from "smallpox" However, in a book listing her children, Mary Cornelia in her own hand listed Jesse's death "thyford fever at Wilford Utah 10 Feb. 1911". (Spelling of thyford as indicated)

The street car tracks were laid out to Holladay along Highland Drive, so we bought the property on Highland Drive and live in the yellow house until 1919. The hardest thing about coming out to our little farm was doing without running water. We now carried water across the street from Axel and Augusta Pearson's well for cooking and drinking. Wash water was dipped from the irrigation ditch. Marie and Margaret were born here.

Even after we moved into the big red brick house, we did not have running water. A pipe was put in the ditch from which we filled tubs of water in the basement. Water was piped from Spring Creek and of course B.H. had it put into our houses. (Very poor force.) The next year the Lower Mill Creek mad an exchange of water with the city and we joined the new water line.

Our first Ford and electric washing machine. 

My daughter Catherine came to us in the new house, being the last of my children to be born at home. Besides a doctor we also had to have a nurse and a girl to wait on the nurse and children, so the house was well filled while mother stayed in bed,, trying to boss the job of running the establishment. This time the big German Nurse thought she could do better without the help of the extra girl. And she surely made the children toe the line. She could always find chores to keep them busy all day. She said it was better to keep them up for a dose of pine tar which made them gag. Their father finally asked to taste the dope. It was so awful he gave orders that they were no longer to take it. I never had better care in bed or a cleaner house, but the children were glad to see the last of her. They were never allowed to come squawking to their mother.

Europe was just crawling out from under the effects of World War I. During 1922-23 B. H. took a sabbatical leave from the L.D.S. College to study in Paris and Berlin. Our baby Phyllis Frances was born March 30, 1923 in the L.D.S. Hospital. The family got along fine with the help of my mother and sister Catherine.

We were very happy to have B. H. home the next summer to take charge of his large family. He was a very good provider. I have often heard my mother say, "He never comes into the house empty-handed." A sister-in-law once said, "You get everything, Becky, and don't even have to ask." In fact, I had to be careful not to let my little desires be known or they would have been supplied somehow. Though we had a large family, we tried to put part of our income away each payday.

I did not have much time for reading so B. H. would read the newspapers to me while I was about my household duties. I was teaching a class in Religion Class land was Social Science teacher in Relief Society. Counselor to Annie B. Christensen, then President of the R. S. Wilford Ward June 15, 1930 to Jan. 15, 1934. Second Counselor to Amy Neff, President of the R. S. at the organization of the Granite Stake. And class leader of Gleaner Girls, Wilford Ward M.I.A. 

The following is from Becky's APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP to the Society of Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, dated February 15, 1923, which gives an interesting account of her mother's ancestry.

I, Sarah Rebecca (Stay) Jacobson, wife of Baltzar Hans (smith) Jacobson, hereby apply for membership in the Society by right of descent from: 

• 1847 Jeremiah Woodbury, who was born in Leverett, Massachusetts, on March 9, 1791, was a citizen of Salt Lake City and died in Salt Lake City on October 8, 1883.
• Elizabeth Bartlett, who was born in Massachusetts, on April 24, 1794, was a citizen of Salt Lake City and died in Salt Lake City on May 18, 1851
• Thomas H. Woodbury who was born in North New Salem, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1822, was a citizen of Salt Lake City and died in Salt Lake City on June 6, 1899.
• Catherine Rebecca Haskell Woodbury, who was born in New Salem, Massachusetts, on July 6, lll1816, was a citizen of Salt Lake City and died in Salt Lake City on November 2, 1891.
• Joseph Hyrum Stay, who was born in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England, February 14, 1851, was a citizen of Salt Lake City and died in Salt Lake City on April 20, 1898.
• Mary Cornelia Woodbury Stay, who was born in Salt Lake City on March 31, 1857, is a citizen of Salt Lake City and died in Salt Lake City non January 24, 1930.

My great grandfather, Jeremiah Woodbury, was a well-to-do farmer in New Salem Mass. He joined the Church about Sep. 1841 and came to Nauvoo with his wife and family in 1842. His children were William Hamilton, Joseph Jeremiah, Thomas Hobart, John Stillman, Orin Nelson, Susan Elizabeth and Hannah Maria.

He with his family, except William and Joseph, immigrated to Utah with the original immigration of 1847. He was a farmer in Utah. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he was a Patriarch and one of the first Sunday School Superintendents. He lived and died in the Seventh Ward.

My grandfather, Thomas H. Woodbury, was one of the fathers of horticulture in Utah. He and his first wife, Catherine R. H. Woodbury, came to this S.L. Valley in the original immigration of 1847. When a boy in New Salem, Mass., he received a common education attending school during the winter and working on the farm in summer employing himself at times dressing and splitting palm leaves of which hats were made. When eighteen years of age he turned to wagon making and wood working. His inclination, however, was to farming and gardening which he afterwards studied and practiced scientifically.

His life was always straight forward. When a boy he attended the Baptist Church and Sunday School regularly, but did not become a member. In Sept. 1841 he was baptized a Latter-day Saint and in Dec. of the same year was ordained an Elder of the Church on Aug 8, 1842 he was married to Catherine Rebecca Haskell in his native town and they moved the same year to Nauvoo. At Nauvoo he rented a farm from the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was then ordained a Seventy and connected with the Eighteenth quorum.

He and his wife were sharers in the troubles of those times and in the general exodus., left Nauvoo with a wagon and team, some seed grain and eighteen months' provisions. The wagon he constructed himself. Having crossed the river, the Woodbury family were organized in A. O. Smoot's one hundred and George B. Wallace's fifty and they arrived in the valley Sept. 29, 1847. Upon his arrival here grandfather Woodbury was stricken with mountain fever brought on by hardships and exposure. "Not with standing the many toils, worriments and anxieties that beset us," says he, "we would rejoice with grateful hearts when looking back upon the poverty and sickness that abounded before the Saints left Nauvoo. We all had fever and ague and plenty of poverty at that time."

After his illness he build a house for winter. The walls were made of adobe and covered or roofed over with poles, willows, hay and dirt, a very good roof in dry weather but "in case of a shower it did not quit raining so soon inside as out." Upon leaving the fort, he made his home in the Seventh Ward Salt Lake City, Utah. His first farm lay alt the south end of the Big Field, between Mill Creek and Big Cottonwood on the brow of the bench. During this time the crickets came and devastated his fields but an overruling hand was against them and they disappeared.

In 1861 he and his family left the city and moved to Grafton in Kane County. He was at that time second counselor to Bishop William G. Perkins of the Seventh Ward but was called to "Dixie" on a mission to start a nursery. While in Graften he became postmaster and justice of the peace. On account of Indian troubles Grafton was abandoned, the inhabitants moving to Rockville.

He now had two families, having married his second wife, Harriet Miller, in the fall of 1851. His first wife after residing at Grafton nearly two years returned north on account of her daughter Mary Cornella's delicate health, and in Dec. 1866 also returned owing to poor health. On August 29, 1873 he was given back his old position in the bishopric as second counselor to Bishop William Thorne. He continued to reside at his old home during the remainder of his days.

He was one of the earliest members of the Gardeners Club afterwards the Horticultural Society. For about forty years he was chief proprietor of the Pioneer Nursery, those interested with him being members of his own family.

He was a High Priest from Feb. 25, 1852 and was still acting in the bishopric at the time of his death. He was a zealous and prominent worker in the Sunday School and being an amiable, kind-hearted man, was beloved by all the children, many calling him grandfather besides his own. He died June 6, 1899.

My grandmother, Catherine Rebecca Haskell Woodbury, was also of Puritan descent from both parents Samuel Haskell and Elizabeth Reynolds, who were well-to-do folks, much respected and esteemed. Their home was in North New Salem, Mass. Her father, Samuel Haskell, was a member of the military company that left New Salem during the War of 1812 to defend the coast around Boston. Her grandfather, Benjamin Haskell, was in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was near General Warren when he fell and assisted in carrying him from the field.

Grandmother was born July l6, 1816 in North New Salem, Mass., once called Haskellville, and lived at her father's home until married. She had a common school education and followed the vocation of straw braider. She was a faithful Relief Society worker, liberal minded, large hearted woman and a faithful companion to her husband. Her children were Sarah Elizabeth who died young , at which time she took Melinda Mckenzie by adoption; John Haskell Woodbury, a pioneer to Utah when a baby and now living in Granger, Salt Lake Co., Utah; Catherine Maria, who died young; Thomas Hobart, living in Salt Lake "City, and Mary Cornelia Stay, my mother, living in Wilford Ward, Salt Lake County, Utah.

My mother married Joseph Hyrum Stay by whom she had the following children: Joseph Charles, Mary Dott, Sarah Rebecca, Aden Haskell who died at the age of six, Ruth Woodbury who died and left six children when 36, Rosetta, Jess Haskell who died at 20 years of age, Catherine Woodbury and Wilford Valentine. In all she now has had 45 grandchildren, 44 of whom are living.

November 28, 1962, Biography by Dorothy Jacobson

(Editors note: many of the items of this history were taken from the one above. However, some new information was presented so the additional biography has been included)

Sarah Rebecca Stay Jacobson was born October 16, 1881 in the Seventh Ward of Salt Lake City, Utah, to Joseph H. Stay and Mary C. Woodbury Stay, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.

Her first picture was taken sitting in a high chair on a long hair rug, her head thrown back, eyes squinted, mouth wide open, and toes turned in as if trying to get away from the feel of the fur. Her father, crouched out of sight behind the chair, was holding the fur close around her bare body. A family picture taken about five years later showed Becky sitting on a chair with one leg under her. Se had on a pretty plaid dress like her sister Dott's and long, home knit, striped stockings, the bane of her life - so hard to pull on and off. She had a pretty sober - if not defiant - look on her face. The photographer had just told her that if she didn't sit straight, he would throw her out of the window.
 

She started public school in the two-room Seventh Ward schoolhouse. Spelling was not in her line. In fact, she claims to be the world's worst speller. One day in school sister Dott's class was given the word stovepipe. After several misses by the older class, Becky almost shook her hand off.

"Well, what do you want?" asked Miss Youngberg.

"I can spell it. Stough-stove! Squigity, wigity, Y P E -pipe. Stovepipe!" came out loud and clear. To Becky's surprise, she did not even know how to spell the one word she was sure of.

She thought a great deal of principal, A. S. Martin, as he had paid attention to her while unhitching his horse at her grandfather's barn each morning. Children were sent to his office for breaking school rules. Becky deliberately got into trouble. One day Mr. Martin took her on his knees and said, "You are a good little girl, Becky. Why are you naughty so often?" "I like to come in to see you," was her answer. He invited her to come in any time saying, "You don't have to be naughty to see me." This she often did.

Mr. McKnight was both teacher and principal when she was in the upper grades of the school. She finished the seventh and eighth grades in the Grant School, a large school with a room for each grade. To Becky's delight, A. S. Martin was principal of the new school. She wondered if he remembered how forward she had been in the lower grades. At the University of Utah her first teacher, Miss Youngberg, became one of her training teachers and Mr. McKnight was principal of Stewart Training School.

The Stay family moved out to Mill Creek leaving Dott and Becky to keep house for their grandfather - or rather for him to keep house for them. Dott went to the University of Utah and Becky worked at dressmaking to help out her mother who was now a widow. In the spring of 1899 Dott graduated from the University of Utah and Grandfather Woodbury died the same week. In the fall of 1899 Becky enrolled at the University of Utah, starting late each year after work was done on the fruit farm.

Becky was a real Tom Boy. Her playmates were always boys. She played ball, run sheep run, tippy cat, climbed trees, walked along picket fences, caught rides on sleighs , at back of grocery wagons and even stole rides in the back of mule cars. No wonder her new dresses always got torn and her hair matted, it being very fine and hard to keep braided and she was a tender head putting off the use of a comb as long as she could.

Rebecca started her church work in Sunday School, teaching the missionary class while attending the University of Utah and teaching the Junior class of the M.I.A. girls when the Y.L.M.I. A. was divided into two groups.

After graduating from the Four Year Normal Course at the University of Utah, she taught school in Salt Lake County for four years.

November 28, 1907, Rebecca and Baltzar H. Jacobson were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home on 12^th South (now 21^st South) and 10^th East in Sugarhouse Ward. Their first five children were born there, Rowena, Cecil, Dorothy, Joseph and Leo. They then moved to Wilford Ward on Highland Drive where Marie, Margaret, Catherine and Phyllis came to them.

Her young family took up most of her time until she returned to Wilford Ward where she taught a class in Religion Class, her longest service being in Relief Society: Social Science teacher, December 1924; Counselor to Annie B. Christensen, 1927; President of Wilford Ward Relief Society, June 15, 1930 to January 1934; Second Counselor to Army Neff who was first Relief Society President of Granite Stake. She also was Gleaner class leader in the Y.W.M.I.A. for a year.

Six of her nine children have received university degrees after the death of her husband during depression times in October, 1930. At the death of her husband she took over one of his jobs, Secretary of the Elysian Burial Gardens, for fifteen years.

The Jacobson family lived at 3361 Highland Drive until August, 1958 when the property was sold to First Security Bank. Rebecca and her daughter, Dorothy, bought a home in East Mill Creek.

She has spent a happy life with her nine children and now at the age of 81, has thirty-four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She now spends her time at 2827 East 3715 South, keeping house and doing all kinds of handiwork, including sewing, crocheting, netting, tatting, embroidery, Armenian needlepoint, hair pin lace, needlepoint, etc.

She belonged to the Wilford Debating Club and Wilford Dramatic Club and now belongs to the T.A.N. Club of University Women, Emeritus Club of University of Utah, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and our own Book Club since the early 1930's, however, not one of the first members.

She has witnessed: the change from heating with pot belly stoves to central heating in public buildings and homes; the muddy, dusty roads paved; the electric lights turned on all over the valley; transportation from the oxen to the Jet plane; all the homes connected with telephone wires; best of all, running hot and cold water in the homes.

She has seen the world go through the Spanish American War and two World Wars, to say nothing of the Korean War and the present cold war with Russia and Cuba.

In the summer of 1906 a train trip to Massachusetts took Rebecca to the home of her mother's forefathers where she worked on the genealogy of the Woodbury and Haskell families. Records were found as far back as the Pilgrims and the Mayflower. She has made numerous bus and auto trips with her husband and family. She has visited every corner of the United States with the exception of Florida, and has gone across the borders to Canada and Mexico, never getting tired of auto riding. She does not get seasick on train, plane, auto or bus. She has itchy feet and is ready to go at the drop of a hat.

November 1996.

Sarah Rebecca Jacobson died December 14, 1966 at her home of natural causes at the age of 85.

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