Harriet Maria Ashby Stringham, (my great great grandmother on my Father's side of my family.)
Harriet Maria Ashby was born on April 8, 1834. She is the daughter of Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond Ashby.
Harriet was born in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her family was converted to the church by Erastus Snow and Parley P Pratt, and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843.
The family built a home in Navuoo (which is now owned by the church and is called the Ashby-Snow home). It was two blocks north and one block east of the Mansion House where the Prophet lived. In her personal journal she wrote about "often seeing the Prophet riding by on a fine black horse, sitting very erect and looking gentlemanly in a tall beaver hat and circular cape. Once he came to my home and my father loaned him twenty-five dollars, which he returned later."
One of the most poignant stories of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith is in her personal journal. She wrote:
"Previous to our leaving Nauvoo (they fled when the mob persecution became to strong and said they climbed on a fence on the other side of the river and could see the temple lit up and hear the boom of cannons) I remember the sorrow felt and shown by the people for the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum. The Prophet had been taken to Carthage, and mother sat through the night at her bedroom window filled with terror for the safety of the people, now their leader was away. So slow are we to comprehend the dealings of the Lord. His work, which is never more to leave the earth, until His Son appears again. No schemes will ever be deep enough or strong enough to prevail against the word of God. (What a beautiful testimony) The dismal howling of dogs with the uncertainty and fear prevailing, made the night most memorable.
In the morning mother came upstairs to our bed saying word had been received of the death of the prophet and his brother. It has always remained in my memory the unusual brightness of the sunshine on this morning.
When the bodies of the prophet and his brother lay in the Mansion House, Mother took us to see them. They were lying on a bench side by side, dressed as in life, the blood dripping from their wounds."
Her father died three days after leaving Nauvoo on the plains of Iowa. The family spent the winter of 1847-48 in Winter Quarters. Her mother continued on with eleven children and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September of 1848. She died in 1851 after living in the Valley for only 3 years. She left her family in the trust of Briant Stringham who was married to Harriet's sister.
Harriet married Briant Stringham on April 20, 1852 when she was barely 18 years old. They had eight children. Briant died in August 1871 when she was pregnant with their eighth child.
Harriet's daughter, Elmeda Stringham Johnson is the mother of Rozilla Johnson Poulson "Nana" my grandmother and mother of my father, Kermit Poulson.
Harriet Maria Ashby was born on April 8, 1834. She is the daughter of Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond Ashby.
Harriet was born in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her family was converted to the church by Erastus Snow and Parley P Pratt, and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843.
The family built a home in Navuoo (which is now owned by the church and is called the Ashby-Snow home). It was two blocks north and one block east of the Mansion House where the Prophet lived. In her personal journal she wrote about "often seeing the Prophet riding by on a fine black horse, sitting very erect and looking gentlemanly in a tall beaver hat and circular cape. Once he came to my home and my father loaned him twenty-five dollars, which he returned later."
One of the most poignant stories of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith is in her personal journal. She wrote:
"Previous to our leaving Nauvoo (they fled when the mob persecution became to strong and said they climbed on a fence on the other side of the river and could see the temple lit up and hear the boom of cannons) I remember the sorrow felt and shown by the people for the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum. The Prophet had been taken to Carthage, and mother sat through the night at her bedroom window filled with terror for the safety of the people, now their leader was away. So slow are we to comprehend the dealings of the Lord. His work, which is never more to leave the earth, until His Son appears again. No schemes will ever be deep enough or strong enough to prevail against the word of God. (What a beautiful testimony) The dismal howling of dogs with the uncertainty and fear prevailing, made the night most memorable.
In the morning mother came upstairs to our bed saying word had been received of the death of the prophet and his brother. It has always remained in my memory the unusual brightness of the sunshine on this morning.
When the bodies of the prophet and his brother lay in the Mansion House, Mother took us to see them. They were lying on a bench side by side, dressed as in life, the blood dripping from their wounds."
Her father died three days after leaving Nauvoo on the plains of Iowa. The family spent the winter of 1847-48 in Winter Quarters. Her mother continued on with eleven children and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September of 1848. She died in 1851 after living in the Valley for only 3 years. She left her family in the trust of Briant Stringham who was married to Harriet's sister.
Harriet married Briant Stringham on April 20, 1852 when she was barely 18 years old. They had eight children. Briant died in August 1871 when she was pregnant with their eighth child.
Harriet's daughter, Elmeda Stringham Johnson is the mother of Rozilla Johnson Poulson "Nana" my grandmother and mother of my father, Kermit Poulson.
