William Lorenzo Marble, was born Oct. 29, 1829 at Huntsburg, Geauga county, Ohio. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary Marble. William went by Lorenzo. As we were reading about his history it was obvious they referred to him in this manner. For purposes of genealogy and keeping our records straight we will use his given name of William.
William's father died in Nauvoo in 1845, when William was about 16 years old. Three of his children died there the same year. Their deaths are thought to be caused due to diphtheria. William's mother married again while she was in Nauvoo, Ill. We do not know the name of this husband. Her marriage was not a happy one. William used to tell how the step father demanded the earnings of the children to use as he saw fit. There was few privileges enjoyed by them. Mob violence was being experienced by the saints at this time. At one time Lorenzo was thrown into the Mississippi River by a mob. His brother, Silas, was killed by a group who thought to rob him of his earnings that he had received that day. Things became so unpleasant in Nauvoo that William decided to join a group of pioneers and go out west. He told his mother about his intentions and offered to help her leave too. She decided to leave her husband and take her family west. She had seven children when she came across the plains. To get ready for the journey westward she baked pies and cakes and let her children sale them at camp meetings. When she had saved $10.00, she bought a light wagon with the money and using one horse and one oxen they started westward.
After they reached Utah, they were aided by the George Stringham family until they could get started on their own. William went to Manti, Utah and helped quarry rock for the building of homes in Manti. He later went to Salt Lake and got his mother. Sometime later, she married Stephen Taylor. In about 1852 William took three days off from his work and went to Salt Lake to marry a girl he had known during his childhood days.
This young lady was Marinda Hanchett, daughter of Martin Hanchett and Sarah Mecham. William returned to Manti with his 17 year old bride and they lived in a little one room log house for about 10 years.
In about 1862 when William sold his little house in Manti and moved his family to Richfield. They stayed there for about two years. The Indian troubles soon drove them out of Manti for safety. William built a two room rock house where he quarried for rock near the Manti Temple. This house had a fireplace at each end and a good cellar beneath. A few years later, William with his growing family moved to Salem, Utah.
When the first canal was being built from Spanish Fork Canyon to Payson Hill, William bought a good size piece of land and did a lot of work on the canal. He cleared and farmed this place as soon as possible. he also bought two good lots near the fort, and built a log house and planted a fine orchard. He also had an almond orchard. He raised wheat, corn, sugar cane and all kinds of fruit. He sold a lot of molasses too.
William Lorenzo Marble and Marinda Hanchett had ten children:
1. William Lorenzo who married Laura Larista Marble (a cousin)
2. Martin Nathaniel " Eunice Sibley Kelly
3. Ealum Sylvester " Alice Kelly.
4. Sarah Marinda " Daniel Wells Jackson
5. Mary Amanda died as a baby
6. Henry Myron died in infancy
7. George Benjamin " Lydia Saforina Kelly
8. Applton Milo " Emma Jergensen
9. Emma Jane died young.
10. Joseph Austin " Marie Hansen
Besides being a stone mason and builder of houses, William made brooms, whips and tar. He sold his products at Camp Floyd, which was a three or four day trip from home. He also acted as an Indian interpreter as he could talk their language.
William didn't have any schooling. His son-in-law Daniel Wells Jackman taught him to read after he was 50 years old. He was a good Latter-Day Saint and a full tithe payer.
I remember my Great Grandfather, only after he had reached a ripe old age. He had a long white beard; His eyes were dim with age and he used a cane. I remember his love for little children. They clamored for a place on his knee. He took the little ones for a ride on the "old horse." He said little ditties to keep them happy. He loved music and sang many hymns from memory. Among his favorites were "Oh Ye Mountains High," "How Firm a Foundation", and " Come, Come Ye Saints", and "Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."
He loved to go to church, even when he was old, crippled, quite deaf, and partially blind. He insisted on going to church every Sunday and hoped by some means he would be able to get there. When the family protested saying that he knew he couldn't make it, he would say "Tis better to be ready and not go, then not be ready."
When his grandchildren his the axe, protesting that wood chopping was too hard for him, he would reply,"Don't you know it's better to wear out than to rust out?" He had many such sayings by which he put over unforgettable lessons to his family.
Grandfather was ambitious and hated to be idle. He cleared and proved up on a quarter section of land in Idaho, after he was 70 years old. On cold winter days while he was working on his land the severe cold damaged one of his eyes, causing the pupils to break. He could see very little with that eye after that.
William Lorenzo Marble died in 1917, at Central, Sevier County, Utah. He was buried there by his wife, she passed away in 1899.
This article was written by Hazle Jackman Christiansen, Spanish Fork, Utah.
Something I Remember about my Paternal Grandfather, William Lorenzo Marble.
The first memories I have of my paternal grandfather, his hair was about 75% white, he wore a mustache, had a heavy beard, was lame and used a cane. He was very religious and never wanted to miss church. He was a very kind and patient man. He loved and was very good to little children. He was very hard of hearing, therefore he missed out on most conversations. He was very quiet and would sit in a rocking chair while resting and singing or humming church songs. They lived about 2 miles south of town, down by the river. The house was on a level with the road way and the farm to the north. But about 35 feet to the south of the house there was a fence and a sharp drop or wall of about 6 feet down to the orchard, garden, and more farm land on this level.
There were several different kinds of fruit trees and berry bushes. Also a large well and vegetable garden that had several large rows of peas. The children were always welcome in the orchard and the garden. As I look back, I don't think we lost much time getting there. I liked to go on errands or just visit them. A heavy growth of wild rose bushes and tall willows lines the roadway on both sides for quite a distance, about 3/4 mile. They practically formed an arch over the road. Usually on my return home, it was dusk or after dark. I didn't just want to walk and I dared not run. I was afraid that imaginary something or someone might run too. My heard was always palpitating heavily when I got through that stretch of road. It was really no fun and I didn't dare look back to reassure myself.
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