Memories of Huntsville and Its People
By Donald D. McKay
Huntsville Relief Society 1910
Note: This if the sixth in a multi-series of articles that is from the above titled compilation, and is being reprinted by permission of the McKay family. The information was initially printed in 1960.
The Huntsville Relief Society
The Huntsville Relief Society was organized on the 8th day of December, 1867 in the old Rock House. The officers chosen were Jane Dilworth Hammond as President, Jane Mullander as First Counselor, and Elizabeth Hawkins as Second Counselor. Jenette McKay was made Secretary and Mary Bingham her assistant. Ferzine Lish was made Treasurer. Present at the meeting also were Bishop Chancy W. West, President F. A. Hammond and his two counselors, William Lish and David McKay.
The first members of the organization, besides the officers, were: Karen Bingham, Mrs. George Rowley, Abbelone Schade, Eliza Garner, Ann Gibbons, Hannah Olsen, Alice Hammond, Karen Marie Jorgensen, Anna Peterson, Marian Hagsted, Mrs. Niels Anderson, Anna Hansen, Karen Kensen, Maren Jorgensen, Jane Brown, Mary M. Petersen, Stine Heder, Mary A. Shelton, Carline A. Lund, Kersti Petersen Lofgren, Agenes Hislop, Olive Bingham, Emma Burrows, Alice Wood, Louisa Halls, Marian Schow, Inger Mortensen, Stena Hagsted, Anna Lund, Mary Ann Gertsen, Jennette Bingham, Sarah Marie Nielsen, Anna Rasmussen, Anna Heder, Emma Burchell, Lucinda Perry, Eliza Stark, Mariana Martensen, Mary A. Stevensen, Margaret Wayman, Caroline Cobley, Christina Aldous, Hanna Peterson, Matilda Spreague, Mrs. W. Christensen, Mary Crowell, Sarah Wheeler, Ann Yeamons, Elena Peterson, Marie Peterson, Mary Crowell, Sarah Wheeler, Maria Stevens, Levica Bronson, Britana Miles, Matilda Anderson, Elizabeth Larson, Matilda Hunt, Susan Bingham, Mary Ann Smith, Charlotta Langlois, Ellen Lee, Mary S. Cooly, Johanna M. Nielsen, Anna M. Madsen, Louisa Spreague, Rachel S. Cooley, Williamena McKay, and Elizabeth Bronson.
On June 6, 1877, Jane Dilworth Hammond died, and on November 11th of that year the Society was reorganized with Eliza Tracy as President, Abbelena Schade as First Counselor, and Louise Johnson as Second Counselor. Emma Burrows was made Secretary with Johana Peterson as her Assistant. Caroline M. Lund was made Treasurer.
About February, 1893, Abbelena Schade was released and in the following year Louise Johnson was promoted from Second to First Counselor and Elizabeth Hawkins was made Second Counselor. Early in 1899 Mrs. Johnson died, and Mrs. Hawkins was promoted to First Counselor and Mary Ann Geertsen was made Second Counselor. Mrs. Emma Burrows died on May 2, 1896, and Nielsine Sorenson took her place. Mary Ann Geertsen moved to Ogden May 17, 1905, and Julie Ann Nielsen was First Counselor and Mary Burrows Second Counselor. Nielsine Sorensen was Secretary, Emma Tracy as assistant Secretary, and Grace McFarland was Treasurer.
On August 24, 1892, the cornerstone of the Relief Society Hall was laid by Apostle Franklin D. Richards. Besides the Apostle, there were present Zina D. Young, Bethsheba Smith, and Martha Cannon of the Relief Society General Board. Copies of the Desert News, Young Women's Journal, records of the society, names of the officers and members, and the names of the Bishopric were all placed in a bottle and laid in the cornerstone. L.M. Christensen laid these items in the cornerstone. Apostle Richards laid the first mortar on the stone, next Bishop McKay, then President Zina D. Young and her counselors, and finally Eliza A. Tracy and her counselors.
Ten years later, on August 24, 1902, the building was dedicated. Present were President C.F. Middleton and N.C. Flygare of the Weber State Presidency, Jane S. Richards, Bethsheba Smith and Emeline Wells of the Church Relief Society General Board, Sister Babbit of Salt Lake, and Hattie C. Brown, Counselor of the stake organization, all of whom spoke. The morning session was held in the Relief Society Hall and lunch was served upstairs. The afternoon session was held in the Ward Meeting House, because the crowd was too large to be held in the Relief Society Hall.
On February 22, 1909, John L. Nuttal came up from Salt Lake and organized the Relief Society on a legal basis as part of the National Relief Society, and on December of that year the deed to the property was issued to the church and turned over to the Presiding Bishop's office.
In July, 1908, the old Weber Stake was divided into three stakes, Weber, North Weber, and Ogden.
Digressing a moment, Ogden was organized into a First Ward on February 14, 1849, with James Brown as Bishop. Late January, 1850, Lorin Farr was sent to Ogden to organize a branch of the church. There were two wards by that time. In January 1851, a stake was organized.
Returning again to the Relief Society, Huntsville became a part of the Ogden Stake.
In 1907, Sister Tracy had an accident which left her permanently disable, so on November 4, 1908, the Society was reorganized again with Grace McFarland as the new President; Juliann Nielsen as First Counselor and Emma M. Petersen as Second Counselor; Nielsena Sorenson as Secretary; Mary B. Johnson, Treasurer; Alice Wood, Chorister; and Mrs. A.G. Felt, Organist. Stake Board members present were Secretary Nellie Beecraft, Counselors Isabella Foulger and Isabella Bramwell. Emma Tracy was Secretary from November 18, 1908 until July 7, 1910. Mary B. Johnson, who had been treasurer, succeeded Mrs. Tracy on July 7, and served in that post until April 6, 1911. Catherine Nielsen served from June 6, 1909 until October 28, 1915. Olive P. Smith served as secretary from April 6, 1911 until February 19, 1914. Alice Wood, the chorister, died in September, 1913, and Cleo Wood Doxey acted as Organist for some time until she moved to Idaho. Nellie Surrage acted in that capacity from November 5, 1914 until October 28, 1915. Maggie Johansen Felt took over the job until there was a reorganization. Emma Peterson, who was counselor, moved to Canada in 1912 and was released. Charlotte Felt was sustained as Second Counselor on June 1, 1912.
During the Presidency of Grace McFarland, there was a great deal of work done, especially among the old and needy. She and Juliann Nielson had a penchant for this kind of work. During her term as head of the Society, Sister McFarland was able, among other things, to get a new upright piano and a book case for the Relief Society Building. Because of ill health she moved to Ogden in 1915, so she was released from the position she had held for seven years.
There was a reorganization of the Society on October 28, 1915, with Emma E. Wood as President, Elizabeth Jensen and Julie E. Nielsen as first and second counselors, respectively. Charlotte D. Wood was made Secretary, Elizabeth Stromberg her assistant, Mary B. Johnson, Treasurer, and Mary Thurston and Mary A.G. Felt as organist and chorister. The officials present at the services were President Thomas B. Evans, Relief Society President Isabella Foulger and Counselor Nellie Beecraft, Bishop Halls and his counselors, Alma Peterson, and David Tracy.
Charlotte D. Wood and Elizabeth Stromberg were released on May 9, 1916 as Secretary and Assistant. Mrs. Wood died during the flu epidemic on December 18, 1918. Mary Thurston and Mary A.G. Felt were both released from their positions during 1916. Eliza Peterson was made musical director in July 11, 1916. Ethell McKay was made Chorister in September of the same year.
In June 1917 there was a reorganization again because the President, Mrs. Wood, had moved to Idaho. Mary J. Halls was made President with Catherine Nielson and Rea Lofgren as her Counselors. Ellen M. Halls made secretary, Mary H. Johnson Treasurer, Ella Grow Organist, Edith Rawlins Assistant, Eliza Peterson,Chorister, and Rosebella Ferrin Assistant.
On September 20 of that same year, 1917, there was another reorganization of the Relief Society. This time Emma M. Peterson was made President with Catherine Nielsen and Ellen M. Halls as counselors; Marie Madson was made secretary with Olevia P. Smith as her assistant. Ella T. Grow was made organist with Edith T. Rowlins as her assistant, and Rosebella Ferrin was chorister with her. Olevia P. Smith was released on May 17, 1918. Edith Rowlins was released on October 31, 1917; Rosabella Ferrin on March 25, 1918, Ellen M. Halls on May 13, 1919, and Juliann Nielsen was chosen to fill her place.
The Huntsville Relief Society
The Huntsville Relief Society was organized on the 8th day of December, 1867 in the old Rock House. The officers chosen were Jane Dilworth Hammond as President, Jane Mullander as First Counselor, and Elizabeth Hawkins as Second Counselor. Jenette McKay was made Secretary and Mary Bingham her assistant. Ferzine Lish was made Treasurer. Present at the meeting also were Bishop Chancy W. West, President F. A. Hammond and his two counselors, William Lish and David McKay.
The first members of the organization, besides the officers, were: Karen Bingham, Mrs. George Rowley, Abbelone Schade, Eliza Garner, Ann Gibbons, Hannah Olsen, Alice Hammond, Karen Marie Jorgensen, Anna Peterson, Marian Hagsted, Mrs. Niels Anderson, Anna Hansen, Karen Kensen, Maren Jorgensen, Jane Brown, Mary M. Petersen, Stine Heder, Mary A. Shelton, Carline A. Lund, Kersti Petersen Lofgren, Agenes Hislop, Olive Bingham, Emma Burrows, Alice Wood, Louisa Halls, Marian Schow, Inger Mortensen, Stena Hagsted, Anna Lund, Mary Ann Gertsen, Jennette Bingham, Sarah Marie Nielsen, Anna Rasmussen, Anna Heder, Emma Burchell, Lucinda Perry, Eliza Stark, Mariana Martensen, Mary A. Stevensen, Margaret Wayman, Caroline Cobley, Christina Aldous, Hanna Peterson, Matilda Spreague, Mrs. W. Christensen, Mary Crowell, Sarah Wheeler, Ann Yeamons, Elena Peterson, Marie Peterson, Mary Crowell, Sarah Wheeler, Maria Stevens, Levica Bronson, Britana Miles, Matilda Anderson, Elizabeth Larson, Matilda Hunt, Susan Bingham, Mary Ann Smith, Charlotta Langlois, Ellen Lee, Mary S. Cooly, Johanna M. Nielsen, Anna M. Madsen, Louisa Spreague, Rachel S. Cooley, Williamena McKay, and Elizabeth Bronson.
On June 6, 1877, Jane Dilworth Hammond died, and on November 11th of that year the Society was reorganized with Eliza Tracy as President, Abbelena Schade as First Counselor, and Louise Johnson as Second Counselor. Emma Burrows was made Secretary with Johana Peterson as her Assistant. Caroline M. Lund was made Treasurer.
About February, 1893, Abbelena Schade was released and in the following year Louise Johnson was promoted from Second to First Counselor and Elizabeth Hawkins was made Second Counselor. Early in 1899 Mrs. Johnson died, and Mrs. Hawkins was promoted to First Counselor and Mary Ann Geertsen was made Second Counselor. Mrs. Emma Burrows died on May 2, 1896, and Nielsine Sorenson took her place. Mary Ann Geertsen moved to Ogden May 17, 1905, and Julie Ann Nielsen was First Counselor and Mary Burrows Second Counselor. Nielsine Sorensen was Secretary, Emma Tracy as assistant Secretary, and Grace McFarland was Treasurer.
On August 24, 1892, the cornerstone of the Relief Society Hall was laid by Apostle Franklin D. Richards. Besides the Apostle, there were present Zina D. Young, Bethsheba Smith, and Martha Cannon of the Relief Society General Board. Copies of the Desert News, Young Women's Journal, records of the society, names of the officers and members, and the names of the Bishopric were all placed in a bottle and laid in the cornerstone. L.M. Christensen laid these items in the cornerstone. Apostle Richards laid the first mortar on the stone, next Bishop McKay, then President Zina D. Young and her counselors, and finally Eliza A. Tracy and her counselors.
Ten years later, on August 24, 1902, the building was dedicated. Present were President C.F. Middleton and N.C. Flygare of the Weber State Presidency, Jane S. Richards, Bethsheba Smith and Emeline Wells of the Church Relief Society General Board, Sister Babbit of Salt Lake, and Hattie C. Brown, Counselor of the stake organization, all of whom spoke. The morning session was held in the Relief Society Hall and lunch was served upstairs. The afternoon session was held in the Ward Meeting House, because the crowd was too large to be held in the Relief Society Hall.
On February 22, 1909, John L. Nuttal came up from Salt Lake and organized the Relief Society on a legal basis as part of the National Relief Society, and on December of that year the deed to the property was issued to the church and turned over to the Presiding Bishop's office.
In July, 1908, the old Weber Stake was divided into three stakes, Weber, North Weber, and Ogden.
Digressing a moment, Ogden was organized into a First Ward on February 14, 1849, with James Brown as Bishop. Late January, 1850, Lorin Farr was sent to Ogden to organize a branch of the church. There were two wards by that time. In January 1851, a stake was organized.
Returning again to the Relief Society, Huntsville became a part of the Ogden Stake.
In 1907, Sister Tracy had an accident which left her permanently disable, so on November 4, 1908, the Society was reorganized again with Grace McFarland as the new President; Juliann Nielsen as First Counselor and Emma M. Petersen as Second Counselor; Nielsena Sorenson as Secretary; Mary B. Johnson, Treasurer; Alice Wood, Chorister; and Mrs. A.G. Felt, Organist. Stake Board members present were Secretary Nellie Beecraft, Counselors Isabella Foulger and Isabella Bramwell. Emma Tracy was Secretary from November 18, 1908 until July 7, 1910. Mary B. Johnson, who had been treasurer, succeeded Mrs. Tracy on July 7, and served in that post until April 6, 1911. Catherine Nielsen served from June 6, 1909 until October 28, 1915. Olive P. Smith served as secretary from April 6, 1911 until February 19, 1914. Alice Wood, the chorister, died in September, 1913, and Cleo Wood Doxey acted as Organist for some time until she moved to Idaho. Nellie Surrage acted in that capacity from November 5, 1914 until October 28, 1915. Maggie Johansen Felt took over the job until there was a reorganization. Emma Peterson, who was counselor, moved to Canada in 1912 and was released. Charlotte Felt was sustained as Second Counselor on June 1, 1912.
During the Presidency of Grace McFarland, there was a great deal of work done, especially among the old and needy. She and Juliann Nielson had a penchant for this kind of work. During her term as head of the Society, Sister McFarland was able, among other things, to get a new upright piano and a book case for the Relief Society Building. Because of ill health she moved to Ogden in 1915, so she was released from the position she had held for seven years.
There was a reorganization of the Society on October 28, 1915, with Emma E. Wood as President, Elizabeth Jensen and Julie E. Nielsen as first and second counselors, respectively. Charlotte D. Wood was made Secretary, Elizabeth Stromberg her assistant, Mary B. Johnson, Treasurer, and Mary Thurston and Mary A.G. Felt as organist and chorister. The officials present at the services were President Thomas B. Evans, Relief Society President Isabella Foulger and Counselor Nellie Beecraft, Bishop Halls and his counselors, Alma Peterson, and David Tracy.
Charlotte D. Wood and Elizabeth Stromberg were released on May 9, 1916 as Secretary and Assistant. Mrs. Wood died during the flu epidemic on December 18, 1918. Mary Thurston and Mary A.G. Felt were both released from their positions during 1916. Eliza Peterson was made musical director in July 11, 1916. Ethell McKay was made Chorister in September of the same year.
In June 1917 there was a reorganization again because the President, Mrs. Wood, had moved to Idaho. Mary J. Halls was made President with Catherine Nielson and Rea Lofgren as her Counselors. Ellen M. Halls made secretary, Mary H. Johnson Treasurer, Ella Grow Organist, Edith Rawlins Assistant, Eliza Peterson,Chorister, and Rosebella Ferrin Assistant.
On September 20 of that same year, 1917, there was another reorganization of the Relief Society. This time Emma M. Peterson was made President with Catherine Nielsen and Ellen M. Halls as counselors; Marie Madson was made secretary with Olevia P. Smith as her assistant. Ella T. Grow was made organist with Edith T. Rowlins as her assistant, and Rosebella Ferrin was chorister with her. Olevia P. Smith was released on May 17, 1918. Edith Rowlins was released on October 31, 1917; Rosabella Ferrin on March 25, 1918, Ellen M. Halls on May 13, 1919, and Juliann Nielsen was chosen to fill her place.
