Elizabeth Matilda Wennergren Barrett ~ Index
Elizabeth Matilda Wennergren was born 11 November 1854 in Trollhättan, Sweden. While a young girl, her father died leaving her mother and three children. At the age of seven Elizabeth left her home in Sweden and immigrated to the United States with her mother and brothers. While her mother was crossing the ocean, a son was born unto her, this being a great care for Elizabeth.
After four weeks sailing on the waters in a sailing vessel, they landed in New York in 1861. Leaving New York they traveled to Great Salt Lake City with ox-teams, making a journey of three months travel. In 1863 they moved to Logan, Utah. Not having a home to go to, Brother Thatcher cared for them, having a spare two-room log house in which they lived. At this time it was necessary for Elizabeth to work out. At the age of eleven she kept house for a large family doing the cooking, washing and ironing. She was a beautiful girl, everyone loved her wherever she went, being kind and cheerful and making it pleasant for all. She continued to work at housekeeping until finally she was given a good job working in Blanchard's Hotel, remaining there for several years.
While Elizabeth was working away from home her mother married again, then she went home for a short time, but while remaining there, her stepfather would have her assist in the work of the family. She stayed home for a short time and then was asked to go to the home of Linney Farrell, caring for a sick woman and taking charge of the home affairs. She remained there for a number of years and while there she had the pleasure of meeting her husband, who later had also hired out to work at the same place.
Elizabeth was married to William Barrett on 18 October 1874. They made their home in Logan, their house being across from the Brigham Young College. While there a son was born to them on 15 November 1875, William Charles, they also had a daughter Evalene, born 18 October 1877.
When Evalene was five weeks old Elizabeth, husband and two children moved to Mendon, buying the old Charles Shumway home. Living in Mendon one year, little William was taken sick and died, causing a great sorrow to come to the mother and father. As years went by a family was born to Elizabeth. Laura, being the first born in Mendon, then Emil, Leroy, Oscar, Charlotte, Clarence, Selma, Algie and Howard Barrett.
Elizabeth was an energetic woman, working hard for her family, and assisting those who needed help in time of sickness. Many weeks out of every year for many years, she worked in the temple donating her work and redeeming many hundreds of the dead that have passed away. Elizabeth was a Relief Society teacher for many years and up until her death, being very faithful in her labors. Her life was a very useful one and her example was uplifting to all who knew her.
In 1906 Elizabeth, with her husband worked hard in building a beautiful new home. (Her son Oscar being on a mission in Sweden, her own birth place, at the same time.) Not many years after the house was completed and everything coming along in their favor, getting things around them so that they would not need to work so hard, Elizabeth took sick with pneumonia and passed away 15 October 1909 leaving husband and seven children who missed her greatly, being only a young woman when she died.1
Notes…
When the Barretts' came to Mendon, Utah in 1877 they at first lived in the old Charles Shumway rock home. The roof of the then new house that they built later in 1906, can be seen in the background (far right of the photograph) with just the roof line peaking above the Shumway home.
The 1906 home which is still standing, is located in Mendon on the corner at 20 South 100 West. Bill has passed on, but Sharilyn Barrett lives in the home today (2020). The small red brick Barrett home, to the south of the 1906 home, sits on the same spot as this prior rock house. Stanton Barrett built the red brick home for his mother, Martha P. Stuart Barrett to live in.
William Barrett family photograph.
- Life Sketch of Elizabeth Matilda Wennergren Barrett, Charlotte Barrett Richards, 1919.