Sarah Lavinia Walker Hughes ~ Index

Sarah Lavinia Walker Hughes
Sara W. Hughes

Mother was born on 12 September 1858 at Great Salt Lake City. When she was six years old they moved to Mendon. She with her father, mother, sisters, Mary and Elizabeth and brother, John Robert, settled in Mendon, Cache County, Utah in 1864, where she helped to develop the country along with the other members of the family. When mother was about twelve years old she with the family moved to Centerville, Utah where grandfather took charge of the Jennings Ranch in the northwestern part of Centerville. They stayed here about two years, then they moved back to Mendon. Her father was a wheelwright by trade. When the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement was first organized in Mendon Ward, mother was chosen counselor, Lacina (Seny) Sorensen Richards, as first president. She was married to my father, Charles Hughes, 12 December 1878 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. Father was a son of Henry Hughes and Ann Howell Hughes. He was born 15 June 1855, at Great Salt Lake City, afterwards moving to Mendon with his parents.

My father and mother lived in Mendon after their marriage. Seven children were born to them. Mary Ann, born 14 December 1879 died 9 May 1964, married to Mormon D. Bird. Charles Walker Hughes born 8 June 1881, died 13 August 1935, married to Lettie Barkel. Lavinia Hughes, born September 25th, 1884, married to Alma N. Sorensen. Lavinia died November 18th, 1920 at Mendon. Henry Gorrel Hughes born 15 June 1886, died 24 February 1943, married to Olive Sorensen. Edith Hughes born 26 January 1889, married to D.G. Winn. John Owen Hughes born July 26th, 1893, married to Pearl Allen. Gladys Hughes born June 10th, 1895, Married to J. Wesley Nelson. Mother has been a visiting teacher in the Relief Society since about 1911. She acted as chaplain in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers organization for several years. She has sent two sons into the mission field. Her son Henry Gorrel, filled a mission the Northern States 1908-1911, and John Owen to England 1920-1922, both filling honorable missions. Mother was converted and very anxious in giving her children an education. Most of her children have had a fair education along special lines. It was through her efforts and sacrifices that this was possible.

In the fall of 1920 she buried her daughter, Lavinia. Her son Wendell Hughes Sorensen, then just two years old, lived with her and was a great comfort as well as a great responsibility to her. A.N. Sorensen, the father of Wendell, also stayed with her some time after losing his wife, Lavinia. Mother cared for them just like her own children. This was a very sad event in her life because Lavinia was a most remarkable woman, accomplished in many lines, especially that of home making and was an exceptional good cook. But mother, as in all her trials, stood up under it all and acknowledged the hand of God in it. Mother also showed her sterling character when the Great War (WW I) broke out and was willing that her son Gorrel should go into the service of the United States Army and through her faith he was spared to return home to her after serving two years even though he saw service in the front line trenches for three months.

During the period of the war she did a great deal in knitting and making things to send to the soldiers along with buying Liberty Loans and aid the government in this great conflict. After the war when the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary was organized, she was one of the first to join. Feeling it an honor to be eligible to belong. She has acted as chaplain in that organization. She holds that office at the present time. She is a visiting teacher in the Relief Society and she still makes her visits around to the sisters’ places. She is seventy-five years old and lives in her home in Mendon, Utah. She has fairly good health and a strong faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, anxious that her children should follow her example of faithfulness. She has twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Abraham Lincoln’s tribute to his mother is also true in mother. All that we are or ever hope to be, we owe to our angel Mother.

The death of Gorrel, on 24 February 1943 was more than mother could take. She never became reconciled to his passing to the great beyond. On Gorrel’s birthday, 15 June 1943 I wanted to take some flowers up for his grave at the cemetery. Mother didn’t say anything about going. She got into the car, but when I got to the cemetery she said, "Don’t drive inside the gate I cannot stand to go in." I got out and took the flowers to his grave and came back and went home, I had never realized how much she had grieved over his death.

Mother lived until 19 April 1944, just a little over a year after Gorrel. She failed in health very fast. We tried to make her as happy and comfortable as we could. I taught school and I appreciate what others did to help take care of her while I was away. My dear brother John O. and his wife Pearl A. Hughes lived close and were in and out many times a day. Artice Bird, my oldest sister Mary Ann's daughter stayed with her and was a loving granddaughter to her. I did appreciate her. Then Edith came and stayed the last two weeks. Mary Ann (Mamie) was also a great help. She brought much comfort to us at all times. Mother was buried in the Mendon Cemetery.

Gladys Hughes Nelson

Life Sketch

Sarah, the daughter of pioneer parents, George Walker and Mary Hopkins, was born 12 Sept 1858, at Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents left their home in England in 1850. The early training given to her by her stalwart God-fearing parents stood by her throughout her life.

When she was six years old, they moved to Mendo - she, with her father, mother, Mary Elizabeth and John Robert. Here in Mendon, Cache County, Utah, in 1864, she helped to develop the country along with the other members of the family. She was baptized the 20th of August 1865, by Bishop Andrew P. Shumway, at Mendon, Utah.

When she was twelve years old they moved to Centerville, Davis County, Utah, where her father took charge of the Jennings ranch in the North Western part of Centerville. It was located at the bottom of what is now called Rosedale Lane. They stayed here for about two years, then they moved back to Mendon. Her father was a wheelwright by trade.

Mother was a counselor to the First President of the First Organization of the Mutual Improvement Association in Mendon - Larena Sorensen Richards being the President.

She was married to my father, Charles Hughes, 12 December 1878, in the Salt Lake Endowment House. The trip was made in a sleigh with quilts and rocks warmed in the oven to keep them warm.

Father was a son of Henry Hughes and Ann Howells. He was born 15 June 1855, at Salt Lake City, Utah. The family afterwards moved to Mendon.

My father and mother lived in Mendon after their marriage and helped to build up the community. Seven children were born to them:

  1. Mary Ann (Mamie) was born 14 December 1879; died 9 May 1964; married to Mormon Delbert Bird.
  2. Charles Walker born 8 June 1881; died 13 August 1935; married to Lettie Gertrude Barkdull.
  3. Lavinia (Lou) born 25 September 1884; married to A.N. Sorensen; died 18 November 1920.
  4. Henry Gorril born 15 June 1886; died 24 February 1943; married to Olive Sorensen.
  5. Edith was born 26 January 1889; married David G. Winn.
  6. John Owen Hughes, born 26 July 1893, married Pearl K. Allen.
  7. Gladys, born 10 June 1895; married to Joseph Wesley Nelson.

Mother has been a visiting teacher in the Relief Society since about 1911. She acted as Chaplain in the Daughters of the Pioneers Organization for several years. She sent two sons into the mission field. Henry Gorril filled a mission to the Northern States 1908-1911; John Owen to England 1920-1922. Both filling honorable missions. Mother was converted and very anxious in giving her children an education. Most all her children have had a fair education along special lines. It was through her efforts and sacrifices that this was possible.

In the fall of 1920 she buried her daughter, Lavinia. Her only child, a son Wendell Hughes Sorensen, was then just two years old. Mother took him to care for; it was a great comfort as well as a responsibility to her. A.N. Sorensen also stayed some of the time at her home; he was Lavinia's husband. This passing was a very sad event because Lavinia was a most remarkable woman, accomplished in many lines, especially that of homemaking and was an exceptional good cook. But Mother, as in all her trials, stood up under it all and acknowledged the hand of God in it.

Mother also showed her sterling character when the Great World War I broke out and she was willing that her son, Gorril, should go into the service of the United States Army, and through her faith, he was spared to return home to her after serving two years, even though he saw service in the front line trenches for three months.

During the period of the war, she did a great deal in knitting and making things to send to the soldiers, along with buying Liberty Bonds to aid the government in this great conflict. After the War when the American Legion Ladies' Auxiliary was organized, she was one of the first to join, feeling it an honor to belong. She acted as chaplain in that organization. She holds that office at the present time; age 75.

She still makes her visits around the sisters' places in Relief Society teaching at age 75. She was always in fairly good health and (had) a strong faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, anxious that her children should follow her example of faithfulness.

The death of Gorril was more than Mother could take; she never became reconciled to his passing. Mother lived until 19 April 1944, just a little over a year after Gorril. She was 85 and had lived in Mendon all her married life. According to the paper at the time of her death, she was one of the first "Queens of May"  (1876) in the traditional Mendon May Day Celebration at Mendon.

In later years, when her sight was failing, she stayed cheerful. In her kitchen, everything was arranged where she knew where to find it, and no one was allowed to move it. She loved to cook and never did anyone visit her that she didn't have some goodie to offer.