|
|
Written in January 1948
Margaret Mary Simmons Rawle was a daughter of George and Mary Ann Ford Simmons. Her parents had joined the L.D.S. Church in England in 1852. They left for America in the spring of 1855, and after a journey of six weeks on the ocean they landed at Philadelphia. They crossed the plains with ox teams and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 25, 1855 with two children. A baby was born to them on the plains but he died within the hour and was buried there. The next year a daughter Agnes, was born to them and on June 5, 1858, Margaret the subject of our sketch was born to them at Salt Lake City.
This was at the time of the "move south" when Johnson's army was making its way through Salt Lake City. Margaret's Father was a member of the party that went to Echo Canyon and took part in that campaign.
In the spring of 1861 the Simmon's family was called by Brigham Young to go to Weber Valley and assist in colonizing that part of the territory.
When they first arrived there they had to live in a tent and dugout combined until their log house was built. That first home was near what they called Monday Towne. Margaret said they used to have high water and at times they had to move in with other families until the water went down. Many of their things were washed down the stream.
Her Father did some farming and as the land was covered with large cobble rocks it was the children's work to gather these rocks and load them into wagons, also to heard the cows. This they did in their bare feet.
Mr. Simmons was a carpenter by trade and about 1864 he built the first brick house on the present location of South Morgan. This house is still standing and is in fairly good condition after more than eighty years.
When Margaret was sixteen years old, she went to Salt Lake to work and at the age of nineteen she was married to James Richard Rawle on the October 2, 1877. Bishop Charles Turner performed the ceremony. The next spring they entered the Endowment house in Salt Lake City and were sealed for time and eternity.
Thirteen children were born to them, two dying in infancy. They reared eleven children to manhood and womanhood. They also reared one grandson whose parents died when he was a small child. Four daughters and one son have passed away after reaching maturity.
Both Margaret and her Husband were active in the church even with their large family. They had a wonderful testimony of the Gospel and in the power of the Holy Priesthood. They were very strict tithe payers and observers of the Word of Wisdom. They taught these things to their children.
Margaret did all sewing for her family. She served as a visiting teacher in the Relief Society for many years. A member of the Stake Board and President of the Morgan Ward Relief Society for three years. She also gave of her means for Genealogical and Temple work.
James Richard Rawle was called to be a Patriarch in the Morgan Stake in 1915. In this capacity he gave about 260 blessings. His death occurred December 9, 1931. Before his death they were called to have their second Endowment, this being a very rare privilege.
On their golden wedding anniversary Brother Rawle wrote the following poem for his wife:
I love to sit and ponder
Over the days that have gone by.
Although it makes me happy
tears come to my eyes.
Maggie we've reached the summit
of this life so they say;
On the second of October
Is our Golden Wedding Day.
We have weathered the storms together
Maggie dear, you and I
Like solders we've always been ready
for the other to live or die.
An angel was sent from heaven
when God sent you down to me.
And may my love prove faithful
to the trust imposed in me.
Jim
Two Poems written by James Richard Rawle:
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
When you see the sun is setting
and the evening drawing nigh,
Then your mind goes back to childhood
to the days that are gone by.
You recall the happy moments
when you played on Mother's knee,
In your fancy you can see her
just as plain as plain can be.
It was she who rocked the cradle,
when 'twas time to go to sleep.
And when sickness was upon us,
she her lonely watch would keep.
Yes those childhood days are over
and we're getting old and grey,
but we'll ever think of Mother
and her kind and loving way.
For her words will ever lead us
in the straight and narrow way.
Oh! what joy there'll be at meeting,
If we do not go astray.
TO MOTHER
Don't forget your Mother boys,
when she's old and gray.
Rembmber that her love for you
will never go astray.
The world may turn against you
and try to crush you down.
Friends may prove unfaithful
and upon you frown.
But Mother is always ready
with her out stretched arms.
To welcome you back home again
And protect you from all harm.
Then your little acts of kindness
will brighten up her eyes
And it will make her happy
as the years roll by.
You never can repay her
for what she's done for you.
Through sickness, pain and sorrow,
Mother is always true.
Then listen to her pleading
on her knees she prays for you.
That you may prove successful
as you journey this life through.
From Jim
