Joshua Hague Gillet was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England on July 8, 1808 1. He met and married Mary Butterly. They decided to come to America in 1849 with their six children. While enroute across the ocean one child died 5 and was buried at sea. Upon arriving they settled at Alton, Illinois. While living here one of their boys died. But a daughter was born to them, naming her Mary Ann.
They had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was determined to join them in their march across the plains to the Great Salt Lake valley. They crossed the plains in the year 1852 2. Grandfather Joshua drove one of the teams across. But they still endured many hardships enroute.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake Valley, they camped on the "Square" as it was called. It was located where the city and county building now stands. After living here one year they moved to Milton, Tooele county, Utah. Here they had only a dug-out to live in, it was located where the Spiers home now stands. There were no windows and only a dirt floor. They used ceder bark to lie on. The children's beds were made of this bark with a buffalo robe laid over it.
When the Saints drew lots, Grandfather Joshua drew the lot where Herb Vowel's home now stands.
Here they built a one log room house and here their daughter Sarah was born. They lived here three years, then moved to Milton again where their son, Brigham Joshua was born. They farmed and took care of live-stock. Now their family was growing up, and there were some happy times. Grandfather was very particular about his morning prayers, and all the children had to be up and washed, ready to kneel by the old bench for the family prayer.
After a few years they were driven from their home by Johnson's Army. as a result of this they then moved to Lehi, where a daughter, Emma, was born. They lived here two years, then after the government made terms with Johnson they moved back to Milton. Here a daughter, Ellen Rebecka was born to them. They lived here about eight years when Grandfather died, 15 April 1865 3. He had been a true and devoted Latter-Day Saint. He had worked on the old mud wall until they had it as far as they wanted to go on it. He had been one of the leaders in all church affairs at Milton. He also led the choir. He and his daughter Mary, would entertain with singing and dancing in all their social gatherings.
Now my grandmother had to take over the responsibilities of
raising the family. She had helped grandfather so much in his
farming. After his death she move to Tooele and made her living
nursing. She was one of the first nurses in Tooele. She walked from
Tooele to Milton many times with two small children, to take care of
a garden there, and also to take care of her patients. She also
walked from Tooele to E. T. on many confinement cases. She had many
talents. She could go out into the field, catch a sheep, shear it,
wash the wool, spin it into cloth and make clothes out of the
material. She nursed until she was nearly seventy years old. She
was of a very gentle kind disposition. She was the mother of
thirteen children. She has sixty four grand children, and almost
that many great-grandchildren, and a number of
great-great-grandchildren. She also worked in the temple a great
deal doing work for the dead. She died 5 June 1885
4 at Tooele at the
age of seventy. She was a relief society worker until the time of
her death.
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