Item Detail
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Baker, Luvera Ellen Ensign Preece
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1826-1898
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MSS 8
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Biography
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Luvera Ellen Ensign Preece was born June 21, 1826 in Spafford, Onondago County, New York to Zopher and Priscilla Billings Ensign. Her family was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only 21 months after its organization, after which, the family joined with the Saints and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. At age 17, Luvera married William Preece. She had six children, though William died in Iowa in 1857. Two years later, with the help of her fifteen-year-old son, she took the family across the plains. They arrived in Salt Lake City on September 16, 1859 and then settled in Centerville, Utah. Luvera taught school there whenever she was able, and she remarried later, to Dr. Goran G. Baker. Afterwards, they moved to Alta, Utah. There, Luvera taught school and ran a boarding house. She moved later to Hooper, Utah, where she lived until Goran's death. Luvera then moved into a home her son-in-law built for her, located in Ogden. She died there June 14, 1898.
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This is a two-page typescript biography from the Margaret Steed Hess collection, written by Luvera's great-granddaughter, Lucy Preece Stewart. There is very little personal information about Luvera, though Lucy does describe her as having been a charitable woman with a talent for dressmaking. She was also an excellent cook and teacher. Following the biography is a short piece entitled, 'As I Remember My Great Grandmother, Luvera Ellen Ensign Preece.' In this, Lucy writes about how Luvera had wanted Lucy's name to be Myrtle, and when she wasn't, Luvera gave Lucy a doll and asked her to name it Myrtle. Lucy also recalls how thoughtful Luvera was toward her family, and how she had a strong testimony of the Gospel and continually bore her testimony to her grandchildren.
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1829-1895