Item Detail
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Lovesy, Emma Amelia Townsend
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1848-1932
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MSS SC 2637
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Autobiography
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Emma Amelia Townsend Lovesy was born on 4 February 1848 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was the second-eldest child of John William Townsend and Ann Walton Price Townsend, her 7 siblings being Alma, William Moroni, Rebecca, Elizabeth Ann, Brigham Heber, Marion M., and Mary Jane.
Emmas early life was tough. Her parents were wood-turners, making everything from toys to furniture, but they were often poor, and especially because of the war raging at the time of her birth, luxuries and even necessities were difficult to come by. Emma only attended a half-day of school before she was charged with the care of her younger brother, so that her mother could help her father make enough to live. From then, on, Emma, being the eldest living child, took care of her younger siblings.
When Emma was 8 years old, her family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and shortly made their journey across the Atlantic Ocean to join the Saints in America. They set sail in 1860 and were on the water 7 weeks before landing in Castle Garden, New York. The Townsends wasted no time traveling from there to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, from which place they set out across the plains in May of 1860.
The final stretch of their journey to Utah was long, and most of the way, Emma had to walk barefoot, because her shoes wore out so quickly. She would also gather buffalo chips and take her brother with her to settlers houses, in the hopes of obtaining a drink of water, milk, or a piece of bread to eat. She was often tasked with carrying a baby sibling or pulling a handcart.
Luckily, the Townsends happened to have family in the valley already, and Emmas grandparents met them in Emigration Canyon with provisions. They arrived in Salt Lake City on 27 August 1860, and set about establishing themselves there.
On 13 February 1867, Emma married Henry Lovesy. Their family grew to include 6 children: Rachel Drucilla, Annie Eliza, Martha Vilate, Sarah Elizabeth, Ruth Amelia, and William. Of these children, only the two eldest survived their mother, as the younger children all lived no longer than a year or 2 each. Unfortunately, Henry, too, passed away in 1881.
Emma married again on 21 September 1882. Her second husbands name was Charles Pearce. They had no children together but remained together until Charles died in 1901.
A decent number of her family, including her parents and siblings, left the Church to join the Josephite Church during Emmas lifetime. Emma, however, stayed devoted to the faith that carried across the world. One of the life accomplishments she attributed to the Lord was her ability to read and write. Having had no schooling, she had to work at it for 10 to 12 years, but by the time she was in her early 80s, she could read and write just about anything, including her scriptures.
After the passing of her father and sister, Emma took her mother in, and they lived together until her mothers death at the age of 88. Just prior to her death, Ann rejoined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Emma lived in Salt Lake City for nearly the whole remainder of her life. It wasnt until 1927, at the age of 79, that she moved to live with her daughter, Annie, until her death, which took place on 2 December 1932 in Farmington, Utah. -
This manuscript is a 5-page photocopy of a typescript autobiography, entitled, Life History of Emma Amelia Townsend Lovesy: As told to her Granddaughter in her own words. It also includes a note that reads, Born February 4, 1848, Died December 3 (although records indicate it was actually 2), 1932, 1860 Pioneer. The granddaughter in question is Mrs. Virginia H. Schwagler, daughter of Emmas eldest, Rachel Drucilla.
The life sketch covers Emmas birth and parentage, and it explains how life was difficult while her family was living in England. She mentions that she only ever attended a half-day of school before she was tasked with raising her brother, so that her mother could help her father make enough money to get by.
At the age of eight, Emma and her family were all baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1860, the Townsends boarded a sailing vessel and headed for America, so they could join the Saints gathering in Utah. Emma describes the trek across the plains to join with her grandparents and uncles and aunts in Utah, and how her life was spent in hard manual labor to provide for her family. Life was difficult there at first, as they were unable to harvest a crop before winter set in. Emma helped her family by doing the work of a man, collecting wood and other manual labor jobs. Whenever possible, she would try to find a home to work for where her room and board could be paid as well.
She touches on her marriage to her first husband, Henry Lovesy in 1867, and the apostatizing of her family members around that time. She, deciding she owed too much to the Lord, never left the faith that brought her to Utah in the first place, and eventually her mother rejoined the Church as well.
She ends her account by remarking that even though her 80th birthday is right around the corner, she feels and looks young for that age. The manuscript finishes with a note added by Virginia, mentioning her death, and including her name as the recorder of the biography. -
1822-1892